He enjoyed her blush. She enjoyed his singing and thus said that she wanted to be just as passionate in her song. "I am glad I inspired you to try more." he really was glad she put in the effort to sing from the heart, as opposed to get sloshed and drunk to slur out a song. His gaze followed her own, though he couldnt help for a moment to slip and follow her hand which rested on her chest. Though realizing soon enough what he was doing, his eyes returned to her own.

She asked if he wanted to do anything else tonight "How about we go back to our guild. I believe we had quite a lot of fun and it is getting late?" he spoke and offered her his hand or arm to hold as they would go and walk back. This time, he would follow his lesson. He liked to hold her and have a physical contact with her. Dont ask him why because even he doesnt understand such emotion. But whatever it was, he enjoyed it.
"Maybe if you wish, we can talk more as we walk back" as in any future plans and meet ups or dates are they? Mixology and other hobby stuff

She blushed as she realized where his eyes went for a moment and her eyes gazed away pretending to not have noticed. After a few moments, her eyes went back to gaze at him with her same shy smile. Listening to him made her mind become empty as she was filling it with things that were not necessarily important. He seemed to have wanted to go back to the guild since it was late. She lifted her wrist with her watch and saw that it was getting late when it came to non-night owls. "Sounds great," Karisa spoke and took his arm as she saw it offered. Despite her breathing being a little heavy and soft and her anxiety with her fear, she wasn't going to say no to this and would deal with the consequences when it happened.

Her breasts squished against his arm as she held his arm close while they left. He could feel her chest elevating with each breath, her flowery and seasonal natural scent as they finally left the loud place. Once they left she was thinking about where this was going to go. She had never been on a date nor does she usually plan things as they just run her over with Truck Kun randomly. "So..." she spoke softly, breathy and nervously as her breathing became uneven as she spoke. "I..." She tried to think, shaming herself for sounding really stupid right now. Her mind was telling her to run away, to hide in the shadows and cower, but she really liked being next to him for some reason, so much so that she was fighting her fears, her voices in her head. "What do you plan on doing when we get back to the guildhall?" she finally spoke up a subject.

He told her that he was fine returning to the guild hall as it was getting late, so he offered her his arm to hold. She took his arm and he sure felt what was pressed against him. It caused him to faintly blushed but he tried to focus on the road or basically anywhere away from her, so she wouldnt see him blushing. Truth be told, he had no idea what was this or where this was going and he didnt want to give the girl any false pretense if this doesnt go anywhere. He himself took a deep breath as well to make some thoughts exit his mind. Self control was key. At this rate he might also start having more notable and heavier breaths because of how she made him feel.

He finally gazed back at her as she spoke up "So" she started and he'd listen "Hm?" he wondered what she had to say. He'd wait for her to voice her thoughts until he heard her question. Which was a simple, what did he have planned to do in the guild hall. He softly smiled. He thought he could tease her and ask her why is she asking and if she planned to do more stuff at the guild hall. But he did not wish to push her and make her feel uncomftarble. So he answered "Well... it has been a long day. I have done some errands in the morning and later we have met and spent the day. I was out about the whole day, so just unwinding and resting is probably the right move. What about you?" he asked her the same question back, curious what did she have planned

Karisa didn't realize what her chest being against his arm was doing to the poor man as it made it so his arm was in between them. She was oblivious as all she wanted was to be close to him, his presence was making her feel something new, different and it was honestly luring the darker part of her without her realizing it. Her head leaned against his arm as she held it close. Her eyes closed, trusting Dae to guide them there as she enjoyed to scent of his and the air of the City of Seas in Fiore. Her brown hair gently went against the breeze while they walked and talked.

Why did this feel so good? Why did her inner self feel ignited by this man's existence as a whole? 'Skap brenna' She thought to herself as her brown shining eyes from the light gaze towards him who was looking away. Karisa wondered what he was thinking about, why he was looking away. She gave a light smile and tilted her head to search his face a little and realized his cheeks were a little pink. She didn't say anything and repositioned to walk comfortably side by side with his arm still being clung onto. Her mind she was hoping she wasn't making him feel uncomfortable. What if he didn't like her clinging onto him?! Her mind was snapping out of the daze of her own feelings and realized that she could be making him as if he didn't want to see her again after this.

