jigglephysics | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It's not like things have been chaotic since he left.

Yuugi slipped out in the night and things got even duller. He gave up on school - there wasn't any chance that he would graduate or go anywhere, anyway, and got a part-time job. He tried to keep his nose out of trouble, just in case Yuugi came back. He spent some more time with Shizuka. He tried to keep up with what was going on at the school with everyone through Honda, who was scraping by. He had more drive about academics than Jou did, after all.

Otherwise, he tried to just keep out of the house, only checking in for sleep and the mail. His dad didn't dare find out he left school. He didn't want to see how that fight would go, if he cared at all. He's sure it'd end up with a neighbor calling the police again.

He tried not to start fights, to get his hands dirty with stealing too much or being places he shouldn't be. He tried to keep to the better parts of town... but there's only so much he can do to avoid things the stink of a street punk attracted to him.

Fights still happened. Sometimes, he still stole, when he had to. Sometimes, he got a mouth on him and told off the wrong people. He couldn't help what came naturally to him and he couldn't help his need to lash out when he felt all alone now.

It sucks that he's ended up here, on the steps in front of Seto Kaiba's home, of all places, but where else could he go after a fight like that? He can take on a lot of guys, but not when he's caught off-guard. He won in the loosest sense, but getting away became top priority once the other guys were down. They'd get up again in no time and hunt him down.

So he climbed the fence, one shoe missing, jacket gone and hands stiff from throwing punches. He ended up on the other side and ambled his way to the steps that lead up to the door.

He wonders how long he can stay out here, just perched in the dying light outside of one Seto Kaiba's house, dribbling blood from his lips and nose onto his pristine stairs and filling the perfect air with tobacco smoke as he tries to figure out what the hell to do, or where the hell to go.

His answer comes in a hand hauling him up by the scruff of his shirt and dragging him inside, a voice berating him with who's and why's and cursing. He barely recognizes the voice, but he's sure it's one of Seto's henchman, dragging him in for a brief interrogation before preparing to boot him out.

Nice safe spot while it lasted. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't be an idiot, you're not leaving. If you get killed after someone's seen you on my estate, what do you think it's going to look like?

[ he could always offer him some sort of escort, give one of his guards the day off, but no — that would be too much. and who knows what the thugs around here would stop at? the last thing he needs is to lose one of his men on top of everything else this day has brought him. and he prefers to do things in the most efficient way.

if anything, he can check surveillance, see if he can't figure out when they've given up the chase. he doesn't need jonouchi staying here any longer than he has to, but his image doesn't need to suffer any more than it already has, either. he has a business to run, after all. kaiba land is more important to him than a few hours of discomfort.

it's easy to tell himself all that, of course. but the practicalities have either slipped his mind, or are below his notice. ]

I doubt they'll track you for longer than a day. You can go tomorrow morning.

Edited 2016-01-20 05:12 (UTC)

I said I'm-- wait, what?

[ That wasn't even remotely the response he expected. Shouldn't Kaiba be shoving him out now that his face is clean? What did he care about punks with knives and fists? It's not that Jou can't take them, either, he just doesn't want caught off-guard again but...

Is Seto Kaiba really offering him a safe haven on a flimsy excuse like that?

He doesn't try to combat it, slack jaw closing slowly as his brow furrows at him. He almost can't come up with a response.

Is he really letting him stay here until morning? It's not a joke? ]

I-- you serious?

[ heh. seeing that dumb expression of shock on jonouchi's face makes him want to smile. this is the least insidious way to get one over on him — it's not like he's sacrificing anything to stay the night here — but he'll take advantage of anything. he hasn't had a proper conversation with anyone besides mokuba about something other than business for... well...

business is what's most important. ]

I'm in negotiations to start construction on another Kaiba Land within the next year. I can't let anything happen that could set back my plans. Especially not something involving you.

[ those plans of his are still a while off, it's true, but it's never a bad idea to be cautious about these things. ]

[ Jou's still in shock. This can't be an act of kindness. Is there a catch? Surely, someone like Kaiba plans to get something out of everything. Is he really just letting him couch crash without any consequences?

He can't believe it... but he won't question it, at risk of giving him ideas. He knows better than to do that, at least. ]

... I'll be out by morning, then.

