How do we shot dating

[glaciates]

Who: Isaac McDougal (glaciates) and Solf J. Kimblee (explosivecombat)
Where: Route 34
When: April 21, evening
Summary: Kimblee and Isaac attempt this "dating" thing.
Rating: PG to PG-13
Log:

[April 13. Eight days ago. Maybe it was naive of him (or far too sentimental), but he wouldn't be forgetting that date any time soon. That was the day he accidentally texted the entire network, asking for advice in a relationship. It was supposed to be private to Hughes, but... Well, he can't really complain. Things worked out.]

[...He's dating Solf J. Kimblee. He's not sure what to do with this knowledge. Other than smile stupidly when he's certain people aren't looking.]

[He's actually been in a much better mood for the past week. Normally he spends his time avoiding people and Goldenrod City entirely. That hasn't changed much; he only enters the city occasionally, usually in search of Kimblee. He's relaxing a bit more and he's not quite as worried about being attacked.]

[Isaac is finally getting used to being in Johto. Things are finally settling in. He really couldn't be happier.]

[That said, going on an actual date with Kimblee isn't something he'd actually considered. Dating in general isn't something Isaac is very comfortable with - but then again, what is he comfortable with? Other than reassuring everyone that he's a horrible person, obviously. So when he told Kimblee he was interested in a relationship... well, he hadn't thought it out this far in advance. Kimblee was supposed to turn him down. This wasn't supposed to happen.]

[Not like he's complaining or anything.]

[Isaac is much more comfortable outside of Goldenrod City, and he's currently standing on the shore of the river alongside Route 34. He spends the majority of his time around water - it's a force of habit by now. He can't use his alchemy, but he feels much safer when he does have a source of water nearby. He's not thinking about that, though; he's more focused on the fact that he has no idea what to do on a date with Kimblee. He normally doesn't have any idea what to do on dates but this is different. It's... well, it's a date with a man. This wasn't something that happened very often back home. Openly gay men weren't very common in 1915, after all.]

[Cornelius, Isaac's Surskit, is currently perched on his shoulder, keeping an eye out for danger - or more likely, Kimblee. Isaac's a bit too lost in his own thoughts to notice anyone anyway.]

[Oh, and if you're wondering, Kimblee, this was totally your idea. You did suggest it, after all! ...You totally know this is a date, right? Of course you do.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

[He has no idea this is a date.

Oh, it's obvious that it's a deliberate meeting of some sort, as Isaac had actually specified when and where to meet this time, as opposed to simply coming from right the hell out of nowhere; he can only assume that Isaac has something to tell him that can't be said in public or the like. After all, when Kimblee dates people, he's used to making a show of it; he's gotten rather good at feigning normalcy, and as such most of the dates with women he's supposed to actually care about have involved showing them off to others - taking them places they like, buying them nice outfits and jewelry and other things they may happen to want. Spoiling and flattering his girlfriends has always worked in the past - at least for a little while, anyway, before they managed to work out exactly how cold he really is; after all, if he was bothering to spend time and money on them, surely that was a sign that he cared, wasn't it? Of course it was.

So meeting in a secluded location like this doesn't exactly scream "THIS IS A DATE" to him, no.]

...Isaac.

[Those burns from the other day are starting to heal up, though he has a different set of gloves on today; not that it matters for the moment, as his hands are currently buried in his pockets, his approach calm and incredibly casual.]

[glaciates]

[Cornelius chirps and Isaac glances over his shoulder, relaxing a bit. He'll never be able to fully relax after seven years on the run, but Johto is making it easier.]

Hey.

[The Surskit chirps in greeting as well. Isaac ignores him.]

How are you?

[The conversation immediately starts feeling stunted and forced; Isaac is never quite sure what to say to Kimblee - especially now that they're dating. Things are different - it's a good kind of different, but he hasn't adapted to it yet.]

[explosivecombat]

[...how awkward.]

I can't complain.

[His gaze flicks toward the Surskit; that's...an almost absurdly cute little shouldermon you have there.]

You seemed incredibly insistent that we should meet here tonight; hopefully everything is well?

[glaciates]

That's good.

[The question earns a blank look for a moment before Isaac recovers quickly.]

Yeah, of course everything's fine. I just felt that we should... you know. Do something. I mean we've...

