all your lovers eventually fade

There's a darkness down inside me
That I know we'll both enjoy

Admittedly it's not surprising that Sunjata bowed out, or even that he'd been asked at all. At least that means one of them is aware of the general circumstances behind her departure, which leaves her with only Nate to cajole into the idea. "We're rescuing a deity, one that exists trapped in an area we haven't discovered yet." Which yes, admittedly sounds very dangerous when put to words, but she's also not going to lie to her fiance. Wow...fiance. That's going to be something she has to get used to. Sunjata's soft concern has her turning to gently trace the tip of her nose across his freckled cheek, laying a barely there kiss against the side of his mouth. "Oh darling aren't I always? Seems you two have stolen all the trouble lately anyway, there might not be any to go around." Though she certainly won't court it, and that's clear in the promise of her eyes that go gentle where her mouth twists in playful sharp contrast.

It's a bit much to place on them, she knows that, and she even huffs a laugh at how they both immediately struggle with the notion. Men, honestly. "It's nothing immediate, calm down boys," Hotaru laughs softly, reaching to squeeze both men's hands. "I just...if you do sleep with someone, protection. Please. For that reason among many." Truly, Hotaru doesn't see herself being too sexual with others now that she has the two men that matter most to her entwined forever in her life. But she's content being the most - perhaps surprisingly - monogamous of them. So long as that one particular problem does not arise. Hotaru is a possessive woman, and a mother at heart, and any children they have will be hers. "And we can talk more, about desires and timing, when I return. We have nothing but time, now." And if that conversation gets put off because of their various combined problems? That's okay too. They're all still young.

Nate's silent chastisement has her giving a rare, sheepish grin in reply. Okay, so maybe she has to work on including herself in these plans, but Hotaru thinks she's doing rather well on such a short timeline. "LongHeat it is. I know we all have different traditions, but do we have rings or jewelry planned? I could ask Deimos?" How far exactly had they gotten? Hopefully more ideas than this, especially if they'd been so prepared for a spring wedding. But it doesn't really matter to Hotaru, who already mentioned her lack of care for material items - at least where sentimentality exists. Instead she finds herself hooking an ankle over Sunjata's calf, leaning her head into the slope of Nate's neck, body softening with the daze of warm air and morning hour sluggishness. Truly she'd be content to fall asleep all over again, here and now. To prove that this time, when they wake up, she'll be right there beside them as promised.

and it's screaming from within me
to have us set it free