[It's definitely a loaded question, one that makes Accelerator frown and click his tongue. No, Endo hasn't been wrong about very much, which is honestly impressive given how short of a time they've known each other, it's just a combination of his skeptical nature and surly personality that makes him want to be a little combative. At least this is only lunch. It isn't actually a big deal whether it's good or bad. Logically speaking, it has a better chance of being good, since an upscale restaurant such as this isn't going to get away with serving people garbage for absurd prices.
Liking dessert seems harder to believe, since he isn't really a sweets kind of person, but he'll try it.
So he's quiet, handing his menu over, giving their surroundings another scan as Endo chats with the waitress. They seem to be getting along, though the mention of the arm sends a pang of guilt through him, making him curl his lips and awkwardly try to keep his attention on anything else. His focus only snaps back to Endo when the waitress leaves.]
About -?
[It takes him a second to clue in as to what - who - Endo is talking about about. When it clicks in his brain he blinks a few times, turning and glancing at the back of the waitress quickly, then back at Endo, at a total loss. Is this normal conversation for boys his age?? Not once has he ever felt any kind of attraction towards girls. Those kinds of feelings have always felt beyond him, and he's never had any motivation to reach for them. Girls are just girls, that's it.
So how is he supposed to respond to this? Well, it's Endo asking him, and thanks to their (horrifyingly embarrassing) conversation the other day he's got an idea of what his preferences are....
He sighs, reaching up to rub his temples.]
I don't think waitresses make that much money.
[A generic comment about her attractiveness based on popular societal beauty standards would be a bit much, so he decides to focus on the part of Endo's dating habits that would likely cause problems. That seems a lot more reasonable, in his mind.]
[ Truthfully, Endo isn't expecting Accelerator to take the time to analyze her, whether in terms of her appearance or otherwise. The question itself isn't all that serious; Endo has no intention of cutting his outing with Accelerator short, nor is he interested in picking up a new fling. He's got enough credit cards for the time being, and he's got plenty of other things (people) on his plate right now. He only asks out of amusement — and maybe to fluster Accelerator again.
But since Endo is fallible, he ends up proven wrong in this, too. Accelerator seems to take the question seriously, even if doing so seems to threaten a budding headache. How fun! Especially because his answer is both astute and very him.
Endo laughs. Unlike at the hospital, he keeps the sound contained, though it's still a little loud and a little too mirthful. ]
You think that's all I want?
[ Women have other features, buddy. He happens to enjoy those other features from time to time. It's not all about the cash, but that does help sweeten the pot — and in many cases, it is the main motivating factor. But he has fun, too — even if his heart will never be captured by a woman.
Without giving Accelerator space to answer, he rests his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand — cast and all — and says: ]
Nah, you're right. I like 'em rich.
[ The smile on his face is a little pointed — but that could mean anything. If he pulls out his new iPhone and sets it on the table, off to the side, that doesn't imply anything at all, does it? ]
[With a reaction like that, Accelerator is kind of wishing he had kept his mouth shut. Endo laughs, in a more controlled manner in the hospital but it nonetheless reminds him of that, and it wouldn't be too bad if he wasn't following it up with that comment and that look, and his phone. Even an idiot could put two and two together, and Accelerator drops his hand so he can curl his nails into his palm.]
[It's more teasing. That's all it is. It's not as if he regrets buying the new phone (it isn't a big deal, really), he just should have chosen his words more carefully given that he went for the most expensive model. At least it isn't as overt as I've just fallen for you which, even though it was a text, is still stuck in the back of his mind like an irritating fly buzzing around. Obviously, obviously this is just a continuation of that. Endo is the type of jerk that likes to tease people, something that is especially aggravating when he's so good at reading them, too. He's probably doing it because dismissing a text is easy enough, and doing the same in person is a bit harder. Especially when he's getting stared at.
Especially when he's noticing that Endo's eyes are very striking.
