Decompression

[failfashionista]

Who: Shimizu Raikou & Meguro Gau
What: Getting settled and debriefing each other on what they've learned, facing the reality of just where they are.
Where: Room 111, Raikou's room.
When: October 7th, directly following their arrival.
Rating and Warnings: None really.

Comments

[teacuptarget]

Gau, for his part, had known exactly what Raikou was up to when his partner assigned him the task. Rather than feel 'handled' in any way though, he was of course grateful for how well the older man understood him and trusted him. Being allowed to be useful made him far calmer than he would have been otherwise in this situation, and Raikou was quite a bit better at dealing with people than he was.

Thus, his partner had been in the drawing room, while he himself had gone off to take care of the accommodations. Just as it should be.

Now, he inclined his head to his partner and then gestured down the hallway toward the stairs.

"First floor," he affirmed, taking in their surroundings as covertly as possible before speaking further. Of course, it wasn't as if anyone knowing that they were careful was bad, but it still was a good idea to know who was listening.

"I took a tour around down here first, and the second floor." To see what was above and below his chosen rooms, obviously, but he didn't bother to say that part aloud.

[failfashionista]

He had a moment, just a brief flash, of guilty pride over Gau's current calm. Pride, because Gau was able to focus on the moment at hand, able to keep that situational awareness enough to think ahead and check out the areas above and below them... and guilt that he even knew the purpose for doing any of that sort of shady behavior in the first place.

Even so, it was a guilt Raikou had accepted a long time ago, and more importantly, one he didn't really regret having to carry. Which is why the smile that he flashes at Gau is entirely genuine, rather than the veneer of polite propriety that he's shown everyone else.

"I'm assuming the above was just another set of rooms, since those are the housing areas, but what of the areas below? Or to our left and right?"

[teacuptarget]

Gau started up the steps with a smile, glancing at his partner with an obvious expression of pride. After all, that more honest smile on Raikou's face meant that the samurai was pleased with him, he knew.

In a place like this, where so many things were in question and he wasn't sure how to deal with the situation at hand, he would take comfort that this was not something that could ever change.

"Utility rooms, downstairs. Not an area of the house where people would lounge about carelessly or for hours on end, and not a place that would be horribly quiet while in use. There's nothing to either side of our rooms, as they are at the back of the house, and the only thing on that hall is... the two bedrooms and a bath. Basically like our own little wing."

Green eyes darted to his partner's face, waiting for the response, the assurance that he had done well.

[failfashionista]

That is very good new, so far as Raikou's concerned. Quite possibly the best news he's had delivered to him since his arrival in this place and it shows in the warm light of approval in his eyes, the way his hand reached up between them to tousle unruly curls atop Gau's head. "Trust you to find us such an ideal location, Gau."

Just that and nothing more - there's no need for elaborate praise or flowery words of approval. Gau knows him and knows how to read the reactions Raikou allows him to see, and really...

Even here, Raikou's fully aware of the boundaries that he has to keep in tact.

His responsability to this young man, in every respect.

Which is why the touch is brief before the young samurai turns his attention to the stairs they were starting up, a slow frown pulling at his lips at the faint creaks with each step.

"...these stairs are going to be a problem. They're older, the wood has too much give. It's noisy."

[teacuptarget]

The small touch has a pretty large effect, however, for the younger partner. While he doesn't say anything about it, there's a certain squaring of his shoulders, a simple show of pride in the samurai's approval.

These are the reasons Gau works so hard, after all. And speaking of that, he's been doing his best to pay attention, and consider all the possibilities.

"There's really nothing we can do about it without attracting attention, I suppose. Still, it might be worth finding the other staircases, seeing if ones in less obvious positions are in better or worse condition."

He pauses for a moment, thinking on that, his expression quite serious.

"The whole place seems pretty much as if it were hastily set up, perhaps not used much until recently. There's a sort of... certain air about it, despite an obvious attempt to keep it currently clean. Corners and cracks that have dust."