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And just like that, it all fell apart. What was she expecting, anyway? Buttermint literally hoof-palmed when her sister repeated her own words of endearment, face burning a dusky pink; when she lifted her head again -- he was gone?

There was a sharp feeling in her chest in his absence -- was this disappointment? -- swallowing hard for her suddenly parched throat. "No, it's -- c'mon Regality, this is mortifying, as much fun as you're having." She laughed, and it was a few octaves higher than usual. Ugh, girl, get a hold of yourself! Buttermint tried to square her shoulders, and it was about the same time Regality nudged her to go get him girl. "Get him and do what--?" she squawked softly, but she'd taken a few steps with the nudging, and then a few more.

What could it hurt, really? The worst of it had literally already unfolded, what with her giving him inside trade on her thoughts and him flirting before he knew. They were both suffering from hoof-in-mouth syndrome, made for each other, really--

The blush hit her so hard she felt light-headed. "Hey, Synth, we'll have to -- catch up after the party, huh? I haven't had the chance to play big stuffy little sister." She cast him an apologetic smile as she was almost out of earshot. "Sister. Behave!" she called to Regality before lowering her gaze and pretending not to slink towards the food table.

She poured two cups of punch, giving herself a brief mental pep talk and holding her head high, heading over towards the rocket man. It was only as she took a breath to say something that she realized he had company, awkwardly swallowing down anything sweet she might have said. Let's not embarrass ourselves in front of strangers, too. Buttermint slid a cup to Prime, and lowered the one she'd poured for herself to the hippie foal. "Happy Halloween," she offered lamely.

She was briefly glad she didn't have that drink, as Prime's soft playful quip made her almost snort, giggling helplessly. He always knew how to gently lead, even if it was putting himself out there. Buttermint knew he was special, but being Old Enough put so much more into perspective. "Lucky guess," she replied, her tone just a touch shy. "It's hard work, chasing stars."

-- she meant that -- he was a rocket, not that she should be chased --

And he, being the genuine and sweet-natured stallion that he was, gave her an out. Just like that. A harken to their meeting, a gentle joke, and a way to sweep it all away if they wanted. Buttermint looked at him in a sort of quiet wonder, marveling over how simply he encapsulated what happened in this neat little package and even put a bow of apology on it. Go get him, Regality had said, and part of her...was beginning to understand what she meant.

He could probably see the softness in her eyes turn into gears really putting thought into her answer, not wanting to give him the idea that she was incapable of stringing two words together (even if that seemed to be the truth around him). "I meant exactly what I said," she said with a bit more clarity, even if the pink returned to her cheeks, "and I think you in that costume is quite possibly the sweetest thing I've ever heard. You can look back and think that maybe, your ideas when you were younger were skewed, but no, you continue to prove that you are really just that - " come on girl, don't fail yourself now - "gorgeous and brilliant. Truly amazing."

She dipped her head for a moment, but then resumed her poise; sure, it was hard to be so open and honest about things like this, but he deserved it. "Besides, you kept your head around my sister and her boyfriend. That alone earns you an entire galaxy of stars in my world."

Despite her best efforts to keep herself collected and cool-headed, she felt various pieces falling apart in the most delightful of ways: her heart doing all sorts of zigzags from chest to stomach, a flighty feeling in her head, a giddiness in her legs that made her want to run around the building a couple hundred times. Every word he spoke keyed her up higher and feeling lighter; only once she realized what he was asking did it all come to a breathless hitch in her chest.

Did he -- was he asking her on a date?? Her?? HIM?? A thousand ways to say no flew to mind and every single one died before ever touching her voice - not because she didn't want to go, but because she did, and for the first time in what was possibly her entire life, she didn't want to work or tend to someone else. Not unless that someone was him. She wasn't going to sabotage this before it began -- they'd both done a bang-up job of that false start and really, it could only get better from here.

"Yes -- please?" Buttermint laughed, soft, delicate, almost disbelieving. "No, I'd -- I promised I'd come back for your lesson again, since I didn't get to hear most of it, and this is a nice..." How to put it without making it seem like it was less than a date? She definitely wanted him to know this was a date. "...intimate chance to do just that." That word made her cheeks surge with color again, but she didn't take it back. "You call it nerdy, I call it romantic." The blush darkened, adding softly, "I'd love to, Prime."

It was a date. It was totally a date. Buttermint was so excited that she didn't have time to feel terror or doubt herself, beaming warmly when he started to grin. It quickly shifted into something between anticipation and that almost shyness, briefly hiding her giggle behind her hoof. "A guy has secured a date in those six miles of paper mache and nose cone. In his element, I'm going to need a place to sit for how weak in the knees that display'll make me --" But she was laughing before she could finish the half-joke, half-truth, blushing all the while. Either he had no idea, or he had every idea how amazing he was, and she hoped it was the latter.

How dare he be so funny, so sweet, so charming! In that adorable, thoughtful costume! She had no fighting chance herself, not against that sort of charisma and heart, and she was realizing in her own slow pace that she wouldn't fight it even were she able. He was -- he was ideal, in every sense. Perfect. It almost wasn't fair. "So, when can we anticipate this private presentation?" They'd secured the date, and she, being the results-driven mare that she was, was not going to let it go into the void of being said and never enacted. "I'll make time. Whenever it may be." She didn't want to have to kill the mood and describe the intricacies of her work...not yet. Buttermint wanted to just float on this nebulous cloud of joy and warmth a little longer.

Tomorrow! That stallion worked fast! She had approximately no complaints about this, as the day after Halloween was more of a clean-up day than a busy one. Even if it was...she'd have found a way to make it work.

"Tomorrow." she agreed almost as soon as he mentioned it, only slightly admonishing herself for the eager response. Buttermint gave a quizzical pause at the mention of the cafe, briefly remembering Synthesis' voice mentioning it before shaking her head rapidly, stars bouncing. "Oh, no! That's -- my family owns it, we worked there when we were younger. I don't anymore, and even if I did, I'd totally sneak out the back for our date." Another giggle took her, but she really couldn't help it - he brought out this sort of delight, this single-minded warmth that made everything else just a little fuzzy and glossy around the edges.

"Tomorrow. Around six? That'll give us time for the presentation." The way she said it was slightly trailed off, indicating the presentation and anything else they might plan: dinner, star-gazing, making utter fools of themselves. She could scarcely feel embarrassed when she felt like she was flying so high.

The smile she shared with him was giddy and true. "Me too! I don't think I've ever wanted a night to pass so quickly." Buttermint chuckled softly, really too full of wonder and glee to remember much of the embarrassment or mortification from earlier. She had a date with the sweetest, kindness, most handsome buck she'd met in her literal entire life -- which made the night too long, and the next stretch of day promise to be longer still.

She was excited, and not at all suited to being idle on the best of days; making up her mind, she gave Prime Meridian another fond glance. "I'll going to head out, get a head-start on tomorrow's business." She drew in a deep breath, willing her nerves to not fail her as she leaned in and gave his cheek a sweet little smooch. "See you at six!" Buttermint gave him a heartfelt smile before excusing herself from the party, ready for tomorrow now.