(no subject)

[talktogirls]

His heart had been racing faster than the parts of the Hallowen music occupanying the theme park when Ruby agreed to come join his group. Gus, Hazel and the others went ahead of him, with the promise he'd catch up. Sam waited near the front as he promised, next to markers he pointed out over their communication in the unsettling but brightly colored clown mural and the merry go round of elephants, lions and tigers.

This wasn't like any other time meeting up with Ruby. It was a date. One of the first since he had a few conversations with Ruby and his mother seperately about boundaries and having a relationship anyway. In preparation, he had bought the couples package worth of tickets so they could go on rides and play almost every game at least one each. He thought she would like candy floss so he bought her one; at it's core it was red, orange in the middle and yellow on top.

From a certain distance he looked anxious but the minute he saw Ruby come up, he smiled his trademark bright and white smile. It had only been eightteen hours since he saw her last but her presence never got old. "You're right on time. Uh...so, this is for you." He hands her the floss. "Everybody went a head to the haunted house already but I let them know we might play a few games first too. We can start where ever you like." Yes, he's a little awkward but he'll a hang of this platonic dating thing eventually.

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[peaceonearth]

"Oh, I've definitely had fun with this," she promises him. "I'm thinking Ferris Wheel next." Is it exciting, no, but it's got a great view and they get to be alone together in public. If she weren't a preternatural creature with freaky balance, she probably would have been thrown off balance as well. She helps him regain his balance as they step outside. "Never any doubt in my mind we would, Samuel," she tells him with a wink then heads toward the ferris wheel with his hand in hers.

[talktogirls]

He smiles at her suggestion. "I like that idea." Some time together without the noise is just what they need after the haunted house. He could use a moment to relax with her overlooking the night sky. "But can I get you anything else before we line up? What about the cotton candy?" He still has to find his balance once they're out but her assistance keeps him from stumbling over his feet too much. He feels goosebumps on the back of his neck when she says his name like that. His upstairs brain needs a moment to process that he should move his feet to follow behind her. "A little louder so everyone else can hear you."His knees feel weak the moment she winks at him.

[peaceonearth]

"I'm good. Promise," she responds to his offer to get her something else. "I'm pretty low maintenance," she assures him. The reaction to his name is noticed and it makes her grin a bit. "Oh, I think everyone else will figure it out," she assures him as they head toward the Ferris Wheel line.

[talktogirls]

"Alright. Let me know when you do." He won't push, but it's not a proper date unless he asks like a gentleman. He's there to have fun with her otherwise. "Do you indulge in anything?" He jests, but genuinely curious. He knows well by now that Ruby doesn't want for material things, much less food beyond sharing fries or fried food with him. Since they're dating now, there's more desire to get to know about her.

"Maybe." He looks to his side momentarily. It takes a number of moments before his heart slows again. He'll never get used to hearing his full name from her lips, her tone.

The line moves fairly fast as other couples go around the ferris wheel only twice before getting off. Before long it is their turn. It's more of a gesture of love when he gives her a hand up into the cage before he steps in behind her. As an added feature, there's a camera they can feed tickets into to get a photo at the top. Sam sits next to Ruby and studies the machine for a second. "I don't think it's a bad idea to have one memorable photo that isn't a selfie," he shares. "What do you think?" He looks to her, back to the machine and her again. Part of his excitement is that he never saw a photo stand in his life before.

[peaceonearth]

His question takes her by surprise a bit. "Bubble baths." She's got a bathtub that comfortably fits two people and a cabinet full of bubble baths, oils, and soaps. "Chocolate-covered strawberries," she pauses, considering her other indulgences. "Do you count paperback romance novels? I'm pretty low maintenance, but sometimes I like to spend all day in bed with a couple of books." She's not exactly sure that's what he's talking about, but it feels like an indulgence to her.

She would be very disappointed if he did get used to it and stop reacting.

Ruby likes when he makes those little gestures. Yes, she can get into the seat by herself, but she likes how they make her feel. Once they're seated, he snuggles up next to him. "I think it's a great idea." Sh studies the machine. It looks like one of those standard strip photo booth things so they'll get three poses to split.

[talktogirls]

It shouldn't. He has watched her with interest from the minute he was born and always wanted to learn and know about her best. He appreciates the thoughtful answer to her previous low maintenance one. He smiles a little wider. "I always thought something like that had to do with your company." If only he knew the full extent of it. "How does next time sound good for chocolate fondue?" Should she agree, she just given their next date idea. Books have always been something he felt they had in common but a part of him is surprised or flustered to learn she might mean spicier reads. Not that he judges her. In fact, the opposite comes to mind about how exciting it might be down the road when they can date more seriously. Just a few months more in the grand scheme. "If it has pages, it counts. Maybe someday soon we can read in bed together." The second part is quieter than the first. He realizes he said a quiet thought aloud and bites the corner of his lip.

Maybe Sam would get used to it with time, but his reactions will never cease. It has much to do with his attraction to her.

Sam feels electricity run through his body from his fingertips when she takes his hand. It's always the little things that create the largest spark. Next to her, he wraps an arm around her. He loves being close to her just like that, even though it takes some courage not to pull his arm back. "Any suggestions before we reach the top?" He assumes they only get one photo as there isn't any instruction. (Surely, the other two photos will surprise him when they come out.) He instinctively presses closer to her.

