I know. He's much more responsible and well adjusted than I was at that age, so who knows why I worry so much about it.
[Probably because that's what you do when you're looking after someone for the majority of their life.] He's in band, makes good grades, I even like his boyfriend! I think the worst thing he ever did was go to the gas station and scare me half to death, once.
[She reaches inch her clutch really quickly and pulls out her phone, when she turns the screen to Boxer there's a picture of herself and a rather gangly, blonde haired boy wearing a huge smile in front of Nathan's school. He's wearing his uniform and she's a bit dressed up herself, too.]
That's him. He's about taller than me and I still think he's going to get in trouble for helping every single person he comes across ...
[This poor man's already been roped into pictures of the family! She really does like him.]
[Watch out, Nariko, or your horny boyfriend might go after your little brother, too! He has a fond smile on his face while Nariko shows him the photo.]
Cute, too.
[Okay now he's just acting pervy on purpose.]
What was he doing at a gas station that was so scary?
[If it's a faux pas to talk about exes with current attractions, isn't it maybe not a bad idea to eye someone else on the first official date? But she moves onto the story easily enough.]
He was ten, and he decided he was going to get up and go get ice cream at two-thirty in the morning. There's no city in the world that's safe enough to go walking around in badly lit streets for ice cream.
[What might be equally as strange is that the middle of the night was a nap and not, y'know, going to bed for the evening.] I thought he'd been kidnapped and nearly lost my mind.
[Stilted sense of humor: check. But as long as he's only teasing, then it's alright.]
I mean, we didn't have food, exactly, so I kind of understand why he went, but who the hell isn't scared to walk around so late? Augh. [She rolls her eyes at the memory, and suddenly realizes how heavily contextual it is.] He was fine, of course, I just chewed him out for a solid ten minutes and cried hysterically while doing so.
[She gathers her trash up rather neatly, and if he's done with everything but the cole slaw then she'll end up taking his stuff, too.]
[She's already exploded on him before and he didn't seem to mind then! But, yeah, she'll make some attempt to keep herself under control, whether it works or not depends on how surprised he is at where they're going to get this ice cream from.
With all their trash gathered up and taken care of the tray goes to its designated spot so that they can get going! This time she doesn't ask permission to take over wheel duty, she just goes to it like they've always gone about it that way.]
[Whee! Gosh, this is a lot of fun. Just like a date should be.]
It's a vanilla base marbled with fudge and peanut butter cups. It's pretty rich; I don't think I'm gonna be in the mood for something like that after downing a pot roast sub.
[That's what Moose Tracks really is.] But that sounds about right, way too heavy. They have this really nice vanilla-strawberry swirl thing that might be nice! It's lighter than you might think.
[They have to go a little bit of a ways to get there so she goes a tad quicker than beforehand.]
[It's a good thing he doesn't mind speed. The streets are a little crowded, since it is the weekend, after all--but it's hard for other pedestrians to miss a giant kraken in a wheelchair.]
Oh, that sounds perfect. Does the strawberry part have chunks in it?
[Considering that it's one of her favorite fruits she might never accept a dessert establishment that did not honor the classic flavor that was strawberry, in most of its forms.]
I usually get the one with bananas, nutella, cheesecake, and vanilla! [Simple and sweet! But she's not going with the usual tonight, because what's the fun in that? It takes a few more minutes but when they turn into the part the food truck is just an extra ways off. There's already a healthy line, and a few other citizens hanging around the benches and enjoying their handheld crepes. They're Japanese style but, honestly, this is New Cloudbank, the city always puts a twist on whatever it latches onto!
So while the batter is thin and all the classic toppings are there the ice cream choices are nearly endless, and there were more than a few unique flavors to go along with a nearly endless list of toppings and sauces.
But the absolute best part was that even the normal sized crepes were a bit big, but the Deluxe crepes might just be the right size for Boxer!]
[Japanese crepes. Japanese crepes!!! Oh my God, Nariko, giant Japanese crepes! He stares in awe at one of the deluxe ones two young women are sharing.
The long line ends up being a good thing because it gives him plenty of time to decide what he wants. Just vanilla and strawberry swirl with only strawberries isn't going to cut it.]
This is awesome, Nariko.
[He's very excited, albeit it manifests a lot more quieter and mild-mannered than Nariko's.]
[She can read his excitement just fine, and she beams that much brighter for knowing that she's kind of impressed him!]
I was hoping you would like it!
[She leans down to kiss his cheek, and it takes a good amount of self control to refrain from dancing in place a little.]
What should I get, though? Oh, they've got a s'mores crepe, that's new!!!
[Hot fudge, vanilla-chocolate swirl ice cream, marshmallows and chocolate syrup with a cinnamon crepe!! She has found her new, second love of the night!]
