2023-08-15: Is It Really A 'Honeymoon Suite' If You're Not On Honeymoon?'''
- Cast: Liam 7-020, Lucine Azul
- Where: The Grand Tenican Hotel
- Date: U.C. 0097 08 15
- Summary: Liam and Lucine check into their hotel for a workcation, but its proximity to an active chulip makes Lucine incredibly anxious. There's a pleasant surprise waiting for them, though, and it sparks a conversation that eases their worries.
- CW: A little discussion of sexual intimacy in a relationship context.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
The Nadesico--and, by extension, the rest of the Three Ships Alliance--have a mission: reconnoiter a Chulip that crash-landed on a certain island months ago, and has remained dormant ever since. As it so happens, this is the same island where the hit movie Bird Human was filmed, and in this day and age, that means wealthy tourists flocking to the scenic, historical locale. The tiny handful of hotels in the area, for better or worse, have been awash in cash. It's summer, it's peak tourist season, and rapid renovation has given vacationers new, luxurious options.
The Nadesico's crew is, ostensibly, not here for any of that. This has not stopped any of them from taking advantage of the fine workcation opportunity. After all, the Chulip hasn't opened for months, now, and there's been plenty of incentive for it to do its thing. And as a result of someone's meddling, Liam and Lucine have found themselves... with a room reservation neither of them made or asked for, but that everyone in the Nadesico's supply chain assured them was legit.
The room, whatever it is, is on the ground floor of the hotel; the hallway is a bright, beachy mosaic that vaguely sort of recalls indigenous Polynesian designs. The walls are spotless white. The room number is bright gold against the warm wood of the door. Liam slides the offered keycard into the reader, tension in his frame. His hand clutches the handle of his suitcase.
Absolutely nothing bad happens. The light turns green, the door swings open on a power-assist, revealing...
A very nice suite, or at least part of it. Most of the exterior wall is covered with curtains. There are soft, plush chairs, an expensive-looking entertainment center, little induction-charging pads built into surfaces, a minibar, and a broad double-door that presumably leads off to the rest of the suite. The floor is local stone, covered with nice Japanese-style mats where appropriate, the furniture is brand-new and colored in bright, inviting earthtones, the sofa is almost the size of Liam's bed. Freshly-picked flowers rest in vases on the counter in the little kitchen, and near the couch.
Liam stares.
"Is this right," he says, and he stares at the keycard as if it would explain everything. "Maybe we got the wrong one by mistake."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Anxiety has been a tightening belt around Lucine's gut ever since the mission began. Sure, the Chulip has been dormant since it landed, but to Lucine, it's like saying 'this active volcano hasn't erupted since Tuesday', 'this set bear trap hasn't sprung yet', 'this gun that appeared in the first act hasn't been fired yet'. The Chulip is *here*. Jovian Lizards will be *here*. They will murder and maim everyone *here*.
"We should be setting up camps around the Chulip," she hisses beneath her breath. "All these people here will die if we fail... why haven't we evacuated everyone? We haven't we gotten rid of the stupid thing? Just... lift it up, into space, let it drift away, if we can't destroy it." These words, as uncharacteristically harsh as they sound coming from the normally amiable Lucine's mouth, are only uttered for Liam's ears; no one else is allowed this... pleasure. "There's costs involved, I get that, but... none of the vacationers and locals here know what can happ-- okay, so they know a little, but..." The Vajra attack happened here, after all. And Chulips happen on Earth, and Lucine has never been anxious about that fact. However, Lucine has never had to get a hotel room on the same island.
She's so immersed in her thoughts that she almost continues walking down the walkway as Liam stops at their door. She does stop a few steps in, realizing she's parting with the tall body she was walking beside named Liam.
".... Liam?" She retraces her steps back to him, peeking past him through the door.
She stares.
"......" Lucine's yellow eyes are wide for an entirely different reason now. ".... I... could... check, with the front desk... Maybe we're sharing with some of the Nadiscrew-- er, Nadesico crew."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"They've gotten complacent," Liam murmurs. "But--maybe it was damaged on landing. Everyone knows it's here. Yurika wouldn't let one activate." But he knows Lucine is frightened for good reason, and her fear is valid anyway. "We'll do a flyover first thing tomorrow morning." It's the least he can do to try and comfort her. "Arrange for backup. Okay?"
