“Yeah?” Maybe she should have expected as much given how he’d reacted to her lack of immediate response before.[break][break]

But it still surprises her somehow, both in a way that makes her want to insist and reassure that he has nothing to be insecure of, and in a way that makes her feel a little less alone.[break][break]

She’s used to keeping everyone but her brother out. Safe at an arm’s length because it’s what ensures that she won’t put her faith in the wrong person. That she won’t end up vulnerable and wounded because she let it happen.[break][break]

But this helps. He helps. And Calla, despite the fear that settles in her stomach, chooses to lean on that trusting instinct.[break][break]

“Yeah,” she finally looks up at him, smiling a bit wider though still tentatively, “really, I do.”[break][break]

Once again, she’s reminded that she’s no figure skater when her feet stutter on the ice again with her admission.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK | m: festive flirts [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

i do.[break][break]

whatever remains of the depressive cloud that lingered fades in an instant, replaced with sunshine and happiness at her response that reassures and makes his heart leap.[break][break]

his smile brims with joy.[break][break]

"cool, cool."[break][break]

he holds her tighter when she stutters, shifting closer to help support her.[break][break]

"that makes me really happy to hear."

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

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

For all of her anxiety over the vulnerability she doesn’t wish to expose, the way his face instantly brightens makes it worth the honesty.[break][break]

There’s a twist in her chest where her heart is, and then that lightness she’d felt that first night returns. But this time, there’s no alcohol involved to coax it out of hiding.[break][break]

She laughs, “Yeah, cool.”[break][break]

As he steadies her, Calla leans against him, relief filtering through her when he’s not eager to pull away.[break][break]

The air is still cold, but she feels warm from the inside out. She doesn’t fully realizes they’ve drifted to a stop near the middle of the rink as he speaks.[break][break]

“Well, if that’s the case..” She focuses on his face, figuring she should say it again, and state it plainly in the way she’d avoided before. “I don’t exactly know what to do about it, but I like you too, Uriah.”


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK | m: festive flirts [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

the tension is almost palpable from the sidelines as octillery watches the two of them drift to a stop near the middle of the rink. from that far away, there's no way it can hear them so it has no way of knowing what's going on.[break][break]

for now, it waits.[break][break]

back over to them, her words make his heart jump and skip and leap. it even draws out a chuckle from him, breathless.[break][break]

"i don't know what to do about it either, but..."[break][break]

he looks at her, focusing on her face.[break][break]

"do you maybe want to go on a date with me, calla?"

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

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

From the edge of the rink, she thinks she might hear her cubchoo let out a growly cheer. But her attention is all on him. And it’s almost a relief that he admits he doesn’t have the immediate answer, either. It makes her feel more okay with the confused feelings that have been tumbling around inside of her all this time.[break][break]

It’s just a little bit clearer. A shaft of guiding light through the fog.[break][break]

Her smile widens and she bites down on her bottom lip, though it does little to disguise how bright it turns.[break][break]

“Yeah, I think maybe I’d like that a lot, Uri.”[break][break]

There’s details that should be worked out. The looming problem of the whole work aspect to untangle and address.[break][break]

But surely it’s okay to just be the twenty-one year old girl that she is. Just for a little bit. She’s twenty-one and a guy likes her too. A date won’t ruin things. It won’t be the end of the world, surely.[break][break]

“Yeah,” she repeats, almost more to herself on a breath of laughter, “let’s go on a date.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK | m: festive flirts [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

the looming problem of their work almost becomes too easy to ignore, at least in the moment, as he chooses to focus on her answer instead and on how brightly she seems to smile in return. she matches his energy easily.[break][break]

"okay! let's. we can, uh, work on the details later maybe."[break][break]

the fact that both humans are smiling must be good, right? it's certainly enough for octillery to shoot out OCTAZOOKAS, raining down makeshift confetti over the ice rink.[break][break]

"for now, wanna grab something to eat? i'm starving."

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

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

She can’t remember the last time she’s done something as silly as confess her feelings like this. It’s so cliche– like it’s straight out of a romcom with they way they float in the middle of the rink. Further emphasized by the shenanigans of Uriah’s octillery.[break][break]

It’s actually a little emboldening. “We can do that,” says with a nod, lips twisting mischievously, “but first..” Her fingers curl into the front of his jacket and she tugs him down closer– craning up as best as she can on skates to press a kiss against his lips as her heart lurches. A few other skaters randomly clap.[break][break]

A little embarrassing, but she doesn’t care.[break][break]

“Yeah, let’s do that!” she replies as she pulls back slightly, before her eyes brighten with a sudden thought, “Could just go back to my place and order a couple pizzas? Watch a Christmas movie or something.” She shrugs, lighthearted. Kieran Roth ’s out tonight anyway, and honestly, if he turns up, Calla finds that she really wouldn’t mind if he were to meet Uriah.[break][break]

It’d actually be sorta nice.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] URIAH BLACK | m: festive flirts [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

his heart dips, followed by his body as he's pulled into a kiss he so easily returns. some of the other skaters may clap but he doesn't even hear them, too engrossed by her and the moment.[break][break]

when they pull away slightly, he's enamored.[break][break]

"okay! that sounds really nice. let's do that."[break][break]

finding her hand once again, he gestures over his shoulder.[break][break]

"ready?"

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

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