In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Another beautiful day has fell upon the Kingdom of Clover. A bit of time has passed since Hans was last here, accompanying a certain elf woman to get drinks. Unfortunately, the two weren't able to get to it as they were suddenly pulled into a rather...interesting modeling job. After that, the two went their separate ways but ended up reuniting to tackle a dungeon where thanks to the 'gentle' push of a certain Vice Captain, the merc and elf came out of that dungeon not only with some treasures and their lives...but a newfound relationship.
Hans has contacted Suna, wanting to meet up back in this town to try and get those drinks again...and maybe to get to know her more.
The merc walked down a path with his sword resting within its sheathe on his hip, his grimoire on the other hip and his broom resting in its holster on his back. He was able to rent a room at an inn back in the Forsaken Region where he was able to temporarily leave those modeling clothes he got so he didn't have to worry about that for now, which is good since he currently has many other things to worry about.
Back when he originally asked Suna to go with him for drinks, they were still just friends, but now...it was completely different. The merc started to walk past a building and stopped as he noticed the windows from the corner of his eyes. They appeared to be very reflective as he was able to see himself clearly from it. He turned to completely face it, using it to observe his clothing. They were still the same, nothing new which caused him to frown a bit. He then sniffed at one of his sleeves and had a look of indifference. They didn't smell bad, but...he felt that he should've been dressed more...proper for this sort of thing?
The merc quickly checked his breathe then nodded to himself. At least that was fine. He then looked back at the reflection and squinted his eyes before attempting to smooth his hair back. His hair was smoothed back for a second, but then it reverted back to its regular messy appearance, causing the guy to sigh with his eyes closed.
"Hm?" After opening his eyes, Hans noticed some nobles looking in his direction from the reflection, some whispering among each other while giving him questionable glances. Right....He didn't exactly fit in these sort of towns. Their prim and proper appearances compared to his rugged and almost barbaric demeanor, it was like he was from a different world and that's certainly how these nobles were looking at him like.
"Doing a little window shopping I see." A nobleman came up to Hans, placing a hand on his shoulder. The merc didn't even need to turn to face him since he could see his smug cocky grin through the reflection. "No need to be shy, boy. We have peasants coming here all the time, gazing upon the various riches they could never have." The guy claimed, causing some of the other onlookers to snicker among themselves. Hans furrowed his eyes, but remained quiet. "I highly recommend not getting your filthy hands on anything here, peasant." The man claimed, leaning over, and whispering this into the merc's ear before walking off.
Hans turned to look at the nobleman, watching him make one of his servants clean his hand off, the hand he touched Hans with. The merc nearly forgot he was in the Noble Region, and that most nobles were like that. There were of course some respectable nobles out there, especially those within the Magic Knights, but these sorts of stereotypical nobles still exist. How easy Hans could've just taken that hand off of his shoulder, twist it and break that man's arm, but he'd be the bad guy in this, and he had a date to get to....
A date...
Hans laughed lightly to himself. To think that Hans would find himself going on one of these, to find someone he actually cares for in this regard who also happens to see him that way. People say that he was blessed with having a four leafed grimoire...but at this moment, he felt like the true blessing was being able to meet her...
The merc continued on, making his way to a nice looking cafe. It wasn't really his type of scenery, but he felt that Suna might like it here. He took a look around at the area. It felt so new to him, especially since Hans rarely ever finds himself in this region. There were quite a few outdoor seating and tables, some of them occupied, but none by the elf it seemed unless she was just blending in well.
Thinking about it, Suna appears to give off that same elegance as well, or at least to Hans. He was not sure if she was a noble herself or not, which was now starting to make Hans tense. A sigh escaped his lips in an attempt to calm himself as he took a seat at one of the empty tables. With how he looked, Hans would definitely stick out if Suna had to search for him.
As he started to look around, Hans was quickly reminded of the words that one noble said to him. Yul was certainly something hard to come by for Hans, even as a mercenary. Not being well known meant that not many people hired him. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to keep that room at the inn, especially since he plans on using most of the yul now to treat Suna...assuming that's what he's suppose to do. It feels like the right call at least, but then again he has zero experience with this.
He looked down at the table, tapping a finger against the surface with an obvious hint of being nervous. What if she starts looking down on him because of his yul troubles!? Maybe he could find some way to earn more yul, like getting a proper job so he can better support her, and himself.
But for now, he needed to focus on not royally screwing up this...date. "No backing out now..."
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
Suna glanced at her reflection in the mirror, pursing her lips. A serious-looking elf stared back at her, smoothing out the dress in front of her. It was modest and fit well, but was this too much? Would it look like she was trying too hard? It was definitely something different from her usual attire, but then again, the situation was different. She had received the notice from the mercenary, who invited her to meet back up in the town of Silva. Due to a long series of events that kept unfolding one after the other, they had not been able to actually sit down and get to know each other. But that would change today.
Her mind wandered back to a certain event, the mansion. It had been a tense and harrowing experience, filled with abominable creatures and close call fights. After that training episode, she had come to realize just how much room she had for improvement. Fighting alongside the dark mage and the vice captain of the Crimson Lions had opened her eyes to her own weaknesses, and showed her where she could better herself. There was also something she realized.
Slender fingers touched her lips lightly. She could still remember how that kiss felt, how warm and thrilling it was. Even now, she could feel a flutter in her chest just thinking about it. To think he had boldly taken the initiative and pulled her into that after her small gesture... Even though she was alone, a flush still warmed her cheeks. It was her first proper one, if she did not count the one back in Nairn. She has only read about kissing in books and novels, and had zero experience on what to do exactly. It was not like she had anyone to practice it on before, much less expected that to happen at all.
Never in her wildest dreams did she think to find someone more than a friend. It was all very new to her, and she was afraid of messing something up. None of her female friends were currently around or available, so she was at loss of how to proceed. She sighed and tried to shake off some of the anxiety. Calm down. One step at a time.
Another thought popped up in her mind. He had seemed to know what he was doing—was it because of past experience? That strange burning feeling came back, but the elf quickly pushed it down, whatever it was. "Only good thoughts today, Suna." She murmured to herself. Whatever has happened in the past has happened already, there was no use fretting about that. Nonetheless, she made a mental note to ask about that today, if only to satisfy her curiosity. Or jealousy. Whichever one it was.
"Chin up and smile, girl." The reflection smiled back at her, though it did not completely wipe away the nervous look on her face. Oh well, she would just make do. No sense in hesitating any longer. Grabbing her broom, she stepped out and was soon on her way towards the noble region. As she landed softly on one of the town’s side streets, it seemed like nothing had changed. Yet, the world looked different. Perhaps it was her perspective that has changed?
She hurried over to where the note had indicated, but after a few minutes, found that she must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. She stood there on the street, a little lost. There was a haggle of nobles standing nearby, and as she passed them, she heard them mention something about a ‘rough-looking commoner’ and ‘needs to learn his place.’ Her elven ears perked up. She also heard some other not-so-nice comments, but it sounded a lot like Hans. It was worth a try.
"Excuse me?" She inquired politely. Immediately, the group of nobles faced her, their eyes critically examining her. "Can you tell me which direction he went?"
