025 [Action]

[fabrecation]

[Sunset of the 21st. After looking in his diary several times to make sure of the date, Luke has practically memorized the exact time it happened. This is the day, and the time, that he and Xion confessed to each other, without the influence of the experiment, and shared their first kiss.

This is the place, too. Luke leans on the railing of the bridge nearest House 14, staring out ahead of him and obviously lost in his thoughts. Even though this is the day, and even though they had been making plans to celebrate it, Luke's sure that Xion won't be able to now. Not with everything that's happened.

Still, that doesn't mean he can't find his own way to celebrate. It isn't much, though; he just leans on the bridge and twirls a blue iris idly in his fingers. Later, past sunset, he'll make his way to Seventh Heaven for the first time in quite a while, only to practice the piano. He's been away from it for a good while, so he's just a tad rusty. But he still manages to get over it after a song or two, and he doesn't mind, for once, if anyone else is there. He'd even be happy to chat it up with someone, whether on the bridge or in Seventh Heaven.

He does seem a tad cautious, though. He hasn't been here for a while for a reason and all.]

Comments

[fortuneprince]

[Ever since Naoto came in to see Eyes playing the piano, she's started to come here more often to see if she could spot anyone else playing at the piano. Today when she walks in, there is someone there. Not someone she knows, but he's there and playing the piano. That enough has caught her interest.

So as he plays, just like before, Naoto takes a seat close by and just observes him as he plays. Don't mind her]

[fabrecation]

[While Luke told himself he wouldn't mind playing in front of people, he still can't help glancing at her as he plays. He's not used to performing like this in front of others, after all, and if he did, it'd be for a special reason. It kind of makes him flustered as a result.

Still, he tries to play without looking at her too much. He just looks a little more nervous about it.]

[byakkoyagirl]

[If Luke were to lean over the rail as he is and, by chance, look down toward his reflection, he would see an image he shouldn't. One of a young girl staring back at him. A recognizable one at that.]

[fabrecation]

[When he does look down, at first, he sees the red hair and is satisfied. Luke is not one to linger on his reflection unless he has to, due to his image problems.

But then he realizes that the hair he's looking at is not as spiky as it should be, and when he looks closer -

askldfjdsf he leans away at first with wide eyes... before he blinks, then moves closer with a slight squint.]

Paprika?

[distressedude]

[Ion had been spending most of the past few days by himself, still more or less mortified by what had transpired during the experiment. Though he's worked things out with a few people, Luke included, he still hasn't quite been able to bring himself back to a sense of normalcy. It just all felt so jarring... perhaps in a week or so, he'll be more or less back to himself.]

[But for now, he'll be entering Seventh Heaven somewhat cautiously, sticking by the door as if checking to see if certain people were there... or in his case, not there. When his eyes fall towards the piano, and the one playing it, he hesitates... and then decides to head over.]

[But he won't interrupt Luke's playing. Instead, he'll find a seat near the piano and sit and listen for a bit.]

[fabrecation]

[Luke's a little too preoccupied with his playing to notice anyone at first - he's playing this, and he's determined not to get it wrong. It always sucks when he does, after all, especially when there are people around.

But on one of the slower parts, Luke can't help glancing to the side to see if there is anyone watching. And once he sees Ion... he slows down a little more, lifting his hands up a bit, and then continues playing. He just wants to get the song done, that's all.

It's not that he's awkward. He apologized to Ion, realized the boy was uncomfortable about something, and left it at that until they could talk again. Maybe at a later date. And now, he was here. But Luke felt an obligation to finish the song first - it was just a thing.

Luke holds out the last note for a few seconds, then brings his hands to his knees. Now to let that musical mood pass.]

[distressedude]

[As the song continued, Ion found his eyes sliding closed as he sat there, simply enjoying the music. It was... soothing. With how tense he's felt since the experiment ended, how tense he felt simply coming here tonight, this was something that he couldn't help but appreciate. Not that Luke could have known Ion was coming here, but...]

[He waits a few moments after the song ends before speaking.]

That was beautiful, Luke. [Opening his eyes, he looks over at him with a gentle smile.] You've gotten very good at playing.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup is out on a stroll with Toothless when he comes across Luke on the bridge. It's been awhile since he's seen the other boy, so he gives a wave and a shout when he sees him. Even Toothless doesn't look to put off!]

Hey, Luke! [Uh...] ...Flower?

[fabrecation]

[And Luke can't help gripping his hands into his knees and blushing at that. It always makes him flustered to hear someone compliment him, especially in something like piano playing.]

