shoulda slept it off [closed]
WHERE: the park!
WHEN: saturday afternoon, 09/09
WHAT: keigo must meet up with akira to... discuss some things. also to apologize. but what a terrible time to pick to do it, what with those word bubbles and all.
WARNINGS: none to speak of? keigo dying, ig.
[ maybe he should have waited.
keigo had his fill of retrospec's bizarre shenanigans long before this current spurt of nonsense, but this one was particularly nerve-wracking. he was the type of person to guard his innermost thoughts to an almost obsessive degree; the idea of their security being at risk was anxiety-inducing, to put it mildly. keigo didn't want anyone else to know the strange things that went on in his head!
but, all the same, he had to call akira out for a chat. it had been a long time coming, something he'd meant to do a day or so after the incident at the karaoke bar, but with circumstances being what they had been... needless to say, it fell to the wayside. had he only known that there was yet another potentially disastrous glitch in retrospec's system, keigo probably would have spent the rest of the month holed up in his dorm room.
too late now. he sat on one of the benches, waiting for akira to arrive. he wasn't late, or anything... keigo was just anxious and had nothing else to do, aside from either pace in his room or ... sit out in the open with a stupid bubble hovering over his head now and again. maybe pacing would have been the safer alternative, considering the bubble currently projected, "he's gonna think i'm weirder than he already does" for anyone with eyes to see. it was mocking him, wasn't it? ]

no subject
Whether people read them or not are the least of his worries. Even the Phantom Thieves are the last thing on his mind as he makes it over to meet Keigo. He's not exactly sure what is this for or what, maybe he should have asked before coming, but it's fine. It'll be fine. He's fine. He has been doing his best to keep himself afloat, so today shouldn't be any different.
Actually, maybe this will be fun. From what he remembers Keigo was an amusing person, fun to tease, and there's a whole lot of blackmail that can go here. ]
Sorry, were you waiting for me?
[ He fiddles with his bangs instinctively as he shifts the weight over to one side. Let's play coy. ]
no subject
[ what a time to be alive... keigo's eyes flicked upward as he heard akira's approach, a nervous slant to his expression rather obvious the closer he came. though, akira didn't need to see his face to know that, did he...
maybe this was a mistake. he could already sense the mounting humiliation that was going to befall him, but he had to persevere! ]
Well, obviously I've been waiting for you... That's the whole point.
[ keigo looked properly deadpan for that moment before he shifted himself, pulling at the end of his shirt idly. ]
But if you're askin' if you're late, then no.
no subject
[ What happened to the super happy guy that was yelling on the top of his lungs completely stupefied? Akira is a little tame today, so he spares Keigo the very obvious opportunity to make it sound like he's expecting him and it's flattering. Kind of like a lovestruck high school girl on his first date. Another time.
For now, his expression is neutral, but his eyes do gleam with curiosity. He's not exactly sure why he's being called out since... Well, he almost forgot about the karaoke incident after everything. Unfortunately, Keigo serves as the ultimate reminder to him that it Happened. ]
So what did you want to talk about, Higashino?
[ But he can guess from his body language. Someone seems nervous? ]
no subject
[ keigo just offered a shrug in response. he really didn't have it in him to argue semantics, as much as he might have enjoyed the opportunity normally. instead, he crossed his legs at the ankle, trying his best to relax himself enough to tackle the utterly embarrassing reason why he'd asked akira to meet him at all. ]
Eeh... I just.
[ okay, maybe trying to force himself to relax wasn't the best course of action. he sat upright again, now resorting to twisting his fingers through his hair. ]
I wanted to apologize. For before.
[ getting the words out was a challenge, it seemed, evidenced by the way his face flushed in shame. just let him die. ]
no subject
It's no problem... But just so we're on the same page, for what exactly?
[ He remembers, but an apology should always come with an explanation after so long. Out of context theater is fun, but grilling someone is always better. ]
For crying nonstop and draining your nose into my handkerchief? Or...
no subject
[ maybe it was stupid, in the grand scheme of things, to get worked up over something that most people would have brushed off as a dumb mistake. he was young and irresponsible, wasn't that kind of behavior par for the course? well, for keigo, it was more than just being "predictable" as a youth, it was reputation. and who knew, maybe the damage was done already. but damnit, he wouldn't be able to talk to akira in the future if he didn't get this squared away right now.
though, the lack of real tangible memory of the incident he was referring to was sort of... embarrassing on its own. that meant he'd have to remind akira and god. he shook his head. ]
...Well, you don't have to put it in such foul terms. [ really, he was a delicate, bougie fellow. please respect that. ] But no. I mean, yes, also, I guess? [ because why not just apologize for existing at this point? ] But I was referring to uh. The night at the karaoke bar. I never got the chance to apologize. Everythin' sorta went tits-up the past few months.
no subject
[ Keigo sure aged a couple of months after that. He definitely knows better now! Akira looks thoughtful, as if trying to rack up the memory despite having it already in his mind. Leaning back, he strokes his chin and looks up into the sky before closing his eyes for one hot second. Keigo was a delight to be around drunk, even if he thinks most people would not find that at all fun. Akira personally doesn't interact with many and that was during his first month in Retrospec—in a way, he's grateful.
He got this, don't worry. ]
Right, you were hitting on me that night...
[ That does not convey at all the gratitude and his thought bubble is not betraying him right now (god bless). His eyes dart back to Keigo with a scrutinizing look, brow furrowed and lips pursed. ]