[ It feels like waking from a long, long dream, when Sumina Heartleaf finds her way back home to the Elderflower Inn at last. Like emerging from the recesses of her mind, reaching, reaching for a thread, for anything to hold on to, for her to be able to remember all that took place in that warm, wonderful dream. Like reaching... for someone's hand, and holding fast to its grasp like nothing else in her life has mattered as much as it—
Like making a wish.
The Elderflower Inn is a wondrous place whose entrance can appear in the most unexpected places in the material world. At the moment, however, it's as if its arched, wooden doors and its stained glass inlay appears in that dream, and again Sumina reaches, reaches with one hand for its handle, and pulls the door open... to find herself at home.
She's home.
With her other hand, she squeezes, her fingers laced tightly between another's. When her gaze slides down and sees a ring - her ring - of shooting stars and the roughened hand which offered it to her and then at last to the face of the man arriving here with her, she knows from the very depths of her heart: it wasn't a dream, and Satoru Gojo is here with her, at home, a true wish come true, bound by that thread she so desperately held onto.
It seems to be midday when they find themselves standing at the lobby of Sumina's beloved inn; a quiet time, when most of its guests have either checked out, or are still asleep. There's no one else around for the moment but the two of them, it seems, but perhaps it's all for the best, so that Sumina can clap her hand over her mouth as she gasps, when it hits her - truly hits her - that she's home. And he is here, too. ]
It should sound strange, right? To arrive somewhere you've never been before and immediately feel at home. Maybe it's because of all the time he spent in Sumina's suite at the Hotel, or in other spaces she's cultivated for herself that bring to mind these vaunted halls. Maybe it's only that he's with Sumina, and that's it. She is his home. She has been for a long time, now, as he's told her time and time again before.
Which is why when her very soul tugs his along, not pulling him, but guiding him, his own heart following her lead, that arriving here doesn't feel like an ending, but...a beginning. This has been their final destination for some time, ever since he returned to Hotel Caelum with no means to return to his own world, but even if that weren't the case...
His work is done, his legacy secured by his students. He's sure of it, and so...this is what he would choose anyway. To be with her, to make a new home, a new life at her side. To...stay.
So — here they are. His soul follows the light of her own, until they're at the threshold of his new home, their home. Bewildered even so, he exchanges looks with her, brows flying up, his grasp on her hand iron-tight. Once again, a necessary anchor. ]
We're...home. [ He finishes her thought, trying out the word on his tongue. It feels right, given to this place. ] How did you...?
[ But he trails off, shaking his head. It doesn't really matter how. His surprise melts softly into a grin, buoyant and wide, as he turns to wind his arms around her waist, lift her bodily off her feet, and spin her around. ]
Aha! We made it! About time, heh!
[ About time for their life together to truly begin. ]
[ It feels almost like another lifetime ago, when the whimsy of leaving the hotel with Satoru in tow to return to the Elderflower first crossed Sumina's mind. When, upon learning of his demise, she had quietly resolved to find a way to bring him home - to her home.
And it hits her again, when he completes her nebulous thought, that it's their home, now, made all the more true by the sound of his voice - we're... home - the sincerity of his smile, and the firmness of his embrace as he lifts and spins her. He leaves her with no better recourse than to cry out in her glee, laughing freely, unabashedly as her arms wind around him in turn to hold fast and true to him. ]
We made it...!
[ Even before her feet find the floor once more, Sumina leans in, swept up not only in the physical sense but in an almost spiritual sense, too, and she kisses Satoru without any of her usual reservations or timidness. With her lips pressed to his, her heart feels so full and yet so weightless all at once, her spirit soaring boundlessly even though there is nothing more important to her at the moment than the fact that they are very much here, in this place, together. She is kissing him, her love, in the place she has always envisioned them to call their home ultimately, even if they'd ended up taken a bit of a detour.
Pulling away just enough to murmur against his lips: ]
Allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Elderflower Inn, Satoru Gojo...
[ But then she is drawing her touch down along his arms, until her fingers find his to lace them together, just as he lets her down at last. ]
[ Her kiss winds him in its intensity, its warmth and sincerity, and maybe he's feeling just a bit weak in the knees from such an utter display of her affection, but it's all he can do to hold tight to her and kiss her back with the selfsame devotion, pouring his love into her. Her lips shape the words against his lips. Welcome to the Elderflower Inn, Satoru Gojo. Her Elderflower Inn. His new home...his future, all right here, at her side.
Their fingers weave together, his smile beaming from ear to ear, irresistible. At her side, he's always had more and more reasons to genuinely smile, to let the natural warmth within him blossom and bloom, but with how he feels in this moment, his grin hardly feels adequate to spell out his abundant joy. He could spin her around again and again and float with her through the ceiling, and it still likely wouldn't cover it.
It just...is something else entirely. To wait for this day, to do everything they could to make it here, and for it to actually happen, at long last. ]
You better! Can't get lost in my own house, now. That'd be way too embarrassing. [ He squeezes her hands within his own. ] Lead the way, Miss Innkeeper?
[ Hopefully it's all the same as she remembers it, but maybe she hasn't really been gone all that long, in the perspective of this world. ]
[ It is something else entirely, an elation and joy that Sumina has never quite felt in her life, that she never thought could be hers, and it is so profoundly precious that she could very well weep when he calls it his own house. The way her eyes shine like glass and her lips quiver only attest to this fact, but she reels herself back soon enough - there's work to be done, after all - for the sake of Satoru's introduction to her beloved inn.
With him here... it can truly feel like home, more than it ever had before, and a place that she can make more her own.
Drawing in a deep breath and then exhaling, she nods, before tugging him across the foyer and towards a large dining area, where a cozy bar sits at the far end of the room. The place is all warm tones and gentle but elegant curves in wood, the ambiance being that of a place that has certainly been around for ages, but still feels homey and cozy. There are a few patrons partaking in a light meal scattered about the room, none of whom seem to realize who Sumina is, which is just as well. ]
This, of course, is the tavern. It's quiet right now, but just wait until evening comes... I can see you becoming the life of the party right here many nights, too, ahaha.
[ It's his turn, now, to witness all of the ways she's already imagined their life together here. Embarrassing. ]
The kitchen is just behind the bar, there. Ah! Would you like something to drink, honey? We can get some tea going, or get you a glass of juice?
