Flirtations
I crossed my arms and wore a playful smirk, my demeanor light yet earnest as I addressed him, “Then… let me come with you. I… must admit, I’m intrigued by you. I want to get to know you more.” I could feel my cheeks tinge with a blush as my eyes briefly shifted towards the lavish spread of food, a soft sigh escaping my lips. “As I’ve said, I’ve become smitten with you. I don’t know how you feel about me, but… I at least want to foster a friendship with you. And maybe… we can see what comes of it.”
My gaze returned to him, filled with a hopeful light. I picked up a chicken leg off the table and extended towards him, a gesture of sharing and invitation. My smile was gentle, and encouraging as I awaited his response. “I already know what question you might ask. How do I know? Because I have a sense about these things. What do you say?”
He looked at me quite pointedly, as if ready to put me right on the spot for what he was about to ask. He took the chicken leg, holding it before him as he seemed poised to eat it, “Do you not already have someone to look after? I can’t believe you are alone. And I’m not the type to get attached easily.” He kept his eyes on me as he took his bite, watching my reaction.
I had already grabbed my own chicken leg and was just about to take a bite of it when his question startled me. My initial amusement gave way to a soft sigh. He’d hit a sore spot for me, and I let out a gentle laugh, as if to try and mask the sadness within, “I… I am 2990 years old Haruki. I have had many suitors. On occasion, I take on consorts to enjoy nights of passion with in the service of my Goddess. It all ends the same way. The last time I seriously dated was perhaps… a century ago. Or maybe it was two?” Had it really been so long? Time seemed meaningless after living so long.
I finally took a bite of my chicken, chewing thoughtfully as I contemplated the rest of his answer. After a moment, I continued, my voice carrying a mix of reflection and encouragement, “You may not get attached easily, and that’s okay. But… love demands that one at least try, yeah?” My eyes met Haruki’s, searching for understanding or perhaps acceptance. I offered him an insight to my long and complex life, while also acknowledging the challenges and possibilities that lay in forging new relationships, especially with someone who might not share my longevity.
“So…” Haruki paused, clearly grappling with the implications of my age and the experiences I’d shared. He seemed to be trying to make sense of it all. “If you’re that old and had this… amount of suitors, what makes you think… l-love…” The word seemed to catch in his throat, and I noticed him almost choke on his food at the mention. I suppressed a chuckle, appreciating his effort to engage in a topic that clearly stretched his comfort zone. “…would come from me despite your other encounters?”
He quickly poured himself some tea, perhaps seeking a momentary refuge from the weight of our conversation. His actions hinted at a mix of skepticism and curiosity, a struggle to understand how his potential role in my life could differ from those who had come before him. I considered his question thoughtfully, recognizing the sincerity and vulnerability it took for him to express such doubts.
“Faith. That’s all it is, faith. Sometimes, I have been wrong. Other times, things worked out. But faith is what has sustained me, and it is what allows me to make these leaps of faith.” My tone was reflective as I grabbed a platter from the table. I loaded it up with as much food as I could, intending to share it with him as I gestured for him to join me on one of the lounges. Sitting down, I set the plate on the edge of the fire pit.
“I don’t know if it’d work. But that’s the whole point of faith. Learning to trust one another, despite our differences.” I paused, my eyes lifting to meet his as I added, “I do note one similarity, however.” A smile played on my lips as I continued, “We are both seeking greater meaning in our lives, even if it seems simple to us. I want to make the world a better place. You want to be stronger. Who says these goals are incompatible with each other?”
As Haruki confidently loaded up his plate and joined me on the lounge, a tinge of disappointment flickered through me—I had hoped to share my food with him, to add a layer of intimacy to our meal. Nevertheless, I brushed the feeling aside, focusing on his words as he began to speak.
“I would say that actions speak louder than words and faith, so… I’m going to say let’s just see how we do in this mission you’re insistent on joining me on.” His tone was practical, his approach to our partnership grounded in mutual respect and realism about the challenges ahead. “I respect you in your power as you do with mine, and you’ve pushed to let me open up to you. That’s not easy, and don’t expect it to always be like this.”
His acknowledgment of my efforts to connect with him was appreciative, yet he set clear boundaries about the potential limitations of our interactions, a reminder of his usual self-reliance. “And, regarding greater meaning, I don’t know if I align to that. I seek to get stronger, and I’m not entirely sure of its meaning. I just know that it’s my nature.”
His words painted a portrait of a man driven more by instinct and the intrinsic pull to enhance his abilities than by any broader philosophical or spiritual quest. This insight into his character was invaluable, providing clarity on his motivations and perhaps signaling areas where our perspectives might diverge, yet also where they might intriguingly intersect.
I simply responded with a soft chuckle, my expression one of amusement mixed with agreement as I gently nodded. Plucking a grape from her plate, I popped it into my mouth, savoring the moment, “Of course, I won’t pry too much. But, I think we’ll have some fun adventures together. All I ask is that you keep an open mind.” My tone was light and inviting. I hoped that he would at least understand the potential for our shared experiences.
