[There's a bit of fumbling and an odd sort of squeak on the other end of the line before Leo responds. He keeps his tone low, not wanting to hurt the other's head further by being his usual boisterous self.]
Senaaa... If you use that little voice it's going to make me want to fly right over there and coddle you.
Have you had plenty of water? Keeping hydrated helps with this sort of thing, right? It helps with most things.
Mmph. You have work to do and so do I, so don't even think about it. It's hard enough to get you on the right plane sometimes, so the fewer trips, the better.
[He's a little muffled, curled on his side and mumbling into his pillow, but even that doesn't stop his staple griping. He had entirely expected needing to lower Leo's volume, but it's a pleasant surprise that he doesn't have to at this hour of night.
It's also nice to hear a familiar voice while he's alone and suffering, miles and miles away, but like hell he's going to admit that.]
Yeah, I did... Really, I'm fine now. It wasn't that bad in the first place. It's just... a tiny headache left, and that's my own fault. It'll be gone by morning...
[Still stubborn, still acting tough.]
... It's already morning there, so. What are you up to today?
Edited (accidentally borked all my icons π) 2022-07-27 02:09 (UTC)
Not doing the work you've so kindly pointed out that I still have.
[Leo sighs heavily away from the phone.]
I told you, didn't I? My mind is a big empty nothing today. I'm suffocating in ennui.
[It's harder to sound dramatic when one has to keep their voice at low volume, but he's trying.]
But I promised you something, and I'm sure I can put something together if it's for you. So what did you want? A lullaby? A bedtime story? I can always combine the two.
Ha. You don't get to escape from reality just because I'm not there. In fact I hope you hear my voice guiding you in your head while I'm gone; maybe you'll stay out of trouble that way.
["Guiding," chiding, nagging, yelling, whatever. Why have an angel and devil on the shoulder when one can have a personal Izumi Sena, who's perfectly neither?]
You don't have to force yourself. I never asked for either, anyway. I'm okay just talking.
[He doesn't like pushing for Leo's music, anymore. Understandably so. It feels much better to just let the inspiration come and go, because it is never truly gone for long β even if it seems to arise at inconvenient times now and then.
Besides, no matter how much he likes Leo's songs, he could hardly ever live down such a request. It's hard asking for anything, really, but it works out when Leo tends to give and keep giving regardless.]
For once... I give you permission to ramble. Talk about nothing, I don't care. Or tell a story or sing if that's what you really want to do. Anything's fine.
[All roads leave to more or Leo's voice, after all.]
Hmm~ There's only room for so many voices up here, and most of them are usually melodic. If all I hear is you nagging then I must be in the slump of a lifetime. Wahaha...
[Whispered laughs just don't have the same effect.]
But I suppose if it was your voice it wouldn't be that bad, at least.
[There's a light shuffling sound as Leo digs around for a pen and a sheet of paper. There's plenty of the latter laying around, crumpled or otherwise. Placing it in front of him, he can only stare at its blank surface with an annoyed frown.]
It's not fair, making me choose. Though I don't blame you. I need to resolve this myself, harnessing my own mental horsepower! I'm sure when Mozart took commissions he didn't feel strongly about he complained throughout the entire writing process, but not me! I can make adjustments. I can make it work out for me.
...I've written "nag nag nag" on this so far. I can feel your supportive energy.
Wow, is that all I am to you? And they call me the mean one.
[He neither laughs nor sighs, but he does sound more exhausted as the call goes on; Izumi lets his eyes close as he nestles more closely to the phone, with it still laying by his ear. Even the soft noises of crinkling paper or scratching pens paints the picture for him, and it's as though he can see Leo wherever he may be β whether that's hunched over a desk or sprawled out on the floor or something else entirely β and even in his mind's eye he's torn between approaching and peering over Leo's shoulder, or contenting himself with watching discreetly from afar (there's something enjoyable about watching Leo work, from the times when he's humming himself into oblivion as he scrawls to even the intermittent outbursts of either delight or frustration, and Izumi has quietly watched over him on more occasions than he'd care to admit).]
You're plenty unfair yourself, so consider it payback. Aren't you going to show the world how much better you are than him or something~...?
[The huff as he stabs a hole in the paper with his pen...]
Anyway, it's only part of what you are to me.... Aah... I feel like I should be talking in the smallest whisper. Like I should be tucking you in. I don't know if I'm capable of being that quiet. You're so -- ah! I've got - OUCH! Ow, ow...
