menaretrash: (pic#14317383)
Ann Takamaki ♥ Panther ([personal profile] menaretrash) wrote in [community profile] tabularasa_rp2020-12-02 10:30 am

December catch all, babyyyy

Who: Ann Takamaki + YOU!
What: Random things and maybe a few closed starters. More things to be added during the month tbh.
Where: The apartments, the beach... multiple locations.
When: Throughout the non existent month of December
Content Warnings: N/A, will be updated if anything comes up!

blue_eyed_obsession: (Are you out of your mind?)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-03 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[I mean accidents happen, amiright?]

I get the distinct impression that you aren't taking this seriously. [Huffing emphatically] Battery acid is nothing to joke about. [Getting it in your eyes can lead to permanent blindness, etc, etc. At least she's taking this in the best sense after having been splashed unceremoniously] I.. I don't even want to dignify that with a repsonse. [Deeming this discussion too immature he tried to take the high road by trying to shut it down, while tripping over his own tongue in the process and looking like a deer in the headlights] It wasn't! [Blue eyes practically flashing when he looked back to her- face. Face only. She had one more surprise in store for him..] ...What?! [Eyes widening as he recoiled backwards like she had tried to strike him. Unfortunately, that meant tripping over the garbage she had cleared for her respite. He tumbled over the various nick nacks, losing his balance and plopping onto the sand on the other side with a groan. Although he wasn't actually hurt, he did feel stupid.] Dating?! [It didn't stop him from shouting however. Propping himself up on his elbows he tried to look back towards her. I mean.. yes? No? Kinda? Sorta?! He didn't know! Why was she asking now?!] We... did... go on a date. So technically. We went on a date. [Cough]

I wouldn't say it was easy, but I have an attention to detail. [Somehow he managed not to stab himself with either item on the way down.] I got it, didn't I?

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-03 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
[It's just an occupational hazard not boyfriends have to put up with]

Emphasis on little. [It's true he is, and he's almost convinced himself that this was all about her safety the entire time he's getting so invested] Don't give it any ideas, why do people always say the things they should keep in their heads? [Maybe he was a little paranoid.] ... [That garnered a pointed glare, but he couldn't maintain it, not with his nerves running high] I don't get flustered! [Except for when he was with her, sometimes. Like now. It was a relatively short fall and the sand cushioned him some.] I'm fine. [He shot back without hesitation. Did he want to say no?] I mean- you asked it but you left it so open-ended. Would.. you want it to be ... a... prolonged.. association? [Just speak normally Seto] Don't lump me in with your loser friends. [So they weren't friends? Or... someone needed to be more clear. Speaking of her loser friends, if they made this more official he would have less competition to worry about. Theoretically. COUGH. What competition?] Answer my question first. [Stalling? You betcha, but he legitimately wanted to know]

[Look, Seto was concerned. He wasn't used to being this clumsy or unsure. He was usually as agile as a .. cat. Cue staring at Ann who went by a feline moniker in the metaverse] Or does it make us even.. I'm starting to lose track.
blue_eyed_obsession: (♙ Give it up)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-03 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
[It's true. No lies detected]

Ann. [Saying her name in a disapproving tone. This was clearly how she managed to get into so much trouble] I like to be prepared. If it didn't end up corroding the few structures we have, or horribly maiming us. [It's probably better that she thought of it that way. She proceeded to call him out so Seto tried to answer but it ended in a frustrated growl.] You're just misinterpreting it. I- just missed my footing, it was an accident. I'm not- that thing you said. [Not being convincing in anyway, and generally putting on quite a show for her] ... [That made him shut up for a moment, his lips parting and no sound coming out. Ann really was laying it all out on the table, and she was doing so in one of the most inappropriate costumes for it. Some people tended to feel more vulnerable when more skin was exposed but this apparently was having the opposite effect on her. Dropping the disparaging remarks for now, he was too blown away by her revelation. Somehow he hadn't expected it to be in the affirmative, and he briefly thought back to their date and how ludicrously contented he had felt. A part of him wanted to pursue that, another feared that it was making him too soft. It was an internal mental struggle as he peered up at her. What if this was a trick somehow? A trap to lure him in, what if he was wrong and the other people here weren't actually real?

