[ he noticed - the gojo-kesa wasn't subtle, and he's seen those photos of the scrolls hanging around getou's cult compound love to the strong. it's something, but it doesn't feel like enough. ]
I miss you. [ it isn't the whole of what he wants to say - i love you, i'm sorry, but it's a start. ]
( Easier than saying that he does too, that he feels like half of him has been missing all these years. It was something he forced himself to ignore, but here, the absense is glaring. )
Are you finished eating? Do you have a bed here? I can stay and clean up and guard the place, you can get some rest.
[ he could let getou stay and tidy up after dinner, sit watch on the couch while he sleeps in what's technically his bedroom. ]
[instead, he watches getou for a long moment before setting his bowl down and flopping right down into his lap. his arms wind around getou's waist and even if it's too familiar, gojou buries his face into getou's stomach and exhales. he thinks half the tension in his head melts just from that. ]
( It's so typically Gojo to do that Geto doesn't even consider pushing him off. Instead he merely reaches to the couch behind him to get a cushion, wedge it in the space between furniture and himself. )
And you said I'm the demanding one. I can't clean up like this.
( He can cover things though, maybe that will help. He busies himself with it for a second, and then as if unbidden his hand drops away from the table to bury fingers in his old friend's hair. )
[ mumbled against the loose fabric of getou's shirt, he sighs softly against. each pet of his hair has him humming happily, tension leaking out of his neck and shoulders when getou's fingers brush the short, sheared undercut. ]
That twists something in his chest, a sharp desperate little feeling. Instead of speaking more, he falls silent, fingers sliding to briefly cover Satoru's eyes with the palm of his hand. Let it be easier, let him rest. That's what he's here for, isn't it? To give his old friend the chance for a break. )
[ and - he wants to stay awake, he does. he'd forgo sleep for days to sit and catch up more with suguru. make him laugh, be teased mercilessly like no time has passed at all. pretend, just for a night, this is their life and things are okay. the way they should be.
but he's always felt safest sleeping near getou, even if he's a man most people would be too terrified to let their guard down with, now. it's not long before he's curled up against him, breaths evening out, no trace of infinity anywhere between them.
( Gojo sleeps, Geto lets him sleep, and then when he wakes up again the parting is a little less strange, a little more sweet. Promises are made, plans hatched. He shows up at their appointed meeting time as he says he would, dressed casually again in loose trousers and a t-shirt with some anime character on, hair up in its half bun. He's carrying two drinks, one slightly more neon than the other, and when he sees Gojo on the street he raises it in greeting cheerfully. )
Do you still like to rot your teeth, Satoru? ( A cheerful, boyish greeting. ) I thought you might, so I picked for you. Mimiko likes this one anyway, I think it's grape?
( Ice cold and sweet, his own slightly more bitter. He passes it over anyway, his gaze on Gojo's face and his covered eyes. )
[ he doesn't have a headache for a week straight. they bid goodbye, and he wonders if it means anything to getou to be the place the strongest sorcerer of the modern age feels safe enough to rest his head, in spite of it all. ]
[ maybe it does, because getou shows up to their date, drinks in hand. he had to have gone into a shop with humans to order it and been fawned over by the girls in the process. ]
Suguru. [ a warm smile, before he pulls the covering off his eyes, hair falling around them like a blanket of snow. ] I could run my technique without it, these days, but I never shook the sweet tooth. [ he takes a long sip of it through the straw, eyes crinkling at the corners. ]
So at least one of your kids didn't inherit your old man tastes. Good!
[ gojou falls into step with him, dressed in dark jeans and a white tee, pristine white sneakers to match. ] Better, now. [ after a full night's sleep or upon meeting getou again, he doesn't specify. ] You look good with your hair like that, did I ever tell you?
( He snorts, and it's amused even as his gaze never leaves the unnatural hue of Gojo's eyes, his own far too earnest for the time and the place. ) The three of you all say the same things, do you know that?
