[Of course, it absolutely is. She reaches for his hand and he reaches out to meet hers in return, squeezing her hand gently in his own.
That much, at least, he's comfortable with.
But admittedly, he's a little quiet as they approach the shrine, because his thoughts just keep replaying back that moment--pressed close in that booth, their faces right there...
... It'd be okay, wouldn't it...? To just... reach out, and see if that's what Juniper wants too?
--then the shrine is there, and Minato blinks, coming back to himself.]
Um--let's start with the fortunes and the actual shrine, and then we can spend some time at the playground.
[ His hand is so warm in hers, and were it not for the fact that there's so many different sights to see along their journey to the shrine, she might have been lost in her own thoughts and feelings, too. So maybe it's a good thing, that she instead finding herself in awe at every turn.
When they reach the shrine, Juniper is just looking up and all around her; she may not be familiar with the religions of Minato's world, but... Even as an outsider, she can tell that this is a precious, revered place. Part of her is also trying to match what she sees with what she remembers from Minato's memory, and... Naturally, there are a few spots she'd forgotten, but... ]
Mm, I... This is incredible though, isn't it, Mimi? I saw this place before, in your memories, and now I'm... I'm standing here! Right here! With you...
[ It's nothing short of amazing, to be here in the flesh, and with Minato. ]
[Ah... the way she puts it isn't something he'd ever really considered. But she's a lot like Liz in that way, isn't she?
She's always, constantly making him see life in a new way. So he smiles, because he can't help but smile, and squeezes her hand gently in his own.]
It is... it's really amazing. When you put it like that... I really like thinking of it that way.
[He's quiet for a moment, tilting his head to one side before:]
It makes me think that... now that I've brought you here to the place you saw in my memories before, you've... really entered my life for good. It wasn't temporary.
[ Ah... She missed this feeling. After being apart for so long with only short messages to go on, Juniper had almost forgotten what it was like to actually have Minato around, to be there to hear his calm, heartfelt words. His aura really is so different from the sort of volatile energy that she and Childe often display, but... in the best way possible. She has always appreciated Minato for that, from the very moment he welcomed her to that shared house and he offered her his help.
She also very much missed the feeling he gives her, when her heart is like a little rabbit's foot thumping in her chest. She's very forgetful, but she still remembers what he'd called it before: ]
Ahaha... doki! But I was never planning on being temporary, Mimi...
[ Whether as a friend, or as someone hoping for more... She was never going to write herself out of his story. Not by any means. Not for as long as he'll have her. ]
Let's go get our fortunes! I'm feeling really lucky today!
[Oh... oh no, that's so cute. She remembered the word...! And she used it in just the right context.
Minato rubs the back of his neck sheepishly in response, thoroughly charmed. Her good cheer, her chipper responses... ugh, he's so weak to them.]
Ah...
[Juniper was never intending on leaving him behind, huh...? He was so used to that, so used to people passing out of his lives, that maybe he wasn't being fair. But... it still makes his heart flutter to know that she's planning on sticking around.]
... Right. Fortunes. [Focus, Minato!]
They're over this way, but we should pray first, okay? It's polite.
[ He sure has been rubbing the back of his neck quite a bit during their time together... Juniper isn't entirely sure that it means, but she can only hope that she's not making him feel uncomfortable - or that if she is, that he can tell her. She may be headstrong and open about her feelings, but... She can understand boundaries, too.
For now, though, she quickly finds herself more concerned about accidentally offending the deities of Minato's world. ]
Oh! Of course - I wouldn't want to get into trouble with the spirits or gods!
[She's so cute. Minato has a... rather disdainful outlook on gods, especially given his otherwise mild demeanor, but it's still polite and nice to visit the shrine properly! So he'll show her how to pray and make her offering, and when they've successfully accomplished that, then he tugs her gently towards the fortunes.]
Alright--now it's the moment of truth. Are you ready?
[ She'll match his every physical move dutifully, and pray... Although she's not really sure who she's praying to. But she knows what she's praying for, and that's for Minato's wellbeing and happiness.
And now comes the time for fortunes! She nods and squeezes Minato's hand again... ]
Mm, the moment of truth...! Let's see what fate has in store for us!
