[ Ayaka would have been fine if Cloud rejected it, but he doesn't and it's great!!! How far can she have him try all sorts of things with her until he says no, she wonders...
Oh, but he isn't... pulling away. Ayaka isn't sure if she should just stay there??? But she does anyway, their lips still pressed together. Whatever has happened to the mochi, Ayaka does not know. She'll enjoy this kiss instead, she'll focus on the feeling of his lips tasting like cocoa powder, close her eyes and just melt into it...
It feels like it's been so long since she last kissed him properly. The reality of it is that they kissed just before they started dinner, but it still feels like it's been ages, anyway. This moment right here feels like their first kiss in such a long time. Surely nothing will go wrong, right? ]
[ Were their relationship still young, or she hadn't staked her claim of his heart at all, Ayaka would have been met with a myriad of resistances. Resistances that, even still, could have crumbled for her anyway. That's just who Cloud was, keeping a tough appearance on the surface only for that glass to be transparent for the right person. Only now, on this Valentine's Day, for a girl he's moved cities (worlds) for, there were no walls to be found. At this point, anything she could have asked for, he would have given her. Anything less and he wasn't being a good beau for her.
She's...everything he could have wanted and never realized until he was lucky to have her. It fuels everything he does for herโ fuels the way in which he lets the taste of cocoa powder on his brush over her lips. As if kissing her couldn't get any sweeter. When he tries to sweep his lips against hers once more, parted slightly but not making any bids to deepen it yet- ]
Mn- [ Ah it's. On his tongue still. Whoops. Before he can just. Give that back to her he'll just draw back abruptly. Sighing through his nose, an apologetic little smile crosses his lips. ] Sorry.
[ And with that, chew through the little bite once, adding, ]
Mochi.
[ Sorry, Ayaka. He wasn't so sure that accidentally giving back your treat was the most romantic thing. But when Cloud does finish it, biting back the urge to chuckle, he's back to closing what little distance is left between them. ]
[ Honestly? Ayaka is having the time of her life right now. Being able to have somebody to celebrate such a romantic holiday is already a gift, but Cloud not being resistant to anything has been such a treat.
She's giggling when he stops kissing her, pulling away slightly to apologise. So he hadn't swallowed the mochi yet, then! That's okay. She can wait before kissing him again. They have all the time in the world.
And so, she waits. She sees him chew... chew... swallow?
That's her signal! She leans in just in time as he closes the distance between them once more. With that, the rest of the world fades away, and it just becomes a young girl all alone with the love of her life, having a picnic together under a sea of stars shining brightly.
It feels so right, like this, to have his lips on hers. The night is still young, but if they ended their date like this, Ayaka would have no complaints whatsoever. She's so happy at this time, and with no threats of interruption anymore, she leans in a little closer, her free hand resting on his lap instead of on the mat. ]
[ What's a day or three out of the year? ...even if he would need to mentally pep himself up to tell himself that he can do all of this. And was Ayaka knows, when Cloud does set his mind on something, he commits. Lucky her, prep or none, he actually wants to do these things with her.
Her giggle is like a remedy for his nerves, and he's right back to it. Even if he's awkward to begin with in leaning back in, there's something boyish in how he eagerly wants to get back to kissing her. It was too good to stop so early, and the young couple were practically brimming with touch energy that they were never in need of a top-up. The world fades, and it's only the brightest star in front of him that he can see before he closes his eyes.
He slides his legs out from underneath him, hand bracing him at Ayaka's side while her hand finds purchase on his lap. Just a little push. Embrace this happiness. The night is still young, but he's not keen on letting it end either. Cloud's solace was knowing that he'd have her tomorrow morning to look at, but if he keep this halcyon day of memory lane going just a little longer...
One kiss. A sweep of his lips against hers. He tastes like fresh cocoa powder, and she tastes like traces of it from what she kept tucked between her lips before...and beyond that as he deepens the kiss? She's every bit the girl that he committed to memory on his tongue. Just a single deepened kiss with her threatens to crack a spark over the kindling once more, droplets of fuel that would see these two flare up. But he doesn't let it happen. He wants to preserve this longer.
Don't let this night end yet. And as he smiles against her lips, an impulse guides him as he speaks up between slow kisses. ]
Hey...
[ Just as he was all eyes on her. All ears, Ayaka, for this wild thought. ]
Wanna go to Frostreign tonight? [ His free hand drifts between them, not to take her hand out of his lap, but to rest his atop hers. Another kiss, before she can fully answer him...one that moves closer to the corner of her mouth like he's meaning to take this trail somewhere. ] We'll buy clothes there.
[ Amenities, everything they could need instead of teleporting all the way back to Sunwaning. They meant to leave tomorrow. But they're already so close... Just as close as Cloud's lips were to dipping into her neck, as soft as before. No biting. No marking. No sucking. ]
[ Her eyes flitter open ever so slightly when he calls his attention. She can barely focus when she doesn't pull away, the lack of distance between the two of them allowing her to breathe him in.
Ayaka never really thought of what would happen tonight beyond surprising Cloud one after the other. She didn't consider how he might react beyond accepting the presents given to him. Kisses, handholds, hugging her, they're all wishes, but if Cloud didn't give those to her tonight on this date, then she would be the one to give it all to him. And so, when he kisses her, tells her to change their plans and just go to Frostreign tonight instead, it surprises her.
This wasn't in her plans at all... Even when she tries to predict what Cloud might want to do, this wasn't in any of her guesses. And it would seem that she can't read his mind all the time, after all. ]
Eh? But...
[ They'll buy clothes there... His lips are on the corner of her mouth. His hand, so warm and heavy compared to hers, resting on her own. How soft his voice sounds at this time, so inviting... if she knew any better, Cloud could hypnotise with the sound of his voice and with his words.
Her eyes close again as she swallows, just in time for his lips to trail down to her neck. There's no way she could say no... ]
[ The sound of his lips sweeping, teetering on suckling but not daring leave a mark, is so loud as he follows the tremor in her voice. Places a little more pressure on her hand in his, until he can maneuver it just a little bit... Just enough so that his fingers can wedge snug between hers. ]
And we're already right there. [ It may be nighttime, but... ] We've got enough for tonight. We'll go out tomorrow.
[ Yeah, she should have predicted that this would happen. He left his scooter back at home, using the teleporters all the way out here. He has an excess in funds. All of which he wouldn't mind spending on them this getaway. Letter after letter after letter...heartfelt memory after heartfelt memory...
Then he breathes again, kisses dipping lower only to be stopped by the collar of her kimono. But that's fine. ]
[ How could Ayaka predict such a reaction when she's never witnessed anything like it before? Cloud is usually very tempered, the voice of reason when she's the one getting too carried away with her requests and whims. Sure, there may have been instances in the past, like when he was affected by the moon, or it was the month of love, but while those were all his own choices, they were also influenced by something more.
But tonight, it is all Cloud. It's just him making this request, making his presence known by slipping his fingers in between her own. The goosebumps have even made their way to her neck now, but it's him saying "please", the need in his voice for his wish to come true that gets her.
It's like electricity passes through her and she shudders from it, squeezing his hand tighter in turn. She wasn't going to say no, but this only made her say yes sooner. ]
Mm... [ That was both a sound of agreement and a whimper. ] We'll- We'll go to Frostreign early...
[ Tonight, she means. She'll have to send a message to Ayato that she won't be coming home tonight. Oh dear... Hopefully he won't judge too hard. It's all Cloud's fault.
That does... make her wonder, though. Of course she'll let Cloud call the shots, since it is a day to celebrate him. She only inches closer to him to rest on him, but he's free to continue kissing her all over however he wants. Even if it does make Ayaka squirm in her seat. ]
[ The man that woke up in the land of Nippon and the individual he's become today? It's less that Cloud completely changed so much as he was given an open door to freely walk through. For the first time, it felt like he had a choice. Even if it was a choice that was beyond one in a million. A life he never should have been able to call his own when it was with his fingers weaving over Ayaka's like this. There was no sway of the Youkai to urge him to take and give whatever he wanted this time. Or a moonless night that yielded way to the beast neither one of them would soon forget.
