CHASING p a v e m e n t s || Aether

[Seyka]

"What am I! A veterinarian? GO AWAY!" the doctor lashed out, "... the girl is fine. The only thing I can conclude is that she has a weak immunity system, and a stroke of bad luck. Start eating citrus, or things that are high in vitamins. NOW SHOO!"

***

The doctor appointment was quick. Literally. Seyka realized they were in, and out quicker than a blink of an eye. Ever since the break of dawn when the two started their journey again, Seyka was pretty positive she was feeling better than before. Aether was still worried, and wanted her to see the doctor no matter how many times she tried to convince him. So now this trip proved otherwise that she was feeling better, and that she was back on her feet.

Seyka began skipping along the pavement in her regular bubbly routine. It felt so much better to be back in good health! She spun around in circles until she got dizzy. It wasn't long before the girl started garnering up attention from bystanders entertained with the silly girl's notions. She scratched the back of her head sheepishly before turning her head back over to Aether. A sudden wave of sadness hit her, and her peppy nature mellowed out a little. "Thank you for taking me all the way out to Castle Town, Aether," she said gratefully, "I guess... this means we must go our separate ways?"

The way she worded it though made it sound like she was conflicted with asking that question. She really wasn't sure, but she was embarrassed to flat out say she wanted to stay with him. Who goes around saying that? Maybe she should give him a parting gift~ Waitaminute, did she have anything in the first place to give him?

Digging through her bag, she began searching for something that would be nice to give Aether. Why did it overwhelm the kitty to do so? She wasn't quite sure exactly, but she felt like it would show her gratitude, along with how much she enjoyed being in his company. Suddenly, in one of the pockets of her bag, she noticed the Wild Rose kept secured, and protected from getting damaged. Her expression softened a little before taking out the flower, and quickly hid it behind her.

"Aether! Aether!" she called to him getting his attention. She scooted a little closer to the Hylian before timidly revealed the bloom. She held it out for him. "Here. I want you to have this," she said sweetly.

[Aether]

Aether was a bit bummed that he wouldn't see her again. What was worse was that he did in fact want to see her again, but was nervous. They had been traveling because she was sick, and now that she was going to be fine, there was no reason for them to continue traveling. Honestly, it made Aether sad, as Seyka had grown on him fast. He wasn't sure what he was going to do after this. He guessed that maybe he'd just head back to Oceania, he had no further point being here as he had the most fun he would this vacation.

Fortunately, it seemed fate would smile on him, as the bubbly kitty caught up to him. He was wondering what she was here for. They had done everything they needed, right? He'd have his answer as she presented the rose. A gift for him? It was gorgeous! Aether took the rose from her grasp, examining it with awe. A wild rose... He had heard about these before. He had always been told about how gorgeous they were. He was finally getting to see one for himself, and they were as beautiful as he thought they would be. "Seyka, I love it~!" He spoke as he stashed it away.

Right, it was not or never.

Aether's cheeks flared at what he was about to do. He was a nervous wreck. What was worse was the thought that it was goodbye, that she thought it was goodbye. It wasn't, he wouldn't let it be. Trembling, he took Seyka's hands in his own. "W-Well... it doesn't have to be goodbye..." He stammered. He was so new to this, he wasn't sure what to do. "I was kind of hoping... that we could have lunch together...?" He exhaled. There, he had done it. He had officially asked the kitty out.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Oh darling, just take a chance please
So we can stay together 'til hell starts to freeze

Seyka didn't want him to go... but she couldn't find any other reason to stay with him. The poor kitty was attached to him like a lost stray being picked up from the streets after being abandoned. It was probably best for her to stop making herself a burden on him, and go back to the normal routine of every day life. Just the thought of that gave the girl a frightened shudder. After meeting Aether, she knew things wouldn't be the same way as they were before. He was just... fun to be around~!

