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No spoilers or you're not a true fan.

I sort of get why you bond with the bunny girl? The scene where she brings cookies for her classmates at their elite high school to try and convince them she's not just some stuck up snob...it really reminded me of the night I met you.

That part, really? Oh, gosh, I hadn't even thought about that.
...They didn't eat her cookies, either.
I was thinking more about her dealing with the expectations of her overbearing family and the judgment she receives from others.
You know, not being like everyone else. Whether because of her ears or wealth, people look at her odd.
I imagine someone mysterious showing up and stealing my heart, too.

Oh. And the ears. Even if mine are fake.

But now that you mention it, the ninja is a bit like you.
Cool! Quiet! Mysterious! Refuses cookies!
Although I suppose you'd remind me of just about any ninja, really.
Those all are requisites for being a ninja, after all.

I just don't trust food from strangers in this place! It does weird things to you.
The ninja and the bunny have that in common...they come from such different backgrounds, but they're both alienated by the society around them.
Even though the bunny has a lot of class privilege. I used to hate people like that, but now I think a lot of them are trapped by their circumstances, in their own way.
Do you feel like people judge you a lot?

Sometimes. Both here and at home.
I know I'm strange and not good at anything.
But that's okay!
I've met so many people that accept me that I can't be upset.
Like the girl in the story, though, it would be nice for a chance to prove myself.
Wouldn't that be great? Making friends with the people who used to judge you?

Yeah. I've found that people can change their mind, even about big things, when you show them that what they believed wasn't totally true.
And sometimes you have to change the way you think too, to understand them.
In a way, it makes the friendship even better. Because it's like you both had to give up something to get it.

...Sorry.
I already forgot you've had to deal with the same thing. Definitely more than me.
I didn't want to get all serious.
But I think I understand what you mean.
By understanding other people you inherently end up changing, right?
If you change, then you lost something, but also gained something.
I hope by understanding normal people better I can change for the better.

Normal people? I don't even know what that means. You're...a little weird, but not /that/ weird.
Also
I got to the kiss.

[ There's a strong emotional affect, along the lines of "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ]

That was dreamy.

Thanks. I think?

[At least she has long gotten used to everyone thinking she's weird.

Elphelt responds with her own '!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'.]

I KNOW, RIGHT?!
Right after he saves her from some never-do-wells when she went into the seedy part of the city in an attempt to find him...
Escorting her back home safely, even though she would rather stay away...
Then right there under the moonlight on her balcony!!
Even after all that talk about him not being able to love anyone because of his troubled past!

I mean, it wasn't the smartest decision on her part! Going off alone like that without knowing the risks or being prepared.
But that made it more romantic, that he was there for her when she really needed him.
He's really a sweetheart, and a protector.
The stuff about not being able to love anyone...people say that when they're hurt, or scared of love.
What exactly burned him so bad that he can't open up any more?
I'm betting...dead first love? Or maybe orphan backstory.
I guess you've already read it!! Don't tell me.

You've got to be careful! I don't have much of a brain to mouth filter, so you can imagine how I am when you take one of those steps out.
If I accidentally think something that spoils things, please don't be upset!
Heehee.

But...Do you think that's it?
"I can't love anyone." People say that because they're hurt or afraid?
...That would explain a lot.
But they're also the ones that need love the most.
No one should be alone.

Anyway, I'll have you know doing the smartest thing doesn't usually apply to romance.
After all, thinking with your heart and thinking with your head usually leads to two different things!

Then how are we supposed to make decisions? I haven't really figured that out yet...
When I think with my heart I want to reach out to my friends. People I love.
But when I think with my head, I worry that I'll hurt them or we'll hurt each other.
It's been...a confusing thing, in the last year.

Emotions are complicated. They can hurt. A lot.
So much so that I thought it would be better not to have them at all so I wouldn't hurt myself or my friends.
Like being an emotionless tool would solve things.
But that's not true.
Thinking with your head is important, but ignoring how you feel won't do anyone any good, either.

...So I guess what I'm saying is I don't know how to make decisions, either, but it shouldn't be at the expense of your feelings.

I thought something like that too... And you're right, it totally didn't work.
You're not an emotionless tool!
The fact that you love romance novels proves that much. Haha.

Heehee, do you think so?
I do wonder if it's just a fascination with something I can't understand, though...

But I'm glad you're listening to how you feel!
Being alone always hurts, so take that risk.

I guess I don't really understand it either. The one long relationship I had...we had a lot of issues.
Is it about your...programming, for you? You never really ended up explaining that to me. What it is, and stuff.

... ... ...
Hey, do you want to get a coffee?
...I don't like sitting here alone, thinking about that stuff.
This right here is not quite the same as talking in person.

Sure. I just finished a chapter anyway, I'll put down this book for a while.
There's a cafe in the merchant's quarter I like.

Okay!
...I'll be in the area in no time. Once you're there, show me where you are and we'll meet up and you can show me to the cafe.
Oh!
I'm paying. Don't argue!

[ The square's a good meeting point, its clock tower rising high above all the buildings around. The sky's as grey as the cobblestones, but it doesn't bother Blake; she's always liked the subdued majesty of calm winter weather. She pulls her coat tighter around her, then sends Elphelt a mental image of the streetcorner she's standing on. ]

Here.

[With the cold, the area is less busy than Elphelt is used to. It is still a distraction from being alone, but noting the difference is still strange to her given how she has been feeling lately. It's good Blake doesn't take long to contact her and Elphelt scurries over to her, being not too far away and knowing the area fairly well.

She is not in that wedding dress of hers, but a long pink skirt and a white blouse. She is wearing a red jacket, but only for appearance's sake. The cold is, at worst, mildly uncomfortable to her.Elphelt bounds down the street to Blake, beaming.]

Miss Belladonna! It's great to see you.

Hi.

[ Blake gives her a smile: small, but sincerely meant. ]

You know you can call me Blake, right? Weiss is the classy lady, not me.

[ Miss Belladonna makes her feel like she's in school again, or maybe reminds her of those creepy White Fang bootlickers who feign politeness to your face and scheme murder behind your back. Obviously that's not what Elphelt's going for, though. And Blake is happy to see her. ]

Yes, yes, I know.

[Elphelt can get a little extreme in her (failed) attempts at being a prim and proper lady and that includes being excessively polite. Not that she minds being more personal and, you now, normal.]

Then Blake it is. Seeing as we're on the subject, you can call me El, if you'd like. It's what people close to me use, so if you, you know, would like to.

All right. El. [ She nods, trying to look serious, but the careful politeness in El's tone gets to her and she covers her mouth with one hand to stifle a giggle. There might even be a very mild tease in her tone as she says: ]

Shall we, you know? Walk to the cafe? I mean, would you like to?

Oh. Oh, yes!

[The teasing tone is too light to not go right over her head, so Elphelt nods, taking Blake seriously. This is what she came here for, after all. Even if she knows she is going to talk about something serious, she is looking forward to this.

Elphelt spins around and hooks an arm around one of Blake's.]

Please lead the way.

[ She startles a little at the touch -- no one except Mom and Dad and her teammates ever gets that close -- but relaxes into it after a moment. ]

It's just a couple blocks. Umm...how are you?

[ That's what you ask when you're hanging out with friends, right? ]

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