The Market District

[Aerith Gast Gainsborough]

"!" Well, she thought they had at least a little more time before they had to actually rush, but it seemed nature had other plans. And that was the freeze her to death! Her body stiffened a bit from the intense cold air, before she attempted to huddle her arms around herself to try and keep somewhat warmer! She may need to find a new outfit for these cold days ahead, it would be the smart thing to do! Hard to believe she was usually so smart, but when it came to her own health, it seemed she wasn't. It made sense, though. She was always thinking of everyone else, rather then herself! With the cold being the new thing, and only thing on her mind , she didn't seem to notice Reiner's own actions until the surprise came to her in the form of being lifted right off her feet, and into his caring arms. Her face wasn't just red from the cold hitting it, but now that added color was due to the faint blush that would come across her face. "I'm...still capable of walking! ......but this is nice.." So nice she wanted to cuddle him right there, it wasn't just his body's own warmth, but his extreme care of her that she just loved so much. He made her feel like a princess! She really was so lucky!

"Such a gentleman, it's so cute! " Corrin said with a big smile, despite the intense cold in the air! She was a little better suited to the cold, at least a lot more then Hiyori was. Her armor alone kept her pretty warm and most of the breeze off her skin. Though, Ephraim's question did raise a small, playful grin to spread on her face. "I'm fine, I can manage the way back. Why? Would you like to carry me too? " She said with a little wink, before proceeding forward to follow after Reiner. Ephraim might feel the slight tug of his cape, and when he tried to look, she would see the forest princess wrapping herself up in his cape as best she would, while it was still attached of course! Yes, these girls did need a better fashion sense to survive winter! "I'm fine! " She said while wrapped up into his cape.

 

[Brave Restoration King]

"And yet you aren't, and this is preferred, is it not?" Reiner responded quickly as he made his way through the snowfall, that would surely soon be a snowstorm. "This is why you should simply let me make all the decisions in the relationship!" Yes, that could only end well. He was clearly the smarter of the two after all!
"That's-" Ephraim was cut off by that cute little wink that made his heart skip a beat. Gods, Corrin really had some sort of power over him, didn't she? All he could really think about was their... moments at the beach. He was about to take a step, but he stumbled slightly as he felt his cape pulled on, and he glanced back rather blankly at the forest princess. Why was he not surprised at this behavior when it came from Athena? "Yes, you sure seem it." He said flatly, reaching up to unclasp the cape from around his shoulders, allowing it to come free so Athena could use it as an impromptu blanket. Then, he stepped forward, placing his hands on Corrin's shoulders from behind to stop her. Then, he knelt down, putting his head between her legs (entirely innocently!) and lifting her up that way, similarly to how they had done at the beach, so she could ride on his shoulders. Maybe this would be more comfortable for her than abruptly lifting her princess-carry style, which Ephraim worried she might find improper. Foolish thing to think, really. "Your words seemed like a challenge." He explained, feeling himself grow a bit nervous at the suddenness of this. "And that's- er, I was worried, since you're always barefoot, you might get frostbite. This--this would be safer." Yes, quickly, justify! Doing this, Ephraim had expected the coldness of metal to press against his neck and face, yet he was given a reminder of her outfit when he instead felt her warm, bare thighs around his neck, and against his face. ...And he felt his heart begin to race at the thought. Gods, he needed to focus on something else!



(( OOC: ))

 

[Aerith Gast Gainsborough]

While Hiyori was practically whisked away by her overly worried boyfriend, Corrin was a good ways behind him, and although she was walking at a hurried pace, there was no catching up to him. Someone did however, catch up to her, and she felt herself raising up in the air, over a certain teal-haired kings shoulders! "Ah! " She was certainly caught off guard! She probably should have known not to sound 'challenging' in anyway if she didn't want to be surprised! Of course, the smile that returned to her face was a good indication she wasn't in anyway uncomfortable, in fact, she rather enjoyed this cute treatment! Not many people seen her as one who might want to do these cutesy little things, or need help in any situation like a cold snowy day! She was pretty tough, when it came to battle. But that didn't mean she always wanted to be treated like a tough girl! After all, she was pretty pampered growing up. "Is that it? Or is it that you like to carry me? " She asked with a soft laugh.. "I can feel your pulse raising, you know! " That quickened pulse could be from more then sudden nervousness, the fact that he was now carrying her, through the brisk cold air and snowfall, it was sure to raise a bit of the heart rate! "I think you just enjoy carrying me..he,he.." She might of been enjoying teasing him a little to much though.

Athena meanwhile, was wrapped up as well as she could be in the warm cape that was given to her to keep warm! The quick little thank you through chattering teeth was all Ephraim got as a response before he ran after Corrin. Using some of the cloak, she set some of the plushies she had bought into what she could to help her not to drop any while at the same time, holding the cloak to her body! A bit challenging, but she managed to follow along at a slower pace.

