Akane Kurashiki [June] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sesenta) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2017-02-20 07:23 pm
sesenta) wrote in melodiesoflife2017-02-20 07:23 pm
Entry tags:
The Most Pathetic Date
WHO: Akane Kurashiki, OPEN
WHAT: Akane shows up to find out who her mystery date is. It's Duster. So she goes to get her brother, and takes her Jumpy doll out on a date like a big huge loser.
WHEN: February 14th
WHERE: Aqures Ixen
Woe unto the rest of the household who wanted to use the bathroom on Valentine's Evening, as Akane fussed and primped. There was always something that seemed like it needed to be fixed...too much make-up, too little make-up, that stubborn curly lock that kept escaping the rest of her neatly pinned hair. Wrong robe, wrong dress, wrong sweater and slacks combo. It was so frustrating!
Keys Kupo was a huge help. The Moogle, sighing, sat Akane down and pulled her wavy brown tresses over her shoulders, plaiting the sides into small braids.
"You really shouldn't get too invested in this, kupo," she warned, frowning as she concentrated on plaiting the trio of strands. "I don't think you're going to like the set up they picked for you."
"You know who it is?" Akane turned her head, eyes wide. Keys took hold of her head and forcefully turned it forward to face the mirror once more.
"Yes."
"Can you tell me?"
"No."
"Mmph!" Akane grunted, trying to be frustrated, but still nervous and excited. Keys Kupo reached past her shoulder for a bobby pin, drawing the braid back past her ear. "Why do you think I won't like it? Did I get set up with a girl? Someone really old?"
The Moogle's sigh tickled at her ear as a second braid was worked on the other side of her head. "It's not Hisui."
"Oh..." Her shoulders drooped a little.
"And it's not Sephiroth."
Akane felt her cheeks burn. "I don't... I just think he's handsome to look at, he's my teacher!"
"Whatever. I'm just telling you, I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were in your shoes."
"Good thing Moogles don't wear shoes, hee hee!"
Keys Kupo rolled her eyes and pinned the braid in place, then wove the remaining strands of hair elegantly in place. When she'd finished, she studded Akane's hair with tiny sprigs of baby's breath. At least she could help her hero feel pretty, since she knew very well that she wouldn't be going on any dates tonight.
"There you go. Keep the make-up simple. Foundation, a touch of blush, eyeliner on the top lid, mascara, lip gloss with a pink tint. Understood?"
"You sound like my brother," Akane giggled, even as she rose to pick out the recommended items. "Thanks, Keys. ...Oh! Is it my brother?!"
Keys Kupo gave her a flat look. "...That's just wrong."
"I don't know, a brother/sister date just to spend some quality time together might be nice. And you didn't say no!" Akane pointed out. Had she figured it out at last?!
"It's not your brother."
"Oh. I thought I had it for sure." Very, very carefully she pressed the tip of the charcoal pencil against the edge of her eyelid and drew it from the inner corner to the edge of her lashes with just a slightly longer tail to give the illusion of longer lashes. "Maybe it's better if I'm surprised."
"Doubtful." Keys Kupo fluttered her wings, rising into the air once more. "I'll pick out your clothes and lay them on the bed for you." She turned the knob of the door and hesitated, glancing back at Akane. "...Look, I don't want you to..."
"Hm?" Akane leaned back, blinking quickly as she fanned at her mascara-wet eyelashes.
Keys Kupo hesitated. She was about to say that Akane shouldn't get her hopes up, but... What was the point? Let her feel pretty for a little while. And who knew, maybe some other hero would dislike their match as well, they'd run into each other, bond over the shenanigans the matchmaking Moogles had concocted, and make the best of the night. Akane never was the type to let her hopes get crushed easily, she'd probably just laugh the whole thing off.
"I don't want you to have a bad time. No long skirts to trip on, all right?"
Akane beamed. "Sounds good! Thanks, I'm not really used to this whole dating thing."
That wasn't about to change any time soon, Keys Kupo thought to herself, but wisely remained silent on the matter.
--------
Akane had to admit, the trumpets were a little over-the-top, but in the most delightful way possible. All of this looked like it was going to be a lot of fun! A chocobo-drawn carriage, roses everywhere, a veritable army of well-meaning Moogles playing cupid. Even if her date wasn't someone she was expecting, she could at least enjoy a night getting to know someone else a little better. It didn't have to be romantic at all! Why not kick back, have fun, and enjoy the experience for what it was? She settled herself comfortably into the carriage, fussing with her armwarmers to keep her fingers from getting cold.
Soon enough, the trumpets blared again to announce the arrival of her date. Eagerly, Akane sat up, peering past the rows of hovering helpers...
