That one time, at Blackrock (tagged)

Before she had arrived, Hector made sure to inspect the room Sakura would be staying in. He'd barked several orders to the hotel receptionist about having fresh cut, arranged flowers in bright, summery colours and extra complementary bottles of hand cream, shampoo and soap. In fact: he'd replaced the hotel's Exfoliating Sea Salt Scrub Bar with one containing lavender, thinking it was sweeter and gentler for a delicate Lady's skin such as hers.

Once her room was bright, airy and scented fresh but not overpoweringly so, he could leave it feeling satisfied.

Later on, once everyone had arrived and been shown to their rooms, the girls and his Lady were getting changed into something for wearing around the poolside. Hector had bought some Bermuda cotton shorts for the holiday, and had paired it with a short-sleeved shirt. Now he was sat on one of the sun loungers at the hotel pool, clutching a virgin margarita and feeling a lot more relaxed than he was a few hours prior.

Melanthius hadn't come down yet either. Saburo was seated next to him, though, cross-legged on the sun lounger with his eyes lightly closed, seemingly basking in the sun and sounds. Hector didn't disturb him.

@Cecelia Burke @Melanthius Burke @Sakura Tokugawa @Saburo Tokugawa @Bellona Lestrange

Up in his room, Thius had just returned from having to go to Coastal to acquire a new pair of swimming trunks that actually fit; it had been quite a while since he'd gone to a beach for a holiday, and he found that out quite quickly before it was time to take the portkey to Blackrock. He checked the view out of his room. It wasn't completely seafront, but at least he could see who was around the pool. It was preferable to being on the other side of the building where the view was of other buildings. His brother and Saburo were already out there, which he didn't mind. He'd rather go down there with Bellona or wait for her anyway.

Closing the curtains, Thius hurriedly changed from a casual outfit that was far too warm for the rays into a white tank top that had thinner material than he realized, sigh, swimming trunks that had a streak of blue on the sides, a pair of sandals, and a sun hat. Well, he put the sunhat on after pulling his hair back so the wind wouldn't keep blowing it towards his eyes. He was marveling at the meteorological charms that had to be in use to get Blackrock feeling so tropical. And for it to be that way year-round? Whoever cast it must be a very powerful wizard!

He stepped out into the hallway and lightly rapped at the door of room his girlfriend and his sister were staying in. "Are you two about ready? Or will you need more time? I'll be down at the pool!"

Merlin, he couldn't wait to see what his girlfriend could be wearing. He was sure it'd suit her contours no matter what...

@Bellona Lestrange @Cecelia Burke

While Saburo and her betrothed were at the pool, Sakura was in her room taking in everything. Just like the Burke manor, it was unlike what she was used to back in Japan. However, the amount of color that was everywhere made it feel more homely. Decorating the wall over the bed was a painting of strange-looking figures in front of a orange-purple sunset. It was a nice painting, she supposed. The colors matched the flowers that were waiting for her when she entered her room for the next few days.

Her room was illuminated as her handmaiden was preparing her indigo-colored yukata to be worn. Sakura sniffed the flowers in the room and smiled to herself, gently rubbing her fingers against the petals. Sakura heard some voices from the hallway and giggled; she found it very kind of her future family to be so kind and gracious to invite her and her brother on a vacation. They only got to meet so recently, so being included felt like an honor.

Soon enough, she'd be joining them. She just needed to get ready first.

Cece lied across the lounge chair, feeling the sun on her skin and smiled to herself. She removed her sunglasses to avoid any weird tan lines and was glad she had chosen a strapless swim top, also to avoid tan lines. She then turned toto look at her brother and Saburo, "So Saby, how are you liking England so far?" 

@Saburo Tokugawa

That must be Thius.

Bellona was in the bathroom, struggling to pull the swimming bottoms over her upper thighs. She growled, trying to wriggle into it, and then lost her balance and fell like a splattered fly on the wall. Peeling herself off, she heard Cecelia moving around outside to answer the door and a pair of voices - thankfully she was out of sight.

Bella I'm going down!

