Chapter 1: Smash Academy

[manforflowers]

Who: Inigo and you
What: Dates and flowers and getting his bearings
Where: Anywhere on campus
When: Feb 2nd
Warnings: Flirting with every girl

[There was nothing like some fresh flowers to make a new, unfamiliar place feel like home - that was the first thing Inigo did to settle in. All the common rooms were now decorated with a branch of forsythia blossoms in a vase. It seemed an appropriate choice, even they were a bit pricy at the florist's.

The fact that he got two dates with two pretty girls - two! Sorta dates! Well, it had his hopes up for this school. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to stick around and maybe earn some coin before moving on.

If you see him sprucing up the place, feel free to say hello. He'll also be wandering around, trying to get his bearings of the school and poking at all the unfamiliar technology - in particular, staring at the stadium with a great deal of awe.]

Comments

[manforflowers]

[Just thinking of the humiliation was making his heart pound. Inigo had to force his breathing to slow down, but he tried his best to smile through it nonetheless.]

H-haha, um. That was terribly uncool, wasn't it? I'd just much watch you dance instead.

[There was a slight pause of hesitation, before he added with a note of fond reminiscence:] ...My mother was a dancer.

[magicdancer]

It's all right, relax. [She was still apologetic, after dragging something like that out of him. And she made no effort to hide it.

But then his comment.]

She was? What was she like?

[manforflowers]

[Inigo was still a bit pink around the edges, but he seemed to draw some strength from the memories of his mother.]

She was beautiful - shy and soft, but strong as steel. The finest dancer in the realm.

[magicdancer]

Is that right? I would've liked to watch her one time...

[manforflowers]

I'm sure she'd say the same of you! My mother had a unique talent - she only ever needed to see a dance once in order to learn it. I'm not nearly that gifted.

[magicdancer]

Really! Maybe she had a bit of genie in her too! I'm a pretty fast learner, I think. I can pick up on new steps pretty easily!

[That last statement wasn't lost on her. Not at all. But she'd already pried deep enough and opened up that old wound, so her desire to pursue the matter dropped off. Instead, she tried a different tactic. Figuring out what more to him there was than his so artificial charm.]

Well, even if you can't do that, I'm sure you have plenty of other things you're great at.

[manforflowers]

Heh. I bounce back quick, if nothing else!

[All the same, there was still a small hint of longing that seemed to hang over him. Simply knowing that there was such anxiety hiding underneath that smile made it just a bit sad, even if it didn't show anymore.]

[magicdancer]

[It definitely was sounding that way to her. She tried hard to brighten up the mood between them.]

So what do you do with yourself when you're not fighting? Any hobbies or interests?

[manforflowers]

Oh, I just like doing little things to make people smile. Whatever helps them out. Maybe a spot of reading or shopping... I think I'm going to take a Home Ec or cooking class while I'm here, but I'd really like to grow flowers.

[And dancing. He liked to dance.]

[magicdancer]

It's funny. When I think of a mercenary, those aren't the first things that pop into mind! But I've never known one before, so I'm a little biased there. We definitely have home ec and cooking classes, and there's a really big greenhouse you'd probably like.

[She suspected. But she was taking that as an unspoken given right now.]

[manforflowers]

Well, when you travel on your own, being able to mend a seam or make food's pretty useful. You'd be surprised at the number of sellswords who can't even sew a button back on.

Besides, if I can use Home Ec to do something nice for the ladies, all the better!

[magicdancer]

When you put it that way, it makes a lot of sense. I do some adventuring myself, so I should probably know a few things like that too!

[She smirked a bit at his statement.] Are you ever NOT thinking about ladies?

[manforflowers]

Nope! [Plain and simple, not even ashamed of his one track mind.]

Everything I do, I do for love, out of love. Honest!

[magicdancer]

Ever had any luck with love before now?

[manforflowers]

Well... no. Not for lack of effort, either.

[Inigo made a mournful sigh, and picked a slice of pepperoni off his pizza. His melancholy didn't last long, though.]

But, it means I just have to keep on trying! I'm never gonna get anywhere if I just give up.

[magicdancer]

No? Nobody special back home, someone you've got a crush on? No A-rank supports to upgrade?

[She leaned over on her hands, looking curiously at him.]

[manforflowers]

[Inigo blinked, suddenly turning a bit pink. The subject had him bashful again - or maybe it was Shantae's gaze? He leaned out, almost deflating a little bit beneath her eyes.]

Um... do you have to stare at me like that...?

[magicdancer]

I'm just curious, that's all! I--

[She got a nice, close up look at him finally. There was something about his eyes. Not enthralling, of course! They were just...]

Your eye...

[manforflowers]

[Er... that was the opposite of not staring at him so intently. Inigo glanced away sheepishly, unable to keep eye contact.]

Sorry, but... you're making me awfully shy.

[magicdancer]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just... That mark in your eye. What is that?

[manforflowers]

[You're still staring at him aw god.]

Um, that thing? It's just a mark passed down the exalted bloodline, that's all...

[magicdancer]

[She blinked.]

Exalted bloodline...?

[manforflowers]

Almost everyone in the royal family has one somewhere, s-so it's really nothing that special...

1/2

[magicdancer]

Oh, I guess that makes sense...

[Processing... Processing...]

2/2

[magicdancer]

[...She shot up from the table, slamming her hands on the edge.]

YOU'RE A PRINCE?!

[SHE WAS PLAYING MIND GAMES WITH ROYALTY?! SHE MADE ROYALTY CRY?! DID HIS CULTURE HAVE EXECUTIONS FOR THAT KIND OF THING?!]