cartographie | inbox for golden peacock

[ After passing off the rum, Nami is quiet until they've moved through the front of her suite and out the back, and she can feel sand under her feet once more. ]

So, are you gonna tell me what's on your mind, or is this a drink in silence kind of night?

[ Admittedly, she's curious, and almost tempted to ask if something's happened to upset him, but Nami leaves it up to him to decide what to share. ]

Silence isn't necessary. [ He at least wants to assure Nami of that, before he knocks back a swig of rum, then hands the bottle back to share with Nami. Shanks steps onto the sand and manages a weak smile. All the same, he doesn't want to dwell. ]

Have you never had a night you would just rather not sleep?

[ Considering the things that usually happen between them, it's tempting to ask what he had, beyond sleeping, in mind, but that almost fragile attempt at a smile keeps her quiet.

Instead, she steps closer as they head toward the surf, initially to take the offered bottle off him, but it doesn't take Nami that long to get her arm draped loosely around his lower back. ]

I can't say I was ever in a good mood when that happened to me. [ She lifts a shoulder in a brief, noncommittal shrug, and passes the bottle back to him. ]

[ When he headed over, he didn't have anything in mind, but Nami's company. However, doing something else isn't out of the question. It would be a much more fun nighttime activity than speaking about what is keeping him up, or just being awake, in general. ]

[ He feels her arm, and Shanks steps in closer and smiles for Nami. ]

I can't say I'm in a good mood, but I can't say I've found talking about a thing has ever helped me, much. Doing things, however, that usually helps.

[ Even though the seascape is all fake, she still enjoys it when they reach the edge of the beach, and the lazy waves lapping at the sand run over the tops of her feet. She knocks the bottle of rum back for a healthy pull and passes it off to him before leaning in to kiss his cheek. ]

Things, huh? You know, I've got a name.

[ It's real enough, Shanks still enjoys looking at it. He'll take what he can get, missing home as bad as he is, in that moment, in particular. ]

[ For a second, Shanks turns to her, perplexed, then understanding dawns on him and he chuckles. ]

Why, Nami, is that an invitation?

Yes. [ She answers him readily and easily, before following that single, certain word up with a small, but markedly unguarded grin. ] I didn't think you still needed an invitation, Shanks.

[ If anything, Nami's fairly sure it's obvious how she feels about Shanks, and how welcome every move he's made on her was, although she wouldn't dream of saying as much out loud. Instead, she plays it safe and pauses mid-step before leaning in to kiss him. ]

[ He still chuckles, almost like he's abashed, even after all this time. ]

I don't, but if you like to give one, I won't be so rude as to deny it.

[ One thing is obvious, spending time with Nami pleases him. It's usually fun, or soft, or something. None of it ever needs to be expressed. And yet, tonight, Shanks doesn't feel himself. He's about to explain the tattoo, but Nami's lips meet his, and he kisses her in return, instead. ]

[ For a few long moments, she doesn't pull away, electing instead to linger in that kiss while one hand lightly brushes over the side of his face.

When she does draw back, it's only far enough to speak, but close enough to ensure her lips brush against his while she does. ]

How's that?

[ Nami asks that question, and Shanks just stares back at Nami's blue eyes, intently. She is his only focus, now. ]

Undeniable.

[ With that, he wraps his arm around her waist and goes in for another kiss, a deeper one, to slip his tongue in, and feel Nami against his body. ]

[ A soft, contented sigh escapes her as Shanks draws her into another kiss, before her lips part to allow her tongue to softly lick into his mouth as he moves to do the same and deepen the gesture. He's always thrilling, even after all the months they've spent sleeping together, and deep down Nami's certain there's likely to never be a time Shanks doesn't make her heart beat faster. ]

Glad you came over tonight. [ One arm wraps around his shoulders, while her free hand affectionately brushes absent patterns over his shoulder and across his chest. ]

[ Their tongues meet, and Shanks pauses for a moment, but gently withdraws as Nami does. His way of looking at the world allows for every experience with her to be new and exciting. It's always an adventure. She's always an adventure. ]

[ He puts his arm around Nami's waist and his eyes, half-lidded, never leave her as he speaks. ]

I, too, am glad I came. But I always am. [ There's a smirk at the end, indicating he might not just mean arriving, alluding to their sexual escapades. His hand lowers, just a little, to indicate he does intend to take this night there, if Nami wants it to go there. ]

[ Leaning into his side as she basks in the familiar warmth of his arm wrapped around her, Nami lets her head duck down, both to hide a revealingly fond smile, and to let her lips brush against the side of his neck. ]

Think we're going to make it all the way to a beach chair? [ Nami asks in a murmur, grinning against his skin. ] Or are you gonna tackle me in the sand first?

