[THE BUBBLE TEA SLUSHIE IS IN FACT GOOD. Kadoc was bullshitting about the food vs drinks thing but he was also correct, in that Magolor is more skilled at making drinks because it's more similar to making potions. And also, this one is in fact a potion, shhhh. It just tastes like a nice fruity mixed berry slushie; the boba is plentiful and chewy. Hooray! He watches to see if she likes it, and is going to continue to drink it . . .
And he shrugs.]
I knew you didn't think I was gonna. Maybe that's why I decided to. You went to a lot of effort just for obligation chocolate for some guy who tried to kill you . . . I guess I didn't wanna live down to your expectations after that.
[ She likes it! She makes a pleased little noise at the taste, kicking her feet in a small reactive gesture. It doesn't taste like medicine, so of course she has no idea that it is anything but a tasty drink.
At his words, she huffs, a small, fondly exasperated sound. ]
I didn't do it because I expected anything from anyone. --Not that I don't appreciate! I do. Thanks.
[Ah, good . . . cute . . . he'd needed her to like it, of course. She needs to drink it! Even a little will do the trick, but more is better! But it's only now, watching her sip it and react, that Kadoc realizes that he also did want her to enjoy it, and that it feels good that she is.]
I know you didn't, but you got something anyway. That's how the tradition goes anyway where you come from, right? . . . Is it good?
[ He wasn't wrong that she's missed this kind of thing--bubble tea in general, even if this isn't her usual flavor of choice, and the socializing that she's always associated with it. ]
[He blushes a little. God. The truth is that he can't even handle her being bubble tea levels of grateful to him for doing something for her; why the hell would Douxie ever think he could handle the conversation that would go along with "by the way that just cured your slow-acting but fatal poison"?
(She will not notice anything dramatic or magical, just that she's no longer having bad days, and if she hasn't been having good days recently, suddenly she will be. From now on.)]
I—didn't really know what the hell to do, but I heard that guy was in the gift business, so I went to him for ideas. It turns out he's a friend of yours, like almost everyone else I meet in this place, and he said you'd mentioned missing bubble tea.
He's in a lot of businesses! But you could've done a lot worse than ask him for advice.
[ She bumps her arm against his, a small companionable gesture. Right now, the poison issue isn't on her mind at all; she's just pleased that it feels like their relationship has progressed to a comfortable level of equilibrium. Does this count as level two? It might. Nothing of his behavior is suspicious, not now that she knows him a little better; he really is kind of a shy guy, isn't he? ]
[YEAH BOND LEVEL 2, RITSUKA, SURELY THAT'S WHERE THIS IS AT,
He lets that happen, taking a breath and relaxing. Of course he's nervous. It's natural for him to be nervous! This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and suffering. And he's not really going to know for sure how things work out until they do, though Magolor had run tests on the materials and come to the conclusion that they were effective; theory and practice are different! So he's anxious. But some of that is just not being used to this yet socially, either. He is, indeed, a shy guy.]
. . . His branding could use a little work, if you ask me. Just so you know, I didn't know the cup was gonna look like that until he handed it to me.
He must have humans pegged at this point. I mean, imagine if the tables were turned, and you ended up on an alien planet populated by a totally new species that just happened to find humans adorable. Like some visual neoteny shit, where we look like exaggerated versions of their young, so they can't help but react to us like we're the cutest things they've ever seen. Would you brand yourself? It takes a certain mindset to be that shameless.
[At least his nerves are leaving him, the more she drinks and the more they just have a normal conversation, sitting together outside, just hanging out. Definitely a normal conversation,]
[ BB... would be genuinely terrifying in a situation like that, wouldn't she... the very thought makes her snort. Considering their canon, this is probably a reasonable conversation for them to have, ]
But if you're cute and you know people think so, and you don't mind leaning into it, I don't think there's anything wrong about that.
I wouldn't say it's wrong so much as telling. But you're talking to a guy who's never been considered cute in his life, so I'm not the authority here. Even an alien race would know better, looking at me.
[ She blinks slowly at the comment. It's one of those things where--she knows about his utter lack of self-esteem (it'd take someone completely blind to miss it, and Ritsuka can be oblivious, but that's a whole different level), but it still surprises her, the tiniest bit, when he comes out with that. Huh. ]
I dunno. I think you could be cute if you took better care of yourself.
