[F27 - PP] A Return to Ronbaru

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari glanced down as the girl stumbled through an entire sentence as though it was a single word. The flush in the face only made Nari smile wider, her entire plan a complete success – and although she didn’t want to push it too far, she just couldn’t resist. “You are adorable when you get flustered. I just love it...”

She almost missed the next question as the girl guided her away from the water, as if trying to avoid the idea entirely. It took her a few steps to respond, as she considered the movement, and the commentary itself. “Comfortable? Well, that depends on who’s with me…wait others? No. Absolutely. Not. No. Private showing only.”

It was her turn to flush at the thought of it. As if to concrete in the idea, her body had natural gravitated closer to NIGHT, her head leaning as if to try and rest on her shoulder, while her left arm snaked around the girl’s waist and pulled her inwards to herself, the action entirely possessive.

“And that goes two ways, miss.” The whispered words carried both a tone of humour, as well as a seriousness underlining. She didn’t care if it sounded possessive, or as if she was jealous of the concept. As far as she was concerned, NIGHT was hers now, and hers alone. Just as she knew that she was NIGHT’s, and that there was no question about that in her mind and heart.

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Word Count: 243

 

[NIGHT 0]

so it had been on purpose. calculated, even. she shouldn't have had a reaction, like a serpent charged by its own venom; and yet to the contrary night did.

no amount of realization would've gotten that red to leave. unfortunate. and when nari grabbed at her waist and kept her close, night let her, searing.

"No. Absolutely. Not. No. Private showing only.”

private showing. it echoed in her mind. like it was solely for entertainment. night couldn't stomach the thought.

“And that goes two ways, miss.”

she was quiet, like a dormouse. burning up so much she couldn't tell if it was the sun that caused it or if it had been the idea of intimacy in itself. and she willed her steps faster, as though in search of normalcy before the heat over took her thoughts. narrowed eyes that bled of purpose, almost similar to anger, and teeth set so her tongue wouldn't betray her silence.

the only words night would manage to eek out were upon seeing the spotting of colours in the distance, like a mirage across a sparkling ocean. and, still light-headed, she gestured out to it. "that's light bay. vacational resort on the beach."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The disconnect slammed into Nari as the girl rushed ahead, the tension in her body obvious, and the confusion in Nari overwhelming. She followed silently, her mind racing in an attempt to figure out what she had done, what she had said. A few times, her mouth opened to say something, to try and correct whatever she had done – but she had no idea, she was lost at sea.

The gesture and the corresponding words made Nari jump, pulling her from her deep thoughts. She glanced towards the location, nodding without seeing it. “Vacational…maybe we should go one day?”

The words were a mumbling on the wind, Nari’s awareness less than optimal for the conversation. Her eyes were still unfocused, and the brow had pulled inwards slightly, clearly straining with the thoughts going through her head.

“Did I…upset you?” The voice was meek, almost as if scared to voice the question. Physically, the normally boisterous woman had shrivelled, if only a degree. Her head was bowed slightly, and her hands had clasped in front of herself, the expression on her face a knife’s edge between sadness and apologetic.

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Word Count: 188

 

[NIGHT 0]

"we're going now," she breathed, almost dizzy from the thought of people. and her hand pressed closer into nari's, for a quick second, before they started off in earnest.

“Did I…upset you?”

in her quiet, she hadn't even realized the perception of her demeanor. clamming up on instinct, and the expression filled with tension. night only felt it when she heard the query fearful, loosening her jaw just slightly upon notice. and she wondered how to respond to that -- how to confess the lack of wrong doing on her companion's part -- because the matter was something else entirely.

(the truth was that at the offer, she'd wanted that private showing. wanted it so bad it would be obvious if it showed. but she didn't want to say it. didn't they have plans? and off the cuff, it had been so sudden. withdrawl was likely. so too that night wasn't ready.)

instead, what showed was a grimace, a sigh of some relief, and a closer drag of nari's figure to herself. "no--" night responded, volume low and breathy, "-- definitely not."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari hummed at the words, happy to hear that she hadn’t upset the girl – although still not entirely sure why the reaction had occurred. Her only consideration was that she had pushed too far, and silently she reminded herself that she needed to be a little bit more appropriate.

