doreimi | IC Inbox | prismatica

Yeah, white chocolate is pretty great.

[Yeah, screw just setting it into his palm. She brings the chocolate right up to his mouth and presses it against his lips, holding it by the end so that he can get his teeth sunken into it before she lets it go, to avoid the risk of dropping it.]

Mmm! That's really good.

[ Oh my god. He takes a bite trying to keep his cool the best that he can. He takes a bite out of the white chocolate, and holds the remaining bit in his hand. It tastes good, of course. But -- ]

Good. I made them, you know.

[ Yeah, he's proud of it, because he didn't even cheat and he probably could have. ]

You know, I was also thinking --

[ Which meant, he'd been plotting it for a couple of weeks. It's fine. ]

Maybe a date after you work tonight.

[ Yep. He's calling it a date. ]

...Wait, really? You made them?

[Her eyes widen slightly; this adds an entirely new level of touching to the gift, when she'd genuinely assumed that he'd just shelled out for some high-end candy and sweets. Why wouldn't he? It's Rohan, he always goes in for high-end things. But to hear that he made them himself...]

I — you know...

[She hesitates, cheeks flushing as she stares down at the candy in her lap.]

I haven't really taken a day off yet, so...I mean, I could call out of work today, I'm sure it'd be okay for just one day...

It's the only way I knew they'd be right.

[ Yeah, that particular nature about him. The one where he needs things to be right. Where they have to be perfect, and when it comes to Reimi, he's trying really hard. He glances towards her, and then he seems to realize what she suggested. What she is doing and -- it was only one way that he had considered this could go. And, he didn't really think she would. He pops the rest of the chocolate into his mouth as he considers. ]

...A day off?

[ Does that mean he gets her all day? Yes? As if he'd say no to that. ]

Yes.

Sure. I mean, isn't that the whole reason I have a staff? So I'm not always doing everything myself.

[It is awfully short notice, but...it's not like it'd be the end of the world either, right? And...]

It'd be nice to just spend the day with you. Even if we didn't do anything special or out of the ordinary. I mean — what I mean by that is, I'll be happy no matter what. So we can do anything.

[ He wouldn't dare protest the idea of getting to spend a day with Reimi. After all, what is there to dislike about the idea of that? Not a single thing. He gets the attention? He gets to do things with her. Just them. She's right, that is what the staff is for. And, after all, she worked Valentine's Day. She can take a day off.

And, like she said, they don't need to fill the day with random activities. He liked just spending time around her. Being with her. It was weird to not have to do anything.

Still -- he did at least have a date in mind. This was still strange, unfamiliar territory for him, and he was taking leads from people watching and trying to apply them to his own life. Then, he speaks confidently. After all, he had considered this a possibility, of course. And he already had a date planned. ]

I'd like that. Still, tonight, date. Up until then we can pick up some movies.

[ That's...normal...right? ]

Ohhh, that sounds great. Calling out of work to stay home, eat chocolates, and watch movies? And then going on a date on top of it?

[She sighs happily, flopping backwards onto her back on the mattress, albeit being careful not to let the chocolates in her lap tip over or spill. It'd be awfully rude to be careless with a gift, after all.]

Is it a surprise? The date, I mean. Or can I ask where we're going?

Of course you can ask.

[ He shifts, watching her. It takes him a few moments to even answer her, though. Oh, was he staring? Probably a little bit. Oh - that means he can tell her now, right? Yeah. Come on, Rohan, get it together. He hadn't really intended to keep everything about it a secret, anyway, except the gifts themselves. He gets it together. ]

It's - this place on Level 1. It reminded me of places I had heard about back when I lived in Tokyo that people liked for dates. It's fairly nice, western food. Good desserts, too, which may not be much of a concern.

[ Given the treats he left out. He thought about it a lot, okay. He had seen people go on dates there when he went out and watched people. Finally, he shifts a little, disregarding the idea of getting dressed for now, laying on his side next to her, considering. ]

Something fun...that we've not done before.

The big-city experience, huh...

[She lets her head fall to the side, making it easier to look at him when he settles in next to her. Her hair fans out beneath her head like a halo, the headband half-slipped out of place and no longer properly holding it all back.]

You put a lot of thought into this.

Yeah, I did.

[ Of course he did. Especially when something matters to him, he considers every single thing about it. It's easy to get lost in planning, and then quickly execute it. So he always has to make himself step out of his head. But this, it did require on him pulling from experiences in Tokyo, here, research and people watching as usual. ]

I didn't really care much about how flashy Tokyo is, but I think it would be fun with someone I like.

