ᴮᵁᴿᴵᴱᴰ 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑;

"    IT'S  A  WASTE  OF  TIME.   "       elbow  rests  lazily  on  the  arm  of  the  chair.   her  hand  sits  propped  on  her  knuckles.   legs  cross  at  the  knee  as  its  toe  taps  in  annoyance.   soft  eyes  land  upon  him  as  he  speaks,   thankful  to  have  something  else  to  focus  on  rather  than  the  growing  volume  of  the  conference  room.    "   you'd  think  they'd  make  'how  to  resolve  conflict'  a  part  of  the  hero  course.   "    but  no,   all  she  sees  are  people  much  better  at  talking  with  their  bodies  than  mouths.   not  that  he  has  any  room  to  talk  —  he's  the  same.   the  body  has  always  been  the  best  speaker  for  its  true  thoughts.   his  voice  is  scratched  and  whispery,   almost  as  if  it  had  been  lost  after  a  night  of  screaming.   but  it  never  changes.  it's  been  like  nails  on  chalkboard  for  as  long  as  he  can  remember.    "   maybe  i  should  step  in.   what  do  you  think,  strategy  wise?   "

A LOW SOUND ESCAPES HIM, guttural and humming, as if his dissatisfaction swelled in his throat and began escaping his lips through animal efforts. he's attempting to avoid exposing his true agitation in front of tenko, for sake of both of their tempers flaring, but his knit eyebrows and locked jaw identify his true disposition. it's all too loud, too chaotic. where he's from, order isn't just a suggestion, but a necessity. a requirement. ironically enough, these heroes could learn a thing from the old values of yakuza. " you'd think, " he agrees, crossing his leg over his knee, leaning back against his seat. he's slightly tilted towards tenko, keeping their voices as low as possible. " that's the million dollar question. we're both in agreement, i presume, that rushing straight in would do more damage than good, yes? i say we play the long game. we need as much intel as we can get before we think about going on the offensive. the opposite wouldn't just cost the asset, but the health of our comrades. and potentially their lives. "

"    I  KNOW  YOU  WOULD  HAVE,    no  matter  the  circumstances.   that's  why  i'm  thankful  —   and  grateful.    "      a  gentle  smile  pulls  upon  his  lips  upon  seeing  more  of  kai's  face.  it's  the  same  reaction  he  has  upon  seeing  tenko.   a  family  extends  with  warm,   welcome  arms.   the  tea  is  then  brought  to  his  lips,  sipping  quietly  on  the  drink.   "  as  am  i.   he  wouldn't  be  here  today  if  not  for  you  ...   i  can  only  imagine  how  terrible  it  must've  been;    seeing  him  like  that.   i  don't  mean  to  pry,   but  are  you  going  to  be  –-   speaking to  anyone  for  that?   i  only  ask  because  i  care  for  your  well-being  as  much  as  my  child's.   "

AS HIS JAW TIGHTENS, he feels his teeth grinding against one another, bone against bone. they shouldn't be surprised that toshinori took notice of his own condition; that old, heroic sense of perception is difficult to shake, it seems, even in retirement. the images of tenko leaking is plastered in his mind, coming to life in his most vulnerable dreamstates, as if it were etched behind his eyelids in gory canvas. " i haven't thought about it, " he finally confesses, looking down at the tea swelling in his hands. its steam tickles along his exposed skin, dancing into the air above them both. " i've been... too busy, i suppose, to think about myself. she's my main priority right now — it feels wrong to focus on myself after everything that happened. "

