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Only if there's room. It is yours, after all.

[ But she's glad he seems to like every part of her gift, down to the box. Now she feels a little silly for worrying so much, and her smile brightens that little bit more when she puts on the pendant. It always makes her feel giddy when he wears something she makes, but this feels a little more special.

Especially when he says that, and winks along with it. There's an embarrassed huff as she reaches to fidget with a strand of hair, a futile attempt to hide how she's getting flustered again. But she lets her fingers lace through his, as she flashes him a bashful smile. ]

You... don't have to thank me for that. You're worth it, more than worth it.

[ And he gets his answer in the form of a quick nod, as she shifts closer to him. ]

Then lets get going. It'll be nice to enjoy a spa without worrying if we still smell like sea salt.

I'm gonna' thank you anyway, so you might as well get used to it. [ sorry, Lapis. Denied, completely. He laces his fingers with Lapis', pulling her hand in to press his lips against her knuckles--maybe to also wind his second arm around her middle. ]

I swear, sometimes I still smell like sea salt. It creeps up on me and I have flashbacks...

[ ...and then there comes that feeling of endless cold crawling up and along Lapis' ankles. Sinking into a puddle of shadow--it's like diving feetfirst into an icy cold lake--a moment where you can't breathe--and then they're lifting up out of it, in an alleyway between the Spa and --whatever shop it was on the other side of it.

It's chilly out, but warmer than the shadows, at least. ]

Come on, let's get inside. Our room should be ready. What would you like to start with? A massage, or maybe the mani/pedi?

[ he smirks. ]

Or maybe a soak in the bath. They're supposed to have amazing hot tubs...

[ Cue another huff in response, and another flush of red over her cheeks as his lips press to her knuckles. One day she'll get used to him thanking her, but today is not that day - but at least she's able to more easily hide red she is by leaning against him, as his arm wraps around her waist. ]

I think after that month on the sea, I don't want to go on boats again for a loooong time. Even modern ones.

[ That voyage was more than enough. But there's a blink down at her feet as the shadows creep up - while it's cold, the sensation doesn't make her flinch - before she lets her eyes close briefly when they sink into the shadow. Maybe it says something about her, that she doesn't find the sensation wholly unpleasant...

But then they're outside and she blinks a little as her eyes readjust to the light, before peering at Jinwoo.

Uh oh. Decisions. Lapis pauses, considering their options with utmost seriousness... ]

A bath sounds good, but so does a massage... I've had this knot in my back for the last week. [ Mostly thanks to her hunching over like a gremlin for hours while working on his gift.

But she thinks over their options for a moment longer, before nodding to herself - already stepping out of the alley with a tug of his hand. ]

A massage first to unwind, then a bath. How does that sound?

You and me both. I'll be happy just looking out on the ocean for a good long while.

[ he gives a little chuckle as he hooks an arm around Lapis', settling it along his own as they walk--circling around to the front of the building.

A quick moment is taken with the front desk lady, confirming their check-in--but given he'd come here earlier to deliver their overnight bags and Lapis' gift, he gives her a little tug to lead her to their room. ]

A massage honestly does sound amazing right now, I agree with you.
I just hope that the massuist doesn't mind that I have, er. Poor circulation, haha.

[ that he's a little cold to the touch. then again, he's not sure if normal people would notice that....

But first comes walking into the room; which is....

Right.
Its normal lights are replaced with slightly pinkish lights, and all the soaps and decorations have been swapped out with heartshaped stuff... god... ]

....I figure they did this because of the valentines special. Sorry if it's a bit corny...

[ but more importantly, right in the middle of the little dining table in the room is a huge bouquet of white flowers--all different shapes and sizes--as well as a pair of beautifully wrapped boxes. One is smaller than the other. ]

...My return gift. If you'd like to open it before we get changed.

[ Lapis hums in agreement, before following along as he hooks his arm around hers and leads the way into the spa. While she's content enough to be silent as she peers around, she quickly perks up when he agrees with her idea - though there's still a faint chuckle from her, at the image of a poor staff fretting over how cold he is... ]

Maybe they won't panic too much. It is February, so it's pretty cold anyway... Or you end up with someone who fusses and gives you health tips the whole time.

[ Hopefully his luck won't be that bad. Hopefully.

