[ rebuttals come easier to him. maybe that's why he's reflexively about to say something, but he stops short when he hears tobari's last words. he struggles top open his mouth for a second, but he does end up unbuckling his seatbelt and just leaning forward and against tobari's shoulder. ]
... I don't believe you. [ but, he does feel a little better.
despite the cautious way in which he's approached their relationship, it's true that he's recently been wanting to be a little closer. maybe all of this just really stemmed from his own insecurities. he can't help but wonder if tobari is dating him out of pity, or out of some weird sense of obligation (or worse, that they're not even dating at all... but he doesn't even think this is a possibility help). he knows they're bound by their professional relationship, and he's understanding of the fact that he can't exactly vocalize what they are to each other to the rest of the world, but in moments like this...
well, who doesn't want to be spoiled by their boyfriend? ] But, keep your eyes on me. I'm going to do all I can so you can enter an early retirement. So you have to do everything I want tonight.
[ . . . jeeze. tobari sighs, but doesn't shift away when rafayel leans forward and onto him. he shifts to make it easier for them to fit against each other, which surely only adds to how misleading this all is, but tobari just thinks that rafayel must be feeling especially needy... maybe he's anxious and demanding since their schedule is about to get insane with the comeback...
his hand comes up anyway, gently carding through rafayel's hair to try to soothe him. he just fixed it, and he'll have to fix it again before rafayel goes on live later today, but he'll deal with that when it comes... ]
I don't think I agreed to any of that... [ tobari has no idea what he'd do in retirement. go crazy, probably. but he understands the sentiment of what rafayel is asking so, ] Okay, okay. Get all your neediness out since there won't be room in the schedule for a while.
[ fair warning.... but also he frowns a bit as he feels like he has to say again, ]
... I know you work hard, Raf. I just want you to enjoy at least part of it while you're doing it. So don't push yourself too much. If there's ever something you hate, just tell me, and you won't have to do it. Even as much as I watch you, I can't read your mind, alright?
[ oh... is tobari holding him? he blinks, almost confused at first, but then he settles into his touch. he rests his chin on tobari's shoulder, and wraps his arms around him.
since they're so close, his voice naturally gets a little lower and quieter. ] I used to hate most of this stuff, but lately I've been having fun, and I think it's thanks to you. I didn't really think there was anything beyond the music itself...
[ but sometimes it's fun to perform. it was like an added element to his craft.
that said, he does pull away a little, just to kiss tobari on the cheek. it's so gently though, it could have just been the flutter of his hair. but, he's grateful he has someone who cares about him this much. ] But, I think sometimes I just really need this.
[ reassurance... except, it's not what he thinks it is at all. ]
[ what a big baby... tobari sighs, bringing his arms up to just give rafayel a hug entirely then. there's a slight grumble when the kiss comes—was it a kiss? he's not sure but it felt like an overly affectionate gesture that bordered on inappropriate. still, it's hard for him to impose distance with rafayel when he's already so moody and fragile... ]
... well, you're at your best when it's just you and the music. But this way, more people can hear it.
[ the things they have to do to promo the main event. commercials, lives, promo, fanservice... tobari is of the opinion that's how you get people in the door, but it's always raf's talent that gets them to stay rooted in place. ]
You can take a second whenever you want, though. [ the one thing tobari always hates is overworking the idols. even if a schedule is packed, it can still have just enough breathing room to not feel like a pressure chamber. ] So remember to use your words.
[ instead of throwing a fit that tobari can't figure out... they have time today but he's like this'd be such a mess for them both if they were busier ]
[ the lack of imposed distance... surely, that won't come back to bite him in the ass.
even with the slight grumble he hears so close to ears, he's still pleased that tobari hasn't pushed him away. instead, he remains in his arms, and somehow... it feels incredibly warm and comfortable to be there. eventually, he does untangle himself from tobari, if just to nod his head. ] You better not regret saying that.
