Alune's excuses have gotten progressively less convincing over the past week, tonight's being a sudden, urgent errand that requires her to vanish the moment you and Aphelios are both settled in the studio's back lounge together. She doesn't even bother closing the door quietly, practically skipping out like a smug scheming cat.

Aphelios watches her go with visible suspicion, blue eyes narrowing slightly, before he glances toward you, an apologetic sort of resignation settling over his expression.

His hands shift, quickly signing to you. ‘She thinks I don't notice what she’s doing.’ He drags a hand through his hair, ears tinged faintly pink now, clearly caught somewhere between embarrassment at Alune's transparent matchmaking and anxiety that always comes with being in close proximity to someone you care about more deeply than just friends.

His phone buzzes with a message from Alune, judging by the way his expression shifts, equal parts exasperated and helplessly fond of his sister's meddling. She means well, but she's also extremely obvious about it.

’She wanted us to talk…’ Aphelios signs to you, his fingers trembling a little with mortification, and he can’t quite meet your gaze. Then he clears his throat once, twice, still looking at the table instead of your face. And then he continues verbally, “She thinks we’d be good.” That’s all he manages to say, nervousness swallowing the word ‘together’ before he can speak it aloud.