maskormenacelogs | I was wondering...

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I was wondering...

WHO: Laurie Collins and Junpei Iori
WHERE: Heropa, FL
WHEN: Sat., August 30th
WHAT: An Actual Non-Blind Date
WARNINGS: None anticipated

[ Laurie's trying to not over-measure this. She's trying to be optimistic without necessarily being hopeful, which is a weird balance but a legitimate something to keep in mind. The self-trashing corner of her mind keeps reiterating that she doesn't want to end up more pathetic than ever while the self-congratulating corner is thrilled she's made it this far.

Not that one date is far, but if she can manage not to wreck it... Hey. Who knows? At least she's out there, right?

Out where, you ask? Out in front of the Heropa Family Fun Center! She's leaning against a bike rack while she waits, idly doing this and that on her phone. She'd told Junpei two o'clock and showed up ten minutes early to make sure they were already set up to enter the batting cage.

Hopefully Junpei doesn't consider sharing his sporting wisdom to be a drag. Laurie figured she'd attempt to appeal to his interests and learn something new along the way. At least if the air of the day falls flat, she'll pick up a new skill. So... That's cool.

Either way, she ready! This is totally fine! She can do this and not make it weird! ]

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[Junpei's not sure if there's just something to this place or not--but it's way different than it is back in Iwatodai. It'd only been about six months since Chidori's incident...the memory still pretty fresh in his mind enough to make him feel slightly guilty about even doing this. But time had passed, and his love for Chidori was eternal in the fact that it had become a part of him (no really, it really did). Much like time itself, he had to keep going.

Maybe not the fastest, but any step forward is a good one.

So when Laurie texted him asking him out on a date, two things happened. One? Shock. Back home Junpei never got a date--no one really seemed to fall for his personality (except Chidori, of course). So not even asking a girl, but being asked? This is new to him, and he can't help but be cautiously optimistic. And two--Nervousness.

Don't fuck this up, Junpei.

When he gets to Heropa, he steps through the porter and heads to Heropa Family Fun Center, where she'd texted him the details. Is it okay to be fashionably one minute late? He hopes so, because those crosswalks are making him wait on PURPOSE.

Eventually, and with zero J-walking (some J-walking) he makes it there, eyes lit up and waving down the girl on her phone.]

Laurie!

[ Laurie's already planned to not start counting the minutes until fifteen minutes in, and Junpei arrives well within the range of that. She looks up from her phone once she hears her name, smiling at the sight of him. Pushing off the bike rack as she stows her phone in her purse, she takes a couple of steps forward to meet him on his approach, her hands coming up to-- To what? Because she's tempted to reach for him, to clasp his hands and grab up his arm, but she foiled by the sudden realization that that might not be the thing to do.

She still doesn't know him all that well, and maybe that would seem forward or cloying. She doesn't want to seem pushy. She definitely doesn't want to seem desperate. There's just this complicated stew of circumstances in her that makes even the prospect of new closeness seem super great, and the sight of him's renewed that excitement. This isn't going to be nerve-racking, okay? This is going to be fun.

Ultimately, she settles on waving as something to do with her hands. Waving's totally normal, right? ]

Junpei! Hey! How's your day been so far?

[At least her nervous little battle of what to do with her hands is ignored mostly by his own enthusiasm, and if she wasn't going to reach out and touch, he certainly was going to take the first step and put a hand to her shoulder. Is that desperate? Nah...it's a date--you're supposed to show affection like that on a date!

Then again, Junpei's also the one who got within breathing distance of his game's protag on the first day of school. Personal space just isn't a thing sometimes.]

Pretty good--would you believe it? I got out of the house without Akihiko-san's rabbit trying to kill me.

Believe me, that's a first.

[ Laurie's mostly critical of her own potential actions than those of others, which she often recognizes as silly in retrospect. She doesn't think anything negative about the hand on her shoulder, then. It actually comforts her own hesitance in that field, so... Great. Thanks, guy!

She lets out a breath of confused laughter at his rabbit description, because what? ]

You've got a killer rabbit after you?

[ Not that it's totally unbelievable around here, but that's a new one. ]

[It's comforting that she doesn't lash away either. His naturally open personality can flourish there. With a quick turn around, he starts walking with her, even if only a few feet to the entrance of the building.]

Dude--not just a killer rabbit. You'd think that would be enough--but have you ever met Akihiko-san? The guy used to box in the hallways in school. He'd...He probably does crunches in his sleep!

And that rabbit...I swear he watches me. I have to text Ken every few hours to let him know I'm alive.

I've never met him, but he sounds... Interesting?

[ And she's not sure whether she's supposed to be afraid or amused, so her smile carries a slight amount of concern with it. She reaches to get the door for the two of them, fishing the batting cage tickets from a back pocket as they make their way into the building.

There's a large indoor playground full of happily screaming kids, so she's sure to speak up. ]

You could probably move, you know, if it's a problem.