[ Fortunately for Satoru and Sumina, the passage of time hasn't felt all too disrupted by their various interdimensional jaunts. Though the Elderflower and the worlds it tends to visit operate on different calendars than the ones they'd grown accustomed to both at the Hotel and on Escordvi, Sumina has been able to correctly ascertain the rough conversion of dates...
...and just in time for Satoru's birthday, too. Not that she'd gone out of her way to tell him, necessarily, what the date is, or how closely December 7th was approaching. Instead, Sumina sees a rare opportunity to maybe, just maybe— surprise him like he had surprised her for the anniversary of their meeting (now also known as the day they became engaged).
And to that end, Sumina awakens this morning much in the same way that she would most any other day. Now that they've returned to the Elderflower, especially, Sumina has only taken to getting up and out of bed early more and more. She's only too happy to allow him to sleep in - he's technically retired, after all - except for today.
Today, after she's dressed as if she's about to go about her usual morning work routine, she sits at the edge of the bed (their bed), and gently rouses him: ]
Satoru? Honey? I need your help this morning... Could you give me a hand?
[ This entire plan, of course, hinges upon the assumption that Satoru hasn't figured out how the calendar works here, but... even if he knows, and he somehow managed to lead up to this day without insistently reminding her like he had last year, maybe he'll play along for her sake... ]
Edited (there were so many mistakes wtf) 2024-12-11 19:57 (UTC)
[ Truth be told, Satoru hasn't been keeping a close eye on the calendar and the conversion of dates since they arrived at the Elderflower, for better or worse. On the one hand, he no longer needs to anticipate his birthday like he used to; he has enough warmth to fill up his heart every day as is, that it doesn't take an abundance of gifts and celebration to serve that purpose. On the other...it feels a little unnatural, somehow, to anticipate a birthday when he's already passed his death day. Just one of those things he hasn't navigated yet, and hasn't put any further thought into, because he doesn't want to. It's not really all that important...
So when Sumina returns to rouse him earlier than normal this particular morning, he's none the wiser. And grumbling, as he turns his face into the pillow, hair falling against the corner of his eye. He'd been having such a nice dream at an all-you-can-eat sushi bar...and for someone who used to sleep a grand total of three hours each night, he's sure grown accustomed to sleeping in, soaking up the late morning sun like a cat. ]
Ngrh... [ Comes his muffled groan against the pillow. He knew he should have tried to get her to stay in bed this morning!! He may have been better behaved about that since they settled in here, but that hasn't soothed the temptation. ] A hand? With...dragging you back into bed?
[ His arm is already creeping around her waist, poised to strike... ]
[ Oh, how tempting it is indeed to let herself be dragged back into bed, today of all days - and the lack on Sumina's part of any real resistance to his arm winding around her waist attests to the sentiment. Still, she won't let herself be completely drawn into an, ahem, horizontal position beside him, instead leaning over to gently brush his hair away from his eye so she can press a kiss to the fan of his snowy lashes. ]
Aha... No, not this time, I'm afraid. [ Because yes, he has been better behaved about this since they settled in, but she has not once resisted him when he has misbehaved... until now. ] I really need you to come out to the front with me.
[ Now is when she musters the will to fully extricate herself from him, rising back up to her feet to fetch some clothes for him. ]
You see, a terribly unruly guest has arrived, but if anyone can show him how to behave here, I think it's you.
[ She deposits the clothes next to him in bed, but they're maybe a bit... nicer than one might expect for her simply asking him to step out to intimidate a guest. And what's more, is that atop that stack of clothes is a singular, verdant earring. ]
[ Her resistance might be a little surprising, but her claim that he's one to show an unruly guest how to behave is far more so. Since when has he ever been an example of good behavior? Unless she's being cheeky, and needs him to teach a "lesson" to a guest like he once had in a bawdy night club ship...
He can't quite puzzle it out, his suspicions only growing more acute once she drops a pile of clothes for him to change into, which aren't really the sort of comfy loose attire he'd use to fight in. Sitting up more fully, he reaches over and scoops up the green earring into his palm, running his thumb over it. Funny, he can't say he's memorized all of Sumina's jewelry, but he's all but certain he hasn't seen this one before. ]
Oi, Mina, you dropped this. [ Holding up the earring for her to see between his thumb and forefinger: ] Ehh, are you sure you shouldn't come back to bed? You're not making sense, and you're dropping your things...kinda sounds like you need a rest day to meeee, your doctor!
[ Self-assigned, of course. Despite his protests, he's grasping his sleeping shirt from behind his head and tugging it up and off his frame, indulging in a luxurious stretch as he does so, spine cracking in several places.
...He really hopes he gets to throw someone out today. That'd be nice! ]
[ This certainly is an odd situation all-around, and though Sumina's planned much for today, the... duplicity that her current plot requires does have her in a more chaotic state than she would normally allow for herself...
... But also, maybe he's just rubbed off on her a bit in that regard.
She seats herself once more on the edge of their bed when he starts changing as requested, taking the loose earring back into her hand, admiring her own selection with a secretive smile on her lips. ]
Oh? Did I drop it? Hm... what do you think of it, honey? Something you might wear, if you could?
[ yeah she is being so weird this morning!! ]
I guess I really am a bit out of sorts... I just really need you to come out to see to this guest, all right?
[ Though an adventurer typically must find a magical door to lead them into the ever-mysterious and mystical Elderflower Inn, there are a select few who are fortunate enough to have the inn find them. This includes, naturally, the members of the Heartleaf family; but it is a feat bestowed upon their most trusted companions, too. Party members who have walked in stride with the sorcerers for years, close allies, or even longtime business partners.
And also: Vaer, who had somehow charmed or perhaps more accurately tricked their way into this esteemed (?) circle. It had been during their days of traveling alone when the bard had first encountered the family spitfire Elenaril and was subsequently tasked with impersonating her twin brother during a routine visit to the family inn, and it was then, too, that the unknowing family darling Sumina had so perceptively seen through their ruse.
These days, they travel with a different crowd - a pirate crew, to be precise - but for all of their half-truths free-spiritedness, they remain dutiful in their periodic appearances at the inn to entertain its guests, as they had promised Sumina a few years ago.