Good.

[ that's that, then. how hard can it be to entertain jonouchi for a night? it's not like he has to chaperon him. what could he even do? steal something? despite his vocal opinion of him, seto doubts even he's that stupid. it'd take a lot of guts. and other than that...

there's nothing for seto to concern himself with. ]

Two doors down and to the right there's a room you can use for the night. I expect it to look the same as I left it by the time you're out of here.

[ seto uncrosses his arms and stands up like he's about to walk out, but he only returns to his desk. there were still a few things he needed to sort out before he finished work for the day... then he'll go talk to mokuba about their unexpected guest... ]

Edited 2016-01-21 01:14 (UTC)

[ Thankfully, Jou only has sticky fingers these days when he's hungry or short on smokes. He tries to go back and sneak money to the shops later when he has it.

Aside from that, he likes living, and nicking stuff from Kaiba is an equation for death. ]

For Mokuba's sake, I'll keep it nice and tidy. I'll even make the bed in the morning.

[ He watches him meander back behind the desk and takes it as a cue that he should probably get out of his hair. He's too achy and wound up to just go to bed, but maybe he can nab him later when he hears him wandering out of here.

He turns and gives Seto a half-hearted wave, set on finding his room in this huge place. ]

[ seto searches for something biting to say in response to jonouchi's mention of his brother, but nothing's come to mind by the time he's opened the door. his acknowledgement ends up being wordless. it makes the back of his neck prickle with the sense that he's done something wrong, but it's too late now to take it back. anyway, his reasoning is perfectly sound. he won't lose anything by letting him stay here for some odd hours. his personal space is important to him, but they're not even going to be in the same room. in fact, if jonouchi knows better, he'll leave without making his presence known. then they won't even have to see one another again.

that would be ideal, wouldn't it? so he closes his laptop thirty minutes later with an air of finality and a sense of satisfaction. if they'd fought, it wouldn't have ruined his night, but getting the matter dealt with quickly is almost more satisfying than tearing into him would have been.

the door shuts behind him softly as he steps outside and into the hall, intent on finding mokuba. ]

[ Jounouchi finds his guest room and plants himself on the bed after plucking off his only shoe. He lets his stained shirt drop to the floor, figuring he's got to deal with being down a pair of shoes and an outfit. It's happened before, but he's annoyed. These shoes were new and no pair of shoes is cheap.

He half-dozes until he hears that same door down the hall open and shut, quiet but just enough to be caught by his ears.

Does he ask for food? Does he put up with his stomach grumbling? It's a little too risky... but he does crack his door, peering out to see what Kaiba's up to. He's bored already but he knows he walks a fine line here. ]

[ in the midst of trying to decide whether he should have something prepared for his dinner or settle for yesterday's leftovers, and similarly wondering whether or not mokuba's eaten his dinner yet, seto feels a different sort of prickling at the back of his neck. he glances over his shoulder with his eyes narrowed, a frown swiftly appearing on his face. he knows exactly where to look, so the open door doesn't slip past his notice even for a second. ]

If you want something, speak up. And stop staring.

[ it's weird. ]

[ Jou makes a face, surprised when he's noticed. Damn, he tried to be so quiet, too. He nearly just shuts the door again, but he frowns instead and concedes to opening his mouth about it.

If he gets too hungry, he knows he'll become a true pain in the ass. ]

Uh... you... have dinner yet?

[ there's a loaded pause in which he debates whether or not to tell the truth, and then whether or not to answer at all. ugh. but if he gets caught in his lie, then he'll be forced to own up to the fact that he chose not to deny him outright. and why isn't he just telling him to shove off?

whatever. who does he have to explain himself to? ]

... No.

[ but that doesn't mean he won't make him ask for it. ]

[ He huffs. Is he really that hungry?

His stomach growls loudly.

Yes... he is that hungry. He looks down at his own navel, angry at his organ's betrayal, before sulking in the doorway. ]

I -- uh...

[ No, he can't do it. Staying here is already enough of a blow to his pride. He'll owe him even more if he asks. ]

Nevermind.

