kore_logs | so what do I do with this?

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so what do I do with this?

Who: Galen, Jesse, Ned
What: Ned decides to ask for some advice of the romantic variety
Where: House 20
When: Day 77
Warning: May cause cavities

Ned has been tossing around the idea in his head for a few days now; when he spots Galen alone in the living room, plucking at his guitar, he decides to go for it. He might not get another opportunity like this for a while, he knows. Galen has (for understandable reasons) been spending a lot of his time with Jesse. It's not exactly that Ned doesn't want Jesse to know, but it's embarrassing enough, thinking about asking this in front of just one person. Being outnumbered by an audience of two would make it too daunting.

He perches himself in a nearby chair, sitting on his hands, the toes of his shoes just touching, waiting for Galen to acknowledge him. No need to interrupt rudely, after all.

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Galen isn't concentrating too hard on playing, so once he's done this particular phrase, he lets it wander off, sits back so he can look up at Ned without kinking up his neck. Of course, the way he's sitting is just kind of amusing, so he squishes back a smile, inclines his head.

"Hey, what's up?" Wow, this is like a hundred times nicer than the last time Ned came in while he was playing. Mostly due to the lack of blood all over Ned.

Oh, that had taken less time than he'd expected. Ned starts off a little flustered, curling forward and clearing his throat, not sure where to begin. Once he's gotten talking, he's convinced it will be easier. It's just broaching the subject in the first place that's difficult. After all, for all he knows, none of his other housemates have any idea there is something going on between him and Daneel. That's about to change. He has no doubt that Galen will tell Jesse and Kenzi, and of course, he doesn't mind that. It's just all strange and formal and untrodden territory for him. He's not used to having housemates, having friends, having to navigate this kind of situation.

"I, uh. I was hoping to ask for some advice, actually." Good. That was a start. He can feel how hot his face has gone but he resolutely ignores it. "Um. Romance advice."

There. Start nonspecific. This way, if he doesn't like Galen's reaction he can still come up with a lie, still get himself out of this without revealing too much.

Edited 2013-06-01 02:05 (UTC)

Galen almost laughs, but it's not at Ned; it's because Ned's coming to him for this, which is sort of a surprise. Galen can be pretty romantic, sure, but the last two huge romantic things to happen to him kind of snuck under his nose in the least romantic way possible.

Smiling, he sets the guitar across his lap. "Sorry -- I'm just surprised you're asking me. What kind of romance advice?" And does it have to do with the guy Ned invited in, he wonders. Whatever it is, he's happy to help -- or try, at least.

"Is there someone better I should ask?" Ned doesn't want to make a nuisance of himself, but he can't think of anyone better than Galen. Jesse is always an option - Ned had hoped to hit him up later in the day, depending on how it looked like he was feeling. Kenzi... wouldn't let him hear the end of it, he expects. He's friends with other people, but not the sort of friends that this conversation really calls for.

But when Galen looks amused but willing to help, Ned goes on, blurting out the words in a nervous rush. "All kinds?" No, that really isn't very helpful, is it. After all, there are some things that Ned can manage on his own. "Let's pretend there's someone I wanted to... to take on a date, or on whatever the equivalent of a date is in this place. Something really enjoyable and romantic, you know? What would be good? Is it better to go cheesy, with candles and, I don't know, dancing and soft focus and that kind of thing? Or maybe something more casual? Walk on the beach - do people even do that? I don't know, it's not like there's anything to do here, and I don't exactly have a lot of practice with this kind of thing..."

He's just gonna stop talking now, before he's so mortified that he actually bursts into flames.

He's trying not to laugh, but sometimes Ned goes on these nervous tirades and it's endearing. Galen waits for him to stop himself, then considers the question. Or... the several questions.

"Uh -- it depends on the person? Like --" Hmm. "Like some people are all about fancy dinners, but Jesse and I are more pizza and a walk type people." He has to imagine Jesse dressed up for dinner, and it almost makes him laugh. Moderately dressing up to meet his dad was funny enough.

