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Aglaea's dress, as simple as it is, somehow is still annoyingly perfectly tailored. It's what Cipher should expect, even in this life, but somehow as her eyes follow the hem of her dress from her thigh all the way to her ankle, well. It's either she finds it annoying or she finds it perfect, she doesn't want to think of all the other adjectives she could list, despite the millions of lifetimes her and Aglaea have never succeeded in this dance before.
But there is some hope, as out of place as it is from the rest of her outfit, Aglaea still wears Cipher's jacket. It's cropped, black leather, and probably would go just fine with her outfit if Cipher didn't iron patches of cats all over the sleeves.
"Do you always come to concerts this overdressed?" Cipher fights the urge to reach out for her hand, to take that jacket right off of her just for a glimpse at her shoulders. Aglaea raises an eyebrow, she's clearly unimpressed with her greeting.
"I think it's suitable for my style. The jacket additionally indicates that I'm a fan of the band playing."
Cipher scoffs. That jacket had nothing to do with the band, everyone in the audience will just assume she's ridiculous. "Are you a fan?"
Aglaea considers her answer with a small hum. "I'm very proud of Castorice and Mydei."
"Agy..." Cipher doesn't know why her pouting sounds so breathless, an undercurrent of something unspoken in their relationship.
"Cifera," Aglaea says back just as breathless, just as soft, like she could speak her language forever. "It's good to see you, it's good for you to finally look at me."
Cipher doesn't pout this time, only smirks to hide the fact all she wants to do is frown. "I think you dressed like that specifically so I wouldn't stop looking at you."
"Not exactly, but I'll accept the compliment anyway." Aglaea can't help but smile anyway, a light blush colors her cheeks. Cipher misses this the most about her. In most of their lives, Aglaea's soul is worn down, practically empty, already a sliver of what she used to be. "The Cifera I know just isn't a coward, no matter how good she is at running away, especially from me."
Cipher is quiet, her smirk fading away gradually. Her eyes are focused on Aglaea's heels, silver, Aglaea's dress, blue. "You look better in gold, seamstress."
"An outfit speaks for itself, I chose these colors for you, for the first time, I'm offering myself to you—and you just—"
"It's terrifying, Agy." Cipher spits out immediately, looking at the sky so she doesn't cry. Instead she laughs. "Millions of lives and neither of us had this chance, and suddenly you're at my concert, you're saying everything but the words I want you to say–just as always–and it doesn’t matter! I'm still so happy."
This time Aglaea is silent, she waits for Cipher's laughter to end, then breathes deep and closes her eyes. "Romance is deeply embedded in our lives, all of our lives. It is the epicenter of most epics, but that isn't the romance I wanted for us, not until now, Cifera."
"That's right, not until now, always on your own terms."
"You know—"
Cipher lets out an exasperated laugh before Aglaea can continue. "I know." Because she does, she knows that they’ve all suffered and thrived just the same, why is she being difficult now? Maybe it's because for once, she finally gets the chance. Cipher hasn't taken the second chance at a normal life for granted, even if she had to repeat the cycle again, at least she didn't have to go through that Flame-Chase Journey, at least she didn't have to see Aglaea fade completely, at least she didn't have to feel her hand grow cold ever again. "I can't even fault you for your choices. I wanted to be just like you, a hero."
Aglaea smiles, closing the distance between them. Cipher notices now that she's closer that she's wearing some kind of perfume. Cipher can’t describe scents very well, but it's floral, vanilla, nice. She almost instinctively leans in. Instead, she makes a mental note that Aglaea smells like the nicest thing in this dump and smiles back. Aglaea rests her hand on her face, presses her forehead against her own. "Cifera, it's so nice to be your equal, once and for all."
Cipher can't help but laugh again, but she takes Aglaea's hand, which, despite her pretty words and her pretty dress, is still more clammy than she anticipates. Cipher doesn't even mind, not when she's this close to Aglaea's lips. "Is this your way of asking me out?"
Aglaea squeezes her hand, but it's less affection and more of a warning, Cipher lets out some kind of whine that would make a past Aglaea pull away from her. Instead this Aglaea just tsks. "I was going to point out how I've always considered you a hero. I think all of us have done more than enough to earn that title. However, I think you're going to have to initiate instead."
"You can't even ask for a kiss right, Agy, and you're supposed to know all about romance?" Before Aglaea could protest further, Cipher presses her lips against hers, fighting the urge to bite at her lower lip affectionately, and instead makes it soft and sweet. If they ever get around to marriage, this is how Cipher would kiss her; whenever Aglaea died, this is how Cipher wishes she said goodbye. Aglaea doesn't need desperation and yearning feelings, Aglaea's romance is consistent, here, present; all things Cipher could never be before.
When Cipher pulls away, she can see all those emotions in Aglaea's eyes, Aglaea watching her for a few moments, staring at her lips like they haven't shared kisses across lifetimes. It is unusual. Aglaea hasn't had her sight in such a long time, and Cipher understands the need to indulge and savor the moment now. She grins, squeezing her hand again. "This time I'm not going anywhere, okay?"
Aglaea just nods before gathering Cipher in a hug, the kind where she slumps down on Cipher's shoulders completely and clearly wants to be held. Cipher kisses her hair, the crown of her head, her cheeks, any part of her she can reach. They're both thinking the same thing.
Hopefully this is it. Hopefully, at least this time, they can have a life together.