dissonates | [Voice / Action]

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[Voice / Action]

...What the hell is wrong with the plaza?

[Seriously, what. Giant tree out of nowhere, what. Not that he doesn't have more important things to be dealing with right now. Speaking of which-

...Man. This is going to be crazy-awkward, he just knows it. But hey, it has to be done- you can only dodge someone living in your own house for so long. Thankfully he hasn't had to deal with Luke very much. And Guy has been kind of preoccupied too, actually... strange. Oh well.

Either way, he'll be seeking out said housemate, hoping to talk before he heads off for the day.]

[Locked to Stella]

Can we meet today? [Okay, maybe they've been meeting more often than usual lately, but he can't really help himself...]

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[Oh, that's a relief. He hadn't wanted to impose on her, or pester her overmuch; being such an antisocial creature by nature, he'd been starting to wonder if he was choking her with his presence or something.]

Where are you? I'll meet you there.

In the plaza. Oh, Asch, you have to see this!

[........What. No. That place is horrifying.]

I've seen it. Why are you there?

I've never seen a tree like this before... And it actually feels like spring under the leaves!

Please, Asch? [Come on. Surely you can't resist that tone in her voice.]

[O-of course he can. He totally can. ...R-right.

...This is getting harder. Um. Not good.]

...Can't I wait for you outside the plaza?

[You are such a spoil sport. But, well, he's trying, and that's good enough for her.

She'll just pick one of these delicious fruits for him. Because they are quite delicious, as she found a little earlier.]

All right, if you insist. I'll meet you there.

[And now she's torn between going and meeting him right away or chilling out under the weeping willow just a little longer. It really is so nice...]

[Oh, bother. She'll probably get her way anyway- she's somehow managed to do that all week so far. He takes a few moments to get ready (wearing an elegant green ensemble with a long black coat rather than his uniform, and giving his hair a good brush) then heads out to look for her, keeping to the outskirts of the plaza. Up close it's not... as bad, and she's right about the warmth. He still can't really trust it, though. Isn't this the Malnosso's doing? What if it's harmful to them? Just like during that holiday in October.]

[If the tree is in view, Asch might see Stella parting the leaves and coming out while staring up at the tree with admiration. The beauty of the land has always captivated Stella, so it's no wonder that she seems quite taken with the weeping willow. She's looking rather nice herself, with a pretty violet blouse and blue pants (PANTS, no dress!) along with the some of the pink leaves of the tree woven into her hair, which lacks its usual style. Instead, it's been done into a long braid. Gotta go with something different sometimes!

Once she turns and sees Asch, Stella seems to brighten up even more, and she leaves the tree alone in favor of jogging over to him. She's not sure whether it's because he's dressed up more than usual or if he's done something with his hair, but when she gets to him, she can't help but reach for his hand with her free hand and give him a glance over.]

Hello, Asch... You look very handsome today.

[Don't blush, don't blush, don't- oh, dammit. He shuffles a bit awkwardly, taking her hand and giving it a light squeeze. They're in public, so he's a little reluctant to be too physical, but he doesn't want to let her go or push her away, either.]

You're... looking pretty. [...Um. That sounds weird, coming from him.] You always do, though, so. [Wait, is that implying that she's just plain today?] ....I like your hair.

[...Probably safer.]

[Stella just grins from that, because his awkward shuffling is just kind of adorable to her. And... she's feeling a little over affectionate today; maybe it's the big decision she made, or the general atmosphere. But she still lets go of his hand in favor of resting her palm against his chest.]

Relax, all right? And thank you. [She glances to the side - it's odd not so see her hair in her usual style, so his compliment is appreciated.] I was hoping you'd like it... Ah, that's right!

[Now Stella finally reveals what's in her other hand - the fruit from the tree.]

I tried some of this earlier. Would you like some of it? It's really good!

[He eyes the fruit suspiciously, gaze shifting to the tree, the obvious source of the fruit. His eyes widen abruptly, snatching the fruit away from her.]

What!? You ate it!? Why the hell would you do that? It could be dangerous!

[Well, that makes her lean back a little bit, and she gives a helpless smile as well as a shrug.]

I couldn't help myself! And everyone else seemed to be just fine after eating them... And I feel all right. [And she obviously looks okay, if Asch didn't point out anything... hmm.]

[Asch does notice this; he stares at her for a long moment, baffled and concerned, before he turns his gaze downwards to the fruit he's now holding. Everyone has been eating these things? And they're okay? He's still suspicious, even with that lack of justification, but... he can't help but feel this strange urge to bite into it and try it for himself. ...Weird.

...And so annoying 8| Maybe he should just throw it away...]

You don't have to eat it if you don't want to, but...

[She takes his free hand in both of her own, brushing her thumb along the back of his hand.]

I was planning on taking you somewhere today, and I thought you might want something to eat along the way. Unless you're not hungry? [It's true, too; There is somewhere she'd like to take Asch. Relatively far away, too...]

[Her touch - and what she said - distracts him, and he blinks over at her, eyes widening a little.]

Where do you want to go? [Whether or not he's hungry, or even whether or not the fruit is dangerous, is suddenly very unimportant.]

[As bold as she feels thanks to being around the tree (or so she thinks), Stella finds Asch's hand much more interesting than looking at his face. She might even be blushing a little, too.]

The hot springs. It's a little far, I know... But it's important.

[Asch glances down at their hands, shifting his slightly to twine their fingers more closely together. He glances around briefly to see if anyone's actively watching them, then takes a step towards her, pressing his lips to her forehead.]

If it's important to you, then I'm fine with that. No matter where you want to go.

[Thanks to that kiss, Stella shuts her eyes and lets out a small sigh of relief and affection. That's step one over with. And unfortunately for her, that's the easiest step. Well. "Step two: Getting there" might be the easiest one, but still.]

Thank you. [She finally looks up at him-] Do you need time to get ready? Or... to get anything done?

[He pauses, peering once again down at the fruit, then away, cheeks reddening.]

If you want to stay here longer... [Rrgh. She just seems to really like this place...]

[Much as she likes this place... Stella would rather step forward with the plan before she stalls and then decides to back out of it. Feeling a spike of affection again, Stella lifts his hand to give a few of his fingers a kiss.]

Not especially. [Another kiss.] Let's go right now. [And with a glance up at him-] Just the two of us.

[...W-well. That made it pretty clear to him what she wants, yep. Asch absently tucks the fruit into his overcoat, nodding and stepping forward to leave the plaza, gently tugging her along with him. Just the two of them... he does like the sound of that. Not that they hadn't spent a fair amount of time alone already, but somehow this feels different.]

Are you going to tell me what's going on?

Maybe later.

[Which means that no, she's not going to tell him what's going on. Instead, she'll just step up to his side and rest her cheek against his shoulder as they walk. Also, a subject change:]

How long do you think that tree's been there?

[Normally the mystery would irritate him, but with her head on his shoulder he can't bring himself to let it bother him.]

It wasn't there yesterday- I would have noticed it from the house. Probably happened overnight.

[Guh. He is so lucky to live so close to the plaza, where everything is happening. She won't say this out loud, though; he might just get annoyed that she hadn't moved closer despite him telling her to be selfish about it.]

It's a shame... I would've liked to see it grow. [She turns her head a little to look up at him, though she doesn't lift it away from his shoulder.] I've always loved the sights and sounds of the land... It was considered strange back home.

There's nothing wrong with that. [His eyes shift slightly to meet hers, the connection brief before he again looks away shyly. He gives her hand a squeeze, though.] I prefer being outside, too- I used to spend too much time indoors.

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