"But I guess options are kinda limited around here. I'm gonna say, though -- don't try too hard. A walk on the beach or, like, any quiet spot alone together is a nice place to start. Not... that the beach is always quiet." The beach, where occasionally you get the shit scared out of you by Norse gods. "You don't need candles and roses and shit to make something romantic, is all I'm saying."

"Well dinners of any kind are off the table-" ha, get it, off the table? Ned's a comedy riot, "-since he, um. Doesn't eat."

Which, if Galen's been paying any attention at all, is a pretty clear statement who he is talking about (hypothetically, of course). There are plenty of very strange types in this place, but only one person (that Ned knows of) who has absolutely no need for or enjoyment of food, and that would be Daneel. He goes a bit pinker in the face, continues resolutely, "Usually I just make people pie."

Yes, Galen, that really is Ned's solution to nearly any social quandary. "That and, y'know. I guess I'm not used to being the one calling the shots." The people who'd asked him out back home had always had had very firm ideas about where they would go and what they would do there. Ned tended to attract that kind of person, for whatever reason. But Daneel is the exact opposite.

"I'll try not to try too hard," he says, with an earnestness that is doubtless missing the point. "Um. How do you know how hard is too hard?" Ned isn't good at this nonchalance thing, and he knows it. He buries his face in his hands, but his smiling, too. "Sorry. I realize I'm acting like a bit of an idiot here. I just really really don't want to mess this up."

He doesn't eat. Well, that confirms things for Galen, at least; he doesn't know Daneel very well, but he does know that the guy is an android. He can put two and two together, and subsequently stifle the questions that spring up once he does. Those can wait, no matter how curious he is about that kind of relationship dynamic.

Galen grins and sits up, reaching to set his guitar against the arm of the chair so he can lean his elbows on his knees.

"I think too hard is if you're, like -- hey, you'll know, don't worry. What does he like? Is there anywhere around town that's special to you, like, where you met, or something like that?" Hey, it's possible. For him, it's the cemetery, of all places, with Kenzi. "Think of it like making a pie, man. Gotta get that crust down, and it's gotta mean something. It doesn't have to be heavy handed, just get inspiration from whatever you like about him. Cuz the best romantic dates are the ones that make you feel like your time together has made an impact."

He hopes Ned is following, and hopes that he's not being too vague with his explanation. Stuff like this is tricky to put into words.

Ned isn't sure he will know, but he takes Galen's word for it. The question of what Daneel likes is a slightly more tricky one. Even something as simple as having preferences for things can be complicated, for Daneel. Still, that doesn't mean he is completely without them. Ned has noticed a few, in their time together.

Galen's pie metaphor is actually quite helpful to Ned's understanding. "So the most important thing is that it's something or someplace significant to the two of us," he summarizes, looking to Galen for confirmation. What places might be suitable?

"We met by the fountain on the first day, but I'd only just gotten here and I was having a panic attack, so it's not exactly romantic, plus, it's not there anymore." Chunks of it were, but that's not the same. "There's the beach, I guess. When... you know that week of-" Ned gestures emphatically with one hand, "-crazy. He was a human for a bit so we went swimming, except he kind of almost drowned, so that might not be a good idea either."

Ned worries that he's rambling too much, that Galen is going to get impatient and tell him to just figure it out on his own. But he's still smiling, even put aside his guitar so he could pay attention. A little bolstered, Ned goes on talking. It's surprisingly... nice. To have someone to tell these things to. River knows about him and Daneel, but she's also psychic, which means she already knows anything he would be about to tell her. "Mainly it's, y'know, here, but I see him here all the time. We live here. That doesn't count as a date. And I need it to be clear that that is what it is."

