it's a beautiful niiight

[hypercompetent]

Do you remember how we all bid ridiculous amounts of money on dates for each other once upon a time?

Time to put up or shut up.
THE forcedish DATE MEME

Feeling romantic? Take your date to the top of the clocktower and look at the stars. Feeling like a quickie? The Black Stallion has all your alcohol fueled needs. Wanting a quaint date leaning over a table? Le Cafe Anglais and the Coffee Joint will help you make your dreams come true. Or, just wine and dine your date at home. Whatever it is, be creative.


You paid for this, after all!

Comments

[honestguy]

Hell yeah, of course! [ Compliments from Marco feel really good, wow. Plus his smiles is... cute. He has to keep his cool cause it's a date and all, but walking anywhere with Marco is... nice. ]

Right, let's go. [ Jean gets them started by taking a few steps-- in the wrong direction, of course. ]

[halfsalute]

[ He readies himself to follow, until he glances sideways and realizes that the clock tower is on the opposite direction. ]

Jean, wait up!

[ He reaches out to grab his wrist, but instead catches his hand. Not even realizing this, he keeps speaking. ]

I-I think you're going the wrong way...

[honestguy]

What? [ Jean kind of-- kind of freezes when Marco grabs his hand. Just for a second, it's not like they haven't held hands a million times when they'd started training. It's not like physical contact was all that weird with them, but-- on a date.... ]

Oh. [ Jean turns around, facing Marco. Yeah, he's blushing. But maybe this time he'll go the right way. ] Shit, uh... My bad, Marco. Let's uh... This way.

[halfsalute]

It's cute when you're an airhead, though, Jean.

[ He means that in an entirely platonic way until he notices he's taking a hold of his hand, and in that second he swiftly lets go and looks away, his own face blushing red like a tomato. ]

B-but yeah, let's g-get going!

[honestguy]

Yeah...? [ Wow, way to make him blush, Marco. Jean's so flustered he barely hears the 'airhead' part, staring at his hand instead like he'll never wash it again but-- but that's stupid, he's being really stupid. Man, maybe he is an airhead. ]

Right, um! Follow me? It's not like the clock tower is going anywhere.

[halfsalute]

Y-yeah, or else the night'll be over before our date is, right?

[ The sentiment is mutual about never washing his hand again, so he just sort of shoves it in his pocket before looking quite nervously at the ground as a trickle of sweat drips down his cheek. How do dates work?? ]

S-So, um, Jean, have you ever been on a date before?

[honestguy]

Right! Heh. [ Oh god, they're saying the word "date," this is a date that he's going on, with Marco and that's....... oh god. Jean's pace is probably too fast but he's nervous as hell-- ]

Uh, n-not really. Fantasized about it enough times, but... [ Ah Jean, there's something you maybe should've filtered... ]

[halfsalute]

[ Well that gets a smile from Marco. He knows very well about Jean's luck with pretty much every single female on the universe, and now that he thinks of it, he's gotta make this date as good as possible, for Jean's sake! ]

So, um, people usually hold hands when they're on dates, don't they?

[ HE'S JUST GOING OFF THE LITTLE HE KNOWS BY NOW. ]

I-I mean, at least from what I know...

[honestguy]

Y-yeah! [ Oh man does that mean what Jean thinks it means does that-- Jean kinda slows down, matching his pace to Marco's so they're walking completely side by side. He's not gonna-- well, he should... Maybe he'll just sorta grab at Marco's sleeve. ]

Yeah, there's... hand holding... and, um... what else?

[halfsalute]

[ And just as hesitantly, Marco props his arm up and slowly interlocks his fingers with Jean's in a fumbly motion, before smiling at the other teenager. ]

I- I think this is good enough for now, isn't it?

[ His tone is hesitant and there's the slightest shade of pink on his cheeks as he tries his best to avoid eye contact. ]

[honestguy]

Yeah! [ Jean grips Marco's hand, squeezing his fingers tightly. He's blushing pink, trying his best to hold back a dumb smile. A date! He's on a date! A date with Marco, who's been there for him and he's cute and nice and he's alive-- maybe they should walk slower so Jean can savor this for a bit. ] Yeah, this is good.

[halfsalute]

[ And that earns a happy nod from Marco. ]

Mhm!

