bakerstreet | your tsundere anime boyfriend

[The tsundere one. 100%.]

[Tsundere with doggy ears.]

[This particular town normally isn’t that well-traveled, but today? Today it is packed, and happens to have been for almost a week now. The reason for that-- easily picked up just by listening to the chatter of other travelers- is that this town happens to be along a route for this year’s location of “The Triennial Continental Exhibition.”

Which is basically a big event every three years where a bunch of countries get together to show off all the cool stuff they make.

And in the unlikely event Zelgadis hasn’t picked up on this, he is definitely about to be informed via Emery waving a flier in front of him. There’s a bunch of information printed on it in very exciting looking letters but the part that Emery is trying to draw Zelgadis’s attention to is:]

It says couples get a discount.

[Emery is trying to be nonchalant about saying it but. He’s not entirely succeeding at pushing his excitement down.

There’s going to be BALLOONS, Zelgadis. And barometers. And (inanimate) skeletons. And pianos. And toilets you have to pay to use. And-]

Haa-?

[incredulous, Zelgadis squints, trying to follow the page Emery's annoyingly flapping around. with a scoff, he just unfolds his arms so he can snatch it and scan the contents at his own pace, frowning behind his mask.]

On what? Food? And how's anyone supposed to prove that in a way that isn't annoying?

[in front of all these people, Emery? really??]

[Emery hovers near Zel, peering at Zelgadis’s expression insomuch as he can see it behind the flier and Zel’s mask.]

On the ticket price. We’ll have to wait until we get there to see what the concession prices are like, though I imagine they’ll be outrageously expensive either way.

[Emery has been to fairs before, albeit smaller, less science-focused ones, so he knows the drill. He claps a hand on Zel’s shoulder and continues.]

And as for proving it, it’s really not that big a deal. You just show up with a cute girl on your arm and go “Hey, I’d like two tickets for me and my girlfriend!” and I assure you the person in the booth is not being paid enough to demand a show.

Uh-huh. [flatly:] So what cute girl are you off to go borrow for this, and how long do I have to wait around for you to be done?

[Emery snorts.]

Don't be silly. I'll be the cute girl, and you'll go as my boyfriend.

[Obviously. Eesh, Zel, get with the program wouldya.]

It'll be fun!

[Zel gives him a side-eye before squinting back at the page and its liberal use of different fonts.]

How much is this gonna cost... [because he already has a feeling he'd regret refusing outright, given how jazzed Emery seems to be about it.]

[The advertisement may be a storm of excitingly curvaceous letters and words like “ASTONISHING,” “MARVELOUS,” “CAPTIVATING,” and other lofty adjectives, but the prices are listed clearly at the bottom.

With the discount- even without it, really- the price for entering shouldn’t be too bad. It’s open to the public after all, so it needs to be affordable to the public.]

I think we can afford to go, just for one day. But if you're really worried I can pay for us both.

[Emery is grinning, undeterred as ever by Zelgadis’s inability to match Emery’s enthusiasm.]

[true enough: it's not that terribly price. there's also a bit more working in Emery's favor, because Zel may be a bit of a buzzkill grouch...but he's also a massive fucking nerd. hell, he might be the only man under the age of 60 this far inland who still carries a sextant in his belongings - just in case! as if he might unexpectedly need to chart a sea course.

so despite the uncomfortably large amount of people...

Zel sighs, handing the page back over.]

I got it, it's fine. [because if he pays for this entry fee, Emery's gonna be obliged to pay for food.]

[Emery takes the flier from Zelgadis while beaming like he’s just won the lottery, instead of convinced a nerd to do nerd things with him. Emery then swings his arm around Zel’s shoulders and gives him a quick hug.]

Score, I get to go on a date with a hot guy~!

[A hot guy who carries a sextant around. Also, a hot guy who Emery is going to release now, before he has too much time to protest.]

Knock if off-!

[Zel scoffs, his face heating up from the hug and jubilation. he straightens up out of the unconscious slouch he'd taken to accommodate Emery, smoothing out his tunic grumpily despite the little stomach-flip he feels. he may hate the idea of people seeing him being fawned on in such a way, but he...doesn't...hate hate being fawned on at all?

but it's not like he can just go with it, you know! he's got an image to keep up! so he huffs, folding his arms and waiting for Emery to recollect and see them on their way. he'll loosen up after having to approach someone to pay - proof of coupleship, huh...? he better damn well not have to do anything to prove that beyond scowl the way he normally does...]

Yes, yes, consider it knocked off~

[Emery watches Zel bluster and grouch with undisguised mirth. It’s rather amusing how agitated Zelgadis still gets at a simple hug after all, considering Emery’s done far worse to him by now. Although it may interfere with Emery’s plan to get a couple’s discount.

Emery’s Plan™- for a given value of planning- is basically “turn into girl, cling to Zel’s arm while they buy tickets, maybe release him if he starts kicking up a fuss once they’re inside the exhibition proper, and hopefully Zel keep the scowls to a minimum so nobody thinks Emery is blackmailing him into this.” ]

But will you at least let me hold your hand when we’re in line tomorrow? I promise not to do anything worse while we’re in front of other people!

[his ear twitches. something like that...won't that just draw more attention to them?! granted, that's the point for discounts, but that's stupid, too! this is stupid! he should just--

he double-takes at Emery's expectant face and his ear twitches again. is this...really the kind of thing that makes him happy? dragging Zel around in a crowd?

with a cranky tsk, he turns his head away.]

Whatever. [it's not like he'd enjoy being hung on, stupid-!!]

[ She's in possession of a tsundere-cancelling force field. Sorry, I make none of the rules. ]

[ If her name didn't make it obvious, she is pinnacle tsundere. Mostly would like to play dere scenarios, but if you want her tsun side, ask! And good luck! ]