[closed? open? we just don't know]

[cawmemaybe]

WHO: davesprite & xion! (and whoever else wants to talk to this grownup loser)
WHAT: just your typical knight waiting for his princess to finish school.
WHEN: after school... wednesday.
WHERE: near school grounds?? outside?

[ You know.

Sometimes he thinks he ought to file a lawsuit against the school over how fucking awful their trees are. You can't get a comfortable spot to lean against them, no matter how hard you try. And it fucking sucks.

But beggars can't be choosers. It's either this, or he's stuck waiting in the parking lot—which is hella creepier, considering what he's doing.

Even creepier, though, is how it hasn't occurred to him that all this is out of the ordinary. How he was just barely passed his teenage years just a few days ago to suddenly waking up last Monday and finding himself on the edge of a mid-life crisis. Not that he's all that old, but y'know, a guy like him will never kiss and tell. He sure doesn't look like he's in his thirties (and maybe that's a blessing).

But as of right now, that isn't his main concern. Right now, he's waiting. Waiting for the bells to ring and signal the end of another grueling school day. He could definitely pass for an older brother hanging around to pick up his bratty siblings from school, but nah. Not today. Those chumps can get home by themselves.

(And the Best Guardian of the Year award goes to...)

His thoughts are cut off by the inevitable sound of the bell ringing, his body pushing itself away from the tree he's settled against earlier on reflex. His eyes scan the boisterous crowd of kids who are way too excited to be steps closer to their summer vacation, looking for a familiar bob of black hair but he can't see her anywhere.

Shit.

Did his message not go through after all?

He pulls out his iphone to look.



Goddammit. Maybe she hasn't found a chance to look. She was in class, after all, jesus stop panicking. Slightly reassured, he decides to give it a bit of time and wait some more. It's not like he's got any other plans. ]


( ooc. pretend he looks older and junk. and he prolly goes by dallen instead of dspry. yes. )

Comments

[ceded]

[ Honestly, she's still struggling hugely with taking subjects she's ... never had before in her life. And it's occasionally - read: frequently, to be honest - crushing to her self-esteem to struggle so hard with what the other kids find so easy. She's been pretty upbeat most of this week, but that's been through sheer force of her friends' personalities, and the bizarreness of the situation. It catches up to her, in moments.

So she does notice Davesprite's -- no, Dallen's text a little too late. She considers texting him back, but she's already walking out of the building.

This week she's taken to wearing more normal clothing for her age. She showed up on Monday in the Organization coat, and by the end of first period was taken aside to discuss the school uniform. So she's wearing this like all the other girls, even if she still somewhat self-consciously tugs at the hem of the skirt, which feels too short. She actually blends in, which has been -- gosh, a strange feeling. She passes a hurried goodbye to some of the other girls she's gotten to know and rushes out the main doors, eyes scanning the trees--

There he is. And a relieved smile lights up her face. ]

Dallen!

[ She trots over, shouldering her backpack and beaming for him. It's been strange seeing him so much older. His different memories startled her at first, but with so many other people affected, she'd simply tried to play along, learning his name in the process from some surreptitious investigation. His age was never a thing that occurred to her. She'd been surrounded by adults all her life, short as it had been. That didn't mean their friendship had to change.

And he called her princess. The first time had really surprised her, and even won a blush. What had that meant? What had she been feeling? She hadn't figured it out yet. It still surprised her a little bit to hear it, but she took it in stride a bit better the second time it happened.

He's been such a bright spot in her week. King, (largely) unobtrusive, and warm. ]

I'm sorry, I meant to text you back. Did I keep you waiting?

[cawmemaybe]

[ Anyone who sends a glance or two down his way can tell he's getting antsy, what with all that fidgeting around and pulling out his phone to check and see. You'd almost think he's been stood up, and even he's beginning to feel that way—but that can't be it. Why would his princess ditch him like that? That ain't a thing she does, not without good reason or whatever.

There's just no way.

And besides, she hadn't acted around him in a different way lately—well, okay, maybe on Monday, she miiiiight have been a bit too surprised at a lot of what he'd said. It confused him a whole lot; it was almost as if he hadn't been calling her princess for however long they'd known each other. And here's another: he's pretty sure she was about to slip up and call him a different name at several points in time, but he'd let it go, thinking it was probably because she'd experienced a long day.

