[He thinks on that, and then three more faces of people they shouldn't tell come to mind. Three more, and more, until practically everyone's faces are floating around, giving him taunting looks.
Tensing and shaking his head as he walks with too much energy, he sighs loudly.]
Aghhh, these bastards are going to make fun of us no matter what!! That's it! I'm not letting them hold me back!
[Though he thinks to himself, as an afterthought, that he doesn't even know what the hell he's doing anyway...]
[Shoot's mercifully not accosted by the same mental images. Just Palm and Morel are enough to give him pause, but maybe they really can... keep a secret.
—Or not, apparently, from Knuckle's exclamation. Shoot looks sideways at him, almost warily. If it's inevitable that Everyone is going to Know, he'd honestly rather they find out with as much subtlety as possible.]
In that case, let them figure it out themselves. [do not pick up a megaphone he will put you in his creepy cage he swears
... Hmm. Being made fun of isn't appealing, but for the record-?] I care more about what you think, anyway.
[Grumbling, Knuckle almost tries to cross his arms before he remembers he's holding a hand with one of them, and so it turns into an awkward sort of swing for a few steps. He looks up and away and all over as they walk, too, thinking like he's deeply focusing...
And he is, actually.]
Okay, well... [With a sideglance he likes to think is subtle, he watches Shoot as he mumbles out the next words as nonchalantly as he can. Which is to say it's not. He can't.] I'm thinking... What exactly are we gonna let 'em figure out, anyway?
[Is this a... Thing, or... ...What was this, now. Shoot's the logical one, so asking him is best!!]
[More waiting... Shoot doesn't feel as nervous this time; they're already walking around holding hands, so he sort of figured that question was already answered. He's holding Knuckle's hand and isn't possessed by a powerful urge to push him away with three more- that's clear to him...!
Having already made up his mind helps him respond to Knuckle's question with just an exasperated look, then, instead of bailing entirely. What would he have done if Shoot hadn't brought it up? Just gone on- doing what??
But, fine, he can articulate feelings better after someone else has already made the first move. Loopholes.]
Do you want to hold hands and kiss more often, or is this it?
[Granted, this is the least romantic way he could have phrased this.]
[Okay... He was expecting actual help, not this. Sputtering and half falling over himself, Knuckle whirls to face Shoot even as they keep walking, continuing his dramatic hand gestures even as they keep holding hands-- none of this should be surprising.]
What the hell kind of question is that?! [WHO... Okay, no, he won't ask that because he understands Shoot is a fucking weirdo. But. Ahhh... actually, the more he thinks on it, the more that's a good question. It's-- he wants more, right? Is he offering?
Squinting and acting like he's still completely offended and bothered by it all, he points with his free hand, looking skeptical.]
Don't mess with me, fool! You're trying to get me to admit it first, aren't you? Well, too bad! [Knuckle you just did, though.] You answer that question first!
[This is helping. Shoot's definitely not surprised by any of this reaction- he's weird, Knuckle is Loud, it's expected. It's just slightly unfortunate that his moods seem to vacillate between "panic" and "50/50 chance of being a jerk."
He could salvage this by not being a bit of a jackass, but... they'll be here all night if he does that. It's easier to be frank when Knuckle is wigging out, anyway.]
Don't yell. I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to do it again. [duh!!]
[Damn it, it's pissing him off! Shoot's acting so composed. Why?! That wasn't fair at all! Weren't they both napping awkwardly in a bed and then reading books together, today?! Shoot was sweating nervously the whole time! Or close to it.
He didn't get to sound like the one in control of his emotions! Even if, realistically and in comparison, he was...]
How long have you known this, huh?! Don't tell me you were just waiting around while I had no idea! [He's avoiding admitting things here, but details.]
[Ah, well that gets his tenuous grasp on being in control to deflate. How long as he known? He doesn't know! Does Knuckle think he's been keeping count, or even noticed before it was suddenly too obvious to ignore-!
He can't even say when that was with certainty. Maybe in the hospital...? He doesn't have enough social reference points for this task.]
I wasn't! Don't make it sound so— [He frowns; so YA lit, wow.] Does it matter how long, as this point?
[No, it doesn't. Just for his pride's sake, but why does he even care why. Well, he wants to know, who's the werewolf here?? Important YA lit questions.]
