<span style="color: #BFBFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">I look...good in his clothes?</span> she thought to herself, eyes widening and a blush taking hold once more as she glanced down at herself. It took a bit, but she got over the initial embarrassment at his comments, and shook her head. <br/><br/>"You're not making a bad impression," she assured him, returning her gaze to his eyes. "Believe me...I'm far worse at this than you are... You've been the perfect host." Pausing, she glanced at her pile of clothes. "I wouldn't ask you to do my laundry for me, though. That's something that's reserved for relatives, not friends. Actually, could you...just...show me how and I can do it? If you wouldn't mind?"</span><br/><br/>Her words eased Tobias’s concerns just a bit, “Well, we can start the laundry down in the laundry room and then come back to watch the movie? It would take a bit to get done and then we could kill two birds with one stone?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"And this is why I need you, to make sure we're utilizing time as best as possible," she replied thoughtfully. "Get the clothes going and then we can settle in for a movie. But you've got a lot of work ahead of you...I've never washed my own laundry, nor have I ever been decisive enough to choose a movie when offered, so it's a good thing you were in charge of the choice." <br/><br/>There was a humor to her tone, though the majority of what she said was only seeded in truth. While, yes, she'd never done her own laundry, she'd never actually had the opportunity to pick any movies so she'd stretched the truth a touch. For her, it was chosen for her, already playing on a screen if they allowed it to be on at all; it was why she often found so much solace in books to pass the time.<br/><br/>Hopping up from the couch, she got her clothes back up in a pile in her arms, and looked at him expectantly. "So, where do we do this...washing magic and what do I need to do it?"</span><br/><br/>Tobias grinned and stood, “We need laundry soap, fabric softer and dryer sheets.” Going to a small closet in the hall he gathered that up though he paused and then headed to his room, “And of course quarters to run the darn machines too.”<br/><br/>Out his front door then down the stairs he led her down to basement like area that had storage space for each apartment as well as a small laundry room for residents. “Ok, so usually, you’re supposed to separate your clothing out with colors, whites and delicates…but…” clearing his throat and looking about rather shyly. “I don’t think we have to do that…unless you were wearing more than one set of delicates that need to be hand washed?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Following his lead, she moved through the apartment building on her guard. The comfort she felt around Tobias for an inexplicable reason was not felt when they left the bubble that was his apartment. No, out here, there were too many variables and things that she didn't know, people she couldn't account for the actions of.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Just breathe,</span> the girl continued to coach herself. <span style="font-style: italic">Just breathe, and you'll be fine. Put one foot in front of the other and just go about your business. You're safe. You're fine. No one's found you and you're bundled up. You've got nothing to worry about here right now.</span><br/><br/>It was with this sentiment in mind that she tuned back in to what he was saying, noting the way his eyes averted at the mention of delicates. It had her blushing, but shaking her head. "No, no I don't need to separate anything out, I don't think. Everything I have is simple and similar in color."<br/><br/>A hand pulled open one of the machines, unintentionally utilizing a dryer first, and started throwing the articles in. "I can just put it in here, right? And then, I need to use the laundry soap you brought? Is that just...dumped in?"</span><br/><br/>Tobias chuckled, "Yes, though that's the dryer." He went t the washing machine and opened it up, "Here. Put the clothes in here and then take the soap and pour that into the top on the clothes."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Oh, that's the..." Unable to stop the blush that colored her cheeks, she hastily dug her clothes back out of the dryer and shifted over to the washer he'd opened. Wanting the embarrassing moment to be over and done with sooner rather than later, she quickly dropped them in and started in on the soap. After she opened it, looking at the bottle and then back at the washer, she started pouring it in swirling motions.<br/><br/>"How much do I need?"</span><br/><br/>"Only a third of third of the cup," said leaning back on the dryer to watch her. "Then set it to cold and add the fabric softner to the small little hole in the middle of the tumbler there. Should be labled," he explained. "So, how do you get your clothes clean? A cleaning service? Parents?