79 [Voice]

[flameandpassion]

[Filtered away from Nathaniel]

[Rei sounds irritable. What else is new.]

Does anyone know how to alter a dress to make it actually... fit.

Comments

[al_truism]

Really? Who?

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[Rei almost says 'Nathaniel', but stops herself, rolling her eyes.]

John. ... Mandrake.

Police force guy.

[Pause.]

He asked me.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

... what can you tell me about him?

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[Nothing that she can say out loud without getting him killed.]

What do you want to know?

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Anything you can tell me.

You privated this just to tell me his name.

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[Oh, Al, you give her way too much credit. Her cheeks are slightly tinged pink.]

I don't want half the city talking about it, it's obnoxious.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

... eh?

[Blinking a few times. And then he suddenly realizes... he's actually never really seen Rei act like a teenage girl.]

Do you really like this guy?

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[fdlkhjlkfgdf]

He's not unbearable.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Really?

[Heeeere's a smile.]

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[... hng.]

It's just a dance.

[But it feels nice to be told you're pretty. 8|]

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Still. It's not every day we get a chance to be teenagers like this.

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

... no, it's not.

[She pauses.]

I haven't worn a nice dress in over a year.

[It's a -- really... weird thought.]

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Well, it's kind of a minor concern most of the time.

But there's nothing wrong with doing something special.

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

I've just been busy with other things, I guess, to really take part in anything like this.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Yeah. I know the feeling.

... is this guy nice?

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[ -- she fiddles with the end of her jacket for a moment.]

He told me I was kind and beautiful.

After stammering his way through about four apologies for accidentally insulting me.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Well, you are.

[He says it so matter-of-factly.]

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[... sob, Al.]

-- it's nice to hear, that's all.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

[He grins, warm and sweet.]

I'm glad. You'll have to introduce me to him.

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[ -- that gets a smile out of her.]

Are you going?

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

Mhm. I have my tuxedo somewhere, and I know Negi's looking forward to it.

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

Good, I won't be completely alone if I make a fool of myself.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

You won't make a fool of yourself.

[He winks.]

Save a dance for me?

[Private // Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

[ -- alright, that gets a definite grin out of her.]

Of course.

[Private // Unhackable]

[al_truism]

It's going to go well. And you'll look beautiful.