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

[orangewayfinder]

Terra was unsure he did the right thing, but then the mage seemed pretty okay..he hoped. Maybe dates were always this awkward. He had no experience to go on here and could only hope that he was doing and saying all the right things. If this was how it always was though, he'd just toss it up to that and leave it where it was. Secretly though he wondered what was going on in the other's head. And that of course was a thing that he couldn't do, to just come right out and ask.

But then there was the part where the mage almost seemed annoyed with his reply. Was that wrong to want to pay for things? True, Waver had an absolute point that he couldn't debate, but then again the other hadn't been forthcoming with what he wanted to order either. So he could only nod mutely, wondering again if he was in the wrong here somehow. Terra of course noted that stubborn tone and he could get stubborn at times too if one would ask Ven or Aqua. But this was a completely different situation, setting and person.

When Waver came back, he nodded a little hopefully (maybe too much) at the meal. It looked good and he was determined to enjoy it even if he still was confused deep down. He wasn't going to bring any of it up though, he'd just simply have to wait to talk to Aqua. Maybe yet again he'd failed to learn something.

"Thank you." he replied as the other sat down. Terra had half an inkling to stand every time Waver sat but he kept himself seated.

Half of what the mage explained went right over his head, but it still brought Aqua to mind since she was more of a mage. He tried a smile after swallowing the bite of the delicious burger and wiped his mouth politely.

"Do you have a big class?"

[ask_whydunit]

Welcome to the vast club of people who often wondered what the hell was going on in Waver Velvet’s head, Terra! At any given moment, it could be rather a lot, unfortunately. Not all of it pertaining to the current moment, if there were other things he was dealing with. There were dozens of trains racing along… Perhaps a bit too quickly in an attempt to keep on even footing when dealing with other mages, if not outpace them, to avoid potential disaster. Some people got rather good at reading him, of course. His Apprentice for example, would probably offer some gentle encouragement that Terra was fine and that ‘Sir is just kind of a mess most of the time, but he’s trying really hard!’ Because it could not be denied that her mentor was an utter mess of a human being, but he tried really hard with most things he did.

Alas, for Terra, she was not present. And if Terra happened to get stubborn in turn, well… It would be interesting, and certainly get Waver’s attention. Be brave, good sir. He’s a reactive and sometimes difficult man, but there is a softer layer under all that.

And since Waver felt… somewhat victorious (finally!) for successfully retrieving the meal even if Terra would pay part later, he seemed to have calmed down from his grumpy attitude a considerable amount again. So very changeable, so quick to get ruffled and just as quick to cool down. “You’re welcome. Please enjoy it.” He said, taking a bite of his own sandwich while he waited for Terra to respond to the explanation.

It gets a small shrug at first as he finished his bite. Modern Magecraft Theories was largely considered the joke of the Clock Tower, given it often went against most traditional teachings by its very definition. The class meant the world to him, though, even if he wasn’t quite so open with his feelings on that. “Its definitely grown since I started. The main class is about 30 students now and I host open lectures a couple times a month that anyone can sit in on.” Mostly mages from new families, and students who had nowhere else to go for one reason or another.

[orangewayfinder]

Oh Terra was definitely enjoying his burger. He'd even raided some of his fries and he could feel his belly being happy to at getting fed. Sure he'd had lunch and all of that, but Aqua had been stern that he shouldn't eat before meeting up with his date, saying it was rude and bad manners. So he went without eating although he had thought of grabbing a snack on the way. However, he hadn't followed through with it.


So he nodded politely and gratefully to the mage, because he'd been so hungry. There was a lesson to be learned here for certain and he was definitely learning that he shouldn't go so long without eating, considering that he had a rigorous workout before taking a shower and heading out the door.


Terra took in Waver's mood change and wondered at it. Had the mage been hungry too and this was helping him as well? It was a good question in his mind but he didn't want to ask that because he'd be rude. And that wasn't something that Terra was unless the situation called for it. This was a date, and was to be relaxed and all of that. Or so Aqua had said.


