H I A T U S

" Is it me or does the fate of the world rest with us a LOT...? " . RAIMUNDO PEDROSA of xiaolin showdown. multiverse & multiship written by charlie please read the rules!

[xiaolindude]

let’s rock and roll, buckaroo

blog intro !

heyooooo. welcome to the blog! this is an independent, multiship, multiverse, mutuals-only raimundo pedrosa rp blog. there are also a few canon-divergencies. i’ll make a post about that eventually and link it here! 

useful links! 

rules (please read these before interacting) about verses interest tracker (please fill this out if you’d like to rp together! makes it much easier to get started!)  rai’s pinterest board rai’s spotify playlist

behind the scenes !

hey, i’m charlie (24, she/her) and welcome to my crib. got a degree in wildlife biology, obsessed with musicals and books, and rai is my son. i also run my own company and a household and look after a lot of animals every day so i’m often short on time and/or energy, which means replies will be slow. just a heads up! c:

as a disclaimer, i have short-term memory loss, so i may sometimes forget if we’ve plotted or spoken before. i understand if this bothers you (it bothers me too!) but i just ask for a little patience, and feel free to prompt me here or there if you think i’ve forgotten something! it’s chill, i know it can be frustrating. 

anyways, hope you enjoy your time here! never be afraid to hop into my IMs or askbox or whatever, i’m nice, i promise hshfsgdhsfh

have a good day !!!

[xiaolindude]

This was completely unfamiliar. Oh, her body against his and the taste of her lips were as familiar to him by now as the back of his own hand. But the gentility in them? That was new.

He couldn’t bring himself to care. He didn’t want to think about implications, or why he wanted to be softer with her then, why he suddenly didn’t want her biting him so hard that it bruised or pressing her dagger against his throat and threatening him. This was… something else. God help him, he needed to not think about it. That way lay madness.

So he focused on her thumb against his chin, her lips against his, the warmth of her body pressed against his front. He pulled her closer to their shelter without breaking the kiss, his palms moulded to her waist. This felt like that first night when she’d gathered him into her arms to protect him from the cold. He felt that same twinge of fear and uncertainty and yet warmth, the conflicting emotions making his head spin.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

It felt tenuous and fragile, but he was leading the way now, and despite all her uncertainty and misgivings, she wanted this, wanted him in this way. So she followed, feeling something akin to joy. Relief, she supposed, that she'd actually managed to win him over in the end. Peace that he wasn't ignoring her soft plea to keep living.

It was new, though. She'd never cared about a partner the way she had begun to care about him. Had never spent more than a single night with one, and not even the whole night then. But she'd spent weeks with him, fucked him and been fucked by him several times. And yet that deep desire to see him live to another dawn had never entered into it.

When they reached their little shelter, she ducked down, never taking her hand off him, leading him in with her. How could something be new and familiar at the same time? How could he be new and familiar?

She offered him a slight smile, an expression of gratitude mingling with this gentle sort of desire. Neither had spoken a word yet, and that was also unlike them. Of course, when you were fucking to let out anger and aggression, words flowed easily. She didn't know what to say, now, and she supposed he didn't, either.

[xiaolindude]

They hadn’t fucked in the shelter before. On his part, at least, that had been very deliberate. He didn’t set foot in the shelter until night time, when they’d curl close together and fall asleep. They never spoke about it when they woke up, but they always repeated it the following night.

But now here they went, breaking that unspoken rule. What did they have to lose? Tomorrow they’d set out on whatever raft they managed to build, and they wouldn’t have a shelter any more or a sandbar or a fire or…

Well. Anything. So all bets were off now, he supposed.

She pulled him into the shelter after her and he settled down at once, easing her back and kissing her soundly once more. His hand swept down her side, her leg, feeling the change she had undergone since being on this island. They’d both lost so much weight…

Still, he did not speak, nor did he slow. He just kissed her intently, lacking the usual aggressive intensity.

[xiaolindude]

Finally, he looked at her.

God, fuck, that was why he'd been avoiding it. His stomach twisted and his heart pounded painfully in his chest. What the fuck?! She cared about him. He'd known it for days now, had known it truly since that first night where she'd held him close because he'd been so cold. And now he could see it so plainly on her face. It would hurt her if he died. It'd hurt her badly.

She began to lead him to the shelter but he only stumbled a few steps after her before stopping entirely, hand still in hers.

He stared at her, the ache in his gut fading away into nothingness, his blood pounding through his veins. This was different. They'd only fucked before to release anger or frustration. This was... something else. She'd tried so hard to keep him alive this whole time. She hadn't needed to. They hadn't been friends or even allies. And yet here he was, still alive because she'd made sure to keep him that way.

