( closed ) how do we breathe, how do we climb

[unalign]

WHO: Lumine + others
WHERE: Shadowlands, and then various places in Stygia
WHEN: December
WHAT: event shenanigans + notice board things
WARNINGS: blanket warning for event-related stuff, possible spoilers for the sumeru updates

[ ooc: closed starters will go here. if you want a custom starter, send me a PM or comment on my plotting post and let's hash things out. ]

Comments

[uncourteous]

[ while it does make a lot more sense and while it was rational all things considered, it doesn't make him any less likely to continue to use this as a bargaining chip (does that even constitute as any real sort of bargain?) to tease her with. ] So you're planning to run me dry.

[ since she did mention other errands, and somehow, he is implementing himself into her business per usual. well, he can't say he didn't enjoy spending time with her. it was inarguable that she was... a fairly curious lady. the second capable of using magic that he's met, and one who didn't see caught up in titles. despite appearing no older than him, she also seemed to possess a fair amount of knowledge, or would it be more accurate to state some degree of worldliness? regardless, it made her quite different from most of the sheltered nobles he knew. ... and perhaps, it wouldn't be too farfetched to say that he enjoyed that.

but, that was neither here or there and instead, he opens the door of the hotel for her, before... proudly getting them a room. i'm embarrassed bc this is so business proposal. ] I never thought the day where we'd share a room like this would come so soon.

[ so soon... but, he should definitely have added "if ever," but listen. he's confident. the hotel staff is probably wondering why they're involved in this exchange. ]

[unalign]

[ i hope you're enjoying this au before it ends in a dumpster fire ]

I am, so let me know if you don't have the stamina to keep up, Your Highness. [ a beat: ] Or do I call you "big brother"?

[ it's his mistake to offer her his cloak, if only because it's chasing away the chill settling in her and is slowly warming her up. enough for her to start retorting and teasing him back—not that he's the type to be teased in any way, but she doesn't want to lose their usual game of wits.

she trails after him once more until they reach the room in question, ignoring the hotel staff. not out of rudeness or lack of desire for any kind of interaction, but she also wants to stamp out any form or feeling of embarrassment and mortification. she just wants to get this over and be done with it without anyone judging her! ]

Do you mind if I ask you a question? [ lumine says this after the door closes behind him and she takes a seat on the edge of the bed, letting the cloak swallow her whole when she does. ] Have you never interacted with a girl before?

[ mic drop ]

[uncourteous]

[ have faith... in what exactly? nobody knows.

there's a slight twitch of his brow as he hears her words, which are both suggestive and obviously intending to draw out some sort of rise from him. ] I wouldn't write off my stamina. [ objectively, he was confident in at least that much. after all, he's come back from the brink of death before, so everything else seemed like child's play. ] You're welcome to test it if you'd like. [ he speaks steadily as he approached her now in the hotel room.

to be honest, callisto behaves fairly naturally despite being in closed quarters in a place like this. while it's unfamiliar and as a crown prince, he'd definitely never stepped foot in a seedy hotel like this one before, he finds her presence comforting, and well... her potential discomfort was also kind of entertaining. ] ...

[ wow, rude??? but, it's true that he wasn't exactly experienced in the field of romance or intimacy. ]

Are you that curious of my past? I assure you, I'm ready to take responsibility.