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]

[Stop, he's blushing again. Like a dang fool.]

I mean, yeah, that was a pre-tty cool thing no one else could have pulled off... without a license and the same idea as me... Well, that's only one thing! Most of you guys do loads of awesome stuff!

["Most of," so like, probably not Jungo no offense luv ya buddy - anyway, he's totally fishing.]

[armanyo]

[ stop fishing!!! god!! ]

We also all don't have amazing yellow scarfs.

[ he's aware of your intentions! joe grins and just does that gay-ass thing where he brushes the bangs out of daichi's face. because that's clearly a good idea. ]

[keeptrucking]

[That's so gay. He raises a considering eyebrow, like yes, his scarf is very stylish thanks for noticing, and... yes, that's good. Good compliment.

He tilts his head just enough to press a kiss to Joe's nose. Or, like, right next to it, but he was aiming for the nose.]

Yeah, I kinda noticed you can't keep your hands off that.

[armanyo]

[ here it comes. ]

Eh. The scarf is really just a socially acceptable extension of you.

[ wow! wow? joe is grinning at the affection though. he's even going to start carding his hands through daichi's hair. ]

[keeptrucking]

Oh. Huh.

[Hmm... Yep, that seems like a very Joe(tm) thing to say, perfectly normal and—]

Waaaait wait wait, you dragging me around like a sack of potatoes is how we met! [surely the rabbit hole is not that deep??]

[armanyo]

[ surely not. ]

Not that first time, nope.

... Every other time, though. The idea kinda stuck.

[ okay so he isn't completely helpless. ]

[keeptrucking]

[That's still pretty hopeless... and real gay? Damn.]

I'll never understand what goes on in that brain of yours. Alright, sure. Just don't strangle me anymore, okay?

[Maybe just touch his hands? That's a socially acceptable part of him!]

[armanyo]

[ it is now that they've sucked face!!

joe chuckles and he's getting close again, lips mere inches from daichi's. ]

Of course. These old hands will never do you harm.

[keeptrucking]

[True... also calling them old hands is a little weird.]

Gee, you're so romantic. [But well, if Joe's going to get up in his space again, he'll just wiggle his arms over his shoulders. Hey.] Everyone's gonna be sooo impressed.

[By Joe's romance? By Daichi dating him? Who can say.]

[armanyo]

[ what is the answer? he needs to know. ]

By your suit? Yup.

[ wow, way to turn that conversation around! he's going to fiddle with daichi's hair once more! ]

[keeptrucking]

[It's both, but by "impressed" we really mean "mystified."]

The suit you used just to get me alone... I still maintain that you didn't have to buy a whole suit.

[Such an eccentric dating ritual!! Playing with his hair is nice though - so nice that he won't even make a snippy comment about how Joe insulted his haircut before. Truly, this is romance.]

[armanyo]

[ this is grade-a boyfriend flirting. this is the whole shebang, folks. ]

Eh? I could have just invited you over for food. I wanted you to have one.

[ look???? the suit wasn't a clever ploy. it was just joe trying to look out for his friend and now boyfriend. please calm down. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Suits are fancy and expensive (usually, when they are not bootlegs), so he has to be this way. It's not like he can afford one...!!]

Okay, okay, if you say so. Still, I dunno where I'm going to wear a suit... [hmm.] I guess we'll just have to go on a real date.

[A Real Boyfriends Date. Somewhere extra nice, apparently. He's decided.]

[armanyo]

[ somewhere super extra to warrant a suit? the opera maybe but that isn't joe's life so. it'll have to be a fancy dinner. that's the only thing he can foresee. that, or a company corporate party. maybe. ]

Wha? The Soda Machine doesn't count as one?

[keeptrucking]

[A corporate party??? What is he going to talk to actual, real business people about?? Fancy dinner, please.]

No, that barely counts as hanging out. [daichi,] You can't retroactively make it a date!

[armanyo]

[ he can talk about driving trucks into stars - no. ]

Fine, fine. [ daichi pls. ] I'll think up something good. I'll even ask Hibs for some advice.

[keeptrucking]

[Ah yes, then he can be the obviously much younger University Boyfriend and also the Crazy Boyfriend, good one. This imaginary date is assuming he gets into university... good luck Daichi.]

Ngh... I guess I can't stop you, but nothing too outrageous, okay? The two of you coming up with ideas is kind of scary...

[Ah, but genius idea-] I will pick you up. In a car. [he specifies, because Joe.]

[armanyo]

Oh, classy. You gonna get roses, too?

[ joe, joe stop. and he's only asking for hibiki's advice as to what things daichi actively likes and dislikes. he knows plenty by now but he just wants to be Certain.

and asking the best friend is his best bet. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Is it? Be careful with that Hibiki Advice, Joe, the man's poker face is out of this world.]

Maybe. If I have enough cash... Don't worry about it! [Lesson one: he has so many idealized Perfect Date opinions and all of them are cheesy as shit. Enjoy the roses.]

[armanyo]

[ he was joking? if you show up with flowers he won't know what to do with himself? do you want to see the impossible happen? akie flustered? ]

Don't worry about it. Food's much more important.

[ oh no he's dating a sap. ]

[keeptrucking]

[He's getting the damn flowers. Daichi wants the romance and the roses and long walks on the beach no matter how much he would mess all of those up by being himself. It's fine.]

I said it first. Seriously! You can do your advice survey- [why is it a survey now] -and I'll take care of the... everything else. Trust me!

[armanyo]

[ the problem is is that joe is usually the goofy romantic one. how the hell will they survive? fighting for this? role? ]

Everything else? Eh, shooting a little high, huh?

[ he's grinning like a madman. ]

[keeptrucking]

[They will literally fight for it. Smooch fight.]

Hey, I'm dependable when I need to be. You'll see!

[What if he just... ruffles Joe's hair for emphasis. Take that.]

[armanyo]

[ no. no smooch fights? that sounds like a horrible idea? he cares about his teeth. ]

Lemme do half. At least.

[ he will allow the ruffle only because he's too busy playing the strings of the hoodie. again. ]

[keeptrucking]

[daichi buys joe a fidget spinner so he'll stop playing with things around his neck]

You're doing the... middle part. The fancy date part. That's like a third? Can you handle a third?