The town's lights bulb outwards due to their distance, and as Pyrex rolls me down the hill, the orbs shrink until they become dense sparks then lamps made of yellow and orange. According to Pyrex, they're sodium vapor lights made to look like torches through holographic molds. 

That doesn't change how enchanting they look, and the vine covered buildings add to that rustic feel as Pyrex puts it. I enjoy it. The fleshy fortress that Gorge made scared me whenever we first began living there, but there's no initial shock after seeing this place. It's cozy, like every place here is a home to somebody.

This effect intensifies as we near the expanse. The town never dies. In fact, it comes to life at night as the small alleyways no longer crowd with people. Only groups of friends, families, and couples pace by us as we walk through the entrance towards the restaurant of Pyrex's choice.

Flowers grow on the edges of buildings, and I spot bees, hummingbirds, and even far larger animals. Cat's with six legs walk up and down the edges of balconies, so I ask Pyrex, 

"What animal is that?"

He raises his eyebrows before he says, "Ahhh, those are fassars. We domesticated those over a thousand years ago. They used to be the alpha predators in a northern region of our home planet, but they were domesticated by nobles after the arbiter stabilized our home world."

Wow. There 's a lot more behind this then I expected. I say, "Could I have one? I'd like to be able to play with one."

He shakes his head before he shrugs saying, "They hate water. You'd be better off with a mana-fin. They're gentler beasts as well who love the water."

I purse my lips for a moment before I say, "What if your parent see us eating out? Won't you be in trouble then?"

He tilts his head sideways for a moment before he leans towards me saying, "This place is on the other side of town from them, but I did worry some about that. I figure them figuring out through some rumor would be far easier then trying to admit in person...It's kind of like me admitting to them in an indirect way."

I reach my hand backwards onto his as I say, "You sound so shy. What about the big, strong soldier persona you wear all the time?"

He kisses my hand before he says, "Thats the side I show other people. I trust you Allure, so I try to be more open with you, even though I may stumble here or there."

I grin before I say, "You'd be surprised at how those hiccups can be just as pleasing as the times you succeed."

He raises his head chuckling before he says, "I try to make it so that others can laugh with me rather then at me most of the time...That's something I've admired about you since we first met though."

He traces letters on my shoulder with his left hand as he says, "You know what you like and what you want. I went to the military for something like that. I wanted to avoid having to figure it out or maybe I just wanted to avoid making the decision myself."

He moves his hand back from under my veil as he says, "I sort of had it put in my hands after trying to run away from finding that something I wanted though. It's kind of ironic if I think about it."

I turn in my chair before I press a finger into his chest as I say, "I wouldn't think about it so hard  there mr. philosopher. I just go with what I feel most  of the time. I think you'd find it easier if you did the same."

He smiles with his white teeth sticking out from the darkness as he says, "That sort of just happened whenever I met you. I wanted you to know that you really helped get me out of a dark place Allure...Thank you."

I bite my lip before I pull his shirt down as I say, "You did the same for me darling."

Our lips tap before  we roll down a curved slope or old stone. We cross an intersection of roads before we reach the edge stairway leading to the end of an underground entrance. Without grunting, he lifts me and the chair with ease before he paces down the steps without wobbling on his feet or adjusting his balance.

The feat impresses me, so I say, "Trying to show off your manliness?"

He turns towards me before he runs his fingers  through his hair saying, "It just sort of happens. It's hard to contain this much masculinity at all times."

His hair looks soft, so I reach out my hand and adjust his hair with my own hands. The soft fur brushes against my skin with a soft resistance before I say, "I can tell. You look handsome."

He blushes ever so slightly giving away some shyness, but he hides it underneath a grin brimming with confidence as he says, "Come on, let's go sit down. I had reservations made out earlier."

The cover up causes me to giggle for a moment before I glance around soaking the atmosphere of the place in. The low hanging lights cross with red of paper with sheets of plastic etching the corners with a modern, smooth look. Instead of matching the atmosphere of the town, this establishment goes for the opposite with sleek benches of some shiny material reminiscent of plastic with a twinge of gloss. 