Why that realization is hitting him right now is beyond him but it's there, settling in next to the memory of reading that text. Accelerator fidgets in his seat, glaring with an overly harsh expression back at Endo. That only lasts a few seconds before he's glancing away, antsy for the waitress to return with his coffee so he has something else to focus on. Casual conversation isn't his forte, but he tries his best in coming up with a topic that will steer things away from Endo looking at him like that.]
[ As always, Endo gets plenty of enjoyment out of watching Accelerator process his words. He's patient as he does so, continuing to exhibit bad manners with his elbow on the table, smiling without saying anything more. He doesn't want to push too hard, especially now that he has a better idea of Accelerator's thresholds. No need for him to go storming away this time. Plus, he likes Accelerator's glares almost as much as he likes making him flush. That's one of the consequences of falling for a person (or a person's god-side) — everything they do is suddenly interesting, worth observing and digging into.
But Accelerator changes the subject and Endo finally shifts, dropping his arm on the table with a loud thunk. ]
Itchy. Annoying.
[ He says this dismissively, like it isn't a big deal, but the itching is what really gets on Endo's nerves. If his arm weren't so important for fighting, he'd probably have gotten someone to take the cast off by now, the rest of his healing be damned.
(Though, technically, that is the plan — just with a little help in the form of a something not quite legal.)
He could say more, maybe even generously elaborate, but unfortunately for Accelerator, he doesn't feel like talking about his arm, nor does he feel like letting the previous subject go entirely. Without missing a beat, he transitions again. ]
You don't like women, do you?
[ Just something he's been mulling over now that he's seen Accelerator judge their waitress based on her assets (money) rather than her assets (body). In contrast, a small insinuation from Endo always elicits a nice reaction, in one form or another.
He remembers Accelerator looking at his hands — a fond memory. ]
[He would have loved to stay on the topic of broken arms, and not simply because it offers more chances for self-flagellation. Human anatomy is a breeze for Accelerator, he can run through all the gory details that occur when a person breaks their arm, the different kinds of bone fractures, typical medical aid in such cases, and the biology behind the healing process. It's all just science, and science is easy.
What isn't easy is that damn question. His glare deepens as Endo smoothly shifts the conversation backwards, and he has to work to come with an answer that isn't going to result in more teasing.]
.... I don't like most people.
[Which is technically true. Most people are annoying, aggravating, and he dislikes them in any kind of platonic sense. Of course, he's guessing Endo doesn't just mean platonic, though in the romantic sense it's the same. He's read plenty of novels and manga over the years that happened to include some romantic subplot or another (since he's never had friends to discuss dating and such that kind of situation isn't occurring to him), and he can safely say he never felt like what he read towards another person. Has he had complicated feelings towards another person that weren't easily categorized? Yes, he supposes, once. But that's —
That's something else. He's sure of it. And Endo is... barely tolerable? Or something else as well. He isn't really sure.
So what's left is his answer. It should be simple, but his ears are turning red and he has to fight the urge to fidget again. To compensate for his growing embarrassment, his expression turns combative.]
[ A little too elated for the nature of the conversation, Endo's face lights up, openly charmed by Accelerator's embarrassment and subsequent answer. By now, his reaction is nothing new, though he anticipates that it'll add fuel to the fire regardless. He's having fun, but not just at Accelerator's expense. Endo's dedicated his life to someone who barely reacts to anything, and certainly doesn't experience embarrassment — so it's kind of funny that his interest's been snagged by someone who's the opposite. More than that, eliciting these reactions is new for him, because he's never really experienced this before — not even with his flings. Since he goes for older women, they tend to be both experienced and mature, and wouldn't blush even if he whispered a bunch of kinky nonsense in their ears.
He likes having this affect on Accelerator. It's addictive, just like his fascination with his wings. Endo's either wholly captivated or entirely disinterested. It's all or nothing, with no middle ground in between. This is no exception. ]
Why would it be?