Content with the return of the touch, she leaned back into NIGHT, resting her head on the side of the girl’s shoulder as she followed her lead. She was just beginning to fall completely into step when she registered the very first words that had been spoken.

“We’re going now?” Her head shot up and she missed a step, before catching herself. She wasn’t sure she’d heard the words right, and her eyes glanced over towards the area that had been pointed out. “As in right now? As in we’re taking a vacation? Away from…well, people?”

Her words came out as questions, but there was an excitement in her voice, and she had begun to bounce on the tips of her toes again, slowly hopping forwards. Her body began to quiver as she tried to contain herself, her face beaming in joy – the depression mere moments ago apparently forgotten as she began tugged on NIGHT’s arm, trying to drag the girl quickly towards their new destination.

“Is it like a bed and breakfast? Do they serve delicacies? I’m trying all the delicacies. Oh! Do they do room service?!”

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Word Count: 237

 

[NIGHT 0]

perhaps, if night hadn't been so keen on resorts in video games as points of interest for content less so than enjoyment, she would've jumped to the same idea that nari had to begin with. at her question, she tilted her head, unremarkably, yet curious. "yeah? ...why not? it's not away from people, i guess."

and before she had time to explain further about how it worked, the woman noticed the light that appeared on her companion's face, and it was blinding.

almost. but the player was still thankful that she could still see.

"uh-- i mean-- maybe?!"

terrible. night flustered even more than that. she wanted room service, too. but purpose took hold of her first and foremost, so her mind pivoted immediately towards it. "there are probably establishments over there that fit the bill. i was mostly thinking the residents over there could use the help more than others." the player shrugged, trying to catch the cool sea breeze on her face, thinking would help her blush fade. "if we're here to grind, then surely having a purpose would help with that, wouldn't it?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari’s bouncing came to a halt for a moment, her head tilting as she considered the change in plans. It wasn’t disappointment she felt – simply…reconsideration. Her face, having dropped the smile as she took in the words, forced the happiness back into her expression.

“Good idea. Besides, any time spent with you is luxury enough.” She bounced twice again, trying to show that she was content with the change, even if it meant no room service – this time. “But if they have room service, we are definitely coming back one night. Got that?”

With another bounce she took off again towards the resort, giving the taller girl a slight tug to get her moving again, before pulling her close to her self, letting her hair fall over NIGHT’s shoulder in the hopes that she’d get that euphoric feeling again. Her lips parted slightly as she began to hum a happier tune that she remembered from days long past, letting the emotions of it pass into the air around her.

“Hey, what are the plans for tonight, anyways?” The question was posed suddenly, out her lips as quickly as it had entered her mind.

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Word Count: 193

 

[NIGHT 0]

a simple stroll. it almost felt as though after taking out that serpent from earlier, the rest of the flock that followed it had up and vanished. and night wasn't upset -- most definitely not -- but a part of her wished that the lesser creatures had stayed just so she could get that extra bit of loot in. she leaned back against nari, even when the bouncing had stopped.

stilled only at the mention of--

“But if they have room service, we are definitely coming back one night. Got that?”

her feet were still moving. night was efficient like that. but keeping her desires in and away from mention was becoming an uphill battle with the way nari was excited about a spell away from daily aincrad workings. her mind wasn't foggy, but neither was it awake, either. like it should be stirring, but didn't.

“Hey, what are the plans for tonight, anyways?”

even worse. she felt herself clam up again, and then tried to motion for an action otherwise. her words were slow as they left her mouth, because night, too, needed to think of something else that wasn't (room service. coming back one night). "... if they've got restaurants nearby," she started, "we could eat. out there."

she paused for an unnaturally long time, eyes blank.

