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He’s cute , Sunday thinks. Robin had asked him to go out and meet someone, he thinks it’s a waste of time but he can’t bring himself to say no to her. So here he is, at some unsophisticated bar surrounded by loud and obnoxious people. Across the room stands a blonde man who seems just as out of place as he does, except he’s with two other people. Some guy with long hair and a girl with a scarf, who seem awfully close… Perhaps he’s third wheeling. He looks away before he’s caught staring. This whole thing is so complicated.
Robin had given him some advice before he left, ‘Don’t stare but make eye contact’ ‘Don’t be too awkward, but don’t be too proud either’ ‘Be nice, but not too nice’. Why are relationships so complicated? He’s used to just charming people into doing what he wants, and it usually works fine. So why must he start a relationship built on trust when he’s got so many already built on lies? Nevermind, he’s starting to get what Robin means, he sounds like some super villain.
Still, it gets him thinking. Does he really not have any good relationships? He’s close with Robin, of course. Other than that, there’s the family. There’s also… who else? Aeons, this is pathetic. Maybe he should find someone to talk to, and even when it doesn’t lead anywhere at least he can say he tried. Fortunately for him, the blonde from earlier has separated from his friend and is standing only a few seats away from him- ordering something from the bartender. This opportunity won’t last long, so with a sigh he gets up and walks over.
“Excuse me, could I pay for your drink?” Robin had said that’s a good way to let someone know you're interested, and it’s an easy way to start a conversation. The blonde looks confused, then nervous, then confused again. “Why…” Sunday hadn’t planned for this response, he came up with an answer for ‘yes’ and ‘no’. How’s he supposed to answer this? ‘My little sister is forcing me to meet people, and you seem the least annoying here.’ He’s gonna have to go off script, fortunately he’s good at talking to people.
“Well-“
“Sorry, I meant to say sure. And thank you.”
The blonde interrupts him, correcting himself nervously. He seems quite a bit more lost than the winged man, perhaps he’s not as used to speaking with people as Sunday is. Still, Sunday is kind enough to ignore his nervousness. “Actually, I’m just getting water so… it’s not worth paying for.” He follows up again, changing his mind once more. Sunday starts to notice he’s quite indecisive, probably a nervous habit. Does he make people nervous? At work most people either fear or look up to him, but he wasn’t expecting the same reactions at some messy bar.
“Can’t you order something else?” Sunday realizes how his words sound as soon as they leave his mouth, and he swears he isn’t usually this bad at conversation. “I mean, like food. Do you like…” All the bar serves is chicken wings, what a joke. The blonde follows his eyes to the big sign with the menu, letting out a small huff of air as he looks at the ‘chicken wings’ on the sign. He seems at least a little amused, although still rather nervous. He can work with this, the conversation is still salvageable.
“Uhm, I think I’ll just have the water. I don’t really drink, and I ate before I got here…” The blonde mutters again, his tone low and a bit soft. Honestly, he’s got a nice voice. It’s easier to listen to than most people he works with, although Robin’s is still prettier. Should he compliment him? Perhaps that’s too forward. But if he doesn’t find something to say this conversation will be over before it even starts, and despite what he said earlier he’s not about to give up. He’s not a loser, he can have a successful conversation with a stranger.
“Alright then, sorry to bother.” He’ll have a successful conversation another time! This was more than enough trying, pretty good for a first attempt. So with a small bow Sunday quickly scurry’s away, hoping he doesn’t look too pathetic. The blonde looks confused before turning back to meet up with his friends.
~
“Armin, who was that?” Mikasa immediately brings up the stranger as soon as Armin returns to their little corner. “I’m not sure, he offered to pay for my drink.” The couple gives him an unamused expression as soon as they realize what happened. They had been trying to set Armin up with someone for months now, of course as soon as someone tries to talk to him Armin fumbles. “And you said no?” Eren asks with a raised eyebrow, already assuming he turned the winged man down immediately.
“I was only getting water...” The couple frowns in sync, both equally disappointed but not surprised. Mikasa decides she’ll be the one to try and talk some sense into him. “You could’ve ordered something else, or at least started a conversation. He was clearly into you.” Eren decides to add to the statement, “And even if you didn’t drink it you could’ve given it to me.” Armin thinks about calling him greedy but instead decides to simply sigh.
“You’re so hopeless.” Mikasa says with a slightly more disappointed sigh, despite how little she brings it up- she does want the best for her friend. In fact she once brought up going on a double date, she even offered to try setting Armin up with Jean. But somehow something always gets in the way, whether it’s Armin’s poor people skills or lack of time or lack of care. “My polycule idea is still on the table by the way.” Eren offers a bit of input but is immediately shut down by both Mikasa and Armin.
At the other side of the bar Armin can’t help but notice the winged man still staring at him, perhaps if he went to start a conversation now he’d have a chance. But he’s far too embarrassed to say anything else to that guy, in fact his best option currently is to fake his death in front of the entire bar. He could probably do it too, he’d just need like an hour to plan it.
