recolle | [ Closed ] A Coffee Not-Date

[ Closed ] A Coffee Not-Date

WHO: Yogi and Kei
WHERE: A coffee shop
WHEN: Friday, March 23
WHAT: Yogi and Kei are getting coffee to get to know each other! That's how you make friends! Or enemies...
WARNINGS: None

Yogi felt nervous for reasons he couldn't quite identify. Meeting Kei for coffee had come about rather suddenly and unexpectedly. He hadn't thought the man hated him, but he didn't think Kei particularly liked him to begin with either. Though maybe that had just been because they didn't really know each other, like he said! He certainly was an interesting sort. Very pragmatic and logical. Yogi could appreciate it, though it had made their previous conversations a touch frustrating at times.

But-! That wasn't bad. You didn't have to have everything in common to be friends, and he was sure he and Kei would have to have something in common! Mostly he simply wasn't sure what to expect as he waited for the man at the coffee shop they had agreed upon a few days ago. Would he even show up?
Kei didn't seem the type of person to be that rude, but there had been that question about stealing his heart against betrayal...

No! Kei would definitely show! And to prove it to the universe, he downed his coffee and called for a second cup. There. Now he would definitely show!

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Someone actually wanted to make friends with him. Fascinating. Kei decides that there is no harm in indulging someone's curiosity. Yogi cannot tell what sort of person he is just from text. Indeed, the sort of person that he is -- he is not someone that can draw anyone to him. There is an emptiness within him that repels others. That is what he has come to understand about himself, but it seems like he is going to be giving this rough lesson to someone else. Well.

He pauses before he enters the coffee shop. There is no reason to crush someone's dreams heartlessly. The obligation that I have as someone who agreed to the meeting is to not make it anymore painful than it needs to be. Gripping onto the handle of the door, he enters and pauses to look around. Ah. His head tilts in acknowledgement to Yogi, lifting his hand to give a small wave, before walking over.

Will I end up tired? In all honesty, he would like to return to his feelings of before; the feelings he had before the app. While he could not feel the happiness of others, while he has never been able to experience happiness, he never begrudged anyone theirs. But recently, he's been attempting to drag everyone down with his words. Why? Indeed, it is only ruining their moods, but I find something evil behind what I'm doing. Still... I've decided to save myself, didn't I?

The questions bubbling up in his mind, he decides not to muse on anymore as he comes up to the table. "Hello. Were you nervous?" Lifting his hand, he points at the cup of coffee. "Or am I simply late?" Shrugging off his jacket, he hangs it over the chair and takes his seat.

Yogi rose to greet his new friend, dressed like ant proper college millennial - jeans, sneakers, t-shirt, and an open button up over that. He had debated for a while on what to wear actually. He didn’t want to be to formal about it, but he didn’t want to be overly casual. Such a fine line when meeting someone new!

“Oh, no it’s okay, I was just really thirsty,” he laughed sheepishlg, rubbing the back of his head as he sat back down. It wasn’t quite a lie, but he thought it would be rude to say he was nervous to meet Kei.

“Did you get your doll?” He asked him, recalling what their last conversation had been about to start with.

His long black jacket that is now draped over the back of his chair seems almost part of his signature look these days. He decided if he was going to meet someone that kindly worried about him to look slightly nicer than usual. Which honestly just means that he wears a white button-up shirt over his normal choice of black everything, and jeans.

Exceptionally polite. Kei notes as he offers a half-smile at how Yogi rose up to greet him. His head gives a slight shake to show that he isn't offended. "Yes and no. I went searching for a cursed Santa doll and ended up buried in boxes. It was rather kind of everyone to blame a curse over my poor decision, but I still am uncertain if I've found a real cursed item."

He decides to extend his hand out to give a proper first introduction before he carries on with his own odd topic of choice. "Kei Shigaraki. It's nice to meet you." The words, at least, sound good. The person feels like they ... hm, sparkle, too. Why? Simply happy at being alive? How nice. The thoughts lack venom, but there is a heaviness to them all the same.

