Rory wanted to count her lucky stars, because she thought that this was everything that a first kiss ought to be. It was the perfect amount of sweet and thrilling, with a boy that she was certain she liked. She had believed that kisses made up of fireworks and sparks were something of the books and movies, but in that moment, she felt a burst of confusing emotions she couldn't quite place. Most of it was happiness, thrilling giddiness that tingled from her lips down to her toes.
Another, large part of it, was that she wanted more.
Akio's touch was tender, with Rory automatically leaning her cheek into his hand as fingers ran through her curled locks, effectively undoing all of the work she had put into curling it. She found that she didn't mind, the gesture too sweet for her to really care. Besides, Rory had never been one to put too much stock into her appearance, there'd always been other things that were more pressing and important.
She swallowed, eyes opening slowly as she pressed her lips together, smiling shyly and sheepishly at him while trying not to think too much about how nice it felt to have his lips against her own. Only then did she realize how tightly she'd been holding onto his suit jacket and she laughed, champagne having left her far too giggly and the lightness of her heart, tingling from her first kiss, didn't help.
"For a second - " she wavered if she wanted to say what she had been thinking, "I thought you'd changed your mind." The words slipped out of her mouth, released by her slightly inebriated inhibitions. "I'm - I'm relieved, happy you didn't." A breathless sigh left her, hands trailing up over his neck to hold his jaw between small hands. "Because if this is a fairy tale, I think I'd like you to be my prince."
Rory closed the space between them for another, shyer kiss.
ghouliboo
Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 8:19 am
He only had seconds to process what she was saying before her lips were once again upon his, this time with her initiating the kiss. Delicate fingers had mimicked his motion, holding his jaw in place as she collected her prize from the man who'd stolen her away into the night on a whim.
Akio froze for a few moments before instinct reacted on his behalf. Hands moved to keep her close, one falling down to wrap around her waist as the other cupped the back of her head, fingers brushing against the thickness of her hair. He deepened the kiss, tilting her head back with his hand as he happily expressed his appreciation for her impromptu followup.
I think I'd like you to be my prince.
The words echoed in the back of his mind. He'd made rash decisions before, but it was one thing to play with a girl and another to be playing her. She deserved an answer - but was it an answer he was willing to give?
"It had occurred to me that perhaps I was a little forward." Pulling back, his nose gently brushed against hers as he chuckled, the sound a throaty, deep laugh. "For while I find myself falling for a princess, it seems I have yet to even discover her name."
His face tilted, allowing her small palms to cup the side of his face as he gently looked upon his belle of the ball. "Please forgive me, beautiful, but I'm afraid if we don't put distance between the two of us, I will find myself kissing you well into the dawn and then I will never know your true name."
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 8:32 am
When he tugged her closer, a small squeak of surprise escaped her but she didn't pull away, despite how he was deepening the kiss and the way her heart was racing. She had very little knowledge of what she was doing or how to appropriately respond to the way he kissed back, but she tried anyway. It was obvious that he had experience and she worried that it was clear she didn't, but it didn't seem important until he was pulling away again.
Surprising herself, a little whimper of protest slipped out.
But his laugh sent shivers down her spine and she couldn't help the way she grinned, despite the fact she was keeping her eyes closed for a moment. When she finally opened them, she found that he was staring at her and she flushed beneath his gaze. "But what if I'd like you to keep kissing me?" She asked in lieu of giving him her name.
One hand slipped down to press fingers against the back of his neck, pushing back the collar of his shirt so that they were against bare skin instead of fabric and the other ran a thumb across his cheek. "My name is - " Normally she offered Rory but that didn't seem good enough for a fairy tale night like this. "Aurora. Aurora Willows."
ghouliboo
Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 8:33 am
Aurora.
She felt perfect, pressed against him. While shorter, she was the perfect height for a quick, stolen kiss. The turquoise of her hair reflected against the moonlight like the sea and her jade eyes gazed up at him with such awe that he almost felt ashamed to look back into them. She was utterly, terribly, dangerously perfect.
"Then I'd be afraid that we'd be doomed, dear Aurora." He responded solemnly, though the curves of his mouth gave away his humor. Her name was as beautiful as she was - fit for a Princess, as far as he was concerned. "For if I wouldn't stop and you wouldn't stop, we would simply end up kissing each other to death."
Nature, it seemed, had other plans than to allow the illicit meeting (and apparent kissing death sentence) to continue by the fountain. As he gazed down at her with the most affection he'd felt in a long, long time - a small raindrop splattered against the porcelain color of her cheek. A second was soon to follow, kissing the gentle slope of her nose and in no time, the small sprinkles of rain began to fall atop the both of them.
