[ stephanie is torn, because on one hand she desperately wants hikage to branch out and hang out with other people, especially now after seeing what happened to ogata. the last thing she wants is no one coming to hikage's defense if he's ever put in a position like that, especially when her word would be seen as a clearly biased one.
on the other hand, that was rather sweet.
... she'll take the offer, and get back up. ]
Okay. But you need to do the second task with someone other than Belph then.
[ dates are purely romantic, as far as he's concerned, so there was never a chance of him picking anyone else for this task. Frankly, it feels tacky to "date" in a place like this, but he's willing to play for the rewards - just in case.
Her comment makes him sigh, a little exasperated. ]
Stop trying to babysit me. I can decide what I want to do on my own. If I was as fragile as you think I am, I would have broken a long time ago. [ as he pulls her up to her feet, he keeps a firm grip on her hand, drawing her in a little closer. ] Stay still for a second.
[ just gonna... reach up and tuck that flower he's got behind her ear, casually. ]
[ romantic? it's moments like these that she remembers that hikage really is a ye olde, with certain ideas of courtship. it's not a bad thing, but it does take her by surprise from time to time. ]
[ he's still an otome boy! he has some moves! they're just obscured by all his fucking baggage. He steps back, then smiles a little, still holding onto her hand. ]
... Well, there's a shrine through the portal. We could take a walk there. [ he shrugs slightly. ] That might be too old-fashioned for a modern American girl, though.
[ it's the most romantic place he can think of around here. ]
I'm not "stuck on it." Even I can be sensitive sometimes, you know. [ tugging her along by the hand! ] ... I don't want to bore you.
[ he is aware that he's very old-fashioned. Briefly, Hikage wonders at the fact that this is now what he's concerned about in their relationship - not that she'll reject him for who he is or was or might have been, or hate him for the things he's done. ]
Pretty much. It's not like... super common enough that every other person is like that, but with my line of work, it comes up more often than you think.
[ she can't say that she, specifically, is, but... thankfully a lot of people she knows are. ]
I will. I'll give you the whole tour!
[ ..... she will skips certain parts of the tour because there is no way she is taking him or belph to some parts of gotham. she will just mark them on a map with a note that says "DO NOT VISIT" ]
[ warning hikage like he's simba and she's mufasa, i see... ]
Hmph. My expectations are high.
[ It feels nice to think about that potential future, even if it's just a dream. Simple, easy things, like walking in the snow together, or waiting for a train - they're the stuff of his fantasies after being indoors for so long. Walking outside in the grass like this is nice, too, but he knows he's still trapped. When he's truly free, he's sure he'll feel the difference. ]
In return, I'll make you something good when we get back from exploring. [ a beat. ] Do you really like mashed potatoes that much?
[ if he'd known that, he wouldn't have made her so many sweets back in the castle! Then again, there are only so many ways to make mashed potatoes. He'd run out of ideas eventually. And she never seemed to complain about it. Still, it would be nice to make something different, specifically for her... Maybe the way to a girl's heart is through her stomach, too?
In any case, they're coming up on the weird portal tree. Hikage looks at her, then surreptitiously at their hands, then back to the hollow again. ]
[ stop hikage, she doesn't dislike sweets it's fine!! and she can't say this because it's all bracket text, so instead she just tilts his head at the first comment.
[ he's a perfectionist how is he gonna win her heart if he doesn't make her mashed potaters :(
anyway, this portal thing is still weird, but here they go. He's done it a few times already, so he lands on his feet this time. The area on the other side is actually a lot nicer than the camp; it's too bad they can't stay here, instead. ]
[ she assumes these portals might have been a weekly thing instead of them receiving all of them at once, but even then it's still a lot of places to explore. amazing.
once again, he is stuck at an impasse about how honest he should be with Steph... this time, at least, he recalls how oddly freeing it was to let himself be vulnerable and not get humiliated for it. After a second or three of hesitation, he answers. ]
... I thought we could make an offering. After that... [ a beat. ] ... To be honest, I don't have any memories of "dates." Probably... I've never been on one. When I was alive, I didn't have opportunities for things like that... I didn't have anyone around me in the first place. The things I've seen in the hearts of the dead aren't things I can accomplish here, either.
[ while his voice remains even and neutral, he does look rueful. ]
... Even so, I wanted to monopolize your time for a little while. Having you to myself, just walking and having a normal conversation, looking at scenery that's slightly more interesting than usual with you... that sounded good enough to make me want to try. [ a pause, and he huffs a silent laugh. ] I'm a boring, selfish old man, after all. Maybe someone will hear my prayer and give me a second chance to take you on a better date.
[ she laughs, although it's not a mocking one. just... amused, and understanding.
with her free hand, she just gestures in front of them. ]
This is fine! You know, not all dates have to be something super fancy or planned out. The best kind can usually just be you and the other person, just... existing together.
[ she has had more than one conversation here, with people being confused about what qualifies as a date or flirting or just something romantic. and when steph described the concept, the response that she got a lot was that sounded like something you can do with your friends.
but of course it does, because the person you date should also be your friend. your feelings are what makes it romantic. ]
[ oh!! despite his best efforts not to show it, he does look a little relieved when she says that, smiling faintly. ]
Yeah. That's what I think, too.
[ not that he has any experience to draw on - at least none that he remembers - but his favorite moments of this second chance at living have been the small and intimate ones he's shared with his friends, not the parties or the thrills (the non-murderous ones, obviously.) And it's comforting to know that she's enjoyed them, too. Theoretically. ]
Still... It would be nice to impress you sometime.
I'll have you know, I'm veeeery difficult to impress.
[ that's a joke. steph is genuinely rather easygoing when it comes to things like this. it's why she's so okay with waiting until gotham before figuring anything out.
she has learned what happens when you try to rush things, and a lot of the time it's not that pretty. ]
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on the other hand, that was rather sweet.
