FRUITR0TS.

As Charlie settles into the car beside Maizy, he takes a final look around just to be sure nobody was watching them. He's relieved when there's not a single soul, but he doesn't dare drop his guard too much. Charlie only packed the absolute essentials, but if he were being honest there wasn't much of monetary value to leave behind anyway. He wrote Sadie and Rhys each a letter, giving them just enough information, but not daring to let them know where they were headed. Charlie respected the sacrifice Maizy was making enough to keep that information private. It seemed like the best way to keep everybody safe. It's not until she speaks that he realizes how deeply he was in his thoughts. He turns to face her, "Maze I've never been more sure of anything. I don't know how I can ever properly thank you for this."

maizy steals another glance and looks at charlie. really takes a good look and suddenly all the fear and uncertainty begins to melt away. it was replaced with a sense of hope. the blonde's hand roams until it finds his and she gives it a gentle squeeze. "you don't have to thank me, charlie. i wanted this just as much as you. i- i couldn't live with myself if i let you go." sure, she had disappeared before out of fear and maizy was living with the regret of it every second. a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she looks back towards the road. "whatever comes next, we're going to figure it out together. we have each other and that's enough for me."

"oh yeah, reminding me," he gave a certain nod as if it was something he hadn't heard about twenty times over already. "i'm sure i would've forgotten after all of the reminders, thank you." though his words were teasing, his manner was relaxed - not that kieran ever embodied emotions too much more than that. he did become somewhat mesmerized however as she pulled her clothes back on, something he caught himself do so frequently with his friend. "i can't cuddle you?" the surfer echoed, unable to hold back his chuckle as he did so. "tell me when exactly i had snuggled up to you," kieran stated, brow quirked facetiously before his mouth opened with a feigned realization. "oh wait, i'm sorry, i think that was you, ma'am."

araceli's eyes narrow the moment he throws her own argument back at her. she stares with lips pressed into a thin line as she debates her next words. "that's completely different." the response is quick. almost too quick. "i don't cuddle. i just happen to be occupying the same space as you." but ara can't keep a straight face. a soft smile finally breaks through and she picks up a pillow from the ground, tossing it at him. "stop looking so pleased, kieran."

darkened eyes remain locked on him just as he does her. if she could burn a hole through him with looks alone then she just might've with how intense her stares was. hardly reacts as his thumb strokes over the side of her hand. and she listens to his words, hears them loud and clear. and it's like suddenly she snaps. her brows pull together and confusion laces her voice as she speaks. "oh, god. i'm being crazy. i'm being totally crazy right? i'm sorry."

Eunha is excited. She almost can't control herself because of the excitement inside her. After ten years of not seeing them, the day has finally come. They would meet at the airport, then go together to the hotel they booked for them, and then they will see what the vacation brings. She's waiting at the port, and she tiptoes, trying to see over the people the person whose face she has seen in pictures and through video calls.

juni had spent the entire flight rehearsing this moment in her head and yet she couldn't imagine the reality of finally being here. her gaze searched the busy crowd with her suitcase in tow behind her. pictures and video calls made eunha feel familiar but it had been so long since they had met in person. "there you are!" her excitement grew as she neared the other. "oh my god, i can't believe you're actually here!" a laugh escaped and juni threw her arms around the other in an excited hug.

"babe!" bora cheered as soon as her girlfriend got home, the brunette bouncing over to greet her with a hug as she looked up with a facetious grin - though she attempted to hide it as excitement. "guess what! you'd be so proud of me." she held up an empty bottle of vegetable oil as if to foreshadow her surprise.

hana had just barely made it through the door when bora was barreling into her for a hug. the embrace was quick and hana presses a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "hey, baby." her eyes narrow suspiciously at the empty bottle being presented like a trophy. "did you make dinner without starting a fire?"

"you know," the actress mentioned off-handedly, as if the thought hadn't already persisted in her mind since day one of having yubin as her bodyguard. "having you around is going to make the fake relationship i'm obligated to have with my costar a lot harder to be convincing."

a playful arch lifts yubin's brows as they fold their arms across their chest. a quiet chuckle slips past their lips, shoulders rising before falling in an easy shrug. "i'm the innocent one here, star." their grin widens just slightly. "you're the one still putting on an act even when the cameras aren't rolling."

mariyu's words stop hana cold. one moment they're tangled together, lost in one another, and the next it's as if someone has slammed on the brakes. hana sits up as well, putting some distance between the pair. the words sting more than she expects. her brows knit together, concern and confusion flashing across her features. "who said it didn't mean something?" the question is blunt, immediate. "i don't understand you, mariyu." hana shakes her head, searching the femme's face for answers. "you keep confusing me. one second it feels like you want this then the next you're pulling away before i can even figure this out. how am i supposed to know what you're feeling when you keep leading me in two different directions?"