No.
If Cloud was going to tryโ really try, than he was going to make sure he did this right. No matter how much time they have left, whether they defy fate and see themselves through to the very end, or he's forced to take the longer journey back home to her, chasing that little whimper she lets out when she agrees to Frostreign is one of the many reasons he can do this. That he'll never stop surrendering all of his heart to her.
Ayaka once told him that she couldn't. That she couldn't let him have all of her after all. But, the more he laid in bed at night while they hurt, and thought about it all... She was telling the truth, and yet she was lying to herself all at once; that's what Cloud felt. Because he has the memory of what it felt like to have all of her. He'll hold that memory in his heart, and use it to carry him to the end of that wish he made in her name.
Would she be able to feel the way he smiles against her skin? The hum of approval and the softer sigh of relief that washes against lightly shimmering skin where he applied open-mouthed kisses? This was getting him warm under his collar, but nothing so heavy and yearning that he'd lose sense of where they were. He does grant Ayaka some reprieve when he draws away from the crook of her neck where he'd been kissing her. With her resting against him, as he shifts more upright, he half-embraces her with his free arm down the small of her back.
He's close to her ear now, answering her: ]
Pretty soon.
[ If he gets distracted by kissing her a few more times, he can't be at fault. His hand squeezes hers, gently, almost rhythmically as he kisses just in front of her ear, drawing the scent of her hair and just how easy it might have been to lay her down beneath the stars with him after all. But it's just like he said to her before.
He'll never stop wanting her. There's just a time and a place.
And with a deep breath in through his nose, and a hummed sigh back out, he finally draws away for real, sitting back enough so he can get a good look at her and how good she looked in that kimono tonight. But... ]
Just a sec.
[ Unraveling the navy scarf around his neck, if she'll let him, he plans on carefully slipping it around the back of hers, weaving it once around the front as he keeps a gentle hold of the ends with a smile. ]
There. [ A beat. ] A little chillier where we're headed.
[ Ayaka once thought that she could give him everything. For the longest time, she'd believed it to be so. She lived a life knowing that everything she has was for Cloud to take, whether he asked for it or not. There is nothing Ayaka could hold against him. Once, she even told him she would do anything for him, and she certainly wasn't lying then.
Presented with two doors and with a choice to make, however, she realised what her capabilities were, what the limits to her loyalty was. And it's been some time since she asked for Cloud's forgiveness and also the forgiveness of her brother's, and she's moved past it. The pain will remain though, even if she does not think about it all that often anymore. If the choice presents itself again, despite Cloud's own words, despite what Ayato said about how she should choose Cloud if it means her own safety, she still would not be able to do so.
The choice, the pain, and the heartache are all far away from her mind right now though. There is no need to dwell on it with all the promises she and Cloud have made to one another. The stars shine bright above them, perhaps even brighter than when they were here last, and the love they have for one another is stronger than ever.
Cloud keeps spoiling her, kissing her to the point where she's gotten lightheaded already. Anything he tells her at this point, she would say yes to. It's why she doesn't try to move away from his hold or to shy away from all the kisses he's giving her, wherever they may be. Even if it makes her breath so shaky, and even if it makes her heart race like crazy. ]
Ah...
[ It is rather delayed when she realises she has a scarf around her neck, now. Looking down and feeling the thick cloth around her neck and touching her chin, she reaches for it with both her hands to hold it and feel if it's real. They would be going to Frostreign, so it only makes sense to cover up... Her eyes meet his again, and her face reflects his expression when she smiles softly. ]
I will hold your hand and keep you warm, then.
[ Especially since he is scarfless now!
She tugs on the scarf a little more, pushing it closer to her so she can nuzzle her cheek against one side. ]
It is not quite the same... but it is like your arms are wrapped around me like this.
[ Only letting go once she's registered that the thick cloth is snug around her neck, he was going to find it challenging to let this sight out of his mind's eye. It wasn't huge or anything on her, but the visual of her wrapped up in it, hands reaching up to hold and feel it around her; she looks so small in it anyway. Even if the navy blue clashed with her kimono, it still looks...right on herโ like she was every bit the cute, princess-like girl he carried away with him. ]
Good. [ A beat. ] A warm-up for White Day.
[ Because if he can help it, he wasn't going to let her go until they needed to. Maybe while checking in. ...they both have a free hand.
It's not quite the same as having his arms around her. And he could very well still do that right here and now. But Cloud knew that if he did...they might not ever leave the top of this observatory tonight. It wasn't a bad thought to have, if only because he was still with her. He'd chased her to the end of a journey through memory lane, and now that he had her? It almost didn't matter where they were or when they went.
That's the fantasy they're living in now. But he wants to keep this going for as long as possible. So... ]
Maybe not as soft, [ Definitely not as soft. But as he leans in, fingers threading through the front of her hime cut hair, ] but you'll have mine around you more tonight.
[ Capped with a feather's brush of his lips to her forehead as he closes his eyes... One. Two. Breath, Cloud. Alright.
He pulls back one last time, shuffling on his knees until they have just a little more space. She's always made him feel comfortable, even when he was working his way through bouts of embarrassment and feeling shy. But tonight? He was confident. Driven. And he'll carry this feeling all the way into Frostreign with her. ]
Okay. Let's get packed up.
[ If she has a knapsack or anything to make things easier, he'll even carry that for her too! If she's ready, so is he. ]
[ Cloud really has turned on the charm tonight, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The scarf around her neck keeps her safe and warm, a presence that isn't really needed when he is there, but she finds the whole gesture to be romantic, anyway. When he tells her that he'll have his arms wrapped around her more, it gets her to blush even more.
But rather than look away, she can only smile at him. Her heart is beating so fast, and she has to resist the urge to just hug him and kiss him and never let go.
She took him down memory lane today, and while everything wasn't a 1:1 copy of some of the times they've spent together in the past, it's gotten her nostalgic, too. Right now, she's reminded of when they ran away from the palace together when an orgy had begun. She's known him to always be reliable, that when he will say something, he'll always push through with it, and his words now have the same effect on her.
He really is like a prince. ]
Ah, right. Then, please take a moment to relax. I'll clean up first.
[ It is as she saidโ today is a day to spoil him! She would much rather not have him do any work. Ayaka can take care of cleaning up, throwing away anything that needs to be disposed of, placing their leftovers back in the basket, and then the picnic mat goes inside, too.
The box where she'd kept his present is also bulky, but no doubt Cloud would be able to carry both. It might be difficult with just one hand, so she will offer to carry the basket as it is lighter than the box. ]
[ No "but"s, Mr. Strife. He hardly has any fight in him to begin with. Cloud has to be on his best behavior, what with today being his to be spoiled for. ...although, if he can afford to sneak in little moments to return the favor, he willโ whether he's fully aware of them or not. Instead, he simply stays put while she takes care of tidying up. Luckily for them? The two are a pretty clean couple and there's little in the form of waste even as she packs the leftovers in the basket.
He's already collected the box for his present, at least, something that he can safely keep tucked under one arm as they make their way to the more frigid sector of Frostreign. Teleporting too much would drain their energy, but it's not like either one of them were wanting for that with how frequently they held hands (at minimum).
Cloud gets up well before she comes back to pack away the picnic mat, patiently waiting on her so that they can prepare to make their way back down from the top of the observatory. Of course he'll let her carry the basket. That leaves the two of them with a free hand each; just as planned. The affectionate atmosphere between them hasn't waned in any way, but now that the two of them were up and about again, preparing to depart, her beau is set to march on to their vacation early, a little more of that sterner focus returning as he holds out his hand for her once they're packed. ]
I suppose we'll have some snacks for midnight ready.
