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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.]

[It is! But not to the people she works with.]

Yeah. [She didn't, but she won't ignore the way out, either.] You know, I was actually kind of worried you might not come. I'm not sure why, of course, excited nerves, I guess.

[For now he gets away with the leaning, or at the very least she does nothing to stop him.]

Really?

[Instead of going for the prize, he looks up at her.]

Do I come off as that kind of guy? The kind that leaves women waiting out in the cold?

[He is the kind of guy to steal bites off of crepes, as he's going to do right...now!]

Not at all, I'm just way more paranoid and nervous than I happen to look right now. This was my first date in over a year!

[She used to go out on couples dates with Chris all the time! It was a good way to keep such a long relationship going and for all that he turned out to be in the end he was fun to spend time with back then.

Her crepe leans down so that it's easier for him to take his bite! She's full, so he can have the whole thing if he wants, even if there's only one or two bites left.]

Logically speaking, the guy who split our dinner two ways without telling me wouldn't leave me high and dry.

[She looked at her bank account, and there's no way their barbecue extravaganza was that cheap.]

Fair enough.

[He'll certainly help himself to the rest of it if she keeps it tilted in his direction.]

Hey, now--a kraken's diet is his responsibility only. I appreciated the sentiment but I wasn't going to make you pay for all of it, so I made us meet halfway.

[Go for it, future boyfriend.]

You wouldn't have made me, but it's alright either way. It was nice of you.

[Her free hand comes up to poke his cheek.] But you're not always going to get away from being a little spoiled, Boxer. You have to let people take care of you sometimes.

[Om nom nom. He licks his lips when she pokes his cheek. She's fond of those, isn't she?]

Now that we've been on a proper date, you're welcome to spoil at will.

[Because he knows he'll spoil her when he gets half the chance.]

[He, in general, has a very nice face and she likes touching it.]

I'm glad I have your approval, especially since I was going to do it anyway.

[With both their crepes gone she shifts in place a little.] Ready to go?

[They've still got a destination!!]

One sec.

[He licks the broad side of his thumb and he reaches up to apparently wipe some remnant crepe from the corner of her mouth.

Was there actually crepe remnant there? She'll never know.]

Now we're ready.

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