not that it really needs to be said, but: "me too." because that would've really sucked. it'd have been amusing for the bartender, maybe. the poor bartender.

her touch draws a small shiver from him. he looks into her eyes, holding his gaze as he returns a smile.

while one hand supports his weight, sinking deeper into the sand, his other reaches up for her shoulder, nudging her onto her back once again. he follows after, lowering to dote kisses against her neck.

"let's warm up."

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉

she lowered onto her back under his encouragement, gazing up as he joined her.

”okay.”

the stars glowed past him beautifully, glittering between her eyelashes before they fluttered shut at the pleasant tickle of his lips at her neck. she gave a soft hum of ecstasy, hands wandering up and around his shoulders, fingers softly weaving into his wet hairline.

blissful.

THEO BECKETT

☉

blissful.

before, during, and after.

with new memories etched into the sands of the island, theo leans over to plant a kiss on her cheek far more gentle than they had just been. his shoulder blades dig into the sand as he shifts closer.

"i like this island."

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉

as he shifted closer, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“me too.”

it held a couple of bad memories, but the good far outweighed it, especially now. she sighed, looking up at the stars.

”i could sleep here i think.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

"could you?"

he isn't sure if she meant it in a literal sense. either way, he has no intentions on moving or leaving anytime soon as their bubble exists for as long as they will it to.

briefly, he wishes it would last forever.

"we could. we might get sick, though."

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉

”of course not.” although she did wish sometimes that it were possible. she felt tired all the same. ”i’m kidding.”

nuzzling closer, she eyed upward, towards meteno. it was surprisingly easy to forget sometimes that the world was ending.

”i want to stay with you tonight, though.” she looked over. ”if that’s okay.”

a rare break from endless work that typically developed most in the nighttime.

THEO BECKETT

☉

as his gaze follows hers up to meteno, he couldn't help but reflect back on one of their previous conversations.

leaving this world seems to be becoming more of a reality with each passing day. they no longer need a way to get into space — they could simply jump universes.

"i'd like that."

he holds her just a bit tighter.

"here or at home?"

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉

home. what did that mean? anything? typically, a person would say my house or something like that—unless he meant the lighthouse, which she was fairly certain he did not, as there was not a bed there.

she thought about it for a moment.

”your place.” not home.

no need to make an awkward thing out of drunken wonderings. there was nothing weird about what he’d said.

THEO BECKETT

☉

right. not home.

"okay."

with his free hand, he reaches over to his discarded pants and calls out the alakazam she gifted him. it stands a bit away from them, allowing them their privacy for however long they want.

he exhales, tilting his head back to kiss her temple.

"ready?"

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉

the warmth of tequila fought the chill of the night breeze on skin made wet again by sweat, but it wouldn’t last. it was time to go. a familiar alakazam soon stood before them.

she relished in the kiss to her temple, closing her eyes. when she did, the word hung alone in her head. home. what did it mean? was it him?

they opened again. she sighed.

”yeah. ready.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

a simple TELEPORT takes them away from the island, leaving disturbed sand for another time.

his house is as she likely remembers. they appear in the main hallway near the kitchen. their presence sets off the sensors, turning the lights on. he reaches over to a control panel on the wall, punches a few buttons, and the fireplace in the living room ignites.

with his hand still in hers, he steps closer to her.

"we should shower."

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉

theo’s home was comfortable. it was the only one that she’d been in recently, apart from her brother’s. the lighthouse was hardly a home. if anything, the submarine felt like the closest thing she’d had lately. perhaps she’d move soon.

”okay.” a shower with theo sounded even nicer than the swim, and she had plenty of places to wash sand out of.

her eyes hung on the flames in the wall. familiar, from a much simpler time. 

”the fireplace is nice.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

"it is."

the embers in the fireplace come alive, flickering.

"it doesn't get used very often."

but that may change soon. he's hoping it does.

with a gentle squeeze of her hand, he finally tears his gaze away before taking a step towards his bedroom down the hall.

"come on. we'll come back after."

Lulu Flint
mission!

☉