...That wasn't supposed to be fishing for compliments, sorry. Don't feel like you've gotta be nice about it. Anyway, I don't actually care. It is what it is. My looks have never really had an impact on my life anyway.
[He's self-conscious sometimes, sure, more than he'd like to admit to considering what he just said. But it's not really a lie either. What would being hot have changed about anything in his life?]
[ She's maybe about halfway done with her drink at this point, but she pauses on it, leaning a little more into his space to peer up at his face. The light isn't the best anymore, but she knows what he looks like at this point. ]
Trust me, I've spent the past three and a half years surrounded by really attractive people. I know it when I see it.
How are you an expert on this? Now I'm gonna feel weird about it. Like if I put some effort in, you'll think I'm trying to seduce you away from Kurusu. I'm not!
[ Not like that!! It's one thing for them to be friends, but he definitely hadn't liked kissing her, and in her own memory, it feels like he'd disliked it more than just the bad timing of their circumstances might allow for. ]
But I told you, I've known plenty of people who turned out to be really hot once they actually tried. That's not even my point, though--you should take better care of yourself either way. Anything else will just be a bonus.
For who . . . nevermind. It doesn't really matter, like I said. I'm not out looking for anyone.
[I know you're not interested feels weird. Why? Maybe because it puts the decision there on him, when she's the one dating someone, and has never expressed any interest in Kadoc, and never would, right? That'd be insane. She has a boyfriend. A hot boyfriend, even Kadoc has to admit. They fuck! They're all lovey-dovey and it's obnoxious but also kinda cute! So it's weird that the first thing she'd come out with is that Kadoc isn't interested, right?
Even though he's not, of course. More to the point, he can't let himself dwell on whether he ever could be, for those reasons. What if he decided he was? That could only ever be masochism.]
[ But what? This is the sort of thing that Ritsuka understands more on an instinctive level than an intellectual one; she knows how it feels to her, but she's not entirely confident in her ability to put it into words. ]
Sometimes it's just... nice, to feel like you look good. It's not like you've gotta be drop-dead gorgeous or anything, but just--feeling good about yourself. Maybe it's not much, but it's something.
[ Not that Ritsuka usually feels beautiful or anything like that--but she is confident that she can clean up cute, and Akira has always been very kind about her insecurities there. ]
[You always look good, though, is his first thought, because well. She does! He's not blind. She's pretty and that's not really dependent on her looking her best . . . he can't say that, though. It really does get into weird territory.]
. . . Can't relate. Not that I'm trying to brush you off. I believe you, I just can't imagine it. But sure, maybe someday.
If anyone else said that to me I'd think they were negging me. . . . Just drink your tea.
[He can at least encourage her in a way that sounds normal-complainy about things because he's This Way. It's not suspicious!]
If we get into it about why the hell you think I'm working with a better canvas than you are here, you'll go on forever, and I still won't be convinced.
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And he shrugs.]
I knew you didn't think I was gonna. Maybe that's why I decided to. You went to a lot of effort just for obligation chocolate for some guy who tried to kill you . . . I guess I didn't wanna live down to your expectations after that.
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At his words, she huffs, a small, fondly exasperated sound. ]
I didn't do it because I expected anything from anyone. --Not that I don't appreciate! I do. Thanks.
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I know you didn't, but you got something anyway. That's how the tradition goes anyway where you come from, right? . . . Is it good?
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[ He wasn't wrong that she's missed this kind of thing--bubble tea in general, even if this isn't her usual flavor of choice, and the socializing that she's always associated with it. ]
It's really nice of you to do this at all.
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[He blushes a little. God. The truth is that he can't even handle her being bubble tea levels of grateful to him for doing something for her; why the hell would Douxie ever think he could handle the conversation that would go along with "by the way that just cured your slow-acting but fatal poison"?
(She will not notice anything dramatic or magical, just that she's no longer having bad days, and if she hasn't been having good days recently, suddenly she will be. From now on.)]
I—didn't really know what the hell to do, but I heard that guy was in the gift business, so I went to him for ideas. It turns out he's a friend of yours, like almost everyone else I meet in this place, and he said you'd mentioned missing bubble tea.
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[ She bumps her arm against his, a small companionable gesture. Right now, the poison issue isn't on her mind at all; she's just pleased that it feels like their relationship has progressed to a comfortable level of equilibrium. Does this count as level two? It might. Nothing of his behavior is suspicious, not now that she knows him a little better; he really is kind of a shy guy, isn't he? ]
But it's not nothing. I appreciate it a lot.