"Who might you be?" One of them folded his arms, and seemed to be annoyed that she had butted into their conversation. Another one waved him off, however.
"Why is a good-looking girl like you trying to find a mere commoner?" The one speaking to her had his chest puffed out, then he leaned in. "Truth be, I wouldn’t mind a...companion like you with me tonight."
Suna frowned slightly and took a step back. What was their problem? He was getting too close for comfort, and he reeked heavily of arrogance and narcissism. Definitely a contrast to Hans’ calm and comforting presence. "Can you point me to where he went?" She asked again.
The second noble opened his mouth and was about to say something, but the first one beat him to it. "Let her go. She doesn’t look that fun anyways. Didn’t you say you liked redheads?" The other noble was red-faced and sputtering, but he ignored him and turned to her. "He took off that way," and jutted his chin down the street.
"Thank you." The elf dipped her head briefly and took off down the street. She could hear some angry mutterings behind her, but was only too glad to get away from the bunch. One more turn, and she found herself standing in front of a cafe. It was a nice-looking establishment, and oh… She caught sight of a familiar form sitting by one of the tables outside. Her feet naturally turned and started walking towards him.
"Have you been waiting long?" She slid to the seat opposite him, and threw him an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry if you were. I got a little lost coming here."
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Hans started to trace a bit around the table with his finger now. Minutes felt like hours now as he continued to wait for his...partner to arrive. Multiple scenarios of why Suna hasn't arrived yet has started to play in Hans' mind. What if she had second thoughts, and never wanted to see the man again? Perhaps she found another guy along the way here and was now enjoying drinks with him!? Or worse...what if she...
"Ergh, need to stay calm..." Hans mumbled to himself as his aggressively nervous finger tapping stopped. He shook his head as he continued to try and ease himself. "Maybe she got lost..." As he said that, the merc finally realized something. Placing his face in his palm, the dark mage remembered that he never specified WHERE in this town the two should meet! "Shit..." he mumbled in his hand. Out of all of this, giving simple directions should've been the easiest thing to do, yet it completely slipped his mind!
The man slowly slid his hand from his face in embarrassment and guilt. He was just about to get up and go look for her until...
"Have you been waiting long?"
A familiarly soothing voice broke through the merc's self shaming thoughts. Slowly looking up from the table, Hans would witness, the person he was waiting for slip right into the seat in front of him, leaving him completely captivated. "S-Suna?" Hans blinked a few times. It was her alright, wearing a completely different dress that further radiated her already existing attractiveness and grace. "I-I..." Hans looked her up and down as he struggled once again to find words to say. She definitely cleans up well, and that wonderful flower in her hair....
Flower....
"Flowers!" Hans blurted out, immediately rising from his seat and slamming his hands against the table. Also caught the attention of all of the others sitting around..."I should've brought flowers." He elaborated. First he didn't give her proper directions, and now lack of flowers? The merc really had no idea what he was doing. On top of that, the duo appeared to have gathered an audience which Hans was just now noticing. The poor guy silently looked around before sinking back into his seat. Fortunately, the others decided to just go back to what they were doing after that, but that didn't stop Hans from pinching the bridge of his nose annoyingly.
Once again, Hans closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose. He opened them and once again was looking at Suna. The more he looked at her, the more he was reminded of how much better he could've pulled it off, like one of those fancy asses. She went through all of this work just to be greeted by a bumbling mercenary who had on nothing but the same clothes. She looked so gorgeous. People are bound to start wondering why these two people who seemingly come from two completely different walks of life are doing sitting together. Hans then realized how quiet he was being which is usually normal for him, but in this instance he should be taking initiative!
Hans opened his mouth, and was just about to say something until a woman walked up to the table, appearing to work here. She's wearing a typical maid's outfit with a pen and notepad. "Welcome to the Silver Cafe, greatest cafe in all of the Town of Silva!" she said, sounding so energetic. She then looked over at Suna and the rather tensed looking Hans, the smile on her face remaining bright despite how sort of awkward this all appeared. "What a lovely couple~ How may I serve?" Hans looked at the waitress then to Suna.
This was Hans' first time at a cafe so he wasn't sure what they served here. He doubted they had anything strong to drink, but then again, asking for something like that would've been a bad idea probably. "U-uh...tea?" He at least knew that they served that there...mostly because of the huge tea shaped logo on the establishment. The waitress tilted her head a bit at Hans. "Mmmmm, what kind of tea, sir?" Hans looked at her, looking almost bewildered. His knowledge on tea wasn't that big, mostly because he doesn't really drink it himself. "Err just...tea..." The waitress raised an eyebrow at the merc, but decided to let it go and wrote that down with a shrug. "Juuussstt tea. Gotcha!" she repeated before turning to face Suna. "And for the lovely lady?"
"I'll pay!" Hans blurted yet again, but he wasn't as loud as before. The waitress looked at him once again, taken off guard by the nervous swordsmen. "I mean, I'll be paying...for it all..." He added, glancing over at Suna before looking completely away from the two while rubbing the back of his neck. "Hmmm, right." the waitress blinked a few times before crouching to the elf's level to whisper in her ear. "I'm guessing he's really good in bed?" she whispered, trying to figure out why the sound mage is around someone like...this.
She'd then back up and give the elf a wink before raising her notepad up, still waiting for Suna's order. Once it was given, assuming Suna was more experienced with cafes, the waitress would write it down before closing it and giving a nod. "Right right. I'll be back with both your items." She said before giving a bow. "It won't be too long!" With that, she stepped back into the cafe.
Once gone, Hans would look back at the establishment before looking briefly over at Suna then at the table. "You look...you did a really great job...at cleaning up I mean...." The guy then realized what he just said and quickly looked up at her. "N-Not that you needed to. You were already...beautiful." Hans brushed his hand into the side of his hair nervously. Smooth Hans....real smooth....
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
He looked so nervous, it was actually kind of cute. Endearing, almost. But at least he seemed to like what she wore today. Previously, she had some doubts of her choice today, but as long as he liked it, nothing else mattered. It was also comforting to see him in his usual attire, though this seemed to be completely out of his element. Which was totally fine, as this was all new to her as well.
"Flowers?" She tilted her head to the side, not really understanding. "Is giving flowers what couples usually do when they meet up?" She asked innocently. Then she touched the white blossom in her hair, which she had picked up from the forest before she left home. "If it is, you don’t have to worry about it. I’ll just say I got this from you." The poor guy looked so flustered and worried, she could not help but try to comfort him.
He had also risen from his seat, and the elf noticed that the other people around them were casting curious looks in their direction. "It’s okay," she laughed lightly, waving at him to sit back down. "I don’t know anything about doing any of this." She gave a little shrug. "So just relax and think of it as just getting something to drink? No need to be so formal."
Suna smiled reassuringly at the man, hoping it would help him feel more at ease. She truly appreciated the fact that he was trying so hard, and she honestly did not mind if he did not go through the proper protocols of being on a ‘date’—whatever that meant. Honestly, she would not have minded if he had only asked her to go for a walk through town, or something simple like that. As long as she got to spend time with him, she was content.
