[ It feels right to display affection in a way that Wriothesley would appreciate, human that he is. And when he feels the man's fingers against his skin-- another point of touch besides the insistent press of their lips together-- he knows he's done the right thing. He leans in a bit more, presses more insistently, and then... inhales as he pulls back, but not without another little nuzzle of his nose against Wriothesley's cheek. ]
With all the decisions I've made in life, [ his voice is soft, words a murmur close to Wriothesley's ear ] I appreciate them more now, if only for how they led me to you.
[ He drops the pretences of politeness, reaching down to take Wriothesley's hand once more as he so wanted to through their walk. Though the features of his face are as muted as they normally would be, the quiet longing he feels is reflected in his eyes, even if he doesn't quite understand what that longing means. ]
Come inside with me. I... want to know more about you, too.
[Wriothesley leans in as Neuvillette does, his desire easily bleeding into the very motion -- though as the other man pulls back, he takes a quick breath himself, easing into the nuzzle with a content sigh. While they're close like this, he idly lets his fingers trail into Neuvillette's hair. He would drop the touch the moment they moved away from each other... but for now the proximity -- the touch, it was all... peace.
He can't quite stop the brief shiver that the murmur so close to his ear had drawn out. He's smiling softly against Neuvillette's cheek though, a clear enough sign of how much he was truly enjoying every moment. His voice is soft as well -- breathed against soft skin.]
I feel the same way. Every day, I'm more and more thankful that we met... that I walked down the right path to get to know you.
[He eases back to... just enough distance for them to be able to walk, lets his hand ease out of soft hair -- across Neuvillette's jaw before finally he drops his hand to his side. Feeling the other man's hand warm in his other draws a soft smile, deepened even more by a longing that matched Neuvillette's own. A part of him truly wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them once again -- he would behave though, they had reservations after all. Perhaps after.
He chuckles quietly, shifted to go inside with the other man. His smile warms the words to follow considerably.] And what if I'm willing to give you... everything you ask for? All of who I am?
[ Without missing a beat, and with his eyes unmoving from Wriothesley's profile, he says, ] Then I'll be very careful as I devour every bit of you.
[ Modesty might have been the human way to do it. Neuvillette can't be bothered with the formalities of such a thing-- not when Wriothesley is like this, sweet and willing and so open to his observations. If Wriothesley wants to give more, then Neuvillette will take.
Now that he's being given permission to, why shouldn't he?
Just as the structure of the restaurant had been simple and homey on the outside, the inside is just as well. Wooden furniture and simple but elegant settings abound, along with plants and picture frames of memorable moments on the wall. Music plays softly on a nearby phonograph; listening to quiet orchestrations with Wriothesley's hand in his reminds him of the afternoon they spent, even if sitting with him is a far more intimate endeavour.
The lighting is warm, giving everything a more relaxed feel. Neuvillette lets go of Wriothesley's hand only to pull his chair back for him, and it might be the first time he's ever done such a thing and truly cared about the person he did it for. He makes haste to his own seat, and when a server comes with their menus, he waits patiently for Wriothesley's choice before making his own (he goes for stew with meat and vegetables, in the end; he even makes sure to ask if there's anything Wriothesley would like for dessert).
But when their orders are given, and they're left alone once more, Neuvillette's hand rests gently on the table with his palm turned up. Already, he misses Wriothesley's touch. ]
After all you told me before we arrived... I suppose I ought to question if there's anything you want to ask me in turn.
[If Wriothesley had been expecting a certain response (he wasn't) it wouldn't have been that, and he can feel warmth at the back of his neck and tips of his ears. He does smile, eyes turned toward Neuvillette, and there's a distinctly different -- confident kind of warmth in his tone.] You don't have to be all that careful about it.
[He sure said that, but regardless of whether or not he thought much before he spoke... it had been complete honesty. If he were truthful, he was curious just what direction that would lead them down. For now though, he's content to walk to their table -- walk with his hand in Neuvillette's to the gentle music. The echo back to their dances felt... warm.
His thanks are soft as Neuvillette pulls the chair out for him, a fluttery feeling in his chest even as he missed the warmth of Neuvillette's hand in his. He doesn't quite have much time to consider that, as the server brings the menu -- something he doesn't really have to think considerably hard about (he orders a meat soup with a potato base) as for dessert, he just laughed quietly with a "nothing I could get here."
Left alone at last, Wriothesley's gaze flicks to the movement -- to Neuvillette's hand and it's only a brief moment before he reaches out... before he places his hand in Neuvillette's. The Iudex certainly wasn't the only one who missed the warmth of the other's hand.
The words though do give him a moment's pause. There were many things he was curious about, but...] Hmm... some things I want to ask shouldn't be asked here, but I have been thinking about something over the past few weeks. I'm incredibly glad for it, mind, but I keep wondering just what it was that made you choose me, of all people?
[ It's genuine confusion, the way he parrots Wriothesley's words. Neuvillette's brows furrow, a soft "hm" on his lips. ]
You'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid. I've named you for several things since we've established a rapport.
[ And a time before that, too. Upon confirmation that a prisoner has finished their sentence, final judgment on whether it was carried out in a satisfactory manner goes to the Iudex and his Court. He'd seen Wriothesley's name the day he completed his stint in the Fortress of Meropide, and he hadn't needed to consult his file at all to remember the way that boy looked, so small in the Opera Epiclese.
Yes, he'd said, upon reading the reports on him. Upon review, I agree with the conclusion that he's served his time well.
And as far as everything he's done with Wriothesley is concerned, Neuvillette would do it all again. ]
[Wriothesley chuckled softly, briefly, hand in Neuvillette's idly tracing one fingertip against the base of the man's palm. He'd really been a bit caught up in everything, in the way the Iudex had responded to Wriothesley offering him everything. His expression is soft, fond... with wisps of his desire for the other still lingering.]
Sorry, let me try to rephrase. [He wasn't entirely sure how, though. It was something rather specific, but even so. He didn't think he could ask relating to something like love easily when this thing between them was new.]
Hmm... the one you've wanted to be close to -- to kiss. What makes me, of all people, that person?
[There was no uncertainty in his voice, despite the phrasing of him 'of all people'... no there was just quiet interest. He knew he had plenty of good qualities, he knew he was strong and capable... but others also fit that description.
Others who weren't covered in scars, which he'd seen no few people spare nervous glances toward. Others who were considerably more accessible.
