#i likey...our wibble buggies..

[impinged]

It's kind of strange, how Loop keeps up with you. It's kind of strange, how you let them. It's kind of strange, how they match their movement to yours, carry themself the same way as you. It's kind of strange, how the two of you now walk in tandem. It's kind of strange, how without even speaking, Loop knows the rhythm you follow.

If this were a battle, you'd have a Jackpot of strange occurrences. So quickly too.

You do not mind that Loop walks beside you. It's different. Good different, as you're slowly realizing this 'different' feeling that permeates is. Why you are so intent to deny it, you're not sure. But it is good. Maybe undeservedly so. Ah, that's probably why then. You shouldn't deserve something like this. You do not fight against it though.

So the two of you continue, on the parallel path you have made for each other. You will follow it in perfect sync, and you will do as parallel lines always must and never cross or touch...

Right. Well.

Wholly unprepared you are, to receive a bid for connection from another. It falls unceremoniously into your hands. There's no fanfare in sight, though with how much you've wanted for this, it really feels like there should be. You won't... ruin this. You'll accept this.

"Uh-huh? You sure you don't secretly wanna wear some yourself?" This is a good response, right? This is banter, you think. If you already messed up, it's not like you can course-correct. Even if you could, Loop always remembers. "Sure, I'll pick something out. I'll make sure the name is extra stupid for you..."

So the two of you make your way, though you hardly spare them any small talk worth mentioning. You're no good at talking to fill the space, it's why the two of you ran out of things to say when you were still in Dormont.

˚　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　*　　 . ✦　　.　 　˚　　　.   　　˚　　*　　 ˚　.˚

You're still not sure if this is where you should be looking, but they at least have options. It's also notably less noisy here, in comparison to the other stores you peered into while wandering around. You don't particularly mind it, but you want to be somewhat courteous to Loop. For some reason. No, you know why. You don't want to spoil this. You don't want them to ditch you, call it early, or suddenly quit on you. But whatever.

As you suspected though, the shades that line the shelf here only barely distinguish themselves. Some are dark, or even darker, most are just neutral, and some are so light they look more like the light that illuminate the aisle your in than a shade you can recognize.

As opposed to your last foray into utilizing colors, these are all named something to give you an idea of what they might look like. You recognize a few. Some mention the sky, which you know is blue (most of the time anyway, as far as you know.) Or grass, which you know would most likely be green, whatever that means. Some names still don't shed any form of clarity to your plight, but they do make you curious.

There are plenty of strange names, just as you anticipated, but that's not where your perusal begins. Instead, you reach for a bottle, supposedly named 'Night Reflection', one of the darker shades here. But there's something... in it. Little flecks that bounce the light off them. Huh. You didn't know that even something like this could be made to sparkle.

' good! ' a clap accompanies their exclamation, pocketing the given agreement with an over-enthusiastic show of glee. it wouldn't matter much, whatever shade they picked. they merely wanted the opportunity to do so; the choice. additional involvement in something outside the usual routine. they deserved that much -- right? best not to go there, probably, just take what they can get. enjoy the moment for what it was, while it lasted. if it lasted.

so long as it ends better than last time. they can agree on that. won't be dwelling on it much, either.

look at them, staying on the same page!

' hiding something? me~? ' always. but not about shades, that was unrelated. wouldn't stop them from hamming it up with a touch of feigned confusion, hurt. a hand turned against their chest. fingers splayed across it as if offended. ' to even think such a thing! i'm hurt, stardust! '

. . . teehee!

' really, though. if all shades looked the same, we'd never tell anything apart! ' they meet his squint with a wink, their steps quickly falling in line with siffrin's own. ' don't be so close-minded! ' there was an attempt to follow the leader; to keep behind like a well-trained shadow. but they don't like following, more like they're not good at it. they end up at his side, instead.

this . . . did feel nice, didn't it? somehow. despite everything before, that lead up to this point. things were different, here. as he's told them already. their usual routine didn't exist, there was no need for it. no need for them to even be, but here they were. here they were wanted, if only for a moment.

here . . . it was like. they were someone.

' . . . say, stardust? '

how long had they let the silence drag on for? too long, clearly.

' why don't you pick out one for me~! to keep things interesting! ' where that idea sprung up from, they weren't entirely certain. they didn't hate it, though.