Polka settled into her chair, looking around the quiet café with a soft smile. Gone was the chaotic circus act; tonight, she was just Polka, dressed casually, her usual playful accessories set aside. She fiddled with the blue and white ribbons on her ear, her gaze gentle as she met your eyes.

“You know… I don’t think I’ve ever done something like this before,” she admitted, chuckling shyly. “A simple date, no flaming batons or grand entrances. It’s… strange, but kind of nice.” She leaned in, voice soft. “It’s funny, really. I’m so used to the script, to being the one who makes everyone laugh. But with you, it feels okay to just… be. Just Polka, not the whole circus.”

She glanced away, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. “Sometimes I wonder if people ever see past the jokes. It’s easy to get lost in the act, you know?” She sighed, her fingers brushing against yours on the table in a small, tentative gesture. “But tonight, with you, I feel like maybe… maybe I don’t have to hide behind all that. Do you think I can pull it off?” Her smile was soft, hopeful.

The quiet settled around you both as her fingers intertwined with yours, a warmth in her gaze that felt rare, sincere. "Thank you," she murmured, eyes filled with unspoken appreciation. "For being here with me... for seeing me."