Room 655 (and beyond!), Atlantis Resort, Bahamas, Thursday

[intraspective]

"I still think you're cheating," Ino complained half-heartedly, grinning and hunting for her sandals. "You totally didn't walk 'round yet on your knees. Cheater. Why should I go on a date with a guy who can't keep his promises?"

Yes, a date.

They were just friends so this was just one date and that was it but they'd made a deal about this one so it had to happen.

Ah ha! Her sandals! Ino slipped them on, tied her hair back from her face with a brightly coloured ribbon and glanced at him.

"You ready?" A beat. "Cheater."

Not that she'd refused, mind, when he'd brought up the date they hadn't had yet. Shush.

[For the daaate.]

Comments

[puppy_fair]

Zack wrinkled his nose a little as he looked at them.

"You think so? They are kinda... Um."

... Curtainy. Yes.

"But there are plenty of other ones to choose from!"

Ones that didn't involve him strapping himself in with faux leather, at that!

[intraspective]

But those amused her and appealed in about equal measures!

"These are nice?" she said hopefully, pointing at another pair.

A beat.

"Oh! These ones!" Sunflowers!

[puppy_fair]

Zack was so totally going to come back to contemplate those tight military ones later.

For now, he was making 'oooooo' faces at the pair with the sunflowers.

"Those ones are purple!"

They looked fun, okay?

[intraspective]

"And they've got sunflowers on them," she said brightly. "And those are really cheerful--longevity, warmth, loyalty--"

Ino went very slightly pink. Adoration.

"And stuff," she finished hurriedly. "But they're definitely good omened."

[puppy_fair]

Zack cast her an amused glance at that, and, fortunately, decided not to say anything about the shade of pink that she seemed to be going.

"Lucky swim trunks, huh?" He took a moment to poke through the sizes on the rack, and then grabbed a pair. "I think we might have a winner, in that face!"

[intraspective]

"They're cute too," she offered, glad he wasn't saying anything. "I second the winner vote."

Because she so got a vote? What, Ino?

[puppy_fair]

"These ones it is, then!" Zack gave the waistband a little stretch, looking at the trunks thoughtfully, and then he perked up all over. "Should I try them on now, or did you want to see if they have sun hats here, too?"

[intraspective]

"You just want to get shopping done with quickly," she accused him cheerfully. "Do you see any sun hats?"

Ino was going to go up on tip toe to see if she spotted any but really, he was still more likely to spot them first.

[puppy_fair]

"Oh, sure I do!" Zack didn't even have to really look hard. Ah, the joys of being near freakishly tall. "Over there, by the door!"

Easy!

"Oooh, that one's pink!"

Gangway, Ino. Zack is prancing on by!

[intraspective]

Near freakishly tall?

Ino trailed after him, snickering. "You could get one," she suggested, eyes dancing. "In pink, even."

Evil, Ino.

[puppy_fair]

"I could," Zack agreed in a chirp that suggested that he totally didn't see anything the matter with the suggestion. "Except hats don't sit quite right on my head. Too much hair, I guess."

He guessed. Clearly, Zack wasn't aware just how crazy his hair actually was.

[intraspective]

"Too much hair that stands up," she corrected, leaning a bit into him as she studied the hats. "That one is huge."

... And kinda awesome. Shush.

[puppy_fair]

"I'd lose you under it!"

He would! He'd look down and see a little bulls-eye where Ino ought to be!

[intraspective]

"I'd be holding your hand," she protested. "You can't lose me then!"

... Totally just friends, really.

[puppy_fair]

"I'd be holding hands with a giant polka-dot," Zack laughed, shaking his head. "At least I'd know which polka-dot is you, I guess."

[intraspective]

"That's a no on the hat, huh?" she sighed, but grinned as she looked through the hats.

"What 'bout this one?"

[puppy_fair]

"Cute!"

That wasn't a squee at all, hush.

"It's floppy," he informed her, grinning. "And I'd be able to see your face!"

He liked her face.

[intraspective]

"We'll go with this one then," she decided, wrinkling her nose cheerfully. "And that way we're not wasting sunlight, too."

[puppy_fair]

Zack was going to cheer, yes, and throw a fist into the air.

"Oh, yeah! Less time shopping, more time enjoying the sun and the sand!"

[intraspective]

"And the water," she insisted, laughing. "Or there's no point in getting you trunks."

[puppy_fair]

"Fair enough!"

Zack could handle the water! He suspected that it would involve about three minutes of splashing, and then a bunch of chilling out on the beach, but at least water would happen!

"Here, gimmie." He held out his hands for the hat.

[intraspective]

"I can pay for it," she protested, hiding it behind her back.

Because that was so mature, Ino.

[puppy_fair]

"Will you let me pay for it if I model it, first?"

See, Zack totally knew where all of the good temptations were. Because he was a sneaky little bastard.

[intraspective]

Ooooh, well, that was certainly a different story.

"That's underhanded," she informed him. Almost impressed.

[puppy_fair]

"I'd even let you get pictures," Zack added, quite chirpily indeed. "To do with as you please!"

He was a dirty, rotten cheater, and he would never deny it.