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@mpondine
introduction
biography °
connections ° plots ° threads
aesthetics ° playlist ° moodboards
Lupin chuckled, nodding his head. Mothers seemed to always have a knack of finding the best secrets, especially his two. Distance seemed to help him, especially with the situation with Alice. "That is definitely true. Never mean to hide stuff from either mom, but a good secret does help build a bit of character." He teased gently. So far, the only true secret the pair had done was the extent of their monster fighting, but his mothers still knew a bit about their strange hobby;
Nodding his head, he looked over at her. A small laugh followed. "Well, thank you. I appreciate the compliment. I am always down to collaborate, if you have the time. Just let me know when, and I am sure we can make something work!"
Lupin was quite pleased with this encounter, and he already had a lot of good in store for his future. "Yes. Whenever you two plan to go out next, save me a spot. I'd love to meet your brother." With his phone in his hands, he got the small buzz from the device, a reminder of an appointment coming up in the next hour. Smiling, he looked back over to her. "Ondine, I must bid farewell. I have a few appointments that I need to get back to the loft to manage. We will meet soon, I promise."
"That's right !" Ondine agreed, grinning. "However, my mother was the one trying to hide things from me, until the day she saw me talk to an orca." Since then, we've been frank with each other. And it had made them grow close, making their current situation a bit complicated. At least, she was happy for her daughter to have found Keonhee and couldn't wait to welcome them both home.
Of course, it wasn't as peculiar as fighting monsters !
"This would be lovely, really. Maybe we could create a small collection for the summer ? A few swimsuits, sundresses and novelty shirts ?" This would be quite amusing too. She already had ideas, finding inspiration in the different pantheons.
Ondine moved her cart away to let him pass. She knew how important it was to not miss appointment and meetings in their profession so she didn't mind having to shorten their reunion. "Sure thing ! Have a great day, Lupin ! It was lovely seeing you again." She winked as they separated and resumed her shopping, a smile on her lips.
° thread end °
Angela comfortably sat in her seat as she sipped on her drink. Cupping the drink as she casually crossed her legs, the demigoddess listened intently to the woman. Angela provided her full attention, eyes completely yet warmly fixed on the demigoddess. It was a natural habit of the demigoddess, a chance to give someone to fully feel seen. That was even more the case for someone she saw as her friend.
"For the new year? I have been so busy that I nearly forgot it was coming up! What a blessing. I am sure your pieces are going to be absolutely hits!" A simple head nod followed with the slightest smile. She knew that the demigoddess would show her the pictures of her pieces once they finally complete, and if she forgot, the demigoddess would ask once the time was right. "Of course! Siwoo would love that. He is quite the adventurous kiddo."
Angela was just as glad that her son and her were doing as well that they were. The demigoddess felt immensely blessed, almost surprised at how well everything was going. Hopefully, that would not change... For once, she was hopeful.
Raising her brow, she thought for a moment. "Lupin? The name does sound familiar. Oh! Sakura's brother. She worked for me for a bit before she left the island. I think I met him once. He seemed kind." Though, Angela did have quite a favorable view on most demigods. "Our blood seems to naturally attract us to each other. I am glad you are reunited with such a friend. I am sure you two will have much fun together."
Angela's attentiveness didn't go unnoticed. It was nice to have someone's full attention, to feel cared for. Ondine felt welcome and warm, watching her friend with a smile as they both sipped on their drinks. The silence around them was comfortable, without any trace of awkwardness.
The other person she felt so at ease with was her adorable brother Keonhee.
"Yes ! I'm currently working on a dress for Xiwangmu herself, I'm quite proud of it. Do you usually celebrate the Lunar New Year ? My mother and I did but it was simple." She smiled at Angela's eagerness. Siwoo and her would probably have so much fun to meet her marine friends. He's adorable ! "You two are lucky to have each other. Anyone would be happy to have Angela as a mother."
Mount Phoenix had brought luck to many of the residents. Ondine a discovered a place where she truly could be herself and it had brought her a brother, a part of her that she had always missed. And now she felt complete.
"Yes, him ! Sakura modelled for me a few times, such a lovely young woman. They're both really nice." The daughter of Ryujin smiled. She had never seen things that way but she could only agree with her friend. "I guess you're right, it's probably why so many of us find the way to the island."