This sort of ploy shouldn't work on him.

.. and there's no reason why anyone would think it would work either, so what logic would there be in throwing an attractive female at him? As the quiet moments stretched on, he realized that he needed to answer her or risk screwing this up.
] So- let's make it official. [Surprising himself with the answer, and apparently disregarding his npc concerns.] Exclusive. [Look- he likes that term. His favorite cards are exclusive, and he doesn't want to share them either]

[It defies physics really] ... [Everything was already getting so intertwined..]

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-03 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Now that she's put it out there, of course he is. In fact, the subject had prompted another slip from him. Kaiba had used the term us, instead of thinking only of himself.] Could be messy, but I'd prefer if you concentrated on that instead. [That would be easier to manage, even if they had to fashion umbrellas to counter it. Crepes not being the most acidic or corrosive substances could be deflected.] I know what you said. [.. and yet he couldn't bring himself to repeat it]

[As the teasing died down, he finally pulled himself up into a seated position, giving the offending scrap a not too gentle shove for causing him such indignity earlier. Then he kept his focus trained on her, and everything that had already been said. Kaiba tried to convince himself that he was the one in control here and he could either decide to raise the stakes or leave the proverbial table, but none of this would have been happening at all if she hadn't pressed it.] ... Then it's a deal. [Probably an unusual phrase to be applied to matters of a more personal nature, but there it was] ... [It was his turn to have his insides stir up all sorts of peculiar sensations as she admitted to not wanting to be with anyone else. Although he was pleased he was having a hard time showing it.]

I wouldn't have said so, otherwise. [Still- he seemed at a loss on how to proceed. Was she waiting for him to admit that he... liked.. her too?] Ann- we did this song and dance before for our first date. You're not going to keep questioning it, are you? [Tentatively, he reached out in an attempt to grasp her hand, then he tried make and maintain eye contact.] Yes, we're dating. [His lips even quirked up in a hint of a smile. How strange it felt to say. Strange, but not unpleasant.]
blue_eyed_obsession: (I have no excuse)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-03 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Definitely] Possibly. Somehow these ideas are being implemented semi-regularly. [When it comes to sweet snack foods, she's like a small kid. Would ice cream be more like a flood or an avalanche depending on region? Either way, it wouldn't be good] Whatever. [He's lost this round and there's no denying it]

[Things could have taken a decidedly different turn from where their encounter started. It's fairly obvious that he's as inexperienced as she is, possibly even more so and he hasn't really considered everything that becoming a couple might entail. If he had he might have chickened out been more cautious and saved them both some discomfort later. Ann had caught him off guard enough that he didn't have time to think about all the possible contingencies related to this union. Just like before with the bet, she made it feel as if he had to agree now or the opportunity would never be offered again.]

[They certainly were opposites on a good number of things, and maybe that's why he found her presence so refreshing. Left to his own thoughts, Kaiba could be needlessly pessimistic, though driven. He needed someone like her to draw him out of his darker inclinations- even if he didn't fully realize it for himself. To her emphatic denial, he softly snickered.] Good, because I'm not letting you get out of this so easily. [Feeling a little bolder himself now, and why shouldn't he be?]

[There it is. That smile that might literally be able to stop time. If it were anyone else it wouldn't have that effect on him- and he's not sure exactly when Ann could boast acquiring this hold over him] I am capable of reading some body language, I can surmise that without your saying so. [A little self-deprecating humor since they both know he's not really a people person overall. Hopefully, she could read his because he wasn't admitting much verbally. So- uh- how long should they sit here like this exactly? He had been in this position for longer than he cared for, but... he was still holding her hand. What was the protocol for this sort of thing? Should he.. include another gesture to cement it? Was she expecting him too? Trying to search her expression for answers, he noticed a strand of hair that had worked itself loose of her pigtails, with his free hand he brushed it aside, lightly brushing her cheek in the process]
blue_eyed_obsession: (Paramount embarrassment)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-03 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
... It's stuck in your mind now isn't it? [It was true, the void was leaning more towards junk food than health. Unless you wanted to live on mushrooms, or.. grass.]

