tabularasa_rp | [closed] I don't believe in much but I believe in you

Right, right. So is an invitation for celebratory barbecue is out of the question?

[ it's not a date, it's just him wanting to get out after two weeks of wallowing around feeling like crap. don't get the wrong idea - he will very much go without Blue if he says no. company would be nice, though. ]

You're speaking my language... but I dunno. I think I still would've only told one person even if I had my socials. [ as much as he loves to post, he'd like to keep some things in an inner circle. his follow-up question, is what interests him more, though - the answer seems obvious ] Kept looking for a cure? Not sure I want to think about what the alternative would've been.

[At that, Blue lofts a brow.]

An invitation? That's what you came here for? [He's just gonna let the knowing grin speak for itself!] I'll think about it. Tifa-chan's stall?

That reminds me, the bar looks like it's been pretty empty. I guess no one's felt like going out, lately.

[Blue looks like there's something bothering him about that, but he doesn't spit it out. Instead, he shrugs to Raihan's reply.]

Hey, you're the engagement king. [And clearly, something in this place would rather they didn't keep these things to themselves, but if that was how things were back home, would they really have been able to keep any of this from them?]

[If he had to tell Red- if he'd had to spill his feelings even back then- what would have happened?]

[He shrugs his shoulders as if to dismiss it again.] What if words weren't enough?

More or less. [ no ulterior motives here! he nods - Tifa's place always had the best seasonings, bar none. ] S'been a while since I've had a meal that didn't make me want to hurl, so I figured I'd make it a good one. Your flat's on the way.

[ of course, he also wanted to check up on Blue to make sure he was alright in both body and mind. they'd spoken about some pretty heavy things last time they saw each other, and he's still grateful that he listened. ]

Like how?

Uh, what're you eating? [Blue grimaces. Sheesh, he's not looking to get domestic or anything, but if the guy was eating that badly, he'd cook for him!] Come to the bar more often if you're eating that bad. You know, there's decent enough ingredients around here.

Don't you know how to cook?

[Then again, maybe he didn't. City boy. Blue meets his eyes again and just gives a tiny smirk.] Really? Whatever, let's get food first.

Wha- no, because I was coughing my lungs out every three seconds, not because it was bad! I'm awesome at cooking!

[ alright, forget hypotheticals. now he has to defend his honor as a self-sufficient adult. he can at least get by in making decent-tasting meals, but Blue doesn't need to know he's mediocre, regardless of relevancy to his prior statement. the conversation continues out the door and on the way to Wall Market, eventually devolving into a debate about the validity of beans on toast as a meal.

it's good food and good company regardless of their bickering, and Raihan is just glad that things are starting to feel normal again (considering the very strange definition of "normal" in this world). they're back at the Merlaut a couple of hours later, sated and still chattering away. ]

If you say so.......

[Blue doesn't sound convinced but that's probably at least partially put on to fuck with Raihan a little as he rolls up from his seat on the bed, following Raihan out to Wall Market.]

[Beans and toast were barely food, Blue scoffs over skewers of nicely marinaded meat, courtesy his still-technically-boss Tifa, and they eventually get on talking about curry differences between Galar and Kanto, instead. By the time they get back to the apartments, they're trading cooking tips for the new berries that have started spawning in this world, and when they get to Blue's door, Blue opens it for Raihan to follow in, expectantly.]

You want some of that juice, by the way? Or tea or something?

[ he will fight for the glory of beans on toast until his dying breath, and that's that! but the rest of their conversation is actually pretty interesting - there's more to curry than just variations in ingredients, and learning about the other is like a full-on cultural exchange.

he's almost surprised that Blue ushers him back into his room rather than shooing him away for the evening, but takes the invitation back in. ]

Tea's good, thanks... [ he meets his gaze for a moment, trying to read him. something's up. ] You're being too hospitable. What're you up to?

Edited 2021-03-07 02:26 (UTC)

Hm?

[Blue grunts, filling the pot for tea and setting it on the stove- the delicious, mellow scent of matcha soon fills the apartment while they talk, and he turns and leans against the kitchen counter, cocking his head at the other man.]

