Jealously, Kaiser? And here I thought you loathed my existence.
[ of course the jab is uncalled for, but he knows it's a cheap shot and treats it as such. it doesn't do anything to him when it's so categorically ridiculous. he feels the same way when kaiser laces their fingers and massages his palm, watching the motion the way someone observes a mildly intriguing museum exhibit. it's happening to him and isn't. there's the physical reaction of his skin being touched and not a spark comes out of it. he feels nothing.
still, if nothing else, his attention is on kaiser. his phone is screen down on his chest, though his fingers are on the back ready to bring it up at a moment. ]
I'm not of the same mind as you. Trophies are just shiny trinkets, worthless once gained. I play for greater things. You should too, if you really plan on competing against me in the future.
Greater things? [ a scoff— ] I think we both play for baser things.
[ to assert "i exist" to everybody else in the world — because if he doesn't win, there is no point in something called "michael kaiser" existing. he imagines this is close to how noa feels about it as well.
his will to survive is stronger than anybody else's in blue lock — others have their own reasons to seek victory, and kaiser wouldn't necessarily say that his desire for victory itself is intrinsically the strongest, but he's confident that nobody else is as desperate to simply have the right to continue existing as he is — and that noa shouldn't disagree with that. ]
Don't make this sound like a noble endeavor. [ he digs his fingers into the inside of noa's palm, squeezing hard; there will probably be marks from his fingernails left behind. ] Or like there's something that I have to be grateful to you for.
[ or in other words, be fake and unnecessary with kaiser, and he will happily return the favor. sure, he started this, but kaiser has never denied being a massive hypocrite. ]
[ noa would argue there is no greater purpose than to assert one's existence. kaiser and him have very different things to prove through their play, but it comes down to that same root, the same point of origin. only those who come from nothing, and were told and reminded every day they would never be anything, understand how quickly they could lose everything. even more so in athletics, football or otherwise, where you're loved one day and scorned the next. it's why noa never cared about how his team did more than himself. if the team won, it would be because of him. if they lost, the record would show he did everything right.
kaiser digs his nails in and noa keeps his end of the squeeze firm as if it didn't happen. he feels 'pain' as a sensation and absorbs it. acknowledge, and move on. ]
Noble? No. You and I don't play for anyone but ourselves. That's how it should be. [ the ones who get the furthest are the ones with the greatest egos. there's nothing honorable about being a football player. a meaningless emotional concept. ] And as for gratitude? From you? I'm not holding my breath.
But by the time I'm done with you, you'll understand that the path you're on was built by my hands. That I showed you the way forward. And you won't be grateful, but you will know.
[ something in that phrasing visibly pisses kaiser off, based off of the way that his expression contorts. if it wasn't obvious, he'll make it clear enough right after— ]
Don't get things wrong. You might have started this, but I'm the one who says when it ends, you piece of shit master. [ when noa's done with kaiser? wrong! when kaiser is done with noa. ] Building the path for others to overtake you on is just the natural course of things, don't get all prideful about something like this.
[ kaiser will not be letting that happen to himself, though. kaiser wants to go the toni kroos route of transferring from b*yern m*nich to re*l m*drid, earning himself the ire of germany in the process, and then retiring at his peak so nobody can say they beat him at his best. he is NOT going to be paving the way, thanks very much; if he's ray dark's special investment, then he's going to pay out when his value is maxed out and not feel like he owes the world of football a single thing.
at least, that's what kaiser thinks in the moment. what he'll actually do? who knows — certainly not kaiser himself. ]
[ he ignores that little jab, as that's absolutely not what he wants and never will, because he has to make one thing crystal clear: ]
You don't get to decide when we're done. We're not equals.
[ not yet. kaiser has that potential though, an ego to rival his, and noa wants it out. but he can't do it, not on his own. only kaiser can free himself and bring about his evolution. all noa can do is create the means by which it occurs.
he meant it when he said he was getting bored though. he's so bored of nothing having anyone real to threaten him. loki is the closest and what a dull joke that is, an upstart accelerating through his career because he was a born cheater. it doesn't inspire him. he feels nothing from it.
he's so sick of not feeling anything. he tightens the squeeze of their hands, calculated as is the cold and even tone of his derision. ]
You're my experiment. I'm running tests to see if you're worth keeping around. To see if you even have a chance of making it to where I am. You're still frightened though... of what? Tell me.
