agora | looks into the camera

[he is in fact too heavy for miles' lap, but he doesn't push him away and maus rolls on his back over gojou's lap for prime cuddling. it's a smart decision not to say anything about what miles is doing right now, especially if he wants miles to continue. so they're sitting close together now and miles tilts his head back to try and calculate the time passed.]

Months. Several, in fact. [it's probably late spring or early summer in germany and it was like octoberish when he entered the game. time's a myth, but it's been a very long time.] Nearly six, in addition to two we were at that base.

[ Wow... Calling him fat. Gojou is mostly muscle and height, I guess. At first, he's expecting it to be maybe a couple of weeks? Working as a sorcerer is rather fast-paced and intensive, so he seldom gets vacations, but no. He has been out of contact with almost everyone for six months—which is apparently not as bad as Miles Edgeworth just LEAVING.

Gojou's smile is still there, though he's steeling himself for some reprimand. Weird enough, he is more concerned about Miles' scolding than his own boss? Maybe because he cares. He rubs Maus' belly for comfort. ]

... Maaaaaybeeee I should have asked how things have been before I decided to just say whatever I wanted.

[please remember that he's at least four or five inches taller than miles. but yeah. it's been a while. it's why he hadn't really expected anything from gojou or anyone else for that matter. life went on, things were busy, and sometimes you just ignore how much time has passed since you've spoken to people you actually like.

he doesn't have it in him to scold him, watching for a moment as maus wriggles around happily for belly rubs.]

Why? I don't think the answer would have changed things at all.

[ yes, i remember gojou is unnecessarily tall. for no reason. He aggressively pats Miles' on the back which he has never done before, but things are different! They are familiar and comfortable now and Miles cannot curse the fuck out of him. ]

I'm not heartless? If you were having a bad time, I wouldn't have sprung all of this on you!

[he's sitting here trying to remember if gojou has always been so tactile so the back pat goes without issue. he's naturally a little tensed up and stiff, like he isn't quite relaxed and still in work mode, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable. instead he thinks about telling gojou that he's used to having a bad time and chooses not to say that either.]

You caught me at a time between cases, at least. I was only in the middle of some other work. Nothing that's time-pressing.

[ Gojou was definitely not before, please... Power and status allowed him to be crass with anyone at home, but it was different on the station. Miles may have some decency from him as a treat. Gremlin energy will come up naturally later.

Also, don’t notice that he’s sneaking to link their arms, except it’s so obvious when he’s hugging and huddling. Gojou, unfortunately, hasn’t dropped invading people’s personal space. ]

Nothing urgent or something to keep you up all night, right? While I’m here, I’m planning to force you to rest, so plan your work blocks accordingly!

[ Purposely forceful. ]

[it's fine, this is how it works. gojou's at least given him enough of a warning in the form of a courtship that miles is aware that an invasion of personal space is likely. it's very obvious, but it means he's shifting enough to let him huddle in closer and to be in a more comfortable position even if he's busy watching him and trying to analyze each move.]

I don't know if that's a possibility? [it's an interesting idea, but miles also purposefully keeps himself busy.] I don't necessarily have "blocks" to work in. Sometimes things come up, or I find a lead in something else. You can't expect me to drop everything just because it's late in the evening, can you?

[these are all excuses.]

[ What is there to analyze, Miles? Gojou is just a tall man, clinging onto your arm because he wants to, with Maus on his lap getting some belly rubs. He stays quiet as he stares at him, locking eye contact, so he can cement what he's about to say next. There are many ways to approach this and he's quick to pick which he finds fun. Or efficient. Most likely fun. ]

Miiiiiles! [ It starts as a long drawn whine, then it switches gears and picks up: ] It sounds like to me you don't know how to manage your time.

[ It's in a sing-song voice, seemingly teasing if he didn't have intentions of pressing certain buttons. Either he admits to being bad at time management or he yields, though Gojou is curious if he will someone weasel his way into a third option. ]

[nothing. there is nothing to analyze because this should be straightforward but miles obsesses about everything. he'll stare back, keeping the eye contact even if he blinks in surprise at the statement.]