Being dutiful, and also absolutely dying with a burning curiosity is what brings them sauntering through the inn's entrance one afternoon, followed closely by a few other crew members joining the alabaster-skinned bard in a sea shanty as they cross through the foyer. ]
Miss Heartleaf! Oh, how you've broken the hearts of these lonely crewmates of mine with the word we've received! Is it really true!? That you're... [ They swoon, all but draping themselves dramatically over the front desk, ] Betrothed!?
[ ... ... ...
The aforementioned front desk is - unfortunately for this whole crew - currently unattended. But thankfully, the tavern doesn't seem to be empty! And so does this gaggle of tipsy pirates wander then towards the bar, where Vaer simply starts from the top with more feeling, as the show must go on: ]
Miss Heartleaf! Oh, how you've broken the hearts of these lonely crewmates of mine with the word we've received! Is it really true!? That you're... [ They slide into a bar stool, only to be met by a very tall human with eyes bluer than even the dazzling ocean which greets Vaer every morning, ] Oh. Well met, sir.
[ It's the Elderflower's newest staff member that Vaer encounters at the bar tonight, though "staff member" may be a little insufficient here. After all, it's not as though one Gojo Satoru would be working the tavern were he not attached to the Heartleaf family now. There is...a lot he wouldn't be doing if that weren't the case, but for now, though he is technically "retired", he still finds plenty to keep him busy. Or rather, Sumina does, because it's in everyone's best interest that Gojo's time remains occupied, especially considering their approaching ceremony. Left with too much free time and energy, he might get a little too creative.
One of his many new pastimes is manning the bar; even if he's not a fan of alcohol himself, he's found mixology to be a neat little hobby he's quite good at, complete with showy moves and plenty of conversation. Plus, drunks are funny, and prone to fight. Any day he gets to intervene in a good, old fashioned tavern brawl is a good day. When a band of pirates come swaggering into the establishment, he thinks it's gonna be one of those lucky days for certain — after all, given his own stint with piracy, he's well-acquainted with just how easy it is to start a fight with them.
...Not that he's going to start a fight. Probably. Not without a good reason that will keep the fiancee from giving him too disapproving of a look.
The contents of their sea shanty doesn't go unnoticed by him, either, and if this band is really well-acquainted with Sumina...well, it doesn't mean he's going to behave himself, but he'll at least keep it in mind! Especially if they're aware of her betrothal... ]
Ahoy. [ He grins at the pirate sliding into the barstool in front of him. Ah...he knows that look, that tone of voice. Heh. This is gonna be good. ] What can I get you this evening? Maybe...a tall glass of water?
I would say something about how you're already here, but... How about you surprise me instead, gorgeous?
[ Somewhere in her office, Sumina surely just got a bad feeling. She'd always been annoyed by Vaer's forward and flirtatious tendencies, especially when they're directed towards her other acquaintances. Though that certainly never stopped them from falling into Winter's bed in the past... Sigh. Yet another returnee from that fabled hotel who's since become spoken for...
Anyway, they lean forward on the bar, intentionally affording the handsome new barkeep a view down their very loose, open shirt and the twink-ass frame beneath, cupping their cheek in their hand as they glance up at Gojo. ]
My name is Vaer. I'm a regular bard here, and so I'm delighted to say that you and I will be seeing quite a bit of each other!
[ Yes, the very same Vaer that Sumina had once told Gojo of, the same Vaer that Sumina had once mistaken Gojo for during their early days at the hotel after her shadow had taken over, and the same Vaer she had called a friend, in the flesh. ]
[ It's not lost on Satoru how if this exchange had been happening even a year prior, it would be going very, very differently; after all, Vaer isn't the only one of the two of them that was well-acquainted with easy flings and one-night stands. For the longest time, that's all he could have, with how dangerous attachments were. How...impossible.
But were this a year ago, Satoru wouldn't be manning a bar at an interdimensional inn run by his fiancée. He wouldn't be a lot of things that he is now, and his smile carries a distinctly amused curl as he crosses his arms over his broad chest and leans back against the shelves behind him. He does have an inkling of who this might be before they introduce themselves, based off of Sumina's stories and previous descriptions of them, and and once they confirm it...
Honestly, he couldn't pick a better way for them to meet. He flashes a grin, devious in its own right. ]
Vaer, huh? So, you're the one Mina-chan has told me sooo much about. Satoru Gojo. I'm a new arrival, you could say!
[ Mina-chan? Vaer can't quite say that they've ever heard Sumina addressed as such, though it's not too uncommon for regulars here to come up with their own affectionate nicknames for the lovely Miss Heartleaf. Why, even amongst this crew, she's gained quite a few. ]
"Mina-chan," was it? [ They chuckle, and lift their free hand to gesture at their fellow drunken sailors. ] Miss Heartleaf has collected yet another term of endearment, has she? Though if you ask my jolly fellows, here, they'd much rather prefer—
[ "The sweetest lass in all the seas," for one, and "a landlubbing goddess worth coming to shore to," the pirates chime in as if on queue. It only goes to show how much Sumina had truly isolated herself, when affection was simply waiting for her at every corner, waiting to be accepted.
In any case, the barkeep's name strikes Vaer as familiar, although it really shouldn't. They're one to remember faces, and they sure as all Nine Hells would remember a face like that. So, where have they heard the name "Satoru Gojo"...?
... ... ...
Recognition doesn't quite flash in their eyes, though it does tug at their lips in amusement by just the slightest bit, remembering the name tumbling past a drunken Elenaril's lips, the last time they'd crossed paths. Could he really be...? ]
So, a new arrival, then. Perhaps you're paying off your tab by working the bar, then? Happens to the best of us, I'm afraid. Madam Innkeeper can be quite firm when it comes to business, can't she? I do hope she's not... working you too hard, hm?
[ Despite the ever-elusive nature of the Elderflower Inn, there are a select few locations in the multiverse which enjoy a steady connection to that mystical place. The Hollow Hearth is one such place, home of the Alchemighty, led by an adventurer from a family that also enjoys a longtime friendship with the Heartleaf family. Though it took years and no small amount of effort for Daelareth Veltris' part to establish such a connection, now the Inn and the Alchemighty have an arrangement wherein the Elderflower shall always act a vehicle through which its adventurers can travel to other worlds, and the Elderflower has some of the guild's resources at its disposal.
