[Week 3, Thursday: Ichigo]

[purrtagonist]

[the abandoned bowling alley is graciously empty at this time of night. no Players, no shadow people, nothing but Ichgio recovering from his near week-long bender. which is perfect for Akira]

[wherever Ichigo is sitting, Akira comes to stand next to him, hip leaning against the back of the chair. he reaches out to ruffle his red hair, and if Ichigo looks up, he'll find that Akira's expression is. . . peaceful]

What's up, partner?

. . . mind if I steal your evening?

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[a soft snort]

We don't really have to wait that long to meet up again.

[even if they pretend to be ON THE ROCKS in public, they can still hang out otherwise. right?]

[. . . unless Ichigo really didn't want to see him until Monday, which. was fine. but also kind of disheartening]

[bladeisme]

Well...

[He scratches the back of his head, a little sheepishly.]

It's not like I don't want to, but....if I'm going to do this right and not mess up, I'll have to stay away from you.

[Honestly, he didn't want to be away that long, either. But there were other things he had to think about, like his bad lying. And also -]

...Plus, in order to keep myself from saying too much and sliping up...I was going to get drunk over 'you dumping me' or something.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

I feel like I should be concerned over how much you drink.

[bladeisme]

I'm fine.

[He's not fine, it's a shitty coping mechanism.]

It's not like it can hurt me any - I'm a Reaper, so all I get is drunk with no ill side effects. It's not like they're going to give us a bar after this week again, so - why not, right?

[He needs an intervention, honestly?]

[purrtagonist]

It isn't the alcohol's effect on you I'm worried about.

[it's the fact that he copes like this at all???]

[bladeisme]

[He just scowls at his partner, wings flapping a little harder.]

I'm not an alcoholic, if that's what you're saying.

[He is totally an alcoholic in the 'uses it as a bad coping mechanism' way.]

It's a good way to act like an idiot and hide suspicion, is all.

[Yet, maybe, he doth protest too much...?]

...Anyway, it's not like I asked Max for alcohol or anything before this week, so you don't have to worry.

[purrtagonist]

I'm pretty sure using alcohol to cope with bad feelings is the definition of being an alcoholic?

[he's. just saying]

Just. . . moderate yourself.

[bladeisme]

...I do.

[He doesn't say anything to that statement, and instead just looks away.

He does know he has a problem, but...What other options did he have?]

Yeah. So...I'll see you around, Akira.

[His wings vanish, and he quickly leaves the area, not looking back.]

[purrtagonist]

All-- [right, is what he almost says. but Ichigo is up and out the door before he can finish his statement. so instead, he just watches his partner leave, observing as his back disappears through the door]

[. . .]

[he makes a mental note to bring this up again at a later date]