Let's Watch This Movie! It Has A DOG In It! (Tomomi/ Nadia)

The premiere was a few days ago. The cinema screenings for this particular film was starting to have quieter audiences, which in turn was his motivation, his safety net to go against his anxiety. He had the money for tickets. He had the time.

But he didn't really have anyone to go with.

From what he knew about Cecil, this wasn't his type of film. As much as Tomomi was sure he'd agree to go, he didn't want to waste Cecil's time with something like this. It wouldn't be fair. But who else could he ask? Isabella was often busy with work, and Gabe was busy with his casino. Not to mention the film was likely to the interest of neither.

Tomomi flipped out his phone, standing in the street in front of the cinema as he checked through his small contact list, before selecting Nadia, Cecil's girlfriend and Tomomi's general friend. She might be interested, right?

Tomomi: hi nadia its tomomi
Tomomi: if you are free would you like to watch barney and me
Tomomi: its a film at the cinemas that ive been looking forward to
Tomomi: dont worry though because i wont expect you to pay if you do decide to come
Tomomi: please let me know and if you are interested its the bnd theater
Tomomi: thanks

Nadia checked her phone to see that Tomomi had messaged her six times. Despite herself, she found her cheeks reddening. Cecil had never directly asked her to go do anything, despite how many times she'd asked him to come see her. Still, Tomomi was a good friend, and she hadn't been to the movies yet.

Nadia: Sure! I'll meet you there!

And she did. It didn't take her long to acquire transit, and she arrived as quickly as she could. Seeing Tomomi as she stepped off the bus she hurried to where he stood outside the theatre. She was wearing a nice coat and cap, and her fur lined boots. Altogether she looked rather snug to fight off the chill.

"Tomomi! T-thanks for asking me out here." She offered with a small smile, walking up to him. "I've never been to the movies before. I haven't asked Cecil to go yet...and he hasn't asked me." That last part sounded almost sad, if only a little wistful.

"There will be snacks right?" she asked, enthusiasm returning, "Like popcorn?"

Tomomi wasn't the most adept at social situations, but even he could pick up on the sad intonation at that last point. So, to avoid it being something Nadia got hung up on, Tomomi offered his usual smile and shrugged. "I wouldn't take it, well, personally. It's a part of Cecil that he's working on, his whole, aversion to taking initiative. You'd kind of need to drag him into it I guess? A-at least, so long as it was in his comfort zone." He declared, trying not to think about how Cecil had avoided visiting him recently, and then responded with a rapid barrage of panicked messages declaring he was fine and not to panic. He had to convince himself it wasn't his fault.

At Nadia's enthusiasm about snacks, Tomomi laughed, rubbing at the back of his neck as he felt in his pocket for change. Yeah, he had enough for snacks. "A-ah yeah, sure. Although, um, I'm afraid it'll have to be a small popcorn. I didn't think about snacks when bringing some money over, sorry."

At this, Tomomi pointed to the entrance to the theater. "So, um, you ready to go get the tickets and snacks? I know they're generally not interesting, b-but I quite like to get in early so that I can see the initial advertisements. J-just to make sure that the ones that worked on it won't feel like their work was pointless if that makes sense? P-plus, if we get there early, we can guarantee we don't need to rush."

"Yeah, you're right. Cecil is Cecil..." Nadia did her best to sound like he had out her mind at ease, but she couldn't. The thought was still there like a spike in the back of her skull, spreading pain like blood to color every other thought. It ran like a waterfall, crashing upon rocks in her belly and making her feel a little sick. What if it was true? He only messaged her or came with her or did anything...because she asked. What if their entire relationship were based on the simple fact that he couldn't say no?

Nadia tried to focus on what Tomomi was saying, though. Today wasn't about Cecil. She had to push him from her mind for now. Or atleast try. "It-It's not a date or anything. You don't have to pay for both snacks and the movie. You buy the tickets, I'll buy the snacks, okay?" by the time she finished, her cheery smile had returned. "Come on...!" she said, and snagged his sleeve and pulled him toward the theater. Hopefully Tomomi stopped to guide her, or else she was liable to charge right passed the ticket counter.

Typical Nadia, running from her emotions by running towards something new and exciting. Who would have thought what she was running from would be Cecil.

Tomomi didn't even think of the implications, nor did he understand why Nadia was so embarrassed about it at first. Still, Tomomi rubbed at the back of his neck. "A-ah, okay, although I will t-treat you to something at some point, to well, pay back for the sushi!" He declared with a carefree giggle.