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Again, had she just looked at the cup, maybe she'd have seen the proper measurements. But, it was too late for that, so she stopped with the soap and glanced up at the washer's settings. Mumbling beneath her breath, she repeated his words. "Set cold...fabric softener...hole...got it."<br/><br/>Feeling far prouder than a normal person would about getting her clothing going, she didn't even feel awkward about what he asked. She answered it without much of a pause, still facing the washer, "cleaning service. Just have to put all the dirty clothes together, and then they're brought back cleaned."</span><br/><br/>There were questions that he wanted to ask her but was not sure, it might not be appropriate. "So, is your family wealthy?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">That one had her pausing as she thought about how to answer, taking her time before turning around to face him. "You could say they were wealthy," Lily finally answered a foot scuffing at the floor as she leaned against the washer. This was dangerous territory to talk about, but she couldn't very well ignore it entirely or else he'd think things were worse than she wanted him to. And that could lead to more questions than she'd be able to answer. "They never wanted for anything."<br/><br/>Wanting to shift the topic back to him, she countered, "Did your parents do your laundry? Or have you been doing it for so long that you're old hat at operating these <span style="font-style: italic">magical machines</span>?"</span><br/><br/>"An old hat? You get that saying from some book?" he asked with a grin. "And no, I've been doing my own laundry for a while now. It was one of my chores when I was younger. My parents wanted me to be able to manage on my own so I was taught to do basic house hold chores."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"The best sayings have come from books!" she replied back with a grin of her own. "But when you say you had basic household chores...what did that consist of? Sweeping and mopping, laundry, dishes and things like that?"</span><br/><br/>"Pretty much," he said and started back to the stairs to head back to the apartment. "You had to do stuff like that? Or was there like a maid that did it for you?" there was a bit of teasing in his tone.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Following after him, she shrugged. "I was told to focus on other things like my studies--" <span style="font-style: italic">All those exams...</span> "--Health--" <span style="font-style: italic">...therapists...</span> "--and just preparing for life when I became an adult." <span style="font-style: italic">For when the more extensive tests would begin.</span> "So we had someone who could come in and clean the whole <span style="font-style: italic">place</span> and make sure it was kept tidy."<br/><br/>She couldn't call it home, the word itself sounding foreign to her, nor could she call it a facility because then it'd be too cold and indifferent. So she said the first one that came to her mind instead.</span><br/><br/>"So, why did you leave them?" he asked suddenly. "Something happen to make you want to leave?" pushing more than he likely should have been. Tobias regretted it the moment it the words left his mouth as he opened up the apartment so that they could go back inside.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">And there it was. Whatever she answered, he'd likely know she was lying. Whatever she said, he'd read between the lines. So how did she combat that?<br/><br/>Walking in ahead of him, she didn't say much initially, just offering another shrug. "Like I said before, I'm just seeing where the wind takes me, wanting to see the world..."</span><br/><br/>Tobias eyed her for a moment, "You should be better prepared for traveling the world. So, if you want I could help you get some stuff together so that you can travel safer." Back on the couch he sits and gets the movie ready to play. "We could go in the morning? You could stay the night and I could take you shopping for some supplies."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">As he eyed her, she tried not to look as uncomfortable as she felt. Was he going to press the issue? Was he going to try and get more out of her and, if he did, would she be able to keep everything to herself?<br/><br/>But, whether or not he believed her, he didn't press it. Instead, he offered to help her out further and she felt an immediate wave of guilt washing over her. And even as he went to get back on the couch, she was beginning to wonder if she should leave sooner rather than later. "I haven't even been able to repay you for the pizza, or helping me to not overheat. I couldn't ask you to do all of that for me."</span><br/><br/>"We're friends, it's what friends do for one another. Plus, I couldn't let you leave knowing I could have helped you more. So, to make it so that I'm not worried about you, can you please accept my help?