It's For Your Own Good

[thechurbyboxmod]

Blind Date Meme



Let's face it, sometimes it's difficult finding someone to share your time, and your heart (or maybe just your body), with. Luckily for you, you have well meaning friends. Unfortunately for you, you have well meaning friends who didn't tell you this was coming. That's right. They have taken it upon themselves (and no doubt friends of friends or family members or someone else who clearly doesn't know you) to arrange a date. Without telling you.

That's right. The dreaded blind date. Which means now you've got to get through at least a reasonable amount of time with a total stranger (or maybe not a stranger if you're particularly, well, we can't say if it's lucky or not) before you can reasonably escape. Maybe it will go well. Maybe this will be the start of the rest of your lives. Maybe you'll get laid. Maybe you'll have a horror story for the ages.

No matter what plays out, though, you're here. Might as well see just how your luck is going to play out.

How to Play

1. Post your character and canon below along with any preferences. Then go back and edit your comment with the next number in order (i.e. first TL is 1, second is 2, etc)

2. Tag other TLs. If a character isn't in normal preferences, ask if they might want a date that goes poorly instead!

3. Optionally, get yourself a truly blind experience by going here and randomly generating a number. Then find the matching TL (numbered back in step one) and enjoy your blind date.

4. For more fun, use the list in the first comment for randomized date locations!

Comments

[ask_whydunit]

[ Oh, that’s not comforting at all. ]

Noted: Don’t mention that word where she can hear it.

[ He doesn’t need that, no one needs that. With his luck, he’d end up expelled or something even if he had nothing to do with it, if only to get the riffraff out of the school. Lord El-Melloi (the first) would love that, he bet… ]

Really…? Well, you can steal some of mine if you want after. I’m not that hungry, anyway.

[ he offered as he pushed himself to his feet to put their orders in. Hey if Nida was risking all that, then he deserved some extra fries for this fiasco, right? Waver wasn’t the sort with a big appetite as it was. The teen seemed to live on sandwiches, mostly. ]

Yeah, if something happens you can like… Assure her that he’s not dying? I’ll handle helping out Melvin.

[seed_pilot]

[Military academies, they were a whole ass thing when it came to certain topics, weren't they? And Selphie was a top student in that area. Better not to trigger an idea in her.]

See, that's what I expected out of guys from your school. Really smart. And yeah, I might pick at it some. Of course for every half cup of extra fries I have to do so many crunches. I'm going to be so sore tomorrow.

[But with Waver standing Nida nods, his eyes immediately turning toward Selphie's table.]

I promise I'll take care of it. Guess it probably helps that I've already completed the first aid and field medic electives at school. She'll take it a bit more seriously. Hopefully.

[ask_whydunit]

[ If he smiled a little at the compliment about being smart, you didn’t see it. No one ever sees that he’s smart, aside from Melvin and their other friend Camus. Everyone else thought he was a waste of space in class.

Buuut the smile shifts to surprise at the next comment. That was more exercise than Waver had probably done in any combined amount of gym class in regular school before he’d transferred to the clock tower (and he avoided the combat training grounds altogether)!! Seriously, he’s 5’1” and built like a twig. Forgive his shock at the very idea. ]

That much for just some fries?? That sounds exhausting! Can’t you like… Take a break sometimes?

[ Well, at least one other person wasn’t about to panic or get squeamish about some blood, right? At least in theory… Waver still hoped it wasn’t an issue. ]

Thanks, that’s uh… Actually good to know. I’ll be right back, shout if there’s a disaster.

[seed_pilot]

[Dude doesn't even get who his friend is dating, did he? Nida chuckles just a little as he downs some fries.]

I know we're not in the blue and silvers, but you do know just where Selphie and I are students, right? We're Garden cadets.

[Which made them sorta military, sorta mercenary, and partially trained mages at that.]

So breaks really aren't all that likely, you know? It's intense training. But go ahead, get your food. I'll monitor for negative results.

[ask_whydunit]

[ Oh… That does explain it. Crossed Waver’s mind briefly at the explanation. Godammit Melvin and his fixation more on the pretty girl he had a crush on than important details! Now Waver was embarrassed, and there’s an obvious flush on his cheek as he responded with an awkward tilt of his head. ]

Melvin didn’t tell me shit… He just waxed poetic for an hour about this girl he met from ‘another school’ and then dragged me out the door mentioning she had a friend and that I should come along. [ He sighed, this was so typical of Melvin! He’s probably laugh about it later, too, if Waver brought it up… ] But uh… yeah, I heard a little about your school when I first transferred here. I guess that makes sense, they sometimes have sparring matches with our schools combative magics classes, yeah?