He shakes his head briefly with a smile.] I'm not really the greatest at asking more... sentimental questions, but I can at least promise that I couldn't be happier, being that person for you.
[ The answer doesn't come easy. "I wanted to kiss you because it was the human method of displaying my desire to be near", while honest, sounds far too bizarre for the context presented to him. As Wriothesley looks at him with these sentimental eyes, all soft and sweet like the tone of his voice, Neuvillette knows he deserves better than that.
But he also doesn't want to lie, he decides. And just in case Wriothesley begins to fear the worst in Neuvillette's silence, he opts to hold his hand properly and say: ] Give me a few moments to collect my thoughts, hm?
[ Because while the dance they'd shared had catalysed his feelings, they hadn't been the cause of them. Neuvillette hadn't even really known there were feelings to consider at all-- thought these sentiments were so rooted in humanity that one such as he could never experience them to begin with.
He doesn't regret the development, though. Knowing that it's made Wriothesley happy, he doesn't regret it at all.
So he starts with: ] You're the first person I've met whose presence makes me better.
I don't mean this in terms of productivity or other professional metrics, but... something unquantifiable. Something where I'd rather be holding your hand, touching you-- [ he traces circles on Wriothesley's knuckles with his thumb ] than not.
I haven't pinpointed the real reason for it, truthfully. Possibilities such as your sense of justice, or the dedication you hold in protecting the people the rest of Fontaine forgot leagues under the sea, or even the honesty in every word you've spoken to me... these all hold. But if we go with matters less tangible, you ease a weight I don't often notice is on my shoulders. In centuries of routine and status quos, that felt... significant.
It's easy being with you. [ Neuvillette smiles, and while small, the gentle expression in his eyes is unmistakable. ] You'd said something to that effect the afternoon I kissed you.
I never noticed until you pointed it out. How... comfortable I am in this body when it's touching you. How glad I am I have five fingers so they can link between yours perfectly. [ And he squeezes their hands where they're joined. ] How lucky I must be to have a mouth that can touch yours and make you sigh.
Being the Iudex, wearing all these embellishments-- this is my duty, and I'll never forsake it for anything. But with you, I am me.
And you're eager for it. You hunger for it, instead of pushing it away. You speak of wanting to know me, of trusting me... and in doing so you've set me free, even if for a little while.
I've never been particularly concerned with happiness or connection. But with you... were it not for my work, Wriothesley, I could spend the rest of my days learning what makes you smile, if only to make you feel even a fraction of the things you inspire in me. I would do anything to see the world you build underwater and to help you make your dreams come true.
You're the most beautiful human I've ever seen, [ dipping his head, Neuvillette draws their hands up to kiss Wriothesley's ] and I'm greedy enough to want to make you mine because of it.
[Rather than concerned, Wriothesley finds himself feeling more curious as to what the answer will be once the silence passes. From the way he was held and kissed that afternoon... the way Neuvillette had invited him to this dinner and kissed him once again -- and without privacy this time -- he was more than happy to give him time.
The request gets a nod out of him, as something he'd sort of expected.] Please, take all the time you need.
[Once the other man begins to speak, Wriothesley listens quietly, Neuvillette given his full attention... and the first thing he says catches his breath in his chest momentarily. They both leaned into physical touch whenever they were near enough for it -- even that afternoon before this thing between them truly blossomed -- but to be wanted that close... to have that proximity lift a weight that centuries couldn't touch...
Wriothesley can feel heat prickling at the back of his neck when Neuvillette speaks of comfort, as they had that day. Normally one who would file away the phrasing of being comfortable 'in this body', Wriothesley doesn't do anything of the sort. Neuvillette and Neuvillette alone commanded his full attention with every word.
By the time he's nearly finished, Wriothesley looks a bit stunned -- though certainly not in a bad way -- and the kiss to his hand is more than enough to snap him out of that.]
I... [As he'd rendered Neuvillette speechless before, now it was his turn. The warmth at the back of his neck had reached up to the tips of his ears, and after a moment he breathes out the fondest -- while also vaguely self-conscious -- chuckle. They aren't quite close enough for him to do as Neuvillette had before and bury his speechlessness with a kiss, so with a breath he can only speak, fondness carried clearly in his voice.]
I never imagined that I could do so much -- be so much for you... but it makes me happy that I am. Honestly, I've found myself wishing I could spend more time with you. Especially over the last few weeks. Even if all I can do is sit in your office while you work.
[But they both knew about the impracticalities of that on both ends. Today had been quite handy proof that they struggled to keep their eyes off one another.]
And perhaps someday, something like that will be possible. We'll have time to figure visits out together, seeing as... [He pauses -- geently squeezing the hand in his -- meeting Neuvillette's eyes across the table.] I'm... pretty sure I've been yours for years now. I could never imagine anything different, no matter what had happened -- there was only the thought that I'd be around you for the rest of my life, in whichever capacity I was allowed to be.
[A pause, and a quiet chuckle.] So there really isn't anything further you'd need to do in order for me to be yours.
I want you. [ The words leave him before he can think more about them, and it's a moment before Neuvillette's eyes widen and he becomes aware of what he's said. ] And I'm... I'm glad that pleases you.
[ He'd meant it, though. In whatever capacity that he's able to have him, Neuvillette wants him: close to him, by his side, away but thinking of him, reeking of him, marked by him, covered in the shapes of his hands...
And the thought of it, of Wriothesley so irrevocably his human, makes an uncharacteristic shudder travel down his spine. Heel.
The server, to their credit, is discreet as they come up. Neuvillette hardly notices them when they first call, turning away from Wriothesley only a few moments later as the noises of the rest of the room return to him in ebbs and flows. But his focus, even as he gives polite thanks for their effort to deliver their meals, is shot through. Food is nothing compared to the fond look on Wriothesley's face-- so beautiful, so at peace with belonging to him.
It makes something long buried stir inside him, something so distinctly different from the facsimile of man he pretends to be. The more Wriothesley claims himself to be his, the worse Neuvillette will get.
...but perhaps that's the whole point. ]
I've never wanted this with someone before. [ Neuvillette's words are soft, the slightest furrow in his brows as he speaks. ] There are thoughts... desires I'm unsure how to voice. And for that I feel I must ask for your patience.
But [ gaze lifting once more, he faces Wriothesley properly ] I'm yours, as well.
[ Unspoken is the truth that dragons mate for life-- one of those things Neuvillette's never experienced, certainly, nor has he ever witnessed, but which he'd always known since he'd come out of the Realm of Light and surfaced through Primordial waters. But if Neuvillette only had one chance at such a thing, then this would be worth it, even if in the end Wriothesley left him for another.