... she'll take the offer, and get back up. ]
Okay. But you need to do the second task with someone other than Belph then.
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Her comment makes him sigh, a little exasperated. ]
Stop trying to babysit me. I can decide what I want to do on my own. If I was as fragile as you think I am, I would have broken a long time ago. [ as he pulls her up to her feet, he keeps a firm grip on her hand, drawing her in a little closer. ] Stay still for a second.
[ just gonna... reach up and tuck that flower he's got behind her ear, casually. ]
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Oh... smooth.
[ romantic? it's moments like these that she remembers that hikage really is a ye olde, with certain ideas of courtship. it's not a bad thing, but it does take her by surprise from time to time. ]
Where are we going?
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... Well, there's a shrine through the portal. We could take a walk there. [ he shrugs slightly. ] That might be too old-fashioned for a modern American girl, though.
[ it's the most romantic place he can think of around here. ]
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[ it's funny.
but a shrine, huh... sounds neat. ]
Sure. Let's go to the shrine.
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[ he is aware that he's very old-fashioned. Briefly, Hikage wonders at the fact that this is now what he's concerned about in their relationship - not that she'll reject him for who he is or was or might have been, or hate him for the things he's done. ]
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[ she shakes her head. ]
Don't worry, I'm used to hanging out with people who aren't used to things like that.
[ not even like, just from murdergames, but back home too. ]
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[ maybe that's why she's good at dealing with him... ]
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[ the bar is so low...... but at least that means he won't be the most clueless person in Gotham. ]
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[ he nods to himself. Between that and the wish, it might actually work -- if they get through this. But he's not going to bring that up now. ]
There are a lot of things I'm curious about - even the everyday, boring things. You'll have to show me around.
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I will. I'll give you the whole tour!
[ ..... she will skips certain parts of the tour because there is no way she is taking him or belph to some parts of gotham. she will just mark them on a map with a note that says "DO NOT VISIT" ]
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Hmph. My expectations are high.
[ It feels nice to think about that potential future, even if it's just a dream. Simple, easy things, like walking in the snow together, or waiting for a train - they're the stuff of his fantasies after being indoors for so long. Walking outside in the grass like this is nice, too, but he knows he's still trapped. When he's truly free, he's sure he'll feel the difference. ]
In return, I'll make you something good when we get back from exploring. [ a beat. ] Do you really like mashed potatoes that much?
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[ hm...
she thinks over how to say the rest. ]
It's more like, a comfort food? Whenever I'm feeling down about something, it's what I go for to help make me feel better.
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[ if he'd known that, he wouldn't have made her so many sweets back in the castle! Then again, there are only so many ways to make mashed potatoes. He'd run out of ideas eventually. And she never seemed to complain about it. Still, it would be nice to make something different, specifically for her... Maybe the way to a girl's heart is through her stomach, too?
In any case, they're coming up on the weird portal tree. Hikage looks at her, then surreptitiously at their hands, then back to the hollow again. ]
Let's jump on three.
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but then he speaks again, and she nods. ]
Alrighty. One... two... three!
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anyway, this portal thing is still weird, but here they go. He's done it a few times already, so he lands on his feet this time. The area on the other side is actually a lot nicer than the camp; it's too bad they can't stay here, instead. ]
This way. I was here earlier.
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[ she assumes these portals might have been a weekly thing instead of them receiving all of them at once, but even then it's still a lot of places to explore. amazing.
but she'll follow wherever he goes. ]
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[ too many places to have to look for bodies and evidence, tbh. ]
Still... I prefer this area.
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[ although honestly, she is pretty sure if she was stuck here for two months while murders happened, she wouldn't be the biggest fan of it. ]
What do you have planned?
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once again, he is stuck at an impasse about how honest he should be with Steph... this time, at least, he recalls how oddly freeing it was to let himself be vulnerable and not get humiliated for it. After a second or three of hesitation, he answers. ]
... I thought we could make an offering. After that... [ a beat. ] ... To be honest, I don't have any memories of "dates." Probably... I've never been on one. When I was alive, I didn't have opportunities for things like that... I didn't have anyone around me in the first place. The things I've seen in the hearts of the dead aren't things I can accomplish here, either.
[ while his voice remains even and neutral, he does look rueful. ]
... Even so, I wanted to monopolize your time for a little while. Having you to myself, just walking and having a normal conversation, looking at scenery that's slightly more interesting than usual with you... that sounded good enough to make me want to try. [ a pause, and he huffs a silent laugh. ] I'm a boring, selfish old man, after all. Maybe someone will hear my prayer and give me a second chance to take you on a better date.
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with her free hand, she just gestures in front of them. ]
This is fine! You know, not all dates have to be something super fancy or planned out. The best kind can usually just be you and the other person, just... existing together.
[ she has had more than one conversation here, with people being confused about what qualifies as a date or flirting or just something romantic. and when steph described the concept, the response that she got a lot was that sounded like something you can do with your friends.
but of course it does, because the person you date should also be your friend. your feelings are what makes it romantic. ]
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Yeah. That's what I think, too.
[ not that he has any experience to draw on - at least none that he remembers - but his favorite moments of this second chance at living have been the small and intimate ones he's shared with his friends, not the parties or the thrills (the non-murderous ones, obviously.) And it's comforting to know that she's enjoyed them, too. Theoretically. ]
Still... It would be nice to impress you sometime.
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[ that's a joke. steph is genuinely rather easygoing when it comes to things like this. it's why she's so okay with waiting until gotham before figuring anything out.
she has learned what happens when you try to rush things, and a lot of the time it's not that pretty. ]
... but seriously, you don't have to try.
rises out of the water like a beautiful dolphin and returns to this thread
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