It was then that the cafe’s waitress came up to them and started taking their orders. It was really interesting when he asked for tea, when he did not seem the type to drink that. Well, she guessed there were a lot more that she did not know about him. She was about to give her order when the mercenary burst in with something about paying. The blue-haired elf hid a smile behind her hand. It seemed like he was taking all of this so seriously, and it was making him act out of character. Also, she had no intentions of letting him pay for all of it. She did not tell him about that, though.
The waitress was bending down and whispering something in her ear, which made her eyes widen and her cheeks flush pink. I-In bed?! She may be inexperienced, but she at least knew what that entailed. Speaking of which, they did share a bed once, but nothing had happened. It was a miracle that the elf managed to keep her voice calm and level. "He’s a gentleman" was all she said. She nodded towards Hans, though her words should be low enough that the man could not hear—unless he was trying really hard.
Seriously, what was up with these people? They assumed some much based on someone’s outer appearance. Must be a thing among nobles and the upper class. In the Witches’ Forest, they were ranked according to their power. One could be ugly, but as long as they had immense power, they would not be looked down on. She supposed each country's system had their pros and cons, but this was one of the first times she was witnessing an ugly part of Clover Kingdom’s society.
Right, her order. "I’d like to have some jasmine green tea. Half ice, half sugar. And uh," she lowered her voice, addressing only to the waitress, "get him the same, but full ice and full sugar." She was not sure what Hans’ tastes were, but she figured that he would need something stronger and colder. But seeing the way he ordered, he did not seem very familiar with what to get. But that was not a problem, as the elf was a tea lover and knew what to ask for. The other woman nodded, smirking in understanding before writing it down and going back into the cafe.
Hans was the first to speak, and his compliments took her off guard. "R-Really?" She stammered, blushing like the innocent girl she was. Whether he knew it or not, it was so easy for him to set her face aflame, even with the smallest word or gesture. Why, even a look from him could make her heart skip a beat. But she needed to get a hold of herself. It would be embarrassing to be blushing every other minute. Though they were not just ‘friends’ now, she did not want to lose the more casual and easygoing aspect from before. What would the friend version of Suna say?
"Am I?" She had put her elbows on the table and leaned forward, clear azure eyes sparkling in mirth. She could not resist teasing him a little, just a little tiny bit. "Hmmm, so does that mean you like this outfit better than the one I wore at the studio?" She was teasing him, of course, but a tiny part of her wanted to know whether he really liked those...revealing clothes she wore for the modeling job.
Since he was on the route of compliments, she would go along and return the favor. "You know what’s most attractive about you?" She did not wait for an answer. "Your eyes."And your mouth. The female did not say that, but her eyes had slid down to his lips. Whatever he did back there in the dungeon had left her wanting more. Not that she would say it, of course. That would have been too forward and unmannerly of her. Besides, whatever she read in books has erringly left out the fact that kissing could potentially become an addiction. Sweet heavens, one kiss and she was completely smitten.
"But you know what I like most about you?" She continued on, leaning closer and dropping her voice volume. "Your honesty. Your moral values. Your gentleness beneath that rough exterior." She much preferred to focus on a person’s qualities rather than their looks. Character was what made an individual, not their clothes.
There was more that could be said, but the waitress was back with their drinks. "Here you are!" She set the glistening drinks down on the table, ice cubes clinking against the glass. "Enjoy! Wave for me if you need anything else!"
"Thank you." Suna had drawn back and recovered to her normal distance and pose. As soon as the worker left, she smiled at the man. "Wow, yours look a lot like mine." She hoped he did not notice that their drinks were indeed the same—who knew what the waitress would have brought him? She would not put it past her to give him a teapot of hot tea, despite the warm weather. Even if he did notice, hopefully he would understand that she was trying to save him from a potential embarrassment.
She raised her glass and smiled at the man opposite of her. "Cheers."
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Hans was still a bit bothered by not bringing Suna any flowers. Sure he could go with the little white lie the woman suggested, but he would still know, and that would be enough to keep him feeling guilty. He didn't say anymore on the matter, and just slowly nodded, but by the end of this, he'll make sure to find her something, something good.
It was reassuring for the dark mage to know that he wasn't the only one new to this sort of thing. Suna was just as clueless, yet she was still pulling this off a lot better than the poor merc. "Yeah...just drinks..." He repeated, scratching the side of his face with his finger. Maybe it was wise to just think of it as that. Their relationship has deepened, but that does not mean they needed to act completely different. If his mother was still around, she'd most likely give Hans similar advice...and also giggle at how nervous her poor son is being.
The merc appeared to be almost surprised at how well Suna placed her order. It was made clear that this wasn't her first time at a place like this, making Hans a bit glad that he chose this place. He's been around Suna for a while now yet he still knew little about her. For all he knew, she could've loathed cafes with a passion! She then whispered something to the waitress, making Hans raise an eyebrow. The waitress whispered something to Suna prior to this as well which made her look a bit flustered. He decided not to press her about any of it, thinking it was something between women. With that, the waitress went on to get the couple their drinks, leaving Hans to make his poor excuse of a compliment.
"U-uhh..." Hans nodded slowly. The way Suna blushes, it always manages to catch Hans off guard. She looked so innocent, and adorable that it was a challenge to keep his eyes off of her.
Then her innocent demeanor changed....
The elf leaned a bit in, causing Hans to blink a few times. Her tone was different, more teasingly. It was now the merc's turn to blush a little. She ended up bringing up that...outfit she wore during the modeling event. He opened his mouth to answer, but immediately closed it. There were things he wanted to say about it, but everything was all jumbled up in his mind. This wasn't the first time Suna teased him, but it felt more...seductive? The last time someone attempted to seduce Hans, they were trying to steal his magic, but this felt a lot more welcoming, triggering something within Hans.
She went on to throw a barrage of compliments the man's way, making what he previously said pale in comparison. She was speaking from the heart, or at least that's what Hans assumed, so he must start listening to his more as well, let it take charge. With a light smile, Hans leaned in a bit more as well. "Suna, I....You're so...kind." The man looked down, his eyes focusing on the grimoire attached to his hip. "I've been told countless times about how I've been blessed with this grimoire, that many would kill for a treasure such as this. But..." He shook his head before looking back at the elf, staring peacefully into her eyes which were as blue as the calm sky. "I think my real blessing...is sitting here right in front of me." He slowly and gently placed a hand on the side of her face.
"You say that I'm gentle, but you're so patient...understanding. Just looking at you makes me feel...calm, like a gentle tide. There are times...where I give in to my temper, but ever since I met you, It's been happening less...." His gentle smile formed into a smirk as he gently rubbed the side of her face with his thumb. "And about that...modeling outfit..." He leaned in a bit closer, lips mere inches from each other. "It's been so long since I've seen it. You're going to have to...help jog my memory...if you want me to give you a proper answer..." Every word he said, was quiet, holding that same teasing tone.
He wanted to return the embarrassment that the elf was making him go through, but wasn't sure if he was being a bit much...not that it mattered to him at the moment. His mind...or rather his heart were on other things. Hans was about to go in for another kiss, lips nearly brushing against each other until the waitress showed up, her voice causing the guy to lose his focus and immediately back away, shyly looking away from both women as his hands clasped together on the surface of the table. "I...Hmmm, thanks..." Hans glanced over to the tea now on the table before watching the waitress take her leave.