It wasn't until after she held out the rose to Aether that she realized all of the meanings that could be interpreted behind giving him a flower. Was it too girly for him? She remembered the last time she showed a flower to a male, and he brushed it off. How silly of the Sey Sey! She should have known better that boys didn't like flowers~ The cat girl was about ready to pull it back away from handing it to the silver haired hylian, but he took her by surprise. Her magenta eyes widened when she discovered he actually loved the gift! A boy that liked flowers? That threw her in a loop~

The kitty cat girl's ears perked up when she heard him speak. Was he ok? Come to think of it, he was bright red all of a sudden - oh my goddess! He wasn't getting sick now, was he? She would feel absolutely terrible if he got sick from taking care of her when she caught a bug! Ah~ The bliss of ignorance, wasn't it a lovely thing?

"Heke?" she squeaked. So he wasn't catching a bug or anything of that sort. He was asking her out. Ok~ That wasn't a big deal!

... HE WAS ASKING HER OUT ON A DATE?!

Sey Sey used every bit of will power within her being to refrain herself from running in circles, and spazzing out like a maniac. Instead, she froze like a block of ice, trying to figure out if what came out of his mouth was actually real or was she growing delusional~ A date! He asked out on a date.

... can we tell she's never been on a date before~?

"S-Sure! I'd love to, Aether," she sqwee'd. The wild little cat girl latched herself onto the Hylian's arm - clinging onto his hand as if there was no tomorrow. Affectionate much? Very. A little exaggerated? Maybe a little~ One very happy kitty?

You have no idea.

[Aether]

It was officially a date.

Oh he hoped she accepted, he really really did. He was putting himself on the line, he was risking being made to look like a fool. He was risking having his heart broken, he wasn't even sure what to do with it. What if she said no? Would that be the end of it? Would he end up having to go all the way back to Oceania without even having taken the kitty on the date? He was so worried about her saying no that he didn't realize that she might say yes. Which was exactly what she did, and it took a little bit for Aether to register it. But when he did, that was it, that was when every single thing changed.

Aether's heart soared as she accepted. He felt on top of the world, like he was invincible, like nothing could happen to ruin this day. He wasn't sure where to go from there though. He had never been on a date, and with her latching onto him like this, he wasn't sure what else to do. Maybe he should just go get lunch? This was the capital, there were plenty of restaurants here that would serve the both of them food. And maybe that food would be better than his cooking in the first place, so he might even enjoy the eating. Though he wasn't in it for the food, he was in it for Seyka. Even if the food was awful, just having her around would make it enjoyable.

With the kitty wrapped around his arm, he forced himself to take one step forward into town. He was nervous, he was going on his first real date. Not to mention with someone as amazing as Seyka, he didn't even want to think about screwing this up, or what would happen if he did. Would she hate him if he did? Would she never want to speak with him again? What would happen if he got it right? What would happen if he did everything he was supposed to? Ohhh he didn't know what to do, he was probably a bit more nervous than Seyka.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Oh darling, just take a chance please
So we can stay together 'til hell starts to freeze

What do people do on their first dates exactly? Seyka pondered mentally. This was totally last minute... wasn't there like a rules of etiquette to follow around going about first dates? Dear Din, this is complicated. The poor thing was making it complicated on herself. Still, if it meant that she could spend more time with Aether then she had no room to complain. Besides, it was nice to know you could spend more time with someone rather than being alone. She was making all kinds of excuses in her head that this was justified, but in the end she just didn't want to be abandoned. The little kitty minish was going to make this today worth every minute!

"There are plenty of places to pick from," she noticed. Her magenta eyes scanning all of the shops, and restaurants around them. She couldn't help but wonder if Aether would like to have sea food for lunch? Waitaminute, he came to the mainlands to get away from his every day life! So he should have something that he'd actually enjoy, and something out of the norm. Where to go eat~

Seyka tugged on Aether's arm a little before pointing with her free hand. Gesturing her head on over to the corner, the cat girl pointed over to the alleyway, that lead to a hidden building most people tend to miss. "Telma's Bar is pretty good. Nothing fancy, but I'm sure it's worth looking into," she explained, "It gets missed out a lot because of it's location... Do you want to give it a try?"