[It would have been an exercise in overthinking if he had been fixated on every potential outcome. Also fruitless. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. So he could take a few risks]

No one, yet. [Answering truthfully, though he hoped she wouldn't go regretting this later, not after he had taken this leap. Kaiba would be lying if he wasn't riddled with trust issues, so letting someone else into his life wasn't easy but experience had proven that she be counted on to keep his secrets. The void had provided them with the testing grounds for that exercise. Could she also keep from breaking the remnants of his heart?]

Somehow it doesn't surprise me to hear you say so. [Ann was frequently complimenting his abilities, though his humor apparently needed a little work. It was built into his occupations that some level of being able to read others was important, she wasn't incorrect there. Somehow, despite not rolling around in the sand, nor gathering it up in any way he just knew he would be shaking it out of his clothes for much of the evening.

It was an innocent gesture on his part and he was oblivious to the effect it would have on Ann or the implications. Apparently he hadn't watched enough of her beloved romcoms to realize what he was doing or inviting. He did note the look in her eyes that seemed to indicate anxious anticipation, but what was it she was waiting for?

Usually, yes- in writing. Though a contract would be abnormal in this instance. When she takes the initiative to cup his cheek he's so oblivious that his eyebrows knit slightly but when her face draws closer to his, his breath catches in his throat. Wait. Is she about to do what I think she is?! That issues a fresh wave of panic for him, he tenses and she probably can feel that in their clasped together hands, and his own pulse quickens accordingly. It's not a very thrilling kiss at first, at least not from his side of it. Sitting there like a carved statue, he hadn't even closed his eyes, staring at the proceedings in a dumbfounded fashion.

I mean- it doesn't feel bad. It's not like she bit him. Her lips were soft and inviting, he um.. he should do something. Anything. So as an after thought he closes his eyes and tries to reciprocate, clearly displaying his inexperience with this. He was kind of wishing for a redo. Also a manual.
]
Edited 2020-12-03 09:07 (UTC)
blue_eyed_obsession: (♖ Gonna take back what you stole)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-04 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Is it sad that he can totally see her going through with this scheme and attempting it?]

[The sappiness gauge was starting to go through the roof with that response, and yet he couldn't give her a hard time about it, she just sounded so sincere. Oddly, Kaiba had been thinking more about the benefits their association would mean for him, more than her but hearing her admit that he makes her happy has him debating where the lines start and stop. The two aspects were irreversibly intertwined. Oddly enough he has seen that crazy side of her, and he feels amused thinking back on it]

So I know who to spearhead my next pr campaign. [Shaking his head a little, since he wasn't fishing for compliments this time. Look- we're just never going to address that directly, about how he fell over backwards when he was startled by.. a question. It's like it never happened.

Seto is going to have to become a quick study as to how certain gestures read, since surprisingly there is a gap in his range of knowledge. Instincts could likely take over, and to an extent they had but who liked leaving things to chance? Or is some spontaneity preferred? #getthatmanual.

There had been enough time to draw back out of range, but he hadn't, wondering where she was planning to go with this, coupled with freezing up entirely. As no surprise to anyone, Kaiba was more concerned with perfection, than Ann was. He's not as accepting with his presumably poor showing for this simple physical act. He can't even make excuses for it since he should have predicted it as a likely outcome. At least he doesn't voice his misgivings on the subject.

When they separate, then he panics a little that they are out in the open here, and they could have been seen- but he also tries not to look away despite his inclinations. Ann was able to tell he was uneasy, and that bothered him, clashing with hatred for showing vulnerability. He is nothing if not a ball of raw emotions in a wide range at the moment.
] ... [.. And another apology, how is he supposed to answer that?! Also was it hard to control herself because of what they had just discussed or had she thought about the prospect of him kissing before? Putting that aside he stood up abruptly, dusting some of the sand off.] .. Just don't assume the next time will be like... that. [Casually trying to suggest that he can handle this, and he's not always going to let her keep this upper hand she seemed to possess. Not everything is a competition Seto. When he righted himself, he'd reverted to a sterner expression, but it softened some when he walked closer to where she was seated. Then he removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Trying to make up for the cold water earlier? Or trying to cover up that bikini in case someone else showed up on the beach? Kaiba let her ponder that one.]
Edited 2020-12-04 06:52 (UTC)
blue_eyed_obsession: (What are you looking at)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-05 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[That is one experiment he would like to not have a front row seat for. Just be careful. Those crepe fillings can stain]

[Usually someone who was quick to spread compliments would make him leery, but Ann was the exception. Even if he thought some of the things she said were a stretch, it wasn't borne out of malicious intent or ulterior motives. Not unless one considered dating prospects as nestling into that category... hmm. So long as she didn't spread it around, she could hold on to the memory. Even if she tried to bury it, the void could always force it to resurface so there wasn't much point in stressing his concerns. It would have stunned him, had he known she was already thinking about anniversaries. It would have seemed a little premature with how fragile young relationships could be- still neither of them were much for giving up early, or not seeing things through.

