they are full of regret

[sunshrouded]

Who: two dads (Tenka sunshrouded & Sousei deontology)
When: backdated to after the event!
Where: the Kumou Estate
What: first goal: get sousei to spit out his tea. second goal: get him drunk off his ass.
Rating/Warning: embarrassing adults

---

[Tenka comes home the morning after all the madness only after Shirasu called him out. And he's tired. He's tired and he's exhausted and honestly not much of a morning person, despite all the comparisons people make between him and the sun.

Either way, he's trudging his way into their home now and going to sit in front of their low coffee table, joining his partner.

Then because maybe, just maybe these past three days have been hard on him-]

So I woke up alone this morning.

That was nice.

[Are you ashamed yet, partner.]

Comments

[deontology]

[He knows what you're doing--or at least, he's trying to keep track and not drink too much. But...the bitter taste of alcohol is at least a distraction from the bitter taste of losing Soramaru again.

So maybe he's not being entirely successful.]

It would be bad form, but that does not mean I'll put it past you.

I do not need to loosen up at all.

[sunshrouded]

[Regardless, Tenka's quite comfortable when it comes to refilling their cups whenever needed - if only partially out of instinct since he does it so often when a familiar face visits the bar.

Still though, he's snorting faintly.]

I'm offended!! I take my job seriously, despite what you may think.

[Though Sousei still needs to loosen up....

Here, have some more to drink, partner....]

[deontology]

[Stop, Tenka....stop.

But none of this is stopping, and at the very least, he's loosening up, bit by bit.]

I know you do. You just do not act as though you take anything seriously.

[sheesh.]

The way you act is so troublesome sometimes.

[sunshrouded]

[The way he acts? Tenka just drinks thoughtfully at that before offering a smile.]

Act? Like what?

[And maybe he's being purposefully difficult now.

But also he's curious. After all, it's not like anyone can pick up on the act besides Sousei.]

[deontology]

[You asked for this. You're the one who's getting Sousei drunk. You're the one asking these questions. Just remember this.]

You act as though everything is fine even when it isn't.

[He frowns, legitimately considering this.]

I am tired of the smile you give when you are most upset.

[It's always the expression he sees that hurts the most.]

[sunshrouded]

[Sousei is such a depressing drunk, holy shit.

Either way, it catches Tenka off-guard and that's something that's clear to see.]

... Hey now, I don't.... do it that often, right? I mostly smile when I'm happy!

[Though even the fact that he's humoring this line of conversation right now is because a) he's tipsy and b) it's Sousei.

So yeah, something can be said of Tenka's tendency to deflect conversation.]

[deontology]

[YOU BROUGHT ABOUT THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING... but yes, it's not as though he's happy right now.

He sighs, expression flat as he empties his cup again.]

No... you don't do it often. But the times when you do are times when you should be smiling least of all.

[When you left the Yamainu. When you were about to die. Now, that Soramaru is gone.]

[sunshrouded]

[Sousei, why this....

But Tenka just automatically moves to refill his cup anyway. Even as he shrugs and offers up another smile. Does he even notice?]

Would you rather I cry? Sit quietly? Be sad?

Didn't you buy those games before just to make sure I didn't do any of those things?

[He's not dumb. Easily distracted, yes, but not dumb.]

[deontology]

[...He doesn't know what he'd rather, honestly. All he has is half-formed ideas. All he knows for sure is that he hates to see Tenka smiling like that as well.]

...Yes, I brought those things so you would not brood on what you couldn't change.

[There's a faint huff at that, a soft breath out.]

But I do not like to see fake smiles either. I know you are hurting. You do not have to hide it from me.

[sunshrouded]

I'm not hiding it from you.

[That much is something that he says remarkably quickly. If anything, Sousei's the only person he doesn't get that treatment anymore.]

But I need to keep going.

If I'm not smiling, I'm brooding. If I'm not brooding, I'm smiling.

Why not pick the one that's not as hard for people to see?

[deontology]

[i'm sorry they were having feelings and this is definitely a serious thread but he's tipsy and there's that stupid smile again so he just

leans forward

and pinches Tenka's cheek between his thumb and forefinger.

stop]

It isn't even a proper smile.

[sunshrouded]

[why do you suck as a person, sousei

except now Tenka's just whining-]

Ow, ow, ow!! You're not my mom!

[YOU SUCK, SOUSEI]

[deontology]

[excuse you he's not the one who sucks.]

Of course I'm not.

[And he releases Tenka, settling back and giving him a flat look.]

Enough. If you look as though you're in pain but are smiling anyway, perhaps you shouldn't be.

[Maybe they should see that he's hurting. MAYBE.]

[sunshrouded]

[And now he's just going to rub at his cheek and squint at Sousei-]

No one can tell besides you anyway! Jeeze, why would I get people all fussed over something that's passing?

[Even when he smiles when his heart is breaking, it's not like anyone's ever pointed it out. Shirasu, maybe, but he gave up on it after a while. In the end, Tenka always finds something to laugh about.

So he just drinks some more because this isn't the kind of night of drinking he wanted-]

It's temporary.

[deontology]

[And Sousei just crosses his arms and leaves it at that. Yeah. Well. It was just a thought, and quite frankly, Sousei doesn't feel like pursuing the topic either.]

You asked.

[YOU BROUGHT IT UP.]

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . . . dammit, he did.

Either way Tenka just sighs and moves to refill Sousei's cup again, shrugging.]

Does it bug you that much?

[Not that he can even promise to change it.]

[deontology]

[....and now Tenka's asking, damn. He's quiet for a moment, and then sighs, a soft sound.]

Yes. I do not associate good times with it.

[Probably understandable considering there were not good times when Tenka was smiling like that, but still...!!!

... it's not really enough for him to be able to tell Tenka to knock off one of his habits, though.]

...If it is truly easier for you, then it is what it is.

[sunshrouded]

[and we interrupt another serious moment for-]

Do you associate good times with anything? You're always so crabby.

[deontology]

[excuse you]

I am not. Not everyone is as pointlessly exuberant as you.

[sunshrouded]

There's a point to it!

[god

and you're going to get more poured in your cup, sousei, because you're too sassy]

[deontology]

[what are you doing trying to get him plastered

at least he's distracted by this conversation]

There is not. Don't pretend. It is just how you are.

[sheesh]

...There were good times, though.

[sunshrouded]

[yes he is determined to get Sousei plastered

but Tenka just snorts faintly because yeah he is naturally exuberant but when times are hard-]

... there's a point to it.

[anyway,]

There are always good times.

[deontology]

There you go again, acting as though nobody would be able to carry on without your exuberance.

[HMPH. it's not the exuberance--it's tenka's presence itself.]

There were. And there will be again.

[RIGHT AT THAT EXACT MOMENT IN CANON not so much]

[sunshrouded]

You think you can make a baby stop crying without a smile?

[Exuberance is how he raised his brothers, alright. As far as he's concerned, it's an important part of the equation.]

No, no, you don't get it- [and he makes a vague gesture with his hand] Are. Even now! Good times!

[deontology]

[.... .... ... okay that gets a really blank look.]

I have no idea.

[he's never...tried??? babies???

what are babies

pause everything]