drear | OPEN SEASON 2.

{he's irritated about something. it can't be told from his self control, from how he smiles and greets people, from his posture or his words. it can't even be told from the upbeat music playing. no, the way Chrollo chooses to convey this is through something so subtle it was obvious - the fact that he's going to make Hisoka wear black today. long enough that he hopes to pull a half sincere apology from him.

incredibly petty. also incredibly effective, and Chrollo doesn't want to miss it. despite the fact that he doesn't think he's sat down since he's gotten up hours before, he's still as on top of things as ever. it's all busy work until Hisoka actually deigns to show, after all. thank god they were all supposed to be free by the afternoon.]

[ it's a good hour past the appointed time that hisoka arrives, without illumi on his arm (or vice versa) but dressed as usual in clothes so eye-catching he stands out even among the crew—loose mint-green blouse, white pants, and louboutin heels that match the color his lips are. the shoes click as he comes to chrollo's side and leans an elbow against the wall next to his head, looming with the added height.

his nails are pointed, but unpainted. being professional, you know. ]

[small mercy that Illumi's not around to do nothing but enable his bad behavior. compared to Hisoka, Chrollo's almost plain - black clothing, simple shoes, easy enough to slip out of sight. he wasn't the one being photographed, after all. when he looks at Hisoka, he's as impassive as he could be, keeping the growing irritation inside for now. everyone waiting for an hour...it's a miracle he hasn't been fired yet, but the results spoke for themselves.]

I've been waiting for you to show up.

[unspoken is the implication that he should explain himself.]

[ hisoka only raises his eyebrows slightly in response. yes, and so what? ]

I'm ready to begin. What do you have in store for me this time?

[ he straightens back up, posture returning to perfect as he smiles down at chrollo. ]

[you're a dick, Hisoka.]

Not too much. Three outfits - one of them is the bridal gown, all for that magazine.

[something alternative that had reached out and put forth the request, and it's honestly trendy enough that it had been accepted immediately. Hisoka's popular, so it can't be anything but a benefit for both sides.]

Go get changed, and I'll tell the photographers we're getting ready to start.

[ a bridal gown? ♥ hisoka's looking forward to it. ]

Yes~♦

[ hisoka waits for a moment longer, only smiling at chrollo, imagining the blood he'd just spilled streaking over that placid expression of his, arousing the power he knows lives beneath it.

he smiles again, and turns away.

directly after a job, hisoka's desire throbs and hums. he focuses by fixing his gaze on one spot and reveling in memories and the knowledge that he looks good in whatever they're putting on him... even if it is mostly black. his makeup is severe and dark. as he's given directions to pose in front of a set, he looks for chrollo in the crowd of staff. oh, he knows this is his doing. but does it bother him being dressed like this?

hisoka's expression gives nothing away if it does. ]

[it's the best revenge he can give, after Hisoka disappearing and leaving Chrollo to make his excuses and take the attention when he didn't want it no matter how well he weaves his way through a crowd. mysterious of him, and with no explanation Chrollo has to chalk it up to a pure whim that he has to endure.

he says nothing, lets Hisoka pose and only approaches once to correct how his jacket is falling, but otherwise staying back out of sight. while he stays calm, his eyes never leave Hisoka until he's allowed to go off and get out of the black. the dress is going to be the most important part of this - the shots had to be right, and Chrollo has no idea how this is going to turn out. but he'll be back just before they start taking pictures - just stepping out to make a quick phone call.]

[ once he's finished the first round with the first outfit, hisoka's whisked off again by the makeup and hair crews to prepare for the dress.

it's not the kind of thing he's worn before, but he doesn't dislike it. the neckline doesn't expose any more than he's used to, and the skirt is pleasant-feeling around his legs. under it he wears more understated shoes with a lower heel.

there's not a scratch on him from his last job, so all the skin shown doesn't matter either. hisoka runs a hand over his forearm briefly, thinking about breaking bones—and goes to stand for chrollo's first inspection before they pin the veil to his hair. he waits until chrollo's close enough to hear even when he speaks in a low murmur. ]</small Is there an altar?

[at least he's off the phone so he can hear Hisoka coming up. turning to look at him, Chrollo can't say he's surprised by how easily Hisoka carries it off. some people wouldn't have been able to. the contrast between his frame and the delicacy of the fabric would look appealing in a photograph. not that it's difficult with how Hisoka carries off anything.]

If there is, I must have missed it.

[walking around him, Chrollo looks at it with a designer's eye, reaching out to pull up the back a fraction of an inch before coming back around to the front and adjusting one of the straps. even if the pictures wouldn't show the tiny change, Chrollo would know it was there are feel better for it.]

[ hisoka stays still, perfectly so, while chrollo tugs at the dress. it hangs a little differently after the adjustments. ]

What about flowers?

[ bending his hand at the wrist and hiding the movement that it takes to pull out a real rose from the place he'd hidden it takes but a moment. hisoka offers it to chrollo with a smile. ]

Edited 2016-03-09 16:32 (UTC)

[asking him how would only likely be met with a cryptic smile, but Chrollo wonders nevertheless. where did it come from? how did he move so quickly? it wasn't even like it was part of a show - Hisoka did it so naturally that it defied the logic that told Chrollo it was sleight of hand and misdirection. that's what made it surprising.]

What about them?

[looking at the rose, he reaches to take it after a second passes and proves that it's not simply going to disappear. later he'll give it back somehow.]