Edited 2013-06-03 19:02 (UTC)

It's like Jesse knows there's someone talking about dates. Who forgot to notify him? He is the master of dates. He is so romantic he doesn't know what to do with himself. That's - only partially true, but hey, he does want to help. Jesse had been meaning to go downstairs to lay all over Galen and totally disrupt him in his guitar playing like the ass he is, so when he hears the distinct lack of music from downstairs, he has to investigate.

And then there's Ned, fidgety as usual, with Galen grinning at him, and Jesse catches the last bit. Date! Everybody loves dates. Jesse catapults over the back of the couch to sit right next to Galen. No, he doesn't crush the guitar. That would be awful.

"See, this is a conversation I wanna hear." Who is dating, what is going on, who did the thing, tell Jesse! He's curious. And also in Galen's personal space, as usual, hello.

Honestly, it was only a matter of time. Galen welcomes the intrusion, though, pushes at Jesse's face before snatching his hand for himself and continuing like nothing happened. He'll just lace their fingers together, thank you very much.

"Our buddy is looking for romance advice," he explains, smirking at Jesse like he can read his mind. Insert joke about being a romance master here. He looks back to Ned.

"There's always the yard, or something, on a nice night. Or forget the special place thing, maybe go for a special thing... thing. Like dancing, or stargazing, or like you said, a walk on the beach."

Ned smiles at Jesse when he hops over the couch to join them, gives him a little wave of welcome. Apparently, he wasn't going to have to go looking for Jesse later to ask the same question, after all. His earlier apprehension at being too embarrassed to talk about this with both of them at once fades away in the face of Jesse's light-heartedness and Galen's willingness to help.

"Yeah, I am," he confirms when Galen explains that he's asking for advice, rubbing at the back of his neck and ducking his head. Jesse is giving the both of them a look as if demanding explanations. The way the two of them are sitting together so close, with their hands linked, makes it easier for him to just come out and say it openly. "Wanna, um. Do something special for Daneel. But I don't know what."

Hey, would you look at that. He'd just admitted to Jesse (and Galen, explicitly) there's something going on between him and Daneel, and he hadn't even spontaneously combusted in the process! Of course, his cheeks feel as if he had, but there's no helping that. He's always had the kind of complexion that makes it impossible to hide when he's embarrassed or pleased or nervous or the odd combination of all three that he is feeling right now.

He sneaks a glance up at the two of them then goes back to fiddling with the cuffs of his sleeves. "Dancing might be nice," he says quietly.

They're secretly the grossest, cuddliest couple, and really, all Jesse wants is to see everybody have the sort of love that he has with Galen, if they want it. There's nothing like having someone who makes you feel like you're the most important thing in the world. So Ned asking for romantic advice means Jesse is paying attention - doubly so because it's Daneel.

Aw, his cheeks going red is adorable.

"Dancing's good," Jesse agrees, grinning. He watches Ned for a second, and then continues: "Back home, I used to take Galen out for food and then we'd walk. Like, Central Park, right? So it was real dark and the stars were out, and we sat by the water and just talked. Think I made Galen sing t'me, too." And also made out, let's be real.

"Y'could take him to the beach at night and dance with him?" Jesse suggests, glancing up at Galen. "Nothing better than the sound of the waves at night."

Like it's a secret. Maybe back home, but anyone around Kore who isn't aware of that fact probably needs their eyes checked. And it's surprising, how okay Galen is with that.

"Yeah, that sounds pretty date-y to me," he agrees. "And a hell of a lot less light pollution than Manhattan. Oh -- dude, if you wanna drive the date thing home, give him some of the flowers you grew. I mean -- if he'd like that kinda thing." Do androids appreciate flowers? One of the mysteries of life. "They came from you, that's kinda sweet, actually."

Ned thinks that Jesse and Galen's dates back in New York sound divinely romantic. It's still odd, to think of himself not just as someone who can listen to such stories and enjoy them vicariously, with a side-dish of envy and loneliness. Now, he's listening with a plagiarist's attention for anything he can copy.

