[He rolls his eyes because like. He can still hear that, thank you very much. But nevertheless there's a more pressing issue here.]
Don't be. That was sort of the plan but there are a lot of complications to the whole thing and some stuff that came up and made it harder to arrange than you'd think. That's why I wasn't even sure when we were talking. It was all in the planning phases.
That does sound like kind of a pain. I take it that it didn't work out, then? [Rolls to the end of the couch and reaches off the side, next to which there is... a mini fridge.]
Sure, surprise me. Thanks. [To the first part. The second part gets a bit of a pause because the whole thing has been...something.]
Anyway no, not yet. We're still going to do it, I think, but I have no idea when now. Some things happened and everybody needs to regroup a bit. I would have come over earlier today but I actually had a project I wanted to get some work done on first.
I am only keeping the secrets that involve other people because they are not mine to share. I have no reason to really hide anything else. [But he'll take the can and he holds onto it for a moment, fiddling with the tab instead of actually opening it.] I am trying to be more responsible, I guess. More "leader-like" or something.
[Ayano subtly, or maybe not so subtly because she is who is she is, moves a bit closer to him.]
Yeah, you are responsible. And...same! I'm trying to be more of a leader too, but it's hard when...I don't really have anyone to lead. The Blindfold Gang still only has one member, and it's me.
...We can play some games, if you don't wanna just...lay on the couch all day. Which is an option, I guess.
On the other hand it's not like I have people to lead either? I think you can still have leader-like qualities without having people to lead. If you lead, people will eventually follow. Stuff like that.
[But he tilts his head to look at her.] Either games or your wrestling thing. I don't mind just hanging out either but...it's your house. [And there's a shrug.] Ladies' choice and all that. When have I not been flexible?
[She'll nab a nearby remote to the enormous television, and then give John a look. You know the one.]
You are such a boy, Johnathan. It's really annoying sometimes. [And she'll click through a few options on the TV before landing on some sort of streaming app, and before long the picture on the tv switches to two muscular Japanese men grappling with each other.]
[He doesn't quite respond because Dave is...a whole other subject and he grins instead.]
What does that even mean? Being such a boy. [He has an explanation, honest. But he's also just turning his head to watch the TV, lifting an eyebrow. Look at those two dudes go.]
See the problem here is that you are assuming I actually know what I want. [Wow. A shred of honesty, what a concept.] Also trust me, I know exactly how annoying it is. Sorry.
[He's still playing with the tab on the can.] Maybe I should correct that. I know what I want in a lot of cases. But not always.
[Whenever he says something vague like that, she assumes he's talking about Dave.]
I think you can not know what you want and still be decisive in other aspects. [Pokes his arm and gives him an "are you actually gonna drink that" look.]
And even if you don't know what you want to do or what you're doing, I think a lot of people, cough, myself, appreciate it when someone is willing to take them by the hand and take charge of stuff. Or even just make it seem like that.
It's not rude to just...impose yourself sometimes.
Sometimes I want to be imposed on, you know? I want to feel like I'm...[Shakes her head because this is definitely Dumb.]
[Ayano's a very smart girl. He gets the poke and he finally opens the can to take a sip.]
Alright, alright, I get it. The secret is I usually don't know what I'm doing and I just go with what seems right. I don't mind taking charge but I also don't want to make a choice someone else is going to be unhappy with, if that makes sense.
[It's definitely an imposition and it's something he's struggled with since he showed up and realized he fit into people's lives completely differently than he thought. Still, he listens and while she trails off, he finishes the sentence.]
Wanted? [Wanted. Cared about. Important. Any of those fit.]
You need more confidence, then. Don't worry about making other people unhappy with your choices, you're the one making the choice for a reason. Because somebody wants you to. And if they want you to, it's probably because they want to support your choice, whatever it may be.
Make you happy and stuff, too...
[Purses her lips briefly.]
I don't know if it's because I'm not really a leader or whatever part of my personality it may be but, for me at least, I...
Like the idea of somebody wanting to do something very specific with me, you know? As if I have a special place carved out just for me, that they've been thinking about or wanting to do with me. Not just..."We'll do whatever."
[Considering he's already made people unhappy with his choices, that's a little harder. On the other hand, there's a very slow nod.]
