Note: I'm not turning this in looking at love story with the shy shoulder grab. Aelar comes from a tight knit little 'family' where frequent contact is expected. This is more a sign of feeling close to his new friends, though I can see how Utes might take it another way
At this point I thought you all had. If you don't have it marked you all do. Man, I really thought I had handed that out. Guess I should check character sheets more often. INSPIRATION FOR ALL!
I really think that, by base rules, you should be able to wield a rapier and a dagger without a feat. That was the most common type of dual wielding back in the day. (And would totally be what this character would do)
If the two weapons have the light property you can. The dual wielding feat, or fighting style, only allows you to add your appropriate stat modifier to the damage for the attack. If you don't have that then you can still make the attacks, but your second attack doesn't gain any bonus to the damage roll. (Attack seems unaffected either way).
Then on your turn if you use your action to attack with one, you get to use a bonus action to attack with the other right away. Keeping in mind you can only have one bonus action per round.