[ She looks at him, wide-eyed. So the fortunes of this realm hold much weight...! Oh, it would be so dreadful if she got a terrible fortune... It would put such a damper on this date (?) with Minato... ]
I'll do my best, Mimi! I won't let you down!
[ With a very serious nod, she draws in a deep breath, closes her eyes, and then reaches to draw her fortune before she holds it out at Minato, her palm open and facing up. ]
[ The entirety of her being seems to brighten and perk up when she hears "great blessing", right up to the very tips of her fuzzy bunny ears, which twitch at attention. ]
"Great blessing..." Wow!
[ Great blessings... and in romantic relationships!? That addendum has her blinking for a moment, cheeks flushing, because of course the first thing that comes to her mind is the very person in front of her. She doesn't need any more luck when it comes to her and Childe, but - ]
Oh. I-I wonder what the gods mean by that? Maybe Ajax and I will find treasure soon? Or—
[ maybe the real treasure was the Minato they both romanced along the way!! ]
[ It wouldn't have been arrogant at all, especially when it would have been the truth. Juniper can feel her cheeks growing ever warmer as Minato trails off and then pulls his own fortune; she can't seem to keep herself from staring at his face, and watching his hands as he pulls his own fortune.
At his prompting, she reads it out for him in kind, just as he did for her. ]
It's...
[ ... ]
Hey, it's the exact same fortune, Mimi! "Great blessing" and good luck with romance! We match!
[That throws Minato off, without a doubt. He blinks blankly for a moment, staring at her--and then shifting his gaze to the temple around them, and then back to Juniper.
This is... he's not a religious sort (of course not, not with what he's seen), but he also can't deny that there is... something a little like fate that runs through what happens in their world--their worlds, even.]
The chances of that happening are... [Mindbogglingly small.
... Does that mean the Universe is telling him something? He thinks... that that's exactly what that means.
... A slow breath in, and Minato squares his shoulders. He's been through a lot since that TV show filming, and he likes to think he's gotten braver. But even more than that... he likes to think that he's learned how precious and important it is to not let things pass you by.]
[ Call it a little bit of fey luck, perhaps. Or the gods of this world smiling kindly upon Minato (for once...) or both! Juniper, for her part, is exactly the sort to believe in fate. It was fate that brought her to the show, that allowed her to meet so many wonderful friends, that allowed her to find a soulmate in Ajax, and to let her Dandelion Heart run free and wild and to find herself falling for others, too...
Others like Minato. Though she couldn't bring herself to act on her little flower bud of feelings back then, she has, from the very beginning, wanted to be close to him and be there for him - whether as a friend or as a hypothetical - even while she and Childe fell into everything together and even while she knew Minato's heart longed for others, too.
But now...
Now, he's being so brave, and letting himself act on his feelings, too. The little bunny kicks in his heart that he'd written to her about in her scrapbook. He's asking if it's okay to kiss her, and this time there's no Pocky game or bottle-spinning involved, nor a bingo card in sight.
He's asking if he can kiss her because he wants to... ]
Ah... I would really like it if you gave me a kiss, Mimi!
[ She smiles, warm and bright, while she leans in closes her eyes. Much as she'd like to beat him to the punch here, she also thinks... It's important, for Minato to be the one to initiate, for him to see it through with his own will. ]
[Juniper is so right. She's always done a really good job at understanding him and his needs, and this time is no different--Minato has to be the one to reach out to her, has to be the one to actually make this kiss happen.
And so... he does.
She leans in and closes her eyes, and Minato reaches out with his hand to gently rest it on her cheek. She's so... so beautiful like this, lips curved into a smile, all good cheer and kindness and sunshine.
And he definitely, completely wants to kiss her.
So Minato leans in as well, lips curving into a faint smile himself, and slowly presses their lips together for a gentle but very lingering, very affectionate kiss.]
[ Ah... She's wondered for so long now what it would be like to kiss him, but not even her daydreaming and idle thoughts could compare to this, could prepare her for how full her heart fees, how quickly it beats in her chest.
