[u][i][center][h3][color=cornflowerblue]~Erika[/color] and [color=red]Michael~[/color] [/h3][/center][/i][/u]
[center][img] http://i.imgur.com/WuESsE0.png [/img][/center]
[center][img]http://66.media.tumblr.com/51fc61ac770a524e9468f174afa94d7f/tumblr_inline_n1xc79Kcic1rb3m8r.png[/img][/center]
Erika sped up the stairs of the subway, alone, emerging with her grin illuminated by the crescent moon above. Her curls bounced around her and her glasses glimmered in the moonlight, her face aglow with a profound blush only young love could grant. She began her run up the hill, her mind still back inside the cafe as her breath came out in small, panting breaths, her heart beating loudly but steadily in her chest.

[i]
With the mochas on the table giving off steam the smelled delectably of coffee, chocolate, and for Erika, a mountain of whipped cream and cinnamon, the two had sat in silence with only the sound of a gentle piano to accompany their quiet. Her declaration of war and subsequent kiss had left Erika shaky, but also relieved in a way that she couldn't describe since she'd first started at Purple Crown Academy. After a few more moments in what Erika thought to be comfortable silence, her hands clasped around the mug in a way that her fingers intertwined, relishing the warmth, she looked at him through the somber but autumnal lighting of the coffee house.

[color=cornflowerblue]"Be honest,"[/color] She began, looking into her mug more than at the red king. [color=cornflowerblue]"What were your thoughts when you first met me a few weeks ago? You remember,"[/color] She paused, her eyes raising up to meet his. [color=cornflowerblue]"That day I was late for class."[/color]

[color=red]"I was annoyed you were late. That's all at first,"[/color] said the Red King rather bluntly. He was still trying to manage the whole relationship thing going on between them but didn't pay it too much mind or to the people who might see them together; better they learn now then later after all. [color=red]"Then you started talking back to me and I thought you had an attitude. Which I found interesting,"[/color] he continued. "You can imagine that it's not every day a Colored King gets talked to like a regular person."  At this, Erika raised her eyebrows.

[color=cornflowerblue]"Does that bother you?"[/color] Her tone genuinely surprised, she blinked a few times and adjusted her glasses. [color=cornflowerblue]"You always seem so... cool, I suppose. Do you... not care for being a colored king, then?"[/color]

[color=red]"There's a difference between being composed and not caring. So I suppose it has to do with what you said. Or something,"[/color] said the Red King, expression neutral. [color=red]"It's been a while since anyone else has led the Scarlet Harleys so maybe I've gotten desensitized from the prospect of ruling. I'm not sure myself whether I just ignore the mantle or if I just don't care for it all that much anymore."[/color]  Erika looked him up and down as she listened to him, nodding.

[color=cornflowerblue]"Do you ever regret becoming the red king, do you think?"[/color] As she asked this, she leaned back and took a sip of the mocha. 

[color=red]"I didn't have much choice in the manner. Not when the prior Red King personally entrusted me with their Guild,"[/color] Micheal replied, hoping Erika didn't ask any further. Because now was not the time for recollections of the past and it wasn't like anyone cared for the history of the Scarlet Harleys anyway.

[color=cornflowerblue]"Really?"[/color] Erika asked, her eyes wide as she sat up, perking at this new truth. Then she thought for a moment, and chuckled, her body relaxing again. [color=cornflowerblue]"You really are cool. Heh..."[/color] Something ocurred to her at that moment, causing her brows to arch again, her smile turning a bit mischievous as the subject matter she wanted to question changed. [color=cornflowerblue]"With how much this color is... obviously invested into your life, I'm going to guess your favorite color is..."[/color] One eye closed behind her glasses as she peered over at him. [color=cornflowerblue]"Green?"[/color]

[color=red]"Red isn't exactly a cool color but-"[/color] though at that point Micheal's voice trailed off into oblivion as he simply stared at Erika. Immediately thoughts of Kenji popped up and that wasn't very pleasant to mull over. [color=red]"Er, I wouldn't...call it my favorite. But I have found myself dealing with the color for a while now. My favorite would probably be some kind of blue maybe. Or a shade of red that no one's discovered yet,"[/color] he said. At this, Erika giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. She looked up at him, her eyes twinkling in mischief.[/i] For his part, Micheal didn't need to say anything; rather, his look of confusion said enough for him already. "What? Blue's a nice color."

At that moment, she had stopped to catch her breath on top of the hill that her home resided on and turned to face the moon, her arms down by her sides. Her grin became a closed mouth smile and she relaxed her shoulders.

[i]

A short while later, the mocha half way empty, Erika had come to rest her head on the mahogany table, her head resting in her half folded arms as a finger traced lazily over the top of her mug. Her voice had a bit of a dream like quality to it as she's come to be more comfortable around Michael. 

[color=cornflowerblue]"Michael... when we get out of here, out of Purple Crown... what do you think you're gonna do? I mean... as a career. What makes you so passionate?"[/color]

[color=red]"That's...a very good question,"[/color] he said, for once a tinge of doubt in his voice. [color=red]"I haven't given it too much thought and Deep Ground determines your future anyway. There's really been no need for me or anyone else to think about things like that since the game decides everything. But still..."[/color] and then his voice trailed off once more.

[color=cornflowerblue]"But still."[/color] She looked up at him, smiling a little. She sat up a little, resting her hand on her jaw as she looks outside at the quiet, quickly darkening dusk. [color=cornflowerblue]"...I want... to own a bakery. And... maybe a flower shop. I don't know..."[/color] Erika looked back at her drink with a chuckle. [color=cornflowerblue]"In any case, I guess I just want to do something that would make others happy. Knowing something like.... I baked a cake for a wedding or arranged flowers for someone's first date... thinking about that makes me smile."[/color] She looked back at him, her eyes nonchalant. [color=cornflowerblue]"I guess I have some of my own figuring out to do."[/color]

[color=red]"That's surprisingly simple for a complicated girl like you,"[/color] he said with a small grin. [color=red]"But I guess I'm too used to complications. My career would probably be something rife with it. As for making other people happy? I'm not too sure about that. After all, we're doing that already with playing Deep Ground. Keeping the World Government and the rest of your peers satisfied seems to outweigh one's own happiness in this world. Or something."[/color]

[color=cornflowerblue]"Not them,"[/color] She smiled back at him, then considered the thought. [color=cornflowerblue]"Well... Actually, I wouldn't mind. Maybe because it doesn't bother me now. It's not as though others have considered my happiness before. I'd rather... "[/color] She paused, then looked at her mug. [color=cornflowerblue]"I'd rather... be able to fight for my happiness... because I think in our world, it's something earned rather than something given."[/color] She looked back up at him, cocking her head to the side. [color=cornflowerblue]"Hasn't it always been that way though... Red King?"[/color]

[color=red]"Yes, I suppose so...you know you don't have to call me that anymore,"[/color] he pointed out. [color=red]"But history seems to indulge in happiness being fought over. Whether or not something different happens this time around remains to be seen. By anyone."[/color] Such was the case now and for the future to behold. But in this moment, perhaps happiness could very well be given.[/i]

Erika closed her eyes, resolving to be able to find her happiness which, at this moment, seemed to lie within the Red... Michael. Nodding to herself, recalling how they had left the cafe with the promise of another date, at another time, Erika sprinted to the front door of her home not a few houses down, her heart doing backflips in her chest.