I'm going to complain looots from now on. Especially, if I have to hit the gym as much as I did for this comeback. [ he's pretty sure running on the treadmill is 100% some form of torture. ... maybe tobari is into that. ]
[ except he wants to go home already and he's hungry so
he'll reach out with his other hand to catch rafayel by the hip, pulling him closer to tobari so he's sitting more toward his side on the backseat. then he'll use the hand on rafayel's abdomen to push him down so he's laying flat against the seat and tobari is hovering above him ]
This is harassment. Now let go.
[ thinking about how it's good the windows to this car are all completely tinted ]
for a moment, rafayel seems to go along with it, if just because he's being horribly misled. part of him (wrongly and inaccurately) believed this was tobari's way of giving in. soon he'd touch his abs and have no choice but to admit his body was better than yori's—
instead, he'd pushed on his back and he's stuck looking at tobari from underneath him. he blinks a few times. had they done this before, rafayel may have been more smug as opposed to...
he releases a sigh as he lets go of tobari, instead resting his hand on his leg. ]
... It's not harassment if I allow it. [ even if he might threaten to call someone the second tobari does. ]
[ rafayel like 'this isn't how the fanfics go, tobari is acting ooc rn'
but tobari just rolls his eyes then, reclaiming his hand once rafayel finally lets go and then using that to unceremoniously pinch rafayel's cheek. and pull. ]
Greedy.
[ ANNOYED. unfortunately he truly thinks that rafayel is just playing around with him so he's not even thinking twice about retaliating.... he'll pull back shortly after and then finally go to open the car door ]
If you're done messing around, buckle up. We're going home.
him taking notes so he knows what to leave on the fics he'd kudos'd. you know, before someone rudely pinches his cheek? hey? ] You're so mean... [ he rolls his eyes as he brushes tobari's hand off.
since his clothes are disheveled anyway, he does end up rummaging around the bag to pull out his extra clothes. he throws on an oversized hoodie, and puts his earbuds into his ears, so he can connect to his live in a bit.
... for now, he needs silence so he can pout. he feels led on... ]
[ WHY DID RAFAYEL JUST MENTALLY ASSIGN TOBARI AS A BOTTOM.....?
rafayel can go ahead and return back to silence. tobari heads back to the front seat and checks his phone briefly—and he also texts rafayel a short list of food options that he can pick up and bring back to the apartment if he's feeling tired. thai food, sushi, burrito? and he'll leave it at that so that a ) rafayel knows he's not ignoring his mood but also b ) he's leaving enough space for rafayel to be moody if he needs to actually decompress after working.
overly thoughtful tobari strikes again....
even if he has no recognition of the fact that he just baited rafayel so hard on accident. whoops ]
he's probably called tobari a meanie in his head like twenty times over the course of today, and yet he gets the feeling it probably won't end here. similarly, this probably isn't the first time tobari got this handsy with him, either. but, it may have been the first where he thought that maybe he was actually going to make his move.
per usual, it's ended in disappointment.
while he doesn't mind moving slow, and even he has his own ideals for how their first kiss will go, or how their first time should be... it didn't mean he also wasn't impatient and straight up insatiable when it came to tobari.
even now he peeks up at the back of his head. he ends up texting back. ]
wellll you know i like fish but you know what else i like
tobari drives them back to their apartment, though the text comes in when they make it to a stoplight and he automatically tilts his head about it. the first thing he does is send rafayel the takeout menu for the sushi place so that he can place an order ahead of time and maybe they can even pick it up on the way home but
also
????
out loud, because he doesn't text and drive: ] What's the hammer emoji for? Am I being threatened?
