Chancey's Courtship Month - Part 4

The two of them strolled down the busy city streets, Piyapiya enjoying the humble art of window shopping more than anything. She wandered around in a few stores that Chance almost wish he could wait outside until she was finished. He ended up going in anyway, though. This was a "date" after all.

"Chance how does this look?" she asked excitedly. The magician had pulled out a frilly pink lace-up dress and held it over her torso. Chance wasn't all for giving his opinion about how girls looked. He figured that they should be able to decide on their
own, but he did have an eye for fashion sometimes.

He leaned back against a wall. "It's a little too frilly for my taste but I think it would suit you."

Piyapiya appreciated his honesty and gave him a bright smile. A memory of his bitter middle school days flashed in his mind. He was feeling a bit more comfortable about being in Saeren, and with this courtship month business as well. It wasn't his forte, but it wasn't completely
pointless either. Chance smiled back.

Maybe people weren't so hard to befriend after all.

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After a couple more blocks, Chance discovered they were being followed. Ceg wasn't a very stealthy sleuth, and when he hid behind a pole or trash can Chance could tell he was there. He stuck out like a sore thumb thanks to his wings.

"Chance, is it alright if I call you Chancey?" Piyapiya asked suddenly.

Chance reddened. It was a nickname used for condolence, but also one of affection. He wanted to say no but... "If you feel like it, I don't care."

"Chancey!" He turned to Piyapiya but she hadn't said anything, nor was it her voice that had called him.

Chance looked down the sidewalk to see Cresil and Ethuil walking towards them. Cresil was seething with fury, and looked almost shocked to find him there. Chance felt kind of relieved to see Ethuil's familiar  face, though.

The demon put on the ugliest, most fake grin he could muster. The attempted sincerity in Cresil's tone almost made Chance flinch. "Funny coincidence meeting you here, isn't it?"

"Sure  is," Chance said with a smirk. It didn't take him long to guess that Cresil was restraining himself as best he could. Ethuil didn't much approve of their "barbaric" fights, but it was almost impossible not to conflict when the two met. Chance wondered how long it would take to push Cresil to the edge.

Chance strolled up to the two with a smug expression. "How has your guys' day been going so far?" he asked casually.

Cresil  decided to play his game and returned the look. "Pretty well, little vampire. Dove and I were just at the library checking out books." Ethuil  rolled her eyes at the comment, as if they had done anything but. Cresil slung his arm over her shoulder. "Oh come now, are you angry at me again darling?" he said, so coy it almost made Chance sick.

Oddly  enough, Ethuil didn't seem to mind his annoyances. It was strange, but she looked like she had become a bit more immune to his ramblings somehow. Chance had not mastered that art, unforetunately.

Cresil nuzzled his cheek against Ethuil's. The Arcan drew the line there and pushed his face away from hers. Annoyed by the display of affection that was going on in front of him, Chance spat. “Aren't you cute, I suppose you'll be married by next week?”

Cresil sneered, “Oh don't worry Chancerella, we'll be sure to reserve the Maid of Honor spot for you.”

Chance almost made a move but Cresil made one first. Though instead of a routine kick or breath of fire, he embraced him. Cresil hugged the little vampire and patted him on the back. Chance turned a paler shade than he was already.

“Turn around and leave before I really kill you,” Cresil whispered in his ear, deathly polite.

Before he could comment, the demon turned him around and pushed him away. “Don't worry Chancey, I'm sure you'll find someone that actually likes you someday.”

Chance turned around to protest, but the two were already on their way. He watched Ethuil's Arcan figure link arms with Cresil's lean, demon-like one. It twisted his stomach to know that he didn't get the last word. The feeling of anger soon left a vacancy that loneliness began to fill. He didn't get why it was there; it had never plagued him before. Don't tell me you actually want her company back, he thought, scolding himself.

Chance turned and passed Piyapiya, who had been admiring some clothes  on the window display while he'd been “socializing”. Piyapiya shouted after him, “Hey wait up a sec!”

Chance's mood had spiraled into utter chaos. What he felt should have  been satisfaction, a date with a girl he loved, right? Isn't that what couples are supposed to feel when they go out? Instead he felt utterly defeated, least of all by the person he hated the most. Chance rubbed his arms as the irritation returned. Cresil courting Ethuil just gave him goosebumps. At first he had thought it was almost impossible, though  apparently not.

Occasionally, he caught what Piyapiya was saying through all his mixed thoughts. He blamed the whole thing on the stupid month. What was the point of Courtship Month anyway? All it did was complicate things for everybody. Even him of all people was severely bothered by it. Still, he kept the tiny thought concealed that maybe he felt some affection for the Arcan.

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