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

[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!!]

[Considering that, at this moment in time, that crush would be on the exact same person? It'd be all too easy to put himself in Manabu's shoes. If only he knew.]

Fine. I'll go check. Wait here...

[The things he does for friends. He could just as easily message Ryunosuke, but that might get more questions and suspicion. So--a quick trek to the homestead it is before he reports back.]

Free and clear. We'll likely have the place to ourselves for a bit.

Understood! I'll be there in a couple minutes!!

[the idiot signs off to gather some stuff back at his place, packing a satchel full of things with only a passing glance at this or that, hoping for the best while trying to not waste time.

he's soon rushed to the house, up the stairs with dog in tow, huffing from the rush over between lamps.]

Here! I'm here! Let's--let's do this! [bark.]

[Somehow, Kazuma is not surprised that Manabu seems to have made haste to get here--if anything he looks amused. Being that they are at his home, he's dressed down, comfort is key when at home.]

You didn't have to rush over here...[But the door swings wide to let him in. And in good manners, Kazuma offers Magnet a few good pets in greeting.]

[while Magnet soaks in the attention, Manabu hurries to peel his boots off by the door before properly stepping in, still ruddy-faced and fluffy of hair.]

Eeh? What do you mean? I-it's important to be diligent and fast with your commitments! You're the one taking time out for me, so I can't waste it, you know!

[Goodest boy gets the goodest pets. At least until Manabu steps in properly.]

I suppose, but it really isn't a huge trouble to me to help you out. [But that commitment is rather endearing. Way to cement the fact that you're someone worth forging a friendship with.]

Come on, we can get started in here. [He's fairly certain he knows where the kitchen is, but he still waves for him to follow and leads the way.]

Aa--mn, right! [he peels his coat off and drapes it on a nearby chair before gathering up his satchel and following along with Kazuma.

the thought hits him as he sees the setup:] Uah, this...this will be easy, since we made tsukemen a couple weeks ago... [beat.] I-I mean! Should I...hypothetically speaking, uh...pretend I don't know where things are? Since, since it'd be someone else? And this is just practice?

[Nerves are one thing, and to be expected. But the way these responses seem to go, and always in the topic area of a particular attorney, is too much to be mere coincidence.]

Manabu. [A sigh. A thoughtful frown as he leans against a counter, arms crossed. And then, the question:] Ryunosuke. He wouldn't happen to be the person you have in mind, would he?

-!!

[Manabu startles and goes still, save for the way his hair fluffs again. he's a painfully easy read - maybe more to people than himself! the callout makes his heart jump into his throat, which he gulps back down into a pit into his stomach, all the while getting colder and colder as if to compensate for that sudden flash of heat.]

I... [he gulps again, blinking out of the startle and slowly straightening up...only to look down at Kazuma's feet.]

That...that's weird, isn't it? I mean--I don't...really have any business thinking like that. [and he's Kazuma's friend! the logic of dibs aside, what was Manabu thinking?!

mortified, he dips his head.]

S-sorry! I'm sorry!

Edited 2022-02-26 20:04 (UTC)

What? [His turn to startle, the apology completely unexpected.

That's not--You don't need to apologize. [Best to ignore the jealous swoop of his nerves. Both of them--Ryunosuke and Manabu--are his friends. Whether or not that went anywhere else besides was none of his business.

Even if he had thought to consider the same--And that thought is ending there.]

But if I am going to help you, being upfront and honest from now on is best.

If you were still hoping to go for it, the approach we were thinking of practicing would be appreciated, I think.

Edited (Words hard.) 2022-02-26 20:20 (UTC)

[hearing that makes Manabu shiver a little, still braced for a well-deserved punch or shove that...really doesn't happen? as Kazuma goes on, he lifts his head, looking genuinely surprised by the response. at his feet, Magnet whimpers, beset by that raging mix of distress and motivating feelings this guy just isn't in full control or comprehension of.

utter bafflement:] You...would still help me...? [but...but isn't it bad? Kazuma's the friend for longer. from the same place! he has...way more right. it's definitely wrong to think or Ryunosuke as his property, but Manabu's mindset can't help but jump to that arbitrary way of thinking to further along the admonishments in his head. in his mind, it's bad enough that he's pining for a guy, isn't it? it's some guy who is off-limits, right?

right???]

Why aren't you...telling me to back off? I don't get it... [he straightens up, eyes wincing.] Aren't I...am I messed up or not?!

[Ah, and there's the explanation for that reaction.] You aren't messed up, that much I can tell you.

[He doesn't know what led him to the conclusion he might be, what self-admonishment led here, but he knows enough to say that much with conviction.]

As for not telling you to back off: It's because Ryunosuke is his own person, as are you. If he chooses to pursue this with you, what right do I have to tell him not to? Or to keep him from knowing it's a possibility? We aren't--He and I are not involved in that way. [And if there's a soft note of bitterness, well. It's only because Manabu thought to do something first.]

[Kazuma's rationale is punctuated by a very affirmative growl-bark from Magnet, whose tail wags with approval.

Manabu stares in a mix of wonderment and dismay, because honestly? at this point, he's kind of hoping to get beat up - that makes more sense to him than most anything else bouncing around his head and heart right now.

a small crunching noise reminds him he's clutching his satchel maybe a bit too tightly, prompting him to shift in place and look away, still unbalanced in this conversation.]

I just-- I mean, I don't...want to cause any trouble. But I guess if...if that were true, I wouldn't be...thinking about stuff like this at all, huh?

You aren't causing trouble. [And Kazuma can't help but feel for him--if he thinks having feelings or thoughts like this were trouble. It's a little sad.

He sighs, shifting away from the counter.] But I can still punch you, if it will make you feel better about it all.

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