Galactic Dance RP

[RohaHat]

"Hey, Pigeon!"

Cyril turned around in midair to look at the cause of the yell.

"You're supposed to take me with you!"

He blinked a bit in confusion, then it dawned on him and he flapped over, travelling in front of her and only moving his wings just enough to keep him hovering. "All aboooard!"

[Vera9]

Flashing a content smile, Ynda did as he said and hopped quickly on his back.

"Off you go!" she announced, randomly pointing a finger towards the ceiling. She then dug her paws into his feathers, holding on gently to avoid falling off. Her smile had already widened eagerly at the thought of flying with him.

[RohaHat]

Cyril just zoomed off and continued doing exactly what he was doing before; flapping around haphazardly and looping and swooping around various obstacles. Ynda wasn't the only one who enjoyed flying; why else would Cyril do it instead of walking? It was certainly easier to fly than to walk, considering the length of his legs, or to be more specific, the lack of length.

[Renee]

"Now we put the green clothes, with the green accessories on the green rack, it's very simple Infinity." Niji said, hanging up a purple blouse in the closet, she turned around to face him but he was nowhere to be found. "...Jamal?" She asked. That was odd...He was there the last time she looked. Suddenly, she saw movement from underneath the large ocean of clothes. She raised an eyebrow curiously and floated over to investigate, the moment she got near the suspicious pile,


"Aha! I've finally found it!" Said teenager cried popping out of the pile enthusiastically, causing the colorful to cry out in sudden fright and stumble into pile of clothing beneath her with an 'ooof'. Concerned, Numbuh Infinity dropped the charm bracelet he was holding and rushed over and knelt down beside her, "Princess, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He apologized fretfully, "I--" He was cut off by Niji's sudden laughter,

"What's so funny?" He asked,

"You are!" She said her giggles bursting out of her like tiny little bubbles, "Nice sock..." She said laughingly, pointing to the foot garment on his head. Infinity looked up at his head, and just as she said, a purple sock sat on top of his curly mop of black hair. He blushed in embarrassment and reached to remove the sock from his head,

"No, no! Don't take it off!" She said grabbing his hand, "Who knows? You might set off a new fashion trend!" She teased, "All you need is a great necklace..." She said reaching down into the pile and pulling out a golden necklace with star pendants hanging from it, she looped the jewlery around his neck. "There, now your completely stylish." She said snapping her fingers and winking at him.

Humoring her, he posed a question playfully. "Do you think I can go to the dance like this? This sock may be a bit revealing don't you think?" He asked studying his reflection in the mirror, "Perhaps a different sock would be appropriate." He turned back to her with a wide smile, Niji laughed yet again. She liked when he loosened up a bit,

"Hmm, now that you mention it...Your ensemble does need a scarf..." She said thoughtfully, grabbing a scarf and tying it around his neck, "There! Now you'll be the envy of all the guys at the dance next week." She said looking him over proudly, "Oh!" She said suddenly reaching for his sunglasses, and putting them on her own face, "How do I look?" She said peering at him from the shades,

He tilted his head reflectively, "They suit you. They really do." He nodded his approval.

Niji beamed, "The sunglasses make me feel cool." She admitted with an embarrassed blush creeping across her cheeks.

He bowed, "Well, I thank you for your fashion expertise, Your Highness." He chuckled. She returned the bow with a small one of her own,

"The pleasure is all mine." She replied.

After a moment of silence, the two teenagers burst into a fit of laughter, momentarily forgetting about the mess of clothes that still needed to be cleaned.

[Sadie]

Nalo's sudden movement startled Etoile, who had believed the girl to be asleep. Toppling off of the couch and onto the floor, he grunted for a second and then braced his hands against the floor and lifted himself upward, smiling sheepishly at his little tumble. Nalo was floating peacefully in the air, and she showed him a piece of paper with something scrawled on it.

"You guys leak?" That made sense, he supposed. Over the years, he had come to realize that Nalo cried easily, but he had never been sure if it was because of Nalo herself or because of something in her genetics, and that was not exactly the smartest question to as a girl who was weeping. But now he knew the reason, at it all made sense.

"Telarians only cry when they're sad," Etoile said with a roll of his blue eyes, dismissing Tala's explanation as a pathetic attempt to cover up her initial depression. "But we- actually, nevermind." Nalo didn't need to know that. "So I shouldn't be concerned if you randomly burst into tears?" he teased, grinning up at her from the floor while his hands weaved their way behind his head to support it while he simply continued to beam upward.

