[ He feels her smile against his neck, causing him to grin in turn. There's a low level of giddiness in his veins, threatening to bubble over. Not only from the trial being over but being here with her, uninterrupted by work or errands or school. He's just happy to spend time with her, even if they don't always talk about much. He thinks she might prefer that, not having chatter filling up every second and space. ]
They definitely won't be. [ At least not any of the ones he currently has a mind of taking. Maybe one of her in this fluffy robe.
The more insistent press of her mouth takes his mind off it and he lets out a soft groan, swiping his thumbs across her chest again. Slowly, he draws circles around her nipples and spreads his fingers to trace the bare indentations of her ribs. ]
[ ah, a good spot, if the noise of approval is anything to go by. and the teasing of her chest is causing a warmth to spread underneath her skin, an itch she wants scratched.
part of her wants to push him back down against the bed. the other part of her isn't so sure that's a good idea. she wants to go further, but also doesn't want to spend her evening recovering from a bout of awful memories that take her underneath the tide.
so she spends time kissing along his neck, adding a slight nip of her teeth before running her tongue over the spot lightly to soothe it. but as she does so, she murmurs: ]
Still okay?
[ checking in is important, as she gently noses at his cheek, pulling away just a little bit to give him a moment to answer. ]
[ As soon as he feels her teeth, that heated flush comes back in a rush. Fast enough that it makes him feel light headed for a brief second. It's a contrast to the bit of discomfort that follows, in feeling her tongue against the same spot. He's gotten used to it for kissing but not really anywhere else.
It hasn't made him seize up, being light enough, but he knows repeated attempts are going to make his stomach turn. Thinking too hard about it now, as he clearly formulates his response, is already giving him that vague dread. Something he knows he can divert if they stop treading down this particular path. ]
Not with the licking. [ He's taken this much time to get used to skin touching. And even then it occasionally makes him cringe. Add something damp or wet to the mix and it's just a recipe for disaster. ]
[ her brow furrows slightly - not out of judgment or confusion, but slight concern, and inej slides her hands to his neck, wiping away the spot where her tongue touched with a thumb, expression becoming a little sheepish. ]
Okay.
[ and she presses a gentle kiss against his mouth, in reassurance. ]
So the teeth are fine?
[ she continues, mostly to break whatever tension or discomfort still exists, resting her forehead against his with a warm smile, clearly comfortable and not offended. ]
[ It does sound odd, honestly, to anyone who doesn't know what his exact issues are. Of course she'd figured out the touching thing somewhat early on, but he's had time to get used to the typical skin on skin contact. And then to the non-typical with her, because they've been working on it in bits and pieces, mindful of both their limits.
Still, he's glad she doesn't ask, though he knows he owes her some answers. She just wipes away the streak, leaning in for a soft kiss. It'll take a few moments more to shake the creeping dread, but without the feeling of wetness drying on his skin, it's getting easier to move past. ]
More than fine. [ He likes when she makes marks. Not only for how they feel in the moment but for the aftermath of slight bruising. Slowly, he swipes his thumbs across her breasts again, cupping and giving them a light squeeze as he returns her soft kiss. ]
[ she hums against his mouth as he returns to touch, running her thumbs along the sides of his neck again as she does so. meant to be soothing and gentle, to keep him in the moment.
she feels . . . incredible, really. warm, and sensitive, and eager to keep going. but something is tugging in the back of her mind, though the swipe of his thumbs is distracting, to say the least. ]
Good to know.
[ she murmurs, giving him another warm and lingering kiss before pulling away a little, reaching to gentle take his hands in her own, running her thumbs over his knuckles. ]
You do not have to push yourself on my account.
[ it's said gentle, ducking slightly to catch his gaze, with a small smile. ]
[ The touch to his neck is helping, strangely. Or perhaps not so strangely. He's gotten used to this kind of touch and he leans into it a bit, enjoying the warmth coming from her palms.