And speaking of. "You guys seem to be pretty exclusive right? I mean, you guys don't accept fellow mages or anything right? And your magic must be powerful enough to keep yourselves safe?"

[ask_whydunit]

The question gets a slight pause and a thoughtful hum. “Technically, anyone who meets the requirements is able to enroll at the Clock Tower.” He did, after all. In his rather foolish youth, he’d squeaked by with just enough potential and ability to count as a mage on paper. But barely. “And there are other ways to gain entry. I can sponsor students and write recommendations given my position. And any mage is allowed to bring in someone apprenticed to them, thus allowing them to gain entry regardless of their background. The apprentice in question may even be offered a full enrollment as well if they show promise.”

Picking up his sandwich again, there’s a frown creeping back onto his face. The honesty is slipping through now, and it’s an honesty that gets him in trouble sometimes. “That said, the Tower doesn’t make it easy to stay if you aren’t seen as someone who belongs there. Students that don’t fit the mould have to build up a thick skin and be dedicated to pushing forward in their studies despite the challenges.” Spoken as someone who did not come from the right family… His position and situation were really rather strange to anyone who knew. “You’d be surprised how many mages with potential have ended up out the door because the Tower is too damn stupid and narrowminded to see it.” He stops short of calling it a den of poisonous snakes, even if that’s what it was like sometimes.

But talk like this meant Waver was not popular among some of his colleagues. The students, though? They’d turn the Clock Tower on its head if he asked them to, even if he was a bit pathetic and lacking in magical abilities by comparison to them. He was a good teacher and a more… accepting one. Forward thinking and not hung up on traditions. “There have been students who only ended up in Modern Magecraft Theories because the other departments wouldn’t or couldn’t have them there.” Everyone else’s loss, really.

The other half of the question is one that gets a raised eyebrow. “The Clock Tower’s security itself. It is rather impressive, I admit, but off school grounds? While powerful mages are definitely capable of protecting themselves, if they don’t have an ounce of common sense or get careless, it’s not hard to take them down. So I would say that largely depends on the mage.” Most of the mages that targeted him had more power in one pinky finger than he did in total.

[orangewayfinder]

A few more bites of his burger as Waver went on about requirements. He'd bet Aqua could master them all blindfolded. But he said nothing and continued to eat as politely as he could and had been instructed by Aqua. It didn't sound too hard, or at least it didn't sound too hard for her. Terra would have to run it by her later on tonight. Not that he was sure she would even want something like that, but it might be good to test her mage skills.

When Waver mentioned that last bit though, he stopped. Aqua might not be seen as someone who could belong? Her keyblade skills had earned her the title of Master which was no easy feat. Would that somehow disqualify her? It was another piece of information to give her though because Terra didn't want her walking into something that she might really want to do, only to be shown the door as the mage was saying.

Finishing his burger, Terra wiped his mouth and looked at the mage. "I was thinking of sending my friend Aqua. She's way better at magic than I am, but I don't want to send her if you think she'd just be wasting her time if they don't want her."

He then shook his head. "She'd be looking out for the others and the clock tower itself instead of herself."

[ask_whydunit]

Waver listened as Terra described his friend, taking a small bite of his sandwich in the meantime and using the space between to consider the idea. “Having not met her myself, I can’t say with any certainty if she would be or not.” Aqua’s abilities and potential were an unknown factor... But given his own lacking abilities, he wouldn’t be surprised if Aqua had more potential than he himself even had and so would easily qualify. It was more the frustrations of navigating the politics and difficult people within the clock tower that was the challenge at times. If she worked hard and stuck it out, there was no telling how far she might go.

And the professor hated wasted potential more than anything. It irks him when people who have it don’t get the chance to grow. “It’s not an easy path, but if she has the capabilities that you say and if she has both the desire and will to put forth the effort in spite of potential obstacles, I wouldn’t say it’s a waste.” It was just a particularly challenging place for more reasons that it should be.

