2482/Moonlit Attractions

Moonlit Attractions
Date of Scene:	19 April 2025
Location:	Sarek
Synopsis:	Laisa joins again with Veronica at Sarek after the caper at the museum. With a confession to make, a very sweet heist is carried out.
Cast of Characters:	Veronica Perenna, Laisa Samuiko

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Veronica Perenna has posed:
With the corrupt guy incapacitated and the demon guy forever out of the picture by both meanings of the phrase, the group had scattered soon afterwards, and Veronica was left alone with the reproduction of the painting, to be placed within Sarek.

She certainly would have appreciated if the others came with her as a post-heist hangout, but it's late in the evening, and there will certainly be other occasions.

She certainly wasn't going to do the swindler a favour any time soon, and more importantly, come the morning, he would have a lot to be accountable for thanks to the press.

For now though, she is hopping from house to house, trying to find a good place to open Sarek's doorway, somewhere that is more hidden than the literal middle of the street.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Mou Fubuki had scattered away from the others when the heist ended, which in retrospect may have been a 'newbie thief' thing to do. It's a good thing that the Veil was so strong, or otherwise she would've been caught on a camera or something for sure.

    However, once she had found a quiet alleyway to duck in and de-henshin, she found herself kinda wishing she had hung out with the group more. They were interesting people, many of whom she hadn't met before that night, and she found it a shame she couldn't hang out with them more.

    Also, she was starting to realize that she didn't really know what Veronica's deal was, and the more time she spent out of henshin the more she started to think that she kinda wish she knew other people who dealt with curses like she did.

    When Laisa spots Veronica leaping across some rooftops in the distance, she realizes that she's been given a second chance. The wintery mahou decides to go back to her transformation, and starts trying to catch up to the phantom thief. She has to push a little harder to cover the distance, but when she's close enough she calls out, "Come this way often?"

    After getting a little closer she adds, "I hope you don't mind a bit of company."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
There is a point where Veronica is considering to stop, just when she has found an alley that isn't too exposed, but a feeling of someone looking at her makes her turn around with the realisation that someone is keeping up with her.

Turning around, the blonde thief smiles when she sees it's one of the mahoujin that just fought alongside her. Snow Angel Mou Fubuki, was it? She had been there briefly for a little time as well when she had been cursed by the flames.

"Only when I am trying not to get too much attention", Veronica smiles impishly to the other magical girl. "What about you, were you maybe hoping to catch yourself a thief in this lovely night?"

Mou Fubuki asking for company makes Veronica step closer to the other mahou. "Not at all, I would love to have you. I was about to head to Sarek, wish to join me?"

If the winter magical girl replies affermatively, Veronica will point towards the alley, and once there takes out one of the two paintings she always carries with herself, tapping on it and the stolen one rapidly in an alternated 3-2-3-1-2 order.

"This way", she smiles at the other girl, and steps through the silver doorway that opened just now. When Mou Fubuki does the same, the portal closes behind them, leaving them alone on a sandy beach with the sound of waves and the moon peering down at them with its white rays.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Mou Fubuki feels... something when Veronica asks if she's trying to catch a thief. Or does she? It's hard to tell. It's more like there's an emptiness there. The Rime Rosary, her henshin device, suddenly gets especially cold. Odd. She hasn't felt it do that since... well, since leaving Osaka, years ago.

    "Maybe," she says. "Concerned about getting caught? Or maybe being chased is part of the fun?" Her tone is a little bit cold, despite the words.

    When she's invited to Sarek, Laisa nods. She's sure she's heard that place before, but this would be her first time going. "Of course, I'd love to."

    After passing through the silver doorway, Mou Fubuki absorbs the atmosphere of waves crashing on the sandy moonlit beach, decides that this is a good enough place to relax, and drops her henshin for a moment. Veronica has already seen her both in and out of it, so it's no big deal to reveal it.

    "Excuse me for a moment, my cursed item is acting a little strangely."

    Laisa pulls necklace carrying the Rime Rosary off of her neck for a moment, and once it's no longer touching her body she starts immediately realizing the cause.

    The cause of the issue being, of course, that she's alone with a very charming phantom thief in the middle of the night at what could fairly be described as a romantic locale. Laisa's cheeks warm for a moment in a way they haven't for years.

    Laisa clears her throat and puts the necklace back on, leaving the Rosary on the outside of her clothes so that it's not touching her directly. She wants to feel this for a while longer before she shuts it off again.

    "So, does a charming thief like you only steal paintings, or do you steal hearts as well?"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica has heard Mou Fubuki's ice-cold tone by now that she doesn't give it a second thought, and being Norie's roommate, who keeps a similarly neutral tone for unrelated reason, further influences her in that direction.

