"Hey, detective."

The words came drawled from the window, Kokichi sat on the windowsill, back against the side and one leg dangling outside. He was the epitome of suaveness—or at least so he hoped. He hadn't awkwardly gotten into this position to not look flirtatious.

"So," —he threw his leg over the ledge and hopped to his feet— "this is where you work?" He was strolling through, hands locked between his back. "It could use some color. But anyway!" He freed his hands, bounding over to Shuichi and seating himself directly on his desk. He placed his hand over Shuichi's paperwork and leaned in close—he wanted his full attention. "It's this late and you're doing boring paperwork? Jeez, you must really miss me. I know I've haven't been around for awhile, but. . ." He trailed off, twirling a strand of his hair around his finger oh-so-innocently.

"Anyway, you know what we've never done and have allllll the time in the world for now?" He paused for dramatic effect, then announced, "Hanging out, obviously! It doesn't even have to be a date." But, of course, his lips curled into a smile, one part teasing and two parts honest. "Unless you want it to be a date. Then I'm totally asking you out on a date. Like, right now. No time to waste, come on!"

And, just like that, he was on his feet and tugging at Shuichi's sleeve.

( listen he just suddenly needed something phantom thief and detective-related adgsdfgfdhyhf )

Working late into the night on paperwork while still at the office: not an unusual sight to find the detective. Shuichi was the only one there now, nothing but the quiet ambience of the night and the scribbling of his pen filling the room. And as he silently works on his paperwork...

"......." He found himself thinking about a certain phantom thief. There were times where they would not see each other for a while, something Shuichi had grown accustomed to; yet each time, he found himself missing Kokichi more and more each time. Wondering what he's up to, jokingly wondering to himself if he did something stupid and got himself arrested.... but he knew he was too smart to ever let that happen to himself.

Between being focused on his paperwork, and in thoughts, when Kokichi greeted him-"?!" His head instantly snapped at the direction of the window, eyes widened and mouth slightly agape. "K.... Kokichi...!!" The moment he started thinking about him, there he was, he thought to himself. Mixed in with the surprise of seeing him there, was a bubble up of happiness racing in his heart, seeing the man he had been missing more than he thought. But as the surprise started to die down, that’s when he noticed the way he was flirtatiously sitting on the window. “Hey there...What’s this, now: trying to woo me, mister thief? Hah.” He couldn’t help but tease, playful smirk on his face. But the way his cheeks turned a light red, indicated that it definitely worked. He was always so weak to Kokichi when he flirted with him like that.

He watches Kokichi fully climb in and stroll around, giving a curious head tilt at his question. “Hm? Oh-” That made him realize that this was the first time Kokichi was really seeing the specific section where Shuichi works at. He just swats his hand in the air at his little critique. “I’m not exactly an interior designer, you could say.” Kokichi climbing onto is desk, then placing his hand over his paperwork makes a soft ‘Ah-’ leave him, staring down at it before staring up at him... heart doing a quick thump when seeing his face much closer up, now.. He got Shuichi’s full attention for sure. “W...Well, I wasn’t feeling particularly tired tonight, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to get some paperwork done.” He mutters. And at the implication he missed him, his eyes shyly dart down. “W-What the heck... were you reading my mind or something? I mean...” It really must have shown on his face.... which made him feel a little embarrassed, but it was something he couldn’t deny. He truly did miss him... “...P....Perhaps... I mean, how couldn’t I miss the times you drive me crazy, and have me chase you down until my legs practically give out?” He laughs, finally looking back up at him with a shy, but warm smile. “...That was not sarcasm, by the way. It really is... good to see you again, Kokichi. I did miss you. Idiot...”

The word rolls of his tongue affectionately, and as he sees him twirl his hair, goes to also oh-so-innocently jab the bottom part of his pen into his cheek, an airy chuckle leaving him. The warmth in his gaze, in his smile: it was a special kind, that he found himself only ever giving Kokichi. Only when the other speaks back up again, does he snap out of it. “Oh...?” With bated breath, he awaits his response. Then when he says it, he blinks in surprise before repeating after him: “Hanging out? Well...” He gazes down at his paperwork once more, before back up at Kokichi, and gives a slow nod. “I-I... suppose we do, yes.” Since there was no way he was going to continue paperwork right now; not that he would want to, anyway. Plus, it was not something that needed to be fully completed tonight. For once, the workaholic detective would just leave the rest for tomorrow. At the consideration that it could be a date if Shuichi wanted to see it that way, his cheeks grow a worse shade of red. “D...Date, huh...” He could feel his heart starting to race again. Shuichi.. happily did not mind to look at it that way. In fact, maybe he wanted it to be Kokichi asking him out on a date. He liked it that way a lot more.... “Erm....w-well... I s...suppose you’re asking me out on a date, then, huh.... H-Hahaha.... ah-!” He emits a surprised noise at the sudden tugging at his sleeve, which prompts him to quickly start getting up, too.

“O-Okay! But wait, where did you want to go, exactly? Is anything even still open at this time...!”

@dream-of-a-liar

A luxurious party held by one of the wealthiest folks in London, the Goldeers, was the occasion for tonight. The father of the family held a party for his daughter in his mansion, to celebrate her becoming engaged to her future husband.

However; few days prior, he received an anonymous letter that stated the ring would be stolen. While his daughter thought of it as a prank, Goldeer did not want to risk taking any chances. So, he invited Shuichi, being the skilled detective that he is, to attend the party as well just in case.

Unfortunately, the ring still ends up getting stolen, but no one knows who did it. Just to be safe, there guards at all the exits of the house, so Shuichi concludes the thief is still somewhere in the mansion, pretending to be one of the party guests. He told himself: tonight, he will find out who the thief is, as promised to the father and his daughter.

While he did chat with the occasional guest or two, Shuichi wasn’t exactly the lively type, so he found himself staying near the buffet area, as much wasn’t really going on there. That, and from there, he got a pretty good look of the giant room, so it gave him a nice way to keep an eye on everyone.

“.........” Or at least, he would have just been quietly keeping an eye on everyone, had he not been distracted by the other guy in the area who seemed to be helping himself to a lot of the desserts. It was almost a wonder to Shuichi how the guy didn’t stain his suit, yet. So before this young man ends up eating way too many sweets, the detective walks over to him and gives a pat to his shoulder to grab his attention.

“Hey, now: you’re eating a concerning amount of sweets. The guests still might to eat some, too, you know.”

@dream-of-a-liar

While it wasn’t too rare for the detective to have to dress fancy for a certain occasion, mostly because he would sometimes be invited to some by the wealthier folks in London, it was definitely more rare for him to actually have to wear a masquerade mask. His mask was specifically a black-and-white one, while he wore a black pinstripe suit.

The specific occasion the detective was getting dressed fancy for was for the ceremony held at the masquerade ball by the famous composer and musician, Everest Hyde. He was finally going to celebrate earning his title for his deeds during the Second Opium War. While that did sound like it was going to make for a wonderful night, there was a primary reason Hyde had invited Shuichi: on two days before the event, Hyde got an anonymous letter-two, getting one on one day and a second one on the other-stating that his treasure was going to be stolen.

Having to worry about possibly two thieves coming for the same thing: he could understand why the composer was stressed. This time, Shuichi told himself: he was going to make sure the treasure is safe. Once Shuichi arrives at the place, the hall looked like it was already relatively filled, with some people still arriving. Instantly, he makes his way over to Hyde.

“Ah, hello, Mr. Hyde.” He greets, giving a smile. “Thank you for inviting me here. I’ll do my best to make sure this night will go smoothly for you.”