synflux | ( OPEN ) SEPTEMBER CATCH ALL

Ah, so we're similar!

(He says it not out of pity but just because... it is the truth. They've both been unable to experience these things directly. Though, he supposes he was much closer to them than her but he won't bring it up. He can tell how hard she's trying to convince him and though he is not really convinced, he'll pretend it.)

Mhm. I've been dressed up and on dates before but this is different.

(And he'll step back and hold out his hands as if to showcase... Ereshkigal herself.)

We'll make you the life of the ball.

(A beat,)

... I can say that, right?

[ Ah. It's so sweet of him. She doesn't believe it possible for her to be the life of anything, but to have his vote of confidence is enough to make her happy. ]

Y-yes, of course. [She nods and points a finger at him.] And you its beating heart!

[ Which means - besides looking for her dress - they must also look for his attire! It's a very special gala for him too and she wants for him to have a wonderful time at it. ]

I'll admit I'm a bit anxious... [What if everyone speaks to her because they're too good at making her the life of the ball? What if no one speaks to her because no dressing up will ever make her any less gloomy and unlikeable? Both possibilities are truly dreadful.] But I need to combat the anxiety or I'll never experience anything new.

[ She closes her eyes and claps excitedly for a few seconds. Before turning to the holo-catalog that's on her study. ]

Now to find the perfect attires for the two of us!

(Being the overdramatic spirit he is, he raises a hand to his heart and bows. Yes, he'll happily be the beating heart!!)

It's natural to be nervous before a formal.

(And let's settle in to look at these catalogs.)

Do you have any ideas, Erechan?

[ Ehehe, he is so cute! She is truly fortunate to have such a precious, wonderful friend. Once he's settled in, she browses through the virtual pages of the catalog and stops on long, flowy red dresses. ]

I was thinking about a red dress... [She marks a pause.] Something elegant but not too daring.

[ The problem? So many of these are too daring! She could never, she doesn't have the confidence just yet... ]

It's a formal ball.

(He taps a star icon on the red dress image to save for later.)

You only get to dress like this so many times in a lifetime. You should go all out.

(And he flips to another page. This one is a black dress and it's a little more conservative with longer sleeves and high collar but still shows shoulders and has a form shaping fit.)

But it's most important to be comfortable. That and confidence are the greatest fashion statement of all.

Confidence... [A pause.] You know I'm severely lacking that.

[ That feels weird... She's never said that to anyone before. Sure, it's painfully obvious that she lacks confidence. And she often speaks about trying to find ways to boost her self-esteem. But outright admitting her confidence is non-existent? Tsuru is possibly the first person to hear her admit it, especially so casually. ]

"Fake it till you make it." If I go with the spirit, I may be able to make it.

[ She looks at Tsuru with determination. ]

And the dress you'll pick will help with that!

Lacking doesn't mean you don't have it. (He says so casually, like it's as obvious as the sun rising and the sky being blue. ) Like a small seed, it can grow.

It just needs a little bit of care.

(And he smiles, nothing but reassurance and full confidence in her.)

Like a good look!

(Another star for this design... and switching to a dark wine red cocktail dress with ruffles and black lace for extra volume. )

I think red would be good. What do you think?

[ Ah, he's so sure about this. His trust in her is so absolute... She can't disappoint him! ]

Mhm!

[ She looks at the dress... Oh wow. That's a really good dress. He got a great eye for these things, as expected. ]

It's so pretty... B-But maybe too daring. [She smiles and ponders a moment.] It needs be longer if I go with lace.

[ Everything needs to be balanced. If she has so abundant and pretty lace, then she can't show her legs! It's one or the other. ]

(He listens to her request and makes a note of it. So this one is no good so he swaps to another one, and another, and another... he skips a few that are definitely too short and a few others that are too tight or revealing in different ways.

There are others that are much more modest but he skips those, too. Too boring. Not the right color. The wrong shape...

And he stops on one dress.)

What if it's long in the back?

