pslplz | Ship-testing catchall

Awesome, classy, hot? Mizuki blinked and let it sink in that this was how Mari had described him (and apparently Rasu agreed with said description? Somehow, he found this even more surprising than the fact that Mari had inadvertently set up two people who were already acquainted with each other). Mizuki colored just a little and had to think for a moment before he could respond.

"Er. Of course you should stay," he said, regaining his composure. He felt a little out of his element, being on a date with someone he was more accustomed to supervising. And it was somewhat embarrassing to realize that Rasu now knew that Mizuki was the sort of person who needed to be set up on blind dates to begin with.

He quietly reminded himself that they were both in the same boat.

"...And how do you know Mari?"

This was a bit weird. Mizuki was usually so... put together. The poor guy looked uncomfortably human seated in that chair, blushing and blinking and maybe wondering how he related to someone he ordered around at a time when that just wasn't appropriate.

But it looked like they had agreement to stay and enjoy it anyway. Perfect, because Rasu was hungry and really didn't feel like going off and having to eat by himself. Besides, maybe the bonding time would be good for them, get them on friendlier terms that would make it easier to work together.

"We're childhood friends. I've known her like ten years now-- maybe eleven. Yeah, I think it's eleven now. Anyway, I kind of followed her into the movie industry after she suggested using my martial arts to do the stunt work and fight scenes. What about you? You work together on a movie?"

"I see," Mizuki said. Mari had left out what Rasu did for a living. They worked in a relatively small industry, so it would not have been surprising to know the same people. Mizuki wondered now whether she had been deliberately vague so he would agree to come in the first place. He was going to have a chat with her about this later.

"Yes, we did work together on several productions."

Mizuki picked up his cappuccino cup and took a sip. Now that he had gotten over his initial shock, he could see that Rasu had actually made an effort in his attire. The look was quite the improvement from his usual casual wear.

"Does she often ... introduce you to her friends?"

Rasu laughed with a touch of awkwardness. "I'm not sure how to take that...!"

Was Mizuki suggesting that Mari might find him an embarrassment? That she set him up with every other gay single man she met? Rasu wanted to believe neither was the true spirit of the question.

"Oh. Not in any bad way, I assure you," Mizuki said. He had been curious, only because Mari was obviously closer to Rasu, having known him for so much longer than Mizuki. He wondered then, whether she had set up this date particularly because she thought Mizuki would be Rasu's type. (Was he? He knew Rasu professionally, and maybe they even flirted a little sometimes, but he actually had no idea).

He set his cappuccino cup back into its saucer.

"I don't do this sort of thing very much." The admission was said with a touch of chagrin, but he still held himself proudly. Blind dates didn't have to be awkward, even if it wasn't so 'blind' after all.

Oh. Well, then, that was good to know. Mizuki sometimes seemed a bit like he thought himself above those around him. If he'd been making a subtle snub at either him or Mari, that could have led to a pretty unpleasant conversation. But it wasn't, and Rasu let it go at that, instead focusing on what Mizuki said next. That was a very puzzling statement as well, but for a different reason.

"Really? Why not?" He asked, his own pose relaxed and conversational. "I love 'em. Easy way to meet new people and make friends. Or more. More is always cool, too."

"Easy? I don't know..." Mizuki tilted his head, skeptical. Then again, maybe it was easy for someone as breezy as Rasu. Mizuki liked being prepared and informed in all things, and blind dates by nature deprived him of both.

"And besides which, I am far too busy with work, most of the time."

Rasu would know that, from the long hours that Mizuki often put in during productions. Still, for the right guy -- Mizuki would probably make the time. Keeping busy sometimes made him forget that fact.

Not easy? Hm. Maybe for someone who was socially awkward, but those people tended not to go into management and marketing. Mizuki had never struck Rasu as the sort who tripped over his words, stuck his foot in his mouth, or otherwise fumbled-- quite the opposite. He was articulate, professional and composed. Maybe he didn't like fun.

At the mention of how busy work kept him, though, Rasu arched an eyebrow.

"People make time for what's really important to them," he pointed out. It was true, work did keep Mizuki very busy, but Rasu was also confident that there was more to it than that. Work could keep him pretty busy, too, when it was his turn on the set. The hours were brutal. But it wasn't impossible.

Instinctively, his tone softened as he continued.

"I don't know you well enough to guess the real reason you tend not to go out and meet people much, but I don't buy that it's your schedule. Not deep down."