[ An important distinction, he notes. He told her once that going on dates wasn't really a thing he ever thought about doing, and here he was planning on taking her on one. But, he knows - it's because it's Reimi not because it's a date. But it's a date with Reimi - a distinction that's easy to make in his mind. He relaxes there, allowing himself to share in this space. He moves one hand, resting it on her cheek. ]

I wanted it to be right. It's not like I often go on dates.

[ Ever. The word is ever. ]

[Hmmm. That's new and comfortable, the way he's willing to reach for her while they're lying around like this. It makes her want to hold still, almost, like she's at the cat cafe trying not to spook away an inquisitive new friend. No wonder Rohan took so well to the one they'd brought home, she muses, when sometimes he's halfway to a cat himself.

And maybe that's why she's good with them at the cafe, when deep down she's always been a dog person. Maybe she's good with the cats because she's also a Rohan person.]

I think it'll be a lot of fun. I feel like...

[She closes her eyes, musing.]

You do a lot to try to make me happy. Do...I do things that make you happy, too?

[ It's new. It's weird to him, just a little. But he's a bit weird, so it's fine. He doesn't always realize how... delicate he is. And they've had this conversation. That he doesn't need to be like this. He doesn't need to always need to think of her as someone who will shatter if he does something wrong. Honesty isn't always easy for him. There's the impulse he has to deny things.

Deny everything. So, he huffs a little, letting his fingers rest there, finding a little bit of hair. Slightly exploring. Testing. Figuring it out step by step. ]

Don't be stupid.

[ Said without a moment's hesitation. Because how could she possibly think anything other than yes. ]

Of course you do.

[ For example -- ]

Like now.

[ His expression; however, says: Duh. ]

I'm not stupid, you're stupid.

[And honestly, that's the most reassuring part of everything he says. It's not the soft words and not the gentleness, for all that she treasures those; it's the fact that he's not afraid to chide her, either. Not afraid to just be Rohan.

It makes it that much easier for her to just be Reimi, she discovers.]

I'm not even doing anything right now. Just taking up space on your bed and not going to work.

I'm stupid.

[ Her reaction helps his hand relax a little. It feels natural to him, to interact with her like this. Rohan is used to a bit of work, a little bit of effort. But this is how he usually is and it's fine, still. It's fine because she immediately bit back.

And, admittedly, he likes when she does. It reminds him that she's not fragile. That he can handle her without worry. ]

I must be. I love a girl who doesn't realize she makes me happy when she hogs half of my bed.

[ Said so easily, almost flatly. ]

A real shame that you have to put in so little work, huh?

Yup! You're a huge sucker.

[He says it so effortlessly, she almost misses it at first — I love a girl who — but when it sinks in, it stays. It's nice to hear it so matter-of-factly, like it's just a given. On the heels of a big planned declaration, it makes her feel warm to hear it offhandedly, too.]

I could probably fall asleep right now and you'd still love me, huh.

Trying to get away with going back to sleep, huh?

[ As if he actually has any complaints about taking a lazy, relaxing day. After all, he hadn't planned to do any work, not in any of his possible scenarios he day dreamed about. As far as he was concerned, he only really had planned to spend time with Reimi, regardless as to how much it was. ]

Yeah, I guess I still would, then. Haven't been up long and already ready for a nap. Must be getting old.

[ By how relaxed he is, though? He's perfectly fine with going right back to sleep. ]

But, I'll put those chocolates on the dresser because if they melt in my bed.

[ A mess. ]

Edited 2020-03-18 02:18 (UTC)

That's not what I said! I don't want to go to sleep, I'm just saying you'd let me get away with it.

[She laughs softly, reaching over to shove at him.]

Let me have one more chocolate and then you can put them away.

[ He lets himself be shoved, because he's pretty relaxed right now. Unusually so, even. ]

I'd let you get away with a lot of things.

[ Said like a guy who maybe should be annoyed by this, but isn't. He knows Reimi could test him if she wanted to. Push his buttons, but he would probably let her get away with anything. His hand doesn't flinch or move, he shifts in a little closer. He rests his forehead against hers. Doing exactly what she had thought he was doing - testing, learning, figuring it out. Finding what was comfortable. ]

Alright, Reimi-chan. One more.

[ And it was. ]

We can stay little longer, though.

Mm, pick the best one, okay?

[She closes her eyes and opens her mouth slightly, sticking her tongue out in obvious expectation. Granted, she assumes what she's getting is going to be a chocolate...but it's a dangerous thing, of course, to close her eyes and leave herself defenseless that way.]

Aaah.

