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

[keeptrucking]

[He's too shook by this cravat to do anything but hold it and look at it in distaste... he's not putting this thing on... But ah, hat?? Hat.]

Uh, Joe? What are you doing? [how many accessories does he need—]

[armanyo]

[ hat. ]

Every good suit needs a hat.

[ he's making this rules up out of thin air can't you tell? ]

Ehhhh. Your hair's a little long, though.

[keeptrucking]

[Don't worry, he's known that the whole time. None of these suits go with Joe's ridiculous hat, and yet he's still wearing it?? It's fine.]

Oh, sorry. I'm not getting a haircut just to wear a hat, so don't even joke— my hair looks great.

[armanyo]

Heh. For a teenager, maybe.

[ what a callout. either way, joe just shrugs and then shoos dachi back into the dressing room. ]

Try the other ones on. There's no time like the present!

[keeptrucking]

I am a teenager!

[Let him live his SPARKLING YOUTH, okay!! He's going, he's putting on suit number 2 now. And... alright, he takes the scarf off.

But no cravat because fuck that. Give him a couple minutes before he emerges, shoeless, again for judgment. Behold.]

[armanyo]

[ PUT SOME SHOES ON.

okay this suit is much better. and it looks much less ridiculous minus the scarf. thanks for being a great bro and all. ]

Aha! Nailed it. [ fine, no cravat, huh? he's going to step closer and what is this? what is this?! he has a tie. on no. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Why would he put on shoes if he has to keep changing pants in quick succession?! He'll put his shoes on at the end of this montage.

What is Joe doing—]

You think so? I'm not that tall, so- whoa, what are you doing now?

[He asks, like he doesn't know about Joe's fixation on his neckwear. Don't choke him.]

[armanyo]

[ his neckwear is quality content. he's fascinated. utterly transfixed. or he's just trying to make daichi less of a human train wreck. ]

The finishing touches. Stand still now.

[ he's humming some tune to himself as he's looping the tie around daichi and then begins to knot the tie. ]

[keeptrucking]

Okaaaay, just for the record, I know how to tie a tie. It's not like I haven't been wearing one to school every day for, oh, years.

[But uh, feel free. That's cool, too. He'll just stand still and watch... Joe's... hands? Yeah.]

[armanyo]

[ his hands are very entertaining, he knows. there's at least five love songs written about them. ]

Yeah, but did you think to put one on? Noooope.

[ he's grinning now and does the final touches and tada! he'll grab daichi's shoulders and try and spin him around so he can inspect himself in the mirror. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Look there's just a lot of Joe up in his space happening right now?? And nobody's in danger of dying horribly so he actually has to notice it. The manhandling.

Manhandling like being spun around, whoa-] You didn't give me one— oh. Huh.

[...]

It... looks... better than the first one?

[armanyo]

Yup.

[ joe is very proud, all right? even if he had a hand in picking out the suit, he's still strangely proud of the dork in front of him. ]

It's loose but that's what the tailoring is for.

[ duh!! he grins and just. pats daichi's shoulders. for no reason. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Hhhands. Hands!! This hands/pride combo is too weird, nobody is ever this nice to him...]

Does... that mean I don't have to try on the other ones? This is the part where I stand up on a box and that old guy puts pins everywhere, right?

[That's what happens in the movies. He's thinking it.]

[armanyo]

[ he's thinking it, too. ]

As much as it pains me to see suits neglected, yeah. This one'll do.

Lemme go grab Jacques and tell him you're ready for your closeup.

[ joe??? those hands!! are also lightly patting daichi on the back before he heads over to the portly old man to grab his attention. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Hands... Daichi sort of - laughs a little? Why is he laughing? He's going to pick up the rejected suits and make the pile he left them in a little neater before that old guy gets back here.]

Riiight... I'm not going anywhere.

[armanyo]

That'd be shop lifting.

[ WHAT A NERD. he fetches the old man and gestures vaguely at daichi. ]

Makes him look kinda sharp, huh?

[ joe please stop complimenting him in front of the old dude. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Joe!! Daichi just looks exasperated, but he shuffles over to stand there and get pinned all to hell. This is the part that's going to take forever, he just realized, help.

Also he's still wearing Joe's hat, which he realizes only after he's been posed appropriately to hold still.]

Joe, take this back. [Now he's just repeatedly glancing up at the brim of the hat, a good look for him.]

[armanyo]

Take what back?

[ he's not sorry at all. he's just standing there innocently. watching. ]

Stand up straighter.

[keeptrucking]

I can't get straighter— Take your hat, you dunce.

[Ah, he's so nice.]

[armanyo]

Nope. You insulted me. You're keeping it.

[ at least until they're done. that's a quality hat you can't keep it. ]

[keeptrucking]

I-It's a punishment hat?! Ow— [Daichi getting stuck with pins count because he's not holding still well enough: 1 and counting.

He drops his voice to a stage whisper, like speaking more quietly will help him hold still,] I'm not carrying it around for you all day.

[armanyo]

You aren't carrying it. You're just a mobile hatrack.

[ what the fuck.

either way, joe is nodding approvingly and just looking at jacques like he's on the joke. he is not in the joke. ]

It looks good on you.

[keeptrucking]

Thanks. [jerk....??] You already told me my hair doesn't look good with it.

[He's just saying, pick one.]

[armanyo]

[ HE CAN'T PICK ONE. ]

Your hair, yeah. But if we're ignoring that and looking at the big picture.

[ joe, please. he's clasping his chin with his hand, thoughtful. ]

Heyyyy we should get you one of your own!

[keeptrucking]

A hat? No thanks.

[He already has a scarf, the only accessory he'll ever need. Where is his scarf, by the way. He feels naked without it.]

Let's just stick with the suit I let you talk me into somehow... without even talking...