[ were this coming from anybody else, kaiser would laugh mockingly and tell them to knock it off with this corny shit; coming from noel noa, the words seem shockingly plausible. and how, exactly, is one supposed to react to being told that? is it a little too damaged and unhinged of kaiser to be oddly flattered by being considered noel noa's lab rat? at least his potential is being recognized, and in a way that kaiser can accept about himself. ]
I'm sure as hell not scared of you, if that's what you're getting at. [ kaiser squeezes back, unafraid of pain — but more than that, both confident that his freakish grip strength isn't going to lose and that if noa is telling the truth, then he isn't about to break kaiser's hand in a power play. ] What in the world do I even possibly have to fear?
[ he's not been seeing himself very clearly since entering blue lock, though, because the answer should be so obvious to himself. kaiser still thinks of himself as somebody who has nothing to lose, but has already begun to act otherwise. ]
Let's make one thing clear, though. I don't fear, trust, or idolize you... and I can barely scrape together the willpower to respect you. [ but a real hater recognizes another's accomplishments, so of course, kaiser begrudgingly has to show respect to the greatest in the world. ] If you want to run your shitty experiment, then isn't there clearly a better subject for your purposes?
[ kaiser's incorrect read of the situation is really tragic. he's assuming noa wants a successor, and from his perspective — well, yoichi is right there? ]
[ oh, that's so funny in a deeply unfunny sort of way. it's actually pitiful. it just confirms how completely delusional kaiser is right now. or maybe he's only seeing what he wants to see, like staring at an optical illusion instead of your reflection. noa knows immediately who he's alluding to though and he bats away a tiny mean urge to scoff. ]
I told you earlier that my old rival is running Blue Lock. His dream was to be the striker who could win Japan a World Cup. Now he's obsessed with creating that striker to fulfill his dream -- Yoichi Isagi is his avatar for that. Undeniably.
[ there are other strikers in this program, but he's spoken to isagi at length and knows that jin must have handpicked him. the 'heart' of blue lock, who evolves and brings out evolution in others. there's nothing remarkable about him on the surface, but he knows his old war buddy would never invest time into a player he didn't think was worthwhile. that much they have in common. ]
I don't want your idolatry nor your fear. As for trust - I suppose I haven't done much at all to earn it from you. You have mine, for whatever it may be worth.
[ which is nothing he's sure. he trusts kaiser can break through and fight with his ego instead of protecting it. he's always believed kaiser can become his rival, even if he's not there yet. he wants it for both of them. ]
[ kaiser truly is too addled to notice that this assumption doesn't make a lot of sense — that noa only let isagi play that first time because his hand was forced, or that noa rarely actually addresses isagi first, aside from assigning orders to the team as a whole. he's got some shit to go through before he can clear his vision up again, alright. ]
Then go fight with your old rival over custody like the pair of divorcees you apparently are and leave me out of it. He'd choose you if you asked, you know.
[ kaiser's heard all the oohing and ahhing that isagi does over noa — not because he wanted to hear, for the record, but isagi does it unprompted all the time? in the dining hall during meals, in the locker rooms after practice, just walking down the damn hallway. "it's so amazing, being under his guidance," he gushes. "did you see that formation he wants us to practice later? it's the same that the french national team used in the world cup match against—" it makes kaiser want to dry heave being forced to overhear it.
anyways, kaiser so deeply wishes they didn't have to have this conversation while he's sandwiched between noa and the wall and forced onto his side. but he asked for it... ]
... And keep your trust, I don't fucking want it. [ he's dropping his phone onto the bed because he's debating swatting at noa like the horrible angry cat that he is. but no, he can restrain himself, he can only imagine that would get him doubled retribution, if not more. ] If you want to give me something, then give me a damn break.
