to know how.

doesn't think he really does want to know.

hugging her, also naked, and asleep.

glances over at Lan, cheeks burning red.

stirs, and looks up at her. "Ah...Lotte."

smiles at him. "Lan."

smiles as well, and sits up. "Ack..I'm still a man."

nods. "Is it a bad thing?"

shrugs. "I'm not sure."

chuckles, snuggling against him. "I like it."

frowns a tiny bit. "But you still like how I am when I'm a woman, right?"

nods. "Of course!"

smiles a little. "Then I don't mind that."

kisses his cheek. "Good."

smiles more at that. "We should get dressed."

hums in agreement, but she doesn't move.

doesn't move either. "What about us..?:

raises an eyebrow. "What about us?"

glances away. "We aren't...'an item', are we."

stares at him. "I don't know?"

nods. "I understand if you wouldn't want to. I'm...attached to Ivan, after all."

shrugs. "Ivan's not that bad..."

looks over at her. "Everyone else seems to think so."

tilts her head. "He's an important trade partner."

nods. "He is. ...Are we, though?"

hums softly. "It's your decision."

still looking elsewhere. "I wouldn't mind. At all."

takes his hand, squeezing it. "

We don't have to decide now."

nods. "Of course we can."

looks down at her hands. "I'm kind of afraid."

looks at her. "Afraid..?"

nods. "Commitment. My brother. Ivan. What's going to happen?"

leans against her, and rest his head on her shoulder. "I don't know..."

nuzzles his hair, sighing. "It's all so complicated."

nods. "It is...but maybe it's better if we weren't."

sighs, closing her eyes. "Yeah....maybe."

doesn't like feeling like this, so he gets up to get dressed to distract himself.

lays on the bed, covering herself in his blanket.

looks for some pants, and finds trousers that were to wear with the ao dai, and pulls them on.

covers her head with the blankets, wanting to hide.

turns back to her eventually, and sits by her. "Are you okay?"

mumbles something in response, curling up in a ball.

watches her. "...I didn't catch that."

tugs the blanket down to glance at him. "I'll be fine."

lays back down by her. "Are you sure?"

shrugs. "I don't know."

presses a soft kiss to her forehead. "Don't worry."

frowns. "It's hard not too."

holds her close to him again. "...I'm sorry that I cause this."

sighs. "It wasn't just you."

loosens his hold on her. "I did cause part of this."

rolls around so they're facing each other. "But I wanted it."

nods. "Ah...true. But you shouldn't worry."

nods. "I'll try not to.."

pets her hair. "Good...do you want to get dressed?"

nods, sitting up. "Yeah...Where're my clothes?"

motions to the floor. "You can borrow mine, if you'd like."

glances at Lan's closet. "Will they fit?"

looks in as well. "The ao dai are fit to my figure, but my western clothes should fit."

nods, snatching her bra from the floor. "Alright..."

goes to the closet to fetch a shirt and pants.

smiles at him, taking the clothes from him.

watches her. "Do they fit..?"

slips them on. "They're a bit snug, but they'll do."

watches her. "Ah..good."

smiles at him. "Yes."

watches her for a moment more before asking, "Do you want to eat?"

nods. "Yes please."

holds out his hand, smiling a little. "Come on, I can cook for you."

takes his hand, smiling back. "What will you make?"

. "What would you like?"

shrugs. "I don't mind."

shrugs. "I made a lot of pho a while ago...it'd be a shame to let it go to waste..." hinthint.

chuckles. "That's fine with me."

takes her to the kitchen, then. "I'll warm it up."

follows, glancing around her home. "Alright."

leads her to the table and starts the soup.

sits down at the table, watching him.

looks back at her, and smiles

smiles back, resting her chin on her hand.