[@Crimmy][@FlitterFaux]

[url=https://gyazo.com/479ad4cbc049726492cbaf50097d05bc][b]Luke Schwarz[/b][/url]

Oi.

Oi, oi!
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[h3][i][color=ed1c24][center]Red Scene: Stage 1[/center][/color][/i][/h3]
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Just who in the world was that passing through? Despite being an inch, maybe two taller than me, obviously Mistralian by way of charming face and accent, and clad in frugal, comfortable clothing that matched her dark hair and eyes well, this obviously couldn't be Gratia, right? Of course not, but then how did she know my name? Was someone stalking or starting rumors about me so bad that I was recognizable by sight alone?! 

No, no. That couldn't be it, I'm nowhere near interesting enough for that to happen. Most people on campus barely know me, and I'm sure none of them talk about me. And for that matter, very-much-cannot-be-Gratia here might just be some pretty teenaged tourist from Zephyr.

This mystery girl, who was nothing like the Gratia I knew in her casual demeanor and graceful, content smiles, obviously had gotten my name from somewhere, though...

[b]"G-Gratia?"[/b] I ventured, despite knowing that it obviously couldn't be her. 

The girl turned her pretty face to me, gracing me with that same relaxed smile, that definitely couldn't belong to Gratia.

[color=66cd00]"Schwarz,"[/color] she said lightly, as she and her presumed mother walked in. Instinctively, I stepped to the side and held the door so they could pass through. It was only gentlemanly, right? It's common courtesy to hold doors open for people trying to get in, and doubly common courtesy if they're cute or pretty girls.
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[h3][i][color=ed1c24][center]Stage 2[/center][/color][/i][/h3]
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What the hell, universe?! Why can't you throw me a bone for once in your worthless life?! This girl couldn't be Gratia?! Says [i]who?![/i] I happen to [i]appreciate[/i] this weird aberration of a formerly acerbic classmate of mine! It was a breath of fresh air to see that woman actually emote, let alone loose a pleasant smile upon the world! Who had the big idea of keeping it so locked away that I didn't even recognize her?! Fine, I admit it, that's totally Gratia Mindaro, but what took so long in getting a smile, an [i]actual smile[/i] and not some berserker sharkmouth thing, out of her, huh?!
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[h3][i][color=ed1c24][center]Stage 3[/center][/color][/i][/h3]
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I mean, hey, if it takes family, I'll vouch for letting family day go on forever... Really, set up a guest dorm, or something! At the very least, don't we have a videochat station somewhere? Wait, no, that's also unfeasible on account of their income level... I could pool money with Gratia and buy them a unit though, right? Even with my relatively frivolous recent spending, I still had a pretty sizable investment from Brewing Storm... Surely, handing that over would be enough? I'm not angry any more, I'm willing to negotiate! If I need to defeat a hydra to prove my worth, or reroute a river to clean some stables, I'm game, honest! I know I may not look it, but I had a pretty big hand in taking out a Manticore, so how hard could the Lion of Nemea be? Please, this is just so much more pleasant than the walking on eggshells act...
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[h3][i][color=ed1c24][center]Stage 4[/center][/color][/i][/h3]
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...Well, it's pretty terrible of me to be talking like that right after complaining about my sisters, isn't it? And let me guess, karmic retribution ensures that for having been such a hypocrite, despite the very real issues I was complaining about, this will only be a fleeting passage that doesn't even encompass a chapter in the storybook I call our friendship. Hell, of course it would. It would actually be a pretty just comeuppance for a guy like me if things played out that way, and being selfish as I am, I wouldn't even be able to argue I'm undeserving of a cruel bait-and-switch like it. I'm sorry, Gratia. I wanted to take advantage of your rare moment of joy. I wanted to force something that was obviously going to be fleeting, now all the moreso because of it. In fact, the fickle winds of fate may even directly destroy this happiness for you, solely to get back at me.

I'm sorry. I'll do it right from now on.
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[h3][i][color=ed1c24][center]Stage 5[/center][/color][/i][/h3]
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I guess I shouldn't deny it. I shouldn't be angry at it for not happening more often. I shouldn't try and bargain or swindle it into sticking around longer than it naturally will. And getting depressed over it... It's a pretty girl's smile. Who gets depressed over that? Gratia Mindaro's honestly happy, for once. Anyone with a right mind wouldn't be surprised— everybody's got something that warms them up on the inside and make them comfortable, content, and calm. I, of all people, should be able to accept it for what it is, and not really give a crap about anything more, right?

Of course I can. For the time you spend with us, Gladtia Mindaro, I'm sure we will truly cherish your presence. I hope you have fun cutting loose for a change, and, selfish though it may be, I hope this won't be the last I see of you, either.

Yeah, I'm a greedy, callous ass, but I'll be proudly greedy for my friends and their good spirits.
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[h3][i][center]Black Scene[/center][/i][/h3]
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[b]"Huh. Ponytail looks good on her."[/b] I said, blinking and finally allowing my eyes to stop trailing her and her mother. 

It was about then that I remembered the elephant in the room.

Or fox, more accurately.

[b]"Sorry! Sorry, I'm just not used to that style change, is all..."[/b] I sheepishly explained to Skye, before gesturing to the doorway. [b]"Shall we go for real, then? No more distractions, promise."[/b]