captaincatblock | Get into the van, kiddo.

You look great. And you did well.

[he's trying to be encouraging. he'll stay close to kuroo in the car as they're driven off to his house. most people would probably bring wine or flowers first, but tsukki just wants to get everything over and he really doesn't want to spoil his presents in case everything goes bad. (and they will.)

it doesn't take a long time to get back to his house from the base since there's no traffic anymore that evening. once they get there, tsukki leaves his things in the car and goes to kuroo to straighten his cravat. not that it needs to. he's just nervous.]

Smile.

[Kuroo gives him a shaky smile, and generally just looks completely and desperately out of place in this quiet, Terran neighborhood. He hadn't even been able to flatten his hair.]

Just... Just knock already.

[His spine is ramrod straight and his shoulders stiff. It makes him look more imposing than he means to.]

[he kisses him.] Stop being dumb and smile. They're my family. One of us has to be able to act more normal than the other.

[and with that, he opens the gate and knocks on the door and calls out,] I'm home.

[since he disappeared from work without warning, his work probably called his house first to check and see if he had gone home without any notice. his mother comes in first, absolutely worried as she tells him about the phone call. akiteru will come in later to scold him, and both of them stop and stare as they realize that tsukki had brought home a count with him.

like one of those people they see on the news.

his voice is firm at least, when he tells them who he is. (kuroo tetsurou.) what he is. (a count, an orbital knight, pilot of the kataphract arcadia - akiteru turns pale, his mother gasps.) and why he's there. (he's going to live with him. this guy is his lover. he was missing from work this morning because he had come to pick him up and show him his new home and there was some miscommunication regarding his arrival, but it's smoothed over at work now.)

cue outrage. tsukki moving in between akiteru and kuroo ("my baby brother!") and his mother going, "but he's just like those people in the news!" ah, family.]

[Kuroo is distracted from his nervousness at first when he's overtaken by curiosity, observing Tsukki's mother and brother and marveling at their likeness. They seem like good people, if uncomfortably emotional about finding out about him. Still, that's expected.]

[Kuroo gives them a bow, the Versian way, walking stick by his stomach. It's not as sweeping as it could be given the house, but it's just a formality.]

I apologize for giving you cause for worry. It wasn't my intention. [Clears his throat awkwardly as he straightens up.] Just, Kei took very good care of me while I was here, so I was excited to show him space. Er. [He takes a step back because Akiteru is glowering at him very seriously there. Tries to smile?]

Edited 2015-04-09 09:19 (UTC)

[akiteru is wondering where he even managed to get the time to call him kei. there's a lot of fussing and talking about how everything is so sudden, akiteru agreeing with his mother that it's not right that kei should just suddenly pack up his things and leave, even if it's with a count, even during peace time. his mother is mostly worried about how far away the ship ("castle, mother.") was, and whether she'll be able to see him again ("as often as we can. i plan to continue my work there too.") or if kei would be gone forever. ("of course not.")

his brother is mostly fussing over politics. the kind that tsukki doesn't really care for ("but you're a terran living in a versian castle!!" "it's his castle, in case you've forgotten.") and a whole bunch of things that was fairly normal for akiteru, mostly wondering about his virtue as well. (tsukki makes no comment on that.) more often than not it's tsukki explaining to them how this began. and to his credit, every time kuroo's attacked he parries the accusations pretty well, although he is losing his patience and his comments are becoming slightly more pointed and sharper than he wants.]

[Kuroo wonders why the courtship itself was being made a big deal of. They were together most hours of the day for almost a year before, right? Versian nobility got married for less, if their families liked the political alliance well enough... He doesn't voice that thought out loud, just stands at the side as he watches the family interact. He interjects very rarely, mostly to answer things that are specifically related to the commute and travel.]

I've always been for the peace, so please be at ease regarding that. [wearily, giving Tsukki's mother a wavery smile] And after my current duties, I'm sure the Empress will find some use for me here on Earth, as I've asked her to consider. I'm fairly well-versed now in Terran customs thanks to your son, after all.

[And then, reluctantly:] It was a bit slow in coming together, but I've always meant to come back to Tsukki again, after I was returned to my people. [How does he word this? Kuroo Tetsurou, where's your charm now?] If you don't agree that he should live in my castle, then I will respect it. I've already waited this long; I can endure to wait for better opportunity to be closer to him again and be by his side.

[that earns him a glare, and before kuroo even gets to saying 'by his side' tsukki will interrupt him.] Kuroo, shut up.