The Princess of Sarek keeps up that amused smile when Mou Fubuki quips back, feeling enjoyment at her playing along. "Mmm", she fakes being lost in thought for a moment.

"I would say that depends. Some people are all about business. Others don't mind a little fun along the way. Which one would you say you are?", she watches the other girl's reaction intently.

There is a moment when she seems surprised that Mou Fubuki just drops her henshin like that. Even if she knows that she has seen her both ways, she is not sure Mou Fubuki knows. That's a lot of trust in someone she just met.

The mention of the cursed item makes Veronica steal a glance at it. A cursed rosary, what an interesting contradiction. And perhaps that's why it's all the more common. "Take all the time you need. I know how that goes, and if you want, my home is only a little further up."

With a snap of her fingers, she returns the favour, and her transformation fades in silver sparkles, letting the chill of the night announce itself to her. She usually goes inside herself, but... there is something odd that makes her hold back for now.

"Worries, admiration and hearts, that's all up for consideration, wouldn't you agree?", Veronica replies with a chuckle. "But I haven't really gotten the occasion to find a heart worth taking."

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    "Oh, I would say that the days of being all business are behind me," she responds, putting a bit perhaps too much thought into the quip. "Barring exceptional circumstances of course. Some things are too serious to joke about. Other times you just can't help but laugh."

    Laisa glances towards Veronica and senses her reaction, then says, "Ah... I guess I haven't actually revealed this to you, have I? Honestly I've given that away to so many by now that I haven't really kept track."

    She walks up to Veronica, not wanting to hold up the procession too much, and keeps walking with her if the Princess wants to keep going ahead.

    "I suppose with such things, if you can steal them then they're yours to take. Though if someone stole my heart I'd certainly try to catch them," she says. Tapping on her Rime Rosary, she adds, "I tend to keep mine under lock and key. Can't be too careful about who I trust with it."

    After a thoughtful moment she adds, "I love your henshin, by the way. The bow around the tail, the jacket and dress... Very sharp."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
The brunette chuckles a bit at the unexpectedly straightforward answer. So this is how she is. Being chased by her and exchanging their wits with each other honestly sounds like it would have been very fun, in another world, another time

Probably she would have regularly left Laisa her calling card even, so she would have always known the location of their hangout. Or would it have been a date?

"I had already seen you as Laisa, actually", she starts walking ahead when she sees Laisa taking the space next to her. "I was just surprised with the ease you did it, and I couldn't help but repay you with the same trust." It's not like they are actually enemies, anyway.

She tilts her head curiously at the matter over Laisa's heart. For someone reluctant to trust, she did just follow Veronica into an alternate realm and then dropped her henshin of her own accord. Perhaps that's just how much she keeps her heart safe. "That's quite fair. Some things are too valuable to left unguarded", Veronica smirks.

At the compliment, Veronica bows slightly. "I could say the same about you. You really embody winter, its softness and its rigours. The ice crystals at the hem, the strings with the small pompons, they are so pretty."

It doesn't take very long at all for them to reach a cave, just a minute by foot. Inside it, many blue crystals dot the wall like small stars, turning the darkness of the cave into a firmament. At the center, a building stands proudly, and Veronica opens its door, waiting for Laisa to come in before closing it behind them.

The sight that greets the ice sculptor, are many objects in their cases: an ornate fan, a set of decorative knives, a vase with reliefs of a mountain and a silver heart, a jewelled book and at the center of it all, a painting of a figure clothed similarly to Veronica in henshin leaping away from a 1800s building into the night with her back to the viewer.

Placed delicately around the room there are painting supplies and yellowed notes.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa also thinks that Veronica is showing a high amount of trust, inviting Laisa into such a place that she could only think was very secret. The snow angel doesn't really know how many others have been here, but if nothing else it seems like the kind of place that's free from prying eyes.

    Perhaps Laisa is being a bit too careless, but she did want to get to know Veronica a bit better, and there's a bit of vulnerability associated with that. Besides, she knows that if things go wrong she could always bury her feelings again. A bit of a cop out, she knows, but at least for the moment she wants to afford herself a bit of honesty.

    "Thank you, for the repayment. You're very kind."

    At the returned compliment, Laisa smiles softly. "Why thank you. I worry that I come off as too distant sometimes. According to legend my rosary once belonged to a yuki-onna, though if there was such a person I suspect she was wrongfully maligned."

    Laisa occasionally takes curious glances at the landscape as they travel to the cave, walking with Veronica. The blue crystals dotting the cave add to the enchanting atmosphere, though Laisa might be partially biased towards them. They're in her color, after all.

