Second Try [DerLampman]

Adelene was scared Eph's reaction was because she WA going to reject her. She thought Eph was laughing at her because she was being absurd and she was never going to get her chance to make it up to her.

Eph's laugh was disturbing as fuck. Adelene was worried, but at the same time she had to cover her mouth because she felt her own laugh bubbling up from her chest, and she felt guilty about it. Eph said it was a precious thing to say, and worry turned to confusion almost immediately.

"Really..?" her brows made wrinkles above her nose. She eyed the hat, absentmindedly taking it. Eph said cute. Oh well, she wasn't the cute one, so she decided to shrug it off. "Does this mean you're saying yes..?"
@"DerLampman"

The warning wasn't really all that helpful, as five seconds weren't enough for Adelene to register that Eph was going to hug her. She still flinched, but she quickly relaxed in her hug. And then, as the scene sunk into her, she slowly brought up her own arms to Eph's shoulder blades. She was hugging her back, but not as much as Eph was hugging her.

"Thank you, Eph!"

A soft laugh bubbled up from her chest. As if it's become much lighter instantly, relief washing over whatever had made it heavy.

She pulled away a few moments later, titling her head at Eph's seemingly rhetorical bit apparently not so rhetorical question. "...I don't know," she said. "I've met a lot of people and... they're all usually nice to me. Although... there are people I tend to... dislike..." Meant that she was actually the picky one. She wasn't going to tell Eph that she had a natural disliking to other girls unless she finds something special or beautiful about them and their personality. "You're my first female friend... to be honest... But then again, I don't really have too many friends yet. Why'd you ask?"
@"DerLampman"

Adelene laughed it off. Even though Eph thought it was insensitive, Adelene honestly agreed, and it was only a matter of fact to her. She saw that Eph was just asking out of curiosity anyway, and that wasn't really a bother.

"It's a problem, you say? Maybe, maybe."

Before anything else, Adelene grabbed Eph's hand again and led her to an area shaded by the roof, before she sat down on the cool concrete ground. They took the effort to come here and talk, might as well sit down and stay for a while.

"I'll tell you why. It's not really a secret but... don't tell anyone, okay? They might be offended. Oh, and I hope you don't find it bad, either." She let her hand go and leaned against the wall. "I'm more used to a male's company 'cause they're the ones I needed for connections before I went here. I usually went to all kinds of pubs and bars to gather information, and most good people I met are guys. The girls I've encountered were mostly punies who don't even know how to swing an axe right. They can't defend themselves when needed."

Technically, she just hated softies. She'd hate puny guys too, she just haven't met one yet.

"If it's not like that, some girls I saw in bars are also too slutty for my taste."

And bitches. With terrible personalities.

"Oh Eph, but you're a fun and adorable girl! Even your outfit is cute, I swear. Though... not sure I'll be willing to try any dresses on."

She said it all so casually, with a smile even.

"Which reminds me, how've you been?"
@"DerLampman"

"It was a figure of speech, Eph! I adore people who know their own weapons. I just don't like puny ones."

Eph had bragged about her choice of blades, and Addy grinned to that. She knew most people in this place knew how to fight somehow, which makes her first reason of disliking people less likely, but the second reason... that's a different case. And even though Eph somewhat angered her during picnic, her first impression of her that she was a funny and adorable girl lingered.

And she was right. Eph was absolutely funny and adorable, especially when she suddenly gets lost in her thoughts, just like when she looked at the clouds. Adelene giggled and nodded.

The self-freeze caught her attention in a less casual attention though. Of course, Eph had that power, so she can do it willingly, and without getting in trouble. But no matter how much she wanted it, Adelene can only be curious, nothing more.

"I wish I can clear out some memories too when I'm fed up. Unless I hit myself on the head with my baseball bat, that's not really possible." A sigh escaped her slightly curved up lips.

She closed her eyes briefly, but Eph managed to take her attention again with another question. Adelene blinked at her, before her eyes wandered around as she thought of what to say. She turned back to Eph and shrugged.

"Is that how it sounds like? I don't watch movies that much so... I don't really know how they're like." She also didn't consider her life to be movie-worthy. "Also, before I came here... I was just constantly running away from one person. He's really powerful, but... he still wants my power for some reason. Can't let him have it." She shrugged again. And to make clear that she wasn't going to tell Eph anything more, she waved her hand dismissively in the wind in front of her.

"I really wish I could also temporarily freeze myself..."
@"DerLampman"

Confused brows wrinkled Adelene's forehead, but she patiently and curiously listened to Eph as the lizard lady spoke of this Crystal person who was living with her. Turns out it was another fun story. And she chuckled as Eph finished. "I think it's a little weird, to be honest," her lips were curved up to a grin as she spoke. "But I'm not that familiar with people whose powers are like yours, so I don't really know. Maybe not so weird after all?"

Adelene turned to the clouds, too, but she was looking at the ones far away, and she'd lean more against the wall and try to relax. She really wanted to try that, maybe she'll get her head cleared if Eph froze her for a few moments. After the incident during picnic day, she's been really hoping to find some sort of distraction from all the guilt.

"Eph, how do you do it? What happens if you do it to me?"
@"DerLampman" (who's being classy?)