And for a moment, he understands what it is to be a short-lived species and to want with every fibre of your being. ]
[At the words, so unexpected, Neuvillette's aren't the only eyes widening. The very thought of those words are enough to further ignite the heat that creeped up to his ears, and Wriothesley forgets for just a moment to breathe. He'd been wanted before, but he never cared about the person who did so before. But with Neuvillette now? It was... overwhelmingly pleasant.
Wriothesley also doesn't quite catch the first time the server calls, his focus only returning to the rest of the room when Neuvillette briefly turns away. He gives his own polite thanks, even while his thoughts are entirely filled with Neuvillette. His rational mind knew that he needed to eat... but the rest of him would've rather been elsewhere with Neuvillette. In his home, in his bed, in an alley -- Wriothesley didn't care where.
He was pretty stunned to find the depths of how much he wanted the man.
Wriothesley is still a bit breathless when Neuvillette speaks to him, and the quality comes through in his voice.] Really, I've never wanted this before, myself... so we can figure it out. [A brief pause, a smile.] As far as patience, it's yours just like the rest of me.
[He can feel his heart rate pick up a little when Neuvillette claims to be his as well, the thought so heady and appealing that he really... wanted to finish dinner as soon as possible. The 'for as long as you want me' does make him pause briefly though. Wriothesley's look grows a bit thoughtful for a moment, before he fully meets Neuvillette's gaze once again with a quiet smile.]
I've wanted to be with you in some way or another for more than half of my life, and I've wanted you for almost a decade now. And now that I can have you? [He breathes the briefest laugh.] I don't want to let you go.
[Really... Neuvillette wasn't the only possessive one.]
Then don't. [ The answer is short and simple, but nevertheless as honest as everything else about him. The peculiar colour of his eyes meet Wriothesley's own blue, and Neuvillette's lips curve into a smile. It's small, but an answer nevertheless.
His thumb brushes the side of Wriothesley's hand, affectionate and sweet. ] Have your dinner. [ And only because he needs to use both hands, his touch pulls away. ] And then you can have all my attention.
[ As if Wriothesley didn't already have it. But that isn't the point.
Dinner, that said, feels more like a means to an end. A part of him mourns it, considering he really did want to give the food a proper taste, but as he eats and makes small talk-- curiosity, of course, about the Fortress; talk about his own work at the Palais, and then a more sheepish anecdote of how one of the Melusines from the village had come to visit and give him a gift-- he finds all he can focus on is Wriothesley. The look on his face, the way his mouth opens to eat, the sound his voice and its intonations... they're all beautiful, to him. But they're also terribly distracting.
Ah, well. It isn't as if either of them could help it, anyway. ]
The consideration never really crossed my mind. [Because honestly, it hadn't. It was absolutely -- terribly possessive of him... but that seemed to be just what they both wanted. Even with the possessive direction of their conversation though, his smile was rather soft -- gaze warm... the affection there was clear as could be.
He chuckles softly, the sound low and full of unspoken promise -- even as he retrieves his own hand with some reluctance.] I'll hold you to that.
[The food he'd ordered was rather impressive, and it certainly fit the description of comfort food... too bad his focus was entirely on Neuvillette, as it had been since they met in the fountain plaza. He'd have to return sometime in the future to give them the proper try that they deserved.
For all that his half of the small talk sounded fully present -- and in a way he was because he was speaking with Neuvillette -- he was also handily distracted. Were he thinking about it, he'd be thankful he could maintain conversation while all he was thinking was how he wanted to bury a hand in Neuvillette's soft hair as they kissed -- how badly he wanted to be backed into a wall.
... no. Stop that thought right there. Thoughts like that could be entertained when they'd finished with their dinner -- when they'd left and found somewhere... passably more private. The time felt like it was passing incredibly slowly as they ate, but after what felt like something of an eternity they'd both finished, the meal had been paid for and Wriothesley had stood first this time.
In an intentional echo back to their afternoon together, he offers Neuvillette his hand. At the time he hadn't expected anything to come of the gesture... but this time was rather different -- the desires between them having only grown more intense as dinner passed.]
Shall we? [Head tilted ever so slightly toward the door, he couldn't keep the desire from his eyes even if he'd tried.]
[ In all his centuries of trying to understand the human tongue, none of what he's learned is able to describe this sight of Wriothesley stood before him, hand outstretched and a gentle look of affection on his face. A part of him, however small, wonders at it; whatever deep-seated instinct exists in him speaks to the fact that dragons aren't taken to warmth the way humans are.
At the same time, though-- like a predator that's found their prey-- Neuvillette wants to sink his teeth into Wriothesley and never let him go.
At least he can do so metaphorically, he thinks, fingers brushing the tips of Wriothesley's in sly acceptance. At least when he takes Wriothesley's hand and rises, the firmness of his grip is reflected in Wriothesley's own.
He only barely remembers to leave a tip, but feels as satisfied as he can get with how much he still wants as they walk through the door. ]
How opposed would you be to leaving the Court with me until I have to return to the Palais? [ The question is posed considerably innocently; outside the Court of Fontaine, Neuvillette isn't as burdened by the weights he carries as the Iudex, after all. ]
[Neuvillette's hand in his sparks something in him -- just touching the other man at all, even as innocently as this, felt... right. Still with both of them on their feet, Wriothesley has no intention of losing this contact. They'd held hands on their way into the restaurant, so unless Neuvillette pulled away or shifted them in any way, he was content to remain like this.
Part of him hoped that this proximity would appease his desire for far more, at least for the moment. So far... it hadn't helped that at all.]
Not opposed in the least, really. Do you have somewhere specific in mind? [Even if Neuvillette hadn't decided on a destination, Wriothesley was still not opposed. The logical part of him, tucked away now at the back of his mind in favor of his desires, could easily argue they both needed a chance to just get out of their respective domains... but that was really the farthest idea from his mind.
As for how long Neuvillette could have him, well...] I made arrangements with my staff to cover my absence for several days, honestly. So 'all night' and the next few, if you want that of me.
[Sigewinne had suggested a vacation, since in all his years as administrator he never took one. All of his trips to the surface had been only a handful of hours at a time. He would have to thank her for her insistence.]
