OOC: Edited from live play with Kazuki for the Lunar New Year SL.

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The reaper would have liked to say she knew that she looked good, but she wasn't sure. She'd put all her trust in Dawn, from her outfit to her make-up. To be honest, her directions were pretty vague. I have a date on Saturday...will you make me pretty? But not like, too much? She trusted Dawn more than she trusted Hex, who would probably dress her up like a clown just to keep the poor guy from coming back! Her hair was brushed out in loose, clean waves. Her make up looked natural, though the blinking of her already thick and long lashes was intensified after being painted with mascara. She didn't seem to like that part too much. She wore an off-white sweater and a pair of jeans tucked into black boots. Her fingers moved through her hair, nervously as she tried to refrain from touching her eye. Dawn had advised against rubbing after she'd ruined the first go at the make-up.




Kaz... well, he was dressed appropriately for a date. Okay, so he might've gone a little bit over the top in his excitement. But.. was there really such a thing as over the top for the strange tiny Asian man? Probably not. His shoulder length hair was a bit of a poof, pulled back at the side with bobby pins to keep it out of his face like it usually tried to do if he didn't. He... he was wearing eye-liner, though today for the genderfluid vampire, it was guy-liner. And just to off-set all that.. he had on a pair non-prescription nerd glasses. The look gave him an almost feminine chic appearance that came along with the crisp white button up shirt and black suit jacket he was wearing. Though just to make it a bit more casual, he wore a pair of black loose jeans to go along with it. He was taking her to a Lunar New Year, not a super fancy restaurant after all. He was still probably over dressed.


It was early for the nocturnal creature, but that didn't stop him as he made his way up the stairs gnawing on his bottom lip and fidgeting with a single rose he had brought (and picked off all the thorns). The color didn't matter, his date was blind, but he made sure to get one that smelled really good. He made it up to the apartment door he remembered, staring at that number until he took a steadying breath and reached to rap lightly on the door with his knuckles.




Zak had adjusted to the house, it seemed. Also, he was strangely an honor student when it came to potty training. He'd fallen in love with his new owner, following her heels everywhere she went. Girl didn't even need a leash at this point. So, when Speck was anxiously sitting on the couch, the puppy sat next to her. "You sure I look alright?" she asked the blind pup, who tilted his head and then let out a little bit of a yelping bark at her. "Oh, you're just being nice..." she muttered softly, and reached across to rake her fingers through his fur.



The moments leading up to his knuckles striking the door were agonizing. What if he thinks I look stupid? What if he doesn't show? Am I wearing pants... Okay, yeah I'm wearing pants. What if there?s a hole in them that Dawn missed? Do I smell bad? Should he have been here already? The girl was chewing at her fingernails, leaned forward on the couch with an uncomfortable little groan. Then that noise rang on and she lit up. "He's here!" she chimed quietly. Then realization struck. "Oh god, he's here..." A little more grave as she moved to stand up. When she did, that puppy followed, slowly jumping off the couch and falling straight on his clumsy face. Zak followed after Speck as she headed toward the door. Reaching for the knob, she pulled it open. "Kaz..?" she called out.




He had shoved his free hand into his pocket to keep him from chewing at his nails like a nervous school boy, nails he'd already filed down to nearly nubs early in his nervous excitement earlier. Instead, his bottom lip was getting abused by gnawing teeth as he heard the soft padding on the other side of the door. If he'd had a beating heart, it would probably be thrumming like a war drum. It wasn't, though. Instead, he was left with the sound of chewing on his lip and her footsteps. Those dark chestnut irises lifted to the woman who had a few inches on him as he gave an almost sheepish smile, finally giving his bottom lip a break. "Yeah, Speck. It's me," he giggled, only to seemingly stare at her for a long moment. "You look amazing, you really do. And, hn, I gotyouaroseandIhopeyoulikeit," those words slurred through one unnecessary breath as he held the flower out. Possibly a little too fast in his nervousness, and a little too forward, so.. he probably almost shoved it up her nose.




