#ask who just for funnies lol. but dice will 100% confess first (after his hangover wears off lamo) he just wants to mess with gen a bit

[mddlbro]

Dice hadn't exactly planned on getting drunk tonight. But, hell, with the constant thrum of his heart every time the brunette was near, and the fact that he had to confront all these feelings for Gentaro—feelings that had been building for far too long, a battle of suppressing and pretending not to feel—it was inevitable. Sure, he'd always tried to keep his emotions locked down, buried under layers of indifference. But tonight? Tonight, the alcohol was quick and the stomach was empty. Things got slippery. And now, here he was, tipsy, flushed, on the edge of doing things he'd never do sober.

His hands, all clumsy warmth and longing, hovered near Gentaro's waist. They squeezed, just lightly, but the pressure was a little too much, a little too needy. Dice couldn't stop himself from tracing the curve of Gentaro's back, sliding his hands up, then down again, the touch rougher now, only slightly. He wanted Gentaro to feel it. Wanted Gentaro to know. But these damn clothes—so many layers. So much between them. It was maddening. He wanted to feel more, but there were just too many barriers.

He let out a soft, frustrated huff, resting his hands again on Gentaro's waist, defeated. God, he could feel the heat from Gentaro's body, could feel his own pulse throbbing beneath his skin, but something wasn't clicking. Or maybe it was just him. Drunk, emotional, too aware of every little detail.

Then Gentaro spoke, and Dice—God—he was a fool, wasn't he? The warmth of Gentaro's touch made his chest rumble with a laugh, soft and teasing, something between a chuckle and a growl, but light, like they were both dancing around something. He wasn't stupid, not really. He knew exactly what Gentaro meant. But still, the alcohol gave him this strange freedom to flirt, to lean in just a little too close.

"Strange ideas, huh?" Dice mused, the smirk pulling at his lips like a reflex, though his voice wobbled just a bit. "If strange ideas are on the table..." He pressed closer, almost too close, purring the words "I'm~ all~ in~," out against Gentaro's neck collar. The laugh didn't help, probably made it sound like a joke, but in that moment? Dice didn't care.

The warmth in his eyes, that usual mischief, had something else too—something softer. Gentaro couldn't see it though, not with his face buried so close, resting against Gentaro's neck like he was trying to stay grounded in the moment. The touch of his thumbs, tracing circles on Gentaro's waist, was slow. Deliberate, but also just... there, like he didn't want this moment to slip away. Not just yet. Not until something clicked. Until he clicked.

When Gentaro asked about sobriety, that grin deepened, but there was something unfamiliar there—some flicker of hesitation in his gaze. Dice wasn't used to that. Not when he was in control, when he was the one throwing out the challenges. He let the silence stretch, then just as the brunette did, leaned in slightly, letting his breath warm Gentaro's ear.

"Hmm... when I'm sober?" His voice dropped, thick and teasing. "Well, I guess I could ask you a lot of things, but I've always been more of a show kind of guy, Gentaro." His lips barely brushed Gentaro's ear as he added, "But maybe we could roll for it. If you're bold enough."

The challenge was out there now, hanging between them. Dice raised his head, meeting Gentaro's gaze, but his fingers slid, almost by accident, over Gentaro's hand, brushing lightly against the accessory he was fiddling with. He didn't mean it to be purposeful—well, maybe he did. Maybe he wanted it to be. But it wasn't yet. Not fully.

There was a tension in the air. A hum of something unspoken. And Dice, for all his bravado, wasn't making a move just yet. Not until he understood what it was that Gentaro was thinking, what they were both feeling. Until they were both ready. So for now, he stayed there, leaning in close enough that the space between them seemed to pulse with all the questions they hadn't asked yet.

"Well," Gentaro says, voice softer than he would've liked. "Ramuda wouldn't be drunk when he hugs me, would he?"

He's certainly never seen their dear leader anywhere close to Dice's drunken state. Perhaps that's by design, considering that Ramuda is a fan of alcohol. Ah, but now's not the time to theorize about the mysteries surrounding their leader.

Now is for trying to keep the warmth in his chest from spreading to his cheeks. Dice is close--far too close, too intimate for Gentaro to maintain any form of playful distance. This close, Gentaro can smell Dice's scent, as well as the alcohol in his breath. Goodness, how much did he drink?

He places his freed hands on Dice's shoulders, almost tempted to push him away. But truly, he doubts he could do that. Not only because of their difference in strength, but because... well, it's been far too long that someone had hugged him this intimately.

... And he certainly doesn't dislike it.

"If you keep up with this, I might get strange ideas, you know?" The words escape in a murmur, existing briefly in the narrow space between them. The phone is considered as a question, but quickly discarded. It's not only Dice that craves for this, it seems.

To assume otherwise would be lying to himself. He's certainly not that oblivious.

"So, Daisu..." Gentaro reaches up, twirling his finger around Dice's hair accessory. He doesn't pull away. His words are a gentle sigh, brushing against the shell of Dice's ear. "Is there something you want to ask me when you're sober?"

Liquid courage--isn't that another term for alcohol? Though he's not drunk, he's also not unaffected.

"... Or is there something you want me to ask you when you're sober...?"