doku | 　

[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.

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.]

[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.]

[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.

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?

[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.]

[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.]

[....]

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?]

Edited 2016-03-18 05:35 (UTC)

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.

[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.]

[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!]

[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.]

[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.

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.

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?]

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.

What is this, some kind of fashion-misery-loves-company?

[He laughs.]

It's okay, Nariko. Date me enough times and I'll end up going through my entire closet pretty quickly. You'll get to see every piece I own in no time.

What, not much of a fashionista?

[Which actually suits her pretty well. No offense, but she wouldn't want to date someone more fashionable than herself, anyway. Still, who goes through their whole closet quickly? ... It'd probably take fifteen years for her to go through her entire wardrobe.]

[He's actually quite a bit of a fashionista, honestly, as much as he is fashion-aware. It's just that he spends a lot of money on clothes, and not necessarily due to quantity.]

Look at me, Nariko. You don't exactly get my size off the rack unless it's a mumu.

[And he ain't gonna wear a goddamn mumu.]

If I want any clothes that even remotely fit, I have to get them bespoke.

To be fair, mumus are horrible on everyone. Even I can't wear a mumu.

[Mumus are a bad idea, okay.]

That makes sense. [.... It makes sense but she doesn't necessarily agree, it seems to her that it's something he might feel kind of awkward about and that's why he's limited. That, and again - dude patrols the water, it's not worthwhile to have too many clothing options, but you can't live your life on those terms!

But now she knows what to get him for Christmas!]

What you're really telling me is that if I get you a shirt it should definitely be blue. For whenever you have to pass through the administrative building, y'know.

[With a smirk:] Planning to show off your new monster-toy to your coworkers?

[Aaaaand then the smirk fades when he realizes how far up her office is. He quietly panics at the thought. He quickly hides his sobering thought with an aside:]

If you're taking suggestions, I could use a black shirt. Maybe a snug polo. [You know, for showing off the guns while looking semi-professional.]

Suggestions are always welcome, and I wholly approve of you in polos.

[And definitely black shirts that'll hug him juuust right.

But is he really going to be okay with the latter part of their date if just mentioning her work space puts that look on his face? She's legitimately concerned now!] I'd introduce you to my coworkers but they'd tell you every embarrassing thing I've ever done, like that time I skinned my knee at a sight because I didn't realize the flooring wasn't done, and I showed up in eight inch heels.

[To be fair, she'll still do that now - she just makes absolutely sure to never trip.] I'll happily introduce you after I tape their mouths or threaten them to avoid total mortification.

If you're worried about embarrassing stories like scraped knees then I might be the one you need to threaten into silence.

[He finishes off his crepe and slouches back into his seat with a relaxed sigh. He's actually somewhat full and completely content right now! It's nice.]

I mean--face it, we've already done so many scandalous things. [And in one night, too!]

Oh, forgot to mention. I was kinda sad that you left so early that morning--I was planning on making breakfast for you. Want a raincheck on that?

They'd never believe you, not about any of that.

[Her coworkers thought she was a perfect respectable, proper young lady that was perhaps a little man-crazy! They wouldn't believe she was a filthy little kinkster on her time off! Such was keeping her professional and business life as separated as humanly possible.

But that morning ... She smiles.]

Yes, please. [She's almost finished with her own, and she swirls her spoon around her ice cream while answering.] I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run off it's just that I was a little too tempted to stay.

[Sure, he might have made breakfast but then she might have asked what he was having for lunch or did he want to go see a movie or coffee or, hey, she should make the bed before she leaves! Nariko knows herself well enough to head off her own clinginess, most of the time.]

[But the filthy little kinkster bit is the best part!]

Figured you had something to do.

[He'll make excuses for her without being asked. But she left her number behind, which made all of this happen, which is way more than he could say about some previous dalliances. Also, he might be leaning into her like he's gonna steal some of her ice cream.]

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