天道 あかね (asanequal) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-09-16 23:11:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, akane tendo, ranma saotome |
Who: Akane and Ranma, with some NPC!Kasumi as well =D
What: Totally not a date at the fair. Don’t be stupid.
When: Late July/Early August
Where: Orange County Fairgrounds
Warnings: A is for Awkward turtle
Status: Log | Complete
And once again, Orange County weirdness had come and gone. Akane wasn’t quite sure what to make of what had happened, the dojo just..disappearing for days before returning. But the darkness had dissipated, there was no more lightening and things were back to normal. Which was good. But it also meant that there was boredom to be had.
However, she and Ranma had already discussed the fair once it was to come to town, to see what it was all about. Which was why the two had gone to the fairgrounds… while everyone in the house had been elsewhere because if their fathers got wind of the idea that the two were going off to do something together, it could get awkward despite the compromise of waiting until after college. And if Nabiki had been there? Well, they’d be paying for her silence.
After wanting to know what a fair was, it seemed to Akane that they were much like the festivals back in Japan. More extensive with the rides and exhibits and food, but the general idea? Much like festivals, even if they didn’t have the same sort of theme or reasoning behind them. Either way, it was enjoyable.
Ranma on the other hand wasn’t entirely sure he liked it compare to festivals which he missed. They had a certain historical feeling to them that he hadn’t really experienced in good old U.S.A so far. He in general missed home these days, even if the appearance of several dream finances and the possibility of those fiances turning up being higher in Japan itself. It was more home than America would ever be. He felt like a fish out of water here more than half the time.
However spending time like this with Akane almost made it bearable, not that he’d say so out loud of course. Even in America his style of dress hadn’t changed, he was still the Japanese boy in Chinese clothes who spent more time barefoot than was probably healthy. Today however he’d managed shoes, and at least a short sleeve shirt.
“Everything is fried.” He commented as they passed by a particularly disgusting looking booth where even the salad was fried and not in a tasty tempura sort of way..
Never would the two be able to admit to being around one another making this whole situation bearable. Akane already had to deal with Ashley teasing her about the engagement (thanks, Nabiki, really) and she was more apt to refer to Ranma as a friend if talking to someone than anything else. Besides, the dreams just left her with growing insecurities and not knowing how to respond. So being able to do something normal and without bickering? It was a very welcomed relief. Even if it meant having to dodge nosey parents and siblings.
History was missed, but Akane was determined not to think too much on it. Even if she had looked up nearby shrines for important dates or holidays. Not that she said anything, but there were things she knew she’d miss and wanted to plan for. Assuming Orange County didn’t do an Orange County thing. It was hard to plan ahead.
Noticing Ranma’s gaze at the fried salad, Akane just scrunched up her nose.
“I don’t understand why they fry everything.” Because it wasn’t tempura. It was just… fried. And gross. Fried candy bars was bad enough, but salad?
The only thing that kept him from packing up sometimes and heading home was Akane, but he wasn’t about to admit it. She was willing to try this Orange County thing, so he went along with it. Besides all that, who knew how the dreams effected Japan. Knowing his luck, if he did go back he would face the wrath of several angered fiances all demanding his time, naw. This was easier.
Ranma hadn’t found one thing he actually wanted to eat, and for him that was rare in it’s own right, normally Ranma would attack the first fried thing on a stick he saw but currently nothing struck his fancy.
“No wonder this is fat country.” He said out loud, not caring who heard. Besides that, it was in Japanese. Let them be disgruntled if they actually understood it.
Akane really didn’t want to think about what would happen if they went back to Japan. If those who had shown up in the dreams would be there and if the craziness would exist. It was enough of a headache with just dreams and the random things that happened in Orange County. Who wanted to even risk it being reality back home?
Oh, she had noticed he had yet to find anything to eat which… she almost wanted to make sure he wasn’t running a fever. Because this was Ranma. Not that anything even looked edible. Not the fried foods at any rate. She knew there were other vendors elsewhere. Hopefully they would be saner with their food choices.
“I really should tell you to be nice.” Which was Akane’s way of agreeing. Not only did it seem most people ate fried food and only fried food, but also rarely wanted to exercise.
“But it’s true.” He side glanced her with a hint of amusement. Ranma enjoyed food sure, but good food. He wasn’t Genma, he had taste buds. Sometimes he wasn’t sure Genma did the things he ate. Hell, occasionally in the dreams if they were out of food he’d go panda and eat tree strips. He couldn’t have taste buds.
He folded his arms behind his head as they wandered, “Look at that, house of mirrors. You can see it all every angle.” He laughed and cringed all at once, his eyes traveling toward the next attraction-House of Horror.
“Lets try that one. Looks cheesy enough.” Maybe then after doing something he’d feel like he was able to suck down one of the greasy foods America had to offer. “Lets see what their idea of terror is.”
“Tact, Ranma. There is a thing known as tact.” But her voice was light and it was more teasing and amusement than anything else. Because, well… it really was true. She would be remiss if she tried to pretend that it wasn’t.
“What is the point of that?” Akane couldn’t think of one. Why would they have a bunch of mirrors? And all different shapes and sizes? That seemed… Akane wasn’t sure but it definitely didn’t make much sense. And then he was suggesting the House of Horror. Cue the sensation of dread. Why, just why?
“Sure, might as well.” They were there after all. And Akane refused to admit to being apprehensive about a stupid festival house of horrors.
What was the point of tact when he was nearly sure nobody else had heard him anyway? Or understood him at the least? Ranma liked horror houses. He couldn’t help but be interested in the tacky American version, but he side eyed Akane for a moment. “Unless you see somethin else?” He knew she wasn’t a fan of that stuff, but going alone was boring too.
