Jack blushed profusely and looked away. "Who said I had a type?"
"Surely you have at least one, right?" he questioned further.
"...I guess...I find smart people...attractive..." the redhead mumbled under his breath.
"Maybe a cold ceo, or a cheeky hacker, or a sweet but yandere gamer bo-" He stopped himself when he thought he heard Jack respond. "...That’s too vague," Hanako informed Jack. "Give me more deets."
But Jack was busy gaping at Hanako’s examples. "Yours are too specific!!" he cried when his peer asked for a more detailed answer.
"It’s what makes this sort of convo fun~" the Japanese young man laughed. "Aight, aighttt, we'll go at your pace. What sort of smart? Books? Streets?"
The redhead was still blushing as he tried to respond. "The...the clever kind. People whose minds are flexible enough to think of things in different ways. And people who aren't afraid to call out other people on their bullshit," he added after thinking about it for a moment longer.
"So...another you...?" the noiret asked. "...Do you have someone in mind already?" he continued, grinning.
Jack looked at Hanako out the corner of his eye and then quickly looked away. "I didn't say that..." he muttered ambiguously.
Hanako, still grinning, took that opportunity to get closer. "Ohhh hohoho~ So there is someone that comes to mind? Is it the Mi-hi girl?"
The hazel-eyed youth couldn’t help grinning as he remembered Mi-hi. "...She's sweet, but...I don't know if she'd ever be direct enough to call someone out. She's too nice." Not that he knew her all that well and she could have changed a great deal from what he thought he knew in the years they’d been apart, but that was what he guessed from what he’d learned of her since they’d reunited and he’d connected her powered identity with her civilian one.
"Huh- you know, okay... I suppose I understand what you like about someone with a flexible mind or whatever. I don’t quite get that other bit you have about your type. What’s nice about seeing someone call out bs?"
"Because it means they can see you and see through you to who you really are even if you try to hide it. And they can accept you for it. And they want you to just be you," Jack tried to explain.
"Huh…" Hanako thought about that. "You know... when you said your type, I thought you liked someone that would call out anyone else's bs, but now…I wonder if you’re the one that wants to be called out." He paused. "Are you actually...a masochist?"
Jack ignored Hanako’s dramatics in lieu of asking a different question. "You think being called out is painful?" As far as he was aware, a masochist was someone who enjoyed pain.
"I think most people's first reaction when someone calls them out isn't something like, ‘oh wow, they're so hot for doing that,'" he said, laughing. Hanako had to think quick on his feet, not wanting to give away the urge to just stare at Burnett - an indication of Hanako's thinking. Without a heartbeat - perhaps a little too hastily - he replied with a more generic fact. Hoping it gives a reminder to Jack that there was absolutely nothing special about Hanako feeling unnerved at being called out. Nothing special and nothing deeper. Perfect.
"It...it isn't...?" Jack blushed harder. "I guess maybe not the first reaction…" he conceded. "But when you fool enough people...I think you end up hoping someone will not get fooled by the act you put up." The college student shrugged. "I don't know, maybe that's just me. Maybe I'm weird..."
"It is? But there’s a reason why you fool people in the first place, right? Why let someone crumble it down for you?" Hanako asked. But when Jack stated that maybe it was just him and maybe he was weird, the black-haired young man said, "Aha well, can't say I haven't meet a lot of people who'd give me that sort of answer before. I’m surprised you're telling me anything instead of just being all red ~"
"Some people fool others not to let them get too close. But some fool others just to see who will try to get closer. Who will earn the ability to break down their walls," Jack replied. However, Hanako’s last sentence caused him to get all flustered once more. "...Shut up!! You asked!!"
"Oh, see, yeah, but you didn't have to answer," the Japanese model pointed out.
"That...would have been rude..." the hazel-eyed youth said slowly, starting to realize that not answering could have been something he would have been allowed to do. "Besides...I thought you might...understand." He shook his head quickly. "Heh. Sorry. Nevermind."