His chest hurt. He gripped her hand tighter and dragged her against him, then leaned down to find her lips, his other hand pressing against her cheek as he kissed her.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

He stopped, and she did too, not looking at him for a long moment, head hanging a little. It was too much to ask. Of him, of her, of them. Their fucking had always been done under the sky, against a tree, by the fire. Never in the cozy little shelter they'd made for themselves. He was opposed to it. She should be, too.

Despite how they'd started, despite their rivalry and how much he deliberately infuriated her, and how she allowed herself to become infuriated by him, she was his friend now. That storm, this brief stay on a tiny strip of land that barely kept them dry, had changed everything. They'd relied upon each other, let down their guard around each other, laughed together... And so, because of that, she couldn't help but care now. She didn't want him to die. He'd fought so hard to live up until now. His whole life had been a struggle to survive. Why did he have to give up when it was only her he was around?

Those thoughts vanished when he pulled her in and kissed her in a way he hadn't done yet. Her heart pounded in her chest, and if she were not so dehydrated, she might have found tears in her eyes. This was tender. Caring. It was everything she had gradually allowed herself to feel and feared he didn't feel in return. He was her friend, too.

She allowed herself to melt against him, a gentleness in her she hadn't experienced with him during sex, yet. She stroked his cheek softly and allowed her thumb to rest against his chin, her grip entirely loose, a soft mirror of the way they'd been treating each other until now.

[xiaolindude]

This was completely unfamiliar. Oh, her body against his and the taste of her lips were as familiar to him by now as the back of his own hand. But the gentility in them? That was new.

He couldn’t bring himself to care. He didn’t want to think about implications, or why he wanted to be softer with her then, why he suddenly didn’t want her biting him so hard that it bruised or pressing her dagger against his throat and threatening him. This was… something else. God help him, he needed to not think about it. That way lay madness.

So he focused on her thumb against his chin, her lips against his, the warmth of her body pressed against his front. He pulled her closer to their shelter without breaking the kiss, his palms moulded to her waist. This felt like that first night when she’d gathered him into her arms to protect him from the cold. He felt that same twinge of fear and uncertainty and yet warmth, the conflicting emotions making his head spin.

[xiaolindude]

He still didn't understand what had happened between them. A trauma bond, maybe. They'd saved each other from the shipwreck. Even if a miracle occurred and they both got to go back to their usual lives as if nothing had happened, he knew he'd never be able to look at her the same way again, would never be able to shed what had happened here on this sandbar.

She got up. He missed the warmth of her beside him, and shoved that thought aside the minute it arose. Stupid, stupid brain. It was the island madness.

When she held out her hand, he glanced at it without turning his head. If he met her eyes now, he'd see her caring about him. He knew he would. He'd see how much she didn't want him to die, how determined she was to keep his heart beating, and he just... he couldn't. He couldn't see that. Not now. Maybe not ever. If he saw it, how could he ever un-see it?

So he glanced at her hand and took it, letting her haul him up to his feet. His gaze settled somewhere around her shoulders. He didn't want her trying to make him feel better. That wasn't their way. They were frustration and teasing and annoyances and fucking and getting angry with each other. If she tried to make him feel better, it might just break him altogether.

God, was he tired.

"I gotta fix the fire," he said eventually. No, he didn't. The fire was fine.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

As if echoing his own thoughts, she immediately said, "The fire's fine."

It would be so easy to get angry with him, frustrated that he was giving up. He couldn't give up! Not now! How would he feel if she gave up?! Ha, probably nothing at all. Even after two weeks together, with no company but each other, she wasn't entirely sure that this attachment was entirely one-sided. She could be made about that, too.

But she didn't want to be mad. Anger was exhausting, and she wasn't by nature an angry person. So she scoffed and tossed her head, feeling the ratty braid he'd so carefully done for her multiple times as the sand and grit clinging to it scratched roughly against her back.

"Look, if you're determined to die, and I'm determined to spend eternity floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean, I want one good lay again before we resign ourselves to our respective fates. One last hurrah before we go. What do you say?"

She didn't wait for an answer before she was leading him back to Tempest Inn, feet shuffling in the sand with the unsteadiness that came from not eating enough for two weeks. The Sun's Tear kept her alive, it didn't keep her fed. If the raft was ever found, she was going to look something like a mummy, all leathery skin clinging to bones. Even if she was found, she might never recover.

She didn't want to think about that right now.

[xiaolindude]

Finally, he looked at her.

God, fuck, that was why he'd been avoiding it. His stomach twisted and his heart pounded painfully in his chest. What the fuck?! She cared about him. He'd known it for days now, had known it truly since that first night where she'd held him close because he'd been so cold. And now he could see it so plainly on her face. It would hurt her if he died. It'd hurt her badly.

She began to lead him to the shelter but he only stumbled a few steps after her before stopping entirely, hand still in hers.

