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

[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.

[glaciates]

[His initial reaction to the laughter is to get defensive - but it's only when Kimblee speaks that Isaac realizes just how tense he is. It is just Kimblee, and even if Kimblee likes to tease him relentlessly, Kimblee's still the only person he can relax easily around.]

...Yeah, I know. I'm never really sure what to say.

[The smile returns then, a bit less excited than before, at least.]

Things are different now; I don't want to screw it up. That's all.

[explosivecombat]

"Screw it up"?

[Kimblee tips his head a bit at that; he's very aware of how he behaves around people he's in a relationship with, but at the same time, he can't say he's ever really concerned with changing his behavior very much if it's not completely necessary for him to do so.]

How do you mean?

[glaciates]

[Isaac is silent for a moment, frowning at the ground while he tries to come up with a way to explain it.]

Well, I've... never really been good at this sort of thing. At picking up social cues and things like that.

[He shrugs half-heartedly. Isaac doesn't lie, and he's an open book emotionally. He normally doesn't try to hide anything, but he'd really prefer to pass this off as if it's nothing. He doesn't need Kimblee knowing that he's bothered by his massive amounts of social fail.]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee is quiet for a moment after that. Thinking it over, really.]

We've never exactly been normal, you and I. I think we're both aware of that; when we first discussed this, you acknowledged that I was "different" - that things wouldn't be the same with me as they are with most.

We're similar, in that regard. It doesn't bother me, Isaac.

[glaciates]

[Isaac is silent for a moment; he's not sure what to do with that. He's never had anyone understand him as easily as Kimblee does. It's a relief to find someone who gets him.]

Yeah. I... Thanks. I really appreciate it.

[explosivecombat]

Of course, Isaac.

[There's another hesitation after that, however; it's hitting him again, that this is where touch would probably be appropriate at best, expected at most, but...

Ugh. Awkwardawkwardawkward, why is this so awkward...]

[glaciates]

[Because no one knows what to do or what's acceptable or anything? It also doesn't help that Isaac tends to take things very slowly in relationships. And then the woman gets irritated and makes the first move.]

[...Not that you're a woman, Kimblee!!]

[But anyway, he has no idea what to do here. He's just going to awkward at you forever!]

[explosivecombat]

[Sensible and Inoffensive Discussions Of Sexual Orientation: The Log.]

Well. What do you...usually do on outings like this?

[...well. Hang on.]

...please tell me you've dated before.

[glaciates]

[Oh come on! Isaac will look mildly offended at that, if you don't mind!]

Yeah, of course I've dated before!

[......]

But I'm uh... not very forward, I guess?

[...You totally got that he doesn't do jackshit out of that, right?]

[explosivecombat]

Ah. Accustomed to letting the -

[...woman? Man? What are you interested in, he just realized that he has no idea]

...other person take initiative, then?

[oh god oh man and jfc that was clumsy, good going self]

[glaciates]

[...Wait, wait, you think he's actually interested in men?]

Woman.

[He comes down a little too hard and a little too fast on that answer. He's just a bit uncomfortable with the idea of actually doing anything with a man. Things are admittedly different with Kimblee - but that's probably because of their long history together--]

[...Oh who is he kidding? He's willing to ignore the mild homophobia there for Kimblee.]

[explosivecombat]

...ah. Yes. Of course.

[Judging by his tone, it's not exactly an "Of course" situation at all, but. Um. Right.]

[glaciates]

Yeah.

[He probably shouldn't be getting defensive in response to that, um.]

[explosivecombat]

Well, you can hardly fault me for wondering, can you? Given that you developed this attraction in the first place and seemed interested in pursuing it, I've no idea what you expected me to think?

[glaciates]

Well it's the first time it's happened! I wasn't expecting this. Why do you think it took me so long to figure it out, or why I was going to ask Hughes in the first place?

[...so long... You know what, just ignore that part okay.]