New Years...

[ She's going to message her right after this anyway but... ]

I think I can do that. [ hehe ]

Why are you shy like that? You two like each other. I can see it too. Confidence is attractive, Dandy.

Oh, I am beyond confidence, baby!!

[He shouts defensively with zero confidence.]

Sometimes chicks are just hard to read...is all...

[ She feigns being impressed with an 'oooohhh!' and almost tipping over in her seat as if BLOWN AWAY by his CONFIDENCE. ]

I can agree with that! I go to a school of ONLY girls, I dance with girls, and I practically spend all my time with them.

Can I tell you a story, Dandy...?

[Go back to hell, Satan.]

If I say no, would that even stop you?

Probably not.

[ But seriously, Mari starts to settle down. While still fluttery in tone, she isn't roaring or boastful. ]

When I was younger, I had two best friends named Dia and Kanan-- WELL, we're still friends but that's not the point. Kanan always wanted to be a School Idol, so we started a little trio. I wanted to do everything to make Kanan happy. I put my studying abroad on hold for her. She was dedicated to the art when I didn't care much for it.

When I did start to enjoy it, we began gaining traction and doing bigger shows. One day before our show in Tokyo, I hurt my ankle. I told her that everything was fine and we got into an argument about it... [ She looks down at the plate and plays with a moon cookie in her fingers. ]

I was a big dummy... I would have ended everything for Kanan and I felt like she was the one in the wrong...

She refused to sing. She threw the show so I wouldn't hurt myself more.

[ Sigh. ]

We fought forever and almost lost our friendship because I was the one who was wrong and didn't want to listen. When you and the person you're the closest to aren't on the same page, things are devastating. You need to be loud and clear or you can lose them forever.

[Uugggghhhhhhh, why'd she have to go and make this all personal? Dandy stays quiet if only out of respect, but he can't say that really helps him much. Little girl friendships and dating are two entirely different games as far as he's concerned.

In fact...]

Have you...ever dated before, Mari?

That's just an example--

[ Um? ]

Yeah, why?

Wait, what?

[You can almost hear the record scratch go off in his head.]

Since when? You're obviously not dating NOW.

[ why is this strange to him ]

I'm too busy to date and I'm also here...!

[ she could talk more about kanan

SHE LOVES TO TALK ABOUT KANAN ]

Why??

[Frustrated with his own bullshit, Dandy's hands begin to claw at his head. Why is he having this conversation with a teenager, this is so stupid.]

I don't-- Forget it, it's not important. Can we, like...pretend this shit never happened.

I'm gonna need another cookie.

[And where are his macaroons? Or whatever they're called...]

[ HE SHOWED UP HERE. ]

Dandy, the point I'm making is that whether it's JUST A FRIEND or not, you should seize the day! People can be hard to read but if you don't take hold of it, you'll be sorry.

[ holding out the plate... ]

... Eat the last three and you can have macarons.

You're such a dweeb.

[ Mari shakes her head and leaves him with the last of the cookies so she can trot back downstairs and let him stew for a minute. ]

I'm not wrong! You just don't like to listen to reasonable examples!

[ She shouts from the kitchen. When she returns, she has his macaronis arranged prettily. ]

Why don't you take advice when you ask for it? You treat people who help you like they don't know anything.

Here, have your macarons...!

I didn't ask you for dating advice, I asked you if chicks dig godzilla!!

[Not a fan of people pointing out when he's wrong, Dandy begins to shove macarons into his mouth until there's barely any room left. When the taste finally registers, he glares.]

These are AMAZING!! THANK YOU!!

[ NOT THE WHOLE PLATE, GODZILLA. ]

Ah--! [The pause between Dandy backhandedly complimenting her food and scolding her doesn't earn him the negative reaction he always seems to be looking for. ]

You're welcome~ [ She dares to pluck one from the plate. ]

Also: I dig Godillza, soooo...~

[...Well at least this way it doesn't fuel him into more yelling. Instead he starts to calm down, grumbling as he begins to sink further into the tub. His need to come off as the world's greatest ladies man and his horrible insecurities are driving him crazy internally and he doesn't know how to even begin approaching it.

Or if he even wants to approach it.

Mari was so willing to share that story with him, though. That's gotta be some level of trust... Still, it seems whenever he does try to take a step forward, she finds a way to tease him and this is a subject he really doesn't need that with. If he takes the TINIEST BABY STEPS...]

I haven't been in the game for a very long time...

[His mouth is just BARELY over the water, his tail more outside the tub than it is right now.]

[ She takes all of this hemming and hawing as signs that Dandy is giving into FRIENDSHIP after all these months. She has been chipping away at him even while she has been busy. ]

So? [ Which sounds kind of blasé from a teenager when speaking to a grown-ass manfish. She doesn't seem bothered by his making a pass at how long he's been out of the game. ]

Lemme ask you... If it's okay...

Would the Dandy from back then be happy with the one who is talking about this right now?

[ It sounds complicated. It's not.

to dandy (an actual child) it might be ]

[Oof, Dandy isn't sure he likes where this is going, friendship chiseling or not.]

I mean, who cares what that guy thinks, his hair was stupid.

[Apparently too complicated.]

[ She can weasel her way into THE MIND if she tries hard enough.

She's pure, smiling evil, remember!! ]

Then shouldn't this one start shiny and brand new?

[...............fuck. He can't argue with that. Why'd she have to word it that way, though? It makes agreeing all the more painful, which shows by the way his eyebrow begins to twitch.]

I guess.

[He hisses his S's. Damn this evil, smiling demon and every last one of her cookies.]

[ A twitch in the brow is success if she places him on a scale against Dia. ]

This is gonna be a streeeeetttttch... But do you want Mari's help with it? I know you tooootally don't like me or anything but if you let me fix you up and talk to you, you can have more cookies~

Even the little dolphin ones you like...

...The hell are you goin' on about, I wouldn't even be here if I didn't like you, you dummy.

[Let alone get ~*~emotional~*~

God, people can be so sensitive when they're being treated like garbage.]

......I'll do it for dolphin cookies.

You're so sensitive. [ for a Godzilla ]

But you'll do anything for a dolphin cookie! Hehe!

For real, though... I like seeing you happy, Dandy!

Can I still take Maya on a date? Just oooone?

[The most sensitive godzilla.]

Once again I have to ask if "no" would even stop you...

I'll only take her flying~

[ THIS TIME. ]

I won't steal your girl. Thooooough I'm a pretty tough act to follow~