Chief among them is a way to call upon its healers in case of emergencies, like a guest arriving and needing attention for an ailment that simple potions and concoctions cannot heal, when there are no other healers present... or, as is the case this fine morning, the Innkeeper inexplicably collapsing whilst working.
Miss Heartleaf - or is it Lady Gojo now, Ori still hasn't quite figured out which one the Innkeeper prefers to go by these days - has already been laid up in her private quarters by the time the druid arrives through the door leading to the Hearth. After shooing the helpful guests who had assisted her and a thorough examination followed by a casting of Greater Restoration, all that's left is to inform the Innkeeper's husband, who had apparently gone out for the day.
And by "inform," Ori really means to send an animal messenger to wherever he's gone, a little, daisy-covered robin that eventually perches within earshot of the sorcerer, opening its beak to suddenly speak in Ori's voice: ]
Satoru of the Elderflower! This is a message from Oriphi of the Alchemighty. Congratulations are in order! Please return to the inn soon. Thank you!
[ As with many of the guilds and factions that have frequent dealings with the Elderflower, Satoru has become familiar with the name "Alchemighty", even if he's met its members infrequently. Well — aside from Juni-chan, but she's a special case. Some of them had even attended the wedding, though given the whirlwind a day like that is even for an attention whore like him, he'd be hard-pressed to pick them out of a crowd.
Even so, receiving a message from one Oriphi of the Alchemighty while he's out on a doggy date with Taichi today is unusual enough for him to realize immediately this must be something important. The voice of the robin informs him that congratulations are in order, which can only mean he has won some kind of prize, or award — is there a lottery here? Did they buy lottery tickets?? Did he win a trophy for Faerun's Cutest Husband? Never mind that he didn't enter anything, they should just Know...
In any case, consider his curiosity piqued, and though it means he must cut the doggy cafe date short, very soon after the message is received, Gojo is throwing open the doors of the Elderflower, trotting in with Taichi in tow, taking off the dog's leash as he declares: ]
Helloooooo, Oriphi-chaaaan? I'm here to collect my prize!
[ It's not until he trots up to the front desk to bestow a smooch that he realizes Sumina isn't there. Huh...she must be helping a guest find their room or something. He can't wait to show her his trophy, heh... ]
[ Sorry, Gojo who? As a druid, Oriphi would be remiss to not greet this wonderful canine companion first and foremost, so she offers her welcoming greeting first to Taichi, kneeling immediately in front of the desk where she had been lingering in wait to allow the fluffy hound to sniff her hand before offering so many pets. ]
Oh, you are such a pretty pup, aren't you! Did you have a fun adventure today? I'm so sorry to have cut it short!
[ She's not cast her animal-speaking spell, but she can tell that this one is quite intelligent...
But—right. Mister Satoru is here. Rising back up to her feet, Oriphi clears her throat, and—doesn't know what he means by prize, much less collecting it...? He can't be referring to the baby, can he? Because if so, he's got several months to go before he can, uh, collect that one.
So, she'll just ignore that. ]
Satoru, right? I do regret interrupting your day like this, but... Sumina should take the rest of the day to— well, rest, so I thought it might be good to call you back here, in case you might know what to do if she has to take a day. And...
[ A wide grin pulls at her lips, brightening her eyes. Oh, how exciting, that the newlyweds are going to have a baby! A little one running around in the inn, how precious... Oh, her heart is bursting. ]
I did say congratulations are in order... so, congratulations! Oh, I'm so happy for you both. You haven't told Dae or anyone else in the Alchemighty yet, have you? [ Otherwise she'd already know. Because they're a messy lot of gossips. ] Don't worry - I can keep it a secret until you're ready to tell them!
[ To his credit, he only looks slightly put off that Taichi has won Oriphi's attentions first. Half the reason Taichi is so cute is because he takes after Satoru so much, after all! So it's an indirect compliment towards him, or something.
As soon as Oriphi does start addressing him directly, though, he isn't thinking about being slighted for the dog at all. What does she mean, Sumina should take the day to rest? Was she sick? He hadn't heard anything from her via his earring, and Oriphi's demeanor is awfully casual if she is unwell. And anyway, how is that anything to congratulate him about??
Both of his hands fly upwards, palms out in front of him. ]
I think you skipped the part where you told me the secret. [ Or Sumina did??? ] Is Mina sick? Ehhh — never mind.
[ He's just going to try to breeze past Ori and head for their personal chambers now, his heart racing a little faster. The sooner he can assess her condition with his own two eyes, the better he'll feel. ]
[ Oriphi blinks slowly as he gusts past her, her thoughts percolating as she realizes with a gasp— oh. Oh. He didn't know, either... And perhaps Sumina herself didn't know, either...?
She's quick to turn on her heel and follow Satoru, her hand reaching out to try and snag her fingers into the back of his jacket. Regardless of whether she's successful in the gesture or not, she calls out: ]
Wait—! If you didn't know, then— I-I have to tell you, delicately! And somewhere quiet!
[ Somewhere like... their chambers, where once Gojo proceeds with Ori following him in, they would find Sumina properly tucked into their bed, sleeping deeply. ]
Don't worry, she's fine now. I'm guessing she was feeling rather queasy earlier, so she just needs to be off her feet for a while.
[ Satoru knew that the pool would become one of his favorite features of the Elderflower, a place that allows him to both relax and stretch his muscles, but it's usually somewhere he visits early in the morning, as a way to wake himself up and get in a good workout before starting his other daily routines. Only occasionally has he had the chance to swim alongside Mina; even after their wedding, she's still notoriously busy, despite his best efforts. Maybe it's time he stages an intervention for her, but even he has been getting back into his workaholic nature lately. Old habits die hard, don't they?
Which is also why Satoru winds up at the pool in the middle of the night this time. It's a crisp 2 AM, a time which during his old teaching days, he'd still be hard at work, well before his three-hour nap cycle. Though swimming at the pool is far more relaxing than any bullshit administrative work he would have been working on back home, it's still not sleeping. What can he say? He's gotten bad about sleeping alone, which is...still hard to believe, sometimes. He's gotten just that used to being attached to another person...
Though maybe it's not that surprising. A fundamental part of himself was always built for that. It's just that for the longest time, it had nowhere to go.
