IC inbox @ Jikan

[darkdisgrace]

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[phoenixblessed]

I am, but not at the cost of making you uncomfortable.

[Maybe he should tease a little less. He knows very well it's only winding the other man up.]

Dinner. But let's make it tomorrow.

[darkdisgrace]

I'm not uncomfortable.

[That is so not the word he'd use here. But he can't deny having 24 hours to prepare gives him time to plan.]

There anything I should do beforehand? Where are we going? Should I dress up?

[phoenixblessed]

[Oh no, he's cute. Thankfully Diluc has actually thought this far ahead.]

There's a new tempura restaurant near the main marketplace I've passed a few times. It looks good.

[Here we have Diluc Ragnvindr, not at all considering that tempura restaurants can be very expensive. He's intending for this to be his treat anyway.]

And you can dress up a little if you like. I don't mind what you wear.

[darkdisgrace]

[Diluc please.

Not that Chuuya sees any problem with this, either.]

Tempura? That sounds good.

And I want to look good for you if this is going to be our first date, obviously.

[phoenixblessed]

Then wear something you think I'll like.

[That's a challenge. Does Chuuya think he knows what Diluc might like?]

[darkdisgrace]

Oh? And what would you like to see me wear, hmm?

[A challenge perhaps, but he's actually curious about what Diluc will say.]

[phoenixblessed]

[This conversation just keeps getting more interesting. Diluc's earlier nerves have shifted over to something more mischievous and playful in their teasing back and forth.

He sips his coffee, thinking about his answer.]

I wouldn't mind seeing you in something of the local style. Do you have anything?

[darkdisgrace]

Oh? I have a decent amount, actually.

I happen to look very good in traditional wear.

[Thank you Kouyou, for teaching him how to wear all sorts of styles.]

[phoenixblessed]

I'll bet that you do.
I've grown quite fond of it myself in the time I've been here. They wear similar clothing in Inazuma but I was only passingly familiar with it.

[darkdisgrace]

Ane-san prefers traditional wear, it suits her style and her business. She made sure I knew what I was doing on that front. You make the best impressions in business meetings when you dress right for the moment, y'know?

['Ane-san' is a specific sort of Japanese phrasing, but given Nippon's magic, it'll come across as a very old fashioned way of saying 'older sister'.]

[phoenixblessed]

Absolutely. A business venture can be made or broken on first impressions.

[And Diluc would know what he's talking about on that front.]

But don't wear anything that's going to be too difficult to take off.

[darkdisgrace]

[He sure would.

Meanwhile, Chuuya's letting out a laugh into the rim of his coffee cup at what Diluc follows with.]

Oh really now? I'll keep that particular desire in mind.

[Some would say Diluc is fairly confident about how the date would end, but considering how they aleady know they enjoy sex together... well. It seemed a fair assumption, to Chuuya.]

[phoenixblessed]

[Some would say he's overconfident... but Diluc wouldn't necessarily agree. The sex is great. They already know that.]

Good.

And next time I ask you on a date I'll make sure you're wearing pants first.

[darkdisgrace]

[Wow Diluc, wow.]

I just woke up! What do you expect!

It's too hot out to sleep in much.

[phoenixblessed]

I agree. Though it's tending to be too hot for me to sleep much at night either.

I did almost sleep outside not long ago but Kaeya wouldn't let me.

[darkdisgrace]

Huh, why? It's not that bad sleeping outside in the summer if you find the right spot. Then again, not everyone can get on rooftops like I can.

[phoenixblessed]

I suppose it was more that he didn't want to sleep outside as well. We're too used to not sleeping alone by now.

[There's a pause then as he sips his coffee. Thinks. He rests the rim of the cup against his lower lip and idly scrolls back up to the top of the conversation, then back down again.

He can still feel his chest fluttering a little. Kaeya's going to laugh at him later.]

This isn't too much for you, is it?
I'm thrilled, but I don't want you to feel like you have to agree to what I'm asking.

[darkdisgrace]

Understandable.

[At least that makes two of them, in the flustered department. Chuuya's calmed a little, though the question draws a sigh from him. He takes a moment to take another sip of his own coffee, slowly typing.]

It's not too much.

'New' is the more accurate word here. There's a lot about me I haven't told you, and I probably should at some point, but it's probably one of the reasons why I'm pretty shit at this stuff.

But I can say I really like you, Diluc. I like spending time with you, and I trust you. Hell, I feel comfortable with you to a degree some would call stupid back home, and that says plenty all it's own.

