[location: park]

[maidfromashes]

[On a beautiful day like this, there is absolutely no reason to stay in-doors when you could be outside. That was why Bianca had commendeered the tiny park's gazebo. There weren't many people in her dance class on this day of the week, so there was room enough for them all, and the gazebo was open and airy enough that it hardly felt like they were under cover at all. If they didn't need the firmer ground, Bianca would have done it on the grass.

[It was the more experienced class, too, which meant no one was bothered by people stopping to watch, Bianca least of all. Oh, she was aware of them, but when her focus was on instructing her class she ignored them admirably.

[That didn't mean she didn't take the opportunity to take a breath and look around on occasion.]

Comments

[pettythief]

[ Chris doesn't mean to stare. He's just cutting through the park on his way through town and, really, he has better things to be doing right now — like finding James or picking a few pockets to pay for dinner. (As useful as Gold's tab is, he isn't in the mood to call in on it now.)

He doesn't mean to stare, but when he sees Bianca dancing like she is to instruct her students, he finds his gaze drawn to her and it's not for another several steps that he realizes he hasn't stopped walking... and nearly faceplants right into a tree as the open area of the park begins thinning into a small glade. Whoops.

At least he stops himself in time to avoid that little mishap. ]

[maidfromashes]

[Sure he doesn't mean to stare. But he is. And Bianca notices it. It's probably unfortunate for Chris that she's also wrapping up the class; it's something she likes to do, showing the class a bit of what they'll be doing next week. It gets them excited for the next class.

[So after she's dismissed the class she shakes her hair back and turns toward the man in question with a slight frown, raising her voice so he can hear her.]

Can I help you?

[She knows this guy, doesn't she? At least, she's seen him around a bit. He's kind of cute, actually.]

[pettythief]

[ Chris starts a bit, looks to his side as if she were addressing someone else. He clears his throat then shakes his head while avoiding eye contact. ]

No... Uh, sorry.

[ He meets her eyes just long enough to give a shy smile before he ducks his head and winds around the tree this time. ]

[maidfromashes]

[Despite herself Bianca smiles. Oh, she can guess why he was looking, now, and he is cute. In a puppy sort of way. If nothing else, she's curious to figure out who he is.

[She saunters back to gather her things and pack up her bag, and then cuts across towards the footpath he's probably aiming for--a shorter trip for her given where the gazebo stood.]

[pettythief]

[ Chris keeps his head down as he tries to pick up his pace. Having Bianca talk to him now is nerve-wracking and also not the sort of distraction he can probably afford. ]

[maidfromashes]

[Hey. No you don't, mysterious semi-stranger! You don't get to run away that fast. She quickens her pace a bit, matching his even at the distance. And then she raises her voice, her tone conversational.]

Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to stare and run?

[pettythief]

[ Chris slows down when he sees that Bianca is simply keeping up with him, and looks over to her without fully raising his head. ]

I wasn't staring.

[maidfromashes]

If you weren't staring, then what were you doing?

[She's smiling slightly as she says it. Yes, she's teasing you, Chris.]

[pettythief]

Taking a walk through the park.

[ Which is the truth... just an extremely simplified version of it. ]

[maidfromashes]

[She laughs lightly.]

It didn't look nearly so simple from where I stood.

[pettythief]

[ His lips twitch into a smile despite himself. ]

Then maybe you were looking too hard?

[maidfromashes]

Oh, so you spend all your walks in the park so captivated by young dancers that you almost walk into trees, do you?

[Yep, she is so teasing you, Chris.]

[pettythief]

I was distracted!

[ What does she want from him? :| ]

[maidfromashes]

Then it can't have been a simple walk, can it? Unless you spend all your walks getting distracted.

[She smirks at him playfully.]

[pettythief]

Not usually, no.

[ He spares her a sardonic smile, then shakes his head. ]

Sometimes these things just happen.

[maidfromashes]

Usually, they happen because there's a cause.

[pettythief]

[ He shrugs. ]

I've had a lot to think about lately. That's all.

[maidfromashes]

And that results in you staring and walking into trees?

[pettythief]

Sometimes. [ He huffs. ] Look—what's it matter to you, anyway?

[ Chris liked it better when he could watch his unattainable crush from afar and not have to deal with her maybe actually liking him back once she knew he existed. :c ]

[maidfromashes]

Because. You're cute.

[Grinning, she leans forward to flick his nose.]

Like a puppy.

[pettythief]

Like a—[ He pulls his head back, blinking at her for a moment. The absurdity causes him to laugh in (if nothing else) confusion. ]

A puppy?

[maidfromashes]

That's right.

[She pokes him on the nose again with a smirk.]

Like an oblivious, easily-distracted puppy.

[pettythief]

[ He blinks, ducks his head back at the poke again. ]

Hey, I'm not oblivious.

[maidfromashes]

This coming from someone who ran into a stationary tree.

[pettythief]

You might wanna get your eyes checked, 'cause I didn't hit it. [ POUTING. ]