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His words were only making things more difficult for her. He insisted he'd worry, and that this is what friends did for one another. Yes, they were friends for the day, but hadn't she already overstayed her welcome? Their day should've already come to an end long before now...yet he continued to put up with her company.<br/><br/>But one thing he said stuck out to her, and she found herself repeating it quietly, "...You'd be worried?"</span><br/><br/>"Of course. Why wouldn't I be worried?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"I don't know; because we just met today and after I left, I didn't think you'd give me a second thought," she admitted with another awkward shrug before quietly moving to the other side of the couch and sitting on it slowly. "I can't promise to accept all of your help yet, but...I wouldn't mind staying the night so I can get my bearings... Then, if in the morning you still want to help, we can talk about it?"</span><br/><br/>"Sounds fair," he remarked and set the movie to play.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">As the movie started, she turned her attention completely to it, curling her legs beneath her as she leaned a bit forward. Eyes narrowed a bit as she tried to follow the logic, she couldn't help but to break her silence to ask about it. "What does Vizzini have to gain from starting a war? And if he wanted that, couldn't he do it without a newly-crowned princess?"</span><br/><br/>"A war would mean that guys like him could pillage and exploit the weak," he explained. "These men are in it for the money and will do anything to get it."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"But then, couldn't he get that without such a delicate situation? Taking a royal isn't exactly the easiest feat, especially not one who was willing to try and swim away without a shore in sight..." she mused. "His lackies don't seem nearly as invested. What interest do they have by helping him at all?"</span><br/><br/>"The Spaniard is seeking money and information to avenge his slain father. The giant is there because he and the Spaniard are best friends so he won't leave him face the world on his own. Plus, if a Kingdom gets blamed for the kidnapping, the fighting would be especially vicious."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"I suppose..." she replied, tone noncommittal as she zeroed in on the boat that was further away. It continued to get closer and closer, only to finally catch up and begin to take the chase up the cliffside. "I don't know how either of them could climb up like that without any help. The masked man is moving up so fast, and then Fezzik is carrying three people? I'd never be able to do that..." <br/><br/>Without looking away from the screen, she leaned a little closer to him as she asked, "Who's side is he on? Is he from her kingdom?"</span><br/><br/>"Climbing up the rope is not hard, just takes some upper body strength, " he added with a shrug. "He's just a pirate that is after getting her for his own plans and schemes."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"You say it's not that hard, but you've got plenty of upper body strength. Mine's limited to getting dressed and feeding myself," she joked. "So I'll leave the climbing to you and will worry about more important things...like what's going to happen to Buttercup now that she's at the center of a war plot."</span><br/><br/>"I could just carry you on my back like the giant does, " Tobias offered with a laugh. "Well this is like a dark comedy so she is not going to have a happily ever after."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"No, but I also know she's not going to die like the short one wants because that would end the movie too soon," she reasoned, glancing over at him. "So now it's a race to figure out if Humperdink will find her and save her, if the pirate wins out, or if something else happens to set off this war! I'm <span style="font-style: italic">hoping</span> she just manages to get away, but I know I'm not that lucky."</span><br/><br/>"Just watch,"he grinned. "The pirate is going to at least make a difference here in the fight that is coming up. Then more of the plot will make sense to you."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Rolling her eyes, she wrinkled her nose at him, but went back to watching the movie without much comment. There were a few sounds of shock as again and again the pirate evaded sudden death, surviving the rope being cut from beneath him, the sword fight, hand to hand with a giant... But he was right. As each new encounter came to a close, she understood a bit more about character motivations, save for one...<br/><br/>Buttercup held at knife point, the pair facing off in a battle of wits as he was now face to face with the bald man himself.