Yogi took the hand and shook in greeting, though it felt far more formal than he was used to. "Yogi Perowna," he introduced himself again before resuming his seat, stretching out his long legs beneath the table, crossing at the ankles.

"That just seems extra mean, to make a Santa doll cursed of all things," Yogi said a touch sadly as the waiter came back with his new coffee. This one he merely cradled while it cooled, steam swirling up from the rim. "I'm glad the boxes didn't hurt you though. Curse or bad luck, it's still no fun getting hurt."

"Why?" He was mildly curious as to why that would matter. His head turned as soon as the waiter appeared to order his own cup of coffee -- black. Kei had very simple tastes and always felt that cream and sugar covered up the real taste of bitterness. Dropping his chin, he chuckled to himself as he decided to keep his odd notions of coffee to himself.

"It really is not. I did break a few fingers and some other minor injuries, but well, I thankfully received some means to take care of myself." He wiggled his fingers to show that he was all right. The magic that he gained was something that he was still learning to use, and was not necessarily the most user-friendly of abilities. "I feel I should constantly say that I'm cursed whenever I do something clumsy. It seems like my clumsiness will be forgiven, then."

But he shook his head, easily dismissing the thought. "Still even as a joke, I don't think I could lie and worry people like that." A beat. "And what have you been up to? Other than avoiding being cursed?"

"Well, Santa is meant to bring joy, especially to children. It seems like the kind of doll that would end up with a child, or in a home out during the holidays. Cursing it seems aimed at children, or at ruining a happy time," he reasoned, turning his cup in his hands.

His lips pursed slightly at the tale of injury, but relaxed when it was shown that Kei was all right. Curse indeed. If it was the doll, it certainly wasn't a very nice curse was it? Not that a curse in general was nice, but it sounded extra nasty.

"Clumsiness is rather endearing though. Perhaps it's not quite the curse you find it," Yogi smiled, finally taking a sip of his coffee and pinching his lips. To hot still! "Ah, well, I did my shift at the fabric store and I worked on my projects for class, and I had practice. We have a meet in a couple of weeks, so I've been working on my vault and ring work."

"That's true." Kei didn't disagree with that sort of logic. But he looked away as he recalled how horrifying that doll actually looked. Well, horrifying to most -- he happened to find it charming, because that was the kind of person he was. "But you needn't worry about it. The doll itself looked grotesque and so the only person that would want it would be someone that had already grown sentimental towards it."

Leaning back in his chair, he acknowledged the waiter as he came back. The saucer and drink set down before him. It was easy to be fast when one was only asking for black coffee, after all. He offered an empty smile of thanks before returning his gaze back to Yogi.

"You find my story endearing, then?" His smile shifts from something a little less empty, more amused. His eyebrows lifted as he listened to the full schedule that Yogi had. It made him almost feel guilty that his schedule was so weak in comparison. "You're quite dedicated. What is it that you're wanting to do? That is... I've never joined any club when I was in school. I wonder about the fulfillment that is felt in them. Why did you join? What do you like about it? Those sort of things."

Lifting up the cup, he took a drink but unlike his companion, he didn't flinch over the heat. He was also someone that could eat three-to-four mapo tofu plates all on his own. So, hot beverages didn't bother him at all.

"Or people like you?" Yogi guessed. That is, someone who is interested in curses. Which he still did not quite understand, but people did have to have their hobbies didn't they?

Yogi sipped his coffee again, swallowing this time in pleasure rather than pursing his lips in pain. There it was, just the right temperature - between scalding and tepid. He took a spoon and stirred it some, not wanting the milk and sugar to separate to much.

"It makes you sound relatable," he admitted with a little smile before tilting his head as he considered the question. "Well, I joined gymnastics as a kid as a way to get exercise, and I just really took to it. I enjoyed the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment when I mastered a new skill. And later when I competed it was the thrill of winning. Not that I like beating other people, per say, it's just nice to see where your skills rank. Now I do it both because I enjoy it and because it's part of my scholarship for school. Fashion I got into to, well, make myself happy. And I keep doing it because it makes me happy, but also because I want to make other people happy with my designs. Clothing is a way to express yourself, and I want to help people do that."

