During breakfast, Kyrie looks around occasionally at the people sitting around him, eating their breakfast silently while occasionally having some small talk here and there. No one feels awkward in the silence as they focus on their meal in front of them.
Kyrie's attention draws to Imogen when she finally talks for the first time since they sat down to eat.
"Isn't the coffee too bitter for you?" Imogen eyes at Laurel, attempting to drink black coffee.
Laurel takes a sip, "No… You are sweet enough!"
Laurel tries really hard not to frown at the bitterness while simultaneously controlling her wish to run out of the dining room.
Imogen pauses for a second before letting out a smile and flicks Laurel's forehead. Laurel pouts, but she slowly lifts the corners of her lips when she sees Imogen adding sugar and milk to her coffee. Laurel internally celebrates her win even though her guts are contorting from the cringe.
Kyrie almost drops his fork from the enlightenment.
[Goddamn smooth…Certified flirt!]
Kyrie lifts his thumbs of approval in which Laurel blushes that someone caught her act.
He timidly glances at Ian in the corner of his eyes, and he widens his eyes. What he has feared is turning reality!
The special effects are in full capacity! Flower petals are falling without a single cherry blossom on sight.
[We are at the beginning of autumn, for Vita's sake! At least be seasonally correct!]
The special effects correct themselves, and maple leaves start to fall. To add to the mood, some holy aura glow around Ian's figure.
[Goddamn it!]
Kyrie turns his head, flustered. His eyes land on Ian's coffee as he glances through the table.
[Two full spoons of sugar and a lot of milk since Ian doesn't like it too bitter.]
Kyrie gets surprised at the sudden thought. When Ian tries to reach the sugar, Kyrie instead takes it. Then, he scoops the amount of sugar and puts in the amount of milk that he just thought naturally.
He stirs the coffee and gives it back to Ian. When their eyes meet, Kyrie's heart flutters at the sight of Ian's surprised look.
"Thank you," Ian slightly blushes as he looks down at the swirling coffee.
"Hmm…" Kyrie takes his eyes back down to his dish.
[Look at me… Foolishly happy over this…]
The marquis and marchioness, who witness it, smile at the awkward couple. Maybe they are worrying too much.
'They will be fine.' The marchioness thinks as she holds her husband's hand.
After breakfast, Imogen and Laurel plan to go outside, saying that they need to gather some information about the current gold trade and the cases of missing souls. They fill Kyrie in with the information they have gathered from the potion merchant, Lech, and the temple blocking Imogen's access to the Garden of Oracles.
Although Kyrie offers to go with them, they decline his offer since Kyrie just woke up from his coma. Plus, Kyrie would do better if he is with Ian since all his memories that he lost are associated with Ian.
Kyrie could not debate their reasoning, even though he would like to get his mind on something else since his brain is on some kind of hallucinogenic drug. Ian looks too dazzling, and his shallow heart cannot help but want to simp.
Handsome men are his downfall, but for some reason, Kyrie cannot shake off the feeling that he needs to be responsible to Ian.
He looks at Imogen and Ian in front of him, talking to each other. They seem to be immersed in the topic. However, from time to time, Kyrie catches Ian turning back to look at him as if he would disappear if Ian loses sight of him. Kyrie tries to hold his smile and remain with a neutral expression as if he is not aware.
[How cute… It would be nice if I can ease the awkwardness between us…]
*Blop
A small book falls, and Kyrie notices only when he steps on it. He picks up the palm-sized book and almost bursts out laughing at the title - <Quenching the Thirst! A Hundred Super Effective Pick Up Lines!>
Curious, Kyrie stops walking and opens to a page in the middle of the book. He can see that the owner has marked up the book through and through. He reads over a couple of lines, but he gets startled when the book suddenly disappears from his hands. Laurel blushes so intensely as she pockets back the book.
She looks at Kyrie like she has word constipation. Kyrie lets out a playful smirk and puts his arm around her shoulders.
"Say… Wanna share the treasure?"
Laurel's eyes shine when Kyrie is actually interested in teaming up and trying out some pickup lines. They secretly form a bond by shaking each other's hands. Their eyes shine as they look at their prey's back.
---
When they are at the main door, Imogen and Ian turn around to watch Laurel and Kyrie giggling and whispering about something.
"Try the one with space pants that I told you," Kyrie chuckles just by thinking Imogen's expression.
"What are space pants?" Laurel asks, lifting a brow.
"Don't ask too much! Just do it! Imogen will understand."
Laurel looks at Kyrie weirdly but nods since it might be an inside joke.
Laurel and Kyrie shut their mouths once they get closer to Imogen and Ian as if nothing really happened. Kyrie senses some hostility coming from Imogen, but he refuses to look back at her. Imogen clicks her tongue while searching through Laurel to find any clues for the conspiracy these two could be plotting.
Before sending them off, Laurel looks back at Kyrie, worried, but Kyrie, on the other hand, sends her thumbs up as if his encouragement will help her calm her nerves.
[Why do I feel like the friend who encourages the other to approach her crush despite having zero relationship experience? We will see if it works when she comes back...]
Kyrie spreads an evil smile while Ian looks at Laurel, hoping that Kyrie will not corrupt her. The illness has no cure!
While in the carriage towards the city, Imogen looks at Laurel, biting her bottom lip nervously.
'What did that cockroach say to Laurel?' Imogen thinks as she grumbles.
"Laurel."
"Hmm?" Laurel quickly turns her head.
"Are you alright?"
As if her thoughts are leaking, Laurel's eyes inevitably look down on Imogen's pants. Then, she looks back up as if nothing.
Laurel nods her head nervously while putting her hand on her mouth.
'That son of a- What did he put into Laurel's mind?' Imogen awkwardly crosses her legs.
Throughout their day, Laurel's eyes would inevitably land on Imogen's lower body while rehearsing the pickup line intensely. She has not summoned enough courage to say it!
'Are you wearing space pants, 'cause your ass is out of this world!'