[Thread] [EVERYONE] OPEN

[srsbznsmods]

WHO: EVERYONE
WHAT: The 2009 Cervello Publishing and Media Awards.
WHERE: Namimori Cultural Center, main theater
WHEN: Sat the 21st, beginning arriving between 7PM and 8 PM
RATING: PG-whateveryouwant
WARNING(s): *insert evil character here* oh, also, Cervello

Comments

[xx100dontkillme]

Sitting at the back of the company issued car was bad enough (Tsuna loved to drive) but having a stiff looking Hibari Kyouya at his side was worse.

The brunette hadn't planned for this to happen but everything that can go wrong goes wrong, which on hindsight shouldn't have been surprising for Vongola Decimo considering the amount of bad luck he attracts.

First, he forgets his invite and had to go back to the office to pick it up and that was when he literally crashed head first into one Hibari Kyouya. Second, his tie was askew, shirt tucked out, hair in a mess (not like it would make any difference styled) and looking like he had seen a ghost (Hibari Kyouya). Third, he noticed a small print next to his name: Sawada Tsunayoshi +1 and before he knew it, his plus one effectively became Hibari Kyouya.

[derridamustdie]

If there was one thing that Hibari was learning to appreciate, it would be the joys of having his own car and thus being able to do whatever he wanted to with it and in it. If his car wasn't out of commission, he would not be where he currently was, seated beside a fidgety Sawada Tsunayoshi, itching for a cigarette, wondering why he had to go to an event like Awards Night. He never really enjoyed himself in the previous ones, with the possible exception of the few he had attended at a much earlier age, when he and Xanxus had been scruffy-faced boys chasing each other through the skirts and pants legs of distinguished authors and critics in order to dodge their caretakers.

How things change.

"Timoteo is going to be around," he said aloud, mostly because speaking more meant thinking less. "He contacted me."

Their car pulled up at the curb at that moment. Hibari stepped out first without waiting to hear Tsuna's response, and went around to open the door for his boss, to the flashes of hundreds of cameras.

[xx100dontkillme]

The Ninth? Tsuna stopped half way through his insert cufflink into slot A and repeat with slot B to turn his face to the voice, parting lips, only to meet air. Susuga na, Hibari-san, he thought with a sigh, wondering when they would be able to have more than just a fleeting one-liner as some bad excuse of a conversation.

Pressing his lips into a thin line, he fixed the knot of his tie haphazardly and carefully made sure he didn't scratch the cufflinks (from Gokudera) before squaring his shoulders, wishing they fit better in the double breasted blazer jacket (from the Ninth). He was just about to reach for the door handle when said door flew open to blinding lights and a cacophony of sounds. Startled, Tsuna nearly scuttled back into the comforting darkness of the car. He hated attention. Present tense.

But from the corner of his eye, he spied a flash of sharpest grey. Hibari Kyouya. And for a moment, he pretended it was something else, something else to give him strength.

So he stood. And walked, head straight, eyes clear and as tall as

[derridamustdie]

The boy, to his credit, seemed to know how to move when he had to. Hibari took his rightful place behind Tsuna, hovering just at his shoulder, aloof to the cameras and the eyes following their every move. Entering the actual venue was a welcome relief, although it did not last very long - there were already a lot of people waiting around with their champagne and their caviar, chatting idly, watching everyone.

"Our table's over there. Shall we?"

[xx100dontkillme]

Tsuna stopped at the voice, suddenly remembering that Hibari was his +1. Side stepping to his left, Tsuna made a move as if to wait for his MD. In that amount of noise, he had missed Hibari's question, choosing to smile softly at the other. The smallest of head tilts and the gentlest look in liquid amber.

"I don't like people walking behind me--" He started, not bothering to explain as he tugged the cuffs of his jacket a little. Nervous.

Because I hate looking over my shoulders.

[derridamustdie]

"Oh?"

A CEO who didn't like his subordinates walking behind him? That was strange. Nonetheless, Hibari did as he was told and came up beside Tsuna.

...Hm.

"I was wondering if you wanted to take a seat, or if you want to take some time out to mingle."