He sipped at the end of his speech, shyly looking to the side, wondering if he had sounded foolish.

"Exactly." He rested his elbow on the table, pointing his index finger at Yogi and snapped his wrist up. There was a soft click of his tongue in a further dramatic show that yes, the young man understood that he would be the person that would pick up such a doll. It was just a passing interest and he didn't even know what he would do with a cursed doll, but he thought that it would be something to pursue.

"Do I seem like someone that's difficult to relate to?" Kei smiled in a way that showed he absolutely was aware he was not the easiest person to understand. It was a wry kind of grin, but he did not seem troubled about it. He tucked some of his hair behind his ear as he listened to the reasons why Yogi took up the various clubs that he did. The coffee occasionally would be lifted and a deep drink taken, as he peered over the cup. As always, I only feel envious for those that can feel envious. The thought brought a smile to his lips even if it was not a particularly happy one.

For an empty person like himself, one would assume that he would feel envious over being able to feel accomplishment or joy over doing something for oneself. But he didn't; he acknowledged that he would never feel that way. No, he felt envious for those that could feel envious -- because it meant in some small way, they thought they could feel those same emotions. But once Yogi finished, he offered a warmer smile.

"I see. That is a wonderful reason to do anything." The shy manner in which he looked away; Kei wondered if people had thought Yogi's reasonings were too "simple." "You've found what most people are incapable of finding -- a purpose. And it is a purpose that brings you joy. There isn't anything better than that, if you ask me. Indeed, there is some selfishness in it like your own personal joy, but I like that, myself. More people should be selfish with what they want to become and do. They should simply do it because it makes them happy rather than acting as though it is some great contribution to the world.

"True, I understand feeling like it is a contribution would most likely feel good, but who cares?" The cup was set down on the saucer hard enough to make a soft clicking sound. "Too many people live incapable of finding happiness for themselves, and live for other people instead. So I'm happy to hear of someone that wants to live for themselves and their own wishes."

"I wouldn't say you're hard to understand. You're not the usual type of person I'm around, true, but I don't think that makes you difficult," he shook his head. "It just makes you, well, you." He gave a shrug, because what else could you want anyone to be? Admittedly he couldn't quite understand all of Kei's reasoning on things, but Yogi found people did not always understand his either, so he could hardly fault Kei for that. You didn't need to understand everything about a person to like them or want to be around them though.

Yogi listened to Kei quietly and smiled softly as he spoke. He wouldn't say he wasn't being selfish in the way that he lived. He was. He was pursuing his own dreams and what made him happy, but he did draw genuine joy from making other people happy too. He didn't think what he did would somehow change the world, or even make a great impact, but he did think he could help people find moments of joy, to feel wonderful in their own skin and clothes, and that was enough for him.

"Doesn't it make me relatable? That I'm selfish?" he asked Kei curiously, peering at him over the rim of his cup as he drank.

"I'm surprised you don't find me difficult. Most do." His shoulders shook a little as he chuckled about how troubling people could find him. But he shook his head as he dismissed that thought, too. "It makes me, hm? You're a very kind-hearted person. I'm seeing that already." Well, of course, Yogi was. He was the kind of person that legitimately worried about a man buying cursed dolls when he barely knew him. But I can't quite understand where the kindness comes from. A naive view of the world, perhaps? Perhaps.

But he lifted his chin up at the question. "I believe that it makes you very relatable that you're selfish." His chin dropped in a small nod as he set down his cup of coffee to further explain. "Most people want to believe in doing things for reasons based on others. Like--" He lifted his hand up to gesture toward the waiter and barista. "-- someone saying that they like to work these jobs because enjoying the customer interaction and helping someone have a better day." He rolled his wrist in a way of saying on-and-on with that sort of mindset.

"That is what people want to believe in, but the truth is... everyone is doing everything for themselves."

