[Crapcrapcrap. This was such a bad time to actually mention it and yes, okay, he had wanted to talk to Ruby about it but they were on a date. So he uses his free hand to bury into his hair and he frowns at the menu for a second.]
It's been a little over a week since he said so, but this has been going on since he got here. [Months ago. Months and months ago. Yes it makes him upset, but…] I don't know what to really do right now. I know how to fix it in the longrun but now? [Another deep breath.] Sorry...I wanted to tell you a while ago. It still could have waited.
[A beat.] Also I'm not a huge fan of vegetables either, so we can skip those.
[It's fine, they can always go on different dates. Ruby doesn't seem upset about the timing, anyway. The content, maybe, because how could anyone listen to that and not be a little upset?
But even so, she just looks at Hiro with concern more than anything.]
No veggies. Got it. But Hiro... You don't think that's the case, right? I mean--you think he can love someone even though he's...dead back home. Here, because things are different here.
I didn't say love. [The words are quicker and sharper than he intends them to be, and it's not even against Tadashi. It's just...strange, really, to think of his brother loving someone and being close to someone. Realistically he knows that Tadashi should have the chance to date people and go out with people and live his own life, but he's also kind of selfish.] ...but yeah, of course I do. And I told him that. And I told him that it doesn't matter what he thinks will happen when we all leave because his brain and his heart both work here so he needs to focus on that.
...he's worried about what'll happen when we leave. People remembering him or an outline of him and him being dead and not remembering them. So...I told him I'm going to fix that, too.
[That makes her blink--the refusal comes hard and fast, and she wasn't even thinking about romantic love. But then again... she wonders if Hiro was too. In general... maybe there's something else to it.]
... Then we'll work on fixing it. But... I mean, we're all gonna leave eventually, right?
[It's just the case--they can't stay in Cerealia forever.]
But while we're here, we can come up with all sorts of solutions for that, so it'll be fine. I think we can all make as many [...] friendships as we want here! Because... I don't wanna say goodbye forever when we do find our way back home.
So I won't.
[There'll be a way--for all of them.]
And if it's you working on things, I know you'll find a way to help Tadashi no matter what.
[Sorry, Ruby, he's pretty bristly about the idea of Ami and Tadashi dating the more he thinks about it. Sometimes he's okay with it, sometimes he wants to growl and tell people to leave his brother alone. It's a very confusing thing for him.]
…yeah, but that doesn't mean we can't stick together even when we leave. [He doesn't want to say goodbye to people. If he has his way, he's going to stay in touch with his friends for as long as possible.]
I'm doing some research…ways to keep the channels between worlds open and also ways to rewrite some code. Is that crazy?
[That's an easy answer to give, at least. Some things are pretty deep and hard in this conversation, but that's not one of them.]
Why not try to figure something like that out? If we're here and we've got all of this time, we might as well! Besides, I don't wanna lose contact with you either, so...
I've been piecing together a lot of stuff hoping something will stick. It's just a really, really really long process. [...but it's nice to hear that Ruby doesn't want to lose contact with him either.] I've only known most of these people for a couple of months and it's hard to imagine just never seeing them again. There's gotta be a way around it.
[But he shakes his head. Enough sad talk, back to pizza.] It's all the more reason I don't think dating is a bad idea here. Can we just get a pepperoni pizza and call it good?
Of course there is. I mean, if you think about all of the things we can do here... why not? It'd be silly to think we'll never be able to talk again.
[Ruby's going the optimistic route...as ever.]
I like pepperoni, let's do it.
And of course it's not a bad idea! [sheesh.] I mean. Well. If you know what you're doing and you're ready for it it's not a bad idea. [Tadashi...... dating seems to be a tentatively worrisome topic for him?] So... so yeah!
I'm kinda thinking of calling Mosley and asking him. There's a couple of things I want to ask him, actually.
[He'll flag down the waiter then and place an order for a pepperoni pizza. Honestly, they're two growing teenagers, they can probably annihilate a large by themselves.]
Let's just say that I have more dating experience than he does. [And considering Ruby's his first girlfriend...yikes.] She's liked him for a while though. Rei told me. [A beat.] Another friend of theirs showed up from their world and they're thinking of another dinner together. You'll still come with me, right?
[They can totally annihilate a full pizza by themselves, it's fine. They've got this covered.
As for Tadashi..well, it's hard to say anything to that. Neither Ruby or Hiro had much in the way of dating experience, but they seem to be making it work, so... She thinks Tadashi will be able to figure it out.
