action starters . accepting
send me 💋 for a starter of my character kissing yours
The Drysdell family home in California was so crowded on that weekend that it felt for a moment like taking the Yamanote line during peak hours; there wasn't someone Melissa had accidentally brushed against in an attempt to keep moving indoors when going to pick up some food, or using the bathroom or even occasionally making sure no one was in her assigned bedroom doing anything suspicious (mostly the younger cousins her mother had invited over from the mid-west - Edgar seemed distressed at the idea of them experimenting with drugs).
Everyone seemed to go out of their way to interact with her - which was not unexpected considering that it was, well, her engagement party. A very laid-back one, at her own family home, but which apparently had such an extensive guest list that Melissa did find herself wondering about why so many of these people were there. Her relatives, she understood - but her mother had invited neighbors, co-workers, friends from Edgar's in the military, even some of her old acquaintances from when they lived in Georgia.
But whenever the former hostess looked at her father with his proud smile and easy laughter among friends, she couldn't really say anything. Her mother, too, had nothing but this endearing look in her eyes when they crossed paths indoors, and it was obvious that her parents were happy for her and Daigo. They had welcomed the former chaiman into their home like a son - well, once the yakuza past had been dealt with, of course. Her sisters, too - the twins admired Daigo for different reasons and his charming, hard-working self had also done everything in his power to ensure he would not embarrass his girlfriend turned fiancée. It seemed like a perfect match - the Drysdells liked adopting others, and Daigo could do with another family himself.
Melissa was grabbing a drink when Rose found her - the resident genius of the family was now sporting a very interesting choice of attire, with a flannel shirt over a top, denim shorts and fishnet stockings to go with combat boots that were evidently a choice removed from the other girls who were in floral dresses, blouses and skirts given the Californian sun (Melissa included). Her dark hair had blue streaks these days and was pinned up - and she smiled when she found her older sibling by the drink table.
"Onee-san," she called Melissa in Japanese - she had been studying it herself since learning that the oldest of the Drysdell kids was probably going to stay there, particularly after her wedding to Daigo, "I think you should go to the pool to check on Daigo. He seems to be in trouble."
"Daigo? In trouble?" she scoffed, drink in hand and turning to Rose, "He won dad over despite being a yakuza, you think he would be in trouble with anyone else here? His English is very good, I'm sure he can handle a couple of loud gaijins for a while."
"Yeah, but have you met Sheryll? Not sure she's the type of challenge he's used to," Rose added with a shrug, her face telling Melissa enough; Sheryll was apparently one of the neighbors that Rose hated with a passion; a blonde, loud and obnoxious woman who tried to force her random diet regimens on everyone, lived off her ex-husband's money and never worried about anything but for the (fake) tan lines on her body. Eleanor had been gracious and invited everyone - Sheryll made the list.
Stepping outside to see what was happening for herself, Melissa needed a moment to find Daigo - and eventually did, close to the pool area as her sister had told her. He hardly looked out of place but for the fact he was wearing a shirt (despite the sleeves being rolled up, she knew he covered his tattoo up all the time) while most of the guests looked far more casual, but she knew this was Daigo at his most... Relaxed. But his body language was tense, and the look on his face apologetic and uncomfortable somehow.
It was all explained when the club owner's eyes moved to the right and found Sheryll trying to feel his arms and looking like she was trying to assess just how strong Dojima Daigo was (without any regard for personal boundaries or the trauma he had in relation to strangers touching him or even the fact it was a party to celebrate his engagement to another woman) - and something snapped inside Melissa. Her eyes narrowed and the drink on her hand was immediately left behind at some random table, heels clicking over the pavement with the ferocity of a soldier marching into battle.
The ex-yakuza saw his fiancée approaching before she got there - and his face changed, eyes wide and curious at just what was happening (after all, he knew Melissa well enough to recognize she was a woman on a mission right then), but his queries never got out. The ex-hostess expertly slipped through the guests gathered around the exotic foreign fiancé and after a sweet 'Daigo, there you are!' from Melissa herself, she closed the space and kissed him on the lips.
It wasn't the first kiss they shared in public - and she knew it was a calculated risk doing so particularly when they were in a crowded backyard. But with her right hand softly touching his face in a tender caress and the genuine emotion imprinted in the kiss, Daigo visibly relaxed into the exchange and she felt his hands going to hold her at her waist. It had been a very evident display of affection - but of the romantic and sweet kind, with some of the guests genuinely smiling at the sight.
She didn't make it longer than necessary - just enough to share an intimate glance with her soon-to-be husband that told him 'I love you' in a million ways which was returned by this special smile Daigo had for her only. As if they had silently agreed on it, Melissa broke apart - and turned around to the guests while remaining at his side, her right arm encircling his back with her head leaning on his shoulder.
Her left hand found a comfortable spot on the middle of his chest - an absolutely normal gesture that no one (but Sheryll) really paid any mind to it. After all, her position by Daigo's side and protected by his left arm around her smaller frame to keep her close had meant to show the nosy neighbor two things: no one touched Daigo that way but for her; and the lovely and insanely expensive-looking ring on her finger that was matched only by the craftsmanship of the bee pendant around her neck.
"I am so sorry, but I'll have to steal him away for a moment. I'm sure you understand," Melissa's sweet smile was exactly the same one she wore at work - carefully practiced to be polite and warm, but not always sincere. She didn't even honor Sheryll with a specific acknowledgement before gently steering Daigo away - who had then twisted his lips into a small, knowing smile.
"Melissa," he called her while they walked, and took advantage of his towering height to merely move his head down to whisper into her ear, changing to Japanese, "Were you jealous of that woman? You know she was harmless."
"Oh, I know. I have absolute faith in you, anata," she returned, the arm that still partially hugged Daigo squeezing him softly. She had never doubted him for a second, after all. "I just wanted to show you off a little, that's all. I've been hearing all day these comments about my handsome, foreign and charming future husband. I wanted to steal a kiss."
Daigo's chuckle let Melissa know he didn't believe a word of her last statement - but loved her too much to rob the former hostess from the simple pleasures of such an important day to her - to them.
