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[The next few weeks were... Well "less than stellar" would be a severe understatement. It was no surprise when pretty much everyone in their circle learned about the giant mess of a fallout that occurred between the two. Understandably, Leia had the sympathy and Alvin the flack. Even Jude confronted him and punched him when he couldn't explain himself. What confused everyone was that it was clear the two did have mutual feelings, but the one who was supposed to be an adult wasn't acting them. Rowen tried to reason with him, to give him that elderly mature advice and remind him that this was not the path he had chosen and was one they all thought he had left.

Time and time again, Balan, Rowen, Jude, and even Yurgen asked him the important question: Why not? And all Alvin could say was that it just can't. Eventually they stopped asking since it was clear that Alvin had made up his mind. They didn't agree to it, but there wasn't much they could do. Elize again did not want have anything to do with him, both hurt and disappointed by his actions.

Only Elle contacted him again, and with her usual forthright attitude, remark how stupid he was being. Perhaps it was because Elle didn't have as many deep roots with them that she was able to not be as adversely affected by Alvin's action. She had never seen him before, so it just seems weird to her. And it was to Elle he eventually caved and told about he didn't think he would be a good match for Leia—that she deserved more. When he started to say he wanted her to be happy, Elle was quick to point out that what he was doing now wasn't really helping that. It was a fair point, and one he knew himself, but he just remained silent. He was using the logic that it might be painful in the short run, but it would be better in the long.

While Alvin was on his GHS, Elle had wandered into his office and was just being a nosy pre-teen, looking through his desk. It was there that she stumbled across the long forgotten tickets, and when she pulled them out, Alvin had caught her and was about to give her a playful smack on the head as punishment. But when he saw the tickets, he froze. He remembered the circumstances as to how he acquired them...and more about that particular day. When he saw Elle notice a particularly worn and old looking letter, he quickly shut the drawer, telling her to quit being nosy. But when she asked about the tickets, he told her the truth—they were for him and Leia. The deal was if she didn't miss her deadlines, he'd take her up there. Of course...that plan was shot now, so if Elle wanted to, she could go with Leia in his place.

Of course the girl would have none of it. She quickly pulled out her GHS and called Leia, asking where she was. After that, she grabbed Alvin's hand and forcefully dragged him out, even kicking at his shin when he tried to protest (and damn did that hurt). Not long after, they were at Helioborg, and again Alvin hesitated. He knew what the girl was trying to do, and somehow his feet actually allowed his body to be dragged to it. He had avoided Leia as much as possible, keeping only minimal contact and giving her short replies to any texts or calls she gave him. So seeing her there talking with Jude and Balan made his blood run cold.

It was awkward—he could see Jude giving him the cold look and even stepping closer to Leia, as if to help protect her for whatever pain he might dish out next. Balan on the other hand was a bit intrigued (of course he would). And then Elle was shoving and pushing him toward the group. The topic of the hot springs began, and even though he tried to just give the tickets to Leia for her to do what she wanted, she refused to take them. But he was refusing to go with her because it would be a bad idea. In the end, Balan settled it by taking the tickets and actually calling the hot springs.

"You're lucky, Alfred," Balan said after he hung up. "Those almost expired and that would have been a waste. But you're both good to go now! One honeymoon suite for just the two of you. It was the only one left, so you only have yourself to blame," he added when everyone gave him incredulous looks. "Anyway, it's about time we got back to work. Let's go, Jude."

Alvin could feel the intense look his old friend was giving him. Jude would later call him not to yell, but in a tired and somewhat pleading voice told him, "Just don't hurt her anymore, okay, Alvin? I know you're better than that, so...just try talking it over?"

The days leading up to that overnight trip were heavy for him. Several times he thought about just canceling, but the pressure everyone was giving was more than even he could take. And really, he did owe Leia at least something. He had asked for time to think. Hadn't he thought enough? The very least he could do was at least finally tell her what his thoughts were about this. To apologize. But all the endings that came to his mind after that...they didn't exactly leave him feeling all that good.

And now, they are at the hot springs. He tried to keep a normal facade, smiling and being as casual as possible with her. But he still maintained that distance, both physically and emotionally. Of course they were mistaken as an actual couple, particularly when they were rung up and led to their room. Of course that would just...bring a lot of awkwardness to stay, so he suggests they walk around, check the place out. As is the protocol, they had to change into the yukata-like robes provided and seeing Leia...well he tries very hard not to think too much about it, for once not commenting on how she looks.

