[ she is making first contact, yes. On the other hand, her running up to him and then opening with absolutely nothing like that only makes Hikage suspicious. He arches a brow at her. ]
... What do you think? I'm trapped on a weird campground. Nothing is up. [ a beat. ] Why are you nervous?
[ can steph stop telling him things that just make him go "huh," he's aged 100 more years in this past week alone. His forehead creases as he unpacks what she just said. ]
You, me, and Belph? Wait... What do you mean, "everyone is now aware?" Aware of what?
[ is there something to be aware of?? Steph and Belph are a thing-in-denial, and he's the third wheel... that's all there is to it. ]
We were doing that one task, never have I ever, and it kind of spiraled? But now everyone thinks we are in a very messy, will they, won't they kind of thing between all three of us.
[ ... ]
Just, so, uh. You're aware. In case anyone brings it up.
This is why I don't like those "party games." Ugh... [ he pinches the bridge of his nose. ] Why didn't you just explain about you and Belph and put an end to it? I don't need rumors following me around.
If I do that, you'll never get him. He doesn't ever let himself feel anything. It's annoying.
[ maybe he should just go for it... but he knows Steph deserves better than him, and he doesn't want to force Belph out just because Belph is cowardly. (What Belph is afraid of, Hikage has no idea, but he must be scared of something to keep avoiding confronting this...) ]
[ honestly, she really was not expecting to bring this up while here. it has only been a little over a week when all this got brought up, and she thought they all needed time to figure themselves out... but now that steph is aware the other people in the camp are going to be annoying about it.
well, a small talk shouldn't hurt. ]
... I'm fine with like, not dealing with any of this yet. I kind of thought it wouldn't come up until after you both settled in Gotham, but with us here now... I mostly didn't want you to find out from someone else.
[ this feels awkward to talk about. He can only imagine how awkward it's going to be if someone else starts pressing him on it. Hikage hates talking about his personal matters in the first place, let alone his love life... ]
This isn't the place for romance, anyway. We're all stupid for getting involved in... this. [ whatever this is. A love triangle? He doesn't feel particularly passionate about succeeding in it, though. ] He said he needs time to think about it, right? Let him have it. I can talk to him if he drags it out... not that he listens to me, either.
[ a beat. ]
... I told you before that I wasn't giving up on you, and that was the truth. But I'm not so pathetic that I'll settle for being second choice. [ he'd like to be chosen on his own merits. ] Belph's a good man. He's clever, and he's handsome. Don't hold back for my sake.
it's not that he's second place, but... stephanie has always been the kind of person who, especially in matters of love, tends to run in a little blindly. and while she has definitely matured a lot over the years, and isn't nearly as bad as she was when she was younger...
sometimes, you still just remain stupidly stubborn, and don't want to actually budge on what you want just yet.
however, instead of saying any of this, she focuses on what's far more important, ]
[ honestly, she'd prefer not to either. she doesn't think they really had enough time to think things over, but also her friend just died horribly yesterday. if it wasn't for the task, romance would be very far from her thoughts right now. ]
Hm, doubtful.
[ but she'll lean up to give him a quick peck on the cheek. ]
[ the timing is perfectly horrible, but, apparently, all of Hikage's romantic life events happen while he's trapped in some sort of hell with his existence on the line, so it might as well happen now. Whatever retort he had in mind evaporates at the kiss - which she evidently surprised him with, judging by the way he flinches.
Damn this girl, playing with him... ]
... Watch yourself. I'm not always going to put up with this.
[ his patience for belph fucking around only goes so far ]
[ she takes a step back, raising her hands like a sign of surrender. ]
I'm being good, don't worry.
[ steph has yet to kiss anyone in this camp besides cheek kisses, which honestly, shows she is being a lot more well behaved than she was at the castle. ]
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... What do you think? I'm trapped on a weird campground. Nothing is up. [ a beat. ] Why are you nervous?
