Floor 2, Room 3

[troublereduction]

JOYOUS DAY

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Week 1 (continuation)

[troublereduction]

[ From here.]

I feel like I should be flattered that I'm bein' called cool here...

[lustro]

You were until you got flustered over a little crying.

[ A smattering of tears, just enough to keep his lashes wet after he sweeps his palms over them. ]

Not that… Not that it counts as crying. I was just - embarrassed…

[troublereduction]

It's only good fun as long as no one's feelings get hurt. [ And he thought he might have hurt Ginger's since it was a bit of fun at his expense. ] What's so embarrassin' 'bout being called cute, though?

[lustro]

[ An uncertain pause as he tries to explain why. He’s not sure he has a good answer for it… ]

I’m… an adult.

[ Cute is a something you call children - or someone you like, he thinks. ]

We’re just as tall as each other. [ ??? ] I’ve literally grown out of being cute.

[troublereduction]

Pretty sure cuteness is more than age or looks.

[ When his seniors in the Division of Serenity call him cute and 100% mean it, he learnt his lesson and Understood. ]

[lustro]

[ That - implies a lot of things Ginger will firmly not think about right now. ]

What is it then?

[troublereduction]

Actin' cute, mainly.

[ Ginger can figure out what that means. ]

[lustro]

[ He will… think… about it. ]

Mrm… I don’t know about that. [ When did that happen - ] Maybe you’re crazy.

[troublereduction]

Heh, you'd rather believe that I'm crazy rather than that you're cute?

[lustro]

[ You know what, he nods. It would explain everything actually. ]

[troublereduction]

[ ...He seriously nodded... ]

Man, have a little more faith in my sense of aesthetics, would you?

[lustro]

What’s that? Are you sure you have any?

[ Laughing a little at Day’s expression. ]

[troublereduction]

Now you're just bein' cheeky.

[ ...Well, if Ginger's mood is a little improved, then mission accomplished? ]

[lustro]

I’ll accept cheeky over cute.

[troublereduction]

Being cheeky's part of your cute charm, though.

[lustro]

[ Just when he thought he was safe - aaaaaaaa, he has to cover his face again, his red ears the only telltale sign of embarrassment. ]

Stop. Day. I’m gonna die at this rate.

[troublereduction]

I'm surprised you ain't dead yet if it's this easy to embarrass you.

[ He can practically hear the laugh in Day's voice. ]

[lustro]

[ He does hear it. What a jerk… ]

But you keep doing it, so what does that say about you?

[troublereduction]

That I'm living up to my duty to bringing serenity, I'd think.

[ It's not actually a very serious answer, but it probably stands out that he's using a word like "serenity" here? ]

[lustro]

Serenity?? How…

[ He peeks over his fingers, studying Day as another question comes to mind. Hrm. How to ask this… ]

Is this you when you don’t hold back?

[troublereduction]

Hm? What do you mean?

[lustro]

Well… You just feel - less tethered today, if that makes sense.

[ Does it make sense? He doesn’t know how to explain it. Day just seemed… lighter. Maybe it’s because Ginger got to see some new smiles from him…? ]

[troublereduction]

[ Oh. Is that how he comes off, despite the fact he's here because people got hurt? ...He's not sure how to feel about that. ]

Huh. Maybe it's 'cause I'm chatting with a friend. [ And he's not saying this to be smooth or anything, it's just an observation that came to mind. ]

/2

[lustro]

[ He nods. Makes sense!

…

Wait… Day’s words catch up to his brain… ]

Me?? We’re friends?? Oh -

[lustro]

Oh. We’re friends.

[ It’s that soft happy feeling again, like all the flowers are in bloom. ]

Wow…

[ That brings his list of friends to almost a handful. ]

I really like that.