[ Annnd he’s totally making his escape to the counter, still a little embarrassed. The teen ordered a couple meals and an extra order of fries in case Nida decided it was really worth the extra exercises that Waver himself could not imagine. On the way back, he stopped to slide one tray onto the table Melvin and Selphie were at along with Melvin’s card, rolling his eyes at the very excited thanks he got from his friend. He just managed to dodge a one-armed hug thrown at him in an attempt to get him to stay long enough to say hi (give him a second you fiend!), before politely offering an awkward introduction to Selphie that he would have given anyway. Once that was out of the way, he made his escape and set things down at their table with an exhausted sigh. ]

Well they seem to be enjoying themselves, you were right about them being alike. Sorry for the wait.

[seed_pilot]

[Oh, now Nida's chuckling. How could he not? This guy is in over his head isn't he? Because Garden students may not be as magically versatile in some ways, they sure knew how to hide the bodies if it came to it.]

Yeah. The competent upperclassmen do that sometimes. I haven't been. Selphie's good enough for it though.

[But then the guy is gone and Nida can lay into his burger without talking with his mouth full. Which, you know, fun.]

No problem. I got to eat some.

[ask_whydunit]

Hm… Maybe that’s how Melvin knows her then, if she’s ever been to one of them.

[ Waver felt the flush deepen at Nida’s chuckling. Because, yeah, he’s in way over his head here! Way over it! Not that it’s new. He really didn’t realize what he was getting into when he transferred to his current school, let alone when he let himself get dragged out of his dorm earlier. Honestly, that was a trend that would continue through his life. He’s glad, at least, that he got a chance to school his emotions again a bit while retrieving the food, mentally slapping himself for not wrangling Melvin into telling him a little more before now.

Sitting back down, he unwrapped his burger and set the fries in the center of the table. ]

Oh, good. You don’t have to stop for me. I don’t mind if you want to focus on the food for a bit. They’re probably going to be awhile and fries suck when they get cold.

[ He added, before taking a bite of his burger. Waver, at this point, is a lot less refined than most mages. He hadn’t been brought up in a traditional setting, and he certainly wasn’t as high society as people like Melvin were. ]

[seed_pilot]

[Nida just smiles as Waver processes it all. And he keeps eating. It's really good to get something that isn't specifically engineered to make them really good warriors or some bullshit. He didn't want that. Didn't need that actually. Sometimes he just needed to be a teenager trying to get his feet under him.]

Fries are the worst cold. And I don't exactly have an oven to reheat them, you know? Burgers, less bad cold. Why is that you think?

[ask_whydunit]

[ Snagging one at the thought, he shrugged. ] I think it has something to do with the way the starch in potatoes reacts to temperature. When it’s at a high temperature, the starches absorb moisture and expand a bit so they get fluffy and crisp. Then, as it cools down, the moisture is drawn out of the starches. The texture changes to something more soggy and gritty. [ He offered a small shrug, finishing off the currently crispy potato. ] So less good.

We don’t have ovens in our dorms either. Well, not the less expensive dorms ones, anyway. I think a few students have like, end up renovating theirs. [ The rich kids. ] So no point in bringing back leftovers to reheat.

[seed_pilot]

Well damn. That's really good science there. I never would have thought about it, but it makes proper sense.

[He actually has to chuckle because it's really good rational.]

The cadets at Garden don't even get to have private rooms. I'm in a double actually. They say that full SeeDs sometimes get kitchenettes. That would be pretty cool.

[ask_whydunit]

Yeah? The Clock Tower dormitories are all divided into separate rooms. So even if the lower cost ones are pretty small, at least there’s privacy. [ His was just big enough for his bed and some space for storing his books and desk. It was definitely better than having to worry about getting a bad roommate, though. ] Not that it stops Melvin from letting himself in whenever he wants.

I don’t know much about SeeDs. A full kitchen would be pretty great to work up to, though. How far are you from something like that?

[seed_pilot]

[Oh boy. Nida winces at the very suggestion that he might ever make a SeeD rank. It seemed unlikely.]

I can take the test this fall, but I don't know that I'll make it. I'm not the most impressive student, even though I've been there for long.

[ask_whydunit]

[ Waver hummed, focusing on his burger for a moment. He can relate to not being the most impressive… but he’s a firm believer that you just keep practicing and figuring out how to make up for the things people see as a weakness. It’s… something of a delusion as far as mage society goes, but he’s a long way from accepting those particular truths about his own potential. ]

Just because you’re not the most impressive student doesn’t mean you can’t do it, though. You just need to work on it, right? Focus on the things you can improve on in the meantime and stuff. If you don’t make it this fall, do you try again, or…?

[seed_pilot]

[Yeah, but that's just how things go at Garden. You make it or you don't. And Nida was still worried he was going to be in the realm of 'don't.']

Honestly, I'll get another chance next year, But after that, if I still don't make it? Well, then I'll just have to find new work. That's what happens with Garden. Suppose I could go into the military.

[ask_whydunit]

So two chances… Well, if you don’t make it this year, then you’ll know what you need to improve on for next. You get the experience and the next try.

[ Waver was of the mind that any learning experience was valuable, as long as one used it as a guide and worked ways to improve to make up for what you lacked. The subject of many an argument in his class, really.