"Dancing on the beach at night..." he thinks that sounds plausible. It's been getting warmer, and while it's not necessarily tailored just to what Daneel would like, well, there's nothing he can do about that. He doesn't exactly know what Daneel would like, any more than Daneel does. But it would make him happy, and he's starting to get that making him happy makes Daneel happy, so it's a roundabout way of pleasing him.

When Galen makes his suggestion about flowers Ned ducks his head a bit further, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I brought him some lilacs. When he moved in. He really liked them when he was human, so I figured, even if he couldn't enjoy them the same way anymore, he'd know that I remembered." He's grinning like an idiot but he absolutely can't help it. He's just so happy. He's not accustomed to happiness like this. He doesn't know how to control it, how to cope with it.

What he does notice is that he rather likes being able to talk about it, with Galen and Jesse. To have friends he can gossip with about his love life.

"He seemed to really like those. Said no one had given him flowers before, so I guess more wouldn't go amiss."

Jesse's getting a kick out of this, if only because it means that Ned's comfortable enough with the two of them to ask for help. It's nice, even more so because seeing Ned this ridiculously happy makes Jesse feel better about a lot of things.

"Yeah - see, there y'go," Jesse says, encouragingly. "First person t'bring him flowers. Keep that trend going, he'll remember. Y'can make it a thing. Like an in-joke kinda thing, y'know?" It's not really a joke, but he gestures vaguely anyway to make his point. A beat, and then he cuddles a little closer to Galen, watching Ned with a small smile.

"I don't think it really matters what y'do. The fact that yer so worried 'bout making it perfect means you care that much. You gotta be blind t'not see how fuckin' smitten you are with the guy." Seriously, it's radiating out of the dude's pores.

Galen smiles, glad that they now seem to have a basic idea. The flower thing is nice, too, and it makes Galen wish that he and Jesse had a relationship in-joke of their own. Maybe eventually.

He nods, settles back against the couch again, against Jesse's side. "Yeah, man, you're into it, you'll pull it off. I mean, you already got him to move in with you." Usually that happens after the dates! Ned's pretty much got that retroactively covered.

A trend. Yes, Ned likes the sound of that. They've already got a bit of a trend like that going already - after all, the flowers weren't the only first that Ned and Daneel had shared together. Some of those firsts weren't all that happy and weren't all that romantic, but others definitely were.

He buries his face in his hands again when Jesse says he's smitten, because he is, isn't he, and apparently it's obvious even to people like Jesse and Galen. They haven't got psychic powers or empathy or whatever like Daneel or River, but in this particular area Meyer's instruction has done absolutely nothing to improve his poker face. He knows he must seem like a love-struck schoolgirl, but he just doesn't care.

Galen mentions the moving in thing and Ned does laugh, looking up at last and pushing his hair out of his face. "Yeeeaaahhh, I've been meaning to say sorry about that, but I've been putting it off because, you know, coward and all." Oh look, even when Ned is this happy, he still manages to slip in just a dash of low self-esteem! "I probably should've asked you guys if you minded, first. It was sort of an impulse thing. It's just that his house was almost empty, y'know? All his friends had disappeared, and Kenzi had just disappeared, and I couldn't stop thinking about how lonely he must've been, all by himself in there. Plus, um," it really is mortifying to admit this, but he does, in the interest of full disclosure, and because he's pretty sure neither of them is going to judge him too harshly, "I was also really, really drunk."

Jesse rolls his eyes and waves his hand again when Ned says sorry, because it doesn't really matter to him. There are people he'd rather not have move into the house but Daneel has never been one of them. "S'alright, man. I don't care. He don't need much anyway, yeah, like, he don't eat or sleep and he's real fuckin' pleasant to be around, so." Jesse pauses, though, and peers over at Ned, grinning.

"Really, really drunk, huh? Tell me you John Hughes'd it. Boombox above your head, flowers, the whole thing."

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so what do I do with this?

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sneaks in here

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