Sort of.]
You know it! If we go together, then... it'll have to be less awkward.
[...]
Or at least we can be awkward together. I think we'll probably manage one of the two.
And if it gets too awkward we can bail and go do something else. [He shoos the waiter away.] Dipper and I found a really cool spot to set off fireworks in the colony that I wanna show you.
[But that's something to consider.] Do you ever think it's weird how many awkward people are actually in the colony?
Fireworks. I know a guy, we've got a trade going. They're really cool, too. I've still got like half the box left. [...he rubs the back of his neck.] That was sort of the other half of tonight. I wanted you to come with me.
[...That's really cute. Really really cute?? She's not sure how to handle that, even. There's a brief pause as she stares at him, and then she's really kind of overwhelmed. But she doesn't want to be too obvious about it.
(Too late, really.)]
Oh! ...Oh. Oh!
[yes, ruby. Oh.]
I... definitely want to go watch fireworks, that sounds amazing! With you, I mean. Like. Date...like...fireworks.
[He's not sure how she was going to react, actually, and when she stares at him there's a brief flare of panic like maybe that's definitely too much. He wants to make her happy, not bulldoze over her with affection. But then it seems like that's the right move and he nods enthusiastically.]
I don't want you to ever stop talking. [...wait.] About stuff like that. Or most of the time? I mean everybody has to stop talking sometimes right, that'd be pretty weird if they just sort of kept babbling about whatever.
[Kinda like now. He stops but he nods again.] Date-like fireworks. I kinda wish I could make my own ViViD level based on this theme park in our world to show you. It's like a five hour trip from San Fransokyo but it's totally worth it. They have these really huge fireworks shows during different times of the year. These ones just sorta spin and pop a lot which is still pretty cool. It's really easy to get up to the roof we found, too.
[And that's about the time their pizza comes back.] …maybe we should have got this to go. [Now his mind's focused on blowing things up and being alone with Ruby. Ah well.]
[Oh. Yeah. Uh. right. Date-like fireworks!! It's fine. They can just have this fireworks date and nobody will judge or interrupt and Hiro doesn't mind if she babbles, and she doesn't mind if he babbles, so it's fine.]
Maybe someday? Someday we'll get to see a big huge fireworks show in San Fransokyo. And someday I'll show you the view from the airships around Beacon! Oh, or the Forest of Forever Fall, you'd like the color scheme. And someday we'll go on a flight on Baymax and you can show me the San Fransokyo sights too...!
[Someday. Somehow, they'll do all of that.
But she can only grin at that eagerness, shaking her head.]
It's okay! Cheesy pizza first, then date-like fireworks. We've got...lots of time, right?
[He's actually sort of resting his elbow on the table to prop his head up as he listens to her, not even realizing part of his sweater's getting in the cheese. All of that sounds…pretty amazing. Fireworks and airships and other worlds and travel and colors and flights with Baymax…all with Ruby.
Is this what it's like to want to share your life with someone? Or are they just overly optimistic? Who knows.]
Pretty much all the time in the world. [Which isn't true, and they know it. There will always be something that comes up that tears them away from these peaceful pockets of time, but they'll be ready.] …or at least until about ten when you should probably get home before Yang tries to kill me for keeping you out for so long. But that's still a couple of hours from now.
[They're probably overly optimistic--but what could it hurt? She's not going anywhere, she thinks, and neither is he. They'll fight for it, and they're both pretty good at this hero thing, so...that has to count for something.
That's good enough for Ruby.
So even if they don't really have all the time in the world... there's no harm in pretending that they do. They're still kids, after all.]
Heh... [...] Hey wait a second, I don't have a curfew!
[And he bursts out laughing at that indignant response.]
Hey, I'm just following orders from her. You'll have to take it up with her. [And anyway he thinks Yang is a lot like Tadashi. They just want to know where the kids are and make sure they're being safe.] Aren't you the one who told me you go to bed early anyway?
[Oh. Awkward. He straightens up a little when she says that, cringing as he realizes that there's cheese and grease on his elbow. He's scrubbing at his hoodie with a napkin even as he thinks of how to say what he's thinking.]
Pretty sure it's just an older sibling thing, especially to make up for what's missing. Tadashi does the same thing to help Aunt Cass since Mom and Dad are gone. [He shrugs lightly.] It's pretty hard to say what she really thinks about the whole thing. I can't tell if she's joking or if she's really actually watching me.