Slowly, her expression changed into a calm expression, a small hidden frown on her lips as she just slid her hand to his to hold it. Karisa still wanted to have touching contact with him since he offered it from the start, but didn't want to suffocate him with her overbearingness. Listening to him, she nodded, "Unwinding sounds good. I might make a fruit smoothie and relax in the living space or my chambers," Karisa answered softly, trying to control her breathing and emotions.

He felt her rest his head against her shoulder, which also made him go a bit pinker, because he knew what was happening. And he liked it, but he still didnt understand how or why he liked it. He understood she entrusted herself to him, to lead her to their guild hall. But he had to be vigilant and not do anything wrong.
He didnt know that she saw him. This is why he didnt want to be seen as not to send the wrong message to her. But despite his best efforts, she did see him blush and she was unhappy.

She slipped her hand down so they can hold hands. He was soft and gentle with their touch and tried to make it so that when they hold hands, they have their fingers intertwined. The two conversed as they were on their way back. He was more relaxed now that he didnt feel her bosom against him. Not that he didnt like it. He just enjoyed that perhaps way too much that he didnt know how to control his emotions.
"That sounds delightful" he said as he looked at her with a soft smile, noticing the frown and worrying about what he did.
"Are you okay?" he asked as they neared their guild hall

All she wanted to do is make sure she wasn't messing up. Karisa remembers when her adopted parents and siblings would always scold her as if she did everything wrong. To them,  she never did anything right.  Her shadow friend always comforted her after she'd hide herself in her room or even in the bathroom and parks. While she was with Dae, she feared her emotions and the way she is will scare him away or make him not want to see her after this. Her thoughts were paused as she heard him speak, the only thing able to distract her negative thoughts for even a moment.

He was asking if something was wrong. Does she lie or be honest? The last thing she wanted was to lie to him despite her magic wanting to lie about her emotions. She turned and took a deep breath. Her head tilted up to gaze at him, positioning so they were face to face a few inches apart. Her lips naturally frowned. "I..." Karisa started with her soft, breathy sweet tone. Her brown eyes gazing away anxiously. "The truth is, I loved today and today has been the most non loneliest days of my life and I enjoyed spending time with you and honestly this whole time I was and am afraid of doing something wrong or bad and," her voice started to waver as she rambled with emotion, her big brown eyes start to water. "Even now I feel like me talking and saying this will make you see me negatively or something. I'm sorry..." she whispered, not meeting his gaze as she kept her head down, her brown hair hiding her face. Slowly,  she steps back put of fear that she ruined everything,  her mentality telling her so.

He watched her as she frowned and he thought if he did something wrong to upset her. "I..." she started to speak and he just waited for some disappointment. But the next thing he heard was that she actually loved today and she said that it was the 'non loneliest day' she had. He raised his brow at that sentencing as he expected a long story behind that. But he didnt dwell on that and instead focused on the rest of her words and feelings. Which she revealed that she felt like him. No not love or romance, but both were sort of having a fear of doing mistakes or upsetting the other. Even now she speaks and apologizes, feeling she did another mistake.

He wanted to reach out to her, cup her cheek and say something. But he stopped and froze because he remembered that cheesy romance novels werent really best dating or love advice. He was emotionally daft and read a plethora books. Probably the only guy who read cheesy romance novels as a case study to learn about love rather than to enjoy it. It was the reason why he was initial with holding her hand before when she freaked out. Fiction was his basis on how real life relationships worked and he knew that wouldnt play well. Sure in a romance story, cupping the tearful ladys face and kissing her and telling her how she's amazing and such would be amazing... for a fictional story. But in real life it'd be weird. So he opted to just to try and hug her. He was a bit awkward with it, but tried to be reassuring as he essentially had no idea what he was doing
"If it makes you feel better.... I feel the same. I was afraid of making mistakes" as a perfectionist he didnt want to make mistakes. And emotions were not his area of expertise. He had no idea what he was doing. But he knew sometimes less was more. Dont talk to much or else you'll ruin it. Say enough to get your point across and let actions speak louder than words

The poor young woman didn't know what to expect after her mental break, well half of it as if she had done the full thing maybe the man would have run off. The two were standing there facing off as they gazed at each other. His eyes looked at her and she wished at that moment that she could read minds too, but she couldn't despite this being a magical world. Suddenly, she felt a hug, not the hug you'd see in one of the books Karisa writes or the spicy romance ones, but a friendly innocent hug that still was enough to make her question if to push away or not. Did she want this hug? She very much wanted this, but she was still scared. There wasn't much of a height difference, so her head was against his shoulder.