As she gives him a kiss, he squeezes her chest again, still gentle, starting to feel warm all over once more, the chill over the damp skin dropping away. ]
I'm not pushing. [ If there's no more licking, he'll be fine. Though honestly if all they end up doing is kissing and touching already bared skin, he can't complain. Despite the clear interest his body is taking; he's used to taking care of that on his own, one way or another. ]
[ she searches his face briefly, and he doesn't seem to be lying or hiding anything. so: ]
No.
[ which she punctuates with a chaste kiss to his lips, amused, squeezing his fingers loosely with her own. the very last thing she wants to do is stop, but: ]
I just want to make sure I am as careful with you as you are with me.
[ She wouldn't ever do anything intentionally to make him uncomfortable. And he knows this would be easier if she knew the story, they why behind he can't stand certain things.
Just. Perhaps not right now. Maybe soon, because it feels like they might be treading into more unsure territory. He doesn't know specifics, but he has a feeling that the further they go, the more likely it is that damp skin will be involved. Even if it's simply from exertion.
He brings her hand up, kissing the backs of her fingers. ]
I'll tell you if it's too much. [ And aside from that small blip, it's been fine. Leaning in, he presses another kiss, this time to her cheek. ]
[ her eyes grow a little more bright, at the kiss to the back of her fingers, the kiss to her cheek. ]
I will hold you to that.
[ she warns with a slight grin, leaning forward to loop her arms around his neck again, to press in for another kiss. this time, almost as if to prove that she's trusting him at his word, she threads her fingers through his hair, her kiss a little deeper than before as she presses forward. ]
[ She hasn't backed off on a promise yet and this is one more. Besides, it's as she said: she's just trying to make sure she doesn't set him off by accident. Just as he is so careful about how he touches her.
There's not nearly as much carefulness in the kiss she presses in with, though he has no qualms about it. Not with her fingers threading through his hair and her body pressed so close. Her chest is against his and it sends a significant spark of interest straight between his legs. Another thing he's careful not to push against her with, even if he instinctively wants to.
His hands slide to her waist and then up and around to her back, fingers tracing the wings of her shoulder blades as he returns her kiss eagerly. ]
[ his hands at her back cause her to press forward a little more, sighing softly into his mouth at the feeling. there's a tingling, underneath her skin, that she's never really felt before. a warmth spreading through her, coiling in her stomach as she shifts her weight once again, to be able to kiss him a little deeper. this is what this is supposed to feel like, intimacy, and love.
it's in settling in his lap a bit more that causes her to become a little more aware of just how far this is going. the feeling of him pressed against her, even lightly, causes a sudden tension to ripple through her, an anxiety that hadn't been there moments before.
it's a sudden shift, for inej, from feeling warm and enticed to her heart beginning to hammer in her chest, and she pulls away slightly, resting her forehead against his to breathe. she doesn't feel completely overwhelmed, but uncomfortable enough to pause, her fingers loosening in his hair. ]
[ She leans into him a bit more and it warms him through. Not just because of the obvious reason, but also in that he likes holding her like this. Having her close, with or without the current configuration of her top off. He returns her sigh with a content hum of his own, slowly smoothing his hands down her back.
Of course, their moments don't always last long. Her weight drops more into his lap and she goes still, muscles tensing. Undoubtedly he's pressed against her and it's forcing her out of a comforting space. He can't help the sting of disappointment, but he understands. And he sets his hands on her waist where the ties of her robe are, avoiding skin. ]
Need to stop? [ It's felt good. More than good. But he doesn't want to push if it will stop feeling that way. There's also the fact that he won't say no to simply crawling back into bed and holding her without any pretense. ]
[ there's a brief look of frustration that crosses her face, at the question. not directed at him, but herself. it's frustrating, to have to stop something that should be normal, but isn't.
it's also frustrating to associate kaz with that, of all things. something he would never do to her.
she's sorely tempted to say no, the hesitation clear as inej's hands slide to his neck, running her thumbs over his jawline as she focuses on breathing, and easing her pulse. she wants to keep going, but . . . ending this night in crying is probably not the best. ]
Yes.