[ hah, yes, isagi would wouldn't he? but no. he doesn't want successors for one thing. for another, isagi is too... ordinary. he grew up in comfort and stability, loved by his parents with a strong support system, and the admiration that shines in his eyes is deeply childish. ah, but kaiser did light up a fire in him thanks to that ridiculous stunt he pulled during the introductory assessment. then isagi approached him with his desire to defeat kaiser, and noa saw he could add fuel to that fire. neither of them see how he's quietly contributed to their feud without having to do much at all.
in short - isagi is a strong player but too emotional. he isn't ready to throw everything away to win.
kaiser though? kaiser didn't have much at all growing up. all that he's gained so far is extremely precarious in nature. he could lose everything and have nothing to fall back on. noa was the same way. that isn't why he's interested in kaiser, but it would be a lie to say it isn't a factor. the foolish sentimentality of seeing yourself in the eyes of another.
but! the fact that kaiser is asking for a break? the nerve. ]
Oh, am I mistaken? Or wasn't this movie night meant to be your break? It was your idea. [ surely that was the idea right? this didn't happen because he was incorrectly messaged, right??? ] Maybe you should have left when you had the chance instead of rolling on my bed like a spoiled beast.
[ kaiser getting fed up and saying to give him a break was almost another tragic mistake, but noa has left a vulnerability open and kaiser is going to jump on it like a starved little street rat encountered with a bit of stale bread, as he is very familiar with— ]
I couldn't take a proper break. I was too preoccupied noticing that you were clearly not paying attention. [ this absolutely did not happen because noa was incorrectly messaged!! ] And getting chocolate dripped on me and whatnot.
[ how could he ever properly relax under such conditions... the sensitive soul that michael kaiser is... maybe noa should have watched the movie properly! then kaiser wouldn't have been forced to roll around in bed like a cat pissed off that he didn't get the treat he was expecting. ]
[ so, once more, it's his fault. of course it is! no one has ever in history thought of this. noa relaxes the tight squeeze on kaiser's hand, though doesn't break the hold all together, and sighs quietly. ]
Why do you think I couldn't focus? You took up space on my lap like an unruly animal. Frankly, I think bothering me was your real plan.
Some people would kill to experience what you did. [ like ness. and... well, ness. there are probably some kaiser girlies out there who would too, but that's different. ] Putting that aside, I did want to watch the movie... properly, that is.
[ stop doubting his sincerity! honestly, very arrogant of noa to assume everything is about him!! being a bother was just a nice side bonus. kaiser yanks his hand away and flops to the bed, boneless and getting his hair everywhere now. if it's weird to put the entire side of your face into somebody else's sheets: no it's not. ]
[ "like ness" - no, he won't say it. he's sure they're both thinking it. he lets the hold break when kaiser yanks, the desire to fight draining out of him. ]
Is my focus broken when you go out of your way to break my focus? I wonder. [ the results may be shocking! ] I made an honest effort to watch because I promised you the time. You pushed boundaries on purpose. You're still doing it now.
[ as he further nestles into his bed. washing the sheets is going to be a lost cause. ]
Do you think that everything I do is to annoy you? I'm genuinely l... [ "lazy"... but wait, should he say that so blithely? it's true that kaiser identifies with being a natural lazyass — he chose the grindset mindset because he had to, not because he relishes the idea of being on it.
he feels like noa will not be impressed by kaiser's self-aware self-assessment, though, so let him change what he was going to say: ] Tired. You literally set my training regimen, so you should know this.
[ kaiser is choosing to ignore the fact that it's objectively weird and boundary-pushing to lay down in the bed of your older team captain/coach/whatever. he doesn't care about that. so it doesn't matter! ]
I don't think you actually care that much about this boundary bullshit either. Don't conveniently use society's norms only when it benefits you.
I think you like getting a rise out of me when you see an opportunity.
[ granted, this is not unique to kaiser. a lot of people in his life try to bait reactions out of him. he's come to understand this ribbing, playful or otherwise, is a consequence of being a stoic. they want to poke the tin man and see if he's really human underneath the steel shell. ]
But fine. It isn't about boundaries. I want to know your intentions. Are you trying to act provocative or are you dense?
[ should he just be more blunt and ask "are you hitting on me"? he doesn't think that's what this is but what else is he supposed to think? for a man of logic like noa, kaiser is simply too irrational to comprehend at times. this level of familiarity is... he isn't accustomed to it. ]
[ does he want to get a rise out of noa, though? kaiser doesn't have a clear answer to that in mind, honestly. a part of kaiser prefers for noa to remain a robot in front of him, but another part is deeply fascinated by the metaphorical beast within. as for the human in noel noa? if that exists, kaiser is not interested! ]
What kind of binary is that? [ "hey, do you have whorish tendencies or are you just doopid?" is that the angle here? kaiser doesn't understand what is going on here anymore, which is all his own fault... ] Do I have to pick one and only one? Provocative, then.
