9th Mini Encounter

W4RD_N: A familiar, hunched twig-ish figure could be seen on the second floor of dying mall, pondering in front of the roller skates.
It's attire would be rather festive, which is up to date considering the time of the year. Seems like they're a Christmas tree! Fitting for the occasions.

Oneiro: Standing behind Warden, Oneiro follows their gaze on the shoes, one hand gripping a bag. A string of red-green lights sticks out from the bag.
He is also dressed for the occasion, donning a red frilly hat with arm warmers, a scarf is wrapped around their neck despite not needing it for warmth.

"So... Found anything you like? ^.^" It tilts its head, as if trying to get a better look at Warden's face.

W4RD_N: I don't think the- Warden turns around, just to meet face to face with Onerio. A surprise it certainly is, and it sure did made him jumped for a moment.
Ah! I didn't- see you there Onerio. You l - look quite dazzling today. He paused for just a short while, before shooting a question.
What brings you to this mall? I didn't expect anyone to be around here. Anything I can help with?
Warden tilted his head as he asks, making some creaking noise, and completely forgetting the question Onerio asked.

Oneiro: Oneiro lets out a chuckle at Warden's reactions. "Hehe, sorry for scaring you!"
Says the player unapologetically, their smile gentle. "Thank you, I think your outfit is really cute too ^o^. I even painted some of my body parts in red and green for the holiday! I have been getting to decorate my room for it aswell... and maybe some gifts for my... room-mates." One holds up the bag in ones hands.

W4RD_N: Warden leans slightly to inspect the bag. How thoughtful for you. I'm sure your roommates appreciates your gift of gratitude. He leans back to it's original position, looking down to his costume, averting the gaze from Onerio seemingly out of embarassment.
This is nothing much, just my buddy Wayfares suggested me to be a tree for the occasions, since I'm uhh... twigs and wood.
Mentioning the name, Warden finally remembered the reason of his to be in a mall. He looks back up to Onerio.
Oh! Now that I remembered. Do you perhaps knows where in this mall sells toy trains? One of Wayfares' student wants it for Christmas and he asked me to fetch one if available.

Oneiro: It tilts its head to ponder on Warden's question. "... I think so? If my memory is correct, those could be sold in the shop downstairs. I can guide you there, if you'd like."
Oneiro then holds out his free hand as an invite for Warden to follow him.

W4RD_N: Warden stares at the offered hand for a moment, right when one would think the silence would be too long, Oh- uh.. sure. Please lead me to there.
He reached out his twigged hand, wrapping itself to entwine onto One's hand. Let's go, shall we?

Oneiro: "!!" He... was not expecting that. Okay. This is... fine. Yeah. "... Yes...! Let's."

Oneiro leads Warden down the elevator to the shop on their left. It pays a little too much attention to their intertwined hands. What is this feeling...?

They stop by right at the entrance of the store. A beat passes before Oneiro speaks up.
"... Here it is! I... hope you can find what you're looking for." youre still holding hands guys stop

W4RD_N: The twigs have been slowly creeping up Onerio's hand during their descend. Seems like One's not the only one thinking about the hands. Upon reaching the destination, hearing Onerio's words, Warden attempts to uncoil his hand from Onerio asap.
...
Oh clumsy him, I think he might've tightened up a bit too hard and is having some troubles unwinding that bunch of sticks.
UHm, please give me a moment, i- I am deeply sorry! why won't those stupid thing come off

Oneiro: Ah, so that's what it is. The sensation of tangled branches. "O-oh! No worries...! Ahaha..."

Oneiro raises ones other hand, sliding the bag up to rest on ones arm, and helps in untangling Warden's hand.
The scene is rather comical... Upon sorting out the mess, Oneiro slightly steps away, veiled eyes looking away from the other, hand straightening out his sleeve. He doesn't say anything, and just stands there awkwardly.

W4RD_N: Thankyou imsorry imsorryimsorry Warden mutters a little bit when the twigs were still clinging onto onerio, after it fully comes of One, Warden dashed into the store while whacking the branched arm as he gushes "stupid stupid stupid arm" that is muffled by the mask.

After a while, he successfully spotted the toy train box resting on the shelves, retrieving it and returning to Onerio.
Thank you once again for helping me find this thing, it's surprisingly hard to find those selling for some reason.
He stood there like a log, looking away as if he committed anything sinful. I didn't mean to clen- cling onto you. ugh, I am really really sorry about that...

Oneiro: It hadn't moved much from its spot. Other than eyeing the items from the shelves, Oneiro fiddled with his scarf until Warden comes back to his side. It giggles at Warden stumbling over their words, and slightly flaps its hand at his hasty apologies.
"Hahaha, I said it's fine! Really! ^_^"

"I mean, even if you couldn't untangle your hand, I could, I don't know, uh— give, my hand? To you? I mean— I can do that— uh... i-if you w-wa—Actuallynevermindignorethatahahahaha"
what is bro talking about? What was I talking about?

Oneiro unknowingly fidgets with his scarf again, and quickly puts his hands behind his back when he realises.
"S-so... um, do you have any... plans...? After this...?"

W4RD_N: Well... I'm supposed to get back soon.. I made a promise with wayfares to be back before eves. And after that it'll be busy in the kingdom so I wouldn't be able to slack off as much..
Warden takes a peek at Oneiro, surely they don't mind right?? Hey Oneiro, since we wouldn't be seeing for uh.. Quite a while.. uhm. Do you mind uhm, doing me a favor before that? Warden braces up to ask the question.

Oneiro: "It's a shame that you will be busy soon...! I'll miss you, Warden ^_^" Oneiro doesn't think about the implications in "I'll miss you". Ones body relaxes, hands back to ones sides, and one chirps at Warden's request.
"Hm? No, I don't mind. What is it?"

W4RD_N: Warden reached out to Oneiro's hands, stepping closer to them. If you think you would miss me, you wouldn't mind right..
Warden inches closer to Oneiro, their face almost hits eachother.

Oneiro: "Eh? Ah—?" Oneiro is taken aback by the sudden closeness. Their and Warden's hands interlock again, but Oneiro doesn't pull away.
Frankly, he doesn't know what to do. If he had a heart, it would be beating at rapidly.

W4RD_N: Warden tries to pull Oneiro closer from the hands, the branches once again locked onto their arm. Their forehead lightly tapped onto eachother, just when He's about to let their face fully collide-

Oneiro: —Despite everything, despite every inch of Oneiro screaming not in to pull away, it does exactly that. Crack! It gasps, hastily takes a step back and hurriedly untangles its hands from Warden's grasp with difficulty.

Once its hands are free, Oneiro dips his head and feels his face. right on the left cheek, a crack has formed. "I— uh, I— I'm sorry, I, I think—" He fidgets, scrambling to come up with an excuse— "I— I have ta'—Ineedtogoironmyhatsorrybye!"
And it spins on its heels and ran. A single bauble drops from the bag from the rapid motion, but Oneiro doesn't bother to turn back. I'm sorry, this singular sentence repeats in its head.

W4RD_N: Warden just let it happen, letting Oneiro flee from the scene. But they didn't resist at all a moment ago? Why? Of courseTheyWouldMindOfCourseWhatWereYouDoingWarden atleast ask you moron, how selfish could you be? ... Were you not ready? ... Or did you hated me.. It doesn't matter anymore. Oneiro isn't around. Maybe he could explain it and hear it from them, but for now, he just have to bury what happened today deep in his long, dead heart. He noticed the bauble Oneiro dropped, picked it up from the floor, and hung it onto him.