After the club, Joohyun happily agreed to design their new home if Sana hooked her up with some gear. It was an easy yes from the couple, and they had gone to look at Nayeon’s house to check the land and get the blueprints the following afternoon. Joohyun said it would be better to build a new house entirely, as more than half of Nayeon’s would have to be torn down to retrofit Sana’s workshop, and they could save and donate more materials by tearing everything down rather than building around it. The couple agreed, and Sana asked if Joohyun was free to go by her workshop and make a list of what she wanted, so they could settle the prices between each other and Sana could begin working her magic.

 

The trip to Osaka was mostly a blurr, they were getting pushed into the Parks’ private jet, then they were eating sushi at Sana’s mother’s restaurant (very refined and currently holding two stars) then there was a ring exchange and then they were being shoved into the plane again. The couple only knew they were officially engaged now, Nayeon was sporting the Minatozaki family ring and Sana the new Park family ring. The Park ring was the earrings left by grandma Park that got turned into two rings, one for Chaeyoung and one for Sana. The little tiger felt a little left out because she didn’t have something old to give Jihyo, but she didn’t let it get to her because she had designed and forged Jihyo’s ring with her own hands and that mattered the most for her.

 

After the trip, preparations for Jihyo and Chaeyoung’s wedding began, Nayeon wasn’t really invited to participate, but Jihyo said she could host the bachelorette party and asked if she could handle the bar service again. Nayeon happily agreed, she liked that her sister included her the most she could, they knew their parents wouldn’t allow for more than that. Sana reminded them she still had to make their gifts and demanded they stopped by the workshop immediately. Angry Sana was scary, slightly hot, but the couple wouldn’t admit the second part. Once they did arrive, they noticed that Sana’s garage had been altered and expanded to fit everything she needed and understood that moving to Nayeon’s really wasn’t an option.

 

“You both arrived!” The japanese greeted as she pushed the couple inside. “Welcome to my playground!”

 

“This is...” Jihyo begins.

 

“A lot.” Chaeyoung finishes and the couple gulps.

 

“Oh, these are just a few of what I can do.” Sana dismisses as she gestures to the walls and stands filled with her creations. “These are the ones I usually recommend, sure people can ask for something not on display and I’ll see if it’s worth it or not.”

 

“So you refuse some requests?” Chaeyoung gets interested.

 

“Oh, sure I do! Some people just watch movies and think is just spanking and maybe tying a blindfold to their partner. There are so many young rich kids that find out about me and come thinking I need their business at all.”

 

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of those in high society.” Jihyo sighs. “The spoiled brats are always the worst.”

 

“They are, and the tantrum they throw when I tell them I’m not taking their request is always amusing. Then I just tell them my prices and they leave screaming that I’m a crook and overcharging.” The artisan giggles.

 

“I could imagine. But would you humor me and tell me your price?” The younger Park tries.

 

Chaeyoung had already wandered a little to the left, very interested in something in one of the racks.

 

“Chae? Grab whatever you are looking at for me.” Sana says instead.

 

Chaeyoung comes back with an arm immobilizer. It was a leather contraption made to hold the entire forearms in place behind the person’s back. It substituted ropes for those who weren’t versed in shibari to do it safely. 

 

“Oh, those are interesting!” The artisan quips. “Well, Ji, that piece would be around five grand to have custom made.”

 

The smallest woman freezes and the other chokes a little. Sana laughs, she was having a lot of fun already.

 

“Don't panic, everything here is very sturdy. But yeah, that’s the price for that, the basic version at least, the one Chae is holding.”

 

“What do you mean the basic version?” Chaeyoung gets over the shock and observes the item better.

 

“Some people like to customize their pieces, so the price grows according to what they want. Some want it in gold thread instead of the normal one, others want it engraved, some in other colors, it really depends.”

 

“Oh. And what is this?” Jihyo asks, not understanding at all the contraption.

 

“It’s an arm immobilizer, for people who want to do but don’t know how to use ropes safely. Chae, help me put it on here.”

 

Sana takes the item (all her display is made on her size so she could demonstrate to beginners) and puts it in place, her arms behind her back. 

 

“Just close the zipper and the buttons.” The japanese instruct.

 

“Like this?” The cub confirms.

 

“Like that, thanks.” Sana cheers. “So, using ropes is something people should learn properly before trying, it can be very dangerous. For those who want to get the same result without the risk, I came up with this. It immobilizes the arms just the same but without the risks, this one is made for me, but each piece is made for the user specifically. Now, get me out.”