The resort is rather large. Not as large as the water park, and it has a very old, traditional Kanbalar flair. But because of the season, there are plenty of people, both from Rieze Maxia and Elympios. There are families, singles, couples. It definitely had a relaxing atmosphere.

Now if only he could actually feel that way.

As they walk, he finally glances over to her.]

So...what do you think? I have to admit it's pretty nice.

[Small talk. Small talk is good, right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ is he trying to kill her? because when he comes out of the water (seemingly) out of nowhere, her heart feels like it's about to stop. the fact that he's... closer than she imagined they would end up being doesn't help matters much, either. neither does the fact that her eyes unconsciously linger on his torso for a moment before she wrenches her gaze away to look... anywhere that isn't at him, really. ]

Sorry! I thought you were still getting changed!

[ she doesn't know why she's apologizing— there's not anything inherently wrong with being near each other— but it slips out anyway as she glances his way one last time.

... this is going to be a lot more awkward than she anticipated. ]

[He had been looking outward, a hand raised to brush back his hair when he freezes and jerks slightly at Leia's voice as he looks at her. Wait—what—]

When did you—

[And then he realizes his eyes may have glanced a little downward and— Jeez, it's not like they've never seen each other in a state of half undress (or mostly undress). But somehow the context and circumstances changes everything, and he quickly glances away, that hand lowering more toward his lower mouth and chin as he sinks a little more into the water, turning away a bit.]

Er—no, it's fine.

[And since this is hella awkward, he's going to try and reach for something else to say.]

The, uh, bath is pretty nice, huh?

[Damn that sounds even more awkward.]

[ she doesn't notice that glance, but her hand reflexively moves to hold her towel a little tighter around herself regardless. the towel covers everything that should be covered just fine, but she still feels surprisingly self-conscious and very aware of the fact that he's next to her, and she can't keep herself from sneaking glances at him. they've been in their bathing suits together, so it's not like he's never seen her mostly-undressed, but this just feels... different.

so, she tries to be casual as she moves away from him just a little, sinking deeper into the water until it comes up to her shoulders. ]

Yeah, totally! It feels great. [ there's that forced cheer of hers, though it might even sound less convincing than usual. ] I was getting kind of hungry earlier, but this might be even better than food.

If you're feeling hungry, we don't have to stay too long. [Thank you, Leia's stomach, for providing an excellent excuse for them to leave at any moment.

...Except—] But they said they'd tell us when that was ready, didn't they. [... ...Well they still could leave at any moment if they wanted to. But he wants her to enjoy the bath first, so maybe—] If you want I can head out and check on it and let you enjoy some privacy.

[It's like he tried to think of a million excuses to try and flee, and it probably showed given how his words might have come out a little more rushed and stilted and then would be normal.]

[ the thing is, she might even feel weirder if he left. besides, they've seen in other in less than thing before, even if taking a bath together is a little different from hitting up rides at a water park. she can also tell there's something up with him, so... all the more reason to try to get him to stay, so they can try to work past this awkwardness. ]

Come on, at least stay for a little while longer! It'd be a waste of a perfectly good bath if you left now.

[ also, if he keeps this up, she might have to resort to something drastic. like grabbing him. maybe. ]

I can always come back later, you know. It is our own private bath.

[Leia, you might actually have to do that. Since he's actually starting to rise to leave.]

Yeah, right! It'll be way too late for that by the time we finish eating.

[ and she's going to start to stand and grab for his arm now. her towel also may or may not be slipping just a little since she's using both hands to grab him, but nothing is really showing yet. if he doesn't settle back down he. might end up getting an eyeful, though. ]

It won't be that late.

[Whoa, hey, no need to grab his arm! It surprises him a little because she does she really want to share the bath that badly? The quip is actually on the tip of his tongue, but he's becoming increasingly aware of their close proximity so whatever usual joke he would have made is held back. Especially since he has to look at her because of their positioning.

But he does notice that towel slipping so instead—]

Hey, be careful—!

[And he's just going to instinctively grab for it to, you know, try to keep it up. Except, uh. It results in his hands gripping her sides, right underneath her chest. So he's not touching anything but it's very close. Plus who knows who much might have slipped down regardless.

So cue awkward frozen silence on his end.

He tried, okay. He tried.]