( Not that he's ever minded the gentle teasing. From Gojo it's habit, from the girls it's a sign of their comfort with him. In a world where so many people are ( rightfully ) afraid of him, it says something maybe that there is a small circle willing to tease. Or compliment, apparently. It flusters him for a brief second, eyes lifting away, vague colour returning to his cheeks, one hand lifting to push some of said hair behind his shoulder. )
It feels better mostly down. The hair ties had started to give me a headache. ( And then, because he knows he doesn't really have to justify it. ) I'm glad you like it. I'd wondered if you might.
What, that there's an old man trapped in that body? [ he grins and bumps shoulders with getou, laughing as they walk on together toward the arcade. ]
Mmm. [ gojou hums, chews on the straw a little as his eyes scan the streets and skys ahead of them. ] I always thought you looked good with it down. The bun was too straight-laced for how you really are, anyway.
[ something gojou doens't seem to have a problem with, not because he agrees with all of getou's choices and actions... but because he understands them, at least in retrospect. at the time it seemed impossible to accept the reality of what his best friend had done. now the only thing he can't accept is why getou never turned to him at any point. gojou's own failing, or both of theirs, it doesn't matter now. all there is is to accept what's right in front of him. ]
No need to be embarrassed. [ he grins, sly. ] A cool guy complimenting you is enough to fluster you these days? Should I touch it and whisper that it suits you like they do in manga?
( His face twists into an old expression, play-pretend disdain, his eyebrows arching towards said hairline. ) When you find me a cool guy, Satoru, then maybe I'll answer you.
( His teeth catch the edge of his straw, holding it in place as he grins. It makes him look mischievous, even a little older. Like there's the promise of something. It feels too natural to fall into old habits, the teasing. He even leans closer to bump their elbows together - or possibly the space around his elbow, considering they're on a busy street. If infinity's up ( and it better be ) he won't be offended. He'll just sip on his drink. )
All right, remember you're going to win me prizes. Let's go.
Tch! You won’t meet anyone cooler than me and you know it. [ he sticks out his tongue, then takes another long sip from the straw, exhaling and smacking his lips noisily. ]
[ if infinity flickers just a moment, just long enough for getou to touch him, well, it’s fine isn’t it? he’s scanned the area for curses and other curse users and found nothing. Getou wouldn’t let anything happen to him. ]
Ehh?! You’re going senile! You said you’d win me prizes like before! [ he makes a fuss, and it feels like the first time he’s gotten to do it in a while where he knows he’ll be ultimately indulged, if teased a little first. and he continues to whine and protest until they toss their drinks and enter the arcade, where if all falls away when he sees a giant cinnamaroll plush. ]
[ he hasn’t had anything like it since school, and he really has no place for something so childish, but. he clears his throat and looks around, shoving his hands in his pockets. ] So! What should we try first?
( He does not miss the way Gojo's focus narrows down so tightly on the gigantic plushie, because despite how many things he has to focus on now, devoting part of his attention to his old friend is easy, natural, like falling into an already formed groove. Still, he hums, hovering near the open entrance and letting his gaze scan the waiting room, the crowds of people, the lights and the machines and the noise. Tension has crept into his shoulders, but that's nothing he cannot handle himself. )
Is that what I said?
( Voice affecting playful distraction, but then he's moving, a straight line to the token machine. He pulls his wallet from his pocket, a battered thing with a polaroid of two tiny little girls in the id slot, feeding his notes into the machine and using a tub to collect the output. Then he flashes Gojo a bright, wicked smile and strides straight on back to the cinnamoroll machine. )
Hold this.
( His token tub, he means, fishing two out as Gojo takes it. )
[ it is what he said - and despite his teasing he seems committed to the job already, getting out a number of bills out of a dingy wallet. does he need a new one? gojou could maybe find one to win here. ]
Eh? Suguru? [ when he turns Getou has already honed in on the machine Gojou looked at before - damn. he forgot no blindfold. He’s too easy to read like this, and he hates that these days. when he reaches getou’s side the bucket is shoved into his hands. gripped, but forgotten, in the wake of that dazzling smile. oh. ]
That’s a bit ambitious for someone so rusty, isn’t it? [ he could protest it, but Getou seems so pleased with himself already. a playful tease will do. ]
What's the point in doing something if I'm not going to go all out?
