Soa had never felt so self concious and nervous before in her life. As she sat there letting her sister help her into her jewelry she couldn't help wondering if she would be horribly overdressed.

Lions didn't really use "date", but it was definitely the equivalent of one. It was the first outing of the courting process, now that they were officially on the same page. She still didn't really understand what would have possibly drawn him to her, but when it came to getting to know him Soa was all for learning everything there was to know about Peribsen. Love was still, as far as wisdom and experience went, a distant subject for her, but she was confident that she wanted to learn.

She just hoped he wouldn't mind if she was so new to all of it.

"What are we supposed to talk about? I mean, it's not exactly a tour of the temple, what if I say something and he takes it the wrong way?" She didn't think she could take it if they had another misunderstanding like the last one.
*
“I’m sure it will go fine. After al you’re both going to be on the look out for misunderstandings now.” Tesni teased lightly as she used her paw to smooth down an errant lock of Soa’s head fur. She Let her paw rest against her sisters cheek a moment and smiled at her. She was so pleased for her dear sister and it a way almost felt proud. That someone had finially recognised Soa as the good lioness Tesni knew her to be was great. Besides, in her heart of hearts, it gave Tesni hope for a romance of her own. Like Soa she’d always been so dedicated to her pride she’d thought of but never really considered a mate.
But here Soa was, looking her best and just a bit nervous, and Peribsen would be here any moment.
“Just… talk about what you think about things. Get to know each other better. And remember to have fun.”
*
"R-Right," Soa replied sheepishly smiling, trying to calm down. Tesni was right, if he didn't know by now that she wasn't that great on the romantic uptake, well, then he probably wouldn't have forgiven her, and she was definitely going to try to make sure that this worked. She didn't want to hurt him again.

When she felt Tesni's paw against her face their eyes met, and they shared a sisterly moment. It had always been Soa, though younger, that wanted to look out for Tesni, though older. She'd done her best to be there as a sister, and then when things had changed she'd been at a loss for what to do with herself, but still in her heart thought of herself as Tesni's guardian. Now here they were sitting together and Tesni was the one taking care of her instead.

Honestly, as amazing as Tesni was, Soa was stupified that it hadn't been she that Peribsen had fallen for.

"Okay... are... are you sure that I look okay, Tesni? I've never worn so much of these before, honestly I think they suit you and mother far better." She admitted nervously.
*
“You look lovely Soa. I’d never be able to wear that so well, its brings out your eyes and is much more flattering with your colouring.” She praised, frankly saying how it suited her, because Tesni felt her sister needed it. Soa could do with seeing herself through another’s eyes. Tesni, older and the heiress though she was, had always looked up to her sister. And Peribsen sure saw something special too.
Speaking of…
“Soa?” He waited outside the door, nervously shifting his weight from paw to paw. Unlike some prides, Tuait’tekem males like their mates wore finery. As an ex-slave with no connections and who’d returned long after the war, he didn’t have anything that had been passed down his family or found when the ruins were reclaimed. He had however still put on his best and even gone so far as to fetch jasmine.
*
Soa trusted her sister unfailingly, so if she said they suited her then they suited her, though she couldn't help the remaining urge to see for herself, out of curiosity. When Peribsen's voice sounded outside of the door way of the den she sort of tensed, but then relaxed. She really needed to calm down, just... think of it like any other day spent together, really.

Except it was evening, and they were going to be alone-alone, and she was actually being courted now.

A quick glance to her sister to confirm if she was ready, and she stood to greet him.

"You can enter," She called softly, on all fours by that time.
*
It was kind of cute how his eyes widened just a fraction at the sight of Soa, Tesni thought. Peribsen had entered with a tangle of sweet smelling jasmine carried in his mouth and he put it down gently so as not to ruin the delicate flowers. The effort to not destroy them, not to bound along or accidentally sit on them or something – he could be rather goofy – wopuld be worth it though if Soa liked them. The second gift of his courtship.
“Good evening Princess Tesni, Soa.” He greeted, trying out a warm smile.
“Good evening Peribsen. Please excuse me, I was just stopping by.” Tesni grinned and made for the door after a barely noticeably press of her paw next to one of Soa’s to say good bye and good luck.
Which left the pair alone.
…eek.
*
Soa was grateful for that last parting touch, it regrounded her in the moment, because she had just zoned when she noticed Peribsen's smile, and he had brought her flowers! The scent was sweet, and for a moment she wondered if she should put one over her ear as she'd seen her mother (or father, for her) do so many times when Muroki brought them back to the den.