[ The chocolate mochi, a bit of leftover tea... It's not a lot, but good enough to snack on if they do get hungry. Of course, the resort they'll be going to offers room service as well, but if she tried to read Cloud's mind now. . . she has a feeling he doesn't want to go anywhere else once they're behind locked doors tonight.
He's waiting for a response if she's set, but she takes one last look at the stars above, before they head down. It would have been a much more beautiful view if they used the telescope, but they never needed it when they were on a treehouse in Nara, or when he brought her to his rooftop on her birthday.
That was yet another night where he made her change her plans. She meant to go back home that night, as they still lived separately. But now... times sure have changed. ]
Yes. [ There's a small smile on her face as she takes her place next to him, slotting her fingers between his. All is right in the world yet again, and with the stars as their witness, she hopes it stays that way forever.
Down they go, and Ayaka ensures they leave nothing behind and that the doors they pass through are locked. She doesn't have the key, after all, but has to keep the observatory safe from any other people who might try to break in. The caretaker and the staff will come in tomorrow to find the place the same way they left it in Ayaka's care before today. ]
Mm... so, what was your favourite part about today? [ The adventure he was forced to took today, she means! ]
[ Whether they stuck with her original intent of returning home tonight and making the trek to Frostreign tomorrow or not, the chocolate mochi would get plucked away at easily enough. He wants to make sure he can savor the fruits of her labors while it's fresh enough. They can order room service if she was feeling peckish beyond their little leftovers; he wouldn't dare deny her that, but her hunch was also correct. It's taking everything he has to keep himself on the receiving end of Ayaka's affections tonight when all he wants to do is flip the script on her for all the memories she's helped him relive. When their door clicks shut tonight, all he wants to do is make good on his promising words to her.
Flowing feelings aside? He's also admittedly excited to see how the new Inazuman-inspired Haori and Hakama would look and fit on him. Getting to Frostreign a night early meant that they had another day for themselves to settle in! His surplus of Moon Coins from recent commissions also helped in feeling a touch less frugal to spend so that she didn't have to spend her entire vacation in a beautiful kimono; in fact, watching her take a last look at the stars above, Cloud holds to his silence as he watches her.
All this time spent looking up to see where the brightest ones twinkled, and it's Cloud's gaze that would look above secondโ he already found the brightest of them all standing in front of him.
The image of Kamisato Ayaka, admiring a sea of stars that they could very well share in the grand scheme of everything; he preserves this image in his mind's eye and engraves it on his heart for as long as she lets him until it's time to go, and she's at his side and slotting her fingers between his. ]
Not allowed to say "every part", I'm guessing?
[ Getting to see her again went without saying too. He's teasing, gift box under one arm and Ayaka's hand in the other, he gives it a light squeeze as they stick to the plowed and packed down snowy pathway of Coldreach from the Observatory. Thankfully for them? The teleporter wasn't so far off in town from here, so they had time to enjoy their stroll beneath the guidance of Coldreach's stars. It went without saying that he enjoyed every part. ...even mustering up the courage to get back up on stage and try and work his way back into a character across from a Director who really took a shining to his beauty?
He could talk about them all... But, as he smiles upon a brief bout of silent thought, answering with an inflection of soft reminisce: ]
The tea ceremony test. [ He can get away with blushing here; it's the chill on his lighter complexion. That's it. ] Mm. That day I couldn't stop thinking about you after.
[ Attraction, falling in love, regardless of what he was feeling at such an early stage in their friendship, Thoma drove the point home immediately.
"The lady's charms are just too strong, aren't they?"
Hah. The hell was Cloud thinking, unrealistic for characters to fall fast... They're words he's eating with a smile at least. ]
[ They hadn't talked about that before. At least, not that Ayaka can remember. It's why his answer to her curious query gets her to look up at him as they walk, surprised and as red as the ribbons in her hair.
She knows what he meansโ that day. It was when they saw each other again after only communicating via the network since they first met. Truthfully, Ayaka did not think they could become good friends, but the audition paired them together and the rest was history. She really enjoyed eating at a tea house with him, where they both shared what their favourite kind of sashimi and sushi was. Nevermind that Cloud had initially said he liked the side of her more that's less formal, the girl behind the title of Shirasagi Himegimi. Maybe she should have picked up on it then, but... she's never had someone like her like that before.
She definitely would not have seen the signs. ]
We talked about practising our lines together, but we never did until after, um, the month passed.
You were always in my thoughts then. [ Whether or not they were wholesome thoughts... well, it's probably best they don't talk about this in too much detail. :') ] I truly enjoyed our time together that day.
[ She could never forget the first time she leaned on his arm as they sat next to one another. How warm and comforting it felt, how safe he made her feel. Remembering it now, even though they're holding hands and have shared so much with each other now, gets her flustered. ]
I... wasn't too forward, was I? When... when I sat next to you after we had tea...
Yeah... Can't say I blame you. [ The so-called "Month of Love". That had been more than one kind of awakening for the blond swordsman. But of all the regrets he had, none of them had anything to do with Ayaka. In fact, she was...honestly the best part about it all. Despite themselves. ] I tried staying outta trouble for the same reasons.
[ They don't have to go into explicit detail as to why. Besides, they were talking about the time they spent at the teahouse! To hear that he was always on Ayaka's mind too... Their entwined fingers tense together upon that, an acceptance of her feelings as he tenderly squeezes. ] I'm glad.
[ "I... wasn't too forward, was I?" ]
No. [ It was like the haziest of dreams that he could somehow remember every single detail of. The warmth of the Uki Weed, subtle enough that it didn't cause them to succumb to its otherwise aphrodisiac-like properties. Perhaps having it blended the way it had been in their green tea was their saving grace. Like it was yesterday, the first time he let himself tiredly rest against her, bowing his head against her icier blue hair and just how soft she really was. ] We both kinda leaned on each other back then.
[ But it had been such a relaxing time... And since then, he's made good on his word. Extra unagi for the Sakura Princess. ]
[ There is comfort in knowing that she wasn't too forward, that even though he had begun showing her a different world than what she's known, she'd preserved the reserved nature expected of someone like her. She looks down at their joined hands now as they walk and thinks about how shy she'd used to be before. How she would more often than not wait for him to offer his hand before she would take it, or she would ask for it and wait for his permission. The more they got to know each other and the more comfortable she'd become around him, the less she felt the need to ask.
She doesn't think Cloud minds at all. If it's just the two of them, away from the eyes of others, she can be herself around him, and he can be himself around her. They can both enjoy the warmth the other's presence brings.
What else can she say to that but "thank you"? Ayaka has said so many things already, as well. While she won't grow tired of showing her appreciation for him through her words, it feels at this point that he just knows without her even saying it. So she gives a squeeze of his hand, stepping in closer so she can lean on him again as they walk. ]
When I am with you, even if we just sit down in silence, it feels as if the problems the entire world could ever thrust upon me are small and trivial matters.
[ Like that time at the tea house, when she did not even care about who could see them like that. Even now, where people could see them walking together so closely. ]
I hope we can continue to make more memories like it here. And they would be ones we would relive in the years to come.
[ To say that the world Nippon resided in was a change in pace was an understatement. Yet by the same token, it was...surprisingly easy enough to find himself settling in. It also helped that he still had the companionship of Zack, an anchor of sorts from his home world, while he found his footing. And then when he met Ayaka and spent more time with her? She became more than support for his footing. She became a pillar, leaning against him in kind as she may have when they let themselves be comfortably washed away by the ebb and flow of warm waves in the teahouse. Ayaka was (and in ways, still was) a reserved young woman; when she's with him, even Cloud can see the shift in her personality and how comfortable she was in taking what she wants with him. He wasn't against taking her hand from the day they first met, even if it was out of an instinctual need to protect others as per his nature as a former SOLDIER.