And for just one moment, her smile faltered. There stood Duster. Suddenly she understood Kupo Keys's reluctance to get too invested in the set-up. It wasn't because of the person at all, for there was nothing objectionable..
It was because there would be no date whatsoever.
Feeling awkward and oddly disappointed, for a moment she wasn't sure what to say. But her recovery was quick and her smile returned. "Um...I think they got the wrong Kurashiki for this." The Moogle at her side blinked in confusion as Akane let herself out of the carriage, hopping down.
"What? Wait, where are you going?! The numbers don't lie--!"
"I'll be right back!" she called out. "I'll go find Aoi and send him along, you just wait right there!" Akane didn't wait for any signs of agreement. Honestly, of all the people they could have picked, tsk!
* * * * *
After doing her sisterly duty and promptly removing herself from the situation so as not to become the world's most awkward third wheel ever, Akane went home. She could have stayed in, feeling sorry for herself, but Keys Kupo had done such a nice job on her hair, it felt silly to waste it on a pity party. She didn't feel up to choking down another failed meal either for that matter, and eating a botched casserole would only make her feel nauseous. She was going out tonight! And she wouldn't be going out alone! There was just one thing she needed from her room, and once she had it, she felt better.
This was how Akane Kurashiki found herself sitting at a table, the Jumpy doll sitting across from her with its vacant little smile, a menu propped up in front of it.
The waitress looked very confused, to say the least, but endured the situation with the same bright smile she put on for all of her weird customers. Some single people just didn't handle this holiday very well.
"I'll have the baked salmon, what about you, Jumpy?"
:)
"Good choice! He'll have the risotto, thank you."
"Coming right up!" the girl smiled, removing both menus before scuttling off to serve others who hadn't completely lost their minds.
"So!" Akane folded her hands beneath her chin, elbows resting on the table. "I have to admit, I didn't think you'd be this bold. Asking me out on Valentine's Day! I mean...I kind of always hoped you would, but it's just so romantic!"
:)
"What, this old thing? Oh, you!" Akane giggled, smoothing her hands over her skirts. "You don't need to flatter me like that. I'm just happy to be here with you."
:)
"Really... Really happy."
:)
"..."
:)
Akane's face sank into her hands as she exhaled heavily. "This is the most pathetic thing I've ever done."
:)
WHAT: Akane shows up to find out who her mystery date is. It's Duster. So she goes to get her brother, and takes her Jumpy doll out on a date like a big huge loser.
WHEN: February 14th
WHERE: Aqures Ixen
Woe unto the rest of the household who wanted to use the bathroom on Valentine's Evening, as Akane fussed and primped. There was always something that seemed like it needed to be fixed...too much make-up, too little make-up, that stubborn curly lock that kept escaping the rest of her neatly pinned hair. Wrong robe, wrong dress, wrong sweater and slacks combo. It was so frustrating!
Keys Kupo was a huge help. The Moogle, sighing, sat Akane down and pulled her wavy brown tresses over her shoulders, plaiting the sides into small braids.
"You really shouldn't get too invested in this, kupo," she warned, frowning as she concentrated on plaiting the trio of strands. "I don't think you're going to like the set up they picked for you."
"You know who it is?" Akane turned her head, eyes wide. Keys took hold of her head and forcefully turned it forward to face the mirror once more.
"Yes."
"Can you tell me?"
"No."
"Mmph!" Akane grunted, trying to be frustrated, but still nervous and excited. Keys Kupo reached past her shoulder for a bobby pin, drawing the braid back past her ear. "Why do you think I won't like it? Did I get set up with a girl? Someone really old?"
The Moogle's sigh tickled at her ear as a second braid was worked on the other side of her head. "It's not Hisui."
"Oh..." Her shoulders drooped a little.
"And it's not Sephiroth."
Akane felt her cheeks burn. "I don't... I just think he's handsome to look at, he's my teacher!"
"Whatever. I'm just telling you, I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were in your shoes."
"Good thing Moogles don't wear shoes, hee hee!"
Keys Kupo rolled her eyes and pinned the braid in place, then wove the remaining strands of hair elegantly in place. When she'd finished, she studded Akane's hair with tiny sprigs of baby's breath. At least she could help her hero feel pretty, since she knew very well that she wouldn't be going on any dates tonight.
"There you go. Keep the make-up simple. Foundation, a touch of blush, eyeliner on the top lid, mascara, lip gloss with a pink tint. Understood?"
"You sound like my brother," Akane giggled, even as she rose to pick out the recommended items. "Thanks, Keys. ...Oh! Is it my brother?!"
Keys Kupo gave her a flat look. "...That's just wrong."
