[closed] winner winner, fancy dinner

[journaler]

Who: Leia Rolando, Jude Mathis
When: Like a week/some days before the Winter Ball
Where: Shopping district
What: Shopping for formal-wear for their definitely-not-a-date.
Warnings: None!


[It was a hard battle, but Leia won.

It's written all over her face as they walk. There's pride, and determination: after the disaster that was the carnival, she's determined to make this ball a good one. Jude, unfortunately for him, had been the perfect candidate to help; and even though he resisted, she eventually got the do-gooder in him to agree.

They'll go, together, as friends.]

Come on. As long as you don't drag your feet, it'll be over quick. I promise!

[She nudges him teasingly.]

I mean, I've never really worn anything formal before, but it shouldn't be that hard to find something, right?

[At least they're not trying to make things from scratch?]

Comments

[spyrites]

[Thankfully her offer to pay snaps him out of whatever weird thoughts he was having. So does her playful nudge and now he looks even more embarrassed somehow, although for a totally different reason.

He reaches out quickly to lightly grab her arm.]

What? I can't let you do that. It's way too much. [He's flattered and all but he's also Jude. There's no way he can let Leia do that and not feel guilty about it. Well... that and also it's kind of expensive.]

I'll pay for my own things, it's okay.

[journaler]

[The arm he grabs happens to be the one whose hand is reaching into her purse, alas. She stops to look at him, frowning, and it looks like she might protest when the giggling starts again among the employees. Suddenly they're whispering to themselves, and she doesn't have to be able to hear it to imagine what they might be saying.

That familiar shade of red returns to her cheeks and she gently brushes his hand away as she pulls out her card. Embarrassed (again), she glances away for the moment.]

S-Still a do-gooder, aren't you...

[Then again, so is she. She'll find a way.]

[spyrites]

[The moment their giggling starts up again Jude realizes what this probably continues to look like to them and he quickly withdraws his hand, embarrassed. He flushes instantly and looks away too. This is silly...]

Seems that way. [He isn't even trying to this time. Well, not for the most part. He just doesn't want her to spend that much money on him. (Partly true: he never wants anyone to spend money on him ever, usually.)

Okay but if she really wants... He's still a little flustered but he looks back up at her with a sheepish smile.] How about you buy me lunch later instead? [He would flat out refuse otherwise but he feels a little bad so... compromise!

Anyway he'll move to pay for his own things now before he changes back to his regular clothes, trying to ignore the still snickering workers.]

[journaler]

[Some are snickering, others look almost disappointed. Leia ignores them too, finally forcing a bit of a smile as she accepts the compromise. She pulls out her own card to be processed, uninterrupted this time, and it's quickly taken by another worker than the one helping Jude.]

Deal.

[...]

We can even try somewhere new.

[spyrites]

[Jude doesn't wanna address the girl that had been flirting with him earlier when she'd been helping him with the suit... largely because he was too dense to notice that's what she had been doing. But now the goal is to just get out of here because this embarrassment is going to give him a heart attack soon.

He'll hand over his card too to the aforementioned disappointed looking girl and smiles.] Sure. Where ever you want.

[journaler]

[Then there's the waiting, and the transaction probably feels twice as long as it actually is. Their cards are returned eventually though, their chosen outfits neatly tucked in protective bags. Leia takes hers thankfully and is already moving towards the door after some polite thank yous.

Outside, she pulls out her CereVice to check the time:]

Phew. Well, that actually didn't take too long.

[spyrites]

[Well it felt like an awkward eternity for him... but he wisely keeps his mouth shut. Okay it wasn't that terrible but he doesn't want to do that again any time soon. Preferably ever.]

I'm just glad to be out of there. [Those employees were just a tad too enthusiastic...]

Well... should we get something to eat then?

[journaler]

Sounds good.

[She nods and wastes no time walking forward to take the lead. There's a hint of relief in her smile, cemented by a sigh that follows--but no, it really wasn't so bad after all.

Now it's over, and they have something to look forward to, even if it's as simple as a fancy party ball.

She has to be thankful for that.]