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 Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 9:52 am
 Maple Sugar settled in at a cozy corner table at the pub. Not the most romantic setting for a first date, but it was pretty much the only option. If it went well she'd plan a picnic for their next date. Crossing one hoof over the other, she watched the door anxiously. A mutual friend had set her up on a blind date (again), and she hoped this one went better than the last. The last guy had been...okay, but he didn't stop talking about himself the entire time.
Her friend had promised her that this time it'd be different.
Now, normally Maple Sugar was the kind of girl to let the guy take the lead on things, but after several months of no interesting prospects, she'd been forced to take a more active role in her own love life.
She knew it was him the instant he walked in. She was struck immediately by those golden eyes and skin like a wine-dark sea. "Wow," she breathed, and gave a little wave.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 11:00 pm
 Midnight Tide had readily accepted when asked if he would be alright with going out on a blind date, thinking even if he didn't hit it off with her it was a good way to socialize. On the plus side, he liked this pub. They had simple, but filling and tasty food, something he would never object to. His only worry was that she might not like him at all considering their mutual friend had made a point of lamenting how the last one hadn't gone so great. Standing just outside the place, MT gave his eternally messy hair one last finger-comb before he stepped inside. He didn't have to look long before he spotted Maple Sugar at a corner table waving at him. Noticing her expression, he subconsciously preened a little, his antennae perking up while he lightly shook out his feathers. Returning her wave with a smile, he moved across the semi-crowded pub and stopped next to her, bending down and offering his hand. "Maple Sugar, I presume? Thank you for the compliment."
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 8:20 am
Maple Sugar blushed; she hadn't meant for him to hear that. But she couldn't linger on that thought too long, because here he was so close already. "Mm-hmm," she agreed with a little giggle and a nod, and took his offered hand.
She'd had this whole date planned out: ideas to keep the conversation light and moving...she'd practiced her laugh for like, most of the day yesterday...contingency plans for if the date went really well and he invited her up to his apartment...
But it always happened this way--the second a hot guy was anywhere close to her, all that went out the window and she got all stupid and giggly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Maple Sugar finally managed. "Chevalier had nothing but wonderful things to say about you."
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2020 3:23 pm
The blush and her giggling were exceedingly charming and it took more than a little willpower to keep from unnecessarily preening some more. He hadn't actually heard her say anything, but the look in her eyes had been loud and clear. Instead, he gave her a quirky little lopsided smile, kissed the back of her hand, and then slid into his seat across from her. "The pleasure's all mine. And let me just assure you that all wonderful things said about me are completely and totally true," he said solemn-voiced, but his playful expression made it obvious he was joking. "So, shall we order some drinks and get to know each other over appetizers?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 9:05 pm
She found herself absolutely charmed by him. A real laugh pealed out, not an anxious titter as before, and Maple Sugar was more at ease--both with herself and with him. One little joke had calmed all her New Date Jitters and broken the ice, as it were.
"That sounds great," she agreed. "What's your favorite appetizer? Mine are the stuffed mushrooms. We could get both and share!" she suggested.
As she turned it over to him for a response, Maple Sugar couldn't help but stare--again. The Fauns who were native to this Tree were cute, sure, but damn there was just something about those from her own homeland that just couldn't be matched.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:40 pm
Clearly, making a little joke about it had been the right move and some of his own nervous tension, which he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying around, eased. The giggling was cute, sure, but the sound of her full-throated laughter was by far superior and his immediate goal became making her laugh like that again at least once more while they were out. Positively beaming at her while she talked, his antennae perked and poked up out of his messy hair at the mention of food and her brilliant suggestion. "I do like the stuffed mushrooms, and I think that's an excellent idea. Have you ever had their cranberry cheese bites? They're like these little bread bowls that are stuffed with soft, white cheese, cranberries, and walnuts. They're great on their own, but a tall glass of the spiced cider make them amazing." At that point, he noticed her staring and stopped himself before he really got rolling, looking a bit sheepish. "Sorry if I'm talking too much. Please, just tell me to shut up if I get out of hand."
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:29 am
Now, it wasn't something she necessarily divulged on a first date, but Maple Sugar loved to eat. And so it took her by surprised when Midnight Tide suggested something on the menu that she'd never tried, despite it sounding quite tasty. She tipped her head as he described it, imagining what it would taste like, and how it would feel as she ate it. Paired with the garlicky, savory mushrooms, and a spicy cider?
"That sounds amazing," she gushed. "Let's do both. All of it." She giggled excitedly, then tapped on the table rhythmically and bounced a little in her seat.