"-- but i figured out of respect your housemate would want you home on time." the way she rushed through the last sentence, it sounded like a hasty conclusion, but it was still true. 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari let her steps carry her for a few heartbeats, as she tried to figure out the best way to respond. She knew that NIGHT was concerned about Onóra’s reactions, and somehow that conflicted with how they needed to behave. It left Nari wondering, and caused her response to be more delayed than she would have liked it to be.

“Mmm…Onóra’s not going to be upset if we’re not there for dinner, if that’s what you’re worried about. So long as I give her a heads up, that is. She was just inviting us to be polite, but she does enjoy the estate to herself during the day.” Three steps, a brief pause enough to catch her breath, before the mumbled words followed. “It would be nice if she’d stop taking over the music playlist though.”

“Should we go get dinner, before we head home? And um…” That hesitation, as she tried to figure out how best to pose the question. She knew it was going to be a difficult subject, or at least she thought it would be one. “Are you…staying over again tonight?”

Her voice, her expression, even the tension in her body, all carried hopefulness. She wouldn’t outright admit it – not yet, but she was enjoying the company, and didn’t want it to end. She knew it would have to, sooner or later. NIGHT had her own place to return to, of course. But Nari hoped that it would wait, if only for another night.

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Word Count: 248

 

[NIGHT 0]

it hadn't even occurred to night the reason behind that time imposed was for dinner. she mulled over that revelation, then, considering the thought of a home-cooked meal. what was more likely to bother nari, she figured, was the awkwardness between them and onora, given that they were strangers known only through a single channel.

and she was already cast as the improper outsider who had to be carried home after some reason or another. night closed her eyes, sighing. at least she wasn't obligated in the same way she figured she had been held to, by her partner's explanation.

“Should we go get dinner, before we head home? And um…”

"yeah." those had been the plans in the past, any way, so it made sense only to stick to it. and to her staying over, night couldn't let up on blushing further. 'no funny business.' "i wasn't planning on it," she admitted -- and perhaps after the implications today, it was a better idea not to -- "but if you want me over..."

hence their drawing closer to the resort. down a white gravel path once one of the longer bridges across ocean was passed, the road cut across emerald fields. the island widened to a coast, boardwalk first as their entrance, and a couple of souvenir buildings greeted them upon walking into the territory. light bay was a safe zone first and foremost, with a central island at the center of a tide pool, and most of the commercial district littered on the sides of the docks that offered ferry services out to the greater sea. despite the strange, broken name the game gave it. night was certain it was meant to be called 'light bay'.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari came to a sudden halt, hands latching onto NIGHT and pulling her around to face Nar before moving their way up to the girl's shoulders. She stared NIGHT directly in the eyes, waiting until the girl was obviously focused on her.

“I don't want you to leave.” There was no humor, no smile. Her expression and tone spoke of the seriousness behind her words. The silence allowed to stretch for a moment, to let the words sink in and be registered. “If I had my way, there wouldn't be two houses...But that's something for another day.”

Nari was surprised at the strength behind her words, the conviction in them. She meant everything she said, she had no doubt about that. What she found most surprising was the lack of doubt, the complete assurance in her feelings. To her, she was entirely submitted to them, there was no hesitation, no second thoughts or apprehensions.

Letting NIGHT’s shoulders go, grabbing onto her right hand, she pulled the girl into motion again. The resort awaited them, and Nari was curious to see what it had to offer. If nothing else, maybe she could find a nice place for a picture…assuming she could convince NIGHT to engage.

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Word Count: 204

 

[NIGHT 0]

she was whirled around, world spinning in her vision, until her sights finally settled upon nari. and it caught her off-guard, night thrown out of her thoughts.

“I don't want you to leave.”

a bold declaration. likewise, that caught her off-guard, too.

surprise matched seriousness, both sincere in nature. and night found herself breathless. for a moment, she wondered if it was a good thing, as though she wasn't dizzy enough.

“If I had my way, there wouldn't be two houses."

because despite the heat, the infatuation, the light, blinding, in the core of her vision -- night knew the implications behind those words. knew the path lain ahead that she chose not to pay attention to too hard. knew what it meant to let someone new into your home -- to stay, and not to leave.

she'd made that decision before. to continue to make it so... night was hesitant.

bravery. bravery and courage both. night didn't have them, not yet, she believed. to see it bare in front of her...

