bakerstreet | jan texts

i don't want to

[ no one would be surprised at this. ]

i stopped for ice cream

[ no one would be surprised at this pt ii. ]

You don't want to ignore me?
But you do anyways.
And you say we humans are strange.

[ Aki isn't surprised. He's just disappointed by this point. You can almost hear him sigh through the text. ]

Really.
I'm out here trailing Devils and you're stopping for ice cream.
Of course.

[ A few moments later. ]

Get me some.

well u r
weird i mean

[ the scowl angel levels at his phone is almost comical. he doesn't think too hard about it as he gets an ice cream for aki too. he'll get it back from him for sure. if nothing else, angel's laziness lays victory over most of aki's own stubbornnesses. ]

hey
where am i supposed to go

[ no he didn't read the briefing...his excuse?

aki's supposed to do that for him. obviously. ]

Thanks for that.

[ You're such a little dick, Angel. Why does Aki put up with you again? Well, at least he gets some ice cream out of this... If it's not melted by the time it gets to him. ]

Really?
You're joking, right?
Hold on. If I send you my location are you even going to bother looking at it?

[ someone else would say 'welcome' even cattily. angel....doesn't see the point. is too lazy. both probably. definitely. so he just replies to the second part. ]

its the only way im going to find u so yea

[ 100% this isn't reliable logic. he could change his mind. today, it just so happens though, he won't. he'll go wherever the location drop says and the ice cream will be only slightly melted, because as it happens angel is pretty close by.

sheer dumb luck. ]

[ He's half expecting a retort like that- only, no he's not, because that would mean putting in some effort and texting when he didn't need to. Angel's poor little tired fingers, it must be such an effort for him... ]

Is that sarcasm I detect.

[ Aki sends his location. Sitting in the car, drumming his fingers on the wheel as he waits. ]

Hey, did you get the other texts those morons sent off my phone too?
There's a bunch here when I scroll up.
Dunno if they sent through.
You didn't reply to them.

o i saw them
but figured it wasnt u

[ which explains nothing of why angel replied to that last one. but one can guess: he was bored enough. ]

and it wasnt sarcasm

[ that time. ]

they seem to get a hold of ur phone a lot

[ based on the number of prank texts angel has gotten, not just today but other times. he almost expects it at this point! ]

You baffle me, Angel.
You really do.
But thanks for ignoring them.

[ Some of them were more embarrassing than the one he actually replied to. Asking him for sexual favors, or memes where they'd edited it so Aki's face was in them. Honestly, those two morons could be smart when they wanted to humiliate Aki it seems. ]

They do it when I'm in the shower.
Mostly.
Or I fall asleep.

Are you nearly here yet? I'm sure I saw a halo in the crowd coming down the street.

so hide ur phone?

[ he knows very well aki probably could hide it and lock it and those two would find a way to get their hands on it but he says it anyway. ]

u saw me?
i dont see u...

[ probably due to his height (lack of it). he could fly but that would expend unnecessary energy, so, you know. ]

And forget where it is when Miss Makima calls?
No thanks.
I'll just make them clean up or something.

[ Maybe because Aki might have sent some of the texts himself and is blaming the others?

He beeps the car horn. ]

You hear that?
That's me.
I swear you just walked past.
You better not be sitting down!

right right

[ angel still doesn't understand what makes aki like her so much, or anyone else like her so much. she makes angel extremely uncomfortable, and half the time he doesn't even know why. it somehow makes it even worse.

he glances over his shoulder, the horn seeming to come from there. oh. ]

im not sitting

[ yet...he squints. ]

do it again

[ What's not to like about her?! She's... Well, she... hmm, y'know what, Aki can't put his finger on what's so great about her either. But it's not important! The point is, he doesn't want to miss a call from her! ]

Alright.
I'm beeping the horn.
Just come towards it.
Im parked up on a curb.

[ Honestly, Angel better be here soon. Aki hates wasting time like this. Though, it's given him time to lean on the hood of the car and spark up a cigarette. ]

You walked too far, didn't you?

[ the slow brief nod angel would give... ]

o i see u

[ he doesn't...even wave, one hand occupied by the phone, the other by aki's shockingly not melted ice cream. somehow angel avoids bumping into anyone despite his wings. helps perhaps that he's not exactly taking up much space to begin with. ]

[ There he is~ Aki sighs, thumbing his phone one last time. ]

Hurry up.
I don't wanna get a ticket.