[ does rafayel have both headphones in... just one... can he even hear tobari ]
[ the fact that tobari is so accustomed to rafayelβs moodsβ¦
heβs also probably not wrong that heβs needed to decompress a lot after shoots in the past. it becoming better was likely a recent occurrence, only made better the more theyβve bonded. rafayel canβt help but be the kind of person who is entirely too absorbed when it came to love and relationships.
itβs why even with his earbuds in, he can still hear tobariβs voice clearly. he looks up at him from the backseat and heβs already typing in some of tobariβs favorite first before thinking about what he wantsβ¦ hamachi, torched salmonβ¦
the fact that tobari still canβt read emojisβ¦ does make him laugh a little. forget the fact that he tends to be cryptic and thatβs half the problem. ]
How could I possibly threaten Mister Bodyguard? Instead of that, I think I should punish you a different way.
[ i'm so sorry rafayel my love but tobari borders on boomer when it comes to social media literacy. i saw recently that the latest bridgerton lead thought that 'istg' stood for instagram and i'm like well that's tobari.
suzune or raf texts him 'screaming crying throwing up' the first time and he's immediately worried and rushing to check on them ]
Trying to keep up with you is already my punishment...
[ grouch grouch grumble... even if it's so toothless. his bark is so much worse than his bite when it comes to rafayel ]
[ he'd never understand skibidi toilet because i don't understand skibidi toilet. if raf tried to do the 6 7 meme tobari would simply stop talking to him for the next hour
the notifications come in even though tobari can't fully respond to them, only barely reading them out of the corner of his eye, and he just furrows his brow.... okay... what the fuck did he agree to
he opens his mouth to ask exactly that before he realizes that rafayel is getting on his live so instead he's just rolling his eyes... when they roll up to the next traffic light, he'll catch rafayel's eyes in the rear view mirror and just obviously mouth 'Be Good'
[ HELP he probably has incorporated that into a song to annoy tobari. can you imagine the short stint where it was being promoted as a b-side...
when the feed opens, rafayel does give a wave as he holds the phone level with his face. ] Hiya, fishies. [ his fandom is called fishies because i said so. or idk sardines. where are the cute fandom names they deserves. i think about how their actual fandom name is "miss bodyguards." which is cute but for this au, that would take on a whole different meaning. that said, rafayel is already reading through comments as people join. ]
"I accidentally lost my photocard of youuu, I'm sooo sad." [ reading it dramatically because he's so annoying, but he does smile and say: ]
Well, I might have the solution. You know I've been into magic lately. I heard that if you lose something there is a very special spell for it. You have to turn around three times and say the following incantation, "Tadoba guruaka where oh where did the thing I lost go." [ this is terrible advice... he waits a few moments, watching the comments quickly go before: ]
[ rafayel... you are so cute... calling them the fishies is so funny.... SARDINES WOULD BE WILD
even tobari can't help but huff out an amused breath at rafayel's awful advice because he's so endearing about it... thinking about how the fan really did it and how rafayel would probably do decently as a cult leader. hopefully that's not in their future
mumbling so only rafayel can hear: ] The spell only works if you have an underpaid employee picking up after you.
[ tobari when he is handing rafayel his sunglasses, his chapstick, his favorite pencil, his phone, his airpods case whenever he looks like he's misplaced it... ]
[ NOT THE CULT. you say that but rafayel isn't particularly convincing. he just likes to gaslight people until they think he might be telling the truth, and then making fun of them for believing him... ragebaiting activities
but, at tobari's words, rafayel does make an, "oh" face...
that makes sense, actually. but, his brows do twitch a little when he backs up to the word EMPLOYEE!!! EMPLOYEE!!!! he rubs himself all over you!!! (platonic) ] Apparently, you just need to find yourself someone who always stays by your side, gives you all their attention, and takes care of all your things for you... [ if it sounds misleading, it's because it's definitely meant to be, but rafayel smiles. ]
"Sounds like you have a lover."
You should ask my manager about it next time. [ winking...
he probably jokes about this all the time. now who is just an EMPLOYEE!!! ]
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reaches over to pinch rafayel's cheek to scold him ]
Don't call doing my job excuses.
