✿ •||• Next Stop: Anywhere! » SFW Catch-All

[worthit]

WHO: Rapunzel and you!
WHAT: Tons of things
WHEN: The duration of her stay in Nightwake/Seasons
WHERE: Everywhere
WARNINGS: None! There will be a separate post made for NSFW stuff if the need arises.

NAVIGATION WILL GO HERE. Prompts in the comments.

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✿ •||• April Test Drive Prompts: 2024

[worthit]

Getting caught in the pouring rain

[alkyd]

[ Jinhai had enjoyed Rapunzel's company the first time they met. She was fun to be around, and had an energy and enthusiasm that he couldn't help but be drawn to. So when the opportunity to work together came up via the statue commission, Jinhai couldn't help but reach out to see if she wanted to collaborate. Great minds think alike, two heads are better than one, etc etc.

And so far, their collaboration is proving to be everything he hoped for. Working with someone as creative as she is has been a delight, not that they've gotten very far into said work just yet. First, they need supplies.

Which is what they're on their way to get when the rain starts. Ugh. Jinhai doesn't mind the rain, but usually he's more prepared for a sudden downpour. If he'd thought to bring his sketchbook along, he could just make them some umbrellas but...ah well. ]

Should we run for cover or stick it out?

[worthit]

[So her start in Nightwake City had been somewhat hectic and incredibly stressful. Since then, however, she's managed to bury her feelings way, way deep down in there bounce back with surprising speed! Who knew that just pretending a problem didn't exist was such a good way of dealing with it?

Since then she's thrown herself into all sorts of projects to keep her mind occupied, and the sculpting commission was just one of them. It hadn't even occurred to her to collaborate with someone this soon into her stay, but Jinhai reached out, and knowing what she does about his art style it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get to know him better and get the job done while having a good time doing it.

It just took a couple of calls to get everything coordinated, and with an optimistic forecast the two had met up and set out.

Too bad the local weather had OTHER plans. They barely even get any warning, the clouds seeming to roll in quickly out of no where (in reality they'd been too busy talking to notice them until the light dimmed), and then BAM, DOWNPOUR.

At first all that Rapunzel can do is blink in surprise, jaw hanging open a little bit. She'd left her satchel back home herself, since she anticipated needing her hands free to pick through and carry supplies.

"Should we run for cover or stick it out?"

Bringing her hands up to push some rain away from her eyes and forehead, Rapunzel's answer is to laugh at first. She herself wasn't really expecting it, but the rain honestly just feels pretty good after everything. Like the sky itself is pouring its heart out since she's refused to. Granted, she doesn't make THAT connection, but there's a refreshing catharsis that comes before the cold sets in. So Rapunzel puts out her arms and steps away a few paces to spin, the wet hem of her sun dress twirling with the weight of the water until it slaps against her calves and sticks there a moment, only to fall away again with the same weight.

When she looks back at Jinhai she's offering a smile that may seem a little reckless, and holds out her hand as the urge to hold his for warmth slowly starts to creep in beneath her skin.]

As much fun as this is, we should probably try to find cover somewhere or we'll probably get sick!

[She'd feel bad if that happened.]

[alkyd]

[ When she spins in the rain he laughs, too, and then shakes his head to spray water in her direction. Not that it does much of anything with how hard it's raining at the moment. It's really just him being a little shit and having some fun, especially since he's sure Rapunzel will be receptive to it. It's one of the things he likes about spending time with her. He can joke around and she'll give as good as she gets.

The rain itself is refreshing, cool but not cold, the kind that he used to love playing in as a kid. It's tempting to run around splashing in puddles like he did back then, but her hand becomes the much more enticing offer. He craves her touch with an intensity that sneaks up on him, the desire subtle until she offers her hand.

There's no hesitation as he takes the offered hand and twines their fingers together. The relief he feels is immediate, though the desire to touch her even more doesn't go away. He sighs in contentment and then laughs a little again, his smile turning a little impish. ]

Yeah, we can't have that. A pretty girl like you gettin' sick would be a crime.