He stared at her, the ache in his gut fading away into nothingness, his blood pounding through his veins. This was different. They'd only fucked before to release anger or frustration. This was... something else. She'd tried so hard to keep him alive this whole time. She hadn't needed to. They hadn't been friends or even allies. And yet here he was, still alive because she'd made sure to keep him that way.

His chest hurt. He gripped her hand tighter and dragged her against him, then leaned down to find her lips, his other hand pressing against her cheek as he kissed her.

[xiaolindude]

Her eyes were on him. He could feel them, skin prickling beneath her gaze, but still he could not bring himself to look at her. After everything they'd been through, before and on the island... and now he couldn't even look at her.

He didn't want to die. Of course he didn't. He'd spent his whole life fighting, escaping, doing everything he could, fighting tooth and nail. But he wasn't stupid. His chances of getting out of this were slim. But maybe he could stay conscious long enough to direct the wind in their favour for a while, at least.

"You should," he told her lightly. There was no self-pity in his voice, no reproach, just a simple, sensible tone. He didn't expect her to listen to him, but he felt the need to say it, regardless. "If we were smart, we'd have given you the coconuts from the start. At least you can go back to the mainland and make up some story about me dying heroically." He tried for humour, mouth twitching in a little smile, but his eyes still dull and gazing out to sea.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

"Idiot," she snorted, not unkindly. "You know I can't do that."

It was true. They'd realized it at some point -- individually, together, it didn't matter -- that for some insane reason, neither of them could let the other one die. That was why they'd made the half-baked plan on using their powers with and for each other to get out of here.

Her heart clenched in her chest. He'd given up. What was she supposed to do without him? She wouldn't even be here without him! But if he let his spirit die, his body was bound to follow soon after.

Shaking her head, she got to her feet, picking up the coconut he'd set aside and holding her hand out to him. "Come on," she instructed. "I know what'll make you feel better."

Sex wasn't only good to work out aggression after a fight.

[xiaolindude]

He still didn't understand what had happened between them. A trauma bond, maybe. They'd saved each other from the shipwreck. Even if a miracle occurred and they both got to go back to their usual lives as if nothing had happened, he knew he'd never be able to look at her the same way again, would never be able to shed what had happened here on this sandbar.

She got up. He missed the warmth of her beside him, and shoved that thought aside the minute it arose. Stupid, stupid brain. It was the island madness.

When she held out her hand, he glanced at it without turning his head. If he met her eyes now, he'd see her caring about him. He knew he would. He'd see how much she didn't want him to die, how determined she was to keep his heart beating, and he just... he couldn't. He couldn't see that. Not now. Maybe not ever. If he saw it, how could he ever un-see it?

So he glanced at her hand and took it, letting her haul him up to his feet. His gaze settled somewhere around her shoulders. He didn't want her trying to make him feel better. That wasn't their way. They were frustration and teasing and annoyances and fucking and getting angry with each other. If she tried to make him feel better, it might just break him altogether.

God, was he tired.

"I gotta fix the fire," he said eventually. No, he didn't. The fire was fine.

[xiaolindude]

They had a plan to try and escape, of course. They'd discussed it well over a week ago - to dismantle their shelter and any other wood they could find, use that and the remaining coconuts to create some form of raft. And then between her healing abilities and his manipulation of the wind, they had a chance of finding a shipping lane. Maybe even some kind of mainland.

He played with the sand, dragging his fingers through it again and again like a rake, feeling the coarse particles against his just-as-coarse skin. A breeze picked up their hair, light and playful, opposite to the mood that had settled over them. He accepted the coconut half without a word and quickly drunk the water inside, then rested it in his lap. Somehow, though he was quite literally starving, he couldn't bring himself to eat just then.

She rested her head on his shoulder. His stomach tensed. If - when - he died here, she'd be left alone. Worse, if he died while they were trying to escape, she'd be adrift on the sea with no way to control the wind or direct the raft. She couldn't die. There would be no end to her suffering. He began to turn his head to look at her, only to find that he couldn't bring himself to.

"... The Tear," he began, voice a little rough from disuse today. "Is there a limit? I mean, does it run out if you use it too much all at once?"

[runningracingdancingchasing]

For a moment, she tensed a little herself. What, exactly, was he asking? Didn't matter, now, did it, if he knew literally everything about the extent of her power? Tomorrow, they would take whatever wood and canvas they could and make a raft. They were in a sorry state to be sailing anything. They probably ought to have left Rogue's Landing days ago, while they still had strength and supplies.

"There's as much power in the Sun's Tear as there is in the sun itself," she answered. "Of course, I can't actively use it if I'm unconscious, but it will continue healing me regardless of that.

If she fell unconscious before him, she wouldn't be able to keep him alive any longer.