[ that's what his reputation is like in the first place, being a bit of a provocateur in general — who else would introduce themselves to blue lock by immediately picking a fight but michael kaiser? still, kaiser likes to think he usually keeps his provocations from toeing over the line, because the risks that kaiser takes are (generally) calculated, and he is (usually) good at math. but he's so monumentally bad at reading noa that it can't be help that he's hard to read, he doesn't know what he's doing either. ]
[ he doesn't mind his perception being challenged if he's so far off the mark. this largely applies to anything outside of active gameplay, where noa is confident he has the best read of the unfolding events. though even blue lock has been challenging him on that front to a degree. it's certainly been more interesting than he anticipated.
so fine, kaiser is being provocative. even if it's within a binary, he can deal with that. ]
Next question then: are you intending to stay here tonight or no?
Is it up to me? Then, sure, but can you ask in a more inviting way?
[ kaiser knows that wasn't actually an invitation. noa's fault for phrasing it like that, in his opinion. realistically, kaiser was not aiming for that... but that's because he's a good german boy who would have to leave to brush his teeth before he goes to bed, and noa would surely not let him back in afterwards. oral hygiene takes precedence... but it's close, kaiser will admit. ]
[ the nerve of his favorite white boy. he needs to destroy him. this is great fuel for the rivalry he's building up, the one in his head and the one that he wants to be real if kaiser can have the mental breakdown that makes him a better player.
anyway- ]
No.
It's my space. You should ask me for permission, not the other way around.
[ very interesting, kaiser notes. so it's not the end result that is causing noa to deny him, but the means. ]
Is there any way that I can ask where I have a chance of getting what I want?
[ because if this has a 0% hit rate to begin with... well, kaiser will try anyways, because he enjoys an impossible task so much. but he'll take any free hints if he thinks he can get them! ]
You know the deal. Explain why I should let you stay, rationally, and don't bother with emotional appeals.
[ he's curious to see where kaiser can go with this. noa is far more inclined to say no and force him out, but he wants to see if kaiser can give him a reason to not. he's not opposed to being surprised. ]
I'll give you an answer, but after I do, will you explain why you have any rational reason to not let me stay?
[ he may or may not be buying time to cook something up in his wonderful, unique mind. but also, kaiser feels like it might actually be difficult for noa to come up with an answer that isn't also compromising — kaiser already made noa agree that conventional social norms shouldn't matter, and as for the matter of space... well, he feels like noa is comfy enough with how much space he's been given, or else he would've moved already? ]
If a stray dog was sitting on your doorstep, but you didn't need to open the door in the first place, then why shoo it away? [ this makes more sense from kaiser's perspective, as a stray dog liker. ]
[ it's a trade off then. can kaiser come up with an argument that noa can't refute? he's not unreasonable, but he's certainly skeptical. he's already allowed kaiser a lot of leeway tonight, more than he ever should have, so it's time to start pushing back. ]
Strays make demands on the basis of being stray. They're wild animals who depend on mercy, seeking a source of food. I wouldn't shoo them away -- I simply wouldn't give them anything. They leave on their own in time.
[ wrong, strays are wonderful independent creatures that kaiser likes so much... but he doesn't feel like going to bat for his taste in animals at the moment, especially because kaiser has finished cooking up his answer. he had thought about arguing that it would improve his morale, which could only help the current state of his game, but he's certain that this would not compel noa. no, kaiser's pretty sure that he needs to continue being audacious with this. ]
At this point, if you deny me, then I'm going to assume the reason you're saying no is that you're concerned allowing it will be... personally compromising for you. [ to put it one way. but of course, the kicker: ] And I will change my behavior accordingly.
[ ... to make noa's quality of daily life worse, of course. this might also be slightly spitefully in direct response to noa asking him if he's being provocative or dumb — has noa considered that maybe kaiser will take that as a cue, not a warning? ]
[ the morale argument would not sway him because a. emotional so denied, and b. noa wants the morale to get worse. but yes, kaiser has the right idea on this situation. he's never going to say a word about this to anyone, but will kaiser? he doesn't think so, but he senses the lack of confidence in his own appraisal. kaiser is volatile and capricious, sometimes easy to predict and less so otherwise. ]
What changes will you make? Provide details.
