TEXT; 001 - locked from laurent

[reticence]

[Faolan is definitely not the sort of person to use the network, not even to respond to it never mind to post to it. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and certainly this is a desperate time indeed.

How do people even usually address posts on this thing? He goes through the last month or so of them before giving up and just flying by the seat of his pants.

You don't even know how many times he rewrote this thing in the first place.]


Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that there was something quite expensive that you had wanted very much, and that someone purchased that something for you when they really didn't have to. Let's say that you could never hope to come up with the money to pay them back in full, but you would like to do something comparable for them for the holidays.

What would you do in such a situation?


[Help him, Retrospec, you're his only hope he desperately needs some advice here.]

Comments

[doitrockapella]

I don't think so. Frankly, I think it's an attractive quality in a person, if they've got the confidence to make themselves the source of a laugh for the sake of someone else.

[dulynoted]

We?

[ He wasn't able to keep that up for very long, was he? ]

[frisyr]

WOW, that is a really nice gift.

Okay, whaaaat if you bought furniture at a flea market and then fixed it up

[ He's maybe watching too much HGTV ]

[imaginex]

Are there any places you know that they enjoy going to? Just going there with the intention to make them happy can make all the difference.

And don't worry, I think your person would appreciate anything, though I'm sure that doesn't make the process easier.

[mr_fancy_car]

You just need to find inspiration.

[reticence]

[...sighs. Why has he even said this much he doesn't know but he supposes he's already come this far.]

Bodyguard, actually.

And I'm not certain.... It quite works like that. I mean even if they were royalty I'd never be.

Are you asking for a reward?

[Monetarily, he means.]

[reticence]

Yes, both of those things.

Something to help with work...?

[Are you on to him here David, do you know who he's talking about here, or is that just a coincidence that you're saying that, all things considered?]

[negativism]

[ If he does know who it is, he ain't saying anything about it. Though he definitely has a sneaking suspicion. ]

Yeah, like something related to their work that they might want. Granted I might not be the best example because I toss random gadgets at Yoon-sung to see what sticks sometimes but hey, it's at least an idea.

[reticence]

[That's okay. You can tease him all about it later on]

Oh, it. Was in November? Really it isn't. That big a deal. I mean I'm sorry if I didn't say. I didn't really tell anyone, he just asked.

I'd like that. To see Korochan, and to practice with you. If you'd have me. I'm sure we could work something out with our schedules. I'll text you when I know more for certain?

[complementing]

I'll have to remember for next year, then (￣3￣) what day in November?

yes that sounds good!

added bonus that I won't have to track you down for Christmas present giving, I'll just give it to you then~

[reticence]

Confident and attractive? You really think so?

You don't think it comes off as... Self-deprecating and pathetic, or something of the sort instead?

[reticence]

[No, no alas he was not. Although in his self-defense, it's hard to switch back and forth between the rhetorical and speaking with people who know exactly who and what he's talking about?

Who is he kidding, that's no excuse at all.]

Ah, ehm. Yes. I. Suppose that this is a rather specific instance I had in mind, here.

[Damn.]

[reticence]

[Uhhh well. He supposes that some people go for that kind of stuff but trying to imagine him showing up and presenting Laurent with something he bought from the flea market, in the midst of all of Laurent's expensive, posh, modern furniture is somewhat laughable.]

I'm not sure... That would go over well.

Not that they're, you know. But they probably have slightly more discerning tastes than that, all things considered.

[reticence]

Not off the top of my head but perhaps I can find something. They do like libraries and books and learning and that sort of thing, maybe if I can surprise them by stopping into somewhere like that...

And maybe you're right. If the roles were reversed I'm sure I'd appreciate anything they were to offer me. But it's the fact that this is coming from me that makes the process so difficult, I suppose.

[doitrockapella]

It's about tone and context. Are you making yourself the butt of a joke because you think you deserve to be laughed at? Then no, that's not particularly attractive at all; it speaks of low self-esteem and an attempt at getting others to support that perception of yourself to validate it in some way.

But if you're doing it because you have a good sense of humor about it, and the self-confidence to take that sort of blow to the ego in stride and laugh along with everyone else, then I think that's highly attractive. It's a demonstration that you're the master of your own faults, instead of letting them be the master of you.

[reticence]

Is it too much to say that the person I am composing the piece for is inspiration enough?

[He will not wax poetical here, but Laurent is in a class of his own. At least, according to Faolan himself.]

[reticence]

[It's not exactly difficult to figure out. After all, this is Faolan speaking. A man whose social circle is intentionally pretty small.]

Ah. Well. They don't technically have a job at the moment, otherwise that would be a great idea.

[Technically he supposes Laurent's career is 'student' and he could get him something related to university but he also doesn't know the first thing about an advanced degree like Laurent's. He's never even attended university himself after all.]

[reticence]

Ah, it's November 8th. Though you know it's only fair to tell me yours in return then, yeah?

An added bonus for both of us. And it will give me enough time to think of something for you in return as well.

[frisyr]

That's why you're supposed to fix it up... You can't just buy someone's old sink and call it a gift...

[negativism]

Well, that does make it a bit more difficult. No specific movie, book or music tastes to work with, either?

[imaginex]

Maybe find one he's never been to yet, if you think there's any in the area? Make it an adventure. (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ

Yes, I can understand that. It's much easier to receive a gift than give one you're not sure conveys what you want... But the fact you're thinking so hard about it means you'll be okay in the end.

[complementing]

March 5th ヾ(๑ゝڡ◕๑)ゝ

I'm looking forward to it!

[mr_fancy_car]

Heh. Then you shouldn't have too much trouble.

[reticence]

It sounds a fine line to walk between the two. It's a lot easier to get this sort of thing wrong than it is to get it right, after all. I don't know whether I've quite the talent to say the right sort of thing in such a situation without turning it on its head.

No one's ever accused me of being overly confident. I mean, I've started out this conversation asking for gift advice from strangers, after all.

[reticence]

But it's still an old sink no matter how much fresh paint you put on it. Is the point.

Everything else in the apartment is probably less than a decade old, if that. It just wouldn't suit the aesthetic. And they're pretty particular about their aesthetic.

[Or so Faolan assumes. He's never actually done anything to test this, but he's not planning on it either...]