heleanor | ♠ ＧＯＬＤ ♥ ＧＵＮＳ ♦ ＧＩＲＬＳ ♣

Work? [Oh...this could get messy, as Yamaguchi doesn't have a lie prepared and he doesn't want to say anything that could be proven false.] ...Yeah, I do! It's kinda not something I can talk very much about, sorry. Legal work can be really tricky sometimes, huh...

[It's not like a gang is the only type of operation that would obviously want to keep its dealings confidential.]

[Oikawa nods like he understands. It's not a terrible cover but he wants to pick at it anyway.]

It can. Still, it's a bit of a pity we can't talk about it. Work can be pretty important to people. [Like say... him. Now he's actually out on a date, he's realising just how long it's been since he did something that wasn't work. Seijou's business really is his business and he hates to admit it but Iwaizumi might have had a point when he called him obsessive.] Have you worked there long? [He pauses like he realised something.] Only if you can say, of course.

[Yamaguchi's smile goes a little thin, strained, or maybe just regretful. He's not upset with Sakeguchi, of course, but he can't give any information about his job away without knowing how much might be too much. Karasuno is everything to Yamaguchi.]

Ah, I'm sorry...it's classified. [That probably seems cold, if not a little suspicious, but it's for the best. Yamaguchi shouldn't try to give the impression of being the most appealing candidate in Sakeguchi's book anyway. This was bound to happen sooner or later, nice though it may be to pretend otherwise for a couple of hours.]

It's okay, Tadashi. You don't have to explain yourself to me.

[It is a fairly smart move not revealing that information - if Oikawa was a cop undercover looking for leads then knowing when Yamaguchi got involved (even if there was a chance of him lying) would give them a starting point to look for affiliates. But he's not and he doesn't mind.]

What do you do in your free time?

Don't have much. [He gives a good-natured sigh.] But, I study in my time off, since I want to pull ahead in class and the competition's really fierce. And there's stuff I have to brush up on for work too... [Sometimes it's at Karasuno's bar, others at Tsukishima's apartment or his own. But it feels like Yamaguchi's always busy working on something unless he's sleeping instead, kind of a change of pace from his high school days.]

[He opens his mouth like he's going to ask about Yamaguchi's work but pointedly shuts it with a wince like he realised what he was about to do. Like he isn't perfectly capable of stepping around a subject without a sign.]

Sounds like an intense workload. I'm glad you found time for a date with me amongst it all.

[Yamaguchi falters, guilt flashing across his features for a moment, before he recovers his grin with some effort and tries to keep the conversation moving. It's harder than before, not least because that last part has him flustered and tongue-tied.]

It's not so bad!! And I've been looking forward to this, so...I wouldn't want to miss out on it...

[Oikawa grins, delighted. Maybe his work has been keeping him cooped up too much, if he's this pleased he could get a date who wouldn't want to miss it.]

You've been looking forward to this? [He's probably letting how genuinely happy he is to hear that come through too much but he is and 'Sakeguchi' would be too.]

Y-Yeah? [Oh, he's definitely blushing now. Yamaguchi desperately hopes going by that smile that this wasn't an awkward thing to admit.]

[Was that a question or a confirmation? It probably doesn't matter but he's amused none the less.]

I'm glad, I was a little worried that I'd badgered you into this.

Sorry if I made it seem that way!! [Were those the kinds of vibes he was giving out?? Maybe this job's making him more intimidating than he thought, which would be good on any occasion except for this.] I really don't consider you an inconvenience, Sakeguchi-kun...!

[He lets his face light up.]

Really? That's such a relief. I know I can come on a little strong sometimes. [With things that Sakeguchi apparently does like stalks cute boys outside their law lectures... Which was also a thing that Oikawa did but he had more interest in than his flimsy persona.] And driving you away would have been awful.

[Yamaguchi averts his eyes, easily flustered again. He feels like he's back in high school, instead of being an almost-adult who makes a living by a yakuza family.]

I mean, you did surprise me at first...but that's in the past, right?

Absolutely! And you've relaxed a lot. [He's not jumping at shadows quite so much, even if he's avoiding looking Oikawa in the eyes.]

[Unfortunately, being told he's relaxed reminds Yamaguchi with a jolt that he should not be relaxed in this place.]

