deercountry | late bloomer jokes [feb catchall

Entry tags:

late bloomer jokes [feb catchall - open & closed prompts]

Who: Manabu & others
What: Misc hijinks
When: February
Where: Misc locations

Content Warnings: Will be marked in tls/comments as needed

February is weird. Manabu feels...weird. He's always an impatient kind of person, needing to always be moving somewhere or doing something, but this is a different kind of impatience. More and more, he's noticing the way couples interact, double-taking at public displays of affection which he'd typically fluster and look the other way at. He pines for a lot of things here in Trench: his family, his coworkers, his job... but he's not used to pining for things like...y'know, hand-holding.

So goes Manabu Yuuki's 24-year old awakening to romantic pining; it's going to be coloring a lot of the month for him! And that's weird and confusing for him, so you bet this'll be coloring the way he interacts with folks he runs into! Lots of word spaghetti, lots of hair frizzing with static, and some apple-red cheeks...at least he has the cold weather to blame for that.

...Even if he's a coldblood.

Shut up. It's nothing!!!

open prompts

o1. Willful Machine: Errands and Odd Jobs
[regardless of these roiling, blood-based feelings throwing him off his game, Manabu still throws himself into work of all sorts. he does errands and handiwork around the Roost for Diluc, but also picks up the occasional odd job for locals - Sleepers and natives alike. he's a jack of many trades and definitely master of none, but what he lacks in expertise he makes up with patience and determination.

perhaps you see him replacing tiles on a store's roof, or maybe he's hauling a wagon full of winter supplies, or part of a small squad lifting some heavy furniture by pulley up to a second floor, or simply carrying someone's groceries! either way, prime encounter opportunity.

also, Magnet is always there: that little mutt's noisy, but friendly, and always apt to bounding away from Manabu to sniff out a friend or potential friend...or at least some pets.]

o2.The Gate: Gunswordplay
[maybe it's too much to bank on, but smacking around the unsnake last month's given Manabu a boost of combat confidence (never mind the concussions)! that said, he definitely needs to get better at this gravity saber business; swords are really archaic, but seem to be quite a common thing here! and look, he wouldn't admit it, but he wants to be cool with the swords, too.

here Manabu can be found a couple hours before sundown after busy workdays, stretching and then trying to master balanced, repeated strikes on dummies with slashes or sparks of flame...boring stuff, but he knows it builds results. still, if anyone's itching to spar, he'll jump at that.]

o3. Gaze: Research
[if things are too slow as far as work goes, Manabu will veer off and go to the Archives - a place he actually hasn't made a point to visit much before! he's not a big studying kind of guy, but he knows the plans he has in mind require a lot more research and thought than just running on hunches and rumors.

also? he wants maps. an atlas feels like a reach, but if he can cobble together some maps...

so that's what he's up to: cringing and veering away from ickier aisles of oddities, picking at the spines of assorted books in increasingly lessening hope.

what's it take to find a map of the world around this place...!?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eh? [blinkblink.] You can...wait, there's training? For... [for dates? color Manabu surprised. no, really, please color him something other than embarrassed, because so far he's wanted to crawl into a hole and vanish. dealing with feelings in anguish is well and good, but having let it spill that he's been pining for...you know...companionship is mortifying!! especially to Kazuma, because! because...!!

no, no because: Kazuma does not get that level of detail; the target will remain nebulous and unknown and Manabu will be at least thankful mention of training is at least something of a diversion from further explaining himself.]

How does that even work?

[The suggestion had come out of the blue, mostly from noticing that something was off, and that he could help. Potentially. Maybe.

Either way, the reaction alone made it sort of worth the embarrassment of suggesting it in the first place.]

Practice. That's how it works. If you aren't sure how it should go, practice until you've got it figured out.

People...actually practice that kind of thing? [Manabu is bewildered by this concept. he's never seen it before where he's from!

...has he? it's not like he ever paid attention to that kind of thing. is that what mixers were for??

he self-consciously scratches at his shoulder while asking:] But...how? It--it's not like sparring or CQC, you know...

When one doesn't have knowledge or skill in an area, they must practice in one way or another.

[For most people that would come simply with trying to go on a date with someone. For others--well, friendly conversation and all that.

He sighs:] I feel a demonstration would better explain at this rate. So--Dinner?

Eh? [blink.]

Eh?? [blinkblink.] Wait, really? Is that-- that's not how it works, is it?

[...............................]

Is it...? [he has no proof otherwise because he never really actively thought about this stuff before! Manabu? consume information not directly related to his personal goals? never.

...wait.] Wait, what's different about...date-dinner and normal-dinner? [THERE'S A DIFFERENCE????]

What's the--[Long. Suffering. Sigh. Of course there's a difference.] The intent Manabu.

A meal with a friend could be anything and anywhere. A date requires planning, thought. You look for somewhere special, or at least out of your norm. [Best not to think of the implications of a particular restaurant back home in that case. Oh boy.]

If that isn't available you can always elect to cook for them.

Edited (HTML WHY) 2022-02-12 01:55 (UTC)

[gulp. intent, huh...

before he can really think too deeply into that, the matter of cooking grabs his attention and he perks up.]

Uoh...does it, does it count if I already did that?

[...]

Hy-hypothetically!

[Raised eyebrow. Curiosity.

Already done? Interesting.]

