Video...in which there is an abundance of scones

[inthejunk]

[Dawn is barely even trying to tickle the sky awake, but that doesn't seem to be squashing the enthusiasm of that annoying kid who either delivers or abuses pastries for a living -it's difficult to tell at times. There he is, with the usual shit eating customer service grin, hair rustling in the chilly breeze and full of fat, half-melted snowflakes. They don't seem to be bothering him at all.]

Attention, everyone. I'm Hanamura Yosuke. Hello to anyone who is new. There's good news this morning! Due to the weather, the scones from yesterday couldn't be sold at the Funtom bakery. I've had to come up with ways to use them, so I thought I would share.

[It's probably not a good idea to leave a somewhat resentful teenager to his own devices in a place of business. Or so one would believe, given what follows.]

If you grind them up like cat litter, they unstick snow-stuck cars. They can also be used as paper weights, and nut crackers. Some of the children on the playground have used them for stick ball! Really, the uses are endless. So please take them away before someone tries to eat one and breaks a tooth again.

[That slightly sarcastic and generally mean spirited bit of "advertisement" aside, the kid suddenly grows serious.]

Ah...there is one more use for them that I came up with. Since I didn't have anyone to ask for a blessing, I think the direct route will have to do.

[And there, behind him in the snow as he turns and pans the camera out, is one last (and equally unfirtunate) demonstration. There's something written out, huge and painstakingly, all in blueberry scone. There's even a heart made of sprinkled dried cranberry around it, which has bloomed up like rose petals with the moisture of the snow:]

MARRY ME NILL

Comments

[reassures]

[It's a good thing she only uses text because holy shit her friends are seeing this and she's kind of freaking out a little bit and oh god is that a message from Seras in her inbox it is oh god.]

That isn't what I mean.

You want to marry me?

[inthejunk]

Wh...well. Yeah. Of course I do.

[Whats wrong with his voice? He was so confident a minute ago, but now it's like something big and sharp is caught in his throat.]

I mean. There's no one else I want to come home to for the rest of my life, you know? J-just you. I thought you knew...

[reassures]

I do know, Yosuke. Of course I do.

I just-- are you sure it would be best for you to marry someone like me?

[inthejunk]

...Oh! So that's what-? Ah. Um. I wasn't expecting you to uh...fulfill...um. That sort of wifely duty. Y-you know that, right? I just meant-

[Wow, this time she's taking his breath away in a totally different way. Ow. His lungs are cramping up for want of oxygen, but his chest is too tight. It better not be a heart attack or something...]

Maybe I should have said it quietly first, but I thought you'd like a surprise. It's....I don't care. We'll figure it out, won't we? But after I said it that day, I knew nothing could make me happier than if it was true. I-I meant what I said, you know? It was always you.

[reassures]

I know.

But-- you want kids, don't you?

[That's probably the most difficult part about this. But that just isn't something she can do for him. Not with the kind of world that they live in, and not with the worlds she's seen.]

I can't do that for you.

[inthejunk]

Woah! Woah, back up. W-who said anything about that?!

[Holy crap. One thing at a time. Give him a second to wheeze, here. Oof.]

Nill...I don't know where that comes from, but it's definitely not on the table anyway. We'd have to start with a puppy or something, wouldn't we? Or...maybe a goldfish-I-look. Look, that's not a- I was just asking for you. Nothing else.

[Air. Why isn't there any air in this room? Jeez.]

[reassures]

You think about it sometimes.

[And it hurts every time, because as much as she cares about Yosuke, she can't do that for him. She absolutely refuses. Nill isn't adverse to the idea of kids, but... Not her kids.]

Shouldn't you marry someone that can give you the things you want?

[Like sex. Or kids. Or hell, just managing to let him hold on to them for extended periods of time without making them horrendously uncomfortable like it does her. Nill is a wreck of a human being, let alone a wife.]

[inthejunk]

Stop snooping!

[Thats so embarrassing. He drops his face into his hands, hoping it isn't as red as it feels.]

Ugh...look, I know sometimes I...that's just getting carried away. I mean, it's-isn't that what everyone wants? But. But here, it's too irresponsible anyway. Besides, without the bar...I just couldn't...you know. Anyway, I didn't want kids until I was 20. That way I'll be 40 when they get married, you know?

[Crap. He really isn't helping.]

Wait, I'm explaining this wrong! Don't...ugh. Don't be afraid of that, okay? I -I wasn't going to ask you for that. I mean, even a kiss is-um. Anyway. Anyway, I know we can't...I know that. Okay?

[reassures]

[Does he even realize she's almost 20 herself? His face is pretty read though, and... nope, definitely not helping.]

Okay.

I'm sorry I can't do those things for you. I'm so sorry.

[inthejunk]

I already knew. Okay? It's fine. I don't care.

[He's peeking out from behind his fingers now, trying to get a look at her.]

[reassures]

[She sort of offers an awkward, half smile. Trying to be reassuring about this whole thing.]

Are you sure you don't care?

[inthejunk]

[The smile is encouraging. There are the usual butterflies. There's that wonderful, painful backflip his heart likes to do for her.]

I like puppies...and you. You know? If I have you, there's nothing else I need.

[reassures]

I like puppies too. [ ... ] And you.

Can you just-- give me some time to think about this?

[inthejunk]

Oh...you're not sure?

[Yep, that's genuine surprise. And confusion. He's the only one who's surprised and confused by this response, but he sure is.]

I uh...

[Blink.]

Yeah. I mean. Whatever you...whatever. I-it's no big deal.

[reassures]

It isn't about not being sure.

I love you. I just need to think about this.

[inthejunk]

[Ow, there goes his heart again. She said it!

Even if it's still a bit like a sucker punch he just inflicted on himself, that's the ice to soothe the bruise.]

...Do you remember what I told you before? A-about how I'll always wait for you? Uh. It's true, okay? I'll just-be here. I'll always be waiting right here. So when you decide. Uh. You know. You don't even need to ask.

[reassures]

I know, and I'll remember. Don't worry. I'm not going to forget that.

[inthejunk]

[He blinks again, and is mortified when something hit and wet slides down his cheeks. Shit. He's so not doing this on camera. The video feed shuts off abruptly.]

Okay.

[reassures]

Are you okay?

*hot ugh stupid tiny phone keys

[inthejunk]

Sure, yeah. I'm good. I just need to clean up this mess is all. If I leave it here some birds might get sick on it.

[reassures]

You don't need to clean it up. It isn't a mess.

It was very sweet.

[inthejunk]

I thought it was, you know. Just in case you can't tell. If I can't tell the difference between sweet and inconsiderate, now I'm positive that romantic gestures and public graffiti aren't the same.

[reassures]

What you did was very sweet. I think they're objecting to the way you presented it.

[You know. On the network.]

[inthejunk]

Who's they? I don't care about anyone else.

[reassures]

Don't act like my friends are nothing.