leftwinger: (Default)
牛島 若利 Ushijima Wakatoshi ([personal profile] leftwinger) wrote2021-04-01 09:11 pm
Entry tags:

Open post [ACTION]



For action/prose. For epistolary and texts, there's another post for that.
omiomi: (017 | neutral)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-03 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Sakusa might not care for the flowers, but he glares at the suggestion of throwing them out, shielding the petals as thought expecting an attempt on their life. Liked or not, these are a precious gift from his boyfriend. Even if they haven't used that particular term yet.]

They're mine now. If I didn't want them, then they'd be in the trash already.

[Above all else, Sakusa appreciates effort. A large bouquet, an exclusive restaurant, no price pulled.... He's feeling quite spoiled now. It's not a far cry from reaping a harvest that was lovingly sowed.]

Huh? Of course not. Why would we go anywhere else? This place is perfect.

[Saying it's perfect when he complained about it just a second ago? Yeah, it's a regular occurrence. In any case, Sakusa has a checklist for when he eats out, and this restaurant ticks all the boxes. He unmasks in demonstration, neatly folding it and placing it inside a pocket. He could blame the ambient music that's floating behind them or the intimate candlelight, but really it's just pure desire that drives him reaching a hand across the table and resting it over Ushijima's.]

I like being here with you. I like that you dressed up, and I even like your obnoxious flowers. It must have been embarrassing standing around waiting with them, but you still did it for me. [Glancing at the bouquet that was given its own seat to accommodate its girth, a slight smile thins out his grimace. It's replaced by something fond and soft, the same look reserved only for Ushijima.] You brought me flowers the first time too, so it's starting to feel like a tradition... Of all things, flowers... [But then, a warning tone and squeeze:] Not so big next time.
omiomi: (003 | amused)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-03 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
...Yeah? What were you thinking about me, then?

[Without his mask, Sakusa's defenseless against Ushijima's picture perfect smile radiating love within a two meter diameter. There's a wary but demure smile on his lips, a just barely there smile, that he immediately hides behind a menu; Ushijima's seen it a million times by now, but Sakusa always feels so vulnerable being seen like this. His blush creeps over the edge just as it would his mask, flustered by both Ushijima confessing his feelings so easily and Sakusa asking about his thoughts with all the innocence of a schoolboy.

It's after Sakusa announces what red wine he wants to order and while he's eyeing the appetizers when Ushijima makes a joke. Sakusa's eyes dart up, going wide and dark at the same time. He places the menu aside this time, smirk curling onto his face.]


I think you know me better than that, Wakatoshi. That is not what I would be saying.

[His knee knocks into Ushijima's beneath the table.] Although, if that's what you're trying to tell me with your flowers...shouldn't the bouquet be bigger?
omiomi: (001 | scheming)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-03 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't have to be modest. We both know it's true.

[What's polite dinner conversation?

Sakusa's eyebrows shoot up when Ushijima's foot pushes back, light as it is. Most people wouldn't expect Ushijima to be the playful, flirty type, but that just makes it all the more satisfying to Sakusa. There's something special about being the only one in the world to be on the receiving end of his teasing and kisses. Maybe it's a little juvenile, but Sakusa smirks back and nudges Ushijima's foot, this time more firmly and for longer.

The more Sakusa thinks about, the tighter his chest feels. Here Ushijima is, flirting with him in this amazing place that's tailored to Sakusa's taste. How could Ushijima doubt that this was anything less than perfect? It'd be easier to look away and blush when confronted by his feelings, but Sakusa keeps his eyes trained on Ushijima, his face completely revealed as the blush sprawls upward and outward. The tips of his ears burn redder than his lips, and he knows it, baring a rare display of a fully flushed face to his date.]


You know, you don't need all of this to make me happy. As long as it's clean, executed to the best of your ability, and you are by my side, then it will be perfect to me. So if that's your goal, you've accomplished it already.

[Because Ushijima was. Perfect. He's gone above and beyond for Sakusa tonight, and he even orders for the both of them so Sakusa doesn't have to talk with the server when it comes time to order. It makes Sakusa's heart squeeze and his hands restless to spike a ball as hard as he can. He inspects both of their plates and silverware sets, and when he's satisfied that they're free of smudges, takes to twisting one of his wrists back and forth anxiously. He waits until the waiter's gone to speak again.]

