Arden+Lethe;
In which Lethe is smarmy, two-faced, Arden is awkward, cute, and the making of moves and O_O ensues.
Arden
Lethe
Dinner was so much better than he'd expected.
And thankfully Daveis had not done too much to embarrass him. Which was an odd though tto have. Since when had he felt liek it mattered? Or that she would ever embarrass him, in front of some girl?
But as much as Arden didn't want to admit, Lethe... made him feel strange, in a different way than Daveis and even Lucy did.
And that was probably why he had decided to walk her back to her place after dinner and post-dinner pleasantries. Though not before havbing a bit of a nightcap at the nearby bar.
To be honest however, he still wasn't quite sure who had suggested getting the drinks in he first place.
This persona was glad. Dinner had gone well, she hadn't blown anything up making yogurt, and Arden - well, he seemed interested. The other persona would've grinned; it couldn't really have gone any better. The man had a crush on the cute, nice girl from out of nowhere? Novel material, to be sure.
Lethe, again, didn't go for anything alcoholic. The other would have - she was a predator, after all, accompanying a man to drink was just one step. But this one, she was far too authentic for that, wasn't she?
"Glad you liked dinner," she said with a smile, staring down at her mug of milk. "And that I didn't cause any explosions with my cooking, or anything..."
One of these days Arden was going to ask about the milk habit. One of these days. Not this day.
Arden chuckled a bit as he sipped his whiskey. "I think the fact that I went back for seconds was the big tip-off. And I'm sure Daveis appreciates her kitchen not being blown to bits," he grinned slightly. "It was very delicious," he nodded. "Thanks again."
She chuckled, turning to look at him. "Now see to it that you don't do me any more favors or I might just permanently lodge myself in your kitchen or something." After all, as long as he did this persona favors, she would pay them back - the other wasn't too sure this was a good idea, given that now she was broke and would probably have to sleep outside or something for a couple of days.
Fact that would upset Arden greatly if he found out, incidentally D:<
"We can't have that. I'd get fat off of your delicious cooking, and then Daveis would nag me to eat healthier."
Well then, we'll just have to see to it that he does find out, won't we?
Another chuckle. "Well, I could always cook healthier things..." Not that desert food was really very healthy - when food is scarce, you have to make the best of what you have when you have it.
Sigh Lethe you ninjasmarm you.
Arden made a slight face. "Hmm, healthier translates to tasteless in my vocabulary," he continued nursing his drink. "Then again Daveis complains so much about me not eating enough she would probably be happy to have me eating in general."
"Well, maybe you should eat more and she'd stop complaining," she noted, finishing off her milk. Tasteless, the other persona thought, but well, what did she know. "Your sister's a good girl, I'm sure she must nag at you for a good reason."
Not maintaining healthy habits was, on all accounts, entirely forgivable for someone with his profession, though. It wasn't as if the other persona got enough sleep or ate enough, either...
"Old habits die hard," he shrugged. Given that his former job was a 24/7 thing for the most part, that hardly left him time for details such as food and rest. "Besides, I think I've eaten and slept enough for a few years' worth of not-nagging," he deadpanned. "Seriously though, I know she only wants the best for me. I want the same for her." Let's change subjects! "She seems to like you. That's good. She could use more friends. She's so into her role as mother hen that she forgets she needs to take breaks, herself."
"That's how it always goes, though, isn't it? You worry so much for the people you care about, never worry about yourself..." Keep that in mind, Arden, it'll come in handy later. :>
"Haha, sorry, I don't mean to intrude on your personal life, or anything..." This persona couldn't help but wonder whether she was going too fast with this - then again, she wasn't anywhere near as subtle as the other one was. Still... it was as Joseph had said - Arden seemed quite paranoid, and the last thing either persona wanted was to scare him off at this time. For completely different reasons, granted.
"Mmm," he nodded, finishing his whiskey.
He shook his head, "If I felt like you were, you'd hear it directly." And indirectly. And see it. And know it. Because generally Arden made no bones about his privacy. But he'd been making a bit of an effort since Terre was killed to be a little bit different.
Just a little bit.
"I don't know, I just feel as if I am, sometimes." She gave a small sigh and shook her head. "I mean, I've been around for a little over a month and I'm already invading your kitchen." Bashful smile - sneaky. "I'm just glad you haven't kicked me out yet or anything."
And she had more than enough reasons to be glad - though the only one he'd ever know would be that this Lethe really had no one else to turn to.
"Well maybe it would be an issue if you weren't so good a cook," he said with an air of seriousness before giving her a wry smile.
