And as expected... I had absolute faith that this thing would work all along. You should really put more faith in my experiments, Fuji-tan. You were shaking in your boots this whole time.
[In the flip of a switch, Kotarou looks completely confident and composed as if he wasn't just ranting about how he was going to "shove the jewelry down a fairy's throat" or something along those lines. The angry and immature Kotarou was replaced with a cooler Kotarou... By about a few seconds. Who knows how long this would even last? He feels her holding onto his sleeve, but he doesn't reject it at all.]
We should name these flowers, you know. Even if they're only made of magic and they might not last long... They're still living, so they deserve that.
[There's a hint of sentimentality in his tone. While he couldn't call himself an eco activist or anything, Kotarou had learned the importance of taking care of nature and appreciating it. After all, humanity was on the edge of extinction in his world... And one of the reasons why is because humans had ben abusing the Earth's resources. If he didn't play his cards right, then humanity wouldn't get a second chance to survive.]
[ Ah, no. Moment over. Good job. She lets go of his sleeve, giving him a flat-eyed look. ]
Who was shaking in their boots? Think about your answer carefully.
[ For one thing, when had this been a test of courage?! Don't just go making up stories about her in your head, Kotarou!! She might not be slapstick levels of annoyed just yet, but if there's one thing she dislikes, it's having the narrative changed on her to her face. ]
...I don't know much about flowers in general, and the one guy I'd ask isn't here. But we're not naming it after either of us, that's for sure.
My floral expert isn't here either, so that makes two of us. Still, I think I know enough to pass a conversation by.
[Mainly because Kotori has drilled her knowledge about flowers into his brain. Not all of it stuck, but Kotarou considered it handy to know if he wanted to make small talk with someone. Sometimes, the most random of subjects helped killed dead air and broken down invisible walls.]
What? Do you wanna call our beautiful flower children something like "Fujitarous"? I think it has a nice ring to it.
Uuu... I'm getting the distinct impression that you're embarrassed of me.
[That stings! His naming sense was that bad! Right? Right?! Granted, he's feeling some second hand embarrassment over what he just said. Another day where he wishes that he could go back in time and erase what he just said.
But more importantly, Kotarou is more curious about Ritsuka's idea. Naming after another person in memory didn't sound like a bad idea.]
And who's that? [A beat.] Actually, that raises another question. How many connections do you have?!
It's not being embarrassed. You just didn't listen to what I said, so I've gotta respond accordingly.
[ She reaches out to touch a fingertip to one of the flowers, then rocks back on her heels to look up at him. ]
...I'll tell you, but you've gotta promise not to freak out. Okay? Consider where we are in the big picture, and how weird everything is here, and keep your calm.
[Hm? She sounded rather serious all of the sudden. Kotarou had a habit of treating everything in a rather half-assed manner, but Ritsuka sounded like she really wanted him to pay attention here. This is one of those times where he decides to focus really hard to try not to damper her expectations.
He's rebuilt himself to be a more sociable person, didn't he? The last thing that he wanted to do was hurt her feelings by being an insensitive klutz as always. So he's going to bend down to meet Ritsuka's gaze with a very determined look.]
... Alright. I'll do my best here. [Deep breath.] I'm listening.
[ She's still not sure he might not freak out--or it's possible he won't even believe her. To be honest, she isn't sure which she'd feel is the more preferable thing; she doesn't really want him to laugh or to disbelieve her, but she knows how that might sound... especially in this alternate Camelot. ]
Honestly, I haven't talked to the one here, but they're not totally different. But the one I know is a lot more... I dunno. He's the one I think of as the real thing.
--Ohhhhhh! Could this be Hugh Everett's multiverse theory come to life!?
[Kotarou couldn't help and lean in rather fascinated as his inner nerd comes out. Believe it or not, he's read a lot of books about various subjects. And spending time on occult forums where the strange and surreal was discussed was a hobby for him too.
One could see the sparkles in his eyes as he's not freaking out... But geeking out instead.]
Please tell me more about your Merlin! We're talking about the same Merlin from Arthurian legends, right? I-I mean... There has to be some small differences between the one here and yours, but it's still the same person!
One and the same. Merlin, the Magus of Flowers, Grand Caster, court mage of King Arthur, and an all-round weirdo.
[ But she can't help but say it fondly. As exasperated as she sometimes is about Merlin's... everything, she does like him. He's been a huge help in a lot of ways, even if he's caused a fair share of headaches at the same time. ]
They don't look anything alike, though. The Merlin I know is a lot more...