Hans smirked a little at the elf's comment. "Hmm, I wonder why?" He looked up at her, a bit or sarcasm in his tone. He at least put it together why Suna was whispering to the waitress. He was honestly thankful for it though, since he clearly had no idea what they made in these places!
"Cheers." The merc rose his cup up and gently tapped it against Suna's. He was just about to drink it, but then he looked at the drink within, looking a little unsure. With some reluctance, Hans placed the edge of the cup against his mouth and took a gulp before looking at it again. It wasn't as bitter as he thought it would be, but he didn't seem to be in a rush to take another sip. "Er so..." He shook the glass gently, making the ice within tink against each other and the walls, while looking at it with hints of curiosity. "Besides kicking ass....and saving mine...What else do you do? A-as hobbies I mean." Conversation...one of Hans' great weaknesses.
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
The young woman watched the man closely, noting the way his face flushed at her words. For some odd reason, it made her feel...powerful. What was this type of strange power? She was not using any magic or abilities at all. Yet, it was like she held some type of sway over him, affecting him with mere words and certain actions. It made her bold, though she did not yet know why or how. Was this why the pink witch was so set on getting Hans’ attention in the past? If so, she was starting to understand this other type of influence...
However, her moment of daring faded away when he responded in kind, saying such sweet things that made her want to melt under his captivating gaze. "No, no," she protested, and shook her head lightly, "you’re the better blessing here." A better blessing? What kind of grammar was that? What was she even saying? As much as she was affecting him, Hans also had a tremendous effect on her, and it was making her mind all jumbled and hazy. She had never felt this way before, even when she was hanging out with other males. Calm down, Suna. Calm down.
Then his hand was on her cheek, gently rubbing it with his thumb. Her face started heating up against her will, and this time, she could not hide the heat nor color from him. What was going on? She used to be better at restraining her features. But whenever with him, she failed miserably. She felt almost annoyed at herself, and if she were to recount this experience at a later time, would likely slap herself silly for not controlling herself better.
She had to admit, though, she could get used to this. His touch was not unwelcomed, and even though it felt unfamiliar, it was pleasant. Maybe even more than just pleasant. Her hand reached up to lay it over his, and she tilted her head, leaning into his hand. "But you’re the one who gives me strength." She said softly, but her eyes were sparkling. In her eyes, he looked so strong and manly, with his ruffled hair and rugged looks. As for his previous blunders, it only made him more attractive.
Now he was also leaning in, and her heart pounded furiously against her chest. "So long?" She lifted an eyebrow. "It hasn’t been that long. Only a few days!" She did a mock pout, then her eyes widened. He was so close to her now, and she could feel his powerful and familiar aura radiating off of him. "It...it was..." His closeness was messing with her mind. And her speech.
Azure eyes flickered down to the playful smirk on his lips, then back up to his dark ones. Was he really going to kiss her in public? "T-There...there are o-other people..." Where was this boldness coming from? And this teasing tone of his? He was certainly showing different sides of him that she had not expected. Despite all her self-consciousness of being out in public, she wanted nothing more than to experience what he gave her back in the dungeon. She was still too shy to show that much affection with other people around.
But then the waitress’ cheery voice rang out, and she felt a drop of disappointment when she and the man both pulled back. They were so close... She quickly recovered herself, and with lowered eyelashes, subtly glanced around, trying to see if the other cafe-goers were watching. As far as she could tell, none of them were. Thankfully. She did not know what she would have done if they were. Maybe she would have bolted out and left the man thinking what he did wrong. No, that would have been bad, and would have caused some misunderstandings.
"Hmm how would I know?" She shrugged her shoulders, seemingly innocence, but her smile betrayed her. It seemed like he had caught on to what she had done with his drink, but thank goodness he did not seem too mad about it. After the clicking of cheers and glasses, the elf lifted hers to her lips, but her eyes were on the mercenary. She wanted to see his expression, to see whether he liked it or not.
At least he did not spit it out, Suna could give him that. But at least her suspicions were confirmed. "My hobbies?" She did not have to think too hard. "Reading books. Practicing my instruments. Taking walks out in the forest. And my recent favorite," she leaned against the side of her propped elbow, "talking to a certain good-looking guy." With her other free hand, she took another sip from her glass, but her eyes never wavered from Hans.
"How about you? Besides doing all those jobs, I mean." She actually did not know much of what he did, and even less of what he liked to do. This was a chance for her to get to know him better, to understand more about this man.
Then she noticed his katana beside him. It seemed like he brought it everywhere he went. "Where did you get your sword?" She tilted her head curiously. It might help ease him into a more comfortable state if they were talking about something he was familiar with. And besides, it seemed something very special to him. "Is there a story behind it?"
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Despite his disappointment of the waitress' return, it was probably a good thing the woman came back when she did. Hans wasn't thinking at all about the people around him and Suna when he tried to make his advance. Even though he has witnessed couples show affection in public before, the merc still felt that this should've been a more private moment like back in the dungeon. He did not look around to see if others were watching, honestly a bit afraid that they were. Of course he wasn't sure how his partner felt about this as well. He could've put her into a world of embarrassment...but he just couldn't fight the urge. It was temptation that was strong, something that he wanted to give into...But only if she wanted that as well.
"Y-yeah." Hans nodded as the elf repeated his question. At first, he nearly assumed that he did something wrong by asking this, causing him to stop shaking his glass. Maybe he should've asked something else, like...her opinions on the...weather? Small talk was never the man's specialty, but it seems like he was simply overthinking this as the elf started to talk.
So she likes books? Hans wasn't really surprised by this since she looked to be the type to enjoy reading. Her other answer was even more obvious than the last. Hans has witnessed how Suna utilizes her magic multiple times, seeing her summon that majestic harp of hers, and the majestic melodies that come from her lips. Sound magic can be used in a variety of ways, but Suna's version of it was the most creative and musical that he has ever heard. Then of course there was the forest one which Hans gave a nod at. The two first met in a forest. Hans was on a job, but he never really put it into thought about why she was there. Guess this answers his question...maybe. Despite how difficult that day was, Hans was glad that it happened, or else he would never have met this wonderful woman...
Then came her new hobby...
Hans was just about to take another sip of his tea when he heard this, making him spill some of it on the table by mistake. "U-uh...you don't say..." He watched Suna take her confident looking sip, her teasing gaze meeting with his awkwardness. Why did Hans find this so....attractive? "I u-um. You're talking about...me...right?" He asked, pointing to himself before glancing away. "Er...don't answer that..." the merc quickly added before taking a quick sip, feeling a little foolish. Of course she meant him! This was just another one of her jabs. Right?
She's really good at this...
"Me?" It was now Suna's turn to ask the questions, and Hans looked like he wasn't expecting it despite it only being natural. "Right...I...." What was he suppose to say!? All he really did besides jobs were train, hang around shady bars...and then there is his secret gambling addiction that he picked up while growing up in Areis Garse. Though being away from that town has stopped his gambling ways...for the most part. As Hans silently struggled to find the right words to not bore his date into leaving him forever...she asked about his sword. "Hm?" Hans looked over to the elf as if he just came out of a haze and then looked down at his sheathed weapon. "Oh." After placing his cup down, he lifted his sheathed blade from its holster and gently placed it on the table in the middle.
