Work Text:
As he would any other day, Gentaro is currently working on his novel. Or, at least, pretending to work. He’s long since accepted the fact that he won’t be getting anything done today.
As if possessing a sixth sense for matters like this, Ramuda comes bounding into the room.
“Hey hey, Gentaro! Whatcha doin’?”
Gentaro doesn’t spare Ramuda a glance. “Working.”
Ramuda pouts, and a smile sneaks its way onto Gentaro’s face. “I’m lying.”
“Ahaha, I knew it! The TV’s on, so I knew you wouldn’t be working!”
Gentaro’s smile twitches. “At any rate, Ramuda, do you need something from me?”
Ramuda’s gaze is blank for moment, then he lights up. “Oh, yeah! Gentaro, what’s your number?”
Gentaro pauses. “420-666-6969. Don’t go leaking it to anyone, alright?”
“Liar!” Ramuda smiles, tilting his head sideways to peek up at Gentaro. “That’s definitely not your number.”
Gentaro furrows his eyebrows. “Now, whatever do you mean by that, Ramuda? Is there something wrong with it? As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a normal number. You can even call it to confirm it, if you’re so skeptical.”
“Geez, Gentaro, I can’t do that!”
“And why exactly is that?”
“Because it’s my number.”
Gentaro sighs. “I don’t know why you need my number anyways. I mean, I hardly use my phone for anything as it is.”
“Oh? But to a nationally renowned author such as yourself, wouldn’t it be beneficial to have me, another super duper celebrity, as a contact?”
“Your attempts to stroke my ego are appreciated but ineffective. I’m not giving you my number.”
“Your ego’s not the only thing I could be stro— no, it’s not the time for that. Gentarooo! Please, I need it! Your number.”
“Ramuda.” Peering into his eyes, Ramuda can tell Gentaro’s getting genuinely annoyed. “Why on earth are you being so insistent about this?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to play 8ball with you.”
By now, Gentaro’s long given up on finishing this chapter of his novel. Granted, he knew he wouldn’t have finished it regardless, but Ramuda’s given him a wonderful excuse to stop working.
“Fine,” Gentaro sighs, setting down his pen, “I’ll play 8ball with you.”
“Yayyy! Gentaro, I knew you’d come around eventually!” Ramuda grins, handing Gentaro his phone. “Anyways, put your number in!”
“Yes, yes. I know.” Gentaro says, and hands the phone back to Ramuda after typing it in.
“Okay! I’ll send you a quick text right now!” Ramuda begins typing, and even without peeking over his shoulder Gentaro can tell he’s using an obscenely unhealthy amount of emojis. Ramuda smiles as he hits the send button. A second passes. That smile morphs into something far less amiable. Ramuda’s eyes, dull and hollow, bore into Gentaro’s.
“Gentaro.” Ramuda’s voice is deep, gruff. If Gentaro’s life were not in imminent danger right now, he may even be turned on. Or maybe he still is. Ramuda, on the other hand, does not look turned on whatsoever. “Gentaro. Why is the message bubble green.”
Gentaro smiles. “I have an Android.”
Ramuda has spent the last 45 minutes bawling on the floor.
“Gentaroooo….. Gentaro!!! How could you do this to me?!” By this point, Ramuda has flopped himself onto the couch, his hand resting on his forehead as if he’s plagued by some inner turmoil. Perhaps he truly is.
“I can’t forgive you,” he continues, “for not telling me you had an Android! How do you live like this?!”
“I just do. I told you, I seldom use my phone.”
“What about pictures, huh? I always see you taking pictures of stuff!”
Gentaro considers this. “I do suppose I take a fair amount of photos.”
“Well I bet they look like ass! Android cameras suck!”
“Ramuda,” Gentaro frowns, “the only ass pictures I have on my phone are yours. You know that.”
“So you can have pictures of my ass on your phone but you can’t play 8ball with me? Is that it? You can be my bottom but you can’t play 8ball with me? Is that it?! Just buy a goddamn iPhone!”
“Ramuda. I will not give into capitalism for the sake of playing 8ball.”
“Fine. Fine! Whatever. I bet Dice has an iPhone. Jealous, babe? I’m gonna go play 8ball with Dice. I bet he’s good at it. Better than you, at least.”
Gentaro folds his arms, a concerned expression on his face. “You’re aware 8ball actually exists, right? It’s not just an iPhone game, it’s a real game. In real life. It’s very important to me that you know 8ball is a real game that we can just go someplace and play.”
“What? No way! I suck at real 8ball.” Ramuda pouts. “You wouldn’t understand, Gentaro, because you have an Android. Dice gets it. He has an iPhone.”
“I wasn’t aware Dice even had a phone anymore. Last I’d heard he gambled it off for a 50% off McDonalds Coupon. And lost.”
“Well, you’re just saying that because you’re jealous I’m gonna play 8ball with someone who’s not you.” Ramuda puffs out his cheeks in irritation. Gentaro makes a grand effort not to smile at the sight of it.
“Hm. If that’s what you think, then I suppose you must be right.”
“It is what I think, so it is right! Smell ya later, Gentaro. I’ll be back… tomorrow.”
“Will it really take you all night for a single round of 8ball?”
“Oh? Ohhh? Do I smell jealousy? Do I?!”
“What you smell is concern. Are you so bad at 8ball it’ll take you all night?”
“Ah, jealousy. What a cold-hearted mistress.” Ramuda sighs, dramatics in full flair. “Okay, I’m off. Don’t miss me too much!”
“I’ll try my best.”
Ramuda huffs, making a show as he melodramatically grabs his coat and puts his shoes on. He stands in front of the door and looks back at Gentaro. Gentaro nods at him, a sly smile on his face.
Ramuda slams the door on his way out.
Moments after Ramuda leaves, Dice enters the room. “Yo, Gentaro, have you seen my phone? I think I left it at that McDonalds I went to the other day but I really dunno.”
“Ah, I found it while I was cleaning the kitchen, actually.” Gentaro smiles softly, placing the Android in his hand.
“Sweet! Thanks, man.” Dice grins as he unlocks it, then frowns. “Hey, what the heck? Some random number sent me, like, a billion emojis.” He squints. “Huh? Do they even make a worm emoji?”
“Oh my, really? How absurd. Let me see, I’ll look it up.” Gentaro says.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an iPhone.