perfectmatch | week three

[ HIDOI, EDAMURA-SAN ... Rom does look a tiny touch miffed as he gazes at him for a moment. ]

I'll have you know all three times I was only acting upon investigation requests I'd received and been paid for. I have a professional reputation to keep up -- I couldn't just ignore them.

[not even bothering to hide a tiny smile as he scoots a bit closer, arms folded against the side of the pool, chin resting on top of them. water fortunately means no mics, and while the cameras are on them, they are keeping a modest distance. for privacy!! pseudo-privacy!!]

[even so, remembering how Rom had covered his mic the other night, Edamura pitches his voice a little bit lower, so it can't easily be caught by the sound equipment]

I wasn't teasing. That was a genuine answer.

[he has his reasons!!]

Because I thought that might be the case. [. . .] You don't have a lookout?

[ A genuine answer, huh. Rom gives a curious tilt of the head as Edamura draws closer, but obligingly hunches so they can speak with their voices lowered. ]

No. I work on my own.

[ There's a gentle splash as he swishes his feet in the water a little. It does feel nice; a part of him wishes he could have enjoyed it in private. Ah, well. ]

I'd be exceptionally picky about choosing anyone as an assistant, you know? It's a rough job. My standards are quite high.

They should be.

[he replies simply. he may know nothing about the actual life and duties of an exorcist, but he sure does know a lot about maintaining a low profile. sometimes, having a lookout is a part of that! someone to warn Rom when people start getting suspicious!!]

[. . . but they have to be a good one for it to work]

But if you could find someone to meet your incredibly high standards, I bet it'd be good for you.

[less cops!!]

[ He smiles to himself at that, still idly letting his feet splish in the water. Feigning incredibly casual in contrast to what he's about to say: ]

My job's a dangerous one, you know. It would be a bit like asking someone to assist me in exploring a minefield blind, if I didn't find the person with the right qualifications.

[ By this point Edamura can probably guess what those qualifications are. All the more ominous when Rom fixes his usual owlish stare on him afterwards. ]

I don't suppose you're on the market for a new side gig, Edamura-san?

[HAR HAR. . . elbowing Rom's knee gently (it is the only thing he can reach from this position)]

Nope! I'm supposed to be in retirement.

[supposed to being the key phrase, here. Rom likely would have picked up hints from their prior conversation that Edamura is not as "retired" as he likes to think]

[. . . and then, a more genuine response]

Actually. . . if you really did need help, then I'd tag along. It'd be. . . different.

[nevermind that he said that he wouldn't do jobs involving spirits before. it's just. . . he does know what Rom's qualifications are, and why he has such a high bar for those with whom he may work. and as a completely ordinary man. . . Edamura knows he doesn't even get close to clearing that]

I just don't know how useful I'd be.

[ .... ? ]

[ ??????

give him a second, he's feeling something weird ]

[ ????????? ..................... ]

[ ..... oh. Ooooooh, that's what it is.

Edamura-san's being cute. Wow. Huh. ]

[ Don't mind that there was a slightly prolonged pause there for a hot second. Rom's expression remains his regular, unreadable owl-stare, but after the moment passes, he gives a soft exhale. Rests his elbows against his knees so he can lean in a little closer. Not, like, to say anything particularly secret or covert -- it just feels appropriate for the moment.

Uh, even if what he's about to say is a little blunt: ]

It wouldn't be right for me to bring you along for field work, Edamura-san. It's dangerous. No matter how many precautions I took, there would still be risks, and I've been taught to protect, not to endanger.

[ Pause. ]

But there are safer expeditions I could always use an extra hand on. Low-risk events where the goal is to build up the funds for my future work. Would you be interested in lending me a hand there, if things line up? I'd appreciate it very much.

[the pause makes Edamura's hackles raise defensively, ready to loudly protest any teasing he may receive for changing his mind so quickly. but the jibes don't come, instead replaced with Rom's firm, expected refusal. . . and those prickled shoulders slump a little further into the water. not disappointed!! he could never be disappointed about being kept away from spooky spirit stuff he doesn't want anything to do with in the first place!! (I should clarify: actually a little disappointed)]

[. . . the second part, however--]

Huh?

[that takes him off guard]

-- you're serious? [a beat] Oh. . . no, of course you are.

[another beat]

. . . I guess I have a lot of free time on my hands these days. [Laurent doesn't always have a job prepared for him, and traveling the world to taste coffee only takes him so far] So I might be open to new. . . business opportunities.

[new adventures, he thinks, without saying that aloud, mostly because he dismisses the thought outright with an exasperated (at himself) sigh]

Edited 2025-06-20 15:28 (UTC)

[ This feels ... nice? This feels kind of nice. He thinks? Later, he might regret it and make amends -- it's dangerous dragging a normal person over to this side, after all, no matter how slight the brush with the supernatural might be. But for now, just for now, he'll let himself indulge in the notion.

-- the company of someone who's heard of what he sees, and believes him, and hasn't fled. What a novel thought. ]

Understood~ [ Does he sound like 2% more genuinely happy than usual? Maybe. ] I'll be sure to get your contact information once the game is over so I can start seeing when our schedules might match up.

Ah, and until then, please do let me know if you're ever in the spot to act as a sponsor! With so much free time on your hands, perhaps you could spare a little support for an individual content creator? I'll be sure to credit you wherever appropriate.

[THE WAY HE ACTUALLY PROBABLY COULD SPONSOR BECAUSE HE MAY ACTUALLY BE LOADED. . .]

