As always, the fluster she so constantly had to offer had been nothing short of amusing.[break][break]

His gaze, however, lifted upon noting the cashier’s eyes upon her and the trinket within her grasp; a subtle spark of a glare caught within his eyes as he (likely and hopefully unbeknownst to them and those around) as he searched their own for…something.[break][break]

Whatever that something was, however, had been far from told, whether verbally or nonverbally.[break][break]

The glint escaped his eyes before long, however, upon noting the words that followed the officer’s own defiance. He blinked with a touch of idle processing before raising a brow, amused.[break][break]

He turned his head to look towards the brunette by him once more, his lips curling further up.[break][break]

”...Oh~?” he hummed, narrowing his eyes while crossing his arms. ”Did you~?”

FIORA HYE-JIN YUN [break]

☉

she's screwed. [break][break]

rarely does she get distracted enough to not notice these small details, especially when she's supposed to be careful in front of someone. it's already troublesome enough that she's an open book; troublesome in that it's so easy for him to read her, and to pick her up and skim the lines, and to know what could be racing in the depths of her head when the tingle of pink rises to her cheeks and ears. [break][break]

"i--" her voice is caught in her throat, and brows furrow. the rake desperately combs through the muddied mind. [break][break]

the embarrassment that comes with the cashier's interference and a man's coy cooing will have her pop a vein, especially when her intention was only to pay back a debt that came with the necklace that sits so pretty between her collarbones. [break][break]

a hand snakes up to clasp against her cheeks, palm covering her lips as hues of burgundy-violet glare. every word he speaks will just make her face get even more red. "don't say a word." an empty threat. [break][break]

her other hand pushes the bracelet closer to his chest "just take it."

Dal-yong Nam [break]

☉

He eyed the bracelet as she pushed it towards him.[break]
He eyed her with a sense of idle interest.[break][break]

The interest and amusement, themselves, had been something he’d shared with the storefront owner as he peered towards them from the corner of his eye; a gesture that, despite his earlier disdain, had been pleasantly met with a reflection of his own feelings as he smirked more at the sight of the tug of their own lips.[break][break]

Knowingly.[break]
Absolutely knowingly.[break][break]

”...You can just admit to it if it’s true, Officer~,” he mused, a grin dancing upon both words and guise as he finally reached for the trinket held towards him. A soft hum escaped his lips as he lifted it for a few moments in examination before slipping it onto his wrist.[break][break]

He turned his hand a couple more times in what seemed to be idle admiration, following that.[break][break]

”...Honesty is a virtue, after all~.”

FIORA HYE-JIN YUN [break]

☉

she knows he's toying with her. [break][break]

she knows of the mind games that people play, and usually she's more trusting than this; yeah, it's the bias she has against him to begin with. it's knowing how he's supposed to be a liar, how he's supposed to be known to be good with his words, and how she knows that he's so good with that silver tongue that's had how many years to develop (she's met someone like that, before, and they don't talk anymore). [break][break]

but if this is a ruse, this is all a very.. very elaborate ruse, but she also hates to think she could be bought over by this. so what if he got her a necklace that she did like? so what if he put it on her himself? so what if he.. gave her a gift with her in mind? she didn't care, and she won't be swayed. [break][break]

.. is what she would say, if the flush on her cheeks didn't fall to a deeper, red hue. [break][break]

a hand raises to gently cover the lower half of her face, in an attempt to cover the fluster across her cheeks as her brows furrow. then her eyes narrow, and she knows - she's nowhere near a good a liar as him. "i-it's--" she starts, then takes a small step back as darker, brownish-violet eyes meet his "it's.. my way of paying you back, and showing my appreciation." yes, that's it. it's better than admitting to feelings that she's trying to keep under lock and key. [break][break]

"it's for.. taking me out to the faire. and i thought that it'd suit you, too, so--" fuck, fiora, stop talking. you're panicking and saying more than you should.

Dal-yong Nam [break]

☉

He listened to her words as they left her lips.[break]
He gradually smiled more in tandem to them.[break][break]

Such a stuttering mess— and one so in denial, on top of it. A soft, nearly inaudible hum left his lips as he simply remained a gaze upon her, crossing his arms upon his chest as the same tug of the lips lingered upon his expression. His head tilted faintly as she went on.[break][break]

He inhaled deeply, a sigh of faux exasperation leaving his own lips before long.[break][break]

”...You thought it’d suit me, mmn~?” he mused, raising a brow. ”So you deliberately took me into consideration~?”

