So maybe they weren't really dating yet....or were they? Did they even need to label it as anything? Was there something official they were supposed to do? Sure....Margeaux had always been different for Rin, something about the way she moved and looked made Rin all tingly. She was nice and funny, talented and cool, and she thought pretty highly of Rin too. And...she'd shared Rin's first kiss. They were best friends, the very best kind of best friends, but that didn't mean they were dating, did it?

And why was Rin flying around her dorm like a manic humming bird? Hair up? Hair down? Braid? Side bun? Ponytail? Red dress? Blue dress? Green dress? Pink dress?

She stood in a slip-dress, barefoot in front of her mirror, pushing her hair up, clawing it down, gathering it on one side, then the other, but nothing looked perfect. She knew it didn't matter how she looked, but then why did she was to look just right? She settled on two odango-style buns with white cloth over the "buns" fastening a pink ribbon to hold each in place. She chose a white frilly summer dress, painted her toenails and finger nails baby blue, light pink gloss on her lips. Some white sandals, a little necklace with a tiny blue gen for a little bit of color at her collar bone and a small purse shaped like a cartoon panda head.

She looked this way and that, still not satisfied, but happy enough with her appearance. She glanced at the clock, oh no!

When they had parted ways at the archery range, they'd given each other an hour to get ready, Rin was almost ten minutes late! She almost felt herself starting to cry but was already out of her dorm, throwing the key in her bag as she ran. Please be there, please don't think I forgot you, or worse, stood you up! I really wanna see you! She thought.

Eventually one would see two white buns cresting the hill toward the exit off campus and she was running as fast as she could, she was so winded her face as red by the time she would reach the gate. She didn't see Margeaux at first and panicked, heart racing, did she leave already? Oh no!

"Margeaux-kun?" She called, breathless. And then to herself said, "please still be here, I'm so sorry I made you wait!"

The concept of having an hour to prepare seemed liked a very good idea. Especially since she would need to that time to clean up after practice and get all her gear stowed away. Then they could venture out on their...date? The time Margeaux spent pondering over this and suddenly blushing was a surprising amount that could happen in just an hour. Which, as the clock wound up closer to the time of their..."meeting"...suddenly seemed like far less time than was reasonable.

She had gotten her equipment put away and even jumped into the shower. The tricky part came, when deciding what to wear. Should she go with something dressy? As she surveyed her collection of concert t-shirts, it occurred to the redhead that she might have to try a little harder. She frowned a bit, trying to figure out how best to approach this problem and tore through the clothes she had available. By the time she was done, it appeared as if a pack of wolves had torn through her dorm.

that would have to be tended to, later. For now, she had settled on a plain red shirt, with a short black leather jacket. A pair of black jeans to round things out and some nice boots. The eye patch slipped on last, once she had figured out what she was going to do. Her normally loose red hair was tied up into a simple pony tail. That would have to suffice, as time really didn't allow for Margeaux to do much else with it. Maybe she could have tried a braid, but then she might be late!

Or...later, as the case may be. Margeaux booked it, flying out of the Spican dorms like she was fired from a cannon. She was determined not to leave Rin waiting around! Of course, she was almost concerned that she had left her waiting too long. She had arrived first, but there was a moment of doubt, when she wondered if she was at the right spot. Had she made some kind of mistake?

She was in the middle of pulling out her phone to check, when she heard that cute pink voice of Rin's for the second time, that day. She whirled around to see the pinkette, almost as out of breath as she was. Her appearance had certainly matched her voice. Although that was nothing new to Margeaux. Still, seeing her did bring a bit of a blush to her face all over again.

"Ah, Riko-chan!" she said, a smile peaking out from beneath the flushed expression.

She jumped and turned to face her friend, but then flushed deeply pink at seeing her friend ready for their....date. She noticed Margeaux was blushing too and bravely took her hand, unable to look at her.

"Ah, um I'm glad you came! Uh...let's um, go!" She lurched forward, throwing up her hand for a taxi and they were off.

They were taken to a place with a lot of restaurants lined up and down the street. Sushi, a grill, a ramen stand, a burger king, fondue, all kinds of places to eat. Rin couldn't decide, "How about there?" she said, pointing to the Burger King, it wasn't very fancy, but it was kind of early for the evening time, and it weren't like they were trying to have a fancy heels and evening gowns kind of date right? And she was sure her American friend might enjoy eating at an american style restaurant even though it was different than it probably was in the states. Or...should they go somewhere more romantic? the fondue place? Would she like it? Surely the food would be good no matter where they went. So many choices!

"It...um...it doesn't matter where we go really," she said, hugging her friend's arm and looking at her feet, "I jsut want to be next to Meageaux-kun." She felt herself turn pink again, a warm feeling in her chest and cheeks.

Although they held hands, the pair seemed to be avoiding direct eye contact. Rin hailed the cab and with that, they were off. The ride had been a rather brief one, to a street stuffed full of restaurants. Exiting the taxi, they were now faced with the dilemma of where to go. Once more, Margeaux felt like she probably should have done a little more work on this. Her spur of the moment decision to ask Rin out seemed like it should have been a simple enough matter.

Rin seemed very quick to suggest the Burger King. And while Margeaux would normally be a little hesitant about such a place, it certainly appeared to be a far more different experience than what she was normally used to. The pinkette hugged her arm tight and Margeaux smiled and felt a little flutter at the simple request. Anywhere they went was bound to be special, as far she was concerned. And since she couldn't even begin to think of an alternative, she didn't see why not. Besides, there was still plenty of time for them to do so much more after dinner.

"Well, then let's go there." she said, and started to lead the way over, "I'm sure it'll be great!"

(aaaahhh I love the new avatarrrr!!)

It was embarrassing, but also it made her happy, ordering food, eating here with her. So what if it was just burgers and fries? It was new to her, fast food? Unlike most teenagers, RIn had come from such a well-to-do world of people that eating this kind of salty, fatty, food was simply not part of her day to day life. However, she was excited to try. When Margeaux ordered, Rin ordered the same thing, not knowing what to get, and together they went to the tables.

Paper cups and wax paper wrapped food? That was interesting, but the pinkette copied Margeaux, eating with her...hands? Rin hesitated, was that really how it was done? She looked around to see that everyone else in the restaurant was doing the same thing, not even thinking about it. So Rin let out a breath and dove in, picking up the burger and taking a bite pretending she was normal too, that this was something she did all the time, when it clearly wasn't.

"AH!" she gasped, eyes widening, she paused to chew until the entire morsel was gone, and stared at the sandwich, "This is so good!" She smiled at her friend and laughed with her at her reaction before eagerly taking another bite. Then came a sip of soda, and a sample of the fries, it was all so delicious!

Best food ever, best company ever. All that could make this any better was if...

"So...the Winter Ball is around the corner, the theme is Masquarade...um..." she was too embarrassed and the conversation fell dead right there. Rin couldn't say anymore and took another bite. It wasn't that she was afraid the girl wouldn't want to go with her, it was that asking meant she was showing more of her feelings for her, which was somehow embarrassing in spite of their friendship. They had even shared a...a...special moment that sort of confirmed their feelings, but still. Being vulnerable like this was embarrassing. She thought of changing the subject, asking to go somewhere where they could make their own masks, that would be fun, yeah, "Um...after this, we should go to a craft store or a shop that sells masks and get some costumes...." she felt a little defeated, saying that, instead of asking Margeaux to go with her, but it was probably obvious they would go together anyway, still, Rin wanted it to be official.