"Call it as you like. They clearly care" Caius pointed out, not hearing out her attempts to deter them from the point of it. "Perhaps we can all have dinner together sometime however, if that is your preference. Serah and I were supposed to go for lunch to discuss business, but she ended up almost burning her food because she forgot she put it in, so I ended up just helping her make dinner instead" he mused aloud at that. How she had forgotten she had just put on food when he'd shown up, when they were supposed to be going out for lunch, he didn't know.

Lumina began to talk as though she had a mother herself and wasn't a part of "Lightning" given life, and that confused Caius for a moment until he seemed to make the connection that she was referring to her own "Lightning" memories. From before she became Lumina. Talk about confusing. But he did at least understand, to some extent. Even if he couldn't empathise.

"Wanting to grow up fast is far better than being made to grow up fast, at the very least. And I'm sure Serah knows that you meant well" Caius did try to provide some matter of perspective, unwittingly revealing a bit about himself in the process. "She seems happy with her fiance. The only issue being he's not here right now. You may not forgive yourself, but if she's happy with where she is, I think you did alright. We always want things to go differently than how they did in almost every scenario. It's natural."

Would he have spared those bandits' lives now? With the knowledge he'd gained since? Did he wish that had gone differently? That they'd made a child an accessory to a pack of murderers, then were surprised when that child turned the blade on them?

A voice deep down told him no. If he could not stop the death of his family, then he would not have stopped what came next.

Lumina held out her hand, then. Not her arm, but her hand. While he looked perplexed a moment, Caius decided to humor her and took her hand in kind. At least now it wouldn't look so strange. Bound to fuel a few rumors, however.

"Where to?"

Caius was still learning the ins and outs of the strange family Farron. However, what he did know was that by what he had seen of Claire and Serah’s impression of Lumina, they cared for her greatly. Claire had gone out of her way to ensure that he got all dressed up for what he was told was just to get to meet her. And Serah, as it turned out, was very much on board with this plan. So yeah. He got the impression that they did in fact care. How many “dates” Claire intended for him, he had no idea. What the intention of them was, he also had no idea. But with Lumina, it at least sounded like an attempt to help her meet people again after what she had been through.

While Lumina thought on where she wanted to go, or at least that’s how Caius interpreted it, she talked about how Serah had stepped up as a cook, and had gotten to do what she hadn’t been able to in the old world. Caius couldn’t help the slightest smile at that. “I seem to find more in common with your family by the day” he cheeked softly. “Not the cooking, I mean. I don’t really know how to cook beyond with a fire. I used to help back home, but… That was over a decade ago. And Torensten’s cooking utensils are different still. But with getting to do things that I hadn’t thought possible in my own world” he brought up then. “Being able to travel freely, explore the world, meet and interact with people. Actually have a decent meal here and there that isn’t cup noodles...” he mused aloud, though remembered to note: “Don’t get me wrong. Cup Noodles are delicious, I’ll treat you sometime. But I became a little sick of them being the only food that wasn’t monster meat and dry rations for the better part of eight years. Food under the King was a little better, but not by much with limited resources. Still…”

He gestured down at his garb. “Back home, I’m not getting all dressed up to meet the sister of a teenager I’ve struck a fellowship with. I still fall asleep forgetting to remove my armor sometimes.”

But Caius eventually noticed that Lumina seemed to have spaced out. He didn’t say anything, not at first. He’d said a lot and maybe he should be offended that she zoned out, but he did, again, say a lot. He was feeling a bit self-conscious, however. Lumina didn’t acknowledge it and neither did he. She then talked about Serah and her fiancé, and how she indeed was made to grow up too fast. He forgot sometimes that the three of them were over a century old, technically.

“As was I” Caius brought up at that. “Though my case was different in that I lost my family when I was young. I didn’t have anybody left to be separated from and didn’t trust enough to form attachments again” he added. “Growing up that quickly isn’t easy, by any means. But I’m glad that at the least, things turned out alright for you.”

She seemed… Surprised. When Caius took her hand. He blinked twice. Wasn’t that what she wanted? She looked away shyly. Had he done something wrong? His confusion and concern actually made him squeeze her hand even harder. Which probably didn’t help the situation at all.

