thenearshore | [ Closed ]

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[ Closed ]

Who: Roxas and Jakob
Where: Hak’s temple
When: January 18, 2017
What: Awkward friendship things dON’T LOOK AT HIM—
Warnings: Nothing; this is probably going to be disgustingly wholesome.

Partly fueled by stress, and partly spurred on by the winter’s chill, Jakob had over the course of the several days since his reentry into the Far Shore knitted rather too many sweaters, scarves, hats, and mittens. Most of them were to be distributed to his housemates to keep them nice and cozy, but he also knew that the New Year’s was also an important gift-giving occasion in the Near Shore.

Not that he’d ever admit to handing out his needlework because of that.

Still, here he is now, calling on Roxas at his place of residence, his gift for the season tucked safely out of the way inside his jacket as he put on his best smile for Roxas. If it looks a little strained, it’s because he’s nervous as fuck, for some reason.

“Er, good day. I apologize for dropping in so unexpectedly…”

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Roxas for one was excited to have a visitor. It doesn't happen often and it gives him a possible chance to show off a furry addition to the household. Plus, it's Jakob visiting. That makes things 100% greater.

He's practically bouncing. Excuse him. "Jakob! It's okay. I don't mind." This is great. "Do you want to come inside? It's a lot warmer in here."

This…This is a pretty unexpected reception. Jakob looks even more lost now, as he watches Roxas bouncing up and down, all excitement at…seeing him? Of all people?!

“Er, yes, well…” Clearing his throat. Yes. He hadn’t thought to come inside, but it’s probably better if their…business is conducted in private, anyway.

“If you do not mind, that is. I don’t wish to impose.”

Jakob has some interesting expressions. It was pretty easy to tell what the other was thinking, if Roxas wasn't oblivious to a lot of things.

"I don't mind." He moves aside to let Jakob come in before he looks around. "There's someone I want you to meet since you're here. I got a cat!"

Which happens to show up right on time. A gigantic, orange Maine Coon who looks like he's been in a fight or two. "Jellybean, this is Jakob. He's my friend."

Well guess what—he goes through another complicated set of expressions, varying from surprise to even mild distaste—at the sight of the cat. Which he’s trying very hard not to judge because it’s Roxas’s cat but he’s been around cat people for way too long, and while he’s never hated the damn things he’s never loved them either.

Plus, it looks like it wants to kill him. Or at any rate scratch up his furniture.

Do it for Roxas do it for Roxas do it for Roxas… “Yes, er. Nice to meet you to, Jellybean.” With an effort, he even manages to reach out a hand to pet him…

Jellybean stares at Jakob before turning tail and walking off. Roxas looks a little startled as he turns to Jakob. "You don't like cats?"

It's the only thing he can think of making his loving beast of a cat walk off like that. At least one of them is intuitive enough to know when they aren't wanted around. "It's okay if you don't like them. I know not everyone does. But Jellybean's been really nice and scaring off all the crows for me when we sit on the roof!"

Well. It could have been worse. Jakob actually looks…relieved—at least until Roxas turns to him with disappointment, oh no…

“Er, I do not dislike them…” Maybe indifferent is more like it? “It appears that I can only get along with certain kinds of cats.”

Or maybe Jellybean can smell the jerk on him…!

"Oh. That's okay." Roxas gives Jakob a smile before closing the door behind the taller man to keep the cold out. Then he thinks hard about what one is supposed to do with guests....

"Tea! Do you want some? I figured out how to make it the other day."

Let him make you some tea, Jakob!!

“Tea? I would—I would…that is…” He immediately recalls the time Roxas had made him tea—and had put him on time out—in what feels like so long ago. He has to avert his gaze and look down, making the pretense of bowing in gratitude so Roxas won’t see an even more damning expression on him.

“I am grateful for your hospitality.”

"You're really formal, you know that?" Roxas laughs a bit and heads to the kitchen. Since he's been watching TV on his phone, he may have gone out and grabbed some electronics and things without telling his god. Also loose leaf tea. They seemed to taste better than bagged kind.

"Is there a tea you like a lot? It don't have many flavors, but there's more than just black and green."

At least even without his memories Roxas is still sensible about his tea habits.

“I apologize. Black tea would be fine,” he responds, recovering somewhat from his emotions. And despite himself, he couldn’t help adding, “Does my…formality bother you?”

"Do you want cream or sugar with your tea?" There is going to be rather cute silicone tea strainers filled with some black tea. Jakob gets a shark and Roxas opts for a dinosaur. The hot water gets poured over them when it's ready and the small blond watches the water change color in the cups.

"Not really. It's what you do, but you don't always have to be formal with me. If you wanna talk more relaxed you can. Being polite all the time seems like it's tiring..."

He even has cute tastes…! Though he is mildly surprised that there aren’t any cat-based accessories involved, he refrains from asking about it for the time being.

“A little cream would be fine, thank you,” he quickly replies, still feeling a bit awkward at being the one served again. But more importantly…

“But…I suppose I’m not used to being anything but polite.” At least when it comes to people he actually cares about. Mostly. Add is sort of an outlier in a lot of ways. “In fact I—I feel stranger if I don’t treat you with the utmost respect.”

