you hide your face with your disguise // 'cause someone filled your head with lies

[monoceroscaeli]

[It had been a few days since the hunt for the Great Mujina Youkai had come to an end, having to say goodbye to the kids and to Yoimiya too. The ship that was to take him back to Snezhnaya would be arriving a bit later in the day, and Childe sighs as he sits back in his chair in the tent he's occupying in one such hidden Fatui camp. He had a great time in Inazuma. The country was beautiful, rich with a new culture to learn and all sorts of places to explore and fight new and more exciting enemies. All his things were in order- the gifts that he'd bought to bring back to his family, Teucer's Onikabuto in a little bug box with some food to keep it alive during the trip back- all he'd have to do is wait for the ship and he'd be on his way.

He tells himself that he'd return to the country one day, once tensions between the Fatui and the Shogunate calm down. It was a miracle that he was able to stay as long as he has, evading the Tenryou Commission. He has some people to thank for that, and he won't forget what they did for him while he's been here. Some gifts would be in order for them upon his return.

The Harbinger idly plays with a writing utensil between his fingers. He'd like to bring something from Snezhnaya for Yoimiya, too.

There's a sharp rap at his door, and Childe sighs. He doesn't really want to deal with work right now, perfectly happy reminiscing on the time he's spent in Inazuma before he leaves, but answers with a bored tone to his voice:]

Come in.

[An agent enters, bowing and standing at attention.]

Sir, we've captured a Tenryou Commission spy that was found sneaking around. We've taken her into custody and are awaiting your orders on how to deal with her.

[Childe's eyebrow raises. It should have been hard to find this camp, even by the Shuumatsuban. Somehow, doubt creeps into his mind, but stands from his chair.]

Alright, I'll deal with it myself. At least I can have one last bit of fun before I depart.

[The agent only bows once more, to lead Childe towards the prisoner. He knows better than to argue with the Harbinger, but feels sorry for the spy. The two cross the camp to another tent, the agent stopping him right before lifting the flap for his senior commander.]

She claims to be from the fireworks shop, but we've seen Tenryou soldiers stop frequently at it.

[Before he can answer, the flap is lifted to reveal a certain girl that he'd met not but a few days ago...]

Comments

[monoceroscaeli]

[He'll happily let her lead him around the island, noting how quaint and nice this little stall is with all sorts of different masks available, the warmth of her hand in his lending a warm hue to it all. He gives the vendor a polite smile when acknowledged, letting Yoimiya take care of introductions and the like. Tartaglia notices how the vendor sees her hand tangled with his, and he's glad for it, that people can see she's with him, like they're both showing each other off to anyone who cares to notice.]

Thank you, I'm looking forward to it, [he says to the vendor first, before turning to think of how to answer Yoimiya's question. His finger comes up to his chin, as he gazes over the available masks.]

All of them are beautiful in one way or another. I think Tonia would be especially fond of this one.

[He picks up one of the rabbit masks, admiring the craftsmanship.]

Anthon would love a dog mask, and I think a fox mask would suit Teucer well. He's has a little bit of a sneaky side to him, haha.

[Childe can't help but grin as he says it, knowing how his little brother takes after him a little. Only Teucer could sneak onto a boat in Snezhnaya and make it all the way to Liyue the way he did.]

But I can pick those up before we leave. Is there one you've got your eye on?

[She'd look cute with one of those masks, he thinks. But when he thinks about it, she'd look good with another mask, too.]

[niwabi]

When ya put it like that, it makes me wonder if Teucer picked up some habits from his big brother, hehe.

[ a giggle escapes from her lips as she winks at him, now unable to shake the mental image of teucer being a mini tartaglia out of her mind. the two brothers acting like mischievous foxes is honestly quite funny to her. ]

I'll be covering the costs of the masks, Sanden! Do you mind wrapping them up so they'll stay nice and safe?

Sure thing, Yoimiya! I have a box your... uh [ he pauses, almost letting the word boyfriend slip. despite the relationship looking quite suspicious to the vendor, he doesn't want throw out too many assumptions. ] ... friend can keep them in for extra protection. You two can come pick them up whenever you're ready!