By the time he confirmed that it was him, she already recognized him. Her energy had already gotten a feel for his form, but when his words confirmed it, she smiled brightly. She opened her mouth to respond before a rose was smacking her nose. She crinkled it and sniffed inward, her fingers moving up to claim it. "You look amazing, too.." A sheepish little laugh, before she twisted span the rose a bit in her fingers. "Thank you, I--chu!--love it." From a few feet back, Zak whined lightly and she stiffened up some. "Oh! Would you like to come in? I... I got something for you."




Well, at least it was her nose and not her mouth. Hey, I got you a rose! CHOKE ON IT! That would've been terrible. "Sorry, sorry," his eyes widened a bit as he let go when she got a hold on it. Only for his sheepish toothy grin to return as he giggled at her response. "Oh, thank you, I'm glad you like it," in a cheery teasing tone, patting his chest a bit as he looked down to his attire. Looking back up, his smile softened as she let out that sneeze. "I'm glad, sorry for cramming it up your nose," he muttered, only to tilt his head like a puppy himself at her request. "I'd love to come in.. you didn't have to get anything for me," he chuckled, unaccustomed to the idea of her getting him something before the date. He'd been trapped in Purgatory for a long time, okay? He had some adjusting to do. "But hai, I would," bowing his head slightly.

When they made it to the festival, drawn in by the sounds of music and the crowd of people, he'd considered the shop. But the point of the date was the festival, not looking at shinies that.. she couldn't really enjoy. He made a mental note and promise to come back later to admire and possibly splurge a bit on what they had to offer. But there was a particular cardinal tower that he eyed along the way that had him grinning. Because what girl didn't like... "Hey, there's cake over there. Want some?" He raised a brow to the Speck-tacular lady he had on his arm.




Damn it, Kaz! Say these puns out loud so that she can laugh at them! The reaper stayed on his arm, maybe a bit anxious that she might lose him in the masses if she let go. That would be a fun first date. Her crying in the crowd. I can't find my date... --What does he look like?-- I don't know...he's small..! When he mentioned cake, she scrunched up her face. "I love food, the answer to food will never be no," she told him with a funny little smile.




He will! .. When he's not still worried about insulting her. He kept as much of a firm hold on her as she did him, because losing his date on the first go was a whole bunch of mess he wasn't looking forward to. What does she look like? -- She's cute.. she's got a great ass.. she's blind.. Probably crying and confused.. Yeah, that would get him great brownie points, right? He chuckled when she told him about her love of food, nodding. "I'll keep that in mind. Maybe I should've brought you sweet treats instead of a flower," he teased, giving her arm a tiny playful nudge. He lead her over to where they were handing out cake, passing her a piece before he started, "you want some.." Only to consider what she just told him and shook his head with a giggle. "..here's some almond macaroons, too. They look amazing," he teased. There, he got his pun in too!




As they walked toward the cake, she giggled at his little hindsight on bringing Speck a flower, she shook her head. "You did bring me a sweet treat," said the cheesiest girl in the room before she leaned over and nibbled on his shoulder. Which..was really just his clothes. Funny, the reaper is the one biting the vampire! With her arm still looped in his, she awkwardly held the cake and fork, seemingly unwilling to let go of him. "Are you not having any?" though she wasn't the type of girl to only eat if her date ate, it seemed because she shoved a big bite in her mouth.




Her cheesy statement would've possibly made him blush if he was able, he instead just giggled like a damn school girl. At least until she nibbled on him, causing him to turn his head and blink at her in amusement... and irony.. "Hn, you know, what I am right? That's just inviting a vampire to nibble back," he laughed under his breath, but didn't follow through with that. As she stayed latched onto him, he looked at the cake with a narrow squint. "Hn? Oh! Yeah, I'm gonna have some. Just... preparing.." Squint. What the hell was he doing? Who prepares to eat cake? Kaz, that's who.




