[That compliment's the perfect mix of praise and petty.
Tsukki's smirk goes sharp. Everyone was just so sure Shiratorizawa would smash through Karasuno. Then comes a 1st-Year, skinny Middle Blocker from a nowhere team. Tsukki still feels the shine of it. The certainty as everything connected and changed]
[Suga's no stranger to Tsukishima's smug face. No one who's been in Tsukishima's company for more than a few minutes can be a stranger to his smug face. But the addition of real, hard-earned confidence replacing its usual foundation of arrogance makes the expression so much more...
... Sugawara has to look away before he can come up with the answer. He just knows, somehow, that it'll be a less than comfortable realization.]
Stunned. It took as long for him to process as everyone else. I don't think being kill blocked had even occurred to him as possible, never mind a real risk.
[But naturally, with Suga being a heavily empathetic setter and all:]
What I'll never forget is the look on the setter's face. He knew before Ushijima even touched the ball.
[The realization is probably along these lines - Confidence looks good on Tsukishima. Even more as he laughs. Pleased to have more insight on the moment.]
Geeze, that guy. He was so smug about Ushiwaka!
[Breaking apart arrogance like that? One of the best feelings.]
[Hot. That's the word Sugawara deflected before it could enter his brain. He can admire Tsukishima, enjoy his company, give to and receive comfort from him, but desire him?
That feels ill-advised. Sure hope that doesn't happen.]
Shirabu Kenjiro. He's always had a bad attitude, and I doubt Shiratorizawa showed Semi Eita half the care everyone showed me when he got benched to make room for a first year. [What's that? Another thing Suga rarely talks about in such direct language? It goes by fast, maybe even too fast for Tsukishima to catch when the topic swings back to him soon after:] I'm glad their camp was a valuable experience for you and you deserved the spot, but I'll be honest - that team's whole M.O. stinks and part of me wished you didn't have to have anything to do with them.
Yeah. Well. Somebody said some bullshit about it being an honor!
[The camp was a mixed bag, and Tsukki's still sorting out the results. It did feel good to be acknowledged, though. Before certain insufferable gingers crashed in.]
I wouldn't want to play for Coach Washijo, that's for sure. Guy's a despot.
Coach Anabara wasn't too bad.
[He does note the 'Benched' comment. Tucks it to the side.]
It was an honor! And you even made new friends! The camp was a net positive, but that doesn't make Shiratorizawa any less misguided.
[Anabara... that's not surprising, Suga thinks. Tsukishima needs a strict hand to bring out his best performance, but he'd undoubtedly still prefer someone more laid-back who'd just let him get on with things.]
[Is it hypocritical that Suga finds Tsukishima's disrespect hilarious when it's directed away from himself and the rest of the team? Probably, but he never claimed to be perfect.]
I wasn't gonna say it, but that really is what it's all about with him, isn't it? Just inevitable that the wheels would eventually fall off that bus.
... man, I just realized how much I'd love to be here next year to see how some of these teams manage. Shiratorizawa's losing almost everyone but their bench and Seijoh's losing Oikawa and Iwaizumi...
[He shakes his head, grinning to himself. Turns out his spin on things is more positive.]
I'd say you guys will have an even easier path to Nationals next year. The options for new captain on both those teams are... dire. [There's the disrespect.]
[Suga chuckles; then, without warning, the smile drops completely from his face and he gives Tsukishima a deadly serious look.]
I want you guys to annihilate Dateko. Every time, as many times as it takes.
Is that better?
[As much as Suga knows that Asahi has always been the architect of his own problems, that team still gets under his skin. Even with the friendlier faces like Koganegawa, even with Aone having turned out to be a gentle yeti. Some first impressions just never fade.]
Okay, maybe sometimes Tsukishima is more than just an objectively good-looking guy. And maybe some of his attractiveness isn't entirely about looks. There's no more denying it after Suga hears him say Senpai with that cocky bite to his voice and finds that he has to busy himself with a long drink of calpico to smother his reaction.
It's just the circumstances, that's all. They've had so many emotionally intimate talks, and Suga's been left with such a profound void in his heart where his hopes and dreams about Daichi used to be - it's all playing with his mind. He's lonely and Tsukishima's the one helping him through. Of course his brain's probably trying to convince his heart that this is a more sensible choice.
But it's not, not by any stretch of the imagination, and still Suga finds it difficult to force back out of his mind now that it's there. How long has it been since he last said something? Does he look strange right now? Is it obvious?]
Which, really, isn't strange. Not with the roller coaster he's been on.
Tsukki begins unwinding another Twizzler. Tries to figure out the movie they've been ignoring. The cast is down to half. Must have been some interesting deaths along the way. He's about to ask about that - Then his phone buzzes.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-05-22 02:29 pm (UTC)Tsukki's smirk goes sharp. Everyone was just so sure Shiratorizawa would smash through Karasuno. Then comes a 1st-Year, skinny Middle Blocker from a nowhere team. Tsukki still feels the shine of it. The certainty as everything connected and changed]
How was the look on his face? I didn't catch it.
[What with the scream of triumph and all.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-22 02:38 pm (UTC)... Sugawara has to look away before he can come up with the answer. He just knows, somehow, that it'll be a less than comfortable realization.]
Stunned. It took as long for him to process as everyone else. I don't think being kill blocked had even occurred to him as possible, never mind a real risk.
[But naturally, with Suga being a heavily empathetic setter and all:]
What I'll never forget is the look on the setter's face. He knew before Ushijima even touched the ball.