Lifting her head from his shoulder, she looked at his face. Gaunt, eyes looking nearly as haunted as they had when she'd had him in manacles on her ship, but with more control over himself. He was terrified, but prepared for the worst. "I'm not going to let you die," she murmured, not intending to say it out loud. Ah, well.

[xiaolindude]

Her eyes were on him. He could feel them, skin prickling beneath her gaze, but still he could not bring himself to look at her. After everything they'd been through, before and on the island... and now he couldn't even look at her.

He didn't want to die. Of course he didn't. He'd spent his whole life fighting, escaping, doing everything he could, fighting tooth and nail. But he wasn't stupid. His chances of getting out of this were slim. But maybe he could stay conscious long enough to direct the wind in their favour for a while, at least.

"You should," he told her lightly. There was no self-pity in his voice, no reproach, just a simple, sensible tone. He didn't expect her to listen to him, but he felt the need to say it, regardless. "If we were smart, we'd have given you the coconuts from the start. At least you can go back to the mainland and make up some story about me dying heroically." He tried for humour, mouth twitching in a little smile, but his eyes still dull and gazing out to sea.

[xiaolindude]

The way she kissed him on her hands and knees was strangely attractive - and pretty adorable - and he kissed her back with a happy hum. He'd been making that sound a lot recently. And laughing more, smiling wider... Heh. Yeah. She'd really done a number on him already.

Her reminder about the buttons had him barking a laugh. "Damn right you are. My poor shirt never saw it coming." So saying, he toyed with the open sides of the shirt in question where it hung on her petite frame, gaze downcast, wetting his lips. She really did look astounding in his shirt. She'd looked incredible at dinner, too, and then again in nothing at all. His cheeks flushed.

He cleared his throat and met her eyes once more. "Y'know, no one's ever actually ripped a shirt off of me before."

[runningracingdancingchasing]

"Ooh, I got to be your first something," she teased, leaning in again to slide her lips, feather-light, against his jawline. Hopefully, she got to be his last, too. He, with a world more experience than she, and so she was determined to do things for and to him that no one else had done. She hadn't been, but finding out that he'd never had his clothes ripped off him before filled her with that goal.

"You know you're really hot when you blush. Hot and adorable. I didn't even do anything just now. What's the rosiness for?"

[xiaolindude]

His eyes closed contentedly as her lips traced his jaw. How could something so simple feel so good? She made him feel so appreciated, so hot. Her praise made him grin and blush harder, wriggling a little beneath her, sliding a hand up her back beneath the shirt and easing her closer.

"Was thinkin' about you," he told her honestly. "How hot you were at the restaurant, and then just as hot naked in my room."

[xiaolindude]

One step at a time. One meal at a time.

That was how they took it.

Rai was losing track of time. The only clear measurement at this point was the way their resources were dwindling. It had been another nine days, and the rainwater had run out, the coconuts running low too. Yes, he was getting nervous. No, he refused to show it, even slightly.

He'd continued to push her buttons, more and more - they'd fucked out their frustration several more times, to the point where it was almost a habit now. It was certainly becoming a comfort, though he refused to think about what that meant. Their nights were spent pressed close together beneath her long coat, and neither of them ever spoke of it. Rai refused to allow himself to even think about it during the day. Nothing counted on this island, he told himself. Nothing counted, dammit.

His ribs were starting to show. His stomach ached constantly. His limbs felt weaker, though he tried to stay somewhat active so his muscles wouldn't atrophy. His skin was drier now, worn by the sand and the sun and the saltwater.

He sat there in the sand, watching the sun dip beneath the horizon, painting the sky orange as it went. He'd been uncharacteristically quiet today. He hadn't pushed her buttons. Truth was, this was it for him. If no one had found them by now, who ever would? She would live. She had a chance to be found. He was going to die on this sandbar. Terminal dehydration. Starvation. Both, simultaneously.

So he watched the sunset, tired eyes half-heartedly scanning for any sign of a vessel out on the sea.

Of course, there was nothing.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

The last week and a half had worn on her. She had grown up alone, so that wasn't a problem. But the gnawing fear, the lack of supplies to do almost anything she really wanted to do, were driving her to distraction.

She finished the little sand castle village, because what else was she going to do? She improved her spear fishing, let herself be annoyed by him, and fucked him wildly to let it all out. And she watched the state of his body deteriorate.

At night, when she was certain he was asleep, she quietly healed him. She could not put the meat back on his bones, but she could keep the starvation and dehydration from killing him. And she would, until he told her to stop. Which was why she did it in secret.

Today had been quiet. For once, he didn't take every opportunity to annoy or touch her. And that was how she knew he'd resigned himself to fate.