"But honestly. You don't cause trouble. From all indications you work hard. And as mentioned you're a great cook. Gives you a bit of leeway."
She laughed at the remark - he really did love her cooking, didn't he? "Well if you liked my cooking so much I may just have to cook again sometime, then..."
Lethe looked to the door for a moment, then back at Arden. "But... for now, I need to go back - the inn closes late at night and getting locked out would kind of suck." Plus, some advances just couldn't be made in public, the other persona idly noted.
"Is that a promise or a threat?" he deadpanned, and then stood up and quickly paid for the drink and the milk. "We can't have that," he said, and then promptly walked her back to the inn. Quietly.
Arden, see, wasn't much of a conversationalist. Even less so with girls that he had something of a crush on. And the fac tthat he wasn't entirely aware of the crush that he had made it all the worse.
She followed along just as quietly for most of the way, but a few meters away from the inn - it seemed to already be closed, but she wasn't telling him that - she stopped, and turned to Arden. "You're awfully quiet. Moreso than usual... everything okay?"
Arden tilted his head to one side, then shook his head. "No, I'm just that dazzling a conversationalist."
"Sorry, I guess I'm a little paranoid that I make you uncomfortable, or something." The other persona figured it was useless to try and make him tell her that she did or didn't, but this persona wanted to give it a try anyway. The other was starting to really dislike this one - too much of a rebel, it felt like.
Arden shook his head quickly. "It's not you that does that, so don't worry."
She fell silent, hesitated, bit her lip. The other would have likely already said something, made a move, but this one?
"You're wearing the coat," she finally said, smiling, moving to adjust his coat a little. Perfect size, she had the other to thank for that. This one was a little too glad he liked it. "I was a little worried I'd get your tastes all wrong."
He flinched just a tiny bit when she reached over to adjust the coat. He smiled a bit nervously. "Yeah, well, it fits. I like it. I... noticed you're wearing your gift, too." Good thing it was dark enough that she couldn't see his cheeks flushed, as much from that as the whole her reaching out and touching his coat thing.
The other noticed him flinching. "Well, it's a lovely gift, why wouldn't I be wearing it?" She withdrew her hands. "No one'd ever given me anything before, too, so that makes it extra lovely." Well, that part was true, at least. It wasn't as if it was common practice for Loputo cultists to give their assassins gifts.
Arden kind of stared in disbelief at that. "No, seriously."
"Seriously what? It's true." The other sneered - she told so many lies, and he'd stare in disbelief at one of the few truths? How cute.
LOL IRONY
"I'm sorry I just find it hard to believe someone as--" he caught himself, shook his head slightly, then looked away. "I don't believe that men wouldn't shower you with gifts given half a chance."
Just as planned. "Well then maybe everyone I met before you was really a woman in disguise?" Just get to it, the other thought, rather impatiently. This whole crush thing was cute, yes, but also quite boring, she found. This one was having her share of fun, though.
"Or preferred the company of males," he muttered, still looking away. After an awkward moment, Arden finally gathered the courage to look at her again, and he smiled. "Well. I should... probably get going. Thanks again. For dinner and. Well, good night."
Well, it was now or never- ...well, 'next time' would be more appropriate, granted, but still. Lethe smiled back, moved her hands to his coat again, propped herself up a bit, and put her lips to his. Lightly, innocently for now. Can't scare the man off now, can we?
And well, this one did think he was kind of cute.
Arden's response might be somewhat unexpected.
After all, when a good-looking girl who thinks you're good-looking yourself plants even so chaste a kiss, normal people wouldn't push said good-looking girl away.
Like Arden just did. With a look of complete and utter... well, it looked like a cross between horror and WTF, really. So much so that he just kind of... stood there.
The other raised an eyebrow. So he had a problem with being touched, did he? Fancy that...
This one struggled to keep the smile. "I'm sorry," she murmured after a moment, just about ready to turn around and leave. Did she ruin everything? It felt as if she had - though Arden had just become a whole lot more interesting for the other.
Arden quickly shook his head. "No I'm-- I'm sorry I--" He shook his head again and took a couple of steps backwards. "I'm sorry. G'night." He turned on his heel and walked away.
Fast.
"Night," she replied, to no one in particular since he'd left - ah, well. Nothing to worry about, the other thought. Just something else to bring down.
This one, though, was a little disappointed. Lethe sighed, going around the inn to find a comfortable enough spot to spend the night - inn was closed, after all, and it wasn't as if she could pay for her stay that night, either.
