incautiously | Folkmore inbox

"It's probably best to see them during the daytime," Nanami agrees, and they already have the sunset for after dinner. After that, they can retire to the hotel.

"No need to rush anything."

"Exactly." And they don't have to decide this time either, but it'll be good to start looking. The main thing about this though, is giving Nanami time to relax, to stop focusing on things that do him no good. Whether he's responsible for the teenagers or not, he still needs time.

And when the food comes, Haibara starts to eat.

Some might consider creating a schedule and checking out apartments as other forms of work, Nanami finds it relaxing. He also enjoys setting up and arranging an apartment. Haibara certainly is fine with however he does that, but he wants to make it an inclusive project, a team partnership, here in Tides. They're moving together.

He eats the food, and that too is a better experience than in Epiphany, where his meals often remind him of previous missions or other memories. In Tides, it's only him and Haibara and the joy that still comes every time he does something with Haibara. "Anything you'd like to do to feel more settled in Folkmore?" Nanami asks. He means besides taking care of him, which Haibara's certainly doing.

"I've just been sort of figuring it out as I go." Although his primary focus is spending more time with Nanami, that's also settling into a comfortable routine almost. Being away from Epiphany is definitely good for Nanami, and probably himself too, although he doesn't have anywhere near the memories the others probably do.

"I'll probably just look for whatever catches my eye."

Nanami nods. "Nothing wrong with that. I know I have my mission here, but we're also... living. Just living."

That statement aches a bit, but that's fine. They have a life here, a life, not just an afterlife. Not that it was bad. It was the best he thought possible. Nanami smiles at Haibara. It's gotten better here.

"I will continue training, but I want to invest time in that as well. In our life here."

"I need to pick up training again. Maybe we can work on it together." At the very least Nanami can work with him on unarmed combat.

"We're sorting that out pretty well, I think."

"That'd be fun. I'll show you Agrona Academy. It's a great place to train," Nanami says. There's a wide range of places in Folkmore, and he means to make the most of them. It would be nice if Baba Yaga were easier to reach, but well... Nothing is ever entirely easy.

"I know. I may be getting ahead of myself. It's only been a couple weeks, but I want... forever. I want so much," Nanami admits. "It may be foolish or selfish, but I want more than we've sorted out so far."

It's not on him, but Nanami has started preparing for that.

"I think we've earned forever, don't you?" Yu sets his chopsticks down, reaches across the table to catch one of Nanami's hands for a moment.

"And that sounds like a plan, re training."

Nanami smiles and squeezes Haibara's hand. It's not the right moment, but he feels the moment. It's wonderful. "I do," Nanami says, "I do think so."

It's hard to think about training in that moment, looking at Yu across the table. His heart might burst.

He's quiet for a moment before he moves from his seat, taking the few steps around the small table before he leans down, fingers catching Nanami's chin to tilt his head up slightly so Haibara can kiss him.

The restaurant isn't busy exactly, but there are still a few different tables of spirits chatting away while they eat, as well as the staff and anyone who looks through the window. Nanami freezes and his cheeks redden before he briefly kisses Haibara back. Briefly. Then he pulls back.

"I... understand the urge," Nanami says, managing not to stutter. He's still pink.

"We're going to have to work on that." His lips are close enough to Nanami's ear that it should only be audible to him. "Because the way you blush just makes me want to kiss you again."

Among other things.

Nanami closes his eyes and makes a silent prayer. Haibara is not helping. He's only making things worse. They're in public in a restaurant. Nanami opens his eyes and glances down at his dinner. What was it he thought earlier? They'd be able to eat one dinner in peace. What a joke.

He takes a deep breath. "Please wait until we leave the restaurant for that," Nanami requests. Whether that's now or at the end of dinner is up to Haibara. Even the gardens would be a more acceptable place to kiss than repeated kisses in a restaurant. Nanami wants to be able to come here again.

"I didn't say I was going to." He smiles faintly before moving back to his seat so they can finish the meal.

"Did you want to order dessert too?"

It's a feat of will that Nanami doesn't drop his face into his hand at this latest statement. Instead, while the pink lingers, he manages to return to eating his food. Such simple actions feel far more difficult when Haibara is like this. "I appreciate your consideration for my feelings," Nanami says.

"Dessert would be nice since we're relaxing." A way to take the relaxation and time free of Epiphany's atmosphere in full stride.

"I agree." He does turn back to his food as well.

"We could split something. I know you're not as big of a fan of sweet things."

Nanami nods. The return to regular dinner conversation and action lets the color fade out of his cheeks. Haibara was always good at getting what he wanted, but hiding their relationship from teachers and adults made it very different than here where there's no need for that. Perhaps that's all Haibara needed to kiss Nanami in restaurants.

"That sounds good. Whatever you want to order is fine by me."

That earns him another quick smile. "I'll check the menu and choose something good, then."

Nanami nods and smiles. It's good to see Haibara getting to go out and do what he wants and enjoy himself. It makes Nanami happy in a way nothing else does.

Also the food here is excellent. Assuming they haven't made a negative impression, they can come back semi-regularly.

One brief kiss isn't likely to get them kicked out and once Haibara finishes his meal, he checks over the menu again. "If we get crepes, they'll probably be less messy than ice cream and we can get them to go, I think." They won't melt as easily anyway.

"What flavor do you want?"

"To go is good. They'll tide us over while we get to the gardens in time for sundown," Nanami muses.

As to flavor, it's winter, so not the best of times for one with fresh fruit. Though who knows given the ability to summon food. "Chocolate and banana," Nanami answers. Since Haibara asked, it would be his decision. He knows that much.

He also gets the attention of the waiter so they can order and pay, ready to leave once they have their dessert.

"That sounds good. I'll get the same." And it's simple enough to order the crepes to go.

They receive their crepes, leave, and Nanami slowly eats his as they walk down the street. They're going in the direction of the pod transport that can take them swiftly across the city up to the gardens, but Nanami isn't sure how safe their crepes will be in that transport.

"Is there anything you'd like to decorate our Tides apartment with?" Nanami asks as they walk. They haven't even looked at the apartments here, but he wants to get Haibara's take.

Haibara doesn't respond immediately, chewing the banana and catching a bit of cream at the corner of his mouth as he considers.

"We might want to decide on a place first before making changes."

"We need an apartment, yes," Nanami agrees, "but if we know what we want, that can help us choose one." He shrugs. It's no big deal to wait. Only a day or two. He only wants to involve Haibara in the process. It doesn't have to entirely be his style, the way the apartment in Epiphany is.

He squeezes Haibara's hand and twitches slightly at the tiny bit of mess eating. He brings them before the transport system. "Shall we finish these first?"

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