tabularasa_rp | (closed) rivers in the deseeeeeeeeeert

He has a scar.

(And psychological damage??? More??? But he's incredibly strong, a force of nature personified, he'll be fine. They'll heal.)

Not that. (And, much like the troll he is, Ren pokes her reddening cheek with the largest grin he can manage. She's cute.) I am talking about this.

Edited 2020-11-18 21:57 (UTC)

...Where he was... shot?

[ Oh, lordy. She's going to have to... figure something out. She'll have to bring Akechi a gift or something, maybe pick up a cake from the Church. A get well soon... thing? A cake that says 'GLAD YOU'RE NOT DEAD' or 'WELCOME BACK'? ]

Eh? [ She can feel that poke, and she goes rigid, immediately reaching up with both hands to cover her cheeks, looking absolutely horrified as she quickly looks back at poor Ren, who looks so amused. ] I... I dunno what you're talking about! I'm just... under the weather, that's all!

Yeah.

(I MEAN why not right???

God, he is such a fucking troll, because he just stares at her, the little shit, like he's absolutely sure of what he thinks he knows.)

Again, you're really bad at this.

Is... is it bad?

[ Does he look like an extra from a zombie movie...

This is just getting worse and worse. She squirms a little bit and huffs. ]

I'm not! I'm not, I swear I'm not! It's fine, everything is fine! We're just friends.

Not so much.

(He chuckles a little, rubbing his hand against her back.)

I'll let you lie to yourself for a little longer.

I'm glad, Akechi-kun is too pretty for scars.

[ Can she just lay down and die right now? Please? ]

I'm not-- it's not a lie! It's fine! Really! [ You know what she's going to do? She's going to laugh. Really hard. Really fucking nervously. ] It's fine, we're fine, everything's fine! It's great! Everything is just wonderful and great, and friendship is just wonderful! Hahaha, it's great. Really.

[ Do you believe her yet or-- ]

(The comment on Akechi's face makes him laugh because, well, is she anything but right?

And she... Starts to laugh maniacally. He leaves her for a second to get her a cup of water, but really, he knows if he does what he does best and be silent she might actually tell him something.)

Edited 2020-11-18 22:24 (UTC)

[ She's still laughing and chattering nervously away even as the poor man stands up to go get her water, and the longer it goes on, the harder she's laughing, because really, isn't the entire thing just so fucking funny?

Except when he returns, the laughter stops abruptly and she takes that glass of water, sinking down as if that will one thousand percent protect her from anymore embarrassment, and she takes a sip as if that laughter never even happened. ]

Thanks! Uh... so yeah, that happened. A thing happened.

[ She doesn't lower the glass immediately, instead speaking into it... sort of. ]

....we'regoingonadate.

(God, he knew it. All he had to do was quiet and-- Huh??? HUH??

Ok, she is into someone, that was nice, it was cute, but-- HUH??

He coughs, almost desperately, because really he choked a little bit by inhaling saliva from the surprise.

Well. Let's look at this objectively. Kaiba... Is an asshole. He truly thinks that Iwai did the Lord's work by striking him. Two. There's an underlying concern. Kaiba doesn't really seem to know how to handle people and Ren worries about her being mistreated... But then again, she could have opposed his relationship in a heartbeat. She'd have receipts, an actual reason over suspicion and Ren wouldn't know what the hell to do if that was the case... But she is happy for them. She trusts Ren. He wouldn't put her in the same hypothetical position, even if he is worried sick. She... Can take care of herself.

Ugh. What's just is just... And he loves her more than he dislikes Kaiba. So.)

... I see. (Finally, with his voice returning to smoothness after being hoarse from the SURPRISE.)

Listen. Don't... Let him be an ass. (NOBODY mistreats his best friend... But he trusts her to know what she is doing at the end of the day.) Are you happy?

Edited 2020-11-18 23:28 (UTC)

[ She is prepared for this concern, because she lifts a hand wearily, smiling shakily. ]

It's... my fault. We were having this race that he totally cheated to win at, but like, we were betting things and I bet a date and he bet a card game but then I changed my bet so he changed his back to the date and it was all very complicated and he cheated and I want a rematch but like... yeah. It's... it's a thing that's happening.

[ She finally takes a breath, her shoulders sagging with... relief? That she's finally getting to tell someone about this. And... Ren should know. ]

Oh! No, no, he won't be... he won't. He's not... really like that with me. [ Much. Except when he throws giraffes in her path but that's another story entirely. ] ...Yeah. I'm really happy, actually! Just... also really nervous.

[ And thus, begins the fidgeting begins again. ]

...I really, really like him, Ren. I don't know how or why, but I do. He's the kind of person who would be on our radar at home, but... I dunno. I just really like him.

(The whole story is very complicated and he blinks, just because he can't follow, but he guesses it's just because Ann is a nervous wreck right now.