Part of him was relieved that Masurao had left after Tala. Etoile wasn't sure where exactly their friendship had sprung from - they couldn't be more opposite if they tried - but it seemed to be a thick one that held firmly, even in their most ridiculous moments (which were usually because of Tala's own eccentricity). For some reason, he felt that Masurao would make a difference in her demeanor, if not by simply prodding her into returning to her spontaneous self. Either way, it would be an improvement on her mood.

But he wouldn't worry about that now. Tala was in good hands with the everstrong bodyguard.

"What are you going to wear to the dance?" he questioned casually, still propped on the floor while his legs leaned up onto the couch, his red toes displayed proudly like a flag of his freedom from the oppression of shoes. "I can try to find something that vaguely matches it, although . . . well. That's a surprise." A grin full of yellow teeth, and he let his his lids droop peacefully until Nalo was a vague blur in his vision.

--

Finally having made her way up to the observatory, Tala looked out at the open sky, her head turned toward D'thlany. White liquid still brimmed in the corners of her eyes, but now her face was fiery, stubborn, and she seemed determined to keep from crying anymore than she already was. Such a burden, to cry. Such a weight.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"

Her shout pierced the wide sky as she glared upward at the blanket of stars, her hands pleading with the sky for some kind of response. Something, anything to answer her.

"I can't be strong, because I'm not!" she yelled upward, her shoulders shaking. "I pretend I am, I think that I am, heck, I punched Divad in the face! That counts for something, doesn't it?!"

No response from the sky. But she didn't expect one.

"I can't be strong and weak! You can't ask me to be both! I can't face something with my head held high and my fists ready to fight, and then cry over something like this! I can't be both an operative and coward! It's one or the other!"

Weakly, she threw a fist at one of the giant telescopes, listening to the cold metal echo soundly when her knuckles tapped against it. She just wanted the solace of confidence in herself; that's all her innermost soul pleaded for. Something to define herself: was she weak? Was she strong? Should she flee home and hide herself in the tall forests of towering trees and colorful plants and smiling faces?

"I don't even know what I want from myself."

The words came aloud, quieter, but still with a sheer force. The girl climbed onto one of the telescopes and stretched out her body along the chilled metal, but her arms, legs, and tail she kept tucked next to her body, staring outward with an unreadable expression. Her ears picked up noises from nearby, but she ignored them, doubting that anyone would come looking for her.

Tala. Cowardly? Brave?

She didn't know, herself.

And if she didn't know who she was, or what she wanted from herself, then who could? A trouble sigh fluttered in her lungs, and the girl curled up a little, huddled against the telescope that was bent toward the watchful sky.

[RohaHat]

"What are you going to wear to the dance?"

Glancing down at the Telarian boy, as her gaze had wandered at some point during their conversation, she took on a thoughtful expression as she considered her response. After a long minute, she wrote something on the paper and showed him.

"I've got no idea," was the incredibly helpful response. After a few moments she retracted the paper and wrote down something else. "A dress." was the addition. Her mind wandered through her mental representation of her closet, and after a while, she wrote down yet another comment. "A green one." She only let Etoile see the paper for a split second before she pulled it back rapidly, thinking of something else to add. "Yeah, I've got a pretty green one I haven't worn much." By now she had somehow ended up levitating upside down in the air, with a few small tendrils holding her skirt and shirt down so they didn't follow gravity's course, although her long dark hair was cascading beneath her, the tips pooling on the couch cushions below.

[Sadie]

"A dress."

"No way," the boy responded dryly, lifting an eyebrow at her. "You're so helpful, Nalo, what would I do without your obvious expertise on the subject?" The sky-colored lenses, bemused and affectionate, rolled slightly in their sockets before falling on the girl again with a smile hidden in their depths.

"Green. . ." he mused after she wrote more for him, as though this was a serious matter. He wasn't sure exactly how she had gotten upside-down, but he didn't seem to care, especially considering that he was still on the floor. What a couple they made. "Well, whatever you wear," he commented casually, taking on an air of utter and complete innocence, "I'm sure you'll look absolutely stunning."