[ He raises his eyebrows, but his expression turns a shade knowing, almost approaching the arrogance he demonstrated during their first meeting. To him, the question is yet another indicator of how enmeshed he already is within Accelerator's mind.
If Accelerator didn't care about his opinion at all — if he truly only came to the appointment with Endo out of guilt — then why would it matter if it were a problem? What would he care? Why ask at all? Because the opposite is true. He does care.
See, most people would probably take someone who fantasizes about killing them to be a pretty big red flag. Endo isn't most people. He's all about that unfettered, raw emotion being centered around him. He wants to be on Accelerator's mind and he doesn't care what form that takes. Violence is passion; thoughts of murder are, in a roundabout way, a form of attention. When Accelerator confessed to thinking about killing him, he might as well have been offering a form of devotion.
Accelerator isn't neutral about him — some part of him must already factor Endo in as a permanent part of his life. At least, that's how Endo takes it. ]
I don't give a damn about most people, either.
[ This may not seem true, as Endo navigates the social sphere with ease — and he's good at dealing with people when he wants to be. But it's a fact. He only cares about 1.5 people.
Accelerator is the 0.5. ]
But that's not what I mean. You don't gotta like someone to sleep with 'em.
[ Endo would be celibate if that were the case. Before all this went down, he only cared for Takiishi — and Takiishi cares for no one. ]
[With that question Accelerator is anticipating more teasing. He can't say he's getting used to it (he isn't, he wants to either crawl out of his skin or punch Endo in the face every time he needles him) but he thinks he has somewhat of a grasp on how Endo functions by now. Clearly he gets a kick out of doing it, so why stop now?
But no. No smarmy comments about how he's missing out, or why women are great, or whatever. Instead he's agreeing with him, which makes Accelerator stare in utter confusion. This guy, the person who was just casually flirting with their waitress, shares his disdain towards most people? Is he serious? Accelerator would guess this is another round of teasing, but the smile on Endo's face says otherwise. It's the same one he had back in the hospital, during a point when he specifically wasn't making fun of him. He had just been babbling cheerfully about how his love life worked. He's... sort of doing the same thing right now, isn't he?
Accelerator relaxes slightly, feeling his guard drop a little. If he doesn't need to have any immediate worries about being pestered that frees up his mind to wander. Endo's extroverted nature has him curious; why bother putting the effort in when he doesn't like people? Is that just something that comes easily to him, so he does it without thinking? Accelerator can't imagine it, not when people make him so irritated and exhausted most of the time.
But then... Endo is strange to begin with. Most people, after nearly being killed by something as inhuman as his black wings, would be utterly terrified of him. They'd rightfully consider him a monster and avoid him as much as possible. They wouldn't be asking him to come to medical appointments, and then lunch.
It's why he's even here, isn't it. He's sitting here, putting up with being embarrassed and teased and aggravated because the person across him isn't afraid of him. Endo is interested in him, he he wants to spend time with him. Because sometimes, in between all of that bullshit, they can have a normal conversation. All of that makes him feel anxious, but also... kind of warm, in a good way.]
... So that's what you do? Sleep with people even though you don't like them.
[He's trying to wrap his brain around this, so it's a tentative curiosity that motivates him to ask. Partly because his inexperience in this area of life means there are huge gaps in his knowledge, and mostly because this is another chance to learn a bit more about Endo himself.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Liking dessert seems harder to believe, since he isn't really a sweets kind of person, but he'll try it.
So he's quiet, handing his menu over, giving their surroundings another scan as Endo chats with the waitress. They seem to be getting along, though the mention of the arm sends a pang of guilt through him, making him curl his lips and awkwardly try to keep his attention on anything else. His focus only snaps back to Endo when the waitress leaves.]
About -?