But that didn't take very long to change, now did it? It didn't take long before he'd started to wish that he hadn't been wearing those thick leather gloves, that the more callous, harder skin could feel the nurture in her slender fingers enlaced between his. Even before he took a chance on escaping to Nara with her...one of the many thoughts that wouldn't leave his mind after that special day in Gion.
The day that the script was flipped on him, falling before he could even realize it.
Feeling Ayaka's weight gently leaning on him as they walk...Cloud slows down further. He could never forget the root of what it felt like to hold her hand, or touch her in any way they can and have. Ellipsa emboldened that feeling, and as pleasant as it left them feeling, he hoped he'd never forget what it was like to experience everything about her as her true sense of self. All the more reason to find her at the end of this journey, just like he promised he would. That wish he made in Nara upon a rainbow-tailed star was more than just about staying in Kyoto with her someday. ]
Like we can forget about the world outside for a while.
[ All so that she could be that world for him. The only thing he wants and sees. ]
Every year. Every day, every birthday...Valentine's...White Day...
[ He gently murmurs off various holidays and special occasions, their anniversary among them, as their trek takes them to Frostreign and beyond. For this little getaway, save for texting their family and friends in case they are truly needed?
They were about to do just what he said. Forget about the world outside for a while, and live in their own personal one. ]
โ โ โ
[ The District of Eternal Winter . . . ]
[ Traversing by foot once they teleported into the heart of the Winter Segment wasn't the most ideal, even as they stuck to the packed down paths. Thankfully, despite how frequently booked the Inn was, Ayaka had thought well and far in advance to reserve their own special little piece of solitude for themselves. Luckily, they wouldn't need to contest the biting cold for much longer upon arriving as they catch a reindeer sleigh rideโ something that cuts their late-night commute down to less than half.
Coldreach was manageable, but Frostreign was significantly chillier. The less time they spent outdoors tonight until they can get an appropriate change in garb tomorrow, the better. They arrive into the night, a collective sigh of relief when the chill of the night behind them is forgotten once they approach the receptionist of the Inn. Now the burning question... They meant to arrive tomorrow. Would they even have a room prepared early? Thankfully for the young couple (and one beau who should have considered they'd be stuck without a room if they came early...oops, passion?) there's no need to fret! As luck would have it? There was no one booking their room earlier, leaving them a day or two's grace after all. Lucky lucky!
Although they don't judge, it's quite surprising seeing the smitten young lady wearing a Kimono and scarf out into the unpredictable terrain of Frostreign.
The cold mustn't bother her anyway.
With their key in hand, and the two having a place on the main floor of the Inn, it's just a matter of heading down the hallway to the right of the lobby to discover their suite. It's like a big weight is lifted off their shoulders actually knowing they have a place to stay early on, something that he can feel washing over him as excitement bubbles in the pit of his stomach. They only let go of one another to sign off on a waver form, but he's already hand-in-hand with her as they walk with a little more sprint in their step.
The second they get into their place, he's all hers. He does want to try that outfit on though. It's cool. afsdlkj ]
[ Ayaka has only seen photos of the inn. It's famous for its sauna and its hot springs, but it certainly has a very, very different interior from the one in Sunwaning. It's not very Nipponese or Inazuman at all! And she walks around the inn lobby as they wait for their accommodations, looking around and getting a feel of the place.
It must be more beautiful when the sun is out, so Ayaka will make sure to go for a walk and just look around the inn in the morning. A certain beau has decided to turn her schedule upside down, after all... While her plans for tonight certainly have a focus on said beau, she does still want to enjoy the amenities the inn has to offer. It is a vacation, after all!
The room Ayaka has gotten is the more luxurious type, but given the architecture in Coldreach, it's very different from what she's used to. It's a straightforward room regardless, with a small living room area as soon as they enter, a short hallway where on one side is a closet, and on the other side of the wall is the bathroom, and it leads to the bedroom and lounge with a fireplace. They were already told to try the sauna and the hot springs when they can, so while the bathroom has two bathrobes and towels already, there are outdoor robes and an extra set of towels folded on the bed once they get in.
No honeymoon-special baskets unlike what they got during their anniversary. And it might be better that it stayed that way! The less attention they receive, the better, really. ]
Cloud, if I may comment... [ The basket is placed on the table as Ayaka takes out their snacks. They don't have to eat it tonight, but she will bring it out just so they don't forget that they're there! ] I don't think you've stopped smiling since we left the observatory.
[ It isn't a bad thing. She's just never seen his happiness so palpable before. . . it is such a wonderful sight to see, really. ]
[ Cloud could only begin to imagine what their room was supposed to look like, frankly they could have a bed and a closet for a room and he'd be treating the space like royalty with her. Really though, he considers himself fairly lucky ever since his lodging in Sector 7 at the Stargazer apartments. At the time, a roof over his head was just a roof over his head. But when one could hear every little whisper, creak and groan and protest of the mishmashed structure that was his abode, everywhere else he's laid has been like a night & day's difference. It's almost enough to make him forget about being a light sleeper.
The door locks shut behind them automatically, and the instant that happens? It's like a second set of weights is lifted away from his shoulders that he didn't even know were there. ]
Yeah, Ayaka?
[ Cloud, meanwhile, temporarily bends down to set his boxed haori beside the tables he was placing their snacks out on. Even now, that smile she was talking about hadn't waned from his face. Up to the point where she calls it out, anyway. But it's not like his expression drops with morose or his attitude takes a 180 on her for it, straightening upright and looking back at her with bright-eyed realization. ]
Really? [ Ah... They're indoors now. He can't blame the cold for the rose in his pale cheeks. All the better for little Miss Kamisato here when he looses a huff in response, almost out of disbelief when, sure enough? That smile of his shyly returns anyway. That's not a bad thing at all. ] Knowing how my day went before getting to you, I...probably did a lot more than I thought I did.
[ Every single time he read her letters. Every single time the orders of food and drinks he issued to his stops returned to the head of his thoughts, and how significant they were in those memories. ]
If it means you are happy, then... please, I hope I did not give you a reason to stop by pointing it out. [ Yeah, she can see he's getting shy, but she hopes he can go back to being so comfortable around her that it doesn't matter. It's just a rare sight that she couldn't help but point it out. Not to mention, ] You're very handsome during moments when you smile.
[ ///// Her handsome beau... He always is very attractive, but it is something else when he smiles. Seeing him now being so honest, both with how he feels and what he thinks, really feels like such a compliment. Especially when she considers that he didn't used to be like this. Even know, he isn't like this with everyone either.
Now that she's taken out their snacks though, she puts the basket away and will just bring it back home once they go back to Sunwaning two days later. She's by his side soon after, gesturing at the box where his new clothes are. ]
Would you like to try them on? It might be a good idea to see how well it fits you and if any adjustments need to be made.
[ Happy... She's right. That's exactly what that is. And while he couldn't say he's never felt this before, when he was comfortable in the presence of those he trusted, those moments were fleeting. Seconds-long before everyone was preparing to take the next step in their journey. What little smiles he did share were immediately snuffed out when called outโ like how Wedge managed to get even a hardass former SOLDIER to laugh and smile a little before Jessie was eagerly in his face. Over as quickly as it came; but with Ayaka? ]
Nope.
[ He didn't have any reason to stop. In fact, he didn't want to stop, even when his face reddens more as she calls him handsome when he smiles. Even now, as he rubs the back of his head, fingers threading through spikes of gold, he hasn't stopped. But he has to compose himself a littleโ luckily for her, he hasn't lost that feeling and what it was like holding her hand all the way here to Frostreign. So with a calming breath in and out through his nose, gently humming, Cloud closes some of that distance with her when she's by his side. ]
Knowing you, [ and how meticulous she was to detail, ] it'll fit like a glove.