And she easily follows along with the tug, more than a little curious about what he has planned. So she's pleasantly surprised when they walk into the room, eyes widening as she looks around; shaking her head quickly when he mentions about the features being... very valentines themed. ]

It's alright, I think it's cute. [ She does appreciate the pink lighting! But it's what's on the table that stuns her, the bouquet getting a soft exhale in awe as she steps closer, letting her fingers brush over some of the petals. So pretty...

And. Wait. Two boxes. Lapis hesitates, glancing between Jinwoo and the wrapped boxes on the table. Since he bought the spa day, she wasn't expecting anything else... ]

You... You didn't have to... [ But he went through all this effort, so of course she's going to open them. She'll start with the smallest box before moving onto the next - time to be very careful so she doesn't ruin the wrapping. ]

[ honestly, he'd be fine with someone who gave him advice the whole time--at the least he wouldn't have to sit there and explain himself--just agree to take her advice.

He's going to move to settle next to Lapis once she moves over to the flowers, picking up the smallest box first.
A hand moves to the back of his neck and he gives a gentle laugh. ]

Not to spoil the surprise too much, but. The bigger box is less important than the small one.
I spent more than a few days in Hyrule trying to find one--either catching it myself, or paying someone who caught one...

[ the bigger box, she'll find, is a box of chocolates, different shapes and sized truffles--store bought, because his attempt to make his own chocolate had ended in burnt and crystallized sugar hell... ]

After about three weeks, I finally caught a glimpse of it, and I had to run like hell to be the first one to find where it landed...

[ because as she opens the little box, inside is a necklace--with a fancy little bottle on the end.

It took a while to find a fallen star, but...
Inside the little bottle is a sort of powdered dust that glowed bright when shaken--floating inside the bottle instead of being just collected in at the bottom. It twinkled like diamonds in the pinkish light. ]

It's a fragment of a fallen star I found and had processed into ....stardust.

[ Oh? In that case, she'll switch to opening the big box first; save the important one for last. Even if the chocolates are store bought, she still perks up all the same. She will definitely be inhaling these later...

Now onto the next, her head canting as she listens to him. For a moment she wonders what he's talking about, until she opens the box. Her breath catches in her throat as she holds the necklace, lifting and shaking the bottle gently to see how the dust sparkles. ]

Stardust... [ She recalls the conversation they had, about loot and Stardust, how he cut himself off. So he really... really went through all that, to give her this. ]

It's... It's beautiful... [ Her words catch in her throat, eyes starting to mist up. Lapis takes a deep breath, before turning toward him - leaning over to press her lips to his in a brief kiss. When she leans back, she's still trying to blink back tears as she beams at him. The day has only just started, she can't start crying now! ]

Thank you, Jinwoo. This is... really beautiful. [ She takes another look at the necklace again, smiling still as the dust catches the light. ]

I'll treasure this... Thank you so much.

[ he watches. a fond look coming over his face as he moves to settle next to her--crossing his legs as he settles. The chocolates are definitely the fancy kinds--the ones that were so rich you might feel like melting--but hey. What's more important in the moment was the little bottle.

A warm, affectionate look moves over his face as she turns it here and there, shaking it so the bright yellow little granules light up and twinkle in the pink light of the room.

Jinwoo chuckles, low in his chest, letting his chin rest against the palm of his hand as he just watches her--how her expression changes in realisation that he'd been planning this ever since that moment, a while ago, now. ]

Catching a falling star isn't easy, turns out. But it was worth it for this moment.

You look beautiful with that look on your face, you know. I could look at you for hours.

[ While she had been enamoured with how the light caught the little specs of dust, the sound of his chuckle is more than enough to divert her attention. And it's the look on his face that takes her breath away all over again, warmth spreading from her chest and burning along her cheeks.

Oh, this is bad. Lapis doesn't get shy, but what he says and how he looks at her... It makes her shoulders hunch, smile becoming so absolutely fond even as she glances away for a moment. ]

You... Saying stuff like that is unfair. [ But she manages to bring her eyes back to him, ignoring how her heart races as she reaches over to flick his hair playfully. Her fingers then drift further down, brushing against his cheek - a certain word lingers on the tip of her tongue now, and she finds it harder to brush it aside, to tell herself it's not the right moment. ]

... I know I keep saying this, but I really am so lucky to be with you. [ But it's so hard to deny it now. How can she, after this gift and how he looks at her?

