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]

[ well then. ]

Haha, it's fine! I'll burst in and play the role of the Knight in Shining Armor.

[ that's not how it works. or does it? is it that simple? either way, joe returns that look with a lop-sided grin, eyes sparkling and downright playful.

he's entirely comfortable sitting like this thank you very much. he's even going to squeeze that hand again. ]

[keeptrucking]

Yeeeaah, that'll totally work. Then when we're both in trouble, Makoto can beg for our freedom. We'll owe her favors for, like, a year.

[See how it's a stupid plan? Because it's stupid. Not that the whole knight thing isn't charming in its own dorky way, and not that Joe right now isn't very... close. And good-looking. Very persuasive things!

But god, it's dumb. Daichi is still giving him a look. In fact he's just looking at him, the Yamato crisis fading quietly into the background. Hmm!]

...Knight, huh? Aren't you already, kinda...? [look he's talking about scarfnapping and it's supposed to be a joke, but also. but also.]

[armanyo]

[ did you just call him a knight? did you? because that's gay, daichi. that's really gay. ]

Heh. You think I'm a Knight? That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.

[ look, he's being modest? for once? the hand that isn't with daichi's rubs the back of his neck, because wow? even if daichi meant scarf-napping that's quite the compliment!!! ]

[keeptrucking]

I, uh— [tbh his instinct is to immediately take it back with a lot of no ways and obviously nots, but... he'd feel mean, after Joe takes him seriously...

dang!!!]

I mean, sure? Don't- don't tell anyone I said that, though.

[armanyo]

Oh no, I'm gonna text Hibs right now.

[ please god no.

joe still appreciates it all the same, though, and he squeezes daichi's hand one more time. there's even a playful swing to it afterward. ]

[keeptrucking]

What?! No, whatever you do, don't tell him— [He will tell! Everyone! Everyone will know and they will probably march on Joe's apartment just to make fun of that super gay thing Daichi said??

This is what he assumes, anyway. Love those guys. Give him a moment to realize this wasn't actually serious—] You—nnh. You're gonna give me a heart attack.

[armanyo]

[ CHILL LITTLE SCARF MAN. ]

Oh man. If I was going to give you a heart attack, I have a lot better and clever ways to do it.

[ he wouldn't actually tell hibiki about this. that's too cruel, even for a joker like joe. far too cruel. ]

[keeptrucking]

[nooooo.....]

Yeah, I bet. [He knows he's no match for Joe at this... stuff... whatever this stuff is, ahem.] Well, try not to kill me before the end of the movie, okay?

[armanyo]

Can I kill you after the movie?

[ the fuck kind of pick up line is that? a bad one. it's a really bad one. ]

[keeptrucking]

[This is not the first time today Daichi has wondered about his life choices, but. Who says that? Who??]

No, Joe. No killing.

[armanyo]

Minor injury?

[ THIS SOUNDS SO BAD? OUT OF CONTEXT? he's realizing it after that one and just making a thoughtful 'hm' noise. ]

Swooning?

[keeptrucking]

[Joe, jesus christ!!!]

I don't swoon! What am I, twelve? [well.....]

[armanyo]

[ WELL.... ]

Eh. Mild swooning?

[keeptrucking]

[listen.]

That's still swooning... [grumble... why does he have to make these choices? not fair.] Maybe.

[armanyo]

[ is anything ever fair? ]

Is it swooning if no one sees? [ besides him, of course. ]

[keeptrucking]

[It should be fair...!! This is too much responsibility. And exactly what is Joe asking to do to him here, damn.]

Um, yeah? Words still mean the same thing all the time, genius.

[Daichi, no, be nice. Try. Ignore how weird this conversation is.] I guess it's fine?

[armanyo]

[ it's a truly heroic effort. no wonder you're the true route. ]

You only guess? No, no, no, that won't do at all. We need certainty.

[ ....... yeah sure? all right. ]

[keeptrucking]

[He's totes worth it, thanks. It'd be nice if he had some certainty about what exactly, down to the letter, out loud in words Joe is wheedling him about... but that would be too awkward to ask, because he's 12.]

Okay. Sure, why not. [this enthusiasm???] I mean... yeah.

[armanyo]

[ asking and having an open and honest conversation is far beyond them. together, they're probably 25. ]

That's more like it!

[ have another appropriately timed hand squeeze. he shifts against the couch just a bit, just to get more comfortable, but tugs daichi with him to resume their earlier closeness. ]

[keeptrucking]

[This is... the end of anything making sense... no, that was hours ago. But one of these Daichi is going to wake up and realized he moved in with Joe or something and had no idea, at this rate.

He's trying. He doesn't resist moving a little to stay, well... cozy. Other than the gay secret code he doesn't know, this is nice.]

Yeah, yeah. It's not like it's a big deal... [Stop being a dork.... that's endearing?? He's not smiling, god. Lame.]

[armanyo]

[ so lame!

there is no gay secret code. he's literally just playing gay chicken right now because the last thing he wants to do is make one of his closest friends uncomfortable. that'd be awkward. no crush is worth making someone feel that weirded out. so baby steps it is. ]

Yeah?

[ oh no there's a mischievous smirk and he's using his free arm to reach out away from the couch towards the table where the neglected fries are. what will you do, daichi???? ]

[keeptrucking]

[Everything is a gay secret code to Daichi. Girls are a straight secret code. How does he do any of this. Let him go get a piece of paper and pass Joe a "do you like me? Y/N" note instead of using his words, which is apparently too mysterious.

Anyway he just got comfortable and now he has to beware fries again. Fry code: it's bad.]

If you put food in my face again, I'm changing my mind. [For like five minutes, at least.]

[armanyo]

[ actually, the middle school style note would probably work best. maybe you should go do that and save them both the headache, daichi.

the look remains and he's still leaning ever-closer to the fries, fingertips brushing against the plate the fries are resting upon. ]

Hehe, try and stop me.

[ twelve years old. ]

[keeptrucking]

[It's too late now, they're in fry hell. He'll send a text from the bathroom later and it will be as stupid as that sounds.]

Hey. Hey. Don't do it. Don't do something you'll regret.

[Will he, though? Will he regret heckling Daichi with more fries?? Daichi has no choice but to reach for Joe's arm with his free hand and try tugging his hand away from the plate. Please, spare him.]

[armanyo]

[ but!! the fries!! ]

Me? Regret?

[ joe is trilling again and he is wiggling his hand in daichi's grasp, still trying to get to those elusive fries. he's trying to squirm slightly away, too, all the while remaining attached to daichi via his other hand.

truthfully? it's a hot mess. this is a hot mess right now. ]