[ He starts to tug her down the street but stops and turns back. He's no expert on hair as long as hers, but even with it pulled up, he can't imagine it would be very comfortable to run around with once it was soaked through. Hmm...he could help her lift it, but it would be awkward to walk while holding hands and trying to carry it.

....

He frowns slightly, eyes going from her hair to their linked hands. Maybe...

With a mischievous look, he lets go of her hand and then scoops her into his arms princess-style. ]

Pull your hair into your lap so it doesn't weigh you down.

[ Ahh...this is nice. Her closer proximity makes the contradictory feeling of relief and desire all the stronger. ]

[worthit]

[She can't help it if the compliment takes her off guard. It's been a while since someone called her pretty and meant it in a flirtatious way, even if it was just a friendly tease. And really, if you put aside Eugene's easy way of address, none of the men she'd taken an interest in in the past had really paid such compliments as easily as Jinhai just did.

It was just a single compliment!! An off handed one at that! WHY?? Was her face flushing so warm?? Why couldn't she stop that silly little laugh from bubbling up in response? Why did it feel so nice? Warmth seemed to spread from where their palms and fingers met, up, up the length of her arm and winding its way down to the pit of her stomach.]

Oh, you're a charmer, I see.

[She teases back, having to speak up a little loudly to be heard over the rain as they begin to run- only to stop?? The look Rapunzel gives him is curious with a silent question. His eyes dart from her hair to their hands, and she wonders if he's going to let her go, but just as she was about to call his name in verbal question she sees that flash of mischief.

That's all the warning she gets before he's scooped her up into his arms, her letting out a surprised gasp and instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

?????

"Pull your hair into your lap so it doesn't weigh you down."

Rapunzel does as she's told, even as she frets-]

Jinhai- I've got to be heavy, come on!

[She knows that her hair, even dry, weighs a bit all combined, and then on top of that he's carrying her body weight!]

[alkyd]

Better to be charming than a jerk, right?

[ The banter with her is fun and easy. There's a strange kind of comfort in the back and forth, though it's not something he interrogates too closely. He doesn't really need to. Why he enjoys her company and why he finds her so charming...it's obvious, isn't it? He's started to take a romantic interest in her. Or maybe that's always been the case, a subtle interest that's grown over the course of their interactions and time together.

Jinhai grins at the small gasp, a jolt of satisfaction coursing through him when her arms wrap around his neck. His head bows as she does, so his face is closer to hers, their foreheads almost touching. Warm affection and amusement glimmer in his eyes.

He lets out a low, breathy laugh. ]

You come on. Do I look like a weakling? You're light as a feather.

[ This is not, in fact, true. With how much hair she has and how quickly it's being soaked by the rain, she's actually quite heavy. But not so much so that he can't carry her to shelter.

Or...maybe carrying her to shelter could wait. There's something very romcom about this moment, her in his arms as the rain falls, her touch and warmth in his arms soothing some antsy feeling dredged up by the rain. ]

[worthit]

Way better than being a jerk, I'll give you that one.

[She agrees with another chuckle, though her thought process screeches to a halt, laughter ending with a small choked off sound when she suddenly finds their faces so close to one another. She's conflicted, because on one hand it feels content, but there's also a part of her that still wants something more from this. It's got little to do with the rain when they're already this close, and its more like a purely magnetic draw.

Case in point, he's talking, she can hear him, clear as day even over the rain thanks to how close they are, but all she can focus on is the color of his eyes and the sound of his laughter. She doesn't actually hear a word he says.

She should probably answer, appease him so that they can keep moving and he won't be stuck just standing here holding both her and her soaked hair, but the words keep getting stuck in her throat no matter how hard she swallows.]

[alkyd]

[ Time seems to slow around them. Jinhai can still hear the rain hitting the ground and the muffled sound of people in the distance as they run for cover, but it all fades to the background, becoming a distant thrum of indistinct sounds. It's like they're in a little world all their own.

His eyes lock with hers and for a long moment he searches her gaze, watching the way she reacts, the way she seems hyper focused on him, his proximity, and the charged, almost electric air between them.

His eyes linger on her lips. ]

I'm...going to kiss you now.

[ He gives her enough time to reject him if she wants before closing the gap between them, his lips meeting hers. ]