Private Dunnstads You Called?

[Hayate]

It was another new experience he had discovered in TerraSphere, one chief amongst those that he had least expected. A Date. Juniper had reached out to message him to meet her at the markets in the morning out of the blue one day. They met maybe one to two times a week to enjoy a meal together, but most mornings he went and did his own thing. So this outing was going to be a bit unusual for their routine. It was different than dating out in the real world, not that he had much in the way of history or records to compare it too. And she was the one guiding and leading him along through the experience.

Checking the map, he'd throw her a party invite and wait debating if lighting a cigarette to smoke before she got there would be worth the lecture he surely would receive if he got caught. It hadn't been too stressful of a day yet, and he was just waking up so for now the urge wasn't too strong. He wondered what it was that she had planned, or if he was expected to have done that. No she would right? She was the one that invited him out.

Party

Hayate has invited you to join their party.

@Juniper

 

[JuniperRename]

There were so many options. She shuffled through the options of clothes that she had for this game, trying to find the one that made her look the most beautiful. Sure, Hayate and she had gone out a few times already, but this was the first time that she asked him on an actual date. Just them, and she wanted to look her best. Finally selecting an outfit that she would be comfortable in for the day, not that she was sure they'd actually be out that long. With that out of the way, she quickened her pace towards the markets, not wanting to get there late. She hadn't been late once on all their meetings and there was no way that she'd start that on the one that she had invited him to.

The party invite came just as she stepped past the first market stand and instinct had her accept his request as soon as it popped up. She looked at her map, noting which direction he was in. Hayate wasn't that far away, maybe a minute, and she had five to spare. When she did finally see him, she smiled inwardly, as her pace slowed. Maybe surprising him could be fun? As she stepped behind him, her hands came up to cover his eyes as she stood on her toes a bit to whisper in his ears. "Guess who~"

@Hayate

 

[Hayate]

Unlike Juniper, sadly he didn't think much of what he was wearing. It was definitely more casual than what he usually wore in the game, since they were in the city. But it wasn't formal by any means and he lacked the armor and weapons he usually wore on his person. Out of the game there was always someone that picked out his clothes for him. Hopefully she thought that he looked ok.

Shaking his head upon seeing her 'sneak' up behind him on his mini map, he let it happen. It would make her happy or so he thought. Tilting his head forward into her soft hands he smiled and closed his eyes, breaking his usual demeanor. Feeling her press against his back and the wisps of her hair tickle his shoulders and neck sent goosebumps down his spine. It. Was. Nice. He couldn't argue that at all, but it still never made sense to him, why she was with him. Maybe one day he would find out, and see through her eyes whatever it was that she saw.

"Who else would it be? Only you would come this close to me, Juni."

He just would go with the flow and let her lead the date and day, she was the one that invited him. Though with the market being the location. Maybe it was a mukbang of sorts? Certainly something that matched her thoughtfulness and his hobbies in game.

@Juniper

 

[JuniperRename]

While Juniper had put thought into what she was wearing, it didn't bug her that Hayate didn't get too dressed up. At the very least he wasn't wearing his armor and didn't have his weapons out. It wasn't like she told him that he needed to dress up, which he didn't. He was comfortable and that was the most important part of whatever you wore. Plus, he did still look good.

Maybe she had forgotten that he could see her on the minimap. She hardly paid attention to it, but of course, others would pay more attention to it, and Hayate would be one of those people. Still, having him play along with it made her smile wider. As he leaned forward into her hands, her chest pressed more into his back. Her hands slipped away from his face, coming to rest on his back as she balanced herself a bit better before settling back onto her feet. She slid around him, facing him as she stood before him.

"Now that's a lie! I know that you've had to have made some friends here that would get close to you too." Maybe they wouldn't get as close to him as she would, but still, they'd get close. "Are you hungry?" She took a moment to look at the stalls of the marketplace behind her, "They have plenty of options~"

@Hayate

 

[Hayate]

Opening his eyes once she slipped around to his front, he gave her a slightly bigger smile. She was one of the few things that could draw the expression from him. Though internally a small part of him pouted a bit at her moving away. It was....nice to have her that close, a huge difference of experience from the arms length he kept most people at. He gave her a shrug at her comment. "Maybe two or three, you will have to meet them someday. You might like Triss, she is sort of like a mom."

