[ic] cerevice inbox

[unionjackoff]

[there is a pause that has been recorded, unintentionally, followed by the sound of someone clearing his throat]

Uh. Hullo. This is Arthur Kirkland. Please leave a message. Or text. Or whatever...

[beep]

Comments

tl;dr

[unionjackoff]

[this message quite surprises him. is Chibi asking him out? on Valentine's Day? goodness, when was the last time that happened?

England considers this invitation for hours. there is a lot of pacing involved, a lot of thinking to be done. England has never dated a human before. but Chibi is from another world. and here... England isn't even immortal.

they had a fun time, didn't they? he doesn't have to look at this like a date! he can look at it as hanging out with someone who's company he quite enjoys. oh, why is this so stressful? as romantic as England is, as old as he is, he's had very few relationships. and for someone to take such an interest in him, to tell him he wants to see him again........... it's overwhelming. and flattering.

he replies much much later, via text]

I'll see if I can get off work.

[whole lot of hullabaloo for a one sentence response]

[manolia]

[He puzzles a little at the long delay - was it uncouth to ask Arthur on a second date? Was it strange, did he read the signs wrong? It's a relief when the one-line message blinks his cerevice to life, as he sits sketching out a circuit diagram, alight with a bit of wine and cheer. So he hasn't read the signs wrong, hopefully.]

[But Chibi, for what it's worth, doesn't see a date as something to stress over - he never has, not even when he was courting Mina. What comes will come, and who comes will... Well, let's not get carried away. He laughs a little to himself as he types out the response:]

Fair enough; I forget not everyone keeps my odd hours. Just let me know, alright?

[unionjackoff]

[Chibi indeed read all the signs right. England... no, Arthur, had really enjoyed spending time with him...

the next response doesn't come too long after]

Unfortunately, my boss doesn't want me to take the whole day off, since it is one of our busiest, and because I am such an asset. For now, my afternoon is free.

[manolia]

[A company man, eh??]

Excellent! Then, the fourteenth, at [the name of the little teahouse]. I'll be looking forward to it.

[Attached this time is a selfie: Chibi is at work, his goggles pushed up onto his hat, holding up a soldering iron in one hand with a bright grin on his face. He's just discovered the concept of selfies, and they're the best thing ever, okay?]

[unionjackoff]

[oh no! a selfie. and it's cute. Chibi is using tools! that's pretty cool, makes England think of his Industrial Revolution days.

thank goodness it's a different teahouse, and not where he works. that could have been embarrassing. England's already nervous about having a date in public. but a teahouse should be okay... it's not like they were going to, say, a bar in the Pleasure District, where they could get into all kinds of trouble in front of other people.

...England clears his throat at that thought, pushing it aside.

he's not really one for taking selfies, but since Chibi did it, he thinks he might try to respond. first, England looks around, to make sure no one is watching him—even though he's home alone—then he sets up the picture. he takes a few because wow this is harder than it looks. he either looks totally dorky or the angle is off. finally, he gets a good shot of himself looking pleasant, but not smiling hugely, and he's holding his own teacup]

Good choice. I'm quite fond of tea.

[manolia]

[Goddess, how charming. How... How hopelessly adorable. Chibi can't help a smile, and then a little chuckle. The pause in reply is mostly due to one of the other guys at the workstation asking who he's sexting (Chibi grins and replies 'nobody, unfortunately'), and the ensuing admonition from boss-man to "quit fucking around and get some holoGM out already."]

[But eventually, England will get another selfie, this time with a cutesy sticker over his face - a panda drinking a cup of tea. Scribbled over the bottom is a message, written in blue: "See you then!" in the typical Cerealian language - clumsily written, the language still foreign to his fingertips - and then "Chibi" in Draconic.]