“Plasir de Magicka?” he echoed then. Was that the place she wanted to go? “You will have to forgive me, I am not actually super accustomed to all the places in Torensten. I have not been in the city long enough at a time to actually explore it properly. I usually travel, or am at work."

First date and already bringing up her date with the old guy. Was that normal? Caius had no idea if that was normal. It didn't feel normal. Though the confusing talk continued when Lumina declined a group dinner, instead choosing to... Want to have him to herself for a little while? He blinked a few times, trying to process her meaning. But ultimately took it as just wanting to spend more time getting to know one another. Which wasn't off the mark per se, but...

"I understand. I'm happy to do this again until you're comfortable, if you wish" he responded at that. Why she wanted to get to know him more before sharing a dinner table with him and her sisters when he already knew her sisters well, he didn't know. But if that's what she wanted, he would oblige. "Perhaps you can help me find this place you want to go? I understand if you're too tired to lead the way. Just... Help me out as much as you can."

"At this rate, Claire will start telling me to marry in" Caius couldn't help the joke. Considering he was almost already part of it at this point and Claire was putting him on "dates" with people she considered her "sisters", the joke wasn't that off the mark. Lumina didn't comment on his lack of cooking skills or his offer to treat her to cup noodles, and he figured it was just do do with her spacing, so he didn't comment further. She did however, squeeze back. So at least it seemed like she was alright, which let him visibly relax a bit now that the concern had been settled. Her overall demeanor seemed to have changed... Though Caius wasn't able to pinpoint the specifics.

It was, however, as though her exhaustion from her rather dramatic and flashy transformation had disappeared. Speaking of, Caius had been trying to move them a bit more quickly while still respecting the fact she was exhausted and not pushing her too much too fast. The flashy show had caught attention, and between that and the fact Caius' statue was right there, he didn't really want to interrupt the conversation with, well. Interruptions. He kept a little closer because of that, ducking his head a little to blend in better with Lumina. Her hair color, he'd figured, would be more striking in comparison to his own and be more what held attention to the average set of eyes. Which would allow him to blend in more easily if he used her as cover.

Though what she said next gave him pause, and he looked at her quizzically when she did. That she had never actually been there. Which would mean that she'd never been on a date herself. Which... Couldn't be possible, right? Her sisters had made it clear she had been in a romantic entanglement before. Didn't people do dates first? Wasn't that the point of dates, usually? It made no logical sense. Caius had clearly been mistaken about her meaning in relation to the place, but considering what little he knew, it was little wonder. But while he wanted to ask, he didn't want to call her out on this either. Not in relation to the one who had disappeared. He didn't want to prod too painfully. So he'd have to choose his words carefully.

"You can't tell me you've never been on a date before. You, of all people? Never had what I am sure has been many a person take enough of an interest to want to engage in that fashion? Just because I'm inexperienced doesn't mean you have to pretend to be" Caius teased, hoping that was the best way possible to sate his curiosity without hurting Lumina. She had just gone through a lot, emotionally. But it was strange that she acted as though this were her first date. Even if she had been, until now, quite wishy washy on whether it had been or not. Why were people so confusing? Why were the Farron sisters confusing especially?

At least she knew where the place was, so he nodded as he began to go where she guided him. He rolled his eyes playfully when she asked how he couldn't know the sights. "I know them better than before, since my co-leader went on her very long vacation which... Really hasn't been a vacation at all and more of a working one. But I still spend a fair amount of time at work, aye" Caius responded at that. "A lot of people depend on the Dragonblades. And the Dragonblades depend on me to ensure they get to where they're needed, and that their needs are met as well. So I need to do my part."

Actually speaking like a leader for once, even if he wouldn't see it that way. He listened as she described this park. He did recall hearing of something like that... "Right, I think I recognize it from something I read" Caius mused aloud after having no doubt read the notes that his own writer had made, for the sake of writer to character convenience. She also mentioned the letters she got, which she rejected. "So many requests you actually reject them? My point has been made, Miss Lumina Farron" Caius teased again, seeming to at least be getting more into the rapport between them as it went on.