You're dodging it again! Come on, are you nervous or something? [Hm, maybe he's not making him comfortable. Slowly, his yelling peters out over those sentences, and he squeezes their hands lightly as they walk. By now, he's looking elsewhere.]
[No, this is the worst. Knuckle calming down barely helps, mainly because Shoot really doesn't know. That's probably not the answer Knuckle wants to hear, as (way too) seriously as he takes these things— "Oh, I dunno, whenever"?
He's cringing a little just thinking about it. God, this is ridiculous - it was probably in the hospital, so he's just going to go with that.]
In the hospital, I guess... [yep that sounds as bad as he imagined.] I mean, I had a lot of time to—think about things.
[That actually gets Knuckle quiet again. His mouth flattens into a line as he stares forward, trying to consider. Maybe Shoot was right. Maybe it doesn't matter. (Now that he has to think of it for himself, at least.)
Scuffing the ground with his feet a bit as he walks, Knuckle's shoulders hunch over some more.]
[Why is he quiet now? Shoot gave him an answer, was it wrong? There isn't a wrong answer, that's stupid, but— ugh, he didn't want to say anything for this reason!!
He couldn't have said something, of that much he's sure for a variety of reasons (first of all, he was in a full body cast for a couple days), but he squeezes Knuckle's hand and tries to make his voice sound light and casual,]
I could hardly say anything today. It wasn't because of you. [he's a loser... man does that sound bad too, probably] I'm not good at this...
[He's surprised at first. Shoot... He must be struggling with this more than he even thought. He's always so nervous-- maybe there was a way he could help with that? His own nervousness falls to the wayside as he grins suddenly, bringing his free hand in a fist to his chest. Over his heart.]
...Well, it's true that you could have said something [thanks Knuckle] but it worked out in the end anyway. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, either...
But we're partners. [You can probably feel the shonen sparkles.] If you ever have something you don't know how to say, I can figure it out! You always do the same for me, right?
At least they can both admit they have no idea what they're doing, even if nothing else comes out smoothly. Shoot thinks it's probably a bit... lame... to be comforted by this, but he still is. He squeezes Knuckle's hand again, more determinedly this time.]
Mm. Alright. [One word in response to that shonen speech, yes, typical Shoot. But he looks relaxed again, which says more than his awkward verbal replies could, anyway.
[Oh. His mouth flattens at that and he looks forward, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. Haha... He had to think back to remember what questions at all, since he was so busy just trying to understand Shoot, but.]
Hell yeah, I want to! [He's looking forward and not at Shoot as he says this, now, but he's just embarrassed, even through enthusiasm.] But don't think this means I'm all sappy or anything, I'm not gonna get emotional...!
[Why does Knuckle make everything so emotional (he definitely is) when his answers are so simple? Shoot has to wonder this, not for the first time, at that reply. Hell yeah - he's never been hell yeah'd in his life. What a new experience...]
Good. It's good that you want to. [nice save... not calling him out on being a crybaby this time] So—I don't care if Morel knows, or anyone...
[He will Try not to sweat nervously too much, at the very least. Is that everything settled?? For now?
good because he has a very important subject change]
[He's grinning a bit, even as he asks that. What can he say? Shoot's replies to that make him feel good. This is becoming gradually more normal and acceptable, and not as if it'd happened out of nowhere after a night of drinking. When he wasn't busy trying to deny it, small realizations came to him so easily. Little things he'd notice when all three of them were out, or small things that would bug him or make him excited...
Now that he notices it, he just hopes no one else had beat him to the punch. (Hah.)]
I hadn't really thought about it! [His lack of plan revealed. But Knuckle doesn't seem ashamed by this. In fact, he looks overly proud, his chin up and his free hand scratching at his cheek like he's clever or something.] A little exercise is probably good for you, but we can't go too far. How about the arcade? Ever played a video game?
[Of course he hadn't thought about it... Typical, but endearing this time because they're not in mortal danger. That part is important.
But that's a strangely phrased question, enough that Shoot actually gives him a look like he can't understand why that's a question Knuckle would ask in the first place. Has Knuckle ever played a video game?]
Um... Yes, but not in a while. [Who has that kind of time? And before the shame of realizing they will probably be super out of place among The Youths in the arcade sinks in, he adds,] I didn't know you were into games.
[He doesn't believe Knuckle is into games in the slightest.]
he sure is... by uploading more icons I may have ruined all the old ones, ignore that
Heheh... Oh yeah? Well, there's a lot you don't know!