[RohaHat]

A blush flowed into Nalo's face immediately, probably somewhat helped by her upside-down status, and she just smiled bashfully. Flicking her head and swinging her way out of the way beneath her, she lowered herself onto the couch so the back of the couch was beneath her knees, her legs folded at 90 degrees and her back flat on the seats while her head was tilted backwards, looking at the boy on the floor, allowing the tip of her hair to collect on the floor this time. Once she had stopped moving, she wrote yet another comment on the paper and showed it to him. "I'm sure you'll look very handsome in whatever you plan to wear, too."

[Vera9]

Teehee, Etalo-ness fills my heart with warmth. X3 <3
-
Ynda soon discovered she had to hold Cyril tighter, seeing as his haphazard moves were more than enough to make her fall off if she didn't. In order to avoid pinching his feathers too hard, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pressing her head against the back of it. She kept her eyes wide open to watch the room sway around them and exhaled a laugh at the exciting sensation. She knew she'd never stop loving the feeling of moving around carelessly in the air, especially when it was with Cyril's help.

[Paula]

"See? There's nothing to worry about. I'll leave you lovebirds alone now."

Lunira looked towards Ynda, watching her leave but not before giving a smile to the green-colored girl. The hues of pink were beginning to fade away from her cheeks, but they had stopped in mid-transtion to white when Nebulos spoke up again.

"You...You will?" The question he asked her made her giggle and nod, her head bobbing up and down. Her eyes were closed at the time, but when she opened them, his surprised expression had only made her giggle even harder.

"Of course, silly. It'd be really fun going to a dance with you again." Lunira watched him as he looked down, away from her gaze and she could see him loosening up a bit.

"That's... That's great, really."

'At least he's not nervous anymore....'She thought to herself, and she too, began to look away, now finding the ceiling slightly interesting. Although it was because she was hoping that the change in position of her head would help hide the fading-blush, but it was also in thought.

'I wonder what I'm going to say next?'She thought. 'Sure, one problem's solved, but maybe there's more--' Her thoughts were interuppted by a small coughing sound, followed by some sort of pressure on her hand.

Kelly-green orbs lowered themselves down to where her hand was, and smiled at the sight. Nebulos' hand was on top of hers! Her mouth followed suit, turning into her own little bearish-type grin and she squeezed in return to the Luminarian's squeeze, before giggling at his comment towards Ynda.

"Save one dance for me, though!"

"It looks like Cyril's getting everyone in the habit of having multiple dance-partners, huh?" She asked, watching at the bird began to take flight into the air, whizzing about before stopping briefly to let Ynda on. As she watched the two fly about, Lunira figured she might as well add in their names to her new-list of dancers.

"And don't forget me too, you guys!"
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(Okay, the pic of her is only the kid-version...however, I do have a sketched version of her teen-self, but for right now...use the power of *makes a rainbow like spongbob* IMAGINATION! :3 )

"Five hours of paper-work, why do I even bother?"

A young teen walked about the halls as she kept her red paws stuffed in her pockets. Her hair was blond which only showed two red ears portruding from the top of her head. A small orange nose was placed in the middle of her red face, though the long yellow bangs had just barely brushed the tip of it. Her hair covered her eyes completely, rendering it almost impossible to tell what color they are...unless a fair wind just happed to blow by.

She was fairly tall, considering if you placed her near the 'squirts' of the base, then the assumption would be accurate. If placed near some of the 'normal-human-heighted' operatives, then the estimate would be wrong. Although she wasn't a small as she was during her child-years, her height as a teenager has increased by a few inches or so.

" 'Do the paper-work, Zo.' 'It's your fault for forgetting the instructions, Zoelin'. Jeez! You'd think that they'd realize by now I haven't got a friggin' clue on how to put things back together!"

Zoelin, as she was called, was an operative since the GKND. She had been placed with the scientists from time to time, as she had a knack for 'finding' things...along with keeping weaponry and learning about unknown items. However, if it was interesting enough to the point where she had to take it apart, the object would never be put back together, as she hadn't a clue on how to reassemble it.

Despite her tendencies from the GKND, her appearance had changed besides her height. For one thing, her hair didn't brush against her shoulders and curl under her chin anymore; instead, it had grown out to the point where she had to tie it back into a loose ponytail, where the tip, just like her bangs, had just made it towards the base of her tails.