"...Lucine?" Liam was so taken with the sight that he didn't notice she'd kept walking, for a moment. "Ah, let me," he says. Liam pulls out his phone. The front desk number is still in recent memory. He dials, and waits for the voice.
"Hello, this is Liam. Assigned to Room 105? Is this correct?" His expression turns into a quizzical frown. "Is anybody else assigned here?" The frown deepens. "...All right. Thank you for your time. Have a good day." He ends the call.
"It's just us two," Liam says, as he pulls his luggage after him into the room. "We should look around. See if there's anything from our mystery benefactor." Liam goes for the curtains, first. He pulls gently on the curtain rod, and they part before him, revealing...
Not the Chulip, mercifully. That thing's much further inland. Instead, it's just pure white-sand beach, and an artistic duraglass-and-metal fence that provides security without harming the exquisite view of the sea, and other parts of the island. There are elegant, fabric-lined sunning beds, planters full of flowers, and--in one corner--a hanging hammock with white cloth padding and a sturdy frame. It's just big enough for two people to curl up in, if they wanted to be extra affectionate. The mosaic of the terrace gives way to what looks like a tiny swimming pool. It's not big or deep enough to swim in, but the waters glisten crystalline blue just like the sea beyond.
"Um," Liam says. He leaves his suitcase by the couch for now. "It's... very pretty, out. Is everything out there just for us?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
All Liam had to do was mention Yurika's name, and Lucine's expression softens. "..... You're right. She wouldn't." And it's not as if it can be destroyed or moved easily without possibly destroying something else. ".... It's paranoia, I know. We're here to investigate it. So... I just.... need to relax. I can't act like this every time we're near a Chulip. It's one Chulip. Just one." She closes her eyes and takes a long, deep breath. "I will *relax*," she then says, with that tone of voice that demonstrates why strict enforcement of relaxation rarely does lead to actual relaxation.
So she paces around next to the doorway as Liam calls, not wanting to possibly track dirt into what was likely meant to be a pristine floor ready for a group of guests. ".... My cabin in Nemi wasn't even this big... and it was for me and my mom and dad..."
Looking at Liam as he ends the call, Lucine tilts her head, shoulder length hair dipping over one shoulder. "So...." It's just for the two of them. "Gah......!" Lucine's mouth hangs open. ".... Surely.... but.... the bill..."
Liam ventures ahead to reveal the outdoor portion of the arrangement. ".... I suppose... if it's a mistake, as long as it's not our mistake...."
Parting another curtain, Lucine discovers the bedroom, as well as the bathroom. The canopy bed has two curtains, drifting in the faint breeze of an open sliding glass door, with shades that can be drawn for privacy sake. The flooring is wooden, save for two glass panels that look into the crystal clear waters below. There's an alcove opposite the bed, with hanging glass lamps as proper mood lighting over a cozy batch of cushions for two. Rose petals lead from the doorway to the alcove, over the glass flooring, and then to the bed itself, standing out against the crisp white sheets.
The bathroom looks more modern, with glass walk-in shower, a geometrically shaped toliet, and stainless steel faucets. A small setting of tropical flowers is placed on the tile floor.
Lucine's mouth is still open.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"Someone else paid for it," Liam says. "They--just said it was 'a surprise gift from a friend'." He's still boggling at the concept of a whole private terrace with a swimming pool that's too small to actually swim in. That's the sort of thing the penthouses in Dublin had, the ones working-class folks saw from far below, and behind multiple layers of security. "...Rose petals?" Liam whispers, his heart leaping into his throat. "Is that the ocean?" He taps on the glass with his foot, and the way it echoes sounds... sturdier. Probably orbit-grade. Weight-bearing. That's better. "There's... so many places to sit," he says.
Opposite the shower is a carved stone soaking tub. (Liam has never seen one; Tokyo-3 has precious little space for amenities like that.) The flower petals...
Well. They form the outline of a very large heart. In the center is a single sheet of smartpaper. It's a copy of someone's hand-written note.
It's addressed to Lucine.