'New' doesn't mean that I don't want to see where this leads.

[phoenixblessed]

Good.

I trust you as well. [Knowing what went on between he and Kaeya and everything that surrounded it without judging either of them won Chuuya a hell of a lot of points from them both.]

And I'm glad I asked. I'll see you tomorrow, then?

[darkdisgrace]

[There was nothing to judge, in Chuuya's mind: the things that happened to Diluc and Kaeya in the past were past, things they'd resolved between the two of them. If anything, he's happy for them both that they'd managed to come so far.

He smiles slightly at Diluc's response, feeling a bit like there's something fluttery in his stomach.]

I'm glad you did, too.

See you tomorrow, Diluc.

[phoenixblessed]

[As the day wears on after that, Diluc does find himself wishing he had waited a little longer to ask... because now he's ridiculously fluttery about the whole thing. He does talk to Kaeya about it in more detail, letting him know where he's going and when and that he might not be home that night - always a strange conversation to have but Kaeya is not without his own admirers and it gives him an opportunity to spend the night with one of them if he wants to.

Like a good date, he shows up at Chuuya's door to pick him up exactly when he said he would. Keeping the generally upscale nature of the restaurant they're going to in mind he's dressed for the occasion, with his hair tied up and a couple of delicate gold kanzashi slipped into it.

He taps gently on Chuuya's door, then steps back slightly to wait for him to answer. The sensation of fluttering nerves starts to slowly creep back in as he stands there.]

[darkdisgrace]

[Chuuya had spent the time between their call and the date itself probably thinking a little too much. About what to wear, about how to greet Diluc at the door, about if he's supposed to have a gift of some sort ready-- but then Diluc would have to carry it around since he's the one picking Chuuya up, and wouldn't that inconvenience him?

So ultimately, he's a little nervous when he opens the door. Not that he isn't dressed nicely himself: The kimono he wears is a deep maroon, complimented by a blue coat that contrasts nicely. His hair is also tied back: not with hairpins, but a simpler woven kumihimo cord in bright red.

The last detail might stand out to Diluc as Chuuya opens the door, however: Chuuya's hands are bare, with no gloves in sight for this evening. He takes in Diluc's appearance with a smile, a little nervous but excited.]

Well don't you look handsome.

[phoenixblessed]

[That their clothing almost matches isn't lost on Diluc at the moment Chuuya opens the door. He huffs out a little laugh as he smiles in turn, taking the compliment with a faint flush rising to his cheeks.]

I'm not the only one.

[He notices, too, that Chuuya is not wearing his gloves. As the man steps out to join him, Diluc takes one of his hands and lifts it up, pressing a kiss against the centre of his knuckles. His eyes flick up to meet the other man's and a charming grin crosses his face.]

Are you ready to go? [Because... really, if he stays standing here too long they won't end up going anywhere.] I've been looking forward to this all day.

[darkdisgrace]

[It helped that they both looked good in such colors, though Chuuya wouldn't deny that he'd hoped to compliment whatever Diluc wore, tonight. When Diluc laughs it feels like some of that tension he's been carrying for hours melts away, an ease coming to his shoulders that wasn't there before, a grin settling on his lips.]

Well it's our first date-- I've got to pull out something nice for the occasion, right?

[There's something oddly gratifying, too, about Diluc immediately noticing the lack of gloves. He'd thought long and hard about it before discarding them for the evening, the choice as intentional as it is meaningful. If he wants to do this right-- Chuuya wants to leave that old habit behind, just for tonight.

Still, he's definitely not prepared for Diluc to immediately take one of his hands in his, pressing a kiss against his knuckles. It's so damn gentlemanly he finds his face heating without permission.

A soft chuckle escapes him as he steps outside, closing the door behind him.]

Trust me, you're not the only one. I'm ready.

[phoenixblessed]

Great.

[He waits for Chuuya to lock up, then snags his hand in a gentle grip while they make their way down to the street. Though the evening is starting to draw in it's still light outside, still warm from the day though with a faint prickle in the air from earlier rain. People are going about their business and everything is calm, Diluc has a lovely young man by his side, and he couldn't be happier right now.]

I asked for a more private table when I called in to make the reservation. [He says casually while they walk.] So there won't be any distractions.

[He's intending to give all of his attention to Chuuya this evening. The restaurant isn't far away but they have enough time to causally make their way there, and he keeps the other man's hand held in his the entire time.]

And you can have anything you want. This is my treat.