The presentation you and Fossil had done earlier today went wonderfully, as hoped. Truthfully, she hadn't been feeling so hot recently, stuck in some sort of rut, so it was nice to see her out and about. Being her science partner, you thought you'd give her a visit afterwards, boost her spirits, but you forgot that she.. gets like this. She doesn't like people worrying for her. Having to take a breath from her rant, she pauses.

"And vhat on earth are you hiding?" Ah, right. Your suprise. Better to say it now then never. You were planning..

To ask her out!

As you say this, you hold out the bouquet you got. She stares at you dumbfounded for a moment, before snatching the love-letter attached and tearing it open. Not... the reaction you were expecting, you were hoping for elation. Maybe... this was a mistake. It's certainly unprofessional. What were you thinking?

"How long have you felt zhis vay?" The letter is some sappy confession of how you love her, not just for her brilliance, but for her, and desire to be more. Her throat tightens as you refer to her by her name - her real name - Era in it. It had, admittedly, been a while now. But you wanted to wait, to be sure that you wanted this. That's... what you're supposed to do, right?

"I... I don't know." She takes off her goggle, looking at you properly. Her face scrunches up, like she's holding back tears. She doesn't... know? "I don't know vhy you didn't zhink to ask for ten years... if maybe I'm not even capable of feeling zhis vay." ... oh.

"Vhy... is it always like zhis? Maybe I don't vant to tell everyone. I shouldn't have to. And zhe vay people react makes me feel... guilty." She's seen that same look on your face a million times before. So... dissapointed. She doesn't want you to look at her like that.

"I do not like feeling as though... somezhing is wrong with me." She rubs her eye, desperately wiping away her tears. This is the most emotional you've seen her in a decade.