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[Noctis isn't just standing idle on the other side; as she struggles to pull the fish forward, he lifts his foot and gives it a solid kick from behind, and between the two of them it can't hold its balance, tumbling over at last. From there it's a simple step to stomp over its wriggling body, wobbling his way towards the opposite end - it's slippery! - and finally smacking the bucket over its head.

For a long moment, everything goes still. The game world around them fizzles, as if experiencing another glitch, and then the fish evaporates under Noct, dropping him to the bottom of the boat with an inelegant thunk. Above them, a giant, lit-up WINNER sign is flashing, and Noctis picks up the bucket to turn it around and check...

...and then turn it towards her.]

You'd think they would at least count that one as a shared catch!

[But nope, the big beast was on her line. That's Pyra's victory.]

[ The force of the line suddenly releasing has her literally reeling backwards. She catches the tail end of what he says, she sees the flashing sign of “winner” above as she tumbles to the side. She lets go of the fishing rod in favor of grabbing the nearest thing for support— his arm— knocking into him... and over the boat.

For someone who had been entombed and sunken below the sea within a battleship for five hundred years, she definitely doesn’t have her sea legs about her. ]

Wh- oh, shit-

[As she falls, he lunges forward to try and catch her, but between her reaching for him, the proceeding stumble, and the still-rocking boat, he can't hold his balance and goes tumbling into the water right behind her. So elegant, so victorious.

He surfaces with a splutter a moment later, bangs sticking to his face, eyes wide as he looks around for her to make sure she made it up as well.]

Hey!

[ Pyra resurfaces with a splash, wiping at her hair across her eyes. Karma does not exist in her world— she would know— but the principle is entertaining enough that this must be some delayed form of it for pushing him in a month ago during King’s Knight.

She grins through the water that drips over her face. Yes, yes she’s fine. ]

You didn’t drop the bucket in the lake, did you? Do I still win? [ Because that’s the most important thing. ]

I... think I dropped it when I fell? Either way-

[He points a finger skyward, where the "end game" status is still displayed.]

Pretty sure the game's gonna count it. [A beat, and then-] You realize now that I'm gonna want a rematch.

[ Her treading water isn’t going to stop her from leaning in, answering his challenge with a coy smile. ]

Oh, anytime.

[ She’s going to defend her crown! —Which she won’t use such wording even to joke about. Because glass. Besides, she’s certain he has the overall high score in this game anyway on his own. ] You made the mistake of teaching me your tricks. There’s no turning back now.

Yeah, well, that just means I don't have to hold back anymore.

[She gets a returning smirk. She's challenging the fishing king, now.]

And don't think I taught you all the tricks. Some things you'll have to learn by experience.

...You were holding back?

[ Whaaaaaaa--- okay, no, she guessed as much that he would, what with also giving her the handicap of allowing her to fish in a more RNG-friendly location. Otherwise it wouldn't make the little competition as fun.

Rather than be offended, though, she seems to view it as an opportunity. She'd like to see how he is when he puts all his skills into fishing.

..She'd like that a lot, she realizes, because he could let himself enjoy a hobby without any restraints of simultaneously teaching a novice fisher. She only has to get to that point to keep up with him. ] You’re leagues ahead of me.... I’ve got some catching up to do.

Was that a double pun?

[He scoffs faintly, taking it as such whether she meant it or not, and kicks over to the boat to heft himself back in. Once he's balanced and the boat seems stable enough, he reaches over to offer one hand to her if she needs an assist, the other braced on the seat to keep steady.]

Maaaybe. [ She giggles as she swims after him, taking the hand to help her onto the boat, giving him thanks for the assistance.

Stretching her arm as she parts from him, she glances over, and-- ]

N-...Noct. [ A laugh staggers out. ] —Your hair!

[ It's so flat. (Hers, too, because it’s usually so... fluffy. Now the length stretches to her shoulders.) ]

What?

[Noctis reaches a hand up to pat at it, searching for whatever must be in it now to get her laughing. Seaweed? A stray fishing lure? Where is it...!]

[ She steps over one of the fishing rods, hands linked being her back. ]

It’s flat! [ Flighty laugher punctuates her words. ] Like a mop!

[ ....Huh. His hair is longer than she thought it’d be, completely down, framing his face like that. ]

Wh- it is not, come on.

