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Well...yeah.

[She shrugs, like she hadn't really given it much thought either way; between finding ~~an ungodly amount~~ one of the tickets and generally operating under the impression that Ishimaru was declaring this A Thing That We Are Doing™, it hadn't really crossed her mind to not go for some reason.]

I mean, I guess. You only get to once a year, right? So it's kinda special.

R-Right. Sorry, dumb question, I guess.

[Ugh, pull yourself together, Hagakure! You're finally getting to go to one of those cool dance events you've always wanted to go to. You can't chicken out now and not go all the way!

The mental psyching-up helps him somewhat, as he takes a deep breath and steadies himself. Just do what Kuwata-chi always said to do, act natural!]

So uh, are you planning on going with anyone? Besides us, I mean. Like, a date.

[...nailed it.]

[You know, up until he said that bit about "besides us" and "like a date", she was all prepared with an actual answer, because naturally she's planning on going with people, because Going To Prom is a thing that we are doing and therefore we are naturally doing it together.

...Except that then he mentions dates and — oh. Hmmm.]

Like a date?

[Even then, she doesn't...quite make the connection at first; the intuition that he's asking because he wants to know date status is there, obviously, but the step further into because he's about to ask himself doesn't connect, and so she thinks about a minute because presumably he just wants an honest answer, right?]

Uh-uh. I don't...think they make you have one. I mean, they didn't last year.

[Maybe that answered the question? She's not exactly sure what the question is but maybe that answered it.]

[He can't help but let out a small sigh of relief (way to make yourself inconspicuous there, Hagakure). It would've been really awkward if they got this far and then Alice already had a date. But that was only half the hurdle, he still has to actually ask.

Scratching at the back of his head nervously, he finally gets himself to get it over with.]

Well, would you be interested in one? 'cause uh...I was thinking it would be cool if we could go. Only if you wanted, of course. I just think you're really great and...yeah.

[There he said it. Not smoothly at all, but he said it.

He briefly makes eye contact with her before finding something else to stare at while he awaits the verdict. Oh god this is way more terrifying than how Leon described it why did he decide to do this.]

[And you know, of all the things to really hit her about that very pleasant little speech, it's the fact that he said you're really great that blindsides her.

She's used to hearing Ishimaru say things like that, because Ishimaru is Ishimaru and when he says "you're this or that", it rings like a statement of fact — well, of course you are, because that's how you are. But hearing it come from someone like Hagakure, who's not surrogate family, who's still that extra level of removed and somehow defined as normal in her head because of it...

When you spend your whole life in air vents, people don't really have much opportunity to call you great. And when you're in those air vents because you're stealing their stuff, they don't have much motive to, either.

So she blinks a couple of times, processing, and it doesn't occur to her that doing so probably just makes things tons more agonizing on Hagakure; eventually, though, she seems to get something straight in her head, and her voice comes out tentative when she finally works out a reply.]

You want me? Like, to — to be your date.

[What does she feel about that...?]

...O...Okay. Yeah. Yeah, okay, if...if you're sure, yeah. Yeah! Cool.

[Oh, you bet those moments leading up to Alice's decision were agonizing. Hagakure's heart was beating so fast he thought it might pop out of his chest.

...actually maybe it still will because she actually said yes? Admittedly he was kinda worried by how unsure she sounded at first, but he thinks everything's okay?]

Seriously? You will?

[He knows he should be subtle about his excitement, but he can't hide it at all. He especially can't hide the wide smile that's formed on his face. He can't help it! He's never had a date for anything. When you hardly even have any friends, dates are just a far-off dream. But here he is...scoring a date with a woman he really looks up to.

There's no way he can't smile like an idiot about that.]

That's great! Thank you, Alice-chi. I promise I'll make it worth it, for sure.

[Oh. Turns out Hagakure has a really nice smile. That...actually, yeah, that helps a lot, too.]

Okay, so...I'll get a dress and stuff. And we'll...go. Date. We're dates now.

[THAT SURE IS A THING, ALL RIGHT.]

Cool!

Y-Yeah, we're dates. Whoa...

[He repeats it just to confirm that it's real. Holy crap. This is actually happening.

Promming intensifies.]

I can't wait to see what you pick out! I'll make sure to get something really classy. Whatever that means. I'll figure it out, I promise.

[He's just thanking the Fates that he has the money to buy something nice with.]

Black.

[It occurs to her, a second later, that she should probably clarify that.]

I'm gonna get something...black. You know, not reflective? Low visibility, good...

[PARKER YOU'RE GOING TO PROM, NOT ROBBING A BANK]

...style...

[At least Hagakure didn't see anything wrong with any of that. A little weird to mention the details, but hey. The style part is definitely true!]

Yeah...black's usually good for formal stuff, right? That's the usual tux color and all...maybe I'll just go for a regular tux, so we can match. What d'you think?

Edited (i am just typoing everywhere tonight) 2014-04-09 02:49 (UTC)

Yeah, okay. That sounds good. Classy black, sounds good.

[The fact that she's repeating herself like this isn't actually a result of her usual social failing (for once); believe it or not, it's because she's actually still kind of contending with the idea of having a date person thing to the prom and it's occupying the majority of her attention as a result.]

Classy black it is. Cool!

[Oh man he is basically in the same position, if it wasn't already apparent by the look of surprised bliss he's had on his face for the last couple minutes. A date. Imagine that.

...but then something hits him. An important thing.]

Hey Alice-chi? D'you think Ishimaru-chi and Oowada-chi are gonna be okay with this?

[He totally forgot to ask them about asking their sister on a date first. Whoops.]

[Oh. Hey, that's a good point.]

I'll ask!

[Actually, she kind of wants to talk to Ishimaru about this, anyway; she's still feeling kind of weird and...feeling-y, and talking to him usually helps with that.]

If Ishimaru says it's okay then it should be fine. You know. Family and stuff. I don't think you have to get the whole family, just the...one family. Guy.

O-Okay, sounds like a plan then. Lemme know what he says, okay?

[Just when he thought he was out of the water, he has one more obstacle to deal with. Ugh, he's not sure if his heart can take this.

Please have faith in him, Ishimaru-chi.]

Okay!

[Well, at least one of them seems reasonably happy about the prospect.]

I'm gonna go...do that. Then. Okay? And then, you know...dress and prom-y stuff. For the prom.

[God, just look at that kittyface.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'll start looking into a tux too.

[He gives her a shaky smile.]

Even if Ishimaru-chi ends up saying no to it, thanks for saying yes, Alice-chi. I...I'm glad you think I'm good enough to go on a date with.

[After being told how useless and idiotic he is so many times, it's good to have some counters to that, y'know?]

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