In the mountain's winter halls. (open)

[Ethar Luxun]

As he finished grinding up the beans into a fine powder, and scooping it into the filter, he pulled out an old fashioned coffee pot, placed the filter in it. He filled it up with Water and put it ontop the stove for it to brew.

"Thank you Miss Ohkara. I do take pride in my hobbies. Back on my planet, Most of the capable men were always taught and trained, to protect and serve women, as they usually are the more... Important members of society. Usually having a more adept knowledge of the ancient magics that keep our world beautiful and strong, as well as having knowledge of the more... modern arts. However for me, I was... different. I was born of Royalty, but my mother told me that I was a hybrid of an... unethical sorts. I never attended the public schools because of what I am, and my lineage. The unprecedented offspring of the Dutchess/Head Priestess, and a rouge Saiyan General..." He said, as he dished up more breakfast, and put it infront of Ohkara while making his own breakfast and slowly eating it.

"I was home schooled, as you would say. I had very little in the ways of friends, save for the servants and tutors that lived in the castle. I was a.... How you say... Book worm? Nerd? Social outcast? There were so many names that your Culture has for someone like me. But I dont mind. Instead of learning to fight, to kill when ordered, I learned to protect, to heal... and as you can see, I learned to provide. " He added, as the pot of coffee started to perk.

He took the pot off the stove, and poured a mug with the newly brewed coffe. He looked back to Ohkara and asked her "Cream? Sugar?"

[Ohkara Minamaru]

She nodded as she listened to Ethar speak; it was still interesting to think he was from such a different planet. He didn't really seem all that foreign to her, however she'd meant plenty of people she thought the same thing about. Letting out a small sigh she hopped off her seat and headed for the fridge, ”Maybe some day you could take me there...” she told him, a smile on her face as she took out a bottle of juice from the refrigerator, shaking her head to Ethar's offer of cream or sugar.

”Nah. Some honey would be great though...” Quickly opening up a cabinet as if she knew where to look, she'd spot a bottle of honey. Snatching it and the fresh cup of coffee from Ethar she'd place them near the juice and begin seasoning her drink. Pouring a pleasing amount of both juice and honey into her cup, she'd take a loud slurpy-sip and roll the drink around her mouth for a moment.

Swallowing down the drink, she'd offer the cup to Ethar, and smile brightly ”You have to try this; I promise you'll be a coffee fan after just one taste!”

Snatching a morsel from her plate, she'd watch the man who'd likely sample her coffee. The honey and juice would make the coffee taste much more like a tea; however most the natural bitter taste would be overpowered by the sweet fruit juice making the whole drink taste almost unrecognizable, and a pleasant twist on the boring normal. Hopefully he would like the drink as much as she did.

[Ethar Luxun]

Peaking his interest, he didn't expect Ohkara to be so willing to travel with him so early in their 'relationship', but this made him smile more happily as he watched her pour some fruit juice and honey into the coffee he had poured for her. "Im surprised you mention me taking you to Nor, as I was going to ask you if you wanted to go with me anyways. Now that I think about it, I believe in 4 months time, there is a festival taking place in the Water Court I could take you to. If they are still doing it what is." He said, as she offered him a taste of her coffee with the juice and honey in it.

"If you insist." He replied, as he took out a teaspoon from a cabinet drawer, and took a sample of her coffee. Taking a small whiff of its scent, he slowly put the hot beverage into his mouth as he attempted to taste it. "Hmm... One can taste the honey for sure, as well as the bitterness of the coffee itself. But I must admit... Its just not... my cup of tea." He said with a playful smirk as he made his attempt at a good clean pun. His goal was to make the girl he fell for, smile from his joke.

"Speaking of tea..." He said, as he looked up to Ohkara. His smile seemed to become completely serious, as he asked "... This is slightly embarrassing to ask, but Miss Ohkara, later this evening, when the moon is at its peak, Would you do me the extraordinary honour of partaking in the Ceremony of Shared life with me?" aas his serious look turned into a slightly embarrassed look.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Smirking at his pun, she took a sip of her “coftea”, and let out a small giggle. Shortly after though, Ethar's expression would change to one of seriousness as he asked her to partake in a ceremony with her. Raising a brow, she almost instantly agreed to it; something that seemed so serious to the Noran would be rude to decline, right?