...I mean, you're staying, right? [One brow rises, glancing Raihan over. The guy looks lost. Sheesh.]

Wasn't that the point? Taking me out like that.

[ oh. oh. alright.

honestly, this wasn't at all what he was thinking about when he asked Blue to come with him. the invitation had been completely platonic, though he can see why he had construed it as otherwise. they've been flirting, and Raihan at least isn't oblivious to that much. he can play this game. ]

Did you want it to be?

[While Blue could certainly see Raihan inviting him along platonically, it hadn't exactly been his first thought. For the other man to have come seeking him out, after all of the teasing they'd left off on last time....]

[It definitely read as a date to him.]

[Well, a conditional date, maybe. They couldn't battle, so Blue still wasn't sure exactly how he felt about the guy. But he appreciated the... effort. It was worth rewarding a little, right?]

What, are you saying it wasn't? I won't mind if it is, you know. [He shrugs, turning back to get two mugs from the cupboard.] ...But if that was what you wanted, let me know now before I waste a whole pot of tea.

[You know. Cuz it's gonna go cold while they're getting busy.]

[ Yup. There is was again. Blue definitely had a tendency to deflect before admitting how he really felt or at least strongly hinting at it. Maybe he was a lot more shy than he seemed. Either way, they stood there at the side of the bed with their elbows propped up. It was like being told a bedtime story, except in reverse, sort of. ]

Daisy is a lovely name!

[ That aside, the subject of family did appear to be complicated. Better be careful to not step on any mines and stress Blue out further. ]

I can imagine, based on what I have seen of your memories.

[ That...that was not careful. That was more of a barb of a statement, actually. ]

Though perhaps it's less that she's a saint--though I'm sure she's very nice! Couldn't it be that she wasn't just "putting up with you"? It may not be my place to say when I haven't met her, but from my point of view, it seems equally likely that she took care of you because she cared for you very much.

[ There, that was better. ]

The residents here care for you as well, including me. So...please get well soon.

O-oh...........

[Yeah... He'd almost forgotten about that. Blue visibly clenches up a little bit, then wilts, erupting into a tiny coughing fit as he fails to push his feelings about those memories back down.]

[He doesn't want to make Turing feel bad about it, though! He tries to wave a hand to dismiss it away- no use being guilty about it, they were telling it like it is, right? And Blue sure is avoiding it...]

[Still, though- by the time he manages to recover from his coughing, and hear Turing's kind words about Daisy, he has to give it pause. They weren't... wrong. And Blue knew that- he knew that she did what she did because she cared about him, and was looking out for what was best for him, even when as a kid, it'd felt overbearing.]

Yeah... You're right, [He grins weakly, and reaches out to give Turing a little poke in their 'cheek', lovingly.] I'm forgetting the important stuff, right?

[...There was more to it than that. More than he'd admit to most people here. He still felt he wasn't deserving of a lot of the positive attention, because he hid the parts of him that were terrible, most times. But then again, Turing had seen some of it too, right? Even if it had been pretty minor pettiness....]

[But maybe it was okay, to feel like he could be worried after. He rubs at his chest, as if to ease the coughing.] Maybe some positive thinkin'll help me out.

[ That poke was, without a doubt, going to leave a smudge on their screen, but for Blue's sake, they endured it. Though it was an affectionate gesture, so saying they "endured it" definitely wasn't right. It was such a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but it made them smile regardless, and Turing did very little to hold it back. Actually, speaking of affectionate gestures...

They climbed up with only a little difficulty (honest!) and reached out to give Blue a pat on the head just as he had done for them before. ]

It's okay. I know it's not typical for humans to have perfect recall, so I'll remind you if that people care about you if it seems like you're forgetting that.

[ Were they trying to emulate the senpai and/or older sibling energy that Blue had shown to them in the past? Well, maybe. They also perked right up at the idea of positive thinking. ]

Yes! 'Mind over matter,' as the saying goes. I'll help you think of some positive things as well.

[closed] I don't believe in much but I believe in you

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