[Joey has a hard time processing compliments, with them either going straight to his ego or just turning him into a puddle of "d'aawww shucks", and Mai's endorsement of his quest to become a Gym Leader solidly hits him in the second category. Crossing his arms to prevent from fidgeting, Joey makes an embarrassed happy face.]
Ya really think so? I've sure been bustin' my butt so I hoped I was making headway, but it seems dat every time I hit somethin' hard like dis it turns out otha people've just been waitin' in da wings ta show me just how far behind I am. Don't get me wrong, I'm aimin' straight for da top, but I'm still worried. It don't seem right bein' someplace like dis without some giant bad guy waitin' ta jump out from behind da bushes and make everythin' about ending da world again.
[Just as Joey is shaking-off the embarrassment from the compliment Mai's flirtatious remark about teacher and pupil hits him, and he proceeds to go beet red once again.]
Y-y-ya don't say!
[Steam practically wafts off of him from how hot his face is. Though Joey is someone you could realistically call a straight arrow, Mai is very good at flirting and Joey was very unprepared for that kind of mental image.]
Gaaah!
[He shakes his head and tries to recover, eventually letting the combination of the cool air and the breeze he's kicked-up help to cool the burning forge that his cheeks had become. By the time the conversation moved back towards more somber and heartfelt topics he'd bounced-back to his usual self.]
You don't gotta thank me Mai. A'course I'm der for ya Mai. Ride-or-die, I got ya back. We been through too many crooks and bad eggs ta let people like dat take any more'a our lives den dey already have. Here on out, it's gonna be good times. Dat. Dat I can promise ya.
[Joey's nowhere near as good at reading emotions or social cues as folks like Yugi or Tea, but he could've sworn she tensed-up when he had his hand on her shoulder. God he hopes he didn't overstep or anything. Why is this kind of thing so hard? Distraction conversational topic, go!]
Speakin'a da future, doe, you got a place ta stay or anythin' yet? I'm guessin' ya just got in seein' as how you're in front of "Mom's"- [Joey throws-up air quotes as he says the word.] -house, but have ya gotten ya bearing's or have ya sights set on someplace in pahticulah yet?
no subject
Ya really think so? I've sure been bustin' my butt so I hoped I was making headway, but it seems dat every time I hit somethin' hard like dis it turns out otha people've just been waitin' in da wings ta show me just how far behind I am. Don't get me wrong, I'm aimin' straight for da top, but I'm still worried. It don't seem right bein' someplace like dis without some giant bad guy waitin' ta jump out from behind da bushes and make everythin' about ending da world again.
[Just as Joey is shaking-off the embarrassment from the compliment Mai's flirtatious remark about teacher and pupil hits him, and he proceeds to go beet red once again.]
Y-y-ya don't say!
[Steam practically wafts off of him from how hot his face is. Though Joey is someone you could realistically call a straight arrow, Mai is very good at flirting and Joey was very unprepared for that kind of mental image.]
Gaaah!
[He shakes his head and tries to recover, eventually letting the combination of the cool air and the breeze he's kicked-up help to cool the burning forge that his cheeks had become. By the time the conversation moved back towards more somber and heartfelt topics he'd bounced-back to his usual self.]
You don't gotta thank me Mai. A'course I'm der for ya Mai. Ride-or-die, I got ya back. We been through too many crooks and bad eggs ta let people like dat take any more'a our lives den dey already have. Here on out, it's gonna be good times. Dat. Dat I can promise ya.
[Joey's nowhere near as good at reading emotions or social cues as folks like Yugi or Tea, but he could've sworn she tensed-up when he had his hand on her shoulder. God he hopes he didn't overstep or anything. Why is this kind of thing so hard? Distraction conversational topic, go!]
Speakin'a da future, doe, you got a place ta stay or anythin' yet? I'm guessin' ya just got in seein' as how you're in front of "Mom's"- [Joey throws-up air quotes as he says the word.] -house, but have ya gotten ya bearing's or have ya sights set on someplace in pahticulah yet?