[ after removing tartaglia's selections off the rack, sanden makes certain to neatly wrap all three masks in layers of cherry blossom tissue paper before placing them in a small wooden box. ]

Me? [ the question causes yoimiya to look surprised, she didn't have any intentions on making a purchase for herself so she hadn't given the idea too much thought. ] Hm, that's a tough one. They're all so pretty...

[ she shifts her gaze back to the display, becoming mesmorized by each one of the ornate masks. they're all so gorgeous, it's almost difficult to make a decision. however, yoimiya's eyes keep getting drawn to a brightly painted cat mask. ]

That cat mask is very beautiful, the pattern reminds me of fireworks.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia won't forget her kindness for buying his siblings souvenirs. He'll make absolutely sure they know who they're coming from, and subsequently will probably go on to tell them all about Yoimiya when he returns home. He can already see the looks on their faces, and surely Tonia will have some questions for him...but he can't help himself. He has a tendency to gush about the things and people he likes.

It amuses him as her eyes seem to glaze over by how gorgeous all the masks on display are, knowing that she can have one for herself. He figured it would make her happy, and when she selects the cat mask, his eyes seem to brighten. It's exactly the kind of design he thought she would like, and Tartaglia can't help but agree with her on how pretty it is.]

All the more reason why you should have it. Sanden, I'll be paying for this one.

[He hands the mora over to the vendor, who then hands the mask to Childe. The Harbinger carefully sets it on the side of her head, the same way he wears his own mask, taking a step back to admire how she looks with it. It matches her outfit perfectly, and for a moment he seems breathless by the sight of her, as if she herself was a bright firework against the night sky.]

I like it. It really suits you.

[niwabi]

[ yoimiya stands there in silence for a moment, blinking and mouth agape at the him in complete and total shock. it takes her a minute to process what's going on, she had been so focused on brightening his day that the idea of him returning the favor never even crossed her mind. he did not have to do that but it's another reminder that behind his own harbinger mask, tartaglia is truly a kind-hearted person. the gesture is so incredibly sweet that it leaves her somewhat flabbergasted. ]

Huh? Wait... what?!

[ the reality of the situation begins to set in the moment he places the mask on the side of her head. the way he's staring at her is certainly causing her heartbeat to accelerate. she could feel the heat rising to her face, cheeks matching the bright red paint of the mask. a warm smile forms on her lips as she gently places her fingers against the ornate headpiece, her golden eyes glistening with pure joy. ]

Ah, thank you Tartaglia. Since it's from you, I'll be sure to cherish it forever.

[ there's no doubt that the mask is downright gorgeous. but what makes this one extra special is knowing that it's a gift from tartaglia. it's more than just a present, it's a memento she plans on treasuring for the rest of her life. a reminder of the precious time they spent together.

meanwhile sanden is just standing behind the stall with a huge grin on his face, chuckling at the pair. if he wasn't already under the impression that they are a couple, he would be totally convinced now. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Satisfaction and happiness well in his chest at her expression, how happy she seems to be after being given what is really such a simple gift. If he knew the situation to be any different, he'd almost think that no one ever bought her gifts. But there's no mistaking the shine in her eyes and the warm smile on her face as to why her cheeks burn so red.

He's glad he could make her happy, to give her something to remember him by. The look on her face made it all worth it.]

I'm glad you like it.

[Turning back to the vendor, he takes a Kamera out of his jacket to hand it to Sanden.]

Mind taking a picture of us? To commemorate the moment. You don't mind, right Yoimiya?

[Sanden nods, still grinning, as he takes the Kamera from Tartaglia. The Harbinger walks back over to her, giving her a warm smile as he stands next to her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into him by her waist, letting his head fall to press up against hers as he looks at the Kamera.]

Say cheese! [Sanden says, as he snaps a few pictures of them.]

[niwabi]

Oooh that's a brilliant idea! It'll be a great way to commemorate this outing.