The reaper squinted at him, not quite landing on his eyes as she did so. "A vampi--" Taking the question a bit too literally when he asked it. Then he followed up, and she shut her eyes with a little giggle. "You can nibble if you want to," though if he actually bit her she'd probably cry. She didn't really question his preparation. There were times when Speck knew she was going to eat a ton, on the off chance she was wearing clothes, she'd take them off for looser ones!




Her literal take of his question made him smirk a bit, only to laugh when she told him he could nibble on her. He was preparing, squinting at the cake as he could smell that it was vanilla bean. Imagining and remembering what it tasted like before he took his own piece. He looked between the cake and her shoulder, considering it for a moment before he giggled. Tilting his head a bit, he did just as she offered! But he didn't bite her, just.. nibbled a little bit. She may feel the sharp points of his teeth, but he was gentle as could be as he gnawed on her shoulder playfully though only managed the thick fabric of her sweater. There was a moment where he made little growling noises that sounded more like a vampire than one of the Blood King's right hands known as The Reaper. Lifting his head from her shoulder after a moment, he made soft lip smacking sounds. "Tastes like... sweater," with a firm nod before taking a bite of his dirt-cake, but with his own preparations, he could swear he tasted the vanilla. Whether he did or was full of shit like most of the vamp crew thought he was.. was a mystery.




Thank goodness for Reaper metabolism, otherwise there's no way Speck wouldn't be fat. Though her butt was slightly bigger than Martyr and Phoenix's. So maybe it was all just going there! What she lost in eyesight, she made up for in bootyliciousness, apparently... She'd shoveled yet another bite into her mouth just as he nibbled on her. She clamped her mouth shut, giggling oddly and trying not to choke on her piece of cake. Don't kill her on the first date, Kaz! You haven't even gotten to the fun stuff! She swallowed hard, and tilted her head. "Sweater...? Dang, I was hoping I'd taste like tacos..."




Kaz was the black sheep of Daemien's crew. He was a clean eater and didn't overfill himself into being a bloated cow like his master. Though.. when he was still alive and the Ryuga Clan's cook made food.. you'd bet he wasn't leaving that table until he looked about three months pregnant. Only to have to work his ass off through training sessions to not get pudgy, having the metabolism of a human instead of his wolf-kin. Though her little assumption of tasting like tacos almost had him choking on the cake. Swallowing hard and letting out a miniscule cough, he shook his head with a laugh. "Well.. you.." He started, looking over to her until he promptly clamped his damn mouth shut. No perving on the first date, Kaz! "Your sweater tasted lovely," he muttered, knowing full well he'd be blushing in that moment. But vampire! Score for vamps!




Why score? She didn't have heat vision~ she'd have no clue that he was blushing if he actually blushed! Yeah, she was probably going to make him want to beat his head against a table with her innocence at some point. Oblivious as always, she shoveled more cake into her mouth, and brightened up some. "Thanks, I washed it for the date," she admitted.

He almost regretting asking that, seeing the way it washed away her calm demeanor with a simple question. But his smile was soft, even if she couldn't see it. He did give her hand a squeeze through his laced fingers, though. Reassuring in the contact. "It's okay, I'll show you," giggling softly. "The point of dancing is to have fun. Who cares if you're good or not? So.." Clearing his throat, he turned to face her, reaching out his other hand and brushed his fingers to the hand he wasn't holding to indicate they were there. "Would you like to have some fun with me?" ... That probably could've been worded together. But let's face it, she's not going to catch on!




This was a dangerous game, Kaz. She could knock someone out if she shook those hips too hard. When he offered those words, she softened a bit. There was that same nervousness there, of anyone that was about to try something for the first time. Kaz moved around to face her and his fingertips brushed against her hand. She reached out for it, and feasted upon her bottom lip with wide, doe eyes. "I'd love to~" she whispered.




