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[laserhawk]

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text | un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

Do you like sweets? Like chocolate.

[laserhawk]

Is this for Valentine's?

Because I'm still gay.

[girlybruiser]

It's not like that, Dolph-san!

[laserhawk]

All right.

What is it about then?

[girlybruiser]

I wanted someone to taste test chocolates I'll be making for Valentine's.
I'll be giving Akira-kun home made chocolate and I really want him to enjoy them, so I'm hoping you would be willing to tell me if they're good or not?

[laserhawk]

I don't think I'm much of a taste tester but it's fine with me.

[girlybruiser]

Do you not like chocolates?
If not, I'm sure I could ask someone else.

[laserhawk]

I like them just fine. I just meant if you need someone who can help more, I'm probably not your guy.

1/2

[girlybruiser]

No, I'm fine there. All I need is a mouth.

2/2

[girlybruiser]

[ PHRASING. ]

For sampling the chocolate.

[laserhawk]

Glad to see my assets are appreciated.

All right. Bring them over whenever you want.

→ action

[girlybruiser]

[ He doesn't have to wait too long, as Haru has already prepared most of the chocolates she's planning to give out for Valentine's.

She waves to Dolph when she approaches, as usual needing to crane her neck to better look him in the eye the closer she gets. ]

I'm glad to see you. It's been a while. Is it busy at the club?

[laserhawk]

A little. Definitely better now the lights are back on.

[ most of his own technical troubles have also died down, thankfully. which is good considering it stressed everyone around him. nothing says a good time like dying.

and that also meant he didn't get out much. ]

What about you? Everything okay?

[girlybruiser]

The cafe is functional again, which I'm relieved about.

[ There's only so much one can do in the dark. Power is necessary to keep the cafe running, so it was closed until recently. ]

I spent a lot of time on Eren's farm, though we did venture into the castle. We didn't learn anything, unfortunately.

[laserhawk]

[ dolph gives her a curious look. the mention of eren's farm was somewhat surprising to him. ]

You did, huh?

Well, it's fine. It's hard to gain much from the castle anyway.

[girlybruiser]

I was hoping to learn more about this reality, but perhaps the castle isn't the best place.

[ There will be other opportunities, she hopes.

Little does she know what's on the horizon. ]

Did you explore as well?

[laserhawk]

[ dolph slowly shakes his head, hesitating. ]

No. The blackout affected my systems, so I couldn't move.

[girlybruiser]

Even your...

[ Before she can even finish her sentence, she realizes how it completely makes sense any electronic was affected. Her eyes glean over Dolph's cybernetics, laced with concern. ]

Are you alright now? If I had known, I would have stopped by to help if you needed it.

[laserhawk]

You wouldn't have been able to do anything.

[ it's not meant to be cruel, it's just facts. and dolph hated the idea of lying there, making people sad with his failing body. ]

It's fine now. Everything is stable.

[girlybruiser]

[ Her hand presses against her chest, fingers lightly gripping at her purple coat. ]

I'm glad you're fine now.

[ She can't imagine her body shutting down in that way, against her will. It's frightening to even contend with the idea.

She lifts the container with chocolates inside and puts on a smile. ]

And thank you again for helping. I'm a bit nervous about giving chocolate this year, to be honest...

[laserhawk]

Is this your first time?

[ surely she's done this before? but then again. everyone's a little . . . odd around akira. ]

[girlybruiser]

[ It's not her first, no, but for the specific kind of sentiment going behind the chocolate for Akira?

Her cheeks burn a bit.

Then there's still Minato and Kazuya, leaving a mess of confusing emotions that won't settle in her chest. ]

I've given Valentine's chocolates before, but usually obligation chocolate, as we call it. I'm not sure what Valentine's is like in your world, but where I'm from, the girls give chocolate in February and then the boys reciprocate in March on White Day.

[laserhawk]

[ in his world? dolph frowns for a moment. ]

It's just a commercial thing. I do something with the people I love here but that's about it.

Sounds like it's the same though.

[girlybruiser]

Do you have something special planned for it with your husband?

[ There's a faint, girlish sigh from her; as nervous as she is, she loves Valentine's. ]

... with Eren, too?

[laserhawk]

[ he smiles faintly. ]

Yeah. I try to make sure I have time with all of them.

[ . . . he's going to be busy this month. ]