[Blind Date] A Nervous Start

What should she wear? Oh hell, this was the worst part of a date, especially for a blind one! Biting her lip, Porcela looks over her closet for the umpteenth time. Something to compliment her skin? Maybe some gold accessories to match her horns? Definitely casual though, the letter said she would be going to a park... This could be the night she'd been waiting for, longing for... Could it finally be the day she finds a partner?

Emrys stared into their closet for a long, long moment, tail swaying back and forth and hoof tapping against carpet as they considered their wardrobe. Definitely casual, they were not going to be ruining their fancier stuff in a park, thank you. But what to go with? Doll or bun? Modest or a little revealing? Should they go in lingerie? What if they weren't into that?! Sighing they simply take up their usual attire and go to take a cup of juice before they got dressed. It's a start at least, and they truly would just worry away the time if they spent too long just guessing what their potential date could be like.

Pouting, the alabaster bun sighs and turns away, scouting for the skirt she knew should be nearby. It was a cute navy, and should match her doll’s tattoos and ears a little. Glancing up at her alarm clock, she curses under her breath and grabs the closest white blouse and her best belt. She was going to be late! With a quick brush of her hair, Porcela hurries out the door and down the stairs, making her way to the park.

One juice and a quick change later, the shimmering bun looked themself over in the mirror. Top with adequate window? Check. Pants with adequate window and fit? Check. Jewelry and accessories to compliment? Check. Drink finished... No, but they'll deal with it later. Messing up their hair to be strategically tussled, they head to the door and quickly out. They didn't want to be late, even though the dimming lights made the city gorgeous. They were meant to head to a park on the outskirts, if they remembered correctly. Something about a beech tree? What did that even look like? They'd figure it out once they were there.

Oh, she so hoped this was the right place… Hurrying through the park just before dark, Porcela checks the letter again. The bench under the beech, right by the river. It should be easy enough to find, there were only so many types of tree that grew in Burrowgatory. And if not, a beech with a bench beneath it and a small river nearby was a bit specific. Surely she wouldn't miss it... Oh gosh, she might! She'd just need to keep her eyes peeled! With the last of the overhead glow fading into the soft red of the city lights, the park she'd been directed to outside Burrowgatory was slowly falling into a romantic dim, the pathway lamps slowly becoming her only way to see. She hadn't quiet expected the letter from the blind date service to come so soon, either. How long ago had she sent her request? A week?

At least she should be easy to spot for her date, dressed in a distinct white blouse and her favourite navy skirt… She just wished her heart would stop racing. Would they like her? Would she finally find the romance she was after? Or would this be just another notch on her belt?

Emrys, on the other hand, was doing fairly well as they made their way to the park the letter had directed them to, only a little surprised such a setting would be used for a blind date as they saw the variety of plants and trees in the small area. What if neither of them had been into such a thing? Well, there had been that section about preferred locations... Maybe they had checked off any? They couldn't quite remember, but it would explain a few of the... Stranger locations they'd been to. They'd been on a few dates already, as much as none of them had really clicked, and they were simply living for the chance to meet new buns each time outside their usual comfort zones. However, considering the more outdoors setting, they'd decided on their more femme androgynous appearance and casual attire, a comfortable medium and assurance they'd be comfortable if they needed to walk anywhere. It would at least be enough to show they cared for the date, if not that they didn't think some of their better clothes were suited for it. Regardless, they hurry along, the river nearby a decent walking companion and guide. What was a beech tree meant to look like again?

Tail curling up nervously as she spots the bench, Porcela soothes herself with a deep breath and takes a seat, looking around nervously for her date. Would they be early too? Or late? Maybe on time? Her hoof begins to thud lightly on the grass, anticipation climbing…

Taking their time to ensure they wouldn't twist an ankle, they briefly glance around for the tree they were meant to look for for the seventh time in ten minutes. Beech, beech... Gods this was hopeless!! They weren't exactly well versed in different types of trees. Huffing, they head towards the tallest one that they can see, eyes scanning for the bench as they kept the river at their side. Really though, it was odd to give such vague directions. They may need to tell someone about that at least...

Spotting a figure under a tree ahead, they squint in the dim to make them out. They were meant to be meeting a bun who was mostly white and blue... Just to be sure, they jog over the grass with a slight wave, "Excuse me, would you happen to be here on a blind date?"

Jolting and whipping around towards the voice, Porcela blushes and nods. “Y-yes, I am,” she murmurs, amber eyes scanning over the newcomer.

Smiling at the find, they nod and come to stand a few steps away from the bench, not wanting to crowd the other bun, they offer a polite smile. If this was their date, they couldn't help but think she was already beautiful. She'd chosen her doll form well and had dressed well to compliment her build, something Emrys could appreciate.

"Ah, then I think I might be your date. I'm Emrys, don't really mind what pronouns, but they/them is usually a safe bet~" They offer their own hand, just in case. It was always telling how one reacted to a handshake.

“O-oh! Hello, I’m Porcela,” she smiles back nervously, shaking the bun’s hand. “She/they pronouns…” Emrys was gorgeous, with shimmering purple fur and clothing that was both showy and yet modest. Porcela wished she could pull off that look…

Accepting the shake and noting the polite nerves, they carefully take the smaller woman's hand up and press a small kiss to the back of her knuckles. "A pleasure to meet you Porcela~" they hum, privately noting the name suited her pale complexion. "May I join you?"

A warm rose begins to spread over her cheeks at the kiss. Porcela manages to nod her permission, not trusting her probably squeaky voice. That was such a smooth introduction, and she was just a wreck! Get your head back in the game, Porcela! This could be your chance! “S-so… um… How are you tonight?” she asks, voice tiny.

Taking their seat beside the smaller bun, they hum lightly and offer a placating smile. She was adorable, plain and simple, and it was taking everything they had not to tease her to see more of that rosy blush. "Quite well so far~ This blind date business has kept me busy most of the evening. Though I'll admit I almost got lost, if not for the river giving me directions. Rather polite of it," they joke with a small chuckle to themself, tucking one of their ears over their shoulder to keep it out of the way.

Her smile is shy as Emrys sits beside her, tail coiling and twisting with her nerves. “Oh? I thought this place was fairly easy to spot, with the tree and all,” she murmurs.

"Not particularly," they disagree, glancing up to it. "I wasn't aware that this was a beech tree. I just guessed based on the size of it."

“You… weren’t? I thought it was iconic…” she muses mostly to herself, glancing up at the tree’s branches, lost in the darkness of night.

"I've never really looked into it. They all look mostly the same aside from a few differences to me." Emrys explains lightly, shrugging as they to glance up to it in kind, glancing passed to the darkness beyond, the vague shape of the leaves illuminated by the cities soft light.

Her chin tilts towards her chest as she glances at her lap, fingers twining together. “W-would you like to know? How to identify the trees, I mean,” she offers, her tone quiet and shy.

Glancing back, they can't help the small hum of agreement. If it meant the smaller bun could keep talking, they'd listen to just about anything. "I'd love that, if you wouldn't mind. Maybe we can meet here again and I'll know how to find you~"

"Th-then I guess... Did you know that all beech trees possess the genetic potential to be purple...?" She began, flushing at the odd opening but powering on as she lets the anxiety feed into her energy.

And so the two buns sat for well over an hour, Emrys sat back watching and listening intently as Porcela gave them fact after fact, soon branching into other kinds of plants as she found her rhythm, setting them off on what would hopefully be a wonderful night...