What Ann didn't know is that he also had no intention of dissolving their ... partnership ...on the day of it's induction. Impulsive, yes, but not a damning maneuver. He just wasn't used to anyone being inside his personal space without his having put them there. That would take some getting used to.

It was a retreat, in some form but not a full one. He wasn't going to just turn tail and run, this must be as unusual for her as it was for him.
] Angling for some proof? You'll get it. [Asserting that fact without wavering] Later. [Realizing it would have been an act of pathetic desperation to make a second attempt immediately after the first. Certainly he was tense, but not irate.

Maybe it was a little from column a, and a little from column b, coupled with some possessiveness from column c. Regardless the jacket was deposited on her form all the same.
] I might have... acted hastily earlier. [About the water] Just the usual. [Seeking out supplies, looking for new additions, getting in some training- boring things really] What about you? Just going to lie around under the non-existent sun? Is that really satisfactory?

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2020-12-05 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Once again, they were opposites. Ann looked for the positives in others, while Seto assumed the worst. His opinion could change over time but no one was allowed a free pass. As someone who also tends to take any possibility into consideration, he would be noting the 'date' they set the wheels in motion. At least the concept of time was regular now, even if it was powered by water.

It would be difficult for either of them to forget the last few moments, but he wouldn't say so or admit it. Just know that it's mutual.
]

Maybe you should be. [Smirking at that, as some of the tension lifted from his shoulders] I didn't mean it to be ominous. Look forward to it. [Not that he thought she was serious, but just in case]

[#nailedit. Kaiba wasn't one for admitting when he was in the wrong, so an apology would not be forthcoming. At least everything else had made up for it on some level] Not in that quantity. [Generally speaking. Yes, he would also leave off thinking about natural disasters, or freak accidents.] Don't lie. [It sounded tedious, like it was much of the time. When she responded he looked thoughtfully up into the sky. If he only had access to his equipment a simulated sun would be a snap. He'd once recreated an entire roman coliseum. Then he looked back to her] There have been attempts at beautification, but remember if it was ever completely litter free it would take out a good number of resources with it. [If we're being practical. Still- oddly- he felt a little internal nagging to somehow make her wish a reality. Maybe he was still riding high on making things official himself...]
blue_eyed_obsession: (Not a total jerk)

[personal profile] blue_eyed_obsession 2021-01-01 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
[It was likely wise to exhibit some caution, since the first kiss had been such a shock already. Still, this sensation of feeling pleased by the proceedings was infectious. Ludicrous, but infectious. Kaiba had never really craved the companionship of another person, certainly not to the degree that this implied but here they were. It was imperative not to get too far ahead of himself, however, because this could all blow up catastrophically in his face later. Always looking on that bright side- cough.] Mm. [Giving a light nod.

Even he wasn't entirely sure what it was about Ann that singled her out among all the rest, but it was an undeniable truth. Without his business affairs, familial ties, and scores to settle his life would be decidedly empty without her involvement in it. A frightening thought in itself, to think he could have allowed such a bond to have started to form in the first place. Still, here and now he was genuinely pleased, and seeking to hold on to this feeling for as long as it lasted.
]

It's tedious and the results usually don't draw me any closer to the truth. [Look at him, being honest about the nature of most of his daily activities which involved copious amount of research on the void. Maybe he needed to believe he would find something different in order to find it. A tall order. Murderous seagulls? Don't imprint those next] Perhaps, if everyone pitched in at once.. [Which he wasn't keen on engaging in.] …................... [There were so many ways he could have answered her suggestion.] I won't stop you if you tag along, but this definitely is not a fun excursion.