[ Before Cloud can leave to go and get himself squared away to change in their bedroom, his no-longer occupied hands are free to dip around the curve of her hips as he faces her in full. His face was still aglow with blush, but it only accentuates the warmth of his smile and the happiness that radiates from his chest. Anchor him, Ayaka. It's not very often he feels like he's about to float away on the wind from how light he was around you.
She's going to get another kiss for her troubles, slower this time, just one before softly adding: ]
Happy Valentine's, Ayaka.
[ That confidence was under lock and key tonightโ not going anywhere. ]
I did try to ensure the measurements I provided were accurate, but... [ With her being near now, she can place a hand on his arm, gently rubbing his bicep for a bit. ] If you put on some more muscle here, or perhaps if you've gained some more mass, then we'll need to make sure that everything is adjusted so you're comfortable.
[ And he'd be the only one who can tell if it is or not! So much as Ayaka thinks it'll fit him, she'd also want him to try it on. If there's anything he thinks he doesn't like, then of course, she'll ask for alterations, too.
It would seem it isn't a priority to Cloud now though, but that's alright. He kisses her again, and her focus is shifted to the warmth and giddiness he's providing her at this moment in time. ]
Thank you for allowing me to spend this day with you.
[ Truth be told, Ayaka doesn't need an occasion to shower Cloud with all the love and praise in the world, but if there's an actual holiday for it? You better believe she will want to participate. ]
[ But...? Ayaka's swift to follow-up at least, the hand upon his bicep netting her an unintentional little flex as she rubs it. It was true that from the time he left Midgar, and the years after he'd emerged in Nippon, Cloud did gain a little more muscle mass. A little more definition in his chest, a subtle build in the broadness of his shoulders, and due to continuing to balance his fighting styles between his old ways and the Kamisato Art Tachi Jutsu, his arms especially saw more work done on them.
Though perhaps she'd taken this into account; she's the one that gets held in them so often. ]
Fair enough. If anything's too tight, I'll letcha know.
[ Because it wasn't a slight against her if she was off a little! After releasing her from the last kiss, having let his heart speak for him once more, Cloud could temper himself from lavishing her with additional fervor long enough to get back on track. Besides, she was safe and sound from the cold now that they'd found themselves in their lodging. That was key for him; they had all night to do anything and everything Ayaka wanted for him.
Including her beau finding a change in wardrobe so he could better match her Kimonoโ something his fingers admire by flirting up the length of her back for, admiring the silken nature of it all. She was better. Better than any painting could ever dare try and portray. She was worth preserving a hundred times over, but he had to even the playing field and appreciate her gifts. One last peck before he lets his arms come down from her and he steps back. ]
I'll get changed.
[ He's already worn many Inazuman-inspired wardrobes by now that at most, he feels like he'd rely on Ayaka to just fiddle with the finer details once he's got his new outfit on. Kneeling down, Cloud grabs the box with his clothes, frankly uncaring whether or not she wanted to watch him change or not. ]
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timeasmymeasure
2/2
Date: 2024-02-19 07:21 am (UTC)...
[ He doesn't draw away. Instead, he kisses her properly this time. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-19 07:43 am (UTC)Oh, but he isn't... pulling away. Ayaka isn't sure if she should just stay there??? But she does anyway, their lips still pressed together. Whatever has happened to the mochi, Ayaka does not know. She'll enjoy this kiss instead, she'll focus on the feeling of his lips tasting like cocoa powder, close her eyes and just melt into it...
It feels like it's been so long since she last kissed him properly. The reality of it is that they kissed just before they started dinner, but it still feels like it's been ages, anyway. This moment right here feels like their first kiss in such a long time. Surely nothing will go wrong, right? ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-19 11:07 am (UTC)She's...everything he could have wanted and never realized until he was lucky to have her. It fuels everything he does for herโ fuels the way in which he lets the taste of cocoa powder on his brush over her lips. As if kissing her couldn't get any sweeter. When he tries to sweep his lips against hers once more, parted slightly but not making any bids to deepen it yet- ]
Mn- [ Ah it's. On his tongue still. Whoops. Before he can just. Give that back to her he'll just draw back abruptly. Sighing through his nose, an apologetic little smile crosses his lips. ] Sorry.
[ And with that, chew through the little bite once, adding, ]
Mochi.
[ Sorry, Ayaka. He wasn't so sure that accidentally giving back your treat was the most romantic thing. But when Cloud does finish it, biting back the urge to chuckle, he's back to closing what little distance is left between them. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-19 11:28 am (UTC)She's giggling when he stops kissing her, pulling away slightly to apologise. So he hadn't swallowed the mochi yet, then! That's okay. She can wait before kissing him again. They have all the time in the world.
And so, she waits. She sees him chew... chew... swallow?
That's her signal! She leans in just in time as he closes the distance between them once more. With that, the rest of the world fades away, and it just becomes a young girl all alone with the love of her life, having a picnic together under a sea of stars shining brightly.
It feels so right, like this, to have his lips on hers. The night is still young, but if they ended their date like this, Ayaka would have no complaints whatsoever. She's so happy at this time, and with no threats of interruption anymore, she leans in a little closer, her free hand resting on his lap instead of on the mat. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-19 07:46 pm (UTC)Her giggle is like a remedy for his nerves, and he's right back to it. Even if he's awkward to begin with in leaning back in, there's something boyish in how he eagerly wants to get back to kissing her. It was too good to stop so early, and the young couple were practically brimming with touch energy that they were never in need of a top-up. The world fades, and it's only the brightest star in front of him that he can see before he closes his eyes.
He slides his legs out from underneath him, hand bracing him at Ayaka's side while her hand finds purchase on his lap. Just a little push. Embrace this happiness. The night is still young, but he's not keen on letting it end either. Cloud's solace was knowing that he'd have her tomorrow morning to look at, but if he keep this halcyon day of memory lane going just a little longer...
One kiss. A sweep of his lips against hers. He tastes like fresh cocoa powder, and she tastes like traces of it from what she kept tucked between her lips before...and beyond that as he deepens the kiss? She's every bit the girl that he committed to memory on his tongue. Just a single deepened kiss with her threatens to crack a spark over the kindling once more, droplets of fuel that would see these two flare up. But he doesn't let it happen. He wants to preserve this longer.
Don't let this night end yet. And as he smiles against her lips, an impulse guides him as he speaks up between slow kisses. ]
Hey...
[ Just as he was all eyes on her. All ears, Ayaka, for this wild thought. ]
Wanna go to Frostreign tonight? [ His free hand drifts between them, not to take her hand out of his lap, but to rest his atop hers. Another kiss, before she can fully answer him...one that moves closer to the corner of her mouth like he's meaning to take this trail somewhere. ] We'll buy clothes there.
[ Amenities, everything they could need instead of teleporting all the way back to Sunwaning. They meant to leave tomorrow. But they're already so close... Just as close as Cloud's lips were to dipping into her neck, as soft as before. No biting. No marking. No sucking. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-20 01:03 am (UTC)Ayaka never really thought of what would happen tonight beyond surprising Cloud one after the other. She didn't consider how he might react beyond accepting the presents given to him. Kisses, handholds, hugging her, they're all wishes, but if Cloud didn't give those to her tonight on this date, then she would be the one to give it all to him. And so, when he kisses her, tells her to change their plans and just go to Frostreign tonight instead, it surprises her.
This wasn't in her plans at all... Even when she tries to predict what Cloud might want to do, this wasn't in any of her guesses. And it would seem that she can't read his mind all the time, after all. ]
Eh? But...
[ They'll buy clothes there... His lips are on the corner of her mouth. His hand, so warm and heavy compared to hers, resting on her own. How soft his voice sounds at this time, so inviting... if she knew any better, Cloud could hypnotise with the sound of his voice and with his words.
Her eyes close again as she swallows, just in time for his lips to trail down to her neck. There's no way she could say no... ]
A- Are you sure? But it's nighttime...
no subject
Date: 2024-02-20 01:49 am (UTC)And we're already right there. [ It may be nighttime, but... ] We've got enough for tonight. We'll go out tomorrow.