As they got started going in, Tomomi led Nadia to the counter, ordering the tickets for the movie and letting Nadia order any snacks she was interested in getting. As that was done, Tomomi grinned like a child at a sweet shop, and gestured for Nadia to follow him once again to the right screening, and then the right seats. "I am so excited for this film! It's the first time I've actually been to this cinema to actually, well, watch a film! A-and I mean, it's an animal film! I-I admit I don't know much about the plot, but, well, it focuses around a dog so! Yeah!"

"Oh! I see, of course. I'll be looking forward to it." she smiled, unbothered as she was led to the counter.

When they were finally on their way to the theater room, her arms were laden with overpriced snacks that wouldn't be too loud to eat, and the biggest bucket of popcorn they had. The smile on her face was a clear indicator of her delight at having something to do with a friend. "It's a movie about a dog? Is it animated?" she asked, interested. She had lots of movies when she was a kid. Most of then sappy children's movies about animated animals. Things her parents thought would pacify her.

At the question, Tomomi shook his head. "Nope. It's supposed to be a live action. Used a real dog actor as well, which is really impressive, because those dogs are often treated really well and get treated well for behaving and acting which is awesome! I'll definitely look for behind the scenes info on the dog actors used after for sure!"

As time passed, people began to file in, group by group, one by one. The film wasn't too packed, but neither was it completely empty - a perfectly average reception with all shapes and sizes, and ages and genders, of viewers. As people filed in, the lights dimmed, and the large screen turned on. Adverts began to play, and the advertisements started. Basic products, all varying and seeming to have no coherency. Then the trailers. Finally, as the trailers finished, the movie in its entirety began.

In terms of the content of the movie, its early stages could be summed up as a family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog. The majority of the film was heartwarming, setting up a bond between Jake and his pet dog, Barney. However, then the films climax came. The old dog Barney having grown old throughout the course of the movie, before after some bouts of gastric dilation volvulus nearly kill him, Jake decides the best choice is to euthanise him to avoid the dog suffering. The film's credits roll as Jake and his family mourn.

And all throughout the film, Tomomi seemed really invested, crying openly as the ending revealed that Barney was dead.

Nadia sat through the movie, enthralled at how completely the environment enveloped her into the film. She could feel the emotions of the characters in her own heart and it made her feel so full of human emotion.

Nadia did not cry when the dog died at the end of the film. He had lived a good life. It was all anyone could hope for. In fact, she held Tomomi's hand, patting it as he reacted. "That was beautiful...I hope someone loves me enough to let me go to end my suffering like that. That's real selflessness...it's beautiful...dont you think?" she asked honestly, small tears of happiness budding in her own eyes.

At Nadia holding his hand, Tomomi looked around bizarrely, as if fearing he had suddenly been gripped or attacked, before settling down and realising it was only Nadia. It was odd to have his hand held, but, that might have just been a cultural thing. Still, it was nice to see someone also think the movie was emotional, even if the ending was sad. Wait... Wait...

At what Nadia said, Tomomi's jaw dropped, and he looked at her with seemingly no idea how to react, tears seeming to stop for the moment and replace with wide eyed confusion for a moment, before borderline distress. "U-u-u-u-uhhmm... I-I-I-I-I don't really know about that... I-I mean while the idea of mercy is a kind thing, I wouldn't s-say it's beautiful or selfless, a-as a life is just a one-one-one-one time thing and to have it die without f-fighting is to give up, w-which is similar to suicide, just that it's a-assisted. S-so um, I wouldn't... Personally... S-share in that opinion..."

Nadia drowned. Wrong? Was she misunderstanding the meaning of the film? To her it seemed clear. They had had all the best times they could have, experienced so many good things together. Death came for everyone in the end. Why fight it when it came? She knew that she was strange for thinking there was a beauty in death but...

"oh, I'm sorry." she recoiled from his hand, stuffing the feelings away somewhere where she typically hid them. "I always seem to say strange things to people. I'm sorry." it was still beautiful to her, but now she was worried. This kept happening...was she broken somehow to think these things? It was just who she was...

People started leaving through the designated exits, and Nadia rose too. "We should probably go...huh?" she had schooled her expression into one of contentedness. But now a new storm was rolling in over her heart.

Oh no. Nadia was upset by his reaction. Oh no oh no oh no. Did that mean Cecil's sadness was a result of Tomomi too? That... That made sense. After all, when they first met, Cecil was much more lively and happy. Quickly, Tomomi shook his head. "O-oh, no, it's nothing like that! S-sorry, I just... Am a bit scared of death I g-guess? I don't think it's strange, b-but you don't need to apologise for being you! S-s-seriously!"

As people left and Nadia made her suggestion to leave, Tomomi nodded, rising only after she did due to not knowing if she were the sort to watch through the credits. But, Tomomi wouldn't leave her waiting just to wait and watch. "R-right. Um... A-anywhere else you wanna go and check out while we're in Vista Square?" Tomomi asked as the two began to walk towards the exit.

