✨ℜeggie "ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀꜱᴛ" ℳantle✨ (
mantlepieces) wrote in
maskormenacelogs2016-02-14 10:30 pm
Entry tags:
we can learn how to chill
WHO: REGGIE MANTLE and SASHA BLOUSE
WHERE: A restaurant, then who knows!!
WHEN: Valentine's Day
WHAT: It's a ~ date night ~
WARNINGS: Mentions/references to violence/death/PTSD possible, though not definite! These crazy kids are capable of anything.
[ Reggie is not exactly what one might consider a natural at romance. A natural charmer, sure -- to a certain extent, when he's after something in specific, but when it comes to something like a girlfriend... the fact is, he knows how to manipulate his way into getting what he wants or getting out of trouble, but knowing how to make friends -- let alone maintain a relationship -- is an entirely different skill set.
But at least he does have a little extra money to throw at these things, as well as a basic understanding of social conventions -- even if he often deliberately opposes them -- in lieu of having a better personality or simply being a competent boyfriend (time may tell, sure, but... historically speaking, it's not like he's that experienced); he hasn't over-planned for the day but still did make some plans, since everyone knows you can't make Valentine's plans the day of and expect them to work out. Dinner reservations at a decent restaurant with a view of the ocean, and then he figures they can figure out what they want to do after that. Walk around, see a movie, Netflix and Chill™... who knows, he's never actually had a girlfriend for Valentine's Day.
Dressed in a leather jacket and a blue button-down with black jeans and boots and sporting his new haircut, he walks the distance between his place and Sasha's to pick her up -- his legs have never looked so good, he's gotten so used to walking these days -- and texts her once he's at the door.
To himself, he mutters idly: ]
She better not still need another hour or two to get ready...
WHERE: A restaurant, then who knows!!
WHEN: Valentine's Day
WHAT: It's a ~ date night ~
WARNINGS: Mentions/references to violence/death/PTSD possible, though not definite! These crazy kids are capable of anything.
[ Reggie is not exactly what one might consider a natural at romance. A natural charmer, sure -- to a certain extent, when he's after something in specific, but when it comes to something like a girlfriend... the fact is, he knows how to manipulate his way into getting what he wants or getting out of trouble, but knowing how to make friends -- let alone maintain a relationship -- is an entirely different skill set.
But at least he does have a little extra money to throw at these things, as well as a basic understanding of social conventions -- even if he often deliberately opposes them -- in lieu of having a better personality or simply being a competent boyfriend (time may tell, sure, but... historically speaking, it's not like he's that experienced); he hasn't over-planned for the day but still did make some plans, since everyone knows you can't make Valentine's plans the day of and expect them to work out. Dinner reservations at a decent restaurant with a view of the ocean, and then he figures they can figure out what they want to do after that. Walk around, see a movie, Netflix and Chill™... who knows, he's never actually had a girlfriend for Valentine's Day.
Dressed in a leather jacket and a blue button-down with black jeans and boots and sporting his new haircut, he walks the distance between his place and Sasha's to pick her up -- his legs have never looked so good, he's gotten so used to walking these days -- and texts her once he's at the door.
To himself, he mutters idly: ]
She better not still need another hour or two to get ready...

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Normally, she never takes so long to get ready, but she's had to swap outfits a few times already due to how tight her pants or skirts felt around her waist. Even some of her shirts felt too small around the shoulders. She's gotten a little taller in her near two years being here and her hips and shoulders are a little wider than they used to be. Her uniform and boots from home don't fit her well anymore either.
She hears the buzz of her communicator, stumbling over with a sleeveless blouse she's struggling to get on to read the message. She frets realizing Reggie is waiting and rushes to get the rest of her outfit on, which luckily doesn't take too long once she's thrown on a yellow pleated skirt that falls a bit past her shins and flats to go with the rest of the outfit. Makeup and accessories are still something she doesn't take into account (her ears are still not pierced), so once she's gotten her little handbag and stuffed her communicater and wallet in she's hurrying out her door. ]
Okay, okay, okay! I'm out!
[ She hasn't even finished buttoning the top buttons of her blouse and starts to get to that, sticking her tongue out at Reggie. ]
What's the hurry?
