Doug snorted, not quite realizing how super serious such a thing might be for Chu-E; Far as he was concerned...

"You are not that old, Ki!" The youth said with a laugh; the man didn't even look like he was in his 30s yet. "Just go tell the guy ya like'im. One way or another, ya'll save both of yer times. If he don't like ya back it won't matter what fancy gifts ya get. If he does, he'll say yes even if ya come empty handed."

Be direct, be honest and have fun was his policy, and it seemed to work fine.

Chu-E didn't seem to be in the mood to talk about relationships anymore however, and the subject soon became the upcoming festival in Oldale.

The one he would most certainly, totally not be going to.

"Nope! I'll be busy elsewhere." He said, far too cheerily for someone talking about how he would essentially miss the party, before pouting heavily at the man, blowing a raspberry at him. "Oi, don't jinx it! If shit hits the fan they'll be bangin' at m'door!"

The last thing he needed was them interrupting his visit. He was already on a long waiting list, damn it.

---

TAG: @chue

"That's a shame. I'll pick you up a Tauros plushie. If nothing totally stupid and dumb happens, that is." He snorted some, grinning a little just to prod at the boy a bit. "Mind if I be nosy and ask what you'll be doing instead? You seem like the type who would like festivals." Since John Sullivan had bothered to mess around with the whole speed date thing, anyway.

A few more berries were dropped into the basket as Chu-e tried to think on where to continue this conversation. He snapped, suddenly, like something had just occurred to him, turning again (and stopping work. again.) to address Doug.

"You were at the church! Sorry for not talking to you, I was, like, kind of not sure what to do there and then a bunch of crazy shit happened. I was just there because I was nosy, then to support whatever scheme chryssa glasgow had." He perked up a bit at that, a glint in his eye. "Have you met Chryssa, by the way? She's crazy and so funny. She'll rule the world one day. You should meet up if you haven't."

"Step on a lego, Ki." He said dryly to the other man, cursing him to a fate worse than death. "Now that you've gone and jinxed it, I'm blaming ya if anythin' happens!"

It was a joke, of course. There was no reason for anything to happen. Right... Right?

Right.

With a hum, the youth continued to pack berries into the basket, answering absentmindedly.

"Festivals are fine. I would rather spend Valentine Day's night with someone special, though." He said simply, before glancing back at Ki and shrugging with a grin. "So that's what I'll be doing."

He wasn't much for wishy washy nonsense. If he liked someone, he was direct about it. If he wanted something, he tried to get it. Reservations were just a waste of time.

"I sure was, thanks for noticing! I thought I would die from boredom from all that talking." He said, before rolling his eyes. "And then I just almost died from the fire."

He picked up another berry, putting it into his basket before casually speaking as he grabbed another.

"Course I know the Empress." He said. "We're spending Valentine's together."

---

TAG: Chu-e Choi

Chu-e made a scandalized noise but grinned to himself. Eyes were sharp and assessing, as if he had taken a mental step back and was really giving John Sullivan a proper look-over for the first time. Even if Doug didn't know it, it was with the same intensity that many of his Johto Aunties had when his older sister had brought home her first boyfriend. Like a shark to blood.

"I see, I see." Raising a brow, he laughed loud and bright suddenly; even slapping a hand over his mouth as the noises surprised even he himself. "I've mentally adopted her as my niece. You're also free from a shovel talk because I know very well she could chew you up, spit you out, and you'd thank her. Good luck with your date, kid." Another small chuckle left him.

"I am worried about her, though.... If she wants to kill God or whatever she's planning, I just hope she reaches out. She's got a spine made of iron but you can't do some stuff on your own no matter what you think." Sighing wistfully, Chu-e glanced back at the bushes and then their baskets.