towerofanimus | The Welcomed C/Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Entry tags:

The Welcomed C/Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Characters: Shoutarou and FemFrance will have their own separate thread for the first prompt, everyone is free to tag the second prompt.
Setting: The Cafeteria, afternoon-ish.
Format: Starts in prose, but I'm fine with switching to brackets.
Summary: HOT DAMN THEY GOT COFFEE IN THE CAFETERIA NOW
Warnings: Fluff-mush, some mildly suggestive flirting, maybe mild swearing depending on who shows up and how things go.

This one is closed to FemFrance.

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Shoutarou's been busy doing exploring and research for nearly a month, as well as dealing with an eccentric British man taking up residence in his room and replacing Fletcher. The Doctor is a great fellow, but Shoutarou does miss the boy. He does hope he's okay, where-ever he wound up...

However, he would worry about that later. It was time to put the business aside for a bit - he had yet to follow up on Francisca's offer in the library, so in an effort to make it up to her, he had invited her to the cafeteria for coffee.

- - - - -

This one is open to everyone.

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There was coffee in the cafeteria now.

Finally.

Screw all the other food, Shoutarou makes a bee-line for the coffee as soon as he finds out they have it. ~~It apparently took him ten days to notice. Let's say that the habit of no coffee took root after a full month here, and took root pretty deep.~~

Once said coffee was acquired, Shoutarou finds an empty table to sit at, notebook out for later writing and looking-over,

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A low chuckle leaves Shoutarou as he gazes back, raising his cup just a bit at her comment. "Of course..."

She smiles and sets down her cup, propping her chin up with a hand. "So, what have you been up to in this tower? Have you met anyone else from your world?"

"Exploring," of the mundane variety, that is, "Trying to look for any clue to something that can get us out." He wipes his face with a faint sigh, looking away a bit. "Nobody from home yet. A roommate has disappeared and already been replaced with some man calling himself 'The Doctor'..."

"... 'The Doctor'?" she muses, reminded of some sci-fi series or another America or England had tried pushing on her, but then shrugged it off. "I'm sorry to hear about your roommate... were you close?"

"I..." He pauses, then sighs. "Not especially, but he was just a child - I do hope that where-ever he wound up, it was better than this place."

He clenches a fist, letting out another sigh. "Got some bones to pick with our 'benefactors' if we get to talk to them again soon."

A concerned frown formed on Francisca's face at the mention of a child. "A child? And he just... disappeared?"

She reached out to put a hand over Shoutarou's clenched fist. "Be careful, cher. They may act placidly enough, but this place..." Set her teeth on edge. Made her unable to fall into a deep sleep. Forced her to always be armed, no matter where she went.

"... It's not safe," she finished, somewhat quietly.

Shoutarou nods solemnly. "Up and gone one day, replaced some days after..."

The hand over his own made that fist relax, turning open-side up and gripping the other. "I'm aware, though I'm no stranger to dangerous places."

"Well, I hope he is alright... No child should be mixed up in this mess," she murmured.

She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. "I'd imagine not, but nonetheless, I don't trust this place. I'd rather you played it safe rather than... vanish."

He nods. "Likewise. I'll do what I can to watch over the others that remain - and show up."

The squeeze to his hand and the show of concern brought a small smile to his face. He returns the squeeze, looking over at Francisca. "I'll try to."

"Don't push yourself too hard. You aren't 'superman' after all."

She sighed and took a sip from her cooling coffee. "Let's talk about something more cheery. Have you made any new lady friends while here? Or perhaps some boys~?"

Shoutarou chuckled at that comment. Oh, she had no idea... "I'm quite aware of my limits, my dear."

He nods at the suggestion, then strokes his chin. "I've chitchatted with a few folks on the network thing here and there, and met the aforementioned Doctor, as well as a man named Alistair." He takes a drink, then catches what her tone meant. "Though not like what I think you're suggesting."

She batted her lashes and tilted her head coyly, hands tucked under her chin. "Suggesting? What am I suggesting?" she asked in an innocent voice.

An awkward pause.

"Well. You used the term 'ladyfriend'. At least, from how I've experienced the term used, that would be how I might describe the relationship I've got with you." And how he actually did, when talking with The Doctor. "So, while I've met some new people, none in that capacity."

She grinned cheekily and shrugged, taking up her coffee again. "Don't limit yourself on my account - nations are quite used to polygamy. Not always appreciative, and often the beginnings of war, but still, we're rarely tied to one nation alone."

She made a dreamy sigh, stroking along the edge of her coffee cup as she stared off into empty space. "Sweden and Finland have managed monogamy, which is so romantic but alas, uncommon." She gave another sigh and sipped her coffee. She then perked up and practically chirped, "So the lesson is: sex is good, romance is better, shared amongst many is healthy!"

Shoutarou can't help a slightly awkward chuckle, then he shrugs. "Well. Whatever you want to do is your business. I've got enough on my plate without trying to manage multiple relationships like that..."

"That, and it's something I can't quite wrap my head around, but I'm a bit old-fashioned, I suppose."

Francisca laughed and sat back. "Old-fashioned? Hmm~ Well, I know most nations find me a bit too 'open' as well..."

She tilted her head and asked, "Does it bother you?"

Shoutarou sighs a bit, scratching his head. "Well. On one hand, I would be preferable to something closed, but then again, I feel it'd be rude of me to ask someone to change like that."

She sighs and reaches out to touch his hand. "I can't promise it will work, especially with my uh... 'demanding needs', but I can try for you?" She then wrinkled her nose and looked off to the side.

"Just don't be too disappointed when you find that I am not so perfect as I should be."

Shoutarou grips her hand, then gives her a serious look. "I'm not going to ask you to something you're not used to - this place is trying enough on its own."

He smiles a bit, though, his expression softening a bit. "One of the most important things I learned from my former boss was that nobody's perfect."

"Nonetheless, I don't want to make you uncomofrtable, or aggravated..."

She returns his smile and twines their fingers together. "That truth never stops me from trying to at least pretend that I can be perfect though." She then winked and her smile turned cheeky again. "However, your smile is certainly perfect enough~"

He can't help a chuckle. "Believe me, if I was either of those, you'd know it. I've never been one to mask emotions - nor have I ever been good at it when I try."

A goofy grin comes up at the compliment, however. "Ahh, you're too good at disarming me!" He squeezes her hand again.

Francisca finally relaxes fully and pokes his cheek with a pleased smile. "Ah, but it's'true~"

The detective laughs a bit. "Good thing you're not a criminal, or I'd be at a bit of a loss as how to handle things."

She bats her eyelashes and purrs, "I suppose you could handcuff me~?"

Shoutarou smirks. "Alas, the tower was not kind enough to provide me with a pair. I'd have to improvise."

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