[ here is his gold star for trying.

he does manage to keep the towel from being useless, but it ends up slipping low enough that there's some definite cleavage going on. for a moment, she's too stunned to actually do anything about it, her face turning red as she tries to process the situation they have found themselves in.

they're in a bath together, alone. they both have... some sort of feelings for each other. they're both in towels and nothing else, her towel isn't covering everything that it should be covering, and— this is the most important part of all of this— he's touching her. even if he's only touching her sides, his hands are close enough to her chest that she has to squeeze her eyes shut to keep her mind from wandering too far (just a little bit further up and he wouldn't just be touching her sides, and why is she even thinking about that to begin with?!) as she reaches up to swat his hands away and then clutch the towel tightly, adjusting it until it's where it needs to be before she turns away from him slightly. ]

Sorry, I... kinda forgot myself for a second there.

[Why is she closing her eyes why is she closing her eyes—but he's glad she did move and swat his hands away because for a moment his body had started to take over and there had been a moment where there had been a spark of desire to do the exact opposite of what he had been trying to do.

So he'll just as quickly move away, one hand pressed very hard behind his neck while the other is... Useless. He has no idea what to do so he'll just grip the edge of the bath and instead just kind of...move back further away. He's also trying very hard to forget what he saw, but again, very hard. Had her chest always been so well prop—

NOPE. STOP.]

Er, uh, no, I'm sorry, too, for, uh—you know.

[Well if Leia hadn't ever seen a flustered and nerve wracked Alvin, she sure is now. If it weren't for all the convoluted and complicated feelings, he could have easily played it off. If it were anyone else, he would be all over the teasing and flirting. If he had just been more upfront about his feelings, if they had gotten together, he probably would have been even more physical, probably reach out and pull her to him, maybe press his lips against her neck, hands slipping underneath that towel to remove—

He really wants to dunk his head under the water again because his thoughts are spinning wildly and spirits how is he going to last the night like this if he doesn't get himself under control? Why is it that even after all this time and him trying to shove these kinds of feelings out that they still run rampant—even more so now?

Why can't he just let her go and get over her?

So he'll just keep moving farther back, trying to distance himself before he really does end up acting on those urges.

And man is it really getting hot in here.]

[ if she wasn't reaching critical levels of embarrassment herself, she would actually be able to appreciate the sight of a flustered alvin, because when does that even happen? she's never seen a guy get bent out of shape like that over her before, and she certainly never expected to see alvin get like that. as it is, though, all she can really do is sink back into the water, her hands still gripping her towel, until it's up to her chin. the water is surprisingly clear aside from all of the steam so it doesn't really offer any extra coverage, but it makes her feel a little better regardless.

her face is still beet red and her heart is racing. she's having trouble wrenching her mind out of the gutter, but. she has to try to salvage this. ]

So, uh... [ think, leia, think. ] How much longer do you think it'll be until the food's done?

[ food. yes. a good go-to topic.

she could have tried to broach the issues surrounding them, but... she'll at least wait on that until she can look at him without wondering what would have happened if his aim had been off by just a little when he grabbed her. ]

That's a good question...what did that lady say again? [He had been still frazzled at the time at just the fact that they "had" to bathe together, so he had only been half paying attention.]

Half hour? Hour?

[....Spirits if they have to wait that long—]

Though what's the common rule about hot springs...you're only supposed to stay in the water for only so long, right? Or the heat might actually make you pass out. [Effort to try and give a light laugh goes here.]

[ that gets a laugh out of her, too, but it's more forced than anything else, because— ]

You know, I'm pretty sure you're right! I'm already starting to feel a little lightheaded.

[ see, she can make bad jokes, too. and any lightheadedness she might actually be feeling is... probably from how flustered she is, rather than the heat of the bath, anyway. ]

Maybe we should think about heading back if the food's not ready soon. I wouldn't wanna make you carry me back to the room or anything.

[ ... which comes out a lot less funny than it had sounded in her head. why is this happening. ]

[The image that first comes to mind is something he quickly tries to toss with all the other ones he's been having lately.]

Ah ha ha ha... Maybe. [A very small, light grin is about all he can manage. He happens to glance over at her again and has to just as quickly look away.

And then he's silent, unable to figure out anything else to say. He's trying to think of something—anything—so that it doesn't fall into an awkward silence, but it's going to unless Leia breaks it.]