But the young woman wasn't truly alone on that beach, was she? With her--though she may not have known at first--was a deity who admired her creativity, who thought to bring it to life with such a vivid illusion that it was impossible to determine reality from imagination. But that was the joy and enigma of a dream, wasn't it? It was rare for most to maintain a level of lucidity while dreaming, making everything within it seem just as real as anything experienced in the Waking World.
And yet, as the young woman watched the scenery magically change around her, watched as her painting came to life--Morpheus was one to watch her. He watched her as the wonder came over her expression, as she smiled, as the smile became a laugh. Another satisfied customer.
He remained in his crouched position for some time, just watching the effects of his handiwork upon this demigoddess. Too often--far too often--he knew that the children of gods tended to have lives that were not the most pleasant; in fact, the memories of those lives often morphed into warped nightmares when they slept. It had been a strong reason behind why he pushed his own son to come to the island, to help those children--and so far, he thought Leto was doing good work. And Morpheus? Morpheus, indeed, was not too far behind, intent to provide some of the island with a respite in their sleep, gradually, one after another. But this did not mean that only the troubled would receive pleasant dreams.
When this demigoddess smiled at him, he just smiled back. Was he the one responsible? "Perhaps~" he chimed playfully. "You have a lovely imagination~"
Dreams could be a strange thing. Ondine's had always been more clear than others', often showing her things that ended up happening or bringing her inspiration or even helping her to find what was lost. She still remembered each of the ones she had of Keonhee, the smiling young boy a lovely image in her memory.
The young woman spent the next moments exploring her own painting, playing with the little fish that were hiding into her hair, her towel having been abandoned on the sand long ago. She admired the colourful anemones and the corail-like tree, beaming. She felt happy and free, a sensation most adults had forgotten.
Now that the man had showed himself, Ondine observed him from afar. She could feel a powerful aura but nothing threatening, on the contrary. A god, most probably. She hadn't met many yet and, like Xiwangmu, this new one was giving off good and peaceful vibes.
She chuckled at his answer, that was a disguised 'yes' in her opinion. She moved closer, tilting her head on the side to try to see his face better. "Thank you" she answered, grinning. "I admit that I have been blessed with more than my father's powers."
Lupin did not have any issues gatekeeping Ondine from Sakura. She knew Sakura would appreciate another person to message. The busy demigoddess would probably be a hard one to catch, but seeing as she did not have much of a friend base like him due to all that traveling, he knew that Ondine would hear from her to create that type of relationship. "I will most definitely send her your number once I get home. I am sure she would appreciate that. We have to be careful what we say to our mothers, so I know Sakura would like a little more freedom."
At the request for pictures, Lupin nodded. Taking his phone, the demigod took a few steps closer to the demigoddess, bridging the gap between them. He scrolled to his designs, and he showed her a few images of clients wearing the suit and gowns that he had crafted for them. In the images, he even had a selfie of him in his hand crafted suit. "These are some of my works. All original and individual works."
His gaze lifted, interested in her reaction. However, he went ahead and used his free hand to slip her phone out of her hand. The demigod put his phone number in her device, simply saving it under 'Lupin.; It took seconds before he offered it back to her. "Text me when you have some free time. Unless I have an appointment, I should be able to squeeze you in."
Ondine wasn't going to impose her presence to Sakura anyway. They always had friendly interactions so sometimes reaching out for a little chat could be quite fun. Now that she had the time and possibility, it was the perfect moment to reconnect with acquaintances. "Thank you !" She smiled at his remark. "Hiding things from our parents are one of the most difficult things to do ! That's why I quickly abandoned the idea with my mother. "
The Japanese demigoddess leant closer to look at the pictures. Everything was absolutely exquisite ! Lupin truly had talents for proportions and colors use. "This is beautiful !" she exclaimed, pushing his shoulder a bit. "You are really gifted. I'd love to collaborate with you one day, if you agree ?"
Ondine laughed, letting Lupin do as he wanted. She waited until her phone was back in her hands, looking at what he had added. "That's perfect, thanks. I'll make sure to contact you soon. And you should meet Keonhee too."