That soft smile broadened into a toothy (fangy) grin as she reached for his hand, only for his fingers to curl around hers. "Perfect," he giggled, guiding her to an area that gave them enough space to dance safely (without risk of her knocking someone out with those hips! see?). And when he reached that area with her, "spin!" he chimed with a giggle as his hands lifted hers above her head and released one hand so he could twirl her around. But! Was at the ready to catch her if she stumbled




When he lead her away, she didn't seem to be distrusting or unsure in her steps. Hell, she barely used her own 'sight' and just relied on him. When his hands lifted, and his mouth chimed that request there was a small squeak of surprise. Speck was much more graceful than Martyr on her feet, but there was the added issue that Kaz made her a little nervous. So, the spin wasn't perfect--it was clumsy and timid, but she didn't fall. Her eyes fell shut as little giggles left her lips.




His own giggle sprang into the air as he spun her. His hand was out at the ready to catch her though he didn't need to, even if it wasn't a flawless transition. But, really, he hadn't wholly expected it to be. Chuckling when she was spun and catching her waist to stop her spinning, the hand holding hers lowered. "Just listen and move to the beat," he suggested. "It can be downright silly if you want it to be. Just.. move how the music tells you to." He smiled to her, his own feet moving over the asphalt to the beat of the music. The man knew his footwork, but was it really all that surprising considering he was a shinobi?




Instead of moving to the beat, she swayed lightly and memorized his footwork. After a moment or so, she began to mime it. She spent a few seconds off rhythm, clumsy and with a scrunched up face. Then, finally she picked it up, and chuckled softly. "You look good when you dance," she told him, biting her lip and looking away. "I'm having fun with you." Girl had so many damned butterflies.



He watched her movements, both impressed and amused at the way she seemed to pick them up rather easily, considering. Y'know, she couldn't see them. When she caught on, he chuckled. "There we go," he muttered, seeming pleased with how well she was learning. Only then to giggle at her claim. "You only say that because you can't see the ridiculous face I make when I dance," he teased lightly. "Really, you should be glad about that." He'd mostly been watching her feet, the way she was picking up his movements and mimicking them as he moved his own. Looking up then to see she'd looked away, his head tilted like Zak (he still catch onto that name, by the way) and boy if he could blush.. He chewed on his bottom lip a bit, lips contorting into a smile before he let go of the abused lip. "I'm glad, Speck. I'm.. I'm having a lot of fun with you, too." And before he could get awkward on her, he chimed "hold on and lean back!" before his arms looped her waist and he'd be trying to dip her with a firm hold on her.




"I wish I could see it," she muttered and shook her head. "I bet it's hilarious," she said, reaching up to touch his cheek as if that was just as good. Then he returned the sentiments, and suddenly changed the subject with a dip of doom. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as a little squeal left her lips. Her body was stiffly leaning back, and she looked like a barbie doll the way ber back bent but her legs stayed firmly in place. She swore she heard her spine creak a little.




"That's... one word for it," he snickered before he doom dipped her. Though almost wished he'd waited when her hand came to his cheek. Too late! He looked to the way she was bent and shook his head, snickering. "Relax, Speck. I'm not going to drop you," he assured her, but lifted her higher so her back wasn't bent in that awkward way. "I'd never drop you," he muttered, smiling softly.




When he told her to relax, she did some. She was less worried about him dropping her, and more worried about looking stupid. Guess she sailed that ship herself! Speck chewed on her lip, and wrapped her arms tighter around the back of his neck, moving in closer before pulling him into an awkward hug. With the eight difference, well.. He was probably gonna get more sweater than anything. Thought that counts?




And.. it was Kaz. He still didn't think she looked stupid. Okay, maybe a bit silly. But.. well... look at him. Wait.. she can't. Moving on! Right, a hug! His eyes widened slightly at the sudden tightening of her arms and for a moment, he wasn't quite sure what she was doing. With the height difference... yeah. Mostly sweater. But that didn't stop him from letting out a trill of a giggle and wrapping his arms more snuggling around her waist to return it. "Hn," he hummed. Because nothing was 'normal' about this vampire. The Leech liked hugs. "Sweater puppies~" he mumbled, which.. seemed fitting considering she was actually wearing a sweater. Only to realize that he said that out loud and made a weird... awkward.. mouse squeak... sound thing..