Sitting beside him in the sand, she passed over a single half of a coconut. They were almost out. Maybe a day or two more, and there would be no more coconut water to drink. And he hadn't brought another storm. Maybe there wasn't one to bring. He didn't create the rain, after all, just control the winds.

She wanted to say something, but what platitudes would help here? None? So she drank her coconut water, dug the flesh out with her fingers, and rested her head against his shoulder while she chewed.

[xiaolindude]

They had a plan to try and escape, of course. They'd discussed it well over a week ago - to dismantle their shelter and any other wood they could find, use that and the remaining coconuts to create some form of raft. And then between her healing abilities and his manipulation of the wind, they had a chance of finding a shipping lane. Maybe even some kind of mainland.

He played with the sand, dragging his fingers through it again and again like a rake, feeling the coarse particles against his just-as-coarse skin. A breeze picked up their hair, light and playful, opposite to the mood that had settled over them. He accepted the coconut half without a word and quickly drunk the water inside, then rested it in his lap. Somehow, though he was quite literally starving, he couldn't bring himself to eat just then.

She rested her head on his shoulder. His stomach tensed. If - when - he died here, she'd be left alone. Worse, if he died while they were trying to escape, she'd be adrift on the sea with no way to control the wind or direct the raft. She couldn't die. There would be no end to her suffering. He began to turn his head to look at her, only to find that he couldn't bring himself to.

"... The Tear," he began, voice a little rough from disuse today. "Is there a limit? I mean, does it run out if you use it too much all at once?"

[xiaolindude]

"We can make do. We don't even need the bed. The floor. The sofa. Countertops. I'm not picky," he told her with a lopsided grin. She could have guessed that about him already, though, he was sure. He didn't make it any secret how into sex he was, and now how into her.

She'd made an excellent dinner last time, and she clearly enjoyed cooking for some reason he couldn't understand. He kept running his fingers up and down her legs, nails dragging across the backs of her knees, thumbs rubbing against her thighs.

"Well, boss, the trail cams are gonna be here day after tomorrow. So, you bring some proper trousers and boots, and we can scope out the forest, figure out the best spots to put them," he suggested. "A work-date. And then fucking at your place, as a reward for a job well done."

[runningracingdancingchasing]

Damn, is touch was incredible. Without thinking, she reached out and trailed her fingers up and down his arm, touching to touch, just like he was doing with her.

Day after tomorrow? She could do that! Spend some time at his place in the morning before heading home to clean up and change, and give each other space from one another. Not that she wanted space from him, but she couldn't imagine him wanting to be glued to her hip like this for too much longer.

Grinning, she shifted to kneel on hands and knees and leaned in to kiss him sweetly. "It's a date!" she agreed. "A work-date!" She'd never had one of those before, but she was looking forward to it! All that time they'd spent working at the center together was before they were dating, so that had just been working, even if they'd already been secretly really into each other. "But I'm still sewing your buttons back on in the morning."

[xiaolindude]

The way she kissed him on her hands and knees was strangely attractive - and pretty adorable - and he kissed her back with a happy hum. He'd been making that sound a lot recently. And laughing more, smiling wider... Heh. Yeah. She'd really done a number on him already.

Her reminder about the buttons had him barking a laugh. "Damn right you are. My poor shirt never saw it coming." So saying, he toyed with the open sides of the shirt in question where it hung on her petite frame, gaze downcast, wetting his lips. She really did look astounding in his shirt. She'd looked incredible at dinner, too, and then again in nothing at all. His cheeks flushed.

He cleared his throat and met her eyes once more. "Y'know, no one's ever actually ripped a shirt off of me before."

[xiaolindude]

Wow, he missed his Quarters. The comfiest bed he had ever known, the familiarity of his sparse belongings around him, being warm and dry... Chances were, he'd never be warm and dry again. Chances were, he'd die on this sandbar, and she'd be stuck here alone, unable to die because of the Sun's Tear. He still couldn't believe she had it.

But they still had a chance. They had a couple of weeks before things got so dire that they'd have to attempt some sort of makeshift raft. Between her healing abilities and his control over the wind, they had far better chances that most castaways, right?

So he shrugged. "Yeah, but I can't use the Tear without you, right?" he played along, raising an eyebrow. As if he could even consider killing her now, after all they'd been through together. Even if they ever got out of this and went back to normal, he wouldn't be able to.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

He was right, of course, and the fact that he knew that -- the fact that she'd shared it with him so readily -- was still kind of astounding. "Fair point. You'd be even more bored without me than you'd be sick of me."

She wanted to ask him to start thinking of potential ways to get off the island, but she didn't want him to think she was panicking. Or give him an opening to tease her. Most of the time, the teasing was fine, even a little amusing, but when she was being serious and was being teased for it, it really struck a nerve.

