Sailing Sunsets - A Serene Song

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Selene snorted at all the "sea bear" nonsense. Their topic of conversation had moved on, anyway, so she felt no need to give more of a response. Though after she had questioned him with such a question, she almost immediately began to regret it. Not because of the subject itself, but she had momentarily forgotten who would have been on the other end of the "peeking." And she instantly began to feel bad.

Her shoulders slumped and she looked up at him meekly. "Sorry, I didn't mean..." She stopped short, and chuckled as he gave a rather light-hearted response. He didn't seem to be upset with her, so she let out a sigh through her nose. Selene nodded with understanding. She knew his previous partner well. And it sounded just like her. It still felt strange to know that she was gone...

Selene seemed to perk up a bit as the waiter finally came with her next round of wine. "Ah, and before you go!" she stopped him again, "I'd like whatever is the special dessert of the evening!" When the waiter nodded and toddled off again, Selene looked over to Josh with mischief in her eyes. "If you ask nicely, maybe I'll share some of that dessert with you~"

This was… Nice, wasn’t it? He couldn’t remember the last time he had just gone out and spent time with someone, no strings attached, no business about it. Just two people spending time together. But it appeared that his past had dragged things down a little. Perhaps it was the drink, but perhaps he had been a little too honest.

He stuck his tongue out at her when she said she might share her desert if he asked nicely. “Desert does sound nice” he brought up with a small laugh. But he had introduced a dark cloud that hung over the two of them and it was his responsibility to clear it.

“Listen… I… I should be the one apologizing” he brought up sheepishly, biting his lip in turn. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I should have known that considering you’re familiar with the fact I was… Well… Engaged, and what happened from there, things were going to have to be approached a bit differently in the context of a date. I should have been prepared to try and accommodate. You didn’t do anything wrong, and you didn’t upset me by bringing up something like that. But I should have tried to be more respectful about the situation at hand. And that’s on me.”

And it wasn’t like she had gone and threw Maude’s death in his face to make a point, unlike a certain other Princess. He took a breath to settle himself. Brown irises reflected a bittersweet expression. It was time to grow up and address the growing elephant in the room.

“The least I can do given the circumstances is be honest. Cards on the table. I miss Maude. I would have given anything to be there in the woods with her that day. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her, nor does the thought fail to cross my mind that I failed to protect someone precious to me. But it happened. I can’t take that back no matter how much I want to. But I don’t think she would want to be a dark cloud that hangs over us. I can’t stop the fact that we both knew her, and that’s going to hang over us. But I think she would want us to look back on her with happiness. She could be… Grumpy, blunt, hard-headed, and stubborn, but she only ever meant well. She was always kind even in the worst situations. Always looked out for everyone, even if she always found time to grumble about it.”

He smiled a little more genuinely at the thought.

“So I’m… Trying my best. I won’t pretend it’s going to be easy. But I’m doing my best to remember the good times, and move forward. I think that’s what she’d want… Scratch that, I’m surprised her spirit hasn’t returned to scream my head off for moping.”

He chuckled slightly.

“So uh… Yeah. I don’t want you to worry, Sel. I’ll be ok. And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I was ready to take those first steps forward.”

At least the wait for the dessert wasn't filled with an awkward or tense silence. It seemed the subject of Maude had picked up again, only this time, Selene sat and listened with a empathetic gaze. This was a very big step Josh was deciding to take. Getting over the death of a loved one was always difficult, and Selene had experience with that... Only her loved one was a family member, and not a lover. She couldn't imagine losing a lover, but she could understand the difficulties that came with moving on, or perhaps loving another someday...

Selene reached a hand across the table. The delicate gold bracelets she had decide to accessorize with made a soft jingling sound as she reached, a soft, small smile now displayed on her lips. Should he take her hand, she'd squeeze gently and reassuringly. "I know it is hard to overcome grief. And that is a big decision..." Her hand slipped back into her lap. "You know I'll support whatever decision you make." Her heart fluttered a little, yet it almost turned into a dull ache... It was possibly the moment she had been waiting for, to hear he was going to move on, but... it still felt strange. It couldn't possibly mean he'd move on with her...