    When they arrive at the door, she asks, "So... this is Sarek?" She walks in as invited, and though she tries to find someplace slightly out of the way to stand she most certainly takes it all in.

    The various things on display are noted, but the painting supplies are what she gravitates towards. "So you're a painter? I'm an artist, too. An ice sculptor, if you can believe it."

    When she notices the painting of what she can only assume is one of Veronica's predecessors, she studies it for a moment. "Huh. She has the same clothes as you..." With a smile she adds, "Topical, considering the museum we just came from."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
One thing led to another, and Veronica has never really shown anyone Sarek either, if you don't count the painting of it at the museum exhibit, but that's something Basil did, not her.

To think such a melancholic painting ended up being the one to make it into the exhibit. If they get to defeat the Fade, that won't be the same for her, and either way, she wants this to be a happy place to the end, for her and her friends both.

"A yuki-onna... I know someone else saying they have the powers of a yuki-onna too, but they seem quite different. Certainly not like us", she nods, stopping to consider something Laisa said earlier.

"Far from me to pry, but how is your curse now? Did it calm down from earlier?", Veronica speaks with concern. And a bit of curiosity as well towards Laisa.

"I have taken a look around, and I think it's an island", the brunette clarifies, over the nature of her princedom. "If there is a path to a different place, I have yet to find it." Considering how realms of this kind of work, she is not even sure there is anything beyond the sea.

A twinkle of excitement briefly shines in Veronica's eyes when Laisa brings up her hobby. "Really? I actually have noticed that our powers seem to attach themselves to people with the right personality. Maybe it's fate." Though she wonders why her predecessor had a fairy and she doesn't.

"Sculpting is so intricate, and with ice even", Veronica focuses on her enjoyment of what she is talking with Laisa. You must be very skilled. How did you pick it first?"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa considers for the moment the mention of another yuki-onna. "Indeed. There are a number of ice and snow people around. I think I saw someone else form weapons out of ice much like I do, and there was someone else with the snow bunnies."

    On the question of her curse, Laisa unintentionally blushes for a moment. Then clears her throat. "Oh! That... right. Well you see the thing is..." She places a hand over her Rosary, not quite touching it but still bringing attention to it. "This cursed item is called, by some, the 'Ice of the Loveless'. It..." She hesitates for a moment. There's no way to really explain herself without being direct. "... suppresses attraction, among other things. In some way that protects me, but..." Laisa clears her throat for a moment. Should she just say it. "It was reacting, I think, because... I really meant it when I said you were cute."

    So Sarek is an island, not quite tied to the real world necessarily. That makes sense. Laisa would have likely assumed as much if she wasn't told outright. "It's honestly very lovely. With the moon and the lighting... a very romantic spot, if you don't mind me saying. Was it designed by someone?"

    Her eyes go back to the painting of what she assumes is a previous Princess of Sarek when she asks that, wondering if that figure had something to do with it.

    When asked about her hobby, Laisa tries to think back. "Well, when I was a child I would try to carve small little ice cubes. Mostly by rubbing my thumb against them and using my body heat. My relatives didn't like that, though. They are very superstitious when it comes to ice." Tapping the Rime Rosary again, she adds, "There's a reason for that. Not what I would call a good reason, but the curse of this rosary directly conflicts with the curse that afflicts my clan."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Someone with the habit to make weapons out of ice? Veronica frowns trying to recall. There is obviously Yukihime for the latter, but nothing comes to mind with the former. "Must have been interesting, maybe they share your hobbies as well", she smiles.

A tilt of her head and a blink follow that expression of embarassment. Was it something too private? Maybe she should... But Laisa's words are faster than hers and Veronica allows herself a small grin of nervousism when the other girl's words register.

So it was that serious, that it was forcing a curse to intervene when it shouldn't have needed to. "I see. Maybe it couldn't be helped that I would steal two things tonight", Veronica comments, allowing herself to reach out to Laisa's hand with hers.

"It is very romantic, and if anybody was responsible for designing it, it might have been the fairy my predecessor had been appointed by." She doesn't know why that guess would be though, and the fairy isn't anywhere to be asked now.

"Perhaps inviting you here would have been cruel, to play into your feelings like that, but Laisa-san, actually...", she takes a deep breath, her smile never leaving her face.

"Would you forgive me if I said now you are quite cute yourself?", she lightly squeezes. She doesn't have a curse like hers to give tangible signs, but there is certainly something there, something worth exploring.