Angela sat the drink down before she scooted down into the seat. She had been rather pleased to be able to settle down after a long day of running around. Angela did quite love her work. Everyone on the island seemed to get a taste of love from the work her staff and she did. While she may not have had a chance to help all the demigods on the island who needed it, this offered her a chance to make a difference in someone's life. So despite being tired, she would not dare complain.
"I'm glad! I am sure you have been so busy. You have to really make sure you are giving your body rest. Need to care for yourself so that you may continue to achieve your success. " The hypocritical demigoddess speaks freely, though she realize how "lecturey" that might have sounded. So, she offered her a quick and small smile. "It's been busy here. Siwoo just went down for a nap. I must say. So much going on, it makes time flies."
Finally, the demigoddess grabbed her drink, taking a small sip from it. Her eyes wandered around the store for a moment before returning to her. "Anything new?"
Angela was wonderful. Gentle, sweet and helpful. She deserved all the praise and love she was receiving from many residents. The Flower Mill was a perfect image of her person, welcoming and warm, soft and beautiful. The whole staff was adorable too, helpful and kind. Both Angela and the coffee shop deserved their success.
And their coffees and teas were always delicious.
"I had several custom orders from the Chinese pantheon. It's a lot of work but everything is turning out so well." Xiwangmu's dress especially, one of her best pieces ever. Ondine chuckled at the remark. Angela was a mother and it was quite noticeable in the way she took care of people. "I could say the same to you, my friend ! Once the weather allows it, Siwoo and you should come to swim with me."
The daughter of Ryujin smiled, she truly adored the little boy too. "Doesn't it ? I'm glad that the both of you are alright." She took a few sips of her own drink, considering her friend's question.
"I reconnected with an old friend !" Ondine explained, grinning. "Lupin, do you happen to know him ? It was quite a surprise to find him here."
Beaches.
Sand.
These were a common thread to the King of Dreams, the shores of Lemnos harboring some of the softest, purest, most ethereal sands one could ever imagine. The waters a crystal clear Aegean blue that was difficult to replicate anywhere else. Mount Phoenix...had a nice beach. It wasn't home, but it was nostalgic nonetheless. If fact, when he was not on campus or in the park, more often than not, the god of dreams could be found at the island's shores. This day, perhaps, was no different.
While he knew some members of his own pantheon could sense his presence, he had not expected such from an unfamiliar young woman--yet...she was not entirely unfamiliar. Despite remaining somewhat unseen, the god of dreams smiled secretively to himself as she turned. No, she did not see anyone at first...
...but a small golden fish floated through the air by her cheek, swimming through invisible water, its scales glistening in the sunlight...and then joined by another fish in its wake, and then another, all swimming toward the ocean and, if her eyes followed them, she would notice the scenery changing, the sands rising, swirling, shaping into a tree with coral-like texture, colors gradually seeping in as the beach in its entirety transformed into the very scene she painted. An undersea wonderland of colors, of kelp swaying in the current, of creatures swimming and scuttling along...
...and perhaps the next time she glanced behind her, she might notice Morpheus there in his midnight coat, crouched barefoot in the sand, his elbows upon his knees as one hand rested in an upturned palm, star-filled gaze watching her reactions closely. "Hello~" he finally purred back at her.
A home's shores were always the most beautiful, weren't they ? Ondine loved the soft sand of Mount Phoenix but she missed the beaches of Iceland, the blond and back sands often surrounded by hills, the sea reflecting the many faces of the sky. And, of course, the etheral beauty of Diamond Beach.
She was going to bring Keonhee there one day, to show him the world in which she had grown up, to introduce him to the Nordic sea's life that she adored and respected so much.
But for now, she was alone on the island's beach and as she returned to her painting, she noticed a small move in her peripheral vision. A fish. As tiny fish of golden scales was swimming near her cheek, she could almost feel its fin against her skin. What... ? she whispered to herself before discovering more small fish around her. She tried to touch them but they seemed to fly away from her, taking the direction of the sea.
A dream. I must have fallen asleep and I'm dreaming. It was vivid though, like those times she had dreamt of her little brother Keonhee.
