[ the date started off well, for what it's worth. honestly, marianne was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that sylvain wanted to go on a date with her at all to begin with, but he picked her up around noon just like he said he would, and he kept their destination a surprise until they got there. of all places they could have gone to, she wasn't expecting him to take her to the aquarium, but it was nice. more than nice, really—the atmosphere was nice and calming, and the different exhibits were all beautiful to look at; she probably spent too long at sea lion exhibit petting their noses and watching them perform, but sylvain never rushed her. she was worried that he'd grow bored halfway through, but he was interested and engaging the whole time, pointing out different things she hadn't noticed, and by the time they reached the end, marianne discovered that she actually... really enjoyed herself.
at least until they went back outside and discovered it was pouring. ]
I'm sorry, Sylvain— [ she tries to speak up a little louder to be heard over the rain, clutching the stuffed sea lion from the gift store closer to her chest in an attempt to make sure it doesn't get wet. ] I forgot to check the weather report this morning and I didn't bring an umbrella. Um, maybe we can go back inside to wait?
[ Sylvain, on the other hand, can hardly believe Marianne had accepted his invitation. He almost feels a little guilty for how eager he is to spend time with her, though he keeps his self-disparaging nature in check throughout the day, mind too busy occupying cloud nine to fall into old patterns.
He's been to this particular aquarium before, and had made sure to brush up on trivia prior to their visit, if only because he'd accurately predicted he'd spend more time watching Marianne than he does actually looking at any of the fish. (He'd hate for her to have an awful time on his account, and decide never to enter a public space with him or anyone else again... So he does his best to gauge her mood, attune himself to whatever she may need.)
But his fears seem unfounded, and little by little he manages to relax, too. —Internally, that is. Externally he's all easy cheer and smiles, well-practiced in the art of Faking It. He's delighted to find that she genuinely seems to be having a good time; excuse him while he takes photos on his phone of her petting the sea lions... (Too cute.)
By the time they finish, even the rain can't put a damper on his good cheer. He chuckles, peeling off his coat and raising it over their heads in a makeshift awning to keep out the condensation. ]
Hey now, you don't need an umbrella when you've got me.
[ He grins down at her with a wink, and, making sure she doesn't have any actual objections, leads them out into the downpour. ]
[ sylvain has always been popular? for as long as marianne has known him, she’s always seen him surrounded by his friends or dates, and well, marianne knows the kind of person she is: withdrawn and quiet, more likely to spend time by herself or one other friend than go out with someone so popular as sylvain. but it isn’t that sylvain is unkind despite how he may treat certain people; as long as she thinks of this as like a friend outing, it should be fine. right? and he was so nice and patient this whole time, too.
but anyway, he’s already shedding his coat before marianne can protest, and she automatically moves closer to him so she can fit beneath the makeshift umbrella while trying to leave enough room for him as well. ]
Okay... i-if you’re sure!
[ she’s a little more hesitant with her footing, but she tries to keep up with him as best as she can, tucking herself into his side and making sure not to slip or step on him by accident. they manage to make it to his car in one piece, with marianne settling into the passenger seat as sylvain makes his way over to the other side. the walk was thankfully brief and she isn’t too wet, but she doubts the same could be said for his coat. ]
I’m sorry about your coat, Sylvain, but thank you. Um, if you don’t mind, I can wash it later today and give it back to you tomorrow?
[ it's a really good thing that it's just her and gaius in the mess hall right now, or everyone in chrom's army would see her spit out her mouthful of tea in alarm. it's also a really good thing gaius wasn't sitting across from her, even if she's got tea on the table and on her half eaten pie now.
anyway, let her catch her breath while she tries to mop up the tea with a napkin before managing to stutter out a— ]
[ WOW!! gaius flinches where he's standing, immediately shielding himself from tea spit with his arm. she's cleaning it up quickly enough, but his poor pie... ]
Dear gods! Was it that outrageous of an assumption?
Oh gods, I'm so sorry, Gaius! Did I get any on you?
[ she's handing him another napkin anyway, already feeling guilty for ruining his pie and also getting tea all over him. in the meantime, she's frantically trying to clean up while rambling, as she does. ]
I-I just—! I wasn't expecting it, is all... I-I mean, Lord Chrom is very kind to let me join the Shepherds and I'm grateful that I can be of use somehow but... I never really... W-Well, I never really thought of him that way.