[ he's not going to make assumptions. he needs more information to make a determination. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ of course the jab is uncalled for, but he knows it's a cheap shot and treats it as such. it doesn't do anything to him when it's so categorically ridiculous. he feels the same way when kaiser laces their fingers and massages his palm, watching the motion the way someone observes a mildly intriguing museum exhibit. it's happening to him and isn't. there's the physical reaction of his skin being touched and not a spark comes out of it. he feels nothing.
still, if nothing else, his attention is on kaiser. his phone is screen down on his chest, though his fingers are on the back ready to bring it up at a moment. ]
I'm not of the same mind as you. Trophies are just shiny trinkets, worthless once gained. I play for greater things. You should too, if you really plan on competing against me in the future.
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[ to assert "i exist" to everybody else in the world — because if he doesn't win, there is no point in something called "michael kaiser" existing. he imagines this is close to how noa feels about it as well.
his will to survive is stronger than anybody else's in blue lock — others have their own reasons to seek victory, and kaiser wouldn't necessarily say that his desire for victory itself is intrinsically the strongest, but he's confident that nobody else is as desperate to simply have the right to continue existing as he is — and that noa shouldn't disagree with that. ]
Don't make this sound like a noble endeavor. [ he digs his fingers into the inside of noa's palm, squeezing hard; there will probably be marks from his fingernails left behind. ] Or like there's something that I have to be grateful to you for.
[ or in other words, be fake and unnecessary with kaiser, and he will happily return the favor. sure, he started this, but kaiser has never denied being a massive hypocrite. ]
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kaiser digs his nails in and noa keeps his end of the squeeze firm as if it didn't happen. he feels 'pain' as a sensation and absorbs it. acknowledge, and move on. ]
Noble? No. You and I don't play for anyone but ourselves. That's how it should be. [ the ones who get the furthest are the ones with the greatest egos. there's nothing honorable about being a football player. a meaningless emotional concept. ] And as for gratitude? From you? I'm not holding my breath.
But by the time I'm done with you, you'll understand that the path you're on was built by my hands. That I showed you the way forward. And you won't be grateful, but you will know.
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Don't get things wrong. You might have started this, but I'm the one who says when it ends, you piece of shit master. [ when noa's done with kaiser? wrong! when kaiser is done with noa. ] Building the path for others to overtake you on is just the natural course of things, don't get all prideful about something like this.
[ kaiser will not be letting that happen to himself, though. kaiser wants to go the toni kroos route of transferring from b*yern m*nich to re*l m*drid, earning himself the ire of germany in the process, and then retiring at his peak so nobody can say they beat him at his best. he is NOT going to be paving the way, thanks very much; if he's ray dark's special investment, then he's going to pay out when his value is maxed out and not feel like he owes the world of football a single thing.
at least, that's what kaiser thinks in the moment. what he'll actually do? who knows — certainly not kaiser himself. ]
Or what, do you want me to kiss your ass over it?
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You don't get to decide when we're done. We're not equals.
[ not yet. kaiser has that potential though, an ego to rival his, and noa wants it out. but he can't do it, not on his own. only kaiser can free himself and bring about his evolution. all noa can do is create the means by which it occurs.
he meant it when he said he was getting bored though. he's so bored of nothing having anyone real to threaten him. loki is the closest and what a dull joke that is, an upstart accelerating through his career because he was a born cheater. it doesn't inspire him. he feels nothing from it.
he's so sick of not feeling anything. he tightens the squeeze of their hands, calculated as is the cold and even tone of his derision. ]
You're my experiment. I'm running tests to see if you're worth keeping around. To see if you even have a chance of making it to where I am. You're still frightened though... of what? Tell me.
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I'm sure as hell not scared of you, if that's what you're getting at. [ kaiser squeezes back, unafraid of pain — but more than that, both confident that his freakish grip strength isn't going to lose and that if noa is telling the truth, then he isn't about to break kaiser's hand in a power play. ] What in the world do I even possibly have to fear?
