Dinner had went wonderful. His date, mint frost, had seemed a bit nervous. Yet he had excelled; most others would have used the dessert spoon for the soup or something silly as that. Mint had done excellent. The other was flustered, which was cute, but they had fallen into an easy and gentle conversation.

Mint was interesting in his own way. Usually Calem would only keep whatever fluff his dates talked about in his head long enough to get what he wanted.

Calem was very interested in getting what he wanted from Mint. So, it was time to turn his charm up.

Hand in hand, Calem raked his eyes quickly over the Crystalblooms before turning his gaze back to his date. The lights from the blooms seemed to dance with every gust of wind, shifting them subtly. Yet, Calem had found something else to stare at.

While Mint looked out over the flowers, Calem was staring right at Mint's eyes.

The shift in the wind, the way the lights danced, in the low light it seemed to make the other's eyes sparkle. Like crystal or some polished gem.

"Yes." Was agreed, quietly. "Very beautiful." He did not divert his gaze.

There was a small thrill that went through him. Did mint frost have a naughty side, too? Sneaking closer to some rare and off limits flower wasn't something just everyone did. Calem had no problem with it; but finding that the other was willing to put that aside was interesting.

Of course he allowed Mint to pull him closer. In fact, he would take that chance to try and sneak an arm around the other, rest a hand on his hip.

"If you think we can." Is whispered between them, almost breathless. This small conspiracy between them. "But if we get caught, you owe me a kiss. Deal?" His smile widened into something playful. His own mischief.

Clever little tease. mint frost wouldn't weasel out of Calem's grasp that easy. Yet he followed the other and did not press the issue, just enjoying the flushed pink of his face and the mischief they were getting into.

Up close, the flowers were even prettier. The hillside view was amazing. Calem gave a glance and nod to Luxray before finding a nice spot to sit amongst the blossoms.

Intel had told him they were strange and a chance they were dangerous. Calem found he didn't really care, sitting down amongst the blossoms. He held a hand out to mint frost.

"Sit with me?" Asked innocently enough. Even with the warming Spring of a tropical night, there was still a slight chill in the air. Perhaps he could coax the other to rest under his arm. Then he could...

Well, best not to get ahead of himself.

"I know we can not stay long, yet I am reluctant to leave. The sooner we leave, the sooner we part ways for the night."

The lyric slipped from mint frost's lips and Calem blinked. His face lit up and a soft laugh left him. It wasn't the kind of cruel laugh that so many fledgling relationships feared; just a sweet amusement. He allowed their fingers to twist together, fitting well. Only, Calem took the chance to gently lift Mint's hand to his lips, press a soft kiss to the other's knuckles.

A song lyric and no doubt a rhetorical question. Calem still took the chance to answer it.

"It would be my privilege if you would go out with me again, Mint." A delicate secret whispered between them.

With his free hand, Calem plucked one of the crystalblooms. He twirled it by the stem, then reached up to try and softly brush a bit of hair behind Mint's ear. The flower was tucked in place, a small decoration. He paused and examined it, then his smile faded a bit. It did not leave, his smile would never leave, but it was clear something was... bothering him? The way his brows knit and eyes narrowed a bit.

"Hmm... a shame." Was muttered, leading.

Hook, line, sinker.

Calem shook his head lightly before glancing back up to meet mint frost's eyes. He looked almost apologetic. "The flower... I feel bad for it." He was quick to explain. It might leave the other more confused than anything but he was quick to explain. "It tries to hard to be beautiful... but it pales in comparison to you." A small wink and that grin was back.

Then Calem leaned back, out of Mint's space a bit, and gave a soft chuckle. His cheeks turned a rosy pink, as if he was embarrassed.

"That was corny, I apologize. I couldn't resist." He squeezed Mint's hand lightly, brushing his thumb softly over the other's knuckles in a soft massage. "I do mean it, though. You're beautiful."

"I know so." Is whispered in answer to mint frost's question. Maybe it had been hypothetical. Calem had answered it anyway.

When Mint speaks, continues, he tilts his head. Cascades of red hair drip over his shoulder when he does. Calem takes the time to tuck it behind his ear, as if self conscious. The closest thing to a frown he's had yet crosses his face; yet if Mint looked carefully he would see that the smallest tug of a smile never truly left his face. Precise and small.

"Then you've been denied something you deserve." And Calem said it so surely. That Mint deserved to be praised as much as he might crave for air or water or even food. Something the other needed to survive and never knew, had it cruelly ripped from his arms before he knew he needed it.

mint frost thanked him.

Calem was a vicious, cruel person pouring pretty words down the other's throat just to sleep with him.

Something about the way the other looked at him, said that to him, made something uncomfortable and prickly wash under his skin. Calem squeezed his hand a little tighter and wondered if he should try and kiss him. To flush the feeling away with the heat of their mouths.

Then someone interrupted them.

Calem feels a sudden urge for violence. He wants to grab the ranger by the throat and dig his nails through their throat. Delicately pluck out their vocal cords till they can do nothing but gurgle on their own screams.

Instead he just smiles and seems shocked, just like Mint, and gets up to run with him.

A bubbling laugh leaves him, matching Mint's as they run through the forest, hand in hand.

Sickly and sweet, a seed is planted.