heartofalioness | Empatheias IC Contact

[So. Awkward.]

Actually, there are quite a few cafes I like, so I'm not too particular. Perhaps the Bluebird Cafe?

[ SHUT UP, ALLURA. WEISS IS GOOD AT THIS!! ]

Alright. I'll be there, and I promise I won't leave you this time.

[ And just as she says that, Weiss prepares herself to leave. She's not going to be late for something like this, even if it will take Allura the whole day before she arrives. ]

[It's okay, Weiss, they can be socially inept white-haired princesses together!]

In that case I'll see you soon.

[And sure enough, it's only about half an hour tops before Allura walks up to the cafe, sporting one of her more casual walking dresses and with mice in tow, but the awkwardness from the call has at least been shrunk a bit.]

[ Weiss is wearing her usual lilac dress. Nothing special, as she doesn't want to take the attention off Allura. This is supposed to be an apology meeting!

Once she sees Allura, she waves at her, not saying her name until she gets much closer. Weiss is already seated in a two-seater table at the middle of the cafe. ]

I'm glad you came. Please, order anything you like.

[Ah, in that case she'll come right over and sit down.]

Thank you, that's quite kind. How have you been since--

Since. Since, um... [Oh quiznak, ten seconds in person and she's already shoving her foot in her mouth AGAIN. Here, Weiss, I hear steam goes quite well with tea and sandwiches.] How have you been?

[Smoooooooth.]

[ Weiss flashes Allura an uneasy smile. It's fine! They're both awkward right now! ]

Its, It's fine, really. I've been well.

[ She inches forward in her seat before placing one hand on top of the other on the flat of the table. ]

I just— when the blind dates happened, it was a little while after someone I was going out with went back to his world. The venue for the date we went to wasn't... helpful, either.

Oh. [The smile she gives is genuinely sad, but honestly also a bit relieved. But for now she'll focus on the comforting part.] I'm sorry, Weiss; I can't imagine someone disappearing I felt THAT way for, but I have had quite a few friends from mine and other worlds be sent back home.

[ She nods, acknowledging the apology. In truth, she should be the on apologising, so... ]

I've been here for almost a year now, and it's always unfortunate when a friend [ Yeah, she said the F-word. ] disappears. I thought I could get used to it, but the longer I stay here and the more people I met, it becomes more difficult.

I'm sorry for acting that way, though. And for not responding to your letter right away. I didn't want to, because I wanted to do it in person. It just took a while to figure out how to tell you all this.

I can imagine. [She takes a sip of her tea.] I am sorry that the timing was so poor, but I have to admit that it's a relief to hear that was the reason. I was already nervous about how this "blind date" thing would go, given it wasn't even my idea to sign up for it. And then it felt like I was saying or doing the wrong thing every ten seconds, and I had no idea WHAT about I was doing was wrong or how to stop. After you didn't respond to the letter... well, I thought that was that.

Again, I'm sorry you were going through a rough time, and I appreciate you telling me this now at least. Apology accepted.

[ OKAY! That's one hurdle down.

Now to... have an actual conversation! Dear god. ]

So, did you have other dates before or after ours? How were they?

Through the dating service, just one: I don't suppose you know a Bridge Nocturne?

[GOSH DARNIT, ALLURA, you're walking into it again!]

Bridge, I know him.

[ A beat. ]

Knew him, anyway. He's gone now, right?

Oh. I had no idea; I'm sorry, Weiss. He seemed like a very nice man.

He truly was nice, and very good with music, too.

[ It's nice to bond over music with someone. She doesn't get to do it that much. ]

He was. I am glad that I at least got to meet him before he left then.

[She's, uh... not going to ask if Weiss had any other dates, or if they were better, because she doesn't want to bring anymore unpleasant memories on accident. She's more than welcome to volunteer the info, though.]

[ The topic of people leaving seems to dampen Weiss' mood. She would give up at this point, but she's determined to amend things! She wants friends... :') ]

Do you know how to play any instruments, Allura?

Ah, actually no. Aside from the political and peacekeeping of ruling our planet, my father and our advisor were more scientists than musicians, so that's more what my extracurriculars centered around. [And who knows what her mother was like, or how long she was around in Allura's life.] I do enjoy listening to music, though.

[And she can sing a bit, not often and she's no Disney princess, but she can at least stay on-key.]

Do you play any instruments, Weiss?

[ Science, huh? That's interesting. Weiss has never imagined herself to be working with scientists or anything. . . even though the Schnee Dust Company hides scientific experiments underground and all. Thanks, dad! ]

I do. I learned how to play the piano when I was a child.

[ She smiles a little. Meanwhile, their orders arrive. ]

In my case, it was because I had to learn how to entertain people.

[Hooray, food! The mice especially begin poking out of the pouch on Allura's belt, hoping there might be something on Awesome Princess Friend's plate they can eat. Weiss might even see a tiny turquoise mouse climb up the princess and onto the edge of her table to inspect the yummy sandwich and salad.]

Entertain? Why so?

[ Weiss' eyes dart over to the mice, wincing a little, but she does her best to not look too uncomfortable. That's. . . not a sight you see everyday. ]

Because it's expected of a Schnee to excel in many things, art included. I had various recitals and performances all over Atlas to promote Schnee Dust Company events, amongst others.

[It's okay, Weiss, these mice are very hygienic! They're even friendly and smart, waving to the White Ponytail Friend!

Wait a second...]

Dust? Then... would you happen to be from the same world as Yang Xiao Long and Ruby Rose?

[Huh, all this time and she never knew.]

[ MICE DO NOT BELONG ON THE TABLE!! ]

Oh, you know them? [ Somehow, she shouldn't be surprised, but she is! She laughs a little. ] They're my teammates from when we were in school.

Ah, I see. [She giggles a bit.] Yes, the two of them and I have been friends almost as long as I've been here it seems. As a matter of fact, my advertisement for the blind date happened to be written in orange ink with space puns.

. . . Yang.

[ Can you sense her irritation? ]

She was the one who signed me up for it, too.

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