[ Hong Kong can indeed take the cups to the table while Teshima does a little cleaning up. It wouldn't do to leave it a mess. Doing the dishes can be left for when they're done with their cups. He was mostly done with the cleaning since he was doing as he went, though ]
Back at home, we did bicycle races. When we came here, we got jobs so we could save up and buy new bikes but road racers are really expensive, so it was going to be a while. When I came into the money, I gave him part since he wouldn't make sense to get a bike on my own when we race a partners. He got excited over the money, since it meant we could race and train like we use to.
[ Teshima is such a studious kid. Bless him. He fits in very well with Hong Kong's neatnik tendencies and Iceland's... Nordic austerity. Taking out the carpet, good grief! It's cold.
Okay, back on topic... ]
Oh.
I think I get it, yeah. So he was showing his gratitude. [ Augmented by the landlord interfering. ] What happened next, yeah?
[ He tries. He really does. They're the strangest parents he's ever had, but they aren't bad people. ]
He started getting jumpy and unsure. At first, he was really embarrassed about the kiss, but then communication got disconnected between us. That doesn't usually happen between us. I couldn't read what he was thinking for feeling for a while.
I tried to explain to him that a kiss like that isn't going to stop us from being friends or anything, and I thought that was what he was worried about. In truth, I have no idea. He kissed be again in thanks but...
[ He motioned to his cheek right at the corner of his mouth with such a confused and concerned look.
With everything in the sink and straightened up, he moved to the table to sit down now.]
[ Not all the time, anyway. Hong Kong does like trolling people an awful lot. ]
D'you think- [ He actually cuts himself off, taking a seat at the table and waiting until Teshima joins him to go back to replying. He's quiet for a moment even so, running his finger around the rim of his glass. ]
I guess a kiss like that can get you stuck between two places. Being friends and being something else. [ He points to Teshima. ] You might wanna figure out what 'something else' he could be thinking of.
[ Not... the most straightforward advice, but Hong Kong's not always known for making sense. ]
[ Sometimes the need to be a shit-talking troll trumps the need to be a nice person. Teshima knew that feeling well too.
But 'something else'? The sound of it was so ridiculous, but it would be the one thing he wouldn't be able to read. It's never something he's seen in him before.]
'Something else' gets pretty messy, doesn't it? If you say it like that, I doubt he even knows what 'something else' might be.
[ He looked down at the cup, taking it in his hands as he spoke. ]
Last year my clubmates won a really important race and left me in charge of keeping the crown with us. I decided in order to become serious about keeping up their legacy, I didn't need 'something else' with anything else but the race.
Wow. That's pretty serious. [ He looks at Teshima, a bit flummoxed. Dad has new respect for you, kiddo! ] I admire your dedication.
[ With his hands cupped loosely around the mug of tea, he shifts it back and forth in his hands, careful not to spill any. He then raises it to his lips, blowing softly and sipping. He hums softly to show he approves, then lowers the cup again. ]
[ He had to think about it before answering. It wasn't his relationship with just anyone that he was considering. The sound of approval was good, at least. If Hong Kong approved of it, then he knew it was good. ]
On the side of positivity, Aoyagi is my vice-captain. It doesn't endanger anything since the race is important to the both of us. I depend on him more than anyone else. He's the confidence that I don't have in myself and the push I need to go all of the way.
All of that aside, I don't want to risk our relationship. I don't want my half-hearted 'anything is fine' attitude towards 'something else' to be the reason our friendship could collapse.
[ Hong Kong sort of... stares at Teshima over the rim of his cup. ]
Are you sure you're a teenager? You're so responsible. I'm 170-something and I'm way less responsible than you.
Seriously though, I think you're a trustworthy person, when it comes to the feelings of other people, yeah? You picked up on what was going on with Iceland and me right away and you've had better advice on that than most people.
[ Well. He hasn't gotten TOO much advice about it. But he's gotten some suspect suggestions. ]
It sounds to me like you really trust him, too. Between that and how dedicated you are to what you both love, I'd say you're like, light-years from half-hearted. That's just what I'm seeing, anyway.
You're going to make me blush, dad. I just do what I have to. Living with you and Iceland gives me something of an edge.
[ He was chuckling at everything Hong Kong said. It was nice to hear praise over it, and that he was, at least, this trustworthy. If only his skills could match his will, then he wouldn't need to worry so much about his ability. ]
What you're saying is you think I'll make the right choice, or the dumber, safer choice. Whichever ends up coming out first.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Hong Kong can indeed take the cups to the table while Teshima does a little cleaning up. It wouldn't do to leave it a mess. Doing the dishes can be left for when they're done with their cups. He was mostly done with the cleaning since he was doing as he went, though ]
Back at home, we did bicycle races. When we came here, we got jobs so we could save up and buy new bikes but road racers are really expensive, so it was going to be a while. When I came into the money, I gave him part since he wouldn't make sense to get a bike on my own when we race a partners. He got excited over the money, since it meant we could race and train like we use to.
