First Date

[skybluejeep]

Characters: Stiles and Rapunzel | Closed
Date: October 1
Location: Wood, and then Earth Sector
Situation: Stiles has asked Rapunzel out on something resembling a date. Asti and the rest of Keelai is about to keel over from shock.
Warnings/Rating: Probably none. Rapunzel's a Disney princess, after all. I think there are laws against that kind of thing.

***

Stiles knocks on the door to Rapunzel's suite for the second time in as many weeks. Only this time, he's there to ostensibly take her out to dinner. This is honestly the first time he's asked a girl out for dinner and had her say "YES" so it's a huge, world-shaking deal for him.

He's wearing his jeans, and a Keelai-style shirt in green, with a Mandarin collar. It doesn't suit him, but it's better than the same plaid shirt he's been wearing since he got here, right?

Oh god, please let this go well...

Comments

[skybluejeep]

"Yeah. There is."

Because for the first time, he's finally seeing that he doesn't have to be fixated on a girl who won't even really give him anything. Lydia has gotten closer to him recently, sure. But Rapunzel is kind, happy, beautiful, and interested in him. Or something. Maybe?

"Have you ever had one of these before? They're really good."

He extends his elbow to her, ready to lead her away and back toward her place.

[watcheslanterns]

She wraps her arm around his and begins the walk back. She looks down curiously at the bun. "I don't think so," she said. "What's inside of it?"

[skybluejeep]

"Sweet red bean paste," he answers. "Which, I know, sounds weird and different. But trust me, they're delicious."

He breaks his open, and a cloud of steam rises from the center of the bun, revealing a red smear in the center.

"Sweet. Like a dessert."

And he bites into one half, showing her it's all good.

[watcheslanterns]

"Hm."

She carefully breaks her own bun open and inspects the paste inside. It smelled good, and Stiles seemed to be enjoying it, so she took her first bite.

"Oh! Mmm. That is good!"

[skybluejeep]

"My dad and I always get these whenever we'd get take-out Chinese. It's a tradition. Forget fortune cookies, these are the real deal."

He's nibbling on his happily. This is the perfect end to a perfect evening, as far as he's concerned.

[watcheslanterns]

Rapunzel eats slowly, not wanting to make a mess, and wanting to savor the delicious treat. "It's amazing the different kinds of food that are here. I'm looking forward to trying more."

She had been nervous about going out, but now, walking with Stiles, she was glad that she had.

[skybluejeep]

"I am an adventurous gourmand," he jokes, smirking at her. "I'll make sure you sample everything we can. Although the food style here on the turtle is pretty limited."

[watcheslanterns]

"Well, it's more than what I'm used to anyway," she replied. She made another sound of delight as she finished the last bite of her bun.

[skybluejeep]

"I wish I could take you to my world. I'd show you everything. Including curly fries and pizza."

He polishes off his bun too, and licks his sticky fingers clean.

[watcheslanterns]

"Has anyone ever done that before?"

She looked at him curiously. "I mean, gone to someone else's world after being here."

[skybluejeep]

That makes him pause, and look thoughtful.

"I don't know. Maybe? Although considering the nature of everything here, I doubt it. But then there was the death arch in Sinbrilee..."

Ah, congrats Rapunzel, you got the obsessive thoughtful side of Stiles going. One could almost see the gears turning in his head.

[watcheslanterns]

"Death arch?" Rapunzel looks a little frightened at the potential explanation of that.

[skybluejeep]

"Uh!"

He snaps himself out of his funk to blink at her, and looks slightly chagrined.

"I accidentally wandered into the realm of death. It wasn't my finest hour. But my point is, that there's the possibility of moving into different dimensions and worlds from here. That's all."

[watcheslanterns]

Her eye widen and she clings to his arm just a little more tightly. "But that's-! Are you alright?"

[skybluejeep]

As she clings to his arm, he stops walking, and turns to her completely. Her concern is honestly touching, and he smiles. And he squeezes her arm tighter against his side.

"I'm fine. I had some very good friends come in and get me out. And it was, you know. A valuable lesson. That lesson being don't wander into foreboding arches without some backup."

[watcheslanterns]

It was obviously from looking at Stiles, and touching his arm, that he was, in fact, okay, but she couldn't help being worried. Something as ominous as the realm of death didn't sound like something to take casually.

"Is it still there? The arch?"

[skybluejeep]

On an impulse, he reaches up with one hand and cups her cheek. Because the look on her face made his heart twist. She was so worried about him...and the repercussions.

"Back on Sinbrilee. The other turtle. The dead one at the bottom of the ocean. There's nothing like that here in Keeliai. Or at least I haven't heard it if there is."

[watcheslanterns]

She nods, her cheek brushing against his hand. She wasn't sure what to make to the sudden and different contact. It was strange, but not unwanted.

"Well, be careful if you see anything like it, alright?"

[skybluejeep]

"I promise you, I'll never do that again. Trust me. I've had enough nightmares, thanks."

And there's a long moment where he doesn't move his hand away. What is it about her that makes his heart thump and stutter? And then he slowly lowers his hand.

"You too, okay? Don't wander anywhere without letting me know."

[watcheslanterns]

"Of course!" She had no idea what something like that would mean for her, given her hair, but she wasn't about to try anything.

But she's beginning to grow conscious of his hand still touching her, and the fact that they had stopped moving completely.

"Should we keep going?"

[skybluejeep]

Finally he drops his hand, a little self-conscious, and he blushes.

"Yeah. Yeah, good idea. Let's get you home."

[watcheslanterns]

She gently squeezes his arm, reassuring him. "I had a really good time you know. Thank you for taking me out."

[skybluejeep]

He squeezes her arm back, that smile of his returning.

"I had a really good time, too. This was a lot of fun. You're a good girl, Rapunzel."

[watcheslanterns]

She blushes, but smiles. "Thank you. You're a good person too, Stiles."

[skybluejeep]

"I certainly try."

And, entirely on impulse, he leans in to kiss her on the cheek. God, please don't pull back and dart away from it? He'd wonder if something really was wrong with him if a kiss on the cheek got him rejected.