[ he lets chrollo take the rose, but his hand lingers on the stem. the thorns are still on it, of course. ]

You can't have a wedding without flowers, can you?

If you're having a wedding, you forgot to invite me.

[it wouldn't suit him if the thorns were gone. there's some sort of metaphor to be made in that, but at work, Chrollo's less inclined. maybe when they're done and he feels slightly more human when out of the building.

(for that matter, there are a few flowers that will be given to him at one point, but not yet.)]

But congratulations all the same.

Edited 2016-03-10 04:29 (UTC)

Next time I go to a wedding, you can be my plus one.

[ and possibly a joint plus one with illumi. but that's for the future! hisoka smiles easily at him and continues on to the set. the shoot is meant to showcase the quality of the dress, but as usual hisoka's presence lends it an edge, a certain air that isn't quite meant to be had by any person—let alone a supposed bride. when it's done he still has the veil pinned to his hair as he takes a break before the final outfit. ]

[you assume he'd want to be your plus one for anything...not that it was a bad thing necessarily, but if he was going to get ditched again, he wanted to know ahead of time. Illumi would be a whole other scenario where he tried to not be a third wheel to their...everything, or get his phone broken into again (even if the emoticons were cute, Hisoka didn't need the ego boost.)

the last outfit, Chrollo knows, doesn't need a huge change in makeup to work. while Hisoka takes his break, Chrollo's nowhere to be found - however, when he changes, Hisoka will be given a rose after by one of the staff, "for the pictures."

of course it's the same one. and when Chrollo reappears, the others falling aside with a barely audible excuse me, boss, he's watching. how the pictures are going to come out depends on the photographer, but style wise, he's pleased. that edge is exactly why it has to be Hisoka. sometimes dark, sometimes whimsical, always with the sense that there was something more to it than what could be seen through one image. veiled while being entirely open. he's a study in contradiction, and that, more than anything else, is why it always works.]

[ hisoka holds the rose between two bony fingers while he poses, nails having been painted pale pink to complement. seeing chrollo among the crew, hisoka's eyes fix on him. he's near the camera, so hisoka is able to stare at him, smile with his red-painted lips, and still focus on the photographer. ]

[the entire time, Chrollo stares back, and the most he'll concede is a faint smile, even if he can't discern how Hisoka feels about his rose being returned like that. sentiment returned, or insult and disregard? well, he truly doesn't care, even if he's curious.

the photographer notices - of course, and shifts to capture Hisoka from a different angle where that intensity in his eyes is there before pulling back and asking Chrollo if there's anything else. he has to break eye contact to say no, that it's enough, and that he trusts them to pick out the best for review.

everyone's dismissed for now, he can say without raising his voice, and they all hear. later than he'd planned for getting out, but that was Hisoka's fault. which he still needs to get an explanation for when it's all said and done, so he's going to try and catch Hisoka before he can leave.]

[ hisoka keeps the rose even after the shoot is done and twirls it as he stands by the side, watching the crew clean up. when chrollo approaches he tips his head and smiles. ]

I gather you have a question. ♣

I do.

[the smile from earlier's gone by now, and Chrollo pulls on his jacket before continuing.]

What held you up earlier? I nearly told everyone you got sick and we'd have to regroup.

[ hisoka watches the shoulders of the jacket slide over chrollo's shoulders. excellent cut. could look better on the ground. ]

Other pursuits, I'm afraid. ♦ I lost track of time.

[these "other pursuits"...whatever they were, Chrollo can't imagine they're more important than showing up for his job, and the suddenly revealed chill in his voice could freeze blood. the irritation he's been nursing for a while flares up and shows itself in his eyes.]

Don't do it again. Next time, I might find it worthwhile to replace you.

[as much as it would pain him to lose that particular, striking look, his threats can't appear to be idle ones. that he hadn't called in someone else to do the shoot was gracious enough. but Chrollo's lying about all of that. Hisoka hasn't been replaced yet, even if his actions would have gotten him dropped long ago. and that he carries off Chrollo's work without complaining about it...there's something to be said for it.]

Edited 2016-03-11 07:21 (UTC)

[ hisoka only smiles a little wider. he holds the rose between two fingers, index and middle, and steps closer. ]

You could never.

[ he's still taller than chrollo, even not back in his heels. but he makes an effort not to loom, standing just far away enough that chrollo can look at him without craning his neck. ]

I'm valuable to you, as you are to me. ♥ [ hisoka extends the rose to him, again, to his lips. ]

Would you really like to know, Mr. Lucilfer, what I was doing?

[this time he's not so quick to take the flower, letting it rest there. the break in his neutrality is smoothed over, always ever fleeting when it comes through. not that he didn't feel it still - it just wouldn't do any favors to leave it visible.

Mr. Lucilfer. so he's being serious.]

I would.

[even if it's absolute nonsense, he wants the facts.]

[ hisoka doesn't let go of the rose this time, keeping his hold on the stem. ]

Well... [ he turns the rose, spinning the stem between his fingers so that the petals brush against his lips. ] ...I have another occupation, you see. A job and a pastime. ♦

Is it too much to ask you what this job and pastime is?

[reaching up, he holds the rose still, not taking it but not allowing Hisoka to spin it anymore. maybe, if he lets go, Chrollo will take it again. (he will.)]

forgets most of au, makes up things???

story of my life

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detail choice i'm sorry

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