...Once Sumina heads to bed, he'll join her. For now, he'll enjoy swimming laps in the pool in the utter, pristine silence — though unlike his morning swims, he isn't even wearing a swimsuit. It's the middle of the night, after all, so naturally, that called for skinny-dipping. It's nice! He feels so unrestrained...and even he can still enjoy solitude from time to time.
That said, he certainly wouldn't mind some very specific company right now... ]
[ Administrative work is exactly what has kept Sumina from retiring to the bedroom with her husband, though she would hardly call it bullshit. It's important work, and one of the few things that— yes, despite Satoru's best efforts— she simply cannot delegate to another so easily. There's a certain thoroughness required to weave various rumors and stories together to write up quests; it's painstaking work, but it's also one of the things that Sumina genuinely loves about her work. To take what she learns from her precious guests and turn them into potential new adventures for others...
In any case, it's not unusual to find Satoru still awake by the time she finally comes to bed, but is unusual to not find him in their chambers at all. She's tired enough that, having assumed that her husband would be in bed, she'd climbed in and reached over with an arm to wrap around... the absence of him.
And so it's a bit groggily that she slips back out of bed, throwing a loose silken robe over her not-so-loose silken nightgown. Taichi spares her only the sleepiest little look as she passes back through the office before rolling over and falling back asleep, so she embarks on the quest to find her husband by herself. She wanders over to the tavern, first—maybe he'd been taken by the desire to create new drinks for the menu— and then into the kitchen, where she thinks he might be partaking in a late night snack. When both turn out to be very Satoru-less indeed, the only other place to look would be...
Yes, she finds him at the pool at long last. She pads over, slippers over tile, coming to stand at the edge of the pool. ]
So, this is where my husband has gone off to at this hour...
[ Of course, thanks to the field of vision of the Six Eyes, he knows she's approaching well before she actually arrives, padding over to the side of the pool as he finishes up his lap. That gives her time to appreciate how nice his muscles look wet as he swims — and yes, his backside, too — before he draws to a stop at the edge of the pool, gripping the ledge as he beams up at her. Tall as he is, at the more shallow end of the pool, the water line hugs his waist just where his hipbones start to dip inwards, the curl of his happy trail just visible...
As shameless as this bracket text, he stretches his arms over his head, letting beads of water trail down his biceps and torso. ]
Mm, good evening, pookie pie! What, is my lovely wife feeling a little flustered? Maybe it's because you're up so late.
[ He's gotta harrass her about it, at least a little. ]
[ It doesn't escape her for even a single moment that he's putting on a show for her, which only tells her that there's a very specific purpose for him being here, and being here like this, especially. ]
Or maybe it's because you're being more shameless than usual, dearest...
[ Still, it's not as if she averts her gaze from the way the water hugs his waist, calling her gaze to his navel and the trail of hair that disappears beneath the wavy surface... And it's not as if she turns and walks out, ether. In fact, despite the danger she knows she is in, she steps closer to the edge and squats down in front of him, bringing them eye-to-eye with one another. ]
Come on. Why don't you get washed up and come to bed with me?
[ Surely, he only means to tease and seduce her here so he can sweep her away into their room and have his way with her there, right? ]
[ She sealed her fate the moment that she squats down next to him, though for a mercy, he doesn't grab her an pull her into the pull, sorely tempted as he might be. That particular mischief is more likely to lead away from a spicy late night pool rendezvous, as fun as it would be. He's got to keep his goal in mind...
So instead, he wades over to edge of the pool, leaning on his palms against the stone ledge, leveling Sumina with an easy, relaxed smile that doesn't yet hint at his true intentions. She'll piece it together on her own, soon enough... ]
Mm, why bother? We've already got the pool right here to cool us down...
[ Now his grin cuts a little more sharply. ]
Or are you not feelin' a little too hot yet? Maybe I can do something about that.
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home sweet home.
Like making a wish.
The Elderflower Inn is a wondrous place whose entrance can appear in the most unexpected places in the material world. At the moment, however, it's as if its arched, wooden doors and its stained glass inlay appears in that dream, and again Sumina reaches, reaches with one hand for its handle, and pulls the door open... to find herself at home.
She's home.
With her other hand, she squeezes, her fingers laced tightly between another's. When her gaze slides down and sees a ring - her ring - of shooting stars and the roughened hand which offered it to her and then at last to the face of the man arriving here with her, she knows from the very depths of her heart: it wasn't a dream, and Satoru Gojo is here with her, at home, a true wish come true, bound by that thread she so desperately held onto.
It seems to be midday when they find themselves standing at the lobby of Sumina's beloved inn; a quiet time, when most of its guests have either checked out, or are still asleep. There's no one else around for the moment but the two of them, it seems, but perhaps it's all for the best, so that Sumina can clap her hand over her mouth as she gasps, when it hits her - truly hits her - that she's home. And he is here, too. ]
S...Satoru... We're here. We're—
[ We're home. ]
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It should sound strange, right? To arrive somewhere you've never been before and immediately feel at home. Maybe it's because of all the time he spent in Sumina's suite at the Hotel, or in other spaces she's cultivated for herself that bring to mind these vaunted halls. Maybe it's only that he's with Sumina, and that's it. She is his home. She has been for a long time, now, as he's told her time and time again before.
Which is why when her very soul tugs his along, not pulling him, but guiding him, his own heart following her lead, that arriving here doesn't feel like an ending, but...a beginning. This has been their final destination for some time, ever since he returned to Hotel Caelum with no means to return to his own world, but even if that weren't the case...
His work is done, his legacy secured by his students. He's sure of it, and so...this is what he would choose anyway. To be with her, to make a new home, a new life at her side. To...stay.
So — here they are. His soul follows the light of her own, until they're at the threshold of his new home, their home. Bewildered even so, he exchanges looks with her, brows flying up, his grasp on her hand iron-tight. Once again, a necessary anchor. ]
We're...home. [ He finishes her thought, trying out the word on his tongue. It feels right, given to this place. ] How did you...?
[ But he trails off, shaking his head. It doesn't really matter how. His surprise melts softly into a grin, buoyant and wide, as he turns to wind his arms around her waist, lift her bodily off her feet, and spin her around. ]
Aha! We made it! About time, heh!