[ The twist in his chest is a foreign sensation, but Neuvillette entertains the notion of spending time with Wriothesley for many nights in a row and it happens entirely outside his control. His surprise, fortunately, is masked, but some unspoken instinct has his heart beating a little bit faster in his chest. ]
I fear knowing you'd be waiting for me nightly may impede my work. [ But he says so lightheartedly, turning his head enough to glance at Wriothesley with a thoughtful hum. ] ...but I'd like that. [ His expression turns wry and fond all at once, then. ] I'm sure you must have anticipated such an answer, though.
[ There are proper channels for exiting Fontaine, of course, but Neuvillette takes Wriothesley to an older, less used lift in the city-- one that leads not to the aquabus but to a part of Fontaine that had fallen to the rising waters decades past. It's still here, quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the Court even in the evening; the waters outside the Court are always so calm to begin with, though, and there's a noticeable slackening of Neuvillette's shoulders as he allows the calmness to wash over him. ]
What do you think of the lake we live in, Wriothesley?
[Wriothesley laughs quietly, head turned after a moment to glance toward the other. The feeling of his laugh carries over into his voice.] Oh something like that, yes.
[As far as offering temptation was concerned, he was entirely unrepentant. He could still remember how it sounded when Neuvillette said he wanted him. Surely tempting him a little was only fair.
Their walk through the Court takes them to somewhere Wriothesley only saw once, back when he was still a child on the streets trying to find safe shelter. He'd never worked up the courage to use the lift at the time, and his curiosity had never really faded over the years. Did he actually have anything to be nervous about? ... sort of.
Neuvillette isn't the only one at peace once they reach the water. For all the surface had stopped feeling like home to him, Wriothesley still found the waters themselves to be home. Sure he was in the Fortress with less time to swim, but he often made his way to the large window on the way in -- often gazed out at the underwater landscape, at all of the curious creatures out there... just as he looked out over the water's surface now.]
Well, ever since partway through my sentence, the first thing that always comes to mind is that the waters of Fontaine are home, for me. Even in a sturdy underwater fortress, I always feel like... the lake floor and its inhabitants are my equivalent to the sky or birds to those who live on the surface. [He smiles softly, the gentle breeze tousling his hair.] But whether I look from the surface or below, I think it's a beautiful place.
[ It's a wonderful answer. At risk of sounding trite, it makes Neuvillette feel safe-- safe to be here with him, safe to be around him. Once upon a time, it was the heart of the Hydro sovereign that made the rivers ebb and flow; though his Authority was taken from him even before his birth, and likely it may never come back, the waters of Fontaine nevertheless feel like an extension of his being.
For Wriothesley to call such things "home" is as humbling as it is something that gives Neuvillette great peace. ]
I first came to this land through its waters, though back then it was less the city of machinations you see today and more a nation recovering after the fall of Remuria. [ Neuvillette steps forward, taking Wriothesley with him, until they're stood at the very edge of the submerged brick tower. ] Even before then, however-- and for as long as I can remember-- water has been part of my life... I believe I was swimming before I was walking, even.
[ With the index and middle fingers of Neuvillette's free hand, he draws a quick circle in the air. A single seal, one Wriothesley might recognise since that prolonged span of time Neuvillette had been in the fortress with him, appears in the air for a moment before disappearing, and the palm pressed against Wriothesley's starts to glow blue. ]
Come. [ Neuvillette takes a single step, and while it does lead downward, he doesn't plunge into the waters below. Instead, he drifts gracefully until he's hovering a few inches above its surface, still placid without any weight to ruin it.
Their hands remain connected, but Neuvillette doesn't pull-- only waits for Wriothesley to follow his lead, looking up at him with an undoubtedly serene expression. ] I won't let you fall.
[ And like this, they'll walk the lake until they come to the other side to step on grass again. ]
[The phrasing Neuvillette used to speak of how he came to this land was rather curious. Wriothesley knew, of course, that Neuvillette wasn't human... and with a couple of instances in the past he had some suspicion of what all of this meant. He'd decided long ago, though, that he would let Neuvillette speak about any of it without pressure. He would learn one day, or not. He was Neuvillette regardless of the answer, and that was enough.
For the moment, Wriothesley listened as Neuvillette spoke of the city of centuries past -- peered down into the water toward the ruined tower. He was no stranger to the submerged ruins all throughout Fontaine, but that had always been while swimming, and there was something different when viewing them from the land.]
We both approached that from opposite directions, then. [A hum.] If I'm remembering right, I think I taught myself to swim when I was ten.
[His parents had never bothered to teach any of their children to swim, and Wriothesley's own lesson had only really happened when he fell into the lake when running from others equally down on their luck. A young boy on the streets garnered more sympathy, except from adults in the same situation.
Snapped out of his thoughts by the glow, the familiar seal is enough to draw his gaze up from the water, enough to bring back memories of Neuvillette spending the extended period of time in the Fortress -- of Neuvillette without the robes of the Chief Justice. But Neuvillette's first step over the gentle waters is enough to handily shift his attention out of these memories and draw his gaze up to Neuvillette.
There's the barest flicker of uncertainty -- only natural as a human, even one who could use his Vision to cross the water -- before he takes the first step. His movement didn't show any hesitation after that, though. He would never doubt Neuvillette.]
I trust you, as always.
[Each step they take following the first, Wriothesley's interested gaze trails back and forth over the water's surface. This view was something he'd never really experienced before. When on a boat, the wake created obscured everything below, and everything looked vastly different when beneath the surface. He didn't keep his eyes off Neuvillette for long at a time, though. For all Wriothesley was a relatively mildly expressive person, his eyes were the giveaway for those who knew him.]
it's called liberally using genshin explo mechanics
One day, [ with both his boots in the grass once more, Neuvillette turns to look over his shoulder and meet Wriothesley's gaze ] I'd like to swim with you.
[ But for now, he's pleased to lead Wriothesley through the grass until they reach a path, and further still until they reach a shallow pond with a small waterfall to the northwest. With most, there might be an expectation to speak, but with Wriothesley no such thing exists; he's comfortable in the silence, and in the warmth of Wriothesley's hand felt even through their gloves. As the cool breeze of evening blows, as the crabs scuttle over the shore, as the Fatui slink in the shadows and keep their distance... all that stimuli fades away, leaving Neuvillette walking unburdened by the eyes of the Court with the person he feels most himself with.
Another lift of the hand and one-two-three seals appear in the air, bringing to light what look to be steps of contained Hydro energy in the shape of a staircase. They lead up the side of the waterfall right to the very top, disappearing once again once they make it to their destination.
