Love Springs Eternal (??)

[bright_and_blue]

Who: ERRYBODY
What: It's Valentine's Day, and there are matchmaking notices everywhere. Here's an open log for one and all to post their shenanigans, meet ups, freak outs, and whatever else they're going to do about this.
When: forward dated to Feb. 14
Where: All over Aqures Ixen
Warnings: Ridiculousness.

[Plastering the city are notices matching up all of the Heroes of Light with one another, both the best and the worst. Moogles are having a grand old time handing them out and hanging them up, and are encouraging Heroes to speak with their top matches.

Naturally, reactions to this are mixed. Some Heroes are intrigued, some annoyed, some offended. Despite their feelings or misgivings, the rest of the city is still celebrating Valentine's Day as well, and now the thoughts of love are everywhere.

OOC: This is an open log for everyone to use for Valentine's Day stuff! Feel free to make your own prompts.]

Comments

[charming_jerk]

[He's used to that.]

We are? Are you-- [He looks at the results again.] You're Duster? Whatever, dude, this is gotta be complete bullshit. Moogles pullin' our names outta hats or some shit.

[His voice is cool, but his face is still red.]

[mindofathief]

[A slow nod. If he knew who this guy was, he might be embarrassed to see his results plastered everywhere. Despite his best platonic friend on Crystallis being on there, she's listed as one of the worst. Not bad enough to lose his head over.]

I'll ignore them for now. If anything, it's about time I went around getting to know you guys better. [Preferably not on dates, but...] Like...we're a one percent match? What does that even mean? Are they taking friendships into account?

[charming_jerk]

No idea. I'm surprised they even bothered with "worst" matches. Probably tryin' to stir shit up between friends. [Thanks to his own moogle helper, his opinion on them as a whole isn't very high.]

Whatever. I don't need 'em embarrassing me. [He goes to rip his down, when he spots his name on another, and another, and another... Johnny has shown up on both sides of people's results. He's also listed as a best match for both Reno and Jack, as well. His face gets redder when he sees that, and he starts taking all of them down too.]

[mindofathief]

Or to keep us from getting to know each other. [Duster watches Johnny's work, eyeing his own name on others' flyers. He guesses it would be worse if more people knew him or if his stage name was used, but for now?]

That doesn't stop us from meeting up at the same place at the same time. [He pulls down a poster with Johnny's name on it.] You don't seem like a terrible person, unless the Moogles know something I don't.

[charming_jerk]

That's a pretty generous thing to say to a guy ya met 60 seconds ago. Me 'n my moogle helper guy don't get along too great, so I wouldn't doubt he's got somethin' to do with this. [He'd be right in that assessment.]

[He shoves the notices in a trash can nearby, and wonders how many other places these are posted, and if his top three have already seen it. He sighs.]

Honestly, I thought I left this high-school level stuff behind years ago.

[mindofathief]

I-[Would Tamekichi do something like this? The Moogle only cared about his own love life from what Duster saw, but he secretly could have helped matched Duster with other Heroes out of the hidden kindness of his own heart. This list may be a hidden blessing, and Johnny could be more dangerous than Duster imagined.]

...I trust you since you're a Hero of Light. [His hands clench the sides of his baggy Monk's pants.] That's all.

[charming_jerk]

It's just a name, man. I wouldn't put so much faith in it. [Johnny gives that as half-hearted warning, not an argument. Despite her trying, Chiaki's hopefulness hasn't rubbed off on a pessimist like Johnny yet.]

An world that considers a guy like me some kinda hero needs to straighten out its priorities.

[mindofathief]

Well...we were chosen to come help this world. Even if we all aren't legendary heroes, we can do something to help, even if just by organizing meetings or playing music.

[Duster can fight, but it's not an particularly special talent of his.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny could fight; he'd argue it's all he can do. But that didn't make him a Hero.]

I don't know if any of the music I've been playin' has helped anyone but me. But maybe that's something. At least nowadays I get more tips than I do swings at my face.

[mindofathief]

Hey. [He can't let a fellow musician put himself down.] Music helps people. They bring people from all walks of life when the bond over something they all enjoy. There's nothing more rewarding than to know that you've made a lot of people happier by doing what you love!

[He gives Johnny a thumbs up.]

I'm sure they'll realize your talent! ...Can I ask what you play?

[charming_jerk]

[Music is usually one of the only things Johnny has confidence in, but he really does get punches here. It's a little trying.]

Ya'd think that, until ya introduce people who never even heard rock music to some Megadeath songs.

[C'est le vie. Johnny can't sing like Dave Mustane anyway. He's got the idea that Duster must be a musician too, from this sort of talk.]

Guitar. Sing, too. D'you play anything?

[mindofathief]

Megadeath? [He knows what rock music is, but that's an unfamiliar band name.]

I used to play for DCMC. It was the only band on the Nowhere Islands, but were were pretty popular while we lasted. I was the bassist. [He smiles and straightens his back. A skiiny why with too much facial hair doesn't exactly scream "hottest musicians around".] If only I had enough money to buy a bass, I could give you a demonstration.

[charming_jerk]

Maybe we ain't from the same place, then. [As he's heard of neither.] Pretty nice that ya had a band, though. Closest I got was high school band. [He rolls his eyes heavily. He barely had friends, let alone people to play in a band with.]

You should save up for one. I don't make a ton of money, but I ain't just stuck playin' on street corners. There're some bars I play at, and I even play for some theaters sometimes when they need a guitarist. But considerin' they give us free housing here, I don't exactly have to worry about makin' rent with it.

[mindofathief]

That's what I'm thinking. If I keep on fighting those monsters, I'll eventually save enough for an instrument and a new outfit. [He's also considering asking Cid for his wig, but that will wait some other time.]

You know, I can't play at a club without someone else who needs backup. What do you think about teaming up sometime and drawing in a bigger crowd? It'll be easier to get a gig that way.

[charming_jerk]

What, ya really think so? [He has a genuine moment of surprise, but goes back to his usual defensiveness.] I mean, ya haven't even heard me play yet. Y'sure you wanna ask a guy that when ya don't know how good he is or isn't yet?

[mindofathief]

Hey, when I first showed up at Club Titboo with no memories and no idea how to play any instrument, the guys gave me a chance. All it takes is practice, right?

[charming_jerk]

Let's get you an instrument first, then we'll do some practice sessions and see how things go from there. Show what we can do. How's that? Deal?

[He offers his hand, sealing the deal with a handshake.]

[mindofathief]

[He grabs Johnny's hand.] Deal.

[Duster returns the hand to his pocket.]

I'll send you a letter once I have enough money, okay?

[charming_jerk]

Sure, man. Ya can stop by the any of the pubs most nights, I'm usually playin' somewhere. Though if ya wanna hear some real rock 'n roll music sometime, I can play outside of a gig sometime, too.