[ she murmurs, the disappointment apparent in the tone of her voice. and she moves off of his lap, back to kneeling on the bed, tugging the robe a bit so it drapes around her shoulders, though she doesn't bother shrugging back into it. ]
[ A flicker of frustration darkens her face for a moment and he gets it. Knows she isn't annoyed at him for asking the question. It's a look he's sure she's seen mirrored in his own expression before. Disappointment in themselves, for not being able to do something that seems so normal. So easy, for just about everyone else.
Before Wylan, Jesper had always mentioned the fun he'd get up to at parties or bars. Short lived mutual flings. Kaz never understood how he could do it. Now he at least has some idea of why. And shares Inej's frustration that they've got so many limitations to jump over.
Before she gets off his lap, he presses a soft kiss to her cheek, reassuring. ]
Did you want to change? [ Though she hasn't pulled the robe fully back up. It just might be more comfortable for her in something else, even if it's pajamas. ]
[ the soft kiss to her cheek does reassure her, in that he's truly fine with stopping. he even offers her the out of changing, which causes her to shake her head slightly. ]
I am fine.
[ for the most part. her heartrate has slowed, and she feels in the moment. it's the physicality, that bothers her. or did, in this instance. though inej does tug the robe a bit closer, closing it a little bit. her hair, after all, is still a little damp.
the offer to lay down, though, is tempting. so she scoots herself up into the bed properly, to slide underneath the blankets, the robe still loosely wrapped around her. craving closeness. she thinks she would be okay with being held like this. probably.
only one way to find out. ]
I wanted to keep going.
[ she murmurs, as he goes about calling for breakfast and climbing back into bed with her. disappointed, really. though how much further, inej isn't entirely sure. ]
[ It seems like she's still here, in the moment, rather than being sucked in by her bad memories. That's good. He watches, briefly, as she tucks herself back under the blankets, the robe on loosely. There's nothing more he wants to do than to turn over and hold her.
First though, breakfast. Sitting up in bed, he reaches for the phone and calls down an order, sifting through a few minutes of pleasantries. It won't be too long, probably because he'd woken up beyond the typical breakfast rush.
That done, he refluffs his pillow before sliding back under the covers, shifting so he's close to her. Out of habit, he loops an arm around her middle, letting out a slow sigh after he settles. ]
We can keep trying. [ He'd wanted to keep going too. But not without her being completely there. It just means they'll have to work at it as they've been doing, little by little. He doesn't imagine either of them will be miraculously getting over their hang ups in the space of a day. ]
[ the arm around her middle causes her to lean her head against his shoulder, a sigh escaping. ]
I know.
[ and she does, truthfully. and she knows it's unrealistic to expect that anything would happen immediately. but it's still a sting of disappointment, and of want.
still, she wasn't left shaking. so it could have been worse.
she tilts her head back a little to look up at him, inquisitive. ]
What did you order for breakfast?
[ she admittedly hadn't been listening very hard, lost in her thoughts as she tucked herself back into bed. ]
[ She tilts her head against his shoulder and it's comforting in its familiarity. This, they can do. And this he's more than happy to indulge. It's nice to come back to after they try something new, pushing at the boundaries their memories have drawn up.
There's something about the warm intimacy that also helps take away the smarting disappointment when something doesn't go the way either of them were hoping. ]
Coffee, eggs, fruit, toast. Which apparently has some kind of famous plum jam. [ Kerch farm markets are famous for their jams, though usually they're a berry of some kind. Figures Shu Han has a different set, considering their weather patterns. It's typically warmer, for one. Sunnier, for another. He's going to have to be careful while they're out or he's going to be as red as a lobster by the time they get back. ]
[ plum jam sounds incredible, to be honest. and she ruminates on that for a little bit when kaz asks his next question, prompting her to hum to herself in thought. ]
We can explore the gardens.