[ About time for their life together to truly begin. ]
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And it hits her again, when he completes her nebulous thought, that it's their home, now, made all the more true by the sound of his voice - we're... home - the sincerity of his smile, and the firmness of his embrace as he lifts and spins her. He leaves her with no better recourse than to cry out in her glee, laughing freely, unabashedly as her arms wind around him in turn to hold fast and true to him. ]
We made it...!
[ Even before her feet find the floor once more, Sumina leans in, swept up not only in the physical sense but in an almost spiritual sense, too, and she kisses Satoru without any of her usual reservations or timidness. With her lips pressed to his, her heart feels so full and yet so weightless all at once, her spirit soaring boundlessly even though there is nothing more important to her at the moment than the fact that they are very much here, in this place, together. She is kissing him, her love, in the place she has always envisioned them to call their home ultimately, even if they'd ended up taken a bit of a detour.
Pulling away just enough to murmur against his lips: ]
Allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Elderflower Inn, Satoru Gojo...
[ But then she is drawing her touch down along his arms, until her fingers find his to lace them together, just as he lets her down at last. ]
I ought to give you a tour, hm?
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Their fingers weave together, his smile beaming from ear to ear, irresistible. At her side, he's always had more and more reasons to genuinely smile, to let the natural warmth within him blossom and bloom, but with how he feels in this moment, his grin hardly feels adequate to spell out his abundant joy. He could spin her around again and again and float with her through the ceiling, and it still likely wouldn't cover it.
It just...is something else entirely. To wait for this day, to do everything they could to make it here, and for it to actually happen, at long last. ]
You better! Can't get lost in my own house, now. That'd be way too embarrassing. [ He squeezes her hands within his own. ] Lead the way, Miss Innkeeper?
[ Hopefully it's all the same as she remembers it, but maybe she hasn't really been gone all that long, in the perspective of this world. ]
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With him here... it can truly feel like home, more than it ever had before, and a place that she can make more her own.
Drawing in a deep breath and then exhaling, she nods, before tugging him across the foyer and towards a large dining area, where a cozy bar sits at the far end of the room. The place is all warm tones and gentle but elegant curves in wood, the ambiance being that of a place that has certainly been around for ages, but still feels homey and cozy. There are a few patrons partaking in a light meal scattered about the room, none of whom seem to realize who Sumina is, which is just as well. ]
This, of course, is the tavern. It's quiet right now, but just wait until evening comes... I can see you becoming the life of the party right here many nights, too, ahaha.
[ It's his turn, now, to witness all of the ways she's already imagined their life together here. Embarrassing. ]
The kitchen is just behind the bar, there. Ah! Would you like something to drink, honey? We can get some tea going, or get you a glass of juice?
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🎂 satoru's 30th.
...and just in time for Satoru's birthday, too. Not that she'd gone out of her way to tell him, necessarily, what the date is, or how closely December 7th was approaching. Instead, Sumina sees a rare opportunity to maybe, just maybe— surprise him like he had surprised her for the anniversary of their meeting (now also known as the day they became engaged).
And to that end, Sumina awakens this morning much in the same way that she would most any other day. Now that they've returned to the Elderflower, especially, Sumina has only taken to getting up and out of bed early more and more. She's only too happy to allow him to sleep in - he's technically retired, after all - except for today.
Today, after she's dressed as if she's about to go about her usual morning work routine, she sits at the edge of the bed (their bed), and gently rouses him: ]
Satoru? Honey? I need your help this morning... Could you give me a hand?
[ This entire plan, of course, hinges upon the assumption that Satoru hasn't figured out how the calendar works here, but... even if he knows, and he somehow managed to lead up to this day without insistently reminding her like he had last year, maybe he'll play along for her sake... ]
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So when Sumina returns to rouse him earlier than normal this particular morning, he's none the wiser. And grumbling, as he turns his face into the pillow, hair falling against the corner of his eye. He'd been having such a nice dream at an all-you-can-eat sushi bar...and for someone who used to sleep a grand total of three hours each night, he's sure grown accustomed to sleeping in, soaking up the late morning sun like a cat. ]
Ngrh... [ Comes his muffled groan against the pillow. He knew he should have tried to get her to stay in bed this morning!! He may have been better behaved about that since they settled in here, but that hasn't soothed the temptation. ] A hand? With...dragging you back into bed?
[ His arm is already creeping around her waist, poised to strike... ]
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Aha... No, not this time, I'm afraid. [ Because yes, he has been better behaved about this since they settled in, but she has not once resisted him when he has misbehaved... until now. ] I really need you to come out to the front with me.
[ Now is when she musters the will to fully extricate herself from him, rising back up to her feet to fetch some clothes for him. ]
You see, a terribly unruly guest has arrived, but if anyone can show him how to behave here, I think it's you.
[ She deposits the clothes next to him in bed, but they're maybe a bit... nicer than one might expect for her simply asking him to step out to intimidate a guest. And what's more, is that atop that stack of clothes is a singular, verdant earring. ]
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He can't quite puzzle it out, his suspicions only growing more acute once she drops a pile of clothes for him to change into, which aren't really the sort of comfy loose attire he'd use to fight in. Sitting up more fully, he reaches over and scoops up the green earring into his palm, running his thumb over it. Funny, he can't say he's memorized all of Sumina's jewelry, but he's all but certain he hasn't seen this one before. ]
Oi, Mina, you dropped this. [ Holding up the earring for her to see between his thumb and forefinger: ] Ehh, are you sure you shouldn't come back to bed? You're not making sense, and you're dropping your things...kinda sounds like you need a rest day to meeee, your doctor!
[ Self-assigned, of course. Despite his protests, he's grasping his sleeping shirt from behind his head and tugging it up and off his frame, indulging in a luxurious stretch as he does so, spine cracking in several places.
...He really hopes he gets to throw someone out today. That'd be nice! ]
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... But also, maybe he's just rubbed off on her a bit in that regard.
She seats herself once more on the edge of their bed when he starts changing as requested, taking the loose earring back into her hand, admiring her own selection with a secretive smile on her lips. ]
Oh? Did I drop it? Hm... what do you think of it, honey? Something you might wear, if you could?
[ yeah she is being so weird this morning!! ]
I guess I really am a bit out of sorts... I just really need you to come out to see to this guest, all right?
