Chapter Text
Monarch races ahead of Jelly into the diner, speedwalking to a table near the back of the restraunt. They sit down facing the door and wipe their sweaty palms on their pants as they watch the door, waiting for Jelly to walk in. They watch as he opens the door, looking around the diner curiously. After a short while, his eyes settle on Monarch, and he moves towards them, taking a seat across the table.
The two sit in silence for a moment, Monarch staring forward while Jelly continues glancing around the room. After about a minute or so Monarch shifts forward in their seat and says "I wanted to ask you something." Jelly's eyes flick back toward them and he resettles himself in his chair. "Okaaay? Shoot." He sounds slightly confused, but not worried or scared. Monarch takes a breath and asks the question that could damn him.
"Everyone else on this realm uses their... real name. Y'know, Loretta, and Sam and Brody, except for.. you," "Uhh..." "So, what's your real name?"
Monarch watches his face, but can't place his expression. Is he scared? Confused? Annoyed? Embarassed? They can't tell.
His face still mostly blank, Jelly begins to avoid eye contact. "A-are you being serious?" He sounds slightly defensive.
Monarch calms down slightly, pleased that this is going the expected way. "Well, I... I wanted to see if we could get to know eachother."
Jelly continues to avoid eye contact, fidgeting with his hands and leaning slightly away from Monarch "I-I don't know if you noticed, but you don't exactly have a name either."
Monarch smiles, resting their elbows on the table and leaning forward towards him. "Come on, Jelly! Why don't you like saying your real name?" Their voice darkens towards the end of their sentence, locking eyes with Jelly as they do so.
Jelly seems to have recovered from his fear and his voice lightens, holding eye contact once more. "'Cause it's embarrasing! Duh."
Monarch leans back again, and considers just leaving. Jelly has obviously recovered, and anything they hoped to get out of this is probably out of reach now. But, is there really any harm in staying? Maybe they'll get some more information out of this.
They tilt their head to the side and smile. "Well... we're on a date, right? And I would like to know my date's real name."
Jelly looks away, blushing slightly. "I really don't think you neeeeed to know, I mean we can have a great date without me embarrassing myself!"
Monarch rolls their eyes before sweetening their voice and saying "Come on, I promise I won't make fun of you, o-or tell anyone else if you don't want me to!"
He turns back, making eye contact with Monarch and grinning. "Well, if you insist. I don't ever tell anyone, because it makes me sound like a Build-A-Bear. My real name is Harvey."
They startle slightly, surprised he actually told them. "What? But that's so... cute."
Jelly grins, leaning forward. "You really think so?"
Monarch feels their face heat up, thankful their body doesn't allow for their blush to show. "W-Well yeah. I think it... suits you."
He leans further forward, getting up close in their personal space. "Does it make you like me even more? I didn't even know you liked me before today, but it seems you really do!"
Monarch jumps back, trying to avoid getting too close to him. This isn't at all how they wanted that to go, but the comment on his name just... slipped out. "Well, uh, I did ask you on a date didn't I? A-And yeah, uh, I guess it does make me like you more?"
Jelly beams, and, to Monarch's relief, leans back into his chair. "Well, I hadn't really thought about you romantically before, but this date is going pretty well, and you are quite attractive, so I suppose I could pursue this relationship for longer than just one date - that is, if the rest of tonight goes this well. You said something about food, right?"
Monarch is incredibly flustered. They were not prepared for anything, but they see an out to go calm down for a moment, and take it immediatley. "Food, Yes! Just, give me a second and I'll go prepare our meals. Wait here!"
They stand up and abruptly move towards the counter, slipping behind it and entering the kitchen. They press their hands to the side of their face, and take a couple deep breaths, calming themself down. Monarch moves further into the kitchen, searching the whole place for anything they can turn into something palatable. After some searching, they find a handful of items and get to cooking.