i have cut to the feeling on repeat

[keeptrucking]

[Scene: two losers go to a shopping mall, because Daichi was wandering around looking disappointed in himself yet again and Joe has Better Ideas Than That. Daichi can't remember if he was actually asked if he wanted to be here, or if he was simply dragged along for the ride again and couldn't refuse once they were already at the mall. Joe just happens so much at once, despite all of Daichi's half-hearted complaining, so... here they are.

At the mall. Daichi is, at least, not sulking about whatever he was feeling inadequate about before. Instead:]

Man, my feet hurt... [Here, he affects his best (worst) Joe Voice:] Let's go shopping, Daichi! It'll be fun! —It's been nearly three hours and all we have to show for it is one magazine. C'mon, you could have done this without me.

[This menace... Why is he here, Joe? Why??]

Comments

[armanyo]

[ the answer is somewhere in-between to be honest. with joe, it's never actually a question. it's kind of just a state of being. ]

Hey now, don't be like that.

[ joe waves the magazine around triumphantly, getting dangerously close to daichi's face with the edges. a paper cut to the face wouldn't be good now would it? ]

We've just started! C'mon, have a little faith in me.

[ that's never gone over all that well, though, all things considered. ]

We just have one more stop.

[keeptrucking]

Dude, watch where you're shoving that thing— [Of course Daichi has to protest and lean away from that magazine like it's the most dangerous thing Joe has ever done. Of course. Look, he's having... an okay time...? But it's also been a long time to watch Joe read manga.]

Is it a spot with comfy chairs and cold drinks? I could really go for that kind of spot right about now.

[armanyo]

Ehh, not sure about the cold drinks. But the comfy chairs, yeah.

[ although most designer places did have cold beverages up for grabs during fittings, joe wasn't exactly known for spending the full ticket-price on things. overseas orders was where it was at!

... except as of late he's been getting a nice set of suits from a custom tailor so that's exactly where he's leading them. ]

♪ Step right up, the time is right, customs sizes here, never too tight ♪

[ it's a joe-classic-jingle as he ushers daichi into another store........ ]

[keeptrucking]

Wait, really? An actual place to sit? Why didn't you say that in the first place!

[Oh, he's cheerful now... He's not paying attention to where they're going because he's excited about being allowed to sit down finally, but he's maybe half listening to that Joe Jingle while he just keeps talking—]

Are we going to a cafe? I wouldn't mind a hot drink, if I got to put my feet up... [a beat. hmm.] Thiiis isn't even close. A clothing store?

[armanyo]

[ it's a clothing store, all right.

joe just keeps ushering daichi inside and back towards a counter. a few moments later, a stout gentleman appears with a courteous smile. ]

I can guess them, but I'll leave it to an expert. [ joe says with a hand clasped to the back of his neck. daichi's measurements. he means he can guess his Measurements. ]

[keeptrucking]

[It sure is clothes... Daichi's getting more and more Wary of this store the closer they get to this counter.] I definitely can't afford anything in here...

[actually HANG ON, he's paying attention now—] D-Don't guess them! Why are you even saying that?! [save him.]

[armanyo]

[ no one is coming to save you. ]

Wha? You think I'd bring you in here without offering to help you with a payment plan? Geez, Daichi, c'mon...

[ he's grinning - with something downright mischievous - in his eyes at the man behind the counter. ]

Now go get your measurements so we can figure out where to start with fabric. Dunno if you're ready for the pinstripes. Sorry, kiddo.

[keeptrucking]

You— That's not the point!

[The point is obviously his MEASUREMENTS... not his payment plan!! But he'll probably awkwardly try to refuse that later, when the man behind the counter isn't watching him patiently until he comes around for this measuring stuff. Augh...]

What do I need a suit for, anyway... [but uh, he's going? There's probably no harm in just trying some stuff on...]

[armanyo]

What don't you need a suit for?

[ joe, you're not barney, please don't launch into an explanation on why suits are awesome. ]

Job interviews? Impressing girls?

[ joe, pls. he's hovering even during the measurement-taking, sorry. ]

[keeptrucking]

[He's getting in the way is what he's doing!! Not actually, but his hovering means Daichi keeps moving to look at him and this kindly old suit man can only endure so much.]

I'm just trying to get into university! And— [and okay, no girl has ever been impressed by him in his life... so, uh.] Well, spending a ton of money to make a fool of myself in front of girls who still aren't impressed isn't a great idea, you know?

[Daichi "I'm not smart or handsome" Shijima strikes again]

[armanyo]

[ wow, you need a pep!! talk!! ]

University interviews, then! [ joe? but then he just puts a hand on his hip casually and launches into an inspirational rant much to the portly old man's potential dismay. ]

It's an investment in you. In your future! Yeah, yeah, maybe it'll look weird at first, but it's sharp. Nothing screams "I'm dedicated and successful" like a suit. Trust Joe.

