Work Text:
It was already late this Thursday when my phone buzzed at the corner of my work desk. It put me out of a trance induced by lack of sleep and ultimate boredom by being alone at the office.
[Lucien]
Are you free tomorrow? I got tickets for the premiere of that movie you've been looking forward. I hope I'm not too late to ask you to go.
[Me]
I do have time. I totally want to see this premiere!
[Lucien]
It's at the place you like from before. Will that do?
[Me]
Great! I'm surprised you remember...
[Lucien]
I remember every little mention you make.
I do it to help a certain silly girl.
[Me]
Then... after the movie, how about I treat you to a meal?
[Lucien]
I take it you have something particular in mind, which place?
[Me]
Well, since I've worked so hard this week, I thought having a pizza would be well deserved!
[Lucien]
In that case, I guess I'd better go along willingly.
All set! Lucien just forgot to mention the premiere he scored was so late at night, the moon was already high up at the sparkly-dark sky.
He knocked my door wrapped inside a gorgeous all-black suit set. Fillets of purple delineated his neck and chest line, coming down from his scarf -- this was the only color in his entire outfit as alluring as his eyes behind the thick glasses. I almost felt intimidated, seeing my gray dress was not as classy as his visuals. I blush, both from his good-looking appearance and out of embarrassment from my simple dress, but deep inside I hope he doesn't get the wrong idea out of my hesitance.
On the way there, Lucien told the movie was only going to be released next week, so this was an exclusive screening kind of thing... When we got to the cinema, there was even a cosplay out of the main character -- a murderer, covered in blood-like red splatters and armed with a glimmering knife. There was a noticeable queue to take photos with the cosplayer, I felt like going, but thought better not to... I don't know how Lucien would think of me, seeing me fangirl over such an antagonistic figure, although the character is very cool, he's nothing like Lucien, the professor would probably be weirded out by this.
The whole movie was awesome, my eyes glued to the big screen all the time. At the end, the director herself held a Q&A session where she shared many curiosities about the production. Once again, hesitantly, I made no questions, I felt so mesmerized by her speech it kind of blank me out of ideas to ask about.
The way back is eerily silent out at the streets. Loveland always bursted out activity everywhere, but it was so late it felt as if we were the only ones there. "You look beautiful tonight." Lucien remarks. "Too bad all restaurants are closed by this hour, I wish we could have more time together and talk about the movie."
"Thanks for the movie tickets, I really enjoyed tonight's whole program! I'll keep these tickets as a memento." Even if there were no cars on the streets, we still waited for each of the crossing lights to turn green.
"If you like it so much, why haven't you taken a photo with the protagonist at the entrance?" The night's cold wind picked up. I held tightly into Lucien's arm, feeling the warmth coming from inside his suit. "Also, you could have asked something to the director."
"I... I don't know, everything felt so fun tonight, it passed quickly like a breeze around a camphor tree." I try to laugh it off, but with such questions, it seems he saw right through me. "Besides, it's already this late."
"My apologies. I told you so quickly about this screening, we should have planned this better." The moonlight lits up his glasses, hiding his full expression from my view, although his voice tone sounds sincerely down.
"It's fine, we can have a delicious pizza any day!" I instinctively pull on his arm. "Besides, it's you who keeps telling me, what matters the most is who we have by our side. It wouldn't feel as thrilling if it was any different from tonight."
"What is so thrilling about that movie? You stood at the very edge of your seat, sometimes I thought you would fall off." Lucien smiles broadly and giggles teasingly.
"I was rooting for him!"
"So you like to root for cold murderers?" Busted... "Tell me more."
"B-but he's not cold! You see, he had this whole agenda and never hurt his beloved one." There I was. Enthusiastically trying to excuse a murderer. To a neuroscientist.
"Calm down, I get it, you don't need to justify yourself, okay?" When I realized it, we already got to our building... and we're standing at Lucien's living room. "Now get a seat, I'll prepare something for you, an apology for getting home too late."
Once again, all I could reply to him was merely a blushing face. Of course he knows, I can't even hide anything from him, because he already knows it even before asking. All the questions from Lucien are pretty much rhetorical.
And even being this overwhelmingly knowledgeable man, Lucien can still sustain some interesting chat with this 'silly girl', up until late hours.
Next morning, I don't even remember what we were talking so much about last night. Must've dozed off real hard.
All I know is that, never have an eerie Friday 13th night felt so pleasing before.