decorator | a stolen fruit; a childish sin has taken root

Heehee.

[ And just like that, she's beaming again - she snapped back so quick you could practically hear the "ping"... ]

Honestly, I've only ever been to the beach for work... So I only kind of know what I'm doing. But if we pick a nice spot and maybe get something to eat, we can figure it out from there.

[ She offers him her hand. Yes, hand holding right out here in front of everyone. The scandal. ]

So why don't we go?

Ugh...

[ What was it he said about her way back when? That she was a handful? Yeah, that statement still applies, actually. Especially now that she's holding out her hand to him... something that he can only respond with his own hand, taking hers and holding it.

Holding her hand. In public. In front of everyone on this crowded, crowded beach.

The theater of their dreams is nothing compared to this. ]

Alright...

[ Admittedly, her hand in his does improve his mood a little, but not for the reason you'd expect. Instead, his mood is improving... because he's keenly aware of their surroundings, and can spot every single guy on this beach who had their eyes captured by the sight of Ai suddenly gnashing their teeth to powder as she holds the hand of the gangly, clearly-insane (since he's wearing all black in this weather) creepy-looking dude at her side

He almost considers flipping all of them off, but probably best not to instigate anything right now. This is already the kind of sight that would go in every single tabloid if Ai were still a famous idol here. ]

[ The contrast is made all the worse by the fact that one he takes her hand, Ai practically starts sparkling. Her smile's so bright that it's suddenly almost a little hard to look right at her. It's impossible to tell if she's genuinely oblivious to all the staring or if she's just so used to it by now that it doesn't even register. ]

Alright! We'll head down nearer the water! It should be a little cooler down there...

[ And with that, she starts cheerily pulling him along by the hand, still twinkling away.

Maybe it's a little silly for her to be getting this bubbly over a little handholding but she can't help herself. It's not something idols are allowed to do in public or really, full stop. Not unless there's a time limit, a handshake ticket and hundreds of thousands of yen added to the exchange. But here where she's not somebody anybody cares about, where she can at least playact at being a normal girl, it's totally fine for her to indulge in something like holding hands in front of everyone.

She directs him down to a spot a little ways away from the water - someone or something has politely set up a number of beach towels and umbrellas and she takes up under one with a satisfied sigh. ]

See? Isn't that breeze nice? And there's a little shade here for you, too.

[ Honestly, if they aren't staring at Ai, then they're staring at the utter insanity that is a man wearing all black at the beach. The sheer contrast is making them the most eye-catching couple on the beach, and while Oberon is a little annoyed at that...

He supposes he can put up with it for the sake of Ai's wishes. Even if walking around with his hand in hers disqualifies her from being a "normal girl". ]

...I guess.

[ Besides, wouldn't he be a hypocrite if he judged anybody for staring? After all, his own eyes can't seem to leave her either. He's a little annoyed that she's lacking in his marks, but she's still blindingly beautiful. ]

[ In a playful imitation of his dour tone: ] "I guess," he says.

[ Then back to grinning. She plops herself down next to him and reaches over to give his cheek a poke. ]

You're really determined to be grumpy today, huh. I guess that's no different from usual. Heehee.

[ Maybe it's just the sunlight, or maybe it's the summery energy but she's especially bright today and a little more animated than usual. It is just Servants that get their personalities amped up during summer, right? ]

Don't worry. I'm not gonna make you run around and break open watermelons or any of the other stuff you're supposed to do at the beach. You'd prefer just laying around and eating snacks, right?

[ The most cheerful woman ever and her dour grumpy boyfriend... the fact that their compatibility is so high just makes this pairing even more baffling, doesn't it? ]

Mmph... well, at least you understand that much.

[ Well, of course she does. The idea that she wouldn't understand what her Servant is like is absurd at this point. Meanwhile Oberon can't help but still be baffled by the effect summer has on people, though at this point he doubts there's a person alive who understands what Summer does to Servants and their Masters.

Still, isn't he letting her have his way with him a bit too much? ]

You're right, I'll be staying right here. Sorry to disappoint.

[ Ai just laughs. ]

That's fine by me. Honestly, if you suddenly decided you wanted to go splashing around in the sea or playing volleyball or something I'd be all kinds of concerned...

[ She's keeping her expectations moderately realistic, at least for the time being... ]

Then how about I go get us something to eat? Someone's grilling up some yakitori and I just know somebody'll be selling yakisoba, too. It's summer, isn't it? Ah, or maybe you want something sweet? I definitely saw a ice cream place on the way down here.

[ it's like she's trying to make up for all the summer energy he doesn't have... ]

[ God help everyone when the Servants start playing volleyball... ]

Yeah, yeah... ah, if you get something sweet, look for melon flavor. Melon.

[ Hey, she's definitely doing a good job of it. Besides, it's not like she can't have fun just because her Servant is a grump... he's sure she'll get roped into some kind of shenanigans with the other Masters and Servants, though he'll of course have to keep an eye on her just in case.