[ before yoimiya could react any further to the idea, tartaglia once again manages to stun her into silence by the sudden sensation of his arm wrapped around her waist. just she thought her cheeks couldn't burn any hotter... oh boy, the harbinger just continues to prove her wrong everytime. with a nervous gulp, she stares into the kamera's lenses. the feeling of her body pressed up against his is making it really hard to concentrate on having her picture taken. ]

Um... c-cheese?!

[ click! after a few snaps, sanden finishes taking the pictures. the vendor inspects the photos that spit out from the kamera with a smile before handing the device back to the harbinger. ]

You two certainly look great together! A very photogenic pair if I do say so myself. Anyways, I won't keep you guys any longer, you should go on and enjoy the rest of the festival!

[ but maybe this is just sanden's thinly veiled method of telling the pair to please go get a room...

as they start to walk away from the mask stand, she finally gets a good look at the photo. tartaglia is all bright smiles. that sight alone is enough for her heart to flutter with warmth, she's happy to see him with such a cheerful expression. yoimiya on the other hand... she's trying her best to look natural in the picture but her face says other wise, it's about as red as a tomato. but hey, at least she's smiling even though she's blushing like crazy. it's a little embarrassing but she doesn't mind at all, it's still a very cute picture that she'll always cherish. ]

Sheesh, you're just full of surprises. I didn't expect the kamera on you at all.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He accepts the Kamera back, slipping it into his jacket once more, thanking Sanden for taking the pictures for them before they leave his stand. He looks at the pictures alongside her, noting how red she was. He laughs inwardly to himself, oh no, not only is it adorable, but he should probably take a few pictures with her later when he hasn't caught her off guard. Admittedly, he did it to get this kind of reaction out of her, and it worked.

It only tells him that his assumption was right, and his confidence grows again. Tartaglia is more than certain that Yoimiya's developed a little bit of a crush on him, which makes his own heart suddenly flutter at the thought.

Perhaps he's played himself by doing this, as he acknowledges that same feeling he was unable to identify or have answers for earlier when she met him at the shoreline to the island. There's an excitement that runs through him that, for the first time in a long time, doesn't pertain to battle. Childe tries to hide it through a simple smile back to her at her statement, with a tiny laugh to accompany it.]

I don't always have it on me, but since I was preparing to leave, I had it with me today.

[Lucky, right?]

Here, this one is for you. We'll take a few more before I go, so we can have a photoset for ourselves to remember everything by. I think this is a cute photo of us, don't you think? Even if you're as bright as a tomato, haha.

[Tartaglia nudges her playfully, feeling more and more comfortable to be his bratty self. Ah, he wonders how she'll react.]

[niwabi]

[ her own feelings are still somewhat difficult to comprehend, but looking at the picture they took together is starting to clue her in. her face flushed a deep scarlet red pretty much spells it out. yoimiya may have quite a bit of close friends but she's never reacted like that around any of them, not towards the traveler, itto, ayaka, nor thoma. while she cherishes all of them dearly, her feelings towards tartaglia is very different. although they've only known each other for a short amount of time, she's never felt such an intense connection with anyone else before.

while she's come to accept that she's fallen for him, the problem is what to do about it. first of all, this is his last day in inazuma before he goes back home. not to mention, she's uncertain if he even feels the same way about her. for all anyone knows, he could simply view her as a friend and the last thing she wants is to ruin their friendship.

thankfully, his teasing nudge manages to snap her out of said thoughts. thinking too much has never been her style. ]

Ah, yeah! I like that idea a lot. It'll be a great way to remember the fun time we had together. [ she's still a little pink but it's fine!! ] I suppose it's cute but ya wanna know what I really think...?

[ at first she doesn't finish that thought, letting her words trail off as a moment of silence surrounds them. but it's not too long until a mischievous glint starts to form in her eyes. ]

Cheeky boys like you need to be taught a lesson. Prepare yourself for my all mighty pinch of doom attack!

[ in a swift motion, she brings one of her hands to meet the side of his face, her fingers playfully tugging at his cheek. all the while her merciless laughter fills the air. tartaglia may have bested her for the time being, yoimiya's own competitive nature wasn't about to allow him to assert dominance over her. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Oh?

