psycholawgy | ic contact;

[ she's silent.

too silent.

until-- ] Buttercup. [ said flatly. ] That's the worst you can think of, Amore Mio?

[ thank god it's only athena who can speak italian between the two of them... or so she thinks, anyway. . .

then she stops and almost trips when she realises what she just said. her face turns as red as her hair and she covers her face, paper bag hanging by her hands. ]

Oh my gosh. I didn't say that.

I wasn't trying to think of anything bad. [ There's a chill down his spine at the silence, even as he walks down the corridor, finally glancing back at her to witness...

Athena being a hot mess. ]

What? That language even was that?

[ softly: ] Italian...

But I don't to tell you what it means. [ never, ever. that was just too much. she may like him, but to call him her love is just something else. she just wanted a cute pet name, and that was the first thing that she ever thought of.

and she regrets it. ]

I think I'll just call you my Prince from now on. Even without the costume, you are one. To me, anyway.

Italian? [ He doesn't even know Italy is a country so... even if he asked, it doesn't help.

It's with restraint that he stops asking her about it, gaze softening as he watches her admit everything else. Instead of winding her up further, instead he says: ]

Let's go inside then, my Princess. Before we end up too late.

[ Even if neither of them would truly have that kind of title. ]

[ oh, thank god, he didn't decide to prod on it further. she would have died in a heartbeat. not that she isn't dying now. she's still so nervous and confused; lightheaded to the point that his words are the only ones guiding her on where to walk and where to go.

she still can't believe she said that. she didn't mean it. she didn't mean it. and it's going to eat her up alive just thinking about it throughout the movie. but hopefully, merlin doesn't notice that she's disturbed by anything and just eats his snacks and enjoys the whole 3d experience. ]

Do you mind if we sit in the middle?

[ He probably won't while the movie is starting up at least, giving her a little time to get used to this. Granted, when they walk through the door he's distracted enough anyway. The advertisements have already started and the screen is already brightly lit up. It's a miracle he doesn't throw nachos and cola all over the place as he yells out (far too loudly for a cinema): ]

WOAH. HAVE YOU SEEN THE SIZE OF THAT?!

[ and you thought you were embarrassing... Athena............ ]

[ her eyes dart around the cinema, seeing each and every patron's eyes focused at them... jesus. WHAT AN EMBARRASSING PERSON MERLIN IS-- holy lord. she shushes him and decides to run to the back of the room instead, up the stairs they go far from where people can see them because...

there's no need for anybody to be subjected to his commentary. just her. her alone is fine, and more than enough. ]

Don't be so loud! [ she says loudly, in a loud voice.

... they're hopeless. ]

[ The worst part is that he hasn't even noticed that they're getting all this attention now, he's trying to not trip up while staring at the screen, especially as he has the glasses on already and when he's in the middle he can see the effects in place.

Thankfully his attention is obviously also taken up by Athena most of the time and he glances back when he feels she's started going up already--

then proceeds to laugh because what a pair they make. Hopefully no one they know is in here tonight to see this display. ]

Have you used these before? [ He settles into his seat, barely registering that she chose the back instead. No one is watching them anymore. He balances his nachos on the chair next to him, putting his drink in the holder. ] I never thought I'd ever see something like this.

[ Well at least his rambling is quieter now ]

Used what? [ her tone's all hushed now, and she's even begun stuffing herself with some popcorn. actually, she just wanted those other snacks to take home. :) ] The glasses? Of course I have.

[ not unless he meant the cupholders or whatever else! she wouldn't know. ]

Enjoy yourself, alright?

[ because she'd enjoy the night more if he did. ]

[ Athena??? He isn't a credit machine... ] What else would it be?

[ Though he's practically leaning on the seat in front of them when the trailers start, nachos completely forgotten to the side because this is mesmerizing. Like watching spell after spell unfold but zoomed in.

When an explosion happens on screen, some kind of car racing movie with the car crashing he goes flying back into his seat with a loud: ] Woah-- [ He sounds breathless already.

Was this really a good idea???????? ]

[ BUT HE DID SAY HE WAS BUYING FOR THE NIGHT!!! :) She'll try to eat everything, anyway. Don't worry. But she's definitely leaving some candies for later when she studies. Not unless she passes out again. (She'll pass out again.)

The couple in front of them looks back when Merlin reacts to the crash, and Athena just laughs and explains that it's his first time.

