[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/qBcFCBLB/Ingrid.webp[/img]	 [img]https://i.postimg.cc/m2b53xXY/Leon.webp[/img]
[h1][color=8882be]The Dandelion[/color][/h1]
[hr][b]Event:[/b] The Grand Library of the Academy of Thaumaturgy - [b]Character's:[/b] Ingrid & Leon [@dragonpiece][hr][/center]
When Leon found out about the release of the [b][u]The Kirisutra, Vol. 2.[/u][/b], he was compelled to go to the library and check it out. Not strictly as an educational experience, but to see if some of his own methods popped up along with taking a few notes here and there.

One could consider him shameless to walk around the library without any attempt to hide the book's cover. But there was no shame to be had in love. However, his occasional glances at the cover took his eyes off where he was walking. This led him to physically bump into someone right in front of the checkout.

A seemingly basic letter was delivered via dragon rider to Ingrid's humble abode. [color=8882be]"Quite the expensive courier for a simple letter,"[/color] she mumbled to herself, believing it to just be some news of some timely matter. A short read later, Ingrid was bright red and heading to the library.

Ingrid headed straight to where the forbidden novel was, picking up some respectable treatises of Ensolian trade routes to hide her deep shame.

[color=8882be][i]Alright Ingy! You just need to write in the checkout ledger, Luumelan won't say anything, she's a woman after all.[/i][/color]

Ingrid pursed her lips, [color=8882be][i]Quite the wait...[/i][/color] Ingrid took a little peak at the cover, [color=8882be][i]It can't hurt to take a little peak.[/i][/color] Face as hard as stone as she indulged her curiosity to not give anything away. 

And then a bump came. She turned quickly, closing the book and squeezing them to her chest. 

[color=8882be]"Yes?"[/color] Ingrid greeted whoever bumped her, no fluster or rosy cheeks, bless Shune for arcane magic. Little could Ingrid see her squeeze slide the freshly waxed book up enough to see the name of the middle book, [b][u]The Kirisutra, Vol. 2.[/u][/b]

[color=fff200]"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."[/color] Leon looked up to greet Ingrid with an apologetic smile before he looked down and noticed the stack of books she was holding. The hidden one that slipped from the stack immediately caught his eye.

After a short pause, he looked back up to Ingrid. [color=fff200]"... you may want to adjust your stack of books. Don't worry, I won't tell."[/color] He said with a cheerful smile; his copy of [u][b]The Kirisutra, Vol. 2[/b][/u] was not difficult to miss in his hand.

Was he flirting with her? The performer's tone of voice usually blurred the line between that and regular conversation. With the current situation, it was even harder to tell.

[color=8882be][i]Ah, such kindness,[/i][/color] Ingrid basked in Leon's prowess in speech. [color=8882be][i]Sweeping over an embarrassing blunder with no effort at all is the hallmark of a great ma-[/i][/color]

[i]Whatever the heart desires I suppose. Your secret is safe with me.[/i]

She was shattered, she was lulled along in the safety of a more experienced speaker and then crashed into a wall. [color=8882be][i]Any desire?![/i][/color] Ingrid's ears turned red. Ingrid found herself stealing a glance, [color=8882be][i]I mean he is charming and well-read.[/i][/color] Ingrid finished filling out the form and faced Leon, [color=8882be]"How do you feel about reading it together?"[/color] Her voice tapered off as her brain caught up with her mouth.

Leon brightened up with the boldness of the girl's question, he had expected an immense shyness given her demeanour and expression, but she had worked up some courage. He admired such a trait. [color=fff200]"I would love to."[/color] Leon said walking closer. [color=fff200]"Although, I must say I'm rather surprised. Given you were so eager to hide the book."[/color] He approached and then he passed, he had been walking toward the checkout desk.

[color=fff200]"Do you expect to be reading it in the library?"[/color] The performer asked casually while focused on writing in the checkout book.

Ingrid's mind gauged how he took that, [color=8882be][i]how horrid will my social death be?[/i][/color] Instead she was met with some positivity. She had stumbled into Ipte's grace. [color=8882be]"Well, I guess I have known [i]of[/i] you for awhile but not [i]about[/i] you. We share a lot of friends after all."[/color] Ingrid leaned on the checkout counter next to him, [color=8882be]"Besides, you did say whatever the heart desires right? Who wouldn't give it a shot?"[/color]

[color=8882be]"No, I was wondering if you would rather read it somewhere more private,"[/color] Ingrid put up some false bravado about the situation. In reality, she was in a tizzy trying to navigate where Ipte led her.

[color=fff200][i]Who I'm I to deny what the heart desires?[/i][/color] Leon thought merrily as he wrote down his name into the checkout book. He was just about to finish his name when Ingrid suggested moving this to a private place. Then his hand slipped. Where Leon usually finished the end of Solaire with a flourish, there was now a mess of ink. The performer frowned, unsure of what happened. With a quick expenditure of Binding, the ink could be erased alongside a chuckle and he redid the flair with success this time. 