[ SIGHS ]
You did well then... [ to make the shoot resolve early ] but of course I'm glad you'd get a chance to rest before we start getting busier tomorrow.
Did you think I wasn't paying attention to you...? Raf, I'm always paying attention to you. I don't know how to not notice you anymore.
[ in a mysteriously platonic way, it feels like rafayel's at the center of tobari's universe most days. ]
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... I don't believe you. [ but, he does feel a little better.
despite the cautious way in which he's approached their relationship, it's true that he's recently been wanting to be a little closer. maybe all of this just really stemmed from his own insecurities. he can't help but wonder if tobari is dating him out of pity, or out of some weird sense of obligation (or worse, that they're not even dating at all... but he doesn't even think this is a possibility help). he knows they're bound by their professional relationship, and he's understanding of the fact that he can't exactly vocalize what they are to each other to the rest of the world, but in moments like this...
well, who doesn't want to be spoiled by their boyfriend? ] But, keep your eyes on me. I'm going to do all I can so you can enter an early retirement. So you have to do everything I want tonight.
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his hand comes up anyway, gently carding through rafayel's hair to try to soothe him. he just fixed it, and he'll have to fix it again before rafayel goes on live later today, but he'll deal with that when it comes... ]
I don't think I agreed to any of that... [ tobari has no idea what he'd do in retirement. go crazy, probably. but he understands the sentiment of what rafayel is asking so, ] Okay, okay. Get all your neediness out since there won't be room in the schedule for a while.
[ fair warning.... but also he frowns a bit as he feels like he has to say again, ]
... I know you work hard, Raf. I just want you to enjoy at least part of it while you're doing it. So don't push yourself too much. If there's ever something you hate, just tell me, and you won't have to do it. Even as much as I watch you, I can't read your mind, alright?
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since they're so close, his voice naturally gets a little lower and quieter. ] I used to hate most of this stuff, but lately I've been having fun, and I think it's thanks to you. I didn't really think there was anything beyond the music itself...
[ but sometimes it's fun to perform. it was like an added element to his craft.
that said, he does pull away a little, just to kiss tobari on the cheek. it's so gently though, it could have just been the flutter of his hair. but, he's grateful he has someone who cares about him this much. ] But, I think sometimes I just really need this.
[ reassurance... except, it's not what he thinks it is at all. ]
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... well, you're at your best when it's just you and the music. But this way, more people can hear it.
[ the things they have to do to promo the main event. commercials, lives, promo, fanservice... tobari is of the opinion that's how you get people in the door, but it's always raf's talent that gets them to stay rooted in place. ]
You can take a second whenever you want, though. [ the one thing tobari always hates is overworking the idols. even if a schedule is packed, it can still have just enough breathing room to not feel like a pressure chamber. ] So remember to use your words.
[ instead of throwing a fit that tobari can't figure out... they have time today but he's like this'd be such a mess for them both if they were busier ]
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even with the slight grumble he hears so close to ears, he's still pleased that tobari hasn't pushed him away. instead, he remains in his arms, and somehow... it feels incredibly warm and comfortable to be there. eventually, he does untangle himself from tobari, if just to nod his head. ] You better not regret saying that.
I'm going to complain looots from now on. Especially, if I have to hit the gym as much as I did for this comeback. [ he's pretty sure running on the treadmill is 100% some form of torture. ... maybe tobari is into that. ]
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If you're trying to do more suggestive shoots, you'll probably have to be at the gym plenty... That's a lot of skin, you know?
[ all this to what? compete with yori? horrible. tobari just frowns and pulls back once rafayel's hair is fully immaculate ]
The only thing you have left today is to go live... so you can do that when we're driving back or while I'm ordering food. Up to you.
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excuse him??? ] Heeeello! I have abs?
[ he's already beginning to pull up his shirt. he grabs tobari's hand and draws it closer until his palms are flat against his body. ] See, feel them!
