Disclaimer: I don't own Bravely Default, all rights to the owners.
I saw the party chats surrounding Edea breaking everyone out of the dungeons and immediately stopped playing to write this up. Those two party chats had me grinning like a clown. I'm such a sucker for shipping.
"Alright then, Ringabel, how about you go out with me?"
Ringabel trips over the cobblestones and grabs the bars to stop his fall. He's almost certain he misheard, but his breath catches in his throat for a solid three seconds before he can force out any words. "I- erm- that's very-" He swallows and stands up straight, and resists the urge to brush back his hair. "Sorry, I think I must have misheard-"
"How about you go out with me?" Edea repeats, this time enunciating her words so there can be no misunderstanding. "You know, like you're my boyfriend, on a date. Where are we going?"
Ringabel's mind frantically scrambles for any locations in Eternia Town that would be suitable for a date. The group left the town so quickly after talking to Mazer that he didn't have time to find any date spots! "Yes, well, we can go to… umm… I'm sure I have a spot or two written in my journal."
Edea raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms, and it takes Ringabel a moment to realize that she's waiting. He tries not to look too desperate as he rips his journal out of his pocket and flips through it, knowing full well that there's nothing written in here about date spots.
But he has to think of something! Edea actually asked him out! This might be his only chance and he absolutely doesn't want to ruin it. The journal is letting him stall for time, but he still can't think of a spot, and he can't just leave Edea standing there while he flips through pages like a moron.
Why did she have to ask now!? Any other time in their adventure he could have given half a dozen date locations off the cuff, but when that knowledge is finally needed he has nothing ready! Potentially his only chance is going to be gone because he let himself slip!
"All this time, and you were never actually ready for me to say yes, were you?" Edea says flatly. Her expression is somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
"But I was!" Ringabel wants to protest. He was always ready! This is the one exception; she chose a terrible time to ask! But he knows if he says that, it's going to look like a desperate, pathetic excuse and a frantic attempt to salvage losing his only chance. "I lost my only chance, oh crystals…"
"Oh don't look so horrified, I'm only teasing you." Edea chuckles. "You really can't take what you dish out, can you? I ask for a date and you freeze up like a deer! What a smooth ladies man you are, Ringabel."
"I usually am!" Ringabel tries to protest. "I thought I'd have to gradually win you over, to prove myself over time, I never thought you'd ask." Then his mind finally processes the first thing she said. "Only teasing? Wait, so maybe I never actually had a chance at all…"
Seemingly oblivious to his turmoil, Edea grins and punches his shoulder. "Maybe I should tell Tiz and Agnès, huh? You take every opportunity to tease poor Agnès and you treat Tiz as a little brother. I'm sure they'd love to have a way to poke back at you."
"Please no." Ringabel groans. He doesn't need either of them knowing he messed up so spectacularly in front of Edea. They wouldn't tease him, but they might pity him, and that would almost be worse.
Edea chuckles and turns away, moving towards another cell. Ringabel follows slowly, dragging his feet as he stews in his own failure.
###
Tiz can just about hear Edea conversing with Ringabel around the corner of the hall. Their voices are just quiet enough that he can't make out more than a few key words.
He doesn't know what they're talking about, but it must be important because it takes a few minutes, and when the two make their way over to Tiz's cell Ringabel looks despondent.
It must have been a really serious conversation.
"Heya Tiz, having fun in there?" Edea asks, and fits a key into the lock of his cell.
"Not really." He says. "Thanks."
"No problem." Edea says. She kicks open the door, and Tiz breathes a sigh of relief. To his confusion, however, Edea doesn't move out of the entrance of his cell when he approaches. Instead she throws an arm around his shoulders. "So, by the way… how do you feel about Agnès, huh? Be honest!"
"W-Woah! Wh-Where is this coming from!?" Tiz asks, and instinctively raises his hands in front of his body in a defensive motion. "And is this really the time?"
"Don't you try to avoid the question." Edea huffs. "Not that it matters. It's written on your face."
At that moment Tiz becomes aware of the heat that has sprung to his cheeks, and he also becomes aware of just how loudly Edea is speaking. "My face? And Edea, keep it down, will you? Agnès might hear."
"Oh no." Edea snorts. "She might know she's liked. How terrible."
"Edea, please…"
"She can't hear us from this far away anyways." Edea sighs. "But honestly Tiz, you shouldn't keep hiding your feelings. You're never going to find anyone else like Agnès. You have to know that."
"What!? No, I don't like- I mean I do but- Uh…" Tiz sputters. "The crystals come first, Edea! I have no time to-"
"Oh don't give me that bullshit, and I didn't mean literally right now. Confess some time later. Preferably when it's just the two of you." Edea says, and pokes him in the shoulder. "And then kiss her… or maybe just grab her hand. That's probably more your speed, isn't it?"
Tiz's face momentarily goes crimson at the thought of kissing Agnès, and Edea snorts in amusement.
"Yeah, okay, let's go with hand-holding." Edea says. She tries not to laugh at Tiz, she really does, but she can't keep a slight waver out of her voice. "Maybe you can save the kissing for the wedding night."
"Edea!" Tiz says aghast. "Besides, Agnès is a vestal, I can't possibly-"
"Consider trying to romance her? Tiz, seriously, don't be stupid. Stop making excuses. Our whole circumstance is so far away from normal that the usual rules hardly apply. You both deserve some happiness." Edea chides.
"I…" Tiz mumbles.
Edea pats him on the shoulder. "Just keep it in mind, yeah?"
When Edea comes to free Agnès, the vestal is met by the sight of the chipper girl and two boys behind her.
No one offers an explanation, and she doesn't ask for one, but it's certainly odd.
I love those two party chats. They're great.