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 Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 3:07 pm
Ikaika 1
It had been a bit of an adventure to get here but they had arrived outside of the Inn at last. It was just as he remembered. An old wooden building that spanned quite a bit of space in an obscure cove on the Matori beach side and one of the best places to come and relax and find yourself. This time though he had brought his mate with him. He had so enjoyed his first visit that the whole time he had wished that Kaiko was there enjoying it with him.
Now he was finally able to live that reality and despite the long walk his steps very nearly had a skip in them. He was sure that Kaiko would notice the extra chipper attitude, he hadn't told his mate everything about this place hoping for a decent surprise. There were many layers to an old place like this and he wanted to peel them back one by one and watch the wonder on Kaiko's face. If there was one thing he was driven to do it was to look after his mate and spoil him. Kaiko had made his life so rich after all.
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Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:43 pm
Kaiko 1
It was a long walk to get here, but a beautiful one. He hadn't been this far from home in such a long time that he felt something in his chest loosen just a bit, like a muscle that had been uncomfortably clenched for a long time, except he hadn't known he was holding it.
No wonder why Ikaika had gone on his little adventure earlier and no wonder from the look of this place that he didn't actually get very far. The Inn was beautiful, made of old wood in an old style. It was breathtaking from the architecture to the landscaping it was immaculate loved and well cared for. It was also planted in a semi natural fashion that while obviously cultivated it was a good flow with the landscape. He was in love with it already and they hadn't even gone inside yet. He was pretty old for being this excited but he felt like a kid on their birthday. He yoinked Ikaika to his side and kissed him on the face. "Thank you for bringing me here!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:29 pm
Ikaika 2
Once in the building he was able to enjoy Kaiko's reaction to the interior of the place as well, with the interesting foyer and spiral staircase as well as the hallways that branched off the main area to the rooms, baths and dining.
He was excited to be back here. It had been such a good experience all around last time. And he could not shake the grin from his face. Plus he had got a kiss! He loved Kaiko so much and he was so happy to have made his mate happy. What a great day!
Check in went very well and they were awarded two old brass keys just like he remembered, just in case one partner was out while the other was in. There was something so special about just getting out of the house and being somewhere completely new for a change.
They settled themselves into the room and put away their things. Not much but enough that they could use some of the provided storage space. This was the fancy room he had seen last time and he didn't mind the extra coin. The stay would be more than worth it and they were both impressed with its appointment.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:29 pm
Kaiko 2
It was polite to bath after so much time on the road before using a public bath so they had a quick dip in the personal bathing area of their room. They giggled and chatted and eventually folded themselves up in their robes for their first hotspring bath adventure. He was having the best time. The trip had already taken years off of his consciousness and he felt young and fresh again.
Nothing felt better than a good bath after the road...at least that was what he thought until he entered the large main hotspring with Ikaika. The water was hot! And it worked to relax tense muscles while the natural minerals and salts wiped away pain. He was in heaven! This was the absolute height of luxury and it was tucked away in a sweet and quiet cove in the heart of Matori. How absolutely wonderful!
"Oh man, why didn't we discover this gem sooner." He was splayed like a starfish in the middle of the bathing pool as currently he and his mate were the only ones there. "This is heavenly, and you said that the food was good too? How long can we stay?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Ikaika 3
This was already working swimmingly. "We can stay as long as you want love, I have enough stored up and the kids are pretty independant we need not worry as much anymore. It is time to rediscover us. Rediscover peace and tranquility. Lets do this!" He flopped back in the water, splashing Kaiko. It felt so good to just relax and be himself and let all the worries just drift away!
He turned his head and met Kaiko's red eyes, a flaming gaze that had forever captured his heart. It tickled him pink that two of their children had gotten heterochromia one eye color from each parent. It was magical, his life and he needed to step away from it for just a moment to see it. Immediately he had brought his mate along the next adventure, some things were just too good not to share. "I love you Kaiko." He grinned but was utterly serious.
"Wait till you try the food!" It haunted his dreams it was so good.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Kaiko 3
They frolicked around in the bath for a while more and then when finally another soul came they exited because they had reached the time limit recommended for being in that particular bath. Returning to their room they had a refreshing nap as recommended by hotel staff after a bath. Then they made a coffee in a press and sat on the chairs on the deck outside their room. There was a smaller personal bath here that looked inviting but this wasnt the time for that bath.
