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]

[ you would think joe would be smoother, or better, given the fact he has in fact held down a stable relationship before. but apparently you never really get the hang of these things. ]

Squids, for starters.

[ that's not fucking what daichi meant? ]

But in terms of words? Ehhhhh, not much, I guess.

[keeptrucking]

Squids? [SQUIDS? Is Joe here right now, in this room with him?? Jesus.

Daichi shakes his head, like he needs to physically force squids out of this conversation. Stop. No.]

You know what? Never mind. You're hardly the weirdest person I've ever met, so...

[NO RULES?? famous last words.]

[armanyo]

[ you know what's weirder than squids? saying that he's not the weirdest person you know. it gives him so much leeway.

except he just laughs (almost fondly) at that and drops the squid topic entirely. there is a god after all. ]

Is that the flattery you were talking about?

[ look!! that hand is now patting daichi's shoulder. what was that about touchy and hands? ]

[keeptrucking]

[Considering the rest of their weirdo friends... he's not taking that back, but also don't tell any of them he said that or they'll probably all mock him into next week at once.

Anyway, hhhello hand.]

I, uh... I don't remember. [He wasn't even being serious about this flattery business before Joe made it a Thing?]

[armanyo]

[ it's a thing now. it's a thing now. ]

You don't? Are you feeling ok? Short term memory? Should I call the Fumigator?

[ joe??? again with the nicknames? but? the hand remains where it is, perched on daichi's shoulder. just a reassuring and quick squeeze that's all! ]

[keeptrucking]

Nooo, no no no— definitely no. I'm fine!

[Please don't sign him up to be experimented on, that would ruin this very romantic evening. He shakes his head vigorously for extra emphasis before he sort of slumps back like the very thought is exhausting. Joe's arm is there. Hi, arm.]

Look, just skip that, okay? Skipping it! Next thing!

[He's gesturing back and forth with both hands, which from context must mean "skip that thing holy shit."]

[armanyo]

[ it must in fact mean that! so all right, he'll skip to the next thing.

which reminds him. the arm that isn't on the couch behind daichi is going to fiddle with the remote and scroll through the now booted-up netflix. ]

What genre?

[ he's offering to let you pick? instead of his probably garbage taste. it's a good thing, as he mindlessly toys with the start of the hoodie string near him. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Huh. Good work skipping that thing, Joe. Maybe Daichi will relax again!]

Uh... mystery?

[He'd be happy with a goddamn vocaloid concert, but mystery is cool and mature, right? Just like him, a cool and mature guy, now glancing repeatedly at Joe's hand while he fiddles with the string.]

[armanyo]

[ will he really relax? ]

Hmmmm. 'kay. A good old who done it.

[ let him find that section and flip through a few suggestions. aha! this looks like a decently rated movie. he selects it and tosses the remote aside, hand falling in his lap. at least that one is stationery unlike the one twirling the hoodie string, the tips of his fingers probably occasionally skirting the fabric of the hoodie. ]

[keeptrucking]

[He'll do his very best. Personal goals: chill out around cute boys. Can he do it???

He's missing the opening scene of this movie while Joe plays with his hoodie, but whatever. It's a mystery, somebody probably dies, that's not anything special.

....he can only take so much of this.] Dude, I know it's your shirt, but you're not the one wearing it.

[armanyo]

[ be cool, dude. why are you bringing attention to this very platonic and not at all flirting gesture? geez. wow-ee. ]

Huh. Is it distracting you?

[ he sounds downright amused so that's probably the intended effect, daichi. and as a shout-out to the forsaken fries from earlier, joe twines his fingers tightly around the string and then dangles it in front of daichi's face. ]

[keeptrucking]

[He's trying to be cool but flirting is so alien... it was better before he got a string in his face? Please.]

Now it is. How am I suposed to watch this old lady find a murdered guy in an alley if you keep doing that, huh?

[He leans away from Joe's hand in protest, but not too much since... that string is attached to him. Obviously. The only direction to lean is towards the rest of Joe, anyway, so. Hey.]

[armanyo]

[ heyyyyy. ]

See? You know exactly what's going on.

[ you just summarized the scene perfectly, daichi! no need for alarm. daichi's leaning brings with it warmth and joe just chuckles at the entirety of the situation. he lets go of the string, allowing the hoodie string to resume its natural place in life. of course, that's accompanied with his now free arm finally hooking around and coming to rest at daichi's side.

aha! ]

[keeptrucking]

[Did he walk - lean - right into this? He thinks he did. So maybe he made a lucky guess about this movie—more importantly, this is now much more touchy-feely!! He freezes for a second, not sure how much more he should lean here... what is Acceptable...]

Maybe I've seen this one before... [He hasn't. Whatever. As if it were his plan all along, he leans back against the couch. And Joe. Mostly Joe? He is totally in control of the situation.]