And then... And then her painting was taking life, the coral-tree standing before her, the colorful anemones surrounding her. She smiled and then laughed as she was floating into her own art.
But, again, she had that feeling of being watched and she turned around again. There now was someone sitting on the beach, a man probably, clad in a coat of stars. "Hi" she answered, tilting her head to look at him better. "Are you the one doing all this ?" Ondine added, showing the moving scenery around her.
SOLAR - 2024 SEASON'S GREETINGS BEHIND
mr. sandman, bring me a dream ° closed
for the dreamweaver @morpheusxmp
Ondine was at the beach again. She had spent the last couple of hours swimming, conversing with a chatty orca and various fish and jellyfish. They had many things to say, relating all the gossip of the seas to the young woman. As usual, it had been a lovely time, leaving her happy, her mind full of the colors of the ocean.
For now, the young woman was comfortably settled in her little corner of the beach, wrapped in warm winter clothes and her hair drying in the towel around her head. There was snacks and a tea thermos on the picnic blanket she was sitting on and she was painting, concentrated on her work.
It had been a few weeks since Ondine had last devoted time to her art and she had missed it. Her drawing book was full of the residents' portraits (there was a lot of Keonhee's and Haoyu's to be quite honest) and sketches of her favorite places on the island.
She currently was working on a big piece, an underwater landscape full of colorful fish and sea anemones. It was beautiful and delicate and she was quite proud of herself. Ondine was adding a few more details when she felt a presence around her and she looked up but there was no one in close vicinity.
"Hello ?" she asked, wondering if she was dreaming.
He nodded his head. Sakura and him had been inseparable up until this point. And digitally, that remained the same, even if it was not the same as helping her in person. "Of course. But, I will definitely give her some, even if she will probably be grossed out. No worries. I am sure she will appreciate them once she knows they come from you." He playfully informs the demigoddess.
Lupin was rather pleased at the offer. He did quite appreciate other designers. He saw designing as a form of art that required personalized creativity and talent. In a community where some designers saw each other as competition, he wanted to champion their work just like he did his work. "I'd never turn down such an offer." He politely confirms. "And the gala typically happens near the end of summer. Black tie formal. It typically has pretty good participation. I'd recommend starting to stock up, if I were you. Undoubtedly, you will be busy! I was last year making custom pieces. Barely had time for my own!"
Leaning a bit further, he smiled. "Of course. I am always willing to work with others. I play well, you know." It was a subtle tease, one that flowed easily from his kind smile. "I work out of my loft. You are welcome when you have free time if you would like to see my studio as well. And maybe, I will have a gift ready for you."
Though she was ravished to finally be reunited with the brother she had dreamt about for years, Ondine couldn't help but feel a sting of jealousy. She wished she had been able to be with Keonhee from the beginning, to watch him grow and become the lovely person he was. She was happy for Lupin and Sakura though, to have been there for each other. She chuckled at his answer. "Would you give her my number too ? In case she wants a girly talk" she added, winking.
Ondine could only agree with that. She had seen some amazing designers during her years in the field and had done her best to learn from them. Everyone had different styles and she never understood why people couldn't lift each other instead of trying to rain on someone's parade.
"Oh, that sounds amazing !" she exclaimed as Lupin told her about the gala. "Do you have some pictures you could show me ? You can be sure that I will make some orders already." Ondine giggled at the young man's teasing and pulled her phone out from her coat's pocket. "That's an invitation I can't refuse, my dear ! Now, give me your contact infos so I can pester you about my visit."
龙年大吉
ondine was one of the few people on haoyu’s mind when it came to gift giving, and thus on february 10th, the chinese demigod personally delivered a box of premium chocolates from purdy’s chocolatier, which included a wealth of their most-loved chocolates like the mini hedgehogs, yuzu, matcha, passionfruit, almond burst and more. an accompanying note read happy new year of the dragon, and haoyu added that he wished to see her again soon and make lasting memories.
=====
Ondine squealed in delighted surprise when she discovered the gift at her door. She quickly opened it and couldn’t help but giggle when she realized it was from Haoyu ! It was a bit too early to eat chocolate so she preciously put the box away for later.
On her way to For the Fairest, she bought a beautiful thank you card and slid it in Haoyu’s mailbox, thanking him and sending him her best wishes again. Ondine also promised to meet him soon, she quite impatient about that.
