week four | dates

[showhost]

You worked up your courage and asked someone out on a date! Good job!





Now you have to hope the producers are kind re: where they send you.

Comments

[makeine]

Will-kun. I'm gonna teach you something very, very important.

[ another king lesson...?

she'll rest her cheek against the back of his hand, smiling sweetly. ]

Always assume you can do something. You can't show weakness or hesitation, no matter how justified -- they won't question you as long as you strike first that way. [ this is actually useful. the follow up, not so much. ] So, we'll assume a higher end piece... and if we can't afford it, I'll say that it isn't something I'm totally in love with and ask if there isn't anything else they can offer on a simpler scale. The more gems there are, the bigger the number.

[willandaway]

[he is following along with her until the second part, which has him pause. but it's not like he's good at haggling, anyway. . . he only achieved lower prices at the local smithies because of his connections with others, who haggled on his behalf]

I think something simpler would suit you well, anyway. Erm-- not because of price! But because. . .

[a beat]

. . . it'd make you look pretty. . .

[makeine]

[ hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

oh, she's got it! ]

And really enhance my natural beauty! You're so right, Will-kun -- I guess you've got an eye for these things after all. ♪

[ safe ]

Okay, then I'll leave it to you. Whatever you wanna see on me, I'll try!

[willandaway]

[THAT IS GENUINELY WHAT HE MEANT, SO. GOOD!!!]

[with a small smile, Will turns his attention back to the display cases. he doesn't really have an eye for jewelry, despite what Anna says, but that's okay. he's gonna choose based on ~vibes~]

[and those vibes have him stopping in front of this piece]

How do you feel about butterflies, Anna?

[makeine]

[ beautiful bugs that can die in a single hit so honestly they're not that impressive and are kind of basic as far as designs go because they're so easy to draw and stitch into clothing every girl had a butterfly phase be it literal or figurative except her who's always been the prettiest thing since the day she was born not unlike a flower

anyway. ]

They're cute. Do you like them, Will-kun?

[willandaway]

[GIRL. SPEAK YOUR MIND]

I don't have strong feelings about them either way. I just like the colors.

[such a pretty array of blues. . . as always, that color reminds him deeply of her]

[makeine]

[ no ]

Huh. Okay.

[ kind of expected him to feel some type of way, since he pointed it out... ]

I kinda want something that'll remind people of you though, Will-kun. Since I'm yours.

[willandaway]

[GIRL!!!]

[but no, he just thought it was pretty. no particular attachment to blue butterflies! he isn't a Persona character!!]

[he turns a little pink when she says I'm yours, head bowing, smile soft and a bit sheepish. but. . . he must admit, he likes hearing that from her. I'm yours]

Um. . . then, what about. . .

[drifting to the side a bit to tap the glass over this piece next]

[makeine]

[ oh... like his eyes, her favorite colors... ]

Oh, that's pretty. Can I try it on?

[ of!!! course!!! the salesperson carefully lifts the necklace, thinking for a moment before handing it off to will. trust the process. ]

[willandaway]

[oh my god]

[Will takes the necklace with all of the delicacy of someone who has never handled something this expensive before. he stares at it, wide-eyed and almost panicked, before clearing his throat and turning towards Anna]

Well. . . [ahem] This is. . . for you.

[makeine]

[ ...

anna gives their poor helper a look of "i know. i know." before she turns around and pulls her hair aside. she'll give him a hand. ]

Put it on for me?

[willandaway]

[flushes a deep red, before he nods, stretching his arms across her shoulders so he can gently lay the necklace against her neck]

[. . .]

[if his fingers brush against her skin as he moves to clasp the jewelry in place, well. don't worry about it]

[makeine]

[ she won't worry about it if he doesn't worry about the way she shivers at the touch, or the pink in her cheeks as she turns to face him again. ]

Well? Does it suit me?

[ trying sooooo hard not to play with it... just resting her navy nails by it. matchy with her outfit, you see. ]

[willandaway]

[wauuuugh he was riiiiight a simple piece really does make her look soooooo pretttyyyyyyy]

[. . . exhales]

Yes. It suits you really well.

. . . you look beautiful.

[she is without it, but! he won't deny that it enhances her natural beauty so much!]

[makeine]

Then we'll take it. Will-kun, if you would?

[ heehee. while she fiddles with it now, grinning widely. ]

[willandaway]

Ah-- right.

[he smiles at her, bright and happy, before pulling out the currency (IT'S STILL WEIRD CURRENCY, WHY IS IT PAPER, WHERE ARE THE COINS) given to them to properly pay for the item]

[and, while he is paying--]

Thank you for selling this to us.

[because?? they're commoners?? and back home, this kind of thing is reserved for the nobility only]

[makeine]

[ .............................

oh.............. my god............................

she's smiling, but she wants to sink into the ground a bit. the salesperson blinks, but... takes the money, yes... you're welcome.

... thanking her stars that most cashiers and the like meet all kinds of odd people, will shouldn't stand out past a story to another coworker...

no. anna's going to look at the engagement rings while this goes down. get your receipt honey don't be drawn in by talks of memberships and the deals regulars get offered for joining. ]

[willandaway]

[I'M]

[I'm so sorry but Will is still a little gullible. he is offered a BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF deal, and although they definitely have not been given enough currency for it, he is. . . still considering it??]

Hey-- Anna, if we get another piece it'll only be half-price. . .!

[save him]

[makeine]

[ a sigh. she stares very, very hard at one ring in particular, heart yearning, before she takes will's hand. ]

Sorry, but that's all we were looking for today. We've got a couple years before he's shopping for a ring to propose with, after all.

[ and it'll be something far simpler, anyway... which suits him, which she'll love. ]

Thanks for your help. [ that's normal, will. ] C'mon loverboy -- before you saddle us with debt.

[willandaway]

Oh--

[he gives an apologetic look to the attendants, before allowing himself to be (blessedly) dragged away by Anna. thank you for saving him from trying to buy something he can't afford]

I wouldn't go into debt. . .

[how would u pay for it, boy]

[makeine]

You're pretty enough to work it off, but I'm not gonna let you.

[ don't worry about it. she squeezes his hand, then readjusts so she's holding onto his arm too. ]

... This is enough anyway. You can get me something when we hit half a year together, if you really want.

[willandaway]

[and out of the jewelry shop they go! I'm saying the store was located in a nice high-end shopping market, because Cal can't stop me. in case Anna wants to buy him a better outfit]

Half a year. . . [. . . firm nod!] All right. After six months, I'll remember.

[to get her another pretty necklace. or maybe a bracelet? it'll still be too early for a ring, he thinks. . . that's okay. that one is going to be a few years down the line; he knows it]

[makeine]

[ do they have the money for it. no. is this going to stop her from dressing him up like her own personal ken doll. also no.

anna's keeping her eye out for any interesting menswear shops she wants to check out anyway. maybe the crew'll pity her and her fashionless boyfriend and grant her enough for an outfit. ]

... Your six months are gonna be shorter than mine, you know.

[ damn. their relationship's first hurdle is anniversary dates. ]

[willandaway]

[a beat]

[he has to think about this. . .]

Are there thirty days in your months, too?

[makeine]

[ uh ]

... On average. It's about half 'n half on if it's thirty or thirty-one, I guess, except there's twenty-eight in February unless it's a leap year, and then it's twenty-nine...