Yeah. I do. [It's quick, almost too quick. She doesn't have to think of the words or pause to consider what to say. The answer is easy, like if he asked her what the weather was outside or if she liked to sleep. Her own smile slips into place, too, easy and open and void of any discomfort. In fact, she's at ease enough to reach over and steal one of his chips. He's used to it by now.]
Did you have anything in mind, or was asking enough to think about?
[There's no judgment either way. It's a pertinent question, one they'd address soon enough anyway. The feeling through the bond is more tranquil than it has been in a few weeks (dancing aside), something she hasn't noticed until this very moment. A huff of combined contentment and amusement escapes her, so she moves to take a drink.]
And thanks for asking. It makes me happy. [If he squints, there might actually be a little color to her cheeks. Maybe.] I can try and think of something, too, if you want.
[It's like hopping over a hurdle. A short moment of elation and relief at not landing flat on your face, followed immediately by the realization that this isn't exactly a finish line. There's momentum to be carried and, likely, more hurdles ahead. Especially when she asks him that as though he'd been able to think ahead to anything after this point before now.
Which he really should have, seeing as he's had ample time. But it still throws him, the immediate question that hangs about them like an invisible what next?
He watches her steal a chip, clearly unbothered, before awkwardly rolling a shoulder.]
I mean. Not especially. Thought I'd just start here and we could just... figure it out?
[But her thanks and the hint of a blush is enough to relax him from feeling like too much of a dork. After all, this is something completely new to him. It's only in the past few weeks that he'd even considered himself who could, possibly, like someone and (even more surprisingly) be liked back.]
Planning anything without knowing if you'd even be up for it seemed kinda weird, anyway. [And he's still not sure what this will mean for the relationship they already have. Other than Elliot's useless 'kissing and stuff' comment.]
But I figure neither of us are really into any sort of standard bullshit, so we can just.... do whatever.
Sounds good to me. [All of it, really. Figuring out the 'what next' and 'where to' parts of things. Fie's still pretty elated (?!) that he asked, so whatever follows is bound to be easier in a sense, now that they're both on board for at least a little. She finishes her drink, pops the last of her fries into her mouth, then slides out of her side of the booth, feet hitting the floor with a light tap.]
If you wanna finish up, I'm in the mood to take a walk now. Maybe you could even join me.
[Her eyes may as well be dancing. It's as close to an invitation as she'll give him, since their discussion means they do want to spend more time together in a slightly different way. With a small grin, she passes and adds:] You've got a really nice smile, too.
[And she's out the door, where she'll be waiting for him to finish up and pay then join her. Once he finally does, Fie looks over at him, still pretty happy. It's not a huge change, but she's somehow lighter and more animated than usual.]
I think there's a park nearby if you'd like to head that way.
[He pauses as she slides away from the table, a faint flicker of confusion and concern passing his expression for a moment at it. Not that he thinks she's retreating or trying to make space or anything. But true to form, Fie just does what she wants, deciding that she wants to head out now.]
Yeah, sure. Just-- gimme a sec.
[He'll abandon what's left of his food, but he's definitely gotta rummage in his pocket to actually pay for it. While he's counting, though, she slips in that compliment, and it's enough to make him stop for a moment.
He's not really embarrassed by it so much as thrown. (Well. Maybe a little embarrassed.) More than anything, it's something he doesn't think he's ever been told. Not that he'd ever been in a situation like this before in his life, but even so, he wouldn't have imagined something so simple and honest just catching in his chest and nestling there with a certain inexplicable warmth.
And she's gone, before he can really respond to it, and thankfully before she can catch the way his face heats up. Half flustered, half.... who knows. Either way, he shoves himself up, drains the remainder of his coffee, and goes to pay for their meal.
When he returns outside, he's pulled his coat closer about himself against the chilly late-autumn wind. And maybe it could be blamed for the tinge of red still lingering on the longer pinna of his ears, rather than his inability to process so much of what's happened in the past few minutes.]
...Sure. Parks are nice. [And it's nice to see her so carefree, a sort of relaxation that's different from the easy sort of friendship they'd had only an hour before. Maybe he's imagining it, but just the way she steps and carries herself, it seems... elated.] You got the rest of the afternoon free, right?
You didn't have to leave your food, I was going to wait for you.
[It's the first thing she says to him when he joins her outside, a slightly puzzled expression in place, like that much was a given. Fie just wants some fresh air and to give him a little space to think if he needs to do that at all. She's in no rush right now, content to stand outside and mull over what just happened. In a good way. A very good way.]