[ Yeah, she should have predicted that this would happen. He left his scooter back at home, using the teleporters all the way out here. He has an excess in funds. All of which he wouldn't mind spending on them this getaway. Letter after letter after letter...heartfelt memory after heartfelt memory...
Then he breathes again, kisses dipping lower only to be stopped by the collar of her kimono. But that's fine. ]
Please?
[ Pretty please. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-20 11:50 am (UTC)But tonight, it is all Cloud. It's just him making this request, making his presence known by slipping his fingers in between her own. The goosebumps have even made their way to her neck now, but it's him saying "please", the need in his voice for his wish to come true that gets her.
It's like electricity passes through her and she shudders from it, squeezing his hand tighter in turn. She wasn't going to say no, but this only made her say yes sooner. ]
Mm... [ That was both a sound of agreement and a whimper. ] We'll- We'll go to Frostreign early...
[ Tonight, she means. She'll have to send a message to Ayato that she won't be coming home tonight. Oh dear... Hopefully he won't judge too hard. It's all Cloud's fault.
That does... make her wonder, though. Of course she'll let Cloud call the shots, since it is a day to celebrate him. She only inches closer to him to rest on him, but he's free to continue kissing her all over however he wants. Even if it does make Ayaka squirm in her seat. ]
Are we leaving now?
no subject
Date: 2024-02-21 06:21 am (UTC)No.
If Cloud was going to tryโ really try, than he was going to make sure he did this right. No matter how much time they have left, whether they defy fate and see themselves through to the very end, or he's forced to take the longer journey back home to her, chasing that little whimper she lets out when she agrees to Frostreign is one of the many reasons he can do this. That he'll never stop surrendering all of his heart to her.
Ayaka once told him that she couldn't. That she couldn't let him have all of her after all. But, the more he laid in bed at night while they hurt, and thought about it all... She was telling the truth, and yet she was lying to herself all at once; that's what Cloud felt. Because he has the memory of what it felt like to have all of her. He'll hold that memory in his heart, and use it to carry him to the end of that wish he made in her name.
Would she be able to feel the way he smiles against her skin? The hum of approval and the softer sigh of relief that washes against lightly shimmering skin where he applied open-mouthed kisses? This was getting him warm under his collar, but nothing so heavy and yearning that he'd lose sense of where they were. He does grant Ayaka some reprieve when he draws away from the crook of her neck where he'd been kissing her. With her resting against him, as he shifts more upright, he half-embraces her with his free arm down the small of her back.
He's close to her ear now, answering her: ]
Pretty soon.
[ If he gets distracted by kissing her a few more times, he can't be at fault. His hand squeezes hers, gently, almost rhythmically as he kisses just in front of her ear, drawing the scent of her hair and just how easy it might have been to lay her down beneath the stars with him after all. But it's just like he said to her before.
He'll never stop wanting her. There's just a time and a place.
And with a deep breath in through his nose, and a hummed sigh back out, he finally draws away for real, sitting back enough so he can get a good look at her and how good she looked in that kimono tonight. But... ]
Just a sec.
[ Unraveling the navy scarf around his neck, if she'll let him, he plans on carefully slipping it around the back of hers, weaving it once around the front as he keeps a gentle hold of the ends with a smile. ]
There. [ A beat. ] A little chillier where we're headed.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-21 09:24 am (UTC)Presented with two doors and with a choice to make, however, she realised what her capabilities were, what the limits to her loyalty was. And it's been some time since she asked for Cloud's forgiveness and also the forgiveness of her brother's, and she's moved past it. The pain will remain though, even if she does not think about it all that often anymore. If the choice presents itself again, despite Cloud's own words, despite what Ayato said about how she should choose Cloud if it means her own safety, she still would not be able to do so.
The choice, the pain, and the heartache are all far away from her mind right now though. There is no need to dwell on it with all the promises she and Cloud have made to one another. The stars shine bright above them, perhaps even brighter than when they were here last, and the love they have for one another is stronger than ever.
Cloud keeps spoiling her, kissing her to the point where she's gotten lightheaded already. Anything he tells her at this point, she would say yes to. It's why she doesn't try to move away from his hold or to shy away from all the kisses he's giving her, wherever they may be. Even if it makes her breath so shaky, and even if it makes her heart race like crazy. ]
Ah...
[ It is rather delayed when she realises she has a scarf around her neck, now. Looking down and feeling the thick cloth around her neck and touching her chin, she reaches for it with both her hands to hold it and feel if it's real. They would be going to Frostreign, so it only makes sense to cover up... Her eyes meet his again, and her face reflects his expression when she smiles softly. ]
I will hold your hand and keep you warm, then.
[ Especially since he is scarfless now!
She tugs on the scarf a little more, pushing it closer to her so she can nuzzle her cheek against one side. ]
It is not quite the same... but it is like your arms are wrapped around me like this.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-26 12:19 am (UTC)Good. [ A beat. ] A warm-up for White Day.
[ Because if he can help it, he wasn't going to let her go until they needed to. Maybe while checking in. ...they both have a free hand.
It's not quite the same as having his arms around her. And he could very well still do that right here and now. But Cloud knew that if he did...they might not ever leave the top of this observatory tonight. It wasn't a bad thought to have, if only because he was still with her. He'd chased her to the end of a journey through memory lane, and now that he had her? It almost didn't matter where they were or when they went.
That's the fantasy they're living in now. But he wants to keep this going for as long as possible. So... ]
Maybe not as soft, [ Definitely not as soft. But as he leans in, fingers threading through the front of her hime cut hair, ] but you'll have mine around you more tonight.
[ Capped with a feather's brush of his lips to her forehead as he closes his eyes... One. Two. Breath, Cloud. Alright.
He pulls back one last time, shuffling on his knees until they have just a little more space. She's always made him feel comfortable, even when he was working his way through bouts of embarrassment and feeling shy. But tonight? He was confident. Driven. And he'll carry this feeling all the way into Frostreign with her. ]
Okay. Let's get packed up.
[ If she has a knapsack or anything to make things easier, he'll even carry that for her too! If she's ready, so is he. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-26 12:00 pm (UTC)But rather than look away, she can only smile at him. Her heart is beating so fast, and she has to resist the urge to just hug him and kiss him and never let go.
She took him down memory lane today, and while everything wasn't a 1:1 copy of some of the times they've spent together in the past, it's gotten her nostalgic, too. Right now, she's reminded of when they ran away from the palace together when an orgy had begun. She's known him to always be reliable, that when he will say something, he'll always push through with it, and his words now have the same effect on her.
He really is like a prince. ]
Ah, right. Then, please take a moment to relax. I'll clean up first.
[ It is as she saidโ today is a day to spoil him! She would much rather not have him do any work. Ayaka can take care of cleaning up, throwing away anything that needs to be disposed of, placing their leftovers back in the basket, and then the picnic mat goes inside, too.
The box where she'd kept his present is also bulky, but no doubt Cloud would be able to carry both. It might be difficult with just one hand, so she will offer to carry the basket as it is lighter than the box. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-27 08:01 am (UTC)[ No "but"s, Mr. Strife. He hardly has any fight in him to begin with. Cloud has to be on his best behavior, what with today being his to be spoiled for. ...although, if he can afford to sneak in little moments to return the favor, he willโ whether he's fully aware of them or not. Instead, he simply stays put while she takes care of tidying up. Luckily for them? The two are a pretty clean couple and there's little in the form of waste even as she packs the leftovers in the basket.
He's already collected the box for his present, at least, something that he can safely keep tucked under one arm as they make their way to the more frigid sector of Frostreign. Teleporting too much would drain their energy, but it's not like either one of them were wanting for that with how frequently they held hands (at minimum).
