A similar look of surprise flashed across Eva’s face, “Huh, I would have never guessed,” Matias seemed like a natural up there with Ash, “Goes to show how much people can change, huh?” she sips her wine again before smiling, no, grinning, “It is freeing, huh?” she felt it too, more than just the rush. Though, it’s the rush she’s usually after.

“I was never brave enough to jump, though,” she glances away to reminisce, “I had to have someone push me,” sometimes that’s what she needed – a good push.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]it reminds him, in a way, of the circumstances of why they're sat here tonight. both of them had been afraid to jump; both of them needed a push; and he's still not sure what changed but he's glad he took the leap.

hopefully, it'll pay off.

"you're brave enough now."

but she doesn't need him to tell her that.

"i mean, you got zapped by tapu koko and walked it off. that's badass."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

The reason she’s here tonight is because he’s pushed her. Not in a bad way, of course. He’s challenged her in a way no one else has been able to. It’s exciting, intriguing, and terrifying all at the same time. He makes her want to dig deeper, and leap into long sealed off fissures she keeps well-protected.

Eva laughs, shaking her head and leaning back into her chair with her glass of wine in hand, “It was just a little jolt, no big deal,” she shrugs it off before motioning back to Matias, changing the subject to another question, “Have you ever traveled outside of Hoenn or Kanto?”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]it was not just a little jolt — he'd know because he was zapped by something similar, albeit weaker, so he can only imagine what it must have felt like for her. he remembers the reduced mobility that plagued his arm for a bit, even after their night together.

but the topic soon shifts. he uses the brief lull to reach for his fruity drink, quickly sipping only to feel the burn of liquor and sugar hit the back of his throat. he almost coughs, chuckling instead as he extends it over to her.

"you should try this."

to her question, he shakes his head.

"i've wanted to visit sinnoh for a while now. cece's there, apparently, so it'd be nice to see her again."

it's been, what, over ten years since he's last seen her? whenever he left home.

"any dream vacations?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

There’s a moment of hesitation before she reaches forward to accept his offer. After her own sip of the frozen drink, Eva coughs as the burn surprises her. She should have taken his reaction as a warning, it’s not like Matias is an amateur, “Wow,” she coughs with a smile, handing the drink back over, “That’s surprisingly strong,” event he sweetness of the sugar didn’t hide the burn of the rum.

Eva washes it down with a sip of wine, as he speaks. The two clashing palates was not the most pleasant, but it fades quickly, "Sinnoh seems nice," Eva’s never really had a desire to visit Sinnoh, though traveling and seeing new places was an adventure and, naturally, she loved that. An unfamiliar name catches her attention, “Cece?” She repeats, letting his question blend into the background.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]matias is comfortable enough to lower his perception and insight and completely misses the point of her question. he supposes not many know of her nickname, and so he clarifies:

"cecilia. it's been too far too long."

he takes another sip, clearing his throat after as he sets the glass back down.

"but i suppose vacations aren't really our thing."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

He doesn’t answer her question. Well, perhaps it wasn’t really a question. She should have been more clear. Is he avoiding it on purpose? She doubts it, considering how causal his response is, as if she’s supposed to know who that it is. She smiles, so it doesn’t seem out of place, “I don’t think I know who Cecilia is,” a sister maybe? Eva sighs, shaking her head, “Not really, unfortunately.”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"cecelia silph?"

oh.

it takes a second, but it finally clicks.

realization settles, then spreads, but surely he's told her, hasn't he?

"my younger sister."

a pause to consider.

"who did you think i was talking about?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

Cecelia Silph? Should the name sound familiar? She pauses, blinking slowly while looking at him. He seems to think she should know who he is talking about. A hot blush rises in her cheeks. Doubt settles. Should she, really? Maybe? How embarrassing if she forgot about his frikken sister if he had mentioned her before. Why wouldn’t he have, after all?

“I uh- I don’t know,” she admits with a nervous laugh. She smothers it with a healthy sip of wine, “I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t recognize the name.”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]matias is never one to linger on a thought for too long; in this case, he simply shrugs and moves the conversation along.

"don't be. i guess i never spoke about her."

he offers her a smile, compassionate, and reaches for his drink again.

"tell me more about your brothers."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

Matias is quick to shrug it off and move on. It still makes her feel uncomfortable, but his smile puts her at ease. She’s surprised by how quickly he leaves the subject. Now she wants to know more about her, but his inquiry about her brothers distracts her thoughts.

“They’re just a bunch of . . . guys,” she laughs, waving a hand in dismissal. Not a very satisfying answer, so she continues, “Well, I haven’t talked to them in a long time so . . . I’m not quite sure what they’re all up to, honestly,” there’s a bit of sorrow weaved into her tone. Maybe some regret, “They are all so different. My oldest brother was always the most responsible one, the most family oriented. Bet he’s got a cute little family somewhere. The one closest to me in age had always been a bit off. I love him, for sure, but he’s always had this . . . darker side none of us could quite figure out,” she worried about him every now and then, always afraid he was going to get into it with the wrong people, “My second oldest brother is very artsy and creative, doesn’t look much like the others,” in other words, he was skinny and small, like her, “The two middle brothers are twins. They stuck around the ranch. Both of them picked up on all that stuff quickly,” she hopes they’re still there with her father so he isn’t lonely, “That was a lot, sorry!” she laughs before finishing the last of her wine. The temptation to mimic Matias’s order makes her pause. She gives in and motions to the waitress that she’ll have whatever he’s having. She flashes Matias a smile, “You convinced me to be adventurous.”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]it's almost difficult to imagine a life beyond theirs. to hear of her brother's little family, of their ranch, almost seems surreal in a way. he nods, keenly listening with a smile.

"they sound like quite the bunch,"

he laughs,

"i'm not sure which one i'll get along most with."

in all honesty, probably the one closest to her in age.

he returns her smile with ease, dipping into playful territories.

"be sure to pace yourself, eva. i need you around for the night."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

“Wow, you seem confident I’ll even let you meet them,” she matches his playfulness with a smile. Of course, she hopes he can because that would mean they got to go home. She too wonders which he would get along with best. She’d put her money on her oldest brother, actually.

Her playful smile turns into a grin, “Oh? There’s more after this?” things seem to be going very well. There’s no reason to think it wouldn’t. Whatever nervous pressure she felt earlier had long since faded. So, she hopes there’s more.

MATIAS SILPH