It tells her, in familiar tones, that the author knows about the Chulip, and how stressful this must be, and it's stressful for everyone. But she took all her NergalMiles and spent them on a gift for a precious young couple, so please try and relax and let the romance flow! There are hand-drawn hearts used as punctuation.
To no one's surprise, the note ends in --Yurika <3
But Lucine barely has time to digest the contents before a gentle chime emanates from the ceiling. "Hello, Liam and Lucine Azul! I'm Cherry, your smart concierge, and I'd like to welcome you to the Over-The-Water Honeymoon Suite! I'm here to help make your stay as romantic as you want--and if you want relaxation or excitement, I can help with that, too! First, let me point out some complimentary features: a selection of fine beverages, including Chateau Blanc champagne!" The room's lighting changes subtly to illuminate a whole-ass beverage cooler, with a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations.
"Warm and cosy bathrobes and slippers! A fine selection of personal care products, perfect for pampering yourselves. Four free spa sessions with your choice of massotherapy, hot stone massotherapy, facials, sensory focus work, leaf cocoon, full-body clay treatment--"
Liam is staring at the ceiling. Cherry does not stop going over the offerings until he interjects:
"I'm sorry. Did you say... 'Liam and Lucine Azul?'
"Yes! Our records indicate that this suite was booked for Liam--" And then a pause, like the guest-facing neural net is parsing an absence-- "And Lucine Azul."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
This is the sort of thing Lucine imagined penthouses were like way up high on those tall skyscrapers cities like Alba City had, minus the ocean being right outside. But an infinity pool would certainly replicate that idea, to an extent.
"The petals form the shape of a heart, look..." Lucine tests the mattress pad with her hand. ".... Never felt a bed soft like this..."
Liam tests the glass with his foot, and Lucine, distracted from her investigation of the bed, follows, first with her foot, and then lightly jumping on it. "..... The water's so clear..." Stepping back, she lets herself fall against the bed, dislodging the petals slightly, as well as the note, which she had missed earlier. "... Ah...." She turns halfway, a few petals tangling up in her hair, and picks up the letter. "... It... has my name on it..."
Opening it and taking the letter inside out, Lucine reads aloud, for Liam's sake. As she goes on, she pauses. Her bottom lip quivers.
She doesn't need to be a Newtype to know who the signature will belong to, but all the same, when she gets to it, she begins to tear up. "I don't deserve such a good captainnnnn.... She's so thoughtfffuuullll....."
Interrupting the likely awkward trail of weepiness from Lucine, the automated voice lists the amenities. "..... we'll get to do all those...?"
She completely missed the part about Liam, as well as his missing last name, until Liam points it out. ".... It's... like a honeymoon suite.... but we're not married..." Her eyes are wide. ".... Wait, no, she *said* it was a honeymoon suite..." Lucine sits up. ".... I guess it's not set up for people with different types of names... sort of an odd thing to miss."
Had Liam ever said he remembered his surname?
".... What do you want to do, Liam?" Lucine is referring to Liam asking about his name, but he may take it to mean something else.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Lucine tested the bed, so now Liam has to test it, too. He puts a hand on it, lets it sink in. "It's like a cloud," he says. Like a big, puffy cloud that still supports you as you sleep. He lets Lucine read the note. "...Yurika did all this?" His eyebrows rise. "I--but--how? This must cost a fortune!" His face is slowly turning beet-red.
Cherry's net has been curated well enough to recognize significant pauses, and to answer questions. It makes the hangup a bit more noticeable. "That's correct. Your account has been credited for up to four personal spa sessions, as well as all-inclusive meals at restaurants on the premises. Do you wish to make a reservation, Mrs. Azul?"
"I--" Liam says, and he starts to fidget. He's... never, ever been treated to this kind of opulence. He, too, is tearing up. "Some people keep their names," he says, "it can't be that. I don't... think Yurika knew. I need to think."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam pauses a beat, as something surfaces through the fog of his embarrassment. "What's a Nergal Mile?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
"Yurika's a captain, so it goes that she likely racks up a lot of NergalMiles," Lucine thinks aloud.