Considering the next comment, he brushes a wayward strand of hair aside and puts his meal on hold in favor of the matter of someone’s education. “If she did decide she wanted to know more, I could give you some materials for her to look over. And as I said, I do hold a few open lectures a month that anyone can sit in on to get a better feel for what a class is like.” It was usually full of potential students from newer mage families, and a few of his regular students that liked to sit in regardless and sometimes offer unhelpful interruptions… but that in itself was important, given the chaos that tended to plague his department.

“If she had a specific interest in a kind of magecraft that she wanted to pursue, she could inquire further with the department of her interest at that point.” Waver’s department was a bit of a catch-all that studied many forms of magic but with the intent to focus on new innovations and ways to adapt it to the modern world. He, on the other hand, had been enrolled with the Spiritual Evocations department when he was a student, and his predecessor was alive.

[orangewayfinder]

If anyone had faith in Aqua, it was Terra. Ven would definitely vouch for her too but Terra was more than sure that she could pass whatever test would be thrown at her with flying colours. She was just that adapt and after all, she had become a master and he hadn't. It was something Riku had attempted to take up with him too, but terra had shrugged it off and then they had a mission and it snowballed from there. Now there really wasn't time, but hearing this bit from Waver made him wonder.

Finishing his burger, he wiped his mouth and took a sip of his drink. After setting it down, Terra nodded. "I'll have to introduce you two. I'm sure you'll see she can do whatever is asked and she's definitely one with determination and grit." These were facets of her he really admired and kicked him up the rump so to speak when he felt down and lost. She'd always be there to help and so would Ven.

Blue eyes lit up at the offer of the materials, and he nodded. "I'll definitely give them to her. I don't know right now if she's interested, but if she is then we'll get her meeting up with you." He hadn't missed that other part and jumped on it too. "Do you have a set schedule for the lectures that you give? Or can you write them down on the papers so that she can attend?" Terra would be there too, to see what this was all about.

There was another nod. "That will be up to her as to what she's interested in, but I'll definitely give her a heads up. I'm sure she can go from there." And who knew? Maybe Ven might want to see what all of this was about too.

[ask_whydunit]

Determination and grit, both good qualities if they wanted to attend and last at the clock tower. Waver let Terra describe and discuss the idea further, offering a small nod of agreement now and again as he took another few bites of his sandwich. The professor used the time to put a small mental list together of things to gather to give to Terra to deliver to his friend. Well, Waver thought a bit wryly; at least even if Terra decided that the date didn’t work out, something good might come of it.

“I’d be glad to meet her, then. At least if she does decide she’s interested.” He agreed with a small nod and continued as he picked up his drink. “I can have a small packet for you to give to her by the end of day tomorrow, if you don’t mind stopping by my department to pick them up to give to her.” Probably the easiest, he thinks, given he isn’t sure where else might be an easy to find place. “I’ll include the schedule for my open lectures as well as my office hours for reference.”

Waver kept rather late hours compared to the other instructors, between the lordship and being the head of the department he had a fair bit of work… Plus it was a habit, given how often his studies took him down a rabbit hole of one subject or another. It was not strange to his apprentice to find him there in the morning, instead of his apartment, and to need to worry over his rumpled appearance before class from sleeping in a chair.

Ven, of course, would be welcome to sit in as well if he knew about the thought. For now, though, Waver took a sip of his drink and pushed the remains of his plate aside to focus on Terra again when he realized the man had finished his burger. He’s pretty sure it’s… polite to ask your date if they enjoyed their meal, and if they wanted anything else, right? “How was it? Did you want anything else?”

[orangewayfinder]

Terra was enthusiastic about Aqua's joining, although she had the ultimate say of course. He was more than confident that she would pass any test, probably without trying too hard as well. He himself thought about signing up but wasn't sure if that would come off as creepy or anything else that might be perceived as negative. Those were things that he definitely didn't want. Terra had a big heart and noble intentions and there were definitely times that his motives were definitely misconstrued and truth be told he had gone off the path.