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[ Honestly. Not that he's really all that impatient -- they're running early at the moment -- but as always Reggie operates by taking out almost everything he's feeling on other people. It's only nerves... not the kind he'd normally be so hung up on, but he's such a nervous, paranoid wreck now that even things he could normally at least fake his way through with reasonable confidence have been needlessly stressful.
He fishes into his pocket and pulls out the gift he got her, which isn't too fancy but, in his opinion, still nice enough without being over the top: a simple charm bracelet. ]
Here.
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She finally gets the top buttons of her blouse, tucking the ends into her skirt properly before she looks at what it is Reggie's gotten her. She stares in awkward silence initially, kind of the way a magpie eyes something shiny and desirable before she takes it from him hesitantly, face turning red. ]
You got this for me?
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Reggie's eyes had drifted to her open buttons, but he looks up again once she finishes with them... though he's still quick to shrug and glance away. ]
Yeah, I mean -- it is Valentine's Day. What'd you think was gonna happen, split-check dinner and a hotel room? I got a little more class than that.
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[ She might have celebrated it last year, but she wasn't dating anyone. This year this day is kind of intimidating... no wonder she noticed people stressed at the local stores while searching for gifts and the like.
She puts the bracelet on, holding it up a moment to watch how the light reflects off it. It is pretty... Sasha looks up at Reggie, shuffling toward to him to close the distance between them. Her fingers curl into his collar and tug him down gently, raising herself on her toes as well to lean up and kiss his lips. ]
It's very pretty! Thank you.
[ She pulls away briefly to pull out a small, dark box with liquored chocolates from her bag and hand it to him. ]
These are for you. Don't worry, I sampled one to make sure they were good!
[ That's not how gift giving works. ]
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He smiles slightly, looking at his feet before he shifts his gaze back up toward her, to look at the offered gift. Surprisingly, he doesn't comment on the fact there's a chocolate missing from the box. ]
Wow, just what I always wanted. [ SEMI-DEADPAN... but he pops one into his mouth. ] I should bring these with me to class.
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Just don't get caught with them. Teachers get so stuffy about anything to do with alcohol.
[ She might also be annoyed to this day she isn't allowed to purchase wine because she's "underage". ]
Oh! Where's this restaurant? What kind is it?
[ Her hand moves toward his arm, tugging on his jacket sleeve, waiting for him to lead the way. ]
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[ He shrugs the notion off dismissively, sticking the box into his jacket pocket. It's not true, of course -- he gets caught plenty of times by various people for various reasons, but the point is to be confident enough that it won't happen again.
He smirks a little, tilting his head mockingly. ]
It's closer to the beach, so we gotta get there first. You'll see, though.
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Show me!
[ She tugs his sleeve again before she wraps her arm around his. ]
Is it a buffet? Do they have a grill? Or is it a barbecue? Even if they serve fish only it's fine!
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[ It's hard not to laugh a little bit, though; her enthusiasm is cute and affirming, which is something he can appreciate considering he arranged their agenda for the night -- a disappointing Valentine's Day that you planned when you have a date would be the kind of embarrassing failure narcissists have nightmares about. ]
... It's a roller-diner. Like a drive-in, but inside so you don't need a car or nothing.
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[ It's abundantly clear Sasha has never been to one of those before and is having a hard time picturing what that sort of restaurant should look like. She wrinkles her nose in thought before shrugging, shifting her body closer to Reggie's. ]
I'm glad we don't need a car. I'm not very good with driving...
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[ It's not the most high-end, expensive type of Valentine's Day date, but Reggie thinks he knows Sasha well enough now to also know that would just be a waste of money. Expensive won't impress her the same way it might with other girls, as long as there's food and a good atmosphere she'll probably like it.
He glances over at her. ]
What, like you've tried?
1/2
Really? They sound like incredibly skilled servers to skate and deliver food at the same time.
2/2
[ Her expression falters for a moment.
It's difficult to forget the memory of hitting Dorian Gray with a car and all the screaming and crying that occurred after. ]
It's too complicated! 3DMG is so much easier...
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[ Right, that was another part of the appeal to the place -- the uniforms.