[peaceonearth]

She smiles a bit at his response. "Yes. I was making those things for myself before I ever made it a company." Her brows go up a little. "Chocolate fondue sounds delicious. We'll get fruit, maybe some cheese, and croissants too." Oh, she definitely prefers the spicy books in her downtime. She has other kinds of books on her shelves as well. He's welcome to pursue them and read whatever he likes. Her expression is surprised again, followed by a look of nostalgia and yearning that he might not immediately recognize on her. In his previous life, they spent a good deal of time in bed reading to each other or just reading their own books together. "I would like that. You could bring your own book over or borrow one of mine." Her library is fairly extensive. She has an e-reader, but prefers physical books of her own rather than ones borrowed from the local library.

She rests her head on his shoulder when he puts his arm around her, content to sit snuggled up with him for the moment. She hums a little at his question. "I could kiss your cheek."

[talktogirls]

He always uses what she gives him for his hair as a present. That's part of why he's always noticed her hair is soft. "Do you make scents too?" He's wondered about her perfume since the beginning of time, but more as of late since he started to feel drawn to it. He sees her eyebrows as approval and smiles wider. "It's a date. I'll bring everything you said and those tiny pretzels and marshmallows too." His personal opinion is that neither anyone, nor himself, has lived unless they had tried the thing with marshmallows. Given time, he will warm up to the book she reads. He just needs a little encouragement to pick one up and read a passage to her. He might not recognize the look on her face, but it tells him she's open to the idea of growing closer and spending time. He could see himself spending hours just reading next to her in her company. "Is there one you're reading now? I am half way through one called Behind Closed Doors. I have mixed feelings about it, if I'm honest. It's everything not to do in a relationship." A loving relationship. Though he likes a good thriller, the hint he gives off is that he could be convinced to read something new.

With his other hand, he sweeps his hair back before coming up with an answer. "Yeah. I guess, sure. Maybe, I could put my head against yours." She gives him exactly the amount of confidence to nod to her statement in agreement and more.

[peaceonearth]

"We do now, but when I first started everything was lavender with a spicey undertone. The girls convinced me that not everyone wanted to smell like me," she says with a soft smile. "I still make the lavender and spice oil at home. It helps cover the sulfur scent," she explains. "You can come over right after you get out of school." It's a regular enough schedule for them already anyway. He doesn't have to read the same books as her; she's listened to him read his own books before. However, hers are sexier to read in bed. "it's called Hooked. Peter Pan for grownups retelling," she explains. "I've seen that one in the store. It's a domestic thriller, isn't it? Most of those have pretty messed up relationships in them. You can borrow mine if you like. I'll finish it in a day or so."

She half smiles at him. "Just smile and act like you like me," she teases in response.

[talktogirls]

Sam has an affinity for the way Ruby smells but he recognizes that the girls have a point. If everyone liked her smell, it wouldn't be special. He holds back a small bit of laughter that instead curls on his lips with the way Ruby fondly tells the story of the twins' honesty. It makes him think about what it must like to have kids. "If it's any consolation, I like," he stops midway to clear his throat, "I like the way it smells on you. It suits you. Sulfur doesn't bother me either." It matters to him that she knows, though he had said something to the same effect to her in his previous life too. "Tomorrow?" He already forgets if school is in or not the following day. Books along with her company are the root cause of his eagerness. It normally would be easy for him to admit that he isn't interested in certain books like that, but Ruby is a big factor that he becomes more curious than to shy away. He feels accepting her offer to bother it will help him understand her desires in the future and he nods. "It's just a book. I think I can handle it. Sure, I'll borrow it when I'm done." He might eat his words later. But it will be eye opening. "Yeah, that's the one. I can't explain what is so appealing about it, but I'm rooting for Grace. Maybe... Maybe it's because I want to be better. Sometimes, these kinds of books can show you even the small stuff that people mess up on. Do you think that's weird?" Even now, he has a sense that he might do something wrong if he doesn't read. "You can borrow mine, too. Like a trade."

The look in his eyes already cast back a look that shares with her that she is the most wonderful person he knows. The light of the camera captures them at that moment.

[peaceonearth]

It had been an acquired affinity in his former life, but it's something he's always known here. In any case, many of the products smell of lavender alone because it's calming. The twins had always been encouraged to be honest. Their father had simply tried to instill a sense of kindness along with the honesty. "It's more of a problem when I'm using any power, but I'm glad it doesn't bother you." Her brows go up and her expression turns to amusement. "It's a date. I'll set the living room up like a picnic."

She listens to his commentary about books, considering it carefully. "I don't think it's weird, but I think a lot of those books rely on mental illnesses or personality defects taken to an extreme to drive the reactions so it's very specific to that type of person. I think they can point out some more normal, less extreme behaviors to be aware of though." He needn't worry about that. They'd discuss anything he was doing that was an issue.

She looks at him with the same sort of affection and fondness. It's a good picture. The wheel crawls upward a few more feet then stops so they can get a good look at the view from above.