[ she decides, cheek returned to resting on his shoulder. it really is a beautiful day outside, and while staying in bed all day with him sounds divine, they really should explore shu han. at least a little bit.
she had also bought a sun hat in the airport upon arrival, so she may as well use it. or give it to kaz, who needs it more than she does, if she's honest. ]
[ At her answer, he glances towards the windows, seeing only bright sun shining through the curtains and sheets. Reaching over, he picks up his phone to double check and sure enough, they're in for good weather. Such a change from Kerch, where the sun only holds for hours at a time on most days. ]
They say it takes a few visits to see it all.
[ So this can be their first run through.
Flexing his foot, he test the stiffness of his leg, finding it mostly agreeable. They'll see if it stays. Though usually a good start means he has time before it really complains, if at all. ]
Likely. They're in season so they'll be sought after. [ Which should put them near the forefront of any maps or suggested visiting areas. ]
[ he seems to go through the motions of figuring out logistics for the day, which causes a something of a fond smile to form on her features. constantly thinking twelve steps ahead. ]
Pictures she can look at, anyway.
[ she says, tilting her head back to look up at him again, amused, before she pushes herself up a little bit to brush a kiss against his cheek. ]
You should go take a shower while we wait for breakfast.
[ that way, they can leave right when they're done eating. ]
[ Immediately, a faint bit of color rises in his cheeks at the implication. Because of course he's going to take photos. Just. Not all of them will be for Sofia's eyes. Certainly not if he manages to get one with Inej's top off.
Which feels weird to think of, but she had just slid off the top of her robe. So it's not exactly an unprompted thought. ]
I suppose. [ Though he's currently loathe to move from where he is. Inej helps at least, sitting up as she does. He used the arm looped around her middle to give her a squeeze and leans up, stealing a kiss before he lets go.
Before he can convince himself out of getting up, he rolls out of bed to go collect his clothes for the day and make his way carefully to the bathroom. By the time he finishes washing up and dressing, breakfast has arrived and the two of them take their time with it, not exactly in a rush. They're here for a while, probably, and the gardens aren't going anywhere.
The walk to said gardens is a pleasant one, despite the strong sun, and seeing as it's a weekday, there aren't many visitors. They manage to avoid the group of what's clearly a classroom trip and end up near the orchard, lined with rows and rows of fragrant trees and their fruit. ]
[ it's truly beautiful, shu han. she's captivated by the seemingly endless stretch of trees dotting the landscape, pushing her hat back a little bit to get a better look at the nearest plum tree when kaz speaks up. ]
Did you?
[ she asks, briefly entertaining the idea of a younger version of kaz climbing a tree. something that would be much more difficult now, with his leg. the lower branches of the tree have little to no fruit on them, clearly picked by lazier tourists (or, perhaps the opposite, tourists who got up before noon). her eyes are on a plum that's a bit out of her reach, and inej lets go of her hold on kaz's fingers to stretch her hand out, to stand on her toes, seeing if she can reach it.
( she can't. ) ]
I don't think you would need to climb them anymore anyway.
[ she continues, tossing him a slight grin. he's fairly tall, after all, able to reach the out of reach fruit fairly easily. ]
[ Several varieties, he thinks. Not that he knows any of the names or could remember them now. He does remember seeing bright green ones and others that tended towards dark red and even pink. And the smell of the fruit in those early autumn days, when he'd been sitting in the branches.
Some of these trees are shorter and newer, most of their lower branches missing the fruit from the hands of eager tourists. Inej looking to be one of them, though her reach misses the mark by at least half a foot. ]
Not really. [ He says, grinning, as he easily steps in to pick the fruit she'd been aiming for and handing it down. ]
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timewasting2020-09-27 05:30 pm
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They definitely won't be. [ At least not any of the ones he currently has a mind of taking. Maybe one of her in this fluffy robe.