[It takes him a second to clue in as to what - who - Endo is talking about about. When it clicks in his brain he blinks a few times, turning and glancing at the back of the waitress quickly, then back at Endo, at a total loss. Is this normal conversation for boys his age?? Not once has he ever felt any kind of attraction towards girls. Those kinds of feelings have always felt beyond him, and he's never had any motivation to reach for them. Girls are just girls, that's it.
So how is he supposed to respond to this? Well, it's Endo asking him, and thanks to their (horrifyingly embarrassing) conversation the other day he's got an idea of what his preferences are....
He sighs, reaching up to rub his temples.]
I don't think waitresses make that much money.
[A generic comment about her attractiveness based on popular societal beauty standards would be a bit much, so he decides to focus on the part of Endo's dating habits that would likely cause problems. That seems a lot more reasonable, in his mind.]
no subject
But since Endo is fallible, he ends up proven wrong in this, too. Accelerator seems to take the question seriously, even if doing so seems to threaten a budding headache. How fun! Especially because his answer is both astute and very him.
Endo laughs. Unlike at the hospital, he keeps the sound contained, though it's still a little loud and a little too mirthful. ]
You think that's all I want?
[ Women have other features, buddy. He happens to enjoy those other features from time to time. It's not all about the cash, but that does help sweeten the pot — and in many cases, it is the main motivating factor. But he has fun, too — even if his heart will never be captured by a woman.
Without giving Accelerator space to answer, he rests his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand — cast and all — and says: ]
Nah, you're right. I like 'em rich.
[ The smile on his face is a little pointed — but that could mean anything. If he pulls out his new iPhone and sets it on the table, off to the side, that doesn't imply anything at all, does it? ]
no subject
.........................................................
[It's more teasing. That's all it is. It's not as if he regrets buying the new phone (it isn't a big deal, really), he just should have chosen his words more carefully given that he went for the most expensive model. At least it isn't as overt as I've just fallen for you which, even though it was a text, is still stuck in the back of his mind like an irritating fly buzzing around. Obviously, obviously this is just a continuation of that. Endo is the type of jerk that likes to tease people, something that is especially aggravating when he's so good at reading them, too. He's probably doing it because dismissing a text is easy enough, and doing the same in person is a bit harder. Especially when he's getting stared at.
Especially when he's noticing that Endo's eyes are very striking.
Why that realization is hitting him right now is beyond him but it's there, settling in next to the memory of reading that text. Accelerator fidgets in his seat, glaring with an overly harsh expression back at Endo. That only lasts a few seconds before he's glancing away, antsy for the waitress to return with his coffee so he has something else to focus on. Casual conversation isn't his forte, but he tries his best in coming up with a topic that will steer things away from Endo looking at him like that.]
How's your arm feeling?
no subject
But Accelerator changes the subject and Endo finally shifts, dropping his arm on the table with a loud thunk. ]
Itchy. Annoying.
[ He says this dismissively, like it isn't a big deal, but the itching is what really gets on Endo's nerves. If his arm weren't so important for fighting, he'd probably have gotten someone to take the cast off by now, the rest of his healing be damned.
(Though, technically, that is the plan — just with a little help in the form of a something not quite legal.)
He could say more, maybe even generously elaborate, but unfortunately for Accelerator, he doesn't feel like talking about his arm, nor does he feel like letting the previous subject go entirely. Without missing a beat, he transitions again. ]
You don't like women, do you?
[ Just something he's been mulling over now that he's seen Accelerator judge their waitress based on her assets (money) rather than her assets (body). In contrast, a small insinuation from Endo always elicits a nice reaction, in one form or another.
He remembers Accelerator looking at his hands — a fond memory. ]
no subject
What isn't easy is that damn question. His glare deepens as Endo smoothly shifts the conversation backwards, and he has to work to come with an answer that isn't going to result in more teasing.]
.... I don't like most people.