[A slow nod.] I know Tadashi thinks about them still but...I don't really remember much about them. [It's hard to say if that bothers him or not since he won't ever outright say so. And he knows that he'll probably spend time talking to Tadashi's grave now in the future.
What a shitty thing to have to do.]
Yang's really determined. She'll find her. [A pause.] ...what about the rest of your family? [He doesn't know much about them, really. And now he's a little curious.]
[And like a sister, and like family. They'll all help Yang, Ruby's sure of that one. And the rest of her family... she's quiet for a moment, considering.]
Dad's... he's trying, y'know? After mom died, it was just sort of... well, like he wasn't really around? He was there, but he wasn't always... there. But he's doing a bit better now! And he's trying harder and we get to see each other more, when we're not at school and he's not on missions and things.
[Ruby and her typical fierce cheer is charming as usual and he can't help but agree with her. He doesn't doubt that the team will help Yang.
There's a hum of agreement. Maybe he should consider himself lucky that Tadashi and Aunt Cass are as hands-on in his life as possible. He'd rather have them around and sort of meddling than completely absent. He knows better than to really ask a lot about her dad though it's something to note, focusing instead on someone else.]
Qrow. The uncle who taught you how to fight with Crescent Rose right? You guys see him a lot? ["Would he also kick my ass if he met me and knew how much I like you?"]
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It's been a little over a week since he said so, but this has been going on since he got here. [Months ago. Months and months ago. Yes it makes him upset, but…] I don't know what to really do right now. I know how to fix it in the longrun but now? [Another deep breath.] Sorry...I wanted to tell you a while ago. It still could have waited.
[A beat.] Also I'm not a huge fan of vegetables either, so we can skip those.
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But even so, she just looks at Hiro with concern more than anything.]
No veggies. Got it. But Hiro... You don't think that's the case, right? I mean--you think he can love someone even though he's...dead back home. Here, because things are different here.
Right?
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...he's worried about what'll happen when we leave. People remembering him or an outline of him and him being dead and not remembering them. So...I told him I'm going to fix that, too.
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... Then we'll work on fixing it. But... I mean, we're all gonna leave eventually, right?
[It's just the case--they can't stay in Cerealia forever.]
But while we're here, we can come up with all sorts of solutions for that, so it'll be fine. I think we can all make as many [...] friendships as we want here! Because... I don't wanna say goodbye forever when we do find our way back home.
So I won't.
[There'll be a way--for all of them.]
And if it's you working on things, I know you'll find a way to help Tadashi no matter what.
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…yeah, but that doesn't mean we can't stick together even when we leave. [He doesn't want to say goodbye to people. If he has his way, he's going to stay in touch with his friends for as long as possible.]
I'm doing some research…ways to keep the channels between worlds open and also ways to rewrite some code. Is that crazy?
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[That's an easy answer to give, at least. Some things are pretty deep and hard in this conversation, but that's not one of them.]
Why not try to figure something like that out? If we're here and we've got all of this time, we might as well! Besides, I don't wanna lose contact with you either, so...
[...]
We'll find a way.
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[But he shakes his head. Enough sad talk, back to pizza.] It's all the more reason I don't think dating is a bad idea here. Can we just get a pepperoni pizza and call it good?
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[Ruby's going the optimistic route...as ever.]
I like pepperoni, let's do it.
And of course it's not a bad idea! [sheesh.] I mean. Well. If you know what you're doing and you're ready for it it's not a bad idea. [Tadashi...... dating seems to be a tentatively worrisome topic for him?] So... so yeah!
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[He'll flag down the waiter then and place an order for a pepperoni pizza. Honestly, they're two growing teenagers, they can probably annihilate a large by themselves.]
Let's just say that I have more dating experience than he does. [And considering Ruby's his first girlfriend...yikes.] She's liked him for a while though. Rei told me. [A beat.] Another friend of theirs showed up from their world and they're thinking of another dinner together. You'll still come with me, right?
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As for Tadashi..well, it's hard to say anything to that. Neither Ruby or Hiro had much in the way of dating experience, but they seem to be making it work, so... She thinks Tadashi will be able to figure it out.
Sort of.]
You know it! If we go together, then... it'll have to be less awkward.
[...]
Or at least we can be awkward together. I think we'll probably manage one of the two.