"Right," she murmured to herself, attempting to get her thoughts in order. "One step at a time. One meal at a time." Their two signals had to work. They just had to.

God, she was scared.

What kind of pirate was she that the thought of being marooned eternally scared her? That was one of the big risks that came with sailing the high seas.

So, as often happened when she really needed to get her mind off of something, it jumped to a project. "I need to finish that net."

[xiaolindude]

One step at a time. One meal at a time.

That was how they took it.

Rai was losing track of time. The only clear measurement at this point was the way their resources were dwindling. It had been another nine days, and the rainwater had run out, the coconuts running low too. Yes, he was getting nervous. No, he refused to show it, even slightly.

He'd continued to push her buttons, more and more - they'd fucked out their frustration several more times, to the point where it was almost a habit now. It was certainly becoming a comfort, though he refused to think about what that meant. Their nights were spent pressed close together beneath her long coat, and neither of them ever spoke of it. Rai refused to allow himself to even think about it during the day. Nothing counted on this island, he told himself. Nothing counted, dammit.

His ribs were starting to show. His stomach ached constantly. His limbs felt weaker, though he tried to stay somewhat active so his muscles wouldn't atrophy. His skin was drier now, worn by the sand and the sun and the saltwater.

He sat there in the sand, watching the sun dip beneath the horizon, painting the sky orange as it went. He'd been uncharacteristically quiet today. He hadn't pushed her buttons. Truth was, this was it for him. If no one had found them by now, who ever would? She would live. She had a chance to be found. He was going to die on this sandbar. Terminal dehydration. Starvation. Both, simultaneously.

So he watched the sunset, tired eyes half-heartedly scanning for any sign of a vessel out on the sea.

Of course, there was nothing.

[xiaolindude]

Her nuzzling made him smile, cheeks warming ever so slightly. It was such a sweet touch, that gentle affection combined with her breathlessness in her voice only made him want to kiss her again, but there was no time.

The door opened just moments later and Rai shifted to his feet and disembarked, then held his hand out for Rapunzel. He wondered who they might encounter today, how many people of the Ton they should meet and be able to show off their good news.

"We shall indeed." He offered her the elbow of his good arm and they set out into the park.

For a while, he was quiet, just taking in the fresh air, feeling the chill, the slight moisture in the air from the earlier rain. It was definitely getting colder by the day.

"I look forward to being able to bring Benison along on our promenades again when my arm is further improved," he admitted, a slight pang in his gut. He'd seen so little of his horse this week, less than he had for... well, perhaps ever.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

For a moment, guilt swam through her heart, sorrow, once again, that he was injured. To cope, she rested her cheek upon his arm, as she so often did. "If he and Maximus continue to dislike one, another -- though that does seem improved -- I should have to choose one of the others. Tsarina, perhaps."

She found herself focused only upon him, and strangely self-aware that she was not putting much attention outward to the others who might be here and see them. Yes, she did want to share their news, but she also found herself simply not caring who saw or knew. She had spent so much of the year in the public eye when she had never been permitted to be a part of the Ton until then. Why should it matter, now?

Still, she arranged her hands carefully, so that her ring was quite visible as they strolled together.

"I am sorry you are missing him..."

[xiaolindude]

"They do seem to be improving," he agreed. "Slowly but surely. Benison simply wasn't used to having another male around." He'd understandably needed some time to adjust.

He smiled down at her, adoring the attention she paid to him and the way she rested her cheek against his arm. She was so wonderfully affectionate with him, even in public, and he could not adore it more. It was quieter now than it was during the Season, but there were still a few couples and families milling around despite the colder weather.

"Do not apologise, darling," he told her, shaking his head. "I am feeling much better now. I shall visit him in the stables later today, in fact, and tell him our good news." Her ring caught the light and he couldn't help a grin.

[xiaolindude]

Fair, he’d expected that. They’d been unofficially taking it in turns to plan dates, and now it was his turn again. He’d really played his hand too soon with the aquarium, huh? It was hard to come up with something as engaging. Man, did he want to impress her. Maybe a trek through his patch of jungle? Making sure she had the right clothing and footwear, of course.

He could think properly later. Instead, for now, he focused on teasing.

“Okay, fucking at your place it is,” he played. “Just to keep things fair.” He grinned across at her, fingertips skirting along her legs where they rested in his lap. Her legs… And she was still wearing his shirt, the one she’d torn off of him so eagerly that the buttons had popped off. He couldn’t imagine tonight having gone any better.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

She laughed brightly at the suggestion, throwing her head back a moment in her delight. Not that she was even a little bit opposed to the idea.

"If you want to," she smiled. "I'd definitely like to kiss you in more than my kitchen. I can't claim to have the comfiest bed in the world, but it's not bad. It came with the house." Of course, he wouldn't be able to sleep over the way she was at his place tonight. Not on short notice. He couldn't just leave Lia alone like that.