I'll admit, it's a lot. Nobody else has put in such effort just to please me... I keep wondering what's in it for you. Wouldn't it be more fun to date somebody cheerful and cute than somebody who is so particular?

[It's not insecurity talking; it's just fact. Sakusa isn't an idiot: he knows he's difficult to please, and very few are willing to put in the effort it takes to make Sakusa comfortable, let alone happy. He's what they call high maintenance, just a different brand of high maintenance than the usual stock. And he's not the usual brand of boyfriend material. He won't repay Ushijima back in tagged selfies with cute filters on social media, or romance Ushijima with kisses in the rain or dancing on the beach.

The attention to detail and care that Ushijima's invested in the evening is an entirely new experience; he's thankful, for certain, but unsure how to respond to all this affection. He certainly can't proceed like he normally would, with only his own interests at heart and not giving a care to what anybody else might think. His smile fades back into a contemplative grimace.]


For the first time, I care what somebody thinks of me. It's not a feeling I like.
omiomi: (043 | neutral)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-04 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
[Sakusa's not the type to nod or smile during conversation, but he listens carefully and comes to better understanding with each example. Despite how long they've known each other, these are things he didn't know about Ushijima.

He catches onto the gist fairly quickly, coming from a similar mindset himself. Living up to others' expectations never ends well, especially when those expectations overlook the particularities of a relationship. Applied to them, Sakusa suspects the point is that their similarities and commitment to each other is more important than living up to any notion of a typical romance. Although Sakusa puts little to no investment in anybody's expectations except for his own, he feels closer to the other man, more than anything, after hearing that he feels the same, especially in his vision of a happily quiet partnership. Sakusa catches onto one detail and treasures it with a smile after Ushijima says it: Ushijima doesn't understand trends, and Sakusa doesn't care for them altogether. They're perfect for each other.]


Rather than slowing down, I want to take the next step forward with you. I see why you would choose somebody like me now. We have a much more favorable foundation for a relationship than your parents or your previous relationship. For me, there's nobody in my heart except for you, and I don't think there ever will be, even if we put an end to this.

That said... I won't lie to you. I have expectations. You claim to care for me, and I believe you. And so, I expect you to prove that to me every day. I expect you to never break my heart. I expect you to work beside me when things go wrong, and not give up on us. I expect you to give me nothing less than your best effort to make this relationship work.

So long as we can agree on these terms, I am confident in our resolve to each other. Of course, these expectations are ones I expect of myself as well.

[No "I'm sorry to hear that"s or "That's unfortunate"s or even a "Is that okay?". Ushijima says he wants Sakusa, and this is who he is, down to the demanding and intense bits that tend to put off everybody else. He looks at where they're joined by the wrist and then up to Ushijima, curling his wrist over Ushijima's hand. Flexible wrists, after all. If sharing germs isn't a love language, Sakusa doesn't know what is.]
omiomi: (039 | annoyed)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-04 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Sakusa can normally accept when things don't go his way as long as he's done his best, but any other answer in this situation would have genuinely hurt him. The moment Ushijima agrees to his terms, he lets out a held breath, his fingertips twitch, and his former smile is revived. This is to say, he's pleased by Ushijima's response. Sakusa nods in outward demonstration of his feeling. Even the way Ushijima waves off the waiter makes Sakusa fall a little deeper in love with him.]

As will I. I promise.

...Now that that's settled, I need to know. Who did you date? How many have you dated? Do I know them? What attracted you to them? Why did you break up?

[Sakusa could go on, but he forces himself to stop. An ex of Ushijima's is a threat, and that means Sakusa needs to know everything about the circumstances. Sakusa's as thorough in his questioning about his romantic rival, which he'd only formerly done with volleyball. Ushijima was already on his list of things he'd see through, but now he assumes the entitlement to ask.

