~from Kirito's POV 2nd person~
You waited off to the side, arms crossed defensively.
"C'mon, man!" Klein said, trying to slap you on the back, but you sidestepped and let him nearly tumble into a tree. Evening had only just dawned, and he was already half-drunk. "I'm telling you, Kirito, my friend. You're a total lady-killer. No one can resist-"
You easily punched Klein in the face, not feeling even an ounce guilty as he fell to the ground.
"Hey, Kirito," you heard as Olivera approached from behind you.
"Hey," you replied, rubbing your fist, but you stopped when you saw her. She was wearing a dark green dress with a laced bodice and elbow-length gloves. On top of that, she was wearing a flower crown that you were willing to bet the fairies wove for her and braided into her hair. The outfit was finished with soft riding boots in a soft leather. "You look...good," you said, blushing slightly, and she just shrugged cluelessly.
"Thanks?" she said, making it sound like a question. "I dunno. I just found it in my inventory." She looked at you and smiled. "You look pretty good, too."
You blushed harder and glared down at Klein. "Thanks, Olivera." You had traded in your normal black cloak for a black sleeveless shirt, soft black pants, and black boots. Earlier that night, on your way to your prearranged meeting place, some players who were wandering around with skin paint adorned your left arm in a series of black swirls, and your right arm somehow ended up with a black cuff for a bracelet (and you weren't quite sure where it came from). The thing that pissed you off, though, and why you'd temporarily incapacitated Klein was because the fairies that were flitting around had decided to generously douse you in fairy dust. So yes, you were shimmering and glittering, and yes, Klein seemed to think that was funny.
"What's wrong with Klein?" she asked, finally noticing the lump of a human by your feet.
"Don't worry about him," you said, diverting her attention by offering your arm. "Let's go on to the dance."
She nodded, smiling at you, and accepted your arm, letting you lead her away.
***
You two arrived at the common square a few minutes later and observed what was happening. Everybody was dancing in couples to lively music, the area lit up by lantern-light and fairies who were flying around and even dancing while flying.
"Want to dance?" Olivera asked you, and you nodded, smiling before mentally panicking because how the heck were you supposed to do this?
"Um..." you said, trying to figure out where to put your hands (hip? shoulder? !!) until she placed them for you, already drawing you into the dance.
When you looked at her, you didn't think about Asuna. In fact, you weren't even aware of Asuna's existence. The only thing that existed right now was this strange girl with a tragic fate who seemed to enjoy a simple dance.
At the end of the dance, you realized that most people exchanged a brief yet friendly kiss that must have been somehow part of the custom of the dance, but Olivera backed away with a half-smile, bowing her head slightly. "I know. It's okay."
"You know about what?" you asked, feeling like you were always half a step behind.
"I know about Asuna. So don't worry, because I'm not going to push you to do anything," she said, smiling and waving. "Thanks for tonight. I need to be getting back now." She winked and disappeared behind a tree, and when you ran after her, she was gone.
You sighed, leaning against a tree, confusion mixing around in your head. You weren't sure what just happened...and why it upset you that she backed away...
...and why I noticed that she looked good...
Something else troubled you. It's almost as if she believes that she doesn't deserve to be loved. For a moment, the thought compelled you that you needed to find out what her life was like as a non-SAO human.
I want to learn about who she was and who she is, you realized, only adding to your mounting confusion.
With a sigh, you took your glittery self back to where you'd left Klein.
"C'mon, we're going home," you said, beginning to pick him up by easing his arm around your shoulder.
"Hey, Sparkles. Is Peter Pan a friend of yours?" Klein asked, clearly drunk by this point. "Or was the girl with you Tinker Bell?"
Bam. You punched him again and began walking away. "Good night, Klein."
"WAIT WAIT TAKE ME BACK WITH YOU!" he cried out, and you reluctantly did.
"But if you say one more thing about-"
"Glitter?" he slurred, and you dropped him again, walking away.
"WAIT!!"
"Good bye, Klein."
~and so Klein lay in the forest the entire night, cold and alone...~
Lesson learned: don't screw with Kirito.