She lets out a shaky breath, willing herself to not tear up again. Instead she smiles at him once more, warm and loving and something just for him. For how much she suppresses her feelings, she can never hide how much she cares for - loves - this man. ]

I love you, Jinwoo. I really do love you so much...

[ Lapis had never been the shy one--it was because of her that he'd even dared to get this far into a relationship with her. It was always her confidence that shone bright between them, a certainty of her feelings. Perhaps it was that desire to be happy, when the rest of her life had been so difficult--but whatever it was, he didn't rightly care.

Being with her had still been the best days of his life, by far--even better than the days he spent acting in a studio, even better than the days he'd spent signing autographs for people who were fans of his work. He didn't need anything else in the world if she was by his side.

And as she huffs and calls it unfair, he can't help but to laugh just a little more. An amused, but happy sound of his own as he lowers a heart to touch over his chest. His heartbeat is so quiet these days, barely there--and yet, he could feel a warmth there as she spoke all the same.

And then she says those words--and he swears, in an instant, he feels all of it starting to boil over, a heartbeat louder in his ears than he'd felt in months. He turns to look at her--no, STARE at her in muted disbelief. ]

[ and then that disbelief melts, into a long, quiet smile as he really has to do everything in his power not to grab her and gather her up into his arms.

...

Well.
He does try his best not to do that, but. He ends up getting halfway there, anyway. shifting on the floor, moving to wrap his arms around her shoulders--to pull her into a kiss that lingers for so long it might steal her breath for a moment.

There's a... moment of giddiness on his breath when he finally pulls away, a brightness to his eyes as he tries to--

The echo of her voice in his head, but he wants to hear it again. ]

--Say it again. Please. [ he asks, a quiet, almost whisper of a voice as he raises his head in a shaky, excited smile. ]

Just to be sure.
I need to be sure--that's what you said. Please, say it again.

[ Even though she said this, even though Lapis confident and sure about her feelings, she can't help but feel... a little nervous about his reaction. At the very least, she wanted him to know this. She's pretty sure it would have been impossible to hold back, after this.

But that smile tells her everything she needs to know - her breath leaving her in an almost bashful chuckle, before she finds herself pull into his arms. The kiss is one she returns eagerly, and she can't be sure if the dizziness is from needing air when it lingers or just the surge of emotions rushing through her. She loves him, she is completely and utterly in love with him, and she was finally able to say it. To let the most important person in her life know how much he means to her.

For such a long time, she thought something... someone like her didn't deserve this. To feel anything like this. But Jinwoo has proven her wrong each and every time, and she couldn't be more grateful. There will never be a day that goes by, where she doesn't think about how he made her life better by simply being by her side.

She takes a moment to catch her breath when he pulls back, eyes focused on his. And at his request, she can't help but chuckle again - hand reaching to rest on his cheek, as she gives him that adoring smile once more. ]

I love you, Jinwoo. I'll say it as many times as you want. [ Over and over and over again, because she knows she'll never get tired of saying it. Her words are a little breathless still, but still warm and genuine as she keeps expressing her feelings for him. ]

I love you so much... I love you more than anything else.

[ of course her loudest, most negative thoughts were wrong. When he'd come to Kaisou, met his new co-workers, he'd settled in for the idea that he'd only ever be a benchman again. Quietly reserved to do only the bare minimum field work--and yet, his first job on arrival had been with her.
And then ever since, he'd never had to... go Solo. It was so different for him, how could he not be smitten with the person who stuck by his side, regardless of how many times he made a fool of himself, how many times he could have messed up even the easiest of jobs?

She'd made herself so... important in his every day life that hearing those simple words--they're elation in spoken form. He holds her tightly to him, shifting to take one of her hands, to hold it over his chest--where his heartbeat is actually comfortably notable under her fingertips. He raises his head to look at her with bright blue eyes. a small squeeze of her fingers and another breathless little laugh. ]

I.
I almost can't believe I'm hearing it. But I believe you.
I--
I love you, too. I love you so much--I've been so. Nervous about telling you all this time. Even after a conversation with Husk, the one thing that pulled me through was being determined to prove that my heart was set on you.
And only you.

I --wondered if it was too early, but.
If you feel that way, too.
Then.

