OPEN SEASON 2.

[crawly]

1. pick a character.

☛ optional.
☛ character list here.
☛ full list.
☛ specify in the subject line if you want one character in particular.

2. provide a prompt.

☛ image, words, music, whatever you want.
☛ i like to think at least one of my three tumblrs has something interesting. (be warned that all three blogs contain nsfw material, including porn.)

3. gotta go fast.

☛ not actually. this is a permanently open post! tag at your own speed.

previous post here.

Comments

[specialization]

It's somewhere I frequent enough that you might say that.

[by contrast, Chrollo's positively somber in black. the only thing that's not is the bandana around his forehead, an off white. the color may change, but he's never without it, and he intends it to stay like that.]

But, I'm not that picky when it comes to food, actually. So it's hard to say if somewhere's a true favorite or not.

[if it was food, then one should be grateful for what they have. even if it was bitter, or a vegetable. it was there, and it would keep someone going. no reason to throw it away aside from allergies.]

[obscurant]

There's more than food to a restaurant. [ So Chrollo isn't picky about what he eats. His clothes seem carefully chosen, though, and the fit of them always seems good. Hm. ]

The ambiance, the other patrons, and the service... they could all make it a favorite of yours. ♦ Will you satisfy my curiosity?

[specialization]

Your curiosity? Does it ever have an end?

[he laughs a little, tucking his hands into his pockets to keep them warm as they walk along. Hisoka can ask him as many questions as he likes - it's simply Chrollo's choice as to whether he answers or not.]

[obscurant]

The only way to find out is to reach inside and look, isn't it?

[ Walking down the street Hisoka attracts glances—he always does—and he returns none of them, gazing ahead and at Chrollo with rapt eyes. ]

I still wonder about your trip. Next time I'd love to accompany you. ♥

[specialization]

Do you mean that?

[the thought of Hisoka accompanying him has Chrollo torn between laughter and horror. there's a part of him that recoils, that hisses about outsiders and would count how many hours he could make it before a mess occurred. and the other part of him would pay to see the look on their faces if he introduced Hisoka as his bodyguard or something.]

Would you still mean it if I called you in the middle of the night and told you to pack enough for a few days and that our flight departed in a matter of hours? Wouldn't that throw off your whole schedule?

[being the one who called the shots meant he had more flexibility in his schedule when it came to rearranging everything on short notice, and meetings can be had over the phone, emails sent, apologies made. for Hisoka, wouldn't it be different?]

[obscurant]

If it were that urgent, of course I would. What could set you in such a rush? I would just have to come.

[ Oh, he would love to see anything that could make Chrollo want him. Even if the rush might be because Chrollo simply wants to put him off balance, that's a little game he'd play, too. ]

[specialization]

Then I guess I have to remember that for next time.

[it's a terrible, hideous idea. but if he changes his mind, he could always just not take Hisoka. or leave him in an airport awaiting the wrong connecting flight. or he could take him still, and let him flounder in the world Chrollo knows how to navigate. or he could indulge him. the possibilities are endless.]

Since I'd hate to deprive you of the opportunity.

[obscurant]

Even if you deprived me, Chrollo, I would bear it. For you. ♠

[ Deprivation could even be interesting if it was Chrollo, as much as Hisoka prefers indulgence. ]

[specialization]

Take the promise before I change my mind.

[and he still might change his mind. but Hisoka can't say those sorts of things around him, or Chrollo will want to test his limits.]

fucking rude, don't leave him in switzerland

[obscurant]

Oh, all right. So demanding.

[ Hisoka's gaze on Chrollo now is hungrier even than before. What's that they say about feeding stray dogs? (Even though Hisoka is no stray, he has no home.) ]

when is chrollo not rude

[specialization]

Not demanding. Only a warning.

[demanding is when he's dispensing orders as to how a shoot or a garment's construction is to go. demanding is when he takes no words to the contrary and exercises the fact that sometimes, his word is absolute.

but he can feel Hisoka's eyes on him, and he glances to the side to catch them - meeting him for just a second. curiosity for curiosity. focus for focus. the sense that if they both had enough time, they'd try and pry out everything from the other from where it's been hidden.]

even when he doesn't seem rude he's being stealth rude

[obscurant]

[ Hisoka's smile fades, but the heat in his eyes grows. ]

A warning for some danger... is it?