 

Jihyo helps open the piece and Sana hands it back to Chaeyoung.

 

“Now, I want you both to walk around and grab whatever you find interesting, then put it on the table and we’ll see where you both stand with each other.” 

 

Chaeyoung is off as soon as the owner finishes, Jihyo hesitates for a few seconds before moving as well. Truth be told, Sana’s display was enormous, she likes to spend her free time coming up with new stuff and researching if it was already registered or not. When not, she would draw the blueprint and register to her name. She earned enough money with royalties that she could leisurely spend the rest of her life just coming up with new ideas and not worry about anything ever. The artisan made her way to one of the chairs on the big table and waited, this table was there so she could do exactly what she was doing, help people understand their desires and come to a middle ground with their partners.

 

Jihyo, surprisingly, was the first one back with a few items, before leaving to keep looking. Chaeyoung came much later, not carrying a lot, but interesting things regardless. Once the couple was satisfied, the japanese had already brewed them all some tea and prepared a few biscuits, gesturing for them to take a seat and relax a little.

 

“I just noticed, where’s Nayeonnie?” Chaeyoung asked.

 

“She’s rehearsing the girls on a new routine today. She had been at the club since morning, and I’m already prepared with a foot massage, a refreshing bath and a warm dinner when she arrives. Training days exhaust her completely.” Sana explains fondly.

 

“Well, pole dancing does seem like a lot of work.” Jihyo agrees.

 

“It’s nice you take such good care of her.” Chaeyoung adds.

 

“I love her a lot. And she takes just as much care of me too. Whenever I’m curating or staining leather it takes a lot of physical labor. Those things are heavy you wouldn’t believe.”

 

“It’s just-” Jihyo chokes a little. “She was always the one giving the most on her previous tries, and they all left soon.”

 

“We found each other, really. I needed someone who understood me just as much. With my line of business, most people are either just curious and leave because they feel intimidated or they just want some freebie out of it.”

 

“Well, good think Yeonnie is the least money hungry person I’ve ever known.” Chae offers over a mouthful of biscuits.

 

“That she is.” Sana giggles. “Now, let’s see what you both got and try to find some common ground for you both!”

 

They spend the rest of the afternoon learning about the items they chose, about each other and about themselves. This experiment Sana liked to do with beginners never failed her, the partners would pick whatever piqued their interest and she would explain its use, then she would have them talk to each other about the item and how they intended to use it and see if it was appropriate for the couple or not. They ended up with a few very interesting things, and some basic ones as well. Sana said she would schedule with each separately to take their measures and discuss how they wanted the item to be made. 

 

The japanese had learned from experience that both partners being present during fittings was a grave mistake, they would want to opine on each other’s items and that would prevent her from doing it to the user’s needs. Once she made a golden plated submissive hood, the one that only had an opening for the mouth, but the man who would be wearing it didn’t want it gold plated because it got too uncomfortable, but was pressured to accept it by his partner. She, smart as she was, got them to sign the agreement and send her the money for the materials before she began, her mentor had warned her about crazy requests and she never failed to remember him and ensure she would, at least, not lose money. That one couple came back a week after they had received their item, demanding she was the one who didn’t do what they wanted and should give them back all her money.

 

Sana had merely told them to sue and that they weren’t welcome at her workshops any longer, it was a fast case since she had the agreement they all signed, stating everything the couple requested and that she wouldn’t be held responsible for their satisfaction once she delivered their request. The judge requested the item to be submitted as evidence and compared it to everything listed in the agreement, it was exactly what they asked for so he declared Sana won and the couple was to pay her a hefty amount for defamation and paid her lawyer fees as well. From then on Sana never allowed partners to attend fitting together again and the money was what made her move to Korea possible.

 

That night Nayeon indeed arrived very tired, Sana forced her to eat first, she knew the older woman would simply skip dinner if it was up to her, and then got them both into the bath. The way Nayeon was tired, Sana feared she might just fall asleep in the thub, like she had done once herself, and this way she could take it upon herself to wash her fiance properly. By this point, Nayeon was only capable of holding her body up, even so, barely, and Sana knew she would get rashes overnight if she didn’t clean herself properly. Pole dancing was great, but someone should really make the glue less aggressive on the skin. The japanese ended up doing some pressure point massage to relieve the pains Nayeon was certainly feeling across her body, but too tired to react to.