[ Unlike Angel, Aki at least flexes the fingers of the hand he holds his cigarette in acknowledgment of Angel approaching. ]

[ angel...predictably does not hurry up at all, but he does offer aki's ice cream up to him, head cocked to one side as if trying to figure something out about his expression. ]

If you don't like it, I'll eat it.

[ probably goes without saying but hey he didn't know what flavor aki would want. strawberry seemed good, mostly cause if he didn't care for it, angel would. ]

[ There's a moment there, where Aki just stares back at him. Letting his cigarette burn right down before putting it out and reaching to take the ice cream. ]

Sure it wouldn't be too much of an effort to eat? You already had one.

[ It comes off in a snappish sort of comment, but Aki was just joking. Mindful of not brushing Angel's fingers as he takes the cone. ]

C'mon. Get in the car.

Mm.

[ apparently too much effort to use whole words, angel shrugs and does at least get into the car, wings folding neatly behind him as he pulls the door shut before looking over at aki. with his other hand still occupied, he fixes that by finishing his own ice cream as if to further prove eating aki's would be no trial, some of the melted stuff seeping onto his fingers through the bottom of the cone. not about to waste any of it, angel has no qualms of licking his fingers, sucking on them absently to get the last stickiness off. ]

[ Aki let's out an exhausted sigh, almost rolling his eyes as Angel unceremoniously grunts his response. Sometimes he considers how lucky he is to be partners with Angel. They hardly talk, so the chat-back is minimal, they don't take up much room and are relatively clean.

In fact, Aki was about to say something about how Angel better not make a mess in the car- only to be left staring, lips slightly open before swallowing and clearing his throat. It was just something about the way Angel licked and sucked his fingers clean.

For someone who puts very little effort into everything they do, Angel sure was making sure he didn't waste even a drop. ]

Here... You can have some.

[ Spoken in a hushed tone, Aki held his ice cream out towards the Devil, a little of it melting and starting to trickle down the back of his hand.]

[ briefly angel's gaze flicks to the ice cream on aki's hand, then going back to the offering, which he doesn't hesitate to accept. of course it is angel. "some" is...well. he takes one lick, and then another -- to keep it from dripping more. sure. between licks, he does look back over, finally using actual words, ]

Doesn't the smoke make it taste bad?

[ these kinds of questions crop up out of nowhere from angel typically, an individual who seems like has no particular love or aggression regarding humanity. but aki has been his partner for a while, and angel tells himself not to change this sort of sterile, quiet thing they have. but sometimes things like this happen.

his focus goes back to the ice cream and he sort of slouches in the passenger seat, like he's hoping the seatbelt will just put him out of his misery -- after he's done with the ice cream but before the assignment destination. ]

[ Aki's watching every little move Angel makes with great intensity. He's been fascinated by the Devil since he first handed him a handkerchief in that room full of zombies. Not that it shows on his face all the much, Aki's mastered that stoic line mouth and stare just as much as Angel has. ]

Yes. It dulls the taste too. Is it not too sweet for you?

[ Happy to answer truthfully as he continued to watch Angel lick at the ice cream. Leaning in as he held the cone there for his partner to lick and captured some of the melting ice cream on his own tongue, just as it was about to drip from his hand and onto the seat. He let his face get pretty close to Angel's when he did this, he wasn't afraid of possibly brushing against him. ~~didn't have much to lose these days.~~ ]

Uh-uh. [ just the mildest response, but nothing angel has ever eaten was too sweet for him. he pauses when aki also leans in to taste. he recognizes it as more of a functional thing, how he's clearly trying to save it from dripping off of his hand, but his eyes stick to where aki licked just a moment longer than necessary. he has the brief curiosity: what does he taste like? but he has this thought about various people, here and there. all in all, given the option, he guesses he'd prefer ice cream or other sweets.

angel has had enough of people in his life from day one.

at least as far as he can remember.

even wondering though, angel stops tasting more than his fair share, leaning back to better peer at the devil hunter. if asked straightly, he would not admit to it being for any reason other than being 'done', but it's not especially unknown that angel is something of a glutton. his eyes flick from aki's mouth back to the ice cream as if waiting to be told he can have the rest, expression the very picture of expectation. ]

[ Aki continues to watch Angel, making a mental note of the way his lazy-looking expression seems fixed between Aki's mouth and hand. Its unclear to the Devil Hunter if they seem more interested in the ice cream or the fact Aki was more or less taunting him with it? ]

Y'know, if you seemed more grateful maybe I'd be more inclined to offer you the rest.