It isn't very high up, but Neuvillette doesn't have enough time for more than this distance. Maybe one of these days he'll take Wriothesley higher-- somewhere more special than this little stream and the flowers at its side, somewhere that he can overlook all of Fontaine with him. Still, there's peace in this as well: in sitting in the grass and caring little for his robes, and in getting Wriothesley to join him.
Some creatures of the wild-- slimes, Hydro Phantasms-- roam freely around them, but seem to lose interest once they catch sight of the Iudex. It must be that "affinity for Hydro" he always claims to have... but at least it means they'll be uninterrupted and safe out here.
A few Hydro crystalflies titter over the stream, glittering prettily under the moonlight as the muted sound of rushing water continues. Neuvillette, whose gaze had been skyward for a few seconds, looks at Wriothesley again. ]
At this hour, this far from the Court, I'm the only sentient being here more often than not. [ Which is to say they'll have privacy. ] I'm not sure if you'd agree, but at least to me, I find the outdoors-- and the fresh air, and the nature that surrounds me-- to be more comfortable than being in the walls that form our Court.
Truthfully, however, I... [ Stripped of his title and his image, Neuvillette clears his throat, looking the slightest bit flustered as his gaze falls over the rushing stream. ] ...I wanted to have you to myself without worry of others. Even if only for an hour or two more before I had to return.
Your smiles come wider when we're the only ones present, I noticed.
I'd like that. [He hardly left the Fortress as it was, and swimming in the nearby waters was certainly not recommended as he'd discovered. It was a bit of a shame since he'd learned over the years that he rather enjoyed swimming. Being able to do so with Neuvillette was honestly quite appealing.
The silence they slipped into over the course of their walk was remarkably comfortable, just the sounds of the wild creatures around them, their soft footsteps in the grass... Neuvillette's hand in his, solid and warm. With each breath of the crisp breeze, Wriothesley feels himself relaxing -- certainly he hadn't been tense before, but there was nothing quite like feeling nobody watching, feeling only Neuvillette's presence by his side. He could only imagine how much better it would feel to Neuvillette, having no others around.
Since the very first moment of uncertainty before they'd crossed the water had passed, Wriothesley hadn't thought twice about even a single step. The stairs created of nothing but water before them was no different... Though he does glance back briefly as the steps vanish behind them -- the things Neuvillette could do with such ease always amazed him.
At their apparent destination and settled into the grass -- Wriothesley with the leg nearest Neuvillette bent lightly at the knee while his other is propped up over that one, his arm rested idly there -- he lets his eyes drift closed for a moment, sighing out a relaxed breath as the wind lightly toys with his hair.
It's when Neuvillette speaks that his eyes open once more, head tilted to allow him to meet Neuvillette's gaze. He does consider it a moment, the comfort of nature as opposed to the Court's walls.]
I spend most of my days unable to see the sky at all... to the point that by the time I'm on the surface again, I'd forgotten just how much peace coming out here brings. [For all the words imply melancholy, Wriothesley sounds comfortable -- at peace. Certainly due in no small part to the man at his side.
As Neuvillette breaks the eye contact, he shifts just a little, the hand still held so warmly by the other shifting just enough to brush his knuckles against Neuvillette's leg. He really understood the sentiment. He wanted time with only them... time with no risk of unexpected company. He wanted, if only for a while, to forget about duty, prophecy, anything that wasn't just them.
The chuckle brought about by Neuvillette's observation of him is soft, fond... deeply affectionate.] When it's only the two of us... I don't have to put on an act either.
[He'd never before admitted to anyone that when he could be observed he would put up something of a front. He had to appear in control -- had to appear unflinchingly confident -- while still simply being just an ordinary man. Still just a man who feared losing everything good in his life as he had once before so long ago. Someone who wasn't as intimidating as he looked. He could only be himself completely around Neuvillette.]
[ Neuvillette shouldn't be so surprised that Wriothesley has his own masks, but he can't help the curious tilt of the head as he watches him all the same. When he looks at him, he sees all of him-- every facet that Wriothesley could hope to express, every fascinating aspect he's ever decided to share with him-- and somehow can't reconcile the fact that he'd ever be anything he isn't.
But it's comforting, in a way, knowing that Wriothesley feels as he does in a manner so acutely similar. So while it pains him some to separate his hand from Wriothesley's own, Neuvillette reaches up to brush the backs of his knuckles against Wriothesley's cheek. ]
I'm glad to offer you any respite from the role you have to play, Wriothesley.
[ And he does mean it. If he could give Wriothesley the same peace of mind that the other no doubt provides for him, then Neuvillette would be content. With all the good that he does, Wriothesley deserves it. ]
For centuries I believed I could only find peace when I was alone. [ His hand turns, cupping Wriothesley's cheek with his palm. Neuvillette's thumb strokes the rise of his cheekbone and the corner of his lips. ] It wouldn't be the first time you've proven me wrong, though.
[ The corner of his own mouth tugs up fondly-- minute, but nevertheless there. ]
[There had been so many times in the past where Wriothesley wished he didn't need any masks... but his long years as an inmate had drilled it into him that in order to survive, he would have no other choice. The Fortress of the past had an aura of danger that you could never escape, where people he'd spoken to the day previous had at times simply vanished. Hiding fear or uncertainty had become so second nature...that the first time he'd dropped that mask around Neuvillette had been an unfamiliar, safe peace.
Over the years, the peace the other brought him had only become more pronounced. Tonight was a perfect example of it. The brush of Neuvillette's knuckles against his cheek, that soft touch that felt so... accepting, was enough to draw his eyes to lightly close.]
If I can give you anything at all, anything you want, I will... so I'm glad to be able to give you that same peace.
[His eyes drift slowly open as Neuvillette's hand shifts -- as he leans into the warmth of the other's touch. He really did allow himself to be completely open around Neuvillette alone, the other man's fond look returned with one of his own, warm and open.
He lifts his hand after just a moment, palm rested softly over the one Neuvillette had raised to his cheek, his whole body seeming to relax here in the quiet of nature -- allowed to relax because he's here with Neuvillette. Nothing else could be better... and after a moment, the touch at the corner of his lips draws them to part ever so slightly.]
In that case... [ Neuvillette trails off, momentarily distracted by the slight motion of Wriothesley's parted lips.
And, ever so softly, he whispers, ] I want to be as close to you as I can.