Picking up a small packet was an extra chance to see Waver so he nodded in agreement at the other's terms. "I don't mind stopping by at all. I'll just get directions and be there whenever you're ready." It was just a small thing, but he hoped he didnt sound overeager. Aqua had gone over a lot of lessons with Terra for this date and she definitely nitpicked everything to the point of Terra not even wanting to go if he couldn't act like himself. Still, her words echoed in his ears as to how to properly behave.

It would be nice if the three friends could find something else to do with their time, as a team. That had been cut short at times and it was hard whenever Aqua had anything to do using her Master rank. Ven was still wanting to get his Mark of Mastery test in as well, to see if he could attain that high and respected rank. But the trio were waiting on current events as well as making sure that Master Yen Sid had the time since it had been a long time ago that he doffed that title of Master.

Thinking on that, his blue eyes lifted to Waver's face when he asked his question. "I was thinking about getting dessert, but since you paid for dinner it's only fair that I get to buy you something this time."

[ask_whydunit]

“Alright, then I can probably have something ready for you in the next few days.” Waver truthfully could probably have it done the next day, but he knew his schedule could be a bit… packed, depending on the day. His hours were often divided by the school and casework when Reines sent him off to deal with situations at another family’s request and otherwise there was tutoring he did on the side and managing the responsibilities of the lordship that Reines wasn’t ready to handle yet…

Admittedly, his schedule was one of the reasons he was a bit unsure of trying to date in the first place. He knows that busy people are often less desirable and he couldn’t really help that. In this case, he at least hoped it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Practically speaking, it gave Terra a little time to speak with Aqua about it as well, which was probably reasonable enough.

“We can figure out a time between our schedules if that works.” The Norwich buildings where Modern Magecraft Theories resided were a little out of the way, though, making them a little less convenient to get to as the larger departments. So he continued with a small tilt of his head. “I’ll send you directions to the school later, and once we have a meeting time worked out, I can have someone waiting to show you to the buildings where my department is.” Better than getting lost, given the Clock Tower was a rather large place and Terra could be wandering for a while otherwise.

Oh… Now that was a valid point and Waver knows it would be rude to counter that. The thing was, he didn’t really do desserts that often. He didn’t have the biggest sweet tooth, and preferred fresh fruit if he was going to have something at all. That said, he could almost hear Reines not only disparaging his poor manners for denying the date a dessert but also teasing him for the boring decision to not have dessert. Little sugar fiend, that’s what his sister was. “Ah, well, that sounds fair. Did you have something in mind for dessert?” He is hoping that would be the case. He can’t imagine figuring out what to choose.

[orangewayfinder]

"Alright." Terra nodded with a smile. He really was looking forward to this, and he was more than sure that Aqua and Ven were going to be excited too. Or at least maybe,. Ven. Aqua liked to be able to prove her Master skills too, so maybe she would have to have time to warm up to the idea. Ven would be more than likely to be outwardly gung ho about the idea and the two would have time to go through and train with each other. This of course would bring Aqua to the fray.

He thought that this might be a chance to introduce Waver to his little family. It made him miss Master Eraqus, who he wondered if he would approve of this man. It would be hard to say and of course with the Master gone, there was no way for Terra to find out anything one way or another. He had disappeared along with Master Xehanort after turning into children. It had been endearing, but there was so much he'd wanted to discuss with the man who was like his father.

Thinking on that, Waver piped up about meeting. Well this was about the furthering, not necessarily about anything beyond this date. Terra would clear his schedule and do whatever he needed in order to be able to meet up for another date. But that had yet to be seen. "Whatever works for you." And hopefully he didn't sound too eager. Aqua had tried to whip restraint into him too. However, after hearing about directions he smiled. "I look forward to seeing the place." Fortunately his tongue hadn't betrayed him as he'd wanted to say that he looked forward to seeing Waver again. No, he couldn't do that.