<br/><br/>"This is an awful lot to go through just to get a princess..." she mumbled. "That pirate would have to want her for something. Vizzini wants to start a war, and this pirate just decided to up and stalk after them? Where would he have seen her before to even want to try and get her? The first time we see him is miles away."</span><br/><br/>"Maybe he was hired by someone? To take her? Maybe even rescue her?" with a grin. "Then again, she is beautiful so he could just be out to take her and claim her body for himself. "<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">That earned him a look, eyes narrowed before she made a sound of disbelief. "He's not just some pirate out to claim her for himself," Lily finally said, tone very matter-of-fact. "The day that happens is the day that Fezzik takes over the group from Vizzini. I can just...I just know that's not it."</span><br/><br/>"What makes you so sure?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"I don't know; I just know. Call it woman's intuition, but he's too determined for it to just be that."</span><br/><br/>"There are some lenghts that a man would go to when it comes to having a beautiful woman. It is not all motivated by love or other such sappiness," he teased.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Alright, since you're a man, are you telling me you'd go to that extent, climbing over a cliff and fighting against foe after foe...just so that you could claim a woman?" she teased right back, eyeing him.</span><br/><br/>"The right woman," he winked at her.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His wink earned another slight eyeroll as she settled back into the cushions. "Right woman or not...I don't believe he's just after her body."<br/><br/>She fell silent again as she watched the final fight unfold. She silently rooted for the pirate to get past him, sitting on pins and needles as the cups were switched, holding her breath as they both drank.<br/><br/>...But he didn't die. Vizzini did.<br/><br/>Unable to stop herself, Lily jumped up a bit in excitement before settling back down and watching closely. "You'll see..." she commented. "You'll see this is about more than just that...I can feel it!"</span><br/><br/>"Oh man, you are so confident. I wonder if you would be willing to bet this outcome with me?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">That</span> caught her attention. Glancing over at him, she raised a brow. "What kind of bet?"</span><br/><br/>"Well," he paused the movie and turned to face her. "If you win, you can ask me any personal question you want answered. If I win I get to do the same thing for you? What do you think? That confident that you will win?" excited about the turn of events.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">She mulled that over for a moment, wondering if it were really a safe bet. If it wouldn't be safer to forgo the bet altogether because personal questions could be dangerous. ...Then again, she was fairly confident. "Fine, you're on. If I win, I'll ask you a personal question, and if you win, you can ask me one."<br/><br/>Only then did it dawn on her that this might've been a fool's bet. "But you've seen this before, so if you win, that wasn't a fair bet to begin with!"</span><br/><br/>"Hey now," he leaned back as if offended. "Would I try to fool you just so that I can ask you something as mundane as what was the name of your first crush?" shaking his head. "M'lady you do offend me."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Her eyes narrowed all the more before shifting back to watch the movie. "Me thinks m'lord doth protest too much... But if I find you've set this up as an easy win for you, I'll have to get you back for it. Play it, and we'll see who's correct!"</span><br/><br/>"I would like to see you try and get me back," he snickered and started the movie back up. Watching her reactions out of the corner of his eye so that it did not look like was being too obvious.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">The moment the movie came back on, she focused all of her attention on it, hoping she was right. She'd read enough books to know that it couldn't be so cut and dry as just wanting her. That it had to be more. But then there was the option that it could've been something to do with money, a kidnapper for hire.<br/><br/>Fingers crossing as they fought along the ridge, barely sitting on the couch anymore as she'd scooted so far forward, waiting for some sort of a reveal. They were both heated, arguing, only for Buttercup to push him down into the valley.<br/><br/>...And then it was revealed.<br/><br/>"I KNEW IT!" Lily said as she jumped up excitedly, doing a happy dance. "I knew it wasn't for that!" Not even paying attention to the movie anymore, she continued that dance before flopping back onto the couch triumphantly.<br/><br/>"I do believe you took a fool's bet! Set it up knowing that I'd win, and I'm not even mad about it!"