It only took him a second of consideration before he nodded. It wasn't so much that he was actually hungry, but mostly that he just enjoyed the feeling of eating, and the fullness it gave. And the amazing tastes of the game was near the level of the a drug to him in levels of addiction. Something she no doubt knew after being around him. "Always. Was there something you wanted to try?" he'd reply hesitantly raising a hand towards her for hers. He wouldn't grab at it and make her hold hands, but it was a date so maybe that's what she would want. And what he wanted himself as well, he'd admit to himself.

@Juniper

 

[JuniperRename]

Triss...that was a name that she had heard mentioned once or twice before now. From what she had heard of the other woman, she did seem like someone she would probably like. Perhaps the next time they met up or went on a quest together Triss could come with. It would be the best way to meet her, right before combat of some sort or just an outing. Hell, questing was how she met Hayate in the first place. "I'd like that! Maybe you could reach out to her and we can all go do something next week or so?" While it was easy to join this game at just about any time, everyone did still have real-life stuff to attend to, so asking to meet sooner than that could be a bit too pushy for a meetup.

Juni gave a wide smile. Even if he wasn't hungry, Hayate always seemed to be able to eat. For a brief moment, she wondered if that was the same in-person too. One day, one day she'd have to find that out. But for now? She would enjoy the time spent with him in-game. "Not necessarily! Though, I have heard that they have really amazing spring rolls at one of the stands here. How's that sound for a start?" It wasn't something that was super filling, but it was always a refreshing snack. There was no hesitation as she reached for Hayate's hand as he had started reaching for hers.

She'd turn, beginning to walk through the stalls as she looked for the one selling the rolls. Even while holding his hand, she leaned into him slightly, not looking at him as she spoke softly, "You can always take my hand, ya know~" Her tone was teasing, but she wasn't lying. There would never come a time when she wouldn't take his hand if he reached for hers. In fact, she would hold his even tighter.

@Hayate

 

[Hayate]

He nodded at Juniper's words and the thought. It would be great if his friends got along. It was always awkward when they didn't and he was forced to pick between them. Being a people pleaser was hard when two people you were trying to please were at odds or hated each other. "Sure, I can do that. Any particular meeting place or agenda?" Would it be a full mission or quest? Or just something social and light for their first meeting. That would be up to the girls, and one less decision he had to make.

Ignorance was bliss, or so they say as Hayate was unaware just how much Juniper liked him. It wasn't some fancy fling or way to pass the time for her as she was already thinking about and making plans to maybe meet in person. He knew a few people that had done that. It always went weirdly as personalities differed in games and online versus outside in real life. Spring rolls were always a good choice, light and refreshing. Easy to change tastes with what you put in them or the sauce you used. And most importantly, even in the outside world you could shovel them into your mouth nonstop. "A good appetizer for sure, do they have shrimp ones?"

He started looking around for the stall once she mentioned it, hoping it would catch his eye. Sadly it wasn't a stall that he could track by scent. At the very least it was a good sign that she had scoped the place out ahead of time and had made some plans. Shrugging sheepishly at her comment he nodded with another small smile giving her a small squeeze as she grasped his. "Alright." would be all that he said. He was fairly simple after all, matching her pace. If she allowed it and seemed to want it, who was he not to oblige.

@Juniper

 

[JuniperRename]

Hayate, for as long as Juniper had known him, hadn't been one for planning. Instead, he seemed to just do what needed to be done when the time came. She, on the other hand, didn't mind planning things out ahead of time. But if those plans didn't go as smoothly as she tried to get them to go, she didn't mind changing things up at that moment. So for now, "We could meet in one of the central cities or towns. Some place easy and quick to get to for everyone?" She shrugged her shoulders, "Unless they had another idea in mind."

Her eyes continued scanning the shops as they walked along. Sure she had been here before already and had a general idea of where the stand was, but that didn't mean that she knew exactly where it was. Plus, she was a little distracted by having Hayate with her. She was always a little jumpier around someone that she was into. It was easier to forget things and just focus on the guy she was with. Plus, trying to control herself so she wasn't blushing was a little difficult as well.

"From what I remember, they did! They even had the ones that have pork and shrimp in them." Those were perhaps her favorite, especially so when dipped in the peanut sauce that the stand had. At that moment, she saw the stand up ahead. Her other hand lifted to point at it as her pace quickened, "There it is!"

@Hayate