ashiya douman scares me but not mineo why

[sengokus]

Comments

[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?

[sengokus]

Yea, seaweed! It's just a mess! It's like celery met cotton candy and he just walks out like that with donut crumbs on his little gremlin hands!

[MINEO IS SO RUDE TO TAKERU ONLY HELLO]

But you don't...? I mean, I guess if you're not used to thinking about romance or anything but...

There's gotta be some types of people you like more than others, right? Or something you want? That's just normal.

[commedia]

His...gremlin hands?

[SNNRRRK]

Ahaha. Sorry. Sorry, its just funny. [MINEO YOU'RE SO MEAN] And types of people? I suppose...but the people I like to talk to are different than someone I would fall in love with, right?

[sengokus]

Is it? [guess they're in the kitchen now] Ah... Well, it's fine if I say that stuff since he calls me an idiot eight hundred times a day.

[they're friends(?)

but he'll go rummaging around now to look for ingredients. hope that limbo's ready for some gourmet instant ramen hell yea]

Mm... They can be, I guess. [he glances over his shoulder] And I think it's hard to predict when you'll fall in love anyway! But like - isn't that the fun of it?! Those super heart-racing [doki doki] moments that just make you go 'oh man, you're so cute, I wanna be with you forever!'

[i'm in physical pain typing these tags]

[commedia]

Eight hundred times? Where does he find the time?

[THAT'S A LOT OF "IDIOTS"]

[and yes god ramen time baby]

The heart-racing moments... [And Douman lets out a slightly embarrassed laugh.] I wouldn't know. I've never been in love...I don't really know what it feels like.

[sengokus]

He doesn't even breath between! Sometimes he'll land them in a triple combo!

[HE'S SO MAD and he's just going to pull out a scallion from the fridge and angrily wave it around]

Oh but -

I've never been in love either... [he admits a little more softly] ... but I've heard about it. And it's really sweet, right? Well, maybe you'll get to have some, Ashiya-san.

[commedia]

How terrible. You really need to call him as many things right back. Maybe he'll understand.

[ANGRY SCALLION WAVING...perfect. Douman's smile is light.]

Really? You never loved anyone? I'm surprised. [Someone please teach Mineo the meaning of love...] And you think so? I mean...I don't even know how to go around doing it, mmm.