#rosethread

[musicmedicineminder]

Like for a starter - still accepting || @hirako5hinji

It’s late, but Rose has no wish to sleep. The cicadas are buzzing in the summer heat  while the moon blazes  through the bedroom window, bathing everything in an elegant white light. The chatter of people down in the runkongai can just about be heard, while scents of food and smoke drift in through the open window. A bounty of everything that makes summer, he thinks, approvingly.  It’s both infuriating and inspiring all at once. The night thrums with life, aching to be captured, despite the fact Rose knows he has early duty tomorrow and Izuru will be on his case should he show up tired and late again. 

It’s just too good to resist though. 

He decides to slip out and make his way out of the third, guitar and manuscript in hand. He packs sake and something to eat, aiming to find the best spot and stay there a while. It won’t be for long, he tells himself, and what Izuru doesn’t know won’t hurt him. There’s some quiet corners inside the district covered by the fifth division, just perfect for composing, where he can settle and make the most of what the evening hands him. It’s always livelier over there even in the dead of night. 

[musicmedicineminder]

He approaches to place a small, homemade bento on the captain's desk. "For your lunch," he murmurs softly, before fleeing to the safety of his own desk and paperwork. If he's blushing, he'll deny it fiercely.

@raisingyourhead

"Oh?"

The sound of the bento sliding across the wood is enough for Rose to look up from his work, only to see Izuru scurrying back to his desk without another word. Eyes wide with surprise, he picks up the box, prizing off the lid and admiring what's inside. It's a simple lunch, but it's the gesture that really gets him. Since when has any lieutenant made him lunch. Let alone this one, who usually shrinks in his presence.

"You made this, Izuru? I didn't know you cooked"

He's smiling, gaze flitting from the lunch back to the man behind the desk. He's not sure if he'll get a response, the way the lieutenant beat such a hasty retreat suggests he mightn't. However, this is too good an opportunity to just let pass him by. They know so little about eahc other, Rose thinks, if he could just get Izuru talking...

"Thank you"

Placing the box back on the desk, Rose leans across and pulls out the chair on the other side, the legs scraping across the wooden floor, loud enough to get anyone's attention. The invitation is obvious, even if Izuru chooses to ignore it.

"Here, why don't you join me? I think we've both earned a break"

[musicmedicineminder]

”I’ve given up my life for one act, understand?”  (Izuru @ Rose)

Assassins Starters || accepting || @toomanydamnmuses

"You haven't"

Rose shakes his head, smiles at his lieutenant. He admires the nobility of the statement, the slightly over the top vow that perhaps he himself might have made a hundred years or so ago. Exeperience has taught him better than that.

"It might feel like that now, but there's more to you than that. Letting loyalty to just one cause consume you is a dangerous game, Izuru"

[musicmedicineminder]

He eyes Rose from behind his desk, almost constantly glancing up from his paperwork. But he says nothing. He does nothing.

Had this been Captain Ichimaru, he knows that he would be more than welcome to provide some distraction, or anything else that might be making him look up. But he doesn't know what sort of reception this captain might provide.

But then again, when he'd accidentally fallen asleep, Rose had come to comfort him. So perhaps it wouldn't be so bad...

He gets his chance when he spots Rose getting up to do something, perhaps look out the window or something. It is then that Izuru shoots up out of his desk and to the captain, and hugs him from behind for al of a split second before he's fleeing with shunpo to a different part of Seireitei.

Unprompted ask || always accepting || @toomanydamnmuses

It's unlike Izuru to be like this, Rose thinks. He's distracted to the point it's starting to distract him, too. Every so often, the lieutenant looks up and before long, Rose starts to catch the pattern, looking up ever so slightly after the lieutenant's looked back down again. It'd be a rather confusing game if Rose had any idea what was going on.

He tries to carry on with his work, scratching out a few words before his attention is back on the lieutenant. He stays in his seat, observing from a distance with a little concern. There's uncertainty there. It rolls off him with every look, although what he could be uncertain about is anyone's guess. He gives it a few more minutes, glancing half heartedly at the paper and back again, before he decides he has no idea what's going on. He doesn't want to leave it, but knowing Izuru he's unlikely to get an answer simply by asking.

Sighing, he rises from his desk, thinking a small break might do him some good, only to hear the sudden sound of footsteps behind him. Without warning he's encased in a vice like grip, the lieutenant's arms around him and holding tight. Rose lets out a strangled gasp of surprise, in the moment, simply doing his best to remain on his feet. It's a hard hug, but over far too soon. The pressure is there and gone again in the time it takes him to get used to it.