[Vainly he starts trying to wring the water out, as if that'll help. VR doesn't have his fancy water-resistant hair gel, unfortunately.]

Anyway, speak for yourself! You lost all your curlies.

[ She lifts a hand to her own head, brushing back more of her wet, matted hair as it drip upon her shoulders. She lifts one strand, then lets it go, allowing it to flop back onto her cheek like another leaf of seaweed. No natural floof here. ]

H-Honestly, [ She laughs through her nose, brushing away the seaweed again. ] your hair doesn't look bad. [ The "mop" bit had been at tease, but she doesn't know exactly how to describe it. It's shiner, sure, and maybe if he combed it a little it would almost like he's getting ready for some stately event. ] You could pull it off!

[ A pause. ]

Better than having a boot atop your head.

Hah. I'll leave that particular fashion to you, if you don't mind.

[He still fusses with his hair, though, trying to fix it as best as he can despite the style too hopelessly damp to stay in place. He hasn't left his hair down for a long time, actually... hard to imagine going back. He could just log out of the game and fix it, but it's the principle of the matter...!]

[ Her lips part with a silent breath as she watching him to continue to fuss with his hair.

She's noticed. Ignis, Prompto, Gladio, him... they all style their hair, perhaps even using the same products. She muses about just which of them he had learned how to do his, or if it was something they all did being part of the same culture. Obviously it's his preference to have it styled, but she can't help but wonder if he is slightly self-conscious having it down.

In reality, he still has his hair styled. In this VR, perhaps...

She steps up to him. ]

...May I?

[He blinks over at her, slowly lowering a hand.]

Huh?

[She wants to... style his hair? O...kay. That's new, but he doesn't stop her.

Oh, wait. It isn't that new after all- she'd done his hair the month (months, months) before, with the flowers. No wonder she's commenting about the length, as he'd cut the excess as soon as it stopped stubbornly growing.]

Sure, I guess.

[ She lifts her hand, movement quiet and expression thoughtful as she begins by brushing back a few locks of his bangs to the side. She can't accomplish much here, not without a comb or proper products, but she can at least make his hair a little more presentable. With a few more gentle, light strokes, her fingers begin to sculpt the way the dark strands frame his cheekbones and the back end of his jaw...

His hair is softer in reality, she recalls, even with all of that gel in it. But this-- this is fine, too.

With one final comb through his hair, causing a wave to it, she backs away as soon as she's done. ] ...There.

[ He really does wear this style well, too. She smiles. ]

[He squints, eyes lifting to see where his bangs have been shifted, hand returning to his hair to feel what she's done with it. It feels a bit strange to have it down like this. Like it's lighter and heavier at the same time. He's not too sure how to feel about it, but maybe something to consider if (or when) they run out of hair gel. Temporarily.]

Well? Look okay?

[Not like he can see it.]

[ There's also the issue that his hair is wet. It'd look better dried...

Anyways, that sounds like a perfect invitation to compliment him, and she speaks with a soft sincerity as she looks over the style he poses. ]

It looks nice on you. A little formal, but.. still, very nice.

[ Privately, she thinks to herself that he should wear it down more often. Pyra links her hands behind her. ] You're a handsome man, Noct.

[Oof. He shouldn't have asked, now he's embarrassed.]

You say things like that with such a straight face...

[Is this why Prompto gets so awkward when he talks to a pretty girl? Because it feels like this? He's not allowed to tease the poor guy anymore.]

And you say that as if you don't believe me. [ She insists with a brighter smile, angling her head just slightly to the side. ]

No, I definitely believe you.

[He believes she believes it, absolutely. And it's not like he thinks he's ugly or anything, he just has no idea what to say.

...Hm. Tit for tat?]

It's not always easy for a guy to accept a compliment like that from a beautiful woman, you know.

[ ......In the context of her unkempt, wet hair, and a sudden relay to her in that same “cool” tone he’s used before while adopting bravado, it sounds like he’s joking. He’ll have to be more sincere.

She appreciates the effort, however, and answers playfully in return. Really, she’s curious to see how far he can go while still sporting a blush. ]

What charisma! As if you just stepped off a chocobo in full knight’s armor! I’m flattered.

[One day he'll be good at this, surely. Apparently not today.]

Last time you did my hair it was to make me a dashing rogue, wasn't it? [HE... REMEMBERS THIS....] I'm taking that to heart.

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