[although it's more or less the same kind of tone he has when he tells yamaguchi to shut up. he's going to live there. don't compromise on that, kuroo, he doesn't want to give up the observation deck. that's all he's saying to him about the subject.

although that seems to have shifted the mood a bit, since now both of them were wondering why the hell did kei just tell this man who's supposedly his lover to shut up .... and kei painstakingly reiterates that their relationship was slow to begin with, and yes it started when he was assigned to him the day after he surrendered to the military, and they've gotten together a lot better than he thought. yes he complained a lot about kuroo, but eventually didn't his complaints stop? and wasn't he upset when he left? weren't they both there to see how upset he was when it happened?

none of this justifies leaving in a rush, and he's sorry for that. another round of explanations follow. another round of answers mostly to questions regarding how they will treat him.]

[Kuroo just grins at Tsukki, and shrugs at him, before contenting himself with letting Tsukki take over again. But the more he watches them, the more he can see that they're just worried for Tsukki, and probably won't want to get in the way of his stubbornness.]

[More importantly, Kuroo gets a small sort of happy kick out of listening to Tsukki recount the evolution of their relationship, and finding out about his own behaviour about Kuroo leaving. He touches Tsukki's elbow at that point.]

We can always bring them to the landing castle to show them. [He hadn't meant to actually say it out loud, had only been thinking it, but oops.]

You're going to keep my whole family hostage - I'm kidding.

[he says as another bout of anxieties flare up on akiteru's part.

either way, it is late, and there's a lot to think about. his mother decides to break the argument by asking both of them to stay for dinner and then possibly discussing it afterwards. kei is reluctant, but either way, he agrees. and shows kuroo where the kitchen is so they can help with the table while akiteru reluctantly observes him keenly.]

[He looks around curiously at everything -- he's never actually been in a Terran house -- and brightens at the herbs that Tsukki's mother keeps.]

You have a garden, too. [This, he says to Akiteru, since he doesn't want Tsukki to be disturbed.] We have one in the castle as well, it looks just like this. Well, the plants are different. I'm told the flowers are called daisies.

[it's nice that they have some time to bond, however, so akiteru can at least see for himself how kuroo is like while they talk about the gardens and what's in the backyard. it's all strained, normal talk, but it's talk nonetheless, and akiteru's a lot more social and forgiving than kei is so it moves sort of smoothly. his mother sighs about kei eloping with a wealthy and powerful man, but he seems like a nice and handsome man and she just hopes kei knows what he's doing. his only comment is that he's not as powerful as the other knights but he's a lot better than the rest of them, and then his mother notes that kei does seem a lot happier than before ....

he sits beside kuroo during dinner time, and starts teaching kuroo about the food and how to eat them.]

[Kuroo secretly confides in him that he'd accidentally wrecked a pot trying to teach his staff volleyball in the castle -- to great disaster. This above all is probably what made Akiteru soften up a little.]

[This is where Kuroo truly shines, because his strength is being able to use his weakness to endear himself to those who have walls against him. He praises the food and recounts his first Terran food -- omurice and strawberries -- and mentions an awkward time in his castle when his staff had brought a jackfruit on board and no one knew what to do with it. He stays away from the grimmer Versian stories that might relate to the war, or the war in general. Barely even mentions his time as a prisoner. Kuroo's dressed down, too, removed his coat and cravat so he's not so formal in what appears to be a comfortable environment.]

[dinner goes a lot smoother than it did earlier when they arrived. kuroo is endearing when he turns up his charm a notch, his genial manner winning over his mother first, who starts asking more involved questions from kuroo - nothing too heavy for the table, but only things like what he does and what kinds of hobbies does he have and of course, will kei be able to eat properly in his castle. as soon as his mother starts asking questions, akiteru will, too, a lot less hostile than he had started earlier. tsukki allows him to talk, answering whenever he's addressed, but for the most part he lets them get to know kuroo.

he gives his hand a squeeze under the dining table to let him know he's doing really well.]

[They're actually difficult questions, because Kuroo's life is very engrossed in what he is, as a count. But he has picked up new hobbies and things to do, lately, so he shares that with Tsukki's mother. Things like watching old movies that Tsukki showed him before, and music, and videogames. It really comes out as if Tsukki has influenced Kuroo's life way more than the other way around. He admits that Terran food is still something that they're learning on his castle, but they're doing well enough -- if Mrs. Tsukishima would have any recipes that would be simple to pick up for a group of young men and women in space, Kuroo would be most grateful. Why, if she'd even give the list of food items he has in his hold a glance and say if they're even at all appropriate or lacking anything, he'd be really obliged.] I told my vassal to get strawberries because Tsukki likes them, and he came back with half of a ton of it. [dryly]

[Akiteru is easy. Once the topic moves on from hobbies, they start talking about Tsukki. And how cute he is.]

