#lmao jakobs a gwurl in this gif

[rviner]

"Mouth forks." Ines laughs softly, the sound bubbling up as if it catches her by surprise. She doesn't even know why she finds this so funny. Tossing out random nonsense together, but somehow, it's these little things that make her feel lighter. She likes him. She likes how he can pull a laugh from her, how half the time it's from absolutely nothing, just silly moments strung together. Still, there's a nagging thought she doesn't want to entertain, the chances of them both landing here, in Ding Dong of all places. But, she can't deny the odds or how they hint at something. Is she really going to fall for someone she has no future with?

Her smile lingers, though her mind races. "Um…yeah, maybe. That'd be cool. Or, like...my cousin is white, so it'd be funny to go back and see who the traitor is in the family." Ines's response is casual and teasing, though slightly hesitant. It's not a bad suggestion, not at all, but TerraSim's pricing makes it a pipe dream. The gap between them feels almost visible in moments like this, a reminder that their worlds are divided by credits. That faint realization flutters on her lips, almost forming a frown, but it fades when she catches Jakob's eyes watching her through his Star Link, his grin bright and easy. There's something in the way he looks at her that she has no words for.

Her pulse quickens when they're this close again, like it did at the bar after their first kiss. It felt so simple, so natural, and she remembers how, against Jakob's lips, she'd murmured, Oh, that felt good. A mix of warmth and sparks, all at once. Her gaze flicks from his mouth to his eyes, the tiniest laugh slipping out at his expression of surprise. "Yeah, I guess it finally struck me, like...Ding Dong." she teases, though her focus is already on the space between them, the pull to close the gap again.

Ines doesn't retreat. Instead, her hands glide up to Jakob's shoulders, her movements slow as their lips brush, tentative and gentle at first, then growing more certain. It's like the tension in her shoulders melts away with every second the kiss deepens. His warmth, his closeness, it's the same comforting rush she felt the first time. "You should've just kissed me." she whispers, her words slipping out between breaths as she moves closer along the counter, her legs slowly wrapping around him as she captures his mouth in another kiss.

"Ha, teeth can be food grinders," Jakob adds, laughing easily as she riffs. Ines is a mystery in many ways but he can already tell that what they have in common is more than what they don't. At least he thinks so until she mentions the bar. He cants his head to the side a bit and nods. "Oh, yeah, totally get that." As though he hasn't been going back for several weeks now, with the hopes of catching a glimpse of her. He's not one for the cults on Olympia, but he likes to believe if there is something greater in the universe or on The Station, that he's earned their favor. Because the fact they've both ended up here, in Ding Dong, feels like a sign to him, that their paths were meant to cross again.

"Maybe you guys could visit there too...I've read about the food. It always sounds amazing." He adds before a small frown flits across his mouth. There's something off about her answers, but he can't put his finger on what. Maybe he's reading into things too much, but he swears the shift in atmosphere is palpable. Rather than large grins, there's small smiles, and rather than a louder laugh, it's a quiet chuckle. A stark shift from minutes ago and he resists the urge to ask her. Instead, he focuses on taking pictures he'll share with her later, and keep for himself too. The way her doll-like eyes crinkle slightly at the corners when she smiles, or the way her cheeks are full when she smiles, her lips perfectly shapes for – "Great!" Jakob exclaims with a bit too much enthusiasm, trying not to fixate on how good she looks on the Star Link and instead making his way over to her.

There's a moment between showing her the pictures and looking over at her that Jakob can feel Ines studying him. Her eyes on his face and only after a beat does he meet her gaze. Their faces are so close and he swears they're already sharing a breath. And he can't help himself – all attempts at being coy or suave or removed and relax fail at her words. Jakob can't stop his slight surprise, brows raised. "Oh, you're finally getting that?" His Star Link is forgotten and tucked away as he shifts to face her more. A low laugh escapes as she brushes her nose to his and he decides to tell the truth. "I've wanted to kiss you since I first saw you when the Ding Dong sign disappeared," Jakob admits, taking her proximity as a sign to take a chance and brush his lips against hers.