There's more to life than cats!!! Also, the cat one needs to be washed since he used it earlier.

Roxas nods and waits till he thinks the tea is just right before removing the strainers. They're set into a little bowl to drain as he ads cream to Jakob's and sugar to his own. They're not fancy cups, but they're a good size with little cherry petals on them. Have some tea, Jakob.

"I still feel bad that I don't remember why you would respect me so much..." Keeps being told not to dwell, but it's hard. Even if at times he feels like his skin is being pricked. No one needs to be told that Roxas has a few blight spots on him already. "If you ever feel like just talking however you want, I wouldn't get mad."

Jakob doesn’t mind the shark at any rate, and he accepts the tea with both hands and a muttered thanks and even a bow. Sorry about that. Hard to break old habits.

“You needn’t concern yourself about it, of course. If you like, I will make an effort so sound more…” What was it? “Relaxed.”

Jakob!!! Bowing is a little much, but Roxas will pretend he didn't see it. Polite people should be humored, and Jakob is a friend, so a lot more will be looked past and ignored when it comes to mannerisms. Except murder. Roxas will not tolerate murder, so Jakob has a lot of leeway to do what he wants around the tiny blond.

"Yeah! Like... if you don't feel like saying 'I beg your pardon' if you bump into someone, just say 'excuse me'. Or..." What else is super polite? "'I doth protest' becomes 'I don't like it'. Things like that."

What if he would commit murder for the tiny blond—

“As you wish—I mean…” He’s struggling, dammit! This is harder than it looks. “I…I see?” he stammers. Is that…Is that informal enough for him?

NO, JAKOB, NO MURDER. Unless you don't get caught and Roxas never hears of it.

"....." Roxas laughs softly, a big smile on his face. "Yes! Like that! See, you can do it!" And this tiny little blond looks so proud of Jakob!!!

Dammit. He feels a knot in his chest at that smile. Would his own Roxas smile that way someday? No—they’re both different, and he cares about them both in very different ways.

He realizes one important fact from all of this however, as he turns his face down with an embarrassed flush: he’d do anything to protect that smile.

“I…am happy that it pleases—that is, I am glad that you are…glad?” Why is this making him feel so tongue-tied, though?! It’s like he’s learning an entirely new language!

At least this time around the Roxas' will get along. Woe be to Jakob if they ever decide to team up to mess with the butler.

Delight is what Roxas feels as Jakob keeps trying. His smile isn't going anywhere anytime soon as he sips at his tea. Then he gets an idea. Can he make Jakob smile or laugh? "I am very pleased that you are trying ever so hard to sound more casual." Is that polite enough? Should he try harder?

He’s gonna die—

Or die even harder as he chokes on his own tea at that response. Roxas please. In his heart of hearts he knows precisely what Roxas is trying to do and he’s not sure how to handle it. Should he laugh? Cry?

Nope, he’ll sputter instead and pretend he doesn’t get it. Yeah.

“I—I’m sorry?”

Not the reaction that he hoped for, but Roxas is still pleased. Trying not to let it show isn't working so he he grins at Jakob. "You heard me."

Ever think you'd see this blond smile like a cat that caught a canary? Well, now you're seeing it.

With his tea in hand, Jakob does his very best to pretty much melt into the background where he can die in peace—but no such luck, not with Roxas’s expectant gaze pinning him in place. Meep.

How is he supposed to answer that his brain’s gonna explode at this rate—

“Then…that was…erm…a good one?”

Jakob. Jakob, Jakob, Jakob. You are really easy to read right now, and of course Roxas wants to take advantage of it. Yet he knows not to take it too far. Even if it's fun, it could chase Jakob away. So he sits back and laughs a bit.

"Right? I really have to think hard to be polite... Maybe I should practice it more and use it when people don't expect it." Like whenever Jakob isn't expecting it.

Jakob ducks his head, utterly embarrassed though he isn’t exactly sure why.

“I…I’m sure the way you usually speak is quite all right…” he meekly attempts, a little horrified at what Roxas has unleashed here. Gotta nip it in the bud while he still can, okay.

Toooooo late, Jakob. Too late. Can't nip this anymore. Roxas knows full well what he's doing and will continues to do so.

"Yeah, but wouldn't it be nice to be able to talk to polite people and not look like a kid who doesn't know anything?"

Let him dream…

“Oh, but I’m—” And then his eyes grow wide with panic when he realizes the implications of that: “My lo—Roxas, that is—I am truly sorry if I’ve treated you that way!”

"No, not really. Others have, but not you. You've always been really nice with me." Jakob is a good person. Not like others who find out that Roxas doesn't know something and go from being nice to overly critical like he was an idiot.

"I don't know a lot about the world, and I've been picked on for that."

He immediately leaps to his feet at that, though the tea is still perfectly balanced in his hands because he’s not a fucking barbarian, after all.

“Who would dare to do such a thing?!”

That... is certainly a reaction. He squeaks and sits up straighter, not too sure if he should tell Jakob just who said those things, or change the conversation.

