estoria | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Aoba

aocatch , Clear

gasmaskguy , Koujaku

kaba , and Vietnam

hoasen
When: Monday, December 1
Where: Clear's apartment
What: Family dinner!! Well, two neighbors/good friends and Aoba, but close enough.
Rating/Warning: This is bound to be embarrassing in so many ways.

[ Having some time off from work during a weekday had left Clear with an abundance of free time, but he's made good use of it, he thinks! While his friends and Aoba were busy at their own jobs, he got an early start preparing a nice dinner for the four of them to share. It wasn't a grandiose idea, really, but he felt it to be an important one - a necessary ritual shared among good company. It promoted a sense of familiarity, home, and happiness.

Of course, he didn't believe that Aoba or Koujaku had the privilege of meeting Vietnam yet, but when he sent out texts asking them to share a meal at his place tonight, he assured them that the additional 'new friend' that he'd invited was a very kind person that they were sure to like! As for Vietnam, he'd asked for the opportunity to introduce her to Aoba-san♡ and their cool friend from home. They're sure to get along well, he juuust knows it!!) ]

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[Seeing him running with things in his hand, she moves over to see if she could help him!]

Do you need me to help! [She's just standing here looking at everything, and there's a chance the kitchen is busy now.]

But really? [Just a little distracted as she looks at the ceiling.] There is nothing like this back home, so this technology is still beyond me. I hope to really learn it to make my place look just as nice.

[She blinks curiously at him, because--] I definitely like how much work Clear has put into this place, yes. What does yours look like? [Surely he is just being humble!]

[ Fair enough. ]

Oi, calm down. He's not gonna get sick. [ Much. ] He's just… [ It occurs to him that Clear, in all his boundless innocence, might not have even seen a drunk man before. Especially an Aoba kind of drunk, which is indeed something to behold.

It'll be an amazing life experience, Clear. ]

He's just kind of [ embarrassing ] a lightweight is all.

There's good. [ He'll just lead Vietnam to the opposite corner of the room, near the speakers. These are some really fancy digs Clear's got in here. Wonder if it's real.

He's not gonna poke them. Not yet. ]

I, uhh, I might've just told you something embarrassing is all. I didn't say anything, um… [ inappropriate? ] &helli;y'know…

[ Damn, he’d been too slow…! He shoots Clear a baffled look for a moment before immediately pulling the seat aside for Vietnam. Still gotta be a gentleman, and all. This way’s…better, somehow. Maybe he can take the seat right across from Aoba—

He doesn’t know that it’s the Clear route or any route at all, but there’s only a split second for him to decide and he’s at a disadvantage here, with the seat being at the opposite corner and closer to Clear, so—

Race ya! He’ll just smile and casually make a break for the seat across Aoba at the speed of stupid. ]

[And she follows! Damn seriously, he's been really well off, either way.

Aren't they tempting.]

Something embarrassing? I'm not sure how embarrassed you felt, but nothing really happened that day, no? [Seriously all they had was some food. And really, she still didn't realise he was Talking Dirty. Had a feeling, but since he never acted on it, she gave him the benefit of the doubt.]

If you are certain...? [Since she only knew of Clear Route, she was wondering why Clear was offering to let her sit next to Aoba. Wouldn't he want to sit next to him instead? Unless he wanted to sit across him. So you know, she would totally let Clear sit here?

Either way, she thinks Aoba is quite nice, so she doesn't mind.] I do not mind, of course! [See, look how brightly (for her, this poor girl) she beams. Firstly though--]

Thank you, Koujaku. [What a gentleman! She doesn't know that he probably would've wanted to shove her out of the way just to sit next to Aoba himself. But now she's seated down, she glances over to Aoba, before realising that Koujaku has made a quick run for it without saying a thing.

?????????????]

Yeah, I don't mind either —

[ What the hell ... he didn't hear anything about a Clear route ... he didn't hear anything about any route because 1) he's just hanging out with the family and 2) Koujaku's more concerned with gravitational force of butts than maybe explaining context for once? Wasn't the lack of communication a seriously life-threatening issue in their route????? Didn't he learn anything from last time —

— only wow, that's definitely Koujaku nearly breaking his neck sprinting for the other window seat across from him. Is this ... NORMAL ... he glances over at Vietnam but she seems just as shocked, apparently.