[ Danger attracts him; Chrollo attracts him and Hisoka pulls at the strands of Chrollo's web, waiting for him to come closer, closer. ]

[specialization]

Do you consider change so dangerous?

[Chrollo's stopped walking to ask this. for two seconds all of his attention rests on Hisoka - studying him, taking measure of him both in response and physically. seeing what can be deciphered from the look on his face, his posture, all of it. waiting for his words.

someone could walk into him and he'd barely give it notice. everyone else can walk around, their convenience be damned.]

[obscurant]

[ Hisoka stops walking and in the process draws himself up, the way he always does, shoulders back and spine straight, feet placed slightly apart to show off his best angle. There is, as usual, the sense of his energy flowing to every part of his body to brush against the outer surface of his skin.

(Nothing like how he'd look when truly hungry.) ]

You don't give a warning when things are safe. ♠ I'm keeping my eyes on you. Chrollo. That's all.

[specialization]

I know you are.

[Chrollo observes, keeps himself contained, and for a second he seems like he'll let the remark pass entirely. the answer something to meditate on later.

and then he smiles.]

But you don't really care about safety, do you?

[obscurant]

What makes you think that? ♣

[ Hisoka pauses, and takes a step forward, pressing his height above Chrollo. ]

I would never bring you into danger.

[specialization]

[it means Chrollo has to tilt his head the slightest amount to keep looking Hisoka in the eye, but he doesn't move aside from that. Hisoka looming doesn't bother him at all.]

Maybe you wouldn't. But that doesn't mean that I'm able to promise the same. If you're so set on accompaniment, that is.

[that might be caring, trying to keep Hisoka out of danger. if Chrollo wasn't Chrollo. he knows Hisoka can handle himself, so what he says is just fact.]

[obscurant]

Chrollo, if you put me in harm's way, I would already be hurt regardless of the danger. ♦ Would you do that to me?

[specialization]

I'm not going to put you there. You would choose to go.

[and if he went too far, then to extract him would take blood. this Chrollo knows as a calm fact.]

If you want me to protect you, that's another matter. All you have to do is ask.

[he could, if he tried. in his world he could spin something to make it possible. he could pull on the right threads, and it would all fall into place.

but he's cruel enough to not do it until it's called for.]

[obscurant]

So I'd go into danger with you, and you would protect me if I asked then? ♥ And what if I asked now, for your protection?

[ Hisoka slides his hands into his pocket, tipping his head slightly at him. ]

Would you help me?

[specialization]

Why not?

[why not. why not, if only to see what happened? it was a choice, just like that. it of course requires Hisoka to trust him - a curious thought, that.

suddenly, he's almost looking forward to the next phone call in the middle of the night.]

[obscurant]

[ Why not, indeed. It's almost like Chrollo is asking to be brought into Hisoka's crawling nest of a social sphere. ]

...I understand. Next time, then. ♥

[ He tilts his head down the street in the direction they'd been walking in. ]

For now—take me.

[specialization]

[finally, they can stop being assholes that take up the entire sidewalk. Chrollo shrugs and leads him on, making an abrupt turn at one point to guide him to where he'd been meaning all along. and it's...a sandwich shop. casual enough that Hisoka stands out quite a bit in his outfit, while Chrollo manages to fly under the radar just enough.

he has no problems stepping up and ordering, with the swift familiarity of someone who knows exactly what they're after and how to get it. the whole affair takes less than a minute, and he steps aside to wait.]

[obscurant]

[ A sandwich shop... Hisoka is somewhat disappointed. He'd hoped for a location that would give away more information about Chrollo than a place where so many people come and go, unlikely to remember much about each other.

He orders an Italian sub and fries off the menu before going to stand with Chrollo near the order pick-up. ]

Is this your usual place?

[specialization]

When I'm feeling indecisive, yes. Its proximity to the office usually wins out.

[which, no, doesn't tell Hisoka anything. but then again, he's not trying to.]

I was thinking we could take it with us, if you don't mind a little more walking. The park's not far.

[a better spot for peoplewatching, all told, and usually calmer. the weather's good enough for it, and so he'd rather.]