[He's formulating a plan that basically equates to a banana split crepe. They have one already made up on their menu, but he's got a better idea...neapolitan ice cream with bananas, strawberries, and hot fudge on top. Hell yes.
So that's what he orders when they get to the end of the line.]
[He almost misses it because he's so entranced by his crepe!]
Wait, let's make a selfie of it.
[For the photo, he tilts his head in to Nariko to get both of them and their treats in, but he might intentionally tilt in a little too far, making it difficult to make out the upper half of his face but still managing to be bizarrely photogenic.
Meet a few hundred thousand tourists and you find out what works best for you.]
[He gets so many points for that suggestion alone, she's got a huge smile on her face, of course, and Nariko's pretty much made for the look. When she stands upright again and looks at the result, though ...]
Uh, no. [She points her spoon at him.] This is not okay, you're not allowed to be sweet and charming and generous and good at selfies. That's too much.
[Just in case you haven't caught on here Boxer, she's kidding. And also saving that picture to keep until the end of time. Eventually she'll get one with the entirety of his face, though.]
[She rolls her eyes at him as if that's the worst possible response in the world, but she's just playing, and taking a bite of her crepe is more important anyway. Until he goes and uses that word, anyway. In truth it makes her heart skip a little beat in that excited, almost childish manner that can only be brought on by genuine infatuation.
But there's another part of her that just has to be a smart ass and hide the softer parts.]
Look at you, going for the boyfriend title on the first date! Very daring, such confidence!
[She takes a smaller bite and covers her mouth while saying,] I think you're supposed to work for it a little more!
[Oh, he knows. Somehow, he knows. Maybe because it incites a similar feeling in him. Very few dates get to this point and he's still smiling, so he's in confident enough spirits to say it.]
I can call myself whatever I want, whenever I want. Now, the real challenge...
[Because good god is it a hell of a face, but didn't some of her problems stem from how easy it is to love guys like him? She has to be a little more patient, a little more careful this time. It'll work out better for them both that way.]
I'm sure you'll earn it just fine if you keep this up.
[Time will have to do it's thing, and in the mean time Nariko goes ahead and takes a conveniently huge bite of her crepe.]
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[Probably because that's what you do when you're looking after someone for the majority of their life.] He's in band, makes good grades, I even like his boyfriend! I think the worst thing he ever did was go to the gas station and scare me half to death, once.
[She reaches inch her clutch really quickly and pulls out her phone, when she turns the screen to Boxer there's a picture of herself and a rather gangly, blonde haired boy wearing a huge smile in front of Nathan's school. He's wearing his uniform and she's a bit dressed up herself, too.]
That's him. He's about taller than me and I still think he's going to get in trouble for helping every single person he comes across ...
[This poor man's already been roped into pictures of the family! She really does like him.]
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Eating.
It.
Up.]
He sounds like my kinda guy.
[Watch out, Nariko, or your horny boyfriend might go after your little brother, too! He has a fond smile on his face while Nariko shows him the photo.]
Cute, too.
[Okay now he's just acting pervy on purpose.]
What was he doing at a gas station that was so scary?
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[If it's a faux pas to talk about exes with current attractions, isn't it maybe not a bad idea to eye someone else on the first official date? But she moves onto the story easily enough.]
He was ten, and he decided he was going to get up and go get ice cream at two-thirty in the morning. There's no city in the world that's safe enough to go walking around in badly lit streets for ice cream.
[What might be equally as strange is that the middle of the night was a nap and not, y'know, going to bed for the evening.] I thought he'd been kidnapped and nearly lost my mind.
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[It's a funny idea of what teasing is.
He chuckles.]
I don't think I could have a craving bad enough to get me off my ass at two thirty in the morning, much less navigate dark streets at that hour.
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I mean, we didn't have food, exactly, so I kind of understand why he went, but who the hell isn't scared to walk around so late? Augh. [She rolls her eyes at the memory, and suddenly realizes how heavily contextual it is.] He was fine, of course, I just chewed him out for a solid ten minutes and cried hysterically while doing so.
[She gathers her trash up rather neatly, and if he's done with everything but the cole slaw then she'll end up taking his stuff, too.]
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He's too young for him anyhow.]So did you end up getting some ice cream to keep at home afterwards?
[Boxer can honestly imagine Nariko both chewing someone out and bawling at the same time without much trouble.]
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Ultimately, yes, he was at least smart enough to get a tub.
[So they ate that all night until the situation resolved itself over the following twenty-four hours.] Let me go throw this out.
[She's a neat freak, but only gone for a few seconds.] Now if I ever cross my eyes at rocky road you'll know why!
