[audio // @jackwynand56] third transmission. [locked to everyone but angel]

[belowthesea]

Uhhh.

[Why can't he ever sound natural on the network. He clears his throat, and speaks in that deep, authoritative voice with the tone of a frightened child.]

How do you... mm.

[You can do it, Jack. You already went through the trouble of learning how to filter posts.]

I wanna... ask. A girl. Something. How do I... do that.

Comments

audio; un: j.doe

[bamboozlement]

[dryly:] I hear words are usually a good place to start.

[belowthesea]

I know, but what words?

[bamboozlement]

[jason hums quietly, like he’s giving the question serious thought.]

Usually helps if you pick words from a language she understands.

[belowthesea]

You're being an ass. This is serious.

audio: un:TheOtter

[of_bokthersa]

What exactly are you trying to say to the lady?

Video | UN: RighteousFather

[10milliondollars]

So, you wanna ask her on a date~? You should start with your looks. Make an impression on her, you know? [He reaches up to slick his hair back, subtly trying to make a point.]

[bamboozlement]

I am being serious. [a beat of silence, then:] Also an ass, but that’s not really the point here.

[at least he’s honest?]

You’re overthinking this. The way you talk to girls is the same way you’d talk to anyone else. Girls aren’t mystical creatures - they’re just people.

audio// moveslikejagger

[jaglikethecar]

That depends, mate. What are you wanting to say?

[belowthesea]

[He'll give him points for honesty.]

So how do you ask- anyone..... uhhh.... stuff.

[Very specific.]

[belowthesea]

[There is a LOT of radio silence, because Jack can't even formulate the words.]

....y'know....

I wanna ask her... on a- date.

>>> video

[belowthesea]

[He's switching to video - partly to give Rhys something to critique, and partly because he needs Rhys to see his look of total confusion.

Jack's a handsome boy - if baby-faced. And smelly.

And he's gonna try and mimic the motion of slicking his hair back, although it's done with open curiosity and very little conviction.]

[belowthesea]

What else do you ask girls?

I wanna... ask her out. On a date.

@justaaron

[dadenergy]

[Sometimes it's easy to forget Jack's not had much real life experience. You can hear the smile in his voice.]

If you want to ask her what I think you want to, just be yourself. If she likes you, then she likes you. Do you know anything she likes to do?

Video

[10milliondollars]

[The sight sure is a shocker. Not that Jack's not a good-looking guy...But the dirt and detritus...and is that blood? Okay, there's a lot of work to do, clearly.]

Let's back up a bit. When's the last time you showered?

[bamboozlement]

[it’s probably a good thing this isn’t video, because jason’s dragging a hand down his face.]

Step one - figure out what you wanna ask. Be a little more specific than “stuff.” Step two - find the person you wanna ask your question. Step three - ask the damn question already. What’s so hard about this for you?

[jaglikethecar]

...anything?

[A beat.]

I don't know. Ask her to coffee or something.

[belowthesea]

[The sentiment is shared; Jack is pinching the bridge of his nose.]

I know that.

[This is just making him feel stupid, and... the anger is leaking into his voice.]

[belowthesea]

[He glances around, bemused by the reaction. He's just sort of gotten used to being a grubby mess by now... and the blood is keeping his hair puffed up in a funny way.]

I don't know?

[He knows he'd said he was going to when Angel stayed over... but then things had been awkward and he'd been sad and... he forgot.]

[belowthesea]

[Not a bad idea. Possibly the best advice so far.

Still not what he's looking for, though.]

What do I... say, though? I've never asked anyone to do.. anything. Before.

[belowthesea]

[His face is turning red. Aaron's tone has him thinking back to how Pa Wynand spoke, the first time he'd talked about bringing a girl home. Except warmer... more genuine.]

Flowers, and... tea. [He chews his lip.] Don't suppose she'd want to go to the gardens, though. After... y'know.

[There's no hiding who this is about. He'd been so aggressively set on finding Angel when she disappeared, he hadn't eaten or slept until he found her. He'd nearly attacked anyone that got too close. And now that she's back, he's back to being a bumbling puppy.]

[of_bokthersa]

What's a date?

[bamboozlement]

OK ...

[take a breath, jason. you can’t punch out a solution here.]

If you know what to do but can’t actually do it, then you need practice. Pretend I’m a girl and ask me.

[jaglikethecar]

"Hey, Angel, do you want to get coffee with me sometime?"

[The tone is harsh, though Jack really doesn't have a way of knowing it's bitter and self-hating rather than jealous. It wasn't as though he'd made a move. Or could.]

[dadenergy]

What about the park dome? It's nice there. You can get somebody to pack you a picnic lunch, iced tea's always nice, and you can have a nice meal together, and just talk?

[belowthesea]

That's st-

[All of this is stupid, Jack. You can't complain.

Except he can lose the ability to speak. So there's that. Jason might hear quiet guttural noises from time to time as Jack strains to think of anything to say.]