it's half-wanting to impress her, half-wanting to enjoy the best of what the hot springs has to offer.

he is the first to take a step forward, approaching the sake by the water. slowly, he kneels, then delicately starts to pour them their drinks.

"it's much nicer than the sauna, that's for sure."

u0nICELp

490

Amelia Livy

☉

For a moment, she watches the way he kneels and delicately pours their drinks, observing every movement before her attention turns to carefully taking off her shoes and setting them aside, then walking closer.


”Is it? I haven’t been to the sauna yet.”

Gracefully so, Lia sits at the edge of the water, dipping her feet in the steaming hot spring.

Honestly, she had planned on giving the sauna a try, but of course, most of her plans had been cast aside the moment she found herself too annoyed to care for doing any of that. It’s how she had ended up at the bar, but with the way things are going, maybe that wasn’t so bad…

”Do you like sake?”

With this question, she looks at him, her smile soft but playful.

wzuc8xmG
532/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

"not usually, but it definitely has its place."

like now, for instance, to warm up their bodies to better prepare them for the heat of the hot springs. or at least that's what he thinks it's for.

"how's the water?"

he places the bottle back down, slips his shoes off, then joins her by the edge of the water. he reaches back over for their two glasses, offering one to her as his feet sink in.

VJgVsYZN

409

Amelia Livy

☉

There are more than a few reasons why drinking while at a hot spring is probably a bad idea, and if Lia stopped to think about it, she could probably guess a couple of them. She doesn’t, though. She’s in no mood to stop to think about things, and honestly, a glass of sake sounds delightful at these moments.

”It’s really warm, I almost want to jump in.”

A gentle laugh, the glass being taken when it’s offered it to her.

”Thank you. Should we toast?”

To what, exactly?

That part she’ll leave for Lance to decide, of course.

IU453Qtc
506/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

"we should."

to what, exactly, is the question here. but he'll decide for them, raising the glass preemptively.

"to relaxing."

finally.

1|Awphta

349

Amelia Livy

☉

Relaxing.

Exactly what she had intended to do when deciding to come to Lavaridge, and exactly what she had found herself unable to do. Until now, that is.

Lia’s thankful for this, no matter how it might turn out or what might come of it, and so, with that in mind, she too raises her glass.

”To relaxing.”

The sip she takes is short and delicate – allowing herself to savour the strong taste of the sake. She looks at Lance, and when she does, she smirks just so slightly, adding to his toast:

”Together.”

GTPBlFEs
428/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

after a large sip, the glass lowers, revealing the smirk on his lips as it sets back down onto the tray.

"together."

briefly, he refills his glass only to look back out at the water after.

"ready to dip?"

0|urFU5X

342

Amelia Livy

☉

One short sip, then two; the flavours of rice wine being enjoyed. Lia has always liked sake, and despite whatever reasons may exist not to drink at the hot springs, it results particularly enjoyable in this situation.

She looks at the water, as if considering, and then she turns to him.

”Sure, but you go first.”

Is she being shy? Not really, if judging by that smirk that always remains on her lips.

Maybe it’s just that she’s being playful; that she wants to see what he’ll do.

Curiosity.

gbqxSn6I
374/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

"alright."

without much hesitation, he stands, taking a step back as he curls his fingers underneath his shirt before tugging it over his shoulders. it falls to the floor, discarded, only to reveal scars that litter his body; the most prominent being one circular-shaped scar on his chest and another just below it.

his pants soon follow, dropping to the ground without much of a care in the world. he's never been shy and this is no different.

"now you."

ghglWw55

296

Amelia Livy

☉

’Alright.’

With another slow sip of sake, she watches him, never bothering with pretending to be shy about such things. A faint smile tugs at her lips, chuckling lightly at how unabashed he seems by all of it. The scars are intriguing, though. But, she doesn’t ask, even if she’s curious about their origin...

Is it really her turn now?

”Alright.”

Copying his response, she sets her glass down by the water and stands.

”Wanna help me out, then?”

Her short dress zips up at the back, so she turns away from him, pulling her soft hair over her left shoulder so that nothing obstructs the zipper. Beneath it, pale skin is marked by cherry blossom flowers tattooed upon her spine, but besides this it rests pristine and unmarked – no scars to be found aside from the occasional ones that come with the long gone adventures of a child.

Perhaps they have lived very different lives.

GB2ocFCY
349/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

obliging, he steps forward, closing the distance as he reaches a hand out, brushing gently against her pale skin. he unzips, careful as he helps guide her dress off her shoulders, watching it fall to the floor after.

his touch lingers at the small of her back, gliding up her spine to trace over cherry blossom flowers.

"beautiful."

|A88dGbk

276

Amelia Livy

☉

Does he mean the tattoo? Is she beautiful? Lia has no reason to disagree, and yet that simple word causes the faintest hint of pink to paint her cheeks. Or, maybe it’s the way his touch trails up her back. Or, maybe it’s just all those drinks…

”Thank you.”

For the compliment or for his help?

Both, really, but Lia doesn’t clarify. Instead, she simply finishes getting undressed without even bothering to move from where she is – well aware that he’s behind her still. Clothes fall to the floor, but she also doesn’t mind this, allowing her hair to fall over her shoulders just as it had before. It’s only then when she steps away, walking back towards the water without a hurry.

”Are you coming?”

Just as before, she gives him a smirk, not waiting for a response before stepping into the steaming hot spring.

euYUiQTQ
274/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

when she steps away, his eyes trail after her, not once parting as he watches her slip into the water.

with a smirk, he nods.

"of course."

and soon follows her in, not minding the heat that quickly surrounds him.

BCcHY93x

209

Amelia Livy

☉