therealbrianna | Come As You Are // Open Post

[ Working for Jessie or Riley doesn't sound too bad, but... ]

What if I want to work for you? [ She makes it sound like a casual question. ]

I wouldn't mind that at all, but that does mean that you'll have to work hard for a license with Zangyaku.

[ Brianna smiles, but it's a determined kind of smile. ]

Of course I will! I wouldn't want to make Zangyaku look like a mockery if I joined just like that, you know. Besides, I have been training with the best.

There is that.

[Speaking of...]

How is Lia treating you, anyway?

Oh, she's great. Ma'am Lia's very nice to me, which I didn't expect.

[ I thought she was going to pull out my guts with her mind or make me feel really, really inferior, but it all worked out. I think we're friends now. But I won't say it out loud. Hihi. ]

Surprisingly, she also opened up to me about things like boys and relationships and moving on from... certain things.

[Well.]

Did she now?

[Okay so he kind of really wants to know now. That's cool, right? Right???

(Please tell him.)]

[ ...Oops, okay. Okay I might have blurted that one out. God damnit. ]

Uhm yeah, she did. [ Awkward laugh. ]

...And I'm guessing that you're not going to tell me anything else.

[He wasn't about to make the girl even MORE uncomfortable. That was unbecoming of a gentleman. Furthermore, he did have to respect Liandrin's secrets, even if he was curious as hell.]

[ She's kicked back in her chair and is playing with her glass again. ]

Normally, I'd bite and be all gossip-y, but I respect Lia too much.

She knows what she's doing. I like that, and I want to be like her.

[ She lights up a cigarette because RIGHT we can smoke here. ]

Well, contrary to what a lot of others might say, she's a wonderful role model.

[And a wonderful woman. He'd still defend her with his life, and she had made it clear on several occasions that she'd still do the same for him.

Leaning back now, briefly setting his chin on Brianna's head.]

This is nice.

[ She nods her head in agreement and smiles. ]

Even if these things get awfully boring, being with the right person usually makes up for it!

Mm-hm.

[And while he's smiling, he suddenly looks a little distant. He also looks increasingly occupied with putting his latest cigarette out, and lighting up another one.

Did he ground that cigarette butt into the ashtray with a tad bit more force than usual? Maybe.]

[ Eh? What was up with that? ]

Uhmm... [ She lightly tugs at Hikaru's coat sleeve. ] Did I say something wrong?

No, no... just remembering the last time I went to something like this.

[The mind's a tricky thing. It never tells you: it shows you, and has the tendency to superimpose all of it on what one is currently saying, doing, feeling.

He can still remember the way she had looked in that dress. The way she had smiled, even as she was giving him a look that said really? Really?

How neither of them had not known it at the time, but the reason why they kept coming back to each other was because a part of them both knew that they belonged together.]

Aria asked me out once. She needed a +1.

[ Aria again, huh. She's getting really concerned about this whole Hikaru-Aria thing.

But Daddy is Daddy, so she will indulge him. Plus, she's curious. She's not yet that dismissive about Aria. ]

Oh, what was it for? Did you at least have fun then?

[ Is that when you realized you liked her? How did she look like? Was she prettier than me? Where'd she get her dress? Was she the prettiest one there? What did you guys do after??? DADDY I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS but I will keep it in my thoughts. ]

She needed to attend this big batch event of a law school that she had not actually studied in. Part of her World of Light cover for her parents.

[Chuckles.]

We had fun. The night could have ended better, but... yeah.

[ She rests her head on her arms now, like a child listening to a parent's story. ]

What do you mean by that? What happened?

Well, she needed somebody who could help her keep up the disguise. I'm pretty good at that sort of thing, so... there you have it.

[Is he being a little evasive? Maybe.]

Unfortunately, that ball took place during a time when things weren't going so well between Zangyaku and the Methuselah. Inquisitor Heartnet and I had a bit of a run-in when I dropped Aria off at her house.

[ That she read about. Bit of a turning point that led to Netsach's formation. ]

Oh. But weren't you famous or something even back then? She couldn't ask somebody else?

[ Pouting. ]

No, I wasn't. And I don't think she had anybody else to ask.

[There weren't a lot of eligible men in Wolf's Choice, the Pack or Rockin' Rollas back in the day...]

I didn't mind. It was... nice.

[ At that, she's just looking at Hikaru. Cuuurious. ]

Okay Daddy, if you say so.

[Blinking down at her.

This feels vaguely like being put under a microscope.]

What?

[Ask away. He'll probably respond! You're his daughter, after all.]

[ Wondering whether or not she should be honest...

Ah well, fuck it. ]

Nothing, nothing. Just can't help but feel like your fate is intertwined with hers a lot, yknow with all the little things and the not-so-little things here and there. I kinda want to get to know my Daddy more outside of this whole Aria thing.

[ She realizes how that must have sounded, so she follows up with: ]

I mean, not that I mind or anything. Just seems like almost everything reminds you of her, that's all. [ She looks up at him with sad eyes. ]

[And you hit it right on the nail, Brianna Lopez.

For shame. He really shouldn't be this hung up over somebody. It's embarrassing, it's compromising, it's dangerous, and --

-- Hikaru Shinta, you have got it bad.]

Well, I can't really deny that. [Warm, apologetic.] Sorry. This was supposed to be your night. I don't want to rain on your parade.

[ She sends a reassuring smile over to him and shakes her head. ]

It's not really my night per sé, more of something I got forced to go to. And well, I'm fortunate enough to have you as my date, Daddy. I don't really mind if we talk about that, if that's what makes you feel better. I mean, what kind of daughter would I be if I only chose to focus on the parts of you that I liked, right?

[ She rubs his arm, juuuust to make sure he gets the point. ]

Besides, I'd be really hurt if you chose to hide things from me... [ Insert Brianna Puppy Eyes ]

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