The more insistent press of her mouth takes his mind off it and he lets out a soft groan, swiping his thumbs across her chest again. Slowly, he draws circles around her nipples and spreads his fingers to trace the bare indentations of her ribs. ]
We've got time to plan our strategic photos.
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part of her wants to push him back down against the bed. the other part of her isn't so sure that's a good idea. she wants to go further, but also doesn't want to spend her evening recovering from a bout of awful memories that take her underneath the tide.
so she spends time kissing along his neck, adding a slight nip of her teeth before running her tongue over the spot lightly to soothe it. but as she does so, she murmurs: ]
Still okay?
[ checking in is important, as she gently noses at his cheek, pulling away just a little bit to give him a moment to answer. ]
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It hasn't made him seize up, being light enough, but he knows repeated attempts are going to make his stomach turn. Thinking too hard about it now, as he clearly formulates his response, is already giving him that vague dread. Something he knows he can divert if they stop treading down this particular path. ]
Not with the licking. [ He's taken this much time to get used to skin touching. And even then it occasionally makes him cringe. Add something damp or wet to the mix and it's just a recipe for disaster. ]
Otherwise, yes.
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Okay.
[ and she presses a gentle kiss against his mouth, in reassurance. ]
So the teeth are fine?
[ she continues, mostly to break whatever tension or discomfort still exists, resting her forehead against his with a warm smile, clearly comfortable and not offended. ]
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Still, he's glad she doesn't ask, though he knows he owes her some answers. She just wipes away the streak, leaning in for a soft kiss. It'll take a few moments more to shake the creeping dread, but without the feeling of wetness drying on his skin, it's getting easier to move past. ]
More than fine. [ He likes when she makes marks. Not only for how they feel in the moment but for the aftermath of slight bruising. Slowly, he swipes his thumbs across her breasts again, cupping and giving them a light squeeze as he returns her soft kiss. ]
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she feels . . . incredible, really. warm, and sensitive, and eager to keep going. but something is tugging in the back of her mind, though the swipe of his thumbs is distracting, to say the least. ]
Good to know.
[ she murmurs, giving him another warm and lingering kiss before pulling away a little, reaching to gentle take his hands in her own, running her thumbs over his knuckles. ]
You do not have to push yourself on my account.
[ it's said gentle, ducking slightly to catch his gaze, with a small smile. ]
So if you need to stop, we can.
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As she gives him a kiss, he squeezes her chest again, still gentle, starting to feel warm all over once more, the chill over the damp skin dropping away. ]
I'm not pushing. [ If there's no more licking, he'll be fine. Though honestly if all they end up doing is kissing and touching already bared skin, he can't complain. Despite the clear interest his body is taking; he's used to taking care of that on his own, one way or another. ]
Did you want to stop?
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No.
[ which she punctuates with a chaste kiss to his lips, amused, squeezing his fingers loosely with her own. the very last thing she wants to do is stop, but: ]
I just want to make sure I am as careful with you as you are with me.
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[ She wouldn't ever do anything intentionally to make him uncomfortable. And he knows this would be easier if she knew the story, they why behind he can't stand certain things.
Just. Perhaps not right now. Maybe soon, because it feels like they might be treading into more unsure territory. He doesn't know specifics, but he has a feeling that the further they go, the more likely it is that damp skin will be involved. Even if it's simply from exertion.
He brings her hand up, kissing the backs of her fingers. ]
I'll tell you if it's too much. [ And aside from that small blip, it's been fine. Leaning in, he presses another kiss, this time to her cheek. ]
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I will hold you to that.
[ she warns with a slight grin, leaning forward to loop her arms around his neck again, to press in for another kiss. this time, almost as if to prove that she's trusting him at his word, she threads her fingers through his hair, her kiss a little deeper than before as she presses forward. ]
no subject
[ She hasn't backed off on a promise yet and this is one more. Besides, it's as she said: she's just trying to make sure she doesn't set him off by accident. Just as he is so careful about how he touches her.