Honestly, that's a little hard to believe... Perhaps because he hasn't seen Kaiba in any other light. She does say it herself, they would have obliterated him back home... But she does like him, that much is clear. It's also good that Ann is making connections here as well, he knows how lonely she tends to get. So he just listens, a hand on his chin with a nod, a smile on his lips to see Ann this adorably infatuated.)

What kind of date will you be having? (But also, like, don't fuck up, Kaiba.)

Edited 2020-11-19 00:19 (UTC)

[ It's probably best not to think about it too hard. There was trash and giraffes involved, and flailing and yelling at each other afterwards, to plotting a rematch and talk of forcing paint on Seto's nails and really, it's all just ridiculous but it's worked out to her advantage. Sort of. She thinks.

Mostly, she's just glad Ren isn't mad at her for this. Another relief, honestly. ]

W-well, I dunno yet. We didn't really talk about it, and I haven't seen him in a few days... but he said he'd take care of it, so I guess I'm gonna find out. I just hope I don't mess anything up.

You won't.

(Of course he isn't mad. Confused, yes, profusely, but mad there's no way he could ever be over that.)

A date is just a hangout with someone you like, after all.

[ Take notice, Ren, that her nails have gone from red to a suspicious light blue color. Do you realize who influenced that color change, dear friend? ]

I dunno, Ren. I'm kind of a mess. [ She nervously begins to twirl the ends of a long blond pigtail around her fingers. ] What if I do mess it up? And he ends up hating me?

He won't.

(When did Ren become a relationship expert???? He is not that good at it!! But there are certainly are things he believes in when it comes to it.)

Messing up is not a necessarily a bad thing. (TRUST HIM.) That's how we learn what works and doesn't.

Mmm...

[ She's not so sure about that. She is a #hotmess and she knows it, and she's pretty sure she can screw most anything and everything up if she... puts her mind to it. Or doesn't. ]

But it is! Seto is a perfectionist, I can't mess this up! I don't know what I'd do if he ended up hating me... maybe he won't even want to go through with this after all...

He agreed to go with you, didn't he?

(Baby........ He once more wraps an arm around her figure, pulling her in for a hug. She is, indeed, a #hotmess...)

He already knows you aren't perfect. You'll be fine.

Yeah... he was insistent...

[ Which is really strange, too. She groans and buries her face into Ren's shoulder. ]

I hope you're right... I don't think I can handle rejection. Not from him, at least.

Good sign. (Ren squeezes her arm a little bit, a smile to try and cheer her up. The last part is what he doesn't like to hear, though.) Ann. You can handle anything, including this date, whatever the outcome.

(Ann. You're a boss, please realize. They've done so much and survived against so many odds. She can survive if it goes badly, and she can navigate it if it goes well. She is strong as hell.)

I... maybe. [ She's glad he's got confidence in her, but really, she's so nervous and worried that she's going to mess everything up, or ruin the strange friendship that she's built with him... ] I've never been on a date before... I just don't want to mess anything up. Or make him hate me.

[ She's been on the wrong side of Seto Kaiba and he's been on the wrong side of Ann Takamaki and she doesn't even know how this happened. ]

I know this is going to sound dumb because I know he's not nice to most people, but... being around him, even if he's being snarky, makes me really happy. It's just... I can't even explain it.

It's normal to be nervous. (At least is how he opens this. Most of his dates are impromptu ideas anyways.) You can't keep thinking that's going to be the outcome, though.

(Or else, she'll get more nervous and it's a self fulfilling prophecy anyways.)

It's not dumb.

I guess, but... you know how he is. [ He can be snippy, although he's toned it down with her for the most part, fortunately. Granted, it doesn't mean she isn't worried. ] I guess I just can't see how someone like him would want to tolerate someone like me.

[ Because they're polar opposites, and she knows it, too. And as far as she's concerned, he's leagues above her. ]

It's a little dumb... I just feel like I shouldn't get my hopes up too much.

I don't think he'd spend so much time with you if he didn't.

(Ren sees her words as the exact point as to why she needn't worry. Thank God he can't read minds, though.)

You'll be fine.

(After all, Kaiba seems the sort of person who wouldn't tolerate anything if he wasn't for it. The fact that he was insistent is telling in itself.)

...Maybe.

[ Glancing off to the side again, she sighs. This 'dating' shit is too complicated... ]

I guess... we'll find out. It doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things, anyways. If something happens and we get to go home...

[ ...Then it's pointless, isn't it? ]

Then at least you tried.

(And Ren too glances, too shortly to be noticed before he sighs.)

That's how I am seeing things.

(Because when he goes home, Akechi might not be there for long. It's not pointless - at least they've had it when they could. He wishes she could see things that way as well.)

(no subject)

menaretrash - 2020-12-01 23:15 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

forethinking - 2020-12-02 13:58 (UTC) - Expand