[Eli represses the urge to sigh dramatically at the idol thing. Momo told him about this and Eli judged him pretty hard for calling himself an idol. He'll try to suspend his disbelief or whatever, since it's Ko and Ko is cool.]
Sounds like a band to me... [He murmurs this almost too quietly to hear, looking off to the side.]
Augmented perform here sometimes. [He gestures to the stage.] I'm sure they'd let you guys.
[He murmurs, taking the toothpick-speared cherry out of his drink and biting it, baring his sharp teeth as he does. Eli knows a fair bit about computers from his time here, and has probably heard electronic music, but hasn't put two and two together, necessarily.]
Could you get those kinds of instruments here? Or. Those kinds of computers, I guess?
[He chuckles breathily.]
I'm five feet tall. I can't judge anyone for that. It's cute, though.
[It makes him want to get Ko sloshed just to see what he's like drunk.]
Well, I have money, so if you find any I can help you get them.
[He says this casually, like he's saying he has carrots in his fridge at home. This is a man who definitely grew up with money. He makes a note to himself to keep an eye out for computers that can make music.
A petty jealousy flares in him as Ko mentions Atsuhide's height. Gods, tall people. They seem to exist just to make him miserable.]
He wouldn't be so tall if I drank him under the table.
[He says wryly, eyes narrowing with mock-hatred as he takes another sip of his drink.]
[He hopes he gets some more money from the money fairy soon. Or whatever. Because it's not like he can easily get a job with a criminal record. He'll figure it out.]
There's always trouble of some kind when you roll with me... I'm kinda trying to lay low since my last slew of chaotic events, but I'd be up for some light trouble with you. Something tamer.
( That wink. Dammit, Eli. Ko hides his mouth with a swig of his whiskey-coke, sinking a little further in his seat. )
I'm almost scared to ask what light trouble is for you. I think we must've been very different growing up.
( Ko was lonely and moody and pushing people away despite needing attention and love desperately. Highly focused and driven. Disadvantaged but determined.
His eyes narrow, but they're unfocused on the spot in front of him. )
Exploring, mostly. Our tiny village wasn't much, but there were some off limits spots he liked to go to. We planned trips to the city but never seemed to make it.
( He'd sing for him in a certain empty cathedral; tone deaf as he was, Ko tried his hardest, and Reiji still somehow enjoyed it. Probably one of the kindest souls he'd ever known. )
Mm. I haven't been terribly bored, but that might be more the people instead of Karteria itself ...
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 06:43 pm (UTC)From:Not a band, more like an ... idol unit.
( "Idol unit with office and community outreach work" is the easier way to describe it. )
It started off as just us, but we've gotten a more mature sound with the addition of two others. Takakage and Shino.
( Performing with all of them once more would be the dream. His expression goes fond, nostalgic, laying his cheek against his hand. )
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Date: 2026-01-19 04:05 am (UTC)From:Sounds like a band to me... [He murmurs this almost too quietly to hear, looking off to the side.]
Augmented perform here sometimes. [He gestures to the stage.] I'm sure they'd let you guys.
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Date: 2026-01-19 11:57 am (UTC)From:( The server comes over with drinks, then, placing them down and then departing. Ko can't help a laugh, but its fond. )
I wonder if we'd fit in here ... our sound seems pretty different.
( Given the whole EDM thing. )
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Date: 2026-01-20 07:03 am (UTC)From:[Eli leans his cheek in his hand and wonders whether he would enjoy a singing-dancing performance of Ko's, or find it kind of cringe.]
Different how?
[Eli had definitely never listened to EDM.
Their drinks come, Eli's looking a bit extra with its little cherry spear on top.]
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Date: 2026-01-20 11:23 pm (UTC)From:( Ko takes a sip of his drink. )
I think the genre tends to lend better to what we can do with our voices. It's pretty versatile.
( He pauses, takes another drink, and then shivers. )
... Don't judge me for being kind of a lightweight.
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Date: 2026-01-21 03:08 am (UTC)From:[He murmurs, taking the toothpick-speared cherry out of his drink and biting it, baring his sharp teeth as he does. Eli knows a fair bit about computers from his time here, and has probably heard electronic music, but hasn't put two and two together, necessarily.]
Could you get those kinds of instruments here? Or. Those kinds of computers, I guess?
[He chuckles breathily.]
I'm five feet tall. I can't judge anyone for that. It's cute, though.
[It makes him want to get Ko sloshed just to see what he's like drunk.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-21 04:29 am (UTC)From:( There's a dreamy sort of look in his eyes briefly, before he laughs at Eli's words. )
I wish build had a little more to do with it in some cases ... Atsuhide's huge. Six foot one and he's more of a lightweight than me.