"Why would people find you difficult?" Yogi asked. He thought he might know a few answers - Kei did seem a bit stubborn as well as having trouble with the idea of empathy, but he was curious to see what Kei thought of himself.

Yogi tilted his head. "Well, just because they say that doesn't mean that they're lying. They might actual enjoy it, you know? I mean, I genuinely enjoy my work making people happy and helping others, so it's kind of selfish and not at the same time." He waggled his hand in a so-so kind of gesture. "Doing something for yourself doesn't mean you can't take joy in also doing something for others, right?"

"My opinions make it sound like I am speaking facts, and so it tends to make people think that what they believe is untrue or false." He shook his head slow at that idea. "People's opinions are their opinions. I cannot say that they are untrue or false. They are built up by how they have experienced the world. There is nothing wrong in what people believe in, but the manner in which I speak tends to have a negative affect."

There was a pause as he lifted his cup of coffee to take another drink. Afterward, he gave a very small sigh of appreciation for the drink before setting it back down. "I also cannot fully understand those that live by emotions. I cannot fully comprehend the way that they live, but I have a good idea of who they are as people. Yet most people do not enjoy being analyzed by me." A beat. "My emotions are what they are, and so I sometimes can hurt people with my callous and clumsy mannerisms in speech. People are not as tough as they all appear to be. It takes just a few wrong words until they feel themselves breaking."

He hummed. "So I can be quite difficult simply due to the fact that I like humanity. I like society. I like everything about it, but I can never be fully part of it." Yet he did not sound sad or morose. He did not sound upset; it was just stating a fact about himself. Like stating his eyes were brown.

"And you aren't wrong. Doing something for yourself, indeed, doesn't mean that you can't take joy in doing something for others." He smiled. "However, what I mean is that very few people make that the only reason that they do something. After all, a person wants to be rewarded for their efforts in big and small ways, do they not?"

"Oh, yeah, I could see that. You do sound kind of like a know-it-all sometimes," he nodded, understand perfectly. He thought Kei's point of view was pragmatic in the extreme, so logical that it completely did away with the human condition, but that didn't make it necessarily wrong. But it did sometimes come across as Kei telling him that his own opinion was wrong. He would have to keep that in mind from now on - that Kei was just speaking like himself, not necessarily saying that Yogi was incorrect.

"Maybe if you explained to people your words aren't coming from a hurtful place?" Yogi suggested. "And maybe not analyze them so much?" he chuckled. "Isn't the adage - if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all?"

Yogi nodded. "I think everyone does, in some way. Sometimes seeing other people happy is the reward. Some people do stuff for money. Which is fine - kind of need it to live." He laughed. "Basically you're right."

"My age certainly doesn't help things." His eyebrows lifted as he realized that may sound strange so he added, "Since I am older than most of those on the Retrospec app, it adds another layer upon my fact-sounding opinion." He lifted his hands in a surrendering gesture that he could not help much about it. After all, it was not as though he could make himself younger -- and he wouldn't want to be younger.

"I believe that if I explained it that way, it would only infuriate people who are already upset with me." Kei offered a warmer smile; though like with all his smiles, it didn't reach his eyes. "Mostly due to what words I choose and the manner in which I conduct myself." Indeed, he was aware of the smugness that he spoke and carried himself in. It was because he that was simply confident in himself, and so if he said that his aggravating opinion did not come from a hurtful place, it had a higher probability of setting off more anger rather than less.

"And I can't quite stop myself from wanting to analyze people. As I said, I really like humanity and always am trying to understand people." A beat. "Consider it a hobby of mine, if you would. But it also is one that comes from no hurtful place." He offered yet another smile that looked more like a smirk.

"Basically, I'm right." Once more, he parroted the words but seemed content. "What about you? You seem like someone who is able to get along with anyone. It's a natural sunshine that comes off of you, and so others must be drawn into it. Yes?" Kei would feel tired over such brightness and he would rather rest in a shadow, but he was fine with it for now.

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[ Closed ] A Coffee Not-Date

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