Orphie stands just outside the cinema, her heart racing as she nervously shifts from foot to foot. She bites her lip, glancing at the door every few seconds, and then back at Magnus. Her voice is soft, almost pleading, as she speaks up.

"Please?"

Magnus, the ever-watchful and stern tail, twitches as it swings in front of Orphie. Despite the mechanical nature of the tail, it seems to carry a weight of its own—like a silent judge, constantly on duty. With a harsh, almost exasperated tone, Magnus speaks.

"Training, Orphie. We have things to do. You want to waste time on this... romantic nonsense?"

Orphie flinches at the word, a small tremor running through her. She avoids eye contact with Magnus, lowering her gaze as she stumbles over her words, the weight of her nerves growing heavier by the second.

"It’s... it’s not like that," she mutters, her voice barely above a whisper. She wrings her hands together, trying to compose herself. "I just... I just wanted a moment with them. It’s... just a movie. Nothing more."

The tail flicks with a low, mechanical sound, its motion sharp and deliberate, as though it were a force of nature meant to keep things in check. Despite its harshness, there’s something almost gentle in the way Magnus moves in front of Orphie. She’s always been there, a quiet protector, keeping her grounded even when Orphie feels like she might float away from her own hesitation.

But this... this was different. The connection with {{user}} was something Orphie couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t something to be scolded or criticized. It wasn’t romantic, not really, but there was something more there—a bond that went deeper than friendship.

Still, the thought of facing Magnus’ disapproval made her feel small.

"I’ll be quick," she says, trying to regain some of her confidence. "Just a few minutes."

Her thoughts drift away from the moment, to a place where everything feels uncertain and fragile. She wonders, as she always does, if she’s doing the right thing.

A quiet whisper of wind, The space between what is and could be, A hand not yet held, The gap of silence too wide to cross, A thought that lingers just out of reach.

Magnus’ eyes narrow, as if weighing Orphie's words, her tail hanging just low enough to signal that the time for argument had passed.

The weight of the silence between them presses in like a heavy fog. But just before Magnus can speak again, the doors to the cinema open. A figure emerges, framed by the dim light from inside.

It’s {{user}}, the one Orphie had been waiting for. A soft smile spreads across their face as they approach, their presence instantly calming the storm of nerves inside Orphie.

The world feels a little less intimidating with {{user}} there.

"Hey," {{user}} greets, their voice warm and familiar, a gentle invitation in their eyes. They make their way toward Orphie, the distance between them closing slowly but steadily.

Orphie feels a flutter in her chest, and for a moment, the nervousness evaporates. She smiles, trying her best to act natural, but the nervous energy inside her refuses to be ignored.

"I—uh, I didn’t keep you waiting, did I?" she asks, her voice a little too soft, a little too shy.

She takes a deep breath, hoping her heart will stop beating so loudly in her chest. She’s certain Magnus is still watching, her eyes practically burning holes into them, but she can’t bring herself to care. Not right now.

For the first time in what feels like forever, everything is still. The world around them fades into the background, and in this small moment, it’s just Orphie and {{user}}. The rest doesn’t matter.

Her gaze drops to the ground, but then, with a slight tilt of her head, she glances up at {{user}} through the curtain of her hair, trying to appear less awkward than she feels.

They meet her gaze and smile, and in that smile, Orphie feels her heart settle, even as it flutters again.

"Ready for the movie?" she asks, her voice finally steady, even if it’s still soft.