driftfleet | video. set during the masquerade

Who: Takeshi and you

Broadcast: Fleetwide

Action: HE'S AT THE MASQUERADE feel free to bug him there!!

When: Night of the party

[During the party, Takeshi makes a very important announcement — while dressed in his very snazzy suit of course.

Glasses count as a mask, right? Right. Just ask Superman.]

[There's a roar of activity around him, and everyone looks like GIANT HUMANOID TREES all around him because he's a goddamn shorty.]

Hi, guys!

I heard people got... dates for the party — but I was worried that some people were kinda shy or they missed getting a date. But it's okay! I decided I was gonna help everyone, 'cus everyone deserves to have a good time and get to have a date to dance with and stuff! I'm not a real good dancer... cus I'm... real short... But!!!

But everyone that doesn't got a date...

[He poses, flexing his arms.]

I'll be everybody's date!!

That's like the buddy system, right? I was told the buddy system's important. Friends can be dates! And I'm everyone's friend, because we're all on a team together... I can't drink beer for probably another bajillion years when I'm really old, and I'm not allowed to get any for my dates like a gentleman 'cus they turned me around and walked me away when I tried, but....

I can get you some cheese snacks!

... And I can open the door for you. And we can play Go Fish.

[But I don't want any girlfriends, okay! I still got a lot to think about before I can have girlfriends.

Sorry to be such a heartbreaker, duh.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh no he's so cute. Qing smiles a little, something a tad more genuine than his usual bright smile. His hanfu is harder to see in the video than the similarly-muted mask, all complementing one another and the soft makeup under said mask.]

That's appreciated. Perhaps more than having a date, just having someone around so you're not alone is nice.

Yeah! Being alone's real bad. It's real sad, y'know.

I was alone before, even though I had a mom. I was always by myself, and it was -- terrible!

So I don't want anyone to hafta' feel that ever again.

[What a good child ~~whose life is unbelievably hellish bc it's Gantz~~

Qing's smile remains, softening in a way that's hard to define properly. It hides the depth of understanding, a bitter sort of recollection.]

You're a pretty noble young man. Are you finding more friends here, at least? It's tough, being alone in spite of having people around.

Oh, yeah...!

Everyone's good friends, huh? Everyone's a pretty good team!

I would say so. It says a lot about everyone's character that we're all working together like this.

[A beat.]

... Which reminds me, I don't think we've actually formally met before.

No, I don't think we did! M'real good at remembering faces, so I'd know!

I'm Takeshi; I'm from Japan, and I'm seven.

[You're gonna kill him with adorable, Takeshi]

I'm Qing-Yuan; I'm from America, and I'm twenty-one. It's nice to meet you, Takeshi.

It's nice t'meet you, too! My adopted mom's from America! Her name was Heather.

I tooked her last name, 'cus I'm her son, even if she's not really my mom.

[That's so cute... Takeshi pls. Qing's face doesn't quite falter, and it's harder to see the shift of emotion behind the mask.]

If you thought of her as your mother, I think that's best, even if she's not blood related.

[He nods with an intense agreement.

YOU SPEAKIN' HIS LANGUAGE!]

She took care of me and taught me stuff and loved me!

That's all you need to be a good mom.

It is. Hopefully, you'll get to go back to her soon enough. If not... maybe you'll find someone here who's also like family.

I guess...

[He quiets, looking away.]

I just don't like how much it hurts, when they go away.

[... Ah. That draws a small frown to Qing's features, one that Takeshi will probably miss with his head turned like it is.]

... Losing people is the hardest thing in the world. Even when they're still there physically... maybe that's even worse. [Eyes closing, he sighs lightly. For him, that's definitely true enough.] All we can do is take the positives while we have them, right?

[By the time he looks back, Qing will have returned to his light smile.]

But we're at a party, right? We shouldn't be talking about heavy subjects. Where are you now? I'd be happy to take you up on a dance.

[He's probably the one person you're closest to in height, too.]

O-oh, yeah...! We should dance!

I'm near the place with all the food; don't tell nobody, but I've been eating cookies this whole time!

That's probably not something to say on video if you want to keep it a secret.

[But he's there shortly - it's not like he was very far. Hi Takeshi, have the most conspicuous little guy.]

I guess we kind of stand out, huh?

[Takeshi beams up at Qing; how does it feel to actually be taller for once, buddy?]

It's good to stand out sometimes! Right?

[It's Weird, tbh. Except the fact that Takeshi is 7, so of course he's smaller. His smile is similarly bright, anyway.]

Sometimes, definitely. And something like this... well, it's nice when you have all eyes on you. [He laughs, light and bright, then offers Takeshi his hand.] Lead the way.

[He takes Qing's hand, looking bashful, but he's at least determined to do his best.]

I gotta tell you a bad secret... M'not really sure how to dance good!

[O-oh no, so sweet...]

I think you'll be okay. Just don't get nervous, okay? [Qing is more used to being led than leading a dance, but he can do it subtly when necessary. Plus he's swift-footed enough that Takeshi probably doesn't have much to worry about as far as say, stepping on toes.]

Alright! Don't get nervous!

[omg he's so nervous

But he will do whatever Qing's dancing requires.

Show him how to dance, he promises he'll avoid your feet.]

Step opposite of my feet - when I move back, you move forward, okay?

[He starts slowly, keeping the dance simple. One, two, three, one, two three - they're not in any hurry, after all. Once he seems to be getting used to it, Qing's steps will get a little faster, but not until he's sure Takeshi's feeling fairly comfortable.]

video. set during the masquerade

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