( Because unfortunately they have egos to match, it can't be helped. As much as he's changed in life there's still a part of him that's a competitive shithead, and he eyes up the machine speculatively. )
And I'm nothing if not a Sanrio wrangler now. ( #Fatherhood. The machine whirs to life with a coin in the slot, bright lights and noise. Geto's face creases into concentration, his attention rapt. The first attempt fails, naturally, and then so does the second. He holds a hand out for another token. )
Mmm I guess you’re right. [ a small, amused smile curls at the edges of his mouth. he hands Getou another token, settles in to watch him attempt to get the blue and white monstrosity. ]
[ he should give it to getou’s kids if he manages to succeed, probably, despite his quickly forming attachment to the creature Getou hasn’t even won yet. gojou watches the crinkle of Getou’s brows, the grit of his jaw in concentration. ]
[ did he ever tell Getou how good looking he was when they were young? not directly, he’s sure. maybe indirectly. calling him the type of guy you’d find in a beauty salon, but in another life Getou could have been a model or an actor. a tv personality maybe. ]
Gah! You almost had it that time! [ he curses in time with Getou, blinking and laughing as he passes over another coin. ] I think I owe you dinner for all your hard work.
You can take me to the hole in the wall we used to get dumplings at. It's still there, I saw it last week.
( He didn't go, because he has fussy little quirks about eating food prepared by humans these days. He'll only do it if it's for someone else. Mostly his daughters, and now by extension Gojo. He's gotten a little better at not eating his stomach churn when he does too. It should be fine.
The third token fails, so does the fourth, Geto blows out a breath, considers cheating. He eyes up the machine thoughtfully. )
You'd think with bigger toys the claw would be stronger, but I suppose that's the point. It's rigged. ( He's going to win regardless. ) The one at the back, do we think?
Is it? I probably haven't been there since the last time we went. [ he hums, a little bittersweet. he's taken his students to many of the places they frequented as kids, to share that joy, but some spots he hasn't ventured back to. it's nice, that there are some things that are still just theirs. ]
They keep the claw strength the same, since they want you to win using the angles to get it through dividers on the bottom... maybe if you try lifting its leg?
[ the attendants will come adjust it to make it easier once you've tried enough times and give you hints, but he's sure getou won't want help from them. ] Mm. The back towards the top? Probably. If you could shift it it'd probably topple down and go through from its own weight.
[ he hands getou another coin, leans up against his back to peek over a shoulder and watch. ]
Geto squares his shoulders, face creasing into a look of outright determination. Then he goes for the one Gojo had just pointed out. The claw clasps the leg easily, pulling it up by the grip and taking it an inch or two closer to the exit. It falls just short, a grumpy, childish noise dragged from the curse user's mouth. )
I've got it.
( Cinnamoroll, you piece of shit. He has a man to impress.
But he takes another coin, slots it in, leans against the console and goes for the same toy. This time the claw seizes around the body, lifting more solidly. The tension in Geto's arms vibrates a little. And then - it tumbles out, a wild grin spreading on his face as he ducks to retrieve it, boyishly holding it out to Gojo with an air of rampant victory. )
[ he could watch this all day and not get tired of it - getou squaring his shoulders and narrowing his eyes like they're about to take on a curse... all to win him an arcade toy. there's something impossibly charming about it, and he laughs brightly when the next failure draws that frustrated noise out of him. ]
Are you sure? If you need to cheat I won't judge you~ [ he would, and getou knows it because he quickly says he's got it and surges into another attempt. gojou leans in close to the glass, eyes wide. ] Come on, come on...!