This was nice to hear that dessert wasn't pushed off, although he did have one condition. "You paid for dinner, so it's only fair that I pay for dessert." This was important because he didn't want to seem as if he was just here for the mage to pay for everything. That was rude and disrespectful.

[ask_whydunit]

The agreement settles some of his concerns, at least concerning the meeting to arrange handing off materials for his friend to look at for potential enrollment. The matter of busy schedules and further dates… Could wait until there was a reason to bring up the subject. For all he knew, Terra might not want another meeting beyond that. If helping him out with furthering his friend’s education ended up the extent of it, well, that was at least something positive. It’s not like he could say anything when he knew his social skills were slightly lacking. “Thank you, I appreciate that. If you want to see more afterwards, I can probably show you around further.” He added absentmindedly, knowing that might be helpful, regardless.

The condition of paying for dessert is met with a small nod. He can’t deny that it was a reasonable request to make. “That does sound fair, so I’ll agree. Did you have thoughts on what you wanted for dessert, though?” He asked, vaguely hoping Terra had an idea of what he wanted. After all, Waver wasn’t really a dessert person, but would endeavor to be for the evening at least. For the sake of not seeming rude or like a bad date, more so than it already had.

[orangewayfinder]

"Being shown around further would be great." Terra replied, attempting to curb his enthusiasm. He didn't want to seem overeager to spend time with Waver because he wasn't sure that would be welcome. And Terra had kept trying to come up with excuses to leave the table and check in with Aqua but he didn't want to leave. Half of him was afraid that if he left, the other would be gone by the time he got back. And how would he even explain his absence in the first place? He didn't want to lie, but revealing that he was out of his depth was bad too, right?

But he felt really happy and proud of himself to be able to get the bill for the dessert. But he still wanted to give the other man an out just in case. "I'm going to have the marshmallow cookie dough cake. I can get you something too. Or I can have them wrap it for you to take home?"

He fought hard to not show how disappointing that would be.

[ask_whydunit]

“Then I’ll arrange for a little time after the fact.” He agreed with a small nod and a half smile. It would be important for Terra to know how to get around school grounds, both for if he visited again one day and to let his friend know in the event that she did decide to enroll.

Terra’s decision on his dessert sounded like an absolutely sweet monstrosity. Absently he wondered if Reines would like something like that, the little sugar addict that she was underneath the proper, clever heiress of the El-Melloi’s that she was. He was going to have to find something a little less… decadent for his tastes for the sake of his stomach, and it would be rude, he thinks to simple accept dessert and take it to go. So he took a sip of his drink and pulled the dessert menu card over to look over himself. “Hm… I’ll have the berry crumble, then. Though I wouldn’t take it to go, it’d go cold by the time I got back.” He decided with a small nod.

[orangewayfinder]

He didn't want to appear too eager, so he nodded. He personally couldn't wait to tell Aqua all about this. Then it might be safe to show his enthusiasm, right? Still, Terra had to let something out. "I'll look forward to it." Besides, learning more stuff would get Aqua to come with him no doubt. Ven would be curious too so it would work in getting everyone on board for this new venture.

Trying not to fidget with nervousness was hard, so Terra tried to focus on things in the room so that he could accurately describe them later. There was hope in his eyes as he listened to Waver's reasoning and he was up as soon as the other had decided and finished speaking.

"Berry crumble, I'm on it."

And he got moving in case the mage changed his mind.

[ask_whydunit]

“Alright, then. Thank you, Terra.” Waver decided to let Terra take care of it this time, he had gone to get everything else and the man seemed really concerned about actually going to get the dessert, so he decided it would probably be for the best to do so. Unfortunately, that meant he was left to sit awkwardly at the table, wondering just how much of a disaster this all was even if there had been something productive about the evening at least.

Letting out a small sigh, he swirled the drink in front of him before taking a sip and trying to focus on anything but those thoughts, instead letting his eyes roam the variety of video game stations in the bar collection.