[Aether]

Aether wasn't sure what to do, so he just let Seyka lead him throughout the capital. Wait, he was a little confused, wasn't he supposed to be the one leading her through the town? She WAS latched onto his arm, so maybe he was supposed to lead? Then again, it would probably just be best to let her lead. She would probably know the place better than him anyway. She lived in the mainland, he came to visit, so he really had no problem letting her lead. She'd pick a better place than him too, now that he thought about it. Was he supposed to be latching onto her arm though? This was all so confusing!

He was right though. She had a suggestion; Telma's bar, suggesting it because it didn't get much business thanks to its location. The idea of a bar immediately didn't sit well with the hylian. He was from Oceania, there were bars all over. Inside those bars were pirates, who happened to get incredibly rowdy. Said rowdiness usually resulted in violence, which resulted in innocent people getting hurt, or killed, with the bar taking on collateral damage, and occasionally getting burned to the ground for some stupid issue. He really didn't want to go into a bar, but for Seyka, he could stomach it, for sure.

As they entered the bar, he noticed that sure enough, it was pretty empty. There were a few soldiers in the bar itself, but that was about it. Aside from that, there was just the bartender Telma, and her cat. Aether was glad that there were soldiers in the bar. At least they would keep order if things got rowdy, at least he hoped. There were times when it was the soldiers who in fact got rowdy.

Deciding to take the lead, he pulled Seyka over to a table for two, and seated himself. Not once though did he let go of the kitty, instead gripping her hand in his. He wasn't sure if he was doing it right, but he still didn't want to let go. "So uh..." Aether blushed, trying to figure out how to do this. "What... do you want to get?" He asked in a rather sheepish tone.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Oh darling, just take a chance please
So we can stay together 'til hell starts to freeze

As soon as they walked into the bar, Seyka had a good feeling she made a good choice. It was a small building, but the atmosphere was very comfortable. An empty bar save for a few knights, the owner, and her pet. Those who looked their way, Seyka flashed a cheerful smile back to them, and a small wave before following Aether. She was lead over to a table for two, which caused the kitty to pause for a moment. Her smile softened when she noticed the hylian didn't let go of her hand, and carefully released her palm from his grasp so that she could sit right across from him.

"Hmm..." she pondered. What sounded good for lunch today? Cupping her chin with her right hand, she began to contemplate what sounded good to eat at the moment~ Seyka had a craving for meat, cats were carnivores after all, so she knew what she wanted. She thought about mentioning anything with meat, but then she realized that could be taken quite literally. She knew she could handle raw meat, but that was because of her animal traits, and... this was a public area. Plus, it probably wasn't sanitary for her date. "I think I'll go with their special for the day," she answered after concluding her answer, "With milk tea~"

Taking a look at what the day's special was, Seyka hit the jackpot: roasted leg of cucco, freshly baked bread, and a choice of any type of veggies or fruit the bar had in stock for the day. She began swaying her tail excitedly.

Come to think of it, something crossed her mind about this experience~ You could learn a lot about someone just by observing them eating, and just by ordering what she wanted, she gave away nothing that she was ashamed about. When one was hungry, it was best to nourish the need so it wouldn't be bothersome.

"How about you? Anything interest you~?" she returned the favor.

[Aether]

The Hylian wasn't really sure what he wanted. Seyka seemed to have an idea of what she wanted right away. This place was so foreign to him... He was considering just letting Seyka make the rest of the calls from here on out. This was place was a lot more different than the Ocean than he had really been expecting. Though he figured after this, if he did win his kitty over, that he could take her to the ocean. Granted, he would have to keep her away from the water, but she would love the air, love the food, and just the scenery.

He smiled at the thought.

Aether however, noticed a shadow looming over them fairly quickly, and looked up to notice the waitress waiting for an order. It was the owner of the bar too, so they had to be respectful! ... And fast. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Where he came from, it was pretty much fish and seafood day in and day out. He wasn't sure what to get, or even if it would taste good! This was Sey Sey's area, not his.

Sey Sey!

That's right, she would know, wouldn't she? Aether had a plan, hopefully she wouldn't mind it either. Aether looked his kitty date in the eye. "Why don't you decide?" He politely suggested. In a way, she might have picked up that it would probably be code for 'dear God I'm not sure what I want just come up with something please.' Either way, at least he had something to eat fairly soon, and he was certain it would be good if his Seyka could vouch for it, right? He had complete faith in her!

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Oh darling, just take a chance please
So we can stay together 'til hell starts to freeze

Sey Sey stared at Aether blankly. Was he really having that much difficulty finding something he could try? The kitty couldn't help but feel a wave of compassion wash over her frame. Still, this was pretty much a gamble, and his best bets were put on her shoulders. Last time she tried to make him eat something, he didn't like it one bit, so it brought some insecurity on what should she pick for him. The poor dear wasn't a picky eater personally so it made things ten times more difficult than it already was. Plus they were making things complicated for themselves in the first place with this whole date thing~

This is what happens when you put two goofballs together in the same room.

So when it came time to place their orders in Seyka was put in a pinch. A bead of sweat formed upon the back of her head trying to come up with something. Come on, think! Think, think, think!

She got it!

"How about we go with the same meal?" she offered. Save them the hassle of trying to figure out what to get Aether, and at the same time they could share something else together. With that said, the waitress took both of their orders, and the wave of panic dissolved. A small sigh of relief escaped from her lips before she smiled brightly back over to Aether. "What do you think? A lot different than bars back home, huh?" she asked innocently.

[Aether]

Aether nodded in silent agreement at Seyka's suggestion. It was an easy one, but it would definitely work. Like he figured, if she liked it, then chances are it was considered good, so at least getting the same thing she got would guarantee a safe bet, or at least he hoped. He wasn't really all that used to the mainland's food just yet, and he even found his own cooking to be ghastly, though Seyka apparently didn't think so. Well, then again, if the kitty liked his soup, then chances are, it was good enough for him to get by.

However, he was surprised at her question, about how different things were in this bar than the ones back in Oceania. Truth be told, this caught the hylian off guard. She seemed a little naive, he wasn't aware that she knew that the bars all the way near the ocean could get pretty rowdy. Either that, or she wasn't really aware and figured that due to practically completely different cultures, that there would naturally be quite a lot of differences. Well either way, she was right, there were differences between the two.

Another nod. "The bars in Oceania are... reprehensible, at best. Pirates get in brawls and hurt innocents, and even end up damaging property. Not only that, but you have the horrid smell, the slurred speech, and the unnecessarily loud accordions playing throughout the whole background." Aether described in hilariously acute detail, cringing a bit at the mention of the accordions. The thing was, yes, they were constantly being played in bars in Oceania, it was just that the real problem was that those who played the accordions weren't very good at it.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Oh darling, just take a chance please
So we can stay together 'til hell starts to freeze

Simple was good. It made life so much easier~ If life could be just as simple as finding an agreement with food. Perhaps it would be a brighter place to live in, right? Perhaps she was just thinking a little too optimistically. She really hoped that this time around he'd find food enjoyable to eat. She'd feel guilty if she picked something that he wouldn't enjoy again.

Seyka wasn't sure if she should be impressed or disappointed on how accurate Aether was with explaining everything about taverns by the coast. On one hand, she was glad to know these kinds of facts so that she wouldn't have the wrong impress. That is, you know, should she ever visit the Oceania Province. The other? The kitty probably shouldn't get her hopes up in enjoying tavern parties out there. "Maybe I'm getting a negative image here but," she paused for a moment or two to pick her words, "If pirates are such a trouble there, why do you live there? You could easily come live here in the mainlands~"

Seyka was most curious about Aether, and wanted to know more about him. She did propose a good suggestion though, if Ocean Province was just that bad, then why did he stay there? The cat girl knew that if she didn't enjoy staying in such a repulsive place then she would move on. Perhaps he couldn't leave since it was his home? She could understand that, but was it truly worth tolerating criminals that terrorize the seas? To each their own, she supposed.

