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

[seed_pilot]

Why?

[No, he's got so many questions here. Why would someone not want attached to Waver? Wait, no, he said Waver's family.]

Are they... dramatic? I mean, I can't imagine a reason otherwise.

[ask_whydunit]

No. It’s because everyone at the Clock Tower is an elitist, high and mighty asshole, and my family has only been practicing magic since my grandmother started.

[ His shoulders raised in a shrug, waving a fry around lightly before eating it with a small huff. Professor Kayneth loved to remind him of this every time he tried to suggest something that went against the grain. ]

It’s because in magecraft, generally it’s thought that the older the family, the more power they have because they’ve had more time to perfect and add knowledge and power to their magic crest. [ He paused, wondering if Nida knew what a magic crest was. Probably not if he didn’t know the rest of this. ] Magic crests are like… a kind of magical organ that gets transplanted to the heir each generation. So, no one sees much value in a family that’s only been practicing for such a short time. It’s pretty stupid. They refuse to look at the possibility that with the right approach and hard work, even a new mage could keep up with the rest of them.

[seed_pilot]

[An elitist high and mighty asshole? Nida snickers at the characterization. Especially since he got it. He understood that. It wasn't quite the same at Garden, but it was close enough that he got that energy.]

They'd never handle a Garden education. Because there everyone starts at the same level, more or less. We have to prove ourselves. It doesn't matter who your family is.

[ask_whydunit]

See, that’s how it should be! I keep trying to bring up ideas for a different approach, but I keep getting shot down when I ask about it.

[ He huffed with a small roll of his eyes. No, they definitely would handle a Garden education. ]

I can only imagine the aneurysm Lord Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi would have if he had to face that and the results.

[ There is a dramatic, sarcastic tone in Waver’s voice about his nemesis and professor. Not that Kayneth didn’t have the talent to back it up. Everyone said he was a prodigy… But the teen’s opinion of him was not favourable, given they were always at odds. ]

[seed_pilot]

Of course you are. You're young. We're young. Youth is disregarded because those who are older see things and say 'this is how they were for me so that's how it has to be for you'. They fail to see change.

[Damn, that's a long ass name and Nida has to laugh.]

Maybe you should consider transferring. We'd treat you better I think.

[ask_whydunit]

[ It’s so long, and pretentious sounding. It annoys Waver so much and will continue to for the rest of his life… But he offered a small shake of his head, stubbornness clear in his expression even before he opened his mouth. ]

Probably would. They sound a lot more… reasonable than the rigid traditions of the association? But If I transfer, then both my professor and my classmates trying to make me quit win. I never get the satisfaction of showing them and the rest of the stupid bastards that they’re wrong, so I’m going to stick it out.

[seed_pilot]

Well there is that.

[Though Nida has to wonder.]

Just make sure that pride doesn't outweigh happiness, okay? You've got choices, unlike a lot of Garden students.

[Most of them were either orphans, or had been sent to Gardens to teach 'discipline' because their family was having a hard time with that. Punishment or loss.]

[ask_whydunit]

Maybe…

[ He was an orphan, actually. Waver's parents had died a couple of years prior to his attending the Clock Tower, he had no family left to speak of. And aside from some sentimental or practical things he’d kept, everything else had gone into paying for his dorm and education at the tower. There was truly nothing for him to go back to.

The kid was doing his best to stay afloat and stubbornly trying to cling to a place that didn’t really want him there. Waver would never take the easy option, even if it would be more sensible. It was, in Melvin’s opinion, one of the things that made him interesting. ]

I get what you’re saying, but I think it’s worth it. I’ll be happy with the results, I just need to get through the difficult parts.

[seed_pilot]

[At least he remembered his family. Nida didn't at all.]

Well, I definitely understand how you would want to do that. And you've got a cheerleader in your corner.

[ask_whydunit]

Well… [ It’s weird to have someone openly in his corner. Not a bad weird, though. Gosh, he’s not good at responding to nice things like that. ] Thanks, Nida. I’m um… in yours too, and I’ll do what I can to help. I’m glad we met.

[seed_pilot]

[That makes Nida smile right back. Yeah, he can live with that. He might even be blushing just the tiniest bit.]

Cool then. We'll root for each other.

[ask_whydunit]

Uh… Yeah, definitely. [ Yup, he’s definitely hiding behind his soft drink for a moment. ] Um…

[ How do people do this? The teen wonders. They always make it look way more smooth. Dammit. ]

Do you have a number for your dorm? So I can, you know, call if I find anything you might think is useful?

[ Waver, apparently, could not ask for someone’s number without feeling like he needed a reason. ]

[seed_pilot]

Oh. We, uh... We don't have phones. Not in the rooms.

[There are constraints on a military academy that probably seem wrong to other people. But it's accurate to him.]

I wish I had one though. I'd give it to you.

[ask_whydunit]

Oh, then…

[ He needed to think about that. It made sense, though. A military academy would have more restrictions on the students and all… So he offered a nod. ]

Then how about this? I’ll let Melvin know we could use another meet up and he can let your friend know however they’ve been communicating, and we can work something out then.

[ To be honest, Waver wasn’t sure how Melvin had set all this up to begin with, but it seemed a safe bet the guy had his ways. ]

[seed_pilot]

That would be good. If it works out.