A troubled humming comes out of Veronica's mouth when the two conflicting curses are brought up. "So one curse kindles your emotions and the other one stifles them? Or does your clan's curse plays with fire differently?", Veronica tries to guess. That sounds very bothersome for Laisa.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa shrugs at the idea that the other person may share her hobbies. "Who knows? I didn't have the chance to ask."

    She blushes at the mention of stealing two things tonight, though when her hand is touched she holds Veronica's in return. This is... a bit more sudden than she was used to but, Laisa figures, you can't really get anywhere unless you bring it up, right? "A true phantom thief. Stealing a little more than you bargained for, maybe."

    The note regarding the fairy gets a slow, thoughtful nod from Laisa. "Well, if it was, then that fairy had good taste."

    The slight warmth never quite leaves her cheeks, though Veronica's response does get a giggle from her. Laisa leans her shoulder against Vero's and says, "Well, I might hold it against you. Just a little."

    On the subject of conflicting curses, Laisa considers how to answer. "Well, the Flames of Samuiko, otherwise known as the Flames of Passion... there's the legend that the non-magicals know, and there's the magical reality of the situation."

    She glances away for a moment, and her free hand tenses a little bit as she holds it up to her chin. "According to the legend, the Flames of Passion are a sort of intangible element that drives our clan to success. A sort of 'je ne sais quoi' that makes us driven to accomplish great things. It is expected and taken for granted that we live 'perfect' lives, living up to every social standard and becoming the envy of our neighbors. Which, allegedly, we deserve, because we're made of sterner stuff. Because we're better."

    Glancing back to Veronica, she adds, "... and if that seems a bit like empty arrogance, well... that's because it is. Truth is that no one really knows or cares about the Samuiko Clan outside of Osaka, and even those who do don't always think highly of us. In truth, the Flames of Passion are a mind control curse that drives us to put aside our own personal needs and desires to benefit the wealth of our house. Our careers, our hobbies, our love lives, even our friendships and connections... Everything controlled by the Flames."

    After a pause, she squeezes Veronica's hand and says, "Sorry, that's kind of a lot for me to just dump on you all at once." She touches her rosary again and says, "This protects me from that. I find that it doesn't really like... false feelings like that. I think maybe that's why my magic purifies."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"Alas, what shall I do? I am irredeemable to the core", Veronica jokes, and she smiles fondly at Laisa. "I couldn't help myself with something this valuable. I guess the only thing left for me to do is make it up to you", she leans against Laisa in turn.

Laisa sharing her history is listened to quietly, yet intently, with a lot more thoughtful look morphing Veronica's face the more the other girl goes on. "Your family is very much full of themselves. Getting you to cultivate the skills they expect you to, they probably sent you to many glamorous events so they could parade you around", she breathes out softly, projecting her own life a little.

"Being expect to be prim and proper and never allowing yourself any vulnerability, is it any wonder that you grow up wanting to escape from it all?" Well, with her, her natural curiosity played a big part as well. It almost got her as well, since that's how she became cursed.

Veronica shakes her head slightly at Laisa's apology. "You don't have to, Laisa-san. I understand how stifling it is, and it's rather fortunate that you are here now. Radiant Heart is just the ticket to freedom right when you need it, don't you think so?"

She is pretty much feeling like everything Laisa has said, it resonates deeply within her, and she is all the more glad they are having this moment to share between the two of them.

"I am glad you have something that protects you", she smiles, cherishing the emotional and physical closeness she feels they share right now. "And even if it makes things harder for you to feel at times, I want to find out where this will bring us. Want to have a date somewhere, Laisa-san?"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa giggles at Veronica's joke, covering her mouth as they lean against each other, "Oh? Make it up to me? After taking something so dear?"

    Veronica's responses to Laisa's backstory are a bit more spot on than she might even realize. "Oh, most certainly. They expected me to be a lawyer, come to think of it. Puts a bit of extra irony on tonight's events, does it not?" She tries to imagine for a moment what past her would think of her current activities. "I guess it's only fitting. Ever since I was banished from the main estate, I've taken every chance to rebel against their standards. My invitation to Radiant Heart could not have come at a better time."

    It's actually kind of nice to come across someone who seems to understand her issues so intuitively. Laisa finds herself wondering if Veronica has gone through something similar.

    Her thoughts along those lines are pushed aside as she realizes that the cute phantom thief is inviting her to a date. Playfully, she coos, "Oh? Is that how you're going to make up the theft of my heart? By letting me have a bit of your time?" With a smile, she adds, "Even if my curse hides my feelings sometimes, I'll still know they're there. I'd love to go on a date with you. Do you have a preference? Concerts? Restaurants? Picnics? Long walks on the beach? Something to do with our hobbies, perhaps?"