He looks up from his phone's screen just in time to see a few students looking over at him then huddling up to talk in hushed words. There's a sigh that follows that scene. Just great. The last thing he wants is a bunch of kids making stuff up about him. Like, oh man he's totally here to get panty shots just look at him he's got his camera around his neck and everything so he's just waiting for the right moment. Or more like, man what a weirdo! jeez. All those words are playing in his head, complete with an irritatingly high-pitched valley girl accent just because.

... He'll drive himself crazy one day.

But that soon melts away as soon as he hears her voice.

Visibly perking up, almost like a dog after its owner walked through the front door, he raises a hand in greeting. ]

Sup, princess.

[ Gosh. He can't get used to how short she is compared to him, no matter how long it's been. He's practically towering over her, okay.

He shakes his head. ]

Nah, s'cool. Figured you were busy with class and shit. [ He gestures with his head towards where the apartments are. ] You ready to go?

[ And then, after a small pause: ]

Unless you don't wanna go home yet. [ Hands in his pockets, he idly kicks at the sidewalk floor with the tip of worn down chucks. ] We can maybe hang out somewhere or somethin'.

[ Is he forgetting the part where he's way older than her? Yep, totally. But hey, he'd just like to make the most of his free time okay!! ]

[ceded]

[ Princess. Hee. His princess. There is something so charming about it for reasons she just cannot quite place.

She kind of hopes he'll keep calling her that, even if and when things go back to normal. If there are girls and boys alike behind her who find this strange - who comment seriously, what the fuck is up with them - she has no idea and wouldn't pay it any heed even if she did. Except, perhaps, to say that Dallen was a wonderful person, and her friend. And that was all that mattered.

He towers over her, sure, but she's used to it, and the sunshiney smile she directs up at him is not any dimmer for the fact that she actually has to tilt her head back to do so. ]

I'm ready! But, um ... I'd love to hang out. Hehe. [ She rubs the back of her neck. ] It's been a long couple of days. Can we go get ice cream?

[cawmemaybe]

[ Someday, he thinks, she'll kill him with that smile of hers. It never fails to make him feel all fuzzy and warm; sometimes it's even necessary to hide his face in a not-so-obvious manner because he doesn't want her to think he's blushing. But fuck, man. They really should make it illegal to be that kawaii. Unironically kawaii, anyway.

But right, okay, time to focus. She wants ice cream, she said, and it makes him wonder. Sea salt ice cream? Something different? It's not like she specified so maybe he can suggest this— ]

Yeah, sure. Wanna get some gelato?

[ He points towards the opposite direction of the apartments. ]

I know a place. They even give discounts if you want like, more than three scoops.

[ceded]

Gelato?

[ She blinks. ] What's gelato like? I've never had it before. [ Her gaze follows his pointing hand, and then she looks back up at his face. Another warm smile captures her before she can even help it. ] Hehe. But I'd love to try it with you! Come on, let's go!

[cawmemaybe]

S'like ice cream. [ Pause. ] Well, I guess it's still ice cream.

[ He starts to explain, shoving his fingers in worn out pockets. His eyes are still staring at the direction of the shop for a little while longer before he finally turns to look at her. God. If she doesn't stop smiling like that... ]

It's just softer than your regular kind. I think you'd like it. They probably have a sea salt flavor.

[ And right after that, it's time to walk. They'll never get anywhere if she just lets him keep talking about ice cream. He makes sure he doesn't stray too far ahead of her though. Even if he's the one leading the way, it's not right to leave your princess behind okay.

[ceded]

[ She practically bounces along in his wake, bubbling with the sort of happy energy you usually find in kids. But she is a kid, when it comes down to it. After a moment, she turns to she can face him and walks backwards, fingers linked behind her back. That grin could light the world. ]

You really do know me, huh. But I guess a knight is supposed to know his princess, right? [ Sticks her tongue out at him, teasingly, then turns to face forward again. ] I think ice cream is always going to be my favorite. I can't imagine anything ever replacing it. Then again, there are still so many things I haven't tried yet... but I guess now I have all the time I want.

[ A beat, and somewhat sheepishly ] I probably shouldn't talk about myself so much. Hey, Dallen, what's your favorite food?