Sometimes, being in a hug was all she wanted, mostly if it was one by someone she enjoyed the scent of. It was something she was never going to tell someone because it was something you'd probably read out of a book like Twilight or some trope of 'fatemate' or even Harry Potter with the amortentia. If she were to smell the amortentia, it'd smell like him right now. Definitely not something you'd tell someone.

She listened to him speak about how he felt the same about not wanting to mess up. Surely, it was for different reasons. She took a deep single breather as her large chest and soft body were against him by a small space between them from the hug as her breathing could be felt against his body and his neck since her cheek was against his shoulder. "It... it does actually, but to me you've done everything right," Karisa admitted.

He listened to her, but he shook his head "Clearly not as I have upset you, not once but twice." he spoke and looked deeply into her eyes, trying to get a read of her. If he could read minds, he would certainly love to know what was going on in her cute little mind right now. Was he doing a right thing, or a wrong thing. If he had the power of time. He would just trial and error it and rewind time. But he couldnt do that. He'd love to have absolute power as well, but again, he doesnt.

He's trying to read her, not just by expression and words of her voice and tone, but entire body language. He wanted to see what was the right move to make. Again, it was the push and pull of his only knowledge he had. Books and fiction. Should he impose himself and make a move on a first meeting or maybe, maybe he should save that for a seuqel. Ie their second outing. Actually, now that he thought of that, he was much more sure of himself. Tease a taste of greatness now and deliver it all next time. It made so much more sense if this was like a story. You dont show them all you got in the first chapter or book. You tease for the sequel and just go bigger and better. With that in thought, he felt he had more control of what he wants. Even though he still was unsure of what kind of a relationship was this. It seemed beyond normal friendship and guild mates, right?

In anway, he gave her personal space as he let go of the hug and took her hand softly "Come on, we're almost at the guild. We can spend more time tomorrow. It is not like we will not see eachother ever again~" he said with a soft smile "Let me escort you to your room or area you wish, please?" he wasnt really sure what to say anymore, so he hoped that Karisa felt better about herself. He wasnt running away from her any time soon. No no, on the contrary to her, he liked her. And he wished to impress all the more.

"It's not your fault, you didn't upset me, DaeSeong. I..." Karisa blushes lightly and gaze away. "I just..." She paused trying to find a way to explain it without saying the exact thing which would probably be more helpful. "I've just gone through some horrible experiences so I have trouble with people, communicating, and every time someone even remotely tries to touch me I can't help but get reminded of things I don't want to remember, but with you? Just like with this hug, it feels different and I want more of it despite me being a nervous wreck," She confesses. "I must sound ridiculous to you right now," Karisa slowly stepped away from the hug and gave a small smile. She was a hopeless romantic, a demisexual, and a bundle of traumatic events into one, quite the manga she'd make yet here she was already falling into the ocean, another place she feared deeply when she couldn't see what was in it.

She just nodded and took his hand as they went inside together. She took him asking the way he did as a sign that he wanted to take her to where she needed to go. They went together, "I don't have a room here in the guild actually so I'll probably take the livingroom and crash there," she chuckles lightly and gives a sweet happy smile now, for him.

The man looked at her as she spoke and tried to explain herself, but she'd pause and blush and gaze away before continuing her words. He wondered was she infatuated with him. He wouldnt mind if she was. He liked that idea. Karisa meanwhile would explain she had gone through some horrible experiences that rendered her unable to form connections. He wondered was this perfect for him? He had a hard time connecting with people too, although not because he was traumatized or anything. But still, perhaps it was better that he entered a relationship with someone that was sort of like him. It would make him look less like an emotionless freak.