[ forget about the live!!! this is more important!!
will his hair end up a mess again... stay tuned. ]
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ALREADY TRYING TO PULL HIS HAND BACK ]
Can you stop harassing me.
[ they just had a sweet and tender moment and it immediately devolves into stupidity again ]
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not them wrestling in the car ]
You have to really look and feel or I'm not moving!
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Nothing about me started harassing you.
[ except he wants to go home already and he's hungry so
he'll reach out with his other hand to catch rafayel by the hip, pulling him closer to tobari so he's sitting more toward his side on the backseat. then he'll use the hand on rafayel's abdomen to push him down so he's laying flat against the seat and tobari is hovering above him ]
This is harassment. Now let go.
[ thinking about how it's good the windows to this car are all completely tinted ]
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for a moment, rafayel seems to go along with it, if just because he's being horribly misled. part of him (wrongly and inaccurately) believed this was tobari's way of giving in. soon he'd touch his abs and have no choice but to admit his body was better than yori's—
instead, he'd pushed on his back and he's stuck looking at tobari from underneath him. he blinks a few times. had they done this before, rafayel may have been more smug as opposed to...
he releases a sigh as he lets go of tobari, instead resting his hand on his leg. ]
... It's not harassment if I allow it. [ even if he might threaten to call someone the second tobari does. ]
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but tobari just rolls his eyes then, reclaiming his hand once rafayel finally lets go and then using that to unceremoniously pinch rafayel's cheek. and pull. ]
Greedy.
[ ANNOYED. unfortunately he truly thinks that rafayel is just playing around with him so he's not even thinking twice about retaliating.... he'll pull back shortly after and then finally go to open the car door ]
If you're done messing around, buckle up. We're going home.
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him taking notes so he knows what to leave on the fics he'd kudos'd. you know, before someone rudely pinches his cheek? hey? ] You're so mean... [ he rolls his eyes as he brushes tobari's hand off.
since his clothes are disheveled anyway, he does end up rummaging around the bag to pull out his extra clothes. he throws on an oversized hoodie, and puts his earbuds into his ears, so he can connect to his live in a bit.
... for now, he needs silence so he can pout. he feels led on... ]
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rafayel can go ahead and return back to silence. tobari heads back to the front seat and checks his phone briefly—and he also texts rafayel a short list of food options that he can pick up and bring back to the apartment if he's feeling tired. thai food, sushi, burrito? and he'll leave it at that so that a ) rafayel knows he's not ignoring his mood but also b ) he's leaving enough space for rafayel to be moody if he needs to actually decompress after working.
overly thoughtful tobari strikes again....
even if he has no recognition of the fact that he just baited rafayel so hard on accident. whoops ]
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he's probably called tobari a meanie in his head like twenty times over the course of today, and yet he gets the feeling it probably won't end here. similarly, this probably isn't the first time tobari got this handsy with him, either. but, it may have been the first where he thought that maybe he was actually going to make his move.
per usual, it's ended in disappointment.
while he doesn't mind moving slow, and even he has his own ideals for how their first kiss will go, or how their first time should be... it didn't mean he also wasn't impatient and straight up insatiable when it came to tobari.
even now he peeks up at the back of his head. he ends up texting back. ]
wellll you know i like fish
but you know what else i like
people who know how to follow thruuu ππ¨
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tobari drives them back to their apartment, though the text comes in when they make it to a stoplight and he automatically tilts his head about it. the first thing he does is send rafayel the takeout menu for the sushi place so that he can place an order ahead of time and maybe they can even pick it up on the way home but
also
????
out loud, because he doesn't text and drive: ] What's the hammer emoji for? Am I being threatened?