It's probably a welcome relief when the waiter comes back with their appetizer bread and charcuterie board, though Sakusa's hand keeps Ushijima's wrist pinned right where it is.]
omiomi: (089 | angry)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-04 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, Ushijima. Expecting Sakusa to be reasonable about this. Sakusa cocks his head while listening this time, his brows the most expression feature on his face. They raise when he hears about the Niiyama Girls' captain and furrow remembering Shirabu and how casual he'd been with Ushijima during first year at Nationals. These two, Sakusa can accept. It's that final one, Ushijima's most important ex, that makes finally Sakusa sneer over the table. This time Sakusa snaps a, "Hurry up. We're talking," at the unfortunate waiter assigned to them.

Once alone again, Sakusa listens patiently, albeit with an expression growing in dissatisfaction. Oikawa Tooru. He'd never met the man himself, and his only reference was an article in Volleyball magazine only a few years ago. Next to a glossy column boasting of a Japanese setter's accomplishments abroad was a picture of a man with a dazzling smile and perfectly coifed hair. Sakusa would be lying if he said he couldn't understand if it was just a physical thing. But between the tone Ushijima used back then and how he says his name now, Sakusa suspicion that things were more complicated than that is implicitly confirmed.]


I've heard of him. Our teams never played. [It's a jab. A small one, but a jab nonetheless.]

The Niiyama Girls' captain and Shiratorizawa's setter, I can understand...

[They were, in Sakusa's opinion, strong and therefore worthy. But this...nobody? Was Ushijima's ex? And the way Ushijima talked about him, Sakusa can't help but think Ushijima was the more invested partner.

Sakusa has a million questions and more still formulating, but the biggest one is:]
You said you had "something" with him. Define "something."
omiomi: (036 | contemplative)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-05 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
If he was that good, then he should have listened to you and gone to Shiratorizawa.

[Not to parrot Ushijima's own thoughts, but it just makes sense that way. Sakusa's not a fan of things that don't make sense. He's also not a fan of Oikawa. His eyebrows twitch again, toward the later part, as he begins to fill in the blanks. Sakusa has a running timeline in his head and it's filled with his own experiences, facts about other players, and, now, Ushijima's romantic life. As that missing year of Sakusa's second year and Ushijima's last is filled in, Sakusa can't help but scowl. Not only hadn't Itachiyama played against Shiratorizawa at Nationals, but now he knows Ushijima had been spending that time tangled up in...Oikawa.

There's no regret. No sense of something missing. No second guessing what happened or how it happened.

Feeling like that are pointless, and Sakusa knows it. In the first place, it's not like he asked just to cause trouble. All he'd wanted is understanding, and now he has exactly that. There's a peace that comes with it. He should be satisfied, yet... Now that he has his answers, it makes the flickers of jealousy still stirring in his chest harder to process.]


The relationship sounds like it was over before it even began. Trying to make it work any longer would have been a waste of time on both sides.

I accept this part of you, though. It's obvious that we're much better suited together anyway. Do you regret it?

[Regret being with Oikawa or regret telling Sakusa, it's hard to tell which he means. Either way, Sakusa finally seems to relax. He's heard what he needs to hear, and it will take some time to decide what to do with this new information. For now, he's satisfied with what Ushijima has told him. He's probably broken at least Unspoken Rules of a First Date, but he pays it no mind. Instead he's relieved enough to start eating, carefully arranging portions on his appetizer plate.]

I was right, the portions are small.
omiomi: (075 | neutral)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-05 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
[There's no way to interpret Ushijima's explanation as anything other than implying Sakusa is what he needs and wants, and while Sakusa's not the type to get riled up by compliments, Ushijima's sincerity will always fluster him. The blush on his cheek remains light, but the tips of his ears and neck darken. If Ushijima squints, he might even see an upward tick of the edges of Sakusa's lips, like he's smiling to himself.]

It doesn't bother me. The smaller the portions, the higher the quality. That's how it usually is at places like this, right? If not, then they're scamming you.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. If it's not enough or tastes bad, we can just go home and eat something else.

[So what if wait staff overheard his rude remarks while passing by their table? Sakusa's not impressed by things like the calmari costing more than an ikazaya's entire check or how perfectly angled the tuna pillowed on their greens is. As long as it's healthy and safe to eat, Sakusa's fine with it. Tastes are fleeting and food is just nutrients.

