week two | dates

[marriagebroker]

Kiss the girl~!

Or guy.

Or person.

Or Messmer's snake.

Comments

[scooptimistic]

I'm pretty athletic! So I might do okay!

[ With a glance to him. ]

... Better than you?

[ordimame]

[WITHOUT ANY SHAME]

Oh, almost certainly.

I'm sure you just need to take one look at me to know I'm not an athlete.

truly I get all your mistakes (loving)

[scooptimistic]

Some athletes can be surprising! My roommate can box the hell out of anyone but she sells lingerie and sometimes she even tries to come off as demure.

YOU DO I AM SO SORRY

[ordimame]

[. . . this description reminds him so much of Aby. even if Aby only tried to play demure in very specific circumstances—]

I hate to be completely as expected, but my strong suit in school was academics.

[scooptimistic]

Math or languages? Or both?

[ordimame]

Language, literature, history. . . I was okay at math and science.

[resting his bat on his shoulder as he flashes her a smile]

And you?

[scooptimistic]

Pretty much the same! I was sort of an all-rounder, though. Pretty active, but also devoured all the learning I could, because I found it all really interesting.

[ Of course she did. ]

Maybe we can use your science knowledge to have you hit a ball today.

[ordimame]

. . . I don't know if that's how it works.

[but he says that with a laugh. time to make their way into the batting cage!!]

Why don't you go first?

[offering her the bat he is holding!]

[scooptimistic]

Okay! This one's dedicated to Makoto!!

[ Brandishing the bat once she's acquired it--without whacking him, of course.

When the ball launches, she does manage a fairly solid hit and connects, though it won't be like. A homerun or anything. ]

[ordimame]

[a solid line drive is still pretty impressive!!]

On your first try. . . ?!

[being so active is doing her many favors on this date]

[scooptimistic]

This could be you, you know!

[ If he tries! Hard enough!! ]

[ordimame]

[HE DOUBTS IT, BUT. . . she also makes a pretty good argument!!]

You said you were active when you were younger, but did you play any sports? Like, officially?

[or unofficially. backyard games count! heads up, the machine is lobbing another pitch her way]

[scooptimistic]

Nope! No teams.

[ She was just an active kid!

And another hit! ]

[ordimame]

[watches as the ball skips across the ground, before being caught by the net at the end of the cage]

So this is all natural talent, huh?

[scooptimistic]

And staying active! You get good if you play long enough.

[ Yeah. ]

So how about it? Ready to try?

[ordimame]

[. . . a small laugh, and he holds out his hand to take the bat from her]

Cheer me on from the sidelines, all right? I'll definitely need it.

[BEAN BATTER UP]

[scooptimistic]

You've got this!! Just keep your eye on the ball!

[ She believes in him!! ]

[ordimame]

Everyone says that! I still don't know how it helps!

[whoosh. the machine flings a ball Edamura's way! he swings the back, and. . . . . . . . misses. quite solidly. by a lot]

. . . see! Didn't help!

[scooptimistic]

Okay, so--we work on your timing.

[ We're not giving up yet! ]

As soon as the ball launches, get ready to swing!

[ordimame]

[her determination is admirable. . .]

Okay. . . like this?

[holding the bat firmly in his hands, but it isn't until the ball is released that he locks in and draws it back for a swing. this time-- he hits it!!]

[it's an awkward ground ball to the left, but he hit it]

Oh! There we go.

[scooptimistic]

There we go!!

[ Much more joyfully. ]

Great job, Makoto! I knew you could do it!!

[ordimame]

T. . . thanks.

[for such a tiny win, he does seem pretty pleased!]

Your talent must have rubbed off on me.

[scooptimistic]

That's not a possibility. You did this yourself, you just found a way that worked for you!

[ She's so proud of him. ]

[ordimame]

[. . . Maya you're too sweet and earnest. it's endearing]

Do you want to make a game out of this? It might keep things more interesting.

[handing her the bat so she can take another turn]

Something. . . mildly competitive.

[scooptimistic]

First to hit a homerun, or...?

[ Wow. ]