a_sin_for_him | IC Contact

...No, I don't have anything planned. It's the middle of the week.

[Who goes out on a Wednesday? Of course the ninth is her birthday - third one, good god - but she's never actively celebrated it. Not beyond little household things.]

[Interesting he'd pick that date....]

Why?

[Oh god, okay, moment of truth time. Don't fucking blow this. Just ask her like a normal person.

...Not that there's any reason to freak out anyway. Since this is a purely platonic offer.]

I was just wondering if you'd wanna go somewhere together that day? You know, like dinner or something.

[You know. Like friends with absolutely no romantic interest in each other do.]

...I may have heard something about your birthday being that day. Before you start thinking I'm being weird.

Oh.

[...Oh.]

[The overlapping demographics of people who know them both, know her birthday, and would have any inclination that he'd be interested in knowing that....is very slim.]

[But that's not the important thing. The important thing is that he's just asked her to dinner. For her birthday.]

I've never gone out for my birthday before. I've only recently gotten in the habit of acknowledging it.

[And that's not exactly an answer, she's simply stalling. Because she's been trying to avoid thinking deeply about or confronting directly whatever it is that's been growing between them since they first met.]

[And now he's asked her to dinner.]

[For her birthday.]

[Thaaaaat's not a no. Or a yes. Or a... maybe. Or anything he really prepared for and oh god now he has no idea what to do anymore. Why did he do this? Damn it, this was probably a really bad call, wasn't it?

Maybe he should've made this call with Janey nearby so he could ask her for advice. Could... Could he still do that now? If he just really quickly ran out and just passed it off as being super quiet for... no reason... in the middle of a conversation--

Okay no, obviously not.]

Ah, well, yeah I wasn't sure if you did anything for it at all, but... I figured there's worse ways to spend time than hanging out with a friend, right? [Just. Making clear this is a friend thing. A normal friend thing. So platonic.] I mean, if you don't want to, that's also cool.

[Oh god, no, don't start backpedalling now.]

There's usually a few gifts, from family and close friends. And a cake.

[Of course, there have always been...circumstances, regarding her birthday. Circumstances which are no longer pressingly relevant. And he's gone out of his way, to make this offer.]

There are far worse ways. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be difficult or evasive, you've just caught me by surprise. I've actually never been asked out to dinner at all.

[She does notice how he's sure to mention he's asking in a friendly capacity. But can it be, considering? She supposes there's time, between then and now, to think on it.]

Yes.

Ah, no, don't even worry about it. I mean, I'm just kinda springing this on you all of a sudden and... wow, never, really? But uh, really didn't mean to suddenly--

[--wait. Oh. Oh, did she just say yes?

...Oh. To be totally honest, he wasn't sure if she would.]

Oh! Okay then. Awesome. [...why did he go with awesome, why was that the word that came out of his mouth, why does anyone let him talk ever, why--] Uh, Goldenrod probably works better for this, so... we can meet there?

[After he went there on Halloween, the city hasn't seemed as scary. Jack's there, sure, but... the odds of running into him probably aren't high.]

No, never. My romantic relationship wasn't like that, we didn't...do those sorts of things. And I suppose I've simply never had the kind of friends who'd extend a personal invitation such as this before.

[Because usually, in her experience, friends didn't formally invite one another to private dinners.]

We don't have to, if you'd rather not. Ecruteak is lovely.

Oh... huh. I mean, I've... never really been out to dinner with anyone myself, honestly. But I figure, hey, why not, right?

[He's also never really been out with friends like anywhere during his old life, dinner or otherwise. So it's... it's not that weird.]

Oh, well, that also works. I'm cool with either. [With the current track record as it is, Ecruteak's not that much safer than Goldenrod anyway.] I'll just leave that choice up to you.

Oh. Really?

[That is a bit of a surprise. She knows he'd mentioned a lack of romantic experience, at one point, but...still.]

I suppose you're right, Goldenrod has more options.

Yeah. What, is that really that much of a surprise?

[Not like anyone's ever been interested in him back when he was still his awkward nerd self on the outside as well as inside.]

Alright, Goldenrod it is.

I thought...it seems a thing most humans do. That's all.

But I know just the restaurant. If we're going to do this, we're going to do it proper.

Pfff, most people, maybe. Just. Not me. Never really had the, uh... opportunity for it, I guess.

Ha, alright then. Trusting your judgement.

Well. Now you do.

My judgement is impeccable. Dress for going out to dinner.

And...since it is my birthday...may I make one small request?

Uh. Yeah, of course. What is it?

No yellow.

Ha!

[Okay, not what he was expecting.]

No problem. Don't really like yellow all that much anyway.

[He says. Despite wearing yellow all the goddamn time. It's an audio conversation, so she can't see it, but he's wearing yellow right now.]

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