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Oh, that's fine. I'm more of a mint and chip guy. Or moose tracks. Or forbidden chocolate. Or french vanilla...
[A pause, and he sighs with an exasperated grin.]
Great. Now I want ice cream.
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So let's get ice cream!
[Before he faces his great fear of heights.]
Oh, oh, oh, there's a place I want to take you to, they have ice cream!
[She practically vibrates with excitement.]
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[He just hopes he can decide on just one.]
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With all their trash gathered up and taken care of the tray goes to its designated spot so that they can get going! This time she doesn't ask permission to take over wheel duty, she just goes to it like they've always gone about it that way.]
By the way, what in the world is moose tracks?
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It's a vanilla base marbled with fudge and peanut butter cups. It's pretty rich; I don't think I'm gonna be in the mood for something like that after downing a pot roast sub.
[Yep, still in love.]
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[That's what Moose Tracks really is.] But that sounds about right, way too heavy. They have this really nice vanilla-strawberry swirl thing that might be nice! It's lighter than you might think.
[They have to go a little bit of a ways to get there so she goes a tad quicker than beforehand.]
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Oh, that sounds perfect. Does the strawberry part have chunks in it?
[Or can he get strawberry toppings?]
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[Considering that it's one of her favorite fruits she might never accept a dessert establishment that did not honor the classic flavor that was strawberry, in most of its forms.]
I usually get the one with bananas, nutella, cheesecake, and vanilla! [Simple and sweet! But she's not going with the usual tonight, because what's the fun in that? It takes a few more minutes but when they turn into the part the food truck is just an extra ways off. There's already a healthy line, and a few other citizens hanging around the benches and enjoying their handheld crepes. They're Japanese style but, honestly, this is New Cloudbank, the city always puts a twist on whatever it latches onto!
So while the batter is thin and all the classic toppings are there the ice cream choices are nearly endless, and there were more than a few unique flavors to go along with a nearly endless list of toppings and sauces.
But the absolute best part was that even the normal sized crepes were a bit big, but the Deluxe crepes might just be the right size for Boxer!]
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[Japanese crepes. Japanese crepes!!! Oh my God, Nariko, giant Japanese crepes! He stares in awe at one of the deluxe ones two young women are sharing.
The long line ends up being a good thing because it gives him plenty of time to decide what he wants. Just vanilla and strawberry swirl with only strawberries isn't going to cut it.]
This is awesome, Nariko.
[He's very excited, albeit it manifests a lot more quieter and mild-mannered than Nariko's.]
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I was hoping you would like it!
[She leans down to kiss his cheek, and it takes a good amount of self control to refrain from dancing in place a little.]
What should I get, though? Oh, they've got a s'mores crepe, that's new!!!
[Hot fudge, vanilla-chocolate swirl ice cream, marshmallows and chocolate syrup with a cinnamon crepe!! She has found her new, second love of the night!]
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[He's formulating a plan that basically equates to a banana split crepe. They have one already made up on their menu, but he's got a better idea...neapolitan ice cream with bananas, strawberries, and hot fudge on top. Hell yes.
So that's what he orders when they get to the end of the line.]
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Hey. [Her phone reappears and she pulls her camera up.] Smile!
[She won't take it if he really minds, but that thing is really huge, it seems a shame to not take a picture!]
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Wait, let's make a selfie of it.
[For the photo, he tilts his head in to Nariko to get both of them and their treats in, but he might intentionally tilt in a little too far, making it difficult to make out the upper half of his face but still managing to be bizarrely photogenic.
Meet a few hundred thousand tourists and you find out what works best for you.]
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Uh, no. [She points her spoon at him.] This is not okay, you're not allowed to be sweet and charming and generous and good at selfies. That's too much.
[Just in case you haven't caught on here Boxer, she's kidding. And also saving that picture to keep until the end of time. Eventually she'll get one with the entirety of his face, though.]
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[He shrugs.] But on the upside, now you have a picture to show everyone of your new monster boyfriend.
[Good luck getting his whole face, Nariko.]
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But there's another part of her that just has to be a smart ass and hide the softer parts.]
Look at you, going for the boyfriend title on the first date! Very daring, such confidence!
[She takes a smaller bite and covers her mouth while saying,] I think you're supposed to work for it a little more!
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I can call myself whatever I want, whenever I want. Now, the real challenge...
[He leans into her with a smile on his face.]
Is getting you to call me that.
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[Because good god is it a hell of a face, but didn't some of her problems stem from how easy it is to love guys like him? She has to be a little more patient, a little more careful this time. It'll work out better for them both that way.]
I'm sure you'll earn it just fine if you keep this up.
[Time will have to do it's thing, and in the mean time Nariko goes ahead and takes a conveniently huge bite of her crepe.]
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