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He lets that happen, taking a breath and relaxing. Of course he's nervous. It's natural for him to be nervous! This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and suffering. And he's not really going to know for sure how things work out until they do, though Magolor had run tests on the materials and come to the conclusion that they were effective; theory and practice are different! So he's anxious. But some of that is just not being used to this yet socially, either. He is, indeed, a shy guy.]
. . . His branding could use a little work, if you ask me. Just so you know, I didn't know the cup was gonna look like that until he handed it to me.
[This is also true.]
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She breaks into brief giggles at his comment. He's not wrong to be confused, but also, the branding is completely on-brand. ]
Why not? He's cute, and he knows it. If you look like that, why not go the whole way with the whole, "make yourself your brand" thing?
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[At least his nerves are leaving him, the more she drinks and the more they just have a normal conversation, sitting together outside, just hanging out. Definitely a normal conversation,]
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[ BB... would be genuinely terrifying in a situation like that, wouldn't she... the very thought makes her snort. Considering their canon, this is probably a reasonable conversation for them to have, ]
But if you're cute and you know people think so, and you don't mind leaning into it, I don't think there's anything wrong about that.
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I dunno. I think you could be cute if you took better care of yourself.
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[He's self-conscious sometimes, sure, more than he'd like to admit to considering what he just said. But it's not really a lie either. What would being hot have changed about anything in his life?]
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[ She's maybe about halfway done with her drink at this point, but she pauses on it, leaning a little more into his space to peer up at his face. The light isn't the best anymore, but she knows what he looks like at this point. ]
Trust me, I've spent the past three and a half years surrounded by really attractive people. I know it when I see it.
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[REALLY ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE?! RITSUKA! His ears are pink even if that's not how she meant it! Kadoc leans back, but only a little, embarrassed.]
Just forget it! I don't care how I look. Which I know is the point. I could take better care of myself, I get it.
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[ She dicks around sometimes, but right now she's being sincere!! When he leans back, she doesn't follow, but she does stay leaning towards him. ]
You should definitely take better care of yourself in general, but I bet once you do, you'll clean up really well. I'm an expert by now.
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[ Not like that!! It's one thing for them to be friends, but he definitely hadn't liked kissing her, and in her own memory, it feels like he'd disliked it more than just the bad timing of their circumstances might allow for. ]
But I told you, I've known plenty of people who turned out to be really hot once they actually tried. That's not even my point, though--you should take better care of yourself either way. Anything else will just be a bonus.
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[I know you're not interested feels weird. Why? Maybe because it puts the decision there on him, when she's the one dating someone, and has never expressed any interest in Kadoc, and never would, right? That'd be insane. She has a boyfriend. A hot boyfriend, even Kadoc has to admit. They fuck! They're all lovey-dovey and it's obnoxious but also kinda cute! So it's weird that the first thing she'd come out with is that Kadoc isn't interested, right?
Even though he's not, of course. More to the point, he can't let himself dwell on whether he ever could be, for those reasons. What if he decided he was? That could only ever be masochism.]
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[ But what? This is the sort of thing that Ritsuka understands more on an instinctive level than an intellectual one; she knows how it feels to her, but she's not entirely confident in her ability to put it into words. ]
Sometimes it's just... nice, to feel like you look good. It's not like you've gotta be drop-dead gorgeous or anything, but just--feeling good about yourself. Maybe it's not much, but it's something.
[ Not that Ritsuka usually feels beautiful or anything like that--but she is confident that she can clean up cute, and Akira has always been very kind about her insecurities there. ]
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. . . Can't relate. Not that I'm trying to brush you off. I believe you, I just can't imagine it. But sure, maybe someday.
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[ She hasn't been drinking, distracted by gently elbowing him in the side again. ]
If even I can get dolled up, you definitely can. You've got a nice face, under all of the "I haven't slept in a week" problems.
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[He can at least encourage her in a way that sounds normal-complainy about things because he's This Way. It's not suspicious!]
If we get into it about why the hell you think I'm working with a better canvas than you are here, you'll go on forever, and I still won't be convinced.
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[ Fineeeeeee, she takes another sip, making deliberate eye contact as she does. Are you happy now, Kadoc? ]
Anyway, it wouldn't be a forever thing. And you don't have to believe it for me to be right.
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At this point, I don't even know what you're suggesting I do.
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