Well Mr. Ivanov, the other thought, you're actually a better catch than I'd thought...
Arden
Lethe
Dinner was so much better than he'd expected.
And thankfully Daveis had not done too much to embarrass him. Which was an odd though tto have. Since when had he felt liek it mattered? Or that she would ever embarrass him, in front of some girl?
But as much as Arden didn't want to admit, Lethe... made him feel strange, in a different way than Daveis and even Lucy did.
And that was probably why he had decided to walk her back to her place after dinner and post-dinner pleasantries. Though not before havbing a bit of a nightcap at the nearby bar.
To be honest however, he still wasn't quite sure who had suggested getting the drinks in he first place.
This persona was glad. Dinner had gone well, she hadn't blown anything up making yogurt, and Arden - well, he seemed interested. The other persona would've grinned; it couldn't really have gone any better. The man had a crush on the cute, nice girl from out of nowhere? Novel material, to be sure.
Lethe, again, didn't go for anything alcoholic. The other would have - she was a predator, after all, accompanying a man to drink was just one step. But this one, she was far too authentic for that, wasn't she?
"Glad you liked dinner," she said with a smile, staring down at her mug of milk. "And that I didn't cause any explosions with my cooking, or anything..."
One of these days Arden was going to ask about the milk habit. One of these days. Not this day.
Arden chuckled a bit as he sipped his whiskey. "I think the fact that I went back for seconds was the big tip-off. And I'm sure Daveis appreciates her kitchen not being blown to bits," he grinned slightly. "It was very delicious," he nodded. "Thanks again."
She chuckled, turning to look at him. "Now see to it that you don't do me any more favors or I might just permanently lodge myself in your kitchen or something." After all, as long as he did this persona favors, she would pay them back - the other wasn't too sure this was a good idea, given that now she was broke and would probably have to sleep outside or something for a couple of days.
Fact that would upset Arden greatly if he found out, incidentally D:<
"We can't have that. I'd get fat off of your delicious cooking, and then Daveis would nag me to eat healthier."
Well then, we'll just have to see to it that he does find out, won't we?
Another chuckle. "Well, I could always cook healthier things..." Not that desert food was really very healthy - when food is scarce, you have to make the best of what you have when you have it.
Sigh Lethe you ninjasmarm you.
Arden made a slight face. "Hmm, healthier translates to tasteless in my vocabulary," he continued nursing his drink. "Then again Daveis complains so much about me not eating enough she would probably be happy to have me eating in general."
"Well, maybe you should eat more and she'd stop complaining," she noted, finishing off her milk. Tasteless, the other persona thought, but well, what did she know. "Your sister's a good girl, I'm sure she must nag at you for a good reason."
Not maintaining healthy habits was, on all accounts, entirely forgivable for someone with his profession, though. It wasn't as if the other persona got enough sleep or ate enough, either...
"Old habits die hard," he shrugged. Given that his former job was a 24/7 thing for the most part, that hardly left him time for details such as food and rest. "Besides, I think I've eaten and slept enough for a few years' worth of not-nagging," he deadpanned. "Seriously though, I know she only wants the best for me. I want the same for her." Let's change subjects! "She seems to like you. That's good. She could use more friends. She's so into her role as mother hen that she forgets she needs to take breaks, herself."
"That's how it always goes, though, isn't it? You worry so much for the people you care about, never worry about yourself..." Keep that in mind, Arden, it'll come in handy later. :>
"Haha, sorry, I don't mean to intrude on your personal life, or anything..." This persona couldn't help but wonder whether she was going too fast with this - then again, she wasn't anywhere near as subtle as the other one was. Still... it was as Joseph had said - Arden seemed quite paranoid, and the last thing either persona wanted was to scare him off at this time. For completely different reasons, granted.
"Mmm," he nodded, finishing his whiskey.
He shook his head, "If I felt like you were, you'd hear it directly." And indirectly. And see it. And know it. Because generally Arden made no bones about his privacy. But he'd been making a bit of an effort since Terre was killed to be a little bit different.
Just a little bit.
"I don't know, I just feel as if I am, sometimes." She gave a small sigh and shook her head. "I mean, I've been around for a little over a month and I'm already invading your kitchen." Bashful smile - sneaky. "I'm just glad you haven't kicked me out yet or anything."
And she had more than enough reasons to be glad - though the only one he'd ever know would be that this Lethe really had no one else to turn to.
"Well maybe it would be an issue if you weren't so good a cook," he said with an air of seriousness before giving her a wry smile.
