perfectmatch | week four

[ He spotted that, unfortunately. Which secret seemed to earn that physical reaction -- the rigid shoulders, the set jaw. Not even on purpose; it's just hard for him not to stay alert to his surroundings.

Hm.

But once the narration finishes and discussion starts unfurling around them, Rom abruptly plops his hat onto Edamura's head, rudely demanding his attention. ]

Makoto-san, I wonder if I could ask you for a quick favor?

[and just like that. . . he feels it. the sharp yank of something dragging him out of his murky memories and back into the present. there isn't much of a visible reaction-- a slight tilt of his head, hand lifting to push the brim of that hat up enough so he can blink in open bemusement-- but other than that. . .]

What. . . ?

[if he seems a bit more out of it than usual, don't worry about it!]

I-- sure? What is it?

[ Rom smiles in that usual opaque way of his. ]

Could you show me how to use the French press?

[ Yes, he is asking that now. ]

[. . .]

[. . . . . . . .]

[. . . the tiniest of smiles breaks through his otherwise completely unreadable expression]

Yeah. Sure. [it's without his usual exuberant energy, but he is trying!] If we're going to spend time together, you're going to have to learn to drink something other than instant.

[LOOK HE EVEN TRIED A JOKE]

Much appreciated.

[ He's also going to let Edamura keep his hat for the moment as he starts nudging them towards the kitchen. ]

And instant isn't all that bad, you know? Some mixes are quite good these days, and even come in fun flavors. Wouldn't you be curious how a strawberry shortcake instant coffee tastes like?

[ -- it's not that he actually gives a shit about coffee methodology right now, of course. It's just that returning to a familiar, routine task helped ground his thoughts whenever he was taken aback by something, back when he was younger. Maybe it'll help Edamura, too. ]

[oh my god]

No??? Strawberry shortcake doesn't belong in coffee!! You're talking like a guy without tastebuds!

[he's not back to full energy-- he couldn't be, after. . . that-- but Rom is managing to needle him a little bit back into normality. he even marches over to the French press in a mildly huffy fit once they reach the kitchen. HE'LL TEACH YOU, MISTER ENIGMA SYNDROM]

[ hehe. ]

How harsh ... being curious isn't a sin, you know? And when you drink five cups a day, sometimes a little variety is nice.

[ Rom retrieves his hat as Edamura fetches the French press, snagging it off the other's head to pop back onto his own before hunkering down in a comfortable spot, leaning against the counter right next to where Edamura starts doing his thing. ]

Seasonal limited editions get pretty interesting, too. I tried a sweet potato one last fall that wasn't too bad, I'd recommend it.

[. . . he is tempted to snatch that hat back and keep it just for the sake of being!! a little bratty!! but he doesn't, instead focusing his attention on setting up the French press, now digging around the pantry for his favorite blend]

If you want variety, then just try different roasts! You don't have to resort to gimmicky flavors!

[he has seen ENOUGH coffee crimes these past few weeks (SERPILIA. . . POPPY. . .) please do not add to them, Rom??]

[ He actually didn't even like that weird sweet potato coffee he got on clearance. Just a little white lie to keep this little ploy going. ]

Hmmm ... I don't usually make such proper coffee for myself, though. And it's not those subtle differences come through unless it's well-made coffee.

[ A pause before he leans forward a little where he has his elbows resting on the countertop, so he can get a better look at Edamura's expression. ]

I'll have to learn properly from your demonstration.

[GOOD!! CONTINUE TO DEVELOP GOOD TASTE!!!]

[Edamura's next response is exasperated (pos)]

You're impossible.

[his expression seems. . . almost back to normal!! there's definitely still tension in the set of his jaw, and a slight pinch to his brow. he also probably smells heavily of cigarette ash, thanks Shoko]

[Rom leans forward, and Edamura does likewise, flapping his hand at the Frech press as he does so]

The grinds go in first, then the water. But you can't just boil it and be done with it, you know? Temperature is key, especially when it comes to lighter roasts.

Oho ...

[ To his meager credit, Rom seems to be taking the lesson seriously, straightening up and watching with hand to his chin as Edamura fusses with the press. He even nods along to the instructions, committing them to memory. ]

I see, I see. Please continue.

[. . . this guy!!]

[there is a pause between the end of Edamura's previous instructions and the beginning of his next ones. which may seem out of place, considering what he is supposed to be teaching!!]

And then you lean in. Juuuuust a little bit more.

[making a "come closer" gesture with one hand as he rests his elbows against the count, already plenty pitched forward himself]

[ ... yeah. That pause sure is weird. He's a little too astute to miss that.

Not that it matters. ]

Hmmm~?

[ He leans in obligingly, just as Edamura requests. ]

[very good]

[because Edamura reaches out, tilting Rom's hat up just a tad so he can dip forward and. . . bump their foreheads together]

Thanks.

[. . . quiet. genuine]

You can ask about it, though. I'll tell you.

[ Ah.

He blinks when they touch foreheads, studying Edamura's face afterwards, but otherwise only gives a small nod as he pulls his hat back into proper position.

Good. Edamura does look a little more like his usual self. This isn't the type of 'helping people' that he has to do as often, so he's relieved it worked. ]

... I was more concerned you'd fracture a tooth with the way you were gritting your teeth. I'm as curious as anyone else would be, but I won't ask about anything you don't want to talk about.

[. . . hah. he lingers for a brief moment before withdrawing and returning to his French press. he has some water set to boil in a nearby electric kettle, so for now! he just adds the coffee grinds]

Hey now. If you think you're getting out of this conversation without me asking about yours, you've got another thing coming.

