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...!?]

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[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.

[Manabu manages to puff out a sound that could be a laugh, but maybe it's just another venting of emotion that isn't just static or steam.]

That--that might be the only thing that makes sense right now, I think... But. Y-yeah...

You're serious...[He doesn't understand it, always being one to wear emotion on his sleeve.] You want me to hit you?

[If he's going to do that, and to a friend no less, he's going to need the confirmation.]

[Manabu's mouth twitches.]

A...n-no, no. [he tries to laugh it off, shaking his head.] No, that--that's really stupid, this is...all...pretty stupid, honestly. Sorry. About that.

[...]

Y-you can keep the food-stuff if you want! I won't...just waste your time completely, that is.

It isn't stupid...It was something that worried you.

[Hrm...]

You weren't wasting my time. Please. We can still--If you would like, we can still have a meal together. As friends.

[Manabu hesitates, face flushing once again before his chilly blood washes it out. he opens and closes his mouth without an immediate answer, but Magnet does it for him by way of padding over to Kazuma and sitting at his feet, tail thumping on the floor.]

A...Aa... O-okay. If you don't mind, I...I can do that. [he exhales, then nods, straightening up. honestly? it's the least he can do for putting Kazuma through this for...stupid reasons. it's stupid!

it isn't stupid...it was something that worried you.

he gulps, then clears his throat, forcing resolve in himself.] Right...just give me a few minutes, then. I can get this made up in no time!

I don't mind at all. [Why would he? When he had suggested this how debacle in the first place? If anything, he feels a bit guilty for putting Manabu on the spot regarding his feelings.]

By all means...[A sweeping gesture toward the kitchen and all that entails.] I can still help--with the food and all.

[Let's just ignore how tight that kitchen space is and how ridiculous the offer of help is with such spacing, shall we?]

A--no, no! [insistent, flustered:] Since this whole thing was because of me, it's my responsibility!

[fists clenched in protagonist fashion:] It won't even take that long, so please wait a minute!

[A laugh follows. Amused, but not cruel.]

All right, all right. If you insist. I won't keep you from your work then.

[he does insist, because insistence is the most Manabu can be that doesn't feel so out of place with his usual nature. so he rolls up his sleeves, editor cues the montage, and cooking happens, all while Magnet gets the chance to bask in free attention from Kazuma as part indulgence, part mission for his person. there are some occasional growl-whines, resonating with the fussy distress Manabu's still in the midst of, but things are turning around for the better, it seems...]

Right... All done! [Manabu sets out a freshly-poured dish of udon noodles and a chicken stock broth on the table. there's some onion and carrots in there, spiced up a bit with some things Ariadne had in her shop - not an exact one-for-one of a traditional serving, but...pretty darn close.

he backs away, folding his hands behind his back, eyes big.]

What do you think?

[There's a hum of appreciation before Kazuma even has a bite. He can recognize effort--and this certainly shows effort. He's impressed, to say the least. With a quiet word of thanks, he takes a hearty bite of noodles, followed by a gulp of the broth.

There's a moment of contemplative silence, and then:] Delicious. You're quite the cook.

Eh, really?! [he brightens, smiling, relieved by the positive feedback, practically a mirror to the delight Magnet conveys unfettered. if he had a tail, it'd be wagging.

happily, while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.] Aa, n-not really! I think I'm just good at one or two. Or at least! The ones that aren't too complicated or hard to mess up... But as long as it's good, that's really all that matters, right?

Even if it's only one or two, that's more talent than I have. [It's said with a laugh, but there's honesty to it. Kazuma was not much of a cook.]

Honestly, you sell yourself short. If you enjoy it, and you do well...Take the praise and continue fostering it. Though I suppose you have a point: So long as it's good, that's what truly matters no matter the meal.

[this must be how his mom feels, making good food for people. he's usually got his eyes fixed on the long shadow of his father, searching for praise in matters of being a soldier, an officer, a man. he thinks of cooking as more of a feminine thing, not...something he ought to be praised for.

...but he doesn't mind this.]

Mn, well, I can...leave behind some notes? On how to do it. You'll see it's not so hard at all.

Notes? [He laughs softly. He's tried his hands at recipes before, but he didn't want to deny Manabu's kindness either.] If you think that might be a way to learn.

[Then there's a slow draw of a smile.] Or we can keep you on as a cook. [Teasing, teasing.]

[he responds the same way he always does when teased: flustering.]

I-I'm not a cook! This is just...basic stuff! No special tricks. You can handle basic cooking to, to survive on your own, can't you?

[What was soft laughter is now hearty and full-bellied. He hasn't laughed like that in a good while. Not since--well not since he had come here at least.]

I really oughtn't tease you, sorry. And yes, I can handle basic cooking. For the most part.

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siriusly - 2022-04-06 01:01 (UTC) - Expand

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