I don't have any worries anymore.
I can say it as many times as I hear it.
I love you, too. My beautiful Lapis de Fiore.

[ Lapis lets herself lean against him as he holds her tight, blinking when she holds her hand over his chest - and when she can actually feel his heartbeat, actually feel it, her breath catches in surprise before her eyes meet his. The sound of his laugh makes her smile all over again, and she finds herself almost... nervous all over again, for his response.

It's a giddy sort of nerves, one that has her heart racing as her other hand clenches the necklace to her own chest. And actually hearing him say it back, hearing him say all of that...

She can't stop her own breathless little laugh, the blurring of tears in her eyes an almost familiar feeling now. I love you, too he says and it takes so much not to just sob from the sheer joy that those words fill her with. For so long she had convinced herself that love wasn't something she could have, that she never deserved, and now here she is - in the arms of the man she adores the most, as he tells her he feels the same.

It's almost overwhelming, enough so that she feels almost shaky - but that does stop her from beaming brightly at him, from leaning close enough to gently press her forehead against his. Such simple words have made her so overjoyed that she hardly knows what to do with herself. ]

I love you too, my precious Sung Jinwoo. [ And since she hasn't said it in Korean yet; ] I love you so much.

[ The words trail off into another breathless giggle, heart still pounding and cheeks still burning from the sheer rush of it all. ]

I'm never going to get tired of saying that. So if you ever need to hear it again, I'll be more than happy to tell you.

[ he hasn't loved anything in a long time. If there's something about being with lapis has taught him it's that he forgot what it felt like to truly care about someone. He'd been living life in what felt like third-person, going through the motions because what else was there?

No family, very few friends--she was what he was missing. The start of something that was his, again, someone to protect and care for. It's easy to love her, he had long ago decided. And being loved back was just... what an amazing feeling.

He could hear her say it for hours and not get tired. But at the same time. He has to laugh. This--was this really someone the Order wanted to turn into a weapon? Someone with so much empathy and kindness? They were fools. ]

I might have to ask you to say it a few more times just so I'll remember it in the moments we're not together. [ inoften as that is, lately. ] Especially in Korean. Your accent has gotten so much better. [ he gives a bit of a cheeky smile, but. It's lost, as the pinkish color rises in his cheeks for the first time in a... long time. Probably the first time they'd gotten intimate. ]

I'm going to become a real pest, you know.

[ Part of her wonders if she's dreaming - she spent so long telling herself that she would be alone, that her life would only ever be what the Order commanded of her. And then in comes in this shy, quiet and incredibly kind man to show her that her life is worth so much more than that.

And she knows once they're free, Lapis knows it's a freedom she wants to spend with him. Even if it's... honestly a little frightening, after years of telling herself otherwise, but she knows she can face it with him by her side.

For now, though, she'll have to keep making sure he knows just how much she loves him. ]

I'll say it at least five times everyday. [ There's a pause, before she chuckles sweetly once more. ] In English and Korean. Luckily having an amazing teacher made it easier for me to know exactly how to say 'I love you'.

[ Of course she has to slide another one in there, her smile curving into something equal parts fond and playful; the pink along his cheeks doesn't go unnoticed, and she reaches up to gently brush her fingers across the flushed skin. ]

I'm not seeing the problem with that. Especially since you'll need to deal with me being a pest too. [ She'll lean in to press her lips to his, letting the kiss linger before she pulls back. And then something almost sheepish passes over her expression, as she lets herself lean against him. ]

... Ah, I know I suggested going to get massages first, but I really don't want to be away from you at all right now...

At least five, huh. [ he does have to chuckle--he wonders if she'll miscount on purpose. Likely, he will too, and try to fool her into thinking she hadn't hit five.

That'd be amusing. He's already smirking a little at the thought of it. ]

You probably could have had a much more effective teacher, but. I'll take the compliment anyway. I taught you more interesting words than an actual teacher would have, anyway. [ he's gonna wink an eye at her with a little rumble in his chest. ]

I don't. Really feel like leaving the room either.

...

We have the whole afternoon and evening to do things at the spa. Checkout isn't until 11am tomorrow morning.
We could just relax in the hot tub until dinner and then go for massages afterwords.

