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[ He's just stepping into the foyer when she catches him off guard, and whatever weird thing had gone on, he's mostly pushed it aside for now.
Instead... now he's being awkward. It's too bright here, compared to outside. He presses the button for the elevator, waiting for it to descend. ]
It was nothing. [ He watches the numbers tick down on the monitor, not looking at her yet. ] But you're welcome?
Instead... now he's being awkward. It's too bright here, compared to outside. He presses the button for the elevator, waiting for it to descend. ]
It was nothing. [ He watches the numbers tick down on the monitor, not looking at her yet. ] But you're welcome?
So you're modest as well. [ He stops stuffing his face with the pudding for this at least. ] You must have a lot of admirers. [ i'm so sorry................. ] Especially if you're giving out free pudding to your friends.
[ it wasn't nothing. not to her, anyway. tonight, she found out that he does keep his promises. that's a very important thing to her, after all. and she has to give him credit for making her heart knock at her ribs all of a sudden. but of course, she won't tell him that. ]
It was nothing. Of course.
[ the bell rings and the elevator doors slide open. athena slowly walks inside, then turns to face the door. she sets down her bag on the floor before exhaling audibly. this is it, athena. fix things for sure. you can do it. ]
Of course it was.
It was nothing. Of course.
[ the bell rings and the elevator doors slide open. athena slowly walks inside, then turns to face the door. she sets down her bag on the floor before exhaling audibly. this is it, athena. fix things for sure. you can do it. ]
Of course it was.
[ It actually took a lot of effort to gather enough candles and find a decent spot in the gardens for this to work, so it was anything but "nothing". There are a lot of things, like that, that he doesn't say to make it look like he isn't trying as hard as he is. He's used to hiding how much effort comes from him, after all.
He keeps his own bag on his shoulder for the first two floors before just dropping it next to his feet. His floor is first, but she'll notice he pressed hers first anyway. Just to make sure she got back alright. ]
You make it sound as though you don't believe me. [ She has every right to though????
As he doesn't have anything to do though he slides his hands into his pockets, this time watching the monitor on the inside of the elevator as it goes up. ]
He keeps his own bag on his shoulder for the first two floors before just dropping it next to his feet. His floor is first, but she'll notice he pressed hers first anyway. Just to make sure she got back alright. ]
You make it sound as though you don't believe me. [ She has every right to though????
As he doesn't have anything to do though he slides his hands into his pockets, this time watching the monitor on the inside of the elevator as it goes up. ]
You heard me. [ Victim #4 tbh. In all seriousness though, Ai is charming, helpful and looks out for others. He can't see why she wouldn't. Maybe she doesn't notice, but that's something else. ]
The next time we're on shift together I'll prove it.
[ Is he going to try and make a bunch of male customers jealous to prove a point? He sure is. ]
The next time we're on shift together I'll prove it.
[ Is he going to try and make a bunch of male customers jealous to prove a point? He sure is. ]
It's not disbelief. It's just- [ a light laugh. ] Funny.
[ when they reach her floor, she takes a quick step forward, ready to go, but she turns back to face him. deep breaths, athena, you can do this. ]
Well, good night. You don't have to go down.
[ and it all happens in a matter of seconds. she wraps her arms around his neck for a quick and subtle embrace. though before she starts melting into him and letting the sound of silence in the elevator take control, she tiptoes and gives him a peck on the cheek.
and she rushes to get her bag and runs out of the elevator before merlin could react. though she ends up tripping the moment she's outside her door. ah...
at least the elevator doors close soon after. ]
[ when they reach her floor, she takes a quick step forward, ready to go, but she turns back to face him. deep breaths, athena, you can do this. ]
Well, good night. You don't have to go down.