[ it's early enough that there are still some businesses open for dinner service at the town they'd landed in, the rush hour having died down to but a few patrons at this small noodle shop. they're seated at the counter side by side, an empty plate of what had been some pot stickers between them to hold them off before their main course. shinobu has come to accept the captain's generosity, but she is glad that they'd decided to take up this mission in their stead. ]
More tea, Rengoku? [ she indicates his empty cup, reaching for the pot next to her. ] I've heard this shop is well known for their blends as well as the noodles they serve.
[ rengoku is in the middle of finishing the pot sticker he'd been chewing on, the very last one, finishing that up before he speaks up to answer shinobu. it won't be long until they're being served the noodles they've ordered, but he presents his empty cup for more tea anyway. yes, please goes unsaid. ]
Oh? Perhaps that's why this particular pot is so earthy. Who recommended this place to you?
[ his curiousity is mostly because he wants to know if this person has other ideas of where they could go, maybe a shop that sells sweet potatoes... he looks like a little kid in a candy shop over the thought of it. ]
Lyria told me about this place when I’d mentioned that I was craving food from home earlier.
[ it was an off-hand comment, but shinobu has come to understand that the young girl is particularly passionate about food. she smiles while filling their cups, placing his in front of him afterwards. ]
She gave me an extensive list, from noodle shops to tea houses… and I believe a place that roasts their own sweet potatoes not too far from here. Perhaps we can visit after completing our mission tomorrow.
[ not that either of them need the added incentive, but it’s nice to have something to look forward to for once. ]
[ one can tell that rengoku is delighted by this particular revelation when not only his eyes light up, but the way he projects is voice shifts a tiny bit too — maybe a little bit louder, too excited. ]
Is that so? Then we absolutely need to find the time to do so after our mission, Kochou!
[ the tea is forgotten if only for a short while. he's too excited by the prospect of having sweet potatoes after a job well done that it's all he can think about for now. that is, until their noodles come in piping hot and smelling a hundred times more delicious than he expects. ]
—their service is fast!
[ eager to dig in, he claps his hands together to say his prayers. itadakimasu. ]
[ As the years roll by and kids move through the grades from elementary through high school, it seems like the well liked kids just get more and more popular, and the awkward loners are cast further and further into isolation. It's something that definitely benefits a popular guy like Hyunsu, who has never had trouble making friends throughout his life, but it's not necessarily something that sits well with him either.
It's not like he wants to lose the friendly acceptance of his peers, as much as it is he feels kind of bad seeing the shy students get shuffled further and further onto the outskirts of things. One kid isn't going to be able to break through years of social hierarchies that seem tragically baked into public education, but he can at least do his part in making one person's life a little less lonely.
That's exactly why he's spending his break with a can of tea in his hand, frowning to himself as he looks around for a classmate he's been trying to get to know a little better recently. The guy really seems to have done a good job of making himself scarce though, because ten minutes of searching and Hyunsu still hasn't tracked him down. ]
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for sylvain (@philandery)
[ the date started off well, for what it's worth. honestly, marianne was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that sylvain wanted to go on a date with her at all to begin with, but he picked her up around noon just like he said he would, and he kept their destination a surprise until they got there. of all places they could have gone to, she wasn't expecting him to take her to the aquarium, but it was nice. more than nice, really—the atmosphere was nice and calming, and the different exhibits were all beautiful to look at; she probably spent too long at sea lion exhibit petting their noses and watching them perform, but sylvain never rushed her. she was worried that he'd grow bored halfway through, but he was interested and engaging the whole time, pointing out different things she hadn't noticed, and by the time they reached the end, marianne discovered that she actually... really enjoyed herself.
at least until they went back outside and discovered it was pouring. ]
I'm sorry, Sylvain— [ she tries to speak up a little louder to be heard over the rain, clutching the stuffed sea lion from the gift store closer to her chest in an attempt to make sure it doesn't get wet. ] I forgot to check the weather report this morning and I didn't bring an umbrella. Um, maybe we can go back inside to wait?
no subject
He's been to this particular aquarium before, and had made sure to brush up on trivia prior to their visit, if only because he'd accurately predicted he'd spend more time watching Marianne than he does actually looking at any of the fish. (He'd hate for her to have an awful time on his account, and decide never to enter a public space with him or anyone else again... So he does his best to gauge her mood, attune himself to whatever she may need.)