Two tails that trailed after her swished a little, keeping in rhythm with her walking pace. They were red, as was the majority of her fur, with the exception of the tips being as blond as her hair. The base of them was hidden a little under her over-shirt, and went into the hole that was in her pants. Her shirt and pants somewhat mirrored her old clothes, except that they didn't go over the shirt line and clip around the pant-legs. Since her over-shirt had pockets of it's own, it wasn't necessary. And her pants, by the way, looked almost similar to the earth-style of jean-capris.

However as her appearance had changed, the color scheme, like her personality, didn't change much as well.

"Well...then again, I probably shouldn't have been in the storage room. Oh well, at least it's over and done with now."

Sounds of some other aliens had caught her attention, causing her to raise a blond eyebrow. The voices seemed to be coming from over and around the other bend. "Hmm...me thinks I shall have a look!" Zoelin's mouth turned into a crooked grin as she slowed down her gait, and began to slowly walk down the hall where the voices began to get louder.

-----

(eep! That was long.)

[Jas]

I support long posts!

- - - - -


Meekly, but smiling like he was the luckiest guy in the whole known universe nonetheless, Nebulos turned to face his fuzzy-companion once again. The fact that she had accepted his request to accompany him to the dance in five days, seemed to have flooded him with new confidence. Antennae casting a gentle light, he opened his mouth to say something, but was prevented from doing so when his vision was suddenly blocked by a cloud of golden feathers. Slightly startled at the sudden appearance, Nebulos felt two strong arms wrap around him, along with a delighted voice.

"Thank you for making Ynda happy!!"

The grip on his small physique loosened and now he could see Cyril's face, beaming down at him. Nebulos, having overcome the surprise, chuckled at the bird, making one eye squint happily. He didn't say anything, but saluted at his fellow squirt, making it quite clear that he was welcome.
Smiling still, the Luminarian boy plucked a feather off his shoulder as Cyril took flight. "It looks like Cyril's getting everyone in the habit of having multiple dance-partners, huh?" Lunira said. Nebulos chuckled again, following her gaze up to the duo, who were now soaring through the air. He was happy to see his green friend this content. A smile suited her better than a frown any day. "Yeah, seems like it. He'll make sure to have a good time."

His white gaze trailed back to his Ursaminorian friend, only seeing the back of her head as she called out to the pair that she'd like to have one dance as well. It made him smile, which made both his eyes squint happily again. She was a social one, Lunira, not unlike himself. And playful. He wouldn't mind her dancing with someone else, but he was going to make sure he'd catch quite a few himself. She was, after all, he though, smiling broadly at the wall opposite him, his date.

- -

On he went, his cushioned paws padding across the glossy floors of base, vaguely reflecting his image in them. Occasionally, he rounded a corner. His paces were doubtless and set, as if he knew perfectly well where he was going, even though his mind was still roaming through possible locations. North-east side tower... Upper Docking Deck... Top room lavatories... The latter seemed quite unlikely. Even though he was familiar with the clichee of girls running off to bathrooms to cry there, he didn't believe this area would be Tala's first choice. He'd never quite understood why bathrooms seemed the ideal place to be emotional either. No, that wouldn't be it. Nor did he think she would have taken a long route to get somewhere. She probably wouldn't like to have taken the risk to run into someone.

Coincidentally, he had wandered into the area which held the sleeping facilities. Or maybe it had been an envisioned detour. Swift and determined still, he made his way along the many doors, until he glanced to the side and came to a brief stop at a door which read the word "Niji" on it, in elegant, curly letters. The wolf's mane twitched lightly, hearing muffled laughter emerging from behind it. Of two people, which he both recognized.
In another situation, he probably would have entered, but not right now. The other situation was more prior than this one, seeing how the first involved tears and this one here involved mirth. Still, being a bodyguard and having to attend his duties, he knocked twice on the door and called out, "I'll come to check later." The princess and the human inside probably wouldn't appreciate this, but he was just doing his job. He assumed Numbuh Infinity would consider it some kind of forewarning and that he best shouldn't get any ideas.

Then, with another prompt move, he continued on walking, following his route. Through the list of high locations, a particular one seemed to stand out. It was one that made good sense, too.

Observatory.

It was place generally liked by every alien. Whether it was to search for interesting celestial bodies and homeplanets up in space, or simply pulling goofy faces in front of the lenses. And thus, Masurao made up his mind and ensued his path towards his destination.
It didn't take him very long to get there. Having lived in the ginormous base for a few years now, he had become familiar with the many shortcuts throughout the buildings. Fortunately, the observatory wasn't very far away from their Sector's living area, which made him even more certain that he would find Tala there.

