>It was a sobering thought, that some people didn't always get back from charging head first. He'd yet to deal with a guard casualty, least of all from something like that...
>But she had a point. After all, he'd kind of just ran at the half-pint without formulating a battle plan and got lost. He'd charged at all four of those thugs and had to run away as fast as he could. Hell, even back when he was learning how to fight, his mother told him to actually think about what he was doing instead of just leaping at her...
>Abris rubs the back of his head, an apologetic smile on his face.
Yeah, I know. It's just...hard to think. Everything's moving so fast, I act on instinct.
>He laughs again, more confidently.
You think I'm bad now, you should'a seen me when I was a kid. I was so impatient I had my training stopped for a year so I could learn to actually concentrate.
Oh, all sorts! Captain basically means you have the ability to lead. A Guardsman that shows they can command in a stressful situation and think things through'll get promoted!
>Abris talks animatedly, gesturing a lot with his free hand. Clearly he'd done his research, or had absorbed all of this stuff at orientation like a sponge.
You start off as a Seargeant though. That's the inbetween. You basically work as the second in command of a squad, which is about four or five guards. You patrol together, solve disputes, keep the peace, the stuff you usually do in a squad but now you have to keep an eye on the others. You do good at that, and you get to be Captain of your own squad.
After that...Well, I'm not gonna get ahead of myself.
>They'd been walking alongside the river for a while now, the rowing boats going back and forth from up town back to the port with their cargo. It wasn't packed, but there were certainly other people wandering by, a few other couples too. Though, Abris could do with a rest for now. He indicates a small bench nearby.
Let's take a quick rest, and then we can grab something to eat!
>>41290646 >That certainly was a lot of responsibility. Certainly more then she'd want to have, which made it admirable that he had such ambitions for himself. She hoped he'd make it to those goals.
One step at a time, good way to think it.
>At the offer to taker a rest on a bench she nods.
Yes, let's.
>She needed needed a seat anyway, walking in these heels was killing her. >The scenery was nice though, the water, the people going about their day.
...Peaceful. Strange to think I never came here myself before. Too busy with my own goals...
>As the two take their seat on the bench, Abris attempts to subtly cosy up to Lei, and by subtly, I mean he was very obviously moving closer to her when he thought she wasn't looking. Furiously blushing all the while, of course.
Y-yeah. It's real nice back here. I usually go by the river when I wake up for my morning run. There's not usually any people, but it beats having to go through the main town and then have to walk all the way back when I go to work. I'm not really sitting down to appreciate the sight of it...
>Abris almost audibly gulps as he desperately attempts a smooth segue into a compliment.
And...And right now, I'm really appreciating the sight of you more.
>Oh by the Flame, he felt like he was going to throw up. That wasn't a cool line at all. He'd spent hours trying to think of something cool and had practiced on his posters, but his posters couldn't use their vulture connections to have him killed. Or worse, make him dateless for eternity. It was easier to be cool with the criminals!
>>41291644 >"I'm really appreciating the sight of you more." >Oh. That line. It was so... cheesy. And adorable!
...pft! Hahahahaha~
>It was too cute and Lei couldn't help that let out a laugh at it. That was probably one of the sweetest comments she got about her looks in a lone time.
That... was sweet Abris, very sweet~
>smiling at him she takes her turn to compliment him... aaaaand maybe to see him blush a bit as well.
>Well...Laughter was good, right? I mean, she wasn't laughing at him. Hopefully. The sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach at trying to be smooth had subsided, and thanks to the words of kindness from his date, he was as red as the Terminian Suns' uniform.
>He stammers and can't actually find anything to say after flopping his mouth open and closed like a fish for a few seconds and so instead choose to laugh and wring his hands around, a touch embarrassed.
I bet you say that to everyone that asks you out for dinner some time after having defeated the figurehead of a criminal organisation...
>Ridiculously specific, but when Abris was nervous, he lost what little control he had over what he said.