Reggie's expression goes blank for a moment, eyebrow raising and lips flattening into a line, but then he manages a vague smirk. ]
Walking's not so bad, anyway -- my legs ain't never looked better, and with a fit guy like me that's really sayin' something.
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I guess. Maybe I've seen better.
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[ He scoffs in such a way it's unclear just how serious he's being, which with Reggie isn't entirely unusual anyway; half the things he says that sound like jokes or hyperbole usually aren't expressly intended to be. ]
Maybe you just haven't seem 'em often enough to commit that to memory yet.
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[ And for whatever reason, she thinks about Jinseok Jin and what his legs might look like. They're probably toned... someone as attractive as him must keep in shape. Hell, maybe they're nicer than Reggie's, who is she to say?
She nudges Reggie's hips with her own and takes a wider step forward, flashing her ankle for a moment. ]
Mine are totally better, too.
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[ Almost indignantly he pops his hip out to show off, because it's easier to do that than try to hike a pant leg up by the cuffs considering how skinny these jeans are. For precisely this reason!! ]
But yours ain't bad. I mean, anyone who dates me is gonna need to be at least comparably attractive.
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I'm way cuter!
[ Her stomach growls then. Reaching for it, she pats it gently and heaves an exaggerated sigh. ]
Is it far? I can teleport, you know! I'm so hungry...
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[ That pinch makes Reggie jerk slightly, his face reddening in surprise -- Sasha's not exactly the most gentle touch -- and he gives her a look that's some combination of competitive and coy.
Smirking, he waggles his fingers dismissively. ]
Uh huh. I think bein' in my company's really starting to go to your head. [ Then he blinks, and gestures with his whole wrist. ] So then what are you waiting for?
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Well... I won't be able to teleport us directly there. [ She doesn't know what it looks like and as much as she wants to eat, it's risky for her to teleport herself and others without a clear picture of where she's headed. ] What's the closest landmark? I'll probably know it.
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[ His eyebrow quirks, but then he takes a moment to think about it since teleporting would definitely beat walking all the way there, even if it's not that far. ]
Well, you can see the ocean. I think it's right next to that mini-mall that's got a theatre, gym, and that one great nail place. Does that help?
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Got it! Alright, hold onto my hand and don't let go. It can be dizzying the first time, so don't puke on me either.
[ Then she falls silent, squeezing her eyes shut to focus on transporting them from one location to another. It's like a tug on the entire body, forcing it in one direction and the ground isn't as stable as it should be. But it only lasts a couple of seconds; Sasha and Reggie will reappear on the sidewalk just a few feet away from the mini-mall's entrance, startling locals coming out or going in.
The teleporting leaves a disorienting sensation, though it won't last long. Sasha has long gotten used to it herself. ]
Ta-da!
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He holds on for another moment or so, waiting for his legs to steady and stop shaking, and then steps away quickly under the guise of fixing his hair in a near-by car mirror. Then he clears his throat and gestures in the appropriate direction, toward a retro diner-looking place with blinking neon and loud music across the parking lot. ]
G-great. Anyway, the place is right over here -- ta-da.
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She pats his chest lightly, grinning at him slyly. ]
You'll get used to it. [ She looks back at the diner and starts wandering in its direction. ] Let's go, let's go!
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The dizzy, motion-sick feeling does pass soon enough, luckily well in time for Reggie to be feeling normal again (at least, what counts as normal for him nowadays) by the time he pulls the restaurant door open; music, heat, and the smells of frying food accost them almost immediately, beating the hostess to them, though she skates over a minute or so later to escort them to their waiting table.
Reggie pops a painkiller surreptitiously, a preemptive counter to the loud music, neon lights, and/or any other stress that may try to catch him by surprise that evening -- never hurts to play it safe. ]
So, you impressed yet?
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And though her eyes wander around, never lingering for too long on something, she does catch out of the corner of it Reggie popping what seems to be some kind of pill. It looks purely medicinal; mints are more or less reserved for long make-out sessions and anyway, they're about to shove actual food down their throats.
She says nothing, however, and instead focuses on the diner as she slides into her seat. ]
It has to be one of the coolest diners in this world! [ Of course, Sasha is easily impressed, but the set-up is quite wonderful. ] Can we eat now?