Thanks... I'm still kind of stiff, though. [No he's not. After more than a year of playing and already having such an affinity for music, he's gotten very good. He just doesn't think s himself.

But let's focus on something else.] Hey, how're you feeling?

[fabrecation]

[Luke blinks out of his thoughts once his name is called, and he looks and is just about to greet Hiccup in return, when...]

... Huh? [Aaah, he looks down at the flower in his hands.] Oh... yeah. [Ahaha well.] Heh, I must look pretty girly right now.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup just shrugs, a bit tired but not that much worse for wear.]

Not really. Who says flowers have to be for girls, anyway? [Of course, he says this because he let Yotsuba put a flower in his hair on Valentine's Day. But that's neither here nor there.]

[fabrecation]

I sure don't think they are. [He's grown up surrounded by flowers, and he has a few back at his apartment, too. He definitely doesn't want to think he's girly just because of that.

After a pause, he starts to twirl the flower again, slowly and idly.] This is the flower I got for Xion when I told her how I felt about her.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup doesn't really think they are either, but being a viking and all--well, he's been conditioned to not say things like that.

He gets a goofy grin on his face at that.] Really? That's...really neat. I mean, that you remember something like that. I bet it means a lot to her. Are you giving that one to her, too?

[fabrecation]

Maybe... [If he sees her today. Sure, it's cut at the end, but it'll just be a reminder anyway. Of how long they've been together, of that day...]

Right now, it's been a whole Luceti year since we've been together. [That makes him smile, though it's soft instead of that goofy grin. He'd be much happier if he actually had Xion there to back him up and smile with him.] Heh, and back then I thought I'd never get an actual girlfriend.

[byakkoyagirl]

[She smiles at his reaction, but doesn't change her position.]

You look glum. Is something wrong?

[Yes Luke, she's talking to you.]

[fabrecation]

[A talking reflection.

... Yeah, he has to stare for a second. This is weirder than seeing her in the mirror at that... Luceti Land place. But he gets over it soon enough, to look away and rub the back of his neck.]

Is it that obvious?

[byakkoyagirl]

Your expression tells it all. Is it from this 'falling in love' stuff I've been hearing about?

[fabrecation]

Not really. It didn't really do anything to me until the last day... it actually helped me figure out some things.

[He's quiet for a moment. He knows that this could lead to something he doesn't want to talk about, mainly about his life expectancy. Luke can talk to Paprika about so many things that it kind of scares him, but this is one thing he isn't sure he wants to share with her.

... Still. After that moment, he lets out a long breath of air before talking again.]

There's someone I'm worried about, that's all.

[byakkoyagirl]

Someone?

[She thinks for a second about the likely people.]

Is it Asch? Or Xion?

[fabrecation]

[He gives a half smile, somewhat helplessly. He's that predictable, huh?]

Xion. A lot of things went really bad for her recently. Her best friend went home, the... person she was made from went home too, and... [Mm. He catches himself there, and he shuts his mouth to think for a second before trying again.] And I'm not sure what to do for her.

[dragoneer]

...Whoa. [Man, that's even longer than he's been here. Even if it's not by much.] Well? I guess this place has a way of surprising people. I never thought I'd have so many friends.

[It is a reminder of how close he is to celebrating his one-year, though. His smile dims a bit.] But I'm happy for you guys. That's amazing, really.

[byakkoyagirl]

[Paprika nods.]

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be there. She's going to need you to help her and that may be the most you can do.

[distressedude]

Not at all. [Don't worry, that's the only bit of insistence he's going to do. Though "stiff" is certainly not a word Ion would use to describe the music he just heard.]

[Before he answers Luke's question, he pauses. He's debating what sort of reply to give... in the end, the pause is probably more telling than his answer.]

Ah, I'm all right. Thank you for asking, Luke. [With a smile that doesn't quite meet his eyes.] I'm sorry about before. I guess I just had a lot of things to think about, is all.

[fabrecation]

Mm. [He isn't entirely sure of that, though. One of the problems Xion's going through is him, and he knows it. It's why he's kept his mouth shut beyond letting her know something's wrong; further knowledge could just stress her more.]

I'll do everything I can to help her with that. [He gives a half smile as he gives the flower in his fingers a little twirl.] Today's the day we really got together one Luceti year ago. Did you know that?

[fabrecation]

It sounds like you're still thinking about them. [Judging by that pause and that smile he pulls up. He's gotten a little more observant of people as time passed.]