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

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.

I—

[She suddenly flushes out of both embarrassment and feeling incredibly self-conscious of everything that comes out of her mouth.]

I didn't say I wasn't interested. I just... you said...

[He just staaaarees at her before there's a quirk of his lips, his chin resting against his hand as he teases her a little more.]

So you really want me to be there?

[She feels like she's going to crack under the pressure of that stare, but she also can't quite bring herself to look away from it.]

Well, I... yeah? I mean, I wouldn't say no to your company if you were...

[He shouldn't be finding this as amusing and...interesting as he does, but he is. He doesn't even know what he's trying to get here teasing her like this. But it is kind of fun to watch her fluster about...

But he'll be nice.]

Then I'll go.

[She visibly lights up at that, that diminished spark in her eyes reigniting more than she means for it to.]

Really—!?

[She sounds way too excited about it, and so she reins it in with a clearing of her throat, but she can't stop biting back a smile.]

Well then, I guess... I'll see you there.

[There is an arch of the brow because that is definitely more than expected. He knew she would be happy, but...

...But it's not a bad feeling, either, and he knowingly smiles a little more.]

I'll have to figure out a costume, though.

For the masquerade?

[She tilts her head a bit.]

Well, I was thinking of doing the same sorta rabbit look for that, too... keep with the theme this year.

[Which means that he should find a way to match, hint hint.]

[...Uh huh.]

So you think I should be a wolf.

[She casts him a half smile.]

You said it. Not me.

[Just eyes her.]

Maybe a hunter would be better.

[She narrows her eyes back at him and sets that skull she's been holding down on the table.]

Is that supposed to mean something?

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

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❤️💛 fin.