LOCKED TO explosivecombat

[glaciates]

[Back in Amestris, Isaac had never had any trouble going on dates.

Oh sure, he had plenty of trouble actually getting dates, much less keeping them, but actually going out with someone was easy enough. He usually took his girlfriends to the movies, since that would spare him the embarrassment of saying something particularly stupid and for some reason, this was a socially acceptable way to spend time together without actually talking, so who was he to argue it? Isaac hadn't actually had a horrible date in quite some time; whether his past girlfriends would agree with that or not wasn't the point.

But things were different with Kimblee. Things had always been different with Kimblee, and they always would be different with him.

Of course Isaac was excited to go out on an actual date with Kimblee. That wasn't the problem. The problem wasn't even his social failures - Kimblee knew all about those and knew how to combat them as best as anyone really could. The problem was that Isaac was nervous. Things would go badly. Somehow or other, he knew that for a fact despite having no reason to believe it. Maybe it was that their idea of "dates" differed so wildly from one another's.

Isaac could honestly consider any time he spent with Kimblee to be a "date." It was spending time with someone he cared about. That was enough for him, but Kimblee preferred to actually go out and make a bigger deal of things. Isaac had wanted something more significant for Valentine's Day (and their ten month anniversary, which was the day before), but he hadn't realized it was going to involve... this.

"This" being dressing up and going out to an incredibly fancy restaurant. Isaac wasn't entirely sure what they'd do after that, but considering what had happened the last time they'd bothered dressing up and going on a date like this, he really couldn't say he was opposed.

It was just getting to the end of the night he was worrying about.

But Isaac was going to do his damn best to pull through, and that started with his appearance. He'd actually bothered shaving that morning, so at least that was done with, but he had a difficult time figuring out what to do with his hair. It would probably be easiest just to get it all sheared off, but he had grown so used to fighting with it longer that he'd probably find it weird to have short hair again. It had been nearly eight years since it had last been cut short (and back then, it had been more "shaved cat" than "short"). Isaac finally shrugged it off and tied it back in a ponytail, forgoing the usual second tie in favor of just one, tied further down on his neck than usual. His hair had grown out a bit since he had come to Johto; even down like this it fell past mid-back. He'd probably have to get a few inches chopped off at some point.

The suit he'd rented for the night (rented, not bought, since he was still pretty cheap and had no intention of buying a suit he'd only use maybe once or twice more in the next year) was black (white was Kimblee's color, and besides, Isaac didn't like wearing white) and a bit big on him (he was surprised they'd had suits in sizes even resembling his, so he didn't complain), but overall it looked nice enough. He had a dark green dress shirt under that, the top two buttons undone and Isaac had opted against bothering with a tie - it wasn't like he could get it on right anyway. Overall he looked a lot nicer than he normally did, but even so, he wasn't very comfortable in the nicer clothes, and even less comfortable in the city.

It had been nearly a year since he had died in Amestris, but that hadn't lessened his distrust of large cities any. He still avoided Goldenrod for the most part, but if this was what Kimblee wanted, he was more than happy to comply. Besides, he had a team of level 100 Pokémon on him. He doubted anything seriously bad could happen to him tonight. His luck wasn't that shitty, right?

Isaac stood in front of the restaurant where they were supposed to meet, back against the wall, one foot pressed against it. For the strangest reason, he wanted to smoke, despite the fact that he hadn't had a cigarette in almost seven years. Apparently this was making him far more anxious than he had thought.]

Comments

[glaciates]

...Don't remind me.

[Ughhhhh things he didn't want to remember, Kimblee!! Isaac groans and moves to put his head in his hands.]

We're not talking about that.

[explosivecombat]

[THINGS YOU ARE NEVER LIVING DOWN: THOSE PANTS]

Oh? Come now, you know I like confidence. And that certainly must have taken a good amount of it.

[glaciates]

[He really wishes he still had that menu to hide behind...]

We're not discussing it.

[explosivecombat]

If it makes you feel any better, I think everyone was behaving strangely on that day. Most instances were...a bit less straightforwardly odd, but it wasn't exactly an isolated thing, either.

