[n_ll]

　
　
more krakenboxer shenanigans feat. nariko

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[gunslingerqueen]

No, but you can get strawberries on top!

[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!]

[n_ll]

A-ah...

[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.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[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!]

[n_ll]

S'mores, huh...?

[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.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[She goes with the s'mores option and it doesn't take long to get their treats! There's a good few employees packed in that truck.]

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!]

[n_ll]

[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.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[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.]

[n_ll]

Hey! [As if defending himself:] I just have a lot of experience with them, okay?

[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.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[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!

[n_ll]

[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...

[He leans into her with a smile on his face.]

Is getting you to call me that.

[gunslingerqueen]

Don't use that face on me!

[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.]

[n_ll]

[Guys like him? Girl, you've never met a man like Boxer before.]

I guess I could say the same about you, but you're the first person that I've dated in the last few weeks. Not like there's a race to the title here.

[So the question is, does she get the title automatically or does she need to meet the objectives that aforementioned rubric?

Maybe when she starts using the title for him.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Point taken.]

Now, now, if you meet some other cute, funny, sexually adventurous, charming, gorgeous individual I'll be concerned! I don't want to rush it but I don't think I want to let go of you, either.

[When she actually uses the term directly correlates to how much time they spend together - if it's a lot and dating itself begins to feel more like they're just naturally gravitating to one another then ... That's pretty much 'Boyfriend' status.

And if that's her criteria he might have to make it to the third date before it becomes a reality.]

I mean, you did feed me, and cats come back if you give them room to.

[n_ll]

So that's the way it's gonna be.

[No, it's unlikely that he'll find anyone who stands out when he's got her on his mind. Boxer seems content to leave the conversation there while he makes sweet, sweet love to that crepe for a while. He gets halfway through it before he speaks up again:]

What if I told you I'm a liar?

[gunslingerqueen]

[Well, that's a fun opener.]

Any reaction I might have depends on what you lied about.

[The most neutrally neutralist of all neutral answers.]

[n_ll]

[She's a dangerous woman, isn't she. Master of the neutral response. It's a little intimidating, in an exciting way.]

The color gold. It's not my favorite color--I just look good in it.

[A pause.]

My favorite color...it's blue.

[He doesn't seem very happy to share it, like it's something he's not particularly proud of.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[....]

Boxer, you're allowed to like the color blue.

[She's doing her absolute best to refrain from giggling but he is making it very difficult.] I think you'd look just as good in that, too, maybe even better since it's your favorite!

[Sure, gold is pretty much all over the guy, but isn't that all the more reason to kind of be done with it?]

[n_ll]

I do have a blue shirt, but...

[Stop looking so amused! He folds in a little, feeling self-conscious.]

It's just the stereotype, you know? Aquatic monsterkind. Blue.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Oh gosh, he's really pretty sensitive about it, isn't he!]

So what if it is? A stereotype is just a commonly accepted belief, that doesn't mean it can't be unique.

[She puts a hand on his shoulder and squeezes a bit.] Besides, anyone else who would really make a deal out of it would be a jerk anyway! They wouldn't even be worth seeing you in the most royal of blues in the world, which would look fantastic on you.

[There's an important pause, she raises one finger very official-like!] And not because of what you are, but because your skin is fantastic and would contrast beautifully with the color.

[Don't ever feel bad around her, she won't stop trying to build you up until you feel good again.]

[n_ll]

[Sure is.

He looks up at her when she touches his shoulder, lower face obscured by his crepe.]

Come on...royal blue and chestnut?

["Contrast" isn't what comes to mind when he pictures the two colors together. Don't pull his proverbial leg here, Nariko!]

[gunslingerqueen]

[She isn't! She really does think it would look great! She waves a hand, as if he'll somehow know that she's about to divert for a greater cause.]

What color do you think I'd look bad in?

[Humor her, big guy.]

[n_ll]

[He pauses, gives it some thought, then opens his mouth as if to say something. Closes it, thinks about it some more.]

Not anything that wouldn't be awful all on its own.

[Because let's face it, the fashion industry pumps out some real...winners...on the regular.]

Point taken.

[gunslingerqueen]

Good.

[She laughs.] Though I think it's amazing that you just skipped right to the point that I was trying to make, there.

[~Mind meld~.] I was going to offer to dress up in something utterly abysmal to further justify your completely understandable love of the color blue.

[n_ll]

Please don't commit fashion crimes just to make me feel better, Nariko. My lack of fashion awareness that bad.

[He thinks about it for a minute as he chases some melting icecream on his crepe.]

Was it that much of a jump? Our skin tones aren't too different from each other...

[He didn't think it sounded weird in his head, but now that he's said it out loud, he's feeling like he just pulled off some faux pas. Wincing slightly, he turns to her again.]

Sorry if that's too, um...presumptuous.

[Is that a thing that's okay? Comparing your skin tone with the person you're early-dating?]

[gunslingerqueen]

You're fine! I'm more impressed that you caught my drift so quickly, that's all!

[She's had enough people make fun of her skin tone, outright insult it, and endlessly remind her that it's what separates her from her mother and brother - the literal black sheep. If the worst Boxer ever does is compare then he's a saint.]

Point stands: Nothing you could wear or want to wear is bad if it wouldn't be awful on its own. [She leans down to kiss his cheek.] Besides, if you're ever self-conscious about it, I'll wear something I'm nervous about and we can both worry about it together and still have a good time.