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]

[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?

[armanyo]

Heh. I can handle more than a third.

[ don't you jest with him! but actually, he's capable of planning all of it, but he doesn't want daichi to think like he doesn't believe in his ability. so this is just all sorts of awkward fumbling around. ]

[keeptrucking]

[He's not jesting!! He's trying to take responsibility; please tolerate his efforts at least this once.

...Actually, there's an idea. Get ready, it's Huge.] We'll go on two dates.

[armanyo]

[ that's. the million idea, you're right. ]

In a row? The same night?

[ no joe not the same night. he's fully aware of that fact but he can't help the joke. ]

[keeptrucking]

No, genius, not in the same night.

[Will Daichi ever improve his Joe Joke Radar? Maybe it's part of his charm, like this.] Maybe like a weekend... or, uh, hmm. I guess you get days off sometimes, yeah?

[armanyo]

[ he's an adult, he rarely has vacation days. but he can put in for one if that's what you really want, daichi. ]

Weekend, huh.

[ oh no. here we go: ]

Aha. A weekend retreat. A get away.

[ stop this- ]

[keeptrucking]

[Surely he gets? At least one day off sometimes?? Christmas????]

To where? [don't say love hotel] We can't just go away somewhere yet.

[Why, Daichi-] You'd probably have to meet my parents first.

[He has a Fear.]

[armanyo]

[ christmas and new years yeah sure. ]

Ehh, can't you say you're going somewhere for the weekend with Hibs?

[ uhm. ]

I'll meet them whenever.

[ that'll go great... ]

We can ever wear matching suits~

[keeptrucking]

[Asking him to lie to his parents??? Joe, you're the adult here.]

That's more creepy than it is cute, dude. Save it for a special occasion, or something.

[...] Meeting my parents, that is. Nnnot feeling matching suits.

[armanyo]

Right. Holidays, then.

[ that's fine. he isn't a rush to meet the parents, anyway. he's older than daichi and a guy and that's just a lot of issues off the bat. ]

Still. I believe in you, Daichester. Convince 'em you deserve to go away for a weekend.

[keeptrucking]

[He's also the first person Daichi will ever bring home to meet them, so everything will be a big surprise! Someday, someday. After he gets into university so he can make up a better story about how they met. Good one.

That said, he's slowly coming around to the Secret Boyfriend Weekend idea.....]

I'll try... I guess they can't really stop me. [But look at him, he's not a rebel.]

[armanyo]

[ don't you dare say he's your hot professor or teaching assistant. yikes. ]

Do they usually ask where you're going?

[ just curious. like, if he hangs out with hibiki for the weekend do they pry?

these are Super Important Questions. ]

[keeptrucking]

[NO, JESUS, but it's easier to explain away meeting older dudes when you're a Mature University Student... this is what he thinks, anyway.]

Uh, I usually mention it. [he's a Good Boy.] I'm not, like, tracked around town or anything. I don't have a curfew.

[a fascinating tidbit.]