[ and then the toy tumbles down into the bin and he gasps, shooting up straight and clapping his hands together. ] You did it! [ he blinks when getou hands it to him, eyes shimmering. he holds it like it might break or turn to smoke if he grips it too tightly before looking up at getou with a blinding smile. ] Thanks, Suguru!
[ he almost reaches for his cellphone but thinks better of it - getou probably doesn't want digital proof of their date. so then... gojou looks around, grins mischievously and drags getou over to a photobooth, shoving him and cinnamaroll in before punching coins into the booth and hopping inside, pressed up against him. he takes cinamaroll back and hugs it tightly before the flash goes off, making a peace sign for the camera. ] Smile!
He finds his own lips curving up into a mirror, faltering in surprise when he's tugged along, shoved into a photobooth like he's not actively the jujutsu world's current biggest threat. It's a little quieter inside, the curtain blocking out a lot of noise and light, and squished up against Gojo it's easy to believe it's just the two of them. He'll allow the indulgence, fingers held up in his own little sign, eyes crinkling at the corner from the width of his smile.
A picture is taken, the warning for the next counting down. ) Wait, Mimiko and Nanako do this - ( Holding his hand up in the shape of half a heart, hoping Gojo will do the same. ) Like that.
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I miss you. [ it isn't the whole of what he wants to say - i love you, i'm sorry, but it's a start. ]
I'm glad you came.
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( Easier than saying that he does too, that he feels like half of him has been missing all these years. It was something he forced himself to ignore, but here, the absense is glaring. )
Are you finished eating? Do you have a bed here? I can stay and clean up and guard the place, you can get some rest.
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[instead, he watches getou for a long moment before setting his bowl down and flopping right down into his lap. his arms wind around getou's waist and even if it's too familiar, gojou buries his face into getou's stomach and exhales. he thinks half the tension in his head melts just from that. ]
Mm'fine here.
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And you said I'm the demanding one. I can't clean up like this.
( He can cover things though, maybe that will help. He busies himself with it for a second, and then as if unbidden his hand drops away from the table to bury fingers in his old friend's hair. )
You're going to get a bad back, Satoru.
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[ something a younger him would have said, too, uncaring for anything except what they're doing in the present moment. ]
[ he's more than happy to sacrifice leftovers, especially the second getou's hand comes to bury in his hair, pushing into the touch greedily. ]
I have reverse cursed technique running 24/7 so my brain doesn't cook, remember?
... but we can move to the couch or the bed if you need it.
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You're already comfy, it's fine.
( He's busy petting him either way. )
At least for a little while, and then the bed. You want to actually get some good from resting.
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[ mumbled against the loose fabric of getou's shirt, he sighs softly against. each pet of his hair has him humming happily, tension leaking out of his neck and shoulders when getou's fingers brush the short, sheared undercut. ]
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That twists something in his chest, a sharp desperate little feeling. Instead of speaking more, he falls silent, fingers sliding to briefly cover Satoru's eyes with the palm of his hand. Let it be easier, let him rest. That's what he's here for, isn't it? To give his old friend the chance for a break. )
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but he's always felt safest sleeping near getou, even if he's a man most people would be too terrified to let their guard down with, now. it's not long before he's curled up against him, breaths evening out, no trace of infinity anywhere between them.
time skipping ~
Do you still like to rot your teeth, Satoru? ( A cheerful, boyish greeting. ) I thought you might, so I picked for you. Mimiko likes this one anyway, I think it's grape?
( Ice cold and sweet, his own slightly more bitter. He passes it over anyway, his gaze on Gojo's face and his covered eyes. )
How are you?
thank you for the skip!!
[ maybe it does, because getou shows up to their date, drinks in hand. he had to have gone into a shop with humans to order it and been fawned over by the girls in the process. ]
Suguru. [ a warm smile, before he pulls the covering off his eyes, hair falling around them like a blanket of snow. ] I could run my technique without it, these days, but I never shook the sweet tooth. [ he takes a long sip of it through the straw, eyes crinkling at the corners. ]
So at least one of your kids didn't inherit your old man tastes. Good!