Well, it's done now anyway. Next time you can finish. [Yes, she did say next time. Meaning she already wants to do this again. That's a good sign, right? She looks over (and a little up) at him, smile same as before. Her own hands are tucked into the pockets of her coat, and she shrugs a little.]
Not anymore. I'm going to be spending it with you, right?
[There's a sort of hopeful upswing to her question, one she wouldn't have allowed to slip before their recent conversation. It's definitely something to think about. How the slight differences she's comfortable enough to portray now really allow her to express herself in little ways she wasn't quite ready for previously.
Being at ease with him and Louis is one thing. There's some vulnerability and honesty she reserves for those close to her, shown with those from her home and extended to them. The ease and swiftness of them sinking into their self appointed roles is telling, too. She can be herself around them, all peculiar, skilled, and dry humored as she wants. There's nothing stopping her.
But this is somehow a little different than all of those. By asking what he did or even confirming anything else, Fie's able to share another piece of her with someone important. It might be too soon in some aspects, possibly, yet she's letting herself try it, which is a new experience for her as it is now.]
Don't worry about it. I wasn't exactly here for the food, anyway.
[He probably could have stayed and finished but-- really, that felt weirder to him than just leaving it and following her out. Space to think only leaves him turning in circles in his own thoughts half the time, and it's something he'll be more than able to accomplish later. Right now he still has trouble believing that this is real and working out and so damn normal feeling, and there's that irrational feeling that the moment he looks away it will be gone.
It will definitely take time to wrap his head around. He'd been so fixated and worried about how to get to this point- or even if he should- that now that he's here.... he's not sure what to do about it.
But those small smiles of hers and the hopeful tone of her voice helps ease it and remove the worry of doing something wrong. Like they'd agreed, they were on the same page now, and would just see where it took them. Not everything had to have a neat storyline. Things could always be written and changes as they went.
At her affirmation that they'd be spending the afternoon together, there's another unconscious flicker of a smile, something short but honest, even as he shoves his hands into his own pockets to keep them warm against the chill of the wind.]
--Yeah. Guess so. I ain't got anywhere to be either, so there's no rush. [Thankfully her hands in her pockets (and his following suit) had removed one uncertainty-- whether or not anything should immediately change to reflect what they were talking about, any overt gestures. Being bonded, physical contact isn't unheard of at all-- But it's always just been something casual.
Regardless, he does step closer, the line of his body not quite touching hers, but letting them walk side by side towards the park, enjoying that faint affection and flickering excitement occasional filtering through the bond- though he wouldn't be able to tell which of them it was coming from even were he asked.] I ain't spent a whole lot of time down this way. You go out to this place often?
[He's assuming to nap. Parks are usually pretty good for that. But who knows, maybe her work brings her here too.]
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no subject
Did you have anything in mind, or was asking enough to think about?
[There's no judgment either way. It's a pertinent question, one they'd address soon enough anyway. The feeling through the bond is more tranquil than it has been in a few weeks (dancing aside), something she hasn't noticed until this very moment. A huff of combined contentment and amusement escapes her, so she moves to take a drink.]
And thanks for asking. It makes me happy. [If he squints, there might actually be a little color to her cheeks. Maybe.] I can try and think of something, too, if you want.
no subject
Which he really should have, seeing as he's had ample time. But it still throws him, the immediate question that hangs about them like an invisible what next?
He watches her steal a chip, clearly unbothered, before awkwardly rolling a shoulder.]
I mean. Not especially. Thought I'd just start here and we could just... figure it out?
[But her thanks and the hint of a blush is enough to relax him from feeling like too much of a dork. After all, this is something completely new to him. It's only in the past few weeks that he'd even considered himself who could, possibly, like someone and (even more surprisingly) be liked back.]
Planning anything without knowing if you'd even be up for it seemed kinda weird, anyway. [And he's still not sure what this will mean for the relationship they already have. Other than Elliot's useless 'kissing and stuff' comment.]
But I figure neither of us are really into any sort of standard bullshit, so we can just.... do whatever.
no subject
If you wanna finish up, I'm in the mood to take a walk now. Maybe you could even join me.
[Her eyes may as well be dancing. It's as close to an invitation as she'll give him, since their discussion means they do want to spend more time together in a slightly different way. With a small grin, she passes and adds:] You've got a really nice smile, too.