"But honestly. You don't cause trouble. From all indications you work hard. And as mentioned you're a great cook. Gives you a bit of leeway."
She laughed at the remark - he really did love her cooking, didn't he? "Well if you liked my cooking so much I may just have to cook again sometime, then..."
Lethe looked to the door for a moment, then back at Arden. "But... for now, I need to go back - the inn closes late at night and getting locked out would kind of suck." Plus, some advances just couldn't be made in public, the other persona idly noted.
"Is that a promise or a threat?" he deadpanned, and then stood up and quickly paid for the drink and the milk. "We can't have that," he said, and then promptly walked her back to the inn. Quietly.
Arden, see, wasn't much of a conversationalist. Even less so with girls that he had something of a crush on. And the fac tthat he wasn't entirely aware of the crush that he had made it all the worse.
She followed along just as quietly for most of the way, but a few meters away from the inn - it seemed to already be closed, but she wasn't telling him that - she stopped, and turned to Arden. "You're awfully quiet. Moreso than usual... everything okay?"
Arden tilted his head to one side, then shook his head. "No, I'm just that dazzling a conversationalist."
"Sorry, I guess I'm a little paranoid that I make you uncomfortable, or something." The other persona figured it was useless to try and make him tell her that she did or didn't, but this persona wanted to give it a try anyway. The other was starting to really dislike this one - too much of a rebel, it felt like.
Arden shook his head quickly. "It's not you that does that, so don't worry."
She fell silent, hesitated, bit her lip. The other would have likely already said something, made a move, but this one?
"You're wearing the coat," she finally said, smiling, moving to adjust his coat a little. Perfect size, she had the other to thank for that. This one was a little too glad he liked it. "I was a little worried I'd get your tastes all wrong."
He flinched just a tiny bit when she reached over to adjust the coat. He smiled a bit nervously. "Yeah, well, it fits. I like it. I... noticed you're wearing your gift, too." Good thing it was dark enough that she couldn't see his cheeks flushed, as much from that as the whole her reaching out and touching his coat thing.
The other noticed him flinching. "Well, it's a lovely gift, why wouldn't I be wearing it?" She withdrew her hands. "No one'd ever given me anything before, too, so that makes it extra lovely." Well, that part was true, at least. It wasn't as if it was common practice for Loputo cultists to give their assassins gifts.
Arden kind of stared in disbelief at that. "No, seriously."
"Seriously what? It's true." The other sneered - she told so many lies, and he'd stare in disbelief at one of the few truths? How cute.
LOL IRONY
"I'm sorry I just find it hard to believe someone as--" he caught himself, shook his head slightly, then looked away. "I don't believe that men wouldn't shower you with gifts given half a chance."
Just as planned. "Well then maybe everyone I met before you was really a woman in disguise?" Just get to it, the other thought, rather impatiently. This whole crush thing was cute, yes, but also quite boring, she found. This one was having her share of fun, though.
"Or preferred the company of males," he muttered, still looking away. After an awkward moment, Arden finally gathered the courage to look at her again, and he smiled. "Well. I should... probably get going. Thanks again. For dinner and. Well, good night."
Well, it was now or never- ...well, 'next time' would be more appropriate, granted, but still. Lethe smiled back, moved her hands to his coat again, propped herself up a bit, and put her lips to his. Lightly, innocently for now. Can't scare the man off now, can we?
And well, this one did think he was kind of cute.
Arden's response might be somewhat unexpected.
After all, when a good-looking girl who thinks you're good-looking yourself plants even so chaste a kiss, normal people wouldn't push said good-looking girl away.
Like Arden just did. With a look of complete and utter... well, it looked like a cross between horror and WTF, really. So much so that he just kind of... stood there.
The other raised an eyebrow. So he had a problem with being touched, did he? Fancy that...
This one struggled to keep the smile. "I'm sorry," she murmured after a moment, just about ready to turn around and leave. Did she ruin everything? It felt as if she had - though Arden had just become a whole lot more interesting for the other.
Arden quickly shook his head. "No I'm-- I'm sorry I--" He shook his head again and took a couple of steps backwards. "I'm sorry. G'night." He turned on his heel and walked away.
Fast.
"Night," she replied, to no one in particular since he'd left - ah, well. Nothing to worry about, the other thought. Just something else to bring down.
This one, though, was a little disappointed. Lethe sighed, going around the inn to find a comfortable enough spot to spend the night - inn was closed, after all, and it wasn't as if she could pay for her stay that night, either.
Well Mr. Ivanov, the other thought, you're actually a better catch than I'd thought...