[keeptrucking]

[Joe... Joe.] Do we have to do this right now...?

[Like, he did start it, kind of, but this old man is right here. Embarrassing.]

I think I'd rather be invested in my applications than a suit. No offense, but a suit doesn't magically solve all my problems.

[armanyo]

Didn't say it did.... but that'd be kinda sweet if it did, right? Like Cinderella for dudes.

[ ??????? ]

Anyway, just trust me. I'll help you with the payments and the interview prep.

[keeptrucking]

Okay, I'm not that bad! Give me a little credit! [More credit than he just gave himself?! It's only cool when Daichi thinks Daichi is a loser.

He's holding still for the rest of this measuring, at least - so he can look down instead of staring at Joe in frustrated disbelief any more.]

...Look, I know you're trying to help, so... well, uh, you don't have to pay for it. I'll figure something out.

[armanyo]

C'mon. I put you up to this. Lemme help with the down payment at least.

[ listen to joe. listen to him. ]

The real question is ... black or grey?

[ and hat or no hat, but he's not ready to discuss that yet. he doesn't want to distract the man dutifully writing down measurements. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Stop trying to spend money on him!! Now Joe gets another Look, buuut.]

You c'mon! ...I'll think about it.

[........]

Black, I guess. That's classy, right? I'd just look miserable in grey.

[armanyo]

[ miserable in grey. grey can be very sharp! if done correctly, of course. but black is also sharp and it's an easy beginning suit color. ]

Aha! Black it is.

[ there's a lot of hues of black so they'll be here awhile, sorry. that, and the cuts are all different! when the man finishes his measurement joe is already wandering off to the racks of suits to start picking out black suits that are close to the measurements...... ]

[keeptrucking]

[No, he'd look like an exhausted cloud. He knows it. But Joe's finally not arguing with him about it, so he's just going to, uh... loiter over here?

Actually, he's going to sit down on one of these cushy chairs for the thirty seconds he'll be able to sit for the rest of this outing. Sit and wait. Joe is so excited about suits...]

So... am I going to have to learn how to tie a bow tie? [One Fear]

[armanyo]

[ WOW..... ]

Bow tie? You're a few years out from that. Heh.

[ and now joe is returning to the cluster of comfy chairs with a myriad of suits. honestly, it's only seven, but in terms of suits, that's a lot. ]

Let's see, we have a wool mix, and a then a lighter polyster mix. And then the classic cut and then a more modern one.

[ he's rambling, thumbing through the suits in utter amusement. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Hey, shut up??

Anyway, none of this suit stuff means anything to him. He's slouching lower in his seat the longer Joe talks at him about suits, warily eyeing that pile o' suits.]

So you're saying we're going to be here for another three hours? That's it, isn't it? They'll find me in a hundred years, buried in suit jackets, holding a tie...

[armanyo]

That's the dream.

[ no it isn't. still, joe tosses him an award-winning grin and unceremoniously dumps the suits into a pile on daichi's lap. that's probably bad for business? and wrinkle? ]

Now go try them on.

[keeptrucking]

Wha— hey! All of them?

[He wanted to get away with like, one. One would have been great. Lifting these all out of his lap at once as he gets up is going to wrinkle them, too, so really they should never have been allowed in here.]

Fine. I'll be back... eventually.

[There he goes, hobbling away with his suit pile into a changing room. It takes him a couple minutes to figure out what he's supposed to do with these in the meantime - hang them all up? dump them on the chair in here? help - and then a few minutes more to put one on and stare at himself in the mirror.

......yeah he looks about as uncomfortable as he feels. Wait for him to pop his head out of the room:] Are you sure you got the right size?

[armanyo]

Yup.

[ joe sounds awfully confident. he glances up from his phone - no, he doesn't have the audacity to start reading a manga in the middle of a suit store, thank god, he'll just scroll through one on his phone! ]

Come out so I can see what we need to change. Don't be shy, me and Jacques over here won't bite.

[ is that really the name of the stout old man? is it? who knows. ]

[keeptrucking]

[There's no way Daichi believes that's that old man's name, glancing over at him before he sighs and shuffles out of the changing room. He didn't put his shoes back on... but he's still wearing his scarf.

So that's where Daichi is as a person. Lamely, he holds his arms out from his sides. Check it out...]

So what's the verdict? It's terrible, isn't it?

[armanyo]

[ it's not terrible, but it isn't good either. its' definitely not the right cut and - and he's wearing that scarf. still. ]

Ah! You're burning my eyes. Jacques, call the police, quick.

[ ok joe but really. ]