I beg your pardon? I know how to manage my time perfectly well. I can turn twenty-four hours in a day into thirty-six, minimum.

[it's a third option and it's stupider than you think. not sleeping and working through the next day does not actually allot extra time. the question that follows is more out of curiosity than actual annoyance, however.]

I suppose you would know how to manage my time better?

[ Gojou remembers his first impression of Miles being very professional and logical... He fell into being tolerable just to not be on his bad side immediately, but now he wonders why did he ever tailor himself to this dork. ]

I’m going to assume you mean you can get a lot done in less time... Rather than you can work through the night and accumulate more hours of productivity.

[ Gojou shares similar habits of having trouble sleeping since work never ends, but he doesn’t want that for others. He tilts his head and hums a bit to his fingertips drumming against the cushions. ]

Mm. Maybe I should have brought a cursed corpse that would punch you if you don’t sleep by 2 am. [ He idly waves his free hand tangled in their arm link. Never mind. ] Anyway, I think I would! At least I’d be annoying about taking breaks.

[that's a good question, why did gojou tailor his personality? it's not like miles wouldn't have been equally intrigued and baffled and though he's very professional and logical...they are the same age. miles is still in his late 20s and kind of a dork and has parts of his personality that reflect that. unfortunately his stubbornness is part of it. ]

You're free to think that. [there's a smirk. but...he frowns in thought as he listens and ponders that. also he makes a face at the idea of a cursed corpse. no? no thanks!]

...I suppose I'll have to make some adjustments while you're here. It won't do any good to leave you to your own devices for too long. [sure. fine. he'll take government-mandated breaks and pretend he gets no enjoyment out of it. but he raises an eyebrow after that.] Dare I ask how you would enforce breaks?

[ How was Gojou supposed to know they are both busy millennials...? Both of them don’t act their age until suddenly they do, then sometimes they act the same age but it’s not their actual age. Hilarious.

Gojou usually does not find smirks awful or aggravating to see (his ego doesn’t interpret it as anything demeaning or threatening), but something about Miles doing it makes him want to bully him. Don’t mind if he comes in to rub the ends of Miles’ lips to WIPE THAT OFF. ]

Hope you have a guest room! You can just let me do some easy tasks... It should free up your time to focus on more important things.

[ Is that even a thing? Gojou doesn’t know shit about law, though. ]

Weeeell, I would physically keep you from doing work.

[ Vague. Ominous. ]

[it's actually half of why he finds himself tolerating gojou and i dislike that fact greatly. meanwhile, miles dislikes gojou bullying him and there's a stifled squawk at that gesture. stop!! give him a moment to bat him away.]

I do, in fact, have a guest room. [funny for a person who likes his solitude. but he considers that for a moment.] It's incredibly hard to imagine you filing paperwork or doing menial tasks, you know.

[that's very vague and ominous. hm. wow. is this what he does to other people?]

...you're technically physically keeping me from doing work now. [he lifts the arm that's still linked with gojou's.]

[ Idiots.... He snickers when he's swatted away, retracting back to just huddling and petting Maus. At least puppy likes it when he massaging his cheeks? Maybe Miles will enjoy it one day (he won't and he shouldn't). ]

Surprise, surprise! I have to write my own reports for my missions.

[ Does... Does that really change anything? No. It's still difficult to imagine since Gojou does find it trivial, but he does it because he understands the importance. When Miles tries to appraise this as an attempt, Gojou's arm stays hooked on for the lift. ]

This? You can actually shake me off and you're basically letting me do this.

[ Mentally points fingers at him. While that sounds nice, that also leaves so much to the imagination. If Gojou doesn't consider this keeping Miles away, then it must be something more drastic and immobilizing. ]

[puppy does in fact enjoy that because miles does that to puppy a lot. miles will never enjoy it, please to not massaging his cheeks. nevertheless, he hums as a noise of acknowledgment because fine, fair, that actually does make sense but it also doesn't change the part that it's hardly something gojou enjoys.

no, instead his focus is on the other matter at hand. it's true that he can shake him off he he wanted (and he does not feel like assessing why he hasn't just yet) but it doesn't change that this is really implying gojou has something else in mind.]