Aoba takes it on himself to break that pervading silence. ]

Uh. Did any of you want to sit by the window instead? Sorry, I didn't know it mattered, but I can switch if anyone wants this seat?

Oh, you can take the other one if you want? I was going to set them with the rest of the plates on the table. [ Aoba obligingly lifts a tray out to her with something reminiscent of a grin.

While Clear and Koujaku seem pretty intent on dominating the kitchen like a bunch of fussy housewives, Aoba's just trying to make himself useful for once?! It's hard having a bunch of self-sufficient friends who are obviously ordinary, fundamentally rational people to the core. ]

Maybe you could ask him to come over and design your place sometime? Knowing him, he'd probably do it free-of-charge.

[ LMAO, well, you see, it's more like he doesn't want this place to feel like home? But that answer seems completely uncalled for ... ] I haven't found the time to do anything to it yet, unfortunately. What about you?

Edited 2015-03-09 19:08 (UTC)

[ The funny thing is, the only one that seems to even know that there's a Koujaku route is Koujaku, since he's been awfully evasive about explaining things. When he smiles at Clear, the android just thinks he's being nice - and even when he's fooled right out of that seat, in all his befuddlement, he's sure it must be a thing that guys do to pal around with their friends or something??? Sorry bro, he's never raced anyone.

There's definitely a moment in which he looks disheartened by the whole thing, because it surely would have been nice to sit by Aoba, too - but he startles right out of that when their shared confusion is expressed. ]

No, no! You can stay! [ With a halfhearted laugh, he's waving his hands. ] Aoba-san's just a popular guy, I think.

[ IF ONLY THEY KNEW. As Clear's reaching over to grab a couple of the appetizer plates, he shoots Koujaku a playfully leery pout, tone low to match. ]

I'll just beat you next time!

[ And as he's passing one plate to each of them, placing the remaining in the center of the table to hand around and take from as desired, he shrugs. ]

And maybe you'd allow me share your side after dinner anyway, Aoba-san?

Edited 2015-03-10 03:41 (UTC)

[ That does ease his nerves enough to relax and hear him out. With a cant of the head, he ponders over that term for a good moment. ]

Oh, that means they're sensitive to it-- right?

Alright! [And she reaches out to take that tray!] Just tell me where you would like them. [After all, she's the fourth wheel here, so she knows they casually would probably already know how they like things.

So he's the husband to these housewives, huh...Not that she actually knows the details to this, but again she understands. It's hard to sit still even though she constantly get told she doesn't have to help.]

That sounds like a good idea, but I wouldn't want to impose. Perhaps at most, I will ask for advice. [She has to learn somehow!

And that actually makes a whole world of sense, had he told her. It's not like this is actually home.] The same, I was part of the most recent arrivals. There was already so much to do just to settle down.

[OH...MAGIC WORD. HE SAID FRIENDS. And he's blushing which makes her blush too. Ah, she's moving up in life, making friends! It's actually a lot easier when you're not stuck in the office, but she doesn't know that (until now).

She hasn't quite eaten her apple yet because of this distraction.] Yes, we are good friends indeed! I am happy that you think that way. I hope that your friends will also approve of me, I find them very good people. I have met Koujaku once before. I didn't know that he was a friend of yours, so it was a bit of a surprise.

[ yesss, FRIENDS!! The confirmation has Clear clasping his hands and just sparkling all over - maybe literally. ]

Uwaa~♥ [ And he'll reach out to hold her hands, instead! ] If they see you like I do, I know they will!!

[ His eyebrows raise! ]

But did you really meet Koujaku-san before? That is a surprise! When did you two meet?

[ She's way too merciful tbh, but he is visibly relieved at that. ]

No, I guess not. [ Should he really be kind of disappointed about this? ] It's hard to remember, anyway. It all kinda felt like a dream.

[ Ah, the politics of love. To be fair, there’s no way in hell he’d do that to her, even at the behest of someone like Aoba. But no matter how their seats are configured, shit’s gonna be awkward either way.

Look, he would have spat it out ages ago if it didn’t that Aoba wouldn’t have any idea what he was even talking about. That’s just confusing! And Scrap offers no contingency plans for fuckups in communication occurring at the behest of maladjusted space-time. That’s just…seriously, man.