[ gojou falls into step with him, dressed in dark jeans and a white tee, pristine white sneakers to match. ] Better, now. [ after a full night's sleep or upon meeting getou again, he doesn't specify. ] You look good with your hair like that, did I ever tell you?
yw 🥰🥰🥰
( Not that he's ever minded the gentle teasing. From Gojo it's habit, from the girls it's a sign of their comfort with him. In a world where so many people are ( rightfully ) afraid of him, it says something maybe that there is a small circle willing to tease. Or compliment, apparently. It flusters him for a brief second, eyes lifting away, vague colour returning to his cheeks, one hand lifting to push some of said hair behind his shoulder. )
It feels better mostly down. The hair ties had started to give me a headache. ( And then, because he knows he doesn't really have to justify it. ) I'm glad you like it. I'd wondered if you might.
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Mmm. [ gojou hums, chews on the straw a little as his eyes scan the streets and skys ahead of them. ] I always thought you looked good with it down. The bun was too straight-laced for how you really are, anyway.
[ something gojou doens't seem to have a problem with, not because he agrees with all of getou's choices and actions... but because he understands them, at least in retrospect. at the time it seemed impossible to accept the reality of what his best friend had done. now the only thing he can't accept is why getou never turned to him at any point. gojou's own failing, or both of theirs, it doesn't matter now. all there is is to accept what's right in front of him. ]
No need to be embarrassed. [ he grins, sly. ] A cool guy complimenting you is enough to fluster you these days? Should I touch it and whisper that it suits you like they do in manga?
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( His face twists into an old expression, play-pretend disdain, his eyebrows arching towards said hairline. ) When you find me a cool guy, Satoru, then maybe I'll answer you.
( His teeth catch the edge of his straw, holding it in place as he grins. It makes him look mischievous, even a little older. Like there's the promise of something. It feels too natural to fall into old habits, the teasing. He even leans closer to bump their elbows together - or possibly the space around his elbow, considering they're on a busy street. If infinity's up ( and it better be ) he won't be offended. He'll just sip on his drink. )
All right, remember you're going to win me prizes. Let's go.
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[ he sticks out his tongue, then takes another long sip from the straw, exhaling and smacking his lips noisily. ]
[ if infinity flickers just a moment, just long enough for getou to touch him, well, it’s fine isn’t it? he’s scanned the area for curses and other curse users and found nothing. Getou wouldn’t let anything happen to him. ]
Ehh?! You’re going senile! You said you’d win me prizes like before! [ he makes a fuss, and it feels like the first time he’s gotten to do it in a while where he knows he’ll be ultimately indulged, if teased a little first. and he continues to whine and protest until they toss their drinks and enter the arcade, where if all falls away when he sees a giant cinnamaroll plush. ]
[ he hasn’t had anything like it since school, and he really has no place for something so childish, but. he clears his throat and looks around, shoving his hands in his pockets. ] So! What should we try first?
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Is that what I said?
( Voice affecting playful distraction, but then he's moving, a straight line to the token machine. He pulls his wallet from his pocket, a battered thing with a polaroid of two tiny little girls in the id slot, feeding his notes into the machine and using a tub to collect the output. Then he flashes Gojo a bright, wicked smile and strides straight on back to the cinnamoroll machine. )
Hold this.
( His token tub, he means, fishing two out as Gojo takes it. )
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Eh? Suguru? [ when he turns Getou has already honed in on the machine Gojou looked at before - damn. he forgot no blindfold. He’s too easy to read like this, and he hates that these days. when he reaches getou’s side the bucket is shoved into his hands. gripped, but forgotten, in the wake of that dazzling smile. oh. ]
That’s a bit ambitious for someone so rusty, isn’t it? [ he could protest it, but Getou seems so pleased with himself already. a playful tease will do. ]
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( Because unfortunately they have egos to match, it can't be helped. As much as he's changed in life there's still a part of him that's a competitive shithead, and he eyes up the machine speculatively. )
And I'm nothing if not a Sanrio wrangler now. ( #Fatherhood. The machine whirs to life with a coin in the slot, bright lights and noise. Geto's face creases into concentration, his attention rapt. The first attempt fails, naturally, and then so does the second. He holds a hand out for another token. )
Hit me.
