melodiesoflife | I'd Run Right Into Hell and Back

WHO: Flynn Scifo, Lust
WHAT: Matchmaking shenanigans continue! A heartless abomination goes on a date with the ultimate boy scout! Things don't go as terribly as you might think.
WHEN: February 14th
WHERE: Aqures Ixen

The display was impressive to say the least. Flower petals, music, a lavish carriage? How dreadfully romantic. But what amused her the most was just how fervently the Moogles seemed to place their faith in the results of their Matchmaker machine. None of them shuffled awkwardly or exchanged uncertain glances when Lust appeared. Not a single one of them seemed uneasy in the slightest.

It was...refreshing...in an odd sort of way.

In all honesty she'd been tempted to skip the entire thing, and she probably would have, if Flynn hadn't been pulled into this as well. He intrigued her in so many ways, and an opportunity to spend more time together was simply something that couldn't be passed up.

This might be the last chance they had, if they failed to defeat the Calamity. Why not indulge just a little? Besides, it would make him happy, and that was reason enough to acquiesce. She wore a fur-trimmed jacket over her sleek little dress of rich royal blue. Not black? No, not tonight, she'd decided. Blue was a color he seemed to favor, she noticed, and it was nice to put something on that wasn't her customary attire.

Her thick waves of ebony hair were pulled up into a high ponytail, ornamented with small tinkling beads of gold. She stood tall and elegant with her arms folded as she waited for her date, idly tapping a finger against her elbow.

When he did appear, her dark lips curved into a sardonic little smile. "Well? What do you think? A little over the top, but if it's to your liking, I see no reason not to go along with it."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lust's smile widened sardonically. "I was talking about all of this," she gestured at the Moogles, trumpeting their little hearts out, "not the dress. But thank you."

As for the corsage, she didn't question or mock the tradition. She simply offered him her hand, content to sit beside him. The man did look nice in a suit, she'd give him that, but she found his earnest smile to be his most attractive feature. Perhaps someday she'd be able to smile like that too. For now, her expressions remained somewhat reserved.

She crossed her legs with natural elegance, allowing herself to lean her shoulder against his. For whatever stupid reason, he really did seem to care about her. Lust wanted to see what became of that, if it would deepen into something more, or if his self-preservation instincts would eventually kick in and drive him to a legitimately nice girl with the same untarnished soul that he possessed.

"You're very flattering," she chuckled at his words. "Wouldn't you say the same if I showed up in a gunny sack?" At least she'd wear it well.

"I would say it depends on how it drapes across your shoulders," Flynn joked. "After all, there are legends of those who look good in almost anything. Perhaps you would be the fair maiden of those tales?" He finished fastening the corsage onto her wrist, and admired it for a few seconds before letting go of her hand. "Someone once told me that accessories also make the outfit. Perhaps we should put it to the test at some point?" He couldn't help but chuckle - this line of thought went on for unusually long, so he felt a bit like an idiot.

The carriage began moving, and Flynn looked out the window. "So, is where we're going a secret?"

"Hm~" she shrugged, smiling serenely as she lifted her wrist to admire the corsage. It was a pretty flower to be sure. "If neither of us is aware of the destination, then yes. It's probably a secret." He may have released her hand, but she was quick to secure his once more. Why? She didn't know. Curiosity, she would imagine...or maybe she just wanted to see what it would take to make him blush.

Her gaze slid to his face as her smile widened and her lashes lowered. "Nervous?" she teased.

"Is it that obvious?" Flynn chuckled, more at himself than anything else. "More than nervous, I have to admit I'm a bit excited. I've never been on an outing like this before, so I'm glad I could share this experience with you." He looked at their hands for a moment before deciding to interlock his fingers with her. Those same fingers that tried to run him through... but right now, they seemed a bit gentle - controlled. Were all aspects of her part of her, instead of one true one? It was difficult to say.

"Oh," Flynn noticed the carriage came to a halt. "I suppose were at our destination. That was quick."

Lust smiled, not unkindly at his honest admission. "It'll come naturally to you. Just relax." Her fingers slid easily between his, and she found herself enjoying the sensation of being this close to someone. It was almost familiar, though she couldn't recall any instance in the past where she'd held someone's hand and had it feel like this. She was at ease, but alert, and very much aware of everything around them. How curious to have such conflicting states of being exist in perfect harmony.

When the carriage came to a halt, Lust looked past her date at the beautifully engineered building before them. It was almost all glass, save for the gleaming white marble ornately carved into stone spires and filigree. What lay beyond those windows she couldn't tell; they were frosted with mist, holding a warm orange glow that beckoned invitingly.

The Moogles opened Flynn's door to let him out first, so Lust could follow in his wake.

Upon entering, there was a wash of warm, humid air that drove away the sharp February bite of winter. All around them was the sound of rushing water, trickling from intricately fashioned columns made to resemble the weather-worn stone of natural waterfalls. The foyer was small with twin falls ten feet in height on either side of the main entrance. These streams emptied into a clear pond lined with glittering coins tossed in by hopeful wishers, with a sign that said 'All fountain proceeds go toward improving and maintaining the garden. Admission is free!'

Lust looked at Flynn, shrugged, and removed a coin from her purse to flick it expertly into one of the pools. "Best make a wish~"

"Why make one if it already came true?" He mustered as best of a sly smile as he could. Nope. He wasn't smooth. But maybe he was cute for trying.

"This garden is quite something. Do you think anyone else is here?"

His routine needed some polishing, but Lust seemed entertained by the attempt in any case. She smiled with a quiet shake of her head, and kept hold of his hand as she passed from the entrance into the gardens proper.

"Most likely. It's a holiday for lovers, and there are certainly several in the city. I imagine more than one of those couples made their way here."

Fresh plants lined the walkways with big glossy green leaves and oversized blooms of intense color, following a winding stream littered with an assortment of pastel petals. Lust took her time, her steps slow and languid. Beautiful as the gardens might be, her gaze was usually pulled toward other couples on different sections of the pathway, or Flynn himself. The jeweled glory of nature held little interest to her.

"For lovers, hmm?"

The word seemed a bit foreign to him. What were they, anyway? They were more than friends, but he had never gone very far with relationships with other people.

"Is that what we are?" Not that labels mattered... well, at one point they did. Good, evil, imperial knight, guild vagabond, etc... but this was nice. Nice enough where he wouldn't care if it was "right" or "wrong". It felt good.

Yes, the environment was lovely. "I'm glad I could share this experience with you," he absentmindedly said aloud as he took in the sights. The park wouldn't nearly be as nice without someone to share it with.

"Aren't we?" Lust shrugged with a smile. The particular label didn't matter all that much to her. She liked Flynn, and respected his opinion. He didn't seem addicted solely to her physical beauty, neither was he possessive or hooked solely on what she could do for him. Holding his hand inspired no urges of sudden and brutal homicide, which already put him levels above most other men she'd tried to enchant in the past.

Hopefully Yuri wouldn't get jealous~ ~~that gaywad~~

"Hmmm," she remarked, following Flynn's gaze. He really did seem to be enjoying the stroll through the faux nature of the water gardens. He seemed to have a preference for unnatural things pretending at being natural. "What do you want to do when this is over?"

Edited (ugh notepad) 2017-04-08 00:27 (UTC)

"Hmm... perhaps after the evening is over, just go back and get some sleep. I intend on training tomorrow. We never know when the next battle is around the corner... which is also why I think an excursion like this every so often should be enjoyed while it can be." He said. "Perhaps another day we should check out one of the other sites."

I'd Run Right Into Hell and Back

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject