[ Lune feels uncharacteristically nervous as she approaches the address in Sciel's instructions, but maybe also... slightly anticipatory? In a good way. Maybe this could be a nice night, a chance to meet someone and see if there is anything there. Maybe she does need to look beyond work and duty and tend to her own self, something that has always gone neglected for most of her life. What's one small life in comparison to many, an entire civilization, after all?
Maybe she's getting ahead of herself. Maybe they won't get on at all with this mystery person. Still, Lune makes an effort, like she promised Sciel she would. She puts up her hair and slips on some earrings, does her make-up; a nice red lip and neat eyeliner. She picks a black dress of some soft material that has a bit of a sheen to it, nothing too outrageous— long sleeves and modest neckline, but the back plunges a little and there's a slit on one side up to the knee. Winter is so inconvenient to someone who hates wearing shoes, but she dons stockings and heeled booties with only minute annoyance against the chill. On impulse, she breaks off one of the flowers from Gustave's bouquet and tucks it into her up-do before slipping on her wool coat.
She does think it's a bit strange that there was nobody at the apartment when she leaves, but she doesn't dwell on it further.
Stepping into the near-deserted restaurant only to come face to face with Gustave has her frowning slightly in puzzlement. This is a coincidence. ]
Gustave? No, actually I was supposed to meet...
[ She trails off slowly, confusion giving way to a jumble of mixed emotion, something chagrined rising above the rest as the pieces begin to suddenly fall into place.
Oh. Oh, Sciel. You didn't. ]
You wouldn't be here because Sciel set you up with a blind date, would you?
[ There's one long blissful moment before the penny drops, while Gustave gives her an admiring look — she looks nice, he can't remember the last time he saw Lune dressed up like this — that's also a little sympathetic. Another of Sciel's victims. ]
You, too, huh?
[ He wonders idly who the intended person might be and why Sciel had chosen them, more curious about who Lune might be meeting that who he—
Wait.
Realization trickles down the back of his neck like cold water, and his expression shifts into something wide-eyed with surprise, followed by an instant internal cringe of awkwardness. ]
Uh— wait, am I — I mean, are we supposed to, uh...
[ You, too, huh? Lune's rouged lips press briefly into a line, torn between dry amusement and resignation when the implication of what's happening seems to sail right over Gustave's head.
Typical, really.
Something more sympathetic crosses her expression when he seems to finally catch on and proceeds right into floundering helplessly. Also, typical. Lune exhales a gusty breath, shrugging her shoulders as she glances around the otherwise empty restaurant, an errant bot scuttling here and there. ]
Well, let's say I don't entirely believe it's a coincidence we're both here at the same time, in this otherwise empty restaurant for a blind date set up by Sciel. So...
[ The shock is immense. Of all the people Sciel could have sent...
What was she thinking? They're friends and teammates, they live together, work together, fight together. Introducing an element as volatile as romance into the mix, especially unexpectedly, threatens the whole dynamic. And whatever Sophie had teased him about...
Ah. A second dull explosion or realization. He could groan in exasperation, if Lune weren't standing right there. He never should have told Sciel about that.
But here they are, and his choice is either to continue on as planned or risk hurting a dear friend — who, it seems, is just as startled as him. His stomach is a roil of knots, twisting and tightening. She looks nice, all dressed up and ready for an evening out. It should be normal enough, right? A dinner. A dinner with Lune.
...A dinner with all the expectations of a date layered over the top of it. He wants to go outside quickly and stick his head in a snow bank.
Instead, he takes a deep breath and exhales it out again, offering the flower with a little pang of chagrin. This all feels a thousand times more awkward than he'd feared it might be, but at least Lune knows who she's dealing with. ]
Well, you can add this to your collection from this morning, then.
[ Gustave's reining in his dismay admirably enough, but it's clear to Lune he's far from enthused about this turn of events. Would he have been more or less so if he had been meeting with a total stranger? Now that she's had a moment to process and get over her surprise, she doesn't find the prospect of a date so unimaginably terrible, but she knows they're not on a same page, here. It's fine, though. An evening out with a friend would be just a nice.
She gives a small smile in spite of everything as she accepts the flower he offers. ]
Right. They were lovely, by the way— the flowers. Thank you.
[ Holding the flower carefully in both hands, fingers slowly rotating the stem, she gives Gustave a look; somewhere between understanding and expectant. ]
Look, it's just dinner. We've had dinner before. This won't be any different. Everyone needs to eat. [ Right? Right. ] But— if you'd rather not, I'm not going to hold it against you.
[ If he really is uncomfortable with this, then Sciel would just have to deal with it. Lune's lips curve as a fuller smile begins to creep across her mouth. ]
That said... I am curious to see whatever insanity Sciel's dreamed up for us for after dinner entertainment. Aren't you?
[ He'd enjoyed picking out flowers for all of them, along with a fresh treat or two, writing little heartfelt notes. Would Lune's have been different if he'd known then what the evening would hold?
That understanding in her glance makes something in his gut wriggle anxiously. He's never been the best at swallowing his knee-jerk reactions, and it's clear Lune has picked up on just how uncomfortable he really is, which only makes him feel worse. It's not that he doesn't enjoy her company, but... he'd just never thought...
Well. All that can wait. It's just dinner, she points out, and he gives a faintly wan smile in response. Is it? Then why are they both dressed up, why is this restaurant empty, why was Sciel so smugly pleased with herself, like a cat licking cream from its whiskers? ]
Right.
[ Maybe, if he'd asked Lune here himself, found some way to come around to thinking of this evening differently, he'd tease a little, point out that it's probably for the best that it's just dinner because he's not sure he knows what to do on a date anymore. But he's still on the back foot, so he lets dusty memory take over instead, shaking his head at her offer to let him off the hook — surely that would be even more awkward? — and offers her the crook of his arm, instead, his own smile warming, even if it's still a little wry. ]
No, no. We got all dressed up, and I'm sure the food is good here. I'm ready to enjoy it if you are... and I'm curious what Sciel had planned for later. She certainly seemed pleased about it.
[ Lune still isn't convinced he isn't going along with this just to appease and avoid hurting her — unnecessarily — but she isn't going to argue it. She is hungry, and yes, it would be a shame to have gotten dolled up for nothing. So, she smiles easily and slips her hand into the crook of his arm, so gallantly offered. She has half a mind to joke, to say he shouldn't worry since she wouldn't know what a date looks like anyway, never having been on one, but perhaps the less the D word is mentioned, the better. ]
I was too antsy to really eat lunch, so I'm definitely ready.
[ Facing down rampaging Nevrons seemed less daunting than the thought of a date with someone she'd potentially never met before. Small talk is not her forte and no Pictos she has helps there. At the mention of Sciel, Lune scoffs, but there's fondness buried right beneath the surface. ]
Oh, I'm sure she was. Well, we can plot our retaliation while we eat, hm?
[ Antsy and anxious, and still smarting from the unexpected rawness of his talk with Sophie. He's still not sure he should have said anything; what would it help?
But he had, and he feels it like a wound scrubbed free of a scab, sore and red.
Maybe not so surprising that Lune was worried, too. Like him, she'd spent their last few years in Lumiere training and working and researching, with no time for anything else. She'd had her parents' legacy to uphold, all their expectations slung over her slim shoulders. He's sure there were plenty of people who would have loved to take her out to dinner, but she simply never had time.
Well, they have time now, no matter what else might happen. A bot guides them to a table — lit candles and a small bud vase for Lune's flower, a nice touch. Gustave pulls out a chair for her and politely helps her sit, then goes around to his own seat with a small laugh. ]
Sure. But you know Sciel... she'll just be delighted that we dreamed something up together. Retaliation doesn't stick to her.
[ Lune murmurs her thanks as she takes a seat, placing the flower carefully into the convenient little vase on the table. She breathes a little hum at Gustave's response, something amused in the small sound. ]
Yeah. I know.
[ And in spite of having been nervous and anxious all day about this blind date Sciel had thrown at her out of the blue, her mouth still slants into a fond smile. She points a finger in somewhat playful emphasis. ]
But it's the principle that matters.
[ She spares a second to glance about. The setting is... well, it's what one might expect from a supposedly romantic encounter, Lune guesses. Low lights, candles. Privacy— it is strange that there seems to be virtually nobody else there, but Lune isn't certain whether that's more of Sciel's handiwork or just a consequence of Etraya's low population.
She looks back at Gustave with a somewhat rueful expression. ]
Is it bad to say I'm a little relieved? I spent all afternoon thinking about what to talk about. I was instructed not to talk about work, you see.
[ He's laughing, lifting his hands to stop her. It helps; the tension is already bleeding from his shoulders, no longer tightening the corners of his eyes. ]
Don't look at me for that. If we start talking about work or projects, Sciel will know, and she'll punish us.
[ Or she'll give them disappointed looks with those big eyes of hers. Honestly, she can be worse than Maelle. ]
Come on. Between the two of us, we can manage a conversation about other things, right? Like at that ball, back on Pollux.
[ It had been so much fun, it turned out, to glide around the dance floor with Lune, talking idly about all sorts of things unrelated to their projects, the Expedition, or the mission at hand. ]
Let's order some wine, that'll help. And some appetizers... you must be hungry, if you skipped lunch. Do you think they have oysters here?
[ The counter is laced with good humor, though, given mostly due her penchant to be argumentative to some degree. Lune knows better than to underestimate Sciel. She smiles earnestly when Gustave brings up the ball, recalling fondly their dance and time spent exploring the planet sating their curiosity. ]
Mm. That was nice. I suppose we can manage that again.
[ Lightning can indeed strike twice, after all— many times, in fact, if Lune has anything to do with it. Gustave's laughter and improved mood influence hers, her shoulders loosening. She leans back in her chair with a laugh of her own at the question, a grin of amusement lingering on her lips. ]
We should check, but we absolutely cannot tell Sciel about it— those are said to be aphrodisiac, you know.
[ Oysters, that is. Her expression scrunches and her head tips to the side. ]
Where do you think that comes from, anyway? I can hardly think of less... attractive a dish.
[ He's about to open the menu and look when Lune says that, and his whole face scrunches up in a wince, a quick flush warming his cheeks. ]
Lune...
[ Deeply chagrined, and faintly flustered in a way he doesn't think he'd be if this dinner hadn't been predicated as something more... intimate than usual. He's not sure he's ready to see Lune in a new light, as something other than his teammate and friend. He is sure that it's about a thousand times more awkward than usual to be talking about aphrodisiacs right now, even as a joke.
Cheeks still a little pink, he opens the menu and gives her a wry look, then retreats to the list of appetizers and — oh, good, there's the wine. ]
I have no idea, but Sciel definitely can't know. Not that I think she'll be content to give either of us any peace after this.
[ Clearly she's decided this is something that ought to happen, whatever Gustave and Lune themselves might think about it. Of course, he's aware that he doesn't know what Lune thinks about it, which only makes that anxious knot in his gut tie itself tighter. Does Sciel know something he doesn't? Does he want to know, if so?
He does gamely make an attempt to join the teasing, even if it's mostly to be amused at Sciel's machinations. ]
I'm not sure she'd believe us if we said we were just missing Lumiere's fresh seafood.
[ Lune breathes a small chuckle, but the smile touching her lips afterward is somewhat apologetic, sorry to have flustered Gustave unintentionally. She didn't think he was quite that uncomfortable, but maybe it was too much too soon. ]
True. But, what Sciel doesn't know, she can't use to torment us with. She may have a knack for a bit of prediction, but she can't read minds.
[ Just don't tell Sciel she said that! Following suit and cracking open her own menu, Lune traces the items listed upon the pages with a faint hum, her train of thought taking an entirely different track. ]
You know, it's still strange to have this kind of abundance here. Not just food, but all the stuff, everywhere. If we'd had even half of these resources in Lumière... imagine the things we could have achieved.
[ To better life for everyone. They'd seen times of scarcity in Lumière, at times needing to resort to rationing things — at least until their ingenuity bore fruit with different outdome projects and aquafarms, among others. They really were resourceful, for a relatively small community with limited resources and space. ]
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no subject
Maybe she's getting ahead of herself. Maybe they won't get on at all with this mystery person. Still, Lune makes an effort, like she promised Sciel she would. She puts up her hair and slips on some earrings, does her make-up; a nice red lip and neat eyeliner. She picks a black dress of some soft material that has a bit of a sheen to it, nothing too outrageous— long sleeves and modest neckline, but the back plunges a little and there's a slit on one side up to the knee. Winter is so inconvenient to someone who hates wearing shoes, but she dons stockings and heeled booties with only minute annoyance against the chill. On impulse, she breaks off one of the flowers from Gustave's bouquet and tucks it into her up-do before slipping on her wool coat.
She does think it's a bit strange that there was nobody at the apartment when she leaves, but she doesn't dwell on it further.
Stepping into the near-deserted restaurant only to come face to face with Gustave has her frowning slightly in puzzlement. This is a coincidence. ]
Gustave? No, actually I was supposed to meet...
[ She trails off slowly, confusion giving way to a jumble of mixed emotion, something chagrined rising above the rest as the pieces begin to suddenly fall into place.
Oh. Oh, Sciel. You didn't. ]
You wouldn't be here because Sciel set you up with a blind date, would you?
no subject
You, too, huh?
[ He wonders idly who the intended person might be and why Sciel had chosen them, more curious about who Lune might be meeting that who he—
Wait.
Realization trickles down the back of his neck like cold water, and his expression shifts into something wide-eyed with surprise, followed by an instant internal cringe of awkwardness. ]
Uh— wait, am I — I mean, are we supposed to, uh...
[ Help??? ]
no subject
Typical, really.
Something more sympathetic crosses her expression when he seems to finally catch on and proceeds right into floundering helplessly. Also, typical. Lune exhales a gusty breath, shrugging her shoulders as she glances around the otherwise empty restaurant, an errant bot scuttling here and there. ]
Well, let's say I don't entirely believe it's a coincidence we're both here at the same time, in this otherwise empty restaurant for a blind date set up by Sciel. So...
[ Yeah. ]
no subject
What was she thinking? They're friends and teammates, they live together, work together, fight together. Introducing an element as volatile as romance into the mix, especially unexpectedly, threatens the whole dynamic. And whatever Sophie had teased him about...
Ah. A second dull explosion or realization. He could groan in exasperation, if Lune weren't standing right there. He never should have told Sciel about that.
But here they are, and his choice is either to continue on as planned or risk hurting a dear friend — who, it seems, is just as startled as him. His stomach is a roil of knots, twisting and tightening. She looks nice, all dressed up and ready for an evening out. It should be normal enough, right? A dinner. A dinner with Lune.
...A dinner with all the expectations of a date layered over the top of it. He wants to go outside quickly and stick his head in a snow bank.
Instead, he takes a deep breath and exhales it out again, offering the flower with a little pang of chagrin. This all feels a thousand times more awkward than he'd feared it might be, but at least Lune knows who she's dealing with. ]
Well, you can add this to your collection from this morning, then.
no subject
She gives a small smile in spite of everything as she accepts the flower he offers. ]
Right. They were lovely, by the way— the flowers. Thank you.
[ Holding the flower carefully in both hands, fingers slowly rotating the stem, she gives Gustave a look; somewhere between understanding and expectant. ]
Look, it's just dinner. We've had dinner before. This won't be any different. Everyone needs to eat. [ Right? Right. ] But— if you'd rather not, I'm not going to hold it against you.
[ If he really is uncomfortable with this, then Sciel would just have to deal with it. Lune's lips curve as a fuller smile begins to creep across her mouth. ]
That said... I am curious to see whatever insanity Sciel's dreamed up for us for after dinner entertainment. Aren't you?
no subject
[ He'd enjoyed picking out flowers for all of them, along with a fresh treat or two, writing little heartfelt notes. Would Lune's have been different if he'd known then what the evening would hold?
That understanding in her glance makes something in his gut wriggle anxiously. He's never been the best at swallowing his knee-jerk reactions, and it's clear Lune has picked up on just how uncomfortable he really is, which only makes him feel worse. It's not that he doesn't enjoy her company, but... he'd just never thought...
Well. All that can wait. It's just dinner, she points out, and he gives a faintly wan smile in response. Is it? Then why are they both dressed up, why is this restaurant empty, why was Sciel so smugly pleased with herself, like a cat licking cream from its whiskers? ]
Right.
[ Maybe, if he'd asked Lune here himself, found some way to come around to thinking of this evening differently, he'd tease a little, point out that it's probably for the best that it's just dinner because he's not sure he knows what to do on a date anymore. But he's still on the back foot, so he lets dusty memory take over instead, shaking his head at her offer to let him off the hook — surely that would be even more awkward? — and offers her the crook of his arm, instead, his own smile warming, even if it's still a little wry. ]
No, no. We got all dressed up, and I'm sure the food is good here. I'm ready to enjoy it if you are... and I'm curious what Sciel had planned for later. She certainly seemed pleased about it.
no subject
I was too antsy to really eat lunch, so I'm definitely ready.
[ Facing down rampaging Nevrons seemed less daunting than the thought of a date with someone she'd potentially never met before. Small talk is not her forte and no Pictos she has helps there. At the mention of Sciel, Lune scoffs, but there's fondness buried right beneath the surface. ]
Oh, I'm sure she was. Well, we can plot our retaliation while we eat, hm?
no subject
[ Antsy and anxious, and still smarting from the unexpected rawness of his talk with Sophie. He's still not sure he should have said anything; what would it help?
But he had, and he feels it like a wound scrubbed free of a scab, sore and red.
Maybe not so surprising that Lune was worried, too. Like him, she'd spent their last few years in Lumiere training and working and researching, with no time for anything else. She'd had her parents' legacy to uphold, all their expectations slung over her slim shoulders. He's sure there were plenty of people who would have loved to take her out to dinner, but she simply never had time.
Well, they have time now, no matter what else might happen. A bot guides them to a table — lit candles and a small bud vase for Lune's flower, a nice touch. Gustave pulls out a chair for her and politely helps her sit, then goes around to his own seat with a small laugh. ]
Sure. But you know Sciel... she'll just be delighted that we dreamed something up together. Retaliation doesn't stick to her.
no subject
Yeah. I know.
[ And in spite of having been nervous and anxious all day about this blind date Sciel had thrown at her out of the blue, her mouth still slants into a fond smile. She points a finger in somewhat playful emphasis. ]
But it's the principle that matters.
[ She spares a second to glance about. The setting is... well, it's what one might expect from a supposedly romantic encounter, Lune guesses. Low lights, candles. Privacy— it is strange that there seems to be virtually nobody else there, but Lune isn't certain whether that's more of Sciel's handiwork or just a consequence of Etraya's low population.
She looks back at Gustave with a somewhat rueful expression. ]
Is it bad to say I'm a little relieved? I spent all afternoon thinking about what to talk about. I was instructed not to talk about work, you see.
no subject
[ He's laughing, lifting his hands to stop her. It helps; the tension is already bleeding from his shoulders, no longer tightening the corners of his eyes. ]
Don't look at me for that. If we start talking about work or projects, Sciel will know, and she'll punish us.
[ Or she'll give them disappointed looks with those big eyes of hers. Honestly, she can be worse than Maelle. ]
Come on. Between the two of us, we can manage a conversation about other things, right? Like at that ball, back on Pollux.
[ It had been so much fun, it turned out, to glide around the dance floor with Lune, talking idly about all sorts of things unrelated to their projects, the Expedition, or the mission at hand. ]
Let's order some wine, that'll help. And some appetizers... you must be hungry, if you skipped lunch. Do you think they have oysters here?
no subject
[ The counter is laced with good humor, though, given mostly due her penchant to be argumentative to some degree. Lune knows better than to underestimate Sciel. She smiles earnestly when Gustave brings up the ball, recalling fondly their dance and time spent exploring the planet sating their curiosity. ]
Mm. That was nice. I suppose we can manage that again.
[ Lightning can indeed strike twice, after all— many times, in fact, if Lune has anything to do with it. Gustave's laughter and improved mood influence hers, her shoulders loosening. She leans back in her chair with a laugh of her own at the question, a grin of amusement lingering on her lips. ]
We should check, but we absolutely cannot tell Sciel about it— those are said to be aphrodisiac, you know.
[ Oysters, that is. Her expression scrunches and her head tips to the side. ]
Where do you think that comes from, anyway? I can hardly think of less... attractive a dish.
no subject
Lune...
[ Deeply chagrined, and faintly flustered in a way he doesn't think he'd be if this dinner hadn't been predicated as something more... intimate than usual. He's not sure he's ready to see Lune in a new light, as something other than his teammate and friend. He is sure that it's about a thousand times more awkward than usual to be talking about aphrodisiacs right now, even as a joke.
Cheeks still a little pink, he opens the menu and gives her a wry look, then retreats to the list of appetizers and — oh, good, there's the wine. ]
I have no idea, but Sciel definitely can't know. Not that I think she'll be content to give either of us any peace after this.
[ Clearly she's decided this is something that ought to happen, whatever Gustave and Lune themselves might think about it. Of course, he's aware that he doesn't know what Lune thinks about it, which only makes that anxious knot in his gut tie itself tighter. Does Sciel know something he doesn't? Does he want to know, if so?
He does gamely make an attempt to join the teasing, even if it's mostly to be amused at Sciel's machinations. ]
I'm not sure she'd believe us if we said we were just missing Lumiere's fresh seafood.
no subject
True. But, what Sciel doesn't know, she can't use to torment us with. She may have a knack for a bit of prediction, but she can't read minds.
[ Just don't tell Sciel she said that! Following suit and cracking open her own menu, Lune traces the items listed upon the pages with a faint hum, her train of thought taking an entirely different track. ]
You know, it's still strange to have this kind of abundance here. Not just food, but all the stuff, everywhere. If we'd had even half of these resources in Lumière... imagine the things we could have achieved.
[ To better life for everyone. They'd seen times of scarcity in Lumière, at times needing to resort to rationing things — at least until their ingenuity bore fruit with different outdome projects and aquafarms, among others. They really were resourceful, for a relatively small community with limited resources and space. ]