Oh, but she adored his touch. And the way he looked at her. God, she could easily get turned on again just from looking at him gaze at her with those eyes. He was so engrossing.

"I can make dinner again," she suggested, her voice slipping lower as though she were suggesting something salacious, "since fancy dinner doesn't really suit either of us." Plus, that would once again give him a break from her for most of the day. Unless he wanted her to stay here all day tomorrow, which she couldn't begin to pretend she didn't want to do. "But eventually, you're gonna have to gear me up properly so I can have permission to enter your jungle. It's insane that it's sitting right there, beckoning me, and I'm not allowed to go in because all I have is shorts and sandals on me. Or, in tonight's case, a sexy dress and heels."

[xiaolindude]

"We can make do. We don't even need the bed. The floor. The sofa. Countertops. I'm not picky," he told her with a lopsided grin. She could have guessed that about him already, though, he was sure. He didn't make it any secret how into sex he was, and now how into her.

She'd made an excellent dinner last time, and she clearly enjoyed cooking for some reason he couldn't understand. He kept running his fingers up and down her legs, nails dragging across the backs of her knees, thumbs rubbing against her thighs.

"Well, boss, the trail cams are gonna be here day after tomorrow. So, you bring some proper trousers and boots, and we can scope out the forest, figure out the best spots to put them," he suggested. "A work-date. And then fucking at your place, as a reward for a job well done."

[xiaolindude]

At her counting, he stuck his tongue out at her before refocusing on Lia. He spent a minute or two giving her a proper fuss, scratching her neck and ears and leaning down to kiss the top of her head. There. She ought to feel pretty loved now, and knowing her, she'd be occupied with that chew until she fell asleep.

So he returned to Rapunzel, flopping onto the sofa once again with a heavy, satisfied sigh.

"So what's the next date?" he asked, looking across at her with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "We've done the aquarium, the club, the beach, the fancy dinner, and fucking at my place. What's next?" Maybe they should ease off. They had seen so much of each other this week, it was a little silly, but God, he couldn't bring himself to care. He was having so much fun.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

Was it weird that watching him fuss over Lia made her like him more? Well, weird or not, it did.

When he came back, she stretched her legs out across his lap. Him asking about the next date did a lot to ease her mind about whether he felt like he'd been getting too much of her.

"Well, I picked the fancy dinner and the fucking, so it's your pick next," she smirked right back. "But you're the one with any kind of schedule right now. I've got nothing but time."

She'd never had nothing but time before. At least, not in her existing memory.

[xiaolindude]

Fair, he’d expected that. They’d been unofficially taking it in turns to plan dates, and now it was his turn again. He’d really played his hand too soon with the aquarium, huh? It was hard to come up with something as engaging. Man, did he want to impress her. Maybe a trek through his patch of jungle? Making sure she had the right clothing and footwear, of course.

He could think properly later. Instead, for now, he focused on teasing.

“Okay, fucking at your place it is,” he played. “Just to keep things fair.” He grinned across at her, fingertips skirting along her legs where they rested in his lap. Her legs… And she was still wearing his shirt, the one she’d torn off of him so eagerly that the buttons had popped off. He couldn’t imagine tonight having gone any better.

[xiaolindude]

He laughed, glancing across at his dog with a smile.

"Lia says that pai forgot to give her her evening chew," he mused, then sighed. Fair enough. He'd have to get up and get that chew for her - as wrapped up as he was in Rapunzel right now, he didn't want Lia to feel neglected in any way. "And she's probably jealous I'm paying so much attention to you."

Another grin at Rapunzel, and he pushed himself to sit up, stretching his arms up over his head. "Aight. Gimme two secs."

He got to his feet, appreciating the strain in his muscles, cheeks warming as he thought of the reason for the aches. Lia followed him eagerly to the kitchen and tucked into the chew as soon as Rai set it down on the floor for her.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

Jealous. Of her. A dog, jealous of her. That was comical, but also touching. If Rai was paying her so much attention that Zélia was jealous, that really said something about just how much time he was spending with her.

She watched him stretch, appreciating his build, and not for the first time. Hot damn, she actually got to look at and touch him whenever she wanted to now, huh?

"One..." she began to count teasingly. "Two... Time's up, hot stuff!"

But she didn't really mind him being away. Frankly, it was thrilling that he'd been taking so much of his personal time and giving it to her. But that did make her start to wonder if she should maybe give him a break. She didn't want to, but maybe he did.

She watched them in the kitchen, smiling fondly. She didn't just like Rai, his dog was great, too. And a great guy with a great dog was double great. "Sorry, Lia. I didn't mean to steal so much of you pai's attention."