[ why can't he just ask? although he's the last person who can speak about prioritizing pride over basic needs, the irony is lost on him. well, if he doesn't want to eat, then that's his choice. jonouchi isn't here to be looked after, he's here so his reputation continues to be unsullied.

seto eyes him a moment longer, and then turns his back to his face. ]

Fine. It doesn't make any difference to me if you go hungry.

[ when he walks away, he doesn't look back. ]

[ Luckily, that sounds enough like a challenge for Jou to step out of the room and forward after Kaiba. He doesn't need an invitation, just a poke at the buttons. He follows behind him, not saying anything.

He knows they'll just argue, at this rate. His stomach's growling is as loud as he'd normally be, anyway. ]

[ seto doesn't bother to look back. he knows that jonouchi is going to follow him downstairs, knows that something about what he said, or the way he said it, was enough to kick him into gear. for a moment he entertains the thought of telling him to go back to his room and wait, or forcing him to ask before he starts walking around the estate uninvited, but he saves it for later. he had hoped they wouldn't have to deal with each other for the rest of the night, and now that that plan has been dashed... ]

I see your stomach is giving your brain the directions now.

[ he never really got the hang of small-talk. ]

[ Jounouchi flusters, curling his fists and stepping loudly behind him on purpose to show his annoyance with his statement. Everything that comes out of him always sounds insulting, no matter what it is.

He huffs and crosses his arms across his chest, puffing it out. ]

Some of us work up appetites after running around all day. Not everyone has the luxury of sitting on their ass all day.

[ it's so easy, he doesn't even have to try. maybe it's just because it's coming from his mouth that it's so offensive, but he doesn't rise to the bait that jonouchi sets out for him, at least not right away. he has a job, doesn't he? he can't remember what it was, something he could get away with doing while still attending school...

they're almost to the kitchen by the time he speaks again. ]

I do as much work in a day as you do in a week, Jonouchi.

[ past the dining room, seto pushes open the door into the kitchen. it's too late for the cook to be on duty. he could call her in, but... faster to just get it himself. ]

[ Jounouchi puffs out his cheeks for a moment. Just how did he know? It's not like Jou is keeping up with the Kaibas when it came to his personal state of being. He'd been working a lot more, lately, to try and get out of his dad's debt hole. Not being in school helped but... even if his hours weren't the same, he was still physically doing more, right? ]

Yeah, sure. I believe that.

You couldn't even touch my job.

[ technically, he does quite a few, but ceo is his official title. of course, jonouchi knows all that. he even knows the circumstances by which he came into this role. it still rankles after all this time that his entire past was put on display for yuugi and his friends to see, along the whole sordid deal with noah as it was revealed to him. if he could remove the information from their minds, he would. if he could remove it from his own mind... well, he can't say he's better off knowing about the dead adoptive sibling who tried to kill him and his brother both.

the double-doored fridge opens with a crack, cool air pouring out into white mist around his ankles before quickly disappearing. it's stocked full of wrapped left-over dinners and elaborate-looking desserts, the latter owing to mokuba. seto picks up an untouched plate of steak and vegetables. ]

And I doubt you could handle mine. Ya ever think about how hard the people below you must work? It's not playing around just because people on my level aren't managing people and whatever. Someone's gotta be out there, working their hands down to nothing, or nothin' would ever get done. You know that, don't you?

[ Seto let him in, is letting him stay, so he's trying super hard to bite his tongue and not be ungrateful. He knows Seto has been at the bottom... but it's been a long time since he's worn holes in his shoes and couldn't buy a new pair. He's had a full fridge for years.

He sits at the table, because it's not like he can just waltz in there. He doesn't know what he can and can't grab. He huffs and rests his chin on his palm. ]

Are you lecturing me? Because it isn't cute. I'm not talking generalizations, I'm talking about you.

[ what, does jonouchi honestly think he doesn't know these things? the same rules still apply, no matter where you are on the ladder of wealth — the strong eat the weak. maybe there's some room for exceptions, and cooperation certainly has its advantages (if jonouchi's predicament tonight is any indication, it does) but he isn't about to admit that here. perhaps if it were yuugi...

but yuugi is gone.

seto turns back to give jonouchi an icy glance and shuts the refrigerator door. ]

Come get your food, I'm not picking for you.

