“And you trust me enough to, perhaps, be your privy? You really are well-versed in the art of making a girl like me blush, Hakuba-sama, on top of all else.” Her cheeks would be rosy the whole day, no doubt, but at least, by the moment they were entering, she had settled into a very contented comfort in his presence— fluttering heart just calmed enough to better enjoy the whole of their excursion. (If he didn’t think she would notice his paying for both of their respective fees to enter, he was quite mistaken- she would simply take note of it for later and pay him back indirectly— absolutely dreadful at accepting gifts, she was).
“Literary in the fairy tale sense?— Consider my interest thoroughly piqued!”
Was he a writer?
It wouldn’t surprise her in the slightest to find out that he was- he seemed like a man well-lent to poetry and prose, especially the more beautiful crafts of it. He’d probably studied Yates, and Frost; could be quizzed on Poe to more than relative success…
His gesture and cheer brought a grin to pull at her cheeks even as her thoughts meandered. A chuckle hummed past soft, painted lips. "Tragically, the dinosaurs are a branch of the museum I have failed to frequent as of late- I hope you’ll be able to share with me all of your favorite facts, Hakuba-sama.”
To say that she was enjoying this luck-of-the-draw-date would be an incredible understatement.
Honestly, were it not for detective work and the promise of raising horses in retirement, Hakuba really might have looked more seriously into writing for his career. He did enjoy journalism, as may have been evident by the continued ruse throughout their date, and the company he kept among writers was certainly some of his most cherished. Emi, of course, being included in that.
“Well, to be honest,” he said, flashing another broad grin with teeth, brows lifting in mock humility. “I don’t know nearly as much about dinosaurs as I do about making beautiful ladies blush, but I do think that they rather resemble something else that I am… or at least was… quite knowledgeable in.”
He led her through the hall, past display and diorama of various species; skeletons and paintings all meticulously maintained and positioned to recreate their supposed environments. And, just before the giant t-rex, he swept his arm out in a grand gesture.
“Tyrannosaurus Rex…. one of my personal favorites. They say that they evolved into various species of bird over time, as I’m sure you’re aware, and may have actually had feathers themselves…” Hakuba then pointed over a group of life-sized model raptors. “Such as those. But my personal theory… and bare with me here, Himura-san…"
Hakuba leaned in close to her, holding a hand up to keep what he whispered next between them. "I believe that at least a small portion of them, perhaps several, evolved into the dragons of the world.”
Then he held his breath, watching her oh-so-closely for her reaction.