'Mrs. Azul'. Lucine's cheeks turn bright red. That's what her _mom_ is called. She's Miss Azul, or even--
She looks up towards Cherry. "... Ah... thank you, Cherry. For right now, could you amend that to Ms. Azul? And that'll be all for right now. We need some privacy for right now..." She hopes Cherry wasn't programmed to say something cheeky when she got that command.
Turning to Liam, Lucine nods with her chin towards the open glass door. ".... Let's go think outside."
Her feet step lightly down the small way to the main patio, where the infinity pool is.
"I might be wrong, but... it's sort of a system to make up for the fact that our lives are often spent on Nergal's ships, sometimes doing nothing at all but wait until we get to our next destination. That's time spent waiting, instead of being someplace, being with loved ones, pursuing your own goals... It still counts as time away from your own life. .... A pessimistic view would be 'so Nergal doesn't feel the need to simply up our pay', but... it is kind of fun, to think about what you could do with your points...Yurika's always on the ship due to being a captain, so, she'd naturally have more.... After all, us pilots aren't always on there, even those of us that aren't on loan...." She smiles, warmly, as she gazes out onto the ocean. "The Nadesico is her crew, and her family. I suppose, everyone gets a spotlight, from time to time."
And then, that smile dissolves into tears. "After I was so grumpy with everyone leading up to here and after what I said when Ruri was kidnapped..... Liam, she's such a good bosssss....."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
A different chime plays. "I've made a note of that, Ms. Azul," Cherry says.
Liam pauses a beat, and looks at Lucine. He knows his name. He never forgot. It sticks in his throat anyway, like saying it aloud in a context like this is forbidden. "Could you amend that to 'Liam Seven'? Mr. Liam Seven."
"I've made a note of that, Mr. Seven." Lucine makes her request. "Of course, Ms. Azul. I'm now entering privacy mode. If you need anything, say 'Cherry, I could use your help,' or let me know using the Cherry Concierge app on the room's entertainment center. Please enjoy yourselves!"
Absolutely nothing cheeky. Can you imagine the kind of review bombs that would cause?
"Okay," Liam says. He follows Lucine onto the terrace, the sea breeze blowing into his face. "So... it's compensation, but not pay," he says, his lips twisting a little. "I... still... I mean. I'm honored she spent them on us. It just feels like so much." But Lucine's getting weepy, and Liam gently pulls her into his arms, and holds her. "She is," he says. "...Do you want something to drink, Lu?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine looks towards Liam, with an apologetic smile. ".... 'Mrs. Azul' was something people called my mom, when they didn't know better than to call her that..." As much as she'd like to pretend they're married somehow, Lucine is old enough to know that fantasies like that are often carried more on the happy dreams of someone younger, nothing to do with reality.
Liam Seven. "Mr. Seven...." Lucine grins slightly with a playful edge. "Like you're a cool secret agent..."
Still, she can feel the confused feelings Liam has. "..... You're the one who gets to decide where and when to reveal that name.... always remember that." She hesitates, her gaze falling to the deck below. "If anyone ever tries to force your name out of you before you want to say it, you can always use my surname. You have my permission, if that feels more comfortable than Seven. I'll vouch for you, if I need to."
Even if Liam had ended up forgetting it, ends up using something else entirely, or nothing at all, it feels like something she can give, free of romantic intent.
Compensation, not pay. "Something like that, I think..." Lucine turns back towards him plucking a petal from her hair. "It does feel like a lot... but.... maybe she treats everyone like this occasionally. That's... what I'll be telling myself. And... it's not as if we can't invite people in if their lodgings fall flat, right...?" She tilts her head. "...... There... wouldn't be rules against that, would there?"
It still feels dizzying. Yurika has every reason to be someone utterly unlike the person she actually is. Pulled into Liam's arms, Lucine looks up at him. ".... That.... might be a good idea. What about you?"
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam's smile twists a little at the 'secret agent' comment. That's what the Crucible wanted him to be, in a way--someone they could use to dispose of people who threatened them. But... there's no rule saying he can't... use those skills for good, right?
Right?
"Thanks, Lu," Liam says, and he gives her a little squeeze. "...maybe we could invite them in for some drinks, or watch a movie?" His gaze meets her. "I'd... rather it just be us, outside of that, though."