Lupin nodded his head with a smile. He did quite miss Sakura too, but at some point, the pair at the be independent. After so many years, it was time for them to stretch out their wings, even if the other woman received a message from him nearly every day. "I am sure she will visit as she has time in her schedule. We typically facetime when she had breaks, so I will mention us running into each other. And, I will definitely let you know when she does visit."
He nodded his head, a fond smile on his lips. Lupin definitely did not mind stopping by again. Though, he had not ever needed to since he designed his own clothes. "Of course. When I am in the area, I will make it my priority to stop by." The demigod leaned a bit forward against the cart. He had been on no rush to go anywhere. "Even though business is good, I hope you can get some rest too. After Christmas, I believe it will calm down for a while until the sunshine festival or the gala."
While he was rather proud of his work, he had been rather purposeful in his secrecy, but he reasoned that Ondine had no reason to spoil that secret for him. He had always treasured her integrity when he had worked for her. "Ah, I have actually been designing since I finished acting. Just ran into an encounter that made me want to keep my persona private. I guess, now that I am here, there is no reason to keep it a secret anymore." Lupin explains. He never necessarily lied to her about his talents, but he had left a lot hidden. "But, I only really do fashion lines now for the fun on the island. I've gone more into one on one consulting."
The irony of their two situations didn't escape Ondine. She had just found her brother but Lupin had lost his sister. Fate had decided to reunite them at that moment, it surely was a sign. Of friendship, hopefully. "I would be surprised if you two didn't" she said, smiling. "She knew how close the both of them were. Please, do ! And give her a virtual kiss from me."
The demigoddess' smile never left her as they talked. She hadn't expected much when coming to Mount Phoenix and now she had a sibling and an acquaintance back in her life. "Wonderful ! I can't wait to show you the few changes I made to the shop." She chuckled, leaning against her own cart too, her fingers reaching to play with a piece of tulle. "Probably, yes. Even only a couple of days would be nice. But now I'm intrigued, tell me more about this gala ?"
Ondine truly had no reason to spill Lupin's secrets. She was honored he had confided in her but she knew how to be discreet and respectful. Not even Keonhee would know about it. Integrity, it was the right word. "It's understandable" she commented, nodding. "I'm glad you found your purpose on the island but if you want to collaborate sometimes, I'd be delighted !"
if haoyu had known that ondine considered him well-behaved he might have snickered. while he definitely used to be a well-behaved little boy, he definitely hadn't grown up to be one since his teenage years. but that suited haoyu just fine, because he didn't particularly wish to be seen as well-behaved. no, he wanted to be seen as someone who was independent and got what he wanted, when he wanted it and from whoever he wanted it. he would throw his charms into the situation, and manipulate it however he wished to get the end result haoyu was most satisfied with. honestly, haoyu saw no issues with his chosen way of life.
as it stood, it had worked quite well for him this evening as he got cake and coffee out of it. the pleasant company was a mere bonus. and if ondine wanted to meet him again, well, that was also often the natural outcome whenever people were charmed by haoyu. but ultimately, it was up to the demigod to decide whether he wanted another encounter to happen.
that blush which dusted ondine's round cheeks pink had not come as a surprise but to see it remained a pleasure for haoyu, who got a thrill out of getting these reactions out of people. upon ondine mentioning the orcas, haoyu had raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, as he wasn't in the mood for spilling his secret of not being able to swim. ondine may have in mind to go swimming together, haoyu wasn't too sure, but he would not so readily agree. instead, he simply kept smiling warmly at the demigoddess.
at the mention that ondine's apartment was very girly, he had chuckled and shrugged. "i don't mind~ i wouldn't have expected anything else from a pink-haired lady such as yourself~" he teased her, eyes twinkling. "and you are free to tell me all about the ocean's treasures if you like." haoyu was actually honest there, as he himself loved nature a lot. he was as curious as anyone to know what large bodies of water held secret within their bosom.
