NOT IN LOVE.

starter for: @perpctual

                   HE HAD BEEN​ staring at the daughter of aphrodite for a fair amount of time, no surprise the child of the goddess of beauty was the model for the day, but maybe he had been staring for a bit too long. class had wrapped up and he was still a bit awe-struck until the sound of his palette hitting the ground sort of snapped him back into reality. “shoot…” river muttered, slipping off his stool to kneel down, cleaning up the arrays of pale pinks and deep purples he had been using to capture the girl’s beauty.

TO BE LOOKED UPON LIKE A WORK of art means that zelda’s in her prime. wandering eyes were more welcomed than scoffed at. the daughter of aphrodite has sat statuesque for the entirety of the class period, though she can’t help but feel someone’s stare long after the students are dismissed. a brief, nonchalant glance over her shoulder confirms suspicions. there’s no hesitation in her steps towards him, amusement crossing her features as she stands before him. the french woman doesn’t bother waiting for him to pick up his things to notice her, instead speaking up, “ can i see what you painted ?? ”

                 THERE’S A HEAVY SIGH at sosa’s words, because he knew they were right, he’d heard it a million times…to not overextend himself, to not overdo it, but that just wasn’t in his vocabulary. “i know, i just….i can’t help it i guess? there’s just so much stuff out there, you know?” and his arms gesture over him, spreading out wide before falling back onto the bed. sitting up though, now that they were on the topic of the cupcake, he grinned proudly as he reached down into his bag, “yeah, here, it’s this rainbow thing and-” his face fell as he pulled it out, seeing it slightly smashed, the left side a squished mess of color but the right was still in tact, “it was cool….if that counts?”

SOSA GIVES TEDDY AN UNDERSTANDING nod, “ yeah, i know. not wanting to miss out on anything.. i get it !! ” he couldn’t imagine keeping up with half of the things teddy did, it was admirable, in his eyes. the blue-eyed boy leans forward a bit, excited to see his friend so excited. sosa can’t help but hold onto every word teddy says, though thoughts seem come to a halt as the mood half-heartedly sours. he briefly glances at the other’s disappointed expression, before taking the cupcake to inspect for himself. “ please.. i think it’s got character, still !! —besides, ” sosa starts, looking up to his friend, “ the fact you even made it for me in the first place means it’s perfect. wanna split it ?? ”

                WRAPPED UP IN his arms, it felt so nice, levi was always so warm and she chalked it up to how he reminded her of the sun. sighing out of content, the nerves of performing long gone and replaced with comfort, she gazed up at him with nothing short of her normal adoration. “i’m just saying, i knew you were nearby, i felt like my performance was the best it’s ever been….i’m so glad you made it.” wide eyes moved and saw the flowers he held out, heart swelling as she took them, “i love daisies, this is so sweet, you’re the best.” shiloh cooed, pushing up on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek, biting her bottom lip as she moved back and put the flowers up to her nose for a sniff, “they’ll look perfect beside my bed.”

TO WITNESS SHILOH IN HER mesmerizing glory meant the world to levi. so, when he’s invited, it’s no surprise that he’s among one of the first few rows. she’s done it for him for joypill so many times before, it’s the least he can do. he leans down just slightly to help shiloh reach him, still feeling his face heat up at the gesture. “ s’nothing, really. least i could do for the star of the show, right ?? ” levi grins at her, watching her inspect the bouquet. “ how about we go get ice cream, or something ?? my treat. —unless you’re too much of a celebrity now for little old me. ”

[ closed for @perpctual​ ]

gia crouched over the bushes that lined the sidewalk, smiling down at her hands. she was completely off in a world of her own, but when she straightened up a familiar face also on the way to class moved her forward. “sosa! hi.” she cupped her hands, holding out her prize to him. a little yellow-brown frog with darker spots. she held it out to him with a bright grin. “do you want to go to the formal with me?”

HE’S LOOKING DOWNWARDS AT a book in his hands, mindlessly flipping through pages to gather inspiration for his latest dinner party when gia cuts him off. not that sosa would be the type to mind the interruption, that fact making itself known by the bright grin crossing his face. especially at the question, “ oh !! —oh, ” is what he replies with, ecstatic that he’s even being asked to formal, but overall confused by the gesture with the frog. even still, he tucks the book under his arm to take the frog. “ yeah, sure, i’d love to go to formal with you. —thanks.. ?? ”

            HER VOICE AT FIRST is a mere muffle in his ear, getting lost in the mix of the music blasting through the club, his eyes wild as they scanned the place like a man on a mission. with the time that they spent together, dax had grown rather fond of momo, protective as he tried to figure out who in their right mind would cut someone and keep walking. well, he knew people who would do that, but that was beside the point. it was only when she reached out and grabbed his hand that he slowly ripped his gaze away from his task of locating the guy, glancing back towards her as he let out a slow breath, “…..fine.” he mumbled, clenching his jaw as he grabbed her none injured hand and started moving through the crowd, although he didn’t stop looking. and he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the guy, something in him buzzing as he stared him down, fist balling up beside him.

RELIEF WASHED OVER HER as he finally agreed to leave with her. it’s very clear that, despite her status as a demigod, conflict and confrontation were two words momo liked to keep out of her vocabulary. it’s another difference between the pair that will always seem to stay. she sticks close to him, fingers entwining as the push through the crowd. though, hopes are seemingly dashed as she accidentally bumps into him from behind. a wave of confusion hits her before peering around him, attempting to follow the direction of his gaze. dots connect in her mind before she’s stepping in front of him, “ babe, please, ” momo looks down briefly to his hand, now clenched into a fist, “ we don’t need to do this, i don’t want you to get into trouble or get hurt. let’s just.. let’s just go, ” momo pleads once more, almost raising her hand to touch his face before a pang of hurt reminds her to keep her arm still.

THE COLD AIR IS A WELCOME feeling against momo’s skin, a sharp contrast from the inside of the bar the pair had just exited from. she clutches onto the other blonde’s hand, tugging her gently. momo is drunk, inexplicably giggly and just barely managing to stay on her feet. even still, she’s nowhere near ready to head back home. “ c’mon, let’s go to the beach, or something, ” the femme suggests excitedly, despite it being 2AM, “ i think it’s a full moon tonight, i wanna see it with you. ”