His eyebrows raise when she doesn't finish her thought, and the moment of silence that fills the air has him wondering what she's going to say. What's she thinking? He genuinely can't tell in the moment, until he sees the mischief brewing in her eyes. Oh, here it comes-!]

Ow!!! Haha, heeeey! Okay, okay, I'm sorry, hahaha-!

[Tartaglia's head follows along to try to ease the pressure of her tugging his cheek, laughing right along with her. He deserves it, he knows, and her reaction to it was even better than he expected. But he can't give up completely here! So why not up the ante a little bit...

The Harbinger counters by reaching out to start to tickle her sides, hoping that she was ticklish enough to catch her off guard. He's going to try to spin her and pull her back into him so he can trap her there, aiming to wrap a arm around her middle to do so while he tickles one of her sides. He'll stop after a few more seconds or so.]

[niwabi]

[ just when yoimiya thought she had the upper hand, he successfully manages to counter her attack! tartaglia's quick reaction is too fast and before she even realized it, she lost her grip on his cheek and found herself completely spun around. the moment he starts tickling her sides, it's too late. she's beyond doomed. ]

HAHAHA! Okay, I give! You are just too— heehee HAHA...! [ she's laughing so hard to the point where it's difficult to form a coherent sentence. ] strong! Your tickle attack is too strong! Hahaha!

[ once he stops, she has to give herself a minute to catch her breath. sheesh, his tickle game is simply too powerful. she figures that it's a survival tactic he had to pick up in order to fend himself from his siblings. never the less, his reaction had been a blast to watch. she knows she also deserves it but there's no denying that he made it more exciting by putting up a fight. ]

Phew... [ she's still giggling under her breath. ] I guess that makes us even for now.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He can't stop himself from laughing all the way through his own tickle assault on her sides, but he won't let his hand overstay its welcome. When he finishes, he lets his other arm wrap around her middle, holding her against him as she catches her breath. Having her flush against him feels really nice, natural even- and his chest tightens when it dawns on him that they're so close, in a way that he'd never hold anyone else.]

I guess it does, haha.

[His voice is softer than normal, looking down at her with a grin on his face. He supposes that if there was anything so far that would finally tell him what this nervous excitement he's been feeling this entire time was, this would be it. His head cranes downward to press his temple to hers, confident in his gesture and affection. He's got a feeling that he's not about to get rejected.]

Yoimiya...let's go find somewhere to sit for a little bit.

[He would have suggested food, but his mind is no where near that right now.]

[niwabi]

[ tartaglia has to be the first and only person that's ever thrown her off her game. just when she thought she was finally calming down from the tickle attack, her heart starts to race as he wraps both of his arms around her. everything about him feels so warm and it's not long until she finds herself sinking into his touch, wanting to feel closer to him. nobody has ever held her like this before but she can't imagine anyone else other than tartaglia. she closes her eyes and nuzzles her head against his, more than happy to accept and return his display of affection. ]

Yeah! That sounds good to me. We could probably use the breather for a bit.

[ there's some reluctance in breaking contact, being held in his arms feels so nice. it takes some willpower but she does slowly pull herself out of his arms, twirling around to face him. ]

There's a sakura tree down by the shore. It's just a bit away from the festivities but it's a pretty cozy spot to take a rest at.

[ with a reassuring smile, she tenderly takes his hand and leads him down a nearby ledge. a lone sakura tree sits on the shoreline, it's pink flower petals gracefully falling off into the ocean adds a bit of majesty to the secluded area. as fun as the sounds of the festival are, the ocean's waves are just as harmonic to listen to. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[As much as he'd like to stand there forever and hold her, he knows they have to move to have that private space that he wants right now. Childe wanders down the ledge with her, careful not to fall and helping her down if she needs it. He can see the tree in question, enjoying the scenery of the petals floating down even here. A few rocks lie under the tree, large enough to sit on if they wish. It's nice and quiet, and he appreciates the view of the ocean here, the view of the city towering above them.