Hypothetically--[Is that a hint of sarcasm?] It would be something to discuss with that person. Did they see it as a date?

If not--you could ask to do it again. Properly. Maybe bring them flowers or the like to make the intention clear.

[...]

Flowers...? [beat.]

But. They're-- [he grimaces.] I mean-- does that...work...for all...types? Of people? [hastily:] Like! Like, would that make sense if someone gave them to you? [DOUBLE HASTE:] Hypothetically, I mean it! Be-because it doesn't make sense to me, 'cause...'cause I'm a guy!

[It's the stammering and hasty speech that gives an opening. An opportunity to just rib him a little. The smirk should be a dead give away but:] Manabu. Do you wish to give me flowers?

[It's killing him not to laugh.] I'd be honored.

[............Okay. Nope. There it is, that snort of laughter. He'll let him off the hook, he supposes.]

Male, female...Why should it matter? If the person you are after likes flowers, give them flowers.

[Manabu's hair fluffs up as he flushes red, and with the way his posture puffs up and fists curl, he looks like he might try and push or hit him like a fussy little kid. HE SAID HYPOTHETICALLY YOU JERK!!!

he squints and looks very indignant at the sound of that snort, a bit of static sparking off his hair.]

It's not! Common where I'm from, okay? As far as I know!

[If that's the reaction he earns when he's pushing buttons...He just might do it more. Kind of fun when he's not on the direct receiving end of those sparks.]

I suppose that's fair. I'm not sure if it is where I'm from either but...what should that matter here? Or in the face of going after what you want?

Risks worth taking, my friend.

[he huffs, rubbing at his face. this was a mistake. an inescapable mistake.]

Okay! Okay. You ask to have dinner and give flowers. What else?

[He has good advice!]

If there's something you both enjoy, you could do that together...[He tucks a hand under his chin as he considers the question further.] How well do you know this person? Hypothetical person. [He can't resist.]

[Manabu grimaces again, turning partly away just to give himself a break from seeing that expression by facing Kazuma with his blind eye.

something you both enjoy, huh? how...how well?]

...Uah...uh... [well...he knows a lot about where Ryunosuke is from, what life is like...but...]

I...Um...I mean...I...I could ask...to be sure... [wait--] But I can't for practice! Y-you said this was practice! So you tell me, right?!

Edited 2022-02-12 03:39 (UTC)

[Not much then, judging by that reaction.]

You can ask as part of a normal conversation before you attempt a date but...[But he had said this was practice so:] I did promise a means of practice. Ask whatever you like; I'm more than happy to answer.

I just did ask you! [j'accuse!] So just, tell me what would make sense. What sort of things would you want to do if, if you were going on a date?!

[He really cannot help himself. Sorry for the soft laughter at your expense.] Sorry, sorry. I'll try not to tease you so much. To be quite honest, some of the things I would want to do would depend on who I'm with or where we are.

[He's quiet for a moment, considering how to explain.] If it were someone I knew well, for example: They would be aware of my interests and I theirs. Back home, that would have meant going to places familiar, ones with memories. Here...Well, I'm still new. I would like to explore, with someone I trusted that has potential. The only person I know well enough here to say for certain what I would do is Ryunosuke...

However, if I didn't know them well...The opportunity to talk and get to know one another better would be best. Quiet atmosphere, a place to relax. If not somewhere out in the town, then at one residence or another--a meal and good company.

[involuntarily, Manabu's hair fluffs again at mention of Ryunosuke. he gulps, double-blinking, trying to stay focused on the present task at-hand.

the task of...of...date-training.

he gulps, then exhales.]

Okay. So. So this training's just going to involve...me...cooking for you, then? And asking questions?

[He definitely caught on to that floof--interesting timing.]

If that's how you want to play it, then it's better practice than none. Though might I suggest--if you're planning to cook on a date, it might be...fun to do it with the person you're with.

[almost talking over him:] You're the instructor, so--so you should be setting the ground rules for this, you know!

[An utterance, just under his breath:] I'm more of a tutor than an instructor. [And then a sigh before he claps a sturdy hand on his shoulder.] You already know how to make friends, Manabu. Romance is hardly different, it's the intent that matters.

If you and your date are enjoying yourselves, it hardly has to be anything grand. And if I were to instruct you on everything, you'd most likely lack confidence when doing it on your own. So. A practice dinner, you can attempt a conversation...and then you ask whoever it is you have your eye on for a date.

Okay.

[inhale.]

Okay... [exhale.]

Okay!! [he clenches his fists, pumping himself up.] Then...let's do this! We'll go to the house and--

[...wait.

his residence? with Michael and the magic hippies?]

...No, we can't go there. [...]

Let's...go to your place an-- [WAIT.

Ryunosuke lives there. HE CAN'T DO THAT EITHER.]

...Erh... Uh... Is there...someone better...to cook...?

I wouldn't know...Ryunosuke's more of the cook between the two of us.

[He supposed it made some level of sense that Manabu wouldn't want this to be common knowledge. Though Kazuma saw nothing to be embarrassed about.]

If having other people around is a problem, I'm sure I could find some excuse to have Ryunosuke leave for a while. He may already be out, in fact.

[insistent:] Then, then check! Otherwise there's no way this is gonna work!

[come on, Kazuma: put yourself in Manabu's weird little shoes! you wouldn't want your crush to watch you practice dating!!]

closed to kazuma

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