"So now that the kids are older, what should we do with ourselves?" They had a lot more freedom now than they had had in a long time. "I must say I'm really liking this particular adventure, I say we travel to more places and do exactly this, have extravagant dates, daring adventures maybe seek some treasure?" He grinned, feeling more alive than he had in years. He wouldn't trade his life for anything. This was pure bliss. "I bet there are all kinds of things for us to see on tendaji!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Ikaika 4
He sipped his coffee and savored the thick creamy choclatey taste. "Ahhh, yes to all of the above my love! And books lets not forget that, I had considered doing some more art too, maybe the kids would like to join us with that." He was having the best time, he had enjoyed his time alone here yes, but sharing it with Kaiko made his heart set on fire. This was something else.
"I think that Kala will be more than willing to adventure some, I do believe that he snuck away to my old home. Something interesting seems to be keeping him there." Ikaika waggled his eyebrows at his mate. "Here is hoping we get more grandkids soon." He raised his coffee in a toast. Their cups clinked together and both of them took a big sip. "Now what say we uh, celebrate."
They took their time and enjoyed each other's presence immensely. Then one stomach rumbled after another. It was fortunate that it was time for dinner!
They scooted out of their robes and into more appropriate dinning attire before shuffling off down the hall, both of them seemingly feeling years younger than they actually were. Vacations were the best things! What better way to celebrate a transition in their lives. They were both on the same page about 5 children being enough. The world would not be able to handle any more than that.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Kaiko 4
Quiet music played on their way to the dinning hall, the site must have musicians hidden in an alcove somewhere providing ambience, Kaiko also noted the delicate sound of a creek or stream somewhere quite nearby. It was also dimly lit adding to the sleepy, relaxed atmosphere.
They entered the dinning area and he was immediately wreathed in the scent of delicious food. It would be more matorian than their usual cooking but they had been in the area long enough to pull recipes from the locals and both enjoyed the cuisine.
They were directed by the Matorian hostess to a table and were offered a selection of alcoholic beverages which they both partook in. It wasn't something they commonly did at home being parents and all but they were relaxing a bit more now that the children were older.
He was excited to see a traditional metal leaf plate grill as the centerpiece on their table, the leaf was set over a fire and large enough for two people.
"My gods Ikaika, you are going to up my standards for dinning...again."
They each had a platter of grillable foods in front of them as well as a bowl of fermented bean paste and seaweed soup and rice, which were staples of Matori cuisine and came up often. There was also sushi and sashimi.
"I think im in heaven."
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Ikaika 5
"Me too." Then the wait staff brought out even more food for them. This time a heated broth that they could cook thin sliced poultry in.
"They sure know how to feed people here, let me tell you." He clinked his glass with Kaiko's and they set about ravaging their dinner in a wonderful slow fashion with lots of laughter and joy. When they finished they paid and tipped well then shuffled off to their room again to recover. "That was truly fantastic, they never hold back on the food here. They know a winning combination when they make it." He patted his tummy most contentedly. They vegetated, letting themselves digest. Kaiko and he had exchanged books that they thought the other would liked and spent their after dinner time reading before venturing off to a more private smaller hotspring for a before bed dip. There more stress was worked out of their muscles and they returned to the room for cool water and a wonderful sleep.
He for once did not dream that night but instead felt like he floated off on a cloud.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Kaiko 5
Dawn broke in a hail of birdsong. It was rejuvenating and made him rise despite the leaded weight to his limbs from the utter relaxation they had both enjoyed. This was truly living.
"Good morning mate of mine, would you like some coffee by chance?" He grinned as he heard the moan from under the bed cloths. "I'll take that as a yes." He had a higher tolerance for alcohol and it showed this morning in his chipper morning mood.
"You will be okay, just drink some water before breakfast okay." He grinned and flung the curtains open, letting the peaking morning sun shroud the room in a soft yellow light. "The birds are calling and so we must rise and greet them. Come for a short walk, apparently the trails around here are choice and I hear there is a secret hotspring that borders a waterfall. You like waterfalls..up up up. Time for coffee and walkies."
He giggled at the form shuffling towards the bathroom area, and made the coffee. After coffee they would take that walk and partake in that secret hotspring. He knew Ikaika wanted to go or he wouldn't have moved from the bed for anyone particularly his teasing mate.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:44 pm
Ikaika 6
They did exactly that and then returned to the hotspring to enjoy the rest of thr morning before breakfast. There were a few other guests this time and they stayed together over in a corner enjoying each others company rather than conversing with strangers as he had done previously. Kaiko was just so much fun to talk to. Inevitably the talk turned towards the books they had been reading. Usually one partner read them first and they exchanged so they could chat about them after. It was like a built in book club. Though sometimes their interests didn’t align so well, for the most part they were compatible book wise.