</span><br/><br/>"It's nice to see that you're such an honorable winner," he remarked with a roll of his eyes, though there was a smile on his face at the sight of her own excitement at her victory. "Well," he paused the movie. "What do you want to know about me?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Now that the victory was clutched and her happy dance done, the nerves started up as she had to think of a question she wanted to ask him. Given she hadn't thought that far ahead, she lapsed into silence as a blush crept into her cheeks. <br/>"Well...I want to know how someone as kind and handsome as you, doesn't have someone waiting for him at home at the end of the day, to be able to entertain a stranger he met that day?"<br/><br/>There. The question that'd been lingering in the back of her mind was now out in the open.<br/><br/>"Surely a man who's willing to scale a cliff for a woman wouldn't have a hard time with women," she added, hoping it maybe lightened her question up a bit with some humor.</span><br/><br/>Tobias's face dropped for a moment as he looked down at his hands, "I was injured in combat while I was in the marines. When I came back, I had friends, family and there was a woman who I thought loved me," he shrugged. "Friends went away, my family has their lives but help as much as they can and she..." Tobias sighed. "I am messed up in the head too, so it got to be too much for her and she left. It has just been hard to open up and let someone else close to me again."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">The moment the question had left her lips and she saw his reaction, regret took hold. She'd meant it to be lighthearted, honestly just curious as to how he didn't have anyone waiting for him when he was so much like the heros in the books she'd read. But, it appeared she unwittingly pushed a button and it took all of the humor out of the room like a vacuum, leaving everything feeling sad, tense.<br/><br/>What did she say to that? A man injured in combat, who lost nearly everyone in the process of adjusting to life outside of the marines. She was compelled to try and comfort him, but how did she do that when she didn't know how to even begin?<br/><br/>Without hesitation, a gloved hand reached forward and took hold of his. "I'm so sorry, Tobias..." was all she said initially. "...But, for what it's worth? If she couldn't see how wonderful you are when you came back, she wasn't the right woman...and your friends don't know what they're missing, but they'll come back eventually... You don't deserve to be treated like that; no one does. But you? You're too kind, and have sacrificed a lot to then be kicked when you're down..."<br/><br/>She paused for only a moment before continuing, a small smile crossing her lips as she willed him to look at her. "When the right woman comes along, you'll be able to open up to her and won't even realize you have until you're already headlong in love with her just as she will be you. You'll go on to get married and have children, and live the picture-perfect life that you deserve. ...Then you'll look back at this moment and wonder why you let an albino weirdo into your home because it's just weird that she knew all of this before you did."</span><br/><br/>"Albino weirdo?" he asked with a smirk. "You know you are beautiful, smart, witty and pretty funny. I could ask you the same question as to why there is no one completely madly in love with you that is out looking for you right now because you are not there at home waiting for them."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His smirk had her letting out a small laugh, only to damn near choke on it as he complimented her and turned the question back around on her. It was only fair that he ask, and while she'd have pointed out the agreement was to ask him a question and not the other way around, her question hit harder with him than she'd intended.<br/><br/>So she'd answer, to the best of her ability.<br/><br/>Trying to ignore the burning she felt in her cheeks she blushed, settling back and releasing his hand as she shrugged again. "I've never really done the whole dating thing to be able to make someone fall madly in love with me," Lily answered. "Think something about hiding out in a lot of layers and people only seeing my eyes more often than not might have something to do with it. I mean, you saw me when you met me? Was your first thought, 'yes...yes I want to sweep her off her feet'? No, it was probably closer to, 'Yes, I want to talk to her. I want to see if she's okay'!" <br/><br/>Her tone was full of humor, laughing a bit as she leveled a look at him. "It's alright, though. I'm content to predict other people's happy endings before vanishing in the night and scaring someone else as I play hide and seek behind trash cans."