route_1065 | Intentional or not--

Entry tags:

Intentional or not--

Who:

futariniousama
Where: Violet City
When: Backdated to Thursday, July 7
Summary: It's never too late for birthday presents!
Rating: PG... something.
Log:

[ it's been a day, which is more than Rise usually requires to adjust to a role, but she can't help noticing little slip-ups, falters, hesitations that shouldn't be there. It's perturbing, despite knowing the reason behind it, but she's doing better today, taking the day's pacing at an enthusiastic run. She can accept; it's just easier for her to layer it underneath countless distractions.

But there's always the question yanking at her thoughts when she's parroting an order back at a customer, when she's wiping tables, when she's spritzing her starter with a spray bottle, even when she's dissuading a wild Mareep from going for a pigtail.

"Does it hurt more to be forgotten, or to forget, but know you've lost something?"

Honestly, Rise doesn't like dwelling on it. It's another warm day and she's perched on a bench in as much shade as she can find, not looking particularly weary, just thoughtful... Only about as long as it takes for her to sigh irritably, stretch her legs out with toes pointed up, and drop her head back at the same time that she raises her arms above her head.

She may also be grumbling about humidity and curly hair, so clearly it isn't soul-rending. ]

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[ Niou's been out and about all day today, himself — since Rise's birthday present arrived in the night (something Niou didn't really want to think too hard about), he's been up since early this morning preparing.

First there were the balloons and the ribbon, then the flowers, and finally the cupcakes. He spent a little while arranging and rearranging the whole mess (and even considered asking Yukimura's help with the flowers, then decided that he didn't want his captain to know) before setting out to actually find Rise.

It's not too hard to do; the city's only so big, and once he knows she's not in her room or at work, his options are somewhat fewer. Sugar is the one who finds her, though — flitting over the city as a conspicuous purple Spearow. Niou puts the Ditto away quickly when he returns. The last thing he needs is his Pokémon charming Rise's attention away from him again.

He cocks his head to study her as he approaches, the basket hidden behind his back. The balloons can't quite be concealed, but that's less important. ]

Rise-chan~ ♫

[ she's aware of him mid-stretch - and she thinks she might have seen a purple something winging overhead a little earlier - arching slightly to bring herself back to her original position. What's meant to be a happy greeting turns to a puzzled look, because for a second, she's left wondering if she forgot some occasion that would warrant what are obviously ballo-- oh. ]

Niou-kun! [ minor confusion solved and humidity forgotten, she's instantly alight. She'll spare him the greeting hug this time around, though, leaning forward on the bench and crossing her ankles. And, rather sincerely, and not just because she's pretty sure he came bearing gifts-- ] It's good to see you.

[ He smiles, like it's a fucking reflex by now, and looks down as always for the moment it takes him to recover. When he looks back up, he ambles closer, the balloons bobbing cheerily behind him in shades of red, orange and yellow. ]

Good to see me, or good to see the balloons?

You already know the answer to that, don't you? [ Rise remains seated, though she shifts as if considering getting to her feet within the next few minutes. Just the sight of the balloons is enough to lift whatever invisible burden's been weighing her down - she's always liked bright colors, orange being one of her favorites - and it's always hard not to smile when Niou's around. ] But the balloons are a nice bonus!

I'd guess I'm more entertainin' than balloons. Hopefully the rest of the present doesn't overshadow me.

[ He doesn't come any nearer yet, just lingers, still hiding the basket behind his back. He's curious to see how long she'll let him stand there and not give it to her. ]

It's that special? [ there's a mixture of surprise and curiosity in her tone now, and although she's doing her best not to just bounce off the bench and peer around him, Rise's patience level isn't the greatest when it comes to waiting for what she knows is coming. Especially when it's presents. And sure enough, not even a minute goes by before her eyes fasten on his, earnest and a little wistful. ]

Do I have to wait, Niou-kun?

[ His hands are occupied, so he can't place a dramatic hand to his chest or forehead. He settles for a mocking swoon, instead, fighting a smile rather unsuccessfully. ]

Not if you ask like that.

[ And he produces the basket from behind his back — a single egg (http://i.imgur.com/Kq2ie.png) wrapped in a blue bow, backed by an assortment of orange, white and blue flowers; not forgetting poppies, of course. In front of the egg, three cupcakes are nestled, each different from the others.

By the time he's holding it out, he's not looking at her anymore. He's glancing slightly off to one side, wearing his best ultra-nonchalant expression. ]

[ she's aware of exactly what she's supposed to do-- the girly squeal of joy and delight, accompanied by a pleased clasp of the hands and excited babbling about how he's the best person ever. And Rise's fallen into the habit so many times that it really does come naturally nowadays. But there's also the element of "Act this way, Risette" that's accompanied it, always lurking at the back of her mind. It's tempting to rely on that, but before she can stop herself, Rise puts a stop to that. Just let the reactions come, he's not an audience, he's Niou-- ]

Oh... [ and it's not just a casual comment or an attempt to hide disinterest-- it's a genuinely wondering tone, colored with growing happiness and awe because this is adorable. She remembers receiving poppies from him before, the iced coffee - and she's been sure to return the coffee favor more than once - and thinking at the time that this guy had probably done this before, that the girls evidently adored him for gestures like that and that it was okay to be charmed, but not to put a whole lot of stock into it.