[The last part is a bit louder, but fortunately for Izumi he pulls away from the phone as he says it so it shouldn't be as deafening. Unfortunately for Leo it's because he's sat up too quickly from where he was sitting under a desk and banged his head against the underneath of it.]
Eh? I appreciate the consideration of volume for once, but don't say stuff like you'll tuck me in... Ugh, talk about goosebumps.
[An audible shudder. There's a bitter irony in Izumi's ability to fuss over those he deems worthy of his concern 24/7, and his inability to tolerate any of that being reciprocated. It's even worse when he's made to remember that Leo is, more or less, an older sibling... despite all actions and appearances. It gets even more annoying when he actually decides to act like one. But thankfully, that doesn't happen often around Izumi β and ideally it would stay that way.
Then Leo yelps on the other end of the line and the sleep that had been creeping up on Izumi is dashed away into thin air. His eyes snap open again and he sits up, cradling his phone closely.]
Ah ah ah it's fine, it's fine. Haah... it might be a bump, but it's fine!
[He laughs into a wince as he runs his fingers over the sore spot.] Just me being clumsy and thoughtless in a confined space. I'm good, though! I'm great. I haven't had the inspiration knocked out of me yet! Wahaha-ow.
Pen! Hang on, I'm composing. You should go back to sleep. ...Oh, but I've woken you up more, haven't I? Sorry, sorry, that's terrible of me...
I'm fine! Give me uh - a moment. I'll tuck you in verbally, okay?
[Well. He certainly sounds fine. Izumi slumps forward with his heavy exhale, loosening the tight grip on his phone (which he feels perfectly foolish about, now that the moment's passed). He turns a pinched frown down at his lap, glaring at nothing in the dark as he resists the urge to simply cut the call and throw his phone to the other edge of the room. Stupid. Stupid. So, so stupid!]
Like I said, don't.
[If it sounds like a hiss through gritted teeth, well surely that's... No, no. There's no imagining that.]
Agh~ The headache is back. I'm going to bed.
[A heavy fwump of Izumi hitting the pillow again, and though this would be the perfect place to hang up abruptly, he doesn't.]
[For a little while there's only the sound of Leo's pen scratching against the paper, as he's laid his phone down while he composes. Maybe he's leaving it on for Izumi's benefit. Maybe he simply didn't think to hang up.
Once he has enough down he begins humming bars of it off and on. It's a softer, slower melody than most of what he's been writing lately. The promised lullaby.
He's gotten through a full page before he realizes the screen of the phone is still lit. The humming trails off.]
Oh? Are you still there, Sena? [He bends down closer to the phone instead of picking it up.] Are you alright?
[Closing his eyes and sinking into the mattress once more, it's simple enough to let the momentary anger ebb out of him again with a quiet sigh, and he instead allocates his remaining energy into listening for those tiny sounds, faint as they may be carrying over the phone. It doesn't help that Leo's voice seems to grow farther and farther away... or is that Izumi's own consciousness drifting out?
He isn't sure how much time passes before something comes through clearly again, and it feels too loud, too sudden β even though it may not be at all. His face scrunches with a soft grunt of complaint, having been tugged once more from the brink of sleep. Izumi can only muster a muted mumble in response.]
[Is Izumi talking about the phone, or is it something else? It's a serious question because Leo is always forgetting things. Usually it doesn't bother him. He's used to it. If it was important he'd remember, right? But there are times where he worries that isn't the case.
He hums a couple more bars as he thinks.]
Oh! I didn't wish you goodnight! Or wait - I'm almost done with your lullaby. Hold on, just a few more minutes... I'll sing it for you.
[He thinks his objection rather than voicing it (not enough energy to bother protesting in any other way than mentally), but even that is only momentary, because while he indeed never asked for a lullaby, his heart has never truly rejected any of Leo's songs.
He'll give his complaints on the method without hesitation; there are better times and places for inspiration to hit, and there are certainly occasions and situations where Leo's attention cannot afford to be divided, and there are countless songs born from the silliest inspirations and given the most banal titles, but ultimately β he loves Leo's songs, purely and deeply. He believes in them wholeheartedly, and they've come too far for him to deny any of that now.