Of course she kisses him back duly, lingering as long as he does, even though it feels like time stops the moment that their lips touch. Her hand lifts to rest gently against the hand of his that rests upon her cheek, and the other comes up to his shoulder.
...
When they do finally break the kiss, Juni's ears have tipped back a bit, her cheeks deeply flushed. A first kiss with someone always feels so special... ]
[The flush on her cheeks and the smile on her face are the first things Minato notices when he pulls back--and they make his heart skip a beat, and then another.]
... I am too.
[Gently, his thumb strokes over her cheekbone, and he smiles. It's nice... to be this close.]
Thanks... Juni-chan. Thank you for coming. Thank you for being here with me.
[ Likewise, she finds herself utterly captured by the way he looks, softly, fondly smiling. Does he even know how much his smile makes her heart flutter...? ]
No, I... [ Her fingers curl around his hand. ] I should be the one thanking you, for having me here... And letting me into your heart.
[ Leaning forward a bit, she tips her head and rests it against his shoulder. ]
[ Oh... This is so nice. Nicer than she could have imagined. Her arms wind around him in turn as she draws in a deep breath and his scent along with it, expelling it in a sigh. ]
Mm, I... I'm sorry... That I held myself back before. I couldn't cherish you properly before, either...
[ For all of her talk back then of her Dandelion Heart and letting all of her feelings bloom, and trying to be true to them to an extent... Somehow, with Minato, she could never bring herself to do more than encourage him to tell Childe about his feelings. Of course she cared about him deeply and had a crush on him, but... Despite her resolve, he was the one person she couldn't be fully honest with. She's regretted it all this time, especially after reading his note, but... They all had enough on their plates back then.
It was much more important to her that both Childe and Minato knew of each other's feelings, but now... ]
But I don't want to hold back anymore. Is that all right, Mimi...?
[He shakes his head at that immediately, expression softly affectionate. Honestly... trust Juniper to take everything like that on her shoulders, when they'd been dealing with so much and when Minato hadn't been any better at parsing through and acting on his feelings.]
You don't have anything to apologize for.
[It's definitely not her fault, and it isn't anything he wants her to feel bad for. After all:]
It just took us some time to come back to each other... but now we're both here.
[He pulls back enough to look at her properly, gently tipping her chin up if she allows it so he can meet her eyes.]
Of course it's okay. That's what I want too... definitely.
[ They are both here, in this perfect moment, and as he tips her head to look at her properly and she finds that quiet, soft affection of his she can't help but agree... What matters is now, what matters is that they're both braver and stronger than before, and they won't let this pass them by any longer. ]
Mimi... [ Her arms wind more tightly around his waist. ] Then... Heh, the gods were right. We did both get a great blessing and good luck with romance. Isn't that just wonderful!?
[ A bright laugh bubbles up out of her as she just... draws away just enough to be able to scoop him into her arms with an uncanny ease. Her Strength score... ]
Let's find somewhere to sit and kiss some more!
[ IN FRONT OF THE GODS AND EVERYONE!! The Classic Juniper Way. ]
[Oh my god. She's so blunt and so bold... Minato's cheeks flush despite himself, because he's been back in polite Japanese society for a few months since the show, and he's forgotten... well, how Not Like That it can be, elsewhere.
But that doesn't mean he's about to say no.
Instead, he huffs out an amused laugh and wraps his arms around her neck, since she's lifting him so easily.]
We could go over towards the playground... there are some benches over there.
I don't think anyone will bother us this time of year. [when it's cold.]
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realpolitik2023-04-25 12:16 pm
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That much, at least, he's comfortable with.
But admittedly, he's a little quiet as they approach the shrine, because his thoughts just keep replaying back that moment--pressed close in that booth, their faces right there...
... It'd be okay, wouldn't it...? To just... reach out, and see if that's what Juniper wants too?
--then the shrine is there, and Minato blinks, coming back to himself.]
Um--let's start with the fortunes and the actual shrine, and then we can spend some time at the playground.