[Aether]

He gave a soft smirk as she confessed that she was getting a negative image about the taverns. Well yes that was the case. The taverns in Oceania were an extremely negative place that really had no trouble hurting an innocent. To Aether, they were something to avoid, unless you liked risking your life every time you went in. Aether however, preferred to keep out of pirates and their business, instead wishing to manipulate them from the sidelines. As a result, he ended up avoiding the very things he described like the plague, as if they were diseased. Then again, considering how filthy pirates were, taverns probably did actually have diseases running all over the place.

So why did he stay there? Well, there were many reasons that Aether would actually stay in the coastal region. There was the first, and simplest, that it was simply his home, it was where he was born and where he was raised. Another was that he loved the ocean. He loved its tranquility yet was awed by its ferocity. He loved the scent and the life it contained, and just how every day out there was something new. So it could be that he just stayed there out of loyalty and hoping that all the problems would go away. Well, the very last part wasn't it. The pirate problem would never just disappear, and the guard wasn't getting rid of them, so he felt that it was his job to get them out of Oceania and wipe them from existence.

But he wondered how Seyka would take to what he considered his real reason. Would she hate him for what he did, or would she applaud it? He wasn't sure what she would do. He figured she deserved to know though. After all, if this date ever resulted in something... serious, then she would undoubtedly find out sooner or later. "I stay because I want to wipe out the pirates. I don't hurt any of them myself, mind you. But I do play them against each other and let things run its course." That was the way he operated. Maybe he was just as guilty as the rest of them. But to him, it was for the greater good.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Something about his answer didn't sit well in her stomach. A bead of sweat formed upon the back of her head as she thought quietly to herself. This guy may not look it, but she could sense a manipulator behind that polite exterior. It kind of worried her just what kind of activities he did in order to stop pirates by working behind the scenes. A small shudder crawled up her spine not really liking that image of Aether. "That's... scary," she commented honestly, "Isn't that in itself dangerous? What if someone like the leader of the pirates finds out your activities there?"

There would be no doubt about it that he could get killed for trying things like that there. Though she had to admit that even if he was going about doing risky stuff like that, she admired him for being heroic in a sense. Seyka liked that he was the kind of guy that would try to keep innocent people away from harm, and bring those who don't abide by the laws to justice.

Unfortunately, their discussion would have to be put on pause as their waitress graciously came out with their plates of food. A visible steam could be seen showing it was freshly cooked. Just taking in the aroma of the feast before her made Sey Sey's mouth water. Her kitty cat tail wagged excitedly, and didn't hesitate to dig in~

Seyka flashed her kitty fangs before plunging them into the freshly cooked meat. Whilst munching down her lunch, she made... small chewing noises. "Om nom nom nom nom~" she mewed happily.

[Aether]

He was right then, she didn't like that answer. Though really, he couldn't blame her for having those kinds of feelings. Yes, it was very dangerous, and there was a very real chance that he could get killed for it. "I... thought you would say that. I'm sorry." But he figured that if he succeeded, then all the risks he took would be worth it in the end. Plus, he wouldn't admit it, but despite his calm and polite attitude, he was fairly confident in your abilities. That let him keep on moving and keep on trying to save the world from the pirates, or at least clean the oceans of them.

But, he did at least flash a small smile at her question. He wouldn't lie, he liked that she was in fact concerned for him. And in truth, she really did have a point. It was dangerous, it was very dangerous, and he could die. But, he wouldn't tell her that. He felt that there was no reason for her to worry over someone like him. "Don't worry about the dangers. Pirates aren't exactly the smartest of people. So long as you leave a slight bit of proof, they will abandon all logic and turn on each other like cannibals." He explained. While this was true for the most part, you did get a smart one every now and then.