"It's called Dark Edge." he claimed before rubbing the back of his neck embarrassingly. "It's the name I gave it...when I was younger." The dark mage then placed both of his hands on each side of it. "It was gift from my mentor, Barrett." A soft smile grew showed up on the rugged man's face. "The...Diamond Kingdom..." Hans winced a little as he mentioned that...damned kingdom, causing his smile to fade. "The Diamond Kingdom had begun their assault on Clover...by invading Aries Garse." The merc's grip on his weapon tightened as he tried recollecting these events. It was years ago, but the memories were still fresh.
"When I...lost my mother, I was alone, alone and afraid. I nearly met my end as well...until Barrett came in with sword in hand. He protected me, and after that, he took me in...when I had nowhere else to go." Hans' tone grew soft, as his smile returned. "He taught me how to use a sword, and gifted me with this..." the dark mage claimed before raising his katana up. "He was like a father to me..."
Father....
Once again, Hans' smile faltered, his eyes lowering a bit. Just that one word....Father, it was enough to change the man's mood completely. He looked frustrated, and annoyed. His breathing grew heavy as faint sounds of whips and pleading screams played in his mind. The merc slammed his eyes shut as he moved his free hand to the side of his face, as if he were experiencing a headache! He then moved to bring his other hand to the other side of his face, causing him to drop his sword. The impact of his blade on the table cause his drink to spill over and made a loud enough sound to attract attention once again as well as snap Hans out of his little episode.
"Stop!" he yelled out, as if he were pleading with an invisible force. Still breathing heavily, the merc opened his eyes which appeared to be watery. He looked around...then to Suna. "I...I..." Hans looked down at his palms which were now shaking. "I..." He gritted his teeth, and slammed his eyes shut once again before grabbing his sword and abruptly stood up. "Please excuse me...Suna." He added, before rushing off, desperately needing to find somewhere more secluded.
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
At least she knew that he wanted it as badly as she did. Even if the waitress had not interrupted them, Suna probably would have still let him kiss her anyways. But a little part of her was overjoyed that she was not the only one who felt that way. Even from what she has read from books, it did not compare to what she was feeling now, in person. Not even close. In fact, the tension made it even more thrilling. It was like a secret game that only she and Hans were playing.
Ah, it seemed like she got him on her last little poke. Despite him telling her not to answer his question, she still did anyways. "Yes, of course I meant you. Who else?" He even spilled some of the tea on the table, and the elf hid her smile behind her glass. So adorable. Again, all of her experience came from merely reading, but it seemed like it was working. It may not have been very original, but it was sincere. His response had only encouraged her, now knowing that she was on the right track and doing something right.
When she posed the question back at him, the man seemed to be struggling within himself. Did he not have any hobbies? Or perhaps he was too busy with his jobs to even have time for hobbies. That was why she quickly switched over to the topic about his sword. It seemed to be a safe zone, at least that was what she had guessed. How wrong she was, as she would soon find out.
"Dark Edge? That’s a pretty cool name." She leaned over the table slightly, curiously studying the katana. She had held it before, but never really got a good chance to look at it until now. Despite her limited knowledge in swords, it looked like a work of good craftsmanship. The mention of Diamond Kingdom made her elven ears perk up, but she did not comment anything about it. She herself came from a different kingdom, after all.
Aries Garse. Ah, now she understood. It must have been so difficult for him to go back to that place, a place that held such dark and bitter memories for him. Yet, he had gone back, and came out stronger. But now she knew why his mother meant so much to him, why he had been so desperate to find his mother’s necklace. Her fingers fluttered to that necklace. It now held even greater meaning for her, and a deeper appreciation of his giving it to her. "Barrett sounded like a wonderful mentor to you." She said in between his pauses, nodding as he enlightened her with the sword’s history...and his. Then he mentioned the word ‘father’ and his entire demeanor changed.
Suna’s eyes widened when his expression suddenly changed and he put both his hands over his face. "A-Are you okay?" Concern was etched over her features, and her previously sweet tone was now replaced by worry. "Hans? Are you feeling sick?" Immediately her eyes flew over to the iced tea. Was there something in it that was the cause?
Then his sword clattered to the ground. A yell. An apology. And he was off.
For a brief moment, Suna was struck with a note of remorse. It seemed like she had hit a nerve, and was responsible for the outburst. Even though she had asked the question innocently and unknowingly, she still felt terrible for triggering something awful in the mercenary. The poor man...he must have gone through so much in his childhood. She could not even begin to imagine what kind of horrors he had gone through, especially regarding his father. She had to go find him, but first...
The elf dropped a few yuls on the table, and waved over to where she assumed the waitress was watching. After the little outburst, who would not be watching? Then she dashed out to the streets. Which direction had he gone? Her steps slowed. If she was Hans, where would she go? Probably some place where there were no people. She scanned the town, frowning. There was no place to hide in this bustling place. There was not even a secluded alley anywhere in sight. The most logical place would be outside of town. But which way?
On the streets, there were groups of people, and a few shady characters loitering around. Suna noticed some turning and whispering among themselves. Ah, a swordsman running down the streets of Silva must not be a common occurrence. She started to fast walk down the streets, following the apparent wake of curious onlookers that Hans was causing. The female did not dare run, however. She wanted to slip through the people without attracting any notice. She supposed it was a good thing that a character like him would stick out so much—it made him easier to find.
As she neared the edge of town, the young woman felt her worry grow. She herself was not that adept on directions; what if she had guessed wrong and was following the wrong trail? What if he did not want her to follow him? What if she had been wrong this entire time? Then she caught sight of a familiar figure, not too far off. An audible sigh of relief.
"Hans?" She called out softly, not wanting to startle him if he was still caught in his waking nightmares. However, she still kept a safe distance from him, not knowing what he would do if she approached him. He had acted like a cornered animal back there, and she knew that frightened people could also lash back if they felt further threatened.
Suna wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and comfort him. She longed to tell him that everything was all right now, that she was here. But she stayed back, for now. Past memories could make a person do and see strange and abnormal things. Her arms were outstretched, and she dearly hoped he would recognize her and not as someone else. "Hans?"
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Hans did not know what has gotten over him. He stepped out from the cafe area and did not dare to look back. He did not want to see her face...possibly riddled with disappointment and betrayal. "I'm sorry, Suna..." He muttered as the tears in his eyes continued. The man needed to get away, away from people. He needed to be alone, to calm down.
The merc walked down a side street. He held onto his sword by the middle, clenching it hard as his walking grew some in speed. He brushed and bumped into many people walking by, not acknowledging them once despite the questionable looks and swears thrown his way. It was all just noise to him at this point, unbearable noise that he wish could just stop. Why did he have to think about...that man? All she asked about was the sword, and nothing else. Hans did not blame Suna for any of what just happened. He was the one who started rambling, who started to dig too deep in his past.