[ He almost, almost reaches over to pluck a chocolate out of the assortment. Give it to her. But, he spent enough time feeling out these few moments. She is so close to him. He pauses, moving that hand to rest loosely on her cheek and to lean in, and place a kiss towards the corner of her mouth.

She had left herself open like that, after all. Eyes closed. Waiting.

He doesn't say a word when he does it. No words of warning. But, it's strangely confident, as he is in most things he does. ]

[It's not as big of a surprise as it could've been otherwise, if only because Rohan gives away what's coming with two subtle tells: he moves his hand to better hold her cheek, and he takes too long to be bringing a candy to her mouth, even taking the possibility of stalling into consideration.

But even sensing the kiss before it happens, it still makes her sigh in quiet pleasure. He goes out of his way to keep it chaste, aiming for the edge of her mouth and not the center, and it reminds her suddenly of the first boy she ever kissed, and how unlike Rohan he'd been.

Rohan would like that, she thinks dreamily. He's always liked being her favorite.]

Rohan...

[She opens her eyes halfway, wanting to look at him, and tilts her chin to turn the kiss into something a bit more properly placed.]

[ It's different, and he knows it. There's no outside influences at work - no fear, no moons impacting either of them. He's just...doing this because he wants to. And even though the pleasant feeling of Chroma is normal here, that's not why, either. He's watching her, eyes half-lidded when he does. He's still holding onto her as if she is glass, and she's asked him not to do that. It's so easy for him to forget.

So, while the movements are still softer than he tends to be with anyone else. While he's still afraid sometimes he'll do something wrong, there's much less hesitation (after all, she's tilting her head towards his) when he places the kiss directly on her lips. The smallest shift was all that it took. His fingers relax. And - there's an unavoidable soft, please sigh that escapes.

And it's so different from anyone else he's been close to, because of how soft it is. Because of how he feels about her. Because of it matters - because she matters to him. And no one else does. And he knows that's why he pauses, why he hesitates, because he cares - loves her. Everyone could vanish if he had her. So he wants to be right. Do right.

He moves, just a little, closing any distance between them. His space is fully hers and easily shared. He seeks out, just a little more, lips parting just slightly - still testing the waters, feeling it out - never daring to overstep. ]

[Staying home today is definitely proving to be the right decision. And she's watching Rohan still to see what he'll do, curious without being wary; he's taking his time, and she knows exactly why he is. But maybe that just means that the ball is in her court now, hers the next step to take because it's apparent that he's feeling her out, too. Letting her set the pace.

So, when he moves closer, she takes that as her cue to rest her hands on his shoulders, fingers stroking lightly against his collarbones through his shirt. It's such a little thing, maybe, but they never touch each other like this. She's willing to bet that maybe Rohan hasn't been touched like this, ever.]

You're warm.

[Again, her thoughts drift — this time to sixteen years' worth of winters, watching the snow fall, cold and lonely and pining for summer again.]

You're so good to me.

[ Her assumptions are right in that he definitely has not had anyone touch him like this before. It's never been soft, gentle. And for him - that's good. He's taking it slow because he's testing boundaries. He's learning what he can about her, in the most normal way - without the use of his Stand. And he's learning about what he's okay with, too. And in this time, he knows that he wouldn't accept this softness from anyone else. It's hers, and hers alone.

And it reassures him that he had made the right choices. That deciding to tell her had been a good way to go, because it's not as if he could suddenly stop himself from having feelings. And he's grateful for the outside nudge because he's sure that this would be a very different day otherwise. She would have gone to work, he would have been wanting her attention (but spending the day drawing), finding excuses to be close - but not too close. ]

Well, yeah.

[ Easily, it could refer to either thing she's said, and he knows it. Because it feels so obvious that he would be good to her. And it's always warmer next to another person, he knows. It's a pleasant, easy warmth. It reminds him of home, those just warm enough summer nights in Morioh - they were perfect, it was another reason why he returned. But he stops himself there, and he doesn't allow his mind to drift there too long because he doesn't want to think of her at home. He only wants to think of her here because he doesn't know how long he'll have this, and he's heard what happens after this place. For all that he dislikes the things that happens to him here, it has given him a lot. It has given him brand new experiences and inspiration. ]

Because I want to be.

[ He knows, considers what he says before he said it. Even if it is how she deserves to be treated, it's not like she is being rewarded by his behavior. It was something he was doing because it was coming from him. Because that was what he had wanted for her. And, she knows him well enough to know that he can't be made to do things that he doesn't want to do anyway.

While he considers so many things he says and does - he also offers something that he hadn't considered: ]

I meant it, you know?

[ That they could stay in a bit longer, that they could linger here. Just... quiet and without anyone else. ]

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