"Izuru?"

Once released, Rose whrils round, expecting to see Izuru waiting to explain himself. No such luck though. he's nowhere to be seen. The lieutenant's gone in a flash, and Rose is left standing, trying to process what exactly just's happened.

[musicmedicineminder]

He eyes his captain for a long while from behind his desk, frowning ever so slightly. It takes him a moment more to work up the courage to speak.

"Captain, your uniform... Isn't it a bit... Too much? The ruffles, there are just so many." He should probably stop here, but stubbornness pushes him through. "With how many ruffles there are, I can't see your chest clearly enough to make sure you aren't injured." (Izuru)

Unprompted Ask || Always accepting || @toomanydamnmuses

"oh yes?"

Rose raises an eyebrow unsure whether to be insulted or concerned by his lieutenant's comment. he likes how he dresses, the ruffles give the outfit a little je nais se quoi. He's had compliments on them before. Or, at least he'd assumed they were compliments.

He's puzzling this as Izuru carries on, going from defensive to amused in a heartbeat. He resists the urge to smirk, beyond flattered by the comment and everything this implies. It looks like the lieutenant might have a little crush.

"and just why do you need to keep an eye on my chest?" he asks, trying his hardest to play innocent, and give izuru enough space to keep digging "I think I'm capable of knowing if I've taken a blow there? wouldn't you agree?"

[musicmedicineminder]

He is shy as he deposits a small bento onto Rose's desk for Crispmus, bowing his head and quickly fleeing back to his own desk. When Rose opens it, he shall find a gift of homemade Yokan wagashi, shaped in various forms of foxes, roses, and small songbirds. (Izuru)

Unprompted Ask|| Always Accepting || @toomanydamnmuses

Rose spots the bento almost as soon as he enters the office. It sits in a familiar tin, a big enough clue for him to realise just who's done the leaving. There's no note, but that doesn't matter. The contents is stunning - small sweets in intricate designs, and Rose can't help but smile. He glances over to Izuru's desk, eyes lingering just long enough that the lieutenant knows he's watching, then slides the box into his desk for later, the epitome of happy.

[musicmedicineminder]

It's rather late at night, and long past the end of the workday. He can hear a strange sound coming from the captain's quarters; like that strange human instrument that Shuuhei plays, but much better than his friend. As if whoever is playing actually knows what they are doing.

Stumbling along, he finds his way right outside the door, before slumping beside the door so that he can listen. It doesn't take long, however, before the music has tears coming to his eyes as it brings forth memories that he had gotten drunk in an effort to forget, and he whimpers softly before he can stop himself.

Unprompted ask || Always accepting || @toomanydamnmuses

Rose is interrupted from an evening’s quiet composition by a slam and then thud against the door. It’s not a loud sound, but significant enough to stand out and bring his fingers to a standstill. It’s an odd interruption. The whole third division has been silent until now, and it both intrigues and annoys him. The last thing he wants is a distraction from his music, but a mystery is a mystery, and he can’t help but want to investigate.  The last note echoing around the room as Rose places the guitar down and goes to investigate. 

He doesn’t have to go far. Infact all he has to do is open the door and the mystery solves itself. Rose jumps as he opens the door and stands back, surprised at the sight. Out of all the people he expected to see, this one wasn’t high on the list. Especially like this. 

“Izuru?”

[musicmedicineminder]

He vibrates his way into the office, a thermos in hand as he makes his way to his desk for the paperwork. If Rose were to investigate, he'd find the scent of coffee wafting from the thermos, two things that had been given to him by Rikuu.

However, he's only sat down for about thirty seconds before he's on his feet again, making his way around the office so that he can check inside some filing cabinets.

He repeats this several times, unable to sit still for much longer than a minute at the most as he continues to tremble and vibrate from the excess energy brought on by caffeine, his eyes unusually bright and alert.

Unprompted ask || Always accepting || @raisingyourhead

Rose watches the lieutenant, amused by the way he jitters around the room; continuously up and down from his desk, as if he doesn't know what to do with himself. He's spotted the thermos and knows a caffeine overdose well enough to put two and two together.

He observes for now, wondering how long this'll go on for, an involuntary smile gracing his features. The poor thing clearly can't handle what he's made. It's actually strangely sweet, he thinks, caught off guard by the thought and where it might have come from.

"Everything okay Izuru?"