Lessons of Flirt (2000)

Characters: Strangleweed, Starblaze (Flashpad) Written by: Mia ”You need what!?” A voice full of hilarity and mirth echoed trough the rainy forest. Soon it was followed by an amused laughter. Starblaze blushed to deep scarlet, as Strangleweed the plantshaper tried to gather herself from the fit of giggles. ”Mother told me to see you and ask for advice.” he tried to explain, his voice a mere mumble. ”Advice to flirt and such...!” Strangleweed repeated and had another fit of giggles. ”It's the funniest thing I've ever heard!” she exclaimed and wiped the tears of joy away. The lad felt embarrassed. He started to regret it, that he had tracked down the plantshaper. Starblaze kicked a pebble. ”You won't help me? Fine.” He was about to leave, but the auburn-haired female placed her hand on his shoulder. ”No no.” she said to the boy's joy, ”I'll help.” Strangleweed patted a mossless rock in the circle of stones of various sizes. The lad obeyed and sat down on the stone. Strangleweed asked, ”What do you want to know?” Now, this was hard. Starblaze had to ponder the question for a moment. Flashpad, his wolfbond, came to his side and begged for a scratch. Starblaze reached his hand towards the wolf, and finally replied to the plantshaper, as he scratched Flashpad behind the ear. ”I want to know ... everything.” He looked at Strangleweed, who seemed a little troubled about the lad's reply. ”Well, I...” she murmured, being a little unsure what to say, ”I am honoured that you came to me with such an awkward question.” She gave an encouraging smile to the lad and then crossed her legs. ”I don't know, if I can teach you everything. Just a thing or two.” Strangleweed a solemn cough and then concentrated to the task at hand. ”What seems to be the trouble?” Sighing lightly, the lad ruffled his hair. ”I don't know... No, I mean... The females I've approached have been ... cold towards me.” Suddenly he felt a little teary-eyed. ”I just wonder, if I do something wrong? If I hurt them...?” The plantshaper rolled her eyes at the tearful look. She had a feeling, that Starblaze took things way too seriously. ”Hum...” she mused, ”first thing. Flirting should never be taken as a serious matter.” she announced and waited the lad to stop his sobs. He had cast his gaze downwards, but looked at Strangleweed again. ”Oh?” he breathed out and then gave a nod. Strangleweed continued, ”But feelings involved – they are a serious matter.” Starblaze frowned and looked puzzled. He kept on scratching Flashpad as he said: ”I don't quite understand, now.” Giving him the Look that all females knew, Strangleweed thought: ~Stoneskull!~ She rubbed her other temple she explained; ”Girls are not like toys. You can't just use one for your amusement and toss her away, moving on to new girl.” Starblaze felt a blush creeping on his cheeks again, but this time it was fury. ”Of course not!” he exclaimed, making Flashpad jump a little. ”That was not my intention!” The wolf yapped at the raised voice and the lad had to calm the wolf down. Strangleweed picked a late-blooming flower and toyed with it. ”What makes you think, that the females wouldn't be interested?” Unlike the troubled youth, she had kept calm and she looked coolly to the lad, who shrugged. ”They disagree with everything I say... They don't warm up to my tries.” Chuckling a little, the plantshaper changed her pose. The movement was very elegant and fine. ”You need to learn to read the body language, too. If a girl smiles to you, laughs... Then she is definately willing and up to some flirt. Starblaze gave another nod, and Strangleweed continued, ”She may flutter her eyelashes, or maybe touch you – on the arm or shoulder. That is positively a good sign.” Strangleweed stood up, stretching. She had spent the whole might gathering some leaves, seeds and roots for Wolfsbane's uses. Now she felt like moving on with the gathering. Starblaze perked up as well. ”What?” he asked as the shaper was leaving, ”Is that all you give me?” He ran after the elfess, Flashpad on his heels. ”I have so much to ask!” **Who said that I would end it here?** Strangleweed asked in sending as she searched for a plant called dot-leaf. **Follow me and make yourself useful.** Strablaze had no other choise than to follow, since he did not wish to leave the spring of knowledge. **Flirt you can by actions and words.** the female explained the subject further. She knelt as the searched plant was found. **Approach the female and flatter her. Nothing sappy, or anything that would be a real lie. If you notice that the spesific someone has put some effort to something, go and admire it. Or just starting a conversation with the line 'You look lovely this evening' is enough.** The lad came closer and watched the female gathering. He said nothing, as he chewed on her words, so to speak. Strangleweed kept on, **Flirt is a business, that takes a long time, sometimes. Females might not like the idea at first, or they play hard-to-get to see how far you are willing to go.** ”Uh-huh”, Starblaze muttered and then started to help the plantshaper with her gathering. ”Later on, you can give a nice nickname to the lass.” Strangleweed said out loud, ”Such as 'gem', 'little dreamberry', 'sweet bird', or 'fawn'. Just to remember not to over-use the name or name two females the same.” Strangleweed took the herbs and made a tight bunch of them. Then she rose on her feet again and left the place, Starblaze following her. While walking the bunch of herbs under her other arm, she removed the headpiece that adorned her forehead every day. She showed it to the lad. ”You can give gifts too, if you feel up to it. I got this from one of my past lovers, but nowadays, something like this might be too big thing, and give a wrong idea, like courting for a lifemate. Give flowers, fruit, berries, smaller trinkets.” She winked at Starblaze, ”Even a small stone might become special, if you give it a special meaning or a story.” She wore the metal headband again and noticed that they were close to the Holt's Father Tree again. Now it was a good time to end this night's lesson, Strangleweed decided. ”And the word 'special' brings us to the one of the most important things.” She turned to look at Starblaze, having a small moment of silence to give some effect. ”You need to make the girl feel special” she said, ”No one likes to be just one of the many. ...And never hurt anyone's feelings on purpose.” Starblaze had fallen silent. Despite the plantshaper saying, that flirt was not serious, there seemed to be many invisible rules. He scratched the back of his head and repeated many of the things he had learned tonight. Well, when they were fit together, they made sense ... In a way. Finally, his face was adorned with a sunny smile. In the moment's impulse he wrapped his arms around Strangleweed. ”Oh, so many thanks, Strangleweed!” he said with a loud tone of voice, ”You're such a jewel!” The female was stunned at first, but then could not help but smile. ”You see?” she said, ”You're learning already.” Starblaze looked at her and gave a cheeky smile. ”So, how about some ...?” he was about to ask, but Strangleweed bapped his arm. ”In your dreams, cub.” she said, still giving him a wink.