Despite his judgements, he does have impeccable table manners, more from keeping himself and his clothing clean rather than respect. He tosses his tie over a shoulder, rolls up his sleeves, and spreads a napkin over his lap before even reaching for a fork. It takes Sakusa longer than it probably should to inspect and prod at a plateful of shredded greens and fish, but he manages to get it into his mouth, chews slow and deliberate. After swallowing, he pats his mouth with a napkin he brought himself and gives a single, curt nod of approval.]


We can stay. But if the main course is just as small, we should order more.

[The menu wasn't created with professional athletes in mind, after all.]
omiomi: (061 | neutral)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-05 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
That's good, because I don't normally go to restaurants at all.

[There were many reasons for that, Sakusa could list about ten off the top of his head, but he doesn't offer an explanation. He eats another piece, and never speaks while chewing.]

It has to be special for me to come to a place like this. Tonight, for example, is special.

[Quietly:] Actually...it feels like something out of a movie.

[No sooner than said, he looks up from his plate, warningly, and casts a suspicious stare over the table.] But don't get the wrong idea. I don't want to do this often. You should also tell me what you like, so I can take you on a date that meets your standards too.
omiomi: (041 | neutral)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-06 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
Beauty and the Beast. It even reminds me of the ride. All that's missing is for the plates to start singing and dancing.

[It's mostly because everything is so fancy, and the night feels as magical as being trapped in an enchanted castle. This date might seem lowkey to anybody else, but to Sakusa, everything about tonight has been incredibly dramatic.

...And just because Sakusa is capable of being a teasing jerk:]
You shouldn't be so trusting, Wakatoshi.

[There's a moment of silence, and then a quiet shuffle. Sakusa's foot brushes against Ushijima's ankle again. Only there's no shoe.]
omiomi: (012 | scheming)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-06 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[life imitates art, what can i say.]

[Sakusa raises a brow. After all, despite any complaints, Sakusa doesn't take action unless he approves or feels a risk is certain. Ushijima saying that everything is going well could be interpreted as surprise, which Sakusa will have none of. It only makes him want to retaliate stronger, a feeling compounded by Ushijima's startled reaction at his touch.]

I think you know why already. [He toes along the bone and muscle, nearly halfway up his calf, lifting the hem of his pant leg before pulling away.]
omiomi: (025 | focused)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-06 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[That... That was unexpected. Sakusa's caught off guard enough that there's no resistance to Ushijima grabbing him by the ankle and guiding it to rest.

It takes a moment for the minutia of the situation to register, the only visual indicator being the immediate and four-degree pinched slant of Sakusa's brow. At this point, Sakusa realizes that Ushijima's not backing down and that...intrigues him. Finally taking the situation on as a challenge, Sakusa glances from side-to-side without moving his head, calculating the nearest tables and an idea of how loud they can be without garnering attention. At this point he relaxes and shifts his foot inward. There's a slight tension to his hold on Ushijima's hip, front seam of his sock barely resting along the zipper and leather belt.]


You're too trusting. Somebody might try to take advantage of that.
omiomi: (010 | amused)

[personal profile] omiomi 2021-04-06 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Sakusa recognizes that shudder. He'd trained himself to memorize it ever since he saw it, naked and tangled up in his lover's body, the first time. So Ushijima could make expressions like this out of bed as well... Sakusa files that fact away, a tight, growing smirk barely tugging the edges of his lips upward as his foot delicately slots into place. At this angle, the arch of his heel perfectly rests on the bulge between Ushijima's thighs, which he experimentally pirouettes his heel into.

Sakusa reaches out for his wine and takes a sip, placing it back on a coaster with a motion that's slightly too stiff to be perfectly at ease.]


There are people out there who would like seeing how you squirm beneath them. I can think of a few.

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-06 07:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-06 18:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-07 00:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-08 04:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-09 08:05 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-11 03:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-15 03:46 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-04-19 01:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-05-02 21:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-05-09 04:57 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] omiomi - 2021-05-23 02:30 (UTC) - Expand