"...But that's something for another day.”

she was only spared by the release of the woman, her hand grabbed as nari took the lead. and such was fine. something about experience clued her into the picture.

the player just wished she, herself, had a better foundation for it, too.

 

the resort was large. 'was meant to be almost equivalent to a settlement' sort of large. umbrellas striped in different colours lined the beaches free of enemies and filled with people -- npcs, if not players alike. drink bars, restaurants; night didn't know what to expect, coming here, and was more than shocked to see her notions of the place challenged. the odd armor shop here and there amongst the bedding establishments cast out of stone, and the wooden walk towards water cottages.

too much to see, too much to do. and night had only the mind to check out the coast -- partially to be mesmerized by the cocktails being made at the tiki bar, and partially because her instincts told her some standard hunting quest would be available by a staff member stationed nearby. though whether or not that instinct was informed or otherwise, the player couldn't tell. instead, she gestured silently towards it if nari was looking her way. without commentary otherwise, her gaze would've been set to the sea and the beach goers.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“Beautiful…” Her words were soft, as if spoken from a distance. Her eyes glazed as she seemed to stare at the sun on the horizon beyond NIGHT’s frame. Slowly, as if rising with the sun, a smile creeped across Nari’s face. One of true happiness, no devilish intent, but rather the pure bliss of the moment.

She pulled NIGHT along to the edge of the dock, pushing the girl up against a railing before snuggling in front of her, pushing herself between NIGHT and the railing, and pulling the girl’s arms around herself. Leaning her head back against the girl, she closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face, and the warmth NIGHT against her back.

“This was a good idea, to come here.” Her voice was soft, but in the words were the same bliss that her expression had held. For the moment, Nari was content to remain as she was, holding NIGHT’s arms around her so the girl couldn’t escape. “Can we just…stay like this for a few moments…?” The question came out as a purr, barely audible against the voices around them. She knew they would have to leave shortly, but for now she was determined to get her way – if only briefly.

 

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Word Count: 210

 

[NIGHT 0]

"i'd say."

the first thing out of her mouth when entering the safe zone. as though for once, fear had released its constriction on her throat, finally allowing words to flow through. and she leaned in against nari, as motioned, though there was distance in her eyes. a nagging feeling in her that wouldn't go away.

oh, how the sun glared its hue upon the waters. and the skies churned for it, bent to the whims of its majesty. for a moment, night bid herself drop her concerns, and the tension that once rested in her arms faded. that pressure fell onto nari instead, as the woman so wished.

she wondered, this close, if the other could feel her heartbeat. night wondered, hoped, that she wouldn't hear her thoughts. doubt was a maker of shortcomings, and it was a battle fought alone, for now.

“Can we just…stay like this for a few moments…?”

"... mm."

and she was quiet in that calm. cheek rested upon the top of nari's scalp, eyes drifted off to the ocean waves watching the reflections of the sun upon ebbs instead. there was a lot to take in, for one day. for a couple of days. every moment in that she hadn't gotten the chance to process the aftermath meant slow wear on the woman's emotional state. night had been having a fun time, for a good while.

she thought about how to make the rest of her energy last just a tad bit longer.

when night finally found some semblance of confidence again, she rose from that touch upon her companion's head. looked towards the distance, in the same direction, the image of the setting sun hazy upon unclear waters. picturesque. "nari. do you get to see this often? the setting sun; in here, or the real world."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“The setting sun…? I think I saw it more in the real world, than I do here. Especially living on floor twenty-seven. But…” Her words halted as she considered the question in depth, wondering if she’d ever really taken the time here to do so. “I think here, in this game, I'm too focused on doing things. Either fighting, or grinding, or smithing…or whatever needs to be done to escape. In fact…”

She stopped to consider her next words carefully, knowing that many people would find them counter to the general beliefs that most held. She didn’t want to start an argument, but she also knew that she was speaking from the heart.