---
After giving their order to the kitchens, Maple Sugar turned back toward Midnight Tide. "So, Chevalier tells me you're on the night watch. How d'you stay awake all night?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 1:54 pm
Caught up as he was in Maple Sugar's enthusiasm for food, the question took Midnight Tide by surprise and he struggled for a moment to tear his mind off of the appetizers they'd just ordered. "Oh, well, I sleep in for the better part of the day," MT answered without much thought, slowly realizing how lame it sounded while the words were still coming out of his mouth. "Plus, I work the Treetop so it's pretty easy to stay awake 'cause I spend most of my shift in the air," he quickly added; that part was great, but basically everything else about his routine was pretty boring. Figuring that that was enough about him, he steered the conversation back on her. "And you deliver letters and packages, yes? What was the title Chev used again..Courier! Do you only transport within the Tree, or do you make trips outside?" he asked with genuine curiosity, big gold eyes on Maple's face.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:04 pm
Maple Sugar propped her chin up with her hand, elbow on the table, and tipped her head as she listened. "I live in the Treetop!" she exclaimed when he mentioned it. "I'm surprised our paths haven't crossed until now." A pause. "Although I guess it makes sense considering that I'm usually sleeping at night."
She took a sip of her cider, then added, "But I'll certainly sleep better knowing you're around to keep me safe." She giggled nervously and then took another drink, a pink blush rising into her cheeks. Yikes, she just couldn't control her mouth around him.
Blessedly, Midnight Tide had changed the subject. She straightened up and nodded. "Mhm, I'm a courier! My route's down below, in like the Middle Trunk kind of area. Right now I only deliver within the Tree, but there's been talk of some of us Pegasi doing routes to some of the villages outside." She shrugged a little before continuing. "To be honest, I'm not sure how interested I am in it. It sounds exciting, for sure, but I'm more of a homebody, y'know? I couldn't stand to be away from the Tree for long."
His attention fixed on her, those warm golden eyes, made it difficult for Maple Sugar to find another question to keep the conversation going. She found herself gazing a little bit. "D'you know our eyes are almost the same color?" The question fell from her lips before she could stop it. Holy heck, he must think she was completely nuts.
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2022 3:27 pm
[transcribed from Discord back to Gaia] Elros Namasi Midnight Tide made all the appropriate noises and comments: "Well, you must see so many faces, anyway... Aww, just doing my job..." etc., etc. But, for the most part, he just let her talk and listened, leaning forward some as she spoke and unconsciously copying her chin-in-hand pose. Truth be told, he thought her very worldly considering, by his own admission, that he didn't get out much even within the Tree. For example, the only familiar faces he really had outside of work were Bronson and Mojo here at The Leaky Acorn. He was just thinking to himself about how he could bend his schedule to be a little more active during daylight hours when Maple Sugar caught him totally off guard with her last question. "Are they?" he asked, having genuinely never taken the time to study his reflection. "Well, if mine are half as pretty as yours, I understand why you keep staring." Oof, maybe that was a little much. 100% fact, tho, he thought, idly looking into her big gold eyes when one of her numerous glances came his way again. Maple Sugar was saved from having to try to respond by a voice announcing their appetizer and drink orders followed by a flurry of activity that ended with a couple of tankards and two leaf-lined baskets, one filled with gently sizzling stuffed mushrooms and the other with cranberry cheese bites, appearing on their table as if by magic. With equal speed and efficiency, the waitstaff tactfully withdrew and left the would-be couple to their date and food. Menelie Maple Sugar made a squeaky little noise and covered her mouth with her hand, blushing deeply. She couldn't believe she'd gotten caught staring. Then again, it was easy to get lost in those eyes... "I--" she started, stammering, before the waitstaff had blessedly come with their food.
She cleared her throat and tried to seize the opportunity to compose herself. "This looks amazing," she gushed. She helped herself to one of the cranberry cheese things and her facial expression turned to one of foodie bliss. "This was a great choice," she said, holding her hand in front of her mouth so as to avoid any...rude sights. "I can't believe I've never thought to order this before!"
~
As they ate and drank together, Midnight Tide would find that Maple Sugar could be quite the chatterbox. She had seemingly endless questions for him, and whenever he asked her something, she always had something to say. It seemed as though she never contemplated her response before speaking; she just said whatever came to mind. She certainly didn't come across as thoughtful or deep, but, conversely, she did come across as earnest and authentic. Maple Sugar was, at all times, her genuine self.~~ Maple Sugar and Midnight Tide whiled away a pleasant evening with one another. They enjoyed their food, sharing it with each other at a few points, and chatted in between, getting to know one another better. After their plates had been cleared away, they sat and continued their conversation over one last brew before finally calling it a night. Midnight Tide walked Maple Sugar home, and after a brief awkward exchange (did they kiss? shake hands? eventually Maple Sugar settled on a quick hug) they agreed to do dinner again in a fortnight.
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