[Which is technically true. Most people are annoying, aggravating, and he dislikes them in any kind of platonic sense. Of course, he's guessing Endo doesn't just mean platonic, though in the romantic sense it's the same. He's read plenty of novels and manga over the years that happened to include some romantic subplot or another (since he's never had friends to discuss dating and such that kind of situation isn't occurring to him), and he can safely say he never felt like what he read towards another person. Has he had complicated feelings towards another person that weren't easily categorized? Yes, he supposes, once. But that's —
That's something else. He's sure of it. And Endo is... barely tolerable? Or something else as well. He isn't really sure.
So what's left is his answer. It should be simple, but his ears are turning red and he has to fight the urge to fidget again. To compensate for his growing embarrassment, his expression turns combative.]
Is that a problem?
no subject
He likes having this affect on Accelerator. It's addictive, just like his fascination with his wings. Endo's either wholly captivated or entirely disinterested. It's all or nothing, with no middle ground in between. This is no exception. ]
Why would it be?
[ He raises his eyebrows, but his expression turns a shade knowing, almost approaching the arrogance he demonstrated during their first meeting. To him, the question is yet another indicator of how enmeshed he already is within Accelerator's mind.
If Accelerator didn't care about his opinion at all — if he truly only came to the appointment with Endo out of guilt — then why would it matter if it were a problem? What would he care? Why ask at all? Because the opposite is true. He does care.
See, most people would probably take someone who fantasizes about killing them to be a pretty big red flag. Endo isn't most people. He's all about that unfettered, raw emotion being centered around him. He wants to be on Accelerator's mind and he doesn't care what form that takes. Violence is passion; thoughts of murder are, in a roundabout way, a form of attention. When Accelerator confessed to thinking about killing him, he might as well have been offering a form of devotion.
Accelerator isn't neutral about him — some part of him must already factor Endo in as a permanent part of his life. At least, that's how Endo takes it. ]
I don't give a damn about most people, either.
[ This may not seem true, as Endo navigates the social sphere with ease — and he's good at dealing with people when he wants to be. But it's a fact. He only cares about 1.5 people.
Accelerator is the 0.5. ]
But that's not what I mean. You don't gotta like someone to sleep with 'em.
[ Endo would be celibate if that were the case. Before all this went down, he only cared for Takiishi — and Takiishi cares for no one. ]
no subject
But no. No smarmy comments about how he's missing out, or why women are great, or whatever. Instead he's agreeing with him, which makes Accelerator stare in utter confusion. This guy, the person who was just casually flirting with their waitress, shares his disdain towards most people? Is he serious? Accelerator would guess this is another round of teasing, but the smile on Endo's face says otherwise. It's the same one he had back in the hospital, during a point when he specifically wasn't making fun of him. He had just been babbling cheerfully about how his love life worked. He's... sort of doing the same thing right now, isn't he?
Accelerator relaxes slightly, feeling his guard drop a little. If he doesn't need to have any immediate worries about being pestered that frees up his mind to wander. Endo's extroverted nature has him curious; why bother putting the effort in when he doesn't like people? Is that just something that comes easily to him, so he does it without thinking? Accelerator can't imagine it, not when people make him so irritated and exhausted most of the time.
But then... Endo is strange to begin with. Most people, after nearly being killed by something as inhuman as his black wings, would be utterly terrified of him. They'd rightfully consider him a monster and avoid him as much as possible. They wouldn't be asking him to come to medical appointments, and then lunch.
It's why he's even here, isn't it. He's sitting here, putting up with being embarrassed and teased and aggravated because the person across him isn't afraid of him. Endo is interested in him, he he wants to spend time with him. Because sometimes, in between all of that bullshit, they can have a normal conversation. All of that makes him feel anxious, but also... kind of warm, in a good way.]
... So that's what you do? Sleep with people even though you don't like them.
[He's trying to wrap his brain around this, so it's a tentative curiosity that motivates him to ask. Partly because his inexperience in this area of life means there are huge gaps in his knowledge, and mostly because this is another chance to learn a bit more about Endo himself.]