Resting her cheek against his head, she took in a deep breath, which... Yeah, only pushed them further against his face. Swaying lightly, she just seemed happy and content with him...up until he mentioned that word. She pulled back then, a frown on her face. Was she offended?... "...I don't think I could handle another puppy..." she muttered. Nope, totally freaking innocent.




He seemed content with his face smooshed into boobs, the swaying as they seemed to be awkwardly slow dancing or something (totally off rhythm, who gave a shit?) He looked up to her when she pulled away with his eyes unnaturally wide for an Asian, in that oh god, she's gonna slap me and call me a perv kinda look. Until her innocence was made apparently and he might've actually sighed in relief. "...Don't worry about it," he chuckled. "Zak is probably more than enough." Why you gotta let go, though? Oh, wait. The music had stopped. "Hn," pouting. "I think they're done.." Glancing over his shoulder as the Lion Dancers moved away from the crowd that had been surrounding them.




With her hands still on his shoulders, she nodded. "More than enough, but... I wouldn't trade him for anything," she chirped happily and closed those warm, happy eyes. Then he mentioned them being done, and she frowned, miming a pout that she couldn't see. "Aw, man.." Like a kid that made a bad trade and kicked a can all the way home. "I...." Those cheeks flooded with blood, "...I liked being that close to you..." she whispered her admission before letting her arms fall away.

Her hands gave his a squeeze as she finally came back to herself after a moment. Laughter spilled from her lips when he told her about his first time. "...yeah, but...how old were you?" she asked, but she loved that he tried to make her feel better. When his hand cupped her cheek, she closed her eyes and leaned against it with a little hum. "Yeah, I'm okay... It just... I guess loud sudden noises don't do well without eyesight..."




His eyes went skyward as he contemplated for a moment. "Hn, I believe I was.. 12? 13?" Snickering. "It was a very long time ago." His thumb brushed her cheek when she leaned into it, a soft smile curling the corners of his lips. "Makes sense.." Though the pre-shot of another firework shooting into the sky had him muttering to her. "It's happening again. You can hold onto me if you want," he offered, taking another step closer as his hand stayed at her cheek.




The whistling of the firework cutting into the sky was heard and identified, but that didn't mean she was ready. His words made her sigh lightly, and then he was stepping in. Her arms wrapped around the back of his neck slowly, and she leaned her head to press her forehead against his. Those eyes squeezed shut as the firework crackled in the sky. She tensed up a bit and then let out a breath when it was over.




When her arms wrapped around his neck, his own arms wrapped around her waist as his hands soothingly rubbed at her back to keep her calm. Their foreheads pressed together, he glanced up to her as she squeezed her eyes shut and smiled softly before closing his own. Her tension had him muttering to her. "That's it, see?" Giggle! "It's not so bad, right?" His voice soft as he glanced up to the raining sprinkle of fireworks that was the remnants of the explosion. "It gets easier as they keep going."




Speck calmed down and smiled softly at the sound of his almost girlish little titters. She bumped her nose against his and smiled softly, "Yeah, that's...not so bad." Speck would have probably enjoyed them more if she could actually see them. Her hands tightened around the back of his neck and she pulled her body a bit closer to his, as far as it could get really with the way her head was craned down to keep their foreheads together.




His own smile spread as he nodded subtly, though not to disturb their foreheads pressed together. The nose bump made his own wiggle a bit like a damn rabbit before he chuckled, and he'd likely be blushing at their closeness if.. y'know.. he could. But alas, he was in luck. His arms wound more tightly around her as she'd stepped closer, his chin tipping a bit so she wouldn't have to crane her neck so much. The screeching of another firework sounded, moments before the boom and crackle that followed as he chuckled. And.. did his best not to say something SUPER cheesy in that moment. Probably something retarded about sparks and shit.