Jack had thought the unspoken rules of their conversation dictated that they were supposed to reply to whatever the other asked. If being able to decline answering was an option, however, he would surely have to keep that in mind for the near future, as he was certain there were still things he would still have rather avoided answering if they were headed down the line of questioning their conversation seemed to be going.
However…he’d thought maybe Hanako might have known at least a little about how it was nice to be able to be seen for who he was. Did he really prefer not to be himself around others? Or was he still just getting used to the idea that it might have been nice like it took Jack some time to get used to it? Well, if that was the case, then he knew he had to give Hanako more time rather than pushing it. So he tried to drop the subject.
When Jack mentioned that some people fooled others not to let them get too close and some fooled others just to see who would try to get closer, Hanako said, "Hmm…which one are you, then? Fool others to see who'll get closer?"
There it was – already another question from Hanako that made Jack uncomfortable. And there was his chance to fall silent. Instead of answering that time, Jack gave his peer a funny look and then looked away. He decided not to answer then now that he knew that answering was an option. He cast Hanako a strange look that was a mix of amused, smug, snarky, and cheeky, as if to say, ‘you told me I didn’t have to answer, so now I’m not answering.’ Still…he guessed Hanako probably knew the answer to the question he had asked him anyway. The truth was he was actually a little of both.
Hanako laughed, shaking his head. "…I appreciate it, still." He paused. "So...hypothetically, let’s say there’s this scenario… Someone does see through you, but they won’t call you out for whatever reason. Not hot?"
"Well if they don't call me out, how am I supposed to know?" he asked. "So they might be...uh...'secretly hot' I guess? Like those people who you don't realize they're good-looking until they clean up real nice or dress up for something."
It was a weird question to Jack, so he gave what he figured was a weird answer. It reminded him of those shows where people looked nerdy, geeky, or otherwise seemed like ‘ugly ducklings’ before they had their ‘glow up’ or ‘make-over’ and showed people just how good they really looked when effort was put into improving their appearance.
If someone could see through others, it was like they were naturally good-looking or attractive, but if they didn’t do anything to show that natural attractiveness, it would remain forever hidden. Just like if they didn’t do anything to show they could see through someone else, that person would always think they fooled them along with the rest of the world.
The model burst out laughing. "Oh man…that’s…not what I'd thought you’d say. I was just asking cause there’s other ways to see through someone without needing to call them out, hm?"
As soon as Hanako registered what Jack had said, he had to look back at the other seeing if he was serious. Completely taken aback, he ends up genuinely laughing. Oh jee- that was.. completely different than what Hanako had guessed. He would've betted Jack to say that he wouldn't even glance at someone like that. He was right- after all. How was he supposed to know someone saw through him, if they never called him out. But he seemed to consider the possibility that people may see through him, just don't call him out. Even choosing an example that Hanako could relate to better. How sweet of him. Even if he hadn't done it on purpose.
"But you're right…you're right… I suppose that makes sense ~" he stated. "Now ask me."
At that request, Jack tried not to smile, but he couldn’t help grinning as he rolled his eyes again. "...What's your type, Tone?" As if he didn’t already have an idea.
"You want honest answer or funny answer?" Hanako inquired. But before his old schoolmate could give an answer of his own, he told him, "Say funny~"
The hazel-eyed university student sneered incredulously. "...Funny answer."
Jack wasn’t sure why Hanako wanted him to ask for his ‘funny answer’, but he assumed it was because the Japanese guy felt more comfortable acting like everything was a joke and not to be taken seriously. He probably felt he could be more honest if he didn’t think others were taking what he was saying seriously – even if what he was saying was the truth.
So, if it would keep Hanako from lying more and give Jack more insight into what he was actually thinking, the redhead was willing to indulge him and ask him to give him his ‘funny answer’.
"The more emotionally unavailable, the hotter ~" the other student answered. "I like the chase." But then he said, "Hm... well I suppose now that I said it out loud, it's too predictable to be funny, isnt it?"
But Jack had gotten caught up on something else. "That's your funny answer?" he tried to verify. "Not your honest one?"