His mane twitched slightly when he heard noises. They were muffled an distant. Like someone screaming. Slightly squinting his eyes, Masurao rounded a corner and found himself standing in front of the entrance to the Observatory, which revealed a set of long, spiraling stairs. Some people would have preferred the elevator to get up there, but Masurao wasn't an Egriadanian for nothing. We was practically born climbing, so stairs were hardly a challenge.
Resolute and unwavering, the wolfboy began his ascend, his legs an feet working their way up with a smooth preciseness of a trained routine.

As he climbed, he picked up a few more noises, which became clearer the more he neared the top. Even if he was mistaken, there was no doubt that there was someone up there, that much was evident. Masurao direly hoped he wasn't about to intrude on some couple's romantic date while they watched the stars, though he didn't peg that to be the case.
He took the final step, flexed the muscles in his shoulders a bit and then cast his green gaze around the area. The room was large and round, and many telescopes of different sizes were placed here and there. He took another few steps into the majestic room, his eyes shifting from side to side to find someone who was undoubtedly there. The talking had stopped now, and the fact he didn't find anyone in the room right away didn't please him very much.

Almost immediately, his head snapped over to the side when he distinguished a faint noise. This time, he was quick to locate Tala's presence. Her yellow skin was in sharp contrast with the cold metal of the telescope she was currently lying on. Her physique seemed very small compared to the large instrument.
Masurao stood still for a moment, watching her there. Some kind of grief seemed to trickle from the girl herself, like the green glow she emitted so often. Uttering a soft, almost inaudible sigh through his nose, the guard moved towards her, his steps still light.

"Tala?" he called out, his voice a tone quieter than it usually was, though it still echoed hollowly through the large room, bouncing off the round walls. He had come to a stop near the telescope and craned his neck up, looking up at her from the floor.

[Sadie]

Upon reading Nalo's response, the Telarian boy seemed a little embarrassed, but happy. A small violet hue had begun to race over his cheeks quickly, like some kind of wildfire across fields of golden wheat. He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of relaxing, albeit on the floor. Sometimes, he affirmed to himself silently, you just gotta chill.

"Telarian dance outfits are a little different," he told her, thinking of the long suit in his closet that he never really had a chance to use. "On our planet, they're completely normal. . . but I can't help but feel that I'll look a little silly among the rest of the guys, with the little additions that come with my suit. But thanks," he smiled up warmly, his tail waving around in the air slightly.

What these additions were, he didn't mention. Better to let it be a surprise. All he knew was that come the night of the dance, he would be easy to find in the dim room. Very easy.

One ear flicked over to Nebulos and Lunira, picking up bits of their conversation, and his smile widened slightly when he registered what was going on with them. It seemed like the dance was bringing out good things among the aliens. He would even be able to say the same about Tala, he predicted. Maybe this would be the push that she needed to be able to fully mature into the woman that he knew she could be.

Either way, the boy was looking forward the dance, if not just to see his Chizn girlfriend in fancy clothes. Not that he would ever feel the need to say that out loud.

--

The smooth, cold surface of the metal telescope made a horrible pillow, Tala's mind noticed, although the girl herself didn't react. She felt detached, as though her surroundings were just a backdrop and the real scene was happening inside of her mind, and nothing mattered except her own thoughts.

Her father, an explorer and a loving parent, had once told her that her name, Tala J'nani Ganmade, meant "Soaring Above the Stars." She could hear his voice, booming and full of laughter, recounting the tale.

"Come here!" The large man, glowing blue, scooped a giggling girl into his arms, who tried to wiggle away while he tickled her behind her ears. When she failed to escape from him, she wrapped her arms around him instead, listening to the powerful symphony of his multiple hearts, pounding away underneath his broad chest.

"Tala J'nani Ganmade," he told her softly, stroking her hair with a large palm. "It took your mother and I a long time to choose your name, but we finally decided on that name for you because it means "Soaring Above the Stars." I'm proud of you, my little girl."

"But E'oda," she said innocently, her small, childish voice choosing the affectionate word for father. "We can all fly above the stars, can't we?"

He laughed again, his large, imposing laughter that seemed to carry joy inside of it, and set her down, ruffling her then-short crop of green curls. "My sweet," he explained, stooping over to meet eyes with her, "You have a strong mind. Someday you will soar above the highest of stars, because you have a courageous, good heart. Your mother and I have faith in you."