Cloud gets up well before she comes back to pack away the picnic mat, patiently waiting on her so that they can prepare to make their way back down from the top of the observatory. Of course he'll let her carry the basket. That leaves the two of them with a free hand each; just as planned. The affectionate atmosphere between them hasn't waned in any way, but now that the two of them were up and about again, preparing to depart, her beau is set to march on to their vacation early, a little more of that sterner focus returning as he holds out his hand for her once they're packed. ]
All set?
no subject
Date: 2024-02-27 02:19 pm (UTC)[ The chocolate mochi, a bit of leftover tea... It's not a lot, but good enough to snack on if they do get hungry. Of course, the resort they'll be going to offers room service as well, but if she tried to read Cloud's mind now. . . she has a feeling he doesn't want to go anywhere else once they're behind locked doors tonight.
He's waiting for a response if she's set, but she takes one last look at the stars above, before they head down. It would have been a much more beautiful view if they used the telescope, but they never needed it when they were on a treehouse in Nara, or when he brought her to his rooftop on her birthday.
That was yet another night where he made her change her plans. She meant to go back home that night, as they still lived separately. But now... times sure have changed. ]
Yes. [ There's a small smile on her face as she takes her place next to him, slotting her fingers between his. All is right in the world yet again, and with the stars as their witness, she hopes it stays that way forever.
Down they go, and Ayaka ensures they leave nothing behind and that the doors they pass through are locked. She doesn't have the key, after all, but has to keep the observatory safe from any other people who might try to break in. The caretaker and the staff will come in tomorrow to find the place the same way they left it in Ayaka's care before today. ]
Mm... so, what was your favourite part about today? [ The adventure he
was forced totook today, she means! ]no subject
Date: 2024-02-28 08:26 am (UTC)[ Whether they stuck with her original intent of returning home tonight and making the trek to Frostreign tomorrow or not, the chocolate mochi would get plucked away at easily enough. He wants to make sure he can savor the fruits of her labors while it's fresh enough. They can order room service if she was feeling peckish beyond their little leftovers; he wouldn't dare deny her that, but her hunch was also correct. It's taking everything he has to keep himself on the receiving end of Ayaka's affections tonight when all he wants to do is flip the script on her for all the memories she's helped him relive. When their door clicks shut tonight, all he wants to do is make good on his promising words to her.
Flowing feelings aside? He's also admittedly excited to see how the new Inazuman-inspired Haori and Hakama would look and fit on him. Getting to Frostreign a night early meant that they had another day for themselves to settle in! His surplus of Moon Coins from recent commissions also helped in feeling a touch less frugal to spend so that she didn't have to spend her entire vacation in a beautiful kimono; in fact, watching her take a last look at the stars above, Cloud holds to his silence as he watches her.
All this time spent looking up to see where the brightest ones twinkled, and it's Cloud's gaze that would look above secondโ he already found the brightest of them all standing in front of him.
The image of Kamisato Ayaka, admiring a sea of stars that they could very well share in the grand scheme of everything; he preserves this image in his mind's eye and engraves it on his heart for as long as she lets him until it's time to go, and she's at his side and slotting her fingers between his. ]
Not allowed to say "every part", I'm guessing?
[ Getting to see her again went without saying too. He's teasing, gift box under one arm and Ayaka's hand in the other, he gives it a light squeeze as they stick to the plowed and packed down snowy pathway of Coldreach from the Observatory. Thankfully for them? The teleporter wasn't so far off in town from here, so they had time to enjoy their stroll beneath the guidance of Coldreach's stars. It went without saying that he enjoyed every part. ...even mustering up the courage to get back up on stage and try and work his way back into a character across from a Director who really took a shining to his beauty?
He could talk about them all... But, as he smiles upon a brief bout of silent thought, answering with an inflection of soft reminisce: ]
The tea ceremony test. [ He can get away with blushing here; it's the chill on his lighter complexion. That's it. ] Mm. That day I couldn't stop thinking about you after.
[ Attraction, falling in love, regardless of what he was feeling at such an early stage in their friendship, Thoma drove the point home immediately.
"The lady's charms are just too strong, aren't they?"
Hah. The hell was Cloud thinking, unrealistic for characters to fall fast... They're words he's eating with a smile at least. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-28 03:33 pm (UTC)She knows what he meansโ that day. It was when they saw each other again after only communicating via the network since they first met. Truthfully, Ayaka did not think they could become good friends, but the audition paired them together and the rest was history. She really enjoyed eating at a tea house with him, where they both shared what their favourite kind of sashimi and sushi was. Nevermind that Cloud had initially said he liked the side of her more that's less formal, the girl behind the title of Shirasagi Himegimi. Maybe she should have picked up on it then, but... she's never had someone like her like that before.
She definitely would not have seen the signs. ]
We talked about practising our lines together, but we never did until after, um, the month passed.
You were always in my thoughts then. [ Whether or not they were wholesome thoughts... well, it's probably best they don't talk about this in too much detail. :') ] I truly enjoyed our time together that day.
[ She could never forget the first time she leaned on his arm as they sat next to one another. How warm and comforting it felt, how safe he made her feel. Remembering it now, even though they're holding hands and have shared so much with each other now, gets her flustered. ]
I... wasn't too forward, was I? When... when I sat next to you after we had tea...
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 09:48 am (UTC)[ They don't have to go into explicit detail as to why. Besides, they were talking about the time they spent at the teahouse! To hear that he was always on Ayaka's mind too... Their entwined fingers tense together upon that, an acceptance of her feelings as he tenderly squeezes. ] I'm glad.
[ "I... wasn't too forward, was I?" ]
No. [ It was like the haziest of dreams that he could somehow remember every single detail of. The warmth of the Uki Weed, subtle enough that it didn't cause them to succumb to its otherwise aphrodisiac-like properties. Perhaps having it blended the way it had been in their green tea was their saving grace. Like it was yesterday, the first time he let himself tiredly rest against her, bowing his head against her icier blue hair and just how soft she really was. ] We both kinda leaned on each other back then.
[ But it had been such a relaxing time... And since then, he's made good on his word. Extra unagi for the Sakura Princess. ]
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Date: 2024-02-29 02:11 pm (UTC)She doesn't think Cloud minds at all. If it's just the two of them, away from the eyes of others, she can be herself around him, and he can be himself around her. They can both enjoy the warmth the other's presence brings.
What else can she say to that but "thank you"? Ayaka has said so many things already, as well. While she won't grow tired of showing her appreciation for him through her words, it feels at this point that he just knows without her even saying it. So she gives a squeeze of his hand, stepping in closer so she can lean on him again as they walk. ]
When I am with you, even if we just sit down in silence, it feels as if the problems the entire world could ever thrust upon me are small and trivial matters.
[ Like that time at the tea house, when she did not even care about who could see them like that. Even now, where people could see them walking together so closely. ]
I hope we can continue to make more memories like it here. And they would be ones we would relive in the years to come.
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Date: 2024-03-01 03:25 am (UTC)But that didn't take very long to change, now did it? It didn't take long before he'd started to wish that he hadn't been wearing those thick leather gloves, that the more callous, harder skin could feel the nurture in her slender fingers enlaced between his. Even before he took a chance on escaping to Nara with her...one of the many thoughts that wouldn't leave his mind after that special day in Gion.
The day that the script was flipped on him, falling before he could even realize it.
Feeling Ayaka's weight gently leaning on him as they walk...Cloud slows down further. He could never forget the root of what it felt like to hold her hand, or touch her in any way they can and have. Ellipsa emboldened that feeling, and as pleasant as it left them feeling, he hoped he'd never forget what it was like to experience everything about her as her true sense of self. All the more reason to find her at the end of this journey, just like he promised he would. That wish he made in Nara upon a rainbow-tailed star was more than just about staying in Kyoto with her someday. ]
Like we can forget about the world outside for a while.
[ All so that she could be that world for him. The only thing he wants and sees. ]
Every year. Every day, every birthday...Valentine's...White Day...
