"Hmm," Jude smiled, tilting his head to the side as he thought. "I was thinking…maybe we could drop by this used book store that I Iike– and you can pick some stuff out?" He shrugged, paying with his credit card and smiling over at him, "And then maybe get some groceries on the way back to my place? More ice cream."
Nyx blinked for a moment, then nodded. "Okay!" he replied happily. "That sounds fun!" he kissed Jude's cheek again, picking up the bag.
Jude smiled a little shyly. "Fun– yeah," He quietly laughed, knowing that the better part of his friends would raise their eyebrows at the thought of a bookstore being fun. Jude nodded, picking up the two bags of clothes and thanking the cashier before he turned to leave.
Nyx followed Jude out the door, still smiling a little bit. He hadn't been to a bookstore before, which was why he was so excited about it.
Jude walked back along the long street, weaving through the bustling crowds with Nyx. "It's real cute," He smiled, "–The bookshop, I mean. It's packed with all these classics, it's always warm and kind of dimly lit. And there's a cat."
Nyx nodded a little bit. "Oh! Like Macy?" He asked happily, looking up at Jude for a moment with a bright smile on his face.
"Yeah, like Macy," Jude said with a soft smile, nodding, "The owner lets it roam around and bother customers. It's real friendly, you'll see when we get there."
Nyx smiled happily. "Alright!" he replied, with a smile, laughing a little bit and reaching down to take Jude's hand.
Jude glanced down at their hands, looking up at him with a smile. "It's just around this corner," He said, softly sighing at the narrow street of basement-level shops with faded signs.
(i'm about to go to bed, sorry)
Nyx nodded. "Are we going to drop the clothes and stuff in the car first?" he asked curiously, blinking up at Jude with curious eyes.
"Sure," Jude nodded, quietly remembering the bags in his other hand, the one that wasn't being held by Nyx. "We didn't park too far, right?" He quietly chuckled, looking along the street for his car.
Nyx blinked. "I don't think so." He replied with a shrug, looking around and then tugging Jude towards the car, smiling softly.
Jude hummed absentmindedly as they approached his car, letting go of Nyx's hand so he could find his keys and unlock the trunk, stowing away the two bags of clothes.
Nyx put the bag with the clothes, smiling softly as he looked over at Jude. "Thank you." He said after a moment.
Jude closed the trunk, locking his car. "You're welcome," Jude said with a shy smile, shrugging lightly as he took his hand.
Nyx kissed Jude's cheek happily, smiling contentedly. "Can we go to the bookstore now??" he asked, excited to be able to go to the bookstore.
"Yes, c'mon," Jude quietly laughed, stepping back onto the street with a smile and tugging Nyx along.
Nyx smiled, following along with Jude happily, a broad smile plastered across his face.
Turning the corner, Jude was met with a row of older-looking shops below faded signs of their businesses. "Here it is," He smiled, nodding at the narrow entryway beneath a sign that said 'The Quaint Corner of Books.'
Nyx practically pulled him inside, wanting to go in and look around. He opened the door, pulling Jude inside so he could look at all the books.
Jude chuckled at Nyx's enthusiasm, smiling as he walked into the little bookstore and quietly greeting the owner; a middle-aged woman who knew him as a regular in her shop. She bounced her eyebrows playfully at the sight of Nyx, earning a shy smile from Jude as he turned back to Nyx. "So, what do you think?" He prompted, glancing around the towering stacks of books and warm lighting that filled the space.
Nyx grinned happily, practically bouncing on her feet. "It's…it's amazing!" he gushed to Jude, smiling happily as he looked around.
"Yeah?" Jude smiled, watching as Nyx happily took in the little bookshop. "It's my go-to for buying books. It's cozy." He lightly chuckled, catching sight of a flurry of movement behind a few stacks.
Nyx nodded a little bit. "Where's the cat?" he asked curiously, looking up at Jude with wide eyes and a smile, fidgeting slightly.
Jude softly laughed, shaking his head as he approached the stacks of books. "That's not the only reason you came, right?" He lightly teased, scooping up the black cat into his arms.
Nyx stuck his tongue out. "Of course not." He replied, shaking his head slightly. "I also came for the books. But mostly for the kitty."
"Hmph," Jude smiled, petting the cat as he brought it over to Nyx. "Here's the ball of fluff you wanted to see, then," He said with a faint laugh, "He's been wandering around the shop for as long as I can remember."
Nyx grinned, holding out his hands and scooping the cat up. "Hi, kitty." He cooed, smiling happily as he petted the cat.
Jude let out a pleased hum at the black cat in Nyx's arms, looking at him with wide eyes as they both pet it. "His name is Buttons, I think," He smiled, checking its collar before lightly bending down to meet its marble gaze, "Mhm. Cute as a button, you are."
Nyx nodded a little bit, still stroking the cat's fur. "Well, Buttons is a pretty cat, isn't he?" he was mostly talking to the cat, not Jude.