>Abris practically leaps from his seat, vacating Lei's hand as he seems to mentally map out where they should be going. He's about to dash off when he pauses, turning back to Lei on the bench and re-offering his hand to her, a wide smile on his face
Almost forgot the most important part of a meal! Somebody to share it with!
>He chuckles slightly before offering a slightly apologetic look.
Don't worry, I planned the meal better than I planned everything else.
>>41296101 >Rising from her seat in a much calmer matter then Abris, the sniper takes his hand once again as he collects himself for the next part of their date.
Going good so far, having good fun.
>Admittedly she didn't go out much, but this was a nice change in pace.
>Once again, Abris breathes a non-verbal sigh of relief. At least she was enjoying it. Even if he'd completely fumbled on a date activity. But now. Now was his speciality.
See, that's just good. Good's fine, but what you should ALWAYS go for is excellent! And I know excellent food, comes from scoping out the competition.
>'Scoping out the competition' was a fancy was of his father saying that he didn't want to cook tonight and that they should go out and eat.
>He's practically dragging Lei through the streets, a confident smile back in it's rightful place.
Because when it comes to food, I'll not settle for anything less than great! Or else my pride as a chef would be damaged.
>>41296676 >Well that was a good-- great way to look at things. Always do your best. >So he was a chef as well as being in the Guard? Well it seems Abris has a man of many talents. She'll have to try his food one day if she got the chance.
A chef? What do you cook?
>Maybe it was because she was a little hungry but she wanted to have an idea of what Abris liked to cook.
>Another slight embellishment of the truth. Maybe his true calling was politics instead of being a hero of justice. Abris falters slightly as they walk, rubbing the back of his head nervously
Not much yet. A couple of dishes. See, my family owns a restaurant, and I help out in the kitchen. My dad runs the place, and my older sister does the serving. So, right now I'm learning to cook stuff good enough so that I can actually have a proper place as a chef there!
...Though, it's only part time. Making delicious food is all well and good, but protecting them from evil is more important than protecting them from hunger. Though my dad says otherwise...Ah, here we go!
>He's managed to drag Lei to what looks like a small, out of the way place in one of the poorer districts of Kingsmeet. Nestled into a street corner with a deceptively small storefront. The sign on the top reads 'Strongest Style of Food' and is decorated with slightly dull white paint and illustrations of what appear to be martial artists fighting it out. Abris turns back to Lei and looks slightly embarrassed.
Now...The guy who runs this place is a little...strange. But he means well, and the food's delicious, so...don't freak out?
>He smiles nervously. Lei seemed a lot more badass than him, so some weirdo probably wouldn't phase her, but on the other hand, he was pretty intense...
>>41298983 >Ah, so it was the family business and he was still learning. Well if he had as much passion for cooking as he did for being a guard, he'd be just fine. >Looking at the sign and looks back to Abris as he explains. >strange huh?
Won't, promise. Use to strange where I work.
>Between Drummond, Janet, Olivia, and Maribelle, there was no shortage of strangeness within the guild hall. >Maybe she'll share some of her stories with him over the meal.
>The restaurant was small, but well kept. Tables of varying size about the room, a small staircase in the back leading to an upper floor, which had a few extra rooms. The insides were pleasantly decorated, well finished wood with a deep red designed to be easy on the eyes. The same figures of martial artists are drawn on the inside of the walls, too, though this time, there's other martial arts paraphernalia. A few black and white photographs of people in loose fitting clothing of all shapes, sizes and gender looking triumphant, hands held aloft by...what appeared to be the same blond man wearing sunglasses. Most prominently though was the golden belt, proudly displayed in the middle column.
>Abris seemed completely used to this, instead standing near the 'please wait here to be seated' sign and pressing the bell to alert his presence. He squeezes Lei's hand slightly, though whether that was for her benefit or his was another question entirely.
>There's a thumping and crashing noise coming from the kitchen, attracting the attention of the few other patients that were in the restaurant. The sound of foot on floor gets louder and louder and louder until...