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ah, there they are
And also: Vaer, who had somehow charmed or perhaps more accurately tricked their way into this esteemed (?) circle. It had been during their days of traveling alone when the bard had first encountered the family spitfire Elenaril and was subsequently tasked with impersonating her twin brother during a routine visit to the family inn, and it was then, too, that the unknowing family darling Sumina had so perceptively seen through their ruse.
These days, they travel with a different crowd - a pirate crew, to be precise - but for all of their half-truths free-spiritedness, they remain dutiful in their periodic appearances at the inn to entertain its guests, as they had promised Sumina a few years ago.
Being dutiful, and also absolutely dying with a burning curiosity is what brings them sauntering through the inn's entrance one afternoon, followed closely by a few other crew members joining the alabaster-skinned bard in a sea shanty as they cross through the foyer. ]
Miss Heartleaf! Oh, how you've broken the hearts of these lonely crewmates of mine with the word we've received! Is it really true!? That you're... [ They swoon, all but draping themselves dramatically over the front desk, ] Betrothed!?
[ ... ... ...
The aforementioned front desk is - unfortunately for this whole crew - currently unattended. But thankfully, the tavern doesn't seem to be empty! And so does this gaggle of tipsy pirates wander then towards the bar, where Vaer simply starts from the top with more feeling, as the show must go on: ]
Miss Heartleaf! Oh, how you've broken the hearts of these lonely crewmates of mine with the word we've received! Is it really true!? That you're... [ They slide into a bar stool, only to be met by a very tall human with eyes bluer than even the dazzling ocean which greets Vaer every morning, ] Oh. Well met, sir.
[ uh oh ]
that motherfucker
One of his many new pastimes is manning the bar; even if he's not a fan of alcohol himself, he's found mixology to be a neat little hobby he's quite good at, complete with showy moves and plenty of conversation. Plus, drunks are funny, and prone to fight. Any day he gets to intervene in a good, old fashioned tavern brawl is a good day. When a band of pirates come swaggering into the establishment, he thinks it's gonna be one of those lucky days for certain — after all, given his own stint with piracy, he's well-acquainted with just how easy it is to start a fight with them.
...Not that he's going to start a fight. Probably. Not without a good reason that will keep the fiancee from giving him too disapproving of a look.
The contents of their sea shanty doesn't go unnoticed by him, either, and if this band is really well-acquainted with Sumina...well, it doesn't mean he's going to behave himself, but he'll at least keep it in mind! Especially if they're aware of her betrothal... ]
Ahoy. [ He grins at the pirate sliding into the barstool in front of him. Ah...he knows that look, that tone of voice. Heh. This is gonna be good. ] What can I get you this evening? Maybe...a tall glass of water?
[ Too late, he's already here! ]
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I would say something about how you're already here, but... How about you surprise me instead, gorgeous?
[ Somewhere in her office, Sumina surely just got a bad feeling. She'd always been annoyed by Vaer's forward and flirtatious tendencies, especially when they're directed towards her other acquaintances. Though that certainly never stopped them from falling into Winter's bed in the past... Sigh. Yet another returnee from that fabled hotel who's since become spoken for...
Anyway, they lean forward on the bar, intentionally affording the handsome new barkeep a view down their very loose, open shirt and the twink-ass frame beneath, cupping their cheek in their hand as they glance up at Gojo. ]
My name is Vaer. I'm a regular bard here, and so I'm delighted to say that you and I will be seeing quite a bit of each other!
[ Yes, the very same Vaer that Sumina had once told Gojo of, the same Vaer that Sumina had once mistaken Gojo for during their early days at the hotel after her shadow had taken over, and the same Vaer she had called a friend, in the flesh. ]
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But were this a year ago, Satoru wouldn't be manning a bar at an interdimensional inn run by his fiancée. He wouldn't be a lot of things that he is now, and his smile carries a distinctly amused curl as he crosses his arms over his broad chest and leans back against the shelves behind him. He does have an inkling of who this might be before they introduce themselves, based off of Sumina's stories and previous descriptions of them, and and once they confirm it...
Honestly, he couldn't pick a better way for them to meet. He flashes a grin, devious in its own right. ]
Vaer, huh? So, you're the one Mina-chan has told me sooo much about. Satoru Gojo. I'm a new arrival, you could say!
[ You sure could say... ]
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"Mina-chan," was it? [ They chuckle, and lift their free hand to gesture at their fellow drunken sailors. ] Miss Heartleaf has collected yet another term of endearment, has she? Though if you ask my jolly fellows, here, they'd much rather prefer—
[ "The sweetest lass in all the seas," for one, and "a landlubbing goddess worth coming to shore to," the pirates chime in as if on queue. It only goes to show how much Sumina had truly isolated herself, when affection was simply waiting for her at every corner, waiting to be accepted.
In any case, the barkeep's name strikes Vaer as familiar, although it really shouldn't. They're one to remember faces, and they sure as all Nine Hells would remember a face like that. So, where have they heard the name "Satoru Gojo"...?
... ... ...
Recognition doesn't quite flash in their eyes, though it does tug at their lips in amusement by just the slightest bit, remembering the name tumbling past a drunken Elenaril's lips, the last time they'd crossed paths. Could he really be...? ]
So, a new arrival, then. Perhaps you're paying off your tab by working the bar, then? Happens to the best of us, I'm afraid. Madam Innkeeper can be quite firm when it comes to business, can't she? I do hope she's not... working you too hard, hm?
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no timelines we thread out of order
Chief among them is a way to call upon its healers in case of emergencies, like a guest arriving and needing attention for an ailment that simple potions and concoctions cannot heal, when there are no other healers present... or, as is the case this fine morning, the Innkeeper inexplicably collapsing whilst working.
Miss Heartleaf - or is it Lady Gojo now, Ori still hasn't quite figured out which one the Innkeeper prefers to go by these days - has already been laid up in her private quarters by the time the druid arrives through the door leading to the Hearth. After shooing the helpful guests who had assisted her and a thorough examination followed by a casting of Greater Restoration, all that's left is to inform the Innkeeper's husband, who had apparently gone out for the day.
And by "inform," Ori really means to send an animal messenger to wherever he's gone, a little, daisy-covered robin that eventually perches within earshot of the sorcerer, opening its beak to suddenly speak in Ori's voice: ]
Satoru of the Elderflower! This is a message from Oriphi of the Alchemighty. Congratulations are in order! Please return to the inn soon. Thank you!