“I think sometimes life has become just a focus on escape. I’ve lost so much here…and a lot of that was the time I would take just to enjoy life. To sit, to relax, to…enjoy the moment. Most of my waking time now is fighting or smithing. Today was the first day in a long time where I had just…spent time with someone. Yeah, we did a bit of grinding, but…”

She considered her recent past. She had the garden, with Onóra. But even that had been focused on foraging, on finding materials. There’d been little in the amount of leisure – little in the way of actual enjoyment, aside from talking.

“I sometimes wonder if we haven’t forgotten how to enjoy what we have. I sometimes wonder if our lives have simply become a fight, the only purpose being escape. I…should we feel bad for taking time to just enjoy each other’s company? And the beauty that can be found in this world, even if it is just a bunch of code thrown together? Look at that sunset, it’s as beautiful as you are.”

She was so lost in thought, that she didn’t register the words. Her arms naturally pulled the embrace around her tighter, and she leaned her head back against NIGHT, calling her back towards herself.

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Word Count: 331

 

[NIGHT 0]

the conversation was welcome as a distraction from the mind. and she hummed, considering. night had believed she was the exact opposite. partially in due to laziness, but just the same that she couldn't keep her own in check had she not taken breaks when she did. and the work for a perpetual edge was cumbersome, company adamant -- there was always something better hidden between those days when there were friends around.

hearing how nari had been neglecting the time outs, the player felt like she needed to squirm. and if her arms shifted, it was in due part to reach out and entangle her fingers with her companion's; a shifting of parts while keeping that distance close. even though it stifling. even though it was wearing on her.

night wasn't used to being this attached to anyone before.

her eyes drifted between the woman and the sun, with what she could make of it through squinted vision. and that quiet breathing, whilst listening. she'd only reacted, embarrassed, when nari complimented her, moving the back of her hand to graze upon the woman's cheek.

"--you really are..."

(too good to me.)

and that was in part why night had found herself so careful.

lips pressed to the back of nari's scalp. for a moment, she hummed, eyes closed as she took herself out of the moment to think. "there's nothing wrong in taking some time off," the player replied, "part of living is finding out what there is to live for. be it the sunset, the company..."

their hands parted for a moment, night finding her fingers set upon her defendant's chin. "... or you."

"so don't be afraid to be selfish about it. do what you want to do."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari exhaled softly as the touch of the lips on the back of her head caused a warmth to spread through her. She felt herself drawn into the embrace further, giving way to the words, barely registering anything beyond the voice and the arms that surrounded her. The breath on the back of her head drove her to an edge she didn’t even know she was close to reaching, and she felt her heart thumping quickly, her mind questioning if NIGHT could feel it through their embrace.

‘Nothing wrong in taking time off.’ She hadn’t, had she? Her focus had been on pushing. Pushing to become the best smith, to have the best stock and best store. Pushing, to make her way to the frontlines, to join the fight for freedom. Pushing to make herself better. Better, in order to help those who were still stuck behind.

‘Don’t be afraid to be selfish. Do what you want to do.’ The words resonated, and for a moment Nari stared up into the eyes that were focused on her, as if trying to force the idea into her mind. Nari stared, her heart beat speeding up as she considered the words, as she considered what she wanted. “Fine. I will.” Leaning closer, she placed her lips on NIGHT’s, closing her eyes and waiting to see how the girl would react.

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Word Count: 228

 

[NIGHT 0]

“Fine. I will.”

what came afterwards was like music. the world seemed to stop in time.

and night could feel, could hear the realm around her breaking, shattering and falling away, yet she knew beyond her sights, her senses, that reality was still there. those lips were soft, so gentle, and everything around her felt warm. she closed her eyes.

it was her. it was nari. it was the sun on the beach and the salty, briny air that continued to burn from the afternoon, now evening light. it was the feel of the others skin in her hands, on her fingertips. it was the closeness between two bodies -- their bodies, that heat generated between two souls so pressed together. compact. interlocking. stifling. night should've known what death tasted like from that silencing of her breath. and yet the taste of it made her not want even want to leave.