This feels different, in a way she's hesitant to ponder, so she decides to wait on that. She can admire the cupcakes, breathe in the flowers, and take that basket from him ever so carefully so as not to jostle the egg. The marking alerts her to the kind of egg it is, but she gently runs a finger against it anyway to feel the warmth. She doesn't look at Niou, either, until she's inspected everything, because she's afraid she's going to blurt out something that sounds rather stupid--

But she does finally look at him, and what she's worried about saying poorly is reflected in her eyes - that lighter, gold-brown shade when she's thrilled, affectionate, focused in that exact moment - and how Rise's just glowing. ]

Totally worth waiting for.

[ He can't help looking back at her when she sounds like that. He watches the delight spread across her face and the wonder lighten her eyes, and it's not an unfamiliar feeling — his heart flutters, or maybe it melts, and he can literally feel all his sharp edges blurring into softness. It's not unfamiliar, because she's not the only one who can do this to him, and he's quick to push the thought away, though it lingers in the back of his mind, the same way she did when he was with him.

Luckily, when she looks at him like that, eyes alight, it's not hard to forget about anyone else for the moment. It's enough to catch his breath in his throat and pull a smile from his lips, despite himself. He drops his gaze, but not for long. He can't look away.

(And he could kiss her right now, he realizes — but he won't. He won't risk ruining this for her, not when today is about her.) ]

See? If I'd let you guess it, you wouldn't be surprised.

You kind of forget what the good surprises feel like, after awhile. [ she sounds a little sheepish over this, gently placing the basket on the bench beside her before she stands. She briefly considers her usual hug, but this time, Rise hesitates. It doesn't feel like the right time to nearly knock him over, because it's not the kind of buoyant, energetic happiness she usually possesses. This is softer.

So this time, Rise opens her arms and extends them slightly, tilting her head in a casually inviting gesture. If he opts to stay where he is, it's not as though she'll be surprised, but she can offer this too. ]

Yeah, I think I know the feelin'.

[ He does hesitate, admittedly — slight self-consciousness is enough to make him do that much — but not for long. With just a hint of a smile, he steps forward and reaches out to pull her into a hug. It should probably be a quick squeeze before he surrenders her, but he doesn't immediately let go. ]

[ like she minds-- Rise's always taken enjoyment, if not comfort (when she needs it), in hugs, and she snuggles in almost immediately. She knows embraces are meant to be brief - remembering with a slight pang that there was only one person who always seemed to ignore that unspoken rule - but she lingers anyway with an unusually shaky sigh that's barely audible. Her voice is steady when she speaks, though. ]

I guess I'll have to refresh your memory, too.

Already have. You do it every time we talk.

[ When he pulls back, it's only a little — just enough to place a light kiss in those auburn curls. He immediately feels slightly stupid, and he's glad she can't see his face, because he's sure he's some flattering shade of pink again. ]

[ if she feels more than the lightest of presses and wonders at it, Rise doesn't vocalize it. Instead, she'll smile into his shirt, considering glancing up but remaining there for a few more seconds. He might be able to tell that she's somewhat reluctant to move away. ]

That's you, you know.

[ She's not the only one, either, so he doesn't draw back any further. He lingers, settling his arms around her and relaxing a little. This gets more comfortable every time. ]

Full of surprises, sure, but I wouldn't call 'em all good.

'Course not. [ matter-of-factly, even as she fully relaxes against him. ] I don't think there's anyone out there who's got good surprises all the time. But even that's not a bad thing.

Fair suck. Haven't seen a bad one from you yet, though.

[ that has her glance up, surprised and dubious. ] Seriously? But I--

[ SHE CRIED ALL OVER YOU and then she went and conked out during a conversation, both of which she's still pretty much kicking herself over. ]

[ He blinks right back down at her, the very picture of genuine confusion. ]

... Seriously. Why, did I miss somethin'?

O-okay, I know you couldn't have forgotten the whole--

With-- [ she has to release him in order to make the appropriate gesticulations, which is basically consisting of waving her hands around emphatically. ] The... er, well, I guess you can't really call it anything but sobbing all over you with a bunch of people staring...

And then I fell asleep in what had to be one of the most cliché ways ever, and I don't even remember half of that, and it's embarrassing!

-- And, you know, rude!

[ It is a little embarrassing; even Niou glances away as she's flailing through her explanation. Truth be told, he hadn't thought about that when he said he'd never seen a bad surprise from her, but it doesn't change his answer, either. That wasn't a bad surprise, not when it wasn't him breaking down. Not when he was the one holding her up and taking care of her, because it meant he wasn't the weak one, for once.

But it reminds him of when he was, and it's enough to make him avert his eyes briefly and hesitate. Then he's smiling again, looking up at her — then grinning. ]

Nothin' bad about gettin' to carry you to bed.

I'd wanna be awake for that! [ in the manner of all people who tend to blurt out things when they're flustered, Rise can't quite catch that response and draw it back in time, and she's forced to leave it hanging. Saying it teasingly is one thing - and she's used to that, enjoying the reaction it usually gets - but saying that mid-flail is vastly different, and she drops her eyes immediately. ]

[ Niou fights a laugh and manages to contain it, giving her a solemn, quiet expression instead. ]

... You wanna, uh. Amend that, or... make it hypothetical?

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1/3

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