    This is very much not what Laisa thought she'd be doing today, but she'll follow her usually-cold heart on this, because she wants to see where it goes too.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"Very much so. I like the difficult challenges", Veronica takes advantage of their closeness with whispers as if sharing something mischievous.

"Oh, yes, it certainly does", Veronica's smile stretches wider. "Maybe in some other timeline, we didn't meet each other, and our respective fascinations played out with you wanting to catch me and me using my thefts as dates with my calling cards", she shares her earlier thoughts amused.

"I very much enjoy how things are playing out here", she confesses warmly, her words satisfying a yearning to spell out that commonality she feels between the two of them.

Veronica's heart skips a beat when she hears that definitive yes from Laisa, watching intently the charming purple-haired girl playfully talking. Truth be told, all the ideas Laisa lists out fill her with anticipation.

"I find no better way. They all sound lovely, hmm... What do you say we go and find out how respective music tastes with a concert?", she suggests eagerly. There will be times for all of those eventually, for the first time in her life feeling a little bit greedy.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa giggles at Veronica's whispers. The mental image of a more law-oriented Laisa chasing the Phantom Thief Veronica has her looking up and considering. "Ah, maybe so. Perhaps I would have been the good girl then, trying to win you to the side of the law. Or perhaps... you would've convinced me of your point of view all the same?"

    Thinking back to the most recent caper, she adds, "Though I don't think I'd take too kindly to fraud, so at the very least we'd still have at least one enemy in common."

    At being told that Veronica's happy with how this time is playing out, Laisa blushes once again, though she's not as meek about it. "Me, too. You're quite the sweetheart, really."

    Laisa considers a concert, and she certainly doesn't mind her romantic interest getting greedy over something like this. "Then we'll start with a concert. That would be wonderful."

    After all, they do have time to do all the things that they want to. Then, testing the waters, she reaches up with her free hand to trace the line of Veronica's jaw from beneath her ear to the middle of her chin. Drawing her face a little bit closer, she asks with a whisper, "Would you mind terribly if I stole from you a kiss?"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Laisa's blush elicits a response in Veronica, a tender smile opening up to her. "You make being a sweetheart so easy, my dear", Veronica winks, squeezing out her hand one more time before Laisa takes it away. "Your blush looks so cute, I so want to start painting you."

"Perhaps so", Veronica giggles happily when Laisa shares her opinion of that alternative history. A blush creeps up on the brunette's own face when her jawline is traced. Maybe that is her tendencies as a sculptor showing themselves?

Her hand cups Laisa's hand on her own face, and with the other one she moves towards the other girl's shoulder, lightly inviting her closer. The choice of words is not at all lost on her. "Looks like I might be getting competition. It is all yours to steal~"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    "Am I making it easy?" coos Laisa. "Or are you just a natural?" With a soft smile she adds, "I honestly wouldn't mind being painted by you. Maybe after I'll sculpt you in turn."

    With her advances seeming to have garnered a positive response, Laisa moves a bit closer, turning towards Veronica with half lidded eyes and a bit of a mischievous playful smile. A part of her wonders if her parents would approve, but she decides firmly that she actually doesn't care. This isn't about them. This is about Veronica and Laisa.

    She presses her cheek against the charming thief's hand and leans closer, wrapping an arm around Vero's waist. Leaning in, her red eyes look into Vero's for a moment before closing the moment she pushes her lips against the cute painter. Her touch is maybe a little subtly cold, but her lips are warm, and even though she is the one being bold she is still blushing softly over all this.

    Laisa pulls her lips away only after a moment, but she keeps embracing Veronica for a bit. She'll hold the other girl for a moment unless Veronica decides to pull away.

    "Competition? Perhaps I'm simply learning from the best~."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"Sounds like a plan then", Veronica concedes happily. Maybe it's just right that their first gift to each other are their respective artistic inclinations. Though, it's very much a selfish joy for Veronica to paint her.

Veronica can feel her own heartbeat accellerating a little in those moments of stillness when she is waiting for Laisa to make her move, wondering what it will feel right just then.

The arms wrapped around Veronica's waist are met in kind, and when their lips actually brush together, she feels happy, and even though no nervousism is present in her mind, she feels lighter and lighter, almost as if she would start flying. (That would be a first for her!)

"I look forward to seeing the progress then", she quips back to Laisa, leaving it up in the air which one exactly she means.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa decides, with her magic, she could probably leave a gift for Veronia before she leaves. As ephemeral as an ice sculpture would be. Though, she keeps that to herself for the moment, because she isn't actually ready to leave just yet. The mood is right, and Veronica is so pretty, and the closeness is so nice.