[ does rafayel have both headphones in... just one... can he even hear tobari ]
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heβs also probably not wrong that heβs needed to decompress a lot after shoots in the past. it becoming better was likely a recent occurrence, only made better the more theyβve bonded. rafayel canβt help but be the kind of person who is entirely too absorbed when it came to love and relationships.
itβs why even with his earbuds in, he can still hear tobariβs voice clearly. he looks up at him from the backseat and heβs already typing in some of tobariβs favorite first before thinking about what he wantsβ¦ hamachi, torched salmonβ¦
the fact that tobari still canβt read emojisβ¦ does make him laugh a little. forget the fact that he tends to be cryptic and thatβs half the problem. ]
How could I possibly threaten Mister Bodyguard? Instead of that, I think I should punish you a different way.
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suzune or raf texts him 'screaming crying throwing up' the first time and he's immediately worried and rushing to check on them ]
Trying to keep up with you is already my punishment...
[ grouch grouch grumble... even if it's so toothless. his bark is so much worse than his bite when it comes to rafayel ]
Are you saying I haven't worked hard today?
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that said, raf probably sends him memes and reels daily, and tobari really lives his life trying to decipher gen z slang... skibidi toilet ]
Hmmmm... [ it's an exaggerated sound, before he texts tobari: ]
well youll pay me back by working even harder tonight
dun forget you promised to watch me practice
[ yori rp...
before tobari can say anything else, he's already hopping on his live.
he's ready to be a menace. ]
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the notifications come in even though tobari can't fully respond to them, only barely reading them out of the corner of his eye, and he just furrows his brow.... okay... what the fuck did he agree to
he opens his mouth to ask exactly that before he realizes that rafayel is getting on his live so instead he's just rolling his eyes... when they roll up to the next traffic light, he'll catch rafayel's eyes in the rear view mirror and just obviously mouth 'Be Good'
probably tempting fate with that one ]
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when the feed opens, rafayel does give a wave as he holds the phone level with his face. ] Hiya, fishies. [ his fandom is called fishies because i said so. or idk sardines. where are the cute fandom names they deserves. i think about how their actual fandom name is "miss bodyguards." which is cute but for this au, that would take on a whole different meaning. that said, rafayel is already reading through comments as people join. ]
"I accidentally lost my photocard of youuu, I'm sooo sad." [ reading it dramatically because he's so annoying, but he does smile and say: ]
Well, I might have the solution. You know I've been into magic lately. I heard that if you lose something there is a very special spell for it. You have to turn around three times and say the following incantation, "Tadoba guruaka where oh where did the thing I lost go." [ this is terrible advice... he waits a few moments, watching the comments quickly go before: ]
"I'm crazy for believing you! It didn't work!"
[ ... help him ]
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even tobari can't help but huff out an amused breath at rafayel's awful advice because he's so endearing about it... thinking about how the fan really did it and how rafayel would probably do decently as a cult leader. hopefully that's not in their future
mumbling so only rafayel can hear: ] The spell only works if you have an underpaid employee picking up after you.
[ tobari when he is handing rafayel his sunglasses, his chapstick, his favorite pencil, his phone, his airpods case whenever he looks like he's misplaced it... ]
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but, at tobari's words, rafayel does make an, "oh" face...
that makes sense, actually. but, his brows do twitch a little when he backs up to the word EMPLOYEE!!! EMPLOYEE!!!! he rubs himself all over you!!! (platonic) ] Apparently, you just need to find yourself someone who always stays by your side, gives you all their attention, and takes care of all your things for you... [ if it sounds misleading, it's because it's definitely meant to be, but rafayel smiles. ]
"Sounds like you have a lover."
You should ask my manager about it next time. [ winking...
he probably jokes about this all the time. now who is just an EMPLOYEE!!! ]
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[ LOUDLY
FROM THE FRONT SEAT ]
Stop forcing me to intervene! He doesn't have a lover!
[ truly the "there's dating rumors about us" "yea i started the rumors" meme
WHY IS TOBARI SO EASILY RAGEBAITED ]
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