terrantrash | BECAUSE WE ARE INDULGENT

BECAUSE WE ARE INDULGENT

_{[Amid many sleepless nights and terrors that plagued his dreams, it's a welcome break to have what starts off as something neutral and nonthreatening. It's only when he smells the scent of salt in the air and hears the crash of waves against rock that he becomes aware of his current surroundings and who he's with. He'd been here before, a famous sight in Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway, when he'd been very little. Why his mind would decide to set his dream in such a place he hasn't a clue but he's not complaining. He'll take whatever reprieve he can get from the usual.

He'd always found the setting charming, unable to help himself as he hops from each stone, boots clicking against rock. It's only when he looks up that he notices a familiar head of red hair not far off in the distance.]}

Lady Yona?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Slaine!

[Yona doesn't seem to think anything is odd.

This being a dream, though - of course she wouldn't. The tang of salt in the air is still unfamiliar to her; she didn't get much of a chance to explore Olympia's beaches after that first festival. But it's unfamiliar in a good way, a fascinating way, and as the wind whips her hair across her face, she pushes it aside with one of her hands and looks around, clearly excited.]

What is this place? It's so cool!

It's called the Giant's Causeway. It's a famous place on Earth, in a country called Ireland.

_{[Remember Earth, Yona? Or at least what tidbits he's told you about it? Closing the distance between them he finds he's at her side far quicker than he thought it'd take him but - details. He's not going to overthink why they're on Earth right now.]}

[She remembers bits and pieces about Earth - but he hadn't told her much about Ireland just yet. It seems like she's about to learn more, though.

Her gaze roams across their surroundings.]

Wow... Did giants make it?

Unfortunately not.

_{[Giants aren't real, at least not from the reality he's from.]}

But there are very, very old legends that say they did. A giant from Ireland and one from Scotland challenged one another to a fight, and to cross the sea they built the causeway.

Which of them won the fight?

[Because that's clearly the important question here... but it sounds like an interesting story, and she has no doubt that Slaine knows the answer, so she'll eagerly await storytyime.]

In the legend, I mean.

Well, the giant from Scotland was much bigger. So the giant from Ireland had his wife disguise him as a baby. When the giant from Scotland saw how big the 'child' was, he figured the father would be enormous. Retreating, the causeway between the two countries was broken and this is what's left of it today.

_{[Or at least that's the gist of it. There are a few ways the story can go, but that's one of the more interesting ways the legend plays out.]}

Huh... that's a smart giant.

[The Irish giant, she means. The Scottish giant? Not so much. Who mistakes a grown man for a baby?]

Have you been here before? Can you show me around?

When I was very little...but I can do my best to.

_{[It's pretty straight forward though, what with the hexagonal rocks jutting out from the ground, begging to be stepped on. He offers her a hand, with the intent to lead her out toward the water more.]}

Over there should be a really good view, I think.

[She takes his hand when it's offered, lacing her fingers together with his without a second thought. The motion is as natural to her as breathing, and she offers him an easy smile.]

Let's go!

[The closer to the water they get, the more intrigued Yona looks - though she can't help but shiver, just a little.

It's a bit chilly this close to the shore.]

The ocean looks like it stretches out forever and ever... it's beautiful.

It does, doesn't it?

_{[It stretches out as far as the eye can see, so much so it's easy to understand why people centuries ago believed the world was flat. It feels nice to have her fingers linked with his, the contact leaving him feeling warm. Speaking of warm, did she just shiver?]}

Are you cold?

A little bit...

[Which works as an answer to both questions. Her grip tightens around his as she steps closer to him, looking up at him through her lashes.]

Will you keep me warm?

_{[God. Warn him if you're going to do something so cute, will you? Heat rises to his cheeks, the sounds of the sea around them growing dim as he finds himself drowning in her eyes. It's impossible to deny her.]}

Of course...would you like my sweater?

_{[Because he feels like he's going to start sweating at any moment.]}

[Well, that wasn't exactly what she had in mind.

Her lips tug down into a pout, and her gaze shifts to one side, but she doesn't let go of his hand. ...which she's going to need to do if she's going to put on his sweater, but she's delaying that for the moment.

If that's where his mind goes to when he says that, then...]

Mm. That would be nice.

[Maybe she shouldn't push it.]

_{[Yona let him live.

The pout catches him off guard, not having expected it. What...had he done wrong? Was it something he said?]}

What's wrong?

[No never.]

Nothing's wrong. It's very kind of you to offer your sweater.

[And yet, she's still pouting... what a moron.]

Then why are you making that face?

_{[Yeah he's gonna call you out.]}

Why did you offer me your sweater instead of offering to hold me?

[...well, fine. If she's getting called out, she'll call him out, too. On being a coward.]

I-

_{[Wait what? Hold her?]}

I didn't know that's what you wanted, Lady Yona...

_{[He's trying to be brave, okay.]}

...forget about it!

[Yona huffs, letting go of his hand to fold her arms over her chest.]

