[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jLzTLJ7.png[/img]
Interactions: Auriola ([@The Irish Tree]), Amelia Averyonna* ([@Joshua Tamashii])[/center][hr]

[color=1a7b30][i]'Once again, she [/i]exaggerates[i],'[/i][/color] Dimitri sighed heavily as this thought came across his mind. Contrary to what Amelia had said, this was actually the first time in weeks that he'd came in bearing a slap mark. In any case, he needed to focus on the mission at hand.

It looked as though detaining Prelati wasn't an option after all, as apparently that would come in conflict with direct orders that the peerage was given. Dimitri would just have to question him before or during the battle instead. Luckily, he was sent out to scout around for Prelati's current location... although that meant that he would be paired with Auriola. Hakuryu Mizushima was to accompany them as well, if only so he serve as the messenger for when it was time to report Prelati's arrival. Overall, Dimitri was fine with this outcome.

...

Sure enough, as they were scouting, Auriola decided that now was the time for a little small talk.

[color=e0ffff]"Now then... was your pickup line really bad enough to get slapped for it?"[/color] she asked, much to Dimitri's dismay.

[color=1a7b30]"Did you really have to bring that up right now? It'd better to ask about it [i]after[/i] the mission,"[/color] Dimitri stated flatly, [color=1a7b30]"Besides, it wasn't even the so-called "pickup line" that failed me. Our first date was going so well..."[/color]

Dimitri [i]did not[/i] want to talk about the botched date with the student council president; one could tell by the contorted face that he made knowing how bad it would sound of him. But he had an inkling feeling that Auriola would only probe for all the juicy details; this would especially be true the longer he kept them to himself. Still, it didn't stop him from attempting to slowly steer the topic [i]away[/i] from it.

[color=1a7b30]"I'm sure Amelia would have you know that I don't learn anything when it comes to my endeavors with women... but in truth, I've come to learn that they're rather fickle creatures,"[/color] said Dimitri, [color=1a7b30]"According to what Father always told me, that was especially the case for Mother. She always played hard to get for the longest time."[/color]