However, after a moment of second-thought, she turned bright red and echoed the words: ”Sh-shared life?” she gulped, her bright red cheeks flushing to white, looking almost like someone who'd seen a ghost, ”Y-you're n-n-not p-purposing to me.... A-are you?” she stammered, taking a step back from him, the cup of coftea in her hand visibly shaking.

Again, the topic of marriage had been brought up, and again it shown brightly as a major weakness of Ohkara's. She was a free bird, one that loved to fly around and play freely; the idea of such a bird being put into a cage, tied down, or having its wings clipped, just seemed to unnerve the young woman. Unlike most women her age, she had no interest in a future of “married life”' and the idea of kids... Oh boy...

Shaking her head, Ohkara stared Ethar down, ”Listen Ethar... It sounds like you have things mixed up...” she said softly, doing her best to recuperate from the shock, ”I'm nowhere near ready to settle down; there are still things in my life I would like to do before even considering being tied down...” Forcing a smile, she gently placed a hand on Ethars shoulder and gently rubbed his back, ”You're a great guy and all, but if you're ready to settle down now, I suggest you cast your gaze towards a different woman.”

This task was never an easy one. While she wanted to let him down softly, she had no plans to ruin their friendship. Ethar was an undeniably powerful ally to have, aside from that he'd also proven himself a loyal friend, regardless of his level of pervertedness. And Ohkara genuinely liked him' just not like that...

[Ethar Luxun]

Ether was purely dumbfounded by Ohkaras response, as she went on about how she wasnt ready to be married yet. It seemed that she had mistakenly assumed that he was purposing to her.

Smiling softly, Ethar took her hand, looked up into her eyes after she had spoken and replied "Oh Im afraid your quite mistaken Miss Ohkara. Im not purposing marriage to you, I would need a ring to do so if I was." He said, hoping to relieve Ohkara's worries. "Plus, I would also need my parents's blessings to purpose to you. But my father is gone, and my mother is too far away. But no, the Ceremony of Shared life is more deep then that, by human standards. It creates a....How do you say...bond, between the two participants. In ancient times, Mothers would use the bond to know when their child is in mortal danger, they can know how their child is feeling, and visa versa. Of course the bond has a variety of uses, and theres no range on it either. Like, I could be on the other side of the planet, and know when your life is in danger, or when your very sad. The bond can also... extend a participants lifespan as well. Well, it doesnt extend life persay, it slows down the aging so that both participants live approximately the same life span."

He said, hoping that he wouldn't freak Ohkara out as he slowly let go of her hand. He thought to wait on telling Ohkara the cons of the bond, since he wanted to see how she would react to what he had previously said, since he didn't want to scare her away. To him, Ohkara made his life all the more wonderful, then what it had been before when he arrived on Earth many years ago. To lose her, would of been devastating to the him and that was something he could not live with.

"Heh, Talk about an awkward situation huh?" He asked, with a slight chuckle.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

As she listened to the Noran made talk his way out of the situation, her face visibly calmed, as did the shaking mug in her hand. Pressing the cup to her lips, she felt somewhat stupid for having such a reaction; however, as Ethar revealed this ceremony was “more deep” than marriage, she felt her body tense back up. Placing her mug on the table she allowed Ethar to finish before speaking:

”Hmmm...” she pondered aloud at the idea, ”I'm not sure how I feel about all that... I mean, don't get me wrong, I can see some situations having a bond like that could help, but having it... Like... All the time? I don't know...”

Ohkara was no open book, at least not a completely open one. Her emotions and sadnesses were not something she cared to share all the time; they were hers, and she wanted to keep it that way, ”And extending my lifespan? Sure, it sounds good on paper and all, but...”

