[Why mango-kiwi? Is that her favorite? It sounds like she came up with it just now. He's also kind of clueless. Ultimately, it doesn't matter to him as long as she gets to do whatever she wants. It's part of why he invited her in the first place. If he could give her an opportunity to appreciate simple things like ice cream and someone's company, that would be enough. And it looks like his plan is working! At least he hopes so.]
[ As the vendor prepares their jelly frozen treats, she straightens up, all content to wait patiently until he inquires of her mood.
The question garners another glance from her, and she blinks.
Did I seem like I wasn't in a good mood the other times we've met? she wants to ask, but that would direct the conversation towards her. That would invite questions into how well he might read her mood, how close he's become which is... it's dangerous, that's what it is.
[He's trying not to think about the obvious answer. Wouldn't that be too presumptuous?! No, there has to be another reason.]
Hmm... Oh, I know! You're in a good mood because Halloween is just around the corner! I like Halloween, too. [But he can't help but tease, so he lets this slip, too:] And now you get to spend it with me! Wahahaha, I'm so smart.
[ It’s absolutely the correct answer, too. ] Mmm... almost, but Halloween is still aways away!
[ She places a hand on one hip, while the other rises to wag a finger at him. ] Think sooner. [ As in, right now. ] And closer. [ As in, him.
He happened. He invited her out. If for some reason her mood has subconsciously brightened without her realizing it, it’s because... someone actually wants to spend time with her. ]
That was my second guess. Ah, Pyra, you sure know the way to a ruffian's heart! Hahahaha! I'm just happy you agreed. I was sure you wanted to spend today with other friends...
[Well, he's a friend, too. Actually, he's not even sure about that after what had transpired a few weeks ago, but he's just not going to think about it. At this point, he's too scared to ask. Surely she has other friends!]
[ If she were to be honest with herself, she has very... few friends here. People she's seen and then kept her distance. He is one of the exceptions.
But-- "I was sure you wanted to spend today with other friends"... Does he think so little of himself? ] Why would you say--
[ But just then, the vendor hands them their frozen treats, and so taking hers into her hand. She smiles at the generous helping, and then at him, and decides that maybe inquiring why isn't the best right now.
And so: ] Mm... name one place better than having jell-ato with someone I care about. [ With that, she takes a lick off the side of the mango-kiwi combination, eyeing him with an expecting I'm waiting look. ]
[He takes his own strawberry-banana jell-ato, but as much as it looks like Pyra, he's too distracted by the real one. Thankfully, the question isn't too hard. Maybe? He's trying to play it cool.]
Hmm, let's see. You could be dressing up for that Geistnacht thing and charming the pants off everyone while getting their candy.
[Which, frankly, sounds pretty fun if he had someone to do it with.]
She licks her lips of some excess melted jell-alto, savoring the tangy flavor and the strange electric, tingling sensation upon her lips that serves as an aftertaste of sorts. ] Hehe~, I'd still like to spend time with you eating that candy.
Anyways, I'm not sure. Something spooky, maybe? Or cute? [ It's basically alien!sexy!Halloween, so. She begins walking down the street with him. They're bound to run into pop-up costume and masks shops. ] What do you think would be best?
[Sorry, he was so busy registering her answer and watching her eat that he spaced out mid-sentence.]
What? Oh! [Shit, he probably looked stupid with his mouth open. Right when she was saying something that made his heart skip, too. He looks away to hide the blush on his cheeks and focus on the conversation.]
Costume, right. Hmm... Having fun is what's important, so you should go for something you're comfortable in. Something you can be yourself in! You know, like a sexy demon.
[ ...The teaser has been teased! She stares at him a moment longer, a bit of her jell-ato melting down the side of her cup and over her knuckles as she delays. ]
Hehe, that I am. [He complimented himself...] It's nice to know I have that effect on people. [Gingerly, he takes her by the wrist.] But, Pyra? You should take care of yourself more.
[ It just a simple wrist-grab, it shouldn't have this much of an effect on her even with chroma! But it also causes her attention to shift to him, her eyes meeting his as he leans in and, and...
She wonders if it's so easy for her to be enchanted by his touch because it's warmth that belong to him. ] So... so it is...
I'll, ah, I'll grab a napkin... [ She says, distracted, while still unable to tear her eyes from him. ]
[His gaze softens when their eyes meet, and his smile is the kind that melts all pretension. So, he has this effect on her, too. How strange. She shouldn't pin her hopes on someone selfish as him. But as selfish as people say he is...]
I can't leave you alone, can I? Be careful. Here, I'll hold yours so you can clean up.
[These are the moments when he seems to shine the most. Not because of kindness or anything noble — that's asking for too much. What he feels is something simpler, and stronger.
He gives her his own napkin and takes her gelato if she's willing.]
[ Whatever had come over her, the spell breaks when he takes her gelato and hands her the napkin in turn. Eyes fluttering as she looks away as if to wake herself from a daydream, she quickly undoes the mess she made. ] Ah-- I'm grateful.
[ She's quick to recover, however, and when she's done, she'll take her little snack back. ] So thoughtful, Shin. [ She replies with just a hint of playfulness in her tone, but then her expression adopts more simplicity than before, an innocence in her smile. ] You know,... you...
[ This gesture from him just now, this look from him.... it's far softer than he usually behaves are around her, too, since most of their times together scrape by playful and flirty. It's different, but it's also... nice.