[ he tips his head towards the jaccuzi tub room that's the next room over. ...There's rose petals in the water and he hasn't realised it yet. ]

At least five. [ She repeats back, already having an idea of what he's thinking when she sees that smirk. There is a very, very high chance she will miscount on purpose - but she sees no issues with that. And she doubts he will either.

And she can't help but giggle again at his wink, smile brightening as there's a hum in agreement. But it's a relief to know she's not the only one who doesn't want to leave, and she gives a faint nod before turning her attention to the hot tub room. That would be a nice way to spend the rest of the afternoon... Especially since she knows she's going to be a little clingy for a while. ]

That sounds like an amazing idea. [ Lapis leans back a little now, making sure the necklace is safe and secure around her neck, before forcing herself to pull away to check out the tub. Let's see if it's already been heated up for them -

Oh.

There's a chuckle from Lapis, and she can only send an amused look Jinwoo's way. ]

... I'll assume the rose petals weren't your doing. Or if they are, I'm going to wonder if the season is having an affect on you.

The rosepetals were absolutely not my idea. They weren't here when I checked in. I have a feeling the Spa and Inn staff had something to do with it.

[ he drags a hand down his face. It's a little embarrassing, but. Hey. At least they can laugh about it? ]

I think they're trying to 'help'. [ he's totally averting his gaze away from that look, sinking down a little into his shadow. ]

At least they didn't put glitter or anything in the bath. By the looks of it.

Or anything to change the color of it. Can you imagine if they tried to make the water pink...

[ he's going to move to hang up his blazer on the back of the bathroom door, slowly closing it and flipping the 'occupied' lock on. ]

[ And there's another chuckle from Lapis in response; they can absolutely laugh about it, though she might not help with how embarrassed he feels right now. ]

I think I can safely say we don't need 'help'. [ Lapis.

But she does check for anything else in the water, because glitter on skin is a nightmare and not one she wants to deal with right now. Besides some petals still floating around the surface though, it seems all clear. ]

No signs of glitter. Which is good, because trying to get glitter off of anything is a pain.

[ Though... pink water. There's a slight scrunch of her nose at the thought, before she steps over so she can hang up her own jacket. ]

I think pink water might look more weird than romantic. What if it stained... [ Especially considering how pale he is; at least he always covered himself up.

Though with the door locked and it now securely just being the two of them, it does lend to Lapis being a little more... mischievous. While she was reaching back to unzip her dress, she instead pauses; the smile she gives him all faux innocence. ]

Can you help me with this, Jinwoo?

We definitely don't need help. [ he can at least say this assuredly, even. If. He's currently looking right at Lapis with a slight burning red color in his cheeks.

It isn't his first time being intimate with her at all--but somehow, the coy sound to her voice, the pinkish color of the lights, with the smile on her face is making him feel --

Ah, that's definitely a burning feeling that rises in his neck, and down into his stomach. ...God, he was such a lucky guy, after all. Years of bad luck, and yet, this is where he'd ended up?

He's going to move away from the door and slide up behind her, drawing a thumb along the zipper she's talking about with a hum in the back of his throat. He doesn't undo it--not yet, considering it with a little flicker of a glow in his eye. he slides one arm around her middle. ]

Ah, I think it's caught.

I may need to apply a little more... pressure, here.

[ ...as he presses a kiss to the back of her neck, then to where the zipper is, he grasps it between his teeth. Dragging it down, slowly. ]

[ Even if she's the one not-so-subtlety encouraging things in a certain direction, Lapis can still feel her own cheeks burn up as his arm slides around her middle. And that blush starts to burn to the tips of her ears as he presses that kiss to her neck and drags the zipper down, breath hitching as she flusters for a brief moment.

Only a brief moment, and once the zipper is all the way down, she shifts in his hold so that she's able to more easily curl her fingers into the collar of his shirt; motioning him back up so she can press her lips to his. Even though she lets the kiss linger only for a moment, there's a gentle graze of teeth against his bottom lip as she pulls away - that faux innocent smile back in place. ]

Ah, thank you. [ Though she doesn't shrug off her dress just yet, even as the fabric falls over her shoulders. Mostly because there's something else she wants first, and she punctuates this with another light tug on his shirt. ]

Now lets take this off next. [ She is but a simple women who very much likes seeing her boyfriend shirtless, and she has zero shame about this. ]

Edited (leaves this notif here for u) 2024-05-05 18:38 (UTC)

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