So, he waits. He'll fight against sleep again if it means he can hear a new song for him alone. His words are soft murmurs, but he decidedly won't drift off just yet.]
[There are happy little butterflies all in Leo's stomach at those sleepy words and the ending formulates itself quickly in his mind. From the soundtrack only he can hear he scrawls out notes as easily as writing sentences.]
There aren't any words yet. [Though Izumi would know this. Lyrics are harder. Often he'll just leave those to someone else if he doesn't have something in mind the moment the song comes together.] But I'll hum it. Try not to nod off too quickly!
[He says this, but he'd rather his friend get the rest he needs, even if it means having to hear the full song later.
So he begins humming - not too loud, but not softly enough that his notes disappear into hushed breaths. It's a gentle song, but not a sad one. Leo doesn't care to write sad music if he can help it, and what Izumi deserves is something proud - a tune where none of the notes are hesitant and the melody carries itself confidently until its conclusion. It's a lullaby where one can go to sleep with the assurance that there's someone looking out for them. Even if this is often more than Leo himself is capable of.]
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no subject
Senaaa... If you use that little voice it's going to make me want to fly right over there and coddle you.
Have you had plenty of water? Keeping hydrated helps with this sort of thing, right? It helps with most things.
no subject
[He's a little muffled, curled on his side and mumbling into his pillow, but even that doesn't stop his staple griping. He had entirely expected needing to lower Leo's volume, but it's a pleasant surprise that he doesn't have to at this hour of night.
It's also nice to hear a familiar voice while he's alone and suffering, miles and miles away, but like hell he's going to admit that.]
Yeah, I did... Really, I'm fine now. It wasn't that bad in the first place. It's just... a tiny headache left, and that's my own fault. It'll be gone by morning...
[Still stubborn, still acting tough.]
... It's already morning there, so. What are you up to today?
no subject
[Leo sighs heavily away from the phone.]
I told you, didn't I? My mind is a big empty nothing today. I'm suffocating in ennui.
[It's harder to sound dramatic when one has to keep their voice at low volume, but he's trying.]
But I promised you something, and I'm sure I can put something together if it's for you. So what did you want? A lullaby? A bedtime story? I can always combine the two.
no subject
["Guiding," chiding, nagging, yelling, whatever. Why have an angel and devil on the shoulder when one can have a personal Izumi Sena, who's perfectly neither?]
You don't have to force yourself. I never asked for either, anyway. I'm okay just talking.
[He doesn't like pushing for Leo's music, anymore. Understandably so. It feels much better to just let the inspiration come and go, because it is never truly gone for long β even if it seems to arise at inconvenient times now and then.
Besides, no matter how much he likes Leo's songs, he could hardly ever live down such a request. It's hard asking for anything, really, but it works out when Leo tends to give and keep giving regardless.]
For once... I give you permission to ramble. Talk about nothing, I don't care. Or tell a story or sing if that's what you really want to do. Anything's fine.
[All roads leave to more or Leo's voice, after all.]
no subject
[Whispered laughs just don't have the same effect.]
But I suppose if it was your voice it wouldn't be that bad, at least.
[There's a light shuffling sound as Leo digs around for a pen and a sheet of paper. There's plenty of the latter laying around, crumpled or otherwise. Placing it in front of him, he can only stare at its blank surface with an annoyed frown.]
It's not fair, making me choose. Though I don't blame you. I need to resolve this myself, harnessing my own mental horsepower! I'm sure when Mozart took commissions he didn't feel strongly about he complained throughout the entire writing process, but not me! I can make adjustments. I can make it work out for me.
...I've written "nag nag nag" on this so far. I can feel your supportive energy.
no subject
[He neither laughs nor sighs, but he does sound more exhausted as the call goes on; Izumi lets his eyes close as he nestles more closely to the phone, with it still laying by his ear. Even the soft noises of crinkling paper or scratching pens paints the picture for him, and it's as though he can see Leo wherever he may be β whether that's hunched over a desk or sprawled out on the floor or something else entirely β and even in his mind's eye he's torn between approaching and peering over Leo's shoulder, or contenting himself with watching discreetly from afar (there's something enjoyable about watching Leo work, from the times when he's humming himself into oblivion as he scrawls to even the intermittent outbursts of either delight or frustration, and Izumi has quietly watched over him on more occasions than he'd care to admit).]
You're plenty unfair yourself, so consider it payback. Aren't you going to show the world how much better you are than him or something~...?