[ He gently murmurs off various holidays and special occasions, their anniversary among them, as their trek takes them to Frostreign and beyond. For this little getaway, save for texting their family and friends in case they are truly needed?
They were about to do just what he said. Forget about the world outside for a while, and live in their own personal one. ]
[ The District of Eternal Winter . . . ]
[ Traversing by foot once they teleported into the heart of the Winter Segment wasn't the most ideal, even as they stuck to the packed down paths. Thankfully, despite how frequently booked the Inn was, Ayaka had thought well and far in advance to reserve their own special little piece of solitude for themselves. Luckily, they wouldn't need to contest the biting cold for much longer upon arriving as they catch a reindeer sleigh rideโ something that cuts their late-night commute down to less than half.
Coldreach was manageable, but Frostreign was significantly chillier. The less time they spent outdoors tonight until they can get an appropriate change in garb tomorrow, the better. They arrive into the night, a collective sigh of relief when the chill of the night behind them is forgotten once they approach the receptionist of the Inn. Now the burning question... They meant to arrive tomorrow. Would they even have a room prepared early? Thankfully for the young couple (and one beau who should have considered they'd be stuck without a room if they came early...oops, passion?) there's no need to fret! As luck would have it? There was no one booking their room earlier, leaving them a day or two's grace after all. Lucky lucky!
Although they don't judge, it's quite surprising seeing the smitten young lady wearing a Kimono and scarf out into the unpredictable terrain of Frostreign.
The cold mustn't bother her anyway.
With their key in hand, and the two having a place on the main floor of the Inn, it's just a matter of heading down the hallway to the right of the lobby to discover their suite. It's like a big weight is lifted off their shoulders actually knowing they have a place to stay early on, something that he can feel washing over him as excitement bubbles in the pit of his stomach. They only let go of one another to sign off on a waver form, but he's already hand-in-hand with her as they walk with a little more sprint in their step.
The second they get into their place, he's all hers.
He does want to try that outfit on though. It's cool. afsdlkj]no subject
Date: 2024-03-01 01:42 pm (UTC)It must be more beautiful when the sun is out, so Ayaka will make sure to go for a walk and just look around the inn in the morning. A certain beau has decided to turn her schedule upside down, after all... While her plans for tonight certainly have a focus on said beau, she does still want to enjoy the amenities the inn has to offer. It is a vacation, after all!
The room Ayaka has gotten is the more luxurious type, but given the architecture in Coldreach, it's very different from what she's used to. It's a straightforward room regardless, with a small living room area as soon as they enter, a short hallway where on one side is a closet, and on the other side of the wall is the bathroom, and it leads to the bedroom and lounge with a fireplace. They were already told to try the sauna and the hot springs when they can, so while the bathroom has two bathrobes and towels already, there are outdoor robes and an extra set of towels folded on the bed once they get in.
No honeymoon-special baskets unlike what they got during their anniversary. And it might be better that it stayed that way! The less attention they receive, the better, really. ]
Cloud, if I may comment... [ The basket is placed on the table as Ayaka takes out their snacks. They don't have to eat it tonight, but she will bring it out just so they don't forget that they're there! ] I don't think you've stopped smiling since we left the observatory.
[ It isn't a bad thing. She's just never seen his happiness so palpable before. . . it is such a wonderful sight to see, really. ]
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Date: 2024-03-01 11:00 pm (UTC)The door locks shut behind them automatically, and the instant that happens? It's like a second set of weights is lifted away from his shoulders that he didn't even know were there. ]
Yeah, Ayaka?
[ Cloud, meanwhile, temporarily bends down to set his boxed haori beside the tables he was placing their snacks out on. Even now, that smile she was talking about hadn't waned from his face. Up to the point where she calls it out, anyway. But it's not like his expression drops with morose or his attitude takes a 180 on her for it, straightening upright and looking back at her with bright-eyed realization. ]
Really? [ Ah... They're indoors now. He can't blame the cold for the rose in his pale cheeks. All the better for little Miss Kamisato here when he looses a huff in response, almost out of disbelief when, sure enough? That smile of his shyly returns anyway. That's not a bad thing at all. ] Knowing how my day went before getting to you, I...probably did a lot more than I thought I did.
[ Every single time he read her letters. Every single time the orders of food and drinks he issued to his stops returned to the head of his thoughts, and how significant they were in those memories. ]
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Date: 2024-03-02 06:09 pm (UTC)[ ///// Her handsome beau... He always is very attractive, but it is something else when he smiles. Seeing him now being so honest, both with how he feels and what he thinks, really feels like such a compliment. Especially when she considers that he didn't used to be like this. Even know, he isn't like this with everyone either.
Now that she's taken out their snacks though, she puts the basket away and will just bring it back home once they go back to Sunwaning two days later. She's by his side soon after, gesturing at the box where his new clothes are. ]
Would you like to try them on? It might be a good idea to see how well it fits you and if any adjustments need to be made.
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Date: 2024-03-02 06:37 pm (UTC)Nope.
[ He didn't have any reason to stop. In fact, he didn't want to stop, even when his face reddens more as she calls him handsome when he smiles. Even now, as he rubs the back of his head, fingers threading through spikes of gold, he hasn't stopped. But he has to compose himself a littleโ luckily for her, he hasn't lost that feeling and what it was like holding her hand all the way here to Frostreign. So with a calming breath in and out through his nose, gently humming, Cloud closes some of that distance with her when she's by his side. ]
Knowing you, [ and how meticulous she was to detail, ] it'll fit like a glove.
[ Before Cloud can leave to go and get himself squared away to change in their bedroom, his no-longer occupied hands are free to dip around the curve of her hips as he faces her in full. His face was still aglow with blush, but it only accentuates the warmth of his smile and the happiness that radiates from his chest. Anchor him, Ayaka. It's not very often he feels like he's about to float away on the wind from how light he was around you.
She's going to get another kiss for her troubles, slower this time, just one before softly adding: ]
Happy Valentine's, Ayaka.
[ That confidence was under lock and key tonightโ not going anywhere. ]
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Date: 2024-03-02 07:39 pm (UTC)[ And he'd be the only one who can tell if it is or not! So much as Ayaka thinks it'll fit him, she'd also want him to try it on. If there's anything he thinks he doesn't like, then of course, she'll ask for alterations, too.
It would seem it isn't a priority to Cloud now though, but that's alright. He kisses her again, and her focus is shifted to the warmth and giddiness he's providing her at this moment in time. ]
Thank you for allowing me to spend this day with you.
[ Truth be told, Ayaka doesn't need an occasion to shower Cloud with all the love and praise in the world, but if there's an actual holiday for it? You better believe she will want to participate. ]
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Date: 2024-03-02 10:16 pm (UTC)Though perhaps she'd taken this into account; she's the one that gets held in them so often. ]
Fair enough. If anything's too tight, I'll letcha know.
[ Because it wasn't a slight against her if she was off a little! After releasing her from the last kiss, having let his heart speak for him once more, Cloud could temper himself from lavishing her with additional fervor long enough to get back on track. Besides, she was safe and sound from the cold now that they'd found themselves in their lodging. That was key for him; they had all night to do anything and everything Ayaka wanted for him.
Including her beau finding a change in wardrobe so he could better match her Kimonoโ something his fingers admire by flirting up the length of her back for, admiring the silken nature of it all. She was better. Better than any painting could ever dare try and portray. She was worth preserving a hundred times over, but he had to even the playing field and appreciate her gifts. One last peck before he lets his arms come down from her and he steps back. ]
I'll get changed.
[ He's already worn many Inazuman-inspired wardrobes by now that at most, he feels like he'd rely on Ayaka to just fiddle with the finer details once he's got his new outfit on. Kneeling down, Cloud grabs the box with his clothes, frankly uncaring whether or not she wanted to watch him change or not. ]
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