[ The only reasons Eren ever has to doubt her are the ones she herself creates. Like just then, how she had made such a fuss about taking what he offered her when he didn't even give it a second thought. It's only then that he realizes he's done unto her what she had to him, and in some way that soothes him. They're even now. For some reason, he feels even further emboldened. ]
Might be. I'm not known for being very polite. [ Eren finally swallows and eyes her poor attempt at hiding her mouth like he can see right through it. ] It's not bad. If you like sweets this much, I can't help but wonder what else you enjoy. I was going to have dinner soon.
[ Ophilia says so playfully, not that she’d ever be able to manage any sort of malicious bite. She allows herself a small, stifled giggle before she finishes off the last of her morsel.
Eren’s next offer requires a lot more thought on her behalf. Ophilia’s imposed on him more than enough for one evening—several evenings, in fact—so she thinks it best to pull her legs out from underneath her chin and start cleaning up. She doesn’t want to overstay her welcome. ]
I’m not often spoiled for choice, so I can’t say I have a preference either way. If you’d like to have dinner, though, you mustn’t let me keep you. [ She sets the lid back onto the box, then moves to hop back up onto her feet. ]
[ Eren watches her rise to her feet with some amusement, thinking that such charming behavior must come naturally to her. He isn't nearly as graceful or as energetic, and stands with a little bit of difficulty. The ground, in truth, wasn't quite as comfortable as Ophilia made it feel. As he's stretching and getting ready to go, he quirks an eyebrow, looking down at her. ]
What are you talking about? You're coming with. [ He takes the box up and off the ground, tossing it at the bare kitchen counter where it slides to a stop. ] Much as I liked it, that was hardly a meal. There's plenty of places to eat around here. I'm taking you to one of them, at least.
[ Leaving no room for her to rebuke him, Eren takes her by the hand and leads her to the front door, only to tug at it and stare at it with confusion. Then he draws his head back in mild surprise. ]
[ Ophilia’s first instinct is to protest, to tell Eren he’s gone to far too much trouble as it is, but she loses all coherent thought the moment he whisks her off to the door. Over the sound of her roaring heartbeat, she can’t hear much of anything, much less register that he’s speaking to her. ]
I-I beg your pardon?
[ Voice caught high in her throat, Ophilia stares at Eren incredulously as he jimmies the lock. None of this seems to bother him. Not his hand in hers, not his invitation to dinner with just the two of them—none of it. He takes both in stride, as if they come as easy as breathing to him. She almost has to wonder if there’s something wrong with her.
Swallowing hard, she wills her mouth open to speak. It’s all Ophilia can do to keep from stammering like an idiot. ]
Was I, erm… not supposed to? [ But perhaps more importantly: ] Do you not know how to unlock it?
[ After a pause, in which he stares at her like he can't believe what she's saying, Eren flicks the lock undone and pulls open the door with an awkward air about him. ]
I just don't bother locking it in the first place. I don't even know where the keys are.
[ He props the door open with a foot as he pulls her out into the hallway with him. Her own uncomfortable behavior hasn't slipped him by, and it's at that point that he decides to press it. ]
[ What isn’t bothering her? Ophilia draws swiftly away, but Eren’s hand keeps her from straying too far. ]
N-nothing…? [ She enjoys lying as much as she is good at it—that is, not at all. Her skin is all aflame with embarrassment, and it gives her away entirely. ] But the keys! We mustn’t leave without locking the door and taking the keys!
I'm telling you, there aren't any. [ He sounds completely blase about that fact. ] I must've lost them somewhere.
[ Ophilia never ceases to amaze Eren. Though she tries so hard to conceal her blushing, Eren only needs a glance to spot it. He turns back to her with a look on his face that is his best attempt at not repeating her mistake. ]
If you want me to let go, that's on you. I've gotten used to doing this before I pay for anything.
[ In her current state, Ophilia decides it’d be best to table the lock-and-key argument for another time. Any discussion is bound to be unproductive, because Eren won’t budge and she’s probably seconds from spontaneously combusting on the spot herself. ]
I… see.
[ The weight of his gaze too much to bear, she drops her eyes and hangs her head. ]
Have you considered that perhaps it might, erm… give others cause for misunderstandings…? [ See: Ophilia. She is very much misunderstanding what it means to be dragged by the hand onto a dinner date with Eren. ]
[ He pauses and considers what they must look like. And he gets it, he really does. Ophilia has every right to be concerned about the many possible misconceptions one might make when anyone else were to see them walking hand-in-hand.
While there's a dozen different answers that could easily settle this in an instant, such as that the culture here is so vastly different that no one would bat an eye at them, or that there are so many people out there it hardly matters what they think, what Eren ends up saying hardly solves anything at all: ]
You're wearing gloves, so we obviously can't be close.
[ Ophilia’s chin comes up, her eyes flying comically wide. He cannot be serious. ]
But…!