Was it time to make their exit? Not unless they wanted to be soaked to the bone. He glanced around at their surroundings, silently cursing both himself and Mother Nature for not preparing themselves for appropriate fairy tale evening weather. In the shadowed distance, an enclosed building sat at the end of a gravel path, surrounded by flowers upon flowers.
It would have to do.
Peeling himself from within her sweet, endearing grip, he took one hand and quickly led her towards the gazebo in the distance. Despite the rain coming down and the soft rumble of thunder in the distance, all Akio could do was laugh as he struggled to yank off his jacket, producing it in offering to his young date. It was nearly as damp as she was, but it was the gesture that counted, right?
Brown hair was adequately damp by the time he arrived to the door to the gazebo, which was blessedly left unlocked. Taking a moment to add a bit of flourish, he bowed as he opened the door - despite the rain clinging to his white shirt, his pants, his everything - and gestured with his free hand for her to enter first.
"There are worse ways to die," she offered, biting her bottom lip and tugging it into her mouth between teeth. Her heart was a twitterpated mess of a thing as looked up at him, fingers sliding along the nape of his neck and the short brown strands of hair that she wanted to slide her fingers into. Resisting was difficult, but she managed if only because she was trying not to look away as he stared down at her.
Rain drops splattered against her skin and Rory tipped her head back, blinking up at the sky as it began to rain, surprised laughter bubbling from her because she was still too warm from the champagne. Too distracted by the now free falling rain, Rory hadn't even noticed the way Akio's gaze swept around their surroundings until his hand was in hers and he was pulling her along.
Once offered his jacket, she slid it over her shoulders and clutched at the front, holding it tightly to her chest while she grinned at him, slipping inside with her heels forgotten somewhere near where they'd been kissing. "You're too kind, Akio," she said a little breathlessly, turning on her bare feet to face him and the door.
"Looks like we'll have to wait out the rain?" There was a hitch of hopefulness in her voice at the idea of the end of the night being postponed and more time she got to spend with him. Shuffling closer, she reached for the front of his damp shirt and tugged him inside with her, fingers brushing against his forehead as she pushed damp locks back, ignoring the way her own hair clung to her face. "How do you look even more handsome like this?"
ghouliboo
Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 11:36 pm
The jacket practically swallowed her like a blanket, but she didn't seem to mind, just like he didn't appear to mind as small hands reached outside and yanked his soggy self into the darkness of the empty building. Almost immediately, fingertips were gently drawing back his wet bangs, the shiver of delight a warm welcome compared to the chills his body was feeling from the cool evening rain.
"I think the shadows are doing me favors, fair Aurora." Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against her rain-kissed forehead before shifting to make his way into the humble looking garden building. His shoes made squeaking noses against the wood of the flooring with every step and he winced at the sound. She'd no sooner made a comment about waiting for the storm to pass that he'd already leaned down and slipped off both shoes, fingers hooking around the sides of his saturated dress socks. With a swift pull, both socks came off and were stuffed inside his shoes, tossed to the side for the moment as he continued to take in their darkened surroundings.
It wasn't such a horrible situation, really. The windows around the entire gazebo allowed enough moonlight in for them to see their own shadows and the shade from the plants and flowers that peeked in from the other side of the window pane. Not ideal, granted, but nothing he couldn't work with.
Arms outstretched themselves as he gestured towards the spacious area, ignoring the two or three benches positioned on the outter ring of the circular building. Turning around, he grinned as if presenting her with the next chapter of their adventure.
"So... does the dragon princess have any ideas of how she'd like to bide her time while the rain visits in the garden?"
Nuxaz
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 11:51 pm
The once flowing train of her dress clung to her leg as she turned in one spot, watching Akio as he squeaked across the smallish space of the gazebo to pull of his socks and shoes. She remained where she was, near the door that had fallen shut, leaving just a tiny sliver open and exposed so she could catch the way the rain splattered against the ground.
Her hair was a sopping mess, leaving the bare skin of her chest cold and chilly as it dripped. Any of the curls she'd painstakingly created her ruined, but that was one of the farthest thoughts from her mind as she watched her sudden date and the shadows cast upon his face by the moonlight.
Taking one step forward, she hesitated, fingers curling into his jacket before she retreated, finding one of the benches along the side to carefully set it down before she padded across the wooden floor, bare feet barely making a sound, until she stood before him. Carefully, she pulled all of her hair to one side so it would stop clinging to her back and further dampening the white fabric.
"I think," she began, reaching for his hands as she spoke, "we should dance." There wasn't any music, but she didn't seem to mind or care. "Unless you'd rather just try and kiss me to death."
ghouliboo
Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 12:14 am
She looked like a siren, beckoning him with her pale, beautiful arms and sea-tangled hair. Her smile was contagious, Akio finding himself beaming back as his arms moved forward to retrieve his date.
