Mito's gentle touches truly soothed him. His expression eased, his shoulders sagged. He remembered how to breathe. Those beautiful, soft hands... they paved the way to heaven. Koda sighed happily. Eyes closed for a few moments to fully melt into the satisfaction before he finally relented.

It wasn't unhealthy, Koda-kun was just different!! He needed a bit more patience and understanding! And most of all, Mito loved him to the moon and to the depths of the ocean, and would never have anyone else even if his life depended on it.

"It's all right, Koda-kun. It's made of silicone, so it's totally safe for use - I mean, safe to touch!" He got down on all fours and reached his arm in to grab hold of it - at least it was just on the regular vibration setting - then felt around for the off button. Ugh, why wasn't it turning off?! Face flushed with embarrassment and exertion, he had to resort to fishing it out from beneath the bed.

Sang tilted his head, watching the other as he shifted and processed what he said. Hearing the other repeat his words made Sang wonder. How many dreams did Botan have? How many happy memories could he call upon when his heart ached? How many times had he experienced kindness? It was so sad, it would have made him cry, if the other flouncing around on his bed hadn't distracted him and made him laugh.

"Really? That makes me very happy to hear." his smile grew, "You can ask me anything you like, Bo-" oh. Before he could finish his sentence he was suddenly plummeting. He froze for a second, processing what had just happened and the other's reaction. Soon, he was laughing, too.

He did in fact have a million questions for Sang - he had no idea how anything worked. The computer was a bit too scary to look at, which was probably a good thing. It wouldn't be good if he accidentally deleted any files... "Ooh, it's cold in here! A big box that keeps things cold!" He peeked in and looked at all the food on the shelves, illuminated in cool white light, like they were works of art.

It might not be that simple to agree on. That, he'd understand. He still has to try, though.

Karson gestures vaguely towards the site of the theft, head cocked to the side.

"I'm good at sneaking around. I'm also good at distractions. I've got a gift for electricity, to put it mildly. I'm not so bound to this form. You're right, though- clues first. Everything else later. Well, Roy- what do you say?"

"Oh... so it's like, something personal to you? Damn, I'm sorry, man..." Roy's brow's creased - he really was sorry! Easily swayed? Not exactly, but he was an empathetic guy! "You'd give me a cool box made of meteorite?! I'd love to have a cool box!" Imagine the kind of experiments he could have with it - or he could just keep nice trinkets in there. Like receipts from a fun night out, and tiny plastic dinosaurs.

Roy slapped his hand into Karson's and gave it a firm shake. "It's a retrieval adventure, boo yeah! Hey, I'm excited to see what you can do." He packed up his gear and they quietly made their way up the stairs for the roof.

"I really am sorry about the scroll. Makes me feel like I almost read your diary without permission or something." He gave him an apologetic look over his shoulder. Even with the men still busy unloading trucks below, there could be guards on higher floors, so they stayed out of sight behind an arched roof lined with domed skylights.

I use no Generative AI to write for me.

I use no Generative AI to create images for me.

I do not wish to write with people who actively use Generative AI.

If you write with me, you won't ever have to fear any AI being used to doing my replies for you. I will not feed your writing to ChatGPT and the like, and I would appreciate it if you don't feed my writing to any kind of Generative AI either. You do not have my consent to do so.

Talk of food reminded them that they would be comfortable with sharing some breakfast with her.

"I understand, I think breakfast sounds great honestly. Hm. I think some toast would be wonderful honestly." They sipped at their tea a little bit more. Kazane's follow-up statement inspired an amused little tsk from them.

Kazane put on the water, then slid some bread into her toaster, which was charmingly patterned with Nordic flower patterns in warm shades of peach, reddish pink and forest green.

Yet her heart wanted more. She tried to ignore those feelings, to push them down, to hide them. She wasn't supposed to feel that way towards Kazane. Towards anyone, really. Her mother had made it clear that Niamh would never be allowed to marry for love. She was a pawn. Nothing more.

"Yes, Princess Niamh," they answered after taking a deep breath. What she needed now wasn't a lecture about the difficult logistics of escape, nor the consequences that would follow. She simply needed to know whether their hearts were aligned. Kazane did not want to lie to her, but at least, what they felt were true:

Minshu should know better but he always had been more of a just do it type of person than reading up on things. Or simply consult anyone when it came to physical exercise. Not that he never did. He just didn't follow a strict plan and perhaps that was the mistake. His attraction towards Yulin aside, the other turned out to be quite the helping hand and guidance in his endeavors. "I'll be more careful from now on, I see that now. So my pains won't last too long." Or not occur at all.

"If you know someone, I'm definitely interested as the ones I've been to before turned out to be... more inclined to bending my money than bending my back or using needles on me." A boyish chuckle, free from any innuendos or flirations, a sign that Minsu enjoyed the presence of the other in more than one way. Their conversation might have been overall sensual, the tension literally in one's grasp yet the pull towards each other seemed to harbor more than the dangerous game they were playing.

Yulin's fingertips lingered upon Minsu's arm, but given his suggestion, they soon danced to his waist instead. "I ought to check your lats and your core as well," he agreed with the hint of a smirk. It's not like they were doing anything illegal, nor were there full-time personal trainers around to judge the authenticity of his 'coaching'.

"How does it feel, now?" As for Yulin, he was definitely feeling the ripple of his abdomen beneath his hand while he performed crunches. Perhaps it was cruel to torment someone while they were already suffering from such a strenuous exercise.

