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

[reticence]

Well, actually, books are a decent direction to go in. Crime novels, in fact. There have been a lot of crime novels, as of late.

[Crime novels that he's joked are research on how to deal with Faolan if he ever needs to get rid of him, but. He's kept reading them, so it can't be simply all for the sake of keeping up a joke.]

There's also tea, but. What with taste being as it is, I don't know that that's really all that much of a gift just now...

[negativism]

That's a start, if a bit morbid.

But in the case of tea, maybe just stash it until we get this whole taste thing figured out? I mean, it can't last forever, right?

[frisyr]

OK but why are you painting sinks

[reticence]

An adventure. Yeah, he. Might like something like that. Especially if there's a book or something at the end of the journey. I suppose that there's really only one way to find out.

Honestly, if my agonizing over what to give him were to guarantee the quality of the gift, then he'd be getting the best present ever this holiday season. Unfortunately for both of us that isn't quite how these things work.

[doitrockapella]

Is there some reason why you aren't confident in yourself?

I realize that may sound sarcastic, but it's an honest question.

[reticence]

No, I don't suppose that I will.

Not in theory at least. We shall see how well it works in practice.

Private Text

[bitemefightme]

Yea, exactly.

So... how long have you known each other?

I mean.... if you don't mind me asking. You don't have to answer.

[Because that's personal information. But he's kind of curious, how long is it normal to go before you ask them out. He has no idea.]

[reticence]

That's true. We are regaining taste rather quickly. There is a chance that we might get it back in time for the gift to be worth it? A Christmas miracle, perhaps. Regaining one of the senses we were supposed to have in the first place.

This place is so backwards sometimes.

[reticence]

[SIGHS]

Look, not the sink itself, I meant the. You know. The part the sink goes into. That holds the basin and has all the cabinet drawers and. No, you know what.

This is exactly why I should not be picking up furniture from the flea market in the first place.

[reticence]

Well. I'm not certain there are really good reasons for it. I just know myself. I have a habit of saying the wrong thing, making the wrong choices. Especially when it matters the most. I feel like that's when I get the most tongue-tied and stupefied.

I have a habit of making a fool of myself in front of this person especially, despite my best efforts otherwise. Maybe I'm just trying too hard, I don't know.

[doitrockapella]

...

I may be going out on a limb here, but do you by any chance have some variety of romantic attachment to the person in question?

[mr_fancy_car]

You won't know until you try. I have a healthy respect for people who can compose and write music.

[originallutece]

Then get him some tea-of-the-month thing. Or wine of the month, what have you. It hardly has to be as expensive; it's the fact you've observed his behaviors and acted thoughtfully that counts.

Hypothetically speaking.

[ros would you please drop it]

[dulynoted]

[ No, but he made an effort...so that counts for something. Not to Akira, but to someone, sure. ]

Well, in that case it will make my next question easier to answer: what exactly do you consider comparable? My guess is you're meaning comparable in monetary value, which would be out of the realm of possibility for you.

[negativism]

Maybe? I'll keep my fingers crossed, it's been hell enough as it is, even if it actually hasn't been that long since.

text

[stagemagic]

Then it may be best to think of the recipient of your gift, and ask yourself what sorts of things they might find special. Each person will have their own definition of that, after all.

[imaginex]

Oh, he likes books? Is there a specific genre he prefers?

And that's true! But, um, what is that American saying

A for effort?

Something like that!

[frisyr]

Ok, maybe not.

Um, do you want a coupon for 50% off a massage??

[thebeastwithout]

no i'm just planning to be your new best friend
is that ok

i don't have much going for me in life so i figure i should be friends with cooler people

Private Text

[reticence]

No, no it's fine.

[Faolan just has to decide how much he really wants to reveal here. But the other man has given him a lot of personal information himself, he supposes... He can allow him some.]

I probably met him a year or two back, but I didn't really get to know him until this summer.

[reticence]

...you. Would definitely not be wrong in saying that, no.

[Damn it, Faolan, you should have quit while you were ahead here.]

[reticence]

As I said, it's been a few years since I've tried, but I'm sure I can come up with something.

Besides. The expensive gift I mentioned earlier was a keyboard, so. If I might incorporate that into the recording somehow, perhaps... It might demonstrate the gift was well made?

[reticence]

[Ros would you please drop it indeed.]

I do live with him it's not like observing his behaviors is all that difficult you know.

[No one is being hypothetical about this anymore.]

[reticence]

[He did make an effort, yes. It was a pretty poor effort, but let it be said that an effort was made...!]

Comparable in monetary value is right out the door, I'm afraid. I just don't have several thousand dollars to drop on a gift.

Anyway, this person is pretty well off and I'm not sure that the price of the gift is what would matter to them anyway. Not to say that they don't value quality, but. I think I'm trying to go more for sentimental value? I just don't want to get that wrong...

[reticence]

I suppose I could just be prepared for anything, but I don't want to end up with too many options. I'll wind up overwhelmed in an entirely different way.

[There are downsides to being a bodyguard and being so good at preparing for all possible outcomes.]