[Open-ish] Bonds are Such a Pain...

[sleight_of_hand]

WHO: Adachi, Viktor; two open prompts.
WHERE: Mostly Heropa, though the other cities as well.
WHEN: From about mid-month to the end of the month.
WHAT: Catch all for March as Adachi tries to sort out his job, friendships, and figure out what the hell's been changing with him.
WARNINGS: To be updated as needed.

[ (Late) Morning Workout - Viktor ]
[ It had only been a couple weeks since they started working out in the mornings, but Adachi was already starting to get the hang of it. That wasn't to say it wasn't grueling; stretches of every kind he could think of and some he didn't even know about, anaerobic and aerobic routines, and running -- oh god so much running. Viktor didn't seem to believe in easing into it either, probably because he was already so damn fit he could run circles around Adachi with very little effort, and even with his endurance powers, Adachi was usually falling over exhausted by the time they were done. ]

[ And he didn't even know that by the time he pulled himself out of bed, Viktor was finishing his first workout. ]

[ This was probably the first morning that wasn't the case, and he couldn't help but be a little happy with himself. Once they were back at their meet-up spot, Adachi paused, making sure Viktor was preoccupied with something else, before he lifted his shirt up a little bit, giving his stomach a little poke. He couldn't help but grin stupidly at the result. ]

It's already less squishy...

[ He has no idea he said that out loud. ]

[ Afternoons in Porter Cities - OTA ]
[ On any given day during the week, Adachi looks like he's trying to do a million things at once and not succeeding in any of them. Since working with Dooku, work had started trickling in steadily, and then after his involvement with investigating the blackout became public, it poured in before he could put up a flood gate. Some of it was petty stuff -- suspicion of theft, unfaithful significant other, that sort of thing -- but there were some bigger ones, like missing persons. Most of his clientele were natives; it was amazing how many problems the locals had, and he probably had more work now than he ever had working for the prefecture back in Japan. ]

[ When he does finally sit down, it's usually at a cafe, somewhere nice and quiet, with about a million papers to go through as he tries to shovel down whatever he managed to order before focusing on his work. If you're really lucky, you might get to see him flop his paperwork down in exasperation, his reading glasses half hanging off his face. ]

...I need an office already...

[ Nights in Heropa - OTA ]
[ After about midmonth, you might get to see the ice rink open later than usual -- sometimes an hour or two past closing time. Going in, the owner is just sitting alone in the rental booth, kicked back and not really paying attention to who comes in. ]

[ It's just Adachi down on the ice, having paid extra to the owner to keep the rink open a little longer. He's usually just trying to get used to skating around, and pretty badly at that. He's been coming by every night when he can't sleep... which is pretty often, considering he's had a lot to think about, especially after certain events that he really wanted to get off his mind. Focusing on just re-figuring out how to move around -- considering how distracted he was when he initially learned -- was helping him with that. His mind wandered easily while he was attempting this, so he doesn't immediately realize that someone else is there. When he does, he manages to come to a stop, and embarrassing look on his face. ]

Ah, sorry; I can leave if you need some time here.

[ It isn't until the end of the month that going in shows the owner a little more attentive at the booth, absently glancing down at the rink on occasion. He'll look up when someone comes in, giving a warning of, "He's actually doing something today, so he might not bug out," but not stopping anyone from going down. ]

[ And Adachi was definitely trying. His thought process had gone toward why he started working out: to get back into shape, and retrain with judo again. But dancing had evolved from martial arts like judo, and ice skating evolved from dancing... so it was okay to cut the middle part and still get somewhere, right? ]

[ Doing judo in skates was going about as well as one would expect, however. It's about the fourth time Adachi faceplants that he rolls over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling as he let out a groan. ]

Ugh... what am I doing...?

Comments

[sleight_of_hand]

E-eh?

[ Adachi's gaze went down to his Persona's feet. He... never thought of it that way... His face instantly started to heat up, and his Persona seemed to roll his eyes as he let out a sheepish laugh. ]

I-I never thought of it like that. Guess that's why I keep going back to the rink. Ha hah...

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor just laughs harder at the sight of the yellow eyes rolling. ]

Eeeh, you've been going back when I'm not there? Why didn't you tell me before now!

[sleight_of_hand]

[ ...oops. Adachi let out an embarrassed noise. ]

Ah... I'm mostly just trying to get used to moving around. I spend most of my time there thinking anyway; not really doing much.

[fourlevels]

Sounds a bit like Yuuri, actually. He skates when he's anxious or wanting to think too.

[sleight_of_hand]

Ah... I can see why. It's calming, especially when you're by yourself.

[ It was really starting to sound like him and Katsuki had a lot in common. He really needed to stop finding excuses and talk to him already, but at the same time he was afraid to. He knew what he was like when confronted with people that were gifted with talent; it was something he'd never have, and he didn't want that biting jealousy to be directed at anything associated with Viktor. ]

I mean, I've been looking for something that can calm me down that doesn't lead to... well, this.

[ He jestured to the damage around them as Magatsu Izanagi shifted, a bladed foot tapping against rotting wood. ]

[fourlevels]

[ The flaw in Adachi's thiking there is that Viktor is genius-level talented, but shhh.