Faith, Tala thought bitterly, that came to naught. She was caught like a fly in a spider's web, stuck between being the courageous girl that her father had told her she would be, and being a coward. Her facade was not truth, would never be truth. How could she be strong when mere memories of home brought tears to her eyes? Sent her crumbling, running, breaking?

Again, she asked her innermost soul, what did she possibly want from herself?

"Tala?"

Having been wrapped up in her own thoughts, the voice startled her and she flew up into a sitting position, one hand tensed to send her intruder flying if she felt like there was a need to. But when she saw the pair of green eyes, surprisingly obvious in the dim light of the observatory, she relaxed, although only because he presented her no immediate danger. The part of her that aimed to shield her emotional openness, she kept alert.

An angry retort jumped to her lips, cruel words that she would never say under ordinary circumstances, and she bit them back before they could seep out and injure her friendship with the bodyguard.

This left her with silence, something that made her feel slightly uncomfortable, because she felt like his eyes could read her with ease. Slowly, she got down from the telescope, each movement calculated and careful, and then she stood and faced him with an expression that she meant to be stubborn.

But it wasn't stubborn, obstinate, or fiery. It was the expression of a girl who was trying to hide the fact that she missed her home. Open, scared, and uncertain.

"Masurao," she greeted in a voice that seemed to question his presence. "What are you. . . doing here?"

[Jas]

Demurely, his long slender tail flicked to the side, his eyes not blinking as he looked up at the girl who he had seemed to have startled. Masurao's expression did not change as he observed how the green-haired alien looked down at him. It was hard to make out her face in the half-darkness at this distance. It's a good thing her skin was this light, otherwise he might've missed her sitting up there.
Nothing happened for a while, as the girl continued to sit there and he continued to look up. Then, eventually, he twitched his mane when he saw her move, the green orbs not losing the Telarian out of their sight as she began her slow descend.

Once she was there, he was able to get a better look at her face, as she lifted it to look up at him. The expression the wolf found there was quite unusual. He couldn't really place it. It was as if it shifted from one emotion to the other, as if she tried to keep up one, but wasn't able to. One eyebrow lifted slightly, but not in a mocking way.

"Masurao... What are you. . . doing here?" She seemed unsure as to why he was there. The blue teen glanced to the side this time, his mouth slightly tilted to the side, as if he seemed a bit unsure himself. He stood like that for a while, eyes squint lightly, as if he was considering what would be best to say. Masurao, not being such a very open emotional creature, probably preferred saying something that did not reveal his intentions directly. Perhaps this was a silly notion, but this was the person he was. And there was not much changing about it.

His gaze now shifted from the wall to the large, partly-open roof, used for the many telescopes to peer through. He kept staring at the many sparkly dots, glued there in endless space, which reflected twinklingly in his pair of vibrant green eyes. Standing here now, with the massive blanket of stars stretching over them, he had a fair idea why she had chosen this particular spot. It seemed Etoile had been right. And given the meaning of the girl's name in front of him, it should have been the first location to have jumped to his mind.
Masurao stood there for another minute, then suddenly, without a word, he moved away from Tala and walked to the right, so that he was standing directly underneath the open roof.

"It's nice weather outside," he said, not handing Tala a direct answer to her question. He ensued to stare up at the stars, which shone in his eyes more brightly this time. His tail flicked to the side gently, then curled. "It makes the stars look nice." The composed youth cast a fleeting look over his shoulder this time, locating the girl behind him. Then, promptly and swift, he dropped to the floor, crossed his legs and arms and raised his chin to gaze up at the sky again. His long tail was set in a graceful S-shape behind his back as he sat there, unmoving.
Masurao decided he'd let Tala guess for herself if that was the reason he was here or not. For all this sudden position probably indicated, was that he wasn't about to go anywhere.

[Sadie]

Tala watched him in disbelief as he evaded her questions smoothly, as though she hadn't spoken at all.

"It's nice weather outside. It makes the stars look nice."

For real, Masurao?

With a long sigh, the girl walked across the floor and over to him, standing beside his sitting form while her own eyes turned up to the sky. Orange eyes swept over the specks of white, wondering just how far away from home she actually was. With a sudden sigh, she plopped down beside him and crossed her legs, wrapping her tail around her body while she arched her back to look upward. For a minute, she didn't speak, letting them survey the sky in silence.