Now in the middle of a street, Hans was panting as he looked around. Everywhere he looked, there were people....staring back at him like some freak, but...maybe he is a freak. His father...his real father wanted him to be nothing more but some mindless soldier for the Diamond Kingdom. Ever since he had ran away with his mother, Hans has been fighting the urges and trauma drilled into him by his father...but what if it was inevitable? He even took on the life of a mercenary to make yul when he could've gone a more peaceful route, or even become a Magic Knight.
With Hans still in his own little world, looking around anxiously to get away, he could hear a muffled voice over and over until he was finally able to understand it.
"HEY!"
Hans quickly looked over in the direction of the voice, and saw an angry looking man in a horse drawn wagon. "Get out of the way, moron! I have places to be!" He yelled. The wagon driver then whipped his horse to get it to move a little. The whipping sound of course didn't help the merc at all, triggering his dreaded memories even more. He no longer saw the wagon driver, but his father instead. "MOVE!" He yelled again. Hans took one step back before looking around. Everyone who was currently watching, currently whispering among each other and laughing...they all looked like him...his father. Hans desperately looked around until he saw an opening in the crowd. He turned and ran, nearly tripping over in the process.
He was now running through the streets, with everyone he saw, looking like his old man. He kept on running until less and less people were around. Slowing down, Hans noticed that he made it to the entrance of the town. He walked, looking distraught as he swayed a bit. The moment he passed the entrance, Hans stopped by a tree, and placed his palm on the bark. He looked like he was trying to catch his breathe, but he was just trying to calm down. "Please...just make it stop..." He pleaded quietly to himself, tears finally falling to the ground. He wanted these illusions of the past to just go away. Then...there was another voice that sounded muffled to him at first.
"Hans?"
The merc quickly looked up in the direction of voice with tears on his face. He was expecting it to be someone like that wagon driver again...or more illusions of his father. His vision was a little blurry from the tears, but the moment he wiped his eyes with his sleeve, he was able to see clearly...He was able to see her...
"S-S..." It wasn't his mind trying to haunt him again...This was really her, right? She had her arms stretched out giving off a welcoming demeanor. Hans slowly walked over, appearing hesitant. But his steps would grow faster, and in the middle of it he dropped his sword, and went in to embrace Suna, arms around her waist as he pulled her in closer, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I'm so...Suna...I'm so..." He slammed his eyes shut and grit his teeth. "You shouldn't...see me like this." He was now looking at her, looking like he was trying to hold back more tears. He then gently rest his forehead and against her own, his erratic breathing starting to calm down. "I ruined our outing...I'm so sorry...for running off like that." He moved his head back a little to get a better look at the elf's comforting face.
"I just...It's...I-I can't..." With his words escaping him again, and feeling like he was about to slip into another episode, the man leaned in an attempted to kiss Suna again if she allowed it. It would start off sweet, and innocent just like back at the dungeon...but it would sink into something deeper, pressing himself closer to her. Whatever these urges were that started to creep up, they were better than the pain he was previously feeling...and he wanted more. He'd then slowly break from the kiss, and place his forehead against hers again as he takes a deep breathe. "Thank you..." he said in a hushed tone before sinking back into the kiss...pressing her back first near another tree.
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
Suna felt her breath catch when the mercenary turned around to face her. Was he...has he been crying? The poor man… Her heart went out to him. "I-I’m sorry..." She stammered out, though she was not sure if he heard her. She felt terrible for causing him to fall into such a sad state. If only she did not ask the question about his sword, if only she had been more sensitive, if only...
He was walking towards her. No, running now. And the sound of his sword clattering to the ground. "Uh...are you—" Before she could finish her sentence, she was engulfed in a tight embrace. "H-Hans?" His head was on her shoulder, and she could feel the tremors through his body. Whatever he had just gone through, it was serious and severe enough to break down a strong man like him. Tentatively, she wrapped her arms around his waist as well, and gently patted his back. "I-it’s okay. I’m here..." She gave a big sigh of relief, glad that she found him and that he recognized her.
"You shouldn't...see me like this."
"Shhh, it’s okay." As they briefly pulled apart, Suna reached up to wipe away the tears on his face. He looked so vulnerable, so lost, so frightened. In a way, she could see her younger self reflecting back at her. Back then, she had no one to comfort her. But now, at least she could be here for him. "It’s okay." She repeated. Her hands slid down to the side of his face. Her eyes were filled with compassion. "Let it out," she whispered. "It’s okay to cry. It would make you feel better."
As he leaned his forehead against hers, her breath stuttered. But she shook her head slightly when he started apologizing. "No, no, don’t worry. I’m sorry to have triggered you." If anything, it was her fault for pushing him on that. She just hoped he would forgive her once this was over. Something in his eyes told her that he was about to slip into another round of the nightmarish memories, and her arms tightened around him. She was not about to let him go through it again. Not if she could help it.
Her face was tilted up, and he was leaning in. "H-Hans?" That was as far as she got before his lips met hers. Her eyes fluttering close, she immediately melted into him, allowing herself to be carried away by the tender touch. Just like before, it felt sweet and heartfelt, though there was a tinge of pain and sorrow in it this time. She could taste the anguish behind it, all the hurts and torments that he had not said out loud. He did not need to, as he was showing it to her now.
Her lips moved on their own accord, melding into his and following his lead. Her hands were still on his back, pulling him close. It seemed like she did get to feel him again. All that tension from before, they could finally resolve it now. As much as she clung to him back there in the mansion, it seemed like he was responding in kind. It was just like she remembered it, only this time, it made her shiver. From what, she did not know. It was all so unfamiliar and new, but at the same time, it felt so warm...and right.
As he pulled back briefly, the elf’s eyes fluttered open, and her heart pounded when she met his intense dark eyes. She was also slightly breathless, and her breaths came out in short pants. Her face was flushed, and her rosy lips were in a perfect ‘o’ shape. As he leaned his forehead against hers again, she brought her hands up, and wrapped them around his neck.
"Thank you..."
He did not give her any time to respond before he was back again with another kiss, and this time, it felt different. "Mmmph..." Somewhere along the way, it had ceased to be just comfort. It had grown into something more...fierce. Something more passionate. He had pressed her back up something solid, and it made her toes curl in anticipation. What was he doing to her? This man was awakening all sorts of urges within her, none that the young soul had ever experienced before, and it was a little frightening. Nonetheless, she trusted him to be gentle with her, so she allowed him to carry her away.
Her fingers went up from his neck to his head, sliding them through his ruffled hair. She could feel how perfectly his lips were against hers, and when he deepened the contact, she let him. His rugged touch against her softer ones, balancing each other out. A tingling sensation blossomed throughout her every nerve, and she felt like her heart would burst. It was like a dream, and she hoped she would never have to wake up from this moment.
So caught up in her current thrill, Suna had not noticed that the necklace around her neck had started to glimmer, emitting a soft, almost invisible glow of light around the duo. Not even when they broke the kiss. She was panting now, and her eyes were burning with a different light. She wanted to say something, but words were failing her. Instead, she closed her eyes and snuggled against his broad chest, catching her breath and simply enjoying the warmth of it all...
