Roses at Midnight [Private/Bitterblue]

Kōri walked through the streets of Rose Garden, a place that many described as a paradise or even wonderland of magic. He had never been there and for that reason he was rather curious to give it a look, too bad he didn’t know anyone around there. It could as funny as one would like to but he didn’t really enjoy it that much all by himself. While he didn’t enjoy the place to its fullest, it was quite fascinating considering the decorations and the lights at midnight. “I wonder if they host celebrations here or something like that. It’d definitely be a good idea, there’s definitely enough space for such things here.” - he said to himself. There was no celebration at the moment, nor was he looking for one. Kōri was in his usual attire, he wasn’t really one to wear elegant attires just to go somewhere.

He glanced around in mild interest, taking note of those in his surroundings; including building. He didn’t feel that comfortable among so many strangers at once but he could handle that as long as they were not hostile. “Worst case scenario.. I could always make use of magic, heh.” - he muttered. It was likely to be victim of robbery in such a crowded place after all.

Shortly after, Kōri arrived in a park with several roses here and there. However, it was not as lively as the streets of the city, it felt like he was the only one in the park. He walked to a nearby bench and took a seat, burying his face in his hands for a brief moment as he let out a small yawn. He put his hands inside his pockets and leaned backwards. “Hmm, what to do now?..” - he muttered. He was definitely bored, he was pretty much alone in the park and he didn't know anyone in the city.

Nessa had been to Rose Garden many times while she grew up. She didn't come as often anymore because of her travels, but she always did manage to have some time to come to the gardens. Nessa used the gardens as a distraction from her troubles, and with this time of month coming she would be going to the gardens a lot to forget. "It would have been great if they were still here." She mumbled to herself. She sighed and walked along the road looking at the beautiful flowers all around her.

Nessa started walking to the "rose park" as she called it. There weren't many people that went to the park so Nessa liked to go over there a lot cause there wasn't as much noise. As she entered the oh so familiar park, she started humming a little song. It was kind of a habit with the park. Her family would always come here and her mother would sing a song while they walked around. No, don't think about that right now, she thought. Nessa went from humming to singing the little song. "My little flower won't you bloom for me this fine morning? Bless me with your beauty so as I might be able to smile once more?" She stopped singing in front a bench with a man sitting on it. She didn't see the man though cause her back was to him as she looked out to the distance. I hope that they're fine, she thought as she gave a small sigh.

Kori couldn’t help but even enjoy the park’s loneliness to some degree, it was nice but at the same time it made him feel empty inside, feeling like somewhat cold inside and even he wasn’t used to that one. Just like any mage who used ice, he felt himself much more at ease in a cold place but no, that was a different kind of feeling; one that struck within him. It wasn’t painful but a chill feeling, almost relaxing. “..Eh, well at least I can take a break around here. There isn’t as much noise as in the city. Nobody seems to come here, it's unusual at this hour I suppose.” - he thought to himself, glancing around before he folded his arms and lowered his head.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, though a voice suddenly caught his attention.. what was that? Was someone singing? It seemed so, and it was a rather sweet song. He smiled slightly, he had no idea of who was singing at a time like that but he didn’t mind it.

He looked up, only to find another person; a girl with long hair around his age apparently. He tilted his head slightly, he couldn’t tell what she was up to.. she suddenly stopped singing to look out in the distance which was quite curious.

The two seemed to be alone in the park and it was quite awkward to just sit there, plus he could catch the chance to make a new friend. He stood up and walked up to her, standing next to her. She seemed to be thoughtful, he couldn't help but wonder what was up with her. “..Hey, is everything alright?” - he asked, offering a faint smile.

Ness was so in thought that at first she didn't hear the boy say anything but, as she turned her head she saw him standing there with the tiniest hint of a smile on his lips. Nessa smiled too, she hadn't really thought that anyone would be in the park at the time. Everyone was usually at the mall or someplace else with their friends. "Um, yeah just had a lot on my mind is all." Nessa looked the man over.

He was a bit taller than her and slightly pale. Though to Nessa who was naturally tan usually thought that everyone was pale. He was wearing a white shirt with a flannel shirt over that one. He was also wearing a black winter jacket with little fur sticking out on top, with gray jeans on the bottom. He was a muscular guy with short black hair. I know that its the start of fall but should he really be wearing all of those layers, she thought.

Nessa shouldn't be judging though. She was wearing her favorite light blue t-shirt that day, with her green hoodie tied around her waist. She was wearing her normal dark blue jeans with her black and white sneakers. She had left her sword at home for the first time. She thought it not really right to bring a sword to such a peaceful place. Nessa looked at the stranger. "You know most people don't come to the park alone, I'm gonna guess your new around here." Nessa might as well try to make a new friend for a while to keep her mind occupied.

He widened his eyes slightly at the sight of her smile, he couldn’t help but feel more comfortable which wasn’t usually the case for him whenever he spoke with a stranger. She didn’t seem to mind the presence of a stranger like himself at least, it could have gone worse. Not everyone would be at ease greeting a stranger, while she seemed to be. He couldn’t tell what she thought, but he didn’t mind.

He looked at her a bit more closely, she didn’t seem to be that younger or even older than himself. There was somewhat of a difference between the two’s attire, but Kōri was much more used to wearing those clothes, to him it felt like a remembrance of some sorts. He shook his head shortly after, he shouldn’t have lost himself in his thoughts.. especially about the past.