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[But that's something to consider.] Do you ever think it's weird how many awkward people are actually in the colony?
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You know... I think it's just that we're either... really, really awkward, or just totally cool. Like Yang. There's not a lot of normal in-between.
[That's the conclusion she's come to re: Cerealia--]
Wait did you say fireworks.
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Fireworks. I know a guy, we've got a trade going. They're really cool, too. I've still got like half the box left. [...he rubs the back of his neck.] That was sort of the other half of tonight. I wanted you to come with me.
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(Too late, really.)]
Oh! ...Oh. Oh!
[yes, ruby. Oh.]
I... definitely want to go watch fireworks, that sounds amazing! With you, I mean. Like. Date...like...fireworks.
[.......]
I'm gonna stop talking now.
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I don't want you to ever stop talking. [...wait.] About stuff like that. Or most of the time? I mean everybody has to stop talking sometimes right, that'd be pretty weird if they just sort of kept babbling about whatever.
[Kinda like now. He stops but he nods again.] Date-like fireworks. I kinda wish I could make my own ViViD level based on this theme park in our world to show you. It's like a five hour trip from San Fransokyo but it's totally worth it. They have these really huge fireworks shows during different times of the year. These ones just sorta spin and pop a lot which is still pretty cool. It's really easy to get up to the roof we found, too.
[And that's about the time their pizza comes back.] …maybe we should have got this to go. [Now his mind's focused on blowing things up and being alone with Ruby. Ah well.]
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Maybe someday? Someday we'll get to see a big huge fireworks show in San Fransokyo. And someday I'll show you the view from the airships around Beacon! Oh, or the Forest of Forever Fall, you'd like the color scheme. And someday we'll go on a flight on Baymax and you can show me the San Fransokyo sights too...!
[Someday. Somehow, they'll do all of that.
But she can only grin at that eagerness, shaking her head.]
It's okay! Cheesy pizza first, then date-like fireworks. We've got...lots of time, right?
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Is this what it's like to want to share your life with someone? Or are they just overly optimistic? Who knows.]
Pretty much all the time in the world. [Which isn't true, and they know it. There will always be something that comes up that tears them away from these peaceful pockets of time, but they'll be ready.] …or at least until about ten when you should probably get home before Yang tries to kill me for keeping you out for so long. But that's still a couple of hours from now.
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That's good enough for Ruby.
So even if they don't really have all the time in the world... there's no harm in pretending that they do. They're still kids, after all.]
Heh... [...] Hey wait a second, I don't have a curfew!
[EXCUSE YOU, YANG.]
Yang's not my mom!
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Hey, I'm just following orders from her. You'll have to take it up with her. [And anyway he thinks Yang is a lot like Tadashi. They just want to know where the kids are and make sure they're being safe.] Aren't you the one who told me you go to bed early anyway?
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[Duh! This is the little sibling deal.]
She doesn't have to be all mom-y now, we did just fine without mom...ish...ness back home.
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Pretty sure it's just an older sibling thing, especially to make up for what's missing. Tadashi does the same thing to help Aunt Cass since Mom and Dad are gone. [He shrugs lightly.] It's pretty hard to say what she really thinks about the whole thing. I can't tell if she's joking or if she's really actually watching me.
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I dunno if it's exactly the same for us. Maybe it is. I mean... we go talk to mom sometimes. [Her grave, anyway.] That helps.
And... Yang's still looking for her mom, too.
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What a shitty thing to have to do.]
Yang's really determined. She'll find her. [A pause.] ...what about the rest of your family? [He doesn't know much about them, really. And now he's a little curious.]
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[And like a sister, and like family. They'll all help Yang, Ruby's sure of that one. And the rest of her family... she's quiet for a moment, considering.]
Dad's... he's trying, y'know? After mom died, it was just sort of... well, like he wasn't really around? He was there, but he wasn't always... there. But he's doing a bit better now! And he's trying harder and we get to see each other more, when we're not at school and he's not on missions and things.
[... ANYWAY.]
And there's always Uncle Qrow!
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There's a hum of agreement. Maybe he should consider himself lucky that Tadashi and Aunt Cass are as hands-on in his life as possible. He'd rather have them around and sort of meddling than completely absent. He knows better than to really ask a lot about her dad though it's something to note, focusing instead on someone else.]
Qrow. The uncle who taught you how to fight with Crescent Rose right? You guys see him a lot? ["Would he also kick my ass if he met me and knew how much I like you?"]
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