[ It's just another one of Aki's little power plays, he tries from time to time to make the Devils and Fiends under his charge, domesticated... Angel so far, has been his biggest challenge.

It's just then that Aki's phone vibrates intermittently in his trouser pocket. Shifting in his seat he automatically hands off the ice cream to his other hand, and accidentally he unbalanced the half melting slop to slip and slide. With both hands mucky now, Aki sighs and holds them away from himself and Angel. ]

Can you get that.

[ More of an order than a question as he shifts his hips. Angel will have to fish the cell phone out of Aki's trouser pocket for him, hopefully before it stops ringing but Aki gets the feeling by the time Angel helps, it will have gone to voicemail. ]

[ angel doesn't dignify that domestication attempt with actual words, just 'hn' as he manages to be lazy about eating the ice cream too, a feat given he's also doing his best to not waste any. only when aki moves his hand and the ice cream away with it, does angel lift his head and stare properly, the faintest annoyance there as aki asks him to get his phone.

at first, angel has every intention not to.

then, true to his decided nature, he figures it's too much trouble to refuse and reaches across aki's lap. even with cloth between them (if there was ever a reason to be grateful humans believe in clothing, it's this) part of angel hesitates. on top of that, he's much smaller than aki, and so he has to lean over the console, partially across aki, head bowed as he digs in aki's pocket, phone slipping out of his fingers once inside and then, unfortunately, a second time as he picks it up. it falls somewhere on the floor near aki's feet.

angel sighs....and doesn't immediately grab for it. he glances at aki's sticky hands dully as the phone continues to ring. ]

They'll probably call back.

[ right. ]

[ Aki didn't expect Angel to actually help, so he was pleasantly surprised when they eventually attempted. It meant that his trousers would survive getting sticky from his own hands at least, even if it was frustrating listening to his phone vibrate constantly. ]

Careful.

[ Such helpful encouragement there, well done, Aki... Moving the ice cream out of Angel's way as the lent over and ducked their head. The cone was soft now, and cold, sticky cream trickled out slowly against Aki's fingers, drizzling down the back of his hand as he raised it to his mouth, catching the drips before they could fall onto Angel's bowed head. ]

Hmm?

[ Why was Angel sitting back up and just looking? Aki frowned, craning his to glance down at the floor, his phone having vibrated its way under one of the peddles. ]

Really? Too much?

[ Tossing Angel a look of utter disbelief. He stretched out a leg and tried to use to toe of his sneaker to dislodge the phone. All to no avail. Aki didn't have a lot of patience for Devils before he was partnered up with Angel, but as the little brat grew on him, so did his ability to put up with their utter lack of drive. Still, at times like this, even that was wearing thin. ]

You're gonna have to get it. It's probably work. They might expect you to slack, but my neck is on the line here too, Angel.

[ the look angel sends aki is as deadpan as they come, but there's always more troublesome things to deal with than clear direction, so they shrug after that point is made, only to duck down again. somehow when aki attempted to use his foot, the phone clattered further back, so angel is down there for, well, a while. it happens that they are curved down against aki's knee and his thigh, reaching all the way back until they grasp the phone only to drop it again, and it will be a wonder it's not broken when it's finally retrieved. this takes another moment and when angel sits up, they drop the phone again in the same motion, letting it land unceremoniously in aki's lap.

the mess of the ice cream, though not unexpected, is a shame. angel decides they should have eaten it before getting there to not waste it but too little too late. by some stroke of luck (or bad luck), the phone is still ringing and angel remembers aki's order wasn't just to get the phone but answer it. ugh.

they reach to get it from aki's lap, frowning.

it's the least conversation necessary for a conversation, which probably makes it impossible to tell what they are being informed of until angel hangs up with their frown replaced by a soft scowl. ]

They changed our assignment.

[ a changed directive comes through in type shortly along with the new location and assumed devil therein. or rather, that there is a devil. apparently it's unclear what kind it is, and so they are choosing to send in aki and angel. they can practically hear the nonsense reasoning "a competent team", as if everyone isn't competent just by preferring to survive, already putting them leaps and bounds apart from angel. but it's not up to them. whereas their previous assignment wasn't too far, this one requires aki to drive them out farther, several hours to what looks like a long abandoned farm. ]

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