[ and it all happens in a matter of seconds. she wraps her arms around his neck for a quick and subtle embrace. though before she starts melting into him and letting the sound of silence in the elevator take control, she tiptoes and gives him a peck on the cheek.
and she rushes to get her bag and runs out of the elevator before merlin could react. though she ends up tripping the moment she's outside her door. ah...
at least the elevator doors close soon after. ]
[does she truly deserve this!! She looks genuinely confused at his proposal, eyebrows furrowed together to create a perplexed expression.]
Is that really necessary? That seems a little... [you should worry about getting back credits merlin!]
... A little overzealous?
Is that really necessary? That seems a little... [you should worry about getting back credits merlin!]
... A little overzealous?
[ He doesn't pout, but his mouth does twist a little at the laugh. He was about to move to hold the elevator in place until she went inside but then she's moving towards him and not the door and he swears his heart actually stops.
It isn't as though she hasn't been this close before, but that was when he put her to sleep to get her to safety and he'd been just as distraught at the time that he didn't think anything of it, other than the pain and suffering.
Like this, it's impossible to not notice her warmth, the way she has to lean up a bit and how her body moves to complete the actions. He doesn't move, and somehow one simple minute feels like eternity. He's too late though, when he finally moves to hold her back she's running for her bag and the door, his cheek feels hot and he just ends up slapping himself in the face.
He can't even remember what floor he lives on now. ]
It isn't as though she hasn't been this close before, but that was when he put her to sleep to get her to safety and he'd been just as distraught at the time that he didn't think anything of it, other than the pain and suffering.
Like this, it's impossible to not notice her warmth, the way she has to lean up a bit and how her body moves to complete the actions. He doesn't move, and somehow one simple minute feels like eternity. He's too late though, when he finally moves to hold her back she's running for her bag and the door, his cheek feels hot and he just ends up slapping himself in the face.
He can't even remember what floor he lives on now. ]
Well if you're not going to believe me... [ He trails off, giving her a look of disappointment while shaking his head. ] Desperate times call for desperate measures.
[ She doesn't deserve this though, no. Luckily all she has to do is tell Athena and she'll slap him for you, Ai. Never forget that. ]
[ She doesn't deserve this though, no. Luckily all she has to do is tell Athena and she'll slap him for you, Ai. Never forget that. ]
[ Ai... please. He tilts his head, giving her a look for that. ] It's an expression.
You aren't going to let this go, are you?
[ Why won't you let him have him fun, Ai? :c ]
[ Why won't you let him have him fun, Ai? :c ]
[ Oh he definitely looks disappointed. ]
Because you gave me pudding, I suppose I'll have to. You really should believe in yourself more though.
Because you gave me pudding, I suppose I'll have to. You really should believe in yourself more though.
[She pauses at what he says... Because it's a reminder if nothing else. Ai had a tendency to downplay almost everything she does, even now. But she's been getting better, sort of. She can at least believe in that.
So Ai nods, giving Merlin a small smile.]
I'll do my best! I forget, I shouldn't be so harsh on myself.
So Ai nods, giving Merlin a small smile.]
I'll do my best! I forget, I shouldn't be so harsh on myself.
Edited 2016-02-23 00:56 (UTC)
[ At her smile and lo' and behold optimistic words he gives her a double thumbs up. There isn't any sarcasm when he says: ] You can do it.
[ Granted, it looks stupid considering he's still holding a spoon trying to balance the pudding cup on his lap. ]
[ Granted, it looks stupid considering he's still holding a spoon trying to balance the pudding cup on his lap. ]
[ Well hopefully that's the case if she phoned him first?! ]
Where are you? Did you end up underground as well?
Where are you? Did you end up underground as well?
[ "Convenient" why would you want to be known as old?? ]
It doesn't, I tried using it before but it didn't seem to work. Is it because of where we are?
It doesn't, I tried using it before but it didn't seem to work. Is it because of where we are?
[ Be more optimistic!! ]
I figured it might be something like that. I can see quite clearly but I haven't seen anything this disgusting up there.
I figured it might be something like that. I can see quite clearly but I haven't seen anything this disgusting up there.
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