"Goodnight, sister..." Soa had just enough time to get out, a thank you in her tone for the help getting ready. When her eyes moved back to Peribsen she was aware of their lack of audience as well, but she seemed either amused or unphased, smiling back. "Are those for me?" She prompted gently, curious and hoping to also ease the situation a bit, they were both nervous, she guessed, but this really WASN'T that different from a normal day out between the two. They'd been alone that day in the temple right?

*
“Yes, they are. Would you like to leave them here or…?” He asked, finding that he’d be happy either way, so long as Soa was pleased. Ben had both prompted him earlier and teased him about the flowers when he’d been trying to think of what he could bring her as a gift. He’d already given her the best gift he could think of, the amulets he’d made for her.
*
Said gift was currently around her neck, she'd worn it every day since things were cleared up between them, and some days before (She'd been unsure how appropriate it would be at first, since they weren't speaking at that time.). She seemed relieved that he asked what she'd like to do since she thought, maybe he'd like it if she did wear his second gift as well. "Well... these..." Quietly she moved closer, carefully picking up all but one of the flowers so that she could set them on one of the small shelfs in the room, looking back to him then. "I think should stay, so they won't be crushed or lost. Would you mind helping me put this last one on...?"
*
Help with…
Oh. He’d not thought that he’d need to help her with the flowers. Again he had to refer to Ben, the only female he’d ever lived with since the slave Maa’s passing. She was not one for flowers. But then flowers were not like a pendant that you could paw, hoop over your head as best you could and shake down to your neck. Or maybe he was the only one who ended up doing a silly dance to try to get into his things?
He’d put on her first gift though and he stepped forward to help again with the more fiddly flower. Again he stepped forward and again he’d have to try not to take in her scent, her warmth – otherwise Peribsen knew he wouldn’t want to step back.
*
Soa smiled a bit and moved closer again, stopping when he stepped up as well to avoid bumping into him. She held still, but unlike him she certainly didn't mind taking in his scent or his warmth as he drew closer, fighting the urge to rumble (Well, at least the lion equivalent of a purr.) her delight at his nearness but doing nothing to keep her eyes from closing contently for a moment, he wouldn't notice would he?
*
He lifted the stem delicately with his claws and then gently picked it up with his teeth. It took him a minute – though it likely felt longer – to get the flower to tuck securely into the longer fur. Several blooms clustered along the end of the stem, which helped, but it still took him that minute and the whole time he was aware his face was just above hers and she was so close…
Once he was done there was a noticeable pause, his head still inclined towards her.
*
She was aware of each attempt, including when he finally succeeded in placing the flower over her ear and into her fur. When he didn't immediately draw back Soa's gaze lifted her own to meet his, with a slight bit of angling. Their eyes met and for a few moments she stood there holding her breath. They really hadn't even started their evening yet but the air seemed charged up somehow.

Unfortunately, words failed her at that moment.
*
It was rude, wrong even, without her permission and Peribsen knew that he could have just ruined everything. They’d only just got going and after that rocky misunderstanding. They’d just started courting. This was their first ‘date’. This was their first ‘date’ that hadn’t even really started yet. Being impulsive (if you could call it that when he’d thought about this so much, not that he hadn’t planned this for /now/) and overeager was his main failing...
But he dipped his head down to press his nose to hers anyway.
Who needed words?
*
If it was rude she clearly didn't mind much. Soa both was and wasn't prepared for that, and while she couldn't claim that she'd thought about it for any long period of time, she HAD just been thinking about it. So... when his nose touched against hers she blinked a bit in surprise, staring back at him, noses still touching. Soa did about the only thing that came to mind just then and nudged her nose back against his too, ears twitching atop her head in a way that suggested the return gesture was done a little bit shy, but she smiled.
*
Somewhat surprised at himself and at Soa, Peribsen wasn’t complaining. He broke the ‘kiss’ (lion equivalent of anyway) and smiled broadly. It seemed that they were on the same page about this anyway. And besides, wasn’t attraction a natural part of love, along with affection?
(He didn’t catch he’d just thought about ‘love’ rather than ‘liking’ or ‘crush’ yet. For someone whose nature was to forge ahead and was so concerned about trying not to rush ahead, he was kind of already there.)
“Shall we?” He gestured towards the door and waited for her to walk with him.
*
Her response this time was a smile and a nod, stepping up to his side to follow him out. The night was young, even if they had started off unsure. She was certain that by just being themselves they'd have an evening to remember.