A perfect place for a bit of respite, and once they reach the tree, he sits as he lightly tugs on her arm to join him. Once she does, his fingers twine with hers as he looks down at them, trying to collect his thoughts, trying to figure out exactly how he wants to say this.

When he looks up again, his eyes meet the golden hue of her own, a sight that makes his own cheeks flush a light pink. He could get lost in those eyes, a soft, content sigh escaping his lips before he can finally put the words together to speak.]

You know, when I first came to Inazuma, the last thing I expected to happen was, well...

[His hand squeezes hers, the warmth of her hand seeming to spread into his own, eliciting another sigh through his nose.]

...I just wish this wasn't my last day.

[niwabi]

[ as exciting as the hustle and bustle normally is for her, getting to spend a quiet moment like this away from the crowd is just as pleasant. interlocking her fingers with his own, she glances at the sea before bringing her eyes back to meet with his. it's never occured to her until now, but tartaglia's eyes are just like the ocean's, deep, mysterious and full of wonder all at the same time. there's still a lot that she doesn't know about him but she hopes that even once he's back in snezhnaya, they'll still be able to communicate.

the way he trails off with "well..." makes her wonder if he had more to say, but she won't press the issue. she wants him to speak his mind whenever he's ready. ]

Me too. I'm going to miss you so much.

[ although yoimiya's long since accepted that he has to leave soon, hearing those words directly makes her heart ache in more ways than she ever imagined. but as much as she would like for him to stay, he has a family back home along with his own personal matters in the fatui. ]

... I really enjoyed the time we spent together. Being with you has been an absolute blast.

[ it's almost as if being with him makes her forget about the world around them. absentmindedly, she closes the gap between them, brushing her arm against his and leaning her head against his shoulder. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia breathes out a heavy sigh through his nose at her words, happy to hear them and at the same time, saddened by the reality that they must part. But he'd gotten the chance to spend some time with her, and that alone has made everything worth it. In fact, said time isn't over yet, and Childe is thankful for that- there's a lot he has to say in the small amount of time they do have.]

This has been one of the best parts of my time spent here. I'm lucky I ran into Iwao; even though he got into a dangerous situation, without that, I wouldn't of met you.

[His head rests against the top of hers, letting his eyes close as he savors how warm she is beside him. It feels like a dream come true, one he hadn't known he even had until she'd walked into his life. What a blessing it was.]

...Haha, I guess it's really no secret or surprise between the two of us now. I've grown quite fond of you during my time here. And though I must leave, I don't think that means that this has to stop.

[It's a selfish wish, he knows. He's not even sure if it's a good idea, but it's what he wants- to be with Yoimiya. Even if it's long distance, he'd make it work. He knows he can.

He removes his head from hers, to look at her.]

I know you can't leave Inazuma for the time being. But I promise to visit as often as I can, and write to you all the time. Would you indulge me in this little venture? I want to see where it takes us.

[niwabi]

[ the logical part of her brain is telling her this is a bad idea, that getting involved with anyone aligned with the fatui would only end in trouble. but that's not what her heart yearns for, she wants to be with him, spend time with one another and simply be happy together. she doesn't see view him as childe, the eleventh harbinger but in her eyes, he's tartaglia, the kind-hearted man that she fell head over heels for. ]

Yes...!

[ his request makes her beyond ecstatic, it feels like her heart is bursting with joy. the rush of excitement gets to her as yoimiya suddenly moves in close, wrapping her arms around his chest and pulling him in for a warm embrace. ]

I'll be more than happy to indulge you. I want this to continue as well.

[ unfortunately, she knows that keeping this a secret from her friends will be for the best. she could already picture the concerned looks on ayaka and thoma's faces should they learn that she's been seeing a harbinger. not to mention itto would unintentionally stir up trouble by not keeping his mouth shut and blabbing to the entire world. ]

I'll always welcome you back to Inazuma with open arms and return all of your letters. I... I can't make any promises because of my dad but I also want to visit you in your home country one day.

[ family is important to him as well, so she knows tartaglia will be nothing but understanding in regards to her father. however, there is one thing she can promise him for sure: ]

Even if we're thousands of miles apart from each other, you'll always be in my heart.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Oh! There he goes, pulled right into her, a little surprised at how quickly she agreed to this. His arms wrap around her in return, grinning regardless. There's no need to wonder if she'd be okay with it all; she knows he's a Harbinger, and with it more than likely knows that their reputation isn't exactly the cleanest. Which makes this all the more intriguing to him, that he's met such a wonderful woman who is either setting that fact to the side or caring for him while accepting that side of him.

His forehead falls down on top her of hers, grateful for Yoimiya and feeling like he'd won the lottery. He tells himself he'll not take this for granted, feeling giddy at the realization that he's suddenly found himself with a partner in this world.

It's unexpected and wonderful.

Tartaglia takes a few moments to appreciate her, not responding right away but to let her words sink in. Holding her close right now is enough, until he finally pulls back and gazes down at her.]

There won't be a moment I won't think of you while we're parted. One day, I will send a boat for you and make sure that your father is taken care of so you can make the trip to Snezhnaya. There's so much I want to show you.

[He loves his country, and it shows in his eyes, even now. They have a sheen to them that only comes out when he's talking about something he loves deeply.]

Haha...but you know...

[It's a little embarrassing to admit, but...]

I've never had a girlfriend before...so this will be a sort of learning experience for me.

[niwabi]

[ seeing the rare glimmer in his eyes fills her with an unbelievable amount of joy. he clearly adores snezhnaya and it shows. while the fatui certainly has questionable methods, she can empathize that tartaglia is doing what he believes is the best for his country. it makes her all the more excited to one day visit snezhnaya, she wants to experience everything that tartaglia holds dear to him. ]

I can't thank you enough. Since it's you, I know that my dad will be in good hands.

[ yoimiya knows she'll have to explain many...... many things to her dad. her poor father will totally be confused about who these random people offering to help him out are but ultimately, she knows that in her heart, he'll want to support his daughter's happiness. ]

Really? That's so sweet and innocent. I didn't know you had such a cute side to you, Tartaglia.

[ the confession elicits a soft giggle from her lips. it's a little surprising to hear but another reminder that despite being a feared harbinger, tartaglia really is a bit boyish at heart. thinking about it causes her to chuckle a bit more, she even starts to playfully poke his cheek.

after a few short moments she stops to briefly avert her gaze. suddenly, she's starting to feel a bit embarrassed as a pink hue dusts her own cheeks. ]

Hehe, I guess this means that this will be a learning experience for the both of us.

[ a casual admission that she too, has never been in an relationship before. ]

i have no appropriate icons for this lol ;;

[monoceroscaeli]

[The light teasing gets him to blush too, chuckling quietly as he reaches up to take her hand right as she stops poking his cheek. Of course he's cute, he knows he is, she's right to notice that about him, he thinks as his ego can't even stop the reddening of his face.

Though it comes as a surprise to him when she suddenly averts her own gaze, involuntarily tilting his head to the side so he could follow her eyes, finding himself unable to tear himself away from them. She's been almost unwavering in her confidence, and to see her face flush like this is intriguing. Before he realizes what he's doing, his hand leaves hers and cups her cheek, gently pulling her back to him, so he can gaze back down into her eyes with a gentleness that he's never shown anyone else.

Tartaglia doesn't say a word, letting silence fill the moment, before his head tilts just so to press downward, capturing her lips with his own as his eyes close.

His kiss is soft, but not without confidence, sweetly caressing her own while slowly deepening it. She tastes like freshly picked berries on his tongue, bold, sweet, and bright just like the fireworks she puts so much effort into making special for every person. And he greedily drinks her in, his other arm pulling her body into his own, as if their separation might bring about his end right here and now.