[And here comes the awkward!]

...well, we've been... together for a week and all...

[...don't mind him while he brings out the orz already.]

[explosivecombat]

Have we?

[He's fully aware they have. The smirk and his tone are more than enough to imply at least that much.]

Well, unless you're just that overjoyed, I'd say it's a bit early for an anniversary celebration.

[glaciates]

Th-that's not what I meant!

[...We're totally celebrating the one-month mark, Kimblee. :|]

[Because let's be real, the last time either of them dated was at least seven years ago.]

I mean, we haven't really... done anything.

[...No, he doesn't realize just how that can be interpreted. Sorry, Kimblee!]

[explosivecombat]

[...Isaac...]

My, you certainly do move fast.

[glaciates]

[Headtilt?]

It's been a week. I don't see how that's fast.

[...we're not on the same page at all, Kimblee...]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, he's beginning to suspect that. That isn't going to keep him from being privately amused.]

And what are you suggesting we do about it, then?

[glaciates]

[YOU'RE NOT FUNNY.]

...We are doing something about it.

[...Headtilting even harder. Cornelius is kind of getting pushed off his shoulder now. The Surskit doesn't seem pleased at that and promptly bitches at his trainer in Surskit-speak.]

[explosivecombat]

[OH WHAT THE HELL IS THAT LOOK FOR -

...........................]

...ah. Is that what this is, then.

[glaciates]

Yeah, of course. What did you think this was?

[...no really, now he's curious.]

[explosivecombat]

Well, I...

[...had no idea, clearly.]

...oh, come now, you can't exactly claim you're familiar with how this sort of thing works, either.

[glaciates]

Ah, well... no. Not really.

[How does this dating thing work anyway? :|]

But I'm sure we'll figure it out!

[...Cue this face.]

[explosivecombat]

[...cue this one.]

Certainly excited about this, aren't you?

[glaciates]

Well, yeah. Aren't you?

[...He doesn't mean to look like a kicked puppy. Promise.]

[explosivecombat]

[...well. As far as Kimblee is concerned you're looking for reasons to be offended, Isaac, but.]

I don't recall saying that I wasn't.

[glaciates]

[When isn't he...?]

Yeah, well, you shouldn't have had to ask, then.

[...No, he still hasn't learned that people can't read his mind. Maybe someday he'll-- okay no, that's never going to happen.]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee will definitely contribute to that last cause, good lord.]

What in the world kind of logic is that? I can't read your mind, you know.

[glaciates]

I thought it was obvious.

[...It totally was obvious, right?]

[explosivecombat]

It was more of a rhetorical -

[...ugh, you know what.]

Never mind, Isaac, it's fine.

[glaciates]

[You know, he never got the point of rhetorical questions. Why ask something if you don't want an answer?]

...Yeah, well.

[orz]

Sorry for... getting defensive, then.

[explosivecombat]

[Well, if Kimblee's at all bothered by that bout of social failure, it isn't obvious, judging by how quickly he seems to recover from it.]

Of course. Don't worry about it.

[Of course, that still leaves the general question of What now? - Kimblee is aware that were this what he would consider a normal relationship, now is when physical affection would be appropriate, an acknowledgement of the apology and a general sign of moving on from it. But this isn't -

Has he ever even...touched Isaac, really? He definitely remembers Isaac carrying him after the incident in Union Cave, but when he thinks about it, he doesn't really recall making contact with Isaac himself if he could avoid doing so.

This seems to be a recurring theme for the evening, but...how awkward...]

[glaciates]

[Awkward is probably the best word to sum up the evening.]

[Isaac's social skills are horrible, but he does recognize that something should be said or done to break the horribly awkward silence. He's just not sure what.]

[This definitely isn't the same as dating a woman - and hell, even then he wouldn't be entirely too sure of what to do. So what is he supposed to do; try to strike up some sort of conversation? What is there to say? He doesn't talk to hear himself talk or to fill silence. Normally he's fine with silence. But this is awkward.]

[...So you can just have his whole brain crying for now, Kimblee.]

[explosivecombat]

[...and that's about the point that the realization hits; they are being so stupid.

He laughs a bit, though the sound isn't a cruel one.]

You don't have to treat this any differently than a normal conversation, you know. It is still just me. Nothing's changed in that regard.