 

[Brave Restoration King]

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"I know I must place my duty as a commander above my life as a man. And once I am crowned, I most certainly will do exactly that.
However, I am not ready to divorce myself from my compassion just yet. I will find the balance somehow, the means to save my country and her people.
That is the king I wish to become, and so that is the man I must be."



"What...?" He felt his heart skip a beat again after lifting her onto his shoulders, and she had to throw that little tease down at him. Was it even a tease, though? Her tone sounded so knowing to his ears! Her thighs might even feel the heat that rushed to his face in response to his words. Making him blush was smart, it would stave the cold off her thighs! Then came her next words, which invariably just quickened his pulse even further. "I think you're imagining things!" He said hastily. Maybe this was a bad idea after all! It made him think: why DID he do it? While it was true he held some concern over her exposed feet in this snow, it was clear her feet were rather resilient to the elements. Perhaps owing to her unique bloodline. At the end of the day, that sounded like an excuse even to him. But he hadn't been raised to be so intimate with people. It was plain to see, when any physical touch from most people would cause his body to stiffen in discomfort. He wasn't raised lovingly. He was raised to be detached--to rule from above. So, why did this come so naturally with Corrin? Why didn't this feel uncomfortable to him? She was opposite to him--she found comfort in touching others. And feeling her hands on his body, on his face--it should make him very uncomfortable, but it didn't. Why? He was broken from his thoughts by her next tease, bringing him back to this moment, and bringing more heat to his face. What if she was right? What if it was really that simple? "...Would that be such a bad thing, I wonder?" He responded softly, feeling a slight skip to his heart when he did. The snow around them settled briefly, with the promise to return full force again in due time. But it almost seemed as though the elements wanted to give them a moment or two to talk without blowing brisk air in their faces. Very considerate.



(( OOC: ))

 

[Aerith Gast Gainsborough]

Corrin giggled with a sort of satisfied laughter, as if the point had been proven! "Are you sure?? You're pulse is still raising, and your cheeks are becoming warmer. Are you blushing?! " If she could lean forward that much she might of been able to see, but from her position, she was unable to see his face at all! "Hmm? " How strange, the snow had come to a near stop, and the icy air not quite so intense.It definitly made it a lot easier to talk, and even better that they wouldn't need to rush so quickly back. She was enjoying her time with Ephraim more then she realized, even though he didn't match her energy level and cheerful, spirited nature, he still found a way to make things fun for the both of them, even if it meant him being the victim of her teases, and a blushing cute face. "I don't think so..! " She began to say with a smile he wouldn't see. "I don't think I could let anyone else carry me like this, but you? I admit I rather enjoy being carried by you......though, the way you looked at the way Reiner held Hiyori, it almost looked as though you wanted to do the same. In which case, well..! I would very much love to be the princess carried in your arms." She could very well be wrong, maybe she read his expression wrong, but it did look like he wanted to do that very same thing, and perhaps was just to nervous for some strange reason!
Athena wasn't THAT far gone from the world of romance to know when a pair needed some time alone, and so without any further spoken words, she would continue on without them.

 

[Brave Restoration King]

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"I know I must place my duty as a commander above my life as a man. And once I am crowned, I most certainly will do exactly that.
However, I am not ready to divorce myself from my compassion just yet. I will find the balance somehow, the means to save my country and her people.
That is the king I wish to become, and so that is the man I must be."



That satisfied giggle was like the sound of utter defeat to his ears. It seemed rather clear she had won her little game of teasing! "Of course not!" He denied very unconvincingly, and both of them certainly knew who the victor was here! As she responded to his next words, though, Ephraim would pause, listening to her. So, perhaps he wasn't the only one who felt... different with the other. But why was that, he wondered. Not that it took that much investigation to consider an answer. It was especially since their shared moment in the beach, when they had... kissed. Twice, actually. Things had felt difference since then, even though they hadn't really discussed it. Not different in a bad way, though. No, not hardly. He stood still a moment, before going down to one knee, lowering to allow her to climb off his shoulders in front of him. And the moment she did, she'd feel herself scooped right back off her feet, the princess carried now in the king's strong, safe arms. With them facing each other now, he could hardly hide the coloration on his features, confirming her suspicion. Not that she really needed it confirmed, with how obvious it must have been. He stood there, for several moments, staring into her hypnotically beautiful crimson eyes. Perhaps, if he looked close enough into the windows of her soul, he could see himself reflected through it. He could see himself as she sees him. And perhaps that would give him some level of... clarity. Perhaps it would let him escape the mistakes of his past, if only for a moment, through the lens of her eyes. "...You are frustratingly cute, do you know that?" He finally said, as his eyes drifted down slightly to stare at her soft lips. "It's hard to focus on anything when you're around... anything except your presence." For someone who was so often stuck in his head, thinking about this or that, it was quite the different feeling to not be able to stay in his mind at all when the two of them occupied the same space.