[. . . this is familiar. not dissimilar to the equivalent exchange of painful information Edamura had demanded back during ghost week]

So think of it as. . . a fair trade.

[a beat]

. . . baggage for baggage.

... baggage for baggage.

[ Touché. Even if he can't shake the feeling that it wouldn't make for a fair deal. He's had most of his life to process what happened to him, after all. Edamura's secret sounds much more raw.

Rom quietly watching Edamura deal with the French press. Despite the circumstances, he is still dedicating a small slice of his thoughts to remembering what Edamura's doing. But otherwise ... ]

Your father. [ Setting aside how ambiguously production had worded that secret -- ] Was it because of what he did to your mother?

[he isn't wrong. that particular memory still swims very close to the surface, bringing with it months of repressed recollections. he hasn't thought about that period of his life for quite a few months now. had striven to push it behind him so he could move forward, unfettered by the scars it left on his heart. then again. . .]

[. . . he supposes his cigarettes are clear evidence that he still has yet to leave it behind]

Yes.

[comes his answer. calm and devoid of any emotion, even as he pulls the hot water from the kettle and begins to pour it into the coffee maker]

. . . and no.

[that answer is just as genuine]

Edited 2025-06-26 05:05 (UTC)

[and before Rom can stew on that too much, can be led entirely astray by Edamura's purposefully vague answers—]

I never told you that my father was in the same business as me, did I?

[ 'Yes and no.' Extenuating circumstances brought about the chance for a killing in the first place, but Edamura took action out of anger, maybe? It'd make sense. For as valid as Edamura's resentment would be, he's also hard to imagine as a cold-blooded killer, no matter how badly he'd been wronged -- ]

Hm?

[ The diversion does work. Rom blinks, train of thought derailed. ]

No, I don't believe you did. Was that why he ... ? [ Did what he did. ]

[as usual, Rom picks up on what Edamura is putting down pretty easily. extenuating circumstances offered the opportunity. . . but action was taken out of years of built up bitterness and fury. well. . . that, and--]

Yeah. It is. He got caught in a job gone wrong, and framed for a crime he didn't commit.

[not that the last part matters to him, though. the man was released from jail eventually, wasn't he? so that didn't excuse his complete absence in Edamura's and his mother's lives. mmm. . . well, Edamura can't tap into his resentment right now, even though he feels it tugging sharply at his heartstrings as he speaks. and so he shelves it in favor of explaining as best as he can with the cameras watching]

After he got out of prison, he came up with some. . . stupid plan to get revenge. [. . .] So he got himself a job with a Shanghai-- trading company.

[a tilt of his head towards Rom, gaze lifting from the coffee maker as he seeks out eye contact. hoping desperately that Rom recalls their conversation from the arcade]

And when I was old enough, I started working for the. . . Tokyo branch of that same trading company.

[ Rom meets Edamura's gaze evenly, barely even blinking, but a slight nod indicates yes, he gets what's going unsaid here. How could he forget their conversation back at the arcade? He'd already been impressed by the thought of Edamura daring to pick a fight with the yakuza; to think he'd actually worked for them, to boot.

He can't help giving a soft exhale, not quite a wan laugh. ]

You're always full of surprises. I didn't take you to be the type to work for that sort of big organization.

[ It's gutsy. Stupid, too, and terribly risky, but mostly gutsy. ]

I take it friction at the workplace then led to conflict?

[. . . good. something eases in Edamura's shoulders when Rom confirms his understanding. truthfully, if he is talking about this at all, he'd much rather be direct. but. . . needs must, when the world (the. . . universe?) is watching]

That's one way to put it. [wry] The Shanghai and Tokyo branches didn't exactly get along. They played nice on the surface, but in reality absolutely hated each other.

[. . .]

. . . at one point, some associates of mine and I tried to relieve the Tokyo branch of some of their. . . merchandise. [the word is said a bit tightly, with a narrowed gaze and firmly set jaw. he feels a sense of nausea curl in his stomach at the mere use of that word, knowing that it is not right. even so. . . he does not elaborate on the nature of that "merchandise." that is a conversation for another day] My. . . father had offered to help us with this, but wound up betraying our intentions to the director of the Tokyo branch.

[fingers drum against the side of the French press as he waits for the coffee to finish steeping]

The director took us out into the middle of Sagami Bay, where my father. . . [. . .] . . . killed my associates right in front of me.

[. . .]

To prove my loyalty. . . and to seize upon the opportunity to take out an important Shanghai operative. . . the director gave me the opportunity to. . .

[he trails off, lapsing into silence, featured shuttered by a mask Rom has seen before. instead of finishing his explanation with words. . . he lifts a hand, index and thumb extended, and levels fingers directly at Rom's forehead]

Edited (for the life of me I cannot spell ) 2025-06-26 14:50 (UTC)

[ It's a lot to take in.

Rom listens quietly, gaze fixed on Edamura to take in the little signs of stress -- the hard line of his shoulders, the clenched teeth, the faint wrinkles under the eyes from narrowed eyes. For as unorthodox a life as he knows he's lived so far, he's never come into contact with anything like what Edamura's talking about now. It must have been ...

He gives a small cant of the head when that finger's pointed his way, blinking owlishly. Then the corner of his mouth quirks in a smile as he takes his hat off to put aside. At first glance, as if to better allow that pantomime of an execution

but in reality, so he can better step forward and wrap his arms around Edamura, pulling him into a close hug. ]

You're truly stronger than you look, Makoto-san. Death is never an easy thing to witness or take part in, no matter the circumstances. I think most would emerge from something like that as a much colder person. [ He squeezes just a little tighter. ] It's admirable that you didn't.

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