[D3EA] Date with a Dragon (CLOSED)

[Usagi Rei]

Rei put some effort into maintaining his cool guy demeanor, but a glance could see that the corners of his lips were twitching in an effort to keep from grinning like a loon. In truth, he was pleased that the Spider diva seemed to take such joy in Airi, as he did. "She is." That admission finally got the grin out.

With a triumphant hiss, Airi returned to her perch atop the shishi-odoshi, devouring her prize as she began to slowly tilt to one side.

The series of questions made him chuckle. "Oh? Does she rope in girls? Hmmm. How interesting." He cast her a sidelong smirk, decidedly playful. "This sounds like something I should look into further, hmm?"

But then he glanced away. "But yes, it's another difference. They're limited to on-world; you can't take 'em if you leave. And you need a permit. And she used to belong to someone else." His smile was still there, but there was a tension in his handsome features, stretching down to a tightness in his shoulders.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Awww... is that a solid rule, to not take them off-world?" she grimaced a bit in disappointment at that. It would be hard to bribe that many officials to get a spine drake of her own to take with her then.

Yakumo did see the look of tension in his face. "... Someone used to belong to someone important to you, I can tell." Maybe a parent or something, she was thinking. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to though."

Letting him decide on his own if he did want to or not, she picked up some strawberries in the meantime for herself.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei cast her a quick sympathetic look. "I'm afraid so. Although..." He shrugged. "Perhaps you might be able to pull more strings than I can."

Smile flickered, then grew normal again, although his eyes were still a bit unsettled. "No. That's fine. It's not a big deal." He lied. A few moments, his lips parted. "I got Airi with my then-girlfriend. But she disappeared almost two years ago now." Right, might as get it all out there right away. Smooth talker though he was, Rei felt that some cases required honesty, "... right after our wedding."

He picked up a piece of mango, but didn't eat it, looking over at Yakumo to judge her reaction, tension even more visible than before.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo stopped in the middle of eating her strawberry, looking a bit wide-eyed at Rei. "I... uh..." she swallowed awkwardly, trying to figure out how to respond to that.

"Goodness... what happened? Was there... an accident...?" it sounded so dramatic to say that someone had disappeared.

[Usagi Rei]

"No." Rei said, shaking his head. "So far as I can tell, she left." He was silent for a few moments. "Sometimes I wonder... but no, it wasn't anything I did. Or didn't do. I'm sure." Down at his side, his hands briefly clenched, then relaxed.

He looked back at her, smiling wryly. "Well. When we shared drinks, you asked if I had any deep dark secrets." He spread his hands, still holding the mango slice. "I guess I gave you one last answer for free." He took a breath, eyes still a bit strange.

[Susumu Yakumo]

That was... surprisingly sad. To just be left like that. "I'm so sorry, Rei-san. That must be so difficult for you." And for Airi.

Her smile was a bit half-hearted at the reminder of secrets and answers. Partially it was disguised behind the half-eaten strawberry she devoured. "... I can't imagine going through that."

[Usagi Rei]

If Airi was having a difficult time, she wasn't currently showing it, at least. The shishi-odoshi tipped over again, making her hiss and flap her wings a bit as her balance was suddenly shifted.

"Yeah. But hey, I'm alright." He said, still smiling wryly at her. "Although I... won't pretend it wasn't hard, at first." It was clearly still hard.

He took a deep breath. "But it's only for another few months, then it's dissolved. And..." Rei smiled, closing his eyes a moment, then opening them again. "Well, when you talked the other night about enjoying a romance in the moment, even a fleeting one, well... I think I understand better than most." Now he did manage his mango, popping it smoothly into his mouth.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"It must've been very hard. But I'm glad that you made it through it." Because maybe he wouldn't have been here now if he hadn't. Hearing Airi hiss again, she of course had to spare a glance to her antics, finding a chuckle creeping back into her voice over it.

"Mm... I can see why. And also, I could see many people finding it hard to open up again, after something like that." Violet eyes returned to look at Rei. "Do you think it's something you've been able to move past in that regard? That you're not afraid of getting hurt again?"

[Usagi Rei]

Apparently either deciding that her victory over the shishi-odoshi was complete, or it wasn't worth the trouble, she hopped down off it. Bending her long neck, she began to drink directly from the little pool.

"Oh, I'm definitely afraid of getting hurt again. Definitely." Rei flashed her a surprising grin. "But she's gone, somewhere, and I'm still here. So..." He spread his hands.