The material somehow shines even after Pyrex lifts me onto a chair. Instead of feeling hard, the material bends like a cushion molding to my shape while maintaining its luster. I say, "What is this made of?"

He grins before he says, "I have no idea. It still surprises me years after I first came here."

I lean on the table in front of us as it resists me with a see through material before Pyrex activates his obelisk creating a low grumble before he places his hand on the table, and the invisible material materializes a into the inside of an aquarium. Fish I've never seen tread through its waters with eye catching colors while large, deadly looking creatures swim through the water baring more teeth and mouth then body.

My expression evokes a grin from Pyrex as he settles beside me as he says, "It's amazing isn't it. They have drones floating through the waters of our homeworld's ocean. There, they send  live footage around the world, and this table syncs with that data allowing us to see these sights as we eat. It's a marvel isn't it?"

I murmur back a reply as I lean my face closer to the scene saying, "I can't believe it...They gave us a portal to another place as a table..."

Pyrex chuckles before he says, "We would have to be able to travel there using this if we wanted to call it a portal. It's more like a viewing glass."

I mumble some gibberish before a waiter walks up with a tidy red bow as he says, "Hello there my fine patrons. Would you care for something to drink at this establishment as you decide your order?"

Pyrex raises out a hand as he says, "I'll take a glass of the local feral fire brew if you have it."

I gaze at him for a moment panicking as I scramble for a drink before he places a hand on my shoulder saying, "I'll handle it if you don't mind."

I sigh in relief before he says, "And may we have some salty water for the lady here?"

I punch his shoulder before he laughs. He says, "I meant a michelada with the alcohol placed in a separate glass."

The waiter grins with his mustache curving before he says, "Of course. I'll be back momentarily. Please enjoy your stay."

raise an eyebrow towards him as I say, "Whats a michelada?"

"It's a drink that taste's like salsa. Sirens are normally seawater creatures, so I figured you'd enjoy something salty instead of sweet, and I ordered the alcohol separate since I didn't know how you'd respond to it."

I snuggle up to him before I lean my face on one hand as say, "You never told me you could be this thoughtful. Where was this when we first met?" 

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I was scared you'd be trying to kill me rather then expect me to be thoughtful. You also skipped all this and went straight for the good part..."

I bite my lip as I say, "I'd like to think I have a more subtle approach."

He smirks as he says, "I like the aggression. It's sexy.

I lean my head on his shoulder as I say, "It's not something I try at though. It sort of happens."

"That same spontaneousness is what makes it so appealing. I never know what I'm going to get next."

I walk two fingers up his thigh as I say, "Though somethings I want never change."

He places his own two fingers at the top of his thigh blocking my own as he says, "You'll have to pass my guard first if you wish to get what your heart desires."

He lifts his finger before he pretends to kick my finger with his own before we enter a slow-mo battle of furious strikes. We curve and dodge and leap as each of us try more elaborate tricks until I dodge one of his under swipes with a jump kick to his hand's 'chest.'

His arm falls down with a limp fall as he murmurs, "Noooooo. You have defeated my defenses."

I lean towards him as I say, "So what spoils will you give the winner?"

He wraps his toned arm around my waist as he says, "Whatever her heart wants."

I lean into his chest as I say, "It's all right here."

Our fighting hands lock fingers as he says, "I couldn't agree more."

We sit in silence for what feels like only a second before the waiter sets down the drinks without mentioning a word while making sure to keep his steps silent while. He even sets the drinks down slowly so that he doesn't interrupt us before I say, "Thank you for freeing me from that hole I had to call a home...Thank you for giving me a name, and...thank you for bringing me here."

He hugs me close for a moment before he says, "I just wanted you to feel as special as you are to me..."

After several minutes, the waiter passes by once more right as our trance dies down. He says, "I see you both are enjoying the evening. Would you care to order, or am I making myself unwelcome?"

Pyrex grins before he shakes his head saying, "No, in fact, your timing is impeccable." Pyrex lifts his head and puffs his chest before he says, "Would you give her the seafood special, and I'd like the herbal spaghetti with the dipping bread and chilled sauce."