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When they reach the shrine, Juniper is just looking up and all around her; she may not be familiar with the religions of Minato's world, but... Even as an outsider, she can tell that this is a precious, revered place. Part of her is also trying to match what she sees with what she remembers from Minato's memory, and... Naturally, there are a few spots she'd forgotten, but... ]
Mm, I... This is incredible though, isn't it, Mimi? I saw this place before, in your memories, and now I'm... I'm standing here! Right here! With you...
[ It's nothing short of amazing, to be here in the flesh, and with Minato. ]
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She's always, constantly making him see life in a new way. So he smiles, because he can't help but smile, and squeezes her hand gently in his own.]
It is... it's really amazing. When you put it like that... I really like thinking of it that way.
[He's quiet for a moment, tilting his head to one side before:]
It makes me think that... now that I've brought you here to the place you saw in my memories before, you've... really entered my life for good. It wasn't temporary.
[Now he can believe in it, if that makes sense.]
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She also very much missed the feeling he gives her, when her heart is like a little rabbit's foot thumping in her chest. She's very forgetful, but she still remembers what he'd called it before: ]
Ahaha... doki! But I was never planning on being temporary, Mimi...
[ Whether as a friend, or as someone hoping for more... She was never going to write herself out of his story. Not by any means. Not for as long as he'll have her. ]
Let's go get our fortunes! I'm feeling really lucky today!
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Minato rubs the back of his neck sheepishly in response, thoroughly charmed. Her good cheer, her chipper responses... ugh, he's so weak to them.]
Ah...
[Juniper was never intending on leaving him behind, huh...? He was so used to that, so used to people passing out of his lives, that maybe he wasn't being fair. But... it still makes his heart flutter to know that she's planning on sticking around.]
... Right. Fortunes. [Focus, Minato!]
They're over this way, but we should pray first, okay? It's polite.
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For now, though, she quickly finds herself more concerned about accidentally offending the deities of Minato's world. ]
Oh! Of course - I wouldn't want to get into trouble with the spirits or gods!
I'll follow your lead, Mimi...
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Alright--now it's the moment of truth. Are you ready?
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And now comes the time for fortunes! She nods and squeezes Minato's hand again... ]
Mm, the moment of truth...! Let's see what fate has in store for us!
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Go ahead and pick yours.
This is a very, very important choice, Juni-chan. Be careful.
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I'll do my best, Mimi! I won't let you down!
[ With a very serious nod, she draws in a deep breath, closes her eyes, and then reaches to draw her fortune before she holds it out at Minato, her palm open and facing up. ]
H-How did I do...?
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And so, he'll open it up for her, eyes scanning the fortune before both of his eyebrows arch.]
... "Great blessing". That's the best fortune you can pull. It says... you'll have particularly auspicious luck with romantic relationships.
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"Great blessing..." Wow!
[ Great blessings... and in romantic relationships!? That addendum has her blinking for a moment, cheeks flushing, because of course the first thing that comes to her mind is the very person in front of her. She doesn't need any more luck when it comes to her and Childe, but - ]
Oh. I-I wonder what the gods mean by that? Maybe Ajax and I will find treasure soon? Or—
[ maybe the real treasure was the Minato they both romanced along the way!! ]
Haha, how mysterious! Now it's your turn!
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He wonders if it'd be too arrogant to wonder if she's thinking about him when she cuts herself off.]
I wonder...
[Instead, he'll focus on pulling his own fortune, offering it to her in response to read it... since she let him read hers first.]
Here's mine. Wanna see what it is?
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At his prompting, she reads it out for him in kind, just as he did for her. ]
It's...
[ ... ]
Hey, it's the exact same fortune, Mimi! "Great blessing" and good luck with romance! We match!
[ What could this MEAN!! ]
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[That throws Minato off, without a doubt. He blinks blankly for a moment, staring at her--and then shifting his gaze to the temple around them, and then back to Juniper.
This is... he's not a religious sort (of course not, not with what he's seen), but he also can't deny that there is... something a little like fate that runs through what happens in their world--their worlds, even.]
The chances of that happening are... [Mindbogglingly small.
... Does that mean the Universe is telling him something? He thinks... that that's exactly what that means.