He's content to just kick back and relax. Personally, he'd prefer doing that in the comfort of their home, but if it makes her happy, he doesn't mind doing it at the beach... even though his outfit clearly conveys an utter lack of desire to even touch the water. ]

[ For the first time since they got to the beach, her sunny disposition falters a bit and she huffs at him. ]

Tch. Party pooper. Not that I was expecting anything different, but...

[ ... her words aren't necessarily a lie, but they ring with the tone of something insincere, anyway. Almost like they're covering for her actual feelings. But before they can leak out any more, she stands up. ]

Fine, fine. Melon soda and yaki-something coming up. Laze about here as long as you want.

[ And off she goes. It's a busy day, so she's probably going to be gone for a little while.

... a little while, I said. Sure, the beach is busy but... isn't she taking just a little bit too long for something this simple? ]

[ Honestly, he finds himself reaching a feeling of concern far before it reaches the point where she's been gone for too long. She's not in any danger, he knows this... and she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. That's what he tells himself as he lazes about, but... ]

...Blanca, watch our things.

[ Nevermind the question of what a silkmoth would be doing at the beach, how long she should be taking stops being a factor, as Oberon is finding it impossible to even relax without her with him. Thus, with his trusty silkmoth watching over their belongings, Oberon starts to look for his Master.

He imagines he'll have to deal with more teasing from Ai for this, but oh what the hell. ]

[ She's not too hard to find, at least - there's a section of the beach pretty thoroughly dedicated to food and drinks so if she's anywhere, of course it'd be there. The crowd's pretty thick and Ai's plenty small so spotting her is a bit of a chore but eventually, the throng of people parts at just the right time for her to be visible, with her back to him.

What makes this image less encouraging is that she's been... cornered, let's call it by a pair of guys who seem to be doing a whole lot of talking. Over the bustle, it's hard to hear what they're saying but going by their expressions and... well, the fact that this is Ai in a swimsuit, it's not that hard to guess what's going on here. ]

[ God. Damn it. He should've seen this coming. Rage flares in his chest and his hand twitches, but... he can handle this. He shouldn't have let her go off on her own in the first place, he's realizing, and that frustration mixed with his rage at those who have cornered her almost makes him want to take... drastic action, but no.

No, he can handle this in a better, more satisfying way... and hey, maybe even get back at Ai for all the teasing before she starts. ]

Oi...

[ From the perspective of Ai and the pair of guys, it's like he appeared out of nowhere... reaching a long arm past and dragging his Master out from where she's been cornered, pulling her into his chest and wrapping an arm around her waist. ]

You aren't harassing my woman, are you?

[ Oh he's picking his word-choice intentionally, isn't he? He's even flashing his creepiest grin. ]

[ As he approaches, it's a little easier to pick up on the conversation - the taller guy seems to be coming out with something about not letting a cute girl wander around on her own, talking pretty neatly over Ai's polite but increasingly strained protests that she's very much not on her own -

At least until she's pulled back against Oberon with a little help. The drinks she'd been carrying jostle in her hands but thankfully, she manages not to spill any. ]

Oberon...? Ah, um, I thought you were...

"Uh, now who's harassing her?" [ So says the slightly shorter guy who has the energy of someone who doesn't know when to shut up. ] "Is talking to a girl at the beach a crime now?'

Uh huh, a heinous crime, especially talking to one who's already taken.

[ Oberon's tone is jovial as usual, as if this is all just one big joke, something to laugh off... and yet somehow, it's still clearly dripping with venom.

His arm wraps around Ai possessively, holding her tight and frankly invading her personal space far more than they were, but unlike them he's allowed to do that. His tone remains jovial, but. ]

Let's cut the crap, shall we? How about you move along and I won't remember your faces, hm?

[ The fact that he still sounds so cheerful should make it obvious, at least to Ai, how pissed he is. ]

[ For just a second, it looks like things might escalate - the guy with the doesn't-know-when-to-shut-up vibes snorts derisively and squares his shoulders a little. But it's the taller guy, surprisingly, who makes the wiser call. He squints at the two of them for a second and clearly does some kind of mental math before deciding that the whole thing is simply not worth it. ]

"Drop it. C'mon." [ He directs that to the shorter guy, taking a step away as he does. ] "There's other girls."

[ And with that, the two of them retreat while doing their very best to not look like they're retreating.

Ai stares after them for a long moment and once it's clear they won't be turning back around, she lets out a long slow breath as if she'd been holding it this whole time. ]

I guess it really only counts when the guy says you're taken...

[ She peeks up at him - and then gives him a little grin. ]

"Your woman", huh?

[ "Nobody like this one" Oberon thinks, but chooses not to say. He had been considering a few things to do to them if things escalated... a few less than pleasant experiences, so it's a good thing that the other guy wisely chose to turn tail. ]

Bye bye!

[ His uncharacteristically joyous voice is probably more mocking than is necessary, but he doesn't particularly care to be polite. Still, he lets out a sigh as he drops the facade. ]

Seriously, I can't let you out of my sight for a second...