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
The second kiss went on for a bit longer. Just like her, Suna's lips were soft, gentle, and comforting. The merc's worries melted away the longer it lasted. The dark mage's hands slowly lowered until they were resting on her rear. He gave it a gentle squeeze before one of his hands traced down her upper thigh where he then attempted to lift her leg up to get himself closer. Every action he performed, every touch...it made his heart pound over a new sensation he was not familiar with. If it weren't for his need of oxygen, the dark mage would've most likely pressed on, but alas he needed air.
The two broke from the kiss, but before the elf could rest her head on his chest, the merc would catch a glimpse of the necklace glowing, and even felt the mana coming off of it which gave off a peaceful, familiar feeling. Hans gently rubbed the elf's back, not wanting to break from this embrace. "She would've liked you..." Hans said calmly, referring to his mother. His mother and Barrett were the only ones Hans truly trusted, the only two that genuinely cared about him...at least until now. The merc closed his eyes and brought Suna closer in. For Hans, it was a breath of fresh air to find someone...someone else who wanted to be around him....but it also made him afraid.
He could end up losing her too....
This thought sneaked its way into Hans' peaceful thoughts, causing him to sadly open his eyes half way. A depressing thought, yet he wasn't wrong. There's always going to be the possibility that something terrible could happen, ripping the two away from each other. It couldn't be helped, but it doesn't mean that the dark mage should just mope around about something that only has a chance at happening. He should be focusing on what's happening right now. With that, Hans let out a satisfied sigh before looking toward a nearby forest.
"You said you like forests right?" Hans asked before gesturing his head in the direction of the forest. "We can take a look around if you want. It'll make up for the caf-" Hans immediately stopped himself and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I...forgot to pay...Didn't I?" a soft groan escaped his lips. He assumed that Suna paid, or else she wouldn't have been here right now and would've been dealing with the authorities...unless she managed to slip away. The merc dug into his pocket and fished out the yul he was going to use to pay, and tried handing it to the elf. "Take it. I didn't mean for you to...you know..." he would say, finding it hard to keep eye contact yet again.
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
If it were not for the feeling of the tree behind her back, Suna would have been sure she was flying. She could feel his strong arms around her, and her body fitted so perfectly against his. Despite his show of vulnerability, it only made her appreciate him more. It meant that he trusted her enough to show the weaker side of himself. She hoped that she could do the same, and was sure that opportunity would soon come up. But now, she would enjoy the moment.
Heavens help her, she could get used to this. The feeling of being held securely, the heat that was starting to build between them, and oh! Her eyes flew open when she felt his hands slip lower than her waist. Then lower, and she tensed up when she felt the gentle squeeze. He was not done yet, and was travelling down to her thigh. She could feel the warmth that radiated from his hands through her thin leggings, and it made the innocent female flush hotly at the intimate touch. He was so bold, it caught her off guard. She did not think he could be so daring and dominant, especially when he had been so shy and awkward before.
Then he was lifting one of her legs up so he could press in even closer. At this point, she was like clay in his hands, the haze overpowering any logical thought she might have had before. If this was a sort of game, she would be sure to repay him back. But at the moment, she was too overwhelmed with all these unfamiliar sensations and feelings to do anything back to him. Then they were pulling away, but only to catch their breaths.
"She would've liked you..."
The blue-haired elf tilted her head curiously before finally catching a glimpse of her necklace glowing. Well, Hans’ mother’s necklace. It gave off a soft, calming atmosphere. "And I would thank her for raising such a good son." Then she laid her head on him. She rarely had any sort of physical contact, and always thought she would never like it. However, Hans’ touch was different. It left her longing for more. What was he doing to her? All his skillful administrations...it was as if he had experience. As if he had done this before.
A more negative feeling overtook her, and her eyebrows furrowed. The mercenary would not have seen it, but various expressions flitted through her features, each as different as the last. Joy. Jealousy. Elation. Fear. So many emotions, and she felt confused and unsure. However, his familiar voice broke through her troubled thoughts, and was a reprieve. For now.
"Don’t worry about it." She pushed him back a little so she could see his face. "No, I’m not taking it." She gently closed the hand holding the coins. "Save that for next time, hmm?" She cupped his face with both of her hands again, forcing him to face her. Blue eyes darted around his face, and her thumb gently massaged his temples.
"Are you feeling better now?" Even though her tone was light, her eyes still held a note of concern and worry. She still did not know the details, but she would be more careful from now. But now, a little bit of her teasing look came back. "Was that enough to distract you?" She gave a little laugh, then tapped his nose with a finger. "Naughty boy. You caught me by surprise." Then she nodded to where he had previously dropped his sword. "Don’t forget Dark Edge."
Assuming that he would go and pick it up, the elf would wander a little into the forest, gazing at the trail and how the sunlight filtered through the leaves. She had never thought the world looked so bright and cheerful. Or perhaps it was her perspective that has changed. She glanced back, then with a mischievous glint in her eyes, broke into a run. "Can't catch me!"
Let’s see how good he is at tracking a forest-bred elf.
The blue-haired nymph sped along the trail, her footsteps light and quick. Sure, he could easily catch up to her, but there were a few things she knew about the forest. In addition, she had been training with the fastest mage in Clover Kingdom. Not that it made her any faster, but her endurance has drastically improved the last few months. After sprinting for a bit, she caught sight of an opening up ahead, and veered off the trail. A few moments later, silence once again fell upon the forest, save for the chirping of birds and an occasional rustle of a squirrel...
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
"And I would thank her for raising such a good son."
But was he really good? Hans always had doubts about being a good person. For most of his life after his mother and guardian passed, the man was only looking out for himself, obtaining yul by any means. Sure he does have some redeeming qualities, but he always felt that the bad he has done, his selfishness had been dominant. Hans didn't think anyone really saw him as a good person, and it was something he was starting to accept...until Suna. Just by saying those words were enough to make the merc smile softly, and quietly nod. It didn't matter what others thought of him...it didn't even matter what he thought of himself. So long as she thought he was good, then maybe he truly can be. He just hopes that he can continue to do right by her.
"U-uh...but...?" Hans looked genuinely confused at the sound mage's decline. He blinked a few times as she pushed him back a little and closed his hand carrying the yul he was trying to offer. But...he said he was going to pay, which felt like something he was suppose to do. He looked down at his closed hand, still unsure about this, until he felt two very soft hands rest against his face. Willingly, Hans let Suna guide his face to her own, still looking a little lost. At least there were no tears in his eyes anymore, only dried up traces. She asked the male if he was alright, causing him to nod slowly. His episode was thing of the past now...for now at least. The dark mage was more focused on Suna's worrying eyes which quickly shifted to that slyness that he was starting to grow familiar with.
Getting use to it however is another story...
"Was what enou-" The guy stopped, finally realizing what she meant right as she poked him on the nose. His face was now flushed as he started to recall what happened a few minutes ago. He then rose his hands up a little as if he were surrendering, not noticing he dropped his yul at first. "W-wait! Don't g-get the wrong idea! I was...just..." Yeah there was no real way out of this. Hans simply clammed up and rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn't help himself. That touch...He had felt it before back during the modeling event. It was accidental, but it felt nice...and plump? Just the thought of it was enough to make his face even more red. When it comes to blushing...Hans was just as bad as the elf in front of him.