Cursing me also doesn't count. [HE REMEMBERS THE CONVERSATION FROM LAST TIME? what else is he supposed to think here.]

[ Gojou really does have plenty of things in mind... But the old promise creeping up hits him in a way that has him heartily laughing. Loudly. Straight from his stomach. Miles still remembers?? Sorry, Maus, if this startles you with how abrupt this is. He leans against Miles more as he cackles like a hyena. It isn't even a joke, considering Gojou was serious about cursing Miles a little.

Maybe, like, making him sneeze once. Ideally, during some important presentation. That was a gamble Gojou considered. ]

You remember!!! Haaaaaaa—[ He squeezes his arm more in his fit. ] Don't worry, don't worry. I'm your curse.

[ It makes more sense that way and it means Gojou didn't break his one-sided promise. ]

[maus jerks in surprise and barks once, jumping off of the couch and effectively leaving this thread so I can stop rping a dog. miles, meanwhile, can't leave and finds himself with an sidefull of hyena. my god. what the hell.]

Of course I remembered. You aren't exactly the easiest person to forget. [and before gojou can commentate on that: ] And you aren't the worst curse to have.

[which could maybe be a compliment until one remembers he had to deal with mahito for like six weeks. ]

[ goodbye, maus... at least you're not rping a door. With the dog gone, Gojou takes up most of the sofa now, sprawled and still pressed against Miles as he's having his snickering outburst. If Miles never had a cat, he kind of has one now. ]

I am one of your favorites. [ Yes, he has a COMMENT about being memorable. ] Either way, I will keep my word in making sure you take your breaks.

[ He stares at him in his weird position before he returns to sitting upright again, still hooking their arms, but now scanning... Scanning... Estimating. ]

You're a bit broad, but I can still carry you.

[no...no door. but with the dog gone miles now has a large, overgrown cat and he does nothing to shove him off even if he's glaring mildly.]

Do you have to say it like that? [stop perceiving!!! but now gojou's examining him and he continues to stare at him uncertainly.]

And you absolutely could not. That is not a challenge. Where would you even go after that?

[ He can’t not perceive something right in front of him!!! ]

The truth is the truth unless you moved me off the list.

[ Which he’s confident that Miles hasn’t. Also, why is Miles looking at him like that? Is he nervous? It’s not like Gojou is going to sneak carry him now... The aftermath would be disastrous and the tea doesn’t deserve such a scene. ]

Whoooo knoooooooows. If you behave, you won’t need to deal with that or wonder. Easy, right?

[ EASY, RIGHT? ]

Bold of you to assume the list still exists. [given that gojou still has his arm, it surely does. he's mildly nervous and also really sitting here going "what is this man doing."]

Easy for you, perhaps. [hm.] Are you considering this a break right now?

[ At this point, the arm is also his. That’s what he has been doing—making claims of furniture, apartments, and limbs. He does tilt his head at that question.

Huh. ]

Is being a good host work? [ Addendum: ] Are you being a good host?

[ Where is his warm welcome? His tour of the penthouse? Miles was so huffy at the gate! ]

Am I? [oh my god why is that actually a question, now he's actually having to think about this? then again up until about twenty minutes ago he had no intentions of hosting anyone for at least, like, a few years.]

I don't suppose it's work, but considering you're drinking tea that I prepared you while you're lounging on my furniture and holding me captive, I would say I'm being an exceptional host.

[normally he wouldn't even ask this, but sure. let's play along. give him a moment to lean in just a little to make eye contact again.]

Unless you have complaints?

[ His eyebrows arch as he watches Miles deeply rubric his hosting performance despite the nature of this situation. How could anyone prepare for an impromptu visit...? And yet Miles somehow finds a way. He finds a way to say I'm #1 and Gojou lets out a laugh.

The lean doesn't make Gojou pull back or recoil. Instead, he inches closer where their noses are only a couple of centimeters apart. That grey color is nice! ]

I have suggestions.

[likewise, when gojou leans in to meet the same distance miles doesn't pull back either. pulling back would be admitting defeat, and he's not about that life? nope. this is just where they are now.]

Such as?

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