[ he is occasionally good at reading people ]
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[ ...
actually, it might be better if she just dove in. ]
So, everyone is now aware there is some romantic tension between three certain individuals that we are both very familiar with? I mean us.
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[ can steph stop telling him things that just make him go "huh," he's aged 100 more years in this past week alone. His forehead creases as he unpacks what she just said. ]
You, me, and Belph? Wait... What do you mean, "everyone is now aware?" Aware of what?
[ is there something to be aware of?? Steph and Belph are a thing-in-denial, and he's the third wheel... that's all there is to it. ]
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[ ... ]
Just, so, uh. You're aware. In case anyone brings it up.
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[ fucking hell steph ]
This is why I don't like those "party games." Ugh... [ he pinches the bridge of his nose. ] Why didn't you just explain about you and Belph and put an end to it? I don't need rumors following me around.
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she pauses, as the slow realization of how fucking stupid all of this is truly hits her. ]
Hikage... Belph and I aren't dating.
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[ despite his feisty comments the last time they talked about this, Hikage seems pretty resigned to the two of them being an item. ]
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[ is she a fuckin hot potato but for dating ]
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[ belph why ]
That idiot...
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Maybe the two of you should chat.
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If I do that, you'll never get him. He doesn't ever let himself feel anything. It's annoying.
[ maybe he should just go for it... but he knows Steph deserves better than him, and he doesn't want to force Belph out just because Belph is cowardly. (What Belph is afraid of, Hikage has no idea, but he must be scared of something to keep avoiding confronting this...) ]
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well, a small talk shouldn't hurt. ]
... I'm fine with like, not dealing with any of this yet. I kind of thought it wouldn't come up until after you both settled in Gotham, but with us here now... I mostly didn't want you to find out from someone else.
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[ this feels awkward to talk about. He can only imagine how awkward it's going to be if someone else starts pressing him on it. Hikage hates talking about his personal matters in the first place, let alone his love life... ]
This isn't the place for romance, anyway. We're all stupid for getting involved in... this. [ whatever this is. A love triangle? He doesn't feel particularly passionate about succeeding in it, though. ] He said he needs time to think about it, right? Let him have it. I can talk to him if he drags it out... not that he listens to me, either.
[ a beat. ]
... I told you before that I wasn't giving up on you, and that was the truth. But I'm not so pathetic that I'll settle for being second choice. [ he'd like to be chosen on his own merits. ] Belph's a good man. He's clever, and he's handsome. Don't hold back for my sake.
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it's not that he's second place, but... stephanie has always been the kind of person who, especially in matters of love, tends to run in a little blindly. and while she has definitely matured a lot over the years, and isn't nearly as bad as she was when she was younger...
sometimes, you still just remain stupidly stubborn, and don't want to actually budge on what you want just yet.
however, instead of saying any of this, she focuses on what's far more important, ]
You sure do compliment him a lot.
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That's what you're responding to...?
[ exasperated... ]
Is there a problem with that? We're friends.
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[ hm. ]
No, it's fine. I'm glad you're friends.
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So you've said...
[ scrutinizing her expression like he'll figure out what she's getting at if he looks hard enough. he misses his powers... ]
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... anyway. Please don't think you're second place, or something. It's not like that.
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... You're too nice for your own good.
[ that's all he'll say. Clearly, he's not convinced. ]</small
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Hm, doubtful.
[ but she'll lean up to give him a quick peck on the cheek. ]
We can figure all of this out later.
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Damn this girl, playing with him... ]
... Watch yourself. I'm not always going to put up with this.
[ his patience for belph fucking around only goes so far ]
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I'm being good, don't worry.
[ steph has yet to kiss anyone in this camp besides cheek kisses, which honestly, shows she is being a lot more well behaved than she was at the castle. ]
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You say that after airing our dirty laundry to the entire camp.
[ not buying it!! She's always bad... and a heartbreaker. He rubs his cheek absentmindedly. ]
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[ if he hadn't commented then the conversation would have never spiraled. so she blames him. ]
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... I'm starting to feel like Belph's behind all this trouble.
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