They come runnin' just as fast as they can

[dualbladewarrior]

Who: Hubutt and other shopping citizens of Vatheon
When: April 4th
Where: Middle District Shops
Status: Open! (Will match style)

"No, no, no! None of this looks right!"

A frustrated cry came from one of the clothing shops in the Middle District. While Pascal was on the network asking for fashion advice (unbeknownst to the man who asked her out on a date, of course), Hubert was stubbornly trying to figure out his own clothing for it. A hand over his face, the current selection he was trying on and looking at in front of a mirror, he was grumbling to himself in annoyance. Sure, what he had chosen was nice, but it just didn't feel right to him. Far too used to his most formal wear being a variation on his military uniform, everything he had gone through was summarily rejected almost as soon as he saw it on himself.

The problem here not being the clothes, but that he lacked a second opinion. An opinion that wasn't based on his obvious lack of style.

"I tell her to find something nice to wear, and I fail to do the same for myself. I'm failing at a proper date before I'm even on it..."

Some one. Please. Help him.

Comments

[howamanlives]

"Hubert?"

The voice came from one Daimon Masaru standing behind him, carrying a bag of white t-shirts and some pairs of sweatpants.

"What are you doing, man?"

[dualbladewarrior]

"yah--!"

Hubert, naturally, wasn't expecting anyone to show up behind him and randomly start talking, so voice startled him. He spun around, blinking a few times behind his glasses before recalling who was speaking to him.

"... Masaru. Do you often sneak up on people like that?"

[howamanlives]

"I didn't sneak up! I was walking by and saw you standing there yelling at the mirror!"

He approached Hubert, scratching the top of his head in confusion. "What's got you so worked up this time?"

[dualbladewarrior]

"... it certainly seemed like sneaking up!"

Because his pride won't let him admit that he was distracted enough to not notice Masaru approaching.

"It's... it's nothing! I'm just... looking for new clothes, that's all!"

Hubert you're standing there in a three-piece suit.

[howamanlives]

"... Uh huh. So why did you mention something about a date?"

See that shit eating grin, Hubert? He heard that part.

[dualbladewarrior]

Crap.

"Crap."

He really shouldn't talk out loud so much.

"Well I... asked Pascal out to dinner..."

[howamanlives]

"... Who the heck is Pascal?"

Yeah, he and Hubert's interaction hasn't led to the sharing of that particular information yet.

Or maybe Masaru just forgot.

That's more likely.

[dualbladewarrior]

"... you've forgotten already? The Amarcian researcher I traveled with back home."

And the object of his undying and torturous affections. He only took almost two years to finally make a move on her.

[howamanlives]

"... oh, right! Her! ... man, seriously?! FINALLY!"

[dualbladewarrior]

"W-would you keep your voice down?! We don't need to advertise it to the entire bubble!"

[howamanlives]

"... heh, I get you."

Then he went back to looking confused.

"So what do new clothes have to do with going on a date?"

[has_too_many_moles]

[Now, Yukio is probably one of the least likely to give dating advice but when someone is openly asking for help... How much harm would it be to give your opinion?]

"Maybe something according to your date?" Yukio asked as he shuffled his bags of supplies from The Church.

[dualbladewarrior]

Oh, that was a voice he hadn't heard in a while. Though Hubert had gotten through the grapevine that Yuiko had left and returned with no memory of Vatheon. Shame. It was hard to find other dual wielders in the bubble.

Though now seemed like a good time to try and reconnect.

"That only narrows it down so much, I'm afraid."

[has_too_many_moles]

"Well... where are you going?" Yukio asked as he finally set his bags down, being careful not to drop any of the merchandise inside of them. "I might not be the best person to give out hints about fashion but I am a stranger- maybe an outsiders view might help, you know?"

[dualbladewarrior]

Not as much of a stranger as you think...

But Hubert didn't say his thoughts aloud. He didn't want to chase Yukio away after all.

"Coral Garden. It's a restaurant in the middle district that specializes in pasta dishes."

[paladaddy]

Shiro had never pegged Hubert for a guy who cared about his clothes that much, which was why he was raising an eyebrow at the kid while he yelled at himself. He had been out looking for lighter clothes for the spring, since his wardrobe hadn't been brought with him, so he wasn't in his usual priest clothes for the sake of being able to try things on. But all chances of clothes-finding had been forgotten when he decided to give Hubert some help.

"Her," he said curiously, "Did Pascal finally say yes?"

[dualbladewarrior]

Hubert had been so wrapped up in what he was doing that he hadn't even realized Shiro was there. The sudden voice caused him to jump and turn around, only frowning slightly when he saw who it was.

"I finally asked her, if that's what you mean."

Because yes, he realized he was being rather cowardly about the whole thing.

[paladaddy]

Shiro frowned a little when he heard Hubert say it like that. He knew Hubert has trouble with speaking his feelings, so initially he thought Hubert was putting the cart before the horse by looking for nice clothes.

"So you asked her. Did she say yes?"

[dualbladewarrior]

"Of course she did! I'm not so desperate that I would look for something to wear on a date that's never going to happen!"

Shiro please.

[paladaddy]

Sorry Hubert, he has to check. Still, he was proud of Hubert, the guy was making a step in the right direction.

"Well, you've made it over one hurdle," he said, "Now we just need to get you dressed right."

Rin had already been dating Maka by the time Shiro arrived in Vatheon, and Yukio was forever alone. If he was going to help someone get over their first-date jitters, it might as well be this kid.

[dualbladewarrior]

At least he was willing to help. Everyone else just seemed to pass by after giving him odd looks.

"That's... where I'm stuck. Of course."

He had a few things in his hands, button down shirts at the moment in various colors or patterns, but he didn't seem terribly pleased with any of them.

"I've never been so out of my element before..."

[paladaddy]

"Don't worry so much, everyone's bad at it their first time," Shiro said, giving a hearty laugh as he patted Hubert on the back, "That's why you should ask your elders for help, they've already been through this before."

Shiro was far from a fashion expert, but he knew enough to be halfway-decent. So he took the shirts from Hubert's hands and began to go through what he picked out. A couple he holds onto, but most go back onto the rack.

"Solid colors are what you'll want," he said as he handed back what passed his approval, "Lighter colors work better, too. If it's a formal occasion, go with white, otherwise a light color would be fine. Light blue or yellow would work best, if you're not going with white."

[dualbladewarrior]

Hubert wobbled a little at the back pat, making a face. He didn't argue the point, but he was thinking that if he had known to ask for help in the first place he wouldn't have been standing there yelling at his own reflection like a lunatic.

"I wouldn't say it's 'formal'," he answered, taking back the colors and looking through them. Shiro, having blue hair is suffering, just so you know. "I mentioned she should try to find something nice to wear - I was hoping to go to one of the nicer restaurants here though."

[paladaddy]

That was why he suggested yellow, it compliments blue pretty well. He knows about color coordination. "Semi-formal, then. In that case, you can get away without wearing a jacket, but a tie would still be good. And black pants, of course."

He'll wait until Hubert finds a color he's alright with before moving on to the rest, though.

[dualbladewarrior]

Yellow did seem to be the best choice. He went between that and another color for a couple of seconds, before finally settling on that one in the end.

"Why does this all sound so obvious now that you're saying it?"