    A part of her is concerned about getting carried away, caught up in the heat of the moment. Which leads her mind drifting to thoughts of Veronica carrying her away in a quite literal sense. Who knows? She is a phantom thief, after all. She just might at some point.

    When she came here, she was curious and a bit nervous. Worried about getting ahead of herself, of leading herself on or getting the wrong idea... but Veronica is answering her advances in kind. As she realizes that she's already crossed a threshold of sorts, a point of no return, she considers for a moment all the pain she had felt previously.

    She gives herself permission to fall for this girl, to see where this goes.

    "Well~," she coos, her voice a bit coy while she holds Veronica close. "If I'm going to make progress, I should probably get some practice in~."

    Laisa kisses Veronica's again, softly and sweetly, and then again and again. Each one gentle and soft, taking her time, enjoying the lovely moment and the romantic feelings that come with it. Her own heart pounds in her chest, but for a mercy the Rosary's magic leaves her alone and doesn't bother her.

    As Laisa's arms grow comfortable around Veronica's waist, one of her hands travels upwards, tracing gentle lines on Veronica's back. Slow circles and gentle scratches, expressing affection in a way that just feels natural to her.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
It's a pretty cool night out of the building, it would probably be guaranteed to last a while, all the more so under the protection of the cave against sunrise. And there are plenty of especially cool spots Veronica would be eager to show Laisa so her gift lasted as long as possible.

If they are to inaugurate Laisa's thieving ways, Veronica thinks with a subtle smirk, she could stand to have a calling card of her own, one with symbols dear to her, something like those ice crystals on her dress, and her icy wings. She would have to ask her favourite flower, and what she would regard as the things that define her most (certainly sculpting goes there).

But those are thoughts for later, when they are not locked in exchanging affection, when Veronica holds Laisa dearly in her embrace, gently caressing the other girl and returning her kisses with happiness.

It would be wrong to say that Veronica has done any stealing here. She was merely intent on finding a place for the forgery, and letting Laisa in has led to the girl of ice taking away Veronica's heart for herself.

"About that walk on the beach", Veronica lilts, looking at the sweet face of the girl returning her affections, "we would have one right here. Want to do that?"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    As much as Laisa may playfully tease Veronica about being a thief, in truth is she did give her heart willingly, along with her affections and sweetness. This is a bit of a relief, and a sudden one. They might actually have a spark after all, if they're being so sweet to each other right off the bat.

    At Veronica's suggestion, Laisa pulls back and smiles at her. "A walk along the beach of this lovely island of yours? I think I'd like that a lot."

    As nice as it is to hold the painter in her arms, the would have considerable difficulty trying to walk that way, so Laisa releases her waist and takes her hand instead. With a lilt in her voice, she asks, "Any favorite spots? I bet you know all the best views around here, though you yourself are the prettiest yet."

    She taps her chin for a moment and says, "Ah, I mean, assuming you're done with your business here. I wouldn't want to rush you."

    As eager as the snow maiden is, she's also more than content to take her time. This has been a nice night, and she wants to savor the feeling. "I count myself lucky, having run across you. Perhaps I should get caught up in even more of your capers~."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"I was hoping you would", Veronica smiles, her heart doing little cheers as Laisa accepts her suggestion, and the contact with their embrace is traded for another one that's no lesser, Veronica's fingers intertwining themselves with those of Laisa.

And as she starts leading the way outside, the brunette takes time to ease her date's worries. "I only had to put the fake painting in the house, no other plans", she murmurs gently, Laisa's moon-bathed face when they get out of the cave squeezing Veronica's heart.

It feels almost unfair that she has with herself someone so affectionate and pretty both, but you will never catch her complaining about how right things feel. "I agree that looking for the cutest spot wouldn't move us, but not for the reasons you think", she pokes Laisa's arm with her free hand.

"Laisa-san, having you come here made this night perfect. I hadn't thought about things much at first, but I really feel nice next to you, and when I think about getting to know you and spending time with you, my heart speeds up", she speaks with a soothe to her tone.

"There is a spot not too far from here where rocks have formed a natural ring with a small colours, and fishes of all sizes and colours swim around placidly", Veronica promptly suggest. "There is also a point where the waves break against a group of rocks, and you get foam shining in the air for a brief instant."

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa lets her fingers interlace with Veronica's, and she gives her hand a little squeeze. She's getting butterflies from how this night is going, especially considering what a surprise it is. If someone had asked her in the past week whether or not she'd be interested in dating someone, her answer would have been a hard, almost emphatic refusal.

    Yet here she is. Laisa would never make it as a medium.

