[ 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.]
[ He's so much easier to carry around than Tagliatelle, and that just means she's going to make so many more attempts at this! ]
Oho! To the playground, then!
[ Forgive her if she's a bit... eager as she strides across the temple grounds and over to the aforementioned playground. This time of day, and with how chilly it is outside, it's quiet and perfect for them to sit together. By which we mean, for Juniper to take her seat on a bench and keep Minato in her lap. Hehe... ]
Is this all right, Minato?
[ It feels right to call him by his full name at a moment like this, when they're finally acting on feelings they'd buried in the past. ]
[It's nice to hear his name from her lips like that, even though he also likes the nickname she's given him. There's just... something special about it, and it makes this moment all the more serious.
Of course, he's also not about to argue being in her lap... he's very weak to this sort of thing, thank you! Juniper is a strong and mighty lady and that makes her very, very sexy.]
I don't think anyone would be able to say it isn't... [QUITE FRANKLY. HE CAN'T IMAGINE IT.]
But... yeah. I'm happy like this.
[He reaches up to gently thread his fingers through her hair, brushing some of her bangs from her face--and then he tips his face towards her to capture her lips in another gentle kiss.]
[ She really can't help herself when his response draws a chuckle out of her. Minato's moments of complete frankness are always such a treat... And it's exhilarating, to see him like this, being a bit bolder and brave for himself, too. ]
Ah, you're right. Lucky you, then!
[ Her arms move to once again wrap around his waist, holding him to her gently as she likewise angles her head to meet the press of his lips. His lips are soft and gentle against hers and it's wonderful and warm. She lingers if he does, too, and before long she finds herself humming approvingly into the kiss while she savors the feeling of his hands in her hair... ]
[It's dangerous, Minato thinks, how easily he could lose himself in this. How lucky he really does feel to be seated right here, with Juniper's soft lips against his own, with her happiness and her sparkle lightening his heart as easily as that.
They were apart for awhile, and yet having her back right here and now feels so natural...
Minato couldn't be happier.
When he does pull away from the kiss, it's just to drag in a quick breath before he dives in for another. And then another, and another--]
[ They were apart for awhile, and parted with so much left unsaid and hanging in the air, besides...
But now, as Minato settles against her and they kiss again, and again, and again— ]
You're so cute, Minato. I'm going to like kissing you so much...
[ She can't help it. She wants to spoil him, to say all of the things she hesitated to before. Plus, he fits so nicely in her lap, and the way he's kissing her is so sweet... Just like she thought he would. ]
[She's right about that. When he's curled up against her like this, with her lips warm against his... it's so easy to get lost in it, and completely forget the February cold.
He huffs out a light laugh at that, lips curved into a smile. Around Juniper... it feels like he just can't stop smiling.]
You keep me warm. You've always kept me warm.
[Even before this. But now that they're at this point...
He reaches up with a hand to gently cup her cheek, leaning in for another kiss.]
... And you know, you're a really amazing kisser yourself.
Juniper can't help but chase his lips after that next kiss, always eager for more, for another chance to feel his soft lips on hers, but she stops herself to give a sweet little laugh at his compliment.
She could say that she's had plenty of practice this whole while, thanks to adventuring with Childe, but... ]
So are you, ehe... [ She leans in, but this time to kiss him on the tip of his nose. ] You're going to get so tired of kissing me, and I only just got here!
[ Almost reflexively so, she leans into his touch when he cards his fingers through her hair. Her rabbit ears give a little twitch atop her head, too, giggling as Minato seems to stumble to find the right words. She's not quite sure, either. No word really feels like it's enough to describe how light and fluffy and warm she feels at the blossoming of a new romance...
Though, she has an idea what might be even more fun! ]
[.... this is another Childe's Narwhal situation, isn't it?
Minato is immediately staring at her when she asks that, of course, because--well. He's a teenage boy. His mind goes to a few places, and one of them is the gutter.
And he breathes out a hasty sigh of relief when she specifies. That's. Not that he's not interested in every other option, it's just... it's just... well. He wants it to be special... even if that's cheesy.]
Oh--your ears. Right.
[... well. If he's honest with himself:]
Actually... I really would like to. If you don't mind. [THEY LOOK SOFT.]
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realpolitik2023-04-25 12:16 pm
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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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Oho! To the playground, then!
[ Forgive her if she's a bit... eager as she strides across the temple grounds and over to the aforementioned playground. This time of day, and with how chilly it is outside, it's quiet and perfect for them to sit together. By which we mean, for Juniper to take her seat on a bench and keep Minato in her lap. Hehe... ]
Is this all right, Minato?
[ It feels right to call him by his full name at a moment like this, when they're finally acting on feelings they'd buried in the past. ]
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Of course, he's also not about to argue being in her lap... he's very weak to this sort of thing, thank you! Juniper is a strong and mighty lady and that makes her very, very sexy.]
I don't think anyone would be able to say it isn't... [QUITE FRANKLY. HE CAN'T IMAGINE IT.]
But... yeah. I'm happy like this.
[He reaches up to gently thread his fingers through her hair, brushing some of her bangs from her face--and then he tips his face towards her to capture her lips in another gentle kiss.]
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Ah, you're right. Lucky you, then!
[ Her arms move to once again wrap around his waist, holding him to her gently as she likewise angles her head to meet the press of his lips. His lips are soft and gentle against hers and it's wonderful and warm. She lingers if he does, too, and before long she finds herself humming approvingly into the kiss while she savors the feeling of his hands in her hair... ]
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They were apart for awhile, and yet having her back right here and now feels so natural...
Minato couldn't be happier.
When he does pull away from the kiss, it's just to drag in a quick breath before he dives in for another. And then another, and another--]
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But now, as Minato settles against her and they kiss again, and again, and again— ]
You're so cute, Minato. I'm going to like kissing you so much...
[ She can't help it. She wants to spoil him, to say all of the things she hesitated to before. Plus, he fits so nicely in her lap, and the way he's kissing her is so sweet... Just like she thought he would. ]
Eheh, it doesn't feel so chilly out now, does it?
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He huffs out a light laugh at that, lips curved into a smile. Around Juniper... it feels like he just can't stop smiling.]
You keep me warm. You've always kept me warm.
[Even before this. But now that they're at this point...
He reaches up with a hand to gently cup her cheek, leaning in for another kiss.]
... And you know, you're a really amazing kisser yourself.
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Juniper can't help but chase his lips after that next kiss, always eager for more, for another chance to feel his soft lips on hers, but she stops herself to give a sweet little laugh at his compliment.
She could say that she's had plenty of practice this whole while, thanks to adventuring with Childe, but... ]
So are you, ehe... [ She leans in, but this time to kiss him on the tip of his nose. ] You're going to get so tired of kissing me, and I only just got here!
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Minato huffs out a faintly amused laugh at that in response, reaching up to thread his fingers through her hair affectionately.]
I don't think that's possible, to be honest... it's really fun.
[He wrinkles his nose for a moment.]
"Fun" doesn't feel like a strong enough word... it's a lot more than that.
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Though, she has an idea what might be even more fun! ]
Do you want to touch them?
[ ... ... ...
WAIT. ]
M-My ears, I mean!
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Minato is immediately staring at her when she asks that, of course, because--well. He's a teenage boy. His mind goes to a few places, and one of them is the gutter.
And he breathes out a hasty sigh of relief when she specifies. That's. Not that he's not interested in every other option, it's just... it's just... well. He wants it to be special... even if that's cheesy.]
Oh--your ears. Right.
[... well. If he's honest with himself:]
Actually... I really would like to. If you don't mind. [THEY LOOK SOFT.]
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