Oh, I don't know. It's a little strange for someone who's twenty-one years old to be so solitary, isn't it?
[And there, that tips her hand a bit, revealing a tiny flicker of the motivation that might be driving this particular topic. This isn't the sort of question one asks a four-year-old. It's the sort of conversation that adults have with each other, idly.]
And anyway, you bought a motorcycle because you wanted to know what riding a motorcycle was like. You never went on a date just to see what dating is like?
Is it? I don't mind it. [ He is a bit strange, he guesses. He doesn't mind. ] I like to spend time with a few people, and I'm perfectly happy with them. I don't really feel like I'm solitary at all.
A motorcycle just costs money, though. It's not really the same sort of thing. I don't think I should just go on a date someone on a date to try it out.
[ And, he'll ask it again. ]
Why?
[ And, in case she didn't think he'd try and turn this on her a little bit... ]
What sort of dates to you like to go on, Reimi? I'm sure there's plenty who are completely enamored with a cute girl like you.
It wouldn't be right to do that if you weren't telling the other person why you were doing it, you're right about that. But if they knew and agreed to it, I don't see what's so wrong with it. What makes it unfair is when you give someone the wrong idea, that's all.
[Even though she knows he can't see it, she makes a face at the screen, and then laughs at herself for doing it. Oh, Rohan.]
I told you why! You're twenty-one and accomplished and good-looking, I'm surprised you don't have people throwing themselves at you.
And there's a few people, I'll have you know! I like going on dates, it's fun to do things together with people I like. I went on a date to one of the street festivals that was set up back during Geistnacht, we played games and my date won me a big stuffed animal I wanted. Now every time I see it I think of that, and how much fun I had that night. It's a nice memory.
That's probably the only good thing that happened during that festival. I'm happy for you.
And - I don't know, Reimi. Does 'I want to date you so I can get inspiration for a manga' sound like a really great hook?
I didn't say people didn't want to back home. I got bothered from time to time when I was in Tokyo, but I prefer to spend time with people I actually really like, so I never went.
Well, NO, obviously, but that's why you don't ask like that! You can be honest without being that blunt, you know.
You'd just say something like, "Hey, I'm not looking for anything serious, but I've never been on a date before and I'd like to try the experience." That's all true! It just leaves out the rough part, and everybody does that. Nobody shares all of themselves right off the bat, no matter the reason!
I like people who respect my boundaries. I like when people are good for the sake of it. I hate liars and cheats. And don't look like a slob or have stupid hair.
[ Literally just listed a couple traits in people he either likes or does't like here. And it's not super specific. Does Rohan have a type? No... ]
First impressions count for everything, though.
It's just not that important to me, I guess. I prefer drawing to most people. I don't know, don't you have something you enjoy that you'd rather do than anything else?
I get it, Rohan, you wouldn't date Josuke. That's pretty obvious.
And...
Well, no. I don't have anything like that. I guess maybe...that's what you'd call a "passion", right? I guess maybe I died before I really had a chance to find one. Or maybe I was never going to have one to begin with.
There are things I like! There are things I'm good at, too. But the way you draw...the way you love it so much that you'd ignore everything else just to do it...there isn't anything like that for me.
I wish there was. I envy you, that you feel like that about something.
Yes. I guess it is. [ And mind you, he doesn't see this as a flaw. ] That's how I do everything, though.
[ Does it count, then? Does it count since he doesn't know how to go halfway with anything. He pours every ounce into things, and that's part of why he can't imagine himself...well, doing anything but drawing. Maybe that's why he needs to like people before he'll hang out with them. ]
What? You want to like one thing enough you could easily ignore the other things you just like a little bit?
That doesn't sound at all like you to me. I think you like other people. It's easy to not entertain them when you don't want them around anyway.
I want to be good at something, Rohan. Maybe not famous for it, necessarily, but...
I want to feel like I was meant to do something. You were meant to be a mangaka, it's obvious. You love it, and you're good at it, and it's a part of you. It's a part of who you are.
I don't have that. The thing that became a part of who I am is "ghost". There's no future in that.