    "Oh, well then," says Laisa, upon hearing that the Princess had no other plans here. She didn't need to worry, but that does mean that they likely wont have any further interruptions here.

    As they walk together outside, the air feels different in Laisa's estimation. Clearer, cleaner, though perhaps that's more because of the company she's now keeping rather than anything to do with the weather. Veronica is adorable, really, and it doesn't hurt that she's a bit admirable in her own right. The returned compliment makes her giggle again, and she gets a little shy at the arm poke, though she leans back against Vero for a brief moment.

    "I'm really enjoying your company. I feel light and happy right now, and you're being such a perfect date." She pauses and then says, "Well, if you'd call it a date. It's a bit impromptu, but it's very romantic. Thank you for inviting me into your own little world. I'm having a wonderful time."

    Laisa listens with intent interest as Vero describes suggests a couple places they could go visit. "Oh, those both sound so lovely. I'm a bit more tempted by the latter, though the former I'd like to see, too." After a moment's thought, she suggests, "Perhaps Sarek would be a good place for a picnic. At some point."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
That brief lean makes Veronica sigh happily, and she closes completely the distance between the two of them, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. "It's a bit of a cold night, don't you agree?", Veronica asks Laisa, the timbre of her tone veering less towards justification and more towards playfulness.

She hasn't had Sarek long, but she would have never known that something would make her so thankful to have had it. "It was completely unexpected, but it's still a romantic meetup. Let's call it a date. I won't tell if you won't", Veronica tells her lightly.

There is a moment when Veronica tilts her head downwards, and she spots something partially hidden beneath the sand. "Aren't we lucky? It's a seashell with the colour of your hair", she kneels down, reaching for it with her free hand. "Do you like seashells?", she holds it for Laisa to see after shaking most of the sand off of it.

Before long, the sand starts giving way to rocks, and the two of them come before the place where the waves break, and Veronica gives Laisa's hand a brief squeeze too. "Here we are, and the rocks here are large enough to hold a picnic, so we could both watch and enjoy the food", she lilts.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    "A cold night," responds Laisa playfully, keeping close to her date. "Plenty of reason to stay warm~." After all, if such a cute girl wants to be close to her, far be it for Laisa to complain.

    "Oh of course. It's our little secret~," affirms Laisa, still playfully. "In that case, I'm really loving our first date."

    Since Laisa's red eyes were on Veronica, she notices when the painter glances down. A seashell, the color of her hair? She purses her lips and looks it over, while her free hand runs through her own hair. "Hm. Lucky indeed." Does she like sea shells? "I haven't thought of them much," she admits, "though I might learn to like them. I know Osaka has its fair amount of clam digging, though I've never gone."

    As they come to the place, Laisa looks over the rocks and the view, watching the waves break. She takes a moment to watch the waves while holding Veronica's hand, then turns her attention back to the painter. "I should ask... Do you have a favorite flower?"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"It's fair not to be particularly enthused by by seashells", Veronica points out with a small chuckle, nonetheless letting her date peer at it. "There are many other things we can find instead, so don't worry too about learning to like them." Sure, none of those things would be here right now, at least not concrete things, but Veronica can bring her those some other time.

"I do indeed", she brings a hand to her head, pointing to the white lily in it, and removing it from her hair to show it to Laisa up close. "I have always liked this flower, so candid and pure", she looks at it softly. "But the snow is much fairer", she winks to Laisa.

Once Laisa is done with it, Veronica puts the flower back in her hair. And then she gives her date a quick peck on the cheek, turning back to gaze at the horizon nonchalantly, but her fingers cling warmly to hers. "What about you? Any favourite flower?"

The moment right here, right now is so serene, that she almost wishes it could go on forever. A bit silly, especially since she has been here many times and never thought that before. But just Laisa here makes her stomach do small somersaults.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa gives Veronica a considering glance as she reassures her. She does look at the seashell, and it is very pretty, but it doesn't quite hold her attention the same way the rest of the locale does, or the company she keeps. "Well, it is very pretty, but I guess 'not enthused' is... accurate." She kindof winces at that, and feels the need to apologize. "Sorry. I don't mean to be blunt when you're being sweet. I just..." She pauses for a moment to consider the right words. "... I want to be sincere around you. Genuine. I feel like we can have a better connection if we say what we mean."

    Laisa notes the white lily in Veronica's hair, and softly says, "Oh!" when its shown to her. She actually does take an interest here, studying the lines and the shape of the flower. This is, of course, not the first time she's ever seen a lily, but it's nice to have reference material considering what her plan is. The peck on the cheek earns a soft coo and a slight smile. Veronica is such a sweetheart, Laisa thinks.

