10/01: River

“C’mon, Ery!” Lucio calls me over, waving his metal arm at me emphatically, “Get your feet wet a little! The water’s really warm this time around!”

″Nenai.” I answer him from afar, squinting as I try to see the curvatures of ripples through the small river. The clay is resting on the nearby table as I use my fingers and the blunt edge of the wooden tool to recreate the texture in front of me. At least half of the miniature sculpture is complete; once the river is finished I can go make Lucio's figure wading his feet out into the flowing current.

Despite not looking at him, I can hear the pouting in his voice as he calls, "Eryyyy, can't you work on that thing later?"

"We can always wade in the river together later, Lushiyo," I calmly explain, briefly glancing over to ensure I have the correct patterns of water down. "I would like to get this finished first."

I hear the sound of water droplets hitting the stone pavement before wet, dripping footsteps make their way towards the table.

An audible plop can be heard as Lucio grabs the towel nearby and begins drying his feet, "Well, when are you gonna be done, Ery?"

"As long as it takes for me to get the pattern down."

"But what if that's too long?"

A smile parts on my lips as I set down the clay onto the dampened sheet of sculpting paper and face the blonde man, "Well, Lushiyo, if you are patient enough, then I can make up for it by wading with you in Zephyr Bay this weekend."

I see his eyes pique in interest before he quickly huffs, "You're always making up for lost time, Ery! Not that I mind it, but why don't you ever just do things like ... right now?"

"I don't think we could immediately head down to Zephyr Bay so soon."

"But why not?" he places his metal hand atop of my own gently, but his eyes tell another tone.

"..." slowly, I concede; maybe he was right, "Well, I am assuming you already have a boat ready?"

"I told you I've got a boat or three!" eagerly, he stands up and bows slightly, offering his hand to me as if he were my servant, "What do you say, baby? We can take the canal from the Flooded District--that you know isn't my fault--and I'll row us down to Zephyr Bay."

I chuckle, pretending to mull it over in deep thought, "I am not sure, Lutzokh Lucio ... it is such an impromptu trip."

"I'll give you the Lucio Special~ on the house, exclusive services--tigers love it!"

A muffled laugh escapes me as he kisses me on the lips, prompting me to wrap my arms around him, "Then, Lushiyo, let me preserve my sculpture and I shall go with you."