week two | mingle

[showhost]

Welcome to week two, Teens Who Are Definitely Searching for Love!

Hopefully everyone got a lot of rest over the weekend, and are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the upcoming week, because there are a few things of interest this week.

But first, some changes of note in the house!

First: there is a giant rectangular box on the living room table, addressed to Lessing. It is a care package. The only thing in it is his sword.

There is some Bauernbrot bread on the counter. Ask Lessing about that too.

There is now a hot tub near the pool. It’s large enough to seat about six teens comfortably, but you can get more in there if you really try for some reason.

Okay I think that’s everything. Additionally, Tsukasa is here early this week! He’s looking pretty perky, seemingly recovered from the Match Ceremony, and he’s got some interesting info to share with everyone.

Embrace Space | Property Damage, etc | Dates | Mini-Event
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Submissions

Comments

a

[hgeegh]

[This exiled freak feels a disturbance in the air. It's also about the time he rises most days, but something niggles at his mind that his eyes snap wide open. He freshens up at the bathroom with a strange feeling in his chest before making his way to the kitchen, where he finds Asa staring off into space.

He blinks from the threshold.]

Asa?

[warhawks]

[ Ugh. She promised Ritsuka she'd try and move forward, not back, but she didn't expect to have to deal with the consequences of that promise so soon. ]

Hey, Sanji. [ She glances in his direction briefly, then goes back to staring at the wall again. At least she's not chasing him off? ] Sorry, I just needed a drink. I'll get out of your way in a minute.

[hgeegh]

[His breath catches in his throat at the realization that she's talking to him. Not only that, she looked at him just now. Is she—]

No. No . . . You don't have to do that. You're not in my way.

[If anything, he's the one obstructing her. Sanji steps into the kitchen proper, giving Asa a comfortable path to clear away (if she so desires) as he approaches the island from the opposite end.]

. . . Are you hungry?

[warhawks]

Not really.

[ She feels bad saying it so bluntly, but she'd feel worse if she said yes and then couldn't eat. ]

I had a bad dream. [ A shrug; her attempt at being reassuring. ] The same one as usual... it's been a few days, so it caught me off guard. I'm just glad I didn't wake anyone up.

[hgeegh]

[It's not about him, he knows. He has to value her honesty in the moment. More than anything, he's grateful that she's still talking to him.]

A few days . . . ?! [His shock comes at a volume just above that of a harsh whisper, mindful of their sleeping peers and Asa's sensibility. How often does she have this nightmare? How many nights has she woken up alone, here and back?] Does this happen often?

[warhawks]

Um, not every night...

[ ... But close to it. More often since she died. Belatedly realizing that comment probably isn't as reassuring as she intended it to be: ]

I-I'm fine, really! [ Too loud. She lowers her voice again. ] It's only a dream, not something that can actually hurt me. I was a little startled, that's all.

[hgeegh]

Maybe not your body, but your heart . . . !

[He sucks in a sharp breath between gritted teeth. No. He needs to get a hold of himself, or he'll contribute to the problem all over again. If he scares her off now, he'll be the scummiest scum of the earth.

So what now?]

Can I brew you some tea at night? I'll still keep my distance. But if it'll help you relax and sleep better . . .

[warhawks]

[ Her eyes widen a bit. ]

Seriously? After I treated you like that...?

[ She's raising her voice again, but she can't help it. The kindness is making her feel hysterical; if she doesn't get mad, she'll start crying. ]

What's your problem? Nobody's this nice without a reason! I'm not going to have s-sex with you, so you can drop the act!

[hgeegh]

[?!]

I'm not . . . It's not about sex! I just want to help you!

[He's pent-up, but that would never affect what he wants out of her, which is her happiness. He has a lot of problems, he knows. She doesn't have to look at him to smile, though.]

[warhawks]

I don't believe you. I can't believe you!

You barely know me, so why...? If I was in your position, I'd never want to talk to me again.

[hgeegh]

[This is a delicate position to be in, to be sure.]

We don't have to talk. I just . . . don't want to see you sad.

[warhawks]

[ She stares at him a little longer, before sagging like a puppet with its strings cut. ]

... I'll take the tea.

[hgeegh]

R-really?

[Relief floods his system as he lights up.]

That's great! I'll have one brewed and ready for you every night, so just come and get it when it's time. Okay?

[warhawks]

Are you always awake this early?

[ She'll feel so bad if she's inconveniencing him even more than she already is. ]

[hgeegh]

[Little does she know, he's the happiest man on earth right now.]

Yeah. It's around the time I get up to prepare breakfast for the crew, so I've been sticking to it here, too.

[warhawks]

[ ... ]

Wait, the pirate thing is [ ryuji voice ] for real? [ BOY SHE THOUGHT YOU WERE A CHUUNI ]

[hgeegh]

It's real. I'm a bonafide pirate!

[He gives her a thumbs up.]

[warhawks]

[ At least this is a great distraction. ]

Holy crap. A real pirate...

[hgeegh]

[Hmm, how does Asa feel about pirates? Most people are wary of them. He doesn't want to alarm her unnecessarily.]

It's okay. I may be a pirate, but I'd never hurt a woman.

[warhawks]

Oh. You're one of those sorts.

[ SANJI YOU WERE DOING SO WELL ]

[hgeegh]

[This was an inevitability.]

"Those"?

[warhawks]

A horny pervert. [ Looks away from him... in disgust... ] Ugh, gross. This is why I can't stand boys.

[hgeegh]

[Oh . . . ]

Ah, Asa . . . ?

[Is everything . . . okay?]

[warhawks]

[ What she thinks: Not only is he a criminal, but a pervert too? I already decided I wasn't going to fall for him, but this is seriously the last straw. I shouldn't have to lower my standards. In fact, he should die for making me even consider it! I hate him!

What she says: ] What?

[hgeegh]

Um, I just want to say . . . I do like ladies, but it was drilled into my head since I was a kid that I shouldn't hurt a woman. That's how I was raised.

[It has nothing to do with perversion despite, uh. He just wants to clear that up for the sake of his mentor.]