 

They were a cute couple like that. Chaeyoung’s appointment came first, and the small woman had called and asked if the couple would be home because she wanted to come earlier and talk to them. Nayeon said they would, but she should head to the house instead. Arriving, Chae rang the bell and heard someone shout for her to come in, as soon as the door closed behind her, she heard something squeaking and a lot of and grunting, then what was unmistakably Nayeon’s voice out ‘harder’. What were these two doing and did that mean she was being invited to join? With that thought, she made her way to the living room, but what she found was more interesting.

 

There was a massage table in the middle of the living room, Nayeon was laying on her back and Sana was clearly performing a very aggressive massage, or something along those lines.

 

“I could come back later?” Chaeyoung speaks up.

 

“Oh, hey Chae.” Sana grunted. “Make yourself at home I’m almost done.”

 

Nayeon just grunted, what the other two took as agreement to Sana’s words.

 

“I never knew you did massages?” The little one questions as she comes back with some water and relaxes on the couch.

 

“Sana and I got licensed as chiropractors a few years back.” Nayeon answers this time. “We both showed up with sore bodies a lot through the years and I suggested we went together to learn how to fix it.”

 

“All done, Nayeonnie.” Sana declares when she finishes cleaning her fiance’s back. “Obviously, we didn’t know the real reason behind those pains until fairly recent, we were already great friends and wanted to help each other out.”

 

“Plus it was a great distraction during our first masters. It was nice to have something that demanded all of our attention so we could turn off for a few hours and learn something useful.” The older one finishes as she puts her shirt back on.

 

Chaeyoung hums thoughtfully, also appreciating her sister-in-law’s very attractive milky skin and toned body. Don’t judge, she was engaged, not dead.

 

“Well, I came to ask if you could help me prepare a surprise performance for Jihyo on our honeymoon. But now I’m very tempted to ask if one of you could unlock me first.”

 

“Well, Chae, how about we do your fitting first, then Nayeonnie can unlock you while I make us dinner later?” Sana offers.

 

“Really?” The smaller woman lights right up.

 

“Absolutely.” Nayeon confirms. “It’s also better, since your items might get you uncomfortable and hurt a few muscles.”

 

“I thought Sana was the best in what she did?”

 

“I am, but you never used some of the things you wanted and the ones you are trying on today are just the rough draft, I need to get them to fit you exactly and then it will feel seamless once you wear them.”

 

“It’s normal that the first fitting will be a bit rough, Sana just had your general measurements to go off on, that’s what she uses to make the base piece and then she’ll adjust from there.”

 

“That…. Makes sense.” Chaeyoung agrees. It really did. Like tailors do with custom suits.

 

“Alright, let’s go.” Sana prompts them to get moving. “You can tell Nayeonnie what you had in mind while you try everything on.”

 

They move to the workshop, coincidentally, an old client was just getting out of his car, so Sana asks them to wait a bit by the big table while she talks to the man. He already knew she only worked with appointments and was just there to inquire about something for his husband and set the appointment for the first fitting. The artisan settles everything in less then ten minutes, Nayeon had taken the time to make them all some tea and Chaeyoung was just too giddy, this was the first time she would be doing this and she already was getting custom made pieces.

 

“Alright, Chae.” The artisan says after the man left and she locked the door. “Get on your underwear and we’ll start adjusting everything.”

 

“As you do that, tell me what you had in mind.” The dancer prompts.

 

“Well, you are a great dancer, I must admit.” Chaeyoung begins as she steps on the high platform the artisan had pointed her to. “I still can’t get your performance out of my head, and I wanted to do something different for Jihyo when we get to our honeymoon.”

 

“Not your wedding night?” Sana asks curiously, never stopping her hands.

 

“Oh, our parents are blowing everything out of proportion.” Nayeon laughs. “They will probably be so exhausted from the whole event that they would prefer to just sleep for their flight the following day.”

 

“That’s exactly what Jihyo and I thought. So we are just going to spend the night resting as much as we can to actually enjoy the honeymoon trip.” The little one agrees. “So, I thought it would be a good idea to learn a simple routine with Nayeonnie as my own wedding gift for my wife.”

 

“I’ll be glad to help you out. Do you have a specific song in mind?”

 

“Oh, I do.” 

 

“I’ll put it on and start thinking about a routine while you both do that.”