Nevermind that, Mikasa and Eren are being all couple-y again. As much as Armin loves the two of them, he can’t stand third wheeling. Usually he’ll make Connie come with the three of them so he’s not completely alone, but he had denied the request tonight. He said something about him and Sasha going on a ‘side quest’, whatever that means… Maybe talking to that winged man again would be good for him, make a new friend or something. He needs a bit of encouragement before he can actually start a conversation though, just some words for good luck.
“What should I say to him?” He asks out in the open, causing both Mikasa and Eren to look at him. Eren quickly adds some input. “You gotta be cool about it, but try and find out as much info as you can.” Mikasa adds, “Give him a scarf.” The couple then goes back and forth, giving Armin the worst advice he’s ever received.
“Kill two people for him.”
“Ask what you are to him.”
“Call him a slave.”
“Don’t call him a slave.”
“Tell him he was bred to follow your orders.”
“Live in a nice little cabin in the woods with him.”
“Get really close to him, then leave for like two months.”
As the couple floods his brain with ‘advice’ Armin can’t help but wonder why he even hangs out with these people, is he really this lonely? He can’t afford to be alone much longer, so he stands up and walks towards the winged man- the couple waving and wishing him luck. But it seems the more steps he takes the less confident he feels, he still doesn’t know how to start the conversation. Luckily if this goes bad he still has plan B, fake his death.
The winged man is still by himself, fortunately Armin will only embarrass himself in front of one person since he doesn’t seem to have any friends. He makes it to where the winged man is sitting, standing beside him for a moment. The two just look at each other for a moment, a third party might think they’re communicating telepathically but they’re actually just both extremely awkward.
“Could I pay for your drink?” Armin asks the winged man after a few more moments, deciding that’s the easiest way to do this. A little chuckle escapes his mouth at the offer, seemingly finding it amusing. “Sure, could I pay for yours?” Armin nods before calling over the bartender, he ends up letting the winged man pick a drink for him. It’s something fruity he’s never had before, but it’s not bad. Armin also ends up picking something for him, it’s also a little fruity- he’s never had it before himself so he can only hope it tastes okay.
The two actually end up talking for a while, after the initial awkwardness wears off they find out they have a lot in common. Although Armin has to admit he finds Sunday a little creepy, the way his eyes are always a little squinted and his smile sort of looks like an evil feline. He’s also never met someone named Sunday before, it’s a nice name- probably some spiritual meaning behind it but he doesn’t ask.
“I get the feeling you don’t drink often?” Sunday questions as he watches Armin take a small sip of his drink, he clearly doesn’t hate the taste but it is a bit strong. “No, not really. I’m usually the designated driver, and even when I’m not I tend to prefer water.” Sunday nods, taking his words in as he sips his own drink. “I understand. Alcohol clouds the mind, it’s good to stick with the healthier alternative. I hear it’s good to go out of your comfort zone as well, although I myself tend to stick with coffee or tea.”
Armin can’t help but notice that Sunday talks a lot, but it’s not bad persay. Eren talks quite a bit as well, but Sunday seems to speak on a higher level than Eren. It’s actually quite nice, as much as he likes Eren, Armin has to admit he’s not the brightest. So it’s nice to speak to someone a little more ‘intelligent’, to say the least. He sounds pretty sophisticated too, while Armin is certainly smart, Sunday both looks and sounds the part. He wonders why someone like that is in a bar like this in the first place.
“Do you go out often? To drink, I mean.” Armin manages to ask Sunday, to which he nods. “I travel a bit for work, although I don’t get to have much ‘fun’. So, drinking isn’t ever really on the schedule.” He understands where Sunday is coming from, Armin also works quite often and rarely gets time off. Perhaps that’s why he’s choosing to spend his free time at such an… unclassy bar. Sunday probably doesn’t get much time off, so he wants to spend it at a place different from work.
The conversation continues to flow nicely, and Armin doesn’t even notice the time pacing. Eventually though, Eren and Mikasa come to pull him out of his little trance. “Armin, are you done yet?” Eren whines as he and Mikasa approach the chatty pair, to which he’s quickly corrected. “Eren, give my Dark Comrade a moment. This is the first time someones ever shown interest in him.” Armin rolls his eyes at Mikasa’s comment, but before he can correct her she continues talking. “But, do please hurry this along. We’d like to get home before midnight tonight.”
Sunday laughs a little under his breath, sipping his drink before speaking. “These are your friends, I assume?” Armin just nods, sighing as he stands up- his action quickly mirrored by Sunday. “If that’s all for tonight, then I’ll be taking my leave as well.” The winged man hums as he sets his empty glass down, scribbling something on a napkin. He passes the napkin to Armin, then with another little bow he takes his leave.
On the cab ride home Eren and Mikasa are too caught up being couple-y to bother Armin too much, so he uses this time to gaze longingly at the napkin. He assumes Sunday had written his number down, but he seems to have used a bad pen or something- because the ink is all smudged and unreadable. He sighs, perhaps he really is destined to be alone.