[And she's out the door, where she'll be waiting for him to finish up and pay then join her. Once he finally does, Fie looks over at him, still pretty happy. It's not a huge change, but she's somehow lighter and more animated than usual.]
I think there's a park nearby if you'd like to head that way.
no subject
Yeah, sure. Just-- gimme a sec.
[He'll abandon what's left of his food, but he's definitely gotta rummage in his pocket to actually pay for it. While he's counting, though, she slips in that compliment, and it's enough to make him stop for a moment.
He's not really embarrassed by it so much as thrown. (Well. Maybe a little embarrassed.) More than anything, it's something he doesn't think he's ever been told. Not that he'd ever been in a situation like this before in his life, but even so, he wouldn't have imagined something so simple and honest just catching in his chest and nestling there with a certain inexplicable warmth.
And she's gone, before he can really respond to it, and thankfully before she can catch the way his face heats up. Half flustered, half.... who knows. Either way, he shoves himself up, drains the remainder of his coffee, and goes to pay for their meal.
When he returns outside, he's pulled his coat closer about himself against the chilly late-autumn wind. And maybe it could be blamed for the tinge of red still lingering on the longer pinna of his ears, rather than his inability to process so much of what's happened in the past few minutes.]
...Sure. Parks are nice. [And it's nice to see her so carefree, a sort of relaxation that's different from the easy sort of friendship they'd had only an hour before. Maybe he's imagining it, but just the way she steps and carries herself, it seems... elated.] You got the rest of the afternoon free, right?
no subject
[It's the first thing she says to him when he joins her outside, a slightly puzzled expression in place, like that much was a given. Fie just wants some fresh air and to give him a little space to think if he needs to do that at all. She's in no rush right now, content to stand outside and mull over what just happened. In a good way. A very good way.]
Well, it's done now anyway. Next time you can finish. [Yes, she did say next time. Meaning she already wants to do this again. That's a good sign, right? She looks over (and a little up) at him, smile same as before. Her own hands are tucked into the pockets of her coat, and she shrugs a little.]
Not anymore. I'm going to be spending it with you, right?
[There's a sort of hopeful upswing to her question, one she wouldn't have allowed to slip before their recent conversation. It's definitely something to think about. How the slight differences she's comfortable enough to portray now really allow her to express herself in little ways she wasn't quite ready for previously.
Being at ease with him and Louis is one thing. There's some vulnerability and honesty she reserves for those close to her, shown with those from her home and extended to them. The ease and swiftness of them sinking into their self appointed roles is telling, too. She can be herself around them, all peculiar, skilled, and dry humored as she wants. There's nothing stopping her.
But this is somehow a little different than all of those. By asking what he did or even confirming anything else, Fie's able to share another piece of her with someone important. It might be too soon in some aspects, possibly, yet she's letting herself try it, which is a new experience for her as it is now.]
no subject
[He probably could have stayed and finished but-- really, that felt weirder to him than just leaving it and following her out. Space to think only leaves him turning in circles in his own thoughts half the time, and it's something he'll be more than able to accomplish later. Right now he still has trouble believing that this is real and working out and so damn normal feeling, and there's that irrational feeling that the moment he looks away it will be gone.
It will definitely take time to wrap his head around. He'd been so fixated and worried about how to get to this point- or even if he should- that now that he's here.... he's not sure what to do about it.
But those small smiles of hers and the hopeful tone of her voice helps ease it and remove the worry of doing something wrong. Like they'd agreed, they were on the same page now, and would just see where it took them. Not everything had to have a neat storyline. Things could always be written and changes as they went.
At her affirmation that they'd be spending the afternoon together, there's another unconscious flicker of a smile, something short but honest, even as he shoves his hands into his own pockets to keep them warm against the chill of the wind.]
--Yeah. Guess so. I ain't got anywhere to be either, so there's no rush. [Thankfully her hands in her pockets (and his following suit) had removed one uncertainty-- whether or not anything should immediately change to reflect what they were talking about, any overt gestures. Being bonded, physical contact isn't unheard of at all-- But it's always just been something casual.
Regardless, he does step closer, the line of his body not quite touching hers, but letting them walk side by side towards the park, enjoying that faint affection and flickering excitement occasional filtering through the bond- though he wouldn't be able to tell which of them it was coming from even were he asked.] I ain't spent a whole lot of time down this way. You go out to this place often?
[He's assuming to nap. Parks are usually pretty good for that. But who knows, maybe her work brings her here too.]