[D1EE] Between Friends (Some Restaurant)

[Usagi Rei]

"Alright. Good." Rei said, lifting his glass in a sort of cheers. "I'll see if I can put some sort of proposal together."

Chuckling, he gestured at Yuji's plate. "Well, that's that, then. So eat! Or Kimurahime-sama might glare at me the next time we're all together." Well... the three of them, anyway. Originally that had been four. Something of that thought was in Rei's face.

He covered it by spooning some food onto his own plate. "I met a gorgeous Bayushi today. Gave her my card. She said she might send me a message." Rei chuckled. He was also meeting Yakumo for drinks later, but, well, that he needed to be discreet about.

[Susumu Yuji]

The moment that Rei's thoughts turned, Yuji could see it in hus face. His own smile slipped from his On. Reaching across, he gently placed a hand on the other man's shoulder, slender fingers caressing there. While compassion was not a tenet of Bushido he especially espoused, he did care deeply for the other man.

He didn't say a word, only looking to Rei's eyes for a moment, before withdrawing back, and beginning to take from thr assortment of dishes brought out.

"You could have just said a Bayushi, Rei-san." The mirth returned to his voice, taking another sip from the whiskey. "It would be good for you to... see what opportunities present themselves to you."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei glanced quickly away, but then took a deep breath. He met the other man's gaze, smiling wanly, nodding. A brief acknowledgement of his man-feelings.

"Yeah, but even for a Bayushi..." Rei let out a slow breath, shaking his head with a grin. "Seriously."

He shrugged. "I mean, I'm... that's not really a problem." He pursed his lips. "Well. Only a few months to go, anyway." The deal signed when he got married delayed its dissolution, but not forever. The two year anniversary of his marriage would mark its dissolution. Unless, he supposed, Yuria turned up before then.

[Susumu Yuji]

"Still. Though..." he paused, looking away slightly, biting his lower lip. Maybe it was just the whisky, but his cheeks did redden slightly. "If there is anything I can do, in regards to helping." Yuji looked again to his friend, his smile soft. "In whichever resolution helps find you peace, Rei-san."

The grin turned more wicked. "So this Bayushi has you quite smitten? Winter Courts are perfect for dalliances like that, my friend. Woo her."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei took a deep breath. "Thank you. Yuji-sama." He said softly.

But then he chuckled. "Well, we'll see. The problem with wooing a Bayushi, of course, is you never know if you're part of a plot. Or just keeping her technique sharp."

Shaking his head, he half-smiled, half-grimaced. "I remember once, I walked by a group of recently graduated Scorpion, and the lot of them gave me the exact same flirty look. Thank goodness I can move fast."

[Susumu Yuji]

"Sometimes being part of the plot is the fun part, Rei-san." There was wickedness in his grin, and then another laugh. "A seductive Nest of Spider would be quite the ordeal. Likely make a game of who could get your secrets to slip out first."

Then another thoughtful look, a slight demuring of his gaze and lowering of his tone. "You never need to thank me. I'm always just a call away, for you."

[Usagi Rei]

"I know." Rei said, smiling, meeting his friend's eye. He let that linger a long moment. "Thank you."

But then he grinned. "Seductive Nest? Challenge accepted. Is there somewhere I need to sign, or..." He mimed patting around his shirt for a stylus.

[Susumu Yuji]

"It's more sweet words whispered against earlobes than anything written." He flushed slightly with his grin. "Promises, promises, you know." He had intended to say Scorpion, but the slip to his own Clan...

The Whisky was an excellent choice. A dangerous choice.

"If you ever made it to Whispers, I'm sure I'd have a cousin or other relation that would want you all wrapped up in their web."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei laughed at that. "Well. We'll just have to see how Winter Court goes then, won't we?" He looked at Yuji, one eyelid shivering, a suggestion of a wink.

"Perhaps I'll take you up on that." He chuckled. "I wish I could offer you the same, but my cousin just wears these terrible shirts. Seriously, ugliest shirt I've ever seen..." Rei described it animatedly, gesturing with one hand, the other still holding his drink.

Ah, it was a fine night.

/fadetodinner