Work Text:
@Beeg_Guin: You want to go on a date with me?
@KnightOwlFan1987: That is correct! I know we cannot meet in person right now, but how would you feel about us going to the same fast food chain where we live?
@Beeg_Guin: You propose an interesting Idea; I have no choice but to accept your offer, Owlet.
@KnightOwlFan1987: Great! How does tomorrow afternoon sound?
@Beeg_Guin: That is an acceptable time; I will “see” you tomorrow.
The old principal stared at his monitor for a minute, his hands trembling as he considered how to respond to his friend (and possible romantic partner).
Denis Damocles didn’t know why he asked his role-playing partner out so suddenly. He swears his keyboard typed that question by itself, but however it may have happened, Pen-Pen was just as interested as he was.
Looking above his monitor, he checked to make sure nobody would rudely interrupt his private time. He could hear the sound of students making their way to their next class, but thankfully, they weren’t making their way to his office.
He slowly typed into his web search bar: “Fast food places near me.”
Pen-Pen stared at the word “date” in his direct message with his Owlet.
That word sent a strange feeling down his stomach. Whatever it was called, it made him feel like something terrible was about to happen.
He sets his tablet down on the old coffee table and makes his way to a pile of assorted books stacked in the corner of his room, pulling a particular book about human psychology.
He skims through the pages until he reaches a section that most suits his current status: Anxiety.
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure…
Pen-Pen’s eyes scan the rest of the chapter on this human disorder; it doesn’t match him exactly. He wasn’t shaking, hyperventilating, or crying in the fetal position, but there was that worrying pit in his stomach that refused to go away.
He shuts the book and places it back on the pile; he wonders what it was that made him so nervous about this date. He had plenty of experience going on dates as his character when he roleplayed with Owlet. Still, when it came to the owl behind the screen, his confusing emotions once again acted irrationally.
Pen-Pen considers asking Owlet if he is feeling the same as he always does when he is confused about human things. But that made his “anxiety,” as he’s now calling it, much worse.
Picking up his tablet again, he swipes out of the messaging application and into his web browser, his feathery hands typing “How to erase anxiety” into the search bar.
A day later, two men, one human, and one sentient emotion, put on their best clothes and made their way to their local fast-food restaurant.
@KnightOwlFan1987: I’ll be completely honest; we may not be together physically, but my stomach is performing summersaults at the thought of putting myself back out there after so long. I hope I don’t look too overdressed!
@KnightOwlFan1987: <image.png>
Damocles, now on his day off, was wearing a simple brown vest over a white button-up shirt. Being an older gentleman, the angle he gave for his selfie wasn’t flattering, to say the least.
Taking his eyes off of his phone for a moment, he places his order at the front counter (deciding to splurge, he orders a double cheeseburger with his meal) before moving to wait at his seat, where he receives a message from his date.
@Beeg_Guin: Of all the men I’ve met in my life, you are the most handsome. And I do not use these words lightly; I may appear relaxed right now, but I can assure you that I am on the verge of a mental breakdown.
@Beeg_Guin: <image.png>
Denis’s eyes widened at the image loaded in front of him. He couldn’t believe the person he had been role-playing with the entire time had enough money to afford a detailed penguin costume! And he wore a tuxedo T-shirt as well!
It was strange, though; he assumed he’d see a person’s face, not their fursona.
@KnightOwlFan1987: Your costume looks quite realistic! But is there a reason you’re choosing to wear that on our date?
@Beeg_Guin: I do not understand; this is who I am. I always look like this.
@KnightOwlFan1987: I see! Well, no matter how you look, I still think you're handsome.
After sending that message, he stared back at P2’s response; something about what he said worried him.
For Denis, being in a costume meant that just glancing at a stranger in an owl costume late at night running along the rooftops of Paris would mean that their city was safe in their hands.
It would appear that P2 didn’t think the same way.
But, then again, he can’t assume anything strange he sees is because someone is mentally unwell; if he thought that way, all those Akumatized villains would remind him of escaped Arkham Asylum patients.
A server calls his order number, interrupting his train of thought. He takes his order from the counter, returns to his seat, and arranges his meal in front of him before taking a photo.
@KnightOwlFan1987: <image.png>
@KnightOwlFan1987: I don’t usually order fast food since I cook at home. I wonder what you ordered. Could it be that you ordered something with fish? Hoo-hoo!
Taking a potato wedge and biting down on it, he tried not to chuckle at his silly joke before P2 quickly replied:
@Beeg_Guin: I don’t like fish.
