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[flamekthunder]

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[starshower]

[She gives him a light hip-check, the air around her buzzing with both heat and bubbles.]

At this point, I'm starting to wonder if you're trying to have me smothered to death by hearts.

[flamekthunder]

[He quietly laughs as his hand tightens over hers, pulling her back closer to him.]

Caught me.

[starshower]

You'd better be careful. Soon, you'll have no wife.

[She pokes one of the red bubbles that appears and blows it his way.]

Just a bunch of bubbles.

[flamekthunder]

Hmm, can't have that. I wonder what would make them all pop at once.

[starshower]

[That makes her heat up from her head all the way down to her toes, the air that's between them suddenly spiking in temperature.]

I'm not sure we wanna try testing that out here...

[flamekthunder]

[He feels that heat and now he really does wonder if it would be enough to pop all these hearts.

So there's a devious gleam before he leans in closer to her, lips by her ear for a low murmur for only her to hear.]

Maybe there's something else I want to "pop."

[starshower]

[He is going to be the death of her. Or maybe this town, because with a shiver that runs from her ear down her spine, some of those red bubbles light up in tiny, harmless flames before they evaporate completely.]

Well, you're gonna have to wait...

[Why does she sound so breathless?

Time to fix that, and to hurry things up. She clears her throat—]

Hey, remember what I told you at the table about rabbits?

[flamekthunder]

Hmmm?

[He can wait, but can she? Which he'll make it very difficult for her as he removes his hand from hers so it can run up her back instead and then down—]

[starshower]

[No, she can't... Not with how he continues to tease her like this, and she's one hundred percent sure that he's done all of this on purpose, knowing where it would lead. And it's fortunate that he's let go of her hand, because—]

What I meant to say was... They can be quick and hard to catch.

[—she bolts with a giggle, running off up the street in the direction of the resort, leaving a trail of heart bubbles behind her. And no, she won't spill her tea.]

[flamekthunder]

[He'll watch with a dumbfounded expression before he laughs quietly to himself.]

So she wants to be chased, hm?

[A wry grin to himself, a darker, heated gleam in his eyes as he follows that trail at a much more leisurely pace. After all, it won't be hard to find and catch her.]

[starshower]

[She does, indeed. Or maybe she just wants to get as far away from the public as possible and lock herself up in a private room and a private pool where not a soul but him can see into her desires. Though, the thought of being chased is enough to turn those hearts as red as can be as she leaves more and more in her wake.

She could weave in and out of the buildings—and she does, taking turns onto other streets—but there is no hiding from him. She'll even turn to wave at him or smile sweetly at him to tease before disappearing behind another corner.

And it's only a matter of time before he'll catch up to her on the way up to the resort...]

[flamekthunder]

[Given that he knows where she's heading, he won't follow her completely, instead taking shorter routes so that he'll come closer to meeting up to her despite her little windy paths. And when she gets to the resort...

He won't be anywhere in sight.]

[starshower]

[She is half expecting him to surprise her by leaping out from around a corner or sneaking up on her from behind, but when he does neither of those things by the time she reaches the resort? Colour her a little bit confused. Especially when he is nowhere to he found.

He had been right behind her for most of it, when she glanced back and caught glimpses of him.

But it doesn't take long for her to realize what it is he's doing, because he's done this before.

Lying in wait and stalking, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.]

Ah, doing this again, are you?

[She wonders if he can hear her...

She'll just start walking up to the front entrance, humming to herself and finishing off the last sip of her tea.

But even he will pick up that shift in the air. That excited buzz of anticipation that follows her. She's on high alert now, a rabbit ready to bolt at the slightest sound or movement.]

[flamekthunder]

[All very good guesses, but even after she reaches the front entrance and steps in...

He's still not there?

Yet she won't have time to wonder as a dragon steps up to her asking if she's a guest and if they can help.]

[starshower]

Ah—

[Tifa's gaze is busy wandering around in search of him, genuinely confused about where he could have possibly snuck off to, when the dragon steps up.]

Y-yeah. I am. A reservation under Eustace?

[The dragon nods. "Ah, yes. Your bags were already brought up, weren't they?"]

Mm-hm.

[She doesn't mean to be so rude and distracted, but where is her husband?

"Very well. Right this way, erm... Mrs. Eustace?"

Oh god, there goes a flood of hearts bubbling around her, and Tifa is quick to follow, jogging after the dragon attendant who proceeds to lead her to their room.]

Um... he hasn't happened to come through here already, has he?

[flamekthunder]

[The dragon is very courteous, leading her through the cavernous halls towards what may feel like a familiar direction.

"Who, your husband? I'm sorry, I don't believe so."

A very familiar direction as they approach the honeymoon suites.]

[starshower]

[Ah. It is, indeed, very familiar, and Tifa chews back a smile as she follows. ... Did he really?

Doesn't even fade with the dragon's answer.]

Huh, strange...

[It's muttered under her breath as she glances over her shoulder, and then up to the ceiling. What!? You never know...!]

Guess it's just me for now.

["Is there a problem, Miss?"

Tifa shakes her head.]

No. It's alright. I'm sure he'll turn up.

[flamekthunder]

[The dragon does look at her oddly when she looks up, its own gaze also following before turning back to her.

"We've already received instructions during the reservation to prepare all meals, and we have a special service that will be ready for you shortly. If you need anything, just let us know."

With that, the dragon opens the door for Tifa before handing her the key, gives her a smile, bows, and steps back.]

[starshower]

Ah, alright. Thank you.

[She takes the key, looking still a bit confused again as she takes a look around the room. She thought she might find him in here waiting to surprise her, and now her nerves are all abuzz again as the dragon leaves.

...

....

And now it's silent, save for the sound of water outside in their little private spring.

Slowly, she steps in and peers around the corner into the room proper, her voice tiny as she calls out.]

... Eustace?

[DON'T STARTLE HER.]

[flamekthunder]

[He's not in the room, no...

However, she'll hear the sound of something splashing on the waters in the pool outside, and by that little hint she may be able to guess where he's been hiding.

Should she make her way there, she will find Eustace just lounging in the water already, smirking.]

Took you long enough.

[starshower]

[She does, indeed, hear the splashing, and she wanders curiously to the door to slide it open and—

Her heart leaps so fast in her chest that the bubbles come spilling into the air, a mix of pink and red. There may also be some similarly shaded starflowers blooming in the bushes around the water.]

Eustace...!

[He's... already...in the pool....]

When—? How did you—!?

[flamekthunder]

[He just continues to smile lightly at her.]

I already knew you were heading this way... Not too hard to set up a little trap.

[starshower]

[Her hands go to her hips, her own smile blooming along with more of those bubbles that are now starting to rise from the water as she approaches.]

Led the rabbit right into the jaw of the wolf, did you?

[This sly wolf. Her sly wolf.

Her eyes shamelessly rove over him, even through the water.]

[flamekthunder]

[A grin as he watches her... And then slowly moves further away towards the other side of the large pool.]

She still needs to come closer.

[starshower]

You know the rules of the springs. Still need to get out of these clothes first.

[Tifa peers at him coyly, watching as he wades further away, and she tugs gently on the hem of her sweater, eyes beckoning him back.]