ashiya douman scares me but not mineo why

[sengokus]

Comments

[commedia]

...Shouldn't listen to you?

[Well, that's a hard stance, for sure. And a very generous one, considering he and Mineo are practically strangers. Well, maybe not to Mineo, who is apparently an Ashiya Douman fanboy, but the principle counts.]

[Doman stares up at him, before shaking their head.]

Oh, Mineo. Mineo! Please don't be so hard on yourself, hm? Your words are valuable, and should be listened to. Its definitely something to consider, and as a Servant...such things don't come to mind that easily, you know? So thank you. Really.

[sengokus]

[ . . . hmmm. there's still something uncertain in mineo's gaze, but the words are kind? so he just settles a little bit and flushes even the slightest bit of validation, like a fool. he shakes his head and then runs a hand through his hair like it'll shake him out of his slump.]

You're way too nice to someone like me, Ashiya-san...

But thanks. Let me know if I can do anything else for you, okay? I wanna help out where I can, with whatever I can do.

I hope you find a Master who'll look after you how you deserve, too. Be a little more demanding!

[commedia]

Well, you have been nothing but nice to me, so its only fair. Haha.

[All's fair in love and war! Or something like that.]

Ahhh...be more demanding? I just can't help it. I'm just sort of a coward, you see? I just get so easily overwhelmed...

[sengokus]

Huh...?

[he tilts his head in confusion at that]

What've you got to be a coward over?

[THE ASHIYA DOUMAN MYTH IS INSANE BUT ALSO IT'S COOL????]

[commedia]

You can't just ask why someone is a coward! Mineooooo....

[Just saying his name with a low whine. Please. Please don't put him on the spot like this.]

Mmmm. But I'm just not one to stand in the frontlines...I always tended to do my work behind everyone else, you know?

[sengokus]

Ah - sorry!

[HE WILL JUST ASK THESE THINGS but he looks thoughtful at that....]

... but you did your work, right? I guess I just asked 'cause it seems impressive to me anyway. Like I didn't think that people like you had much left to be afraid of, or worried over.

Your way of doing things isn't cowardly just because it's not the same as everyone else's.

[commedia]

[A wave of a gesture, as if to brush it aside.]

Impressive to you, but...even so, despite all my deeds, sometimes one just feels like they need to be in the background.

[Even in the legends, Seimei's story was widely told. His history and life were well known. But Douman?]

[What really was known about Seimei's eternal rival?]

But I know what I am and who I am, Mineo. I'm not one to lie, haha.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . he looks thoughtful at that.]

... only if it's what you want to do.

[tilting his head to the side, but he shrugs]

It's about who you want to be now, right? So I'll support you in that - whatever it is.

[commedia]

...

[His dark eyes flit down to the bottom of the boxing ring. There's a long pause.]

Why are you supporting me, Mineo? You know, we barely know each other. Well, I guess, you know more about me than I know about you.

[sengokus]

Mm, well... Don't get me wrong - I know stuff about you, but it's not like I know you you or anything yet...

[and he seems to realize that? but at the same time, it's in his nature to be supportive of others. especially if he has other reasons to admire them, like they belong to mythology or history.]

But is there something wrong with hoping you get what you want? That's what we're all here for, right? And besides...

Sometimes when you talk, you make it sound like you're not supposed to be known or something, or like you don't measure up. I know that feeling too - uh, really well.... [he's well aware he's a loser] but I don't think you have any reason to feel it. So if I can help get rid of that a little, I want to.

[commedia]

...

[What a kind, kind young man.]

[Somewhere deep inside, that kind of answer is...]

[...]

[Douman lets out a sigh.]

Mmm. You really do wear your heart on your sleeve, huh, Mineo? I don't mean to say that to insult you. Its just obvious how caring you are.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . he looks away at that, rubbing the back of his neck, uncomfortable at the words.]

... thanks.

I just - think you're also getting the wrong impression of me.

[it doesn't matter how much he cares, if it only holds him back]

But uh, that's no fun to talk about, right? Have you had anything to eat? I'm starved...!

[this conversation transition was smooth as fucking sandpaper]

[commedia]

Mm, perhaps the same of me, too.

[Misinterpretations between two people - its as natural as anything. Its a wonder whether such misinterpretations can be cleared up.]

[But Douman seems to go along with this impromptu transition, letting out an amused huff.]

I haven't. Honestly, I'm not used to eating...Servants don't typically need to, you know.

[sengokus]

[phew!! THANKS FOR THE SWERVE ASSIST, DOUMAN. Mineo will remove the boxing gloves and swing himself over the ropes then, tilting his head.]

Ah, jeeze, there you go again with what Servants need to do or not do...

Do you wanna eat with me? I'm not a gourmet chef or anything, but I can cook up something tasty!

[commedia]

Eat with you? Why not? I'd be happy to! I'm not a picky eater, honestly I'm not.

[Douman seems happy, grinning wide at the offer.]

Do you cook a lot at home?

[sengokus]

[NEAT they're on their way to the kitchen then]

Me? Ah, no, I'm really lucky and Yanagi-senpai actually takes care of most of it. He's like - primo househusband material, you know? I wanna learn from his example!

[a beat]

But uh, he's not here so... I gotta work on this or Takeru and I'll starve...

[commedia]

Househusband material?

[Mineo........how cute.]

I see. Well, its good to have a role model, though...who is Takeru? Your lover?

[douman NO]

[sengokus]

[HE MAKES A SPLUTTERING NOISE LIKE HE WAS JUST CLOCKED IN THE FACE]

[commedia]

Mineo? Mineo! Please, don't die!

[REACHING OVER TO PAT HIM ON THE BACK]

[sengokus]

[softly, wheezing]

... A-Ashiya-san....

There are some things.... no man or Servant should ever joke about....

That was... a critical hit.....

[commedia]

Oh, it was a legitimate question...forgive me, truly.

[PATS MORE ON THE BACK]

I made the wrong assumption, didn't I?

[sengokus]

[he sighs............ and pats his own chest like he's making sure his heart is still beating, before reaching up to pat douman's shoulder]

You did but..... it's okay. I guess you couldn't know....

But ah, Sasazuka Takeru... he's here. We work together, but that guy's so grouchy and mean. All he does is eat sweets all day! Yanagi-senpai would normally pack him meals to take home and eat after work, but he's not here! So I gotta make sure he doesn't just like - implode on cupcakes or whatever...

Ah, jeeze... If I were to have a lover, I'd want them to be way more attentive and sweet than a guy like that!

[commedia]

He's here?

[Drawing their hand back! Wow, gossip. Nice.]

What a terrible eating habit. Doesn't he know that nothing but sweets is bad for him? Mmmmm. Can't say he should be mean if you're looking out for his behalf...

[And a tilt of the head at that last statement.]

Oh? You have preferences?

[sengokus]

Mm, Takeru's here. His head looks like he got into a fight with a bunch of seaweed and made it into a hairstyle. [okay maybe this is why takeru is mean to him] He's not that friendly, but don't take it personally. It's a feature, not a bug.

[.... so maybe this is why takeru is mean to him,,]

But of course! Doesn't anyone?

[commedia]

What? Seaweed?

[REALLY TRYING NOT TO LAUGH but Douman does smirk at the imagery.]

Mmmmm. Well...I can't say I do?