This is nice. Really nice. Even if they’re two strangers who barely know anything about each other.

She could get lost in the moment, she’s enjoying it, and when he meets her gaze after his lips touch her skin, she chuckles oh so quietly.

”Lance.”

Lia repeats herself, assertive but soft, her voice now no more than a whisper as she turns just a little more. A hand rests on his cheek then, and after giving him one more playful smirk, she leans in to kiss him.

NQuuno|6
59/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Whatever tension may have remained from what led her to end up at the bar is washed away by the healing waters of the hot springs, Lia allowing herself a deep breath as she enjoys the feeling of the water.

She doesn’t step away when he approaches, and his touch isn’t unwelcome, nor is it unwanted. If anything, perhaps it helps her relax even more, even if perhaps she should be nervous because of the situation and because they’re strangers who don’t know each other at all...

And yet, no such feelings come.

All she does is turn just enough to look at him, her smile remaining.

”Lance...”

xr8UDlhD
119/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

The water is warm, warmer than what she expected, but it’s not a bad feeling at all. It surrounds her, and step by step, she goes in deeper – for a second regretting the fact that she didn’t tie up her hair, until she decides she simply doesn’t care.

”Ah, it feels so nice.”

There’s delight in her tone, and once the water reaches her chest, she turns to look at Lance once more. What else is there to say? At that moment, she does no more than smile at him in that gentle yet playful way of hers.

2KRgMXDZ
208/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

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

☉

’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

☉

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

☉

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

☉

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

☉

‘And where were you when they died, Lia?’

It’s a low blow, but maybe that’s exactly what she deserves for accusing Ana like that. She could have pretended. She could have acted happy to see her sister. She could have seen the silver lining in things and just been glad that Ana is back.

Could she really have done that, though?

Lia has never been much of an actress, and she has always worn her emotions on her sleeve – she did so as a child, and she still does so now, even after all these years.

”I was here, Ana.”

Here, but not where they needed her to be. Not where she could have done anything useful. Not where she could help in any way. Not where she could have done anything to save them.

She feels her throat closing, and even though she doesn’t wish for it, her eyes itch as tears begin to well up, the first few lonely ones making their way down flushed cheeks that are perhaps too soft – too pristine, too untouched by this cruel world they live in. Amelia Stone, a perfect porcelain doll in all of her privilege.

Is she crying because she misses them, or is she crying out of self-pity?

eK_1U5et
814/1000

ANA STONE

☉

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

☉

Is he going all out for the sake of trying to impress her?

The luxury of the room is unexpected, but it’s not an unwelcome sight, Lia smiling to herself once the door closes. Now it’s really just the two of them.

At his question, she looks up at him.

”It is, but you really didn’t have to go this far. Not that I’m complaining, though.”

A soft laugh, one that soon fades back into a smile.

3h|NIRsG
588/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

They’re strangers and nothing more. Two people who, after spending some enjoyable moments together at the hot spring, will probably never again encounter one another. There’s no need for it to be anything else. Lia doesn’t plan for it to be more, and she has no reason to believe so…

If only she knew just how often she’ll see Lance after leaving Lavaridge…

Watching him talk to the bartender, she calmly finishes her drink, the taste of whiskey and orange zest lingering as she takes his offer with a soft that rests on his – one perfectly manicured and only marked by the small callouses of years of archery.

”Thanks.”

Faintly, she smiles at him, and following their guide, they walk to the hot spring.

AVkdU0qd
618/1000

LANCE VOLLANS

☉