[Backdated to Saturday]

[mysterious_groper]

Who: Pascal and Hubert
Where: The Graces House
When: Saturday, May 25th
What: The curse finally strikes the red and blue.



*Pascal had been busy as could be since the bubble had been fixed. Though for a while she had considered staying with Hubert up on the Island to have a more permanent safe spot in case of Bubble disasters striking back, she'd decided to move back down, and had to deal with a flooded house ever since. She'd been mostly working on that, and between that and Hubert's work with the Defense Force, they'd avoided running into each other for most of the curse...

Until this particular afternoon, when she slipped into the mostly-cleaned-up kitchen for a snack, and Hubert happened to be there. Whoops.

... Maybe she could avoid saying anything and avoid any embarassing moments! She was trying not to humiliate her roommate, after all. Hu was too nice for that.*

Comments

[dualbladewarrior]

[Not seeing one another was par the course for the two of them, so Hubert wasn't bothered by her absence, even if he did find himself missing her more as the week went on.

Seeing her in the kitchen was a mild surprise, especially given that he had actually woken up much later than he normally did on a rare day off from work. He was dressed and groomed, but clearly not completely awake as he nursed a cup of black coffee.]

Mn... good morning.

[It's afternoon, Hubert.]

[mysterious_groper]

Oh, hey Hu! Good afternoon!

... You okay?

[dualbladewarrior]

... overslept. I didn't hear my alarm. Or... I didn't set it. I honestly can't remember at this point.

[Coffeeeeee...]

Is it really afternoon already?

[mysterious_groper]

Meh. It happens. Especially on a day off, right?

[dualbladewarrior]

Yes, though I was hoping to be more productive than this.

[sipping at his coffee again]

Well then, what are your plans for the day?

[mysterious_groper]

Oh, the same as usual! Research, bananas, you know the routine by now!

[dualbladewarrior]

Ah, of course. How could I have questioned that?

[He actually smiles a tiny bit at her, tired, but genuine.]

I was wondering, actually... if you would like to have dinner with me again some time soon. I know we made plans earlier, but that was sort of ruined by our unfortunate emergency.

[mysterious_groper]

Well, yeah! That'd be awesome!

I mean I really want to try and go further with the relationship, I just dunno how to ask.

*Wait, what? Pascal doesn't even seem to realize what she just said...*

[dualbladewarrior]

[Hubert was two seconds from saying that he agreed wholeheartedly, but the oddness of her statement made him pause.]

... did you mean to say that, Pascal?

[mysterious_groper]

...

Uh... No?

*Oh, great. There was a curse going on or something. Or she'd just blurted out something she actively didn't want to say, which actually would be unusual for Pascal.*

[dualbladewarrior]

... it's not like you to be reluctant to say something, but I have to admit that was unusually blunt even for your standards.

Do you actually feel that way, though?

[mysterious_groper]

W-well... Yeah.

*Pascal blinked a few times.*

You've been really nice to me for a long while, especially as everyone else disappeared from here. It's... It's been nice. And I just... Just...

*She trailed off.*

[dualbladewarrior]

Just... what?

[He wouldn't normally have pushed her, especially in a moment like this, but he also has a feeling he's not going to get another chance like this for a long time.]

[mysterious_groper]

... I love you.

*Pascal looks scared to admit it, on some level, even as she manages to spit it out.*

Do you...

[dualbladewarrior]

Ah...

[Hubert just... made a noise. He didn't mean to, but his brain had actually sort of stopped for a moment at hearing that. Almost as if he needed to fully take in the moment to completely believe that's what he actually heard.

It was a moment he had waited so long for. Hours, days, weeks, months, years to finally hear it, and it had shocked him so much there was a part of him wondering if perhaps he was dreaming, slipped in to a coma and only imagining this single second in a day.

But no. She had said it. Those words, not muddied by rambles, had actually been spoken by her lips.

His heart started again, the gears of his brain began to turn once more, and it was then he realized that he had gone almost a full minute without actually saying anything.]

I--... o... of course! Of course I do! I've been trying to tell you for so long, but I never seemed to find the right words!

[mysterious_groper]

*Pascal, for her part, first felt very, very tense at Hubert's very slow reaction. Then, finally, he had stammered a response. Perhaps one that wouldn't surprise Pascal if she were in a more logical sense of though, but in this particular moment, one that seemed to shake her on a level beyond understanding.

She managed to recover a little faster than Hubert, even as her blush had begun to overtake her.*

I... I should've realized earlier, I... I thought you were, but then, and then...

[dualbladewarrior]

I don't... hold it against you, not knowing sooner. It took some time for me to even realize my true feelings. And even after that...

[a faint sigh escaped, exasperation at himself and just how terribly stubborn and difficult he had been about the whole situation. He had caused himself so much stress only to have a curse of all things be the thing that finally forced them to both to admit their feelings.]

I was ridiculous about all of it. If anyone should apologize it should be me, for not simply stating my feelings clearly from the start.

[mysterious_groper]

*And then, Pascal moved in, quietly hugging Hubert.*

Don't worry about it, Hu. I... Guess I'm like that too? Scared to admit something and...

[dualbladewarrior]

Well then we're both foolish...

[But the comment came with a smile, and he welcomed the hug, leaning against her from where he sat with a content smile.]

[mysterious_groper]

*And then, finally, a moment of impulse inspired Pascal... To slip over and kiss Hubert, square on the lips, giggling just a little.

Her sheer happiness at finally admitting what she'd been coming to feel over time - to finally feel a weight off her shoulders... It was amazing.*

[dualbladewarrior]

[The kiss was certainly surprising, but it was not a surprise Hubert objected to at all. Once his initial surprise faded, he was more than happy to return it, and even wrap his arms around her to pull her closer.

He had a feeling it was going to be a very good day after all.]

[mysterious_groper]

*After several seconds, Pascal leaned out of the kiss a little, a smile on her face as she chuckled a bit.*

... Funny how this worked. Both of us, for so long, living together, and...

[dualbladewarrior]

Yes, well... things do turn out strangely sometimes. But strange isn't always bad, is it?

[mysterious_groper]

... Nah, not at all!

[dualbladewarrior]

That said, another date has to happen now.

[mysterious_groper]

I'm sure you can think of something totally awesome!

[dualbladewarrior]

I wouldn't get your hopes up that high, but I'll certainly try my best.

[mysterious_groper]

Oh I'm sure you'll do great!

[dualbladewarrior]

Well, as I said all I can do is try. That said, I should probably eat something proper before I try to give any thought to it. Even I can't function on an empty stomach and coffee alone.

[mysterious_groper]

There's some leftover banana cream pie in the fridge!

[dualbladewarrior]

While the offer is nice, I'm afraid I don't share the same enthusiasm for bananas that you do.

I think I'll just make a sandwich.

[mysterious_groper]

Works for me.

[dualbladewarrior]

Will you be returning to your work then?

[mysterious_groper]

Pretty much. I'm hoping to get some real discoveries going at some point, so I gotta keep trying.

[dualbladewarrior]

Well, I'll leave you to it, then. I'm sure you'll stumble across something soon enough.