altimit | .:Spoopy Ti-I mean September Catch All:.

[ Well, since this turned out not to be a murder site after all... That makes this endeavor substantially less morbid. And it's not like Michel has bothered to spend his GP on much of anything, so he has approximately infinity tries at this. ]

How difficult can it be? It's only a few buttons.

[ And it should be simple physics, right? Into the machine the GP goes, and he taps the buttons, watching the claw curiously. So he's never actually done one of these before... but he has a fairly strong motivation this time. ]

[ Something like a bit of fortune in this, eh? Ganymede certainly isn't going to complain if Michel gives it his all. ]

I wouldn't underestimate a crane game.

I'd think some of the developers would want to include how frustrating games like this can realistically be, so if you take it lightly, it might take awhile...

[ Ganymede isn't entirely sure of that, though. But, he has enough faith in Michel to giving it a go. ]

Edited 2023-09-11 03:13 (UTC)

They do choose to model realism when it's inconvenient...

[ And if these games were completely trivial, they would probably lose money. But even so, it looks simple. Michel lines up the claw, and punches the button to lower it...

and it wobbles its way down to brush just past a cat plush, tipping it over a little more and not even vaguely closing on it. He clears his throat as if he meant to do that. ]

They do.

[ Surely, Michel will take what he's said to heart, right?

...Right? Anyway, Ganymede goes silent, thinking that since it's probably his first time playing in the game he will need all the concentration he can get! So he watches, and for what it's worth doesn't laugh when he misses.

It's more when he clears his throat that something like a sound of amusement escapes him. ]

You'll try again, right?

[ He does plainly need the concentration... and he does not miss that little sound of amusement. He gives Ganymede a sidelong little indignant look, which isn't going to stop him from plunking in more GP for another try. ]

Of course. Repetition is the only way to get the knack of these.

[ Or so he thinks. Unfortunately his next roll is a 5, which knocks the plush he was aiming for into an even more inconvenient position jammed up against a corner.

Fine. There are others. ]

[ When he gets the sidelong look, Ganymede is sparkling at him with those innocent, big blue eyes. Just get a good healthy appraisal of his cute face, ok?

Then all of that happens. ]

...You tried?

[ Like, he definitely tried. There was an attempt, gold star. ]

But then again it was only the second try...

[ He tried...

His eyebrow twitches a little at that, and he gives the machine a cool look of resolve. This is personal now. ]

It was. I have at least two thousand more.

[ And he knows what dungeons let you break the GP cap. He sizes up his prey carefully this time, picking a vulnerable plush very close to the drop point. Calibrating... targeting... and with a very noble 17 the kitty plush is seized precariously by one cute leg and dangles, wobbling, towards the goal. ]

...Ah?!

[ ... It's funny. Ganymede never imagined that he'd be indulging in someone playing silly crane games over here, but hey.

When he says he has 'two thousand more', the blond wonders if he'd really try that many times just to get a toy for him. It makes warmth flood from within him—a happy sort, of course. ]

I don't think you need t—

[ And then Michel gets the kitty practically, his own eyes widening at the sight. Then, he can't help himself, suddenly reaching out to hug Michel in what is definitely somewhere between an embrace, and a tackle-hug. ]

—you...you did it! You got it!

Edited 2023-09-15 02:17 (UTC)

[ Michel catches Ganymede in surprise, holding him a little more firmly as he tries to steady them both, lest they wobble their way into the machine. If he jolts it at this crucial moment... ]

I- I got it?

[ Exclamation mark! Not question mark! But it's fine. Michel watches the progress of the little plush over Ganymede's head. When it finally drops into the prize bin with a soft thwump, he lifts Ganymede off his feet outright in suppressed excitement. ]

[ He probably could've waited to do that, but he ended up getting excited... ]

Yeah, see—...!

[ A surprised noise escapes him as he holds onto Michel when he's lifted just like that, but even though he's embarrassed to be lifted off his feet like that, his fingers are switching to hold onto the other's shoulders for ease. Not to mention, there's an evident smile on his face. ]

...It really didn't take you very long to win something for me.

[ But, well, since he's holding him like that, Ganymede thinks a proper thanks is in order. Like this, it's easy to lean forward, to press a quick peck on the other male's lips in appreciation and affection. ]

[ That's alright, Michel got too excited about it, too. They can both just be giddy teenagers about everything.

Though Michel will be lowering Ganymede so his feet touch the ground again. In just a moment. ]

And I didn't even need to resort to—

[ Oh. Whatever nefarious and definitely not unsporting backup plan Michel had been working on, it flies clean out of his head when Ganymede's lips brush his. It's the cutest and most chaste of tiny kisses. But from the look on Michel's face, anyone would think he'd just won the entire machine worth of prizes. ]

[ This is how they reclaim some of their young adult years.