[Meanwhile, back to competing with dead guys...]
no subject
[The huff as he stabs a hole in the paper with his pen...]
Anyway, it's only part of what you are to me.... Aah... I feel like I should be talking in the smallest whisper. Like I should be tucking you in. I don't know if I'm capable of being that quiet. You're so -- ah! I've got - OUCH! Ow, ow...
[The last part is a bit louder, but fortunately for Izumi he pulls away from the phone as he says it so it shouldn't be as deafening. Unfortunately for Leo it's because he's sat up too quickly from where he was sitting under a desk and banged his head against the underneath of it.]
Fufufu... inspiration is painful...
no subject
[An audible shudder. There's a bitter irony in Izumi's ability to fuss over those he deems worthy of his concern 24/7, and his inability to tolerate any of that being reciprocated. It's even worse when he's made to remember that Leo is, more or less, an older sibling... despite all actions and appearances. It gets even more annoying when he actually decides to act like one. But thankfully, that doesn't happen often around Izumi β and ideally it would stay that way.
Then Leo yelps on the other end of the line and the sleep that had been creeping up on Izumi is dashed away into thin air. His eyes snap open again and he sits up, cradling his phone closely.]
Whβ Are you okay? What did you do!?
no subject
[He laughs into a wince as he runs his fingers over the sore spot.] Just me being clumsy and thoughtless in a confined space. I'm good, though! I'm great. I haven't had the inspiration knocked out of me yet! Wahaha-ow.
Pen! Hang on, I'm composing. You should go back to sleep. ...Oh, but I've woken you up more, haven't I? Sorry, sorry, that's terrible of me...
I'm fine! Give me uh - a moment. I'll tuck you in verbally, okay?
no subject
Like I said, don't.
[If it sounds like a hiss through gritted teeth, well surely that's... No, no. There's no imagining that.]
Agh~ The headache is back. I'm going to bed.
[A heavy fwump of Izumi hitting the pillow again, and though this would be the perfect place to hang up abruptly, he doesn't.]
no subject
Once he has enough down he begins humming bars of it off and on. It's a softer, slower melody than most of what he's been writing lately. The promised lullaby.
He's gotten through a full page before he realizes the screen of the phone is still lit. The humming trails off.]
Oh? Are you still there, Sena? [He bends down closer to the phone instead of picking it up.] Are you alright?
no subject
He isn't sure how much time passes before something comes through clearly again, and it feels too loud, too sudden β even though it may not be at all. His face scrunches with a soft grunt of complaint, having been tugged once more from the brink of sleep. Izumi can only muster a muted mumble in response.]
Mm. Forgetting something...?
no subject
[Is Izumi talking about the phone, or is it something else? It's a serious question because Leo is always forgetting things. Usually it doesn't bother him. He's used to it. If it was important he'd remember, right? But there are times where he worries that isn't the case.
He hums a couple more bars as he thinks.]
Oh! I didn't wish you goodnight! Or wait - I'm almost done with your lullaby. Hold on, just a few more minutes... I'll sing it for you.
no subject
He'll give his complaints on the method without hesitation; there are better times and places for inspiration to hit, and there are certainly occasions and situations where Leo's attention cannot afford to be divided, and there are countless songs born from the silliest inspirations and given the most banal titles, but ultimately β he loves Leo's songs, purely and deeply. He believes in them wholeheartedly, and they've come too far for him to deny any of that now.
So, he waits. He'll fight against sleep again if it means he can hear a new song for him alone. His words are soft murmurs, but he decidedly won't drift off just yet.]
Mhm... Sing for me, Leo-kun.
no subject
There aren't any words yet. [Though Izumi would know this. Lyrics are harder. Often he'll just leave those to someone else if he doesn't have something in mind the moment the song comes together.] But I'll hum it. Try not to nod off too quickly!
[He says this, but he'd rather his friend get the rest he needs, even if it means having to hear the full song later.
So he begins humming - not too loud, but not softly enough that his notes disappear into hushed breaths. It's a gentle song, but not a sad one. Leo doesn't care to write sad music if he can help it, and what Izumi deserves is something proud - a tune where none of the notes are hesitant and the melody carries itself confidently until its conclusion. It's a lullaby where one can go to sleep with the assurance that there's someone looking out for them. Even if this is often more than Leo himself is capable of.]