[ unfortunately, she's just about as tapped for conversation starters as he is (especially because her mind is wandering, and she keeps getting caught up in thoughts of how she's going to get them back to normal by the end of this trip), so they do end up sitting in an awkward silence.

on the other hand, it doesn't last too long.

after a while, the door to the area swings open, and in comes the same staff member that told them about this bath to begin with. she looks equal parts pleased and confused (probably because she wasn't expecting to walk in on such an awkward atmosphere) as she explains that their dinner is ready and waiting for them in their room, and that their room has been fully prepared as well. it's as toasty and warm as it can get because there's a blizzard rolling in, but they might need to get cozy together for a little bit of extra warmth! or so she says.

once she leaves, leia finally rises out of the water a little, holding onto her towel again so they don't have a repeat of earlier. ]

So, wanna go ahead and head up now?

[ please don't make her suffer through this awkwardness any more. ]

[He had kept his eyes trained...at the sky. Yeah the sky is great. And the water was relaxing but all this awkward tension makes it less so. He's also thinking of what he's going to do after this. He tried keeping his distance, but apparently that isn't going to work with the way their friends keep interfering. It's also likely something he wouldn't be able to maintain. But after what he did to her that night...

He's a bit relieved when they're told their dinner is ready, and he's about to get up when he sees her doing the same. So he just stays where he is.]

Uh, yeah. You go on ahead first.

[ hey, the less chance of them awkwardly bumping into each other or something on the way out of the bath, the better— so she doesn't hesitate to go first, climbing out of the bath so that she can start to walk toward the changing area.

the thing is, she doesn't actually make it that far.

as she's walking along the edge of the bath, she manages to lose her footing. the floor is slippery with water and some soap (likely from the occupants before them), and she really is a little lightheaded from the heat at this point, so there's no stopping herself once she starts to fall. ]

Whoa—!

[ she's also falling backwards, so he's either going to have to catch her or break her fall the old fashioned way. ]

[He had been half watching, but it's not until she starts starting to flail and fall backwards.]

Watch it—!

[Without even thinking he rushes forward—well, as fast and well as he can given that this is water. Fortunately he's not too far from her so he makes it. His arms automatically wrap around her, trying to catch her or at least pull her to him. Except he doesn't really have much to stabilize his own footing, so her momentum forces him to fall backwards into the water.

They don't fall all the way back so at least he's not hitting his head (again—damn they keep falling like this way too often). But they are in a kind of sitting position with Leia more or less in his lap, legs tangled. His arms are also still around her, his face close to the side of hers.

At first he doesn't really notice their position, the concern for her being the foremost on his mind instead.]

That was close—you okay?

[ to her credit, she only flails a little bit more once he grabs her. given how often they watch each other's backs, it's easy to assume that he'll keep her from getting hurt once she feels him there.

that means that she's... sort of surprised when she feels them continue to fall even once his arms are around her. she might even squirm a little bit more on reflex until she realizes they're not falling anymore. then: ]

Yeah, you bet! I'm totally fine!

[ of course, she'd probably be better if she wasn't in his lap, because even if he doesn't notice their position, she definitely does. and she's very, very aware of how little "clothing" they both have on and how close they are, on top of that incident earlier, and... well, there are actually a lot of reasons why this is weird. she would probably take a chance and push herself away from him were it not for the fact that his arms are around her and that she doesn't want to make things too weird too quickly. ]

What about you?

[Around the time she first started talking, he became aware of their situation and how he's basically hugging her to him. The most logical thing to do is release her (no matter how awkward and abrupt) and let them carry on. Nothing wrong here. He had just caught her and that's how they ended up. Except now that he does have her close like this, all those thoughts and urges return. It would be easy now. Really easy. In fact his eyes had drifted down to her exposed neck, following down to her shoulder, and—

Ah. Yeah. That. Her scar.

It's faded a bit, healing, but it's noticeable just as it had been back at the water park. Still a painful reminder, though now he has his recent behavior to add to that guilt of hurting her. Yet even so, feeling her in his arms like this, feeling the warmth of her skin against his...

So her question goes half-heard and there's a small moment of silence from him before she'll feel his arms tightening around her. One arm shifts a little more upward, pressing against the underside of her chest as the other moves more downward, hand actually gripping the side of her hip. Then she'll sense his face lowering slightly before the brush of his lips against the side of her neck. He can taste the droplets of water and it's oddly sweet.

He knows he should not be doing this and she might freak (which might be a good thing, actually), but he can't stop himself. The things he's been wanting to do—the thoughts he's had since she entered—they're slowly becoming real.]