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[ he should give it to getou’s kids if he manages to succeed, probably, despite his quickly forming attachment to the creature Getou hasn’t even won yet. gojou watches the crinkle of Getou’s brows, the grit of his jaw in concentration. ]
[ did he ever tell Getou how good looking he was when they were young? not directly, he’s sure. maybe indirectly. calling him the type of guy you’d find in a beauty salon, but in another life Getou could have been a model or an actor. a tv personality maybe. ]
Gah! You almost had it that time! [ he curses in time with Getou, blinking and laughing as he passes over another coin. ] I think I owe you dinner for all your hard work.
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( He didn't go, because he has fussy little quirks about eating food prepared by humans these days. He'll only do it if it's for someone else. Mostly his daughters, and now by extension Gojo. He's gotten a little better at not eating his stomach churn when he does too. It should be fine.
The third token fails, so does the fourth, Geto blows out a breath, considers cheating. He eyes up the machine thoughtfully. )
You'd think with bigger toys the claw would be stronger, but I suppose that's the point. It's rigged. ( He's going to win regardless. ) The one at the back, do we think?
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They keep the claw strength the same, since they want you to win using the angles to get it through dividers on the bottom... maybe if you try lifting its leg?
[ the attendants will come adjust it to make it easier once you've tried enough times and give you hints, but he's sure getou won't want help from them. ] Mm. The back towards the top? Probably. If you could shift it it'd probably topple down and go through from its own weight.
[ he hands getou another coin, leans up against his back to peek over a shoulder and watch. ]
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Geto squares his shoulders, face creasing into a look of outright determination. Then he goes for the one Gojo had just pointed out. The claw clasps the leg easily, pulling it up by the grip and taking it an inch or two closer to the exit. It falls just short, a grumpy, childish noise dragged from the curse user's mouth. )
I've got it.
( Cinnamoroll, you piece of shit. He has a man to impress.
But he takes another coin, slots it in, leans against the console and goes for the same toy. This time the claw seizes around the body, lifting more solidly. The tension in Geto's arms vibrates a little. And then - it tumbles out, a wild grin spreading on his face as he ducks to retrieve it, boyishly holding it out to Gojo with an air of rampant victory. )
For you, Satoru.
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Are you sure? If you need to cheat I won't judge you~ [ he would, and getou knows it because he quickly says he's got it and surges into another attempt. gojou leans in close to the glass, eyes wide. ] Come on, come on...!
[ and then the toy tumbles down into the bin and he gasps, shooting up straight and clapping his hands together. ] You did it! [ he blinks when getou hands it to him, eyes shimmering. he holds it like it might break or turn to smoke if he grips it too tightly before looking up at getou with a blinding smile. ] Thanks, Suguru!
[ he almost reaches for his cellphone but thinks better of it - getou probably doesn't want digital proof of their date. so then... gojou looks around, grins mischievously and drags getou over to a photobooth, shoving him and cinnamaroll in before punching coins into the booth and hopping inside, pressed up against him. he takes cinamaroll back and hugs it tightly before the flash goes off, making a peace sign for the camera. ] Smile!
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He finds his own lips curving up into a mirror, faltering in surprise when he's tugged along, shoved into a photobooth like he's not actively the jujutsu world's current biggest threat. It's a little quieter inside, the curtain blocking out a lot of noise and light, and squished up against Gojo it's easy to believe it's just the two of them. He'll allow the indulgence, fingers held up in his own little sign, eyes crinkling at the corner from the width of his smile.
A picture is taken, the warning for the next counting down. ) Wait, Mimiko and Nanako do this - ( Holding his hand up in the shape of half a heart, hoping Gojo will do the same. ) Like that.