But just as her self-deprecating thoughts surfaced, the waiter came back with their dessert and gave Selene a much appreciated change of subject. She nearly exhaled in relief! Yet she couldn't help but dig herself further from facing her true feelings... She lifted a fork to dig gently into their delicious and chocolatey mousse... Pillowy soft and decadent. Before she took a bite, she smiled cheekily, but inside it tore her up. "Maybe I'll be your... wing-woman. See any beauties here tonight?"

Gods, she needed more wine.

With their dessert, the waiter had also topped off their wine, which Selene had taken another drink of while he "searched" for a willing young maiden. Selene nodded, taking note of the description of this girl. Ashen hair, a nod, royalty vibes... A-Ah?

She had almost begun to look around for this particular woman, but her reaction time was significantly skewed because of the alcohol. And as result, Selene barely caught wind of the joke... Her cheeks began to flush red and she nearly choked on her next sip of wine. "A-Ah, Royalty you say? Well..."

Now she couldn't quite look at him. Flustered and inebriated, she chuckled awkwardly and stared down at the chocolate mousse. "W-Well I'd say, advice that works for just about any woman, well..." Selene fidgeted with her fork. "Just be yourself. That's all..." He didn't need to change a thing. Not in her eyes... She scooped up another bite of the mousse to occupy her mind.

Selene clucked her tongue at him and waggled her fork in the air, whilst simultaneously shaking her head. "Nope!" she managed to spurt out as she hastily swallowed what bit of dessert she had lingering in her mouth. "Nope, no sir! You are the newly pronounced single man, this evening is about you now." But just what did that mean now, since he had teased about... her being the one... Selene's cheeks grew red again, though this time she could honestly blame the rest of the glass of wine she had downed.

"And, well, if you really must know," she decided to admit, "Don't think anyone out there would get me quite like you do." She hiccupped softly, giggling as she leaned back in her chair. "No one else knows me like you do, and all these nobles and Hyruleans are so squishy. We know about life. We know about love! And pain! And adventure!" Should she wave her hand for another glass of wine? She was on a roll. Maybe not a good roll, but she was certainly not hiding anything anymore...

"Honestly, no one compares to you, Josh Dragelion," Selene stuffed her mouth with another mouthful of mousse before she could say anything else she'd regret later. With a grin, she nodded her head in the direction behind him. "Though there is a dashing brunette over there, if I must choose."

Alcohol wasn't called liquid courage for nothing. And with as low a tolerance as she had for the stuff, it was easy for her to get carried away with this wine. It was easy to drink, it didn't burn her throat like some other alcohols did, and it was admittedly tasty. But she wasn't completely over the moon yet!

Selene frowned and leaned back. "I'm fine," she almost whined. "I won't be dancing on any tables, I promise you."

Overall, Selene was heartily satisfied with the meal, wine, dessert, and all! She gently pat her stomach to express her pleasant full-ness and relaxed in her chair a little. After a small exhale, she grinned at him, regaining the cheeky glint in her eye. "My, it's only been one date, and you're already looking to take me home~?"

Considering they lived together, it was a rather... dumb joke, but no one could stop her now.

His straight-forwardness was what she honestly should have expected, but in her inebriated state, it caught her off guard and her reaction was a bit delayed. "Eh!?" she squeaked, but soon started laughing. "Already a second date. My! And taking me home! What sort of girl do you take me for?"

She began laughing even more, with her eyes closed and her head tipped back. Though when she reopened them, she saw his face coming toward her and she almost immediately clammed up. She stiffened as he kissed... her forehead. Selene's cheeks grew tomato red, and she nodded. "Mm, it really was fun..." she muttered as she took his hand.

"Guess it really is time to go. It seems everything is winding down." Many of the tables were already cleared, with a few still needing to be cleaned. Yet as she finally began to stand, she perhaps got a sense of just how under the influence she was. Her footing was unsteady, and she began to fall... Luckily for her, she had grasped Josh's offered hand, however...

It made her fall toward him. Into him. Selene's body fell softly against his, as she was able to somewhat catch herself before she completely toppled. Her free hand was outstretched on his chest, the rest of him close enough to her that she could smell the cologne he had put on for the evening.

Yet, embarrassed as she was, she did not immediately move away from him... Her face was beet red, her limbs a bit shakey, but she... admittedly... really enjoyed this.

"S-Sorry..." she muttered, though she still did not move...