No, I get it. It definitely makes sense. I think I just never thought of it that way? I like...spending time with people. I like being able to do anything with them as long as it's with them. Kind of like my Saturdays with Dave? I usually don't have a plan for those but it is still time committed, and same with coming to see you. I planned for a certain amount of time just for you. We could sit here not talking and I'd be happy. Bored, maybe, because I like talking to you, but still happy.
Vic used to make most of the decisions for us. But I get it. I'll work on getting better at choices.
Wow, we're really getting tied up in a lot of things here, aren't we? [She laughs and smiles, to maintain a light mood.]
Well, if I ask you what you want to do, I want you to tell me something that you want to do. Or, I want you to do something with me and I want you to decide what it is. It's not...a formality or being polite––I'm making an actual request of you, Johnathan. It's a different perspective, I know, but if we're going to be leaders I think we need to get better at reading that.
[Presses her palm into his shoulder.]
It's adorable that you think that, though.
[And then she mouths "PS: Vic sucks." Half-hoping he won't be able to read it.]
For another minute he doesn't say anything because there's a strange amount of guilt sitting on him for a handful of reasons.]
Belatedly, I've realized I probably should have just told you to download a wrestling video game because it would have ultimately been a good way to combine everything. [What?] Also stop using words like adorable, that's not it.
[He definitely misses that, so good job.] But fine. I get it. Actual requests. Lay 'em out and I will do my best to fulfill them this time.
It's not a lecture it's...probably something I needed to hear. It's fine. Wrestling video games it is then. And no, cute is what you call a puppy and I am pretty sure I am not a puppy? [John is definitely a puppy. But also, oh no.]
Ayanoooo. [Noooo.] Wait, I cannot tell if that is you trying to help or you insulting me by saying I cannot get girls on my own.
See, this is another thing that is not helping you––you need to let girls tell you that you're cute.
[She opens her mouth again after a short pause, and closes it directly after, as if thinking better of what to say. A smirk crosses her lips, though, and she leans up and moves a bit closer to John because she's has just thought better of thinking better.]
You can definitely get girls on your own, it's just...
[Wiggles a bit uncomfortably close, probably, but she's Ayano so she totally pays it no mind.]
[Oh god what is happening here. He blinks slowly, staring at her before giving a nervous grin in response because uh???]
I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. [Just. Blinking. But at least he sounds amused anyway despite being confused what Ayano is doing.] And what do you think you’re doing?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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...it was just trying to arrange what is bound to be a very important meeting. That’s all. With people from my old universe.
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So you're gonna all meet up and compare notes, huh?
Jealousssss...
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Don't be. That was sort of the plan but there are a lot of complications to the whole thing and some stuff that came up and made it harder to arrange than you'd think. That's why I wasn't even sure when we were talking. It was all in the planning phases.
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Do you want something to drink?
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Anyway no, not yet. We're still going to do it, I think, but I have no idea when now. Some things happened and everybody needs to regroup a bit. I would have come over earlier today but I actually had a project I wanted to get some work done on first.
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I'm not going to push any further but I am going to reiterate that you are definitely keeping secrets from me.
[She holds out a can of coke with a smile.]
At least you're responsible, I like that.
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Yeah, you are responsible. And...same! I'm trying to be more of a leader too, but it's hard when...I don't really have anyone to lead. The Blindfold Gang still only has one member, and it's me.
...We can play some games, if you don't wanna just...lay on the couch all day. Which is an option, I guess.
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On the other hand it's not like I have people to lead either? I think you can still have leader-like qualities without having people to lead. If you lead, people will eventually follow. Stuff like that.
[But he tilts his head to look at her.] Either games or your wrestling thing. I don't mind just hanging out either but...it's your house. [And there's a shrug.] Ladies' choice and all that. When have I not been flexible?
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[She'll nab a nearby remote to the enormous television, and then give John a look. You know the one.]
You are such a boy, Johnathan. It's really annoying sometimes. [And she'll click through a few options on the TV before landing on some sort of streaming app, and before long the picture on the tv switches to two muscular Japanese men grappling with each other.]
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What does that even mean? Being such a boy. [He has an explanation, honest. But he's also just turning his head to watch the TV, lifting an eyebrow. Look at those two dudes go.]
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"I don't know, what do you want to do?"
"Whatever makes you happy."
You should be more decisive. [A soft groan.] Assertive.
Like that guy. [One of the wrestlers picks up the other and tosses him into a pile of folding chairs.]
That's a guy who knows what he wants.