[ ...but even if she does like him, she doesn't necessarily want to praise his looks, so... ]
Hehe... Y'know, it's kinda like whenever you hear a rumor about someone at school. At first, it starts off pretty grounded. Then as word spreads, people tend to put their own interpretations on who that person is or what they did. The more people believe in a rumor, then the more 'real' it becomes.
[Kotarou actually wants to meet this guy for himself. Though if he likes flowers, then he'd have to make sure that he doesn't try to sweet talk Kotori into doing something strange. She had a weakness for flowers, hot guys and money. If Ritsuka's Merlin was two of those three things, then it's a recipe for trouble.]
The truth is always subjective. That's why I don't think you're strange for saying that your Merlin is some kind of weird flowery dude.
[ She does relax a little at that. Turns out, so long as he takes her seriously and sincerely, it goes a long way in helping to make her lower her guard.
She stays crouched for the moment, but she does fish out her phone, thumbing to the gallery. Most of her photos are haphazardly organized--she's not the would-be professional photographer than Georgios is, but she is a teenaged girl. Selfies and random snaps are still a large part of her life.
---Ehhhh? It's almost illegal for a guy to be that pretty! What the hell!?
[That's what comes out from Kotarou as he lets out an awkward squawk. It didn't help that he reminded him of a certain handsome sweet-talking butler. This definitely told him that he'd be on Kotori's radar. Or anyone's radar with that hint of femininity in his features. Guys like this were always very popular!]
I can already feel the dangerous vibes from here! If there's one thing I know, pretty people who are constantly smiling are always hiding some secrets. I'll bet that he's broken a few hearts trying to sweet talk them into doing ridiculous stuff!
[It's a rather hypocritical statement since that's what Kotarou tries to do sometimes. The only difference is that he feels that this guy could actually get away with everything while he walks away with a few bruises for his attempts.]
[ She snorts in an aborted laugh, shaking her head. ]
Oh, he's definitely broken some hearts. I've watched him work a crowd before. It's kind of terrifying, but it's also kind of impressive?
[ Maybe she's just lucky that he's never turned that charm on her, but she'll take her victories where she can, even if they're not technically hers. The Merlin she knows is an undeniable and incorrigible flirt, but he's always avoided that with her, and she's grateful. ]
But think about it: he's Merlin. He's probably got more secrets than you've got cells in your body.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fujimaru
no subject
Date: 2022-03-25 04:48 am (UTC)[In the flip of a switch, Kotarou looks completely confident and composed as if he wasn't just ranting about how he was going to "shove the jewelry down a fairy's throat" or something along those lines. The angry and immature Kotarou was replaced with a cooler Kotarou... By about a few seconds. Who knows how long this would even last? He feels her holding onto his sleeve, but he doesn't reject it at all.]
We should name these flowers, you know. Even if they're only made of magic and they might not last long... They're still living, so they deserve that.
[There's a hint of sentimentality in his tone. While he couldn't call himself an eco activist or anything, Kotarou had learned the importance of taking care of nature and appreciating it. After all, humanity was on the edge of extinction in his world... And one of the reasons why is because humans had ben abusing the Earth's resources. If he didn't play his cards right, then humanity wouldn't get a second chance to survive.]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-28 02:52 am (UTC)Who was shaking in their boots? Think about your answer carefully.
[ For one thing, when had this been a test of courage?! Don't just go making up stories about her in your head, Kotarou!! She might not be slapstick levels of annoyed just yet, but if there's one thing she dislikes, it's having the narrative changed on her to her face. ]
...I don't know much about flowers in general, and the one guy I'd ask isn't here. But we're not naming it after either of us, that's for sure.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-28 11:29 pm (UTC)[Mainly because Kotori has drilled her knowledge about flowers into his brain. Not all of it stuck, but Kotarou considered it handy to know if he wanted to make small talk with someone. Sometimes, the most random of subjects helped killed dead air and broken down invisible walls.]
What? Do you wanna call our beautiful flower children something like "Fujitarous"? I think it has a nice ring to it.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 01:32 am (UTC)[ He can try to flip things as much as he wants, but Ritsuka has already said her piece. She's not interested in having anything named after her.
But she does crouch down to get a better look at the flowers, her hands on her knees. ]
...honestly, they kind of remind me of flowers that a guy I know grows. So if I were going to name them after anyone, it'd be him.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-06 10:30 pm (UTC)[That stings! His naming sense was that bad! Right? Right?! Granted, he's feeling some second hand embarrassment over what he just said. Another day where he wishes that he could go back in time and erase what he just said.