When we first met, he was laughing at how I liked grass so much. [squeezing Tsukki's hand back, chuckling.]

Edited 2015-04-09 13:26 (UTC)

[his mom finds that absolutely cute, feeding a batallion of soldiers as well as tsukki. she tells tsukki to remind her to buy a cookbook for them so he won't miss the food from home. she's very happy that kuroo has the strawberries problem covered and gives him tips as to which desserts tsukki wants.

he does start protesting when they start talking about him, though. especially when akiteru starts talking about how cute he is as a kid playing volleyball!!!] Shut up about my childhood.

[Kuroo laughs lightly, squeezing his hand. And then he leans to kiss Tsukki on his cheek, and closer still to murmur directly at his ear in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the others if they listen carefully:] I want to know more about you. I'll tell you all about my childhood later if you want, love.

[He's playing the game "How many Tsukishimas can he make blush?"]

[it's a palpable hit. akiteru rises up and protests something rather weakly, his mother is surprised that tsukki can be this bold with his boyfriend, and tsukki just wants to be swallowed up by the ground. he has enough presence of mind to retaliate with,] I can also just not talk to you for the rest of the night.

[which proves rather futile when akiteru recounts a time when he was known as a bully in grade school because he was too tall and too smart and too mean .... and then adds that he was really cute .... and then his mother goes off to pick up an album. tsukki sighs as he finishes his food. at least some people are happy.]

[Kuroo knows Tsukki wouldn't do that, he'd never be able to convince his family that they're a loving couple otherwise! Right? Right...]

[He does tell Akiteru delightedly that he was drawn to Tsukki because of that, though. Being too smart, too mean, and too tall while still being really cute. It makes him want to take care of Tsukki! And of course, Kuroo is completely taken in by the albums of the family when the sons were younger.]

I'm kind of jealous, I feel like I missed out on a lot of fun by not having an older brother. [But he did have good parents! Short-lived, but good.]

[he's quiet about that. he glances at akiteru, and then - ]

It can be pretty frustrating.

But most days .... it's not that bad.

[now that they're not fighting - he just feels exhausted. he slips his hand around kuroo's arm, leaning against him while he keeps flipping through his photo album.]

[Akiteru gets this look on his face like he's sad and incredibly touched at the same time, even as he's helping their mother clean up the table. Kuroo notes it, will remember to ask Tsukki later, but for now he behaves. He does give Tsukki a kiss on the temple when he leans on him, then asks about a photo or two for context. He's completely comfortable now.]

[Eventually, though, he has to ask:] Are you staying here for the night? I can sleep at your Terran base and come back tomorrow.

.... yeah, I'll stay for the night.

[that might help calm his family a bit more. he wants to ask kuroo to stay with him, too, but it might be better to have him away for now. besides, he's going to be with him for all the time once they get back to his castle.] Come for breakfast tomorrow, and then we can go.

[this really took a lot longer than he'd expected, but he supposed it can't be helped. things got really complicated back there.]

[He nods agreeably, and gets up and begins making his excuses to Tsukki's mother and brother. He's still a little formal, but he's glad to see that the two are no longer so wary and alarmed by him.]

Till tomorrow, Kei. [Kisses him on the cheek and goes, before he gets tempted to be even more touchy with his boyfriend. His retinue is still outside, in the vehicle at the end of the street, although they've somehow produced their own meals during the night. They're an efficient bunch.]

[they help him pack as soon as kuroo goes. it's all very emotional and a lot of tears were shed, but at least by the end of the night he's got a bag full of his clothes and a box full of everything else his mother and akiteru thought fit for him to bring, including four cookbooks for kuroo's kitchen, two in japanese cooking and a big one in a more western-style kind of cuisine. unsurprisingly the last one is a big book of desserts.

he wakes up bright and early to help make breakfast in the morning, walking around the house in a shirt that was definitely kuroo's that had made it through his wardrobe and his boxers as he checked the laundry and the to make sure he hasn't left anything. it's a bit saddenning to know he's leaving the house, but at the same time, he's kind of excited.]

[Kuroo does arrive early the next day, bringing with him a box of small cakes as a peace offering. His men wait at the end of the street, same as last night. He knocks, feeling nervous all over again. What if they said no after all? Or worse still, what if Tsukki got into a really awful fight with his family because of him?]

[Still, he smiles politely at whoever opens the door. He does have another peace offering, though, tucked under his arm. Maybe that would allow them to forgive him for stealing Tsukki away.]

Good morning.

Morning.

[at least tsukki had the sense to put on pants as soon as kuroo had gotten there. he takes the box of cakes from him, and tells him in exasperation,] They helped me pack. I have two full suitcases and a giant box.

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