route_1065 | How do we shot dating

Entry tags:

How do we shot dating

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.]

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[Thankfully he's not a mind reader, nor is he very good at picking up on social cues. Kimblee's acting is flawless as far as Isaac is concerned - and he assumes it's genuine. He doesn't know Kimblee nearly as well as he thinks he does.]

[The touch on his arm is unexpected, but Isaac doesn't pull away. He stares at Kimblee's hand for a moment; he's a bit confused by the sudden sympathy. It's nice, but he's not sure what to do with it. So he doesn't do anything.]

Y-yeah? Well. Thanks. I guess.

[That will get Isaac to look away though. ...He also might be blushing. Just a little bit. It's totally not noticeable or anything.]

[Yeah, okay, he's bright red. So what?]

[Oh, that just gets a light laugh out of him; it's not cruel, just teasing, and he doesn't pull his hand away.]

You're still so shy, Isaac! It's almost endearing.

I--!

[ALKEMRKNL HOW DID YOU FIND THE TSUN.]

[Seriously, he never tsuns. What is this feeling.]

No it isn't. Knock it off.

[That...well, kittyfacing still hasn't left, but he does pull his hand away, okay.]

If you insist.

[H-hey, that's...! Not what he wanted at all, huh. This tsuning thing doesn't work at all. Why would anyone bother with it?]

[Though that just leaves the issue of "what do" now. Seriously, what does he do with this? Other than herp really hard. Because he's doing a lot of that.]

[The kittyfacing implies that Kimblee's at least not bothered by it, but... He's still not overly comfortable initiating anything.]

[So he'll just awkward around the issue for a bit by unfolding his arms, shifting from one foot to the other a few times, and finally reaching out (very hesitantly, of course) to brush his hand against Kimblee's.]

I'm not that bothered by it, alright?

[Kimblee's gaze shoots down to Isaac's hand when he reaches out, though he isn't exactly startled by it; just seeing what he's doing, really. Isaac never initiates contact; the fact that he's attempting is...well, mildly confusing, if he's going to be honest, but not unwelcome.

Kimblee has his gloves on, as he always does in Johto; he can still feel the contact through the fabric, however, and he responds to it easily, turning his hand a bit to grip Isaac's lightly with his own. Again, it's something he does because he suspects he's expected to do it, but the motion is fluid and the contact is...pleasant to him, despite the indirectness of it.]

That's good to hear, then.

[Isaac relaxes once that grip is returned - but that really isn't helping with the blushing any. Not that he's aware of that. He's never sure what his expression is doing anyway.]

Yeah...?

[It's not really a question though, and he's content to grip Kimblee's hand tightly. He might be smiling stupidly now, he's not entirely sure. Either way, it's nice. Simple contact like this isn't something he does very often.]

[Kimblee doesn't shy away from the eye contact, but his expression does falter a bit; it isn't that he's displeased - just very, very uncertain. Isaac is being incredibly open with him, and Kimblee is admittedly not sure what to do with that.

It's been a while since he's attempted anything resembling a relationship, but even so, he's never known what to do when people look at him like that.]

Of course, Isaac. Why wouldn't it be?

[Never mind the fact that he's clearly just trying and failing to look casual through the sheer force of his (unsure); he isn't sure what to do with his expression and it's obvious.]

[Isaac isn't sure what to make of that expression. Normally he'd worry that he'd screwed up somehow - but Kimblee is very blunt. Kimblee will let him know if he fucks this up.]

[...Needless to say, he's very relieved about that. He can relax more knowing that.]

Ah, I was just... confirming it, I guess.

[He shrugs slightly, earning a squeak from the Surskit on his shoulder. Oh yeah, he should probably return that thing. Once he's done that he relaxes again, deciding that a topic change would probably be a good idea.]

Thanks. For... all this.

[...MAYBE NOT, there goes the eye contact.]

[The squeak from the Surskit draws Kimblee's gaze upward; there's not really anywhere to look but Isaac's face once it's recalled, and he's mildly relieved that Isaac isn't staring him down at the moment.]

Really, you don't have to keep thanking me - you know that I don't take on charity cases for any reason. I'm here because I choose to be.

[His grip tightens against Isaac's hand momentarily, as though to emphasize the point.]