[ So he leans in, capturing Wriothesley's mouth once more. It's all so novel to him still-- the pressure of Wriothesley's lips, the warmth of him and how his scent elevates with the rise of his heartbeat-- but for once, Neuvillette welcomes the change. He likes the way Wriothesley feels, and he likes the security of coming nearer, and out of instinct not entirely connected to his rationality his torso moves so he can set his free hand more steadily onto Wriothesley's waist.
The kisses are gentle and exploratory in the newness of this physical intimacy, but something about being out here-- here where he's nothing but himself-- makes the sensations all the more acute. Neuvillette feels impatient, and in that sense reprieve only lasts for a moment at a time before he kisses Wriothesley again, over and over, deeper and deeper.
And briefly, even boldly, his tongue brushes Wriothesley's lip the next time he leans in, and the taste of him makes Neuvillette shiver before he kisses him harder. ]
[The whisper alone is enough for his heartrate to pick up its pace, and when Neuvillette leans in, Wriothesley's response is eager -- wanting. Kissing Neuvillette had been on his mind from the moment they'd met in the fountain plaza, had only grown more intense when he'd been kissed outside of the restaurant... more intense when Neuvillette had made his own desire clear with those three words.
Out here now, not another sentient soul within a considerable distance, Wriothesley allows his own desires to bleed into the very way he moves. His free arm slides around Neuvillette's shoulders -- fingers threaded into soft hair as his nails drag gently against the other's scalp. His legs shift just a little with the touch of Neuvillette's hand on his waist, his very posture practically asking for more even without conscious thought directing such.
Neuvillette's impatience is perfectly reflected in the way Wriothesley meets each kiss as they grow deeper and deeper, as the hand that had covered Neuvillette's at his cheek shifts -- as his fingers find puchase in the soft fabric of the robes of the Iudex. There's clear, desperate desire in the way he holds the other man, in the way his heart races -- desire in the very way each breath trembles.
Wriothesley's breath catches a moment at the brush of Neuvillette's tongue, lips parting involuntarily as Neuvillette isn't the only one who shivers. He'd never wanted anyone or anything in his entire life more than he wanted the other in this moment, and it's instinct as opposed to thought that has him leaning closer still.]
[ The more Wriothesley's blood pumps, the more potent his scent becomes. It's addicting, for lack of a better term-- it's incredible and wonderful and makes the sensation of being close to him all the more overwhelming. The taste of him... the heat of him, even, as Neuvillette's tongue meets Wriothesley's own, is so new it sends a thrill through him that he'd never expected.
As Wriothesley comes closer, Neuvillette considers the idea of offering. And that, if nothing else, has him breaking the kiss to utter a short, ] Come here.
[ There's a sense of demanding in the grip of his hands as his fingers slip to Wriothesley's thigh and hold there. Neuvillette pulls with a gentle tug, his head dipping to nuzzle Wriothesley's jaw and neck, and he kisses over the collar wrapped around his throat. ]
I want you closer.
[ Onto his lap, preferably, and if Wriothesley's pliant that's exactly how Neuvillette plans to manoeuvre him. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
With all the decisions I've made in life, [ his voice is soft, words a murmur close to Wriothesley's ear ] I appreciate them more now, if only for how they led me to you.
[ He drops the pretences of politeness, reaching down to take Wriothesley's hand once more as he so wanted to through their walk. Though the features of his face are as muted as they normally would be, the quiet longing he feels is reflected in his eyes, even if he doesn't quite understand what that longing means. ]
Come inside with me. I... want to know more about you, too.
Whatever you're willing to give me.
no subject
He can't quite stop the brief shiver that the murmur so close to his ear had drawn out. He's smiling softly against Neuvillette's cheek though, a clear enough sign of how much he was truly enjoying every moment. His voice is soft as well -- breathed against soft skin.]
I feel the same way. Every day, I'm more and more thankful that we met... that I walked down the right path to get to know you.
[He eases back to... just enough distance for them to be able to walk, lets his hand ease out of soft hair -- across Neuvillette's jaw before finally he drops his hand to his side. Feeling the other man's hand warm in his other draws a soft smile, deepened even more by a longing that matched Neuvillette's own. A part of him truly wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them once again -- he would behave though, they had reservations after all. Perhaps after.
He chuckles quietly, shifted to go inside with the other man. His smile warms the words to follow considerably.] And what if I'm willing to give you... everything you ask for? All of who I am?
no subject
[ Modesty might have been the human way to do it. Neuvillette can't be bothered with the formalities of such a thing-- not when Wriothesley is like this, sweet and willing and so open to his observations. If Wriothesley wants to give more, then Neuvillette will take.
Now that he's being given permission to, why shouldn't he?
Just as the structure of the restaurant had been simple and homey on the outside, the inside is just as well. Wooden furniture and simple but elegant settings abound, along with plants and picture frames of memorable moments on the wall. Music plays softly on a nearby phonograph; listening to quiet orchestrations with Wriothesley's hand in his reminds him of the afternoon they spent, even if sitting with him is a far more intimate endeavour.
The lighting is warm, giving everything a more relaxed feel. Neuvillette lets go of Wriothesley's hand only to pull his chair back for him, and it might be the first time he's ever done such a thing and truly cared about the person he did it for. He makes haste to his own seat, and when a server comes with their menus, he waits patiently for Wriothesley's choice before making his own (he goes for stew with meat and vegetables, in the end; he even makes sure to ask if there's anything Wriothesley would like for dessert).
But when their orders are given, and they're left alone once more, Neuvillette's hand rests gently on the table with his palm turned up. Already, he misses Wriothesley's touch. ]
After all you told me before we arrived... I suppose I ought to question if there's anything you want to ask me in turn.
no subject
[If Wriothesley had been expecting a certain response (he wasn't) it wouldn't have been that, and he can feel warmth at the back of his neck and tips of his ears. He does smile, eyes turned toward Neuvillette, and there's a distinctly different -- confident kind of warmth in his tone.] You don't have to be all that careful about it.
[He sure said that, but regardless of whether or not he thought much before he spoke... it had been complete honesty. If he were truthful, he was curious just what direction that would lead them down. For now though, he's content to walk to their table -- walk with his hand in Neuvillette's to the gentle music. The echo back to their dances felt... warm.
His thanks are soft as Neuvillette pulls the chair out for him, a fluttery feeling in his chest even as he missed the warmth of Neuvillette's hand in his. He doesn't quite have much time to consider that, as the server brings the menu -- something he doesn't really have to think considerably hard about (he orders a meat soup with a potato base) as for dessert, he just laughed quietly with a "nothing I could get here."