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Date: 2026-01-21 04:50 am (UTC)From:[He says this casually, like he's saying he has carrots in his fridge at home. This is a man who definitely grew up with money. He makes a note to himself to keep an eye out for computers that can make music.
A petty jealousy flares in him as Ko mentions Atsuhide's height. Gods, tall people. They seem to exist just to make him miserable.]
He wouldn't be so tall if I drank him under the table.
[He says wryly, eyes narrowing with mock-hatred as he takes another sip of his drink.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-21 05:10 am (UTC)From:( Unexpected, but maybe he should have expected it. Seeing as he'd gotten Ko an expensive outfit on the first day they met.
Oh no. )
Well ... If I can bully him, you'll have no problem. I'm sure you'd be able to drink him under the table just fine.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-23 12:36 am (UTC)From:[He hopes he gets some more money from the money fairy soon. Or whatever. Because it's not like he can easily get a job with a criminal record. He'll figure it out.]
Hard to imagine you bullying anyone.
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Date: 2026-01-24 01:25 pm (UTC)From:Ko just grins. )
He's seen the worst of my growing pains. I used to be worse as a child, I think.
( Then he finishes off his drink, making a little noise in the back of his throat. )
Oh, that felt stronger ... Don't let me get too stupid.
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Date: 2026-01-26 06:22 am (UTC)From:[Wait, no don't. He was awful.]
What if I want you to get stupid?
[He smiles teasingly, playing with Ko's hand.]
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Date: 2026-01-26 10:12 am (UTC)From:Then I'd call you brave. I tend to get bitey, but I can't remember the last time I was proper drunk.
( Although Eli kind of likes bitey, huh. )
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Date: 2026-01-26 04:46 pm (UTC)From:[Eli immediately looks for the server, flags them down.]
Another whiskey-coke for him. Double. [He points at Ko and then holds up two fingers. The server nods and goes off to make it, and Eli grins.]
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Date: 2026-01-26 06:20 pm (UTC)From:You like being bitten up that much? You can just ask.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-26 06:41 pm (UTC)From:[Won't get what you want if no one knows what you want; might as well be frank.]
Plus, I think you'd be a cute drunk. Aside from being cute all the time.
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Date: 2026-01-27 12:04 am (UTC)From:Alright, but I don't want to go overboard. I'm relying on you.
( Then he takes a bigger swig of his whiskey-coke. )
Although ... I think the bartender might be secretly on your side, or something.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-27 12:33 am (UTC)From:[He doesn't have enough discipline for himself, let alone other people.
He smiles smugly.]
They know me here.
[Which perhaps is nothing to brag about since it means he probably just has a drinking problem. Don't worry about it.]
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Date: 2026-01-28 01:37 am (UTC)From:( Hmm. Maybe a little is fine.
It doesn't occur to him this could be because of some weird Spectral impulsivity, so he drinks again and sits back in his seat. )
I think even as a teenager I didn't really get up to much trouble ... I'd be in your care again if the mood strikes.
( He says it sardonically; Ko isn't the type to get into trouble very much. )
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Date: 2026-01-28 02:08 am (UTC)From:[He winks.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 03:13 am (UTC)From:I'm almost scared to ask what light trouble is for you. I think we must've been very different growing up.
( Ko was lonely and moody and pushing people away despite needing attention and love desperately. Highly focused and driven. Disadvantaged but determined.
His eyes narrow, but they're unfocused on the spot in front of him. )
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 03:19 am (UTC)From:[It sounds like they weren't that different, actually, just that Eli got the attention he craved by kicking, screaming, and fighting.
He tilts his head at Ko's reaction, reaching over to run a fingertip along his jaw toward his chin to encourage Ko to look at him.]
You okay? What are you thinking?
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Date: 2026-01-28 03:29 am (UTC)From:Reiji and Eli would have gotten along, he thinks. )
I'm alright, just thinking about a friend. One who would try to drag me into things from time to time.
( As though he's uncomfortable with talking about himself, he polishes off his drink. )
Oh. Okay. Yeah, the bartenders are definitely on your side here.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 04:05 am (UTC)From:What kind of things?
[He grins, downing the rest of his own drink.]
They don't water it down, that's for sure. That's part of why I like this place. You'll find a lot of Karteria is watered down and boring.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-28 04:54 am (UTC)From:( He'd sing for him in a certain empty cathedral; tone deaf as he was, Ko tried his hardest, and Reiji still somehow enjoyed it. Probably one of the kindest souls he'd ever known. )
Mm. I haven't been terribly bored, but that might be more the people instead of Karteria itself ...