however, as their conversation proceeded and they ate their cakes, haoyu had naturally paid a bit more attention to his cake, digging in as he saw fit because he was actually a little bit hungry. he hadn't known that chocolate had collected in the corner of his mouth and so, when ondine suddenly reached out, he had first flinched - unable to suppress the natural reaction. but ondine's hands were gentle as she wiped at his mouth with a napkin.
haoyu immediately responded to her gesture by leaning in himself, and closing the gap between them considerably. his lips curled into a cute smile as he tilted his head to the side a little - a strand of long hair falling into his face. "thank you, ondine.." he practically purred. "is there anything left anywhere else?" he asked innocently, pouting his lips a little as he opened his mouth just slightly.
ondine's gesture had told haoyu that he'd had food stuck in the corner of his mouth and he was now using that moment to flirt a little, albeit covertly. the fork he'd held in his hand had already been placed back onto the plate, and the plate was shoved to the side a little when haoyu had leaned in. the demigod blinked slowly as he watched ondine's facial expression, noticing every little change now that he was quite up close and personal.
Of course, Ondine couldn't know any of this but if she did, she would at least approve of his want to be independent. People who were able to function by themselves were usually very attractive to her, herself having been alone for years in a very stressful environment. She wouldn't appreciate the manipulation though she wasn't really able to truly recognize it.
Hence the situation she was in right in that instant.
Ondine truly wouldn't mind to see him again. She even wished to see him again. Even a small and random meeting in the streets would be wonderful in her eyes. Haoyu was more than charming, all bright eyes and soft hair and she loved that. It wasn't a bad thing to want to know him better, was it ?
The young woman took advantage of the silence to finish her slice of chocolate cake. She didn't mind the quiet moments, they weren't awkward, only nice and welcome pauses in their conversation. Her cheeks still felt hot though and it was more evident that Haoyu had noticed it. Which, of course, made her blush even more.
She chuckled at his remark, her fingers automatically pushing a few lost hairstrands behind her ear. "I dyed it just before arriving on the island. I was blonde before." Changing her hair colors was another way to express her creativity besides designing and art. Like her collections, they were ephemeral but always loved. "I'll tell you about the creatures I find here then. And maybe I'll show you too, if you want."
Ondine almost moved back when Haoyu came closer, their faces only a few centimeters away from each other. It would be so easy to just lean in and kiss him and she was so close to give in temptation before she reached to tuck his hair back. "No, you... Your face is perfect" she whispered, her eyes not moving away from him. She was entranced.
But then she sat back, straightening into her seat, immediately regretting her decision. It was too late now, she had missed her chance. She just hoped that, maybe, Haoyu would give her another one at another time. Soon, hopefully.
"Okay!" Keonhee half yelled back, kind of influenced by his new sister's excitement before breathing and accepting her help to stand up. "Yeah, nice to meet you Ondine!" He nodded glancing down at their hands and just focusing on the little resonance between their powers. It's... something. But he could already feel it was a nice thing, he could get used to it.
"Oh, sure! I was just... going to the water." He freed one of his hands(squeezing lightly to show he wasn't uncomfortable) but left the other one where it was so he could rub at his neck a little, smiling softly. "I had a lot... going on? So I was gonna swim for a while. But, I think talking to you would be fine too. Did you want to go somewhere? Or should we sit on the beach?"
She giggled. They probably looked very silly to the people around them but she didn't mind. She was just happy to be in presence of Keonhee, to finally be able to talk to him, to touch him. To be with him. All those years dreaming of him and he was there before her, a real being of flesh and blood.
Ondine had so much questions for him, she wanted to know everything about him, about his life before Mount Phoenix and what had happened to him since his arrival. It would probably take time but she didn't mind.
"Me too !" The demigoddess exclaimed, a bright smile on her face, keeping his hand in hers. Swimming with her brother would be quite an amazing experience, something she had longed for almost all of her life. "Sitting on the beach sounds nice. We could get coffee or tea on our way there ?"
Favorite Solar Look in HIP
Sweet Treats
@mpondine
With how cold it was outside, The Flower Mill had several customers seeking hot drinks to warm themselves, and it had been a rather busy day up until this point. Luckily, a friend had spent time with her son. Siwoo had enjoyed the snow so far, and she managed to convince him to settle down for a late afternoon nap. Typically, this was a struggle, but his enthusiastic play had made her suggestion rather welcomed.
