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HOW ANGRY IS SHE? the sign read.

Lucas flinched.

That was the question, wasn't it? The man scratched beneath his half ponytail with his prosthetic hand, looking over the rows of flowers and chocolates and guilt inducing messages that were surely not helping things. But where did he start? He was shopping for a...an antlered potato and his Princess. What would be good enough? What would actually say 'I'm sorry I'm such an overreacting enormous a*****e' in a lasting way better than words?

He was lost. This was why he probably never had a solid relationship - he was very probably the worst at knowing how to make something right on an emotional level.

And here he was.

Trying to make things right.

Trying.

Lofting his brows at the voice next to him, Lucas turned his head to see a pretty little thing that was so bright and vibrant, she put the flowers to shame. He laughed softly at the question and made a soft 'tsk!' with the corner of his mouth, tilting his head to the side with a subtle shake. "I'm pretty sure they don't make flowers for, 'Sorry I Insulted Your Friend And Basically Thought You Were Crazy.'" He winced, even just saying those words out loud, eyes shifting to the side in a guilty manner.

"I'm Lucas, probably the world's biggest a*****e right now." He grinned, self-depreciating. "And that's just today."

A soft laugh followed her words, wearing a tired grin despite himself. "It's, uh...it's fairly complicated. But isn't that how things go?" He fixed her with a smile at the pat, grateful for her good humor and that she wasn't beating him with a dozen roses for being insensitive. "Nice to meet you, Carin, even if the circumstance isn't quite so nice."

Santa, Carin had said. The notion brought the image of Pax trying to put on a santa hat, earning a bit of a dryer smile from him. Man, he was in some bad way, wasn't he?

"Well," he said slowly, rubbing his prosthetic arm in an absent gesture, "the one I'm getting flowers for -- is the friend." He paused. How did one phrase what Pax was without being shipped to the mental hospital? "They, uh, to my knowledge, don't prefer a gender. All I really know is they like flowers and I spooked them by being my charming a*****e self."

Lucas chuckled, a soft sound. "And my friend, she's -- she's my Princess, she's the girl who has everything. So, if that doesn't have you in as many knots as it has me," he looked over to Carin, his smile reaching his pale eyes, "I'd definitely welcome the help."

Carin was so cheerful and honestly kind, it really took Lucas a moment to make sure she was real and not some figment of his stressed out mind. A pretty and helpful lady at his lower point of need? Who could blame him for not being sure she was real?

"Yeah, like a -- Disney Princess. The type you'd expect to talk to animals." Except that's how she earned the name. Not that he was going to share that with this sweet lady. He laughed when she complimented his eyes, shaking his head with a rather impressive kicked-puppy look. "I haven't exactly gone back to say 'sorry' yet, I wanted to come bearing gifts. A distraction, in case the eyes fail me." And then Lucas actually grinned a bit more free of his dismal personal rain cloud, comforted by Carin's carefree and positive outlook. It felt good to not be so...alone and confused.

The grin remained through the question, but he winced visibly. "How much of an a*****e does it make me if it was the first meeting...?"

Accepting the arrangement, he looked it over, inspecting the flowers and the leaves with a more critical eye than one that saw beauty. Lucas did, however, think that Pax would like the pink. "This is beautiful. I just hope they'll think so enough to forget -- " that I ran from it like a monster " -- that I was less than cordial. Not sure there's an apology card for that, either."

He flickered a smile when Carin clapped him on the shoulder, chuckling softly and tucking the arrangement in the crook of his good arm. "She -- yeah, you could say that. More like animals like her, too." Lucas rubbed his prosthetic finger between his brows, thinking. How did one encapsulate Autumn into a sentence or two? "She's beautiful, not like you'd think on silver screens, but that sort of -- effervescent way, that quality of goodness and kindness around her but with enough sass to choke a giraffe. Smart, talented, the one you don't get in the way of if her mind is set."

Lucas paused, his expression a little distant. And you went and got in the way. Good job, steed. "She...she likes coral and seafoam colors, make up, and -- and she has a really adorable white cat. And tea. She loves tea." The sadness touched his brow again, looking to the flowers he was holding. Would an apology ever be enough?

His eyes turned to Carin as she spoke up, lifting his brows with polite interest and a friendly smile, chasing away his moment of sadness in turn. Her suggestion earned a sort of whuffling laugh, his grin crooked and amused. "That's kind of how I first met her," Lucas divulged, "so that...could be two fold for Princess. For her friend, I'm...I'm not really sure." He bit his bottom lip for a moment before smiling again. "It's worth a shot, though. Thank you, Carin."

And he paused, a thoughtful look crossing his features as he gazed at the woman. "Do you do this professionally? I feel like you just solved hours worth of my agonizing in a handful of minutes." Lucas chuckled, turning to better face her. "Truly, how can I thank you?"

He laughed warmly at her reaction, her open surprise and exuberance so easily refreshing. She was such a warm and positive person, Lucas actually felt he might stand half a chance just on her belief alone. "Your vote of confidence is extremely appreciated," he grinned, easy and open, "you should really consider a profession in some sort of gift therapy. You'd be a millionaire."

Lucas followed her amicably back to the flowers she had her eye on, gaze still a little tired but his smile easily lighting his pale eyes again. "That can be arranged." Her terms were still sweet and considerate and quite frankly, he was certain he was going to contract a cavity just from being in proximity to her.

"I'll tell you what," he finally said, raising his brows and putting the flowers he was holding on the counter. "You let me buy those pretty flowers for you and my number will come with 'em." Lucas quirked another smile, trying to be sly but it was a bit silly, all told. He knew well that he was a bit of a cheeseball. "Don't make me bat my eyes to plead, because I'm not above it, knowing it may actually work."

She'd already mentioned it, but this time, recognition flickered through his eyes. "You work for Cid? No kidding!" Lucas laughed - of course this vibrant, pleasant woman would work for that guy - nodding his head with an easy grin. "Well, I know where to find you. So, it's only fair..."

Oh, but she challenged him. "If you insist," he said in an almost sorrowful way, making sure the flowers were secure on the counter and clearing his throat. Lucas made a brief show of rolling out his shoulders, like he was preparing an entire song and dance, before he gave her his best puppy-dog eyes. His brows turned upwards over his large gaze, letting his long lashes do the work of framing his pale eyes, lips tucked in an upside down 'v' shape.

His eyes were actually a little wet before he bat his eyelashes at her, uttering a soft little, "Please?"