Tidebound Dreams

Her saying she missed him and kissing his nose made in smile. “Good, because I missed you too. I'll be more conscious when it comes to work. I'm working on work-life balance more. Trying to be present for everyone I care about.” He cupped her cheek, letting his thumb caress her skin. When she thought over his question, he placed small kisses on each of her cheeks, her chin, and her forehead. “Damn, and none of these kisses swayed the answer we both knew was coming? I have to get better at my persuasion skills,” he joked. “But, I can get my urge to be affectionate out of my system before the stream. And I'll be counting the IOUs of how many pity kisses I'm owed for after the stream.”

Wren beamed when Mingsheng actually joined her. She felt like she could enjoy her time there now that their line of sight was blocked. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me. I might even give you a shout-out in my next song. If you hear something about a handsome savior, know that's you." She actually scribbled a few notes down in her notebook.

-🥀-

"We most definitely can. I'm going to pull up things to do. I'm going to make certain we don't stay on the island where I plan to politic, that way it can feel even more like it's solely a vacation." Rowan thought for a moment, cocking her head to the side, studying Rei. "So if you can do one thing on this trip, what would it be?" She wanted her to get out of her work-focused mind. Rowan had to do the same. Turn off her mom brain and learn how to be Rowan rather than the queen responsible for everyone.

Rei was quiet for a moment, tapping her finger on the edge of her water glass as she contemplated. "Honestly? Probably find a ceramic painting shop and make a coffee mug for Becky as a thank you for having to put up with my overworking ass. A laugh escaped as she leaned forward. "So which island are you making sure we're not staying on?"

“That is a feat. Congratulations on the success, and may it continue.” Wren understood what she meant about not believing she would become popular. “I get that. I had a built in fanbase as a princess, but that didn't mean they would like me just because of my family. It also didn't mean I was talented enough to do the things I aspired to do. But as I continued to hone my craft and put myself out there, the fanbase grew. It can get a little overwhelming and invasive. I have a sector of fans who hate that I'm married. Another sector that hates that I married Jakovan. They sometimes intersect and voice how tired of seeing him they are. There's always a juxtaposition of pleasing them versus living my life.” Wren laughed because she and Jakovan both knew those fans, but just as many hated him, there was a larger group who cheered on her happiness. “What aspect of the popularity makes you anxious?”

Who:Wren + Open

Spending half her time in Southland, Skai had grown to like it. Nothing was as good as Isla Guardiana and the Divine Forest, but Southland and the Dark World came close. She enjoyed the bars here in Southland. They were a little bougie for her taste, but they would do. Just as she was approaching the bar for another drink, she caught the potential spill. Being a water nymph, she could control the liquid, guiding it back into the glass. She set it upright. "Crisis averted. Can I buy you another? I'm shocked to see you out and about. From what I hear, the healing center is your second home. Or maybe your first?" she joked.

"I mean, you can if you want, and thank you," Rei laughed as she handed Skai the menu she'd ordered her first drink from. "Hell, pick out whatever you want, I'll be willing to try it at least once." Even though she didn't trust Skai's husband as far as she could throw him, she did get along with the nymph rather well. "Yeaaaah maybe first," she giggled. "My assistant threatened to try to convince Rowan to make a royal decree that I could only work three days a week."

-🌺-

Rei looked up and gave Daphne a sheepish grin as she gathered up her own handful of napkins. "You know what, yeah I think I could use some," she said with a bemused shake of her head; she wasn't this much of a klutz usually. Patting the table with the napkins, she sighed and shrugged. "I mean, yeah I am, I'm just exhausted as hell. You know my assistant Becky right? She had the audacity to lock me out of my office for the rest of the week until I took a break. I swear she's going to ask Rowan to make it an official decree that I take half a week off every week from here on out."

Who: Adrik + Open

"Honestly I am not the person to be asking that because I've been wondering that about myself too," Mingsheng said, giving Adrik a shrug. Granted he'd been king of Isla Piedra for nearly eighty years, but that didn't stop him from being slightly anxious about it to this day. "But if you really want to know, then yeah I'd say you do."

“Good. Good. I'm glad I didn't keep you long. Thank you for meeting with me. I haven't been in the streamer space of social media much, but I have watched a few of your streams. How long have you been streaming? You look like you're having the best time.” Wren loved watching people do things they loved. The passion was practically palpable.

"You and I have to get better about actually taking breaks. Yes, the realm needs us, but we're shit to them if we're burnt out." Rowan was always trying to prove herself to the council, to the people. She was in go mode all the time. "I'll try to keep working at a minimum. I want to enjoy the time off. We have to pick a good date. Not too far out. As soon as we can really before we chicken out."

“You know I want to hear you say it, right?” He wanted to hear her say that she missed him. Jacen's grin brightened. “Tekken! Listen, I have loved playing Tekken since back in the day. I would definitely be game to play that one with you. Now, I kick some ass on that game,” he said, chuckling. “You sure you can handle me?” When she shifted into his lap, he wrapped his arms around her, keeping her close. “Do I have to behave on your stream? If I lose, do I have to wait til the stream is over before I get my consolation kisses or…?”

Damien was sitting right by the woman when the spill occurred. "Damn, can I help with the clean up? Maybe even buy you another drink?" Damien asked as he grabbed some napkins to help her. "I hope the spill isn't an indication of how your night is going."

He smiled when she listed off her scheduled streams. The smile widened when she curled into his side. With her hand still in his hold, he lifted his arm so that he could wrap it around her. He kissed her temple. “Is this your way of saying, Jacen, you’ve gotten so busy. I miss you?” He teased. “You know my favorite games are the fighting games. I barely make it past the tutorials otherwise. I’m still on the ship in Baldur’s Gate 3. That’s the very first objective. I played Gotham Knights. The goal was get to the bell tower. I ran through a building on the motorcycle and still couldn’t find my way out.” His body shook with laughter, thinking about it. He enjoyed video games because they allowed him to be imperfect and fumble without high-stakes consequences. “But I say that to say, if you want me there, I’m there. All you have to do is ask.” He lifted her gaze to meet his. “So are you saying you want to spend more time with me? Because as much as I enjoy the sex,” he pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips, “I enjoy more than just that. We can spend the day playing video games, lounging like this. Whatever you want, I’ll make time. That is if you’re willing to put up with me being slightly awful at video games. But I’m never a quitter I get off the first missions eventually.”

"Yes that is exactly what I'm saying," Eden laughed, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "And you know I'm willing to try any game at least once. But I have been itching to play Tekken 8 for a while, you think you wanna try that with me?" She shifted a bit so that she was in his lap, arms draped over his shoulders with a bright grin on her face.

Who: Wren + Eden @tidcbounddreams

"That's good to know. I'm still trying to figure out my approach, other than to keep the masses calm about it. I think I might go over and visit the islands soon. Maybe just to extend an olive branch. Want to go over with me? To enjoy some of the attractions? I won't make you join in on the politics."