With fun times and moments like these. Seeing the look on Michel's face right now? Ganymede wants to embed that in his head forever. He thinks this is the first time he's seen him look so satisfied!

But a momentarily flicker of curiosity has him ask: ]

...Didn't need to to resort to what?

[ Kicking the crane game over? ]

[ Him? He's the soul of innocence. He would never do something so crude. ]

Hm. What I haven't done has no significance.

[ He doesn't have to self-incriminate, alright? He sets Ganymede down again lightly, just so he can retrieve the plush from the machine and offer it over.

It's ridiculous. And at the same time, he didn't know it could feel this good to be able to surprise someone he cares for like this. ]

[ Michel is the picture of an angel, eh? Though, his comment generates an amused, soft laugh from the blond. ]

Oh yeah?

[ He asks in a bit of a light tease. But he will reach for the plush and hold it close to him, and his expression softens a bit. He needs to figure out a name for it, and incidentally, his little dog. But he hasn't come up with one for either. As he contemplates this, he continues to talk, squeezing the plush a bit. ]

...It's perfect. And I think you should know something. You're honestly one of the sweetest people I have ever met.

[ He really did luck out, didn't he? Earning a special place beside Michel like this... ]

[ Anyone would tell Ganymede that Michael is not a kind and gentle angel!! ]

You don't need to sweet-talk me after I've won you something...

[ Him? Sweet? But Ganymede's expression as he squishes the plush is absurdly charming. Seeing him happy sometimes feels like it reminds Michel how easy it can be to be happy. ]

I-I'm happy you like it.

[ ❤️ Ganymede would be absolutely overjoyed to slam the heel of his foot straight into the face/nose of whomever dared to insist such things, even if he usually is a law-abiding pacifist, thanks!! ❤️ ]

But, maybe I want to.

[ The blond states a bit petulantly, cheeks puffing for only a little. ]

...I was thinking of giving it a name. Though I want to hold off a bit on that, because I haven't exactly given the dog I received one just yet...want to help me name him?

[ More and more, Michel has reasons to question just how much of a pacifist Ganymede really is...

But right now he's too busy being riveted by the face he's making. He considers it carefully, and then reaches over to press one finger to Ganymede's cheek. ]

You're asking for my naming opinions?

[ After the amount he trashtalked "Uglyspeckles"? ]

[ Wow...it is totally unquestionable.

His cheek is poked. Keep it up and he might just lick the finger and where would they be now, huh? ]

I am. Think of it as your redemption for Uglyspeckles!

[ Of course Ganymede hasn't forgotten that. #Never forget #Uglyspeckles ]

Which was, for the thousandth time, a perfectly suitable name...

[ Just for that, Ganymede is getting poked one more time. He wouldn't possible dare be inappropriate in retaliation. ]

Hmm, but you can come up with one that ascends it easily, right?

[ Anyway, Michel has unleashed the gates of hell.

By which we mean, Ganymede tries to lick at the finger. ]

I am making no promises. What does the dog look li—

[ Ah. So much for Michel's good intentions and thoughtful, methodical approach to dog-naming. He's staring at Ganymede in absolute patent disbelief, too frozen in shock to even jerk his hand back.

There is no sign of life or movement in Michel's posture except for the slow flush creeping its way across his face. Stay tuned for the reaction when his brain reboots. ]

[ So much for it indeed indeed.

He looks at the reaction where Michel goes practically as rigid as a statue, raising a hand to wave it in his face. Not closely, because of their respective differences in height, but... ]

Earth to Michel?

[ The blond calls out, presenting the inquiry as thus, head tilting curiously at him. ]

[ Ah. Michel blinks. His eyes refocus on Ganymede. And he finally lifts the other (still un-licked) hand to rest his palm on Ganymede's hair... and ruffle it vigorously. ]

"Earth"? Are you certain that's where you're from? Why would you l-lick me?!

[ Granting that it did get him to stop. But that isn't the point... ]

The country Greece, on the planet Earth.

[ Ganymede says, voice pitching up in mild surprise as his hair is ruffled A Lot, which is very Fair. ]

Because...because I could? It surprised you, didn't it?

[ He doesn't even seem sorry!! ]

[ That's right, take your just desserts, Ganymede! Michel pulls his hand back very slightly when he's satisfied. Or at least, temporarily appeased. ]

Many things would have surprised me. That doesn't mean you should do all of them.

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