It felt as if they were similar and yet different, both were afraid of doing something wrong to affect the other party, both seemed rather inexperienced in certain aspects of a relationships, both had trouble with people in their own way. She did because of trauma and he? Well, he was mostly a self absorbed narcissist who had a hard time connecting to other people that werent him. Both had trouble communicating, Karisa was a nervous wreck as she says because of trauma and Dae-seong was as clueless to communication as you can get, covering it up with eloquent and elegant word usage of a dictionary and a foreign accent and the typical joyan polite tone. He was masking his flaws, making it seem he knew how to communicate well, while in actuality he didnt. He just read a LOT of books to expand his vocabulary and to learn how people behave to one another and what they like to hear. Both were even demisexual, as he had no strong sexual attraction to anyone, but his own reflection, granted he knew very well how to appreciate the female physique and he knew of the pleasures of man. But he never really fell the pull or the urge to do so. Perhaps because of his work ethic where he sought to think of his career more so than his relationships. Which was also part of the reason he was sent to Fiore, to break his workaholic habbit. It was all similar yet different.

"I have assumed so. But I did not pry into it. I am sure you went through a lot. But you do not need to worry about me. Feel free to relax and be yourself." he smiled to reassured her he was fine "Consider me your safe space. We are both Blue Pegasus members after all. I would be a terrible person if I was not there for my guild mate" he spoke to try and make her feel comfortable around him, more relaxed to be herself so she wouldnt be on edge. He wondered was she able to be herself or was she always on edge because of stress. What was the true Karisa.

In any case he offered to escort her to the guild hall or her room. But to his surprise she didnt have a room. "You dont? Where do you live or sleep?" while his voice was still soft, she could hear the shock in the voice as he didnt expect she didnt have a room. Did she not live at the guild? Did he blunder?

She giggled and smiled softly, seeing his surprise, but it didn't bother her as she was always in survival mode, sometimes the darker version just hides very well. Her eyes look up at him and tilts her head. "I sleep wherever and whatever I think might be nice during that moment. I've slept on the floor, couches and I don't really need a bed to really get enough sleep to function," She spoke softly and smiled, not wanting pity or anything because Karisa didn't mind. She almost wanted to jest and flirt, but that was another whole personality of Karisa's that she tried her hardest to not let out. "So with that in mind, this living space will be where I'll be sleeping tonight. I know Alisa would offer me a room and things in a heartbeat, but I don't really need anything in terms of room," She continued on and then tilted up to close her eyes barely, kissing his cheek, and finally stepped back. "Thank you for today...".

While he had a good poker face, internally he was still taken aback by Karisa's statement of how she lives or sleeps. "I see. Well, my room is over there" he motioned with his hand towards the direction where his living quarters were "If you ever feel like visiting, feel free to stop by" he mildly jokes "I'll make sure everything is nice and clean for your visit" he was actually a very organized and tidy guy, but he threw the offer to her. Which he kinda hope she would take. He wouldnt mind letting her sleep over. After all she went through, the girl probably deserves a warm and soft bed. He can switch places and try her method of couch. Speaking of couches, he might have to have a word with Alisa about a certain couch. But that was a story for another time

He took her hand once more, but this time he raised it to his lips and kissed her hand "No. Thank you for today. You certainly made my day with your company. I hope to spend more time with you, in the future" and he let go of her hand and decided to finally go his seperate way and said his final farewell, but in Sinese "See you later, Little Dove~"

Karisa blushes and smiles at his romantic kind gesture against her hand. It was as it her kiss to his cheek for the kiss on her hand, an exchange. His offer to visit his room filled her with genuine happiness yet fear due to her fear that was given. She wanted to have that genuine innocent romance of cuddles even but maybe that's a little strange at the right date. She listened to him speak Sinese, but couldn't understand it, but just like he couldn't understand her ancient Icebergian. "Goodnight," she lastly said before they went their separate ways. She sighed and went towards where she was going to sleep and laid there after grabbing her headphones to listen to music and her book to read. She opened it up to read the chapter she left it on. Despite her book, all she could think about was him, everything about them.

Exit