But he was now well aware of a dense feeling in his chest; like his heart beating slower. He couldn't help but feel he was doing something wrong, couldn't help but feel ashamed... No, what he was doing couldn't be wrong. Leon brushed those thoughts aside. This woman desired him and he wished to provide what the heart wanted. It was love; there was no shame to be had in that.

Leon closed the checkout book and turned to face his company. [color=fff200]"I have a few nice places in mind, to read that is, if you would care to accompany me?"[/color] He asked with a wink... Then it hit him again in force. Why had the question felt so wrong to ask?

Her eyes glanced at the spilt ink, [color=8882be]I see.[/color]

As Leon finished cleaning his feelings, Ingrid scanned the returned books, [color=8882be][i]History no, treatises are a bore, natural science is fun! But maybe not for him.[/i][/color] Then a favorite book of her appeared, [color=8882be][i]that should do.[/i][/color]

Coming back to Leon, he seemed to have a smile again. [color=8882be][i]Well, I might still make a reading buddy,[/i][/color] Ingrid hoped to herself. Leon seemed close to so many people she knew, it would be good to get to know him. [color=8882be]"I would love to,"[/color] Ingrid responded quickly before reaching for a returned book and whilst avoiding the ghostly smack of Luumelan, [color=8882be]"How about this book then?"[/color] Ingrid presented a book called [u][b]Dandelion Amongst the Garden[/b][/u]. [color=8882be]"This book is a lovely read."[/color]

Was it so wrong to share his heart with this woman like he had done so many times before? No, it shouldn't be. So why did it [i]feel[/i] wrong? Why was there a trace of emptiness building in his heart? He couldn't explain it, but he couldn't continue like this.

Ingrid's attempts to shift the situation were nice. He didn't want to dim her hopes with such a sudden no even if it had to be done, he was grateful for her wordless understanding. Leon knew it was something going on with him, not her. But he couldn't simply say 'it's not you, it's me' that was a classic mistake in the realm of romance. Instead, he lied up an excuse. [color=fff200]"I... realized that I actually have some things to do before I head home. I... can't believe I forgot."[/color] Leon laughed it off... nervously? Was Ingrid seeing the performer flustered himself?

[color=8882be][i]. . . Okay then.[/i][/color]

Ingrid laughed it off, [color=8882be]"It's understandable, the bellmen have been so lazy with marking the hours, time just slips by,"[/color] Ingrid tried to smooth over his terrible excuse. There was a smidge of pain, had she misread this so terribly? But she didn't let it show openly. [color=8882be][i]Enough shame for one trip to the library,[/i][/color] Ingrid told herself.

Behind the counter, Luumelan was turned away to rearrange some books though you could her small frame shaking a little.

Leon bowed his head before making his way to leave but turned back just before making an exit. [color=fff200]"Oh, Ingrid, enjoy the reading."[/color] He remarked with a wink. Just that quickly, he seemed back to composure. [color=fff200]"I'm sure we can read together another day."[/color] He continued with an inviting tone to his voice. And soon after, he was gone.

Outside the library, Leon took a moment away from prying eyes. His breath was shorter than it normally would be and his chest was pressing against him. [color=fff200][i]What the hell is wrong with me?[/i][/color] He thought with a panic, unsure of any answers to explain away this feeling. 

Leon looked back to the library for a brief time, he wasn't blind, he knew exactly what he had done to Ingrid by leaving like that. He felt guilty but what could he do now?

Ingrid waved him off and returned the Kirisutra and the Dandelion book. She kept the 2 trade book reports and went on her way home. [color=8882be][i]Tall and strong, but in the end nothing more than an ugly weed in a flower bed, better used as cow feed on a pasture. Just a dandelion.[/i][/color] Ingrid went home quite glum to study.

[hider=This will spoil all of THO. DO NOT OPEN.]
[center][h1]Until a prince comes along who happens to love dandelions.[/h1]
[img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1201446636342222848/1209718162006741093/tumblr_niyyz2TyKT1sqsip9o1_500.png?ex=65e7f0d5&is=65d57bd5&hm=46b31f3de65002f0df84cdf9146cadb24b4d9ecfdfe13c14a2e18b08d95e1518&=&format=webp&quality=lossless[/img][/center]
[/hider]
[hr]
A couple nights later...

[color=fff200]"You know Kaureerah, there's a whole section in this book dedicated to an I.P."[/color] Leon remarked, not putting two and two together. [color=fff200]"Its high praise... Who do you think it is? A long, lost lover of the author whose heart bleeds for a time gone by perhaps? That's probably it."[/color]

[color=fff200]"That reminds me, I took the liberty of picking you up some reading glasses today."[/color]

[color=fff200]"No, no, your eyes a perfectly fine, beautiful actually. There's just a few things from this book I want to try out."[/color]

[hr]