FIORA HYE-JIN YUN [break]

☉

yes, she's this close to slapping him upside the head. [break][break]

for even suggesting that, mind. it's the fact that he isn't wrong that rubs her the wrong way, and makes her all the more frustrated, seeing him wear such a coy smile as her cheeks flush in another hue of red. "y-yes..? i just said i did." she raises a hand to gently ruffle her hair, slightly, before lowering her fingers to the back of her neck. of course he was going to poke fun at this. [break][break]

"what kind of gift would it be if i just blindly grabbed it..?" she asks, but she'll admit that maybe she did do just that. it did catch her eye, though, and it did suit him - whether she enjoys that fact or not. it.. works out well, anyways, so there're no complaints. not from her.

Dal-yong Nam

☉

”Oh, no, no— I understand why you’d do it,” he hummed, a spark of amusement igniting further within hues of gold. They narrowed faintly as he eyed her, raising a brow. ”After all, it’s a natural thing for anyone to do~.”[break][break]

Once more, his gaze drifted towards his wrist as he lifted it further into view, an idle sense of admiration clear upon his face before he peered towards her once more.[break][break]

”...I’m more curious about why you’d do it~.” He chuckled, eventually pulling his arms into a soft cross upon his chest. ”You always seem so vehemently against and begrudging of me, after all.”

FIORA HYE-JIN YUN [break]

☉

"it's because i am." [break][break]

there's no lie; she despises him, and his face, and his voice, and everything-- that used to be the case, anyways. she's just as confused as he is, though she hates to think that he likely already knows, based on the sly grin on his lips as she struggles to find the words. [break][break]

now she glances to the side, eyes narrowed to use the strands of brunette to fall against the side of her face, hoping to at least shield some of the blush that creeps onto her cheeks - and as always she will insist that it's a blush due to the embarrassment that comes with his suggestion. [break][break]

"d-don't worry about it." she stutters over her words, bringing a hand to gently cup the lower half of he face "i just-- i don't like being indebted to people.."

Dal-yong Nam

☉

Always so begrudging.[break]
Always so in denial.[break][break]

”And yet, you still agreed to come along, to begin with~...” he cooed with a touch of ongoing amusement, his gaze shifting towards his wrist once more. ”All things considered, I’d say you’re the one that put yourself in this predicament~.”[break][break]

He hummed, shifting his attention towards her, once more.[break][break]

”...Not that I mind~,” he added with a leisurely, ever sing-songy tone to his words. ”Every time spent with you always ends up being a reminder of how red is a fitting color for you, so I’ve no complaints~.”[break][break]

A chuckle left his lips as he tapped one of his cheeks in soft gesture and teasing alike, soon turning towards the bustling nightlife surrounding them, instead. Another hum escaped him as he peered through the numerous lights illuminating the pathways, clicking his tongue softly in thought, all the while.[break][break]

”...That aside, do you have anything you’d recommend~?” he mused, inquiring. ”At the end of the day, these sort of things aren’t exactly my personal forte.”

FIORA HYE-JIN YUN [break]

☉

yes, she did agree to come along. [break][break]

and she's still wondering why she did - i mean, he is enjoying himself. maybe it's just a part of her that's been wondering if these outings are from his own interest, or if they were still just a way for him to try and get at her, or try to get under her nerves, or to rub in the fact that he's a free man despite her knowing that he does commit crimes (though his crimes are still small, he's still a member of rocket, and that's what makes him a wanted man). [break][break]

and she's supposed to arrest him. [break][break]

so then why does she struggle so much with keeping the red to her cheeks under wraps? why does she struggle so much with his teasing, and his compliments? ah, no, she knows the answer - but she's just in denial, and she'll refuse to acknowledge it. so now she glances away, her cheeks getting a more furious red. [break][break]

her eyes fall to her hand as it holds the gem of the necklace. it's a beautiful accessory, she has to admit. she hates that she's looking upon it warmly. [break][break]

then she perks up at his voice while they walk, and her lips curl into a small smile as she tilts her head. "... so you invited me out, even though this isn't your forte?" it's amusing, especially when he carries himself with the swagger that'll make anyone second guess it. [break][break]

though now she hums, and her eyes light up a bit. they're at a night market, so there should be more events. "lets see.. there should be some live music events happening somewhere?" something they both bond over, even though she knows they already do it via singing. [break][break]

"i wonder if there are any open mics.."

Dal-yong Nam

☉