(( OOC: ))

 

[Aerith Gast Gainsborough]

"You're a very bad liar! " She would have her last little amused giggle, it was probably time to stop tormenting him with teases, wasn't it? She could only imagine how cute that face of his must of looked with that bright red blush to his cheeks.
And to her surprise, it seemed she might get the chance to see it, as he began to lower to a knee, Corrin carefully climbed off his shoulders, but the moment she was about to turn to face him, she found herself scooped right back up, but this time, right into his strong arms. Ah, how her own heart skipped a beat at that moment, and it seemed like the karma of teasing him so much, returned right back at her as the same coloration came to her own cheeks. The coloring of her cheeks would only increase as her crimson red eyes became rather entranced into his own blue ones, they were like a void of their own, pulling her to him. "You think so? .." She smiled, slipping her arms around his shoulders gently. "Will I still be cute if I....." She leaned up a little, he might notice her blushing face deepening in color. "Do this.." With those words, she brought her lips against his in a soft, loving kiss. They both might feel the difference of this kiss, verses the ones they playfully shared at the beach. After a moment, she leaned back, looking into his eyes. "Will that keep your focus on me a little longer? " She asked softly, that cute, innocent smile playing at her features.

 

[Brave Restoration King]

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"I know I must place my duty as a commander above my life as a man. And once I am crowned, I most certainly will do exactly that.
However, I am not ready to divorce myself from my compassion just yet. I will find the balance somehow, the means to save my country and her people.
That is the king I wish to become, and so that is the man I must be."



"Agh... I don't think I can win against you..." Ephraim finally was forced to admit defeat. There was definitely no victory waiting at the end of this battle, so he would have to surrender! Still, he had other things to focus on than this defeat, as his attention soon came to lifting the princess in a carry befitting her station. "I do." He responded calmly, though he felt his heart picking up once again at that cute smile and her arms wrapping around him. He swallowed in anticipation as she began to speak, and move, feeling his heart begin to race. It seemed they were both on the same wavelength in this moment--they both wanted the same thing, and they both knew that thing was coming. He certainly didn't turn away. And when those soft lips that had entranced him met his own--it was like the most mesmerizing, gorgeous explosion of fireworks around them. In that moment, he wasn't in Gaia. He wasn't in Marvel. He wasn't even in Magvel. He was nowhere, except in Corrin's warm embrace. And that was... everything. It was his entire world. His entire dimension. Was this how affection--love--felt? The moment was brief, but it felt like an entire lifetime, an entire galaxy away from this world. This imperfect world, filled with troubles, threats, evils. In that moment--in that lifetime, they were away. They were together, alone, in a universe of peace and love.
And that was his everything.
Inhaling sharply as they parted, his head tilted slightly as he gazed into her crimson eyes. Somehow, a draconic gaze even more intoxicating now than it had been moments before. "Corrin..." He held her a little closer, his arms that held her aloft closing more around her in something akin to a lover's embrace, while keeping her in that princess carry. "If this is your ploy to get me to carry you more often, it is working..." He mildly joked, smiling as he leaned his forehead against hers softly.
That moment. That moment of peace and love. He just wanted it to last a little longer.
That moment that was his everything.



(( OOC: ))

 

[Aerith Gast Gainsborough]

As she moved her face ever so closer towards his, her arms gently settled around him, the moment her lips came to softly press against his own it was clear how much different, how real this kiss was. It wasn't a tease, or a playfully affectionate kiss, it was loving, as if all her love was poured into that one soft kiss. All her feelings would become clear at that moment as they shared their first true kiss.
While it was short, it was enough to bring a new life of happiness into her crimson eyes, as she looked into his own with a soft smile. "It may be.." He would feel her arms tighten a little more around him, though still remaining gentle all the same, she wanted to be as close to him in this moment as she could. "You look so peaceful, I will have to stay extra close to you to ensure you are always this happy, won't I? " After this day, she wasn't going to be very far from his side, if she could help it. It wasn't hard to see just how happy they were together.

 

[Aerith Gast Gainsborough]

Stepping out of a clothing shop within the shopping district of the grand city, Aisha was accompanied by the most irritatingly sweet Angel, who followed right along side of her, carrying her own little bags. "...This feels...over done....but...it is....cute..." It was as though admitting the truth was such a terrible thing! "............." Her face was starting to turn red, from her life in Midgar, and the incredibly strong manipulative magic used by a Reaper who was working for ShinRa, making her not herself, and a dangerous enemy to those against ShinRa, to this.....That killer look was long gone, and it was time for Aisha to get used to being herself...again...Something clearly not as easy as one might think it to be.

"You look so cute and elegant! Hee,hee.. Were like the light and darkness of cuteness, Don't you think? " Hana asked with a cheerful smile, only to get the blankest stare from Aisha. "Oh, don't be like that! It's okay to smile and laugh, it's also okay to have confidence in yourself. I hear that the guys really love that, I wonder if the same applies to the ladies as well? " What a strange thing to wonder! "Well, never mind that! Next we should find a swimwear shop..." If Aisha thought shopping with Hana for regular, cute clothing was bad, she was in for a treat if they did find a swimwear shop. ".....It's not necessary. I'd rather not go to that island. It's not as though we could get there anyway. We can stay here until they return.."