"Do you think it's possible for a person to be brave and a coward at the same time?" she questioned suddenly, softly, her eyes furious. But they were furious not at him; at herself. Demanding, it seemed, to try to get some sort of explanation from herself, to explain her earlier faltering.

She had no intention of explaining to him what had happened earlier, or to give him any sort of excuse for it. She could talk to him without giving up that dignity for herself, couldn't she? If not, then he would get nothing out of her.

If he was even here to talk to her. Maybe he just wanted to look at the stars.

[Renee]

The two teenagers laughed until their vision became blurry with tears of joy, and they held their tummies from the slight pain the giggles had caused them. Suddenly a sharp knock on the door interrupted them,

"I'll be back to check later." The firm voice informed them before disappearing into the distance.

And just like that, the moments of joking around and laughter between the two were replaced by feelings of awkwardness and silence. Jamal quietly removed the scarf, necklace and sock from his person, and Niji pushed his trademark sunglasses toward him, trying not to lock eyes with him.

Niji floated to her feet, bending down to collect more clothes, "Well, we'd better get back to cleaning before Masurao returns." She said quietly, her long hair blocking the pale blue blush gracing her cheeks. Numbuh Infinity gazed at her with disappointment and longing but nevertheless also returned to folding the clothes.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." He nodded in agreement, "I have to get back to work soon." He reminded her, but soon regretted it when he saw her tense up ever so slightly,

"Then lets finish quickly so that you can." She suggested without looking directly at him and moving toward the closet to store the rest of the clothes.

"Right!" He said collecting a neatly piled of clothes in his arms, he began walking toward the closet when something caught his attention.

On the vanity near the wide window of her room displayed many different photos of Sector SUN, and other alien operatives. Some were taped on the edges of the mirror, and the smooth table top, but there was one photo that was different from all the rest, this one sat in a blue picture frame next to a narrow vase with what appeared to be a dead flower resting in water. The gray bulb look wilted. Curious, the boy in black took a few steps closer to get a better look of the photograph, and was surprise to see who the snapshot was of...Niji and Masurao, from the background, it appeared that they were in some kind of garden surrounded with dozens of blue flowers and-

"That's us when we first saw the Luminkus Lunarius bloom." She smiled at the fond memory. Jamal jumped a bit at the unexpected sound of her voice and looked at the photo,

"Luminkus Lunarius?" He echoed questioningly,

"Mm-hmm. It's a flower that blooms just once every year." She explained. "Ever since then, Masurao and I take time to see it bloom...It's sort of been a tradition, you could say." She said gently poking the bud affectionately.

"Ah, I see." Jamal said not knowing what else to say, he knew it was a selfish thought but deep down, he envied Masurao sometimes with the amount of time the wolf-like alien spent with the Princess, he sometimes regretted that he was too swamped with paperwork to enjoy moments like the one she and Masurao shared.

"You seem to get along with Masurao quite well, Princess Niji." He commented, Niji nodded.

"I'll admit, it took a long time for me to accept Masurao, I found him to be a bother.." She confessed guiltily, "But after awhile, I got used to him, and over the years he's become more like a friend...Or a brother. Kind of like how Tahj is back home. Except a little less serious and intimidating." She added thinking of the best friend that she missed sorely. She thought the conversation needed a change of subject. "Maybe one day, if you're not too busy, you can come along with us to see the flowers bloom?" She offered with a sweet smile.

Jamal blushed, "I'd like that very much." He said quietly,

Niji nodded with a small smile, "And maybe..." She bit her lower lip before continuing, "And maybe if you're not too busy, you might want to go to the dance with me?" She asked hopefully, a blush gracing her freckled cheeks.

Numbuh Infinity's eyes widened from beneath his sunglasses, She was asking him to the dance?! That normally wasn't done. But then again, Princess Niji was not your normal Princess...

When Numbuh Infinity did not respond right away, she took his silence as rejection and began to turn away, but was caught by surprised when the human boy gently took her hand in his, he bend and place a soft kiss to the back of her smooth gray skinned hand,

"It would be a great honor and a privilege to escort you, Princess." He said formally with a warm smile. Niji's cheeks grew warm again, she looked away with a shy expression.

The rest of the cleaning was done silently, but the silence that hung around the room was not awkward at all, instead it was filled with happiness and content.