He'd almost forgotten what he came here to do originally... a workout, for sure, but what routine? It was unlike him to be so distracted. Their gazes kept on catching, each seeking to discover something hidden beneath the gleam of attraction.

Tadashi couldn't help but chuckle. Roy's view on things fascinated and calmed him at the same time. There was no explanation and he did not truly need one as long as he could hold the other the way he did in this very moment. Even a deity like himself could have doubts about fate, about strings connected and severed so to hold someone in his arms who made Tadashi believe in a mere heartbeat was proof enough you could write your own fate. Roy and Tadashi were now writing theirs.

"Humanity has it harder I would say but yes, in the end, we are not different in that aspect. It just... gets complicated when deities and other supernatural beings get involved with humans especially. While my mother is a goddess herself, my sister's is a mermaid. Our younger brother is the one with a human mother and I've heard she passed recently. Yes, I might be a deity but I failed at making sure my siblings were safe." The ones Tadashi cared about, the ones that had to fend for themselves, without a safety net in any shape or form.

It seemed so easy, to tell Roy all his worries and feel connected beyond the pain. Tadashi would make sure to transition from deep conversations to funny, distracting times yet right now, both seemed to long for this type of closeness, the scent and warmth shared despite Tadashi's rather cool body ( quite literally ). Only Roy could calm him within seconds, the playful hair ruffling even putting a smile upon his handsome features. "Oh!"

In a way, wasn't Tadashi also opening up to him about his life far too soon? Somehow, he didn't feel like it was overwhelming at all. Even for Roy who tended to be the one accidentally trauma dumping on others. He did feel really, really bad about that. 'From now on I'm gonna be the one trying to listen'. So maybe landing on this island was the chance that the universe gave him to really sit down and listen. He was thankful for that. Tadashi needed company. Even if it was with someone like him.

"Your family sounds super interesting." Roy's lips spread into a wild grin - he chose to focus on that part, if only to distract Tadashi from his guilt. "There's probably all sorts of fun personalities there! I'd really love to meet them someday. Soon. And when they see you, they're gonna give you a huuuuge hug! They missed you so much, I'm sure. They'll only be thankful that you managed to reconnect after all that time."

Would she really give up immortality for one life with him? This was the reason Idun came to this world in the first place. In a way, the princess had abandoned old responsibilities and fled but she would never forget the expression her mother wore when they parted. Go, live the life you want. After eons of serving a realm that was now beyond reach, Idun found the place her heart had led her to. And the person. "Coming back here is always an option, I agree with your plan," the blonde hummed, mind envisioning their new home. Calling it finished even in theory sounded false as there might be another thing after another yet that thought in itself boosted the woman's spirits. There would ( and could ) always be something to work on. Together.

"Wallpaper with my face on it? No! That would be a horror movie at worst, and kitsch at best!" his eyes almost teared up from laughing at the ridiculousness of it. If not wallpaper, he suspected that dear Idun may put a portrait of him right in the living room... Ah, wouldn't a wedding portrait be better? Now the man was blushing.

They toasted with mugs of chu-hi. It seemed to go better with takeaway food rather than wine, and meant that they could try a few different flavours. His partner's features glimmered beautifully beneath the flickering candlelight. (How did she manage to find the candles amongst all the boxes, by the way?)

"Mm, it's delicious." He almost forgot to swallow the mouthful of stir-fried beef noodles before giving compliments. "It doesn't taste that greasy either. Chinese chefs really know how to fry their noodles. So good." He turned his fork in the dish to scoop up a generous mouthful, then offered it to Idun.

Kazuhiko had his ways of reassuring the student, it was his gaze and the warmth in his words that made Momonosuke gain another layer of confidence regarding his choice. And he admired the older. A part of him felt like saying it out loud would jinx whatever they had, a fragile growing bond they cultivated little by little. "Maybe we do need a little selfishness at times," he hummed in response, smile softening as their eyes met.

For some reason unknown, his heart hammered even louder against the boy's ribcage, whether Kazuhiko himself was the reason or the fact that he spoke so reassuringly to the younger; what genuine support could enable! The student made mental notes, gifted with a good memory which he often thanked his dear mother for. "That I am not quite sure of yet... I feel like I'd love to work with everyone. I guess I'll need more experience so... I'd selfishly ask for your assistance one day, with the advice I mean. I mean, I don't know what else I could've meant... sorry." Momonosuke fumbled a little with his words, gaze now lowered yet out of shyness rather than anything else. "Kazu-san's helping me, I've felt a bit lost about the whole thing before, to be quite honest. I'm amazed by how quick you could respond to everything. Kazu-san's amazing, after all." And he allowed himself this little praise, why should he not?

"Happy to help." The corner of Kazuhiko's lips tilted. It was fun to see Momonosuke getting flustered. He wasn't even trying to bully him nor even tease him. However, the passion he had for what he did as a job was genuine, and he was impressed that Momo wanted to pursue something related.

Kazuhiko picked up two of the menus from the counter. They debated for a moment between the window seat or by the feature wall filled with colourful retro posters. Settling for the latter, two pairs of eyes turned to the menu boasting of a range of pastries, cakes, and drinks.

"We could always get three cakes to share between us," Kazuhiko suggested, tapping his index upon the spiced pumpkin crepe cake that caught his interest. "It'll go down easy with a long black or iced Americano. But we have to save some room for other snacks later." A quick wink suggested that said snacks could be to do with food, or maybe not at all.