Audience: Gojou Satoru

[probe]

Comments

[worthyness]

[he absolutely is thinking this is stupid but fine. he's listening, and...failing? he is absolutely failing at this visualization thing if the scrunch of his eyebrows is any indicator. emptying thoughts is a lot harder than it looks when you're busy going over the mental checklist of things you need to do.

but an attempt is being made and he's not verbally interrupting. that is progress.

...eventually though he seems to level out to something neutral, at least, even if it isn't quite relaxed. five minutes. this only has to last for five minutes.]

[mukagen]

[ God, Miles, why is he doing this for you (why is he doing this at all). He really wants to smooth out his expression, but he will refrain from touching the prosecutor. ]

Breathe in, breathe out. Think about your happiest moment.

[ Would this work better? ]

[worthyness]

[that's absolutely what he would like to know too?? gojou why ARE you doing this? nevertheless he refrains from saying this is stupid and thinking about what he's saying.

...wow. digging deep here. it doesn't seem to work at first, given nothing in his expression changes, but after a few moments his breathing does seem to even out while he's thinking about...whatever.

part of him is still counting the minutes, but he frowning more pensively than anything. is this all there is to it? breathing and thinking?]

[mukagen]

[ First, he's squinting because HE REALLY WANTS TO ASK WHY ARE YOU FROWNING WHEN HE SAYS HAPPY THOUGHTS? Though he has to wonder if it involves Miles' father.

To try to be serious when he knows it isn't working? Eh. ]

Breathe in... Breathe out. Imagine yourself with a glass of wine, then in front of you is Sebastian Michaelis.

You pour wine all over him, tinting his clothes red. These stains can never be washed out. They will stay, seeped deep in the fabric, heavy like the weight of his crime.

[worthyness]

[let's not ask too many questions here.

especially when gojou immediately derails...and miles finds himself trying not to smirk. it's failing. that is exactly what sebastian deserves.]

Did I ever thank you for that, by the way? [meditation doesn't work if you talk, miles.]

[mukagen]

Ahaaa! There we go. No more frowning.

[ Mentally pats himself on the back, but yeah. Serious meditation time is over now that Miles is talking and Gojou swerved. ]

You can always thank me again.

[ WHY WOULD HE SAY NO TO MORE GRATITUDE? ]

[worthyness]

[hate this man.]

If I've already thanked you once, I don't suppose there's any sense doing so again.

[mukagen]

So you’re willing to risk the possibility of not providing gratitude where it’s due?

[ If Miles can’t remember, then it isn’t Gojou’s fault? Also, how rude can this attorney be, he wonders. ]

[worthyness]

Yes? [if gojou was expecting a different answer he was bound to be disappointed because miles is, in fact, rude a lot of the time even if it's unintentional.] Especially when the implication is that it was already provided.

[mukagen]

[ Sputters?? Not that he's that surprised Miles is like this, but also??? ]

You used to be sooo poliiiite.

[worthyness]

[this time, unfortunately, there's a smile.]

I think you just didn't know me very well.

[sometimes...you are rude to people you actually like.]

[mukagen]

[ Gojou writes in his little mental notes that Miles Edgeworth is both a sadist and a masochist. He strokes his chin, like he's thinking deeply (he isn't). ]

I guess it doesn't matter since I like you better this way and I can't sulk when you're smiling. You should do it more.

[ Yes, smile more. ]

We've been circling topics, haven't we! Like we don't want this to end. [ ... ] Before I forget, I do want to leave something with you.

[worthyness]

[he's not wrong, but at least miles doesn't have to hear that assessment of himself.

granted, gojou says that and suddenly he's not entirely sure what to say to that so he chooses not to and instead focuses on the other point.

...which...is something else miles doesn't want to focus on, fuck. because he's aware he's stalling, sort of, because things are over tomorrow and it's...well, it hasn't been horrible.]

So it seems. [a neutral agreement.] ...what is it?

[mukagen]

[ where are you going to run, miles? all of these topics are bad? ]

Aaand that smile is gone.

[ He laughs because funny. Anyway, he fishes something out of his pocket and holds it out. When Miles takes it... It's a button. ]

[worthyness]

[he was doing his best? but also, at the mention of the smile disappearing there's a very faint trace of it reappearing like it amuses him to hear that.

on the other hand, there's a button. there's a button and he stares at it for a moment before taking it to continue staring at it.]

...um. [hello?]

[mukagen]

It's from Suguru's uniform. I know it's weird, but it's the only thing I have of him since they burned the rest when he defected.

[ Dead man's button, dead man's button!! He has his reasons for choosing Miles for this and it makes sense to him. ]

You can say this is symbolic! I'll come back for it when I've changed my world.

[ He thinks by then he will figure out how to worldhop. Full on hubris. ]

[worthyness]

[ah. dead man button. it takes him a moment to decide what to do with it, but after a moment he puts it inside the pocket of his pants alongside something gojou can't see. he doesn't reply immediately, but eventually he speaks up.]

It isn't that weird. But you'd better come back for it soon then. [even if he doesn't figure it out immediately, miles would really prefer that he uphold that bargain anyhow.]

[mukagen]

You're making it sound like you want to see me as soon as possible! That doesn't mean I'll dispel the curse I'm putting on you right away, but it's still sweet.

[ Gojou cups his own cheek like he's some young maiden and looks touched. ]

Thanks.

[worthyness]

[he doesn't even try to correct him because, like, maybe that's true. but instead what he says is:]

I'll believe it when I see it. [the curse, that is. and also gojou. god, how the hell did he actually make attachments with this man?]

...but you're welcome.

[mukagen]

[ I really do not know how and I wonder this every single day. ]

Make sure not to blink when you get home.

[ Literally, why leave Miles with such ominous statements. Gojou just loves to bully. ]

Got any last words for me aside from “please do not curse me,” “please fix your priorities and focus on the box,” or “please stop”?

[worthyness]

[gojou's so rude? except one ominous statement deserves another which is why miles looks at him for a moment before there's a very thin smile.]

Nothing I feel like saying out loud. [hm. well that's fine. instead, he leans back in his chair and seems to sag against it, keeping his eyes on gojou for a moment before looking at the ceiling.]

...don't make me regret this, Satoru. That's all.

[mukagen]

You really are going to hold stuff in till you super die, huh.

[ Mentally sweats as he thinks Miles would release such interesting curses.

Gojou returns the smile, anyway, except it’s not so... Aggravating or provoking. It’s more sincere. His eyes stay on Miles the whole time, crinkling with mirth when the other man is just TIRED OF LIFE. ]

You think I have control over that?

[worthyness]

Yeah. [he's aware it's a problem but it's his problem and nobody else's so it's fine! still...no, never mind, he's going to shove down every single positive feeling he has right now to stay as neutral as possible even if he seems to be fighting off another grin.]

I suppose I'll just have to prepare for the disappointment. [shrug! clearly the answer is to make it a challenge.]

[mukagen]

Ha... Is it me or do you somehow turn everything into a challenge?

[ It is like EVERY CONVERSATION one of them is like: what are you going to do, asshole. ]

This reminds me we made a little deal over whether things would work out.

[ Sparkles. ]

[worthyness]

As if you aren't constantly willing to take it. [because yeah? he has realized if it's not him, it's gojou??? god maybe that's why he likes him so much. terrible.

except uh...uh? hm.]

...a deal? I recall no such thing. [it's hard to say if this is miles trying to get out of whatever he agreed to or if he genuinely doesn't remember because being vored by a furby does a lot to a person.]