It didn't help that he seemed to be rapidly trying to make up for his reaction. It didn't change the fact that people reacted that way whenever she spoke her mind about things. She didn't respond right away, instead waiting patiently for him to get up and move with her toward the exit. She wasn't really sure of anything else in Vista Square. "I don't really know much about Vista Square. What is there more to see? I really enjoy seeing new things!" she did her best to bring cheer back into her smile, but it was falling a little bit.

The air outside was a little moist, and there were clouds shuffling in. Nadia looked up at the sky as the exited the building and stopped. The endless expanse of sky always gave her pause. "I've come to see that most people fear death. So I am strange, because I really don't fear it at all. It's inevitable, even likely in the world we live in. I want to live. To see and do everything I can before the end...but I don't fear it. The shortness of life gives beauty to death the same way that the inevitability of death gives beauty to life. That's how I see things. It makes people feel uncomfortable...all the time. But I can't change that about myself. It's who I am." She said finally, eyes looking upward, unfocused, as if she was gazing at everything at once.

He'd seen and heard it plenty of times with Cecil. The forced smile. But, that wasn't something to bring up, and Tomomi instead scratched at his head. "R-right, um... I've not been here too much but let's see..."

As Nadia stopped, Tomomi also stopped, looking at her in concern as she spoke her feelings. So, Tomomi's reaction had affected her this much. As she finished speaking, Tomomi just stood there in silence. He should've realised how speaking and acting as impulsively as he had would have impacted her when she was speaking with genuine enthusiasm. Then, he decided to look up at the sky as well, to try and clear his head as he spoke, voice soft and tender.

"I guess I'm a lot more... Well, narrow minded than I thought. That way of thinking does make a lot of sense, yet here I was judging it with panic in an instant..." He sighed, shaking his head. "No, I wasn't even smart enough to say I was judging it. Just reacting. Still, if not fearing death is strange, then I guess I'm also strange. I don't fear death, at least not my own. I just find it a saddening thing. There's so many unknowns regarding it, while when alive, there's unlimited possibilities of what to do. So I guess I'm just a selfish kid that likes to know waaaaaayyyyy more than he needs to. I'm... Sorry. That I reacted like I did. It wasn't fair to you, and, well, I just shouldn't have done it. So, I'm sorry."

Shaking his head, Tomomi turned his gaze from the sky to Nadia once more, before offering a mild smile. "Shall we take a walk and talk? A couple of zombies like us might, um, well, scare off movie customers I guess?" At the last comment, Tomomi gave a light hearted giggle, waiting for Nadia to look before gesturing to move with a mildly acted bow.

Talking about death always made Nadia feel more at peace. In a life that was so uncertain, the certainty of it gave her a modicum of bizarre comfort. She didn't know what came next, but she knew where the road ended. Tomomi really was great, doing his best to understand her feelings and reconcile them with his own. It was...sweet. And when she looked back at him her small smile was genuine.

He said they should walk and talk, and that sounded just fine to her, so Nadia affected as accurate a curtsy as someone wearing a blouse and jeans could, and followed after him. "Thank you." She said after a moment, and she did her best to pack all of her feelings into the look she gave him. She was so gratefully he had called her out here, even if it brought up questions in her mind - it still made her feel like someone else besides Cecil might just value her to some degree...If she did die, Tomomi would be okay. But he would mourn her loss...and that somehow made her feel better. At least for the moment.

At Nadia's thank you, and the return of a smile, Tomomi's smile became less forced, and he nodded his head. "You're welcome." He said with a grin, giggling a bit at the curtsy. Seeing Nadia happier was something Tomomi was pleased about, as to him, people should just generally be happy, and seeing friends happy was almost contagious.

A little after they walked around, something caught Tomomi's eyes, and his eyes lit up as he stopped suddenly, pointing with enthusiasm. "Ah! N-Nadia! Look! Look!"

While his eyes and smile suggested he had just seen the rarest, most spectacular thing, all it would take is for Nadia to follow his eyes and finger to see: he was just pointing at a pigeon. A common, urban pigeon. "Look! I um, I know I'm not super smart, but, um, as a fun fact! T-the way you can tell this is an urban city pigeon and not a wood pigeon is by the neck! A-as you can see, it's neck is the same mottled mess of greys and white and black right? W-well, in a wood pigeon, the neck would have a vibrant green and purple array that'd seem to shimmer slightly! I-isn't that cool?! A-ah... W-well... I guess to me I guess, so, um, I don't blame you if you don't think it's cool."