"I saw some champagne in there." Liam is over the local drinking age. It's fine. "And some... fancy bottled water, too. We should go see what's in there."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
At the vague twist of a smile, Lucine adds, "... Like in the movies. The fancy agent in a suit that the heroine always falls in love with. That kind."
It was a guess, on Lucine's part, as to what was passing through Liam's mind at that point.
She laughs as Liam gives her a little squeeze, her arms curling around to grip his. "Maybe, that does sound like a good idea." .... Though, if this place is all to them-
I'd... rather it just be us, outside of that, though.'
Lucine's cheeks tinge pink as she smiles. ".... I'd.... like that, too."
Suddenly, she doesn't feel quite so bad for packing her swimsuit instead of extra emergency supplies.
"... On second thought..." Lucine considers, tilting her head. ".... Could I try some? I think it's legal here... it has to be better than that sip of beer to took, once..."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"There's so many places to just sit or lie together," Liam says. Saying it out loud makes him remember--he didn't see a second bed anywhere. The flush in his face returns as he escorts Lucine back into the bedroom. "Are you... okay with that? Sleeping in the same bed." Lucine's fallen asleep on him atop the beanbag, but a bed is different. More adult.
"I promise it won't... be anything more, unless we both want it. okay?" His heart flutters, nervously.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
"There is. This could be an entire home.... it's just missing a kitchen." Or a place to do laundry inside the house, but that would be a thing with Tokyo-3 apartments as well.
So many places to sit or lie together, or.... to sleep. She walks with him into the bedroom, her face flushed as well. "...... I am." Wait, that was too quick. Instead, she softens it with, "Let's... try it. Sleeping on the same bed, I mean. It has to be more comfortable than the beanbag for you...."
Though Lucine had always found it a source of comfort, listening to his heart beat, tucked into the curl of his body.
".... Right. Definitely.... not ready for it. That is, if I was, I'd want it to be with you--" Lucine stammers. "So, I mean, the readiness is.... more... in general. But.... I'd like to, that is, someday, but..."
But that someday wouldn't have an _extremely soft bed and and a glass floor view of the ocean_. ..... Then again, but what would doing... certain things increase the enjoyment of those?
"..... There's.... also, other things, we can do," she says, a little embarrassed afterwards at her adventurousness. ".... L-like the massages."
Somehow that felt even worse to say. "......... Or.... making out." How does one compare to the other?! "Or.... swimming."
Wait, they're not even here exclusively to stay here either!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"Yeah," Liam says. "This is... bigger than any place I've ever stayed, I think." The bed alone is enormous. He glances down at Lucine, his smile turning a little nervous. "We can try it. I'm sure it'll... work out."
'That is, if I was, I'd want it to be with you--'
Liam's mouth opens. "Really?" he says, his voice a tiny squeak. She thinks that way. About him? About all his scars, and the things they put inside him, and the things they did to his genes, and how having hair feels wrong, and--
About him. She confessed something deeply personal, and now she's blushing. Liam fumbles for words. "We can do all those things," he manages. "Lu, I--I. I want you to know I. I feel the same way. When we're both ready. Okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Hearing her words reduce Liam's words to a tiny squeak, Lucine looks back up at him and gives him a large, warm smile, reaching up one hand to touch his jawline. "I do. I compared you to a sexy secret agent, remember...?"
She added the 'sexy', this time, but the statement still stands.
They can do all those things, where and when they decide to.
Her cheeks blush mad red at Liam's confession of the same. "... Mm. When we're both ready. We found each other, so... we got a lot of time to do whatever we want to do." Her finger trails over and taps him on the lips. ".... I love you, Liam..."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam's heart pounds against his ribs as Lucine traces his jaw. She thinks he's sexy. No one's ever... told him that. Unless Lucine did, and he forgot? Regardless, there's only one thing he wants to do right now.
Liam kisses Lucine's finger. It's all the warning she gets before he sweeps her off her feet, and holds her close for a deep, long kiss.
The Chulip is still there, along with whatever dangers and mysteries it might bring. Nevertheless, 'making out' is absolutely on the itinerary, as well.