Eighth Hop:: [Audio]

[royalguarantee]

[The comm clicks on, and Naveen is sounding suave.

He's not FEELING suave, but he's doing a pretty good job at faking it.]

So, I have a question. A very general question. I am very curious.

[He leans against the table in Sergei's he's chilling at.What are the customs where you are from for... dating? I mean, candle light and all of that, that is

Comments

[farfairersoul]

It's a rare occasion that candlelight dinners are designed for anyone other than children and twits.

[Razer's idea of "romantic" is...rather disturbing, really, so we won't go into it here. Maybe later, if Naveen asks.]

I suppose how you date depends on the person. In general back home it included things like attending races together, watching a film, and going out to eat at least once.

[He also hasn't had a real boyfriend since he was fifteen. Not that he doesn't know how to sway someone pretty easily, but it doesn't take as much work as all that dating weirdness.]

[royalguarantee]

Eh, I like them. But I am old-fashioned, somewhat.

[He shrugs, though Razer can't see it.]

Races? You mean horse races?

[But those are so boring!]

[farfairersoul]

[Sigh.]

No. We don't have horses on my planet. We race in cars.

Mounted with machine guns.

...Among other things.

[He figures simple is best. Doesn't that sound like a romantic evening out on the town?]

[royalguarantee]

[WHAT.]

Well, that is certainly more exciting...

[axemeaquestion]

Any particular reason you're asking about it, honey, or is this just one of those out-of-the-blue bored kind of things?

I gotta say, though, don't mind a little candlelight. Don't mind a little excitement either.

[... Wait, pause. Dammit, she knows it's gonna be taken some weird way.]

Not that kind.

[royalguarantee]

Bored-out-of-the-blue.

[Let's go with that. He laughs at the bit about excitement.]

What kind do you mean, then?

[axemeaquestion]

[It works for her, she doesn't question it. She has no reason to anyway, obviously.]

Oh--I don't know. Maybe going to... the amusement park or something? Ahh, god, I'll have to think of a less cheesy example.

[royalguarantee]

Even just... telling her how beautiful she is and how you never want to leave at a romantic dinner? Do you do that, too?

[Why, Naveen, that was a PAINFULLY SPECIFIC example.]

[lightyourway]

[Here, have a burst of giggles. Kairi quickly smothers the sound behind her hands, but it was definitely there.

After everything that's happened, she never expected dating to be brought up here, like this. After everything that's happened, she hasn't given dating a thought. But suddenly she is thinking about it. And she can't reign those thoughts back in.

Thank goodness no-one can see her blushing.]

Uh... Back home, people watch a movie or go to a ball game. They do things that they both like, but they do them together.

Candlelight and flowers aren't as important as being together and having a good time, right?

[royalguarantee]

A ball game? You mean, a sport, yes? Like Baseball?

[Naveen does not understand baseball, but it delights him.]

I suppose that is true. I tend to think of the... romance part of it the most, myself.

[lightyourway]

Yeah, a sport. Blitzball, actually. I don't really know how to explain it.

Oh well, I live on an island. The beach is romantic. Lots of people take walks there at sunset, not just people who are dating. And there's always paopu fruit, if you can get one.

[Kairi's voice somehow remains steady. But her face feels like it's been badly sunburnt all of a sudden.]

[royalguarantee]

An island? In the tropics? I would very much like to go back to the tropics some day.

[It's expensive, but, eh. He'll live like a hobo on the beach or something if he can't get any money by then.]

Well, what is a paopu? I do not have those at home-- in Maldonia, I mean. I do not know about New Orleans.

[meinxxherz]

I think, uhm,

Well--w-well--well, granted, this isn't really...how customs go back--b-back home, but, uh--

I think a--a-a date should just be...whatever those two people, uhm. Like doing. Together. Something that'll be...fun.

And--a-and maybe give them a chance to talk.

[royalguarantee]

Ah.

[You know him so well.]

Talk less, then. That is good advice.

[meinxxherz]

...What?

[Talk Less? Where'd he get--oh.

Oh crap.]

O--oh, no, Naveen, that--th--that's not--not what I meant. When I-I said 'them' I was--I-I was referring to the couple. As a pair. Both of them sh-should talk. To one another.

But, uhm, de-d-definitely in equal amounts?

...

[Y'know, it may not be bad advice for this guy? Don't get Herz wrong, he adores the snazzy prince, but he is very...

Well, he's a spaz. But he means that in the most sincere way possible.]

[royalguarantee]

[He laughs.]

But I do need to talk less. This, I know. I am still learning in some ways.

Okay, in many ways. But nevertheless.

Talking is fun. I like talking.

...letting other people talk. Holding a conversation.

[myplacenthesun]

[She will not ask if there's a particular reason why he's asking. Nope. Not asking. Zero asking.]

What brought this on, then?

[Damn it.]

I'm probably not someone you're asking, though, considerin' we both come from the same world.

[royalguarantee]

[WHY YOU. WHY HERE. WHY NOW.

He slips that smooth, everything-is-totally-fine voice on before he can so much as stutter like a nice suit jacket.]

I am curious, and I am bored. I have nothing better to do. If you want to tell me about dating in America, though... I do not know if it is so different from Maldonia.

[myplacenthesun]

[Those are very reasonable explanations, and probably exactly what it is. Stop thinking, Tiana.]

Oh, I, um.

[Don't have much experience with that.]

Dinner and dancing's fairly typical, I guess. That's what I've heard, anyway.

[royalguarantee]

That is... that is good to know!

Wait, from what you've heard? You've never been on a date?