Suna then gestured towards the man's dropped sword. Hans turned towards it and before he moved, he noticed the yul he dropped, furthering his embarrassment as went to pick that up before going for the sword. If only this were a battle...then maybe Hans would know what he was doing.
After retrieving his sword, Hans would turn around and notice that Suna wasn't in the same spot. He caught her walking into the forest , and decided to follow, only to see her peek back and yell out, "Can't catch me!" before running off, leaving Hans even more confused than before. "Huh?" He stood there and tilted his head a bit. It then finally clicked what she was doing and a little mischievous smirk crept up on his face. "Tch, of course." he muttered before running in. At this point, Suna had a good head start, and by the time he entered the forest, she was gone.
The man's running slowed into a walk as he got deeper into the forest. He looked around, surprised that she was able to get away that fast. Hans could just use his sensory to find her, if she was still within range of course, but it looked like his partner wanted to play a game, so he decided not to. "I don't need sensory to find you, you know?" Hans yelled out as he continued to look around. "And she says I'm the naughty one..." Hans muttered which Suna would only be able to hear if she were close enough.
Continuing to look through the forest, Hans was starting to notice all of the little critters that have taken up residence here. They were adorable, and added to the already radiating beauty of this area. It was definitely better than being in that stuffy noble town, but that was something Hans would keep to himself since he wasn't sure if Suna liked those types of towns.
"Oh?" Hans found himself in an opening and took a look around, admiring the area. It was then his eyes fell upon something growing in the ground by some trees on the other side of the opening. Walking over, Hans would crouch down to get a better look. They were dark blue flowers swaying gently in the breeze. He then remembered how he almost panicked over not getting Suna any flowers. With a nod, Hans gently placed two of his fingers around the stem of the flower, and plopped it out of the soil before standing up. He looked at it closer, quietly thinking to himself. It looks like it would fit her. He then placed it within his grimoire's holder, fortunately having enough space to hide it. With that done, Hans was just about to resume looking for Suna until he heard some chirping overhead.
It was a bird's nest filled with baby birds being tended to by their mother, leaving Hans once again distracted. Nature certainly is something....
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
The elf was glad that he was not going to force her to accept the yul. Besides, her words had implied a second time, if the mercenary had somehow caught that. She did, however, raise an eyebrow when he tried to defend himself. It seemed like beneath all the uncertainty and awkwardness, Hans still possessed those...masculine urges. Suna had read about such desires in romance novels, but had always wondered what spurred them on like that. But now, it was starting to make more sense. Although she was still quite inexperienced in such matters, she was not completely unaware of what could possibly happen.
She noted with satisfaction that he had also reddened, being caught in his own words and acts. At least he knew that she knew. She could go on staring at—no, studying—the man for hours. The rugged angles on his face, the firm chin, the prominent cheekbones, and those dark eyes. As he pulled away to pick up the dropped coins and his sword, the absence surprised her. This was only the second time they have been so close to each other, but he always left her wanting more. Curious, indeed.
That was also one of the reasons why she bolted, though more in mischief and not in fear. She also needed a brief moment to get herself together, get her thoughts organized. As she ran, she weaved around the bushes and thick undergrowth, trying to make as little noise as possible. She chanced a quick glance back. The mercenary was nowhere in sight. Good.
Catching sight of a particularly large oak tree, the lithe form clambered up onto the lowest branch and started climbing up. It has been a long time since she had last felt so free to roam like when she was younger. She froze, however, when she heard him call out to her. How did he catch up so quickly? A smile appeared on her face when he said he did not need sensory to find her. Well, he could use whatever he wanted to find her, but she would not let herself be found too easily.
Then he seemed to move off to a nearby clearing, a bit further away from her. She waited until he was a safe hearing distance away before she continued her ascent, stopping only when she was around halfway up the tree. It was still fairly high up from the ground, and she could see a good distance from her vantage point. Hmm, where did the dark mage go?
Oh, there! He was looking up at one of the trees, but it was in the opposite direction. There was no way he could see her, unless he was directly below her tree and looking up. The thick foliage hid her profile well, and she sat comfortably on one of its thicker branches, swinging her legs. Idly, the elf broke off a twig and played around with it. I wonder how long it would take him to find me...
Unbeknownst to the blue-haired mage, while she was running, the white flower in her hair had fallen off, a tell-tale sign of her trail...
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Hans was still distracted by the birds in the nest. Of all the things the merc could get distracted by, this was the least expecting. Maybe it was the way that the mother bird cared for her young that drew the dark mage in. It was a pleasant sight, seeing creatures other than humans care for their young.
The mother bird then flew off, most likely to get more food for her young. Hans watched her fly off before looking elsewhere. He still needed to find Suna, but it was proving more difficult than he thought. The merc looked down at the ground, and couldn't find any footsteps, most likely meaning she didn't go this way....or perhaps she did, and covered her tracks? Hans remembered hearing from somewhere that elves and their descent are not only blessed with mana, but are in tune with nature as well. 'Could she have blend in with the surrounding?' Hans thought to himself before shaking his head. "No...She's a little too blue for that..." That part escaped his lips as he continued to ponder.
The gentle breeze that was blowing started to pick up, causing everything in the area to rustle such as the leaves on the trees and the bushes nearby. It also caused Hans' hair and clothes to flow a bit as well, but he didn't pay it any mind...until something flew past his vision.
"Wait, is that...?" It was a familiar looking white flower, dancing gracefully by in the wind. There was definitely no mistaking who that belonged to especially since it caused Hans to make such an uproar back at the cafe. After taking a few steps, Hans was able to a hold of the flower, and inspected it closely. He now had a lead! She's close...unless the wind blew the flower from farther away, or she dropped it here and ended up running further in.
.....On second thought, this might not have been a really great lead.
Still, it was something. Hans was just about to place it where he placed the new flower until another gust of wind picked up, causing the white flower to slip from Hans' hand and it started to float away. With a slightly annoyed grunt, Hans chased after the flower, unknowingly getting colder and colder from the elf with every step taken.
As this happened, a boar was walking through some bushes until it stopped by a tree, holding an unusual blue guest...
The boar looked up at the tree and was able to take notice of the elf hidden up there. Without warning, the boar let out a squeal and started to bash itself against the tree repeatedly. Why it seemed so bothered by Suna was anyone's guess. Perhaps it was hungry? Or maybe it just wanted to be an asshole and ruin some poor person's day? Didn't really matter because that would not be the only thing Suna would have to deal with....
The constant bashing of the boar had woken up something that was sleeping in that very tree. A snake, and a long one at that! The first thing it saw was of course, the sound mage. It slowly slithered to her, its tongue sticking out every now and again. It was now attempting to get on her lap, and climb on up, most likely aiming to wrap itself around her. There were now two hungry animals who had their sights set on the blue elf, and what is Hans doing?
"How is it this hard to catch a single flower...?"
POW
30
DUR
40
SEN
10
STA
20
CON
30
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Magic Broom and Dark Edge
NOTES Blah blah blah BATTLE *pew pew pew* SPELLS Show us your stuff