[He's stroking his chin with that free hand, now, stop him. To be honest, he's not 'into games' that much. He sometimes has played them before, and found the concept of fighting without fighting really cool. He probably lost to a kid and got sore about it.
But right now, he's not feeling sore about it!!]
Think of it as a warm-up before you can spar again!
[Ah, fighting... If Shoot were in top form, he might not say no to a date that was really just sparring with some hand holding afterwards, but not while he's still fresh out of the hospital!
Still, it's something to do. He's not one for games much either - people can watch in public arcades, first of all, he doesn't need that kind of performance anxiety... and there are only so many games that go smoothly when played with one arm.
He's keeping that detail to himself for Knuckle's sake, so he doesn't just frown away every idea for things they can do together. Maybe he'll pretend to have two arms, if he needs to. Hmm...]
A warm-up? Sure. [a beat.] If we're going to play against each other, do you want to make a bet? The loser buys dinner.
[Shoot knows what a Real Date is supposed to be like.]
[A competition? On their first date? Shoot must know him well. The atmosphere changes as Knuckle's eyes get fiery and he laughs, eager beyond words. He even lets his aura spike a little. He will not chill.]
That's what I'm talking about! Hell yeah, fool! You're buying me dinner, tonight!
[How romantic.
But... He's already thought of the arm issue, believe it or not. It's the one thing he manages to think of between everything that goes on with him and Shoot. There are a lot of one button games, or a racing game, or those speed based whack-a-mole types, or, as he is going to insist, the claw machine.]
Prepare to get your ass handed to you! I'm all fired up, now...! Let's do a best three out of five!
[Aw, he does care. Although the claw machine, is that really a "game" necessarily...
Shoot isn't put off, at least - Knuckle getting too excited about this thing is more contagious than frustrating. He's not about to get super fired up, but- it should be fun! Probably-!
Well, he's also already resigned himself to buying dinner, just because he has that feeling... but it should be fun.]
Don't you think you're getting a little ahead of yourself? I won't go easy on you.
[Giving It My All and etc, the story of two nerds taking a claw machine too seriously.]
[He's unstoppable, now, picking up his pace and dragging Shoot along by the hand.]
It's not too far from here! [Maybe they'll even beat the rush of actual children that go there in the afternoon. Maybe.] We'll decide on which games together, but I've already got a few suggestions in mind. Haha, I hope you're ready to lose! I'm going to buy the most expensive meal on the menu!
Are you sure you didn't plan this all along? [The arcade, not the rest. He doesn't complain about being pulled, mercifully; if it keeps Knuckle happy, so be it...
Anyway HERE'S AN ARCADE after an unspecified amount of dragging Shoot down the street, the usual, standard. He looks around once they get inside like he's looking at the games, but it's just as likely that he's looking to see how many children they're going to embarrass themselves in front of soon. This is fair, okay.] Which one did you have in mind?
[He laughs cheerily and assure him it was just coincidence the whole walk there, along with talking about how great it's going to be to see Shoot playing video games.
By the time they get inside, Knuckle seems to have the answer to this prepared, as he's turning around and holding up two fingers with a smile.]
You have two choices! First, that one over there. [He jabs a thumb backwards over one shoulder, and it should be clear he means some really old school fighting game in the back there that's just one button on each side. Each person hits the button to knock the other out. Timing and speed.]
Orrr, those cars. [He switches to point across to the other side, at the typical racing game.]
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Tensing and shaking his head as he walks with too much energy, he sighs loudly.]
Aghhh, these bastards are going to make fun of us no matter what!! That's it! I'm not letting them hold me back!
[Though he thinks to himself, as an afterthought, that he doesn't even know what the hell he's doing anyway...]
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—Or not, apparently, from Knuckle's exclamation. Shoot looks sideways at him, almost warily. If it's inevitable that Everyone is going to Know, he'd honestly rather they find out with as much subtlety as possible.]
In that case, let them figure it out themselves. [do not pick up a megaphone he will put you in his creepy cage he swears
... Hmm. Being made fun of isn't appealing, but for the record-?] I care more about what you think, anyway.
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[Grumbling, Knuckle almost tries to cross his arms before he remembers he's holding a hand with one of them, and so it turns into an awkward sort of swing for a few steps. He looks up and away and all over as they walk, too, thinking like he's deeply focusing...
And he is, actually.]