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He sits, too, in one of the car-shaped booths and takes a lazy look over one of the menus placed helpfully in front of them; inside, there's a rose-colored insert with holiday specials. ]
Sweetheart-potato fries? O-lover platter? Man, who do they think they're kiddin' with some of these? [ Reading over it a bit more, he adds: ] They're all double-sized, though. Like we're supposed to share or something? Yeah right.
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What are you doing?
[ She's distracted for a moment though when he mentions the holiday specials. Tracing her finger down the menu, her jaw drops when it mentions the servings are all double-sized. She can see there's quite a number of couples in the diner sharing these bigger dishes and sipping milkshakes from the same glass, but all Sasha really sees is more food for herself.
She wouldn't be opposed to sharing, but she's really hungry! ]
Food is food, who cares? It smells so good in here! I want the platter with extra fries and chocolate milkshake!
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[ The habit is so ingrained that Reggie almost doesn't know what Sasha means, but then the biter taste of the painkiller fills his mouth again as his teeth crunch down and he swallows hard, shoving the pill bottle deep into his pockets and making a mental note to himself to be more careful. The addiction must be getting slightly out of hand if now he's partaking without even really noticing sometimes.
Thankfully, as always, Reggie can count on food to distract Sasha, which may normally be an annoyance but this time works in his favor. ]
Sure, get whatever you want -- special occasion and all that. [ He's having a harder time deciding, mostly because the menu keeps making his eyes glaze over. ] I guess I'll do the nachos and a soda. Appetizer size, though -- don't wanna eat too much this early in the date.
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[ It seems he's stopped chewing on whatever those pills were. She's certain she heard the rattling of a bottle on his end, but she's in too much of a good mood and hyper-focused on food to ask if he's sick. One normally takes medication with food, right?
She rises in her seat slightly, peering up and down for one of the waitresses. She can't help but admire the way they move on their skates and how cute those uniforms are on them. ]
I'm getting so hungry waiting... do we have to call them over? Do they know when we're ready?
[ She seats herself again, fidgeting in anticipation. ]
I want meat...
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[ Never mind the fact he also just doesn't have as much of an appetite these days. It's not great -- his reflexes, speed, and muscle definition have suffered a little -- but not really to a point of concern, either. ]
They'll-- [ But before he finishes, a waiter skates over to them with a carefully balanced tray with water glasses and offers to take their order. ] Well, she wants meat.
[ Reggie indicates Sasha with a lazily pointed finger, smirking. ]
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The O-lover platter, please! And a chocolate milkshake and — oh, extra fries. [ A beat. ] Wait, two extra fries!
[ It's somehow never occurred to her that she should be paying closer attention to what's in her food, especially when she hails from a world where greasy, fast food and other foods that are pumped full of all kinds of hormones and other things don't exist. She's filled out a little more in the past few months, though she's attributed most of that to growing pains. ]
Thank you!
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Reggie takes a few generous gulps from his water glass, since he can't take another pill to address the growing buzz of discomfort at his temples, then passes his menu to the waiter. ]
Nachos, root beer. [ He pauses to take another gulp of water. ] And we don't need any more fries, so don't even ask.
[ If he needs any he'll grab some of Sasha's, no big. ]
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[ She watches the waiter skate away with their order before drawing her attention back on Reggie. Really, though... if she has to wait too long she may sneak into the kitchen and steal something to eat if she thinks it's taking too long.
The food doesn't go forgotten, but it does become a second priority for a fleeting moment the longer she surveys Reggie. She leans her elbows onto the table and rests her chin against her palms, staring at him curiously. Her leg stretches out from underneath their table to gently rub against his ankle. ]
Are you okay?
[ Sasha feels like she's missing something here. ]
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[ He sips down some more water, leg jostling restlessly under the table until her ankle touches his, then he looks at her with a raised eyebrow as if startled by the question. ]
What? [ For a moment all he does is stare blankly. ] What kinda question is that? I'm always okay. Don't you know that by now?
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[ Her shoulders sag and she sinks against the table, pouting like she's a small child rather than a young woman just a few months shy of turning nineteen. ]
Ughhh, so long!