[He normally doesn't have any issues maintaining eye contact - usually to the point of accidentally staring down whoever he's talking to. Isaac can't keep Kimblee's eye contact, and glances away almost immediately.]

...Yeah, I know. Still, it... really means a lot to me.

[And cue that rather horrifying expression! Words can't quite express just how pleased he is with all of this. He squeezes Kimblee's hand back momentarily before shifting to lace his fingers with the other alchemist's. He's not sure what to do with the fact that he simultaneously tense and relaxed around Kimblee now. It's an entirely new feeling - he was always just anxious around his girlfriends back home. Things are different with Kimblee; he's perfectly fine with that.]

[Kimblee allows Isaac to intertwine their fingers with no resistance; it feels a bit strange through the gloves, but he doesn't feel inclined to take them off, either. That normally would have been the first thing he moved to do back in Amestris; he isn't sure what to think of the fact that by now he's so used to having no direct contact with others that taking the gloves off is no more than a vague afterthought.

It bothers him a bit; he lets it go for now. And look, he doesn't even freeze up at the sight of that rather horrifying expression!]

Well! Consider me flattered, then.

[You're improving-- Oh dammit, not the kittyface! Isaac is 4x weak to the kittyface, asshole!]

Yeah? Well. You're welcome, I guess?

[No really, what does he do with this? It is a compliment, Isaac can acknowledge that. And he certainly meant it; of course Kimblee would take it as such. It's just... awkward. Everything about this is awkward. But it's a good sort of awkward. It's not something he can explain. He's fine with the awkward.]

[Spending time with Kimblee is something he really enjoys. He's still not sure that this isn't some ridiculously long dream. There's no way Kimblee would have agreed to this, right? What could he possibly be getting out of this? It's not something Isaac wants to think much about though. It doesn't matter. Kimblee has his own reasons, and he's not going to press for them.]

[He's just going to be stupidly pleased and staring at their hands, if you don't mind.]

[...Isaac, you are possibly the one person in Johto that doesn't find that expression to be absolutely terrifying.]

Of course.

[He remains silent for a moment, shifting his gaze out over the water while he thinks; Isaac really does seem content, though he can't exactly say that he knows why.]

Tell me what you're thinking?

I... was just thinking about how nice all this is. I mean you... understand me better than anyone else. I'm not as worried about screwing this up as I was about... all my other relationships.

[..."as worried" being the key part here. Because let's face it, if something causes you to leave, it'll be Isaac's fault.]

[That's not exactly a lie, anyway. He doesn't want to get into the discussion of just why Kimblee agreed to this. He's fairly sure he'd rather not know.]

"Better than anyone else"...?

[Kimblee tips his head a bit at that; he isn't so much bothered by the "as worried" as he is by that.]

All things considered, Isaac, we really haven't known each other very long.

[There are so many other things he could point out here, the primary one being that Isaac really doesn't know Kimblee as well as he thinks he does; the...ah, impromptu visitation session in Central Prison had proven that much. He refrains for now, but...]

[Isaac tilts his head a bit in thought. Well, okay, yes, there might have been a few people who knew him better back home.]

I guess I mean you understand me better.

[There's a slight pause, and when Isaac continues, he's quieter and more subdued.]

I have a hard time picking up on social cues most people get pretty easily. Everyone I've dealt with back home got irritated with me after awhile. You haven't.

[...Yet.]

...ah. I see what you're saying now, yes.

[He doesn't seem to be passing judgement either way with that, however; it's just a statement, nothing more.]

As I said before, Isaac - you and I are different from most when it comes to how we perceive the world. Surely you've heard me ask others in the past to clarify things that they clearly thought should be obvious?

[Isaac nods at that; it's not every day you hear someone asking people why they're having issues dealing with their participation in genocide.]

Yeah, I know. It's great to have someone understand.

[...He's not going to bother dealing with the genocide thing. He hasn't tried to fathom how Kimblee's brain works in regards to that before now, and he's certainly not going to start trying today. Kimblee's different. Isaac is fine with that.]

It wasn't really something I noticed before meeting you. Sure, people could be pretty rude, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

[He didn't even know Kimblee for very long during Ishval. It's amazing how much of an impact Kimblee had on him.]

They can be rather rude, yes - at the same time, surely you realize that we must look the same way?

[The question isn't chiding, however.]