Of course Mizuki would make the time for something he found worthwhile. He just wasn't convinced that blind dating was something that would fit the criteria. He had well meaning friends, but he didn't necessarily trust them to vet his romantic prospects on his behalf. After all, such a thing like who you fall in love with was very personal. Mizuki wasn't the sort who went on dates in the hope of making friends or even friends with benefits.

He didn't say he objected to going out or meeting people, but he let that technicality slide for the time being.

"And what do you presume it to be?" he said with an arched eyebrow. Rasu seemed to presume much. Mizuki knew that he wasn't being that transparent.

Uh oh. Had he overstepped? He probably just overstepped. Sometimes, it would serve Rasu well to think a little more before he spoke, and to do rather more of that thinking with his brain instead of his mouth. It also occurred to him-- belatedly-- that psychoanalyzing someone to their face could be pretty rude even when you knew them well. Oops. He ducked his head with an apologetic grin.

"I really don't know why. And it's not my place to guess. I just mean, I know you're really organized and dedicated, so it's strange that time would be a thing to stand in your way."

"Hm." Mizuki wondered whether it was backhanded compliment thrown in to placate him, but he decided for the moment that Rasu might just be artless enough to be honest.

He waved his hand to indicate he wasn't offended.

"You don't have to look so apologetic. I should be accustomed to your rather forward approach." He snorted softly and let the matter drop. If Rasu continued to press, Mizuki didn't want to have to admit what he really thought.

"In any case, I'm making the time now. Isn't that what really matters?"

Ask anyone who knew Rasu well, and they would be quick to tell you 'artless' could be his middle name. He wore his heart on his sleeve, his mind with it, and had zero interest in hiding most things.

He also didn't like lingering on things that were uncomfortable, so at the offered opening, he took it.

"Well yeah. It's good to have a break from the set, too. What do you usually like to do when you aren't working?"

"When I'm not working?"

Hm. To be honest, working took up much of Mizuki's time. It was a demanding job and he was a perfectionist, which left little time for other things. ~~Thus the blind date dilemma.~~

"I go to museums, when I can. There's an excellent exhibit on the French Impressionists that just opened at the National Gallery. And cooking. I do that, sometimes."

Mainly because he can be somewhat picky about what he puts in his body. Better to prepare it for yourself, with ingredients where you know their provenance.

Mizuki did stay pretty busy with work. Rasu had noticed that Mizuki was always there before him and still working when he left. Rasu wondered if that was out of passion, dedication, or a combination of the two. Either way, it wasn't really possible to go indefinitely without down time, which left Rasu curious what Mizuki liked to do to unwind.

"Oh yeah, like Monet and stuff? I think I heard about that one. Have you been able to go yet?"

Rasu personally didn't have much of an artistic flair, or even a very deep knowledge of art history, but it was hard to get through all your school years without learning a few of the big names.

"Ah yes, Monet. Though my favorites are Cézanne and Renoir. The exhibit is one of a kind. Those paintings rarely leave their permanent home in Paris, but they made a special exception for this anniversary year," Mizuki said with admiration. "I did see it once when they first opened, but I should very much like to go again, when it is not as crowded."

"Yeah, definitely! For an opportunity that rare, you really want to get the most out of it when you can."

And it was pretty plain even without Mizuki's admission that he'd like to return: this was something big for him. The tone in his voice and the look in his eyes. Rasu had to admire that in a way, the people who could get so enamored with fine arts, which he simply didn't have a good attention span for. He could marvel at someone's ability to paint realistically or write the kind of page-turner that made it to a box office adaptation, and that was about it. And that really wasn't fair to the creators of those works. They deserved fans who could properly appreciate all the talent and effort that went into what they did.

"I don't suppose you are a fan of the French Impressionists?" Mizuki asks teasingly. Though honestly, he's not quite sure. People can have the most unexpected passions. He suspects that Rasu is not the artsy sort, but one never knows.

"I don't know!" Rasu answers with a slight laugh that is perhaps a bit sheepish. "I don't really know enough about it to say. I remember thinking it was pretty unreal how good the masters were at turning blobs of color into portraits and landscapes. Surrealism was my favorite movement from what I remember of art history class. Like, what's that guy's name that did the mermaid but the head half was the fish? That stuff is great.

"Why? You asking me on a second date already?" He grins. Hey, one good tease deserved another. He might even say yes.

Ship-testing catchall

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