[ no! dextera would never punch guren unless he had to, and even then, he probably would try to find another way. the fact is that dextera is combat ready, but against another person? how barbarous.
he shakes his head, and there’s an emphatic sign between them. a little exasperated. ]
[ Boo! He squeezes their hands and then drops Dextera’s again, but only so he can actually make a sign himself. It’s one he remembers from a few times, probably from chess... “Fun.” ]
Besides, otherwise I don’t buy it.
[ But he is only teasing now, and doesn’t expect much else. ]
[ dextera is surprised and flattered that guren would offer him a sign in return—and he smiles, but there’s oddly something just a little competitive to it. he’s not going to deck guren in the face or anything, because he doesn’t want to, but he catches guren’s hand at the end of that sign and forces him to hold his palm there.
listen... let him do this. ]
OK.
[ once he’s sure that guren is on the uptake after all, dextera pulls back and throws his weight into a punch against guren’s hand. he’s got a surprising amount of strength behind it, for a guy who looks like he could be blown over by a strong breeze. ]
[ YEAH, PUNCH HIM!! Guren is grinning, of course, and he takes the punch to his palm smoothly, closing his fingers over Dextera’s fist to emphasize it. That was a good amount of strength! And even when Guren teases him by tugging on that fist enough to try and get Dextera to stumble closer into him, he doesn’t discount that. ]
You’re not bad. [ Still would’ve been more fun without warning, but that’s fine. ] You wouldn’t be able to use that sword of yours if you didn’t have strength, though. Let alone picking up that gun.
[ dextera stumbles, because of course he does, but guren’s assessment is correct anyway—the rifle is heavy, and his swords are heavy, too. the one he has is one of the lighter ones, for that matter, and it’s still pretty brutal to pick up. ]
Told you.
[ he feels confident enough, defending himself against guren’s teasing—because he knows guren doesn’t mean it. ]
[ Smug, and not letting go of that fist until it’s been held for a noticeable amount of time, he looks Dextera in the eyes. He enjoys their silly little games like this. He likes them so much... ]
You sure you don’t want this crown, though? I’m just gonna keep it on a shelf.
[ dextera likes them, too. he never thought he would be the type to pal around with someone like this, but guren is so approachable—so easy to be around, in every way, and dextera adores him.
he only takes his fist back when he feels he should. ]
Yours.
[ he’s not budging on this. guren earned it… the prince. ]
[ dextera can’t help but laugh again, at guren’s frustration. he was embarrassed, when he realized he had been played by kaoru asking about the names of the chickens, but he’s not a snitch. ]
They like you. [ it’s as simple as that. ] Popular with ladies.
[ dextera is actually extremely loyal to his friends, so there!!
regardless, dextera’s eyes follow guren to the bookshelf, and it was bound to happen eventually. his gaze settles on the embroidery, and for a moment, he wonders if guren, for some reason… took his? but that doesn’t make any sense, and he doesn’t know how to ask about it, even though his staring makes it quite obvious. ]
But really, Guren finishes putting the crown down and turns, finding Dextera staring immediately at what he was afraid he would. Guren stares right back, like he's still considering if he should offer an answer or make him struggle to ask in the first place.]
[Just like that, he gives the honest answer that maybe he shouldn't, after avoiding bringing it up for so long. He thinks it's fine...!] We got it at the same time, I think.
[He steps back away from the shelf, closer to Dextera.] Weird, huh?
[This is maybe the most awkward silence he's shared with Dextera, and he's shared a good amount of them. Still, watching that embarrassed face is pretty cute.]
They're probably messing with us. Just like everyone at that party.
[Ha ha... He's been wanting to laugh away being called on stage since they were, so god he hopes that's casual.] Punks.
[ dextera did ask kyrie who voted for them—and he’s not sure what emotion he felt when he heard kyrie’s answer. relief, but oddly, a little disappointment, too. ]
Kyrie.
[ no special name sign—just “kyrie,” but explanation enough. he’s the one who was messing with them, along with one other mystery voter. ]
[The name alone is enough to have Guren frowning in genuine distaste, and something like concern. He knows that Kyrie voted for them, of course he did, but the intentions and the results are what he's worried about. If Dextera brings him up, that means...]
[ He’s quiet, still frowning, trying not to look too bothered about it all. But he is...!! ] Sorry. I’m pretty sure he’s got it out for me, in general.
[ Guren rubs the back of his head and looks away. ] I bet he gave you the run around on your question, too. Don’t pay any attention to him, he’s just an asshole.
[ kyrie actually gave him good advice, amidst it all, but dextera can’t talk about that with guren. he can’t. so he’ll just nod, and try his best to lie through omission with his muteness working in his favor. ]
It’s fine.
[ and he rubs his wrist, where his bracelet is missing—still with guren, of course. ]
[ Guren doesn’t know what that means. How could he not mind? It’s weird to him, right? Probably makes no sense. Worries him. He sees that gesture, as small as it is, and reaches to gently take that wrist in his hand. ]
You’re sure? He’s bad enough I thought he might make you wanna reconsider hanging out with me. [ A real worry buried under a dig, and he smooths his thumb over the side of Dextera’s hand. ]
[ dextera doesn’t know what he feels. when guren takes his hand like that, he’s sure guren must also be able to feel the way his pulse quickens. he shakes his head, and he’s suddenly torn between running away and staying right here, like this, forever. ]
OK.