I'm just answering your question, you know. You asked whether I had something I like doing more than anything else, and the answer is no. That doesn't mean I'm unhappy with what I have.
...Does it bother you, hearing me admit to something like that? That I don't think I have that sort of "passion", I mean.
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no subject
[And there, that tips her hand a bit, revealing a tiny flicker of the motivation that might be driving this particular topic. This isn't the sort of question one asks a four-year-old. It's the sort of conversation that adults have with each other, idly.]
And anyway, you bought a motorcycle because you wanted to know what riding a motorcycle was like. You never went on a date just to see what dating is like?
no subject
A motorcycle just costs money, though. It's not really the same sort of thing. I don't think I should just go on a date someone on a date to try it out.
[ And, he'll ask it again. ]
Why?
[ And, in case she didn't think he'd try and turn this on her a little bit... ]
What sort of dates to you like to go on, Reimi? I'm sure there's plenty who are completely enamored with a cute girl like you.
[ He sent it. He can't take it back now. ]
no subject
[Even though she knows he can't see it, she makes a face at the screen, and then laughs at herself for doing it. Oh, Rohan.]
I told you why! You're twenty-one and accomplished and good-looking, I'm surprised you don't have people throwing themselves at you.
And there's a few people, I'll have you know! I like going on dates, it's fun to do things together with people I like. I went on a date to one of the street festivals that was set up back during Geistnacht, we played games and my date won me a big stuffed animal I wanted. Now every time I see it I think of that, and how much fun I had that night. It's a nice memory.
no subject
And - I don't know, Reimi. Does 'I want to date you so I can get inspiration for a manga' sound like a really great hook?
I didn't say people didn't want to back home. I got bothered from time to time when I was in Tokyo, but I prefer to spend time with people I actually really like, so I never went.
no subject
You'd just say something like, "Hey, I'm not looking for anything serious, but I've never been on a date before and I'd like to try the experience." That's all true! It just leaves out the rough part, and everybody does that. Nobody shares all of themselves right off the bat, no matter the reason!
So, then...
What do you like in a person, Rohan?
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[ Is he joking. Is he not. It's hard to say. ]
I like people who respect my boundaries. I like when people are good for the sake of it. I hate liars and cheats. And don't look like a slob or have stupid hair.
[ Literally just listed a couple traits in people he either likes or does't like here. And it's not super specific. Does Rohan have a type? No... ]
First impressions count for everything, though.
It's just not that important to me, I guess. I prefer drawing to most people. I don't know, don't you have something you enjoy that you'd rather do than anything else?
no subject
And...
Well, no. I don't have anything like that. I guess maybe...that's what you'd call a "passion", right? I guess maybe I died before I really had a chance to find one. Or maybe I was never going to have one to begin with.
There are things I like! There are things I'm good at, too. But the way you draw...the way you love it so much that you'd ignore everything else just to do it...there isn't anything like that for me.
I wish there was. I envy you, that you feel like that about something.
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Yes. I guess it is. [ And mind you, he doesn't see this as a flaw. ] That's how I do everything, though.
[ Does it count, then? Does it count since he doesn't know how to go halfway with anything. He pours every ounce into things, and that's part of why he can't imagine himself...well, doing anything but drawing. Maybe that's why he needs to like people before he'll hang out with them. ]
What? You want to like one thing enough you could easily ignore the other things you just like a little bit?
That doesn't sound at all like you to me. I think you like other people. It's easy to not entertain them when you don't want them around anyway.
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I want to feel like I was meant to do something. You were meant to be a mangaka, it's obvious. You love it, and you're good at it, and it's a part of you. It's a part of who you are.
I don't have that. The thing that became a part of who I am is "ghost". There's no future in that.
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However, you're not a ghost here, Reimi. You own a cat cafe and have friends, right?
[ Wasn't that something he was working on, after all? Seeing past the history. Seeing past the ghost. ]
I can't tell you how to find something you were meant to do, if it exists. Maybe you're not actually missing anything.
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...Does it bother you, hearing me admit to something like that? That I don't think I have that sort of "passion", I mean.
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Though if you weren't happy, I'd tell you that you should probably do something else until you are. Though, I'm sure you'd figure it out on your own.