But his fears seem unfounded, and little by little he manages to relax, too. —Internally, that is. Externally he's all easy cheer and smiles, well-practiced in the art of Faking It. He's delighted to find that she genuinely seems to be having a good time; excuse him while he takes photos on his phone of her petting the sea lions... (Too cute.)
By the time they finish, even the rain can't put a damper on his good cheer. He chuckles, peeling off his coat and raising it over their heads in a makeshift awning to keep out the condensation. ]
Hey now, you don't need an umbrella when you've got me.
[ He grins down at her with a wink, and, making sure she doesn't have any actual objections, leads them out into the downpour. ]
The car's just over there!
sorry for the wait!!
but anyway, he’s already shedding his coat before marianne can protest, and she automatically moves closer to him so she can fit beneath the makeshift umbrella while trying to leave enough room for him as well. ]
Okay... i-if you’re sure!
[ she’s a little more hesitant with her footing, but she tries to keep up with him as best as she can, tucking herself into his side and making sure not to slip or step on him by accident. they manage to make it to his car in one piece, with marianne settling into the passenger seat as sylvain makes his way over to the other side. the walk was thankfully brief and she isn’t too wet, but she doubts the same could be said for his coat. ]
I’m sorry about your coat, Sylvain, but thank you. Um, if you don’t mind, I can wash it later today and give it back to you tomorrow?
for luca (@captivity)
(one direction voice) olivia
no subject
anyway, let her catch her breath while she tries to mop up the tea with a napkin before managing to stutter out a— ]
E-Excuse me?
no subject
Dear gods! Was it that outrageous of an assumption?
no subject
[ she's handing him another napkin anyway, already feeling guilty for ruining his pie and also getting tea all over him. in the meantime, she's frantically trying to clean up while rambling, as she does. ]
I-I just—! I wasn't expecting it, is all... I-I mean, Lord Chrom is very kind to let me join the Shepherds and I'm grateful that I can be of use somehow but... I never really... W-Well, I never really thought of him that way.
for rengoku (@tomorrow)
More tea, Rengoku? [ she indicates his empty cup, reaching for the pot next to her. ] I've heard this shop is well known for their blends as well as the noodles they serve.
no subject
Oh? Perhaps that's why this particular pot is so earthy. Who recommended this place to you?
[ his curiousity is mostly because he wants to know if this person has other ideas of where they could go, maybe a shop that sells sweet potatoes... he looks like a little kid in a candy shop over the thought of it. ]
no subject
[ it was an off-hand comment, but shinobu has come to understand that the young girl is particularly passionate about food. she smiles while filling their cups, placing his in front of him afterwards. ]
She gave me an extensive list, from noodle shops to tea houses… and I believe a place that roasts their own sweet potatoes not too far from here. Perhaps we can visit after completing our mission tomorrow.
[ not that either of them need the added incentive, but it’s nice to have something to look forward to for once. ]
no subject
Is that so? Then we absolutely need to find the time to do so after our mission, Kochou!
[ the tea is forgotten if only for a short while. he's too excited by the prospect of having sweet potatoes after a job well done that it's all he can think about for now. that is, until their noodles come in piping hot and smelling a hundred times more delicious than he expects. ]
—their service is fast!
[ eager to dig in, he claps his hands together to say his prayers. itadakimasu. ]
for yuta
It's not like he wants to lose the friendly acceptance of his peers, as much as it is he feels kind of bad seeing the shy students get shuffled further and further onto the outskirts of things. One kid isn't going to be able to break through years of social hierarchies that seem tragically baked into public education, but he can at least do his part in making one person's life a little less lonely.
That's exactly why he's spending his break with a can of tea in his hand, frowning to himself as he looks around for a classmate he's been trying to get to know a little better recently. The guy really seems to have done a good job of making himself scarce though, because ten minutes of searching and Hyunsu still hasn't tracked him down. ]