"I-I don't mind! I know I don't know a lot!"

“That is but the consequence of becoming a shinki!” But really there’s more to it than that—sorry you got him all fired up like this, Roxas.

“I cannot tolerate such an insult to a—a friend of mine. Who would have the gall to treat you this way? I shall demand satisfaction—”

"I just have to-" Wait. Waaaaaaaait. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT A MOMENT.

Roxas stops and stares at Jakob for a good minute before he breaks into a wide smile. "You called me your friend!"

“YES, and furthermore—” He stops, the full implications of that reply finally sinking in before his face immediately flushes in embarrassment.

“Oh, erm…” How does he even begin to explain this away, anyway?! Better to change the subject: “Please forgive me for my outburst. I hardly know what’s come over me—”

Ahhhhh this is the greatest day! Tea with a friend who just called him a friend! Not just agreeing to be friends! Jakob confirmed it. Roxas is going to be smiling for quite a while because of this.

"Don't be sorry!" He's trying to calm down enough so he won't accidentally shout. "I'm happy. Really happy. I'm glad you think I'm your friend."

But he thought he’d already confirmed it—

“If…If it makes you happy, then…” He’s not sure why, since he doesn’t think he’s all that special and friendship is still gross—except when it isn’t. Except when it’s Roxas, and he can feel a little flutter of warmth in his heart.

Gross.

“Then I am happy to be of service.”

Yes. Reluctantly. This was unprompted and started on Jakob's end. Much more special that way.

"Do you want some snacks? More tea?" Anything??? Please let your tiny friend here spoil you in some way because he's just so happy right now.

Pleeeeaaaaase.

Whoa whoa wait one thing at a time!! Evidently he still has a lot to process with how gleeful Roxas is being.

But ugh, that look…that patented Roxas look…

“I…suppose more tea would be nice.” He guesses. He’s still not entirely convinced that shit like this is what makes Roxas happy, even if Jakob does exactly this to the people he genuinely cares about, oops.

No one can say no to that look, and if they do, they must be heartless. And Roxas can be pretty easy to please, so yes, this makes him happy, no matter what Jakob thinks.

Roxas gets up and takes Jakob's cup and his own to make more tea. "So what did you come here for? You never told me that."

He’s never going to get used to Roxas’s unfathomably mysterious ways. And maybe asking for more tea had been a bad idea. Now he can’t even fidget with it, and there’s still that tiny little issue of his visit that Roxas has been so kind as to bring up.

Oh gods, he’s not sure how he’s supposed to proceed with that anymore. Clearing his throat, ostensibly to buy himself a little time, he replies, “Ah…yes. I was concerned about the climate as of late and thought I might render some small assist—er, ‘help you out,’ is it?”

Look, when visiting with friends, you get the fun things out of the way before you proceed to the next part of the visit. Right? Anyone should know that!

As the water is coming to a boil, Roxas tilts his head. Climate? Oh! Jakob must mean the weather. But how could he assist with it being so cold? "Really? How can you do that?"

Why can’t he just get the less fun things out of the way and run—

“It isn’t not much, but…” He slips a hand inside his coat at last and produces a small package, wrapped carefully in paper and twine like any ordinary package instead of a Christmas-y one. But the contents therein are definitely soft and thick, for they are a pair of lovingly knitted mittens with deer antlers woven in—a pattern he’d copied from the pendant that had once given him access to Artemis’s temple, as a matter of fact.

Jakob, that's not how this works!!!

A present? Roxas carefully unwraps it and gasps at the contents. These mittens were so pretty, though he wonders about the antlers. It's lovely no matter what it means. He puts them on and moves his fingers around, finding them a perfect fit, nice and warm. "I like them! Thanks, Jakob!"

It only occurs to Jakob then that the antlers might be a bad idea, if only because it would remind Roxas of things he’s not supposed to remember. But thankfully he doesn’t seem affected at all, and Jakob releases a breath he doesn’t know he’s even holding.

“I am truly relieved.” Right, he’d better clarify that. “That is, I hope you’ll find them useful.”

Finger wiggling happens as he sees just how much range he has in them and it's good to know that these would not impede him from anything. Pretty, useful, and made by a friend! Greatest gift ever.

"I know I will. I kept using the sleeves of my coat to cover my hands. Now I can keep them uncovered but they won't freeze." Ahhh Jakob is so great and thoughtful. "You're really amazing! I didn't know you could make mittens."

A perfect fit! Having the other Roxas for a size reference was pretty handy. Emboldened at this success and at Roxas’s evident cheer, Jakob can’t help but reply, “Why, I can make all sorts of things. Creating an entire wardrobe for you is simply child’s play to me.”

Roxas can't help himself when he rubs the mittens against his face. Now his cheeks are nice and warm and he's really looking forward to trying these out in the cold weather. Jakob was the best person in the world right now for this. Which makes Roxas blink a few times. "You can make other clothes?"

“Indeed. I can make most anything you might require.” He’s definitely digging his own grave here, but look, he can’t help it with how happy Roxas seems by something like this. He’s touched, dammit!

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