sweetdeath | [17 | voice, Japanese]

...Yeah, sure. Thanks, Okita-san. Did Watari ever get around to seeing you? I told him, but it sounds like he's been distracted with some kind of ...dating service thing.

I'll bring some over, then~

He didn't, no. It's. It's okay, though. It's not that bad, really! Hijikata-san has been very mean lately, and he's making me rest.

See you in a few. ♥

...I'll have to drag him over, huh? Good for Hijikata.

It doesn't take long for him to take the excuse to get out of the room, and after a quick explanation runs over to Tsuzuki's room. He knocks briskly and waits patiently for his friend to open the door.

Fixing a smile on his face - it was only half feigned, anyway; he was glad to see Okita - Tsuzuki hurried to the door.

"Hey there," he greeted, stepping back to let the other man enter. "Should I put the water on?"

"Ah!" He looks up from where he's taking off his geta, then straightens up. "It's no trouble! I can do it myself. I asked if you wanted to have tea, right~?"

He moves to put on some water before Tsuzuki can do it. He seems to be doing fine, for all appearances-- a little paler than usual, but not any slower. He doesn't even seem very tired.

"Some host I am," Tsuzuki laughed ruefully. "I can take it off when it's ready - why don't you sit down?"

He glanced around. Hisoka preferred the Western chairs that went with the desks they'd pushed to the sides of the room, but he'd rummaged up a couple of cushions for the floor. One of them had been kicked under a desk. Hastily, he retrieved it, brushing some of the dust off before setting it by the other.

"There you go!"

Souji sits down neatly on top one of the cushions, smiling gratefully. "You're very kind, Tsuzuki-san, but I can handle it. Ah, I brought several types of tea, which one would you like?"

He holds up three different bags, obviously pleased at the fact he can show off a little under the circumstances.

"Wow, where'd you get all of those?" Tsuzuki stared at the bags. "...And what kinds are they?"

"I got them by cleaning for Cid-san~" He beams again, putting the bags down on the floor so Tsuzuki can take them up. "He was very kind to share it with me, and I only had to tidy up a little. I have a little Gyokuro left, some regular green tea, and... Well, I can't read the name on the bag," he says with a little laugh. It's 'Earl Grey'. "It's a little dry, though. Quite odd."

"Hmm," Tsuzuki said, chuckling. "I wonder if Cid-san needs a..." What marketable skills did he have, really? He doubted anyone would pay for having their dirty laundry kicked behind the couch, and it was hard to cook with no spice rack. "...A dance instructor?"

He picked up bag number three. "'Earl Grey.' Wow, he really had quite the selection, didn't he? ...The regular green tea should be fine."

The sound of bubbling behind him reminded him of the water. "Just a minute!" Bouncing back to his feet, he hurried back to take the pot off the heat.

Souji laughs at Tsuzuki's suggestion. "For some reason, he doesn't seem the type. He's very, hmm... gruff. Ah, but Tsuzuki-san can dance?"

He moves to put the other two bags back in his sleeve. He's muttering 'U-- Uru--', trying to pronounce 'Earl Grey', just like Tsuzuki had said it, but it's harder than he'd expected.

"A bit!" Tsuzuki laughed, suppressing his impulse to show off a step or two. After all, he was carrying boiling water, and he'd learned just how long it took blisters to fade after accidentally touching a pot his first week here.

Guiltily, he missed his Shinigami powers at least as much for the convenience. Burned mouths actually lasted for humans. He hadn't remembered that, either.

"Aaru Gurei," he added, helpfully, as he set the pot down on a bit of broken tile next to them.

He looks up with a start, clearly having been in deep thought about this pronunciaton matter. He smiles, thankfully. "What language is it? English? It sounds English. I mean, from what I've heard, at least~"

He slowly goes about preparing the tea for the both of them, smiling. "I'd love to see it sometime, Tsuzuki-san. You seem very graceful for a man your height." Of course, that sort of comment leads him to think about Hijikata dancing, and that's just too silly for words.

"It's English," Tsuzuki confirmed. "I don't really speak it either, but I can read a little. ...And there's a box of that kind that keeps showing up in the break room!"

He blinked as Okita took over making the tea. He was the host.... "You don't have to do that," he protested halfheartedly, "-and really the dancing thing is just a hobby, but I'll tell you if I ever get the opportunity to dance around here..." There was that party, wasn't there? Had he missed it? Tsuzuki winced. He'd been planning to drag Hisoka.

He waves Tsuzuki off easily, clearly not wanting another word out of him. He just came here to make the tea because Hijikata was home, after all; he's treating Tsuzuki.

"Is it... traditional? Or Western dance?" He always feels a little awkward asking questions about the future, or about the West.

"Western," Tsuzuki said, smiling at the other man in an attempt to smooth over the awkwardness. "My sister taught me."

He finishes preparing the tea and hands over Tsuzuki's cup. His eyes are wide in surprise. "Really? What do they dance like in the West?"

Accepting the cup, Tsuzuki took a careful sip from the top, breathing over the tea to cool his mouthful. "This is really good, Okita-san. Thanks."

He cradled the cup in his hands as he tried to think of a way to explain ballroom dances. "Well... a man and a woman dance together, usually, with a set pattern of steps. You can vary it with flourishes, too, like kicks, dips or twirls...." He sighed. "It's hard to describe!"

He brightens up. This, he can deal with. Dancing can never be physically straining, right? Not like what he's used to, anyway.

So he puts his tea down and jumps up, grinning a little mischeviously. "Then, Tsuzuki-san! Please show me~ I can pass for a woman, right?" He preens a little, grinning.

Tsuzuki nearly choked on his tea. "Are you serious?!" He stared up at the younger man. Okita's grin was enough of an answer.

Well, he asked himself, why not? It beat trying to explain in words. Setting the cup down, he got to his feet.

"Like this," he explained, taking Okita's hand and settling his other hand on the younger man's waist. "Your other hand goes on my shoulder."

Souji is practically glowing with enthusiasm as he complies, his free hand settling on Tsuzuki's shoulder. Dancing is about footwork, right? It's just a more peaceful kind than he's used to. He should be able to do this.

"So this is how they dance in the West? What do they call it?"

"This is a waltz," Tsuzuki explained. "-Just follow my lead, and I'll go through the basic steps."

Softly, he began to hum a tune in three-quarter time, guiding Okita through the dance. One two three, one two three....

He doesn't seem to have much trouble following things for now, his feet following Tsuzuki's rythm smoothly. He's lead easily, a quick learner with fast feet, and he's smiling as he moves.

"I wonder what kind of music they play during this dance? What's it like, Tsuzuki-san?"

"Western classical music," Tsuzuki offered, "piano or strings -" Would Okita have ever heard those? Maybe not. He cleared his throat, and began to sing, more loudly, a waltz.

He broke the tune for just a moment to add, "You're good at this!"

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]