spirits_and_such_offices

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Minegishi was in the greenhouse. They spent a lot of time there, even when they weren't practicing at using their powers. They felt more comfortable, somehow, being around plants rather than people. Not that they were particularly fond of the people they had surround themselves with.

Minegishi flipped a page int their book, only to glance up as they heard someone approaching. They were hardly surprised when they saw who their visitor was.

"What is it?" they asked. They should probably set their book aside, but they didn't particularly care to. And even if they did, their visitor wouldn't be able to see it anyway. With his eyes, anyway.

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For once, Shou was grateful for Shimazaki's ability to manifest anywhere. He slowly sipped on the glass of OJ, and gradually, he could taste something other than burning.

"Thanks," he said, trying to reign in his embarrassment. He hoped his cheeks weren't as red as his hair was.

Shimazaki took a seat beside him on the bed, his own glass in hand. "You know, this brand of scotch was the first gift your dad got me. We only shared it on special occasions...just finished it a few months ago. Now you're helping me break the new bottle in."

While he would have been quick to condescendingly suggest Shou should be honored, he didn't. He just stated the facts. He didn't even know how he felt about it, other than amusement at imagining how literally any of the other Upper Echelon would have reacted to the knowledge he let the 13-year-old at the bottle. Serizawa would probably try and beat him with his umbrella.

"How about this...let's just save the rest for when you're older."

Shou wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand. He offered no protest at the beverage being saved for later -- though he might have had words if he hadn't nearly scalded his throat with the drink.

"You really drink that stuff like that?" Shou was incredulous.

"There's a trick to not getting burned. It's all in the breath control and the small sips." Shimazaki emphasized his point by doing exactly that--exhaling nearly all the way, taking a controlled sip, and holding it in his mouth before swallowing.

"But look, there's no point in drinking it unless you're having a good time. It's pointless for me to tell you to stop, but at least think about that before you go swiping more."

"What? Are you about to give me drinking lessons or something?"

Shou kind of hoped so.

"Nice try. That's the most you're getting out of me for now." Even he had standards...feeble as they were. Mostly born out of self-preservation, but still. Some. "If we got summoned by your father and you were too drunk to function, it'd be my ass on the line."

"Like he'd even care," Shou complained, folding his arms behind his head. "He probably wouldn't even notice."

Most adults would have tried to be reassuring on principle, but Shimazaki wasn't about to play apologia for a man like the Boss, especially not to Shou.

Especially not when the man in question was far worse than even his son was giving him credit for.

Still, even if Shimazaki wasn't nice enough to reassure him, he also wasn't cruel enough to point it out.

"Fine." Shimazaki levitated the bottle back into his hand and poured a few drops back into his glass. "Don't chug it this time. Slowly. Exhale just a bit before taking the drink. Once you've swallowed, exhale the rest of the way. Don't inhale for another few seconds."

"Right!" Shou grinned, then exhaled slightly, took a sip, then exhaled all the way -- exactly as Shimazaki instructed.

"Whoa," he said after a moment later. "That's way better than the first time."

"You sound surprised. You know I wouldn't lead you astray, right?" He did take Shou's instruction seriously enough, whether it was fighting or drinking.

Shou raised one brow and furrowed the other. "You really think I'd believe that?"

"Just a feeling." Shimazaki ruffled Shou's gelled hair. "Now, will you stop barging in on my private time with the others?"

"Are you gonna stop talking about me?"

"You mean the compliment I was about to pay you? Fine, I won't do that ever again."

"You were trying to pay me a compliment?" Shou did his best not to sound too interested.

"I keep trying to tell you! Even if it's just scouting, how could I not be a little proud of you taking on more responsibility?"

"I thought you'd have more than that to compliment."

Shimazaki huffed. "What, need a compliment on your looks or something? I can't see, but I’ll try and think of something."

Edited 2024-04-23 05:34 (UTC)

"No way! It's not a compliment if it's not authentic."

“Fine.” Shimazaki extended his two fingers and tapped around Shou’s face. “Mighty fine bone structure. Just like your dad.”

"What, are you going around touching my dad's face or something?"

"You make that sound sordid." Shimazaki blinked in and out, returning with a bottle of water in hand. "Now. Sleep. But not before hydrating. Even if it was just two shots, I don't need you whining about a headache before your mission."

"I'm not gonna whine," Shou complained, though he plopped his butt down on the edge of the bed and uncapped the bottle. "Go back to Minegishi."

“Easy for you to say.” They were going to get cozy until Shou barged in. Once Minegishi had enough they had no problems letting him know it. Shimazaki hoped they still had some patience when he pulled out his phone and turned it away from himself to send a text. Most people did it with the phone facing them, but he wasn’t most people. He owed Hatori for helping him set up the braille input.

OK, the brats gone to bed. :) On my way back <3 Send.

Minegishi felt their phone buzz in their pocket. They fished it out and read the message on screen. He glanced over at Serizawa and offered the earnest man a tight-lipped smile.

The guard dog's here. he typed back and hit Send. Maybe Minegishi could chase him off.