Private Finished Frozen Monkey

[Emotions: Content, perky, somewhat disturbed]

Tiffany couldn't shake the feeling of her last vision, the bitter taste it left in her mouth. She did her best to distract herself so that the people around her wouldn't worry. "You haven't? That sounds like a right crime! Two baked goods every week or else you'll be subject to pastry rehabilitation!" she threatened lightheartedly.

"Tea sounds good! I'm feeling in the mood for some pomegranate," she said with a thoughtful hum. "I don't mind sharing a kettle. Do we get separate tea bags?"

"A favor? I'd be happy to help you even without the favor," she said with a reassuring smile. "I know a great place near here, too! I used to get like, all my shoes there. They even have a section for men!"

Tiffany paused, wondering why he needed more shoes. She glanced down at his bare feet, then paused a gain. She pulled out her phone and opened up the picture of the dog she had taken (right behind her picture of Xing's mien). After a couple seconds, she snorted and burst out into giggles. "Oh my God! Did that dog take your shoes?" she said, turning the phone around to show him the picture. "Were you like, up in a tree? I honestly thought you'd fallen from heaven, but trees make soo much more sense. What were you doing up there, anyways?"

[Emotions: content, perky, focused]

She got a laugh out of him! They were like, basically married already. Okay, Tiffany, one step at a time.

Tiffany gasped and jokingly shushed him. "You can't let them know you'd actually like it! You'll totally ruin it for all of us; whatever would we do without our pastry rehabilitation?" she said in a conspiratorial whisper. She took a seat at one of the tables and waited for him to join her.

Her blue eyes were glued to his tail, watching it unravel with clear interest. "Oh--duhh, Tiffany!" She felt so dumb that she hadn't pieced it together before--monkeys and trees went hand in hand! Of course he'd be climbing around. She laughed at herself. "I've climbed a few trees in my life-time; I'm practically an expert. I mean, I've also fallen out of every single one, so I'm practically an expert in falling, too. Never had my shoes stolen by a dog, though! I'm glad you aren't upset that you lost a pair."

Tiffany leaned closer to him--or at least closer to his side of the table. "So! Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do for fun? Have any hobbies? The most embarrassing memory you have from your childhood?" Getting real deep here already.

[Emotions: perky, cheerful, focused, flirty]

"I think so too! It was fun, and I got to show off all my bruises at school. I would've gotten bonus points if I broke an arm or a leg and came in with a cast because everyone would've wanted to sign it, but my body is springy and resilient."

Did Tiffany just stumble upon....a sugar daddy? "No way, you've already bought me tea!" she laughed. "If you want to buy me something, go for it, though! No need to do it as a favor or to pay me back for helping you."

Tiffany watched as he took off his coat and teasingly said, "You're already stripping for me? My charms must be working better than I thought!" Her eyes roamed over his tattoos, clearly intrigued. She murmured, "Such beautiful markings..."

Her brow quirked, and her attention was drawn by his answer. Dang, he didn't give up his most embarrassing secrets! "That sounds fun! But...you sound like you haven't done that for a while. Right? Or am I just hearing things? Maybe the snow addled my brain!"

[Emotions: perky, cheerful, flirty]

"I like them. You have good taste," she said with a sweet smile. When he held out his arms, she hummed and inspected them closer. She reached out as well but she did not touch, her finger carefully following the markings, hovering above his skin like a drop of water on a hot surface.

Blue eyes flickered back up to meet his. "Over a year? I bet you really miss your family. Well, here on Manta Carlos you'll bump into anyone and everyone, so I'm sure you'll find her in no time! Though, I don't suppose you'll find her sitting here with me." She laughed quietly and thanked him for the refill. Her fingers were thankfully beginning to warm up.

"Yup! College freshman. But I haven't really decided a major--or a minor, really," she said. "It's kind of hard to figure out! I've been thinking about studying psychology to be a therapist or something. My friends tell me I'm actually kind of good at that sort of thing, so it's like, why not! Or I could major in acting and be like my mom. She's a pretty good actress, you know? I don't know if you ever would've heard of her, though. Did you guys watch TV in the Himalayas? ....Is that a stupid question?"

[Emotions: perky, flirty, energetic]

Tiffany had never really learned how to properly deal with the thought and fact that everyone could feel when she was attracted to someone. It hadn't blown over so well in her grade school days; she couldn't choose who she was attracted to, but no one really understood that. Tiffany had been shunned and ridiculed by girls who thought she would steal all their boyfriends. It took a lot of self control after that not to feel drawn to someone, to distract herself enough that she didn't feel anything but friendliness.

Now? Well, it was getting tough. Perhaps she was just getting rusty but her attraction was leaking through and her power of reverse empathy (the traitor it sometimes was) wasn't going to start hiding that now.

Tiffany remained positive. "A rural village? I feel a bit spoiled now," she laughed. She brushed her hair back and away from her neck. "I don't remember a time I grew up without technology in some form. Not even to a theatre? It might not be the same, but I have a home theatre if you ever want the experience!"

She was even about to mention that they had all the movies her mother was in, too, but she was taken by surprise with his compliment. Had it been just a smidge more vague, it would've flown over her head. "Thank you! Wow, you...you really think I'm pretty?" she grinned, excited.