After barging into the throne room and delivering a very quick and stern, if detailed, report of what was meant by her words to King Augustus, and ensuring troops went where they ought to to start looking in Kitharn, Takrok went hunting for slime.

As usual, he asked about her location instead of simply using so that she would be readied for his arrival by the staff. Plus, it was part of their game to try and track her by conventional means, and that included other people.

She had caught on and begun becoming more evasive when she caught word he was present, but of course she had to make herself publicly available to some degree. There was only so much she could do to avoid him, and it brought on such adorable frustration.

Upon finding the armored slime, he did just as he was advised to by the Allmother… and approached her, stopping just a little too close for proper decorum. "Maple," he began, giving her a charming smile, "I have a desire to speak with you, when you are not busy."

She did that adorable thing where she froze, her energy flaring and running through a medley of colors and formations, visible only through his manasight. It was a complex tapestry of prismatic beauty, speaking honest snippets of thoughts and feelings.

It would be far more communicative in most slimes. Her energy formations were jagged and cut off, the beginnings of thoughts swiftly censored from display. This restraint was a rare trait among slimes, and a calm, radiant nobility came with it.

That was a good way to explain how he thought of her. Personified nobility. Every positive trait associated with what a noble was meant to be, and the few negative ones she showed were in moderation. How Sir Vulmine raised a slime to be so was a mystery to Takrok, but he was deeply appreciative.

Oh, how she reminded him of a dragoness. No more so than when she shot him a scowl, taking a step back. "Lord Takrok. I am unfortunately quite occupied for the foreseeable future. Is it important?"

He followed. "Direly so. I have a message from the Allmother," he said without hesitation. It was technically true… though the message would be delivered in a way that she perhaps might not expect.

This just got a blank stare, her energy flashing curiosity for just the briefest moments. Followed by a roll of colors and shapes that effectively called his bullshit. But all the same… she made time in her day.

"Very well. Do try to be quick though? And if this is some shenanigans again…"

The dragon huffed, crossing his arms. "Shenanigans? I am entirely serious."

"Yes, maybe right now, but I only even trust that because I believe you wouldn't use the Allmother's name lightly. So you're either speaking true… or insane. I have yet to decide which, though I'm leaning towards the latter with how close you're making yourself…"

Takrok just huffed, mocking hurt pride before leveling his gaze at her… and spoke in the form of shapes and colors made of energy, noticeable only to her and a notably complex feat for a being with mana veins, "The message from the Allmother was simple. And that message was to make my emotions and intention clear with you."

The display caught Maple entirely off-guard, staring at him, "I… see. What does that have to do with me? And why choose YOU to deliver it?"

"I like you," Takrok said in both draconic and slime simultaneously, "A great deal. I desire to have a relationship with you."

There was a bright flash of surprise and a complex array of other feelings. But quickly it was replaced with a solid feeling that wasn't nearly so well hidden as the rest. "Oh. You are indeed fucking with me, or perhaps crazy was the correct judgement,” Not that she spoke these words, she would never, but that was what her energy said for the briefest moment. "I'm sorry, Lord Takrok, but your jest is in poor humor I'll have you know," she said with a neutral grimace.

The dragon just cocked his head a bit in confusion, "I don't understand. There was no jest. I was told by the Allmother to stop playing about and make my interest clear. This is you. You are my interest."

The briefest flash of panic crossed her energy field as she realized he was serious. This was not a joke. He would never go this far to play a joke on her. "Wh-what…," she began, but froze, unable to convey words outside of the flashes of colors and shapes that comprised the language of slimes. But she got the impression that he was serious serious.

She mimicked clearing her throat, closing her hands together into one. Her energy field was in chaos. "W-well… I'm no one's dalliance, Lord Takrok. You… well… uhm. Continue, I suppose. If you are to make a bid for my hand, I suppose it is my obligation as a lady to take that seriously," she said, managing to make her tone begrudged, “Know that means I’m going to be gauging your actions much more seriously. I fully view this message as an intent to show me why you would be a good choice of both life partner and political partner. I have a people to think of, after all…”

This left the dragon lord in confusion for a moment. She said continue, like there was more to say on the matter. He expressed interest, there was only if she was likewise interested. She really made this more complicated than it needed to be. This confusion was apparent. “I had imagined as much, yes. I am afraid I’m not sure what else to say,” he admitted, trying to keep his pride in his voice as he admitted that he hadn’t actually given this any more thought than the simple act of approaching her and declaring it. The Allmother told him to go for it! Why was this not going smoothly?

This statement and the awkward moment of silence that passed had her energy changing shades and shapes altogether. It went from a storm of all kinds to a single message: disbelief.

Oh no. He knew that expression. It always made him want to just scoop her up and take her to his lair, add her to his horde. But the chase was part of the hunt, and as much as he hoped she’d just go for it… well, this was par for the course. He’d have to change things if he was going to court her seriously.

“By the primordial, you seriously just… did this, didn’t you?” she asked, face incredulous. “You… didn’t come with so much as a speech, nevermind a well thought out date? Didn’t even so much as put on something nice? You really just… just assumed that I’d fall for your charms immediately once you told me, didn’t you?!” She asked, standing up to her admittedly well-smaller height of 5’10”. Yet her aura and tenacity made up the height difference, making him feel like he was being lectured by an equal. He knew that was not the case in every way… but tell that to his skipping heart.

The fiery not-quite-dragoness glared right into his eyes. “Wow. Color me fucking…” she began, putting a hand on his chest and pushing a bit. He let her move him. “My apologies for the language, but I simply cannot believe you. Did you think I’d be so easy as that? That you could just step in, declare intent, and have me melt into your arms?” she asked, frustration clear in her tone, “I was going to say get back to me when you’ve got a serious proposition, at the very least a bloop-damned dowry, but don’t bother. I’ve told you I expect to be treated like a lady, and by the primordial, I will. That does not include third chances. If you were going to take me seriously, you would have by now, and I’ve got no interest in someone who needs to be told that a daughter of a knight and archduchess of a nation has a few expectations.”