Coming out, she had noticed Ondine had came by, having been expecting her. Giving her a quick wave, Angela moved to make them both their usual drinks, and she soon arrived to the table to sit it down. The cafe had calmed down, and her staff seemed more than capable of handling the customers. Angela was glad to have a second to relax with one of her new friends.
"How have you been?"
As a regular of the Flower Mill, Ondine had finally met its owner, Angela and the two women had hit off immediately. They were close in age and Angela's sweetness had easily won the designer's heart. She adored Siwoo too and was already planning to get him a cute outfit for his birthday.
Ondine received her drink with a grateful smile, immediately wrapping he hands around the mug. She had been swimming and the warmth was comforting after the sting of the icy water. She waited for Angela to settle before answering.
"I have been well, thank you ! Lots of work so a relaxing break is nice. What about you ?"
ondine seemed to react well to haoyu, and dare he even admit that he was enjoying himself. while the overly sweet and floral decor of the flower mill wasn't exactly to his tastes, the food was great and his current company was definitely decent. there was nothing haoyu could complain about, especially not since ondine was treating him. and haoyu loved to be treated; to be spoiled. he wasn't sure exactly how old ondine was but so far she appeared mature and definitely independent.
her wink upon telling him that iceland may be too cold for haoyu had him almost choke on the piece of cake he was was currently devouring and haoyu cleared his throat before letting out a soft laugh because yes, she was right. he did not enjoy the cold that much, and living on one island was enough for now. the demigod wasn't sure he wanted to be visiting another island in the near future.
"you're right.. i think your apartment may be a more suitable place for me to visit." he replied, sending her a wink of his own while leaving the meaning of his words open to interpretation. "though i do think you may enjoy my birth place guangxi.. i think you may find the countryside quite agreeable. of course it won't be anything like iceland but our nature is quite stunning as well."
they kept their eyes on each other and haoyu was not intent to change that anytime soon. her gaze was soft, warm and haoyu liked that he had her full attention. the fact that she seemed impressed with what he was saying was further cause to stroke his ego and haoyu almost felt a purr rise in his chest. instead, he reached for his black coffee and brought the cup to his lips. maintaining eye contact, haoyu took a couple of sips - his lips smiling around the rim.
lowering his cup a moment later, haoyu hummed in satisfaction. "if you keep talking to me, i am sure i will learn even more.." he said mysteriously, and put his cup down before taking up his fork again and taking a bite of the chocolate cake this time. it was so good! perhaps even better than the fruity version, and haoyu's eyes widened slightly. he couldn't help himself and quickly took another bite. this time, a bit of chocolate collected in the corner of his lips. perhaps not very attractive, but haoyu was too concerned with the cake.
Haoyu was quite a good coffee companion too. Well behaved, engaging to talk to, pretty to look at (though it wasn't the main reason) and Ondine truly appreciated the moment. She already hoped that it wouldn't be the only meeting between them and that many would follow. Maybe that she could even bring him to swim when the summer would be back, share something she loved with him.
Iceland was beautiful though, whatever the season. It was a rough country full of magic and breathtaking landscapes. No wonder that the first Vikings setting foot there had believed it was the land of the gods. "I'd like for you to meet my orcas friends but maybe they will visit me here. They told me they'd try."
Oh, Ondine blushed at that wink, hiding her face in her mug as she took a few sips of her delicious drink. The warmth was nice in her body after her long swimming session but the hotness of her cheeks was a gift from Haoyu. "I must warn you, it's very girly though" she chuckled, putting her cup down again. "I would love this. I'm not sure if it comes from my powers but I love nature. You should see what's hiding under the surface of the seas and oceans. It's amazing !"
The demigoddess could easily lost herself in his eyes. They were full of mirth but there was a softness in them too, hiding in their darkness. That boy was full of grace and intelligence and she wasn't going to lie to herself. She was in awe, she wanted to know more about the young man.
"I gladly will then" Ondine answered, taking another bite of her cheesecake. She observed him as he ate his own slice, aware that his words meant more than they seemed. She chuckled though, as the chocolate appeared at the corner of his mouth and, taking her napkin, she leant over the table to gently wipe it. "Here, better."