escordvi | closed 🌠⚡ i will be the one to light up the way

How about...

[Her thumb unknowingly traces a warm line along the inside of his wrist as she thinks it over, gazing up at him and the little mark of paint that she left on him.]

I'll paint you a wolf one for you to keep.

[He does notice that touch...and it's a good thing she starts speaking because it's kind of distracting—]

A wolf one, huh? And I paint you a rabbit one.

Mm...

[She does let go, her fingers going from noticeably warm to cool again once the air hits them.]

I know it isn't much, but a little decoration around the house couldn't hurt for the holiday?

[His hand will stay where it is for a moment before it moves back down on the counter.]

...Guess not.

[He eyes her for a moment before he turns back towards the skulls and paints.]

So...sure. We can do that.

Ah, ah!

[She sees him looking at the skulls again, and she waves her own brush in his face.]

Not before I fix you up first!

[...What.]

What?

Well, I can't be the only one with paint all over my face, can I?

...Think it would be fine.

[Sloooowly stepping back. But there is a little hint of a mischievous smile.]

[Uh huh, slow or not, she definitely notices.]

And where do you think you're going?

Getting some water...

[And since he already set down the brush, he is just going to suddenly bolt around the counter.]

I could get...

[—!?

But he surprises her when he runs away, but her amusement rings out in peals of laughter as she chases him, meeting him on the other side, hands braced against the counter.]

And now you're trapped.

Am I?

[Just a grin before he's vaulting over the counter with one hand, clearing it as if it weren't even there as he lands on the other side.]

You didn't even get any water, you—!

[But she's chasing after him, splattering a bit of paint into her hair as she swings the brush at him. She rushes around the bar to try and catch him, laughter ringing through the air. Surely anyone else docked here would be curious...]

I know this ship like the back of my hand, so run all you want.

[He doesn't say anything, instead just continues to duck around the other tables and chairs.

Of course, he doesn't want to make her bar a mess so he'll probably let her "catch" him sooner or later, but might as well make her work for it first.]

[He doesn't need to worry so much. What he does need to worry about is her catching him, because when she finally does—

She barely thinks it through. A pattern and a habit that she's picked up when she's around him, but as soon as she is within reach, she throws her arms around his waist to stop him from escaping, and her brush goes every which way, until she lands a swipe against his cheek.

Really, she barely recognizes herself in his company these days.]

[When he finally lets her catch up to him (though in fairness she also did well in cornering him in the end), he just laughs—a quiet but genuine laugh—when her arms go around him and one eye closing when that brush streaks across his face.]

Now come on, just a few touch ups for the perfect costume—!

[She smears more of that paint with one hand, the other arm tightening around him when he doesn't push her off. He deserves it though, for running off after she let him paint all over her face!!!

But there's a moment when his laughter catches her off guard, their closeness suddenly something that she is very aware of that she has to pause for a moment, her cheeks rosy and her laughter breathless.]

Hold still.

I'm not moving—I can't even go anywhere.

[He'll point out her still holding onto him, but he's not bothered by it. Not this time unlike other times in the past. Perhaps because he's used to it or it was more expected this time around, but he just looks down at her with that quiet light of amusement in his eyes as he wonders what in the world she's doing to his face...]

Good.

[He'll feel her brush starting to draw on his face, painting the marks of what could be considered a wolf's. The lines around the eyes and down to his nose, and then down his cheeks and his chin. Her arm does loosen around him so that she can concentrate better, and little does she realize...

...

In the minute it takes her to do it, she's started to lean in a little closer as she remains focused...]

[He's still watching so he doesn't really notice her leaning in. But he is noticing how long it's taking...]

Are you painting my entire face?

[His breath rustles and tickles her hair, and she can only hum a quiet, amused laugh, her eyes glinting.]

Just some wolf-like patterns. I could, though...

Don't—unless you want me to return the favor.

I never said I was gonna.

[She pulls her hand and the brush back to look over her work, and ends up... just gazing up at him instead...]

[He just gives a playful roll of his eyes as he watches her step back and...

...Is...staring.

...]

What...does it look weird?

Huh?

[She snaps out of whatever... reverie she had been thrown into in that moment, and glances away with an awkward laugh.]

N-no. Actually, it's the opposite...

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