After gathering everything he needed from the bedding aisle, Klaus started his search for a pair of bedside slippers—something soft that would keep his feet during the chilly winter mornings.
As he wandered through the aisles aimlessly, his mind drifted back to the encounter a few minutes prior. The memory of Ginger's face turning as red as a ripe tomato made his heart race once more.
Lost in his thoughts, he became oblivious to his surroundings and nearly collided with a child running by, but stopped the cart just in time. A man in a baby blue button-up and khaki dress pants came around the corner and immediately apologized before making haste after his child.
"THOMAS, STOP RUNNING!" The father demanded and called out for his son.
Sadly, his efforts were met with nothing but laughter and nimbleness. Klaus moved up slightly, getting a better glimpse of the fleeing pair. Thomas's father continued to pursue him, caught in a blend of desperation and a hint of amusement.
The father-son duo disappeared into the back of the store, leaving behind a trail of cheerful laughter that slowly faded with them. Sounds of conversations pierced through Klaus's thoughts as his eyes played upon a small group of women.
'Since I've already used the skill on Ginger, there's not much of a point in me testing it again.' He contemplated for a moment, his gaze on the brunette with short hair that bobbed right below her ear, weighing the pros and cons. 'Fuck it, I don't really lose anything… but it wouldn't hurt to be a little discreet.'
He shuffled behind a row of hoodies and zip-ups alike and crouched, creating a small opening.
'Discerning Gaze'
His eyes narrowed into slits as a screen blinked in front of him.
Emotion: Mildly Annoyed, Flustered, Exposed
Affection: 0/100
Lust: 19/100
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At the same time, the woman in front of him frantically covered herself, her arms crossing over her chest and crotch while her lips pursed into a frown, looking around for whatever caused that feeling.
She gazed in Klaus's direction a few times, but because of his cover behind a clothing rack, it didn't linger.
Her friends looked at her, their faces filled with confusion and worry. She took one last glance around before sighing and letting out something inaudible. Her hands reluctantly dropped down to her side as if nothing had happened.
The group nodded at whatever she said before turning to leave. The hidden culprit, on the other hand, waited about half a minute after their departure.
Klaus quietly poked his head out from behind the clothing rack, making sure the coast was clear before entirely vacating his cover. He stood up and dusted off his guilt, then focused his gaze back to the screen.
"As I thought." He walked over to the red shopping cart stuffed around a corner. "It's the same thing, for the most part. The only things that change are their affection, lust, and mood, as of now anyway. Maybe leveling up will change that."
He muttered the last bit with a thoughtful expression when something caught the corner of his eye.
"Bedside slippers!" he exclaimed. Just as he said that, a familiar figure came into view. Bright, wavy autumn-colored hair cascaded over her shoulder, spilling onto her olive-green sundress. Ginger walked over with a sway in her hips, holding onto a few cosmetics.
Ginger placed the items in the cart. Spotting the slippers, she looked at Klaus for a moment, then turned away with her ears taking on a hint of red.
"Finally found those slippers, huh?" she said, her face remaining neutral. But Klaus knew neutral was far from the truth.
Mood: Flustered, Mildly Aroused, Slightly Suspicious
Affection: 13/100
Lust: 60/100
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'Her lust went up?' He pondered to himself, unaware of her question. 'How?'
Ginger noticed his silence and asked the question once more, yet there was no response. Temporarily putting aside her shyness, she walked up to him, waving her slender hand in front of his eyes; however, that didn't work, as the system's interface blocked his view.
While Klaus remained lost in thought, Ginger inched forward, trying various (non-physical) ways to draw his attention, but none seemed to work. She now stood right beside him, her face barely inches away from his.
As Klaus caught the familiar scent wafting beside him, he turned his head. The movement was neither hurried nor was it slow—whatever the case was, the outcome ended with his lips pressing against another, soft and inviting. Both of their eyes widened in surprise, Klaus's growing even wider as he recognized the redhead in front of him.
None of them moved. They stood still while their lips continued to kiss one another. Ginger was the first to move—albeit not away. Her eyelids fell, while her hand slid up Klaus's abdomen before nesting on his right pec.
The mix of her soft, luscious lips combined with her small hand that rested on his chest made his heart pound. His eyes fluttered shut, pressing firmly against the base. On their own, his arms maneuvered around her small, toned waist before resting on her lower back just centimeters away from her gym-grown curves.
There were no thoughts, just raw, primal instinct. In silent agreement, both of their lips parted, but it only lasted for a moment that ended with Ginger pushing him away.
Her hands were spread across his chest as their lips pulled apart, leaving behind a transparent strand of saliva—a faint reminder of their shared intimacy.
Looking down at his lips, embarrassed, Ginger went bright red as she took a step back to collect herself. Klaus looked at her before glancing at her open status window in his left peripheral.
Mood: Aroused
Affection: 13/100
Lust: 80/100
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'Her mood changed,' he thought, with a gentle smirk. 'Her lust also went up by twenty.'
Klaus noted down all the changes before mentally waving the screen away into a cloud of purple smoke.
"Let's try this."