psl || let's not fall in love

[coastal]

Characters: Lili and Atsushi
Summary: "what if we just rolled these into one, mafia au where lili is the daughter of the mafia boss and she has to pretend she's dating atsushi, who is her bodyguard but also mafia but also a spy for the government" aka Freshy's a genius

idk i'll find some pretty pic to put here later.

Comments

[jinko]

[ His frame of reference for jobs like these is pitifully narrow at best: all he knows is that he should keep an eye on Lili, keep her safe while doing reconnaissance. His loyalties aren't much of an issue given that he hardly knows her father, not enough to give him any sense of obligation to the elusive head of this massive organization.

So his reply is immediate. It's almost as if he doesn't question himself at all. ]

Ah, well... I answer to you. So, yes.

[ And maybe it's misplaced here, but he even looks a bit bashful. Maybe this is just standard mafia talk, but it does sound so forward...! When in Rome, though, right.

(It's a little strange to think that someone so scrawny and unassuming could ever pose as a bodyguard, but there are things about Atsushi that aren't strictly normal.) ]

Outwardly I'll have to be casual with you, because... of the cover story. It can't be helped, but I'm sorry...?

[ His laugh is a little dry, as if he's not already being way too casual to the daughter of a man who owns a majority of this city. ]

[coastal]

Is that your attempt to excuse yourself for being casual thus far?

[Don't mind her if she gently calls him out on it -- or well, not that gently at all, really. There are things about Lili that can be considered soft but apparently this doesn't extend to interacting with someone who's supposed to pose as her boyfriend (which still makes her nose wrinkle a little bit).

Rather, she's just going to flip her hair over her shoulder then with a sigh. Her handmaids have come to address her casually over the years though, so she doesn't mind it particularly. Even if she's still not... entirely used to it. Which inspires her warning:]

Just be mindful of yourself when others of the family are around. Otherwise you'll earn some contempt of your own, you know.

[She's considered the precious daughter of the family whether she likes it or not.

And maybe, just maybe, this will be her attempt to look out for him.]

You really don't fit in here, which is probably why you got the job in the first place.

[jinko]

I... don't deny that, at all. I'm definitely an unlikely choice.

[ This is fine, this is good— he actually appreciates how candid she is about the whole thing, that she'll call him out on his foibles if he ever displays any of them. Which he already has, and she doesn't seem to have been too terribly offended by, to his luck.

Lili flips her hair over her shoulders, and Atsushi becomes more mindful of his: he tries to smooth down his bangs, make himself look at least a bit more presentable. ]

You'll have to teach me which ones are the soup spoons and the salad forks, aha... I really am hopeless at those kinds of things. [ Attempting to keep it light!! Which, again, might be insubordination in some people's eyes, but this is the only way Atsushi knows how to conduct himself. ] But I promise I'm useful in other ways— I know this city like the back of my hand, for one.

[coastal]

Telling me you're hopeless..... You really don't have any idea who you're talking to, do you?

[But he's honest... and she doesn't dislike that. She'd rather that he be honest about such things than boast and then later prove himself to be incompetent. That would somehow manage to be even more annoying than the slight irritation she feels now.

So instead she's shaking her head.] Very well, I will do so then.

[But that'll be saved for later as she takes a moment to pause and consider his last statement. Then, rather forcefully:]

Do you care to prove that?

[Show her every nook and cranny.... At least this seems to be the moment that earns her actual interest in the situation, some contempt leaving her gaze as curiosity settles in instead.]

[jinko]

[ Atsushi hasn't forgotten his main objective, of course: to keep an eye on the proceedings of the Family he's infiltrated. But he also happens to be one of those painfully honest, painfully susceptible people who is easily affected by the people around him, which means that Lili's question is met with an earnesty that belongs nowhere in a profession that has everything to do with deception.

(Dazai knew this about Atsushi: the best spy is someone who can even deceive themselves.) ]

—Prove myself? Ah, of course— where do you want me to take you?

[ His expression brightens, weight rolled up to the balls of his feet. Like a dog who's been promised for a walk, someone eager to do what's been asked of him.

She wants to sneak out?

Unwittingly, Atsushi is her guy to ask. ]

[coastal]

[Well. At least he's eager.

Her shoulders relax a little bit, the gears of her mind already turning at the possibilities. Where does she want him to take her? A dangerous bar, probably. Some place where the shady deals happen so she can get a better idea of the climate of the family feuds. Or maybe they can just scope sketchy alleyways? Ah, but maybe it's too bright outside for those things.

What do criminals do during the day anyway?

Besides, that would attract too much attention too early - there's no doubt in her mind that they're still going to be followed for at least a week to make sure that Lili isn't taking advantage of her poor sap of a bodyguard.

Which she's already trying to do.]

.... Your favorite spot in the city.

[There.

Something benign, but hopefully it'll be someplace interesting. Maybe as the sun sets they can go somewhere more interesting.]

[jinko]

[ He was expecting something dangerous, actually, and he would have known all of those spots— the harbor, the warehouse district, the meeting places under the bridges. But the resulting answer is so benign, so shockingly normal, that he harbors a false sense of security in his situation.

After all— it's the boss's daughter and her so-called boyfriend. No one would be so bold as to come for them this early on in the game, right? ]

Ah... I can think of one. It's not so far from here...

[ And while he's certain that he shouldn't be, he's a bit happy that he's going to be able to share this right off the bat: there's no harm in this kind of thing, he hopes. He doesn't have to lie to her to fulfill his mission— if he's observant while protecting her, he'll be killing two birds with one stone.

So. After a moment of hesitation, Atsushi offers a hand, because... well. That's the sort of thing you do for someone who's high up in the social ladder, isn't it? ]

[coastal]

[Apparently he's taking the bait as well.

Lili almost feels bad, considering how pleased he looks with her answer. Well... she supposes it's not that she'd really be opposed to knowing more about him - they'll have to get along for this to really work, after all. As long as it's not boring or useless, then this is perfectly fine.

At the extended hand though, she almost sighs. Almost. Instead, she moves to take a step closer and-

... There's hesitance, okay, she can't help it, but she does take his arm in the next second. Her hands are almost uncertainty as they fall into the crook of his elbow, but based on what she's seen in movies and things, this seems correct! Probably!

(Don't mind her, she's just a little disgusted with herself, she'll get over it.)]

At least try to make this vaguely convincing.