"Do I look alright?" Rory asked, turning in place beneath the lights, the blue cat mask framing her small face.
"You look absolutely adorable," Nix blurted out right away, without thinking.
His heart nearly dissolved on the spot. If he still had a tail in this form, it would have been wagging uncontrollably for sure.
Beside him, Jasper studied her with solemn sincerity and gave a slow, approving nod. "Very pretty," he said carefully. "And very adorable."
Rory narrowed her eyes at both of them, then struck an exaggerated pose with one hand on her hip. "That's it? Just pretty and cute?" she demanded. "Nothing alluring? Nothing mysterious? Not even a little bit seductive? That's... quite underwhelming."
Jasper had to bite down hard to keep from laughing at her dramatic expression. Nix, meanwhile, immediately seized her hand in both of his.