[ Shanks shakes his head, answering before he puts words to his answer. ]

We're not going any further. [ Sand might not be the best place to have sex on, but Shanks doesn't care. They can roll around on his cloak, which he unclasps right then, before his hand moves back to Nami to start undressing her. ]

[ The abrupt, decisive way he makes up his mind draws a surprised, almost softly girlish laugh out of her, leaving her shifting her weight to lean into him more fully before her mouth claims his in a lingering, unmistakably warm kiss.

Grinning as she hears the rustle of fabric when Shanks does away with his cloak, she lets her hands follow his lead, quickly unbuttoning his shirt before roving over the bare skin of his chest beyond. ]

Good. Got everything I need right here.

[ Shanks' smile lifts as he hears Nami laugh. It's cute. When she goes for his shirt, he moves to help get it off in a fast move, then he reaches for her clothes. ]

[ He, in fact, mimics her hand, and rubs it over Nami's chest, in the process. ]

As do I.

[ Regardless of the circumstances, Nami figured she would end up grateful that all she threw on to meet Shanks at the door was a pair of panties and a big shirt. Getting to shed her clothing rapidly, thus ensuring Shanks can devote his energy to touching her quickly. Likewise, she doesn't have to waste time before she's pushing his pants off his hips and leaning in to kiss him before sparing a glance over her shoulder and moving to guide them both back onto his cloak where it's sprawled in the sand. ]

Show me how much you need me. [ Nami grins wolfishly as she says it, waiting until he's close enough to kiss to capture his mouth against hers. ]

[ The cloak feels smooth and soft against bare skin, way better than sand, though they are bound to get sand all over it, and each other, soon enough. They can always move to a bed for round two, though. ]

[ There's a rumble in Shanks' chest, a barely audible chuckle, as he grins to her words. He doesn't respond verbally, instead, his arm slips down to grab one of Nami's ass cheeks, to pull her close, and he goes back in for another kiss. ]

[ Her legs wrap around his hips, the quiet laugh that escapes her echoing the amusement in her own, while Nami lets her blunt nails run trails down Shanks' back, tipping her chin up to meet that kiss. Having him turn up in the middle of the night is a rare treat, and, even if it wasn't, she'd be pulling him close and eager to make the most of it anyway. ]

[ Ending up like this is, for Shanks, far better than the emotions he was rolling around with. Far better than not sleeping, and even sleep itself, is the feel of Nami all around him. His back arches into the feel of her nails, rolling with them.

[ There's a light huff into the kiss, a sigh that quite can't escape, much like him. His dick twitches against Nami's skin, making it rather obvious where his mind has long gone. ]

[ But speaking of unusual emotions, Shanks pulls back, slowly, and softly ends the kiss as he just, for a moment, stares into Nami's eyes. ]

[ Looking dazed in the wake of him pulling away, Nami's too caught up in Shanks to bother taming the stupid grin on her face back down to an acceptable size.

He stares, and she stares back, and it probably shouldn't feel right, but like every time the two of them get caught up this intensely, she finds herself letting the wave of affection that sweeps through her hit without it making her bristle.

Nami unwraps one of her arms and reaches up to touch his cheek, not daring to let herself speak just yet. ]

[ Her grin is infectious, and Shanks doesn't realize he's starting to mirror it back to Nami. ]

[ It's Shanks that breaks the silence, staring into Nami's eyes intently, unable to pull away. ]

Even in this light, your eyes.... I've always thought they are the color of the ocean, in the shallows, where the sun's light reflects back from the sea floor.

[ He moves his hand to brush a lock of Nami's hair to the side. ] Just like that.

[ The logical boundaries that might have existed between them back home have been absent for so long that it's only in moments like these, that Nami becomes even distantly aware of how much Shanks means to her, and how impossible that should be. ]

You've always thought that?

[ Disarmed by surprise, Nami become aware of what she asks after she asks it, and feels her face growing hot as a result. ]

[ Nami asks, and Shanks swallows, hard, as his mind registers what he just said. Of course, with his clothes off, the little tattoo on his lower abdomen can be seen, darker than normal, which would explain his vulnerability, explain why he's mouth is blurting things out, like that. ]

[ Especially, since, instead of side-stepping like he usually would, he responds with: ]

Yes. From the first time I saw you.

[ Without being fully aware of it, Nami sits up a little more, bringing herself closer as she meets Shanks' gaze. She's grinning, even though her cheeks are annoyingly hot, leaning in to brush an incredibly light, exceedingly gentle kiss to his lips, a bit too caught up in his face and the things he's saying to notice the darkening tattoo low on his body.

Which, if she had noticed, maybe she wouldn't have followed that first question up with something equally damning. ]

Kind of curious what else you've thought about me for that long.

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