Holy shit, this might have been the best sleep Yujin has had in a long time. Though, as soon as her brain wakes up from the dream, a small ache greets her forehead, which causes her to turn her head so she can press her face against the pillow and keep it hidden. She's trying to fall asleep, but fails when she hears a stranger's voice. Shit. She's not in her home, and she slept with someone. How drunk did she get last night? She can't recall. The female turns her head again to face the other, and a smile, an awkward one, tugs at her lips. "Good morning..." She says while moving to sit up, and she takes the glass of water into her hands with a quiet thank you. "How long have you been awake?"

dabin's lips curve into something faintly amused as she watches the other struggle to wake up. the awkward smile only earns a soft huff of a laugh from the vampire, dark eyes focused as she takes the water. "long enough to know you snore." it was a lie. in fact, dabin had hardly heard a a thing from the other woman. she settles back into her chair, one leg crossing over the other. in truth, dabin hadn't slept. had realized years ago that pretending to do so brought her no comfort so why bother? "an hour, maybe. you looked comfortable. i didn't want to wake you."

the only person? brig is sure that her heart just leaped right out of her chest and was running around them doing flips. she almost lifts a hand to even make sure it's still in her chest but she manages to stop herself. "not even winston?" a smirk grows on the red head's lips, a playful joke between them now. it was bad enough that they'd been put on this task by sojourn but at least they were together. brig notices the way she misspoke and her eyes widen in surprise. "oh, god. hana. i didn''t mean it like that! i-i! i just want you to have a good birthday and-" she frowns, hands moving to settle on her hips. "get down here!"

"...nope," dylan's voice is lilted, sing-songy — well, almost. it's shaking just enough to not carry a note like he means for it to, to not be nonchalant, and make no mistake: he's terrified. he's completely terrified as he shoves up onto the bottom stair to sit on it, throbbing elbow cradled in his free hand, which is also aching pretty good. he's pretty sure it busted when he caught himself with it, but possible-broken-bones aside, dylan is presently a lot more concerned with the demon he's undoubtedly locking eyes with right now. he keeps his face as neutral as physically possible. "not hurt. just a bump. you know me... high, probably, right? don't worry about it. i'll just... head to bed. sound good?" what they won't mention is the ribs that are most certainly cracked from the fall, or — the taste of iron between their teeth.

for a moment, araceli just stared down at dylan. the concern she'd been pretending begins to wear at the edges, something ugly beneath it. the way he was trying to play it off would've been funny if she didn't hear the soft strain in their voice. "oh gosh, dylan." her voice echoes softly at she begins to step down the stairs. one stair. then another. the old wood creaked beneath her weight. she reaches him soon enough and kneels down in front of them, elbows resting on her knees as dark eyes search over their face. "i think you tripped over my foot." her words come out more as a statement than an excuse. "right?" head tilts slightly. "no, no. no." araceli shakes her head. "you can't sleep yet. you might've hit your head! let me help you." she rises to a standing position and holds out her hand to them.

it wasn't often that art was described as . . . pretty. but of course hana was the one to call her so. it makes her own cheeks flushed although thankfully it's hidden by the pink already there for her workout. "good answer." there's a wink given to the femme before they're quickly gathering their things. once back at art's home, she drops her workout bag onto the floor near the door and walks backwards, facing hana, until they're settled into the livingroom. "i'd shower but there's no point if i'm just going to work out with you again." even if hana was light as a feather, art knew they'd be sweaty in no time.

     repeating the vibe of attire yubin mentioned, carving through the endless of options, a hoarder when it came to outfits  ;  convinced there was one for every occasion. a smile then traces already red tinted brims, side-glimpsing over at her.  “ i am sure you would, i guess we'll keep that for another time then, hm ? ”  speaking as she navigates her rack of clothes, finally finding a pair of jeans and then a top which would go nicely with it.  “ alright, i have it. ”  finally she's stepping away from the closet, laying out the fit on the mattress where yubin had been supportive watching from.  “ and these... friends of yours ? go with the vibe sort of thing, or is there something, someone, i should be worried about ? ”  extroverted by nature, so it wasn't an issue for eunbi to meet new people but, it wasn't often the two of them went on an outing as a pair  ;  feeling somewhat nervous about that little factor.

yubin straightens up as the femme finally settles on an outfit, their gaze drifting over the clothes spread across the bed. a grin immediately tugs at their lips. "hot." the verdict comes without much hesitation, a signature crooked smirk on their lips. truthfully, it didn't take much to impress yubin when it came to her. dressed up, dressed down, or nothing at all, eunbi was stealing their attention. still they catch the hint of nerves beneath the other's question. tonight wasn't their normal routine. it was the first time she'd be meeting lynx and maizy, two of yubin's best friends. and while maizy was relaxed enough, lynx could be a bit intense. curious to a fault and endless supply of questions at the ready. "it's going to be fine, i promise." yubin reaches across the mattress until their fingers find eunbi's hand, tugging her gently forward. "lynx can be a little overwhelming but if she starts cornering you, i'll rescue you." a reassuring smile settles on their features. "you have nothing to worry about. you'll be safe with me."