Should she also say that he usually behaves like a sexy demon around her, too? ]
[ ...No. No, she won't. Because the gesture of offering to hold something so that she might clean up after herself speaks less of him being not flirty, and more of him having experience of caring for others. Like-- like a child, perhaps, or younger siblings.
.... ]
...Could I ask a favor of you, Shin?
[ Set to walk down the street with him again, she asks this. ]
[Thoughtful? He takes it as a compliment, but this is only natural. To pay attention. To be useful. That is why people approach one another. What else does he have but this? Even now, he answers without missing a beat:]
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[Why mango-kiwi? Is that her favorite? It sounds like she came up with it just now. He's also kind of clueless. Ultimately, it doesn't matter to him as long as she gets to do whatever she wants. It's part of why he invited her in the first place. If he could give her an opportunity to appreciate simple things like ice cream and someone's company, that would be enough. And it looks like his plan is working! At least he hopes so.]
You're in a good mood today. Something happen?
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The question garners another glance from her, and she blinks.
Did I seem like I wasn't in a good mood the other times we've met? she wants to ask, but that would direct the conversation towards her. That would invite questions into how well he might read her mood, how close he's become which is... it's dangerous, that's what it is.
She decides to deflect with a tease. ]
Yes. Something did happen.
Can you guess?
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Hmm... Oh, I know! You're in a good mood because Halloween is just around the corner! I like Halloween, too. [But he can't help but tease, so he lets this slip, too:] And now you get to spend it with me! Wahahaha, I'm so smart.
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[ She places a hand on one hip, while the other rises to wag a finger at him. ] Think sooner. [ As in, right now. ] And closer. [ As in, him.
He happened. He invited her out. If for some reason her mood has subconsciously brightened without her realizing it, it’s because... someone actually wants to spend time with her. ]
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That was my second guess. Ah, Pyra, you sure know the way to a ruffian's heart! Hahahaha! I'm just happy you agreed. I was sure you wanted to spend today with other friends...
[Well, he's a friend, too. Actually, he's not even sure about that after what had transpired a few weeks ago, but he's just not going to think about it. At this point, he's too scared to ask. Surely she has other friends!]
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But-- "I was sure you wanted to spend today with other friends"... Does he think so little of himself? ] Why would you say--
[ But just then, the vendor hands them their frozen treats, and so taking hers into her hand. She smiles at the generous helping, and then at him, and decides that maybe inquiring why isn't the best right now.
And so: ] Mm... name one place better than having jell-ato with someone I care about. [ With that, she takes a lick off the side of the mango-kiwi combination, eyeing him with an expecting I'm waiting look. ]
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Hmm, let's see. You could be dressing up for that Geistnacht thing and charming the pants off everyone while getting their candy.
[Which, frankly, sounds pretty fun if he had someone to do it with.]
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She teases. ] ...Eehhh now that you mention it, [ Her eyes drift away from his. ] I do like free candy.
[ And she slowly licks her jell-ato. ]
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Same.
[He licks his ice cream.]
... Weeeell, if you don't mind doing some last-minute shopping... What are you gonna go as?
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She licks her lips of some excess melted jell-alto, savoring the tangy flavor and the strange electric, tingling sensation upon her lips that serves as an aftertaste of sorts. ] Hehe~, I'd still like to spend time with you eating that candy.
Anyways, I'm not sure. Something spooky, maybe? Or cute? [ It's basically alien!sexy!Halloween, so. She begins walking down the street with him. They're bound to run into pop-up costume and masks shops. ] What do you think would be best?
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What? Oh! [Shit, he probably looked stupid with his mouth open. Right when she was saying something that made his heart skip, too. He looks away to hide the blush on his cheeks and focus on the conversation.]
Costume, right. Hmm... Having fun is what's important, so you should go for something you're comfortable in. Something you can be yourself in! You know, like a sexy demon.
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>Something you can be yourself in.
>You know, like a sexy demon.
Um. ]
Shin. [ She'll use his nickname in public! As a courtesy! ] Are you saying that you already think of me as a sexy demon?
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Like the crude and tactless ruffian that he is, he senses nothing wrong with this!!!]
That's what you're like whenever we meet up.
[He's eating the jelly part of his jell-ato now. Yum.]
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E--excuse me?
[ He's not supposed to say that she is!
Except. Now that she thinks about it... maybe he does have a point?? Every time they have met up, she has been rather playful... ]
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I ain't saying it's a bad thing. I like it! I like that you like me.
[That she would be willing to touch him, and that she want him that much.]
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[ Ooh, she's turning red. ] It helps that you're easily likable....
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[He leans in.]
Your gelato's melting.
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She wonders if it's so easy for her to be enchanted by his touch because it's warmth that belong to him. ] So... so it is...
I'll, ah, I'll grab a napkin... [ She says, distracted, while still unable to tear her eyes from him. ]
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I can't leave you alone, can I? Be careful. Here, I'll hold yours so you can clean up.
[These are the moments when he seems to shine the most. Not because of kindness or anything noble — that's asking for too much. What he feels is something simpler, and stronger.
He gives her his own napkin and takes her gelato if she's willing.]
1/3
[ She's quick to recover, however, and when she's done, she'll take her little snack back. ] So thoughtful, Shin. [ She replies with just a hint of playfulness in her tone, but then her expression adopts more simplicity than before, an innocence in her smile. ] You know,... you...
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Should she also say that he usually behaves like a sexy demon around her, too? ]
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.... ]
...Could I ask a favor of you, Shin?
[ Set to walk down the street with him again, she asks this. ]
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Sure, ask me anything!
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