[ That's humanity for you, he supposes. Granted, it's not like she's being held by the most upstanding guy right now either. Surprisingly, though, he grins down at her when she brings up his choice in words. ]

Yeah, you're my woman. What, don't like it? Too cliché for you?

[ And Ai just beams at him in response. He, uh, was trying to get out ahead of the teasing here, wasn't he? ]

No, not exactly. I guess I was just a little surprised to hear it, that's all.

[ "Surprised" sure is one word for it. Surprised that she likes the sound of it, maybe. Not that she should be encouraging him to be any more clingy or possessive than he already is, but...

She belongs to everybody else as an idol. That was the whole reason Ai of B-Komachi even existed to begin with - for everybody else's sake but her own. The idea of Hoshino Ai belonging to just one particular person by contrast...

It's nice.

So she turns in his arms as best she can. It's just busy enough that nobody's paying them any attention and she only feels a tiny twinge of embarrassment in her belly when she rises up on her toes and presses a kiss to his cheek. ]

You sure moved pretty fast after you said you were staying over there all day, huh. ... But I'm glad. Thanks.

[ She really shouldn't encourage further possessiveness... she shouldn't and yet that's exactly what's happening, isn't it? Especially with that kiss to his cheek. ]

You should be. Such a high-maintenance Master you are... maybe I should mark you again so nobody else gets the same idea.

[ He is trying to get out of being teased, so he'll be going on the offensive, leaning down and lightly biting her ear. She thinks kissing him on the cheek in public is embarrassing? Try this on for size... ]

[ Entirely unsurprisingly, a surprised little squeak comes out of her - sweet and girlish and definitely embarrassed. ]

Wh- hey...!

[ She immediately grabs his face, smashing his cheeks in her hands. No biting!!! ]

Who's calling who high maintenance? I really wasn't kidding when I said I'd get mad, you know!

[ Huff puff, pout pout. It's a little hard to take her all that seriously in the cute swimsuit, but still... ]

If you're that worried, actually come with me instead of sulking off by yourself!

[ It's hard to take her seriously in general when her huffs and pouts are so cute... even though she is smushing his face with her hands, and suddenly their refreshments are in his care rather than hers. ]

What, it's just a little nibble...

[ He says, his voice distorted because of her cheek squishing. He's teasing, of course, since he accomplished his main goal... said-goal being showing off to the public yet again. Quite a few red faces were spawned from that ear nibble and the noise she made. ]

Fine, fine... I suppose someone needs to scare the unsavory ones away. Make sure they know who you belong to.

I hate to break it to you [ does she really tho ] but you're counting as one of the unsavory ones right now.

[ Only right now, she says...

With another of those little huffs, she takes her drink back from him (of course hers has a cute little umbrella in it...) and turns on her heel to start leading him further into the crowd. ]

Come on, then. You said you wanted something to eat, right? So let's go.

[ Looks like Ai's the one who's sulking a little this time. ]

Edited 2024-05-09 06:02 (UTC)

Really? I'm hurt, Ai...

[ He says, not looking hurt at all as he follows after her... clearly satisfied with having reminded her that she's just as easily bullied as he is. It seems he's finally enjoying himself at least... all it took was bullying Ai a little, though. ]

To think my own Master considers me unsavory... ah, I don't think I'll ever recover...

[ Someone is having fun playing this up... ]

At least pretend to sound less happy about it. Besides, you can't complain about people thinking you're unsavoury when you came to the beach dressed like that. You're basically advertising that you're up to no good.

[ Not that he's actually caused any trouble yet, but she knows full well it's just a matter of time.

For a moment, it seems like she's just going to walk on ahead of him in a bit of a huff but finally, she slows down enough for him to catch up. Once he does, she turns to him properly and offers her free hand. ]

Here. It's busy and I don't want you to have to pick another fight if we get separated again.

[ Or rather... she'll forgive him for now so long as he behaves himself. In front of everyone else, at least. ]

[ He has every possible bad vibe a person can have. Though it fits him more than say, a normal beach outfit, that's for sure. ]

Oh, alright...

[ Still, he's all too glad to take her hand in his again before sipping at his own drink... melon soda, just as he asked. At least he's consistent when it comes to taste in sweet things. ]

I'll try to behave... for now, at least.

[ Emphasis on "for now", huh? ]

That's probably the best I can expect from you, huh...

[ But she does look a little mollified now that they're making their way along hand in hand. She'd meant it one hundred percent when she wasn't expecting him to throw himself into... whatever summery activities people do on the beach, but having him sit and sulk about the whole thing had dampened her mood a bit.

This, though - holding hands and walking up and down the beach together - it's more than enough for her. It's as close to acting like a normal couple the two of them can get, even if it's only playacting. But even this is more than she ever would've been allowed to do back home.

It's a good thing they're holding onto each other, too - it's busy enough here that they'd definitely get separated if their hands weren't linked. ]

You know, I've been meaning to ask... what exactly did Nagiko-chan mean when she said summer was "cursed"? It's busy, but everyone looks like they're having a good time.

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