    "Favorite flower? Well, there's a few of them. Roses are always nice. I think Spider Lilies are a visually neat, though the mythology behind them is a bit tragic." She gives an amused smile, "If I said Glory of the Snow, would that be too cliche?" After a thought, she responds, "Though if I had to pick an actual favorite, I'd probably go with Scilla. I really like the vibrant blue."

    She touches her rosary again, and admits, "Though I'm loathe to let go of this feeling for even a moment, there's something I'd like to present to you."

    Her henshin forms around her, and her touch gets a little bit colder. She holds out her free hand for a moment as ice and snow gather within. With one hand and her magic, she forms an ice cube and then selectively melts and refreezes parts of it until it takes the shape she wants. Her henshin fades quickly but the ice remains in her hand.

    "This should last for a bit. It's real water, at least in this case, taken from the humidity in the air."

    Laisa presents her small handmade sculpture to Veronica with a smile. It's in the shape of a lily, naturally. "What do you think of it? I could make more things like that, but... I didn't want to stifle the nice feelings you're giving me."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
In the first place, it's just something that Veronica took off the beach. While the colour had piqued her interest, she doesn't have a reason to feel bad if Laisa doesn't particularly like it. She tenderly gives the hair on her forehead a brush while she chuckles slightly. "Don't worry about it, you are actually right. I am not interested in dating an idea of you, you know? I am interested in dating the actual you."

Which is not to say she would be opposed to give Laisa some neat little surprises with her disguise magic sometimes, like giving herself blue hair, or changing her height, or shifting her clothes to match hers, just to make things fun, if she would look at it the same way.

"I don't think it's actually a bad thing, Laisa-san", Veronica murmurs, trying to remember how the flower looked. She actually a neat little idea about what to do with that...

"It's like I said earlier. I think on some level, the magic we have chooses us because we have matching personalities. I mean, I am a painter with a russian blue cat as a pet that guards a magic painting that came from someone with a russian blue-looking fairy. That is very cliché", she smiles impishly.

The process of melting and freezing is looked at with interest from Veronica, almost as if she Is trying to burn it into her memory, but a lot of admiration goes towards Laisa. She has a very precise control over powers. "You are very oriented to detail", Veronica looks at the statuette adoringly. "I love it, thank you, Laisa-san. I know just where to keep it", she hugs her lightly.

Then she falls back, and after a dance of falling moonlight, she is again in her henshin as well. "Let me give you something too", she extends her hands towards the moon, strands of moonlight appearing in her hand.

"That is more a party trick, but it looks better that way", Veronica shares with the winter magical girl in the interest of that same honesty. Though she doesn't think that Laisa actually bought into her grabbing some of the moon's own light.

The strands of moonlight shift and move around like silk being embroidered, and in a matter of seconds, a rectangular calling card lies in Veronica's open hand. This one however doesn't bear Veronica's symbols, but a Spider Lily, two Scillas and a Glory of the Snow at the corners, and in the center, an ice representation of Mou Fubuki herself. "For you", Veronica gives it to her with a partial bow. "Let me know if you want a particular message on it."

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa is admittedly a bit relieved that Veronica actually isn't all that bothered. As long as they are on the same wavelength and there's no misunderstanding, then that's actually better. "I feel the same way. The real you is actually very interesting. You're like a mystery, but the more I find out about you the more I adore you~." The last line was said a bit playfully.

    Laisa probably wouldn't mind some amount of magical cosplay like that. Especially not when she knows what it is, or how it's meant.

    Laisa considers Veronica's response with a raised eyebrow. "Well, clichés exist for a reason, I suppose. I think, on some level, I must have resonated with the Rosary's magic since I've clung to it for so long. Maybe you're onto something with that." After a pause, she adds, "I suppose if I'm a cliché, I'd be the ice queen. Though I suppose such figures often warm up to someone eventually," she says with a glance towards her date.

    As Veronica falls back and gets into henshin, Laisa turns to observe. The optical illusion of Veronica pulling light from the moon is very visually impressive, and it gets a small round of applause from the sculptor. "Oh, I agree. It's very pretty."

    As she watches the phantom thief weave the card together, she takes it and looks over the symbols and the images. With a giggle she says, "Very nice." Holding the card up between her index and middle finger, she taps the corner of it against her cheek. "I don't exactly have a catchphrase or anything, but if I think of one I'll let you know?"

    She pulls a wallet out of her pocket and places the card in, for safekeeping since it's such a sweet gesture. "You're dangerously romantic, you know that?"

    Playing with the strands of her purple hair, Laisa says, "I'm very content right now. Thank you for sharing such a lovely night with me."