@Beeg_Guin: <image.png>
His eyes couldn’t grow any wider as Denis saw that P2’s entire table was covered in food: Burgers, fries, nuggets, and even several large cups of soda, all in a single frame.
Denis peeked over to see his meager meal before scrolling up on his phone to review P2’s selfie while he was being notified of P2 messaging him.
Ignoring the…giant penguin in the room, P2 was a bulky fellow, to say the least; Damocles had no preferences regarding who he was interested in (considering he himself was pudgy), but the more he stared at P2, the more flush his face became.
He puts his phone down for a moment as he wolfs down his burger, ignoring the tasteless thoughts he had about his date. The more his mind focuses on the premade patty, the less it falls into the gutter.
In a different fast food chain far away, a large penguin types away at his tablet.
@Beeg_Guin: I believe I may have overordered; I was not paying attention to what I was saying due to being afflicted with “Anxiety” over our date.
@Beeg_Guin: But this may have been a good thing because I have not eaten this week, so I believe this will suffice for now.
@Beeg_Guin: You always worry about how often I eat, but with how frequently you remind me, I start to remember that I am considered a person, too.
@Beeg_Guin: I would like to take a moment to express my appreciation for everything you do for me. You are a wonderful man.
@Beeg_Guin: From the bottom of what I can only assume is my heart, thank you. If this experience doesn’t allow us to be romantically involved, you’ll always be my dearest friend.
He lays the tablet down on the seat next to him, his fingers shaking slightly.
There it is again, that “anxiety” eating away at him. They were an entire country apart, and yet it felt like his Owlet—his friend , was watching him, judging his actions like the monks at the temple judged his abilities all those years ago.
Pen-Pen takes a deep breath, pressing his hand against his rising chest, “My fear is mine,” he exhales, feeling it fall back, “but I am not my Fear.”
He notes how similar modern grounding techniques are to those he was taught at the temple. The thought that people like his Owlet are connected to his past in some way today puts him at ease.
Pen-pen sighs, looking back into his excessive amount of food.
I pray that they don't ban me here.
His stomach growls as his worries melt away, and thoughts of hunger fill his mind. P2 picks up a burger from the three different ones scattered around his table and begins to eat away his worries.
Denis felt his phone buzzing on the table as he drank the rest of his soda; he smiled softly.
They both shared the same nervous habit of texting their thoughts out.
He turns his phone up and reads what P2 threw out into their DMs.
He scans over what’s been bothering P2 today. The more he reads, the more at ease Denis becomes with his worries, strange as that may sound.
Denis thinks for a moment, wanting to help alleviate his date’s worries.
I wonder what The Owl would do in this situation…
@KnightOwlFan1987: Pen-Pen, you’re not alone in having those feelings; I’ve been feeling the same way the entire time.
@KnightOwlFan1987: I haven’t been active in the dating scene since college; even then, being in a relationship wasn’t a priority for me.
@KnightOwlFan1987: But that all changed when I met you; it felt like I was further back in my youth! Feeling all those butterflies in my stomach whenever we roleplayed, wanting you to come back when you were gone, it felt like I was falling in love for the first time.
@KnightOwlFan1987: The idea of speaking to you through text feels strange; I grew up in a world where the internet was still too slow to load images. But I want to continue this relationship with you! This date has been the most fun I’ve ever had with another person!
@KnightOwlFan1987: Goodness, now I’m the one rambling away! I do apologize for that, P2.
@Beeg_Guin: Do you truly mean that?
@KnightOwlFan1987: Of course I do! I love you more than I love my limited-edition Knight Owl comic books!
@Beeg_Guin: That is quite the honest thing to say to me, Owlet.
@KnightOwlFan1987: That might’ve been too forward, especially at this stage, but I can’t help it! You make me feel so strongly about these things, P2!
@Beeg_Guin: I feel the same; I would like to go on many more of these “dates” with you.
Denis smiled as he read that message before quickly typing up a response.
@KnightOwlFan1987: This date doesn’t have to end here. Would you like to continue this back home, where we can video call each other?
He turns his phone off momentarily as he gathers his trash, carries it to the bin, and dumps it into the chute before leaving.
Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, he immediately fishes it out.
@Beeg_Guin: I would like that.
@Beeg_Guin: Maybe, if you are willing, you could show me how you cook your meals?
Denis chuckled as he typed back a response and began his walk back home.
@KnightOwlFan1987: I'd love that.