[ he leaves his own plate on the counter while he finds himself a fork and knife, sets them out, and then goes about unwrapping his meal and setting the time on the microwave. his unspoken intention is that jonouchi follow his lead, because there's no way in hell that he's preparing his food for him. if he's so good with his hands, then he can serve himself. ]

I could say something really raw right now, but I'm trying to be thankful you're not kicking my ass out on the street. You keep flapping your lips, I won't hold back.

[ He spits this out through grit teeth, looking Kaiba dead in the eyes. He's not afraid to match him word for word. It helps, knowing Kaiba's background. After all, Jou can remind him he would have been in the same shoes, if not for a stroke of luck. If not for being given one flash in the pan opportunity, he'd be just as destitute and knuckle-dragging as him.

He'd have a home to hide from, still, and a social responsibility to sink with his father the way Jou is sinking with his.

His hands smack the table when he's ordered to go pick through the daunting refrigeration unit. He pushes himself up and out of his chair, crossing the room and grabbing the first plate he sees. Some kind of meat and veg, he won't question it. Food is food for him. He sets it on the table and makes a point to be patient so he doesn't physically cross his path. ]

[ seto watches jonouchi carefully while the microwave hums, giving himself time before making the decision between forcing his hand or accepting his begrudging thanks. does it really matter? what could he possibly say to him, anyway? it's not like he actually cares what a loser like him thinks. ]

No, you go ahead and say what you want. Just don't think it's going to make any difference to me.

[ Jou whips around in his seat to stare Kaiba down, fist curled on his knee as he takes a deep breath, trying not to get irate.

He appreciates this, he does. Most people wouldn't give him a bed and food for the night, but goddamn it, he won't be stepped on in exchange. ]

Fine, you wanna know the truth? You're only where you are 'cause you got lucky! Hard work or no, you'd be in the same shit I am if you hadn't caught the eye of some crazy rich guy by chance. Trust me, I know kids from orphanages, they're the kinda guys that did this to my nose now. They didn't get lucky breaks.

You can talk shit on me all you want, but in the end, you only got away from this life by luck. You don't know a damn thing about what the hell I've been doing out there! I bet I've been working just as long as you, but guess what?

You never had to make ends meet! You got to go straight to the top! So I won't keep having some asshole like you look down on me just because you don't have some shithead at home who's been dragging you down from the moment you were brought into this godforsaken world and I'm definitely not gonna put up with you acting like I'm some bum asshole who does nothing with his life! I can't even finish school in this shitty situation, but I'm trying.

But sure, keep acting like you're busting your ass more than I am. But remember, you could nap for a fuckin' month and Mokuba'd be financially fine and bound for studying abroad. I sit on my ass, Shizuka doesn't get to go to university. Ever. So shut your goddamn mouth, eat your food, and stop getting on my case before I take my chances with the punks trying to bash my brains in out there, got it, Kaiba-sama?!

[ it's almost funny, he thinks, as he stands and watches jonouchi spit out his tirade — if he had said something like this to him just a few months ago, or the year before, he would have kicked him out onto the street without a word. actually, he never would have invited him in, if that were the case. his reputation could have suffered for all he would have cared — or maybe it was just that his pride was more important to him then. has he been humbled to some minuscule degree? honestly, he doesn't know.

his nose wrinkles at the word luck, but he still manages to let him finish. it never pays to interrupt people, anyway. better to let them run out of steam, so you can be sure they're listening. the microwave dings, but seto ignores it. ]

See, was that so hard?

[ it sounds a lot less jeering than he means it to, but then, jonouchi seems less upset at him than he is at his situation. it's not the personal attack it could have been. he was expecting a complete character assassination, going by the look on his face. ]

I'll admit that you have problems of your own, but don't sit there and tell me I'm here because I'm lucky. I don't care if it was chance, or fate, or any of that other garbage that was responsible for Gozaburo and I meeting — I took my future into my own hands to get where I am now, and you know exactly what would have happened if I hadn't.

Besides, I never said you were a bum. Don't put words in my mouth.

[ he was trying to say that he was a loser, but he doesn't want to hear him go for a second round, so he keeps his mouth shut for once. instead, he turns his back and gets his food out of the microwave. warm enough. ]

Edited 2016-01-23 02:49 (UTC)