Forcing a fake smile and she thought, she ran a hand through her forest-green hair, pulling a stray strand behind her ear, ”You've gotta know, Ethar... This is a lot to ask... And not a whole lot of time to think about it...”

Letting out a small sigh, she shook her head a little, ”What else can you tell me... I mean, I guess I can't make a decision without hearing the whole story, right?” her forced smile turned a bit brighter, and she picked up her cup to take yet another sip, ready to listen to Ethar speak once more.

[Ethar Luxun]

"Well, technically when I say that the participants can feel eachothers emotions, its only the extreme emotions that can be sensed." He said, as Ohkara asked him for the 'rest of the story'. He had to admit, that Ohkara was far smarter then she visibly let on.

"The bad things about this bond, it has a limited range, so most of it only works if both people are on same planet. Atleast, from what I read. Alot of the ancient tomes havent survived the tests of time all that well. But there is one part of the bond that pretty much remains even after death, and, I think, works across any span of distance. From what I have read, the bond also forms an ethereal tether between the couple, allowing the people to find eachother after death, and even in the next life." He said, keeping an eye on Ohkara's facial expressions. He knew she was a bit uncomfortable with the entire bond description, but he wasnt purposing marriage to her yet, so he believed he would be ok if he just talked to Ohkara.

"I know my mother didn't form the bond with me in my younger years. She always seemed to be living in fear of... something, but I could never figure out what it was. I guess she didnt want me to feel that she was afraid of something all the time." He added, looking a bit embarassed.

Looking back to Ohkara, he smiled as he said "The bond isnt a permanent thing of course. If there are complications, there are ways to remove the bond without harm to either person."

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Placing an index finger to her lips, the young lady listened quietly to Ethar as he spoke. It seemed most of what he knew about this bond, he'd only read, not that that bothered the girl, she was simply taking notes. However, what he was asking of her still seemed too intimate for her to commit to. Allowing the man to completely finish, she nodded politely, then reached for her mug to take a sip, buying her a few more moments of silence as she thought it through.

As she finished her sip, she placed the cup back at the table and took the man's hands gently in hers, looking him directly in his eyes, ”Listen, Ethar... I am honored that you'd ask me to share such a bond with you, but I also have to be honest. Right now, I don't think I am ready to share something so intimate with anyone.” she smiled kindly, hiding the obvious pain of having to let him down in what seemed like a harsh way.

”We're friends, and that is very important to me, but let me make you a deal... If you can swipe me off my feet. I mean, really, really woo me and make me love you, then I will agree to sharing that with you.” She liked Ethar, but she wasn't in love with him like he was her; it was beginning to become more and more obvious as she spent more time with him. However, she also couldn't count the Noran out all the way; he was kind, smart, genuine, and met her ideal of a partner-quality man in many ways. Just at the moment, love was the last thing she was looking for.

[Ethar Luxun]

Ethar was actually expecting Ohkara's answer, but while it was expected, it was indeed hurtful. But it was understandable at the same. Asking someone you really love to share such a bond, is a very risky move for anyone to make.

Nodding softly to her, trying not to break out into tears. He was hurting, and he was doing a terrible job of hiding it. But when Ohkara spoke again, her next words made him perk up tremendously. However, moments later, his dorky persona came through again, as he gave Ohkara a confused expression and he asked "What does 'to woo' mean? Is it a more modern way of saying... to romance? To seduce?" as he tilted his head a bit to the side.

"Would that mean that we get to go on.... what you call them.... dates?"

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Ohkara could see the pain in his face as she declined his offer; he was horrible at faking emotions, the man radiating sadness. Nevertheless upon her offer to give him a chance, she watched his features perk, and some of that sadness dissipate. Unable to help but smile at such a response, Ohkara gave his hands a gentle squeeze and let out a small giggle, ”Well, I wouldn't use the word 'seduce', but basically yes.”

His second question made Ohkara release his hands in a quick burst of laughter, ”Hehe! I think a date would be ideal; I mean, we have spent a lot of one-on-one time today, but I we've never actually spent time together in public..” she told him, wiping a small tear of laughter from her cheek, ”Well, you know... Aside from destroying the Saiyan empire and all.”

