Ruby City Mailbox/Inbox

[oathshackledbird]

You have found the Mailbox/Inbox of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, owner and teacher of the training school, Spiral. If you have business with him or the school, please feel free to leave a message and he will get back to you as soon as possible. Considering his abilities, that might be quicker than you think...

Comments

Yay! It's a distraction from the END OF THE WORLD in my other game!

[oathshackledbird]

You don't need to be sorry. Please, ask whatever you need to and I will do my best to answer.

YAAAAAY

[lapidarius]

I'm not sure how to ask this, so I'll just say it outright.

What would you think is the correct way to ask someone's family for permission to date them?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid blinks at the text in surprise for a moment, thinking he must be reading it wrong. Then, he finally answers.]

Honestly, a lot of the time it depends on the family you are asking. Do you mind if I ask who you have decided to date?

[The curiosity is killing him even if he is pretty sure he knows the answer already.]

[lapidarius]

Well

It's

I'm

[After several false starts in which Kakyoin failed to construct a sentence, he instead opted to switch to video.]

Jotaro's mother and great-grandfather are here. What do I do.

[oathshackledbird]

[Oh... Mother and great-grandfather? No wonder the poor teen is panicking.]

First, breathe.

[Passing out is not going to help anyone or leave a good impression.]

Second, would you say they are old fashioned? Third, what do they think of you?

[lapidarius]

[THIS IS FINE]

Old f--Jonathan's from the 1800s. [seriously dude]

I don't know, I mean...they're both incredibly kind, and I suppose thatthey like me well enough.

[oathshackledbird]

[You have a strange definition of FINE.]

1800s? That's not so bad.

[Says the guy from Before Christ.]

In that case, why not just ask them? Now granted, a grandfather is going to react differently than a mother, but if they are both as kind as you say, they will have what they think is best for Jotaro in mind. If they like you and you make him happy, I don't see any reason why they would say no.

[lapidarius]

A hundred years is kind of a long time, Diarmuid.

[...nnnnNNNN what do.]

I just...I don't know. I doubt it's going to prove a problem, but at the same time I just don't know how to start or what to say.

[oathshackledbird]

Kakyoin, you realize you are asking a guy that lived for the first time about 2000 years ago for dating advice. 100 years is not a long time.

[It's all a matter of perspective.]

I would say be yourself. Start a normal conversation with them. Maybe take her some flowers to help decorate wherever she is living now. While you are talking, if Jotaro comes up, just mention you and he are very happy together and you would like to make that arrangement a little more formal. If she or he doesn't mind, that is.

[And then everyone suddenly thinks they are engaged. Oops...]

[lapidarius]

...I'm not...sure that particular phrasing is right.

[thank god the child has occasional common sense]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid tilts his head, pondering for a moment what is wrong with the phrasing, then he shrugs.]

I suppose you could always just ask if they mind if you and Jotaro cuddle...

[Diarmuid! NO!]

[lapidarius]

I reiterate that I'm trying to be serious with this.

[oathshackledbird]

I know.

[Diarmuid's mischievous look becomes something more gentle.]

My point is you are being too serious. Just relax a little. They like you and they trust you already. I am sure they will be honored to have you spending more time with their boy.

Besides, even if they said no, do you really think that would stop Jotaro from wanting to be with you? He strikes me as the type to not take no for an answer.

[lapidarius]

You're right about that much, but-

[. . .]

Wait a minute. You're not even remotely surprised about this? Don't tell me you thought we were already together, too.

[oathshackledbird]

No, no, but do you really think this is the first time I have seen a pair of close friends become something more?

[Diarmuid laughs.]

I may be from the distant past, but that doesn't mean I haven't seen my fair share of these kinds of relationships. They were actually a bit more common in my day even if we didn't talk that much about it.

[lapidarius]

...

I miscalculated.

[kakyoin are you for real right now]

I mean, I thought it was just...you know, normal friendship. But I think--rather, it's been pointed out to me that I may have overestimated how far 'friendship' actually goes for most people.

[oathshackledbird]

[Concern crosses Diarmuid's face. So this is not something that Kakyoin and Jotaro have decided themselves?]

Have you talked to Jotaro about this or are you just going by what someone else thinks they are seeing between the two of you?

[lapidarius]

I haven't talked to him yet. I know, I know I need to.

Giovanna thought that we were already together, which...sounded ridiculous, at first? But the more I talked to him about it, it kind of started to occur to me that...maybe it's more than friendship, for my part. Maybe it's been more than that for a long time.

I don't really know what Jojo thinks, and I don't want to assume. But before I tell him anything, I have to be sure his family won't-...doesn't-...

...I just have to know if I'm worth it.

[oathshackledbird]

You're worth it.

[Diarmuid's voice is sharp with certainty. He wishes there was a way he could flip a switch in Kakyoin's mind so that the teen would stop doubting himself so much. There isn't, though, so all he can do is keep repeating it with certainty until it finally gets through Kakyoin's head.]

I know that for a fact, and Jotaro would likely have your head if he heard you doubting it. What I don't understand is this. Why are you asking them if you are worth it when you want to date Jotaro? I would think he is the only one who can decide if you are worth dating or not. Not his mother and not his great-grandfather. I know their approval would mean a lot to you too, but are you really going to give up Jotaro if they say no? Especially when you make each other so happy and so complete?

[lapidarius]

I...n-no, but...

[Kakyoin faltered, starting to fidget idly--with Hierophant of all things, who had wrapped loosely around his hands.]

...Is it wrong to seek their approval, or to be sure I already have it? Being a part of this family is something significant to me, and I want to be sure I don't ruin that opportunity.

[oathshackledbird]

Is it wrong? No, there is nothing wrong with that, but I think you have your priorities out of order. Speak to Jotaro before worrying about his family. After talking to him, speak to them.

[Diarmuid gives him a gentle look, not missing that nervous fidgeting.]

You realize he will be able to tell you much better than me the best way to talk to them about all of this, right?

[lapidarius]

When you put it that way--and looking at how enthusiastic his mother can be about things...maybe that would be the better option.

[oathshackledbird]

[The corner of Diarmuid's mouth quirks up in amusement.]

If she is the kind to take 'may I date your son' to mean the same thing as 'may I marry your son,' you may be right.

[lapidarius]

...

Oh hell, she's exactly that type.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid can't help but chuckle softly at Kakyoin's reaction.]

Then go talk to Jotaro, my friend. He will help you figure out how to successfully navigate the minefield that is his mother and great grandfather without the whole city being invited to a wedding when you haven't even proposed yet.