But more importantly, Kotarou is more curious about Ritsuka's idea. Naming after another person in memory didn't sound like a bad idea.]
And who's that? [A beat.] Actually, that raises another question. How many connections do you have?!
no subject
Date: 2022-04-07 04:28 am (UTC)[ She reaches out to touch a fingertip to one of the flowers, then rocks back on her heels to look up at him. ]
...I'll tell you, but you've gotta promise not to freak out. Okay? Consider where we are in the big picture, and how weird everything is here, and keep your calm.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-07 09:49 pm (UTC)He's rebuilt himself to be a more sociable person, didn't he? The last thing that he wanted to do was hurt her feelings by being an insensitive klutz as always. So he's going to bend down to meet Ritsuka's gaze with a very determined look.]
... Alright. I'll do my best here. [Deep breath.] I'm listening.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-08 02:43 am (UTC)Merlin. It's Merlin I'm thinking about.
[ She's still not sure he might not freak out--or it's possible he won't even believe her. To be honest, she isn't sure which she'd feel is the more preferable thing; she doesn't really want him to laugh or to disbelieve her, but she knows how that might sound... especially in this alternate Camelot. ]
Honestly, I haven't talked to the one here, but they're not totally different. But the one I know is a lot more... I dunno. He's the one I think of as the real thing.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-08 03:45 am (UTC)[Kotarou couldn't help and lean in rather fascinated as his inner nerd comes out. Believe it or not, he's read a lot of books about various subjects. And spending time on occult forums where the strange and surreal was discussed was a hobby for him too.
One could see the sparkles in his eyes as he's not freaking out... But geeking out instead.]
Please tell me more about your Merlin! We're talking about the same Merlin from Arthurian legends, right? I-I mean... There has to be some small differences between the one here and yours, but it's still the same person!
no subject
Date: 2022-04-09 03:18 am (UTC)[ But she can't help but say it fondly. As exasperated as she sometimes is about Merlin's... everything, she does like him. He's been a huge help in a lot of ways, even if he's caused a fair share of headaches at the same time. ]
They don't look anything alike, though. The Merlin I know is a lot more...
[ ...but even if she does like him, she doesn't necessarily want to praise his looks, so... ]
...fluffy.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-09 04:35 am (UTC)[Kotarou actually wants to meet this guy for himself. Though if he likes flowers, then he'd have to make sure that he doesn't try to sweet talk Kotori into doing something strange. She had a weakness for flowers, hot guys and money. If Ritsuka's Merlin was two of those three things, then it's a recipe for trouble.]
The truth is always subjective. That's why I don't think you're strange for saying that your Merlin is some kind of weird flowery dude.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-12 01:15 am (UTC)She stays crouched for the moment, but she does fish out her phone, thumbing to the gallery. Most of her photos are haphazardly organized--she's not the would-be professional photographer than Georgios is, but she is a teenaged girl. Selfies and random snaps are still a large part of her life.
The photo she shows him is this one. ]
He's the kind of guy who makes you feel slightly suspicious, even when he isn't doing anything wrong at the moment...
no subject
Date: 2022-04-14 09:52 pm (UTC)[That's what comes out from Kotarou as he lets out an awkward squawk. It didn't help that he reminded him of a certain handsome sweet-talking butler. This definitely told him that he'd be on Kotori's radar. Or anyone's radar with that hint of femininity in his features. Guys like this were always very popular!]
I can already feel the dangerous vibes from here! If there's one thing I know, pretty people who are constantly smiling are always hiding some secrets. I'll bet that he's broken a few hearts trying to sweet talk them into doing ridiculous stuff!
[It's a rather hypocritical statement since that's what Kotarou tries to do sometimes. The only difference is that he feels that this guy could actually get away with everything while he walks away with a few bruises for his attempts.]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-20 12:55 am (UTC)Oh, he's definitely broken some hearts. I've watched him work a crowd before. It's kind of terrifying, but it's also kind of impressive?
[ Maybe she's just lucky that he's never turned that charm on her, but she'll take her victories where she can, even if they're not technically hers. The Merlin she knows is an undeniable and incorrigible flirt, but he's always avoided that with her, and she's grateful. ]
But think about it: he's Merlin. He's probably got more secrets than you've got cells in your body.