#goldfinchfreehold

A chuckle. "It would, I think. You think he'd be good with it?"

"...ye-e-es?"

"I.. I have never actually planned a date, Sylvi."

Sylvi shifts to sit cross-legged and takes on what Dagmar might recognize as her problem-solving posture. "Okay, so...you and Symon have done things together before right?"

"Absolutely."

"So how has that worked in the past?"

"But this should be special." Brow furrow. "He can eat fermented foods that haven't been sitting, because, I guess, they are technically already decayed?"

"I dunno, we go see movies or hang out or play games. But dates should be special. This one should be special-er."

"Maybe, but you don't want it to be so 'special' that you're both uncomfortable. That defeats the purpose. But I mean...how have you two decided what to do or where to go?"

"Symon wants to..." she makes a little rolling gesture with her hands. "Court."

Sylvi pauses. "He wants to what?"

"To be more openly romantic?"

A blink. "Oh! Wait...that's how he said it? That's the word he used?"

She nods "And that's the part that I'm really bad at."

Sylvi thinks for a moment. "That's different, then. That's...." Another pause. "That shifts the responsibility."

"But... but I want to show him that he means more than just a friend. That's why we oathed how we did."

"Right, you're right. But if he said he wants to court you...well, if he's being traditional, then he's gotta be the one to make arrangements."

She rubs the back of her neck. "Like... like, I'm not sure how I feel about... see, that's the scary part?"

"Hmmm. But if it's what he wants to do...maybe give it a chance once? If you end up not liking it, tell him. But give it a chance?"

"But it's not... I'm not ashamed of showing I care for him, right? After her, he needs to know that. See it."

"Yeah, I get that."

"Least he already knows my parents. They're thrilled."

She tilts her head. "How would you show that you care for him? Like, in public? I mean, if you're walking through the mall, how would you show it?"

"And just FYI, I bet that Symon knows you well enough to have a clue about what kind of activity would make both of you happy."

She bites on her lip. "Holding hands, for one?"

"I... I don't really want to kiss in public, but that's because kissing is private. I don't wanna make a big show."

She nods. "Good start."

"Have you kissed? I mean, I sort of assumed you had, but...?"

Blush! Nod.

Sylvi smiles at the blush. "It was good?"

"It was sweet."

"Symon's still Ace. So there's no... pressure, right?"

A slow nod, then a furrowed brow. "Um...how's that going to work for you?"

"I'm not exactly dripping in lovers, here."

"No, but...you like sex. Sometimes."

"Like... there are some girls that... that look fun. Like Masey, yeah?"

"But, like, I've been all handsy with her, but she's still a friend and not a girlfriend."

"Yeah, she's part of what I was thinking of. But...if you're oathed to Symon, are you swearing off sex forever?" A concerned look.

"We kinda... we talked a little. I dunno. Maybe?"

"Maybe not."

"You mean, you and Symon talked about it?"

"He doesn't expect me to be on the computer for twelve hours doing his dungeon game, and I don't expect him to drag along on my run, right?"

Sylvi's a little confused how they got to these topics from sex, but she's listening.

"We talked a little. So... so, maybe, it's that that is the kind of thing I could want to do, too."

"So...okay, you mean that you'd both treat it like one of the activities that only one likes? But there's room for it in the oath?"

Brow furrow and a nod. "Because it's not Truehearts. Though I heard Satyrs have a special Truehearts."

"Yeah, they do. It's like a time limit thing. Like, I'm gonna be totally dedicated to you for X number of months. It's got an expiration date."

"Huh."

"Or...well, that's what I think it is, anyway. I might have it wrong. Haven't exactly studied the truehearts oaths."

"I think the difference is where my heart goes, and where my.. y'know... body goes. Because Symon's gonna be first, and having a tumble isn't going to change that. Can't."