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Okay, back on topic... ]
Oh.
I think I get it, yeah. So he was showing his gratitude. [ Augmented by the landlord interfering. ] What happened next, yeah?
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He started getting jumpy and unsure. At first, he was really embarrassed about the kiss, but then communication got disconnected between us. That doesn't usually happen between us. I couldn't read what he was thinking for feeling for a while.
I tried to explain to him that a kiss like that isn't going to stop us from being friends or anything, and I thought that was what he was worried about. In truth, I have no idea. He kissed be again in thanks but...
[ He motioned to his cheek right at the corner of his mouth with such a confused and concerned look.
With everything in the sink and straightened up, he moved to the table to sit down now.]
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D'you think- [ He actually cuts himself off, taking a seat at the table and waiting until Teshima joins him to go back to replying. He's quiet for a moment even so, running his finger around the rim of his glass. ]
I guess a kiss like that can get you stuck between two places. Being friends and being something else. [ He points to Teshima. ] You might wanna figure out what 'something else' he could be thinking of.
[ Not... the most straightforward advice, but Hong Kong's not always known for making sense. ]
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But 'something else'? The sound of it was so ridiculous, but it would be the one thing he wouldn't be able to read. It's never something he's seen in him before.]
'Something else' gets pretty messy, doesn't it? If you say it like that, I doubt he even knows what 'something else' might be.
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Maybe that's why he's confused. It sounds like he's pretty confused, anyway. But you'd know better than me.
[ He taps his forefinger against the rim of his cup. ]
What about you though? What d'you think about 'something else?'
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[ He looked down at the cup, taking it in his hands as he spoke. ]
Last year my clubmates won a really important race and left me in charge of keeping the crown with us. I decided in order to become serious about keeping up their legacy, I didn't need 'something else' with anything else but the race.
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[ With his hands cupped loosely around the mug of tea, he shifts it back and forth in his hands, careful not to spill any. He then raises it to his lips, blowing softly and sipping. He hums softly to show he approves, then lowers the cup again. ]
And what about now?
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On the side of positivity, Aoyagi is my vice-captain. It doesn't endanger anything since the race is important to the both of us. I depend on him more than anyone else. He's the confidence that I don't have in myself and the push I need to go all of the way.
All of that aside, I don't want to risk our relationship. I don't want my half-hearted 'anything is fine' attitude towards 'something else' to be the reason our friendship could collapse.
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Are you sure you're a teenager? You're so responsible. I'm 170-something and I'm way less responsible than you.
Seriously though, I think you're a trustworthy person, when it comes to the feelings of other people, yeah? You picked up on what was going on with Iceland and me right away and you've had better advice on that than most people.
[ Well. He hasn't gotten TOO much advice about it. But he's gotten some suspect suggestions. ]
It sounds to me like you really trust him, too. Between that and how dedicated you are to what you both love, I'd say you're like, light-years from half-hearted. That's just what I'm seeing, anyway.
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[ He was chuckling at everything Hong Kong said. It was nice to hear praise over it, and that he was, at least, this trustworthy. If only his skills could match his will, then he wouldn't need to worry so much about his ability. ]
What you're saying is you think I'll make the right choice, or the dumber, safer choice. Whichever ends up coming out first.
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[ No comment about the other part, because it's a little funny and also kind of sweet? In a strange way. ]
I'd hope for like, the former. For your sake. Also, I dunno if I wanna take credit for "dumber." Did I say "dumber?"
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If I ever become a dad, I'll make sure they knew any embarrassing traits are their grandfather's fault.
[ Hong Kong was more than old enough for a title like that, so he didn't feel bad using it. ]
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Wow, it's like, I just became a dad a couple of years ago and already I'm gonna be a grandfather.
[ He sips at his tea like a real old man and almost looks nostalgic or something. Under the perpetual line face. ]
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Besides, you're old enough and mature enough for grandkids. You'd do fine.
[ He grinning wide at him, sipping his tea now. ]
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[ And now he's peering over the top of his cup. ]
Thanks for the endorsement, yeah?
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The eleventh. That's when I'll turn eighteen.
[ Not that it's much to a country that's forever old. ]
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That's not too long from now, really. We better hang out after, if you're still here.
[ Ah, they grow up so fast... ]
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It's nine months away. We have plenty of time. I'll also still be here, so I won't be too far away.
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Nine months here does feel like awhile.
[ Says the guy who is nearly two centuries old. ]
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It's a lot of time to me. We'll be fine.
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I'm going to trust you on that, y'know?