The military, huh…? Waver guessed that was a logical second choice, considering the school Nida was going to. ]

I guess with your background at Garden, it would be a good backup plan if you end up needing it.

[ Backup plans are smart. Waver should have had one of those he was willing to pursue. Alas. He’s stubborn as hell. ]

[seed_pilot]

[Nida shrugs. With the way Exams were structured, the practical parts of them at least, it wasn't likely that he'd know what he needed to improve at all. Just a general 'do better'. But that was what it was and he'd just have to accept it.]

I'm actually not a big fan of the backup plan. I don't like the idea of the military. It doesn't have the potential to help people the same way. Though I suppose if helping people was what I wanted, I could have tried to leave Garden a while ago.

[And it was all he knew so that wasn't likely at all.]

[ask_whydunit]

[ Waver couldn’t blame him for that, again… He didn’t have a backup plan. He’d decided he was going to be a great mage, and that was that. He did realize he had his work cut out for him, at least compared to his classmates… But he wasn’t about to let ‘the way things were’ discourage him… yet. ]

So, the only thing to do is to try to make sure you pass on at least one of your two attempts. Is there some part of it that you’re less sure of being able to pass with?

[ It was clear Nida had dedicated himself towards the goal, if his diet and exercise routine were anything to go by. ]

[seed_pilot]

[It was brave of him, not to let it all discourage him. But Nida? Fuck. He'd been mediocre with no one to believe in him for so long that it was hard to find the strength to believe in himself.]

I'm not the greatest with magic, so that doesn't help me. I also sorta... I lack presence? You wouldn't think that was something mercenaries need, but it really is.

[ask_whydunit]

[ Waver tilted his head slightly, considering Nida’s situation carefully as he took another bite of his burger. He does glance sidelong at the other table to make sure nothing was going on over there before he answered. ]

I don’t know what you could do about the presence thing, seems like something you kind of gain with experience, right? Magic, though... [ That took experience too, of course. But it was something he felt he could weigh in on, or at least offer his thoughts. ] That’s something to focus on before your test. What kind of stuff do they focus on for mercenaries?

[seed_pilot]

Paramagic of all sorts. My assigned GF isn't really suited to me though, and I've never been fast with smells or very strong with them. And since I'm not considered one of the more combat prodigies, I need to at least be passable with them both.

[ask_whydunit]

What were you assigned? [ Kind of made no sense when people were assigned things that didn’t suit them. He saw it among mage families as well. Sometimes the heir had an affinity for something other than what they traditionally practiced, but were encouraged to continue along the same path as their predecessors. ] I’ve read a little about them, but not as much. I’m in spiritual evocation as my main class.

[ Humming though, another glance at the table where things seemed to be still going well. ]

You know… If this becomes ‘a thing,’ I could try to help with theory and giving you some ideas if you want. Melvin’s going to drag me around, anyway.

[seed_pilot]

Ifrit, since I'm more combat than magic. But fire magic and me don't get on. But there aren't a lot of starting GFs to use.

[And he was more of a balanced sort. Someone who needed extra speed to work with what he's already got.]

Wait, you'd be willing to do that? I mean, our stuff might not be alike at all. But you'd consider it?

[ask_whydunit]

Working with your base element is easier than one that’s at odds with it, I tested as earth myself.

[ It was something he had a feeling that held true regardless of if it was his magic or another kind. Even if you could utilize the other elements, there was always a base that was easy to work with. Unless you were one of those lucky few who had an affinity for multiple, like his teacher. ]

Yeah, sure.

[ He is pointedly looking at his food, because it’s not a big deal! It’s not! Except it kind of is, he doesn’t generally get to work with someone on stuff. Most of his class liked to try to put the run to him after lectures ended. Camus was often occupied by Amleth even if she was a little nicer, and Melvin… Well, he was an agent of chaos and not a good study buddy. ]

Even if it’s not alike, I think it would still be interesting… And doable, based on some of my readings. I’ll just need to do a little more research before next time we get abducted.

[ He ended, grabbing his soda, smiling a little. Research, Waver’s favourite pastime. ]

[seed_pilot]

Yeah, that's true, but my base elements are water and wind and those are higher level magics in paramagic, just like earth is. The bases are fire, ice, electric, and healing.

[Nida's actually worked through his burger and a lot of the fries by now, and he's completely lost track of the other table. He's more caught up in the conversation, and in Waver of course.]

I encourage the research then, if there's a chance it will help.

[ask_whydunit]

So you’re dual… Hmm…

[ And the same elements as Lord El-Melloi, at that. Frankly, if it weren’t that mages wouldn’t work with the kind of magic Nida did generally… He’d probably be seen as someone with a decent amount of potential. ]

I think there’s definitely a chance. We just need to go about it the right way? I’ll see if there’s some other books on the subject at the clock tower library. There’s a ton of old stuff no one bothers with anymore. [ especially since most mages probably didn’t focus on the kind of magic Nida worked. ] I’ll make notes on the important-looking stuff and put some ideas together on paper for you next time.