Picking on your other muses? Must be a day that ends in -Y!
Date: 2024-05-22 02:52 pm (UTC)Geeze, that guy. He was so smug about Ushiwaka!
[Breaking apart arrogance like that? One of the best feelings.]
this is the curse of loving cinnamon rolls and gremlins equally
Date: 2024-05-22 03:08 pm (UTC)That feels ill-advised. Sure hope that doesn't happen.]
Shirabu Kenjiro. He's always had a bad attitude, and I doubt Shiratorizawa showed Semi Eita half the care everyone showed me when he got benched to make room for a first year. [What's that? Another thing Suga rarely talks about in such direct language? It goes by fast, maybe even too fast for Tsukishima to catch when the topic swings back to him soon after:] I'm glad their camp was a valuable experience for you and you deserved the spot, but I'll be honest - that team's whole M.O. stinks and part of me wished you didn't have to have anything to do with them.
Lucky you Suga is a Cinnamon Gremlin
Date: 2024-05-22 05:12 pm (UTC)Yeah. Well. Somebody said some bullshit about it being an honor!
[The camp was a mixed bag, and Tsukki's still sorting out the results. It did feel good to be acknowledged, though. Before certain insufferable gingers crashed in.]
I wouldn't want to play for Coach Washijo, that's for sure. Guy's a despot.
Coach Anabara wasn't too bad.
[He does note the 'Benched' comment. Tucks it to the side.]
omg is that why he's become my hyperfocus character...
Date: 2024-05-22 05:28 pm (UTC)[Anabara... that's not surprising, Suga thinks. Tsukishima needs a strict hand to bring out his best performance, but he'd undoubtedly still prefer someone more laid-back who'd just let him get on with things.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-22 05:42 pm (UTC)Guess that's what happens when your coach has Short Man Syndrome.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-22 05:47 pm (UTC)I wasn't gonna say it, but that really is what it's all about with him, isn't it? Just inevitable that the wheels would eventually fall off that bus.
Mad that I acted respecless?/ It's 'cuz no one can respect this
Date: 2024-05-23 12:33 am (UTC)People who won't adapt get picked apart by crows.
[Join in the disrespect! It's fun!]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 12:47 am (UTC)[He shakes his head, grinning to himself. Turns out his spin on things is more positive.]
I'd say you guys will have an even easier path to Nationals next year. The options for new captain on both those teams are... dire. [There's the disrespect.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 09:20 am (UTC)[It is hilarious. Tsukki can't wait to fuck with that guy. Shiratorizawa's even worse, no obvious personalities besides 'Jock.'
Then he sobers.]
But Date Tech's only getting stronger, and who knows what First Year freaks will show up on other teams. Overconfidence is how you lose.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 11:32 am (UTC)I've... never been so proud...
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 01:58 pm (UTC)[Tsukki waves a hand. Trying to dismiss such opulent praise, before it actually does go to his head. Last thing he needs.]
What did I just say about crying?!
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 02:25 pm (UTC)I want you guys to annihilate Dateko. Every time, as many times as it takes.
Is that better?
[As much as Suga knows that Asahi has always been the architect of his own problems, that team still gets under his skin. Even with the friendlier faces like Koganegawa, even with Aone having turned out to be a gentle yeti. Some first impressions just never fade.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 05:20 pm (UTC)[There it is. One of Sugawara's rare shifts, from cheerful to intent. Eyes iron, voice steel. Tsukki's only caught it a couple of times.
He nods.
Deal.]
By the way? You just asked for something you want. Good job.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 05:29 pm (UTC)Hey! Praise is my job, you can't just turn the tables like that!!
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 05:49 pm (UTC)Deal with it, Senpai.
[Tsukki bullying other people into honesty and self-care?
THAT wasn't on the year's Bingo card!]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 06:08 pm (UTC)Okay, maybe sometimes Tsukishima is more than just an objectively good-looking guy. And maybe some of his attractiveness isn't entirely about looks. There's no more denying it after Suga hears him say Senpai with that cocky bite to his voice and finds that he has to busy himself with a long drink of calpico to smother his reaction.
It's just the circumstances, that's all. They've had so many emotionally intimate talks, and Suga's been left with such a profound void in his heart where his hopes and dreams about Daichi used to be - it's all playing with his mind. He's lonely and Tsukishima's the one helping him through. Of course his brain's probably trying to convince his heart that this is a more sensible choice.
But it's not, not by any stretch of the imagination, and still Suga finds it difficult to force back out of his mind now that it's there. How long has it been since he last said something? Does he look strange right now? Is it obvious?]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 06:50 pm (UTC)Which, really, isn't strange. Not with the roller coaster he's been on.
Tsukki begins unwinding another Twizzler. Tries to figure out the movie they've been ignoring. The cast is down to half. Must have been some interesting deaths along the way. He's about to ask about that - Then his phone buzzes.]
Ah. Yamaguchi's done.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 06:53 pm (UTC)Oh, great! Cube was kind of a bust anyway, we'll have to put that one back in the list for another time. What should I set up for when he gets here?
[A buffer is exactly what Suga needs to get through the rest of this evening.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 11:24 pm (UTC)[It won't take long. Tsukki lets Yamaguchi in, the other boy chattering as they return. Already clearing some of the heavy atmosphere.
" - It was pretty good - Oh! Sugawara-Senpai, thanks so much for letting me come over! Really!"]