"Insatiable woman - you shall be the death of me, I already know it. Kissing and dancing the night away...how whimsically scandalous. People might talk, you know."
He paused and hesitated for a brief moment before an idea flashed across his expression. One hand dipped into his trouser's pocket and pulled out his phone, still blessedly in one piece despite the rain they'd raced their way through. One flick of a button to start an app, a second to change the station. Soon enough, Pandora began to play a slow dance and the side of his finger pushed the volume up as loud as it could manage on his small phone.
It was almost ridiculous, how soft the music was in the open-spaced gazebo, but Akio didn't seem to mind it. Sliding the phone into his back pocket (speaker side up, no less!), he returned to his reaching for her and entwined his fingers with hers, pulling the short woman up against him as he leaned in to steal a quick kiss against the very edge of her mouth.
His voice was low, but not soft as his lips moved up to brush against her cheek. "I think I would prefer to remain whimsically scandalous, myself, if it meant being able to be so with you."
Nuxaz
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 3:43 pm
Once, the idea of people talking about her might have worried her but it seemed to be the last of her concerns. "Is that a problem?" She asked in a quiet voice, in a way that implied she didn't think so and that she didn't think he did either. "I mean," she drew away, sinking back onto her heels as he shifted away to pull out his phone, "if you have a better idea...?"
The rain had taken a lot of options from them and while she didn't mind kissing him, it wouldn't go past that. Dancing however, seemed promising especially with how they had danced together before.
Her teasing seemed to be moot as Akio turned on some music station with his phone and rejoined her. There was a teasing kiss to the corner of her mouth, too close to her lips, that had her head turning to try and catch his mouth before he was gone, lips brushing her cheek in a manner that had her shivering from something other than the dampening cold that clung to her and her wet clothing.
"Do you talk to all girls like this?" She asked, without thinking about what her words meant or what it implied. It was hard, even now, for her to consider that she might be special. Embarrassed that she had even said such a thing, she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his damp chest. "We should just - dance, I'm thinking too much."
And thinking was the last thing she wanted to do at that moment.
ghouliboo
Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 4:32 pm
He laughed again at that, his chin tilting down against his shirt's collar as he watched her bury her face against the front of his wet shirt. Fingers of his right hand moved to slip between hers, squeezing gently as his other hand moved to wrap around the damp fabric clinging to her waist. Taking a slow step to the side, he waited for her bare feet to follow suit with his as drops of water continued to litter the floor from their clothing.
"There's only one lady on my mind, right now."
Humming softly along with the song, naked toes were mindful to avoid bumping into naked toes as the couple began to glide across the gazebo's floor. The rain continued to pour down outside, coupled with the occasional rumble of thunder. As the wind began to direct the rainfall, the building's windows would find itself under assault by the patter of drops against panes, but neither dancer seemed to mind the storm, nor the fact their clothing still felt the effects of Mother Nature.
His humming only broke once the song turned over into the next but his feet never paused in their leading. "So, if you're not one to do any thinking, then perhaps I will have to begin weaving stories of the mysterious dragon princess. Shall I start guessing things about you, fair Aurora, if you wish to do nothing but dance?"
Nuxaz
did you miss my gifs?
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 5:24 pm
Carefully, Rory slid her hand onto his shoulder as he took her other one and began to lead her in a slow, easy dance. Terribly out of her element, because too much of this was so new for her and, quite frankly, not something she had pictured ever happening to her. Dating and boys had always been on the backburner for her with her school work, duties, and her volunteering.
Yet, things had been happening that left her head spinning and her heart fluttering.
It started with an underwater dream, a meeting with a devilish redhead, then a boyish scout and now, this handsome boy who wanted to whisk her away into a fairytale. Aurora didn't know what she had done to find herself in such a magical situation but she thought that maybe, Jules had been her fairy godmother and that it was okay to feel a bit like Cinderella for a night.
She didn't comment on the temporary nature of his response, already having decided that she had made a fool of herself.
Silence enveloped the pair and she found that she was entranced by his soft humming, something enchanting about his voice, as he twirled her around the space they'd been given. "What do you want to know?" She asked, lifting her head to look at him, wetting her lips as she tried to remember how the alcohol had emboldened her before. If she could just hold on to that feeling for a little longer...
Stilling just for a small moment, she stretched onto her tip toes so she could kiss his cheek.
ghouliboo
Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 6:02 pm
Akio smiled at the kiss, savoring the feeling of her soft lips and doing his best to remain as gentlemanly as possible - a difficult task, all things considered. Time for a safer subject than what was currently on his mind.
"Well, you're in school, right?"