Fortunately, things would take a sweeter turn. As the food arrived, with Aether giving a quick thank you to the waitress in turn. The hylian watched Seyka's tail swish back and forth, and in a way, he found it adorable as she dived in, practically sucking in her food, making the most adorable kitty sounds imaginable. Aether didn't exactly take a bite yet. Rather, he was content to just watch his date nom away, as it held a cuteness in itself. He crossed his arms with a playful smirk and just watched her chow down.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Seyka swallowed down her chow. She took a nicely wrapped napkin with her free hand, and attempted to wipe her face of any stray pieces sticking to her face. She shook her head softly when he apologized about mentioning what he did. A small smile escaped from her lips, the cat girl was finding it really difficult to find someone as polite as Aether, fighting crime so subtly while living in the most pirate-infested province around. "Don't apologize," she mewed, "It's a brave endeavor, and I admire that~"

To be fair, she had to worry about him even just a little bit. She didn't want this meeting to be the last time she'll ever get to see him again. She didn't like the idea of traveling one day to find him dead for getting involved in things way in over his head. She relaxed a little when he explained that the thieves of the sea weren't high on the intelligence level. She could see that, but that still left room for chance should a clever one come up from right behind him. That was something she decided to toss aside not really liking to think about at the table. She took a few more bites of her food to keep her thoughts in check.

It didn't last long before she noticed yet again Aether didn't even touch his food. What's up with him - is he anorexic or something? Bringing it up in her thoughts made her uneasy again, and not wanting to eat now. "Do I... have crumbs on my face or something?" she asked awkwardly. In other words, why are you staring at me? The cat girl didn't see anything worth entertaining about herself, yet there was that smirk across his face that got her flustered!

Raaaaaaaaaaawr!

[Aether]

It seemed that he had misread her. She didn't find what he was doing horrible, but rather, she found it admirable. Well, at least that made him feel a bit better about his profession. But it also meant that the whole thing was from concern for his well being. In a way, that made him feel just a little worse. This was a date, he didn't need to be feeling bad, and he didn't need for her to be worrying about him. Besides, it wasn't like he was in mortal danger at all times. Pirates were still stupid, and if anything, he could sometimes make a game out of messing with them it was so easy.

Aether snickered just a little at her question. Yes, yes she did have something on her face. She had food all over her face. But he wouldn't tell her that~ She was just too cute to really interrupt. He knew it was selfish of him not to tell her, but really, who would if it meant the end of such cuteness? He waved his hand dismissively at her. "Oh no. Don't mind me, Seyka. I'm just finding this cute is all." He complimented her, at least he thought he did. Either way, he thought he would tease her just a little bit. He had to admit, seeing her get so flustered just made his heart melt.

Still, he should probably eat, otherwise Seyka might think something was wrong. Aether looked down at his food, and bringing some of it to his mouth, he took a bite for a second before his eyes lit up a bit. Yeah, he was certain now that his cooking was just terrible, as this was delicious! He took another bite, and another bite, almost catching up with Seyka. But before that happened, he caught himself and started to slow down. He may have lived in Oceania, but he still knew to be polite. And on a date, he would have to be on his best behavior!

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

It was quite difficult to have a selfless person stop thinking about another person’s well-being. It goes without saying that when you begin to care for someone, you tend to spare thoughts about them, commonly when you’re away from them. It doesn’t mean that you don’t think about them when they’re right in front of you. In fact, Aether was the only thing that was running through her mind. Especially with the whole first date deal going on for her~ She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but she had to admit, it was going quite smoothly.

Seyka nearly dropped her food when he complimented her. Cute? Hearing such a compliment from Aether just didn’t sound convincing to her for some reason, but it came out of his mouth. Processing it down within her thoughts caused a twinge of pink to stain her porcelain cheeks. Did he really mean what he said? The poor kitty was confused to be perfectly honest. A lot of people called her cute just because of the way she behaved. It was hard to tell if they really meant it or were they just saying things because she seemed like a one-hit wonder. “How is watching me eat… cute?” she inquired curiously.

Whether he meant it, or not, it still intensified her already flustered state! How can he see something like eating adorable? Naivety was truly a blissful trait to have. She took a few more bites into her food to swallow down the nervousness that was building up inside. She couldn’t keep her heartbeat from increasing with the applied tension she was putting on herself.