Now that the sight of Magatsu Izanagi isn't (as) intimidating, Viktor looks away from it to take in the damaged surroundings again. ]

Did you have a lot of aggression when you arrived or something?

[ The tone of the question is genuine curiosity, no hint of judgement or rejection in it; a simple and open question. ]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi was a horrible mess of flaws; he wasn't even sure where the hell the affection for Viktor was coming from, and that was 90% of the reason why he needed help calming down at the moment. Otherwise he'd be a ball of frustration and probably end up doing something stupid. Again. Still. ]

Frustration, mostly. I was bored and didn't know what to do with myself.

[ A bit of a sheepish smile wormed it's way onto his face. ]

Heropa is a lot like Inaba, only warmer and less foggy. I thought I ended up right back at square one. Being initially signed on the local police as a traffic cop didn't exactly help.

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor gives a sympathetic smile in return. ]

Ouch. What changed here? It looks like you haven't been here for some time.

[sleight_of_hand]

I... I'm not sure. I got my first big break, I guess; I had work to focus on again, though...

[ He glanced away a moment, his Persona following his gaze, before he seemed to decide he wasn't needed right now. He disappeared in a faint flurry of blue, returning to the sea of Adachi's unconscious mind. ]

There was a while there where I was beginning to think that maybe I had been wrong from the start; that being a detective had been a bad choice.

[ A grin worked its way back onto his face. ]

It took working for myself to realize I hadn't been wrong, I was just looking at it the wrong way.

[ Now that he was saying it out loud... damn. He had changed so damn much in just a year. It was kind of scary to think about. ]

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor's eyes are drawn back to Magatsu Izanagi at the blue flurry , but his gaze is back on Adachi when the flurries disappear. ]

Can I ask how you were looking at it before?

[sleight_of_hand]

I... thought I was entitled to my job... and other... things... It's... kind of pathetic.

[ And cringe worthy. He was already cringing, and he hadn't even started explaining yet. ]

Growing up, it was the popular belief that if you studied hard, your life would fall right into place. 'Study hard, get into a good school, get a good job, find a good wife, have a good family'; I can't even tell you how many times my mother repeated that to me while I was growing up.

[ He paused, a frown coming to his face. ]

...not sure when I began to believe I was entitled to that, because I had studied so hard.

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor doesn't appear to look bothered or offended by the entitlement he's talking about though, not even reacting to his cringing, just taking it in stride and accepting it. ]

I think that's a pretty common expectation. And with some things it can be true; work hard, get a reward for your hard work. Unfortunately, not everything works like that.

[ Viktor's gaze slides away from Adachi, looking over the aged destruction again with a wistful and slightly sad expression. ]

I was always told that if I worked hard and became a better skater that I would win. I think all skaters are told this, really, but sometimes ... no matter how hard you worked, it just didn't work out. Sometimes people got injured and couldn't continue no matter how much they wanted to, sometimes people just ran out of money and stopped coming altogether, sometimes people just quit mid-season when they lost hope of ever winning higher than 6th or 5th place when others around them just kept climbing higher and higher ...

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi had to admit, he thought for sure he'd be called an idiot. He sagged slightly in relief when Viktor didn't, peering over at him as he attentatively listened to what he had to say. ]

What about you, then?

[fourlevels]

Sometimes you work hard and win the reward, but it turns out the reward isn't what you wanted after all.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi let out a faint noise at that; yeah, he had been wondering that himself, when he started doubting himself. It was hard to even come to the conclusion he reached, even if it wasn't all that different from what he was doing. ]

Is that where Katsuki-kun comes in?

[fourlevels]

Mmm, he was the start anyway.

[sleight_of_hand]

I think that's a story I'd like to hear someday.

[ ...he meant that honestly, he really did. He smiled faintly, before he let out a soft sigh. ]

I think I've kidnapped you long enough, though. I know I have clients to see later.

[fourlevels]

[ He chuckles. ]

It's hardly kidnapping if I walked here myself!

[ But he leans down to pick up the towel he dropped before turning back the way they came. ]

Are any clients of those by chance on a certain list I gave you? How's that going by the way?

[sleight_of_hand]

A few, yeah.

[ Adachi grinned cheekily at that. ]

One of them is apparently a clothing designer. She should be contacting you soon.

[ He paused, rubbing at his nose. ]

...I uh... might have a surprise for you too. I'm working on it, though.

[fourlevels]

Ooh, Yurio will be glad to hear that. We were just talking about costumes the other day.

[ His tone hints at being oddly forced just then, even though he's smiling; something about whatever they were talking about may have involved more than costumes?

But then it's back to normal when Viktor turns to look at him. ]

A surprise?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi raised a curious eyebrow at that, wondering what was up. Maybe they got into an argument or something... maybe it was better if he didn't ask. ]

Yeah. You'll be the first to know if I manage to get it.

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor POUTS. ]

Awww! You can't leave it like that!

[sleight_of_hand]

Soooorry~!

[ Adachi couldn't help but laugh, tossing him a teasing wink. ]

You'll just have to wait~

[fourlevels]

I never thought Tohru could be mean like that!

[sleight_of_hand]

Don't worry, don't worry; I'll give it to you when I give you the final report on those sponsors you were looking at.