Struggling and stumbling, she cursed loudly as she wrenched the door open and her head popped up on the other side. "Wait! Don't leave me y--"

She was frowning at a door that had been shut behind her friend. "Urgh!"

Going back inside the bathroom, she started the battle from where she left off. Eventually she managed to dress herself: a waist-high bikini bottom and a halter-like top, in black, of course. She wrapped a silky, translucent kaftan that tied over at her waist and fell just above her knee, then finished it off with a wide-brimmed sun hat. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, this was the reason why she didn't want to go down by herself.

She wasn't nearly confident enough for all eyes to be on her. She was actually hoping that most of the attention would go on Cecelia, for one reason or another (her costume was definitely bearing more skin), but now she didn't have that comfort blanket. She couldn't knock for Thius, as it was him she was mostly self-conscious of, and the idea of knocking for Hector seemed laughable.

There was someone she'd forgotten, though...

Another girl.

With her towel slung over her arm and obscuring what was see-through, Bellona was standing outside Sakura's door. She didn't know the girl at all, she had no idea whether she thought her visit inappropriate or not, but she didn't care. She just needed the reassurance of another...

She knocked lightly.

"Um, Sakura? It's Bellona..."

@Sakura Tokugawa

Now that her robe was ready, Sakura was about to have her handmaiden help her put it on when there was a knock at the door. She opened up the door and bowed at Bellona as an automatic response.

"Hello, Bel," she greeted softly as her handmaiden waited patiently. "How are you?"

Again, it looked like she dressed as if she was in mourning. Maybe that is a normal British custom.

@Bellona Lestrange

Seeing his sister rush down to the pool, Thius stayed behind and decided to loiter near the elevator until Bellona was ready. Although there was nobody around to scrutinize him currently, it was likely going to be quite inappropriate if he stood outside of the room his girlfriend was in. He could wait, it was no big deal, but he was growing more insecure from that damn tank top. It was so thin that it already looked as if he'd already been in the water. At least it was still more modest than being without some sort of shirt...

Serene images floated through his mind as the sensual breeze played across his cheek. In this state of meditation, he could be at peace for a while, allowing his thoughts to centre around the five senses and not what had happened in the last hour.

When he had arrived with his valet and Tomo, the first thing he was stunned by was the manner of dress that he'd witnessed. Both woman and man alike were barely clothed. They had their arms wrapped around one another, were touching skin to skin without the slightest hesitancy. At first he thought there had to be some kind of mistake: that this was in fact a lobby of a bathhouse, and the women were there by accident.

Then he had been questioned about his valet by Hector, who seemed almost offended that he couldn't dress himself. It wasn't that he physically couldn't - but why would he?

Tomo's fur was brushing against his lap as he meditated on the sunbed. Then a voice pierced through his concentration.

He opened one eye and looked at her. Sitting up, he bowed, but he couldn't quite look her in the eye. Again - her skin is just out in the open... "Saby?" he repeated, wondering if she had difficulty pronouncing his name as he did with hers. "It is very different from where I am from..." He wanted to say that he liked it a lot, but he wouldn't lie to her like that. "Have you ever been to Japan?"

@Cecelia Burke

"Hello..." she breathed, thankful to be welcomed at least. "I'm okay - I just wanted to see how you were. Erm, can I come in?"

Sakura looked like one of those elegant marble statues on fountains that poured water from a vase. Yes - perhaps the attention would go more to her. This was a good plan.

@Sakura Tokugawa

"I am good, I am about to get dressed," she answered as her familiar walked to the door to join them. Sakura smiled at her and the kitsune as she leaned down to pet it. "Yes, you may come in."

Although it would be odd to finish getting ready in the company of Hector's brother's companion, it wasn't anything too different from her handmaiden seeing her body. Her kitsune walked to lay down at the side of the bed as she moved out of the way for Bellona to come inside. "Have you come here before? It reminds me of home, but it's very different from Japan..."

@Bellona Lestrange

Cece pushed some hair from her face, "No I've never had the pleasure. I believe my father and brother have gone to japan on business before." She wondered what was taking Bella and Thius so long to get ready. "While you're here you have to visit Hogsmeade."  

@Saburo Tokugawa