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See the problem here is that you are assuming I actually know what I want. [Wow. A shred of honesty, what a concept.] Also trust me, I know exactly how annoying it is. Sorry.
[He's still playing with the tab on the can.] Maybe I should correct that. I know what I want in a lot of cases. But not always.
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I think you can not know what you want and still be decisive in other aspects. [Pokes his arm and gives him an "are you actually gonna drink that" look.]
And even if you don't know what you want to do or what you're doing, I think a lot of people, cough, myself, appreciate it when someone is willing to take them by the hand and take charge of stuff. Or even just make it seem like that.
It's not rude to just...impose yourself sometimes.
Sometimes I want to be imposed on, you know? I want to feel like I'm...[Shakes her head because this is definitely Dumb.]
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Alright, alright, I get it. The secret is I usually don't know what I'm doing and I just go with what seems right. I don't mind taking charge but I also don't want to make a choice someone else is going to be unhappy with, if that makes sense.
[It's definitely an imposition and it's something he's struggled with since he showed up and realized he fit into people's lives completely differently than he thought. Still, he listens and while she trails off, he finishes the sentence.]
Wanted? [Wanted. Cared about. Important. Any of those fit.]
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Make you happy and stuff, too...
[Purses her lips briefly.]
I don't know if it's because I'm not really a leader or whatever part of my personality it may be but, for me at least, I...
Like the idea of somebody wanting to do something very specific with me, you know? As if I have a special place carved out just for me, that they've been thinking about or wanting to do with me. Not just..."We'll do whatever."
Does that make sense?
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No, I get it. It definitely makes sense. I think I just never thought of it that way? I like...spending time with people. I like being able to do anything with them as long as it's with them. Kind of like my Saturdays with Dave? I usually don't have a plan for those but it is still time committed, and same with coming to see you. I planned for a certain amount of time just for you. We could sit here not talking and I'd be happy. Bored, maybe, because I like talking to you, but still happy.
Vic used to make most of the decisions for us. But I get it. I'll work on getting better at choices.
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Wow, we're really getting tied up in a lot of things here, aren't we? [She laughs and smiles, to maintain a light mood.]
Well, if I ask you what you want to do, I want you to tell me something that you want to do. Or, I want you to do something with me and I want you to decide what it is. It's not...a formality or being polite––I'm making an actual request of you, Johnathan.
It's a different perspective, I know, but if we're going to be leaders I think we need to get better at reading that.
[Presses her palm into his shoulder.]
It's adorable that you think that, though.
[And then she mouths "PS: Vic sucks." Half-hoping he won't be able to read it.]
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For another minute he doesn't say anything because there's a strange amount of guilt sitting on him for a handful of reasons.]
Belatedly, I've realized I probably should have just told you to download a wrestling video game because it would have ultimately been a good way to combine everything. [What?] Also stop using words like adorable, that's not it.
[He definitely misses that, so good job.] But fine. I get it. Actual requests. Lay 'em out and I will do my best to fulfill them this time.
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[In the background, one of the wrestlers has just defeated the other, and the crowd erupts in applause as the defending champion hoists up his belt.]
It's adorable how you'd be happy to just sit here in silence with me. Would you prefer a word like "cute"?
[She frowns a bit tho.]
Sorry to lecture you or whatever. I really started out just innocently teasing you.
. . .
[The frown doesn't stay long. Oh no.]
...It'll totally help with chicks though.
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It's not a lecture it's...probably something I needed to hear. It's fine. Wrestling video games it is then. And no, cute is what you call a puppy and I am pretty sure I am not a puppy? [John is definitely a puppy. But also, oh no.]
Ayanoooo. [Noooo.] Wait, I cannot tell if that is you trying to help or you insulting me by saying I cannot get girls on my own.
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[She opens her mouth again after a short pause, and closes it directly after, as if thinking better of what to say. A smirk crosses her lips, though, and she leans up and moves a bit closer to John because she's has just thought better of thinking better.]
You can definitely get girls on your own, it's just...
[Wiggles a bit uncomfortably close, probably, but she's Ayano so she totally pays it no mind.]
Only the crazy ones.
[Wonk.]
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I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. [Just. Blinking. But at least he sounds amused anyway despite being confused what Ayano is doing.] And what do you think you’re doing?
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[Raises an eyebrow with a knowing smile.]
What do you think I'm doing, Egbert?
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