"no?" she inquires, smile dimpling her cheeks, most of which is still hidden by her homemade mask. "what did spark your interest there? outside my family and a friend of mine in petalburg, i haven't met anyone who knows about it."

when she was little, she didn't even know it was a real thing. part of the charm - a small, inconsequential part of it - disappeared when her mother told her its history. her father's magic and his whimsy still stayed, though, and he told her it just meant there was more to share. 

what use is a language if not to share joy with loved ones?

"he loves the beach, actually." she chuckles. "but maybe when it warms up again."

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

this time, he does not stray away from the topic of his past.[break][break]

"it was ava, actually. she loved flowers so i did my research, read everything i could find just so i could impress her."[break][break]

he can't remember the last time he said her name but it never occurs to him how willow might not know who he's talking about. she'll catch on, hopefully.[break][break]

"it was one of the first things we bonded over."

[attr="class","ooc"]willow atkins[break]

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

willow's heart aches for him at his mention of ava. she had a feeling it may have been the case and maybe she shouldn't have said anything, but remembering fond memories of loved ones is a way to keep them alive. she knows as much with her father. 

"that's sweet," she says, still swaying. "my dad taught me, but not until we moved to fallarbor. he changed a lot when we did. he was happier, getting out of the city.

"i think that's why i can't fathom ever leaving."

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

"i get that."[break][break]

to both her points of being happier out of the city and also why she can't fathom ever leaving. fallarbor may be boring even to him but it's quaint, peaceful, and comfortable. it reminds him of twinleaf.[break][break]

maybe that's why the next thing he says comes out easier than usual.[break][break]

"i could move there, you know. eventually. i know we haven't talked about it but i just wanted to put it out there."

[attr="class","ooc"]willow atkins[break]

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

the subtle rhythm they'd been following somehow gets away from her when he says that. she missteps, nearly stepping on his toes, but recovers just as swiftly. her arms come up over his so that he might not be able to give them some distance, to read what he can of her face under her mask. 

"sorry, i just wasn't expecting that." but eventually it would come to this. eventually one of them had to make the move. it's the natural order of things. 

and by all accounts, they're serious. their dates, when they have them, are always lovely. even though roman hasn't been as warm to him as she'd like, they've gotten along well enough. 

"we'll talk about it," she promises, but the not here and not now are spoken in the silence. 

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

he would've stepped away to give them some distance if she had not swiftly recovered. he's held in her arms, locked in this dance left to wonder what exactly to think of it all.[break][break]

perhaps it had been wrong of him to suggest such a thing even if it is their next logical move. they are serious, aren't they? somewhere in the deepest parts of his mind, doubt starts to form.[break][break]

"okay."[break][break]

they'll talk about it later. just not here and not now.[break][break]

eventually, the song comes to an end, and so too does their dance.[break][break]

with his gaze still on her, he leans down to kiss her just above the top of her mask.[break][break]

"thank you for the dance."

[attr="class","ooc"]willow atkins[break]

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

okay. it's not enthusiastic. the air between the two of them is so stale and dry she might choke. it's her own doing and she knows it and she doesn't know how to make it better. (tell him she wants it, react with a bright smile, all dimples, and say absolutely.) but why is her heart so heavy? 

well, to be fair, she did just witness him punch the shit out of boruta. and vice versa. it hasn't exactly left her feeling chipper. 

but they've salvaged what they can of the night. all they can do is take it one step at a time at this point. and he has to understand that, right? that's where these feelings of hers are coming from.

"the pleasure was all mine," she says with a small smile. and then, because she feels she has to make up for something, she reaches up to grab his jaw to make sure he can't pull away. 

she's careful to not bump him with her mask, tilts her chin back and folds her lips over his. her fingers fist in his shirt. 

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

in his defense, boruta punched first. but that's in the past now despite having happened within an hour ago. the cuts from the punches don't sting as badly anymore, though, and that's mostly because of her.[break][break]

even if she's careful, he bumps into her mask anyways, chuckling softly as he lets the awkwardness pass. he returns the kiss, then pulls away a moment later feeling both warm and cold at the same time.[break][break]

he attributes it to being outside.[break][break]

"do you have any other plans for the night? i was thinking we could grab something to eat after this. i know you don't get down to slateport much so i was hoping to take you somewhere nice."

[attr="class","ooc"]willow atkins[break]

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