He needs Mizuki’s insightful bartender wisdom right about now. ]

Y—You think? [ About Aoba being popular, because ahahaha. ]

You’re on, Clear. [ he says this halfheartedly, because he’s not sure why he’s feeling so threatened all of a sudden? Shit, he really needs to drag Aoba off someplace quiet after this and just spill the beans. Maybe even make Aoba go through the trauma of Scrapping him again, yeah, that’ll be great for his sanity.

But he sits across from Aoba anyway, while flushing a little red and hoping that he can just blame it all on that champagne earlier. Maybe he should apologize—explain that he’s tripped up somehow, but that excuse won’t fly. Especially not on Aoba.

Right, relax dude. Clear isn’t really competition…is he? At least, probably not in the way he means… ]

Ah, forget about it, guys. We shouldn’t let the food get cold. [ And Clear’s worked so hard on it, too… ]

[SO BRIGHT...WHAT IS THIS BRIGHTNESS!!

A-ah! Now she has no idea what to do, but taking his hands is still...fine? He's just really high energy.] Then I am relieved! [SHE THINKS.]

I believe I met him around the same time as I met you. He was giving out flowers on the streets.

[Which is a good thing! Because now she's found out he's Clear's friend, she doesn't want this to get awkward. Apparently, more awkward on his behalf (then again, he did mistaken lunch as boning and lunch outside as exhibitionism.)

Also Koujaku, why are you making it sound like you're sad they didn't pork.]

I can tell you what happened. At least, from my perspective. You seemed to be shocked by the concept of dining outside. In the end we had ramen, and it was nice.

[Goodness, at least everything now is settled, and Koujaku didn't accidentally kill her (because he is a gentleman). But she keeps looking at Aoba, asking with her eyes if this was actually normal?! Because she was sure that Koujaku was a grown ass man. She's not imagining things right?

Maybe its a friendly rivalry between guy friends who have guy love. What a strange world.]

If you all are fine with this, of course! [Was it too much? Clear wants to catch up with Aoba after now. Koujaku and Aoba must be close though, or he's teasing Clear. Basically, all fingers point to she has no idea that Koujaku wants to smack some of that.] But if you are fine with me sitting next to the most popular one here? [God she's teasing, sometimes she can do that too.]

What do you recommend for us to start with first...

…Yeah. So he doesn't need to drink all that much. [ To get the full effect and then some, you know. ]

[ Thankfully, he's become pretty impervious to varying levels of uncertainty on his behalf - he doesn't even seem to notice it. Instead, he's satisfied enough that she's gained confidence in the matter, freeing her with an exuberant nod. ]

Mm! So you met him-- [ Oh, he's grinning, clamping a hand over his mouth... but his breath does a terrible job at hiding his amusement, all the same. ]

Mm, got it! [ He understands now!! Which is apparently exciting enough to make his face light up in a smile. ] It's okay if we're here to take care of him though, right?

[ Now that he's calmed down a bit, it's back to mixing the dessert. A mild champagne custard, it looks pretty tasty. ]

--Hm! Maybe I can use your help, actually! [ It dawns on him quite suddenly, and he's scooping up a spoonful to hold out to Koujaku, a hand cupped under to catch any drips. ] Could you please sample this for me? I couldn't decide if it's sweet enough!

[ Hey he's heartsick and confused!! Give him a break here. ~~As if.~~ ]

Ramen. [ He almost wants to laugh. Hysterically. ]

Yeah, that really was kinda weird. [ Weird, how? He can't bring himself to say it—not in this company or anywhere else. ]

Right! [ Champagne custards are way out of his league. He stares at that gloop of custard like it might try to leap up and kill him.

Doesn't smell half bad, actually. ]

Sure, but… [ He licks up that spoonful thoughtfully. ]

Doesn't taste too bad. I never had something like this before, though.

[She doesn't seem to mind either way, since his childish obliviousness really seems to help?!]

Yes. Ah, he was very happy that day. [She looks around so that Koujaku won't hear her!!] Is he not like that normally?

[He's getting as much of a break she could give him!!! What a dude.]

Ramen. Not a fan of ramen normally? [Like she would know, since she didn't know what he was really like then.]

I am guessing you are usually not like that?

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