[ he's not been seeing himself very clearly since entering blue lock, though, because the answer should be so obvious to himself. kaiser still thinks of himself as somebody who has nothing to lose, but has already begun to act otherwise. ]
Let's make one thing clear, though. I don't fear, trust, or idolize you... and I can barely scrape together the willpower to respect you. [ but a real hater recognizes another's accomplishments, so of course, kaiser begrudgingly has to show respect to the greatest in the world. ] If you want to run your shitty experiment, then isn't there clearly a better subject for your purposes?
[ kaiser's incorrect read of the situation is really tragic. he's assuming noa wants a successor, and from his perspective — well, yoichi is right there? ]
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I told you earlier that my old rival is running Blue Lock. His dream was to be the striker who could win Japan a World Cup. Now he's obsessed with creating that striker to fulfill his dream -- Yoichi Isagi is his avatar for that. Undeniably.
[ there are other strikers in this program, but he's spoken to isagi at length and knows that jin must have handpicked him. the 'heart' of blue lock, who evolves and brings out evolution in others. there's nothing remarkable about him on the surface, but he knows his old war buddy would never invest time into a player he didn't think was worthwhile. that much they have in common. ]
I don't want your idolatry nor your fear. As for trust - I suppose I haven't done much at all to earn it from you. You have mine, for whatever it may be worth.
[ which is nothing he's sure. he trusts kaiser can break through and fight with his ego instead of protecting it. he's always believed kaiser can become his rival, even if he's not there yet. he wants it for both of them. ]
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Then go fight with your old rival over custody like the pair of divorcees you apparently are and leave me out of it. He'd choose you if you asked, you know.
[ kaiser's heard all the oohing and ahhing that isagi does over noa — not because he wanted to hear, for the record, but isagi does it unprompted all the time? in the dining hall during meals, in the locker rooms after practice, just walking down the damn hallway. "it's so amazing, being under his guidance," he gushes. "did you see that formation he wants us to practice later? it's the same that the french national team used in the world cup match against—" it makes kaiser want to dry heave being forced to overhear it.
anyways, kaiser so deeply wishes they didn't have to have this conversation while he's sandwiched between noa and the wall and forced onto his side. but he asked for it... ]
... And keep your trust, I don't fucking want it. [ he's dropping his phone onto the bed because he's debating swatting at noa like the horrible angry cat that he is. but no, he can restrain himself, he can only imagine that would get him doubled retribution, if not more. ] If you want to give me something, then give me a damn break.
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in short - isagi is a strong player but too emotional. he isn't ready to throw everything away to win.
kaiser though? kaiser didn't have much at all growing up. all that he's gained so far is extremely precarious in nature. he could lose everything and have nothing to fall back on. noa was the same way. that isn't why he's interested in kaiser, but it would be a lie to say it isn't a factor. the foolish sentimentality of seeing yourself in the eyes of another.
but! the fact that kaiser is asking for a break? the nerve. ]
Oh, am I mistaken? Or wasn't this movie night meant to be your break? It was your idea. [ surely that was the idea right? this didn't happen because he was incorrectly messaged, right??? ] Maybe you should have left when you had the chance instead of rolling on my bed like a spoiled beast.
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I couldn't take a proper break. I was too preoccupied noticing that you were clearly not paying attention. [ this absolutely did not happen because noa was incorrectly messaged!! ] And getting chocolate dripped on me and whatnot.
[ how could he ever properly relax under such conditions... the sensitive soul that michael kaiser is... maybe noa should have watched the movie properly! then kaiser wouldn't have been forced to roll around in bed like a cat pissed off that he didn't get the treat he was expecting. ]
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Why do you think I couldn't focus? You took up space on my lap like an unruly animal. Frankly, I think bothering me was your real plan.
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[ stop doubting his sincerity! honestly, very arrogant of noa to assume everything is about him!! being a bother was just a nice side bonus. kaiser yanks his hand away and flops to the bed, boneless and getting his hair everywhere now. if it's weird to put the entire side of your face into somebody else's sheets: no it's not. ]
Is your focus so easily broken?
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Is my focus broken when you go out of your way to break my focus? I wonder. [ the results may be shocking! ] I made an honest effort to watch because I promised you the time. You pushed boundaries on purpose. You're still doing it now.
[ as he further nestles into his bed. washing the sheets is going to be a lost cause. ]
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he feels like noa will not be impressed by kaiser's self-aware self-assessment, though, so let him change what he was going to say: ] Tired. You literally set my training regimen, so you should know this.
