First stitch - Roommates, free time and hobbies

[sewdamncute]

[Action/Ice Building, Floor Three, Apartment Thirteen]

GOKU!!!!!!!!!!

[Goddammit... It was bad enough that Kanji was living with the weirdo... okay, so, Goku wasn't that bad as a roommate. He was polite and helpful. He didn't judge Kanji on his hobbies. He was actually kinda supportive, in a weird sort of fashion.

It didn't even bother him too much that the other man liked to walk through the apartment half-dressed.... Okay, that first time totally didn't count! Who does that?

But, the towel on the floor of the bathroom, still damp from the power shower he'd taken? NOT cool.]

GET THIS SHIT UP OFF THE FLOOR! RIGHT NOW!

[Video, Later the same day]

[You can see the blond standing in a clothing shop. He's standing in front of a rack of clothes with a pensive look on his face. It's obvious the journal is open and facing out to film him for a purpose. Kanji adjusts the rack before moving to the side to let anyone curious and paying attention to see a display of knitted stuffed toys.]

Yeah, that's perfect.

[He turns to face the journal and tries to smile, but it's obvious he's nervous.]

So, um, name's Kanji Tatsumi for those who don't know me. I just...Look, here's the deal. My family runs a textile shop back home. Since I got here, I've been feelin' homesick. And, uh, I've been doin' stuff that I would back there. Thanks to Rhyme, I got a place to sell them from. So, if you need somethin' repaired or you're looking for a cute plush toy, I'm your guy.

I'll be here on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and all day Sunday.

That's all.

Comments

[notyourutopian]

[She pretty much expected that frown, really. No one really understands about dolls like this, and she doesn't think they should ever have to, honestly.]

It looks like my father. [She explains unnecessarily, looking embarrassed, and then jumps back onto the subject.]

I've never really had to sew anything, so it would probably take me a bit longer than that.

[sewdamncute]

[Her dad? Well, he ain't got anythin' to say about that. He and his dad had a complicated relationship before the old dude croaked.

Ugh, now he felt a little obligated to help her out. Nothing better than to just jump into it then.]

I can teach you how to do it properly. Uh, if you're, uh, interested.

[notyourutopian]

[She seems to study him for a moment, as if trying to figure out if this is some sort of guilt obligation thing.]

If you want to. ...I can most likely figure it out.

[Maybe. After some trial and error. She's used to doing things for herself.]

[sewdamncute]

[The longer she looks at him, he begins to blush.]

Er, yeah, it ain't that hard. Won't take too long.

[notyourutopian]

[Wait, was he trying to be nice, and not actually doing it out of guilt? She was so bad at all of this...in her defense, she'd never actually met another teenager until she had shown up here.]

But...ah. If you want to show me, I suppose I wouldn't mind?

[sewdamncute]

[Why would he be guilt? He just wants to get over his stupid nervousness around girls. This place helps, but please stop staring at him, Eleanor.]

A-alright, just, uh, come over to my workstation. All my stuff's there.

[notyourutopian]

[She just assumes everyone is. Or that they have some ulterior motive.]

Alright.

[She follows after him, holding the doll loosely in one hand as she does so. When they reach his workstation she can't help but peer curiously at everything.]

[sewdamncute]

[He's got a sewing machine, a space with needles and thread to sew by hand, tons of yarn for knitting and crocheting, plus extra fabric and extras that he obviously uses for the clothes out in the main area of the shop.]

This ain't nothin' like what Ma has back home, but it'll do.

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor looks everything over.]

What other sorts of things do you make? Besides...fixing dolls, I mean?

[sewdamncute]

[He blinks at her for a minute before answering.]

Um, my family owns a textile shop back home, so I can make just about anything with cloth and yarn.

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor is doing that staring thing again, sorry Kanji.]

If I drew a...symbol for you, could you stitch it into clothing?

[sewdamncute]

[GODDAMMIT! STOP! STARING! IT'S STRANGE!]

You mean like embroidery? Yeah, I can do that.

[notyourutopian]

[Maybe she seems to realize it's bothering him, or maybe she just happens to look at the doll instead.]

...Could you show me how?

[sewdamncute]

[Good, no more staring. It's strange enough for him to be talking to a girl like this that isn't one of his friends back home.]

It's a lotta work to learn. And I ain't wastin' my time if you don't wanna make the effort.

[notyourutopian]

I'm a fast learner. [She frowns at him.] And I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know!

[sewdamncute]

[He nods in understanding.]

Then I'll teach ya, but it'll have to be after school tomorrow. It's too late today and I got school in the morning, so I can't be stayin' up. Raine-sensei'll throw something at me if I fall asleep in her class.