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Even so, receiving a message from one Oriphi of the Alchemighty while he's out on a doggy date with Taichi today is unusual enough for him to realize immediately this must be something important. The voice of the robin informs him that congratulations are in order, which can only mean he has won some kind of prize, or award — is there a lottery here? Did they buy lottery tickets?? Did he win a trophy for Faerun's Cutest Husband? Never mind that he didn't enter anything, they should just Know...
In any case, consider his curiosity piqued, and though it means he must cut the doggy cafe date short, very soon after the message is received, Gojo is throwing open the doors of the Elderflower, trotting in with Taichi in tow, taking off the dog's leash as he declares: ]
Helloooooo, Oriphi-chaaaan? I'm here to collect my prize!
[ It's not until he trots up to the front desk to bestow a smooch that he realizes Sumina isn't there. Huh...she must be helping a guest find their room or something. He can't wait to show her his trophy, heh... ]
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Oh, you are such a pretty pup, aren't you! Did you have a fun adventure today? I'm so sorry to have cut it short!
[ She's not cast her animal-speaking spell, but she can tell that this one is quite intelligent...
But—right. Mister Satoru is here. Rising back up to her feet, Oriphi clears her throat, and—doesn't know what he means by prize, much less collecting it...? He can't be referring to the baby, can he? Because if so, he's got several months to go before he can, uh, collect that one.
So, she'll just ignore that. ]
Satoru, right? I do regret interrupting your day like this, but... Sumina should take the rest of the day to— well, rest, so I thought it might be good to call you back here, in case you might know what to do if she has to take a day. And...
[ A wide grin pulls at her lips, brightening her eyes. Oh, how exciting, that the newlyweds are going to have a baby! A little one running around in the inn, how precious... Oh, her heart is bursting. ]
I did say congratulations are in order... so, congratulations! Oh, I'm so happy for you both. You haven't told Dae or anyone else in the Alchemighty yet, have you? [ Otherwise she'd already know. Because they're a messy lot of gossips. ] Don't worry - I can keep it a secret until you're ready to tell them!
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As soon as Oriphi does start addressing him directly, though, he isn't thinking about being slighted for the dog at all. What does she mean, Sumina should take the day to rest? Was she sick? He hadn't heard anything from her via his earring, and Oriphi's demeanor is awfully casual if she is unwell. And anyway, how is that anything to congratulate him about??
Both of his hands fly upwards, palms out in front of him. ]
I think you skipped the part where you told me the secret. [ Or Sumina did??? ] Is Mina sick? Ehhh — never mind.
[ He's just going to try to breeze past Ori and head for their personal chambers now, his heart racing a little faster. The sooner he can assess her condition with his own two eyes, the better he'll feel. ]
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She's quick to turn on her heel and follow Satoru, her hand reaching out to try and snag her fingers into the back of his jacket. Regardless of whether she's successful in the gesture or not, she calls out: ]
Wait—! If you didn't know, then— I-I have to tell you, delicately! And somewhere quiet!
[ Somewhere like... their chambers, where once Gojo proceeds with Ori following him in, they would find Sumina properly tucked into their bed, sleeping deeply. ]
Don't worry, she's fine now. I'm guessing she was feeling rather queasy earlier, so she just needs to be off her feet for a while.
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Which is also why Satoru winds up at the pool in the middle of the night this time. It's a crisp 2 AM, a time which during his old teaching days, he'd still be hard at work, well before his three-hour nap cycle. Though swimming at the pool is far more relaxing than any bullshit administrative work he would have been working on back home, it's still not sleeping. What can he say? He's gotten bad about sleeping alone, which is...still hard to believe, sometimes. He's gotten just that used to being attached to another person...
Though maybe it's not that surprising. A fundamental part of himself was always built for that. It's just that for the longest time, it had nowhere to go.
...Once Sumina heads to bed, he'll join her. For now, he'll enjoy swimming laps in the pool in the utter, pristine silence — though unlike his morning swims, he isn't even wearing a swimsuit. It's the middle of the night, after all, so naturally, that called for skinny-dipping. It's nice! He feels so unrestrained...and even he can still enjoy solitude from time to time.
That said, he certainly wouldn't mind some very specific company right now... ]
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In any case, it's not unusual to find Satoru still awake by the time she finally comes to bed, but is unusual to not find him in their chambers at all. She's tired enough that, having assumed that her husband would be in bed, she'd climbed in and reached over with an arm to wrap around... the absence of him.
And so it's a bit groggily that she slips back out of bed, throwing a loose silken robe over her not-so-loose silken nightgown. Taichi spares her only the sleepiest little look as she passes back through the office before rolling over and falling back asleep, so she embarks on the quest to find her husband by herself. She wanders over to the tavern, first—maybe he'd been taken by the desire to create new drinks for the menu— and then into the kitchen, where she thinks he might be partaking in a late night snack. When both turn out to be very Satoru-less indeed, the only other place to look would be...
Yes, she finds him at the pool at long last. She pads over, slippers over tile, coming to stand at the edge of the pool. ]
So, this is where my husband has gone off to at this hour...
[ ... hol up ]
...Satoru. Really?
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As shameless as this bracket text, he stretches his arms over his head, letting beads of water trail down his biceps and torso. ]
Mm, good evening, pookie pie! What, is my lovely wife feeling a little flustered? Maybe it's because you're up so late.
[ He's gotta harrass her about it, at least a little. ]
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Or maybe it's because you're being more shameless than usual, dearest...
[ Still, it's not as if she averts her gaze from the way the water hugs his waist, calling her gaze to his navel and the trail of hair that disappears beneath the wavy surface... And it's not as if she turns and walks out, ether. In fact, despite the danger she knows she is in, she steps closer to the edge and squats down in front of him, bringing them eye-to-eye with one another. ]
Come on. Why don't you get washed up and come to bed with me?
[ Surely, he only means to tease and seduce her here so he can sweep her away into their room and have his way with her there, right? ]
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So instead, he wades over to edge of the pool, leaning on his palms against the stone ledge, leveling Sumina with an easy, relaxed smile that doesn't yet hint at his true intentions. She'll piece it together on her own, soon enough... ]
Mm, why bother? We've already got the pool right here to cool us down...
[ Now his grin cuts a little more sharply. ]
Or are you not feelin' a little too hot yet? Maybe I can do something about that.
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