Left alone at last, Wriothesley's gaze flicks to the movement -- to Neuvillette's hand and it's only a brief moment before he reaches out... before he places his hand in Neuvillette's. The Iudex certainly wasn't the only one who missed the warmth of the other's hand.
The words though do give him a moment's pause. There were many things he was curious about, but...] Hmm... some things I want to ask shouldn't be asked here, but I have been thinking about something over the past few weeks. I'm incredibly glad for it, mind, but I keep wondering just what it was that made you choose me, of all people?
no subject
[ It's genuine confusion, the way he parrots Wriothesley's words. Neuvillette's brows furrow, a soft "hm" on his lips. ]
You'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid. I've named you for several things since we've established a rapport.
[ And a time before that, too. Upon confirmation that a prisoner has finished their sentence, final judgment on whether it was carried out in a satisfactory manner goes to the Iudex and his Court. He'd seen Wriothesley's name the day he completed his stint in the Fortress of Meropide, and he hadn't needed to consult his file at all to remember the way that boy looked, so small in the Opera Epiclese.
Yes, he'd said, upon reading the reports on him. Upon review, I agree with the conclusion that he's served his time well.
And as far as everything he's done with Wriothesley is concerned, Neuvillette would do it all again. ]
no subject
Sorry, let me try to rephrase. [He wasn't entirely sure how, though. It was something rather specific, but even so. He didn't think he could ask relating to something like love easily when this thing between them was new.]
Hmm... the one you've wanted to be close to -- to kiss. What makes me, of all people, that person?
[There was no uncertainty in his voice, despite the phrasing of him 'of all people'... no there was just quiet interest. He knew he had plenty of good qualities, he knew he was strong and capable... but others also fit that description.
Others who weren't covered in scars, which he'd seen no few people spare nervous glances toward. Others who were considerably more accessible.
He shakes his head briefly with a smile.] I'm not really the greatest at asking more... sentimental questions, but I can at least promise that I couldn't be happier, being that person for you.
no subject
But he also doesn't want to lie, he decides. And just in case Wriothesley begins to fear the worst in Neuvillette's silence, he opts to hold his hand properly and say: ] Give me a few moments to collect my thoughts, hm?
[ Because while the dance they'd shared had catalysed his feelings, they hadn't been the cause of them. Neuvillette hadn't even really known there were feelings to consider at all-- thought these sentiments were so rooted in humanity that one such as he could never experience them to begin with.
He doesn't regret the development, though. Knowing that it's made Wriothesley happy, he doesn't regret it at all.
So he starts with: ] You're the first person I've met whose presence makes me better.
I don't mean this in terms of productivity or other professional metrics, but... something unquantifiable. Something where I'd rather be holding your hand, touching you-- [ he traces circles on Wriothesley's knuckles with his thumb ] than not.
I haven't pinpointed the real reason for it, truthfully. Possibilities such as your sense of justice, or the dedication you hold in protecting the people the rest of Fontaine forgot leagues under the sea, or even the honesty in every word you've spoken to me... these all hold. But if we go with matters less tangible, you ease a weight I don't often notice is on my shoulders. In centuries of routine and status quos, that felt... significant.
It's easy being with you. [ Neuvillette smiles, and while small, the gentle expression in his eyes is unmistakable. ] You'd said something to that effect the afternoon I kissed you.
I never noticed until you pointed it out. How... comfortable I am in this body when it's touching you. How glad I am I have five fingers so they can link between yours perfectly. [ And he squeezes their hands where they're joined. ] How lucky I must be to have a mouth that can touch yours and make you sigh.
Being the Iudex, wearing all these embellishments-- this is my duty, and I'll never forsake it for anything. But with you, I am me.
And you're eager for it. You hunger for it, instead of pushing it away. You speak of wanting to know me, of trusting me... and in doing so you've set me free, even if for a little while.
I've never been particularly concerned with happiness or connection. But with you... were it not for my work, Wriothesley, I could spend the rest of my days learning what makes you smile, if only to make you feel even a fraction of the things you inspire in me. I would do anything to see the world you build underwater and to help you make your dreams come true.
You're the most beautiful human I've ever seen, [ dipping his head, Neuvillette draws their hands up to kiss Wriothesley's ] and I'm greedy enough to want to make you mine because of it.
no subject
[Rather than concerned, Wriothesley finds himself feeling more curious as to what the answer will be once the silence passes. From the way he was held and kissed that afternoon... the way Neuvillette had invited him to this dinner and kissed him once again -- and without privacy this time -- he was more than happy to give him time.
The request gets a nod out of him, as something he'd sort of expected.] Please, take all the time you need.
[Once the other man begins to speak, Wriothesley listens quietly, Neuvillette given his full attention... and the first thing he says catches his breath in his chest momentarily. They both leaned into physical touch whenever they were near enough for it -- even that afternoon before this thing between them truly blossomed -- but to be wanted that close... to have that proximity lift a weight that centuries couldn't touch...
Wriothesley can feel heat prickling at the back of his neck when Neuvillette speaks of comfort, as they had that day. Normally one who would file away the phrasing of being comfortable 'in this body', Wriothesley doesn't do anything of the sort. Neuvillette and Neuvillette alone commanded his full attention with every word.
By the time he's nearly finished, Wriothesley looks a bit stunned -- though certainly not in a bad way -- and the kiss to his hand is more than enough to snap him out of that.]
I... [As he'd rendered Neuvillette speechless before, now it was his turn. The warmth at the back of his neck had reached up to the tips of his ears, and after a moment he breathes out the fondest -- while also vaguely self-conscious -- chuckle. They aren't quite close enough for him to do as Neuvillette had before and bury his speechlessness with a kiss, so with a breath he can only speak, fondness carried clearly in his voice.]
I never imagined that I could do so much -- be so much for you... but it makes me happy that I am. Honestly, I've found myself wishing I could spend more time with you. Especially over the last few weeks. Even if all I can do is sit in your office while you work.
[But they both knew about the impracticalities of that on both ends. Today had been quite handy proof that they struggled to keep their eyes off one another.]
And perhaps someday, something like that will be possible. We'll have time to figure visits out together, seeing as... [He pauses -- geently squeezing the hand in his -- meeting Neuvillette's eyes across the table.] I'm... pretty sure I've been yours for years now. I could never imagine anything different, no matter what had happened -- there was only the thought that I'd be around you for the rest of my life, in whichever capacity I was allowed to be.