I don't know, I find that humans are an inherently flawed species; so many points of view, most of them so incompatible with each other that each individual person can only tolerate maybe one or two on an intimate level for long periods of time, while everyone else is held at arms' distance. One or two, out of billions of people! It's a wonder humanity has survived as a species, when you take that into account - people really should have ended each other by now, though I suppose the general concept of morality comes into it somewhere...

[He trails off for a moment before seeming to realize how tangential that is and seeming to reset his line of thinking back on track. It's been a while since he's discussed something like this; though his expression remains generally calm, it shows in his eyes - he's pleased with it, excited.]

But really, that sort of conflict and diversity is what makes the world interesting, I think; the truths of the world are things we all have access to, the main difference is in how we understand them. No one is more right than anyone else, on a basic level - your sort of understanding makes just as much sense in relation to the world as that coming from those with more socially "normal" viewpoints, and if anything else, a lack of mental adherence to social cues means that you perceive things that others don't. It's a fair tradeoff for a bit of rudeness once in a while, don't you think?

[He stops himself then; goodness, he has been going on for a while.]

Ah, but speaking of rudeness, I'm saying far too much, aren't I? The point I'm getting to is this - it's possible that eventually I may argue with you on something fundamental, but again, that's just due to a difference in understanding, and I won't just...I don't know, storm out because of that. If that's the reason you're not "as worried" about ruining this, then you need to know that you don't have to be worried at all.

[Isaac is silent through Kimblee's speech. He's once again staring Kimblee down, but it's not intentional. This feels like Ishval - when Kimblee would discuss something and go on about it for quite some time before finally reaching whatever point he was trying to make. Isaac never minded any; he's fond of listening to Kimblee. He brings up excellent points and with his unique understanding of the world, he always has something fascinating to say. Isaac's a little bothered by the fact that he refers to the whole human race as something he's removed from, but it isn't anything too troubling as far as he's concerned. Kimblee just sees the world differently.]

Yeah, morals have something to do with it. Not many people actually want to kill.

[He's willing to leave that point alone for the time being - it's not exactly a nice topic of discussion.]

I guess that's a good way of looking at it, yeah. I'm not aware of just how rude I can come off, I guess?

[That certainly doesn't excuse it, but Kimblee's analysis does provide a better understanding. Isaac's back to smiling again.]

That's... That's good to hear. Thanks. I mean, it's happened before, but it's kind of ridiculous to think you'd react the same way. It's ridiculous to think anyone would react the same way; everyone reacts to things differently.

[...Even if at least two of his former girlfriends stormed off that way. Oh well. Kimblee's a man, so hopefully that won't happen! ...That's totally how dating men works, right.]

[Honestly, Kimblee isn't necessarily aware that he refers to the human race in such a way - but even if he did realize, he wouldn't exactly mind. There's enough differences between his mindset and what's considered "normal" by most to warrant the separation, he suspects.

Either way, he seems rather pleased with Isaac's response to all of that, if the light tightening of his grip against Isaac's hand is anything to judge by.]

Of course, Isaac; it's just a matter of finding a balance, I think. There's something to be said for following society's rules, surely; however, there are always exceptions to that - people you don't have to be concerned around. It's just a matter of finding them. Does that make sense?

[Kimblee's grip is eagerly returned - Isaac isn't entirely aware of just how much he wants to please Kimblee, but the positive attention for doing so is certainly helping.]

Yeah, it does. I mean, I know there are other people out there like me; who have the same sorts of problems and all that. I can't be the only one.

[A pause.]

But even if I am the only one, it's fine. Because there are people like you who do understand.

[..."People like you" really only referring to you, but you know. He'll try not to creep on you too badly, Kimblee.]

[...well...he appreciates the attempts to not creep on him, at least...]

Ah...yes, of course.

[Okay, well. Now that that's out of the way...

...yeah, he's starting to get that impending sense of WAT DO again.]

[Oh, right, this is the part where they're supposed to do something other than talk about how screwed up they are, right?]

[...No seriously, he has no idea what to do either. So he'll just stare at their hands, if that's alright!]

[Isaac knows he shouldn't rely on Kimblee to do everything in this relationship - that's going to lead to frustration. But at the same time, he doesn't want to do anything that will make Kimblee uncomfortable (like what? he's not even sure what he wants to do at this point). Clearly the only solution is to herp really hard.]

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