"You're kind of creepy." Elliot said suddenly, startling his cousin out of his daydream. Cecil looked taken aback. "You're staring at her."

Was he? He hadn't noticed.

"It's weird. I wouldn't date a twenty-two year-old." The younger informed. "Maybe when I was twenty I'd date in my twenties, but we're seventeen so it's weird."

That was the least of the problem here. Weird didn't account for illegal.

"I'm going to see her in Ishval next month." That was news to Cecil.

"You're going to Ishval?" He questioned.

"Yeah." Elliot shrugged. "I'm taking a gap year before I decide if I want to study or just take up a late apprenticeship."

Why had Cecil decided to pursue university? He had long since forgotten, but it had kept him in Central until this year. Four years of making up excuses as to why he couldn't come home just to cover the fact that he'd rather be getting lost in the North—not actually at any fault of his own—than coming home to Resembool. He looked his younger cousin over. University would suit Elliot, he thought, but he was very action oriented. Elliot wanted to help people.

"You should go for political science and fix the world." Cecil grumbled.

"I want to." Elliot nodded, turning his attention backwards towards the real grownups for a bit. "I'm only going to Ishval because there's a really great program there. You know, after everything years ago, there are still so many organizations focused on building it up and arts programs to invigorate the youth—"

"It sounds just like you." Cecil stopped him. He turned around and leaned against the table they were standing in front of. Elliot cast another look in Zira's direction before mimicking the movement.

"I don't think I've ever seen her in a dress before this." Elliot laughed. "Maybe when we were little?"

"She usually wears pants to state dinners." The elder cousin made a face.

They stood in silence for a few minutes before Elliot got up.

"I'm going to go ask her to dance." He shot Cecil a grin.

"What? Why?!"

"She looks bored." Elliot glanced back over his shoulder at him. "And I'm bored too, listening to you mope about being a creepy old pervert is painful."

A/N -

So this story is a little out of order, so I should probably be more conscious about putting their ages into it. The last chapter, she was eighteen or nineteen. This chapter, she's back to seventeen and it's just Cecil reflecting on their "friendship" of sorts.