[glaciates]

...Yeah, I remember. Something was in the water that day or something.

[At least that doesn't seem to be the case today!]

[explosivecombat]

Clearly.

[...okay, he has to ask.]

I'm assuming there's literally no chance you kept those pants, is there?

[glaciates]

[YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE HIM CHOKE ON HIS WATER GODDAMN]

Wh-what? No, of course not! There's no way I would have kept those!

[....................]

Why would you even ask?

[explosivecombat]

Morbid curiosity, for one thing.

They were rather attractive on, for another. At least until they got wet.

[glaciates]

[ALKMERKNKLSEKMKFNKLEWKMEKNKSLFKWMEN]

That's--! Well I--! You--!

[Hang on, hang on, he can form words, he can get control of himself!!! Really!!!]

...Y-yeah, well. I don't have them anymore, so.

[ :| ]

[explosivecombat]

Perhaps we'll have to fix that one day.

[NO SENSE OF SHAME RIGHT NOW

NONE]

[glaciates]

N-no way, I don't need to own any pants like that--!

[WHY KIMBLEE WHY]

[explosivecombat]

Well, I don't imagine anyone needs to...

[BECAUSE WILLFULLY MISSING THE POINT, THAT'S WHY]

[glaciates]

You know what I mean--!

[OH MY GOD HE IS SO EMBARRASSED RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE NO IDEA except the blush probably makes it obvious SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee just smiles at that and reaches across the table to take Isaac's hand again, clearly amused.]

You can relax, you know. Or am I not allowed to find my boyfriend attractive?

[glaciates]

[It's rather obvious that Isaac has no idea what to say to that. He looks irritated, but really he's just covering the embarrassment. Of course he's pleased - Kimblee finds him attractive! - but he's not really sure how to admit to that, much less accept the compliment.]

Y-yeah well.

[Well.]

...Shut up.

[explosivecombat]

[That...just gets him a bit of an odd look, really.]

If you insist, Isaac.

[glaciates]

[And in response, Isaac immediately looks like he's panicking again.]

W-well, you know I don't do well with compliments, that's all. I'm not...

[But whatever it is he's not, he's not going to say. Instead he trails off and starts playing with the edges of his sleeves instead.]

[explosivecombat]

[That reaction again...

Kimblee's response is immediate, settling his hand against Isaac's arm, stroking softly over the fabric of the suit jacket; he supposes he has Archer to thank for that. Physical comfort has never really been anything Kimblee is good at providing - it had been uncomfortable for him most of the time back in Amestris, and even when it wasn't, there was always the underlying sense that something was wrong with it, that he wasn't coming across properly - but it seems to be something that Isaac needs from time to time, whether it's simple contact or doing that...admittedly somewhat odd thing where he just latches onto Kimblee and doesn't seem inclined to let go on his own. Kimblee isn't sure when it became his first response to Isaac having some sort of issue; he simply does it without thinking, the reaction natural.]

It's all right; I'm not upset with you, you know.

[glaciates]

[Isaac does relax at that moving to rest a hand on Kimblee's.]

...I'm glad. Thanks.

[He smiles at that, though it's a bit of a nervous smile.]

I guess I'm just a little on-edge tonight. Sorry about that.

[explosivecombat]

["A little on-edge."

...you don't say.]

Any reason in particular...?

[glaciates]

[.........orz okay]

I guess I'm still not used to the city, that's all.

[explosivecombat]

[Hmmm...]

Well, you won't have to worry about it in April, at any rate - we can do something far more personal for that, if you'd like.

[glaciates]

Ah, yeah, that would be great!

[Admittedly part of the excitement is just because Kimblee actually seems eager for their one year anniversary. It's ridiculous, to think that he's actually been in a relationship this long. Isaac isn't sure what to do with it, so for the time being, he simply brushes it aside. He can deal with that when April comes around.]

But I don't mind this. It'll just take a little while to get used to, that's all.

[explosivecombat]

Good to know, then; I was honestly a bit surprised that you humored me in coming out here in the first place.

[glaciates]

You always humor me, Kimblee. Of course I'd want to please you!