No see--

[There's a soft thanks as she hands him the tickets, his eyes practically lighting up and taking him off that subject for just a moment. Laurie knew how to plan a DATE. His eyes soften at her, unable to really say anything other than...continue his story. But trust him, there's a warmth in his eyes that can't be anything other than a nonverbal

'How are you so cool'.]

Akihiko-san's gone. So there's no one left to take care of the little guy.

[ Holy crud, she's done for. The look he gives her in that moment is so open and direct and nice. She can only take a couple seconds of it before her eyes divert. She feels like her face is probably a pretty solid shade a pink for a moment, too, but then--

She's a little late in reacting, maybe, but her shy smile gives way to a frown. She didn't mean to make him talk about a departed friend. That can be a pretty rough subject around here. ]

O-oh, I-- I'm sorry. I didn't know.

That's good that you're taking care of his pet, then. I'm sure all of your suffering won't be the vain if he comes back and sees that you've kept up with him.

Hey, no worries. They went back to where they belong.

[He'd been sad, of course, but there's a time and place for that--and he'd mourned it months ago. Now he was in the present, and it was up to him to properly carry on without them. And take care of whatever they had if they decided to come back.]

Exactly. The guy loved that rabbit and it'll be worth it to give it back to him--Whoa wait.

Batting cages?

Alright, who let you in on that secret.

[That smile cracks across his face, as if that answer was obvious just by looking at him.]

[ Had it been a secret? Surely not! Right? Laurie lets out a little snort of laughter, joking lightly: ] Context clues. They were super-subtle, but I'm great at reading people.

[ Opposite of true, most likely. Laurie spends a lot of time turning people over in her head and wondering if she's interpreting things right or what she's doing wrong around them. If she's doing well right now, she's doing better than usual by her own judgement.

She can't take complete credit, though. ]

Jaime actually approved it, when I asked for advice. He said you wouldn't mind showing off your skills. [ They're at the entrance to the cages now, and Laurie looks out over those already playing with exaggerated wincing expression. ] I hope you don't mind sharing your knowledge, either. I am a total novice.

[All he can give is a 'guilty as charged' smile, arms cast out in a helpless shrug.] Well, you know me. I keep my secrets and interests well hidden. Like a video game protagonist.

[No, Junpei. You're the best friend who won't shut up]

...

Jaime. I knew he had to be behind it! [No you didn't.] He's been acting really strange lately...

[He loops an arm around her shoulders, though, leading her in that direction.]

Don't you worry. Ol' Junpei'll have you playing major league in no time!

[ Laurie knows next to nothing about video games and whether the protagonists keep their interests hidden, but okay! She makes a face at the absurdity of the statement that works well for the accusation of Jaime, too. Confused, a little, but amused.

Then there's an arm around her, and-- She really needs to figure out how to make today stretch on, just in case she can't get another day like it. Even casual attention and intimacy is enough to make her feel a little giddy. It doesn't inhibit her ability to quip back, though, which is probably good. Turning into a dumb-dumb five minutes into a date probably wouldn't bode well. ]

I dunno'. I'm the opposite of sporty. If you can get me to pro status, then you're probably a miracle worker, and you'll have to ship off to Baseball Headquarters right away.

[ Into the cages, then! An employee in a booth takes their tickets and gives them instructions. This cage, that amount of time, etc. It's loud in here! And there's a rack of bats for the taking. ]

Are they all the same? Or is it like bowling balls?

[Don't worry about that, Laurie, Junpei is literally bottom tier when it comes to acting like an idiot. But he seems to be having a good time, and even with her little dazed moment, he doesn't seem all that bothered. It was...nice to get out and about again.

Onto the dating scene. Or rather...in a dating scene at all.]

Well, you should do that anyway. Slip me under the cracks, they'll see my talent, I'll make it big and split the money with you!

[He laughs at his own joke, grabbing a bat and weighing it in his hands.]

There's different kinds, you know--like wood and aluminum. But I think here they've only got one. Not that it really matters since you're playing against this guy.

[To which he nods to the pitching machine.]

Here, how's this feel?

[His hands outstrech, letting the bat roll off his fingers into hers.]

Edited 2016-08-16 01:24 (UTC)

[ Well, there you go. They've got a backup scheme if nothing else in this world works out, and one that doesn't necessarily require her to be good at baseball. Which... Looking between the pitching machine and the bat that Junpei had handed her, she figures that avoiding a requirement of sporty know-how is probably a good plan.

She can manage a minimum, though, right? ]

It feels fine. [ She turns the bat in her hands to grip it, trying for the right hand-hold, before assuming the ready-to-bat pose. It's not even that inaccurate. She's trying. ] With this, I've officially exhausted everything I remember from tee-ball.

Maybe you should go first? Watching a few hits will help with the big picture, right?

[You have a pulse, Laurie. You're already above the minimum.]