There's not nearly as much carefulness in the kiss she presses in with, though he has no qualms about it. Not with her fingers threading through his hair and her body pressed so close. Her chest is against his and it sends a significant spark of interest straight between his legs. Another thing he's careful not to push against her with, even if he instinctively wants to.
His hands slide to her waist and then up and around to her back, fingers tracing the wings of her shoulder blades as he returns her kiss eagerly. ]
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it's in settling in his lap a bit more that causes her to become a little more aware of just how far this is going. the feeling of him pressed against her, even lightly, causes a sudden tension to ripple through her, an anxiety that hadn't been there moments before.
it's a sudden shift, for inej, from feeling warm and enticed to her heart beginning to hammer in her chest, and she pulls away slightly, resting her forehead against his to breathe. she doesn't feel completely overwhelmed, but uncomfortable enough to pause, her fingers loosening in his hair. ]
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Of course, their moments don't always last long. Her weight drops more into his lap and she goes still, muscles tensing. Undoubtedly he's pressed against her and it's forcing her out of a comforting space. He can't help the sting of disappointment, but he understands. And he sets his hands on her waist where the ties of her robe are, avoiding skin. ]
Need to stop? [ It's felt good. More than good. But he doesn't want to push if it will stop feeling that way. There's also the fact that he won't say no to simply crawling back into bed and holding her without any pretense. ]
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it's also frustrating to associate kaz with that, of all things. something he would never do to her.
she's sorely tempted to say no, the hesitation clear as inej's hands slide to his neck, running her thumbs over his jawline as she focuses on breathing, and easing her pulse. she wants to keep going, but . . . ending this night in crying is probably not the best. ]
Yes.
[ she murmurs, the disappointment apparent in the tone of her voice. and she moves off of his lap, back to kneeling on the bed, tugging the robe a bit so it drapes around her shoulders, though she doesn't bother shrugging back into it. ]
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Before Wylan, Jesper had always mentioned the fun he'd get up to at parties or bars. Short lived mutual flings. Kaz never understood how he could do it. Now he at least has some idea of why. And shares Inej's frustration that they've got so many limitations to jump over.
Before she gets off his lap, he presses a soft kiss to her cheek, reassuring. ]
Did you want to change? [ Though she hasn't pulled the robe fully back up. It just might be more comfortable for her in something else, even if it's pajamas. ]
Come lie down, I'll call for breakfast.
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I am fine.
[ for the most part. her heartrate has slowed, and she feels in the moment. it's the physicality, that bothers her. or did, in this instance. though inej does tug the robe a bit closer, closing it a little bit. her hair, after all, is still a little damp.
the offer to lay down, though, is tempting. so she scoots herself up into the bed properly, to slide underneath the blankets, the robe still loosely wrapped around her. craving closeness. she thinks she would be okay with being held like this. probably.
only one way to find out. ]
I wanted to keep going.
[ she murmurs, as he goes about calling for breakfast and climbing back into bed with her. disappointed, really. though how much further, inej isn't entirely sure. ]
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First though, breakfast. Sitting up in bed, he reaches for the phone and calls down an order, sifting through a few minutes of pleasantries. It won't be too long, probably because he'd woken up beyond the typical breakfast rush.
That done, he refluffs his pillow before sliding back under the covers, shifting so he's close to her. Out of habit, he loops an arm around her middle, letting out a slow sigh after he settles. ]
We can keep trying. [ He'd wanted to keep going too. But not without her being completely there. It just means they'll have to work at it as they've been doing, little by little. He doesn't imagine either of them will be miraculously getting over their hang ups in the space of a day. ]
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I know.
[ and she does, truthfully. and she knows it's unrealistic to expect that anything would happen immediately. but it's still a sting of disappointment, and of want.
still, she wasn't left shaking. so it could have been worse.
she tilts her head back a little to look up at him, inquisitive. ]
What did you order for breakfast?
