"Linhardt." Her voice is quiet as she taps his shoulder lightly, hoping that he hadn't fallen asleep at the ball they were invited to. Ishtar's lips were slightly pouting as she looked at him. "Please don't fall asleep quite yet, I'd like to dance with you, one last time."
✎
❝ I’m awake, ❞ they respond distantly. It’s more impulse than answer. They fold their arms casually, canting their head to one side slightly in thought. Like her; Linhardt is dressed nicer than they usually are. Any nobleman would be, at least. It’s one of the few things they couldn’t avoid out of laziness, but at least they hadn’t had to do more than put it on.
There’s a brief pause before they answer her entirely. Even though they are awake, exhaustion dulls their mind, and the liveliness of the ball in general is… too distracting to think. If only there were some sort of reprieve.
❝ Did I fail to mention that I don’t dance?? ❞ they ask in turn, blinking slowly. Even as they turn to better face her, it’s clear that sleep is not the furthest thing from their mind…
❝ I suppose I can in theory, but why would I want to?? It seems so… exhausting. Besides, aren’t you and I in that rut where we pretend we want nothing at all to do with each other so maybe some one will realize we aren’t comparable and call off this little – ❞
Their own speech is interrupted by a yawn.
❝ …You get my point. I don’t need to say it. Go ahead and find some one better to dance with, I’m sure you have your pick. ❞
〔 📚 〕