[Video] 007 ☽

[lunateclock]

[When the SFC clicks on the first thing to be seen is a Zorua peering curiously into the screen; it would appear we know the culprit for turning it on.]

--Benzomaru, come on.

[The Zorua moves away cheerfully to show a blue-haired protagonist sitting at what looks like the Welcoming Committee desk, if the papers and the pictures of a cheerful

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[thetrollprince]

It was a relatively usual day for Orihara Izaya. Minus the ridiculous amount of Christmas decoration that seemed to insist on infesting his life as of late. Not that he didn't expect it but it was something he tried to ignore regardless. As Izaya walked along, he merely contemplated life with his head tilted back and eyes focused on the clear sphere surrounding the city. A narrow white stick stuck out of his mouth, something edible obviously in the side of his mouth

[lunateclock]

SFC pushed off to one side now, Zorua taken care of, Minato was busily at work and didn't notice Izaya walking by. He had plenty to do, it was true; with the Defense Force and the Welcoming Committee both on his shoulders, it was all he could do to keep up with it all (and his many, many friends in Vatheon

You can ignore him doing this if you don't like it and I can repost something else :]

[thetrollprince]

So popular, Minato. So many friends and public relationships that it practically made Izaya sick. Of course, he felt perfectly fine today, as the smile on his face might suggest. He slid the treat back inside, having been given the candy by some girl dressed up as one of Santa's helpers.

"Ah? Is that right?" he asked around the pop, following Minato's glance to the pair of headphones. He raised a brow and leaned over the desk to scoop up the headphones. He lifted them high above his head as though examining them and then held them out in front. He turned them over in hand and looked intently at them for a moment.

He tapped the side and for a moment, it seemed like Izaya was trying to figure out a way to fix them. That is, until, he grasped both ends with his hands and jerked outward.

There was a hard snap as the headphones broke directly down the middle and Izaya neatly pulled them apart. He frowned and dropped them in Minato's lap, clucking his tongue against the flavorful lollipop

kajsbndlkans beautiful oh my god

[lunateclock]

Minato was passive as Izaya grabbed his headphones; he'd done this once before, after all, though it was to listen to music at the time. Besides, he was all about giving people chances. It wasn't in his nature to stop Izaya now that he'd made a choice.

So he just watched quietly as Izaya fiddled with the one thing he'd ever owned--

And then his grip tightened and Minato's eyes widened and--

Snap!

There was a bit of a pause as Minato blinked, trying to understand what just happened as Izaya dropped the very broken headphones in his lap. He looked down at them for a long moment...And when he looked back up, his expression was completely flat. No surprise. No shock. No hurt or pain or any upset feelings. Just a blank expression as Izaya spoke through the lollipop in his mouth.

And then Minato quickly lifted up one piece of his headphones, examining it, and quietly shook his head. "No. I don't think they can be fixed now."

That was all he said, voice steady. It would take more than that to break him, that was for sure; he was a

:3

[thetrollprince]

Really, Izaya by now was hardly surprised by Minato's bland reaction. Though he was a little bit disappointed not to see something more. He couldn't determine whether or not Minato was incredibly predictable in an unpredictable way or simply unpredictable way in a way that scratched at Izaya's skin. It was still something he often considered late at night

[lunateclock]

Minato's response came in the form of quietly watching Izaya move, unflinching as he dropped his lollipop stick into the trash, merely sitting in his chair with the snapped headphones in his lap

[thetrollprince]

Honestly, Izaya was always moving. And if it weren't his entire body, he was always making rather flamboyant or grand gesture to make unnecessary emphasis on whatever it was that he was saying. The only time he was relatively still was when he was at a computer and even then he was typing away at maddeningly rapid rate.

There were no computers in sight though. Just one unfortunate Minato. He stared down at him and his lip turned up in the faintest sign of dislike. Yet it barely lasted before yet another of Izaya's quiet smiles took over his face. "You're so considerate," he said, "Of all things living and nonliving. My, you really know how to install meaning."

Ah Christmas. Izaya recalled a rather embarrassing few nights ago where Christmas had taken its toll on him. He still didn't really like to admit that he had done that but at the same time he could just as easily brush it off as nothing

[lunateclock]

Minato was forever observing the people around him. People-watching was a skill the two of them shared, and for that reason he had forever been watching Izaya. Each thing he saw that was new he did not forget; he stored it in his memory to ponder at a later time. For he might have been inexpressive and he might have been quiet and he might not have talked very quickly...but Minato was sharp

[thetrollprince]

"The dorms? Ah right, yes." Of course Izaya knew where they were. He had kept a very tight record on where most of Vatheon's foreigners resided. Especially the ones he was interested in. Like Minato, for example. Not that he had yet used that information to his advantage but it would come in handy for the future

[lunateclock]

A reaction like that...The surprise was more than enough for Minato. He lifted his chin to meet Izaya's eyes, even as the other leaned over the desk and bent closer.

Their eyes met firmly then, as Izaya spoke and Minato listened, as it so often was.

He listened and to him, this was what he was meant to be doing. He was no longer "living"; he no longer had a place, a home to return to. He had accepted that.

But just like at home, here there were people who he could help. People that did not necessarily need him but that did, perhaps, need some different company. A listening ear. Someone who would not judge, who would not condemn. Perhaps that was all...But it was something Minato could do, and it gave someone without a life any longer a purpose

[thetrollprince]

Izaya leaned away from the desk and stood straight, his hands slid into his pockets. He made something of a sour face but eventually it faded into yet another blank expression. A part of him felt like there was more to Minato digging under him like this. However, his more logically aware self was pretty convinced that Minato was just sincerely a nice boy. Something that irked Izaya a little more. If Minato had just wanted to mess around with him then easily Izaya could play back.

Kind people had never made Izaya hold back from hurting them. Saki was his godchild practically and a sweet girl, tender and nice at heart, and he had happily corrupted her life to the roots, crippled her for quite a long time physically, and managed to destroy her boyfriend's life just as well. And Izaya found it all so amusing.

He could break Minato's legs. He could deceive his friends and destroy the kid from the inside out. He could at least try to. And part of him really did want to do that. He wanted to see Minato break down and fall apart. To Izaya,

[lunateclock]

Of course, Minato's intentions had never been to "mess with" Izaya at all. He was sincere, he was truthful, and he was truly kind--all he wanted was to be able to understand and give Izaya what he wanted. It was the exact wish he had for everyone. He just wanted to let people make their choices and give them the best opportunity to make "good" ones

[thetrollprince]

Izaya didn't expect Minato to answer him. While the boy did more often than not, it was also pretty obvious that silence was quite a part of his personality. Something Izaya was fine with enough. Usually anyway

[lunateclock]

Minato was silent, of course, in response to the answers. A spare room to sleep in...? He doubted that would be necessary. He trusted Izaya, but he would not sleep in his home. Was that wrong of him, or just sensible? It was hard to say, so Minato didn't think too hard on it.

It hardly mattered anyway. Right now.

Decorations as well were not necessary--but Minato didn't say anything. After all...it was Izaya's choice, whether he decorated or not. There was no reason for Minato to interfere in that, unnecessary as it was.

So he responded to what was truly important. He looked up at Izaya and answered easily, "Yes, I'll see you on Christmas, Izaya-san."

A nod--that took care of that, didn't it? Now he had plans. He wouldn't miss them (because missing plans meant reversed social links and reversed social links, reversed arcana--those hurt and were wrong). He would be there.

At least Christmas promised to be interesting.