Rei shifted, leaning on his hand, set beside the tray between them, meeting her gaze. "But I'm not so afraid that I'm not going to take a chance." He smirked. "I am a Hare, after all. Life's no fun without a bit of risk now and then."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"True," she chuckled in agreement, bringing her hand up to her mouth to partially hide her grin. "Life is boring without some excitement and thrill."

Picking up a slice of mango, as he had recommended it, Yakumo looked at him with an intrigued smile. "But as you say, I got an answer for free. If you want to ask one question now, you have a chance. I might rescind such opportunities later." It was unsure if she meant that truthfully, judging by the teasing in her tone.

Letting Rei consider a question, she slowly ate the piece of mango. And who knew that there was a subtly sensual way to eat a mango, but somehow Yakumo had found it.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei watched as Yakumo picked up the slice of mango. Ate the mango. Rei took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as the beautiful diva slowly devoured the fruit. "One question, huh? I guess I'd better make sure it's good." He could see her lips, her tongue, the mango disappearing... Rei couldn't help but grin.

He hadn't meant to lean a little closer when he'd put his hand down, but he did. Rei leaned a little closer now, his gaze going from her eyes to her lips. He could still see that mango juice on them, the same that was still on his own lips.

His eyes went back up to hers, the amber glints especially visible. "How would you feel about a bit of excitement, Yakumo-san?" Rei asked, his tone matching hers.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Not quite the question she expected, her eyebrows rose slightly with curiosity. "Hmm... I do like excitement. Humor me, Rei-san," Yakumo responded with an eager smile.

[Usagi Rei]

Well, Rei wasn't going to turn that down.

Leaning in, he brought his lips to hers, kissing her gently at first, then more firmly. He could taste the mango on her lips, just as she could doubtlessly taste it on his lips. Sweet, so sweet...

His lips lingered, his free hand resting on her knee, fingertips just barely touching the flesh above her stocking.

[Susumu Yakumo]

As their lips joined, Rei could almost feel how her breath quickened through her body. Her leg shifting underneath his touch to allow him to feel more of the exposed skin there. Her kiss was yielding, yet also passionate.

Yakumo's own hands traced over his thighs, to his hips, leaning into the kiss more as she did.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei's passion matched Yakumo's, but where she was yielding, he was firm, his lips moving against hers with a delightful pressure. His fingers were strong and warm, gripping her thigh, sliding along her skin, just a little higher.

The masculine lines of him were tangible through the fashionable daywear he wore. Roughly, Rei pushed the fruit tray aside, his other arm encircling her waist to guide them together as one kiss became two, then three, each deeper than the last, Rei taking the lead with a skillful expertise.

He parted a moment, just an inch, his lips still just inches from hers, breath mingling. "Airi likes to nap after eating." He whispered, chest heaving. And indeed, the little creature seemed to be curled up pleasantly by her nemesis.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Good," she murmured, teasing the skin on his neck with a few hot kisses and playfully nipping the skin there. "Wouldn't want her to see too much of what happenes now."

Gloved hands moved around his waist to his back, and Rei could feel the slender fingers press against his muscles there and tracing the outline of his physique. Meanwhile her lips, slightly sticky from the mango still, continued down from his neck to the slightly exposed collarbones, exploring further...

/Fade to black

[Usagi Rei]

/later...

The luxuriousness of the suites of the House of Blooming Nightshades was something Rei had always been curious about. And indeed, the sheets and cushions felt wonderful against his skin.

But they weren't what was mostly on his mind. Lying on his back, Rei reached out, arm settling around Yakumo's shoulders, encouraging her to relax against him. There was a bit of disarray around; Rei could see his holster, pistol still safely in it, dangling over the lamp.

Looking up at the ceiling, he began to laugh, soft deep chuckles, his chest shaking visibly.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Her bare skin touched against his as she leaned against him, still breathing heavily herself. Being naked was one thing, but some things made her feel even more naked.

For now, she was quiet as she lay beside him, listening to his breathing and her own, noticing how his eventually calmed down to a more even pace.

[Usagi Rei]

The beat of Rei's heart was steady and strong. And his breathing was, eventually, relaxed. Well, this was new. How many times had he slept with someone, and it was because they wanted something from each other? It was nice to just enjoy a moment. Like they'd said.

Gently, he took her hand, covering it with his. Especially compared to hers, his skin was warm.

"Well. I think excitement didn't begin to cover that." He murmured.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Hmmm," she nodded, the motion of her head could be felt against him. "Yeah..." the word was breathy as it was uttered.

There was tension in her hand as he held it, her own awkwardness about it could be felt easily.