perfectmatch | week four

[He will look mildly surprised the whole time, caught between the exhilaration of soaring and the horror of moving at breakneck speed.

At this very moment, however, he glances at Yingying with a bashful smile. All of this is still new to him, feelings and labels both, but he knows for certain that he wants this to be a memorable occasion for both of them. And so, he holds the headband up.]

Ah, what do you make of this? Though the blooms are not wisteria, I wonder if this shade of violet is suitable.

[ Perfect. Can't wait to take their Space Mountain picture back as a souvenir. ]

Spring flowers, hm? This sort of color is my favorite.

[ Not surprisingly, she's been fond of all shades of purple for as long as she can remember. It came with the territory of being rumored to be a child of the wisteria, but over time, she's begun seeing the color as symbolic of all those fond memories she has of the village before.

It's not like she'd ever really shoot down an idea of his, anyway, especially not when offered with a bashful, somewhat boyish smile. Seeing him speak up and choose things with a bit more confidence only makes her want to nurture it more, to draw it out more. She can be encouraging in her own way, praising where necessary and leaving breadcrumbs for him to pursue. Tipping her head in invitation, she smiles coyly. ]

Well, go on. No need to be so shy. You can touch me, [ It'd be... nice, she thinks, if she could coax out more of him reaching out to her, like he had underneath the wisteria. New to it like this, though, a little reassurance for him can't hurt. ] Unless you're satisfied just looking from afar...

[Thank goodness. His shoulders slump minutely with relief upon hearing that she doesn't dislike his choice. With her blessing, he tucks in a stray strand of her hair behind an ear and moves to slide the headband on without disturbing her part as much as possible. Then he motions to the nearby mirror, positioned there for guests to appraise their news looks.]

I have looked from afar long enough. It is pleasant to see the colors of flowers so vividly up close, as opposed to merely admiring their fragrance.

[How Dongbaek had longed to see flowers in their vibrant glory again. Although she isn't here, he can also admit to missing such things. That, and it's a sign of how he and Yingying presently walk the same path, which he won't take for granted in the slightest.]

[ She follows him along to the mirror, cuddling in close so they can both fit in the reflection. With that settled — and the production managers sent off to go pay for their goods so the two of them don't have to waste time — a mischievous glint returns to her eyes, smile coy. ]

Uh huh.... and which is more beautiful now that you've seen both up close, the flowers, or me?

[ Much like the fey she's so commonly associated with, there's always a playful air about her, simply having fun teasing him and coaxing out cute reactions. That's all this is, too — as if she needs any sort of reassurance about her beauty. It's a question posed solely for the sake of knowing how he might look and act while he answers. Stuttering and unsure? Or condident? Either is charming in its own way. ]

[Even now, he hardly has a clue as to what he should do when faced with such proximity. It's exciting and new, though he suspects the novelty of it will always be there. And because of the intense surge in fondness, it takes him a moment to gather himself before he tentatively grasps her by a shoulder and looks at their reflection, where they now sport a fresh pair of ears each.]

The bloom I wish to see the most . . . would be you.

[See how she shines in the mirror. It isn't a direct answer, but the sight of Yingying like this, untethered in her joy, is breathtaking indeed.]

[ For maybe the first time with him, the apples of her cheeks flush at the comment, her smile losing some of its playful edge and giving way to something more soft. This sort of romantic, cliche line really only works because it's Yi Sang, and it's been like that since the beginning. With his arm around her shoulder, she loops one around his waist, with the other coming to rest atop his chest, her touch confident and graceful. ]

Still set on wooing me, I see.

[ She traces her nail in a delicate pattern down his chest, only one of a thousand tricks she has up her sleeve to tease and drive people wild. She'll have fun trying them all out on him — he's not like any of the patrons who came to the Pavilion, who spent lavish amounts of money just for an evening with her. Her touch isn't possessive, but it is firm and sure, lacking the shyness or butterflies that a fledgling relationship might have. You're mine. ]

Keep looking my way, then. I've not seen nearly enough of your gaze just yet.

[ With that, she gives him a pat on the chest and begins to tug him away from the mirror with her hold on his waist, keen to share the sights ahead with him. ]

[Woo?

He watches the trajectory of her fingertip as it makes its mark against the fabric of his shirt. Rather than searching with the palms of her hands for an alleged cheat sheet, the motion is purposeful and certain. It speaks for itself, imbued with a surety that conveys Yingying's heart in the absence of words. Instead of anxiety, Yi Sang's chest prickles in a pleasantly odd way as he raises his chin to meet her gaze.

Has he not looked at her enough, he wonders in a sudden fit of worry, only for the thought to occur that it must be a request once she steers them away from the mirror. Casting her one last look, he matches pace to make their way out of the gift shop, still grasping her by the shoulder.]

As you wish.

[Outside, they walk the long strip of road to a roundabout, where they're met by their first set of crossroads.]

Four types of lands lie before us. Which shall we venture into first?

week four | dates

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