See? You're already half way there!

[Junpei's hands are gentle in helping her position her fingers around the bat's grip. He won't make her go first, of course--he's learned showing by example has done wonders. That and maybe it'd take the ease off her own worries if she saw how dorky he looked.]

Just remember that, and watch me, okay?

[To which he grabs the bat sitting propped up on the wall and slinging it over his shoulder as if it were as natural as breathing, going in front of the machine.]

Gotta say, it's one uuuuggggly pitcher!

Aww, c'mon. You might hurt its feelings.

[ This whole place is run by a sentient machine, after all. You never know! Nevertheless, Laurie finds the panel that controls the machine. She assumes that tweaking any of the settings is unnecessary, so... ]

I'm ready whenever you are.

[ All she gotta do is push a button and watch, which she does once she gets the go-ahead. Show her your stuff, Jumps. ]

[After some awkward little rattles, the machine shoots out the first baseball, Junpei giving a little 'hup' as he gives the full swing of his bat--a loud clank sounding off the aluminum as the ball rockets to the top of the cage, falling back down just behind the machine. Simple enough, really.

Even if he's giving the smile of someone who's experiencing this to its fullest.]

RIGHT ON THE FIRST TRY! YOU SEE THAT--

WHOA!

[Looks like that machine doesn't give a shit. It launched another, only barely dodged by Junpei's noodly body.]

[ His jubilance is really infectious. With the bat still in one hand, she can't really applaud, so she lets out a little whoop for Junpei's victory. When the next baseball nearly nails him, though?

A surprised snort sneaks into her laughter, and she's doubled over with it for a couple of seconds. He dodged it, so she's allowed to laugh! Right? ]

Are you-- Sorry. You okay, there?

[ There's no pause button or anything. Laurie steps forward with her bat, but still maintains enough distance to avoid the next baseball launch. ]

Do you want another crack? Or should I try?

[Of course she's allowed to laugh! Because Junpei sure is, looking at that ball as it just narrowly missed him, the machine getting ready to pelt another one. His laugh coincides with hers, one hand holding his side while holding up the bat as if to protect himself.]

Dude, dude, we gotta tagteam this one, I think! It's out for blood!

[He sidesteps out of the way of another one, allowing for her to jump right in should she want to.

This was probably against EVERY rule, but who cares. They’re imPorts.

They got this.]

[ Alright. She'll give it a shot! She steps into the space that's been left for her, and tries to mimic Junpei's previous stance, tries to follow the ol' 'keep your eye on the ball' mantra, and-- ]

Ah! I hit it!

[ She clipped it. Just barely. But still!! She feels very accomplished! In fact..! ]

Hang on. I'mma do it again!

[ And she slightly-more-than-clips the second one before she moves to swap places with Junpei again, obviously very pleased with herself. Pleased enough to have jokes: ]

You better watch out. I'm gaining on you.

WHOO!!

[Junpei's arms shoot up as if she'd won the whole 'game', hopping on one foot to keep his balance as she clips that ball. Junpei's certainly not going to tell her different--a hit is a hit after all.]

Damn RIGHT you did!

[Watching her get the self confidence to take on that second one warms his heart, making sure to stay out of the way as she gets that second one (definitely an improvement too).]

Man, look at you. Two hits and you think you're the all star player!

Alright, time to get my lead back!

[The ball shoots, and Junpei hits it tried and true as it bounces up to the ceiling and then down, and then back towards them. ....There's a little bunt of it with the bat to send it on it's way.]

Nah, nah, I don't want you BACK!

[ Laurie's a little startled at that ball's unexpected return, but the angle's right enough that it's dispatched quickly and easily. She quips a little breathlessly about Junpei's lack of sensitivity towards it and other equipment ("It just wanted to be with you! Have a little humanity!") and feels like she doesn't quite catch her breath until their time runs down and the machine stops pitching. The whole thing was a flurry of movement that she's unused to outside of a crisis situation. It makes any social or verbal fumbles easy to pass over, and her face hurts a little from the consistently wide smiling by the time they return the bats and leave the center.

She doesn't have a strict plan after that. They'd met after the usual lunch time, and it's quite dinner time now. She'd assumed that coffee or shakes or ice cream would probably suffice. Nothing high-key or anything. She'll check in on it, though.

Ducking into her her purse strap and reaching up to fix her ponytail, she asks: ] So, how hungry are you?

[It was an exciting round of pitch-and-hit, that's for sure, and the smile can't seem to peel of Junpei's face, either cheering her on or going up to bat himself. Time flies, and it was a whole lot easier playing with someone who is okay with making a mistake or two, because they won't judge you for yours, either.

When the machine runs out of balls to throw at them, Junpei wipes his brow with his forearm, placing that hat back on his head

But then, she asks the ultimate question, as he kicks a stray ball back into the batting cage before exiting.]

Me? I'm -always- hungry. What about you?

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