— inbox / @astrumstilla
The truth? She may have made too many valentine treats to spare. She'd gifted plenty to the girls. The boys too. Their neighbors. Anika was already checked off her list. Anya. Her co-workers. Some classmates. So, as tempting as it was to keep the leftovers to herself, she knew she still had one more person to see. "Hey knock-off Avril. You alone?" she asks on the brinks of a laugh. "Here." She holds out the box of treats in one hand and a flower in the other. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Alone? Of course, he is alone. This holiday is for loved ones and partners, and Avil’s made quite sure that there’s no space beside him for anyone like that. He doesn’t need, nor want, loved ones, so on Valentine’s Day, he makes sure to lay low and evade any festivities if he can help it. The bench outside of Marlow’s shop is one such place he finds refuge, but it’s perhaps not as effective as he thought since Alys could find him (not that it is very hard to).
Avil isn’t expecting Alys to come forth with kindness. Such sweet emotions have very little room in their usual modus operandi, so when he hears her voice, his immediate instinct is to get defensive. Just as he’s prepared to spit sharp words at her, they vanish at the sight of.... a box? And a flower? For him?
Nothing short of bewilderment crosses his face, like he’s found himself with the rug snatched right from under him. This isn’t... them, this isn’t what they do, so to be met with such a generous act from the very girl he’s fought with more than once, he’s not sure how to respond. The gifts are handled with care as he takes them, but he’s quite sure the box has to be a prank. Something is going to jump out at him surely. That would be more fitting, wouldn’t it?
Wordlessly, Avil tucks the flower behind his ear and slowly removes the top, bracing himself all the while. However, there is... nothing. Just little sweets. No fake spiders. No jumping toys. Just... chocolate. From the girl that should hate him the most.
He takes one of the treats, inspects it for just a moment, then takes a bite. Sugary cocoa blooms on his tongue, and he doesn’t take notice of the stinging in his eyes. After a moment, he quietly scoots over on the bench, patting the empty space next to him. Alys can hardly be called a friend, but... perhaps she can be beside him, just for today.
“Thank you. I don’t have anything for you, but... Thank you.” He repeats, his voice a bit watery, quiet, and he can’t bring himself to look at her just yet. “Can you share them with me?”