Grabbing her cup once more from the table, she pressed it to her lips and took a drink. By this time the liquid had cooled off a considerable amount, and the young lady was able to take more than just a sip. Suddenly her eyes widened, and she set the cup back down, ”Damn! All this talk, and I completely forgot I still had food! Can you believe that?” she asked hysterically, quickly snatching up her plate and digging back into the feast that Ethar had prepared.

Upon finishing her plate, she'd jump back up from her chair and gracefully slide around the counter to dish herself up a heaping, second helping. On thing that Ethar had going for him for sure was his ability to prepare amazing food; the kind of food Ohkara felt she hadn't eaten since her father was alive- delicious and carefully prepared with love. If it wasn't for the fact that the Noran-man was such a warrior, the young lady might have tried to steer him more towards being a chef and preparing such delicacies for the rest of the world. However, right now she was more than content with keeping him all to herself; at least in terms of a cook.

”Mmmmmmm!~” she cooed praise through mouthful of food, returning to her chair with a second plateful that would likely quench a sumo-wrestler's appetite. Finishing what was in her mouth, she began work at finishing off her newest plate; and in moments Ethar might notice the massive pile of food diminishing. This was a true testament to Ohkara's unknown Saiyan origins.

”Its all so freaking good!~”

[Ethar Luxun]

Ethar smile softly as Ohkara expressed some delight at the thought of the two of them dating. "Im glad you are all for the idea Ohkara, I've never been on a 'date' before, but let us just hope that I dont mess up too badly..." He said, his eyes gazing to a nearby bookshelf where a obvious yellow book labeled 'How to impress a girl for dummies' was. His eyes went back to Ohkara as he watched her vacuum up her entire breakfast.

Left in astonishment, Ethar watched as the pile of food go down faster and faster. "Um, Miss Ohkara? Are you sure your all human? I've yet to see any human with such an appetite." He sa,d as he picked up his fork, and started on his own breakfast. While he did eat it with some speed, he wasnt eating like he had no eaten in days like Ohkara was.

"Slow down please! I would not want you to choke!" He said, worried that Ohkara might be eating to fast.

The idea of them dating in public would be an interesting thing, though if people still remembered the battles that free'd Earth from the Saiyan Empire, Ohkara and Ethar could easily been seen as celebrities. And Celebrities always got the blunt of any paparazzi that caught whiff of any nearby celebrities.... 

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Ethar was very book-smart, but his street-smarts were lacking. His question of her Earthly origin, and appetite were the wrong thing to ask. Setting her fork down mid-bite, the young lady’s eyes narrowed at the man, ”What was that?” she asked, quickly standing up from her chair, ”Are you calling me fat, Ethar!?” she exclaimed, pointing a finger at the young man accusingly, ”Do you know how rude that question is!?”

Shaking her head, the young lady turned and took a few steps away from the Noran, letting out a huge huff of breath. Pressing her hands to her hips, she spun back around the face him, still shaking her head, ”I will let that slide this time…” she told him, raising the index finger of her left hand into the air, ”I expect you will be on your best behavior on our dates.” she demanded, her tone serious.

”I will not be seen in public with someone that is going to speak to me like that…” her serious; however was short-lived, and her face faded to a kind smile, ”I trust you will plan something very nice. I really love long walks, or carnivals, or… well, I don’t know, something fun! Just surprise me.”

Hastily flopping down in one of the comfortable chairs in the living room area, Ohkara kicked her feet up, ”My huuuuuuge appetite has been satisfied,” she teased him, waiving a hand at his direction, ”Be a dear and take care of my plate for me?” The young lady was now testing Ethar. He’d revealed his interest in her, and now she’d find out exactly how far he’d go for her… Little by little… Devotion was one of the things that Ohkara liked best in a significant other. She wanted that person to want to spoil her sometimes, even to die for her if need be. If they weren’t willing to give their whole selves to her, than they weren’t worth her time. ”And yes, sometimes that even means just picking up after me…" she thought to herself, a sly smirk gracing her face.

