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Cilan was a connoisseur of many things, may it be Pokémon, trains, films, among other things, he prided himself in his extensive knowledge of the world. And of course, he was always delighted to share his knowhow with anyone that showed interest. After all, knowledge is meant to be shared – the exchange of knowledge creates a marvelous blend of culture and ideas that melt together to make the world a splendid mélange of bountiful flavors!
As others learned from Cilan, he, too, would learn a lot in the process. That's what made being a connoisseur such a fulfilling experience.
So it should be without saying that, when he was asked by his dear friend to offer some advice about the realm of romance, he was eager to oblige. The subject: intimacy. In other words, it's kissing time!
"Hey, first try calming down a little. Breathe," Cilan rubbed their stiffened shoulders, feeling relieved when they finally exhaled.
"Try breathing through your nose," he advised. "And… try to relax, if you can. We can go as slow as you want, however many times you want."
His words seemed to comfort them a little, but he could still feel them trembling ever so slightly underneath his touch.
"But, we can also stop here, if you want. And maybe try again another time, if–"
He was interrupted by them fervently shaking their head, exclaiming that yes, they were ready and wanted to do it now.
"Ah, that eagerness of yours is just splendid!" he stated. "Just like that, alright? Enthusiasm is the most important ingredient here."
They nodded, swallowing a gulp before asking Cilan to start. He couldn't help but let out a small smile seeing their eyes squeezed shut, face flushed – perhaps the only way to make the nervousness disappear is through experience.
Cilan tilted his head, softly planting a kiss on the other's lips. As expected, they stiffened again. He could clearly hear them take a sharp inhale.
He was about to pull away, worried he was making them uncomfortable, but the moment his lips started to leave theirs, he was immediately pulled back in by shaking hands wrapping around him.
Ah! Much like pasta that begins stiff and rigid, it took only time for the kiss to soften into something more tender and delicate. Though it lacked an experienced chef's mastery, it had the earnestness that only a budding cook could create!
His partner pulled away, apologizing for how bad it must have been.
"You did just fine! Especially for your first kiss," he said. "I can already sense a grand flavor profile from you! With just a little more practice, I think it'll be just perfect!"
The fact that this, too, was his first kiss would stay his own secret. Not to mention how much his heart was beating, either. This was the first step to his becoming a kissing connoisseur, after all! And when his partner asked if they could try one more time, the only answer was yes.