Aw come on! She likes cheesy! Besides, sparks were totally flying! She tensed up a bit when the whistling began, bracing herself for the crackle. Yeah, she didn't like the fireworks so much, it seemed. But, hey, at least she could be close to him. "I miss the dancing," she told him, snickering lightly but was taking them a lot better the more they came.




Okay, so they were! But still. Limits, man. Limitsss. Maybe. He'd been about to offer that they leave and find something different to do instead of the unsettling fireworks when she piped up about dancing. Chuckling, he broke into a toothy grin as he glanced up to her. "Then... why don't we dance? Who says we need music?" He snickered, only for his grin to broaden. "Besides, if someone gives us a funny look for it.. you can't see it, right?" He teased, giving her waist a light squeeze with his arms.




No limits! Limits were for squares! ...and poor people! Speck scrunched up her face lightly, and puffed out her cheeks. She'd just been about to agree to the dancing, when all of the sudden, she tensed up. Realization struck her, and she looked as if her carriage was going to turn back into a pumpkin at any point in time. "I should... I should go..." she muttered softly.




He'd chuckled at those puffed cheeks, only to trail off with a look of confusion when she stiffened up. His head tilted like a puppy as his brows furrowed. "Are you.. oh." Blinking, he lowered his gaze to the watch on his wrist. "..Have I kept you out too long?" His tone worried like he'd done goofed.




"No, not at all!" Speck said with a shake of her head. "I don't want it to end, but..." she looked a bit guilty. "With these fireworks... Zak is alone, and I'm worried if he can hear them..." They scared the hell out of Speck, okay? She didn't want to imagine the stress they were putting on that little mutt. "Oh, but... Do you wanna come with?" she asked. "You still have that wine, and... you probably want to enjoy the festival...that was stupid.. I'm sorry.." the nervous girl mumbled.




He sighed in relief when she assured him, only for his own eyes to widen when she explained. "Oh crap.. He's probably freaking.." He agreed. Poor blind pup! Yeah, Kaz was a big -not big- softie. He opened his mouth to answer her question before she rambled a bit and apologized. "Don't. I'd love to come with. I'm kind of curious to see how Zak is doing, too," he admitted. "Besides," giving her waist a squeeze. "I did enjoy the festival thanks to you." Glancing up to the fireworks, he scrunched his nose. "..My ears could probably use the break from the blasts.. Let's get outta here, hn?" Trying to reassure the nervous girl by nudging her cheek with his nose in a weird little vampy nuzzle.




Speck was relieved as well, when he not only understood, but actually wanted to check on the pup. "Well, then let's take our date back to my place," she said, giving him a little reaper nuzzle in return to the vampy one. It... It sounded way more sexual than it was. Sorry, Kaz. Gonna have to get used to that one. Her hand slid down his arm to hold it, and she took in a deep breath. Her energy seemed to blow up for a moment, expanding all over the festival before she turned into a direction. "It's this way," she said, leading the way.




He might've blinked and stared at her for her wording.. but.. so far, every seemingly non-innocent comment she'd made that day and before had in fact been innocent. So.. he didn't expect anything. Shaking off that wait, what? expression, he chuckled and nodded. "Sounds good, Speck." Her new position on his arm, he hooked his elbow and shivered slightly to that energy tickling his spine before giving a firm nod. "Hai," following her like a puppy himself.



As she walked with him, leading her date back toward his apartment. For a blind girl, she seemed to get around well on her own?but he?d already figured that out. A little giggle left her lips, and she nodded her head, ?Hi,? she answered as she always did. No, she hadn?t figured out the difference in what he was saying, but it was cuter that she didn?t.


OOC-That's the end of the date as far as the festival goes. Thanks for reading if you did! Had a blast writing it either way! Credit goes to Kaz's player for doing a great job portraying the amazing scenery put together in the New Year thread! Big thanks to the Renegade Regalia for putting this together and providing us with an awesome opportunity for a memorable first date!