... A slow breath in, and Minato squares his shoulders. He's been through a lot since that TV show filming, and he likes to think he's gotten braver. But even more than that... he likes to think that he's learned how precious and important it is to not let things pass you by.]
... Juni-chan... is it okay if I give you a kiss?
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Others like Minato. Though she couldn't bring herself to act on her little flower bud of feelings back then, she has, from the very beginning, wanted to be close to him and be there for him - whether as a friend or as a hypothetical - even while she and Childe fell into everything together and even while she knew Minato's heart longed for others, too.
But now...
Now, he's being so brave, and letting himself act on his feelings, too. The little bunny kicks in his heart that he'd written to her about in her scrapbook. He's asking if it's okay to kiss her, and this time there's no Pocky game or bottle-spinning involved, nor a bingo card in sight.
He's asking if he can kiss her because he wants to... ]
Ah... I would really like it if you gave me a kiss, Mimi!
[ She smiles, warm and bright, while she leans in closes her eyes. Much as she'd like to beat him to the punch here, she also thinks... It's important, for Minato to be the one to initiate, for him to see it through with his own will. ]
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And so... he does.
She leans in and closes her eyes, and Minato reaches out with his hand to gently rest it on her cheek. She's so... so beautiful like this, lips curved into a smile, all good cheer and kindness and sunshine.
And he definitely, completely wants to kiss her.
So Minato leans in as well, lips curving into a faint smile himself, and slowly presses their lips together for a gentle but very lingering, very affectionate kiss.]
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Of course she kisses him back duly, lingering as long as he does, even though it feels like time stops the moment that their lips touch. Her hand lifts to rest gently against the hand of his that rests upon her cheek, and the other comes up to his shoulder.
...
When they do finally break the kiss, Juni's ears have tipped back a bit, her cheeks deeply flushed. A first kiss with someone always feels so special... ]
Ahh... I'm so happy, Mimi...
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... I am too.
[Gently, his thumb strokes over her cheekbone, and he smiles. It's nice... to be this close.]
Thanks... Juni-chan. Thank you for coming. Thank you for being here with me.
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No, I... [ Her fingers curl around his hand. ] I should be the one thanking you, for having me here... And letting me into your heart.
[ Leaning forward a bit, she tips her head and rests it against his shoulder. ]
I really care about you, you know...
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I really... really care about you too.
[A slow, content breath, and his other arm wraps around her waist to tug her into a gentle hug.]
You're so precious to me.
[He's so, so lucky to get to have this, after everything.]
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Mm, I... I'm sorry... That I held myself back before. I couldn't cherish you properly before, either...
[ For all of her talk back then of her Dandelion Heart and letting all of her feelings bloom, and trying to be true to them to an extent... Somehow, with Minato, she could never bring herself to do more than encourage him to tell Childe about his feelings. Of course she cared about him deeply and had a crush on him, but... Despite her resolve, he was the one person she couldn't be fully honest with. She's regretted it all this time, especially after reading his note, but... They all had enough on their plates back then.
It was much more important to her that both Childe and Minato knew of each other's feelings, but now... ]
But I don't want to hold back anymore. Is that all right, Mimi...?
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You don't have anything to apologize for.
[It's definitely not her fault, and it isn't anything he wants her to feel bad for. After all:]
It just took us some time to come back to each other... but now we're both here.
[He pulls back enough to look at her properly, gently tipping her chin up if she allows it so he can meet her eyes.]
Of course it's okay. That's what I want too... definitely.
[With all of his heart.]
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Mimi... [ Her arms wind more tightly around his waist. ] Then... Heh, the gods were right. We did both get a great blessing and good luck with romance. Isn't that just wonderful!?
[ A bright laugh bubbles up out of her as she just... draws away just enough to be able to scoop him into her arms with an uncanny ease. Her Strength score... ]
Let's find somewhere to sit and kiss some more!
[ IN FRONT OF THE GODS AND EVERYONE!! The Classic Juniper Way. ]
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But that doesn't mean he's about to say no.
Instead, he huffs out an amused laugh and wraps his arms around her neck, since she's lifting him so easily.]
We could go over towards the playground... there are some benches over there.
I don't think anyone will bother us this time of year. [when it's cold.]
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