First date with Giovanni, pt. 3

{if tempAlpha = true}You share details of your own favored faith, and the two of you bounce ideas surrounding faith off of each other. If Giovanni has a specific opinion of your deity, he's not saying it, but you suppose that might be for the best - if he's at all close to Athena, then that also means he's wrapped up in Athena's personal rivalries, and it wouldn't be very wise to butt heads over a potential love interest because of your deity's spats. Still, at least this means that the two of you can over time bond over the fact that you both pursue the divine, even if it resulted in a short-term drift apart.{elseif tempBeta = true}"I have to say, first time I've ever heard that one. Of course, I don't get out and about all that much, and people rarely share their faith when paying the fee taker." As you two talk, conversation bounces around to several areas.{elseif tempGamma = true}"Ah, you're saying you don't favor any deity over another? I mean, fair enough, not many do; but the game of the gods does reward those who participate." Chat has dwindled, seems that faith isn't a subject you'll be able to readily connect with Giovanni on. The good news is that people are multi-faceted, and not every facet need be exposed.{else}One interesting fact is that because you can be a champion of multiple deities (lol, if you do that though, you're gonna be having a bad time), I can't actually have custom responses here for each deity. Rest assured, though, that your answer will have unique impact on Giovanni's affection for your character. "Why is she chattering on about the meta workings?" Because no one in game mode is ever gonna see this text and y'all who read this out of game mode miss out on a lot; might as well toss you a bone every now and then.{endif}

As conversation goes on, you notice that the sun's begun to set, at which point the two of you simply sit, watching the sunset together. After the sun goes down, Giovanni lights a torch and starts packing up the picnic blanket. "We should probably head back before we get locked out of the city." The two of you set out, and Giovanni lights a torch as you pass through the cave again, this time without sunlight bouncing off of crystals. You have to say, going through this cave at night is far spookier than you would have thought. During the day it's just a crystal cave, beautiful in the glinting light. At night, it has a far more sinister tone, jagged rocks on the walls waiting as if daggers in the night. You huddle close to the torch's light, not wanting to accidentally injure yourself on the cave wall. Eventually, you reach the rope, and Giovanni hands you the torch as he climbs down. Upon reaching the bottom, you hear echoing up, "toss me the torch and climb down; I'll catch you if you fall." Despite having just spent an afternoon with him, you're still apprehensive - will he truly be able to catch you? Well, if you don't you're gonna be stuck up here all night, so you might as well try. You start climbing down the rope, and do manage to climb down without issue.

The two of you head out of the last small portion of cave, and reemerge in the forest outside. "Better head back before they close the gate." The two of you travel back, seeing the gate start to close just as you get in sight of it. You start running, trying to catch it before it shuts, but it slams shut right as you get to it. "Let us in!" Giovanni shouts up. "Not a chance!" you hear yelled back. "Antonio, you cuck!" "Says the man in a relationship with five other people and dating a sixth!" "Oh, it's not like I'm fucking all of them!" "And that merely strengthens the idea that you are what you accuse me of!" Giovanni pauses for a bit before continuing. "Any chance you can let us in?!" "Not until you stop antagonizing the other nobles in legislature!" "I wouldn't call fighting for people to be treated as people antagonizing!" "They do though, and until you stop, rules are rules!" Giovanni sighs and looks at you. "Looks like we'll have to find another way in. Fortunately, I know a guy, or rather gal."

The two of you head along the wall, eventually reaching a spot where Giovanni weaves through the buildings outside of the wall, and knocks: knock knoc-knoc-knoc-knock. You hear knock knock in response from the other side. "Who is it?" "Any chance you can get Faexina?" The two of you wait there, and eventually you see a door within the door open, blue eyes staring at you. "What's the password?" you hear a melodic voice, not clearly being able to tell whether it's male or female based on it. Must be an elf, you think. "Please?" "Try again, dear." Giovanni sighs, clearly **** to say the password. Say it he does, however, "please, mistress." You break out into a grin as you realize why he didn't want to say the password. "Gotta keep you humble somehow, Giovanni." The door swings open, and you see in the moonlight an elf with skin the glimmers in the moonlight, reflecting its light, her silver hair doing the same. Her lithe figure only reveals her as female because of her gentle breasts.

The three of you pass through the wall, eventually emerging on the other side as Giovanni accompanies you to your current lodgings. "I believe this is goodbye for the night{if Gio of Cyllian love > 69}, but if you want to join the group, see me tomorrow about it — I believe that you would be a decent fit. You could also always go on more dates with me if you don't feel you know me well enough yet{endif}." He kisses you on the cheek, leaving you at the entrance to {if Cleric = true}the temple{else}the tavern{endif}.