And then to Merlin-- ] You can't just keep yelling like that or else we'll be asked to leave. [ she isn't angry or anything, just concerned. ]

[ He did... what a mistake that was. (not really)

He does at least look at little guilty for spoiling that poor couple's evening (well, only slightly. But he has to hold himself back for 2 hours. That's a challenge. ]

What do you want me to do? [ At least he isn't being loud when he says that, sulking slightly now they've been judged just because he was taken in by the experience. How sad. ] This is really intense, isn't it?

[ it really is a challenge, even for athena. they haven't been able to chat with each other in a while so going to watch a movie where they can't talk to each other so much is going to be a challenge. she'd love to catch up with him and hear his stories about his magical shop.

alas. ]

How's this? [ she shoves some popcorn into his mouth. ] If you feel like screaming, just grab hold of me instead.

[ athena cykes' famous last words. ]

[ There's always after but... it's really difficult to keep his mouth shut to begin with. He ends up slowly chewing the popcorn, slouching down in the seat as he tries to get comfortable. ]

Does that mean I can hold your hand, or is it too busy stuffing you with popcorn?

[ He glances at her, not even minding that the movie is actually starting now and he isn't as focused on it. He's still a bit worried he'll embarrass her again now honestly. ]

[ what a loser. ]

I have two hands.

[ she even slides her arm into his now and leans on his shoulder. happy? ]

You do, but you also have a huge bag of sweets. [ Thankfully his nachos haven't gone flying off the other chair and he can use his free hand for one of those, warmth flowing into the side of his body where Athena is tucking herself now.

Even if he might want to jump when at certain scenes, it's easy to ignore the feeling like this. ]

[ it's gotten darker now, but she gives him a look. ]

What? I can do it. I can be there for you while I eat and watch the movie.

[ He squints at her in the darkness. ] I don't have some kind of mental affliction, you know? It's just... exciting. Experiencing this for the first time. With you.

[ kill me ]

That wasn't what I was trying to say.

[ but she leans in and kisses him on the cheek, anyway. ]

I just don't want your first time to get ruined by some robots.

[ It's a good job he's leaning down in his seat, isn't it? Though once she pulls away he moves to follow her, catching the corner of her mouth. ]

They wouldn't. Ruin it. I mean.

[ yes, bless you, you goddamn giant. she focuses on the screen now, watching some kind of trailer for another animal-related film. something about finding a forgetful fish.

it's kind of cute. . . ]

If you say so. But. Like I said, just hold onto me, okay?

[ He only mumbles something unintelligible in return, watching the screen instead as he lets his head roll sideways to rest against hers. There's a few crunching noises as he eats his nachos one by one, chewing slowly as he focuses on the movie now.

It's with less enthusiasm than before, but he still feels happy and content to be here. By the time the film is well underway he's forgotten food exists or that his neck is going to get a crick at this rate. Oops. ]

[ the movie is fun and all, but she can't help but yawn every now and then. there's nobody to blame but herself. she's been running herself ragged trying to work as many jobs as possible lately. . . damn those flamines for getting all her money. and she really wants to make it up to ai and all her friends to helping her and even giving her food every now and then.

she has a lot of catching up to do.

it's just yawning at first, and she still manages to watch the film, but eventually, she rests her head on merlin's and falls asleep.

sorry. :( ]

[ It does, at least, take him a little while to notice. They're around 45 minutes into the movie even, and even at this point he's been trying to keep his laughter down so no one looks back at them again. When he notices that she's fallen asleep he shifts slowly, carefully reaches for her popcorn that is dangerously toppling and lowers it to the chair on the other side of her. That done he slowly peels his arm from hers, only to slide it around her shoulders to cuddle her in a bit better.

These seats are hardly the most comfortable for something like is, but it works well enoug if he twists a bit, hand rubbing up and down her side in slow, soothing motions. He kisses her temple, letting his cheek rest there after so he can keep watching the movie while she rests, he doesn't want to disturb her if she's really this tired.

Idly, he glances down every so often at the bracelet around her wrist, hoping that it's giving her pleasant dreams. ]

[ and pleasant dreams are indeed what she's having. she doesn't know it just yet, but they're probably the most serrne dreams she's had in a while.

she stirs awake, though, because it's practically impossible to stay asleep in a movie theatre for so long. ]

Did I? [ fall asleep, she means... though that's probably obvious because she has no idea what's happening in the movie anymore. nevertheless, she moves as closer as she can to merlin to get more warmth. it's a lot better this way. ]

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Tags this for cute stuff to help me through the day [cryingcat]

i need cute things too... I had a nightmare