By the Garden, Thursday Evening

[intraspective]

Ino had spent a good while, today, contemplating the tickets she'd picked up and wondering if they were a good idea.

Because… really… Zack was dealing with quite a lot and in that light, wanting to go to the prom seemed like an almost stupid and childish idea. On the other hand, though, it might be a good distraction? Get him out and about a little more?

Thursday evening and now she was… pretty much out of extra time to make up her mind as to whether or not it was a good idea. Ino headed back to her garden, where they'd been sleeping for the week, with food from Ching Tai and when she spotted him practising with his—Angeal's—sword, took a moment to just admire the figure he cut before saying anything.

"You hungry?" she called. Food. Food was a good way to start things, right?

... Oh, who was she kidding? She'd rather ask and get it over with. Not being sure sucked.

[For the modded-with-permission puppy!]

Comments

[puppy_fair]

"Yeah, right," Zack chuckled, shaking his head. "If any of the girls I know ever heard me saying something like that, they'd clobber me straight into next month."

[intraspective]

"Well, yes," she answered, laughing. "But it's not like I was serious 'bout that."

[puppy_fair]

"Something tells me they wouldn't let that stop them," Zack pointed out. And then he popped a piece of chicken into his mouth.

[intraspective]

"If they can't take a joke then they aren't worth my time," she scoffed, with a toss of her head. "I might look like a girly girl, but I'd fight anyone who meant that seriously too."

[puppy_fair]

"They'd totally have it coming to them," came Zack's chicken-muffled reply. He then proceeded to chew and swallow. "And I pity them, too."

[intraspective]

"As you should!" she informed him. "Because I'd make them very very sorry."

Or, well, she'd do her best to do so.

Ino nibbled as well as you could nibble on noodles for a moment before figuring that, really, she'd put it off for long enough... "Hey, Zack?"

[puppy_fair]

Another bite of chicken stopped just shy of Zack's mouth, and he blinked her way.

"Yeah, Ino?"

[intraspective]

Chin up, voice level, and she absolutely wasn't going to mumble. No way.

"Prom's tomorrow," Ino said clearly. "It's one of the major dances on the island. Would you be my date?"

Annnd now her eyes were just going to drop as she pinked up. "I mean... if you're up to it and you want to and I know it's short notice but... yeah."

So, well, she'd started good at least? Ended with a mumble, though.

[puppy_fair]

"Ino?"

She was kind of ridiculously adorable when she blushed like that. Which meant that Zack was putting down the chicken, scooting closer to her, and then pressing a light kiss against her cheek.

"I'd love to."

[intraspective]

That wasn't going to help the blushing situation, no.

Ino blinked, turning her head to look at him. "You will?"

She'd half expected him to say no...

[puppy_fair]

Which meant that she was grossly underestimating the tenacity of a puppy when given the opportunity to go on a date with a pretty girl.

"I will."

And he would like it, too.

[intraspective]

That was the important thing, really. Him enjoying himself.

"Okay," she said, going to give him a quick kiss now. "I--Thank you. I mean. For saying yes."

[puppy_fair]

"Thank you for asking," Zack demurred. "I'd kinda managed to totally forget there was a dance on the way."

... For obvious reasons. But it still left him feeling sort of sheepish about it.

[intraspective]

"It's alright," she assured him. "I got tickets before they stopped selling them."

And then had spent the time internally flailing over whether or not he'd even say yes. But whatever. She had tickets.

It wasn't that she didn't know why he'd forgotten. But Ino... thought that'd be a downer and her smile was sympathetic.

"They won't turn us away at the door." Ino shrugged, glancing up at the sky. "No one else I wanted to ask so... you were my first pick."

[puppy_fair]

Zack offered her another tiny smile.

"And does this count as the date we were going to go on? Or do I have to come up with something else because you got the tickets?"

Hint: He wouldn't be heartbroken to learn he had to come up with something else, too.

[intraspective]

"Something else," she said, smiling. "Because this is my date an the one you said we'd go on is your date."

[puppy_fair]

"Oooooh," Zack mused, nodding a little while that sank in. "Then I guess I'm going to have to find some way to out-do Prom."

He was a creative puppy. He could totally manage that.

[intraspective]

"This is only our Junior Prom," she pointed out idly. "Senior Prom is the one that's supposed to matter loads to people. So you've got a year to find something that beats this prom."

Was that her kinda informing him that she wasn't going anywhere at all? Well, yes, it was. What of it?

"You'll think of something," Ino added comfortably. "You know what I like."

[puppy_fair]

Zack's little smile just got a little bit bigger, there.

"I'm sure inspiration will hit sometime," he agreed.

Oh, he was so going to take her to the Prom next year. So going to.

[intraspective]

"I can give you hints," she added cheerfully, "if you ever get really stumped. But I like surprises if they're nice ones too."

Yes, that had to be specified.

[puppy_fair]

But nice surprises were hard!

"I could probably spring for a hotel room or something, for after the dance? That way, I can-" Bring his security blanket inside. "-take the sword along, and you don't have to worry about what shape your dress is going to be in by morning, or anything like that."

[intraspective]

...

Ino was going to raise an eyebrow eloquently at him as her eyes sparkled with amusement. Did he realize what most people booked hotel rooms for the night of prom?

"If you want," Ino said agreeably. "It is probably less hassle all around."

Okay. Now she was just going to snicker. Sorry, Zack!

[puppy_fair]

Oh, come on, Ino. They'd totally crashed out on the same bed before. This would be the same thing, right?

Right!

"And Prom night should never be a hassle," Zack decided, with all the conviction of a kid who had never before given thought to going to prom anyhow. "What's so funny?"

[intraspective]

She was just going to lean against him a bit before answering that one.

"Most people," Ino said, picking her words from between giggles. "Book a hotel room on Prom night so they can have sex with their partner."

Yes, she knew what he'd meant but that wasn't going to stop her from giggling. She was allowed.

[puppy_fair]

Zack turning pink the way he was? Was almost reminiscent of a glass being filled with cherry Kool-Aid.

"... And here I was just thinking that sleeping in a bed would be a nice change of pace."