shroudedinsecrecy | INBOX (IC)

[Phoenix noticed the crowd that was forming around the game before he noticed what it was formed for. But once he spots Iris, his attention is solely on observing her performance and her incredible victory. It's an awe-inspiring sight, and Phoenix has the proudest smile on his face as he witnesses it.

In the aftermath, he steps right up to her, forgetting about the flowers in his hand for a moment as he stepts up to her.]

Iris! That... that was incredible! [There's a light flush on his cheeks. That hat - it's so cute!]

[Her hands were still on the little side flapps hanging down from her hat when she heard a voice call her name. Letting out a small eep, she flinched just enough that she accidentally pulled the hat down over her eyes as she turned around. Which then meant she had to regain her balance and push the hat back up again before she could see who it was.]

...Feenie?

[AND CUE THE BLUSHING.]

You were...watching?

[S-so cute... He nods sheepishly as she responds and then he idly scratches at his chin with his free hand.]

Yeah! Well... to be fair, I only caught the last leg of the match, but... it was amazing! I had no idea you had skills like that!

O-oh, it wasn't anything special! I was just lucky, is all.

[Cue modesty...though, admittedly, it was designed as a child's game; even now, as they spoke, the next round of participants were lining up, including a few younger competitors.]

Are you enjoying your time in the festival so far?

[Those sure are a bunch of kids who may end up doing as well as she did at the game... but Phoenix isn't about to lose any pride in her.

He nods with a smile, but he stammers a little nervously.]

Um- yeah! You could say that. It's been - a lot of fun times! [Come on, Phoenix. Remember why you're here!

He takes a moment to clear his throat as he looks at her.]

But since we last saw each other, it just felt like... like it was missing something. Something special. And... now I've found it again.

Really? What is it?

[...still slightly clueless, although she did blush from the way he was looking at her. Because, even now, that was usually enough.]

Iris... Well, you...

[Words don't really do it.

So, he just thrusts the flowers towards her. ...And hopes that the bouquet will shield how red his face is right now.]

[They certainly caught her by surprise! Enough that...yeah, she wasn't really looking at his face just then, taking in the sight of those beautiful colors, and catching a faint whiff of that pleasant, floral scent.]

Are those...for me?

[It's a ragtag bouquet of flowers that was thrown together recently, but some if Iris's favorites should be in the mix.

His nerves feel like jelly, but he stands strong as he holds them out to her. And that feeling is reflected in his smile.]

Of course they are, Iris. I... I've wanted to say something.

[Good going, me! You can do this... You can nail this!]

[They were.]

[Her expression softened when that realization sunk in, and she accepted the bouquet with a bright smile. Allowing herself a moment to literally smell the roses--]

[--at which time she proceeded to let out a tiny sneeze--]

[...but just one, before peering up at him shyly over the top of the flowers.]

Sorry.

[And her cheeks reddened further from embarrassment.]

You mentioned...you had something you wanted to say?

[...That had to be the cutest smile of all time, and it makes Phoenix's grin goofier for a moment after he hears it. But then he quickly gathers his composure once she reminds him of the topic.]

R-right! That. That... things. Yes. See, Iris, the thing is...

[He scratches at his head, overwhelmed with nervousness now such that it's hard to get even one word out.]

...

...

...Date?

...date?

[She blinked once. Twice. For a second, it seemed like she was merely thrown by the suddenness--not to mention, abridged version--of such a huge question.]

[But then her eyes drifted upward, a hand rising to her chin in casual thought.]

Well, it's the beginning of June, right? I think somebody last night mentioned it was either the eighth or the ninth, depending upon what hour it was.

H-hold it! That's... that's not it!

[I was doing so well...!]

Iris, I mean... the thing is... well... you and me. What if, well...

...

...What if we dated?

[. . .]

[!!!]

[There was no misunderstanding this time; Iris' eyes widened, a hand rising to her mouth in surprise. A very pleasant, very happy surprise. Her eyes glistened over, and even when she finally pulled her hand away to respond, her hands trembled even as she smiled.]

You mean, like...before?

[During his university days, and some of the happiest months of her life.]

[Only, this time, it would be her, not "Dollie"]

['Life before'. They were idyllic, carefree days before everything went south. Even if the premise was a lie, all the feelings were real. All of the times they spent together...

He's sure that he wants to do it all over again. Phoenix's cheeks burn as he nods.]

Yes, Iris... Like before. [But a beat, and he shakes his head.]

...No, better. [We can really be ourselves now.] If- if it's what you want, of course. It's okay if... you don't.

Edited 2016-03-31 13:10 (UTC)

[Better.]

[When he said that, she realized...just how true that could be. It wasn't even about the name. Not really. It was the lies and the secrecy that had come with it. The knowledge that, no matter how genuine her feelings for him had become over time, the start of their relationship had been a farce. She'd had a single objective. To get the necklace. For her homicidal sister, who had used him as an alibi.]

[But there was no Dahlia in between them now. He knew the whole story. She knew his whole story. And now, he was telling her...he still wanted them to be together. Like before, only better.]

[And you know what?]

...yes.

[She did too.]

I...it's what I want, Feenie. This. Us.

[That's right. This time, they really knew each other. All of those secrets and fabrications were behind them now. And Phoenix had vanquished every last doubt. All that remained afterwards were Phoenix's own feelings, simple and pure, revived like his namesake after he thought that he had set them aside years ago.

Phoenix's smile might never have been warmer as she confirms that.]

Really?! {As if any part of her answer was a surprise.] I... um.... Yes! I'm - I'm glad you feel the same Iris!

So... let's do it! This whole, dating thing!

[She smiled up at him--one of her bright, warm, true smiles--and nodded her head, and...]

[...and realized that, in that moment, very little changed. She knew how she felt about him and could now say, with all certainty, that he felt the same way...but she wasn't quite as surprised or taken aback as she thought she would be. Because, in some ways, a part of her had already known.]

[The way he'd looked at her back at Hazakura Temple. The way he'd looked at her again, later, when visiting her at the Detention Center. The way he looked at her yet again when they met up again in Cerealia. And again, each and every time since. The look had never changed. Just...evolved over time, as more and more of the truth came out.]

[He was looking at her that same way now, and for once in her life, Iris didn't even blush. She was too happy to. Too content.]

We can walk around for a little while and see more of the festival. Together.

[Phoenix still felt nervous and jittery... But in itself was indicative of the way he was back then as well.

Even so, things were going so smoothly that he felt himself grounded by a natural force. It all felt so normal now, but in a good way.

He reached out to clasp her hand.]

...I'd love that, Iris. Let's.

[And as they move, he finds it a lot easier to finally say:]

By the way, that dolphin hat looks really cute on you!

[Well.]

[The whole no-blushing lasted a solid three seconds.]

...I forgot I had it on.

[Phoenix chuckles warmly at that and pats her dolphin head with his free hand.]

That just makes it even cuter!

[And now her face quite accurately resembled a tomato. Of course, because she's Iris, it wasn't as if she could swat his hand away or anything like that. So, instead...]

[She proceeded to peer up at him with a very deliberate, small, almost teasing pout.]

You're making fun of me, Feenie.

[Aw. At least his hand quickly returns to his side as he regards the dolphin tomato.]

M-maybe... But only with affection! You know, you should try it sometime, Iris!

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