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video | dating show attempt #1: naked attraction

[ The video opens from an angle, filming what looks like a film crew and a man wearing a very large cravat talking with Annie. Both faces can be seen from the side. ]

So get this, [ he says, lifting his hands. ] you start out by seeing everyone's bare feet—

[ Annie stares at him, unblinking. The man's smile fixes in place, and he continues on. ]

Then you see their bare legs—

[ Annie continues staring without blinking. Determined, the man goes on. ]

Then you see bare everything from the legs up, and then their faces—

[ Annie stares, her eyes narrowing. ]

Before at last you step out, naked, and—

[ She holds up a hand, cutting him off. ]

When they said this was going to be a dating show, I didn't realise they really meant pornography. A young woman like me might take offense.

[ The man waves his hands, shaking his head. ]

No, no, no! It's not pornography, it's art! There's no touching invol—

[ His voice is cut off as Annie moves forward, her quick throw of the man landing him on his back on the ground with Annie placing one knee on the middle of his chest. His arms are held overhead. He's breathless, wheezing a little, eyes wide from what whites can be seen by the camera, which floats closer. ]

To hell with art. Contact me when you have a real proposal.

[ She pushes up to her feet, dusting herself off with a look of irritation still on her face. Her eyes flit to the camera, then to the one holding it. ]

Turn it off, Fritz. Now.

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[At least it's not totally unheard of in the Pokemon world, so he doesn't stand out too terribly... When Annie says that it doesn't define him, it causes him to break out into a more sincere smile. It'e nice to be told something like that. Even though he likes fashion, he doesn't want it to be a defining feature either... Just something people can appreciate about him.]

In Japan, there's a sort of cultural thing-- "refuse a gift twice before you accept it." Modesty is kinda expected of everyone.

Edited 2019-06-26 02:41 (UTC)

[ No worries, Kazuki, you can be eye candy, but the sum of you as a person is not "eye candy." Not that she knows that term. The point stands!

However, learning this bit of Japanese culture gives her pause. ]

Then with you I should be persistent?

[ An awkward way to ask if she needs to be repetitive for things to? Make sense? Not to take his refusals or turning things away as a true refusal? ]

[He likes the way she phrases that, and lets out a little chuckle.]

If it seems like I'm being coy for no reason, then yeah, maybe you should!

[ She blinks, then lifts an eyebrow. ]

Meaning you'd also be coy on purpose?

[ How the hell is she supposed to know when it's one or the other? More to the point, why would he bother playing coy around her? Can't she just assume anything similar would be a matter of this modesty culture... ]

Ah, that's a good point. I don't think I'd do that... But you read me really well. I think you'd be able to see something like that.

[He'll also admit that he's easy to read in general. Like he's said; he's not a complicated guy.]

Imagining you playing coy is one of the last things that comes to mind when I think about you.

[ She bluntly admits this. Whether or not she's as good at reading him as he thinks is a matter of perspective: she thinks she doesn't do so badly, but there are differences in culture and expectation that throw her off, time to time. She has no guide to Japan, and no immersive life lived there in order to read the people around her to know how to suss out intentions. ]

For one, you're not particularly flirtatious, and I'd figure if you were, it would be genuine instead of... [ She waves her hand. ] Provocative for the sake of it. For another, you don't strike me as the type who'd bother with that kind of word play and body language in most situations. Maybe that would change when you were particularly interested in someone, but either I'd have to witness that, you'd have to tell me, or someone else would have to make the observation.

[ If he was ever curious how she forms opinions on people's tendencies, this is a bit of insight into the process, delivered with a considering air. ]

[There's a saying in Japan, kuuki ga yomenai, meaning that one can't read the air around them and act appropriately. It's a serious insult. Annie would probably get on really well there. Being able to read people and blend in is an enviable trait.]

[Kazuki feels some renewed embarrassment as she begins, but by the time she's finishes, he's almost chuckling.]

At first, you struck me as kinda quiet, but I'm starting to learn how many words you really have in you.

[ She looks away from the camera, tucking hair behind her ear. It's kind of close to the sort of thing she'd had said while she was in the military police, and it wasn't a compliment, really. She's not so much thinking about that right now as... oh. She must be talking too much. ]

That sounds unfortunate.

[ That just makes her wordy................. right. ]

Nah, it's not at all! It means you're really paying attention to what I say and do. That's a compliment, you know? Or that I at least have your interest. And you're right about what you say, so you're not getting the wrong impression.

[ Kazuki this is literally part of what makes her a good... spy...................

He's not wrong, though, in that he does have her interest as a person, so she cares to pay attention instead of doing so by route necessity. It's still weirdly... embarrassing? This isn't a skill praised like this, it's just. She can't even tell if she finds it nice? Her voice quiets a few degrees when she responds. ]

... Either way, I'm glad you're not insulted.

[He'd probably be more careful about what he says if he knew she was involved in such business. Otherwise, it is the sort of thing a person should normally be proud of.]

I'm not insulted by the truth. I... Don't really do flirting. I don't think I know how. A friend once told me that I can burden people with my emotions, but that's just how I am.

[ Her lips are sealed on the subject, and she takes his own self-professed honesty as a necessary topic change. ]

There's enough lack of honesty in the world. Being able to know what you feel, and tell people what you feel... that's a kind of strength. Not everyone can know themselves that well.

[ Her attempt at saying it's not a burden in a bad way is... this. ]

Thanks. [He wants to say, "Like you know yourself, right?" but he keeps it to himself.] I'm glad it's something you appreciate. I know not everyone does.

[ She gives the camera a tilt of her head forward, eyes closing, as acknowledgement. When she looks up again, she carries a speculative air, followed by: ]

Next time I'm heading through town [ his town, she's always in and out of towns and cities while out and about ] I owe you a meal.

[ Since he covered the alcohol last time. She more means "let me take you to food as thanks" but also, given the kick off to this network communication, doesn't want it to be weird. ]

...Heh, okay! [His instinct was to, again, play modest, but after their conversation he ended up catching himself before he did it.] Get your wallet ready, I've got a hollow leg once the dessert menu comes to the table.

[ She nods, as if this is only to be expected. She's also a sweet tooth, so she can appreciate an appetite for the dessert menu. Could she do the same?

No, she'd die from the sugar content, but that's not the point! ]

Got it. I'll call before to give you forewarning.

[Kazuki, on the other hand, metabolizes sugar like a hummingbird. Or like a 20 year old young man. Pretty much the same thing.]

Alright. You take care now! Don't let any weird TV personalities creep on you!

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