[xiaolindude]

At her counting, he stuck his tongue out at her before refocusing on Lia. He spent a minute or two giving her a proper fuss, scratching her neck and ears and leaning down to kiss the top of her head. There. She ought to feel pretty loved now, and knowing her, she'd be occupied with that chew until she fell asleep.

So he returned to Rapunzel, flopping onto the sofa once again with a heavy, satisfied sigh.

"So what's the next date?" he asked, looking across at her with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "We've done the aquarium, the club, the beach, the fancy dinner, and fucking at my place. What's next?" Maybe they should ease off. They had seen so much of each other this week, it was a little silly, but God, he couldn't bring himself to care. He was having so much fun.

[jillybean2011]

Up next on the Xiaolin Monks’ parents, I give you Rai’s Mãe, Tarsila Pedrosa. Having raised 7 children, gone through so much hardship and loss, she’s as strong willed as she is strong headed. Her and Rai’s ‘talk’ below.

He was out for 3 days.

[xiaolindude]

They were walking an interesting line. It was early in their relationship - so early that he hesitated to even call it a ‘relationship’ yet. But they had been close friends for months now, and these past few days with her… he’d never felt anything quite like it. A tiny part of him was scared of that. What did it mean? What if she decided she needed to move on to her next project on some other continent soon?

For now, though, he was having much too good a time with her to linger on it.

A whirlwind. That was a good word for it. He grinned, shaking his head in amusement before tucking his arm behind his head. “Damn right it has. Fucking great whirlwind.” It was so rare for him to be able to spend so much time with someone this way and not grow bored. Far from it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so happy.

[runningracingdancingchasing]

Well, if that wasn't the most validating thing...

With a little grin, she laid down on his chest, resting her chin on her hand so it wouldn't dig into him uncomfortably. "I'll say," she agreed. "I've had an awesome time." And she wasn't ready for it to end. Her first real break from work in years, and it felt like, so long as he wanted to keep giving her attention, she wasn't likely to lose interest. How could she? He was amazing?

A cold nose on her leg made her start, and she squeaked and looked around to find Lia resting a chin on the couch.

"Does Lia say it's bedtime?" she wondered with a little smile, and reached down to ruffle the dog's head. "Because I don't think it's bedtime yet."

[xiaolindude]

He laughed, glancing across at his dog with a smile.

"Lia says that pai forgot to give her her evening chew," he mused, then sighed. Fair enough. He'd have to get up and get that chew for her - as wrapped up as he was in Rapunzel right now, he didn't want Lia to feel neglected in any way. "And she's probably jealous I'm paying so much attention to you."

Another grin at Rapunzel, and he pushed himself to sit up, stretching his arms up over his head. "Aight. Gimme two secs."

He got to his feet, appreciating the strain in his muscles, cheeks warming as he thought of the reason for the aches. Lia followed him eagerly to the kitchen and tucked into the chew as soon as Rai set it down on the floor for her.

[xiaolintease]

Visitors? Huh.

Usually, that sort of thing was reserved for family, wives, long-term girlfriends. Not best friends who you'd been on four dates with. Still, he liked the thought of her watching him while he worked so hard at training. While he thought, he settled on the sofa beside her, leaning back and getting comfortable once more.

"... I'll speak to our coach," he offered in the end, giving her a crooked smile. "And, hey, if not, I'll kick a ball around outside for you." It wasn't as if he couldn't practice his footwork at home, too.

[rrdcafterdark]

It was as if she could see the wheels in his head turning as he considered her request, and there was a moment where she thought he might turn her down. After all, they'd only just started dating. She wasn't family, and she definitely wasn't his wife, even though they'd both expressed disinterest in being done with each other so soon. But a thrill ran through her, warm and pleasant, when he offered the other option, and she absolutely beamed at him.

"Thanks!" she enthused, and pressed another kiss to his cheek, this one cool and wet from the water. "That's sweet of you. I don't want to come on too strong. I know this whole thing with us has been kind of a whirlwind the past few days. I don't want to be presumptuous."

Boy, did she not ever want to be too presumptuous. Now that she had him, a part of her was terrified he'd ultimately decide against her. Best to keep that squashed down.

[xiaolindude]

They were walking an interesting line. It was early in their relationship - so early that he hesitated to even call it a ‘relationship’ yet. But they had been close friends for months now, and these past few days with her… he’d never felt anything quite like it. A tiny part of him was scared of that. What did it mean? What if she decided she needed to move on to her next project on some other continent soon?

For now, though, he was having much too good a time with her to linger on it.

A whirlwind. That was a good word for it. He grinned, shaking his head in amusement before tucking his arm behind his head. “Damn right it has. Fucking great whirlwind.” It was so rare for him to be able to spend so much time with someone this way and not grow bored. Far from it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so happy.