Okay, well... [With a sideglance he likes to think is subtle, he watches Shoot as he mumbles out the next words as nonchalantly as he can. Which is to say it's not. He can't.] I'm thinking... What exactly are we gonna let 'em figure out, anyway?
[Is this a... Thing, or... ...What was this, now. Shoot's the logical one, so asking him is best!!]
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Having already made up his mind helps him respond to Knuckle's question with just an exasperated look, then, instead of bailing entirely. What would he have done if Shoot hadn't brought it up? Just gone on- doing what??
But, fine, he can articulate feelings better after someone else has already made the first move. Loopholes.]
Do you want to hold hands and kiss more often, or is this it?
[Granted, this is the least romantic way he could have phrased this.]
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What the hell kind of question is that?! [WHO... Okay, no, he won't ask that because he understands Shoot is a fucking weirdo. But. Ahhh... actually, the more he thinks on it, the more that's a good question. It's-- he wants more, right? Is he offering?
Squinting and acting like he's still completely offended and bothered by it all, he points with his free hand, looking skeptical.]
Don't mess with me, fool! You're trying to get me to admit it first, aren't you? Well, too bad! [Knuckle you just did, though.] You answer that question first!
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He could salvage this by not being a bit of a jackass, but... they'll be here all night if he does that. It's easier to be frank when Knuckle is wigging out, anyway.]
Don't yell. I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to do it again. [duh!!]
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[Damn it, it's pissing him off! Shoot's acting so composed. Why?! That wasn't fair at all! Weren't they both napping awkwardly in a bed and then reading books together, today?! Shoot was sweating nervously the whole time! Or close to it.
He didn't get to sound like the one in control of his emotions! Even if, realistically and in comparison, he was...]
How long have you known this, huh?! Don't tell me you were just waiting around while I had no idea! [He's avoiding admitting things here, but details.]
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He can't even say when that was with certainty. Maybe in the hospital...? He doesn't have enough social reference points for this task.]
I wasn't! Don't make it sound so— [He frowns; so YA lit, wow.] Does it matter how long, as this point?
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[No, it doesn't. Just for his pride's sake, but why does he even care why. Well, he wants to know, who's the werewolf here?? Important YA lit questions.]
You're dodging it again! Come on, are you nervous or something? [Hm, maybe he's not making him comfortable. Slowly, his yelling peters out over those sentences, and he squeezes their hands lightly as they walk. By now, he's looking elsewhere.]
You can say... It's just me.
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He's cringing a little just thinking about it. God, this is ridiculous - it was probably in the hospital, so he's just going to go with that.]
In the hospital, I guess... [yep that sounds as bad as he imagined.] I mean, I had a lot of time to—think about things.
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Scuffing the ground with his feet a bit as he walks, Knuckle's shoulders hunch over some more.]
You could've said something.
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He couldn't have said something, of that much he's sure for a variety of reasons (first of all, he was in a full body cast for a couple days), but he squeezes Knuckle's hand and tries to make his voice sound light and casual,]
I could hardly say anything today. It wasn't because of you. [he's a loser... man does that sound bad too, probably] I'm not good at this...
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...Well, it's true that you could have said something [thanks Knuckle] but it worked out in the end anyway. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, either...
But we're partners. [You can probably feel the shonen sparkles.] If you ever have something you don't know how to say, I can figure it out! You always do the same for me, right?
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At least they can both admit they have no idea what they're doing, even if nothing else comes out smoothly. Shoot thinks it's probably a bit... lame... to be comforted by this, but he still is. He squeezes Knuckle's hand again, more determinedly this time.]
Mm. Alright. [One word in response to that shonen speech, yes, typical Shoot. But he looks relaxed again, which says more than his awkward verbal replies could, anyway.
Wait for it.]
... You made me answer all the questions. [bruh]
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Hell yeah, I want to! [He's looking forward and not at Shoot as he says this, now, but he's just embarrassed, even through enthusiasm.] But don't think this means I'm all sappy or anything, I'm not gonna get emotional...!
[He already did.]
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Good. It's good that you want to. [nice save... not calling him out on being a crybaby this time] So—I don't care if Morel knows, or anyone...