" WE'RE LIKEMINDED IN THAT REGARD, THEN. the best way to learn is to hit the ground running. " amusement reaches golden eyes as he notices the shift in demeanor. so he's finally starting to understand the importance of the game, not as some way to dawdle around business, but instead show what can be done with their players at hand. shigaraki's move, though by no means a professional one, is far more strategic than her past movements have been. she's learning. " reclaiming what's yours? that, i can understand. " with that in mind, overhaul plucks up his pawn, making a retaliating offensive. as he overtakes one of shigaraki's pieces, he murmurs, " but he's a big player in your team. it makes me wary to see so many still on your side, particularly when we're trying to acclaim a space of trust between us. " he withdraws, resting his hands on the back of the couch. " these bullets have a special property with which was already demonstrated on your colleague, compress. i plan on toppling the scales. restoring an order to the underground it's desperately needed for decades, now. i'd like to recruit twice. "

"   MMM.   "    lips  pull  downward,   equally  displeased  at  the  move  and  overhaul's  voice.   shoes  hit  the  ground  as  it's  her  turn  to  play.   hands  rest  on  both  knees,  and  it  lurches  forward.   god,   meet  death.   its  leer  spreads  across  the  board  plague  like  and  destructive.   strands  of  blue-grey  hair  fall  over  his  face,   almost  obscuring  the  peek  of  crimson  eyes.   if  overhaul  wants  to  play  so  badly,   she'll  play.  and upon studying the board:    "   kurogiri's  doing  something  for  me.   if  you  want  to  know  what,   i  can  share  that  information  ...   once  we  talk  about  the  plan  with  your  quirk-erasing  bullets.   "

THE GAME SPRAWLS BEFORE THEM, exposing unlimited possibilities at their fingertips. overhaul's hands return to their steeple, golden eyes drifting to observe shigaraki in thought. despite her agitation towards the game itself, it seems as if she's beginning to take it more seriously — which, notwithstanding the grating disrespect that it displayed not long ago, is an optimistic change of pace. " take your time. the point of this game is to be strategic, using your arsenal to your advantage, " he murmurs, lurching back against the couch. his eyes flick to the ceiling, bringing his fingertips towards the back of the couch. " i don't plan on going easy on you, beginner or not. those bullets ... they're another pawn piece of mine. i plan on toppling the scales, introducing natural order again. " his hand raises, flicking dismissively. " i can tell you how in time. right now, i said my piece. it's your turn. "

" YOUR THANKS ARE APPRECIATED, but by no means necessary. there's no question on whether or not i'd help. " their middle and forefinger come together with the thumb to pinch the demitasse once served. his opposite hand lowers the surgical mask just beneath the chin, and as he brings the ceramic to his lips, he blows at the sprawling steam. " i'm just happy to see that he's doing well again, " kai confesses, meeting toshinori's eyes with their own. " it's deserved. "

SHE  DOESN'T  BOTHER  HIDING  HER  DISPLEASURE  AS  VOICES  RAISE  ACROSS  THE  TABLE.   heroes  rise  from  their  seats  in  argument  and  disagreement  as  tenko  does  the  opposite.   it  plops  down  in  the  conference  room  chair  and  crosses  both  arms  and  legs  alike.   a  frown  pulls  on  scarred  lips.    (   how  much  louder  can  they  get?  )   annoyance  spikes  until  he  glances  over.   suddenly,   the  frown  doesn't  feel  so  necessary.   she  swivels  closer  to  her  partner.      "    how  annoying.   we're  all  on  the  same  side,   right?    while  they  stand  here  and  argue,   people  are  waiting  to  be  rescued.   " / @overhual

" CLASHING PERSONALITIES AND HEIGHTENED EMOTIONS will do that to you. " their voice, hushed beneath the mask just enough for only tenko to perceive what he says, rolls from their lips so smoothly he nearly hums. golden eyes survey the room before them curiously, thin eyebrows pinched together in well-contained agitation. despite the tranquility of kai's body, shoulders relaxed and hands knit upon his lap, he's just as exasperated as his partner; this bickering seems to be a pattern of growing concern. " that's just it — there are people to save. i imagine that's why everyone's so tense; they're passionate about how to go about their jobs. good in theory, but when you don't know how to debate... " their hand outstretches, subtly beckoning to the entropy. " this is what happens. "