[xx100dontkillme]

That was better, so much better, even though Hibari was still half a head taller than him, making it difficult to meet eyes but hey! beggars can't be choosers. At least now, he didn't have to keep turning around to see if Hibari had decided he was not worth following or something along those lines.

Tsuna let that small smile play on his lips a little longer, looking around for familiar faces but not really looking as he pondered on an appropriate response. He vaguely wondered if the other hadn't planned on coming and if he was only here because his boss asked him to. The thought made the brunette sad, briefly and to his credit, it did not show, not the slightest.

But since Hibari was technically his +1, Tsuna intended to treat him like a +1. He mentally went through Etiquette 101: How to be a gentleman, to a lady, at a ball. But Tsuna was only human, so he forgets and this time he forgets details: like Hibari was no girl and this was definitely not a ball.

Give your partner a choice, ladies first."Um... What do you want to do?" The

[derridamustdie]

Was Sawada uncomfortable, for some reason? He certainly looked it. One could only wonder what it was. The people? The company?

Beyond that, though, there were other considerations.

"I don't think my opinion should matter. You call the shots here."

[xx100dontkillme]

When prompted, choose one that would make your partner comfortable.

That would have been easy if Tsuna knew what made Hibari Kyouya comfortable. Sighing, he tugged at the knot of his tie, inhaling greedily as he let his feet take him forward. Then as if struck by lightning, he turned to Hibari, gushing indignantly. "It does! Of course it does, you're my MD remember?"

If in doubt, ask.

"So what makes you comfortable Hibari-san?" The smile widened tentatively.

[derridamustdie]

"And as a managing director," Hibari pointedly returned, "I'm supposed to follow what you want me to do."

Really. Sawada was an odd one.

"I'm not your date, Sawada. Don't treat me like I am."

LOL CAUGHT RED HANDED

[xx100dontkillme]

BUT YOU'RE MY +1!!!!!

A lesser man might have screeched. Sawada Tsunayoshi a year ago would have done the same but now, trained in etiquette, the brunette was every shade of calm, every shade except that faint pink hue that tinged the tip of his cheeks.

"You mean..." Tsuna started slowly, the wheels in his head spinning rapidly.

"You'll do everything I tell you to do?"

OF COURSE. B|

[derridamustdie]

"Within reasonable bounds."

Hibari's eyes were not exactly on Sawada as he spoke; they were following after the people around them putting names and figures and statistics to every face he recognized.

Apparently 27 has an agenda

[xx100dontkillme]

"Hm," Tsuna hummed.

"You don't have to do everything I tell you to..." he trailed off, waiting for Hibari's attention. He knew exactly what this was, a signal for his exit.

With the weight of Hibari's subtle disapproval or whatever that was he felt whenever he was in the other's presence gone, Vongola Decimo did not feel the least bit easier. Something was still missing, people, things, Pesto.

He leaned forward an inch, careful not to startle, giving him time to back off he wanted to. A soft tone. "But you must do everything I tell you not to."

[derridamustdie]

...Most peculiar.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

What are you trying to do? Hibari asks with his eyes, without knowing that he's even asking.

awkward situation to do awkward things

[xx100dontkillme]

"You've Vongola's interests at heart," he said with smiling eyes, pausing to wave at a familiar face. There was a commotion of sorts at the door and even from this far, he could hear Lambo. Tsuna mentally sighed, continuing.

"But you don't have to do everything." The brunette licked his lips, trying to make things clear. It was rare, this moment of clarity, this situation whereby he had almost all of Hibari's attention. It felt like a power trip, a surge of unknown strength running in his veins, like a battery empowering him to make a stand, set things straight, things that have been bugging him for awhile. His lack of control.

"You're free to do as you please. Tell me off when I'm wrong but--" He stole a breath here and courage there.

"You'll not do anything I tell you not to." A ragged breath.

Inorite. >:

[derridamustdie]

He had not been expecting something like this. His experiences with Sawada Tsunayoshi over the past few months had been in snippets and short, sporadic exchanges over the network. The young man seemed content with remaining in the background of things, stepping in only when he had to, playing mediator with everything else.

This move, however, was worthy of respect, almost. Was it a momentary thing? Would it last? There was no real way of telling. Still...

"Understood."