[a dry snort]

Hah! You're more money-grubbing than some of the greediest swindlers I know.

[but it's a half-hearted jibe. more of a tease!]

. . . I'll think about it.

[he hasn't forgotten the EASY MARK comment after all. or the post-game invoice he is sure he is going to get!!]

[ EDAMURA'S SUGAR DADDY ERA INCOMING????? 😳 ]

That's harsh, Edamura-san.

[ So he says, but he's mostly just going along with the tease. ]

Maybe you're underestimating how tough it is running a business on your own? There's always a lot of costs I need to cover -- video equipment, merch production, travel costs ... [ A brief pause before he continues. ] ... and it's expensive prototyping and producing all the anti-ghost tools I sell and use. I'm not careless about my craft, you see? Research and investigation are time-consuming as well. I do well enough, but once all the costs and time spent are taken into account, my profits aren't that high.

[ How serious is he being? That's for him to know and the audience to guess. ]

So any support would go a long way! Besides -- what else will you be doing with your free time? Do you have any plans for after this show's over?

[help he would make such a terrible sugar daddy???]

[stifling a bit of a yawn as he pillows his chin more comfortably against his arms]

I briefly thought about opening a cafe, just to make people happy with my coffee. . . but it's like you said! Owning a business is a lot of work. Way too much work.

[. . .]

[. . . . .]

Before I came onto this show, I got a call from an associate about another job.

[Laurent knows he is always up for another, no matter how retired he may be. it's an unfortunate weakness. he hates how well his partner knows him]

So that's probably waiting for me when I get back.

[ A job, hmm? ]

Haha. It's tough being a freelancer, isn't it. You can never rest for too long.

[ Of course, by this point, he knows what Edamura means with that vague phrase -- and he wonders, too, how many people know about what lies beneath that facade. Rom pauses briefly, absently ducking his head to scuff some sweat away on the shoulder of his shirt. ]

... I've heard clients can be fairly unpredictable, working odd jobs like that. You never know who you'll run into. So. [ He'd been sitting hunched, but Rom straightens up a little bit -- just so he can pat a hand at Edamura's shoulder. Brief, but there. ] Please do be careful. Unfortunately, I can't offer you anything to protect against unruly clients.

[comfy as Edamura is like this, he does tilt his head slightly to watch Rom move from the corners of his vision. not for any particular reason, except. . . maybe to note that as the conversation continues, his companion looks even more and more miserable, sitting completely covered in the sweltering heat of the onsen pools as he is]

[. . . frowns!!]

I can trust my associates to have my back. [it took him a while to truly understand how deeply that trust ran. but after his job in Tokyo. . . he doesn't think anything could shake his trust in them now] So I'll be okay. If you're really that worried about me, I'll keep in touch.

[and before Rom can really think about that--]

I know it's not proper etiquette, but since we're all in swimsuits, you could probably get in the water just as you are.

[please. stop suffering]

Edited 2025-06-21 16:00 (UTC)

[ Hello?? That's Rom's usual tactic, you can't just use it back on him?????

Though ... the matter of associates isn't something he can speak about as much, anyway. Exorcists are a rare breed as far where he's from, with no overarching organization like the school Shoko speaks of. Individuals only cooperate when appropriate for a job, then tend to disperse afterwards. And while a part of him wonders how much one can trust 'associates' when it comes to Edamura's line of work ... he's good at handling people in the end, isn't he? He'll trust Edamura's judgement on that front.

So anyway -- ]

Mm? Like this? [ He gives a deadpan laugh at that, a hand rising to idly brush a few sweat-slick strands of hair away from his face. Also deadpan: ] It's not even about etiquette, to be honest. ... I'm just more embarrassed about these sorts of things than you might assume.

[OR CAN HE. . .]

[. . . at any rate. . . there's a brief pause while Edamura focuses on that movement, on the brush of fingers through damp bangs, just]

[a little]

[too much]

[-- a shake of his head and he is normal again]

There's nothing wrong with embarrassed. [even having grown up in a community where public bathing is normal, Edamura gets it!] But you're seriously going to pass out like this. . .

[hm. what would help]

Maybe we can find you a more private bath, where no one else can see you?

Edited (the typos i find an hour later. . .) 2025-06-21 22:48 (UTC)

[ For better or for worse, Rom is completely oblivious to the staring. He's just making sure his right eye is still covered, nothing to see here? ]

A private bath ...

[ A thoughtful hum as he considers the option just for a moment. ]

Apologies if you're inviting me on a date [ ????? Edamura wasn't saying this???????? moving right along ] but it's not so much everyone else as it is the cameras I'd be embarrassed to undress in front of. I have an image to maintain outside of the show, and this sort of thing is best left ambiguous unless I have something remarkable to show off, you know?

I'll be fine, though. No need to worry. [ hehe ] I'm sure you'll keep me from drowning if I happen to faint.

[the way he needs to ask about that at some point but for now just assumes it's the way Rom's bangs fall. . .]

[a prickle of heat not from the bath warms Edamura's cheeks as he pushes himself upright, sending a few splashes Rom's way, but not on purpose]

I wasn't--!

[but truly, denial matters not when they've already gone out twice. . . with their most recent excursion having been on Edamura's invitation. so he sinks back into the bath, all the way up to his nose, blowing a few angry bubbles as he glowers in his fluster]

[but a few moments pass. . . and he sits up again]

I could break the cameras.

[bean gone wild]

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