[ Aah, the warmth of Jean's hand feels good against his own, and subconsciously he squeezes back, enjoying the feeling. And maybe he's going to get a bit closer to him. Because it's cold except not really. He just wants to okay. ]

We're so lucky that our date ended up on such a beautiful night, doesn't it?

[ It feels a bit out of place to say that, but he really just wants to keep the conversation going. ]

[honestguy]

Y-yeah, it's... awesome. [ Jean leans a little closer too, walking in time with Marco. He looks over at Marco, his smile and his dumb cute face and-- shit. Marco's his best friend but no matter how you slice it, this is... really great. ] Uh, I mean-- the stars are... sparkly?

[halfsalute]

They are! [ And at that, the stiffness sort of begins to fade away as Marco feels himself slipping into the more cheerful ambient he generally shares with Jean. }

[ He does resist the urge to say that they're not nearly as sparkly as he is though. ]

Though... [ He shies away, blushing a bit. ] ... it feels good, you know. Being able to do this.

[honestguy]

Yeah. Being here with you...

[ Jean does his best not to stammer, it's just... really great to have Marco around again. ]

Uh, I mean, I'm glad we-- don't have to worry as much. Doing normal stuff... together...

[halfsalute]

[ Marco just smiles in response. ]

Yeah, you're right. We really should make the most of the time we have here.

[ Wink wink nudge nudge. ]

It's nice to be able to spend time with you without worrying about everything else.

[honestguy]

[ You mean like more cute walks around town? More dates? Jean's too flustered to think straight. God, but being with Marco is so nice... ]

H-hey, I only worry about important stuff, y'know. Never even considered doing this before...

[ Going on dates, much less with Marco... ]

[halfsalute]

Well, you're right, but it's okay to just not worry about anything for a while.

[ Like when you're having cute dates with your best friend. ]

Like right now, yeah? It's nice to just enjoy ourselves and focus on the now, and not on what's to come.

[honestguy]

Yeah, I hear ya. I mean at least I don't have to feel guilty about it. I could pretend not to worry back home, but all I did was come off as a dick.

[ Jean sighs at all the dumb shit he said three years ago. A lot's changed. ]

I never, uh... thanked you for sticking around with me, did I? I mean, you know I, uh, appreciate you... you're like. The best. You know that, right?

[ He's never had a chance to really say this stuff before but... they're just talking. And holding Marco's hand feels so... normal. Is this what dates are like? ]

[halfsalute]

Hey, I'd be a really bad friend if I didn't.

[ Words that are as honest as can be. He knows where Jean's coming from, but he really wants to transmit that no matter what he'd have stayed at his side regardless. ]

Besides, it's the least I can do, right? [ The tiniest speck of a blush. ]

I mean, I've always admired you a bit since I met you, so it makes sense that I'd be there to support you no matter what.

[honestguy]

You do way more than the least, trust me.

[ Jean blushes; he'll never get used to hearing Marco compliment him. The hand he's holding is starting to feel really warm (more like, Jean is starting to sweat through) but Jean doesn't let go for a second. ]

I still... can't believe that sometimes. I mean, I believe you! Uh, obviously, but... I mean, yeah, I'm pretty great and all, but you're way better...

[ Jean what are you even doing... ]

[halfsalute]

[ Jean no you're going to embarrass Marco. A lot. ]

You're just being nice for the sake of it, Jean.

[ At least that's what he thinks. ]

I mean, you're charismatic, enthusiastic, and have an immense self confidence... and I'm... I'm just me!

[ He tops it off with a tiny laugh, scratching the back of his head. ]

[honestguy]

No way! I wouldn't do that it if it's you.

[ Jean gives Marco's hand a squeeze. He can feel his face heat up but he goes for it anyway. ]

Marco, you are the nicest, most patient and understanding guy I know. I'm not just saying that.

[halfsalute]

[ His face freezes up for a moment before it turns from his usual skin tone to a bright, flushing red. ]

J-Jean, what are you saying?

[ A drop of sweat runs down his overly blushed cheek. ]

I'm just an average guy, I think... nowhere near worth that praise...

[honestguy]

It's all true, though! You know I wouldn't lie about it.

[ All the nice things he should've told Marco before he died-- they'll all just spilling out now. ]

You were the only one who believed in me the whole time we were in the academy. I wouldn't be half as good as I am now if it hadn't been for you always being there for me.