[ Oh, but he is. Eren fully intends to stand by what he says regardless of how sound his logic may or may not be. Knowing full well she doesn’t stand a chance here either, she surrenders herself to yet another loss. ]
Y-yes. But of course. The gloves. [ She doesn’t sound convinced. ] Will we be gone long?
[ Eren catches on to her quite quickly. He gets them walking again before he responds, just to try and stifle any of her many possible concerns. ]
If you're worried about what might happen to my apartment while we're gone, don't be.
[ But even if he says "don't be worried" he knows that hardly makes a difference for her. So, as Eren drags Ophilia in front of an elevator, he stops and turns to face her, putting his free hand on his waist. ]
I'll have to get the lock replaced since I lost the key. When that happens, you're getting one too.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Might be. I'm not known for being very polite. [ Eren finally swallows and eyes her poor attempt at hiding her mouth like he can see right through it. ] It's not bad. If you like sweets this much, I can't help but wonder what else you enjoy. I was going to have dinner soon.
no subject
[ Ophilia says so playfully, not that she’d ever be able to manage any sort of malicious bite. She allows herself a small, stifled giggle before she finishes off the last of her morsel.
Eren’s next offer requires a lot more thought on her behalf. Ophilia’s imposed on him more than enough for one evening—several evenings, in fact—so she thinks it best to pull her legs out from underneath her chin and start cleaning up. She doesn’t want to overstay her welcome. ]
I’m not often spoiled for choice, so I can’t say I have a preference either way. If you’d like to have dinner, though, you mustn’t let me keep you. [ She sets the lid back onto the box, then moves to hop back up onto her feet. ]
no subject
What are you talking about? You're coming with. [ He takes the box up and off the ground, tossing it at the bare kitchen counter where it slides to a stop. ] Much as I liked it, that was hardly a meal. There's plenty of places to eat around here. I'm taking you to one of them, at least.
[ Leaving no room for her to rebuke him, Eren takes her by the hand and leads her to the front door, only to tug at it and stare at it with confusion. Then he draws his head back in mild surprise. ]
Why'd you lock it?
no subject
I-I beg your pardon?
[ Voice caught high in her throat, Ophilia stares at Eren incredulously as he jimmies the lock. None of this seems to bother him. Not his hand in hers, not his invitation to dinner with just the two of them—none of it. He takes both in stride, as if they come as easy as breathing to him. She almost has to wonder if there’s something wrong with her.
Swallowing hard, she wills her mouth open to speak. It’s all Ophilia can do to keep from stammering like an idiot. ]
Was I, erm… not supposed to? [ But perhaps more importantly: ] Do you not know how to unlock it?
no subject
I just don't bother locking it in the first place. I don't even know where the keys are.
[ He props the door open with a foot as he pulls her out into the hallway with him. Her own uncomfortable behavior hasn't slipped him by, and it's at that point that he decides to press it. ]
What's bothering you?
no subject
N-nothing…? [ She enjoys lying as much as she is good at it—that is, not at all. Her skin is all aflame with embarrassment, and it gives her away entirely. ] But the keys! We mustn’t leave without locking the door and taking the keys!
no subject
[ Ophilia never ceases to amaze Eren. Though she tries so hard to conceal her blushing, Eren only needs a glance to spot it. He turns back to her with a look on his face that is his best attempt at not repeating her mistake. ]
If you want me to let go, that's on you. I've gotten used to doing this before I pay for anything.
no subject
I… see.
[ The weight of his gaze too much to bear, she drops her eyes and hangs her head. ]
Have you considered that perhaps it might, erm… give others cause for misunderstandings…? [ See: Ophilia. She is very much misunderstanding what it means to be dragged by the hand onto a dinner date with Eren. ]
no subject
no subject
[ He pauses and considers what they must look like. And he gets it, he really does. Ophilia has every right to be concerned about the many possible misconceptions one might make when anyone else were to see them walking hand-in-hand.
While there's a dozen different answers that could easily settle this in an instant, such as that the culture here is so vastly different that no one would bat an eye at them, or that there are so many people out there it hardly matters what they think, what Eren ends up saying hardly solves anything at all: ]
You're wearing gloves, so we obviously can't be close.
no subject
But…!
[ Oh, but he is. Eren fully intends to stand by what he says regardless of how sound his logic may or may not be. Knowing full well she doesn’t stand a chance here either, she surrenders herself to yet another loss. ]
Y-yes. But of course. The gloves. [ She doesn’t sound convinced. ] Will we be gone long?
no subject
If you're worried about what might happen to my apartment while we're gone, don't be.
[ But even if he says "don't be worried" he knows that hardly makes a difference for her. So, as Eren drags Ophilia in front of an elevator, he stops and turns to face her, putting his free hand on his waist. ]
I'll have to get the lock replaced since I lost the key. When that happens, you're getting one too.