[Aether]

He should have known that she would start asking questions on why he considered it cute, and now that he thought about it, he wasn't really sure what to say. He knew why he considered it cute, but putting it into words something completely different than thinking it. Had he crossed a line and offended her? He hoped not, he didn't want things to end between them because he had said something stupid. He placed his food down and looked at the kitty, honestly trying to come up with the right wording for his predicament.

His fingers traced circles on the wood of the tables. He knew what he wanted to say, but he wasn't really sure how he would say it. He figured that if he said something stupid, he could dig himself into a serious hole. Aether had meant what he said, but he had to find a way to word it without getting in trouble. "It's... difficult to pinpoint. I would say for me, it portrays a sense of innocence, something you don't see much in the world anymore, much less in Oceania." That was his reasoning, and he hoped that she would take it. Compared to Oceania? She was the living incarnation of purity and sweetness, a holy saint that deserved only love and adoration. Of course, even here, she deserved love and adoration anyway.

Seyka was the epitome of cuteness, and that just tugged right at him, eating away at his self control to just snuggle her. He wanted to, yes, but that would be rude, and would probably be considered invading her personal space. He may have been raised in Oceania, but he still had his manners, and he knew that invading someone's personal space was bad. "It really doesn't help me in that I have a soft spot for cute things." He admitted in a rather sheepish manner, pushing his two index fingers together. This was true, he loved cute things. The big bad manipulator from Oceania, the one turning pirates against each other, ended up loving cute things, and Seyka was driving him crazy.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Seyka]

Seyka wanted to understand the concept of endearment, and how it makes people behave so differently than they normally do around her. She wasn't denying the fact that she liked the attention, because it was quite a given that she enjoyed every second of it. What made her think too much about it though was whether or not it was because they really meant she was adorable, or the fact that she seemed like a one-hit wonder.

She didn't want to be cute just because it came natural to her. There was more to her than just an adorable face. Still, it didn't change the fact that because Aether was the one who said it that it kept poking at her brain incessantly. Curse you, Aether! It's his fault she couldn't think straight at the moment~

The kitty cat girl's ears perked up when he explained himself. She felt her heartbeat running away from her chest, and beating in, and out of time. Her cheeks flared up brightly as he mentioned her innocence was a rarity. There was something there that wasn't prior to this last minute engagement. Whatever it was Seyka couldn't put her finger on it entirely, but it made her feel all warm, and fuzzy inside. Was that initially suppose to be a good thing? Who knows~ She wasn't complaining though... it made her flash a bubbly smile.

Aether didn't help calm the cat girl down when he also admitted that he was a softy for cute things. So did that mean he really liked Sey Sey too? The kitty closed her magenta eyes for a moment, mentally squeeing in the back of her head. It took quite a bit of will power to resist glomping Aether then and there, and nuzzling him. "Do you really mean it?" she asked sheepishly in return.

[Aether]

He loved that she was getting so flustered, so worked up. He had to admit, it was one of the cutest things he had ever seen. But, she was wondering if he meant it. Well, of course he did. "Well of course I do. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't." He gently reassured her as a hand reached out to rest on hers. Aether was rather enjoying this, it was sweet. He was glad that he had worked up the nerve to ask her out. It wasn't even done, or possibly even halfway over, and it was already completely worth it.

Aether didn't want this to end. He was having a wonderful time with his kitty. He figured that while this would have to end eventually, that it didn't have to be for a while. For now, he could enjoy her company, and enjoy their time together. After all, it it turned out well, then he could see himself coming back to the mainland more often. But he doubted he would be taking her to Oceania anytime soon. He didn't want her endangering herself, and he would never forgive himself if he did something to get her in trouble with those he was trying to get rid of.

Nevertheless, he wanted to make sure that his date was having a good time. The food could wait for now, and he could always get back to it in a bit. For now though, he could just spend some time and maybe get to know Sey Sey a little more. First he wanted to make sure that she was still having a good time. "Are you... enjoying this?" He timidly asked, his inexperience poking through. That was the most important factor to him however. If Seyka wasn't having fun, then this wasn't worth it.

[/blockquote][/justify]