Ranma looked up at the almost thrown together place and laughed some. “Bet I’ve seen children's books that’re scarier.” He mused as he wandered in with Akane. He paid for her too so she didn’t have to use her own tickets. It was his idea, and in they went. It was the usual sort of thing, dark rooms with fake blood on the walls, a few graveyards here and there. Ranma almost yawned.
“When’s the scary stuff happen?”
As much as Akane would love to find something else, at the moment, nothing. Of course not. Because that would be nice. But no matter. It was just a stupid haunted house. American at that, and their version of many things weren’t that impressive. Maybe she’d actually find this one amusing.
Ha. As if. But she could hope.
“No, this is fine.”
And in they went. It was fine. The typical dark, cobwebs made out of cotton candy style things, which she swatted at in annoyance… no, not annoyance. She wished it were annoyance. Right. It was funny. So what if she was sticking closer to Ranma than usual. It meant nothing. Completely.
Of course he was asking when the scary stuff would show up and Akane bit back a retort not to jinx it. And then she could have sworn she felt something grab her ankle, causing her to jump and latch onto Ranma’s arm and look around frantically, but her ankle was free (though felt sticky) and there were screams behind them from something similar. Okay, could they just get through this now?
When she clung onto him like that, he raised a dark eyebrow and looked behind them. “Hah.” He spotted a thing in a sheet skittering away, maybe now it’d start to get interesting. Honestly Ranma wasn’t too against her clinging like that either-when nobody was looking. It was so much easier being with her without the entire damn family butting in. It wasn’t like he hated Akane. They had been friends once before this mess.
Ranma found himself a little lost in thought through most of the horror house. Only in the end when a man with a chainsaw appeared out of the corner of his eye did his defenses spike, and his fist raised out of pure reaction. Moments later, Ranma blinked his vision clear and stared downward at the scene he’d caused, the chainsaw man on the ground and his manager or some sort of personnel coming to tell Ranma off.
“...Really, it was an accident.” He insisted, for once he wasn’t even lying. He saw something attack them, he hadn’t even realized it was a part of the show. That was embarrassing.
“Shut up.” The comment was grumbled under her breath, but beyond that, Akane remained as she was. Like it or not, she felt safer around Ranma. Not that she would ever admit that to anyone. Or herself, really. It was more subconscious as it were. And with no meddling family around (or friends because thanks, Nabiki), there was no need to constantly think about it and avoid it.
Or they could be attacked by a man with a chainsaw. Who...was part of the show. Of course he was. And now they were standing there awkwardly because Ranma reacted which really was a reasonable reaction. Maybe should have remembered where they were but hey, Akane was pretty convinced nothing good could come from a house that was filled with fog and darkness.
So it was trying to mediate the situation. Which...seemed to mostly go okay? Just a reaction no one had anticipated apparently. So before it could inadvertently be made worse after things seemed to be mostly under control, Akane just grabbed Ranma’s hand to get out of there and away from the awkward scene. Though before she could say anything, a very familiar voice broke through the crowd.
“Akane-chan, Ranma-kun, it’s so nice to see you two getting along again.”
Cue the bright blush and Akane dropping Ranma’s hand as if just then realising she had grabbed it. And searching to see if Kasumi was with anyone else or if it was just her. Which she seemed to notice and smile about.
“I’m alone, so don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”
So nodding. Nodding was a good response. From one awkward situation to another. Typical.
Ranma hadn’t realized what exactly Kasumi was saying until he realized he was still holding onto Akane’s hand. It wasn’t like she had sweaty man hands or anything, so it wasn’t entirely terrible-but it was embarrassing. He let go of her hand rather pointedly then, staring furiously down at the ground as if the dust was suddenly very interesting while he regained his bearings and figured out what to say in retort to that.
“I-” He had no real words, what could he say to that other than to nod along as well? “Nothing to tell anyway.” He folded his arms defensively, but then his rigid stance deflated moments late in defeat, Kasumi seemed to see right through him and only smiled more.
“...Yeah well, we’d better get going.” He said quickly and snatched up Akane’s hand again to rush her away instead this time.
“She creeps me out sometimes.” He muttered once he knew he was out of ear shot from Akane’s older sister.
There really were no words to say. Kasumi had this really unexpected ability to see through any retorts or denials and would instead just have a knowing smile. Which was why stunned nodding tended to be the best plan.
Or Ranma could grab her hand and get them out of the area. Once again, Akane didn't put much thought into pulling away once they were a safe distance away and had slowed down to a walk.
"She's not...well, okay. Yeah. At least she doesn't use it for evil?" Because even if Kasumi was sweet and unsuspecting, she could be unnerving with the seeing through them and just showing up like that. It was then Akane noticed that they were near the ferris wheel. "Want to go on the ferris wheel?" They couldn’t be ambushed that way.
Very few people could sneak up on Ranma, Kasumi was one of those few. He rarely sensed her presence at all and it sent shivers down his spine when she did that. She wasn’t even doing it on purpose, at least so he assumed.
“Seems safe enough.” He responded as he looked up at it, he didn’t have a problem with height or build, he was more worried about more unpleasant surprises showing up out of the blue. “Unless she’s actually a ninja I don’t think Kasumi will just appear.” He made a face. Sure Kasumi was nice enough, but her stealthiness had him on edge now. Maybe this would help.
Who knew with Kasumi. She probably didn’t sneak up on Ranma just to mess with him, but if she knew? It was possible she might. Maybe. She was so unassuming that having a remote idea on that was basically nonexistent. Kasumi was just.. Kasumi. Though Akane did roll her eyes as Ranma made the comment on her being a ninja.
“I’m fairly certain my sister is not a ninja. It’s safe.”
And that was all that mattered. So it was getting into line for the ferris wheel and away from potential Kasumi popping up situations again. If anything, they at least had gotten out for the day even with that random interaction.