⠀ꮼ⠀˖⠀artsy date

[pov: 3rd person]

Cenozo gazed at the scenery before her--a huge forest in all pastel colors. Bunnies and sprout moles roamed around the forest floor. Armed with her trusty cleaver, she ran towards the nearest sprout mole, ready to unleash her wrath upon it.

"Hey Cenozo, you there?"

Finished with the first one, she turned her attention to the bunny several feet away.

"... Cenozo? Ceennooooozoooo. Earth to Cenozo."

She approached her target and raised her cleaver above her head. She swung down and...


"????!"

Cenozo jolted as a hand shook her shoulder. The pastel forest cut away to reveal a slightly run down park.

The cause of her rude awakening sat across from her. A messy head of dark hair and an idiotic smile stared back.

"Huh? What is it, Horimya?" Cenozo responded, still a little confused at the sudden cutaway.

Horimya looked at her slightly concerned, "I noticed you stopped drawing for a while and seemed zoned out."

"Um... Sorry. I guess I got caught up in my head again," she sheepishly responded.

Horimya giggled, "I'm used to your daydreaming, and as much as I'd like to let you, we are on a time limit to finish these."

"My mom will be mad if I'm out late without telling her first. I want to finish these today since it's gotten harder to find as much time lately."

Specifically, they had decided to draw portraits of each other and exchange them. Horimya said it was for practice but Cenozo thought she probably just wanted an excuse to spend a few hours together.

Glancing down at her sketchbook, she was maybe two-thirds of the way done with it taking into account that she wouldn't be satisfied until she added all the little details she could. Having successfully roused Cenozo, Horimya continued her portrait. Following her queue Cenozo restarted her work as well.

They both sketched silently. Some might call it weird that they were basically on a date but hardly even talking to each other.
For them, however, both Cenozo and Horimya were quiet in the first place so they didn't mind just sitting with each other.

Although occasionally they both looked up at each other for reference at the same time and both blushed at being watched so closely. [crying. Why am i writing this.]

Cenozo quickly got absorbed into her drawing. While she was normally fine with things being done a little quick or sloppy, this was a gift to her girlfriend. [woah] She had to do it right.

Quickly glancing between her partner and the paper, she progressed steadily. Some time later a voice interrupted her.
"Alright, I'm all finished," Horimya said.

"Ah- I'm almost done gimme a couple more minutes," Cenozo replied. All she had left to do was finish Horimya's freckles and she would be done.

She felt a little nervous now that Horimya was just watching her draw. It always felt weird to have someone hovering over her shoulder when she worked.

True to her word, she finished within a few minutes. Taking one final glance between the paper and Horimya, she nodded. That was as good as it was going to be. "Done," she said.

Horimya smiled and responded, "Okay! Let's take them out and exchange them." The two of them carefully tore the pages out of their sketchbooks. "On the count of three, okay?" Horimya said, "One... two... three!"

Exchanging papers, Cenozo examined the work. She was always impressed by Horimya's work despite the latter's doubts and this was the same. [I'm giving myself confidence. shh..]

Horimya got all her details down to her damaged iris almost perfectly. Although she thought Horimya could have done her a favor and made her hair neat instead of the mess it was.

"Aww, it looks super good!" Horimya exclaimed.

"Thanks, but yours is so much better," Cenozo responded. It wasn't even a contest really, Horimya had spent the last couple of years mostly drawing realistic landscapes and people. Cenozo on the other hand, usually drew with a comic or anime-inspired art style.

"I don't know..." Horimya glanced at her watch, "Oh! I've got to get going, I didn't realize it got this late." Looking up the sun was starting to set and the sky was painted orange. They gathered up their stuff and got ready to go back home.

"I could walk you home if you'd like," Cenozo offered.

"I certainly wouldn't mind the company, but I wouldn't want you to go out of your way to do it."

"It's the same path until the very end anyway," Cenozo reasoned.

"Well if you insist," Horimya giggled as she grabbed Cenozo's hand. After watching the sunset for a few seconds they started slowly walking home.