[Ethar Luxun]

Panicking, Ethar quickly shook his head and replied "No no, of course not! I was just...Saiyan... That Ive never seen a human with the appetite of a Saiyan before." with a bit of a worried smile.

She quickly finished up her breakfast, as he did, and before she even asked if He'd take care of her plate, Ethar was already reaching for it. He gently picked it up, stacked the plate on his, got up from his chair and walked over to the sink. Which oddly, only had a spout and no taps.

Placing the dishes in the sink, Ohkara could hear Ethar utter a word, 'Aqua', and like magic water started to flow from the tap, slowly filling up the sink to let the breakfast dishes soak in water. Looking back at Ohkara with a smile, He said "Oh I have something planned for sure. Ever since that night where you almost killed me infact. You said you wanted to Visit Nor with me correct? Well, I might just have the next best thing that will do... for the time being." He said, as his faint smile turned into a much more noticeable grin.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Again, Ethar had stricken out with his choice of words. His silly pun, and comparing Ohkara to that of a Saiyan, the sole race who’d mercilessly attacked and annexed the Earth, the very people that they’d been pitted against in a battle of survival. Her brows furrowed, and she let out a huff, ”Ethar, hun…” she said, a monotone to her normally peppy voice, ”I am nothing like a Saiyan…”

”Those cruel monsters that attacked out planet… How could he compare me to one of those… those beasts!?” She thought; before the realization struck her. Ethar was half Saiyan! Her features quickly softened, and she peered over the back of the chair at him, ”I-I-I m-mean!” she tried to recover, ”No offense to you, but it was the Saiyans that we were forced to fend off of our planet…”


At this point Ohkara was feeling the night spiral, and something was happening that she rarely felt: she was uncomfortable. The air in the room felt stiff to her, and she was finding it hard to speak. It was time to leave; she’d overstayed her welcome, and she really wanted to get out of here with high impressions of her Noran friend still intact. There was only one possible option for the girl.

His last comments; however were enough to confirm her suspicions for the last time. Ethar bringing up the fact that she’d stabbed him was just too much. With a pang of guilt, she nodded, ”I’m glad to hear that…” she told him genuinely, ”But I’d really like to keep it a surprise… I like surprises…” hopefully he didn’t notice her sly Segway into the next topic, an escape route.

”Ethar, could you be a dear and check the weather for me?” she asked, batting her beautiful lashes, bright yellow eyes ‘puppy-dog facing’ the young man, ”I think it should have stopped snowing by now…” with any luck the Noran man would open the door and burrow out, to where Ohkara could slip out, and see Ethar again when he had his date set up.

[Ethar Luxun]

"No worries. Im not a fan of the Saiyans either. I was one of the defenders against them when Akassa invaded. Remember? Damn near got myself killed there." He said, as he stopped the water from filling the sink. When she mentioned that she liked surprises, he laughed and smiled at her. "Well, the GOOD kind of surprises anways. Heh, Im sure you will like what I have in store for ya." He said, as she asked him to check the weather. She used her feminine wilds, and gave Ethar a look that no man could possibly resist.

"Ya, your right. Hope it stopped snowing, or else we are in trouble." He said, as he walked over to the door and opened it. He was greeted by a solid wall of packed snow. "I got this..." He said, as he charged up some Ki in his hands, and used it in a beam to melt a good tunnel through the snow, though short ranged to prevent cave ins, Ethar looked back to Ohkara. "Lets go together. The tunnel is safe enough for us. Ill lead you out. I have to go do some shopping anyways." He said, as he kept one hand with teh beam out, while he offered his free hand to her.

IF she took his hand, he would slowly lead her through a freshly made tunnel that poked outside. The snow was still falling, but not as heavily as before, and the visibility had cleared up quite a bit. "By the way, May I have your Telephone number? So that I may call you when our first date is all set up?" He asked, as he took out a pent and paper from his pocket, and offered it to Ohkara.

If she were to give him his number before leaving, Ethar would smile most brightly as he was excited for their date....

(Requesting PL)