Hanako sighed dramatically. "Well, it’s not a funny one anymore when you're not laughing, is it?" he pointed out. "What do you think is nice about the chase?"
Aw...crap…that was on Hanako, wasn't it? Goddamnit Jack… He pushed himself to sigh dramatically, playfully whining about how it wasn't funny anymore. Why had he told Jack a version of the fact that was closer to the truth? Was it cause Jack seemed to be honest about his own type, even when he looked like he'd rather much talk about anything else? Hanako's brain raced, wondering how to answer the question without…actually answering. Finally managing to land on the question about 'the chase'. Ending up relying on how Jack answers to think about his next move, hoping he never really has to explain his thoughts further.
Jack looked uncertain. "I don't know. I don't see the appeal in chasing someone who doesn't want you. Unless, I guess, they're running because they're hoping you'll chase after them."
"I do like a good game of cat and mouse," Hanako admitted, laughing. Then he paused for a moment. "What do you think usually happens when the cat does get the mouse?"
"...The cat gets bored and lets the mouse go?" Jack guessed. Honestly, that was more wishful thinking than anything, but he was also reminded of those dogs that chased cars and didn’t know what to do with them once they caught up with them. Well, cats tended to actually kill and sometimes eat the mice they chased, so that was a bit different, but Jack didn’t want to think about how that might have translated to two people in a relationship. Furthermore, he thought Hanako seemed like more the sort of person who, if he was a cat, would get bored once the thrill of the chase was gone and he actually caught the person he was after, getting them to like him. Because Jack had a feeling that Hanako was as adverse to intimacy and getting into a relationship with someone as he was.
"Bored, huh? Sure! I can see that." The black-haired young man shrugged. "Mouse probably won’t be too happy about it after wanting to be chased, huh?" Then he laughed again and shook his head. "Meh, cats and mice don't really go well together in the same room anyway. Probably best they're seperated after they had their fun. Anyway, you wanted a serious answer?"
The redhead looked at him dubiously, as if the question were a trap. "if you're even capable of giving one..."
Hanako paused a bit and then laughed. "Nah…you're right. I'm not capable of giving that just yet." He shook his head. "Thanks for indulging me. I didn't expect you to answer as much as you did."
He did his best not to let his instinctual reaction show. Capable, huh… Hanako sometimes wondered that too. He felt he had already said enough seriousness for today. Wrapped around with metaphors of cats and mice because he feels a spike of fear at the thought of translating that. Deciding to further distract Jack with a question that he had yet to know he'd regret asking. Hide the lack of honesty with... another honesty? Let's try that.
He leaned in closer. "But you know whats the best part about this?"
Jack decided to humor him some more. "What?"
"I think I understand a little better what you mean now." He leaned away. "Anyway -" he continued, grinning, "lovely chat~ I gotta go. Audition. Gotta be fast before some other pretty guy gets the gig. Competitive world out there for people like me. Want anything while I’m out?"
His brows furrowed. "Wait - you think you understand a little better what I mean about what?" he wanted to know. "And why? What made you understand better?" Jack frowned. "Want anything from where? Where are you going?"
When Hanako said he understood a little better what Jack meant now, Jack wondered exactly which aspect he was talking about, especially because they had discussed a lot. Not to mention what he had said that helped him understand whatever topic a little bit better. But he couldn’t help but get the feeling Hanako was running away. Not that Jack could really blame him. The conversation seemed to be getting a bit uncomfortable for them both in some ways.
Hanako laughed, already headed for the door. "Just in general. That’s what usually happens when you answer questions, Burnett. People get you a little more…? Understand a little better." He chuckled. "Like I said, audition to run to. Oh, you know what, feel free to text me if you want something. I'll be back before it gets dark. Don't worry too much about me. I’m not going out chasing mice," he teased.
"Oh..." Jack said in realization, blushing a little darker. "You meant understand me a little more..." Then he frowned again. "Yeah, you better be back before it gets dark or I'm going to go looking for you!"
"Okay, stalker," Hanako answered, laughing as he left.
flowykid