</span><br/><br/>"You don;t give yourself enough credit," he said after a moment. "Your eyes are beautiful and when you smile it reflects in your eyes. They made me want to know more about you and get to know you," then with a slight blush to his cheeks. "Then when I saw your face..." Tobias cleared his throat. "Well, it just confirmed what I thought when I only had your eyes."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">If she'd had any breath at all, it was stolen the moment he started to talk about her. Everything he said, it was what she read in books, it was what the love interest said to the heroines. But to hear it about her? The smile that she wore slowly faded as she realized he was serious. That everything he said was how he genuinely saw her, right down to the blush that crossed his cheeks as he spoke.<br/><br/>Her own blush deepened a bit as she pushed some hair behind her ear, unsure of what to say; "thank you" didn't feel like the proper response. <br/><br/>"If I don't give myself enough credit, then neither do you," Lily finally settled on. "I may not know a lot of things, but one area I'm confident in is books...and you look and act like you've walked off the pages of some of my favorite books. The blue eyes, square jaw, the smile that would make any woman weak in the knees... Add that your personality is just as captivating and you make it hard for someone to think." <span style="font-style: italic">Or to leave like I'll have to...</span></span><br/><br/>"Then you are like Buttercup, a princess who is lost but not a victim. If I am a knight, then you are the princess that has already saved herself and I am merely along for the ride," he remarked with a shrug then cleared his throat. "Um...I am trying this whole flirting thing but I feel like I'm not coming across right here..." he said after a moment. "I know that this is kind of...weird...but I do feel like we're connected in some way and that...I want to get to know you better? I know that you're leaving but maybe we could talk to one another over the phone? Email perhaps?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Just like that, the words she would've killed to hear were said and left between them. All she wanted to do was tell him she felt the same, like there was some sort of a connection and they could keep in contact. It would almost be like having someone she could potentially come home to, like she was a normal girl and they could have some sort of a relationship down the line when things settled down.<br/><br/>But it could never be. Things would never settle down, and she'd never be normal.<br/><br/>"I don't think you're coming across wrong...and I...I'd love to be able to get to know you better, but I don't have a phone...or an email..." she admitted quietly. "If I did...I'd give them to you, because I'd want to be able to keep in contact."</span><br/><br/>Tobias's face fell just a bit, "I see. Well, at least we have the movie tonight, right?" he offered. "Oh and your laundry!" he suddenly remembered and stood to head back downstairs. "Come on, while they dry we can watch the rest of the movie."<br/><br/>Down to the laundry room, Tobias pushed his thoughts of her out of his mind and just focused on the tasks at hand. "Ok, so you take the clothes from there and put them into the dryer. Then you just put one of these sheets into the dryer and turn it on."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">With her reply, the moment was gone. The smile she'd been committing to memory was gone, and with it came an influx of disappointment. She followed after him, quiet as she tried to figure out if there was a way she could continue to talk to him, if she should even entertain the idea. <br/><br/>It was probably stupid and dangerous, needing to remain a ghost lost in the wind if she was ever going to keep away from the men who'd had her. ...But that didn't stop her from wanting and wishing she could talk with him for longer than one night, going so far as to consider trying to find some sort of a phone. Even just getting his number, or his email so that, when she figured out how to set one up, she could reach out.<br/><br/>His instructions were heard and acknowledged with a nod as she moved between the washer and the dryer silently. Once all of her clothes were in, she got one of the sheets and threw it in without much ado, closing it and looking over the settings. Figuring it didn't matter too much, she turned it on and glanced at him with as genuine a smile as she could muster.<br/><br/>"That wasn't too hard...learn something new every day. Thank you for teaching me to do my own laundry."</span><br/><br/>"Well, you are going to be on your own," Tobias remarked with a grin. "So, now you can stay clean. I'll even give you a couple of rolls of quarters so that you can do laundry whenever you need to," that done he took her back to his apartment. Back on the couch he sat, bowl of popcorn in his lap, "Let's finish this movie. As I am sure you're going to love how it ends."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Back in the apartment, she sat down on the other end of the couch like she had been, not fully interested in finishing the movie. Instead, she blurted, "I'll call you when I get there."<br/><br/>She wasn't looking at him, eyes pointedly forward on the paused movie, as that ever-present blush came back. "What I mean is...where you gave me your number earlier, when I get to where I'm going and get myself sorted...I could give you a call? Or maybe email you when I figure out how to make one myself?"<br/><br/>Glancing over at him, she fought through the embarrassment to try, again, for a smile. "I know you probably thought not having a phone was an excuse, but I really do want to keep in contact..." Her eyes dropped again as she let out a breath. "...I just wanted you to know that."</span><br/><br/>The rambling of words that came from her lips brought a smile to his lips, "I'd like that. And, if you wanted, we could set you up an email before you leave? You can use my computer?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Her smile grew as she felt a sense of relief washing over her. "That would be great," she answered as another breath tumbled free, this one far less heavy. "Now that I've rambled at you...<span style="font-style: italic">now</span> we can finish the movie.</span><br/><br/>"It was cute rambling and had some information that mattered to me, so I didn't mind the rambling," the smile seemingly stuck on his face as he started the movie back up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">The movie started back up, and she relaxed completely, settling into the couch a bit more as she curled up and watched with rapt attention. Everything was coming to a head with the movie, the plot thickening as the Prince's intentions became clear, as Buttercup left with him to try and save Wesley.<br/><br/>But what struck her most was that, even when he should've died, Wesley still came for her. Mostly paralyzed, being carried, barely able to move his arms as he waited for in her room, the woman preparing to commit suicide. Even through hell and high water, he made it back to her.<br/><br/>Only when the movie did end on that final kiss, did she turn her attention back to her companion. "I thought you said they wouldn't get a happy ending," Lily insisted, her tone trying to sound offended but peppered with too much humor. "That was about the happiest ending there could've been!"</span><br/><br/>Tobias chuckled, "Well if I told you they would have a happy ending it would have ruined it." Standing up he went to the kitchen to get another bottle of water, "What did you think though? The best movie ever, right?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"You say it'd have ruined it, and I say that it'd have given me hope through all of the tense moments!" she shot back with a laugh of her own. "But you're right. That was the best movie I've ever seen; it's everything I like in a story. Drama, excitement, harrowing escapes, and a happy ever after."</span><br/><br/>"Glad you enjoyed it," he responded with a smile. "What do you want to eat for dinner?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Um...anything?" she answered with a slight wince. "I wouldn't want to put you out, so really, anything you have that's easy, I'll happily eat without complaint."</span><br/><br/>"Hm...well I don't really have much here, because I just never have the need to cook. Is there something that you've always wanted to try? But your parents did not let you?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">How could she know what they wouldn't let her try if she'd never had the option to choose her own food?<br/><br/>"Nothing specific..." she mumbled in thought. "I just had to eat healthier things, nothing with a lot of grease or fat or sugar, so I'm sure there's a whole world out there I haven't tried."</span><br/><br/>"How about we go get a couple of greasy burgers and fries then?" excitement in this voice.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">A food she recognized, but didn't know how it could be made greasy given she was always given the leaner options like turkey or fish. And the fries were baked, so again, they were healthy. But if there was a way to make it taste better, she was all about it.<br/><br/>"Greasy burgers and fries sound great," the woman confirmed with an emphatic nod. "Where do we get those? Another place like Samuele and Angela's?"</span><br/><br/>"How did you know that I would favor a place like that?" he asked with a grin as he grabbed up his keys and wallet. Down to his truck he took her, opening her side so that she could get inside. Fastening his seatbelt he waited for her to do the same, then pulled out into traffic and took them down to a small diner that had one of the best burgers in the city in his opinion. Getting out, once they were parked, he opened her door and led her into the diner. Taking a seat at a booth, he waited for their waitress.