[He will Try not to sweat nervously too much, at the very least. Is that everything settled?? For now?
good because he has a very important subject change]
Where are we going?
crawls out from my inbox jesus christ
[He's grinning a bit, even as he asks that. What can he say? Shoot's replies to that make him feel good. This is becoming gradually more normal and acceptable, and not as if it'd happened out of nowhere after a night of drinking. When he wasn't busy trying to deny it, small realizations came to him so easily. Little things he'd notice when all three of them were out, or small things that would bug him or make him excited...
Now that he notices it, he just hopes no one else had beat him to the punch. (Hah.)]
I hadn't really thought about it! [His lack of plan revealed. But Knuckle doesn't seem ashamed by this. In fact, he looks overly proud, his chin up and his free hand scratching at his cheek like he's clever or something.] A little exercise is probably good for you, but we can't go too far. How about the arcade? Ever played a video game?
[He thinks he is Young and Hip.]
old man knuckle......
But that's a strangely phrased question, enough that Shoot actually gives him a look like he can't understand why that's a question Knuckle would ask in the first place. Has Knuckle ever played a video game?]
Um... Yes, but not in a while. [Who has that kind of time? And before the shame of realizing they will probably be super out of place among The Youths in the arcade sinks in, he adds,] I didn't know you were into games.
[He doesn't believe Knuckle is into games in the slightest.]
he sure is... by uploading more icons I may have ruined all the old ones, ignore that
[He's stroking his chin with that free hand, now, stop him. To be honest, he's not 'into games' that much. He sometimes has played them before, and found the concept of fighting without fighting really cool. He probably lost to a kid and got sore about it.
But right now, he's not feeling sore about it!!]
Think of it as a warm-up before you can spar again!
[Even on dates he wants to fight.]
for the sake of small dorito, i will
Still, it's something to do. He's not one for games much either - people can watch in public arcades, first of all, he doesn't need that kind of performance anxiety... and there are only so many games that go smoothly when played with one arm.
He's keeping that detail to himself for Knuckle's sake, so he doesn't just frown away every idea for things they can do together. Maybe he'll pretend to have two arms, if he needs to. Hmm...]
A warm-up? Sure. [a beat.] If we're going to play against each other, do you want to make a bet? The loser buys dinner.
[Shoot knows what a Real Date is supposed to be like.]
thank
That's what I'm talking about! Hell yeah, fool! You're buying me dinner, tonight!
[How romantic.
But... He's already thought of the arm issue, believe it or not. It's the one thing he manages to think of between everything that goes on with him and Shoot. There are a lot of one button games, or a racing game, or those speed based whack-a-mole types, or, as he is going to insist, the claw machine.]
Prepare to get your ass handed to you! I'm all fired up, now...! Let's do a best three out of five!
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Shoot isn't put off, at least - Knuckle getting too excited about this thing is more contagious than frustrating. He's not about to get super fired up, but- it should be fun! Probably-!
Well, he's also already resigned himself to buying dinner, just because he has that feeling... but it should be fun.]
Don't you think you're getting a little ahead of yourself? I won't go easy on you.
[Giving It My All and etc, the story of two nerds taking a claw machine too seriously.]
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[He's unstoppable, now, picking up his pace and dragging Shoot along by the hand.]
It's not too far from here! [Maybe they'll even beat the rush of actual children that go there in the afternoon. Maybe.] We'll decide on which games together, but I've already got a few suggestions in mind. Haha, I hope you're ready to lose! I'm going to buy the most expensive meal on the menu!
[kNUCKLE THAT IS NOT A GOOD DATE PLAN]
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Are you sure you didn't plan this all along? [The arcade, not the rest. He doesn't complain about being pulled, mercifully; if it keeps Knuckle happy, so be it...
Anyway HERE'S AN ARCADE after an unspecified amount of dragging Shoot down the street, the usual, standard. He looks around once they get inside like he's looking at the games, but it's just as likely that he's looking to see how many children they're going to embarrass themselves in front of soon. This is fair, okay.] Which one did you have in mind?
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By the time they get inside, Knuckle seems to have the answer to this prepared, as he's turning around and holding up two fingers with a smile.]
You have two choices! First, that one over there. [He jabs a thumb backwards over one shoulder, and it should be clear he means some really old school fighting game in the back there that's just one button on each side. Each person hits the button to knock the other out. Timing and speed.]
Orrr, those cars. [He switches to point across to the other side, at the typical racing game.]
Which'll it be? Huh?
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am i real i whisper as i slam these all down
you are the realest and shoot is precious
for ironic purposes i'm not going to announce my return