@kouros-herc

After sufficient hype from Tiana and a very level-headed approval from Jun, as well as encouragement from her family at dinner a few nights ago, Vixey had dressed up for her date and headed to Remy’s. She had been there before, but it had been a while. Her parents had taken her out when she’d opened the shop, but that was different!

This was--

Fancy. And it felt important. Like a date with some sort of intention.

Did she want that? She still wasn’t sure. Part of her did. She liked Hercules. He was kind, sweet, and attractive. He was a business owner and clearly had a good head on his shoulders despite being a little younger than her. He had a good sense of humor and a good listening ear. It still felt a little strange, a little awkward, but she did like him.

Her hang ups were silly. Like wondering how he would be on the farm, or if he would get along with her brothers and sister? Those were things you worked through once you started dating, though. Besides, if he didn’t like the farm--that wasn’t a reason to not date him! They could like different things.

Vixey arrived a few minutes after the reservation time on purpose, not wanting to show up before him. She went up to the maitre’d, asking for Hercules’ name and then following the hostess to the table. She smiled when she saw him, glad that he didn’t look like he was going to break things off with her! Haha.

“Hey!” she greeted him by leaning over to give him a quick kiss before sliding into her seat. “Thank you for inviting me out. It’s nice to get dressed up, sometimes. Though, I had to change my shoes in the car. The rainy season means lots of mud.” She chuckled a little.

@kouros-herc​

Elinor did not like the gym. It smelled like stale sweat and was full of the sort of meatheads that Elinor had been surrounded with her entire life and never liked. And yet, her daughter forced her to frequent it.

Well, not frequent. She did not often come inside. Usually, if she was meeting Merida after work, she waited outside, or made Merida come to Chapter Three.

Today, however, that was not going to be possible. Elinor had an engagement up until their dinner reservations at Tiana’s tonight. So, here she was on the back half of her lunch break. Against her will. As she approached the counter, she did her best to smile. Which was a rather good job, considering Elinor was very good at hiding her distaste when it suited her.

“Hullo,” Elinor said primly to the man working at the counter. “I am looking for Merida DunBroch.”

@kouros-herc​

Isabela actually didn’t like the fall carnival much. She wasn’t a big fan of Halloween. All Hallow’s Eve and Dia de los Muertos was different but...Halloween was macabre and she didn’t really appreciate the spirit of scaring people. It also was when the leaves changed. When she felt the little deaths all around her as plants shriveled and hibernated. It made her sad.

But, the carnival was the perfect place for a photo op. For her to be seen with her boyfriend. It was expected.

Here she was! Loitering by the gates, after having already assured Dolores and the rest of her family that Clayton would be here soon. That had been--fifteen minutes ago. She was starting to get annoyed. That was, until she heard foot steps and turned with a smile--

Only for it to fall slightly when she realized it was Hercules.

“Hey,” she said, brightening back up after a moment of annoyance flickering across her face. “What’s up?”

@kouros-herc​

Toulouse had gone out further than NTO for shopping for Belle and his mother’s birthdays. It had been a busy day for him, though also an enjoyable one. It wasn’t often these days that Lou was able to go somewhere without the children, but seeing as it was the weekend, Hades and Belle had both been home. At least, for the morning and early afternoon.

The shopping had lasted a few hours and then Lou, loaded with birthday gifts, had caught the train back to Swynlake. After he had put his bags on the overhead racks (taking up several), he sat down, crossing one of his legs. The train was marginally crowded but not horribly so.

Until they pulled into the NTO train station to bring on more riders. Toulouse, sitting near the window, glared at several people contemplating stopping in his row, but eventually, even he could see there was not much more room and the next person to get on the train, he would have to make an exception for.

That did not mean that when the person sat down, Toulouse did not cut his eyes towards him in irritation before turning back to his phone, where he was completing his turn of Words with Friends.

@kouros-herc​

The farmer’s market was almost like a second home to Vixey. She had grown up sitting at her family’s booth every Sunday of the spring and summer, helping customers or entertaining herself reorganizing the displays. She always waited for the moment her mama gave her and her sister the go ahead to run off and explore. She loved every year when new booths popped up, different things to look for. And she liked going with new people.

Like Hercules. The first weekend, she had been helping her family’s booth so she couldn’t go with him but now, she had the time off, since the shoppe was closed and her mama had given her the time off!

She agreed to meet Hercules outside of the park entrance and that was where she found him now. “Hi!” she chirped, bouncing up to him with a smile. She popped on her toes to give him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “Are you ready? Have you come with a list or--?” Farmer’s market shopping was very serious to Vixey.

@kouros-herc

When Isabela had told Hercules that she would bring him some food for his fast, she was pretty sure that he thought she was kidding. She wasn’t, though. She hadn’t been. Her own fasting was much less intense since it was only on Fridays, but it meant she had sympathy for it. 

Not to mention: she was curious. It was rare in Swynlake for people to be outwardly religious. Of course, there was a rather good turn out at the Cathedral every week, but most people kept their views to themselves, or were liberal to the point of not fasting, of not doing the things that many considered frivolous. It was not a topic that was easily breached either, but either way--

Isabela showed up at the gym near closing, which was rather late, but she didn’t want to come at any other part of the day. She knew Hercules was busy and she didn’t want to bother him. But, she also wanted it to be a surprise! 

So, she entered the gym about fifteen minutes before closing, hauling a large refrigerated bag on her shoulder. She found Hercules behind the counter. And hauled the bag onto it, plopping it down and putting her elbow on it, waggling her fingers at him. 

“A few days worth of dinners, as promised,” she announced, sounding pleased with herself, because she was. “Courtesy of Mama. And me.” 

@kouros-herc

Spending an afternoon learning tai chi was probably not something that an Isabela who lived a carefree life in Avalor would’ve ever expected to be doing. However, that was exactly what Isabela was about to embark on. Even more surprising: she was actually looking forward to it. Learning new ways to relax was extremely important to her, not that she would ever admit that. If anyone asked, she’d shrug and say something about how having personal lessons with the extremely cute, extremely fit owner of a gym was never a waste of time.

Though, it was nice that Isabela felt little pressure in that regard. After all, Hercules was nice, but he was not the type of guy she knew her abuela wanted for her. Or the type of guy she wanted for herself. Unless he was the heir to some secret fortune, but she doubted that. 

So, strictly professional. No pressure. Very casual. 

Isabela pulled open the door, wearing a pair of sweatpants and a jacket over the top of her exercising clothes as it was unbearably cold outside. Over her shoulder was a bag full of her studio equipment because, oh yeah, even though she was here for the relaxation technique, her cover story was that she was, y’know, here for her followers!

She found Hercules helping someone at one of the machines as her gaze swept the floor. He looked up after a few moments and she waved her hand a little to let him know she was perfectly fine with waiting until he was done. Leaning against the sign in counter, she crossed her ankles and started idly playing with the pen laying near her elbow.

When Hercules came over, Isabela stood up straight and adjusted her bag, setting the pen down again. “Hola,” she greeted. “Are you ready or--do you have anything else you need to finish up? I can set up my ring light and stuff if you have things to take care of first.”