[ She groans aloud before turning her head to the side so she can look at Reggie again. ]
You've taken medicine twice now since we got in here. It hasn't been even fifteen minutes.
[ Is he sick? That kind of puts her off from wanting to do anything else later if he is... ]
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[ He holds his fingers apart, about the distance of a half-dollar. ]
They're vitamins. Anyway, let's drop it. [ He leans over the table, putting pressure on his elbows. ] What do you wanna do after we eat?
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[ But she concedes with a half-shrug, even if something nags at her in the back of her head until he asks what's on the agenda after dinner. She sits up properly, keeping her elbows on the table and starts counting off on her fingers all the things they could do. ]
Hmmm! Well, there's a beach nearby, right? We could throw crabs back into the water or see who can skip rocks the farthest, or bury someone in the sand, go to the arcade, or the movies... um, I'm not very good at dancing, but if you wanted to do that it'd be okay.
[ It's difficult deciding when all those options she listed are fairly tempting to her. ]
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[ Anyway, he gladly welcomes the subject change and will continue to run with it, because sometimes Reggie just can't stand being talked about. Let him marinate in his issues on his own time, thank you very much. ]
The beach could be okay. Not so sure about those ideas, but there's plenty of crap to do down there. Maybe there'll be fireworks after the sun goes down. [ Idly, he chews his lower lip. ] You know it's gonna be cold, though.
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That sounds nice... [ Haha... ] Uh, if it's cold we don't have to. What do you want to do?
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[ Ferris wheels were romantic though, right? Eerily normal to think about, yes, but that went for pretty much the entire life Reggie had managed to cultivate in the year and a half he'd been here. ]
Or we could always just go back to my place. Or yours. Why overthink it?
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[ She rests her chin into her hands again, beaming at Reggie and giving his ankle an excited nudge. ]
We can play bowling or bumper cars... I'm really good at those mini-games where you have to hit the target. They rig a lot of them, so the trick is to throw real hard. [ The pros of being raised a bow-wielding hunter and a soldier.
At the mention of returning to their places, she blushes a bit. ] Ah, we can always do that after, can't we?
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[ Not this far south in Florida... barring any freak weather incidents, of course. Reggie crunches a piece of ice from his water glass carefully between his teeth and raises his eyebrow. ]
You don't do crap like bumper cars on Valentine's Day -- has to at least be something where you sit together, like a ferris wheel or roller coaster. [ Because then they could hold on to each other if it was scary. ] Bowling's all right, though... we could do that, if you want.
[ Then, smirking: ]
Come on, you even gotta ask?
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[ It would have been fun to hit people in non-lethal ways playing bumper cars, but she's fond enough of heights that ferris wheels and roller coasters aren't something off putting to her. ]
Ferris wheel might be fun... I thought you didn't like heights. [ She pauses, unsure where that suggestion had even come from. A part of her is convinced she once snatched him up into a tree with her 3DMG, but the other half is trying to remind her it had been in a nightmare brought on by Lucifer. ] ... maybe I dreamed that.
[ Her smile widens, but she lowers her voice so others don't overhear them talking about that. ]
Later! Pervert...
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[ He clicks his tongue idly, semi-impatiently, but then gives her an odd look over his water glass as he empties it. What does Sasha mean by that? As always, when Reggie feels like he's missing a step somewhere, he feels a vague sense of nervousness settle over and cling to his chest. ]
Yeah, you must've. Heights are a stupid thing to be-- [ A vague memory, probably tied to this exact thing, stirs, but Reggie can't quite grab hold to it. ] Well, sure. I'm not saying right here on the table, am I?
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[ She stretches across the table bored now, leaning the side of her face against the table and trying to keep her feet from twitching. However, she's already getting tired of sitting down and waiting so she sits up and glances around the room as if she's sizing the place up. ]
Hungry...
[ That's all she mutters before she vanishes from her chair without warning. It takes another couple of minutes before she reemerges in the exact same spot, holding close what appears to be grilled chicken bits that would normally go into a salad. She's stuffing the pieces into her mouth quickly, before any of the waitresses notice what she has in her hand. ]