Lumina looked like she was about to cook under her own body heat when she said that. Squinting a moment, Caius placed a hand on her forehead. She was definitely a bit hot, but didn't seem to actually be sick or even exhausted anymore. "I don't quite know how they intend to pull that one off" Caius joked at that, watching her a moment longer to ensure she was fine before they continued on. Lumina then confirmed that she had, in fact, never been on a date. She had, however, confessed her feelings and had them returned. Without any real process or dates for that matter. Caius was more than a little bit confused, but... He did recall something Sarah had said. Was this what she meant by the idea of a whirlwind romance? Love still remained a confusing thing to Caius. Though unfortunately, it appeared her lover had disappeared soon after their arrival to Torensten. Meaning, considering the Farron family had only moved to Torensten a little while ago... It was possible that this incident was quite fresh in Lumina's mind -- and heart.

She did however, brag about her cooking skill. And how she could cook "proper" ramen. Caius had thought cup noodles were pretty great, so he hadn't really thought about "proper" ramen before. "I dunno, Cup Noodles might just surprise you. Prepare it with the right things and it can get you through a good portion of the day" Caius brought up at that, though seemed to sense she was looking for something here. "I wouldn't mind giving yours a try, however. I'm open to new things."

Her talk about her ex whom had disappeared reminded him a bit of Garnet's impression of Zidane. But Lumina, she knew that the man was gone. Garnet... She hadn't seemed to accept that entirely just yet. She had said she was preparing to have to, considering the oddity of how long he had been gone. But Caius could tell that deep down, Garnet was in denial.

Lumina praised his work ethic and claimed that Claire had revered him for it. The mercenary sheepishly nodded with a shy smile in thanks at that. He never did take compliments well. It always made him feel a little awkward. Speaking of awkward, Lumina dismissed the letters as simply business. However, they did expect her to bring a date. Ah, there's the rub. Suddenly the threads began to weave, wove, and tie together to form a picture for Caius' understanding of the situation. But this picture overlooked a vast, deep spring. With waters that began to thicken as Lumina spoke further. Wanting to clear the air, as she said.

The proclamation, and question that followed -- gave Caius pause.

"Huh?"

The mercenary froze up, staring at her long and hard as he tried to process what Lumina had just said.

"Caius, will you go on a date with me?"

Had she actually said that? As in, asking seriously? She had been pretty wishy washy and jokey about this being a date, and Caius had just sort of gone along with whatever she wanted at this juncture with no real thought to her actual intentions. It seemed she had just wanted some company and was a bit of a tease about calling it a date. But this was different. She meant it this time. As this dawned on Caius, the reality of the situation did as well.

This context was completely different from Claire setting him up on a date with Sarah. Or Celes pulling him into a blind dating event only to get set up with him herself when she actually was wanting and expecting her prince or princess charming — which she’d made, very, VERY clear that Caius was not. Or being given the runaround with riddles and demanded that HE ask if he should show up to a viewing box to watch them as their “date”, only for them to never elaborate on this further. This was very cut and dry. Lumina was actually asking. There was no practical reason for it that Caius could think of, and she already was in his company should this be some matter of trap - even if he doubted Lumina was the type. She had already met Caius, already essentially secured his friendship and after that transformation had procured something of what he could apparently do for her already. They were, at present, out and about, and on a practical basis could easily go to this Magicka place without it being the context of a date. She could say to her people that it was purely platonic. Or telling HIM that despite her story before, that it was platonic. Worst case scenario, if they expected it bad enough, ask him to pass off to get them off her back. But it was not any of those things. He could tell by her expression that she was dead serious, and dead set on this.

Between this and the clear nerves behind it, not even Caius could be completely blind. Not completely anyway. He at least clued in on one thing. The only explanation was that she meant this request in an actual romantic context, wanting to make this a date to see if they were… Compatible, in a sense. And she was asking after already getting to know him a great deal. It was…

Honestly, he didn’t know how to feel. This was new. Completely uncharted and very much intimidatingly new territory for him. He was actually starting to sweat a bit - how did he even begin to process this? Much less know what to say? His grip on her hand had only tightened on accident as he tried to, pun entirely intended, come to grips with what was going on.

After a bit of a no doubt awkward silence, Caius took a deep breath as he managed a sheepish smile on one corner of his mouth, the other busy chewing the inside of his cheek.

"Aren't we already on a date?" Caius decided to tease, summoning enough confidence to muster a grin as he quickly nodded, indicating he actually was saying yes.