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[ She appreciates his candor. Caster dances around the topic at hand enough for all three of them put together. ]

He did. [ A pause, as one corner of her lips quirk and she casts him a knowing look. ] Eventually.

[ She's pretty sure he can imagine how that conversation went, as well. ]

[Archer chuckles and closes one eye in exaggerated wink.]

That's his charm— and a weakness. [a pause.] What is your answer?

[ Her smile widens as she props her chin in her palm and grins at him with fond mischief. ]

What do you think?

Let me think— [he playfully pretends to think about it deeply, then shakes his head.] You agreed, am I right?

[ She laughs at his answer, leaning back on her bench once more, feet swinging beneath her. ]

Perhaps I should have been the one to lead him on a merry chase for once...

I'd like to see it. Do let me know if you do. [such mischievous expression makes Archer look younger.]

[ She laughs at the sight of such a rare expression on his face, her own shifting playfully to match. ]

Maybe we should gang up on him, then. Then we can both enjoy the sight?

Then we have a deal. [he nods solemnly but his eyes are laughing. It's a rare chance to feel his amusement seep through their Bond. The thought of giving Caster a dose of good natured teasing brightens his mood.

There's something Archer thinks he has to say first, though.]

Caster and I— [a bit of his awkwardness slips through. At least he's not blushing. How to say that his bf is up for grabs, ugh.] We're in open relationship, so each of us can find another love interest. Of course everyone has to be on the same page.

[ She blinks at this, what feels like such an abrupt change of topics to her. Taking a moment, she tries to wrap her head around this new concept. ]

An... "open relationship"? What does that mean, exactly?

[Huh. Seems like her world may not have the most liberal opinion on relationships, or that she's too sheltered. Perhaps both. Archer chooses his words carefully.]

It's a relationship where both partners can take other lovers, if they want to.

[ Yona blinks, absorbing that explanation with a wide-eyed stare. ]

I... see. [ Did she though? ] And you're both comfortable with that?

[While Archer isn't sure if his explanation is enough, he knows Yona well enough to guess she'll ask more questions.]

I wouldn't agree to this if I weren't. [he shakes his head with a light smile.] It requires honesty so that everyone is aware what they're getting themselves into.

[ That has one corner of her lips twitching upwards in reply - and acknowledgement of that truth. ]

I see. Do you... [ She pauses, her cheeks flushing a little red before she clears her throat. ] Do you both have many lovers, then?

[ How many were you talking here, Archer? Are you trying to warn her ahead of time about them? Should she be concerned? ]

[It's not a question Archer is expecting, and it shows. After all, he's not actively seeking pleasure. Sometimes during the Full Moons, with festivities in full swing, he partakes freely. It's not like there's a waiting line.]

I don't have, really. And if he does, it doesn't bother me.

Did you think it would bother me?

[ Her head cocks to the side as she studies him with an almost birdlike inquisitiveness.

Did it bother her? She wasn't sure yet. It was still a very new concept for her, and it was going to take some thinking to decide how she felt. She didn't want it to bother her - especially since they both seemed so comfortable with it already, but... ]

[Archer decides to answer her honestly.]

I'm not sure. [his tone turns thoughtful.] Not everyone is comfortable with such relationship. Sometimes it's hard to accept that someone you care about does belong to someone else— not to mention that usually a society paints relationship, as well as a marriage, as purely monogamic couple where both partners belong to each other only.

That is true. [ She hums thoughtfully, chewing on her lower lip. ] But things are not quite the same here, are they? This society seems vastly different. I would think that arrangements such as yours would be the more common, people finding those connections, that balance, in more than just one person here.

[ From what she'd picked up so far, it was the connection of Bonding that was of the utmost importance here, with marriage as maybe an afterthought - if at all. And there were no such restrictions on Bondings in this place. Especially with how connected people were with their Bonded. While she imagined that some carried those same expectations and possessiveness into a relationship, she's not sure that was - or should be - the norm.

After a moment of thought, she reaches out and rests her hand on his arm, her expression earnest as she meets his gaze. ]

I'm not upset that you and Cu are lovers, or that you have lovers.

[It surprises Archer. Was he mistaken in his suspicion that she may have a crush on Cú? Perhaps she doesn't realize it, or it's just a childish admiration. She's yound, and can see them as fatherly or brotherly figures.

He considers his response carefully.]

I'd rather not see you hurt because of something one of us has done.

[ Or maybe it just hasn't occurred to her that she'd have a need to be jealous. From the moment she's known them, she's assumed they were a package deal in all things. That they'd decided this for each other still made sense, in its own way, even if it was a new concept to her.

But his comment has her gaze softening as she hops down off the stool and crosses over to where he stands, reaching out to lay a hand on his arm. ]

I know neither of you would wish to hurt me, in any manner of speaking. You've proven that since the moment we first met, even if I was still dreaming. I promise that if there's ever something that happens that upsets me, hurts me, I will try to come to one of you to talk about it. Does that ease your mind?

[Surprisingly enough it doesn't even occur to Archer that she could feel jealous. He worries that she could get hurt on their behalf, seeing one of them with someone else. His expression softens as he covers her hand with his.]

It does indeed. I promise you the same.

[ She gives his arm a gentle squeeze at that before tucking her hands behind her back and rocking on her heels, giving him a knowing smile. ]

So. What about you and I?

[Archer recognizes all the warning signs and steels himself. She can be as bad as Caster from time to time. Yet again Yona manages to surprise him.

During their meeting in the dream she has reminded him of his sister, which, in turn, made him feel protective. Their meeting in the waking world has strenghtened his resolve. As Archer got to know her better he realized she's brave, smart and soft spoken, willing to fight for her ideals and apt to forget her own needs so focused she was on helping others.]

You're as brave as you are beautiful, Yona. I admire that quality in you.

Edited (forgot icon) 2020-10-04 00:04 (UTC)

[ She blinks in surprise at his answer, and then flushes a little at the compliment, clearly caught off-guard. ]

Ahh, that... that wasn't entirely what I meant, but thank you. I admire you a great deal as well, Archer. But our Bond...? Is it... something you'd wish to continue? [ She hates how uncertain she sounds as she asks him that, and she quickly rushes on to try and cover it up. ] You don't have to, of course! I don't want you to feel like you need to offer as well, if only because Caster did.

[ She's babbling. It's nerves. He should probably stop her soon, otherwise this is going to get really embarrassing. ]

[Archer smiles softly as he reaches to her through their Bond with reassurance and warmth. Taking a step forward he pulls her into embrace. Perhaps it's his protective instinct.]

I want to, Yona. I treasure our Bond greatly and I feel honored by your offer.

[ She's a little surprised to be drawn into a hug, but she doesn't resist. it feels nice. Warm. And the emotions he sends through their Bond echo the warmth of that embrace. She hadn't even realized that was possible until just now, to feel a hug in more ways that one. But she melts into it with a smile, even as she tips her head back to study his face seriously.

Caster she had no trouble reading most of the time. As blithe and deflective as he could be, he gave away plenty of hints if one knew where to look for them - between the words he spouted and in his eyes, for example. But Archer was often more reserved. Stoic. Many times Yona felt like she was still guessing at his thoughts and moods, which meant she was never fully sure about where she stood.

This, though. This was nice. ]

You're certain?

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