If you didn't even consider it, then that's enough to know you didn't want to. So I'll be taking that sweater.

_{[Oh no he fucked up. He fucked up so hard and he didn't even realize it. It shows on his face as he casts his gaze down toward his feet, his hand feeling cold, as is the rest of him.]}

It's not that I wouldn't want to it's...with someone like me...

_{[But he goes to take off the article of clothing, still unable to look at her as he does so.]}

[She takes the sweater when it's offered to her, but she doesn't immediately put it on; instead, she puts her hands on her hips, steps forward, and leans over to catch his eye even though he's not looking at her.]

Hey, Slaine.

_{[Ah, she's forcing him into eye contact now, isn't she? Swallowing he meets her gaze, lifting his head ever so slightly.]}

...Yes?

[Yep. No escape.

Her gaze stays locked on his, and she doesn't look away, determined to get an answer out of him.]

What did I do to make you think I don't like the kind of person you are?

_{[This is a classic case of 'it's not you it's me' and Slaine's feeling it hard.]}

You haven't done anything, Lady Yona...it's just...I don't want to overstep.

It isn't overstepping if I say it's not.

[And she says it's not. She holds his gaze, not removing her hands from her hips.]

So, there shouldn't be a problem.

_{[THAT'S STILL NOT DEFINITIVE ENOUGH but okay, he'll take it. The rest of him might be pale but his face is noticeably red.]}

...I've never held someone before.

...

[Well, of all the things she was expecting to come out of his mouth - that's not one of them. She stares at him for a few long moments, incredulous.]

You've... never hugged anyone before?

_{[Not of his own volition, at least not since he was a little kid.]}

Well, my father, when I was small.

...that's a long time ago...

[He's not especially tall now, but he is somewhere around a good four inches taller than her, so he's big enough for her to not point out that he's still kind of small.]

Do you want to change that?

_{[Thank you Yona, for not pointing out his height.]}

Do I...want to change that?

_{[Wait. She's asking if he'd like to hug her?]}

Ah, I mean...if you'd like to I would.

[Yona puffs her cheeks out slightly in annoyance and puts her hands on her hips.]

That's not what I asked. I asked if you want to. [It's like she said before - it doesn't mean anything if the only reason he wants it is because it's what she wants.]

I-I do.

_{[Yona you're killing him here.]}

[There. That's more like it. Yona smiles brightly and opens her arms out to him.]

In that case, you should do what you want to.

_{[He should do what he wants to, huh? With her arms open, welcoming him toward her, he can't resist, closing the distance between them by wrapping his own around her. Daring, he gives her a squeeze, face on fire. The wind from the surf might be chilly but he feels warmth immediately wash over him as he holds her to his chest.]}

[...huh. She sort of expected that to take a lot more convincing, but she's not going to complain. When he finally wraps his arms around her, she makes a soft, content noise, and rests her head on his shoulder.

Her arms come around him a moment later, and she allows herself a few seconds to soak up his warmth.]

Mm. This is much warmer than just your sweater.

_{[It is much warmer. She's warm. Everything about the embrace is warm. This is nice...really, really nice.]}

You're really warm.

So are you.

[With her head resting on his shoulder, she's sort of facing his neck - and so when she speaks, her breath ghosts across his skin. It's not much, but it will be noticeably warmer than the chilly ocean air around them.]

...don't let go, okay? I like being with you like this.

You do? Really?

_{[Ah, thank god she can't see the shade his face has turned. He's nearly as red as her hair and on cue, decides to hold her a little tighter.]}

...I like it too. You make me feel lucky, Lady Yona.

Really.

[That's why she said it, after all - and it isn't often that Yona says things she doesn't mean. She smiles, keeping her head in place on his shoulder. It's comfortable here despite the chill from the ocean.

This kind of closeness suits her just fine. it's much nicer than being kept at a careful, respectful distance.]

...just "Yona" is okay, you know. I think we're close enough for that.

_{[Keeping people like her at a respectful distance is something he's been forced to adopt as a practice, but having her in his arms like this makes him reconsider it quickly. This is nice. He's yearned for this, hasn't he? A closeness like this.

While if this were reality he might put up more of a fuss at her insistence to be called just Yona, his dream self is ready to accept it.]}

If you insist.

I insist.

[VICTORY. While there are definitely times when Yona insists on formality, and certain people she gets mad at if they're too informal, this isn't one of those times and Slaine isn't one of those people.

She sounds pretty satisfied, now that he's said he'll call her by her name.]

Then, Yona it is.

_{[It's freeing, in a way, saying just her name and nothing else. He gives her a tight squeeze, feeling giddy. He could get used to this.]}

[Yona.

Her heart gives a little flutter at that. He's been so insistent on calling her Lady Yona for so long - the use of just her name feels good. Beaming, she shifts a little in his arms and tiptoes up so that she can kiss his cheek.

It's a grateful, if impulsive, gesture; on that she doesn't think too much about.]

Thank you, Slaine.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

BECAUSE WE ARE INDULGENT

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject