[RL with Lancer - first date.]

[unknownrival]

Issei was nervous. He didn't remember being this nervous since his first date with Haruto, years ago. He was fidgeting for reasons other than the mild cold as he waited outside his temple gates.

What was he going to do? He had only a vague idea of what to do and what if Diarmuid didn't like any of his plans? What if he made him upset?

He didn't want to ruin their friendship. Not at all.

Issei let out a sigh. "He should be here soon... I'll have to stop panicking by then."

Comments

[croibhristeoir]

Lancer was no less nervous than Issei--possibly more so, given he was dealing with foreign customs of a foreign era. He just needed to relax, to act like nothing had changed.

Easier said than done. But no, he would just trust Issei's judgment on what to do, and follow along attentively. He was excellent at following others; in fact, it might well have been one of the things he was best at.

When he arrived, it was in the same clothes he'd worn to visit Makoto, amulet hidden underneath his shirt and a hesitant smile on his face.

"I'm sorry, am I late?"

[unknownrival]

"Not at all." Curbing his doubts, Issei smiled as he greeted him. "How have you been since last we met?"

[croibhristeoir]

"The same as ever. I can't expect the silence to last, but I am almost grateful it has transpired at all."

A more genuine smile crossed his face at that.

"What about you?"

[unknownrival]

"Doing well. The temple is quiet as usual, and I am blessed with good fortune as the weather permits us to spend more time outside than I had feared we would be able to."

He leaned in a little and took Diarmuid's hands in his. "I really don't want to mess this up."

[croibhristeoir]

"...I do not wish to ruin this either, Issei. Please forgive me if I should make any terrible misstep."

He squeezed Issei's hands lightly, clearly uncertain.

[unknownrival]

"I will forgive you of anything, I promise. Sh-should we get going?"

Nervously, Issei let go of Diarmuid's hands and took a step back.

[croibhristeoir]

"Anything you like." he responded eagerly, trying to dismiss any unnecessary concern he felt.

"Where are we going?"

[unknownrival]

"I thought that first we would see a movie, then have dinner. I have a few plans for after that, but nothing set in stone."

[croibhristeoir]

"Very well. That sounds fantastic to me."

It sounded almost completely alien and a little unnerving, but he would do his best.

[unknownrival]

"The theater's not a far walk, I promise."

Down the stairs, first of all.

[croibhristeoir]

"You hardly need to worry about me. I can manage well enough no matter how far it is."

Following half a step or so behind, Lancer seemed as if he was trying to determine how to handle things already.

[unknownrival]

"Haha, I shouldn't have to worry about your stamina compared to mine, should I?" With a bright smile, Issei reached out to take Lancer's hand.

[croibhristeoir]

"Not at all, I would think."

Lancer hesitated a moment at Issei's hand, pausing a second or two before smiling and taking it.

[unknownrival]

Excellent. Issei was not going to let go of Lancer's hand the entire way to the movie theater if he could help it.

[croibhristeoir]

Well, as it turned out Lancer would be quite alright with that.

"...Do cities usually change considerably in just ten years?"

[unknownrival]

"Usually there's at least some change. Here especially, there's been a considerable amount of rebuilding after the massive fire... about ten years ago."

[croibhristeoir]

"...Massive fire?"

This wasn't really date conversation, but Lancer's line of thought immediately went to 'what did Caster do now?'

[unknownrival]

"The result of the Grail War... look, let's not talk about our jobs on a date."

De-press-ing.

[croibhristeoir]

"...very well."

Honestly, hearing the Grail was corrupted was enough to know about the future for him.

"What should we talk about, in that case?"

[unknownrival]

"We should talk about what kind of movie we should see, probably. Better to have an idea now than to have to discuss it when we get there..."

Hmmmm.

"Would you prefer an action movie or a comedy?"

[croibhristeoir]

Blank stare.

You lost him, Issei.

[unknownrival]

"Something exciting and thrilling, or something funny."

[croibhristeoir]

"I, er...I am really not sure, did you have any preference?"

[unknownrival]

"Either would be fine with me."

[croibhristeoir]

"Something amusing sounds like it might be interesting, I think. If that's alright with you."