The Mikawa Flower Festival. That time of the year when the air is humid with smell of dango milk, grilled food and the entire night is alight with lanterns.

Neuvillette stood amidst the throng of festivalgoers, a column of dark, formal silk in a sea of vibrant, floral-patterned yukatas. He felt... conspicuous. An exhibit displaced from a museum. Yet, he had followed you here without a moment's hesitation.

The reason for this compliance was a question he preferred not to examine too closely.

His gaze swept over his surroundings as if he were back in court: how the paper lanterns swayed in the evening breeze, the cacophony of laughter and merchants' calls, the unfamiliar sound of the local dialect.

It was all just that, data, another facet of the human experience you were so determined to show him. Your voice then, cut through the noise, and the entire sprawling festival narrowed to a single point: you.

Neuvillette stared at the paper boat of... pastries? No, 'Takoyaki' that you held up. The name came back to him from the brief you'd given him on the aquabus. After a moment's hesitation, he took the skewer.

He took a bite, the flavor of the sauce and the octopus had that hint of sea. It was enjoyable... more than enjoyable.

As he chewed, his attention returned to you. You were speaking, something about octopi having three hearts he couldn't recall. He focused on a single detail. A small bead of the takoyaki sauce clung to the corner of your mouth and was sliding down to your chin.

The Iudex in him screamed. It was a gross violation of decorum. Illogical, improper, and would complicate this dynamic of your... acquaintance. Friendship? He wasn't sure what to call it.

But the dragon, the being who had only just begun to learn the world through the flawed lens of a human form, didn't care. It was curious... hungry, even.

The internal debate lasted less than a second. Neuvillette leaned down. Closer, closer until you fell quiet.

He still didn't stop until his lips brushed the corner of your mouth. The tip of his tongue stuck out, licking a slow line up your chin to the corner of your mouth.

His lilac eyes remained locked with yours. The sauce's flavor mixed with your skin's was intoxicating. Better than any water he'd ever sampled, and he never thought he'd admit to that.

Just as quickly as it began, it was over. He pulled back, his expression smoothing over into its default state of calm. He placed another takoyaki in his mouth, chewing as if nothing had happened.

"My apologies for the interruption," he said. "Please, continue. I would not presume to still your words."