Wapun Meadow downtown

She liked this a lot. This game - er, it felt like a game anyway — of trying to stay composed while he spoke so smoothly and charmed so easily. Anyone else would've seen through his feigned confidence but Ibis was a simple girl with a simple enough life, and here was this sweet boy with a ruggedly handsome face, secrets, mysteries, stories she wanted to know - talking to her like she was worth something.

Then he dashed it all, giving her a look that she managed to meet for all of ten seconds; I wish I could head back with you, Ibis, he said. Bad timing. Fate pulling them apart. It was so romantic — and Ibis was eating it up, feeling her heartstrings tug at the thought of going back to her mission without him. Me too, she ventured shyly, swallowing those butterflies. I—I mean, I'd like to hear... More, about you. Sometime. If you're ever, you know, around...

She wasn't nearly as smooth as Tristan but she wanted to be, and shared with him a shy little smile.