(and it was different, this time; different for a number of reasons. there was always that burbling fear rising from the base of her throat, but now it sat with the burden, as there always was, but now the weight of it was different. uncertainty, in a different kind. it took on a different shape, as a different monster. and as always night pushed it away just the same.)

it was different, because she hadn't decided she wanted it, not before the connection. different, because it was unexpected; different, because were no reliable details. night hadn't had the same time to have studied nari by observation, hadn't afforded herself the chance to grow familiar, slow, by time nor by chance. and she leaned into it, learning, by feel and by shock and surprise. learned the only way she remembered how. by way in the dark, quiet, patient, hand wandering, mind mapping out the landmarks of the other.

vertices, to a player. contact, to the human.

and if there was any further she dared take it in that haze, in that kiss, it was in the way her hands, her fingers, drifted towards the locks that fell off nari's shoulders. held a handful close, gauging its weight, reaching out towards the corner of her jaw.

night barely allowed herself to touch the skin on her neck. captivated as she was, enticed and hazy, it was her who was the one to pull away.

breathless. shaky. stifling. she wanted more, and in the same vein, feared exactly what it meant. and night was dizzy, easily so; as such she knew she should take it slow.

so she caught herself.

"nari--"

a gasp. she swallowed, aching.

(but it was so hypnotizing, wasn't it? that human touch. that controlled contact.)

"--... are you sure you want me back at your place tonight?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

She could feel the shake in the other, and for the briefest of heartbeats, she wondered if she’d pushed her luck too far. If the other would retreat. Leave her alone, on the pier. Leave her alone, with her shame.

But the heartbeat continued, and still, the touch was there. Their lips connected, the shaking continued. The hand, intertwined in her hair, slowly moved inwards. A touch upon her jawline, a connection that sent shivers down Nari’s spine, causing her to quiver vocally, ever so slightly.

Just as quickly as it had began, it was over. NIGHT having pulled back, creating only the smallest of spaces between them. Nari followed, a few millimetres closed before she realised the girl was speaking. The words snapped her back to reality, forcing her back to the pier, to considering their surroundings.

“I am…sure. So long as you behave yourself…” She added a slight smirk as she finished her thought, knowing it would bring them both back to ground. “I promise to behave so long as you do. But we are going to have to talk about the shower routine…”

A soft sigh as she realised the moment was over. She wanted more. Her body yearned for more. But she was aware enough to know there were limits. Limits that she needed to respect. Limits that she knew she would respect. But there was no harm in teasing a bit, right…?

It was with this thought that she pulled NIGHT towards herself, letting her lips slide across the girl’s own, before slipping past and nibbling on the earlobe. “Does that mean we’re eating in tonight?”

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Word Count: 271

 

[NIGHT 0]

well, it wasn't as though she couldn't behave herself. and knowing that her companion, too, was allowing her to pace themselves -- "okay," night whispered, voice almost strangled in her recovery. the follow up as a logical train of thought only aided her to cling onto reality where she thought she would be slipping.

(the two players sighed. and night didn't register it; their intermingling of breaths, the release, the exhales.)

her mind went to the purpose of the day. part of her was worried they'd forgotten, only challenged by the half that was certain this was meant to be the case. had always been, even if night wasn't going to acknowledge it. and it warred in her for the while, the player distracted further on what to do next. as though it wasn't already difficult enough to keep her focus on the present with nari around.

the soft peck and swift press on her ear only stole her away again. night nearly choked. a hand found its way onto some part of her companion's shirt, balling up that cloth with a tight grip, to keep them steady, still.

"what, in front of your 'roommate'...?" it almost came out as a hiss from the woman, shivering, and night drifted backwards, arm stretched keeping them apart. she was starting to sober -- trying to sober. she still was. "dinner's outside. we should play nice."

night's eyes were a hazy, muddied purple, behind the red light reflected in the environment. dark, fearful, almost unreadable.

(she desperately wanted more.)

her grip loosened, hand retracted. as though to play it off, the woman lightly grinned. "so what do you want to go for, nari?"