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

So you'll really go as one, huh?

Why not? I think it'd be fun...

[Not to mention she never really gets the chance to "let loose" and have that kind of fun, so to speak. Not that she ever lets herself...]

We only get to do it once a year, right?

For this particular event...I suppose so.

[He imagines that other costume parties happen, but whether they're large public events like this is a different story. He can't really remember seeing any, but then again he never really kept an eye out for it. There could have been dozens and he'd never know.]

So you're doing the whole festival? Including that masquerade again?

Of course. I don't think the crew would let me not attend even if I felt like it.

[There's a pause, and she opens and closes her mouth before asking—]

What about you?

Might walk around the main festival a little...but don't really have any other plans.

[There's a slight twinge of disappointment at that, but she really should have expected.]

... Nothing for the masquerade?

Not really.

[And then he just stares at her before he slowly continues.]

I only went last time because you wanted me to.

Ah... right.

[She awkwardly looks at him before quickly glancing away when she catches his line of sight.]

Well, maybe we'll see each other at the festival.

[He continues to eye her, his expression unreadable before he just hums and slowly sips his glass.

He did wonder, for a moment, if either she would ask him to join her...or if he should ask. Really, if he had a choice he wouldn't even think about going to the masquerade. The festival itself is fine, but that... Especially after what happened last time.

Still, he does wonder she would look like in the costume and what she would do. Would she dance with others? ...Would it matter?

For a moment his drink tastes bitter in his mouth before he swallows it all down.]

I can let you know when I'm out.

[He can at least do that much.]

[There are a few very tense, hopeful seconds on her part while he takes that drink, and she doesn't quite realize that her eyes have grown bigger, a somewhat eager shine to them...

...

That dims when he says that.

She feels a little stupid now for hoping even a bit.]

... Yeah. That would be nice.

[She chews her lip, fighting off that feeling as her heart sinks to the pit of her stomach. She's been misreading things again...

Well, she should be glad for this much.]

Anyway. [An awkward laugh.] Let's finish up the rest of these skulls, yeah? They aren't gonna paint themselves.

[...Hm?

...Was it just him, or... Did she seem disappointed? The energy from before has certainly seemed to have disappeared. Thinking back his answer was a bit more nonchalant, though that was just his usual way of speaking. But his answer did mean that he was expressing interest in meeting her at the festival...

What is he missing?

Should he ask?

He's the type to either not care and let misunderstandings continues if it doesn't really matter to him, or be quick to try and root it out if it does. Before he might have ignored it. But now?

After watching her for a moment, he speaks up.]

Something wrong?

Hm?

[She's already picking up a new, unpainted skull when his question catches her off guard, and she keeps her gaze turned down to it in her hands.]

Oh. No... not really. Just thinking about how I wanna do the costume, and what to wear...

[Well, it's not a complete lie?]

[...Hm...]

You said you were going with the others?

[As in, her group of friends.

Though why is he asking... Well, he has a hunch. From what he's seen of her so far and how her expression fell earlier, he can make a few guesses. However, he doesn't want to seem too presumptuous or...be completely off the mark. So he's just going to feel it out with this one question first, watch her behavior before he asks what he's thinking.]

Hm? To the festival, or the masquerade?

[She tilts her head, peering at him through her lashes, her heart back to racing a thousand beats a minute.]

No. To both, actually. Not really sure who I'm going with...

[...Hmmm.

Really this is new for him. He normally doesn't care about who is doing what because it never had anything to do with him. Sure he had a few try to get him to participate and he'll go along with it if it's something that interests him or he doesn't mind either way...

But he's never really inquired much about something before ~~he has yet to know the wonders of Sanrio and Hello Land—~~. Even when others expressed their want to include him, he just shrugged it off. Yet here, as he continues to watch Tifa, he feels something else. An...inclination to confirm the suspicion that's rolling around his mind.]

Well...I already said I'd contact you when I was around for the festival...

[Pause.]

Do you want a set an actual time for it?

Oh...

[And her heart nearly drops again.]

Yeah, sure. I just figured we'd run into each other when we did, but if you wanted to meet for that...

Might be easier, especially if you have plans with the others. Wouldn't want to cut in on your time.

I don't, really...

[She stares down at the skull in her hands again.]

Was keeping myself open.

[Keeping herself open, huh...

Well, at this point he's pretty certain given the recent pattern. Usually she's the one who invites him, too, but... Given the opinions he's expressed and past encounters, perhaps she's trying to be considerate of him. Thinking that actually makes him a smile a little.]

Then pick a date and time. I'll be around before the start of the festival, so I can be flexible.

[Well. She was still hoping for the masquerade, but... maybe that's asking too much.]

How about I let you know when the day gets closer? I need to figure out stuff with the bar, too.

[Baby steps.]

Sure.

[He's actually feeling rather satisfied and dare say pleased with himself a bit for managing to arrange something for going to the festival with her. He might be looking forward to it more than he realizes.

Of course...he does wonder one other thing, made clear by her more subdued reaction. As he thought, it wasn't just the festival.]

I'll think about the masquerade.

[She wishes that she were not so obvious, but she also doesn't quite realize that she is being so. The word has her perking up, her gaze darting up to him with a flutter of her lashes to match the one in her heart.]

Oh.

[A slight tug at her lip.]

Well, if you're sure...

[...

Even Eustace can see that she does want him to go, confirming his suspicion. He of course doesn't realize why or how much she wants him to, instead just thinking it a general want of a friend's company. someone smack him please but this is progress i guess

So there's a slight quirk of his lips.]

Hm...doesn't sound like you're that interested.

[He's teasing of course.]

[And of course she thinks that he's being serious.]

In what!?

Me joining you.

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