[armanyo]

[ no one is in control of this situation, sorry. ]

Yeah? You shoulda told me. Now you're gonna spoil it.

[ he sincerely doubts daichi will spoil it. but it's fun to poke fun. he'll behave for at least ten more minutes. look, he'll let daichi watch the movie and everything. no weird dancing strings or impromptu speeches. nope. none of that. he isn't even humming under his breath!

but that's ten minutes too long to be silent and still. how does his thumb idly tracing circles sound? ]

[keeptrucking]

[Joe can be silent and still, but Daichi might make idle commentary. He can't help occasionally criticizing a few minor characters here and there... it's fine. He's witty and totally relaxed now, good job Daichi.]

Can you believe this guy? What kind of detective does his work like a dumb kid?

[Daichi, a professional adult, knows better than whatever this generic detective story is doing. That new flirty thing is... comfortable? But he thinks about it for a second too long, so how about he just reaches up to put his hand over Joe's? Nice. Let him watch more of this before the chill.]

god fuck balls shit dam

[armanyo]

[ before the chill, wow.

but joe lets him do that, mostly because it's much better than the anticipated spazz-fit or shooing away he expected. so he'll allow daichi to continue watching and making commentary. ]

A real amateur.

[ he says in concurrence to daichi's observation, an amused little trill to his words. he's half paying attention to the movie, mostly just watching daichi from the corner of his eyes. ]

embarrassing

[keeptrucking]

[before the chill, the new measurement of time. Daichi will keep holding his hand at this kinda weird angle, scoffing at the terrible detective. Look at him... engrossed. By mystery movies.]

Right? Is this movie about a mystery or a loser? [Daichi is the real amateur here... but never mind that. He's having a good time???]

why are half my accounts starting with a

[armanyo]

[ it's a pseudo-hand-holding but it still counts. given all the awkward encounters today, this is by far the most progress. but he's sincerely glad daichi is enjoying this horrible excuse for a movie. ]

Can't it be both?

[ he snickers, and oh look he'll squeeze that gay ass hand that's over his. ]

clearly you're A+

[keeptrucking]

[Secrets revealed: Daichi is easily plied with totally crappy entertainment. It does help that Joe is, you know, warm and comfortable and other soft gay things like that, but the movie really ties it all together.]

I... guess, but what kind of movie is that? Did you go back to comedy when I wasn't looking?

[This accusation!! He made a very specific request!! This time when Daichi squeezes his hand right back, it's scolding. Very... scolding.]

no you're not allowed to be smooth in daichi's account

[armanyo]

[ so scolding. how dare.

but joe laughs at the accusation and just cocks his head to the side. ]

Eh. When weren't you looking?

[ lazily, his fingers beginning toying with that scolding hand and attempt to slide their way into the spaces between daichi's. listen, it's a complicated process at this angle and at this juncture in this soft gay thing that's happening. ]

oh then i take it back :((( ur just lame

[keeptrucking]

[Yeah, take that. Daichi looks sideways at him - sideways and kind of up, since he's so thoroughly slumped against him here, hm - and... frowns. Or he tries to frown, then his face screws up like he might laugh and he just shakes his head.

The soft gay things are getting out of control, but not out of hand. Badum tsh.]

Forget it. Just remember, you picked the terrible movie, not me.

[He's finally learned he gets to touch hands more if he doesn't make a fuss about it, congratulate him for Keeping Cool.]

that pun.....

[armanyo]

[ the fact that daichi is remaining so cool is admirable. really admirable. it's almost as if he isn't the same idiot that gets kidnapped because he has to use the restroom..... ]

There were no objections~

[ yes, that's a tilde, because joe is actually lilting. he chuckles and tilts his head and why yes, his mouth is incredibly close to daichi's ear. ]

So ... who done it? [ the murder. not the gay things. ]

puns aren't smooth so i'm allowed

[keeptrucking]

[Don't lilt? And leaning so close to his ear is—not enough to ruin his whole cool guy watching a movie vibe, but it's enough to make him tense up for a couple seconds. Hi, Joe.]

M-maybe you should watch the movie and find out.

[yeah.....yeah!! It'd be cooler if he didn't fumble, but he can only do so many things in one day.]

[armanyo]

[ the crazy soda incident probably took all of daichi's cool points for the day, you're right.

joe can't help but notice the tensing. the fact daichi doesn't lean away or smack him upside the head for being a distracting moron is interesting. really interesting.

listen joe is very in tune with his own feelings on this matter but reading daichi is like parsing through ancient greek. he just doesn't speak that language. sorry for the fumbling. ]

Nah, I wanna hear your opinion. The movie will tell me eventually. [ said, accordingly still by his ear. ]