[Because he wants it to work out. The guy is quite charming and he wants to spend the time with Waver if he can.]

Because it would be nice to hang out again.

[ask_whydunit]

Yeah, I kind of hope it does. Melvin would be happy too.

[ Waver takes a small glance at the other table. Melvin is still talking rather animatedly with Nida’s friend, probably telling her some story from class if he had to guess. ]

But yeah, it would be. This has been… kinda cool. You’re good to talk to, Nida.

[ Which was high praise, given he didn’t generally acknowledge enjoying something. ]

[seed_pilot]

[See, the thing was that Nida didn't care much about Melvin being happy to hang out with Selphie. No, Nida just wanted to see Waver.]

Thanks. I'm not used to people saying that. So, you know, uh, thanks.

[He's repeating himself, but he's blushing anyway.]

[ask_whydunit]

[ Waver isn’t used to being thanked, or being regarded positively outside of Melvin when he’s trying to badger him into something. So it’s pretty obvious he’s hiding behind his drink again for a reason, a small awkward sound escaping. Yeah, he’s so bad at this. ]

Oh… I um, you don’t need to thank me or anything. Just saying it because it’s true, and some people are stupid. Or just just find other things interesting, I guess.

[seed_pilot]

[Don't worry. They can be bad at it together.]

I guess it's their loss? I hope it's their loss.

[And not Waver's.]

I apologize for slow again, my health is cursed ;;

[ask_whydunit]

It is, even if they can’t see it.

[ Waver is very sure of himself about some things, really. And he tended to state things as he saw them. Which in this case? Meant Nida was interesting and wasn’t brushing him off the way other people tended to. He also didn’t seem to be the kind of loud person who generated a lot of chaos, which Waver usually tended to attract instead, so who knew what that said about him.

Which was why he let out of sound as an arm was slung over his shoulder and he almost dropped his drink. ]

Waver~! [ The platinum blonde beamed at both his friend and Nida across the table. ] You two should finish up. We have to be proper gentlemen and get them back to their dorms before it gets too late.

[seed_pilot]

[Someone was calling Waver's name and Nida looked toward the voice. Though he looks a bit sad.]

GUess this is probably goodbye then. Though Selphie's going to insist we walk you guys back. We're the military kids.

[ask_whydunit]

Guess so… [ Was he disappointed too? A little. ] I mean for now, anyway.

[ He added, reminding Nida in his awkward way that this wasn’t the last expected meeting. They had an actual plan, after all, and Waver wasn’t exactly deterred easily once he decided something…

Melvin side-eyed Waver curiously, then looked at Nida, then back at Waver… Then grinned in a particularly amused fashion. He’d never seen Waver willingly express an interest in seeing someone again. Usually, his interests were strictly things found between pages of a book! This was going to be fun to watch.

Meanwhile, Waver was wondering if Melvin would be disappointed that he wouldn’t get to be a ‘gentleman’ as he put it. However, Melvin’s main ploy was a little more time in the first place, so he nods almost sagely as he agreed with Nida. ]

That’s very thoughtful of her, certainly and perhaps sensible when you put it that way! Very well, we shall put ourselves in your care on the way back, then!

[ Waver let out a small huff at the other teen’s dramatics. ]

I guess if you guys want, if it’s not going to make sneaking back in unnoticed harder for you two.

[seed_pilot]

[Nida rises to his feet, collecting his things. Which includes pulling a long cloth-wrapped parcel from under the table and passing it over to Selphie. A second, shorter one, he puts over his own shoulder.

Clearly the Garden cadets didn't go anywhere unarmed. Selphie wraps an arm around one of Melvin's and smiles.]

I have magic to help me, and Nida's an infiltration cadet. If we can't get back in, we don't deserve our marks.

[Nida sighs and roll shis eyes.]

What she's saying is we're already prepared for thing to go whatever weird way they go. So let us do this.

[ask_whydunit]

[ Meanwhile, mages didn’t tend to consider carrying weapons beyond the odd mystic code specialized and suited to their magecraft. Which was occasionally their own downfall when dealing with mercenaries who knew that much. How do you win a fight with a powerful mage? Bring a gun, apparently. Their hubris left them thinking they were above that kind of thing.

Waver feels some sympathy though at Nida’s sigh and eye roll. Yeah, Selphie and Melvin were definitely cut from the same cloth. ]

Uh… Alright then.

[ Waver grabbed some spare napkins and held them out to Melvin, who was already delighted to have Selphie on his arm. The dork probably would have forgotten to grab some otherwise, by the look on his face. Once his friend-duties and precautions were seen to, he fell into step next to Nida, pulling a backpack onto his shoulder. ]

Our dorm building isn’t too far from here, anyway. I think it’s probably pretty safe from ‘weird ways’ thanks to the way the wards are set up the closer you get. As long as no idiot has gone and tried something outside the designated spaces.

[ Which could happen, students testing their ideas and limits and all that. Or fighting with each other… It wasn’t weird for certain parts of the school to need sudden maintenance or rebuilding. ]

[seed_pilot]

[Nida slings the bundle that was about as tall as he was over his shoulder, moving to walk alongside Waver as they follow the others out.]

Listen, so long as it's not a dragon, we can handle whatever shows up. And I only mention not dragons because I don't have the right weapon for that.