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Call it that same intuition that new the pirate wouldn't just be after her to claim her," she answered back to that with a smirk, following after him and getting into the truck.<br/><br/>It was odd, how comfortable she was with him. Despite not getting this sort of contact or communication with anyone else before this moment, it just felt natural to her. It felt like this is how everything should be like, and it was impossible not to feel at ease with him. Maybe it was the infectious smile he seemed to wear constantly, or maybe it was just that he treated her like a normal girl, but whatever it was, she was looking forward to going out to a restaurant like anybody else.<br/><br/>Save for going through the door. Just like the last restaurant, she paused and debated going in, rushing it and stepping off to the side to make sure that no one was going to run into her. Then, when they found the booth, she sat down and made herself at home, only looking semi-nervous as the waitress came over.<br/><br/>"Good evenin', folks," the woman greeted them with a warm smile. "What can I get you to drink? Do you have any questions or need a minute longer?"</span><br/><br/>"Um, we would like a chocolate shake and a strawberry shake," a grin at her. "A couple of waters, then two double cheese burgers with fries."<br/><br/>The waitress took their orders and smiled, "Alright, I'll be right back." Alone again, Tobias looked down at his hands for a bit before he spoke, "So...um where are you heading off to next? I know you are letting the wind direct you. But do you have a general idea of at least the direction you want to head to?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">He thankfully ordered for both of them, so she didn't have to pretend to know what would be good. While the idea of sweets shaking was weird to her, she wasn't going to fight it, trusting that it would be as good as everything else he'd had her try.<br/><br/>So when she left and the questioning turned back to her, she felt a new wave of nerves and anxiety washing over her. "Someplace inland? I don't know; anywhere far away...a place that, when I get there, I'll know." It was a cryptic answer, maybe a bit more telling than she realized, but it was the best answer she could give. "I'm open to suggestions of places I should see?"</span><br/><br/>"Hmm...well you should try to head toward the mountains? Like Colorado, it's inland and the mountains are beautiful in winter." A pause while he played with his napkin, "So, um...are you in trouble? Do you need protection? I could protect you..." hating himself for even asking these questions but feeling compelled to do so.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">The new questions were right out of a book. The hero offering to protect the heroine, not wanting to let them go on their journey alone. But this wasn't a story; this was real life. She was on the run from men in suits, running away from experience and a life behind walls. He was a man who didn't need any further drama or danger because of her trying to get away.<br/><br/>"I..." Her voice tapered off as she tried to figure out what to say. "Things are...complicated. Even if I were in trouble, I couldn't ask you to help me anymore than you have, but I'll be okay." Lily couldn't lie to him outright, as it didn't feel right. So she gave as much of a truthful answer as she could. "And when I get to Colorado, I'll call you and bore you with details of my travels."</span><br/><br/>"Alright," he sighed. There was no pressing for more information as he just could not see her just giving anymore than she already had. "I doubt it would be boring and maybe when things settle down for you I could come and visit?" rather shyly he asked.<br/><br/>Before she could answer the food was brought out, the shakes and water placed on the table. A friendly smile and she was gone, "Ok...this one is yours," he slid the strawberry shake over to her. "Now, put some ketchup on the burger like this. Pick it up and take a bite." Walking her through the steps he took a bite and sighed in pleasure at the taste feeling this was just what hit the spot.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Where he didn't press for anything more, and instead offered to visit when she got settled down, there was more relief that washed over her. She didn't think it'd actually be able to happen, but the idea of it was a nice one.<br/><br/>But, the food was set down, along with the shake, put in front of her and he was giving her some pointers. So, just as he'd instructed, she put some ketchup on it, picked it up and took a bite. And the sound that escaped her was a happy one, akin to a moan as her eyes drifted closed, the burger practically melting in her mouth.<br/><br/>"This is...so good," she said before she took another bite, doing a sort of happy dance in her seat. "I've never had anything like this! It's so greasy and hot and savory and just...<span style="font-style: italic">perfect</span>."</span>