I began to scrutinize him carefully, realizing that I hadn’t yet finished his healing. My eyes scanned for any signs of discomfort or unresolved injuries as I assessed his condition. “How are you feeling?” I asked, my voice filled with genuine concern. As much as I was trying to defend Sune’s temple, I realized that I perhaps should have been more discerning in how I meted out my retribution. I was genuinely concerned for his well being, and I wanted to ensure that his needs were met.
Observing his careful mannerisms, it was evident that he appreciated my enthusiasm yet tempered it with his own cautious approach. As he methodically ate from the plate he had prepared for himself, he pondered his response before finally speaking. “My body feels fine. Outside of the necrotic stings, the fight wasn’t too bad for me. I have high pain tolerance from fighting so much. One of my worst fights was taking on a bear, believe it or not. But, I was younger, then, too. So, I grew to know what pain was.”
His recounting of past battles painted a picture of a seasoned fighter who had learned resilience in the face of adversity. After a brief pause, a chuckle escaped him, breaking the seriousness of the conversation. “I wonder if I’ll get you into all sorts of problematic fights on our ‘adventures.’ I don’t take easy picks, and it’s obviously much harder when I’m alone. So…”
I blinked, momentarily taken aback by the mention of his worst fight, ready to interject with concern. However, his shift to discussing adventure quickly changed the atmosphere, and my expression lit up with enthusiasm. A wide grin spread across my face, and my tail began to wag happily behind me.
“Well, I’m definitely good at a distance! I can fire some spells up to nearly 250 feet away! We’d be a good team,” I exclaimed, my voice brimming with excitement. I placed my hand on his arm, my touch conveying eagerness and camaraderie, “Just think! You knock them hard and do to them what you did with me, and then I’ll hit them hard from a distance!” My imagination raced with the possibilities, visualizing the two of us collaborating in battle, combining our strengths to overcome any challenges that came our way.
He seemed a bit surprised by my hand on his arm, but he had listened to me nonetheless. He seemed surprised that I continued to press on joining him, and more so that I was so willing to use my abilities to help him. “Hmm.. and with the healing you do as well, I’m sure if I ever get stuck, you’ll make sure I don’t go down so easily. I tend to go all out as well.. as you did see earlier. So.. I can.. see why working with someone would be nice. Plus, I’m not used to brave clerics or medics. A lot of the ones who would join me realized that I tended to fight a bit too brazen and couldn’t keep up.”
Hearing his words, I simply smirked and leaned closer to him, “Haruki, I’m a seraphim. Religious zealotry in the service of my Goddess is my business, and thus… there’s no such thing as a fight too brazen for me. Having me on your side will help you, even if it’s simply to be stronger. I’m not merely a healer or medic, I am the Voice of Sune.” My tone was confident and firm, emphasizing my dedication to my divine role and the power it bestowed upon me.
He hesitated at first, clearly puzzled by my comments. After a brief pause, he responded, “Well, I’m glad that’s… important to you. I guess I’ll have to see it to understand what you mean. Religion doesn’t really resonate with me, so… I’m sorry.” He continued to eat, but his gaze lingered on me, carrying a hint of nervousness. I couldn’t help but wonder if my enthusiasm was overwhelming him. Despite this, my excitement remained unabated, bubbling just beneath the surface.
“Well, consider this! With us working together, you get to learn more about me and what I do, and I get to learn more about you! Isn’t that the exciting part?~” My tail continued to wag happily as I grabbed one of the desserts from my plate and ate it with unbridled joy. “Tell me… how strong are you looking to be?”
Haruki paused to consider my questions, rising to fetch some dessert from his plate. After a moment of thought, he turned back to face me, his expression contemplative. “It would be… interesting. I’m not used to long-term camaraderie. So I can’t say I will be on the same level of… excitement as you. And regarding how strong I am looking to be? Strong enough to hold off an army on my own.” His words carried a hint of solemnity, revealing his ambitious goals and a glimpse into the depth of his commitment to strength. He then sat back down, his gaze lingering on his dessert for a moment longer than usual before he took a bite.
I smiled gently in response and shifted closer to him, my tail wrapping around his waist as I happily selected another piece of cake from my plate. “That sounds… pretty strong.” I took a moment to think, a soft, innocent smile playing on my lips. I was curious about more than just his physical prowess and ventured further, “So… beyond training, what else do you like to do?” My question was light, inviting him to share more about himself beyond the battlefield, hoping to learn about his interests and what drives him in the quieter moments of life.
He seemed to get nervous with my tail wrapped around his waist, squirming slightly in the process. I couldn’t help but chuckle as he did this. It was kind of…cute. “Outside of training? Meditate. Walk. Listen to anyone playing instruments or sing. Nothing too interesting, really.” As he shared a bit more about himself, he seemed more confident this time, even turning his body towards me to return the question. “And… how about you?”