[That maneuver gets a properly delighted squeal of "What? Nooo!" out her, Youko laughing with her hands thrown up in front of her face to try to block as much spray from her eyes as she can. It isn't particularly successful, but her forearms in their thick sleeves work better.]
[The corners of her grin had been slowly relaxing into the quiet, contemplative expression she normally wears as the empress, but they tick back up. She leans back, arms securing her again, hanging onto his shoulders, smile warm and tone playful. Like a child who swears to never go to sleep.]
If we were to land on the roof in the rokushin, you could stargaze and when I get tired, I'd only be a few steps from my bed?
[ Calhir's smile back is a little rueful, as he contemplates the feeling of being invited almost-to-bed. Too excited for a 'we' that turned into an 'I'. But her tone comes off just a little too innocent for him to turn the exchange into a game of insinuation. ]
Rooftops are a fine place for it. Above the bustle, but not so lonely as the high mountains.
[It takes Youko, the definitive mistress of Kinpa Palace, more than a few minutes to find the rokushin and her own personal garden amongst all the buildings on the mountain. It would frustrate her normally — the empty waste of her home, and how little she truly knows it — but she is comfortable in the breeze, content to be held.
She does eventually spot it. Luckily, the pavilion is still lit by the lanterns she hung, and softly lighting up the rooftop she was looking for. Youko hangs a little off to point it out for Calhir.]
[She settles down on the tile of the roof carefully, making sure not to slip right down and cause her returned shadows more stress, knees drawn up to her chin. The rattle of roof tile when Calhir returns pulls her back from slipping over the edge into warm, wine-drunk sleep, and Youko smiles up at him, clearly content curled up as she is.]
I hope you didn't want an astronomy lesson. I don't know these constellations yet.
[ Calhir shares the smile and sets down next to her, crossing his legs for the sake if having somewhere to put the bottle that's slightly less likely to see it roll off the roof. ]
That would have been nice, but... no, I just wanted to close out the day seeing something beautiful with someone beside me.
[ He pours two cups from the last bottle of wine and, at last, sips at his instead of downing them in one gulp the way he had been earlier. ]
[She takes the offered cup with both hands, sipping at it without sitting up at all, too relaxed to bother being proper now. She tilts her head at him, eyes green eyes dark, heavily lidded by the wine and the hour.]
Like the skies you fly through aren't beautiful enough?
They are. But flight makes you very aware of yourself. Like this time drifts by as quickly or as slowly as it wants, and the world is what you're seeing. Or who you're with.
[ His gaze settles on her eyes; relaxed but in an entirely different way from that sparkling joy before. Attractive in its own way too. ]
[The smile she gives him is gentle (or maybe just tired), though accompanied by the slightest something, a bittersweetness.
Then she drinks down the rest of her drink, setting the cup upside down next to her. No more for her. She settles back on the tile between two ridges on the roof, a Youko-shaped puddle of grey linens and red curls looking up at the starry expanse.]
[ He would lie down too, but her comment makes him feel like he should stay sitting where he can keep an eye on her, and any sudden progress towards the ground, over the ridge. ]
[She opens her mouth to argue, something about guest rights that would make her etiquette drill sergeant happy, before closing it as he lets himself get comfortable. She lets herself relax, simply focusing on the late night glimmer of stars.]
I'm glad you enjoyed it. [ Far from a perfunctory response; he sounds happy as he says it. It's fun for him to share it, too, and she'd been about as an active participant as she could be, for not having the wings. ]
I have to like anyone who warms to it before the first flight is over.
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Fine, fine, I concede!
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[ He preens a little - figuratively! - and climbs again, beginning to circle back to the lights on the mountain. ]
You're ready to go back? I did want to stargaze. But I don't want to keep you from your bed too long.
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[The corners of her grin had been slowly relaxing into the quiet, contemplative expression she normally wears as the empress, but they tick back up. She leans back, arms securing her again, hanging onto his shoulders, smile warm and tone playful. Like a child who swears to never go to sleep.]
If we were to land on the roof in the rokushin, you could stargaze and when I get tired, I'd only be a few steps from my bed?
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Rooftops are a fine place for it. Above the bustle, but not so lonely as the high mountains.
Point me to where.
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[It takes Youko, the definitive mistress of Kinpa Palace, more than a few minutes to find the rokushin and her own personal garden amongst all the buildings on the mountain. It would frustrate her normally — the empty waste of her home, and how little she truly knows it — but she is comfortable in the breeze, content to be held.
She does eventually spot it. Luckily, the pavilion is still lit by the lanterns she hung, and softly lighting up the rooftop she was looking for. Youko hangs a little off to point it out for Calhir.]
There, see it?
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[ He angles towards the lit garden, following her finger to the right roof where he lets her down. ]
I'll go grab the wine.
[ So saying, he steps off the roof and drops down, leaving her to her devices for a few minutes before he returns with the refreshments in hand. ]
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I hope you didn't want an astronomy lesson. I don't know these constellations yet.
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That would have been nice, but... no, I just wanted to close out the day seeing something beautiful with someone beside me.
[ He pours two cups from the last bottle of wine and, at last, sips at his instead of downing them in one gulp the way he had been earlier. ]
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Like the skies you fly through aren't beautiful enough?
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[ His gaze settles on her eyes; relaxed but in an entirely different way from that sparkling joy before. Attractive in its own way too. ]
Waxing and waning...
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[The smile she gives him is gentle (or maybe just tired), though accompanied by the slightest something, a bittersweetness.
Then she drinks down the rest of her drink, setting the cup upside down next to her. No more for her. She settles back on the tile between two ridges on the roof, a Youko-shaped puddle of grey linens and red curls looking up at the starry expanse.]
If I slide off the roof, remember me better.
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[ He would lie down too, but her comment makes him feel like he should stay sitting where he can keep an eye on her, and any sudden progress towards the ground, over the ridge. ]
If you fall asleep out here I'm taking the bed.
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I don't know if you'd fit in my bed.
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[ He sounds honestly wistful, such that she couldn't be blamed if she thought that he was perhaps a touch serious with that comment. ]
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[She does take it seriously, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, feeling remiss.]
I can have someone make up a bed for you?
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[ He settles back at last. Could be he'll be the one who drifts off on the roof. ]
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Thank you for taking me flying.
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I have to like anyone who warms to it before the first flight is over.