Of course she was. Probably went to a private college, he'd bet. She was far too sweet and innocent to have taken on the world on her own, right? No one he'd ever met was able to keep that sweet naivety otherwise. Even with his own schooling, he still considered himself all-too aware of the cruelty the world held.
Then again, that came with the territory of having an alter-ego.
"I see you enjoying...." He paused pursing his lips as he studied her. His eyes narrowed playfully, as if he were studying her face in hopes of the answer revealing itself from the jade eyes staring back at him. "...Literature. Love to read books, ones about..."
Releasing his hand of hers, he moved to turn, sliding the grip on her side until he had her waist encircled, the couple now side by side as he led them over towards one of the benches. "Romance, probably. Historical, even? Shakespeare, Austen?"
He knew he was acting foolish, but it was nearly impossible not to be when he was finding himself so ridiculously happy. It was almost scary, how much he was already enjoying the woman's company.
Parting ways with her side, he took a seat on the bench and gestured for her to do the same, mindful not to crush the phone in his back pocket. "Or maybe - maybe - you prefer collecting animals? I hear every princess comes with an ensemble of talking animal helpers, or have the movies lied to me?"
Nuxaz
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 6:25 pm
"For now," she replied, thinking about how graduation was in a few weeks and how time liked to pass much more quickly than she expected it to. Just the other day she was turning Seventeen and visiting her mother's grave. Now, she was about to graduate high school, attending an event she never saw herself participating in had it not been for the insistence of the older woman who took her under her wing that led her to meeting a boy who managed to make her feel undeserving of his attention but also looked at her like she was something special.
"I don't have much time to read." Definitely not as much as she would like. Rory's life was a busy one, surprisingly so, especially with everything piling up over the weeks. Being here, with Akio, was relaxing in a way that Aurora didn't know she needed until they were here, slow dancing. "Though, I think I'm partial to fantasy." And fairytales, but she thought that was a given by now.
Squeaking when he gripped her by the waist, her fingers dug into his shirt and she was giggling again, unable to help herself as he lead her to a bench and asked her to sit with gestures instead of words. Sweeping her skirt together, she took a seat beside him, instinctively snuggling into his side as he spoke. A bit forward and a little rash, but Rory justified her actions because her skin was still damp and the chill was settling in. Akio was warmer than she was and she just wanted to warm up...right?
"Of course. I have several cat companions," she replied easily, adjusting the fabric of her skirt as she tucked her legs beneath her. "Sometimes they're a handful and they talk back too much, but they look out for me." Idly, she wondered where and what Bob and Reven were up to.
ghouliboo
Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 9:00 pm
His arm draped around her back instinctively, hand resting alongside her shoulder as he listened to her explain about her furry entourage. Akio had taken a deep enough seat to where his back was resting gently against the side of the gazebo, providing an (albeit uncomfortable), resting spot as the young woman took advantage of his presence to create her own snuggle space.
"I see. I'm sure they give you only the best of advice - and you should probably listen. Cats don't talk to just anyone, after all."
Cats were definitely not Akio's cup of tea, but he didn't actually hate the furry things either. He'd plead with his parents for a small dog or cat, but there wasn't enough time in his childhood to tend to animals, not when he had his entire life mapped out for himself by his overenthusiastic parents. Times had changed, his inclination towards cats having changed as well.
That and having an alter ego that shared its identity with a fish-like creature... well, it caused a natural ruffling of his feathers fins.
"I'm about to graduate, myself." He mused softly, thinking about the fact he had little to no plans for the terrifying world to come after leaving DCU. "Not sure what's in store for me - but that's the fun in adventure, right?"
He squeezed her shoulder gently, then moved to rest his head atop of hers. "You never know where one will take you, in the end."
Nuxaz
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 9:40 pm
It felt natural to have his arm draped across her shoulder as she made herself comfortable against him. Her legs were still cold, but enough of her was warm that it didn't matter. Things with Akio were so easy that she was perpetually marveled by it all. "Sometimes, I know the intentions are good but they don't always go about it the best way." She thought of Bob and the way he had talked to her before she ran off to prove herself.
That had been a disaster that she had no intention of discussing with her companion even if she was prodded about it.
"Animal companions don't always give the best advice." Or were the most honest, when she considered the devious little seal who had hidden his true identity from her the last time she had seen him. That hadn't seem to change how fond she was of the person behind the seal however, nor had the incident with Bob changed how much she loved the mangy cat.
"From the university?" Rory asked, unable to hide her surprise as she pulled away to look at him proper. She knew that he was older, but she didn't realize he was old enough to have graduated university already.
But, people graduated young, like she was from high school, it was fine...right?
Rory found that there was a lump in her throat and she shifted, still snuggled against him but facing that small crack at the door. The rain had seemed to slow and she wondered how long they had been here.
