the jingle of a bell sound as they step into KUBFU TEA, and luci is still not able to rid the blush from his cheeks, faint and peach-colored. part of him can't believe that he's agreed to the outing at all, given the circumstances in which he first met @symon ; the other part of him knows that it would be impolite to turn down the man. after all, it is his birthday.

[break][break] "whatever you recommend," he says, eyes shifting towards the menu. normally he would be pickier - but he hasn't been to this establishment before and symon has so he figures that the dancer would be better off.

[break][break] as they walk over to the cashier, he pulls out his wallet.

[break][break] "i'll be paying."

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]

sapphire eyes fall upon amber.

[break][break] "it's your birthday. don't be foolish."

[break][break] what kind of a fisk would he be if he could not pay it forward? especially since it was Symon... it's not as if he hasn't paid the other before. his cheeks flush at the memory.

[break][break] "one rosehip, one ube. large, please."

[break][break] he slides his black amex card towards the cashier.

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]

luci.

[break][break] the nickname threatens to draw embarrassment from the famous sculptor, but not quiet. after all, hanging out with a man like @symon, he has far more things to worry about.

[break][break] when he returns to the table with their drinks, he is careful and meticulous in the way that he places them down. slowly he peels the plastic off the straws before poking them into each.

[break][break] it's a way to procrastinate the inevitable.

[break][break] "poorly i'm afraid," he says with a sigh, finally seating himself. "i came here to strike a muse, but not only have i not found one, but now i am unfortunately trapped."

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]

luci contemplates this.

[break][break] "i suppose either. i haven't thought about it — typically, i find something that compels me and moves forward."

[break][break] his gaze shifts as he looks properly at @symon. it's only then that he experiences flashes of a blurry night, of skin and heat and —

[break][break] he coughs, a blush dusting his cheeks. he sips at his drink.

[break][break] "you said hoenn was beautiful?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]

his cheeks burn.

[break][break] "you."

[break][break] luciano had considered lying, but his heart wouldn't allow it. when it came to his art, the truth bled from him like the river that flowed through canalave.

[break][break] to hide his embarrassment, he turns his face away and watches a young child beg his mom for a bag of chips in addition to their order, and wonders if children were always so uncouth. turning back, he looks at @symon with curiosity.

[break][break] "i will have to take your word for it then," he says afterwards, curiosity flickering in his sapphire gaze. "hoenn is a new landscape for me."

[break][break] his head tilts.

[break][break] "is that why you came to hoenn?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]

he coughs slightly, but says little.

[break][break] it's not a surprise to him that @symon knows how to push his buttons, whether intentionally or not. it was - after all - the dynamic of their relationship. still, it doesn't make it any less unsettling than what it happens, jostling from his metaphorical perch as one of noemi fisk's prizes.

[break][break] "i didn't know that," he says, blinking with surprise. it was a bit shameful, but he had to admit — he had not put that much thought to where @symon lived when they had... anyways. "what is your favorite place in all of hoenn, then?"

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]

'here?'

[break][break] luciano cannot help with the way his nose wrinkles when he looks around at the facility. there was nothing wrong persay with kubfu tea... yet it was not the esteemed location in which that he thought @symon would pin all his hopes and dreams.

[break][break] still, their drinks were satisfying.

[break][break] he takes a sip of his. the ube is flavorful, though a bit overwhelming in it's punch.

[break][break] "it seems nice," he says. "i will have to tour it more to make a proper judgement, though."

[break][break] after all, this was not a task luciano could take lightly. his head tilts to the side as the other asks about the beach, one of his hands flicking idly against the peeling label of his drink.

[break][break] "yes," he says. "it doesn't compare to the beaches in alto mare, but it is satisfying enough. did i tell you that i even when diving during the festivities?" and what an event that had been!

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonair"]