It's not until he remembers that he has to breathe will he separate, eyes heavily lidded as he looks back at Yoimiya, jaw slacked.]

it's ok i don't either WHEEZES

[niwabi]

[ the kiss catches her by surprise. at first, her eyes widen from shock but it's not long until she closes them, melting into his touch. a warmth envelops around her as yoimiya's body sinks into his, placing her palms against the crevices of his shoulders. she's just as greedy as he is, wishing that this moment would last for eternity. her heart skips a beat as her lips respond in turn, wanting to indulge his desires by returning the deepening kiss with fervor.

once they break away from one another, her face is flushed with a bright red hue. amidst her soft panting, she lets out a deep breath, both from needing air and the sensation of her heart pounding inside of her chest. ]

That was...

[ yoimiya sounds breathless as she murmurs against his mouth, her lips just barely brushing with his own. ]

fantastic. Absolutely wonderful.

[ do you wanna go grab a bite to eat? she almost asks. the words are on the tip of her tongue but can't quite seem to leave her mouth. her own half-lidded eyes flutter through her lashes as she gazes into his piercing blue orbs. the longer she stares at him, the deeper her mind becomes clouded with thoughts of nothing but tartaglia. the desire of wanting to spend more time alone with him is slowly overtaking anything else.

her fingers curl into his shoulders as she closes the tiny distance between them, bringing their lips to meet once again. any lingering thoughts about getting food had disappeared. kissing him feels so heavenly, she's much more hungry for the taste of his lips. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[It's almost maddening how she keeps her lips so close to his, silently agreeing with her. It was fantastic, feeling a little dizzy by how she'd returned the building intensity of their kiss, her eyes mesmerizing him and ensnaring his attention- this is where he wants to be, and in the heat of the moment he can't imagine doing anything else but being intimate with her. The sensation of his chest buzzing with want for her doesn't die down, and Yoimiya has ensured his fate when her fingers curl into his shoulders and she captures him once again in a heated, passionate kiss.

There's no resistance on his end, small murmurs of satisfaction and need bubbling up from his throat. Every sweep of his lips against hers is equally tender and sensual, yet also containing a growing morsel of desire that starts to brew in the pit of his stomach. Tartaglia's arm around her moves so his hand grips into her hip, fingers kneading into it as the other hand slides from her cheek and into her hair.

A haze seems to overtake his mind, pushing any other thoughts out of his mind and replacing it with Yoimiya, his manners the only thing keeping his hands from wandering too far from their current positions.]

Yoimiya, [he moans, pressing in for another open-mouthed kiss before releasing again,] can I...?

[The hand on her hip shifts lower, wanting to grab more of her, to help satiate this feeling that is starting to envelop him. Just one touch, he swears that's all he needs...]

[niwabi]

[ the sounds of his moans is like music to her ears, sending a wave of pleasure down her spine. she shudders at his touch, bucking her hips to allow him better access. tartaglia's got her completely ensnared, his charisma alone is so intoxicating to the point where she can't help but crave more. she's yearning for him to touch her anywhere he pleases. there's not an ounce of hesitation as she wraps her arms around his neck, moaning into his mouth as she eagerly kisses him in full. ]

... Yes. [ a tiny mewl escapes from her lips as she leaves a trail of kisses along the edges of his jawline, before stopping at the corner of his mouth. ] You can do whatever you want.

[ the looming possibility of a poor festival goer walking in on them is the only issue that's preventing her from drowning deeper into the pits of desire. the idea of seeing how far they can go without getting caught is tempting, extremely exciting even. just the thought of it enraptures a deep-seeded want within her, a burning sensation slowly developing between her thighs. however, the rational part of her brain is telling her to keep things under control, further escalation is a slippery slope that could lead them down the path of no return.

but... yoimiya can't deny that she is weak for him. if it's one touch he wants, she's more than happy to comply. ]

The only thing I ask is that we try to be a bit, ah—! [ the feeling of his lowering hand causes her to let out a soft whine, a clear sign that she's just as needy as he is. please touch her, please... ] m-mindful of the festival guests...

[monoceroscaeli]

[You can do whatever you want.

