[closed] bite me.

[meiq]

[After the success of their Love☆Star special, it was safe to say that HiMERU had his share of working closely with Kazehaya Tatsumi for a good while; though never again would be the ideal, it's hardly realistic, he knows. Even with how ALKALOID has been skyrocketing in popularity — thankfully busy enough to keep a certain eyesore out of the way — they are still featured in tandem with Crazy:B rather often, as "units that debuted at the same time and get along well." Thus, working alongside one another is regrettably unavoidable.

Even with that being said, he's not prepared to see the saintly bastard himself at the scene of his next job. It didn't feel like so long ago that HiMERU had rejected the offer for that disgusting sequel concept (not that their unit is exactly drowning in work offers, but it's important to draw the line when needed, and that was definitely needed, lest the man snap and attempt murder in front of a film crew — again!).

He knew that the production staff had been taking more time to cast his opposite, with great consideration to potential on-screen chemistry, but... isn't this just too much? Some deliberately sick joke? Another hidden camera prank? A part of him is almost wishing for one of the Aoi twins to jump out to speed along the punchline, but no such thing happens. Of course. It's never that easy. Not whenever he's involved.

The best he can do for now is grin and bear it. HiMERU is... a professional, after all. They've only just begun. No need to overreact. Just stay calm, and take it one step at a time.

His smile may be plastered on, but that's just business as usual.]

Tatsumi. What a coincidence to find you here today. So the rumors are true, then? We're to be co-stars... again?

Comments

[meiq]

[He tries to keep his flickering gaze discreet in how it dips down to the offensive knee slotting between his own, then lifts again to Tatsumi's face with an almost accusatory edge to his frosty eyes. What are you fucking doing, he wants to spit, but he already knows the answer here, despite not willingly inviting it. This is... work. This is practice. This is study. This is— an absurdly compromising position to be found in without official premise of rehearsal or cameras rolling (and have they not already learned enough about these situations where they think they won't be seen!? Kazehaya Tatsumi!).

Though it cannot be helped to some extent, HiMERU is tired of balking at every little thing Tatsumi does in his presence. Every millimeter more of closeness he forgives is another needle swallowed, but his life has always been one of trial and endurance; his pride would never allow so much as a speckle of blood on his lips, so he'll continue to drink in each dreadful inch of this proximity and will himself not to cough any of it up.

Even though the following words and the smooth palm slipping against his make him want to puke.

Something dark and malicious winds thick knots in his stomach, and despite the unperturbed quirk of his lips, for just a moment, his focus seems to rest somewhere far beyond the man in front of him now — a distant happiness, a simpler time. Things both long gone. How quickly people change.

Another blink of his eyes snaps him back to this regrettable present, his fingers twitching uncomfortably within Tatsumi's grasp.]

... If you mean to say HiMERU has not changed from a year ago, that reads as more of an insult than a compliment. He's worked hard to become the ideal idol he is now, and he'd thank you to not diminish the progress he's made despite all his lost time.

[Ah, but this isn't about him. He'll digress, clear his throat. And make it at least seem like he never strayed from the true topic at hand.]

For an immortal to reduce the mortals to one crowning, captivating moment. A singular snapshot of that life with no regard to its other triumphs or calamities alike. Why, it's as though he thinks himself a god among men. How arrogant. How... pitiful. Even should he come to understand humans more, the humans would not do the same for him. Such is the cost of hierarchy.

[withbendedknee]

[ A priest. A saint. Someone capable of achieving anything. There are so many labels that Tatsumi wants to eschew, and "a god among men" is certainly one of them. The gap between himself and other people remains a raw memory: he would rather be cursed and trampled under the heels of his former followers, than be placed back on the pedestal they built for him. At that height, the air was impossible to breathe.

He doesn't mind arrogant and pitiful— he won't deny being either of those things. The words have the weight of legitimacy behind them, coming from HiMERU. His challenging expression makes him want to fall to his knees and drink down more of the venom spilling from his lips.

But this isn't about him. HiMERU is in character. He's diligently read through the script, and went over the scenes he found "challenging" three more times. While there aren't any lines exactly like what HiMERU had said, the spirit of his character is clearly there. Coupled with the helpful suggestion to take things slower, he takes the pressure off HiMERU's hands. It's a false offering of benevolence, a chance to push back, however futile it would be. ]

A "God among men?" You of all people should know a vampire is the furthest thing from God, even more so than humans.

[ A smile that doesn't reach his eyes plays across his lips as he whispers in a low voice. ]

Wouldn't it be better to consider me a cohort of the Devil Himself?