That's, um...good to hear, Tadao... [...] Do you mind if I go to the bathroom again real quick? I'll be right back.

[He needs to check his phone to see if Ukai texted him back. Like ten minutes ago.]

[Oh dear, would you look at that, he's all on edge again. Maybe Yamaguchi should find a lower stress job. Oikawa waves his hand.] I'm hardly going to stop you, Tadashi.

[A little concerning what he's doing in there - it's doubtful that Yamaguchi's stomach rebels when he gets nervous, particularly when they haven't eaten yet - but Oikawa doesn't let it show on his face.]

[It does sometimes, actually, but far less since Yamaguchi started on his anti-anxiety medication. With a tight smile at his date he heads off quickly to the restroom.]

Urgh...come on, c'mon... [He mutters at his phone, willing it to turn on faster so he can check his messages. His heart nearly stops when he sees the first text from Ukai confirming that yes, this restaurant is backed by Seijou, and it's possibly dangerous for a crow to hang out here alone. However, the message immediately following that one (in between expletives, and vaguely scolding comments) warns Yamaguchi not to run out on his own if he's already at the restaurant—instead, Takeda will head over there in about an hour since he's in the area, and it'd be less dangerous for Yamaguchi to stay put and wait in public sight until someone else is with him that Oikawa's men likely wouldn't touch.

The news eases his pounding heartbeat a little bit. Yamaguchi thanks Ukai profusely with his answer, putting the business phone away. He heads back to the table, his smile a little more at ease than it was before he left.]

I'm back...I didn't miss anything, did I?

So much, Tadashi. There was a bar fight and everything. You didn't even get to see the broken glass.

[This earns him a look from one of the other customers, who should know better than to eavesdrop. He's careful not to look curious - or worse, worried - about Yamaguchi's absence. Though he is a little of both. Mostly curious. But there's always a chance Yamaguchi's cottoned onto him which would be an unpleasant end to the evening.]

Um...sure, Tadao.

[This face says he doesn't believe you, but at least the waitress approaching the table from behind Yamaguchi's back will give Oikawa an excuse not to make himself more noticed by the surrounding tables.]

[Ah, so that joke didn't go down too well.]

Did you get everything sorted? [It's polite to be interested in his date's affairs, right?]

Ah. Yeah, I did! Someone's giving me a ride back to my place from the restaurant, when we finish up here.

[Yamaguchi looks cheerfully oblivious as he sits down while delivering the tidbit of news, perhaps even a bit relieved. Takeda was only too happy to step in as ~~cockblock~~ chaperone for the evening.]

[Oikawa blinks. That's a problem on many levels. From what he's heard, Yamaguchi doesn't know too many people and an awful lot of the ones he does are Karasuno - and the Karasuno memebers that actually know his face - but it could be someone else, perhaps. And there's the whole not being able to take him home thing. But oh well.]

Oh, a... friend?

[Yamaguchi blinks and his smile fades a bit, with his cheeks tinged pink. He's not the best at reading people and has no idea of what Oikawa knows, leaving Yamaguchi to wonder uncertainly if he's interpreting the other man's reaction wrong.]

Eh? …Yeah, but, he's really more of a tutor, if you want to be specific! He used to have a job in civil service, so…he's been helping me through my courses on public law…

[That's a little reassuring but Yamaguchi could have the presence of mind to lie if it was a work colleague, he did manage to cover when Oikawa asked questions before, even if he wasn't trying to get information out of Yamaguchi.

But since that isn't what Sakeguchi would have been worried about... He sighs in relief.]

I suppose I really should have just asked if there was anyone else to start with, I know you said you're not with Tsukki but I suppose it's hard to believe you're not dating anyone already.

Ah, no, no, it's not like that at all!! Takeda-sensei's too old, I mean…!

[He's so flustered at the very idea that for a heartbeat of time, he doesn't realize that if this is a Seijou-owned establishment, if any of Oikawa's people are here right now, then Takeda Ittetsu's real name would be one that is definitely recognized.]

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why are some tags so much harder to get done than others :(

tags move in ~mysterious ways~

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GUESS WHO'S SO SMART THEY DELETED THIS FROM THEIR INBOX ON ACCIDENT

OH NOOOO, at least you found it again!

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