Yoimiya really was going to be the end of him. A heavy sigh escapes from him as she kisses down his jawline, feeling his trousers tighten as his thoughts jump to the endless possibilities of what that could mean, what they could do. He personally wouldn't mind taking this a few steps farther, as his hand cups and grips hungrily into her ass, but he'll grant her request. It wouldn't do if someone caught them and made it awkward. His time is limited, and Tartaglia is more interested in making every moment count.]

I suppose, if I must... [He muses, pressing a brief kiss to her lips before continuing on.]

But when we're done with the festival here, I'd like to move somewhere more...private, if you don't mind.

[And even if he doesn't have the time, he'll make the time. Those bright eyes of hers is something he wants to keep in his sights for a little while longer, captured by her confidence and beauty. And she's competent in a fight- he wonders if she'll spar with him a little too, before he departs.

He brings his hand idly up to play with the sarashi around her chest, his finger sliding down inside of it from the top, hooking into the top part playfully.]

I don't think it would be appreciated by any of the guests if I unwrap you now, [he says with a wink, letting his fingers brush over her breast lightly, leaving only the faintest trace linger there. He can tell how needy she is, and he is too. But it's more fun to tease and get her excited for later when they can really let loose.]

So let's enjoy the rest of the festival for the time being, shall we? We can take care of other matters immediately afterwards.

[niwabi]

[ she lets out a sharp gasp the moment she feels his hand squeezing her bottom. it's tempting, so very tempting to tell him to take her right then and there. she wants him so badly to the point where her mind is consumed with thoughts of him.

but she's so very glad that he heeds to her request. ]

Ah, I don't mind at all. If anything, I'm looking forward to it...

[ thank goodness tartaglia has enough resilience to descalate the situation. although there's no denying that she would love nothing more than for their intimacy to continue, she's relieved that it's come to a momentary pause. because had it gone far enough, yoimiya's fairly certain that she wouldn't have the willpower to stop, the yearning for more pleasure only continuing to fester until it's too late. ]

I was actually thinking about asking if you wanted to grab a bite to eat. [ before she got sidetracked by making out with him, oops. ] It's been a long day, so I'm sure the two of us could use some food.

[ likewise, she too exhales a deep sigh before hopping off the rock to stand back up on her feet. before heading back, she takes a quick moment to adjust her kimono top, since it'd be in their best interests to make herself appear somewhat more presentable instead of making it all the more obvious she just walked out of a intense liplock session. as she's double checking the sarashi wrapped around her chest, thoughts of his fingertips ghosting over her breasts start to swirl around in her mind. she squeezes her thighs together, thinking about how nice it would be if he actually did unwrap the sarashi top.

man... it's almost embarrassing how deep tartaglia has her in hook, line and sinker. she knows it's going to be hard to focus on the festival while excitedly thinking about what they'll be doing afterwards. doing her best to shake those deprave thoughts out of her head, she glances over at him. her red, swollen lips are pressed together in a soft smile as she offers her hand out to him. ]

Murakami's food stall is not too far away. I even brought sake for us to enjoy as well.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Remaining sitting on the rock, he watches her pop back up, smile wide, excited for the rest of their night together. He could tell she would have let him take her right here on the beach side, and while that's tempting to him, it really wouldn't do. Her comfort and privacy matter to him, and the only reason he'd put himself in a position to get caught would be on purpose to make someone mad and start a fight- maybe that can happen another time. He hopes she'll forgive him to beating someone senseless...

However, right now he's enjoying watching her have to adjust herself, admiring her with a lovestruck look on his face. He's committing her image to memory, taking note of every one of her tattoos, how she wears her kimono, how her hair is tied up along with her hair accessories. Tartaglia's mind wanders to what she'll look like without those clothes, face reddening a little when she glances over to him, getting a good look at her lips and wanting so much to make them swell even more than they already are.

Taking her hand, he stands, but doesn't move to go right away.]

Sake is certainly going to make the night a little more interesting, haha. But Yoimiya, before we go...

[He sighs, casting a look downwards. Not at the ground, but...]

...I might need a moment before I can present myself. You've given me a little problem that I can't deal with right now, and it's going to be a minute or so before it...well...

[Settles down. His pants are not hiding himself well at the moment.]