[ she admittedly hadn't been listening very hard, lost in her thoughts as she tucked herself back into bed. ]
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There's something about the warm intimacy that also helps take away the smarting disappointment when something doesn't go the way either of them were hoping. ]
Coffee, eggs, fruit, toast. Which apparently has some kind of famous plum jam. [ Kerch farm markets are famous for their jams, though usually they're a berry of some kind. Figures Shu Han has a different set, considering their weather patterns. It's typically warmer, for one. Sunnier, for another. He's going to have to be careful while they're out or he's going to be as red as a lobster by the time they get back. ]
You still want to stay in?
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We can explore the gardens.
[ she decides, cheek returned to resting on his shoulder. it really is a beautiful day outside, and while staying in bed all day with him sounds divine, they really should explore shu han. at least a little bit.
she had also bought a sun hat in the airport upon arrival, so she may as well use it. or give it to kaz, who needs it more than she does, if she's honest. ]
Maybe we can see the plum trees in person.
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They say it takes a few visits to see it all.
[ So this can be their first run through.
Flexing his foot, he test the stiffness of his leg, finding it mostly agreeable. They'll see if it stays. Though usually a good start means he has time before it really complains, if at all. ]
Likely. They're in season so they'll be sought after. [ Which should put them near the forefront of any maps or suggested visiting areas. ]
We can get pictures for Sofia.
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Pictures she can look at, anyway.
[ she says, tilting her head back to look up at him again, amused, before she pushes herself up a little bit to brush a kiss against his cheek. ]
You should go take a shower while we wait for breakfast.
[ that way, they can leave right when they're done eating. ]
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[ Immediately, a faint bit of color rises in his cheeks at the implication. Because of course he's going to take photos. Just. Not all of them will be for Sofia's eyes. Certainly not if he manages to get one with Inej's top off.
Which feels weird to think of, but she had just slid off the top of her robe. So it's not exactly an unprompted thought. ]
I suppose. [ Though he's currently loathe to move from where he is. Inej helps at least, sitting up as she does. He used the arm looped around her middle to give her a squeeze and leans up, stealing a kiss before he lets go.
Before he can convince himself out of getting up, he rolls out of bed to go collect his clothes for the day and make his way carefully to the bathroom. By the time he finishes washing up and dressing, breakfast has arrived and the two of them take their time with it, not exactly in a rush. They're here for a while, probably, and the gardens aren't going anywhere.
The walk to said gardens is a pleasant one, despite the strong sun, and seeing as it's a weekday, there aren't many visitors. They manage to avoid the group of what's clearly a classroom trip and end up near the orchard, lined with rows and rows of fragrant trees and their fruit. ]
Used to climb trees like this.
[ Before. Well, before everything. ]
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Did you?
[ she asks, briefly entertaining the idea of a younger version of kaz climbing a tree. something that would be much more difficult now, with his leg. the lower branches of the tree have little to no fruit on them, clearly picked by lazier tourists (or, perhaps the opposite, tourists who got up before noon). her eyes are on a plum that's a bit out of her reach, and inej lets go of her hold on kaz's fingers to stretch her hand out, to stand on her toes, seeing if she can reach it.
( she can't. ) ]
I don't think you would need to climb them anymore anyway.
[ she continues, tossing him a slight grin. he's fairly tall, after all, able to reach the out of reach fruit fairly easily. ]
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[ Several varieties, he thinks. Not that he knows any of the names or could remember them now. He does remember seeing bright green ones and others that tended towards dark red and even pink. And the smell of the fruit in those early autumn days, when he'd been sitting in the branches.
Some of these trees are shorter and newer, most of their lower branches missing the fruit from the hands of eager tourists. Inej looking to be one of them, though her reach misses the mark by at least half a foot. ]
Not really. [ He says, grinning, as he easily steps in to pick the fruit she'd been aiming for and handing it down. ]
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