"I don't know, a brother/sister date just to spend some quality time together might be nice. And you didn't say no!" Akane pointed out. Had she figured it out at last?!
"It's not your brother."
"Oh. I thought I had it for sure." Very, very carefully she pressed the tip of the charcoal pencil against the edge of her eyelid and drew it from the inner corner to the edge of her lashes with just a slightly longer tail to give the illusion of longer lashes. "Maybe it's better if I'm surprised."
"Doubtful." Keys Kupo fluttered her wings, rising into the air once more. "I'll pick out your clothes and lay them on the bed for you." She turned the knob of the door and hesitated, glancing back at Akane. "...Look, I don't want you to..."
"Hm?" Akane leaned back, blinking quickly as she fanned at her mascara-wet eyelashes.
Keys Kupo hesitated. She was about to say that Akane shouldn't get her hopes up, but... What was the point? Let her feel pretty for a little while. And who knew, maybe some other hero would dislike their match as well, they'd run into each other, bond over the shenanigans the matchmaking Moogles had concocted, and make the best of the night. Akane never was the type to let her hopes get crushed easily, she'd probably just laugh the whole thing off.
"I don't want you to have a bad time. No long skirts to trip on, all right?"
Akane beamed. "Sounds good! Thanks, I'm not really used to this whole dating thing."
That wasn't about to change any time soon, Keys Kupo thought to herself, but wisely remained silent on the matter.
--------
Akane had to admit, the trumpets were a little over-the-top, but in the most delightful way possible. All of this looked like it was going to be a lot of fun! A chocobo-drawn carriage, roses everywhere, a veritable army of well-meaning Moogles playing cupid. Even if her date wasn't someone she was expecting, she could at least enjoy a night getting to know someone else a little better. It didn't have to be romantic at all! Why not kick back, have fun, and enjoy the experience for what it was? She settled herself comfortably into the carriage, fussing with her armwarmers to keep her fingers from getting cold.
Soon enough, the trumpets blared again to announce the arrival of her date. Eagerly, Akane sat up, peering past the rows of hovering helpers...
And for just one moment, her smile faltered. There stood Duster. Suddenly she understood Kupo Keys's reluctance to get too invested in the set-up. It wasn't because of the person at all, for there was nothing objectionable..
It was because there would be no date whatsoever.
Feeling awkward and oddly disappointed, for a moment she wasn't sure what to say. But her recovery was quick and her smile returned. "Um...I think they got the wrong Kurashiki for this." The Moogle at her side blinked in confusion as Akane let herself out of the carriage, hopping down.
"What? Wait, where are you going?! The numbers don't lie--!"
"I'll be right back!" she called out. "I'll go find Aoi and send him along, you just wait right there!" Akane didn't wait for any signs of agreement. Honestly, of all the people they could have picked, tsk!
* * * * *
After doing her sisterly duty and promptly removing herself from the situation so as not to become the world's most awkward third wheel ever, Akane went home. She could have stayed in, feeling sorry for herself, but Keys Kupo had done such a nice job on her hair, it felt silly to waste it on a pity party. She didn't feel up to choking down another failed meal either for that matter, and eating a botched casserole would only make her feel nauseous. She was going out tonight! And she wouldn't be going out alone! There was just one thing she needed from her room, and once she had it, she felt better.
This was how Akane Kurashiki found herself sitting at a table, the Jumpy doll sitting across from her with its vacant little smile, a menu propped up in front of it.
The waitress looked very confused, to say the least, but endured the situation with the same bright smile she put on for all of her weird customers. Some single people just didn't handle this holiday very well.
"I'll have the baked salmon, what about you, Jumpy?"
:)
"Good choice! He'll have the risotto, thank you."
"Coming right up!" the girl smiled, removing both menus before scuttling off to serve others who hadn't completely lost their minds.
"So!" Akane folded her hands beneath her chin, elbows resting on the table. "I have to admit, I didn't think you'd be this bold. Asking me out on Valentine's Day! I mean...I kind of always hoped you would, but it's just so romantic!"
:)
"What, this old thing? Oh, you!" Akane giggled, smoothing her hands over her skirts. "You don't need to flatter me like that. I'm just happy to be here with you."
:)
"Really... Really happy."
:)
"..."
:)
Akane's face sank into her hands as she exhaled heavily. "This is the most pathetic thing I've ever done."
:)
no subject
"Okay, good! I wasn't even sure what I was thinking when I ordered it..." She supposed she could have brought it home as leftovers to eat the next day, but that wasn't her plan when she made the decision. Geez, she thought to herself, could she be any more of a huge dork?
"So what kind of world are you from?" she asked, placing a napkin on her lap before picking up her fork. "As long as we're here, we may as well get to know each other better, right?"