[ Oh no, it looks so good. She can already imagine herself wearing it and twirling around like the princesses in the books. ]

Aaah... [She can hesitate and lie, but the look on her face doesn't lie.] D-Do you think this would be alright? People wouldn't judge me for being that daring?

[ That's the only thing stopping her! ]

(She wears her emotions on her face so easily and it's really endearing.)

I don't think they'll judge you at all, Erechan. I think they'll be totally surprised! In a good way.

(He'll drag the holographic screen in the air so it hovers next to her. The color looks good. It suits her well and he thinks this will be a good look.)

Trust me. I know style.

[ He sounds confident about it... Much more than she is. Well, she can trust his judgement, right? Even if she's unsure, all she has to do is believe him. ]

I-I think I'll go with it then! [She looks so excited, it's like she's a flea about to leap.] Thank you Tsururu!

[ She (very briefly) gives him a side hug. Unfortunately she's neither drunk nor emotionally compromised, that's the best she dares to do when she's normal. ]

Y-You don't mind me calling you Tsururu? I found it has a nice ring to it.

You're welcome, Erechan.

(Ah, he wasn't expecting that at all but he leans into it all the same. He'll even give her a pat on the head. Is it appropriate to pet a goddess? Especially without a good reason? Hm. Well, he's doing it.)

Of course it's fine. (And he grins,) Like you said, it has a good ring to it. Tsururu and Erechan. We sound like a dynamic duo that way, don't you think?

[ He's allowed. He's one of the few people who what pat her head and she won't protest. ]

Right!

[ She claps excitedly and goes back to the holo-catalog, switching pages. ]

Now we need to find something for you! [Something that'll make him shine brightly amongst all others!] We'll be the shining stars of this gala!

(#Blessed by a death.

It's back to the catalogs for the two of them. This time, he flips through a few screens that clearly don't interest him before pausing at a section with suits and other western attire, )

This sort of fashion is popular these days.

(He's observant of the trends,)

It's different from what I'm used to. What do you think? Should I try something trendy and new? Or act my age?

(Wear something more traditional....)

You should... [A dramatic pause-] Do what's fun!

[ Isn't that the obvious answer? Who cares how old he is! ]

I am much older than you, and yet you still encouraged me to wear this daring dress. [Sorry Tsururu, you're kind of a baby on the time scale compared to her.] If you want to wear something trendy and new, you absolutely should do it. Of course, if you'd rather wear something traditional it's fine too.

[ On a personal level she thinks suits are a very good look... But he should go with what he likes most! ]

Which do you like most?

Ehhh, I always forget how old you are, Erechan.

(It's a compliment, really. Don't most women want to be thought of as younger than they really are? At least, that's what he's observed in the past.)

Something easy to move in.

(Which means he swipes to the next screen because the designs on the previous one seemed a little too formfitting for his taste. He's always had a sense of fashion but he's also always leaned more on the comfortable and looser side of things. Maybe it's because he's such a twig...... he needs to make himself look bigger.)

It's a ball so if you aren't going to dance, you might as well not even go.

[ Ah, she's so happy to hear him say. He's totally right, may are the women who want to be thought of as younger, especially that goddess. ]

Right!

[ Ehehe, something more comfy to dance in then it is. She looks at his selection... Mhm. ]

Color coordination is important too. I think white with gold outlines really suits you... [A pause.] But maybe going for something different could be fun too. What if you went with black and metallic blue?

[ Most people wouldn't even recognize him! ]

Something like an azure magpie?

(A clever bird known for swooping and causing trouble like most magpies.)

Mhm, everyone would be surprised to see me. I don't think the Clown Prince would recognize me at all!

(The clown prince... Callisto.)

An azure magpie?

[ S-She has no idea what this is! Is that a sort of cake? Please forgive her, she'd never even seen birds until fairly recently! And it's not one she's read about in any of her books about the human world... ]

Ehehe, everyone would wonder "who is this mysterious handsome young man?"

[ Tuxedo Tsuru!! Okay maybe he's not wearing a literal Tuxedo, but that's the vibe it's giving. ]

I didn't know you'd met Callisto.

( OPEN ) SEPTEMBER CATCH ALL

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject