Can't We Be Friends?

Amy shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. You’ve got special circumstances and there’s no helping it. But thanks for the luck; we’ll make good use of it.” Amy tugged lightly on Blaise’s ear. “Let’s get going.”

Amy left the table. Tommy gave her a friendly wave as she walked by the bar, and Bruno gave a subtle, professional nod as she floated through the front door.

Once on the street, Amy craned her neck and took a deep breath. The sky was teeming with gloomy grey clouds, but there was nary an umbrella to be seen, and no one was dressed for rain, which was a good sign. Now.

Amy turned to Blaise and fixed him with a frown and a look. She let the stare simmer, letting the moment stretch, letting Blaise stew, saying nothing the whole while. Then she gave a lazy blink and stopped holding back her smile. She held out the be-sheeped fist out to Blaise. "Good one."

Then she sighed and stretched her arms out over her head. "Ahhh that sucked. Mariko was the perfect third." Her arms swung down. "Any ideas?"

Blaise has had enough embarrassing moments in the ring. He'd rather avoid them! But then, he took everything Emilia could throw at him in stride. Who knows? Maybe he'd be the one to fight past it and score the win over Mariko!

His ear gets tugged.

"Erk!" He squints up at Amy, then shoots Mariko an apologetic look as he's guided to his feet. "I guess it's time to go. The matron's getting impatient."

On the way out, Amy gets to be all social with the guys. But Blaise didn't really create a rapport with the bartender, and his interaction with the giant doorman ended with him getting a shamestamp. So he's happy enough just shuffling out the door.

Once both exited the building, Blaise turns to speak to Amy, only to catch her look. Oh, she expects him to wither! He shoots a look right back - tugging down an eyelid and sticking out his tongue. He's got just no damn idea what the Hell it means, but he keeps seeing it happen. So screw it, he can test drive Japan's pop culture. He maintains it right back at her as long as she holds her ground!

And as soon as she breaks, so does he! His smile is more of a broad, amiable grin. Her fist gets a bump from his own sheep-stamped hand. "Maybe Mariko's feeling ba-a-a-ashful," he bleats. "She was the odd girl out, after all."

Blaise turns to start walking back towards the Tension dorms, fully expecting Amy to follow. "So we're down one person," he continues. "No big. Just means we'll have to be extra careful, that's all! No need to not go through with things. If numbers is all they have on us, they're the ones who should be worried." He turns his head to flash her a wink.