[ open ] i'm paid to smile

[kaientai]

Who ⬤ sakamoto ryouma + you!
What ⬤ september catch-all
When ⬤ september!
Where ⬤ wherever!
Content Warnings ⬤ will add as needed!

Comments

[threateningly]

You make the mistake of thinking that I'm assuming anything at all. Had I assumed much about you, I think we might be enemies rather than...

[Can he say "friends" to Sakamoto Ryouma? Is that... like... allowed? What the hell is he, actually? Well, good questions all around and trauma!]

...good company. [Nailed it.] I don't think you're "good" or "bad" by defualt. I think you're intelligent. I think you're clever, but you don't always heed when that cleverness is going to get you into trouble. I think you're the sort of person who could understand what I've experienced and not want to turn me out into the cold. I think that even if you aren't "good", you are likely still my better in certain regards, and an absolute idiot in others.

[That was a lot. Sannan takes a drink.]

But, had I not had the advantage of coming here, I never would have thought of you as much more than a hypocritical nuisance. As it stands, I quite enjoy being around you, and working with you almost as much.

[kaientai]

[ judging by the way ryouma's brows raise, he doesn't miss where sannan has to consider what to call this arrangement. he's a lot more flippant about throwing friendship around but knows very well that doesn't hold for other people, given his years of experience with his best friend. ]

Can I still be a hypocritical nuisance, though?

[ he doesn't know why he's like this. he can be perfectly serious, but often enough, he gets the urge to react playfully. maybe he likes to see what he can get away with, or maybe while talking about how they're both prone to the same dark, heavy feelings, it just makes sense to want to encourage a little levity. given how he's been feeling, he's not going to think about it too hard. ]

I appreciate ya sayin' so, though. I'm enjoyin' this too. [ maybe he leaves this a little vague on purpose. ] Maybe ya won't end up carryin' my ass home after all.

[threateningly]

[Forgive him for being skittish about calling someone a friend when loyalty amongst contemporaries is a sore subject. He'll cave sooner rather than later.]

I wouldn't want you to be any other way, so yes.

[If he wasn't Ryouma-ing he wouldn't be Ryouma, would he? Sannan can have his fun and read him comparatively for a certain type of filth, though.]

I quite like you just the way you are.

[Which he can say before "friend", apparently.]

And even if I do carry you home, at least I'll be a gentleman about it. [Sip.] I won't give you a hard time in the slightest. [SIIIIIIP.]

[kaientai]

[ fortunately, ryouma doesn't get overly hung up on labels, especially when there are other factors to consider.

these particular assurances, however? it helps to hear them right now. he knows when other people tell him to quit doing the stupid, dangerous things he does sometimes that they mean well, but when you're low, even things like that can sting unintentionally.

he will also take that obvious bait. ]

Why be a gentleman when ya ain't gotta be? You're off the clock, right?

[ ryouma knows sannan is hardly a prime example of an orderly employee of the department of the enma so that's the joke. he finishes off his drink and raises his hand for another because drinking with company is a lot more entertaining and he's just getting started. ]