Chapter Text
That evening, after work and a very successful evening, Lumine was curled up in bed feeling giddy. Paimon, the cat, was huddled up beside her purring.
Dottore seemed rather nice, calm and mature, compared to other men she’d gone out with in the past. She’d learnt that he was also student at the local University. A Biology Major.
He was surprised to hear that she went there too, when she admitted she didn’t really hang around and spent most of her time at home.
Lumine was a bit of a hermit compared to her brother who was much more of a social butterfly. The only bit of socializing she did was a poetry club with a few people from her class and her rather persisting best friend, Mona.
Lumine had always more or less just been Aether’s weird sister, who drew on her notebooks and collected shiny rocks and trinkets. Sometimes she wished she could just be more like him. Dottore seemed to admire her in someway, which made her feel a little warm and fussy. No one had really taken much attention to her before.
It was around 11.30pm when Lumine finally turned off her show and went to sleep.
-
The next morning, it was Sunday. Laundry day. She woke up late and mooched around in her pajamas for a while until she piled up her washing into a basket and wandered down the stairs towards the laundry room in the basement.
The room was empty, a lone washing machine in the corner spinning and making noise, with a quite nice smelling soap she’d never smelt before.
She carefully split her washing into piles humming a tune she’d probably heard off the radio. Once the washing machine was on, she hoped atop of an empty one and pulled out her magazine.
It was routine she’d grown accustomed to ages ago, it was rare that anyone did Laundry on a Sunday this late in the day so it was peaceful and quiet.
“Oh, good evening.” A familiar voice greeted from the stairs.
“Dottore, Hi.” Lumine greeted with a smile.
He nodded politely in her direction before wandering over to the washing machine in the corner with the nice smelling soap. “I had a nice time last night.” Dottore told her and he fiddled with the washing machine.
“Oh me too! I don't think I have laughed so much in ages.” She told him.
Conversations felt so comfortable with him, he was such a charismatic guy and he was interested in what she had to say, which made him even better. His smile felt so sophisticated and his laugh addicting, there was no doubt he could successfully sweep her clean off her feet if he wanted.
“You have a lovely laugh.” He told her. “You should do it more often.” He winked as he smoothly exited the room and back up the stairs, laundry in his arms.
Lumine sat there mouth open, cheeks turning red.
“What a smooth talker.” She mumbled to herself.
The next morning, Lumine headed to class at precisely 9am. She was always punctual and never missed a class even when she was sick.
“Lumine, Good morning!” Venti, a classmate of hers, greeted with a smile. “Have you read the book I recommended to you?”
“Oh, not yet. I’ve been a little occupied.” Lumine apprised as they walked into the class together.
“Ehe no worries! Are you still meeting us for bookclub later?” He asked her.
“Of course.” She smiled.
Later in the day, Lumine wandered through the lunch hall with Mona, who was blabbering on about a new situation-ship she’d gotten herself into. “He’s like a spoiled brat! I cannot believe I was convinced to go out with someone like that!” Mona complained.
Lumine was only half listening as she caught a glimpse of familiar pale blue hair in the corner of the room and for a moment, he noticed her too, smiling politely before wandering away with what she assumed were his friends. A tall woman with white hair and an even taller dark haired, mysterious-looking man.
“Lumine? Are you even listening?” Mona complained.
“What? Oh yeah I totally am.” Lumine sighed.
Mona went on talking and complaining and while Lumine completely zoned out of the conversation yet again.
Later in the day, Lumine was sat in the library by herself to catch up on some coursework. Mona had rushed off hit the purple haired guy that she supposedly hated when he offered to buy her a late lunch, typical Mona.
She was tasked with writing an essay about a war that happened over 500 years ago, one that they’d been reading about it class. She’d already heard of it before when she was younger from her parents before they died.
“You know, you’re pretty cute when your concentrating.” That familiar smooth voice spoke.
She looked up to see Dottore leaning against a bookcase nearby with a smug grin on his face.
“Oh. Hey…” Lumine chuckled, a blush slowly creeping its way onto her face.
“Its weird to see you in regular clothes for a change.” Dottore joked.
“Ah right. So uh, what brings you here?” Lumine questioned, changing the subject before she got too embarrassed.
“Research.” He told her. “May I?” Pointing to the empty seat beside her.
“Oh, of course.” She smiled.
The two slipped into comfortable conversation so easily, like it was natural. He spoke so calmly and everything he said sounded so interesting, she could get used to this. After a while, she’d finally finished her work and he offered to walk home with her, and because they lived next to each, she couldn’t think of a reason to say no.
Dottore had greeted a few people on the way who either cowered away or addressed him with such enthusiasm.
He didn’t seem particularly keen on all the attention. “You alright?” Lumine asked.
“Yeah. People think they know me, but they’re just friends of friends. It’s kind of annoying actually.” He told her.
“Oh.” Lumine spoke quietly.
They left the library building moments later and began the commute home.
Dottore enjoyed seeing her face light up whenever he spoke, how she seemed to pay so much attention to every word he said. It was enthralling, he could get used to feeling like this...