[ kaiser is choosing to ignore the fact that it's objectively weird and boundary-pushing to lay down in the bed of your older team captain/coach/whatever. he doesn't care about that. so it doesn't matter! ]
I don't think you actually care that much about this boundary bullshit either. Don't conveniently use society's norms only when it benefits you.
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[ granted, this is not unique to kaiser. a lot of people in his life try to bait reactions out of him. he's come to understand this ribbing, playful or otherwise, is a consequence of being a stoic. they want to poke the tin man and see if he's really human underneath the steel shell. ]
But fine. It isn't about boundaries. I want to know your intentions. Are you trying to act provocative or are you dense?
[ should he just be more blunt and ask "are you hitting on me"? he doesn't think that's what this is but what else is he supposed to think? for a man of logic like noa, kaiser is simply too irrational to comprehend at times. this level of familiarity is... he isn't accustomed to it. ]
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What kind of binary is that? [ "hey, do you have whorish tendencies or are you just doopid?" is that the angle here? kaiser doesn't understand what is going on here anymore, which is all his own fault... ] Do I have to pick one and only one? Provocative, then.
[ that's what his reputation is like in the first place, being a bit of a provocateur in general — who else would introduce themselves to blue lock by immediately picking a fight but michael kaiser? still, kaiser likes to think he usually keeps his provocations from toeing over the line, because the risks that kaiser takes are (generally) calculated, and he is (usually) good at math. but he's so monumentally bad at reading noa that it can't be help that he's hard to read, he doesn't know what he's doing either. ]
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[ he doesn't mind his perception being challenged if he's so far off the mark. this largely applies to anything outside of active gameplay, where noa is confident he has the best read of the unfolding events. though even blue lock has been challenging him on that front to a degree. it's certainly been more interesting than he anticipated.
so fine, kaiser is being provocative. even if it's within a binary, he can deal with that. ]
Next question then: are you intending to stay here tonight or no?
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[ kaiser knows that wasn't actually an invitation. noa's fault for phrasing it like that, in his opinion. realistically, kaiser was not aiming for that... but that's because he's a good german boy who would have to leave to brush his teeth before he goes to bed, and noa would surely not let him back in afterwards. oral hygiene takes precedence... but it's close, kaiser will admit. ]
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anyway- ]
No.
It's my space. You should ask me for permission, not the other way around.
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Is there any way that I can ask where I have a chance of getting what I want?
[ because if this has a 0% hit rate to begin with... well, kaiser will try anyways, because he enjoys an impossible task so much. but he'll take any free hints if he thinks he can get them! ]
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[ he's curious to see where kaiser can go with this. noa is far more inclined to say no and force him out, but he wants to see if kaiser can give him a reason to not. he's not opposed to being surprised. ]
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I'll give you an answer, but after I do, will you explain why you have any rational reason to not let me stay?
[ he may or may not be buying time to cook something up in his wonderful, unique mind. but also, kaiser feels like it might actually be difficult for noa to come up with an answer that isn't also compromising — kaiser already made noa agree that conventional social norms shouldn't matter, and as for the matter of space... well, he feels like noa is comfy enough with how much space he's been given, or else he would've moved already? ]
If a stray dog was sitting on your doorstep, but you didn't need to open the door in the first place, then why shoo it away? [ this makes more sense from kaiser's perspective, as a stray dog liker. ]
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[ it's a trade off then. can kaiser come up with an argument that noa can't refute? he's not unreasonable, but he's certainly skeptical. he's already allowed kaiser a lot of leeway tonight, more than he ever should have, so it's time to start pushing back. ]
Strays make demands on the basis of being stray. They're wild animals who depend on mercy, seeking a source of food. I wouldn't shoo them away -- I simply wouldn't give them anything. They leave on their own in time.
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At this point, if you deny me, then I'm going to assume the reason you're saying no is that you're concerned allowing it will be... personally compromising for you. [ to put it one way. but of course, the kicker: ] And I will change my behavior accordingly.
[ ... to make noa's quality of daily life worse, of course. this might also be slightly spitefully in direct response to noa asking him if he's being provocative or dumb — has noa considered that maybe kaiser will take that as a cue, not a warning? ]
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What changes will you make? Provide details.
[ he's not going to make assumptions. he needs more information to make a determination. ]
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