[ well... that's not the answer she had been expecting. she had expected him to get weird on her again, to maybe make a joke, or even to just silently let her go. instead, he holds her tighter, and even the placement of his arms is enough to bring color to her face. her mind is racing, all of those thoughts from earlier that she had worked so hard to banish are flooding back, her heart is pounding, her breath is even coming a little faster—

and then she feels his lips on her neck. even knowing he feels something for her, even with the thoughts she had earlier (and continues to have now), she didn't see that one coming. she goes very still, her breath catching in her throat at the feeling of it as she tries to will her brain to cooperate with her long enough to figure out what she should do.

part of her knows they need to stop— not just this, but everything they've been doing since that night at his apartment. they need to stop tiptoeing around the elephant in the room and fix their problems, especially if they're going to be doing things like this. on the other hand, even just that light brush of his lips against her neck had been electric, and it makes her want more.

after a long moment, she lays her hand over one of his arms, her thumb rubbing a gentle circle over it as she does. it's a sign that she's not necessarily rejecting this advance in spite of what's about to come out of her mouth. ]

Alvin... [ and she pats his arm. ] Mind letting me go for a second so we can get going?

[He can feel her go still against him, feel that gentle gesture. It's at least enough to bring a little more sense to him. He knows he probably should let her go, but instead—]

Sorry. [His voice is close to her ear now, a very light and soft murmur.] I know I should but— [If he lets her go now, he'll try to keep that distance again. He'll try to avoid her. Maybe he shouldn't have to, maybe he should just accept this as his reality, that this is what he really wants and that it should be fine.

But he already fallen on the other path. Isn't it too late to turn back now?

So trying to keep her there, trying to keep her to him—he's being unfair and cruel. He knows that. He knows he just keeps confusing her. So after another moment he grits his teeth and his grip around her loosens as he once again pulls back.]

...No, you're right. [He's not even flustered or awkward. If anything it's more like both recognition and resignation about his own actions. Like he's not going to try and deny it.] Guess I lost a little control back there.

[His arms no longer around her, he'll just wait for her to get up first since that's probably the better course of action given their position.]

[ that just about confirms what balan and elle had told her, then— if he lost control, then he probably had been holding back what he really wanted, right? ]

Hey, don't worry about it. [ there's no false cheer in her voice this time; her tone is just gentle and hopefully reassuring. ] It's not like I...

[ it's not like i didn't like it is what she's about to say, but she pushes herself up and out of his lap and starts to get out of the bath instead, shaking her head. ]

Er... nevermind. We can talk about it once we're in the room, okay?

[ even if it's a question, at this point she's going to press him for answers and try to get to the bottom of this regardless of what he says. ]

...Right.

["Talk."

There's an inward cringe as he slowly rises after she's out. With that slip and slight admission, it might really be a good thing to get it out, but...

This is so pathetic of him. Even he knows that. He said he'd be honest with her but he's been everything but that. So...maybe he should just resign to the fact that he can't keep this up any longer. Maybe a few years ago he could have. Could have just cut all contact and run away like he did with Presa. But didn't he say he didn't want to do that? What a big hypocrite he's being. On the other hand, it probably also shows how difficult it is for him to actually go down that path again.

He's on his side of the changing area, reaching to where he had put his clothes. He finds the robe, but...

...?

........???

There's some rustling around and opening drawers before he finally calls out to her.]

Uh, hey, Leia?

[This is... A little weird suddenly calling out to her like this, but the situation kind of calls for it.]

Are your clothes still there?

[And the question is also a weird one, but he's finding none of his, except... Well there's a note here.

... ... Complimentary laundry to be returned in the morning!? Well it's not like he doesn't have a change of clothes—or did they take those.

BALAN WHAT DID YOU DO]

[ she's still drying off when she hears him call to her, so there's a short pause where she goes through the same search that he had. like him, she turns up empty aside from a note. ]

Nope! Looks like they took them to wash!

[ at least they have their robes to walk back in. hopefully the clothes that are back in their room have been untouched, because if they really are supposed to get hit by a blizzard, not having real clothes could probably be a problem. even if rieze maxia has been slowly catching up to elympios and borrowing some of their technology, actual heaters still aren't very common— all their room really has is a fireplace, which could definitely provide some heat, but...

she shakes her head, casting that thought off for the time being as she pulls on her robe. ]

We can just get dressed when we go back to our room, right?