open post / catch all

[axi]

[ action ; text ; voice ; video ; etc ]

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[pettymuch]

Hey.

[ What does he have to say?? He's suddenly not sure if he had his shit together enough to do this!! ]

It's me.

[ yeah no shit, idiot. ]

[axi]

Fancy that, I was just thinking about you. [Her tone is friendly, and as usual, a bit playful.]

Before we go any further, my phone's almost out of battery. Mind swinging by my place to chat?

[100% lying here, but it needs to be done!]

[pettymuch]

[ the moment she says that, he knows he should have kept this to text. Now it's gonna be in person?! ]

I mean, I could call later tonight?

[ why is he nervous? They've hung out plenty of times before. ]

[axi]

[Good try. By the time he says that, the call's already cut off. Now she's expecting him~]

[pettymuch]

[ damn it! Okay okay.
Give him like 20 and he'll finally knock on her door.

Big big breath, Bandou. You've got this. ]

[axi]

[A couple moments later, Kaname answers, smiling like nothing is wrong or weird at all. Sorry, not sorry.]

Hey, come on in. Have a seat, I'm just making dinner.

[Whether that's an invitation to join her remains to be seen. He's free to crash on the couch as she goes back to the kitchen to take something off the stove. A few minutes later, she joins him in the living room.

He can start.]

[pettymuch]

[ Making dinner in general or are they already on a date? Probably the first but he's made himself panic so much already, that after an awkward 'hello' on his end, he takes up her advice to sit down in the other room.

Thus begins his inner pep-talk:

Damn it, Bandou. Stop being nervous. She pretty much brought it up to you on her own. If she wasn't interested, she wouldn't have gotten you to come over. She's not like that. She's not some jerk who's gonna prank you again.

He's so deep into his self reassurance, that he doesn't notice she's in the room until she sits down next to him. And of course, he startles. ]

--!! Ah...hey

[axi]

[In general, Mr. Overthinker, it is around that time of day.

If he looks into the kitchen, he'll see a pot off to the side cooling down, giving her the opportunity to have all her attention on him. Bandou suddenly acting startled does have her pause, a slightly concerned look spreading across her face.]

Hi. Are you all right?

[pettymuch]

[ Her honest concern actually does help, even if it might not look that way. Instead of flailing, he heaves a heavy sigh, rubbing at the back of his neck. ]

Yeah, just getting too into my head.

[axi]

Mm, I've been there myself. Here.

[As if it will help, Kaname reaches over and takes hold of his sunglasses, gently removing them to put on the coffee table. Following that, she encourages him to shed his hat and hood.]

There, now I can see you. Talk to me.

[pettymuch]

[ That blush is back, taunting him as he blinks to adjust to the brightness of the room. Catching her in direct eye contact doesn't help either. He quickly looks to the side while he rids himself of the other ever-present accessories. He'll nervously ruffle his hat hair before looking back up. ]

You're too nice, you know that?

[ It's not an insult or complaint, though. ]

I'm not used to having people like you around.

[axi]

I'm not always that nice, I can promise that. [Of course, she's thinking more along the lines of training drills or field deployments, but that doesn't come into play here.

Still, his words have her fighting a smile. Kaname doesn't plan to let that distract her from the entire point of his visit.]

Is that all you wanted to say?

[There's only so much she can do in terms of encouragement. If he wants something, he's going to have to get there on his own.]

[pettymuch]

No! I want to ask you out!

[ His panic mode flares up again. Quickly enough that he doesn't realize he said it. ]

I just don't want to scare you away!

[axi]

[Well. That is absolutely one way to do it. Kaname blinks, then gives him a moment to realize what just happened. Before he can retreat back into his usual bluster and what not, she interjects with what she hopes is a final push.]

On a date? Then look me in the eyes and ask properly.

[pettymuch]

[ He thinks back on what he'd blurted out. ]

Ah...

[ But the fact that she's still sitting there, pushing for him to do it the proper way, gets him to take a steadying breath. ]

...Kaname, do you wanna go on a date with me?

[axi]

[Kaname smiles, almost ready to answer him. Before that, though, she leans in and places a quick kiss on his cheek. Her lips linger for a moment, then she withdraws, expression calm.]

Yes, I'd like that.

[pettymuch]

[ Ok, he might have expected the 'yes' by now, with how encouraging she'd been. But that kiss!! He'll be focused on that for a good minute. ]

[axi]

[Oh dear. Did she finally break him? Kaname scoots over and leans in closer, acting like she's getting a better look to see what's wrong.]

Hm, that might've been too much at once. Should I take back the yes?

[Just a joke. She nudges his shoulder with her own, a friendly indication she has no plans on rescinding her answer.]

[pettymuch]

[ The teasing actually helps! It takes the anxiety element away by adding in playfulness. He breathes a laugh, falling back into their usual banter. ]

No way. You're stuck with me, now!

[axi]

Does it really count as stuck if I'm happy about the arrangement?

[To emphasize, she scoots as close as she can, leans against him, and lets her head fall to rest on his shoulder. A happy little "hum" sound can be heard.]

Are you going to ask me why I pushed you to do this?

[pettymuch]

[ Yes, his heart did flutter just then. With the new confidence boost, he gets himself to slip his hand into hers, entwining their fingers. ]

I'm kinda curious, yeah.

[axi]

[His hand gets a light squeeze from her in return.]

Confidence. At least the confidence to leave your comfort zone and take a chance. Without taking a risk here and there, the odds of getting what we really want are almost impossible. I've seen it time and again back home with all sorts of people.

Besides, how long would you have taken otherwise?

[pettymuch]

Probably never.

[ he hisses through his teeth, that pettiness showing itself as he remembers past dating trauma. ]

I'm pretty much the underachieving nerd and you're the super popular girl.

[axi]

[That does catch her off guard, and she pulls away, looking a little... well, displeased.]

Is that really how you see me?

1/2

[pettymuch]

[ He just blinks at her, surprised by her reaction. Perhaps a bit nervous about it, too. ]

...yes? That's a compliment though!

[ Guess he better explain himself! ]