she hummed, as if considering the idea of bringing him back anything. it was a tease — ruby would most likely end up with a lot of souvenirs that reminded her of him while she was gone. it was a month and a half. the time and distance seemed a little daunting yet she refused to make tiger worry. "i'm kidding~ what kind of stuff do you want? if you don't tell me i'm just going to buy everything."
( she wasn't joking. )
make a move sounded like a recipe for disaster. ruby's face expressed her disapproval of the concept with a grimace. she made a show of miming the act of opening a long scroll with flourish. "let's start with reason number one, shall we?" she adjusted her pretend glasses and peered at the scroll and then back at tiger. "oh, right! she's older and i don't think i'm her type."
ruby dropped the schtick with a pout. of course tiger would see no problem with simply making a move: tiger was effortlessly gorgeous and everyone seemed to get along with him well. ruby was almost convinced that anyone would be willing at just the suggestion of something happening. "it's not going to happen and i shouldn't be delusional that something will happen. so i guess i can just admire from far."
the floor felt like a better option for her woes. ruby lays on the floor, eyes locked in on the texture of the ceiling tiles. she's silent for several moments. then, "you know, you're like crazy supportive. you shouldn't support a doomed yuri, though." she cracks a smile and reaches for him to join her on the floor. "i'll get over it. i know i will. but she's just ....so pretty. and her voice is angelic. i know once i'm over it i won't feel as intensely."
she sighs. whenever that'll happen.
"A pair of underpants with 'I heart city name' on from every city," he says with an entirely straight face. "Honestly, though. Anything you see that reminds you of me. Even if it's just a cool rock from the side of the road. Just wanna know you've been thinking of me. Can't have you forgetting lil ole me, right?" As if she could. Tiger's her best friend, and she's his, and despite him worrying a little about the time apart, he's got faith in their friendship; they can withstand the distance, and time apart. As they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
However, Tiger quickly finds himself frowning down at Ruby, and following her to the floor, where his sits with his knees bent, forearms resting atop them. "You know... you miss all the chances you don't take." He gets it. He'd been afraid of showing his feelings for people in the past, especially when he'd realised he liked guy as well as girls. It was terrifying, despite entirely accepting that it was okay to be bisexual. He was lucky; he never had to go on a journey of self-acceptance. Maybe he'd always just had a big ego.
But the thing is, Tiger thinks Ruby's like... the best person to exist. She's cool, and funny, and he's got eyes; he can see she's stunning. Breathtaking, in fact. She's a total catch, and unless this girl simply doesn't like women, Tiger can't see why she wouldn't like Ruby back. "Anyone who doesn't think you're the coolest, prettiest person to ever exist has no eyes and no brain, Ruby." He sighs, shifting over to lay beside her on the floor, his hands resting in the center of his chest. "I'm not gonna pressure you to confess, and whatever happens, I'm here for you. And I think you're super cool. If you get your heart broken out there I'm only a call away and I'll like... find a way to doordash ice cream to your hotel room."
He wants to reach out and hold her hand, but he doesn't want to risk a staff member seeing them and writing them up about 'inappropriate friendships' or something dumb, so he just turns his head and smiles reassuringly at her. "Rocket ship tonight?"
