No reaction whatsoever.
I approach and put a hand on her naked shoulders. "Kya!" She freaks out instantly, after which she attempts to free her shoulder from my grasp by punching me.
With my high Vitality I honestly don't even feel a thing, maybe barely an ant's bite, if I'm being generous.
Amazing.
"Oh! Dadd- Quinlan! I'm so sorry! I thought-"
I calm her down by putting my index finger to her lips. "No harm done, don't worry about it."
Seeing me be unharmed after her retaliation she sighs with relief. "I'm so glad you are back…! Are the two girls also fine? Throughout the entire ordeal I felt so ashamed of myself for sending you three there to fulfill my greedy wish of finishing my parent's final research…" She says and begins tearing up.
"Hug?" I ask with a knowing smile while opening my arms wide.
Instead of a verbal response I receive a physical one as she flies right into my embrace, quite literally. Her arms are entwined around my neck and I support her by grabbing her bouncy behind firmly as she wraps her legs around my waist.
I'm innocent in this case (again) as I had no way whatsoever to grab onto anything else (again).
The fact that even after she stabilized herself I still didn't make a move to support her weight somehow else should remain entirely undiscussed and undisclosed.
If she doesn't mind, then let a man indulge in her heavenly plumpness.
She nuzzles her head into my neck and I soon feel tears streaming down my skin.
I feel bad for this woman. Lost her parents, quite possibly forever, is homeless, penniless, vulnerable to everyone and everything as a simple civilian, and she feels like she sent her benefactors to their deaths for her greed.
"You should know that we did it for mutual benefits for all parties involved. Now that we have three Geimroots, we can finish the deal." I say in an attempt to soothe her emotion-charged heart.
She nods into my neck but makes no attempt to speak. I decide to just walk around her etched into my arms for a few minutes as I continue reassuring her. I only receive some cute, muffled "mhm" answers at best, but after five minutes Aurora seems to have collected herself as she speaks up; "thank you so much, Quinlan… for everything.
Not just for finishing your part of the deal, but for coming into my life when I was most vulnerable and not taking advantage of my poor situation."
I squeeze her buttocks reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. I have giant aspirations for this life of mine, and I could really use the help of a talented alchemist by my side. How about it, Aurora? Will you join us? Fair warning, though: we are wanted criminals, and we are just getting started."
She freezes for a dozen seconds straight. Then speaks in an extremely low tone; "… really?"
"Which part? Well, everything I said is true, so yes, really."
I get no reply, and I start worrying that something is wrong, but then she snaps her head up from my neck, and kisses my lips.
I must admit, I didn't expect such a reaction from the timid girl.
She grabs the back of my head to better support the moment, though makes no effort to engage in tongue play. For all intents and purposes, it's just a peck on my lips, but I welcome it wholeheartedly nonetheless.
We remain as such for a minute before she lets go of me, and stares into my eyes affectionately.
I feel that it's the perfect time to warn her of the dangerous game she is playing.
"Aurora, I know that this action of yours was only in the spur of the moment-"
"No."
"No?"
"No. I wish to try being your girlfriend, Quinlan."
"Isn't this development too sudden? Are you sure you don't need to think more about this decision?"
"I'm sure."
I smile before hardening my gaze as I look into her eyes deeply. I even activate my primordial vision in hopes of noticing any minute details, such as thoughts and emotions on her features I wouldn't otherwise. ṝАΝo͍₿Ëṧ
"So beautiful…" Aurora compliments my glowing crimson eyes.
"Then, before I accept you into my harem, you must know something about me, Aurora. Chances are that I'm the greediest, most possessive and jealous man you will ever meet in your entire life, even if you manage to live for a million years.
There's no "I wish to try to be your girlfriend, Quinlan" with me, you will either become my beloved partner until the end of time or remain my alchemist ally who I work with in a purely professional capacity. I'm not interested in flings, one night stands, nor any other form of half measures.
I'm also a hypocrite who demands complete loyalty from my women while I create a harem of a size that's yet to be determined. You can't touch other men, you can't let other men touch you. Your body and soul will be mine, and mine alone to partake in to my heart's content.
Naturally, I'm also going to do everything in my power to protect, support, and make you into the happiest woman you can be, to the best of my ability.
That's what it means to be with me."
She gazes at me for a long while. I replicate her stare, watching every minute detail of her entire being.
"Then I acce-"
"Let's stop it here for now. You are emotionally distressed, I don't want to hear any excuses in the future about you making a hasty decision in the spur of the moment. Most importantly, though, a very important task lies ahead of you. I want you to fully focus on potion making, and in your free time think about my offer. I will hear your answer after I become a Wizard."
"I understand, Quinlan." Aurora nods with a content smile.
I bring the three Geimroots over to her so that she can begin, and she let's me know that it's a delicate process that will likely take a few days. Then I walk down to order room service from the innkeeper family.
This time it's a man standing at the reception, and as soon as I walk down he begins eyeing me with clear frustration evident in his gaze.
"What do you want?" He spits out rudely.
I let a giant smirk erupt onto my lips. "Did you manage to scrub my fluids out of the bedsheet, mister husband? Hope it wasn't too much trouble." I say as I wink at him.