Kōri raised a brow, letting out a chuckle shortly after. It was indeed true, it was quite unusual for one to be there alone, especially at that hour. “Y-yeah.. I have never been around here. Just thought it’d be nice for once to.. well, visit this city. Although, it was a bit too noisy.. that’s why I have come here.” - he told her, looking away as he spoke.

“U-uhm, so what’s your name? I am Kōri Coldbrand, nice to meet you.” - he said, shifting his gaze at her.

She noticed that the guy, who's name she learned was Kori looked away as he spoke to her. He might either be shy or nervous, she thought. "I'm Nessa Rose Blue. Nice to meet you." She stuck her hand out for Kori to shake. At first he seemed to hesitate but than shook it. Nessa gave him a soft smile, "You made the right choice coming here at this time. People know about the park but not a lot of them bother to come and visit it. I guess that's kind of way I like coming at this time, not many people to make a lot of noise, you know?"

Nessa went back to looking out into the distance. There was this awkward silence in the air that Nessa wanted to break but she just didn't know how. "You know, it was because of this place that my mom had the idea of making my middle name rose. She said it was because every time that she looked at me she was reminded of the park. When she first said it I didn't really understand her. I still don't." Nessa honestly didn't know why she was telling him this. She had just met him but, it was just because that he had a certain feel to him she felt comfortable talking to him.

She shook her head and looked at Kori "I'm sorry I don't know why I'm babbling. Here to make it up why don't I show you around?" Nessa was about to take him by the hand but than stopped. She didn't really know him well and he might think she was super weird. So instead she started walking and then turned to him. "Are you coming?"

Kōri looked at her with a faint smile on his face, she really made him feel comfortable even if the two had never met each other before, she had even offered him a hand. He widened his eyes slightly, looking at her before he closed his eyes briefly with his smile widening across his face in a friendly manner. He took a tender grasp of her hand and shook it slightly before he looked at her in the eyes once more. “I feel the same way, mhm. I couldn’t really tell if there would have been someone around here, but I like this place the way it is right now.” - he told her.

While Nessa shifted her gaze forward once more, his eyes were still set on the fellow mage. She didn’t seem to be that uncomfortable herself, which reassured the male somehow. He listened to her curiously, he was intrigued but somehow he was not surprised; she really reminded him of a rose. “..I see, well.. I think I do understand. It’s just a matter of looking at yourself. You.. kinda give me the idea of a rose.” - he said.

He shook his head in disagreement but also offered her a smile. “You don’t really have to apologize, heh. But sure thing. I appreciate it.” - he told her before he raised a brow in curiosity, she seemed to be about to drag him by his hand or at least so it seemed until she just walked away on her own.

It was rather curious but made him chuckle slightly, he felt sure of himself with Nessa, she was quite friendly. “O-oh, yeah!” - he said before he reached her and walked next to her. Shortly after he’d extend his hand towards her and attempt to grab it tenderly. “No need to be shy, heh.. so where are we going?” - he’d ask.

Nessa looked at Kori and his out stretched hand, she took it before she realized what she was doing. "Well, that depends on where you want to go first." She looked around the park until she see's one of her favorite places. "Oh I know! Come on you might like it." She runs with her hand still in Kori's. They stop on a small bridge that goes across a river. On the side of the bridge there is a giant tree with small pinks flowers falling from it. "This is one of my favorite places in the park. Its beautiful isn't it?" Nessa let go of Kori's hand and went to the edge of the bridge to look over it. She smiles as she smells the familiar sent of the flowers, and hears the pleasing sound of the water underneath them. "I would always come here in the spring time to look up at the pretty flowers that grow on the giant tree." She smiled and looked over to Kori, "Do you like it?"

The Ice Mage just looked at the fellow mage and let her guide him through the city, he didn’t really know much about but at least Nessa was willing to show him around. He raised a brow as she spoke of a place he’d like which intrigued him and watched her running while he still held her hand. The city was definitely an interesting and pretty place even if he was not used that much to big places just like that one, but being there with Nessa just made it more comfortable.

After a bit the two stopped on a small bridge where the Ice Mage followed the girl to the edge and leaned forward, looking below with a faint smile across his face. The tree with all those flowers was truly an incredible sight even at night, where the two ended up being alone, without no one else around.

“Aye, it’s quite beautiful..” - he said before he glanced at Nessa and listened to her words carefully. He couldn’t tell how the place looked in the spring but he could imagine how gorgeous it looked.

Kori smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I like it. It’s really nice. I doubt I’ve ever seen a tree like that one but I guess I haven’t seen much of this city yet after all.” - he said before closing his eyes in a friendly manner.

“Thank you for showing me around, it’s really appreciated.”

Nessa looked up at Kori with a small smile on her face. "Hey no one should be deprived of something as beautiful as this. Just think of it as a bonus to your trip here." She could see the smile playing on his mouth. I like his smile it's cute, she thought. She hadn't gone to that bridge in a real long time. Coming there was great but being with someone there felt even better to Nessa. Somehow it felt like Nessa knew Kori for ages and not only for a couple of hours. Nessa looked around and saw that they were also alone, and it was getting dark.

"Hey um, do you want to go get something it eat? It's getting pretty late so why not eat something before going home? I know a really good place that's not far from here, if you want to come." Nessa didn't know why she was asking, she just, was. It felt like she just wanted to try and get as much time in with Kori before he left, so she wanted to try and make it a good one.