He nods with a grin as he says, "Excellent choices. Few have been here enough to know how excellent the combo of chilled sauce is with the special. Apt of you to notice."

I elbow Pyrex's side after the waiter walks off as I say, "How did you become so smooth all of the sudden?"

He tilts his eyes upwards before he hums a note. After the gesture, he says, "It's a combination of preparation and effort. I actually read quite a few passages from the Magna Alma to make sure my wording would be on point during this event, I went over a series of imaginary conversations, I practiced with Gorge-"

I snap my words like a whip, "So you had a pretend date with Gorge?"

He shakes his head before he says, "I had an overview of what the date would be like with her to make sure everything was pleasant. She did sound jealous after I explained all I had planned."

I grin as I say, "Good. She should be."

He scratches the edge of his chin as he stares down saying, "It's amazing how well it's worked out."

I lean close before I say, "Don't sell yourself short there."

I lock lips with him for a moment before I nibble on his bottom lip. He leans his head back saying, "Let's save that for later. I'd rather not be sitting here for the next hour wanting something I can't have."

I giggle before I say, "Doesn't that make it even better?"

He pulls into his chest as he says, "It might, but I'd rather enjoy a different part of our relationship right now."

His words fill my chest with warmth before my cheeks blush lavender...So sweet...I say, "Alright..."

He tells me about the different fish floating across the table before he explains the way the roads work and how aquarell sometimes would date sirens as well, though the practice was looked down upon as equivalent to bestiality. This made it illegal and a social death sentence as well.

Even with the increase in social acceptance, certain planets never moved towards that progressive viewpoint as Pyrex calls it. He tells me that some people hate out of ignorance, and other people join them just to feel like they belong. It's sad. The way he says it makes it sound like humanities strongest bond is their mutual hatreds.

The church of Gaia fixes a lot of these problems though. The arbiter enacted a strict reform of the church thousands of years ago, and since then, they act as a sort of cultural police making sure that the people under the Melotic Flag remain noble and peaceful.

This sentiment slid out of favor several hundred years after the arbiter suddenly disappeared, but even after such a long span of time, the roots of his philosophy still ground themselves in the heart of the Empire's people. At least that's what Pyrex believes. 

He's actually really religious, but in an informative way rather then a pushy one. Any time I ask him about the subject, he'll explain it in detail while elaborating on several passages of the Magna Alma and its meaning. He often interprets the wording literally as Pyrex believes himself a purist, but that never stops him from knowing how to be tactful with his wording.

Instead of filling me with dread at hearing him speak about his faith, he creates an interest in me. He never views the ideology from a right or wrong perspective. He glances wit ha pragmatic eye instead, which allows him to live by the codes said in the book rather then using it as some way to preach or lord over others.

It's impressive too. Hearing someone recite such elaborate passages with such accuracy leaves a lasting impression. I mean, if the book can have such a positive and emotional impact on him, then why wouldn't I want to have something like that in my life?

It's a fair question, and after I taste the alcohol, we figure out my weak tolerance for it. He says I'm tipsy after only a couple of sips of the burning liquid, but I disagree. I don't feel tipsy. I feel wonderful. The drink also tastes with a deep essence of garlic and cilantro giving a hearty flavor to the drink that compliments the savory flavor of the buttered seafood meal he ordered me.

We lose track of time before Pyrex glances around noticing no other customers in the restaurant before he grabs our waiter's attention as he says, "We'd like our tab now. Sorry for the wait."

The waiter waves his hand as he says, "Don't worry yourself. It made me feel young again to see such a heartfelt relationship."

Pyrex leaves a tip larger then the price of the meal whenever  we leave, and the waiter rejects the price before Pyrex says, "You helped make this night special. You're good at what you do, so keep it. Please."

The waiter accepts with a mild reluctance but a full grin as he says, "I believe I'll take my own wife out to dinner using this. We need more nights such as these."

Pyrex nods his head before he places me back into my chair. After we roll outside, he says, "Would you care to see some spots around town?"

I play with my hair as I say ,"It sounds like you have a few places in mind."

He grins before he says, "A few."

My eyes snap open as my tattoos glow through the veil as I say, "I can't wait."