 

Sana makes a noise in agreement and Chaeyoung nods enthusiastically, Nayeon moves to connect her phone and play the song for them all to listen. Speak what you will about the woman, but Park Nayeon was an absolute genius when it came to performing, she started small in a corner club she started with an old friend, it was a dingy place and the stage too small, but she shone even then, and business thrived. When her friend decided it was enough of the club business, Nayeon bought out her share and invested in a slightly bigger place, finally registering the name Vesuvius. Things only went up from then on and now she owns a huge building in the heart of Yeoui-do with the hottest club these days.

 

She had a rough draft of a routine by the time Sana had finished and Chaeyoung had put her clothes back on. The group moved to the back where the small area for Nayeon’s pole had been placed, it was the only area with wooden flooring and it would be more comfortable to work through the routine there. Nayeon asked Sana to sit on a chair and Chaeyoung to take the couch on the side and she restarted the song as she broke into dance. The smaller woman was mesmerized right off the bat, she knew Nayeon was good, but to come up with that in just the few minutes she had was amazing. The dancer was performing to her fiance, not a drop of the aura she exuded on stage present, and the artisan was paying close attention to give her feedback later.

 

“I think you might want to simplify a little, Chae isn’t as flexible as you.” Sana starts once the performance ends. “Maybe cut some steps and stretch the transitions so she can perfect it without much trouble.”

 

“You are right, but then it would look kinda empty, don’t you think?” Nayeon was full on choreographer mode.

 

“What are you both talking about?” Chaeyoung tunes back in. “That was brilliant!”

 

“Maybe, but can you follow it?” The eldest questions and takes the silence as an answer. “What we are brainstorming here is how to make it simpler for you to be able to follow it perfectly in time for the wedding. The thing is, my greedy side wants to do more, but I know that you aren’t used to these complicated routines like I am, so I have to bring it down and still manage to make it look seamless.”

 

“That makes a lot of sense.” The in-law agrees. “Please don’t make me suffer too much, thank you.”

 

“I am gonna tell you to start stretching three times a day from here on. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a stretch routine. It will help you perform easier and also help your moves look prettier. But do you like what you saw, somehow?”

 

“I love it!”

 

“Good, make room for daily rehearsal.” Sana quips.

 

“I’ll need two hours everyday if you want this to be great by your wedding. So check your schedule and send me the time you have so I can be here for us to rehearse.” Nayeon concludes.

 

The dancer proceeds to explain and demonstrate the stretching routine Chaeyoung will need to incorporate in her daily activities. They are all pretty simple, but for someone who doesn’t exercise, very demanding. Nayeon can’t hide the glint of sadistic pleasure when she tells Chaeyoung to take her shirt off and lay on the massage bed, the smaller woman gulps, but she had asked for it and now she will suffer. To say it was awfully painful would be and understatement, Chaeyoung had never felt so much pain before, and she had a rib tattoo. But, as expected, her small body felt like it didn’t belong to her when the eldest was done. Sana had finished dinner and was laughing at the duo for the last twenty minutes.

 

Jihyo’s appointment followed not long after, she, in turn, didn’t ask for a performance, but she did hear from her fiance that the couple were chiropractors and demanded she get unlocked too. As usual, Nayeon was the one to do it, she got the bed ready while Sana did her thing, and maybe had too much fun torturing her sister after. It was another nice dinner, and Jihyo left with a bento box for Chaeyoung, much like the other had done when it was her turn.

 

“Nayeonnie?” Sana asked and got a humm. “What does Chae do?”

 

“I never told you?” Nayeon snuggled closer, they were watching movies in the living room. “She’s a biochemist, head of the research department. She and Hyo met back in college, both shared a few classes and got paired for projects often.”

 

“Oh, who would have thought!” The japanese is very surprised. “I’d think she was a cutler or something wild like that.”

 

“It would have fit her image quite well, but the wildest she ever got are her tattoos.”

 

The couple laughs and decide to call it a night, Zaki and Snowball had been asleep for a while now and the movie wasn’t even that interesting anyways. Joohyun showed up on thursday, she had already drawn up a basic design for their new house and came to ask what the couple wanted to change, add or removed. Nayeon asked if they could have two counters in their bathroom instead of just one but was happy about everything else, Sana just made some adjustments to her workshop but was also satisfied with everything else. As agreed, they talked prices and Sana took their friend to look at her collection and decide what she wanted, Joohyun looked too happy to be among so many toys, she was choosing them like a kid picking up candy, but everything went great in the end.