[ a quick reassurance, and he touches guren’s hand. wordlessly, a promise that he wants to keep spending time together. ]
[ it’s strange how fingers over a wrist can be intimate, but the way guren moves his now is unmistakably so. He wants to feel him more, and he doesn’t know how else to say it. Ochako’s words linger in the back of his mind, encouraging him to say something before it’s too late.
But he’s already decided Dextera doesn’t deserve that burden, right? He pulls his hand back with a smirk. ]
Good. [ A pause, and he looks to the side. ] I know you don’t really like my place as much, but you can make yourself comfortable however you want.
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Oh yeah? [ His hand shifts in that hold to try and wrestle his own grip out of it, but it’s still light. Even still: ] Then why don’t you punch me?
[ This is a dangerous path. ]
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[ no! dextera would never punch guren unless he had to, and even then, he probably would try to find another way. the fact is that dextera is combat ready, but against another person? how barbarous.
he shakes his head, and there’s an emphatic sign between them. a little exasperated. ]
Why?
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Besides, otherwise I don’t buy it.
[ But he is only teasing now, and doesn’t expect much else. ]
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[ dextera is surprised and flattered that guren would offer him a sign in return—and he smiles, but there’s oddly something just a little competitive to it. he’s not going to deck guren in the face or anything, because he doesn’t want to, but he catches guren’s hand at the end of that sign and forces him to hold his palm there.
listen... let him do this. ]
OK.
[ once he’s sure that guren is on the uptake after all, dextera pulls back and throws his weight into a punch against guren’s hand. he’s got a surprising amount of strength behind it, for a guy who looks like he could be blown over by a strong breeze. ]
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You’re not bad. [ Still would’ve been more fun without warning, but that’s fine. ] You wouldn’t be able to use that sword of yours if you didn’t have strength, though. Let alone picking up that gun.
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Told you.
[ he feels confident enough, defending himself against guren’s teasing—because he knows guren doesn’t mean it. ]
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[ Smug, and not letting go of that fist until it’s been held for a noticeable amount of time, he looks Dextera in the eyes. He enjoys their silly little games like this. He likes them so much... ]
You sure you don’t want this crown, though? I’m just gonna keep it on a shelf.
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he only takes his fist back when he feels he should. ]
Yours.
[ he’s not budging on this. guren earned it… the prince. ]
The chickens voted.
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[ Don’t REMIND him. He clicks his tongue like that and stares off to the side. The chicken ballots are somewhere. ]
The chickens are a bunch of cheaters. Besides, they should vote for their own god damn owners, not me. [ It made no sense!! ]
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They like you. [ it’s as simple as that. ] Popular with ladies.
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Very funny. Goshi should be here to take that instead. [ He doesn’t want to be popular with the chickens!! Anyway he’ll set this down nicely here. ]
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regardless, dextera’s eyes follow guren to the bookshelf, and it was bound to happen eventually. his gaze settles on the embroidery, and for a moment, he wonders if guren, for some reason… took his? but that doesn’t make any sense, and he doesn’t know how to ask about it, even though his staring makes it quite obvious. ]
…
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But really, Guren finishes putting the crown down and turns, finding Dextera staring immediately at what he was afraid he would. Guren stares right back, like he's still considering if he should offer an answer or make him struggle to ask in the first place.]
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[ a longer pause, and dextera goes for what he feels is the most appropriate and least embarrassing observation. ]
I have one too.
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[Just like that, he gives the honest answer that maybe he shouldn't, after avoiding bringing it up for so long. He thinks it's fine...!] We got it at the same time, I think.
[He steps back away from the shelf, closer to Dextera.] Weird, huh?
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…
[ look at him. he’s embarrassed. ]
Weird.
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They're probably messing with us. Just like everyone at that party.
[Ha ha... He's been wanting to laugh away being called on stage since they were, so god he hopes that's casual.] Punks.
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Kyrie.
[ no special name sign—just “kyrie,” but explanation enough. he’s the one who was messing with them, along with one other mystery voter. ]
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Was he bothering you when you were on your own?
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[ dextera is not good at lying, and thus he gives himself away when he shakes his head, a pink flush creeping up his cheeks.
he’d felt so brave, like it was the most important question he’d ever asked, but now he realizes he was just tricking himself. ]
I asked.
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[ He’s quiet, still frowning, trying not to look too bothered about it all. But he is...!! ] Sorry. I’m pretty sure he’s got it out for me, in general.
[ Guren rubs the back of his head and looks away. ] I bet he gave you the run around on your question, too. Don’t pay any attention to him, he’s just an asshole.
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It’s fine.
[ and he rubs his wrist, where his bracelet is missing—still with guren, of course. ]
I didn’t mind.
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You’re sure? He’s bad enough I thought he might make you wanna reconsider hanging out with me. [ A real worry buried under a dig, and he smooths his thumb over the side of Dextera’s hand. ]
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[ dextera doesn’t know what he feels. when guren takes his hand like that, he’s sure guren must also be able to feel the way his pulse quickens. he shakes his head, and he’s suddenly torn between running away and staying right here, like this, forever. ]
OK.
[ a quick reassurance, and he touches guren’s hand. wordlessly, a promise that he wants to keep spending time together. ]
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But he’s already decided Dextera doesn’t deserve that burden, right? He pulls his hand back with a smirk. ]
Good. [ A pause, and he looks to the side. ] I know you don’t really like my place as much, but you can make yourself comfortable however you want.
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