Skyfire Celebration

"This is a pretty neat place huh?" Gaia tilted his head at Fleet. The other xero huffed but he there was a bit of excitement tinting his expression. "Think we should try out a few of the games?" He peered around excitedly. The charged atmosphere was rubbing off on him and he was itching to do something.

"Or..." Fleet's eyes fell on some of the food that was spread out. "We grab something to eat and just wait for night to fall properly."

"You just don't want to be social, sunshine." Gaia sighed dramatically while Fleet just rolled his eyes both at the nickname and Gaia's theatrics.

"I'm also hungry. Come on." Fleet grabbed Gaia's hand and tugged him towards the food. Gaia chuckled but allowed himself to be pulled along without any resistance. They were both here to have fun so for tonight Gaia would bow to what Fleet wanted to do. Even if he was a bit of a buzzkill.

As he watched Fleet pick out some food he wanted, and eyed up some food for himself, something else caught his eye. Or rather, someone else. They were a mostly green xero who seemed to be giving off an aura of "leave me alone or else". Something he was very familiar dealing with. Thus after letting Fleet know what he was doing he slipped off to go see what he could find out about the other xero. It was easy to find a place next to them since everyone else was giving them a wide berth. As he came to a stop, pretending to eye up the food choices laid out on the table in front of him, the other xero gave him a glare that would have sent most people packing. Not Gaia though. Glares like that weren't nearly enough to deter him. "What the fuck do you want?" The green xero growled, his glare deepening.

"Hm?" Gaia feigned ignorance for a moment, glancing at the other xero before focusing back on the food. "Just eyeing the selection."

The green xero's ear twitched. "Don't play dumb. I watched you walk over here. You didn't wander here by accident."

"Astute." Gaia grinned and the other xero's eyes narrowed further. Honestly Gaia wasn't even sure the other xero could see very well right now with how close his eyes were to closed. "Name's Gaia." He held out a paw, ignoring the simmering anger coming off the other.

His paw was decidedly ignored as the other xero scoffed. "Beryl. Now leave me alone." Beryl crossed his arms and looked away from Gaia.

"No can do buddy." Gaia smirked and put his paw down. "I've been told I have a bad habit of gravitating towards people who'd rather not be bothered."

"Well maybe..." Beryl brandished his claws threateningly at Gaia. "... you should listen to those people."

Gaia simply shrugged, unbothered by the aggressive display. He was pretty good at knowing when someone was actually about to fight him, Fleet had done it several times especially when the two had first met, Beryl was not going to fight him. Not yet. "Well if I did listen to those people I wouldn't have gotten to know the best person in my life, so I'm inclined to disagree." He fought the urge to ease down the other xero's hands like he might have done with Fleet. Gaia knew he shouldn't touch the other without clear permission, that often set off folks like him.

"You got lucky then." Beryl barred his teeth.

Gaia shrugged. "Maybe." Well he probably had, but he wasn't going to admit that to Beryl. He knew he was lucky that Fleet even took him back after his disappearance. "But I like to think it's my charm that does all the work." He winked.

Beryl's face scrunched up is what might be disgust. "Yeah, no. Definitely not that."

"Bothering someone else?" Fleet walked over, a plate of food in his paws. He looked between Gaia and Beryl carefully, though his gaze lingered on Beryl. The green xero looked less than pleased that there was now another person in his space.

"You know me." Gaia's smirk softened into more of a smile as he looked a Fleet. "Not like I didn't tell you what I was going to do."

Fleet hummed in acknowledgement, but his gaze stayed on Beryl. Gaia knew that look. It was a look that Fleet used when he was trying to figure something out, though Gaia really hadn't seen it directed at a person besides himself before. The fact that Fleet had taken any sort of interest in Beryl was telling. Perhaps Gaia would have to figure out how to keep bothering the other xero. If he could score a friend for Fleet, and possibly himself, it would be well worth the effort. 

Gaia clapped his paws together. "Beryl..." He gestured to the pissed off looking green xero before gesturing at Fleet. "Fleet. Fleet..." He gestured back at Beryl. "Beryl."

The two stared at each other for a moment before Fleet nodded in acknowledgement. "Got it." Well well. Looks like Fleet was plotting too. Not that anyone but Gaia would really be able to tell.

"Find everything you wanted?" Gaia tilted his head. He wanted to ask, of course he did, but he'd hold his tongue for now.

"Mhm." Fleet finally turned away from Beryl. "You gonna go grab anything? Don't try to tell me you of all people aren't hungry."

"Guilty." Gaia chuckled as he held his paws up. "How bout you make some conversation with this nice stranger here while I go grab some food." Fleet didn't say anything but he did wave Gaia off, and that was enough. Well. This just got a whole lot more interesting.

After the fires had been dimmed and everyone attending the festival has settled down, Gaia found himself cuddled up with Fleet as the two watched the stars. Soft music drifted through the air and Gaia resisted the urge to attempt to join them. He was here to spend time with Fleet. Not perform. "I managed to get some contact information out of Beryl." Fleet offered quietly. "Probably found me less annoying."

"Eh I softened him up for you." Gaia chuckled. "I'm glad you did though." His voice was softer. "He reminds me a lot of how you were when I first met you. Lashing out like it's the only thing he knows how to do."

"I saw it too." Fleet quietly admitted. "It's why I actually stayed and talked when you left."

"Makes me wonder what happened to him to make him think like that." Gaia frowned. Nearby there was the soft whisper of voices. Exchanging stories no doubt, not that Gaia could make out what they were saying. Maybe he'd be able to convince Fleet to do a little mingling with him later.

"No way to know until he tells us." Fleet sighed. "As loath as I am to admit it you're very qualified to help break past his walls."

"Awe." Gaia nuzzled Fleet. "Love you too sunshine." Fleet just rolled his eyes and stayed quiet. It was peaceful, sitting there enjoying the stars and the music with his partner. Though he had to hide a smirk in Fleet's fur when he noticed Beryl trying to subtly get closer to the two. Of course Gaia didn't bring attention to him, rather he'd treat Beryl like a startled wild animal. Let them come to you and act as non threatening as possible. He wasn't expecting any miracles tonight but the fact that the other xero sought the two out was telling. Gaia hummed, the sound vibrating his chest as he subtly directed Fleet to where Beryl had finally stopped moving closer. Fleet hummed back, an acknowledgement that he was aware and also didn't want to spook the other xero. Well nothing to do now but enjoy the rest of the festival and see if their combined patience could pay off.