He particularly enjoyed this time. After the dip in the hotspring it was time for breakfast. This mornings feature was egg omellttes with bacon and spring onions. It was hearty fair and they ate two big ones each enough to fuel them until lunch at least. He always thought it somewhat fascinating how much smaller earthlings tended to be than themselves and the Aishans. They were by logic more efficient and ate less and could fit in the darndest places, especially their creative and spunky younglings who got up to trouble. There were not many at the hotspring as it was more attractive to adults. Kids probably preferred the ocean.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:44 pm
Kaiko 6
"So we have a full day now, what do you want to do oh mate of mine?" He leaned in conspiratorially to Ikaika. "I'm sure we will come up with something amazing. My heart is full of hope and optimism and sunshine. This is the best time."
He was having the time of his life and he reflected that they had moved to matori dealt with his parents and had kids right away. Which served a dual purpose.
A: they had wanted kids.
B. It made his parents leave them the heck alone, especially with Akea having the heterochromia eyes and Ikaika's skin tone.
However they hadn't had all that much time to themselves without some sort of stress or family to look after. "I wonder if there is a bookstore around here do you think? I'm nearly through with that novel you gave me. And this is such a lovely place to read. The wind whispers sweet nothings to me through the trees and I find I must listen to their story.
Ikaika would understand the pair of them were a bit eccentric but the fact that he was getting poetic said much for his mood.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:44 pm
Ikaika 7
"I think I remember seeing something about books on a brochure by the front desk. Let's go take a look at what they have. I'm sure they have some source that is not too far, though we are kind of out of the way."
Upon inspection they did indeed find a brochure for a tiny bookshop run out of some hybrids home who lived not far away from the Inn, apparently he was the owners cousin. They headed out before noon and arrived soon enough. The gentleman who was half Oban greeted them and allowed them to enter his sacred book hall. The prices were really reasonable and despite being small they found a few books each. Some on far away places that they were eager to travel to. The gentleman also offered them fine Oban coffee the likes of which had never before touched their tongues. Apparently it was processed in an interesting fashion and roasted in Oba itself under the hot sun. It was an experience and they chatted with the man who didn't seem to mind their strangeness one little bit. Perhaps he had an open mind or perhaps he had seen more of their kind come through here than they had realized.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:44 pm
Kaiko 7
Bah, this vacation just kept getting better and better. Books, food, hotspring, love. What more could he want. He was sure the kids were going to enjoy hearing about their parents' escapades just down the beach. Some of them might even want to come at one point. Maybe they should just send the kids one day, or have a family get away.
The bookstore was magical and smelled of books and good vibes, plus the coffee made him curl his toes in pleasure. This whole experience was just exquisite and exciting and scintilating. He couldn't wait for the next minute but also wanted to savor it as well. He was so happy that Ikaika had had his revelation not too long ago and had decided to go on walk about and find this gem of a hidden village. So small that the Inn was the beating heart and all of the surroundings sparsely populated and most of those homes were well hidden from the road/beach like this one was.
"I could stay forever. Except I would have to move my garden." Not that that would be impossible but.. a bit of a pain. Plus they were used to their community however he might push for a vacation home or shack, as close as it was. Then they wouldn't have to pay Inn rates and could go to bathe anytime.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:45 pm
Ikaika 8
They got back to the Inn to find a platter of cheese bread and cured meats waiting in their room. They took the whole kit and kabootle outside on their deck to enjoy while they chewed into their new books with gusto. This was the best two days of his life except for meeting and falling in love and of course the kids arrivals and a few days in between either way he was having an absolute blast and didn't know really what to do with himself.
Books and food. Food and books and Kaiko. Ahh. Peace reigned supreme. Tendaji was beautiful, Matori particularly so. He had never been happier and they sat together holding hands and reading when one wasn't munching on the truly delicious food.
The sun shone bright and warmed their skin, kissed they were by it. Though he did find after a while that he was drying out.
"Hey I bet if we are careful we can take our books into the hotspring huh?" Kaiko jerked his head up, he was also looking a tad flakey in the sun. Such was the curse of being a water critter, they could be on land but preferred frequent dips in water in general. They bee lined it after their snacks to a medium sized pool big enough for four though again they were the only two there. It was quite serene indeed. Bird song serenaded them from the surrounding jungle.
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