[A pause, and a quiet chuckle.] So there really isn't anything further you'd need to do in order for me to be yours.
no subject
[ He'd meant it, though. In whatever capacity that he's able to have him, Neuvillette wants him: close to him, by his side, away but thinking of him, reeking of him, marked by him, covered in the shapes of his hands...
And the thought of it, of Wriothesley so irrevocably his human, makes an uncharacteristic shudder travel down his spine. Heel.
The server, to their credit, is discreet as they come up. Neuvillette hardly notices them when they first call, turning away from Wriothesley only a few moments later as the noises of the rest of the room return to him in ebbs and flows. But his focus, even as he gives polite thanks for their effort to deliver their meals, is shot through. Food is nothing compared to the fond look on Wriothesley's face-- so beautiful, so at peace with belonging to him.
It makes something long buried stir inside him, something so distinctly different from the facsimile of man he pretends to be. The more Wriothesley claims himself to be his, the worse Neuvillette will get.
...but perhaps that's the whole point. ]
I've never wanted this with someone before. [ Neuvillette's words are soft, the slightest furrow in his brows as he speaks. ] There are thoughts... desires I'm unsure how to voice. And for that I feel I must ask for your patience.
But [ gaze lifting once more, he faces Wriothesley properly ] I'm yours, as well.
[ Unspoken is the truth that dragons mate for life-- one of those things Neuvillette's never experienced, certainly, nor has he ever witnessed, but which he'd always known since he'd come out of the Realm of Light and surfaced through Primordial waters. But if Neuvillette only had one chance at such a thing, then this would be worth it, even if in the end Wriothesley left him for another.
And for a moment, he understands what it is to be a short-lived species and to want with every fibre of your being. ]
For as long as you want me.
no subject
Wriothesley also doesn't quite catch the first time the server calls, his focus only returning to the rest of the room when Neuvillette briefly turns away. He gives his own polite thanks, even while his thoughts are entirely filled with Neuvillette. His rational mind knew that he needed to eat... but the rest of him would've rather been elsewhere with Neuvillette. In his home, in his bed, in an alley -- Wriothesley didn't care where.
He was pretty stunned to find the depths of how much he wanted the man.
Wriothesley is still a bit breathless when Neuvillette speaks to him, and the quality comes through in his voice.] Really, I've never wanted this before, myself... so we can figure it out. [A brief pause, a smile.] As far as patience, it's yours just like the rest of me.
[He can feel his heart rate pick up a little when Neuvillette claims to be his as well, the thought so heady and appealing that he really... wanted to finish dinner as soon as possible. The 'for as long as you want me' does make him pause briefly though. Wriothesley's look grows a bit thoughtful for a moment, before he fully meets Neuvillette's gaze once again with a quiet smile.]
I've wanted to be with you in some way or another for more than half of my life, and I've wanted you for almost a decade now. And now that I can have you? [He breathes the briefest laugh.] I don't want to let you go.
[Really... Neuvillette wasn't the only possessive one.]
no subject
His thumb brushes the side of Wriothesley's hand, affectionate and sweet. ] Have your dinner. [ And only because he needs to use both hands, his touch pulls away. ] And then you can have all my attention.
[ As if Wriothesley didn't already have it. But that isn't the point.
Dinner, that said, feels more like a means to an end. A part of him mourns it, considering he really did want to give the food a proper taste, but as he eats and makes small talk-- curiosity, of course, about the Fortress; talk about his own work at the Palais, and then a more sheepish anecdote of how one of the Melusines from the village had come to visit and give him a gift-- he finds all he can focus on is Wriothesley. The look on his face, the way his mouth opens to eat, the sound his voice and its intonations... they're all beautiful, to him. But they're also terribly distracting.
Ah, well. It isn't as if either of them could help it, anyway. ]
no subject
The consideration never really crossed my mind. [Because honestly, it hadn't. It was absolutely -- terribly possessive of him... but that seemed to be just what they both wanted. Even with the possessive direction of their conversation though, his smile was rather soft -- gaze warm... the affection there was clear as could be.
He chuckles softly, the sound low and full of unspoken promise -- even as he retrieves his own hand with some reluctance.] I'll hold you to that.
[The food he'd ordered was rather impressive, and it certainly fit the description of comfort food... too bad his focus was entirely on Neuvillette, as it had been since they met in the fountain plaza. He'd have to return sometime in the future to give them the proper try that they deserved.
For all that his half of the small talk sounded fully present -- and in a way he was because he was speaking with Neuvillette -- he was also handily distracted. Were he thinking about it, he'd be thankful he could maintain conversation while all he was thinking was how he wanted to bury a hand in Neuvillette's soft hair as they kissed -- how badly he wanted to be backed into a wall.
... no. Stop that thought right there. Thoughts like that could be entertained when they'd finished with their dinner -- when they'd left and found somewhere... passably more private. The time felt like it was passing incredibly slowly as they ate, but after what felt like something of an eternity they'd both finished, the meal had been paid for and Wriothesley had stood first this time.
In an intentional echo back to their afternoon together, he offers Neuvillette his hand. At the time he hadn't expected anything to come of the gesture... but this time was rather different -- the desires between them having only grown more intense as dinner passed.]
Shall we? [Head tilted ever so slightly toward the door, he couldn't keep the desire from his eyes even if he'd tried.]
no subject
At the same time, though-- like a predator that's found their prey-- Neuvillette wants to sink his teeth into Wriothesley and never let him go.
At least he can do so metaphorically, he thinks, fingers brushing the tips of Wriothesley's in sly acceptance. At least when he takes Wriothesley's hand and rises, the firmness of his grip is reflected in Wriothesley's own.
He only barely remembers to leave a tip, but feels as satisfied as he can get with how much he still wants as they walk through the door. ]
How opposed would you be to leaving the Court with me until I have to return to the Palais? [ The question is posed considerably innocently; outside the Court of Fontaine, Neuvillette isn't as burdened by the weights he carries as the Iudex, after all. ]
How long can I have you, tonight?
no subject
[Neuvillette's hand in his sparks something in him -- just touching the other man at all, even as innocently as this, felt... right. Still with both of them on their feet, Wriothesley has no intention of losing this contact. They'd held hands on their way into the restaurant, so unless Neuvillette pulled away or shifted them in any way, he was content to remain like this.
Part of him hoped that this proximity would appease his desire for far more, at least for the moment. So far... it hadn't helped that at all.]
Not opposed in the least, really. Do you have somewhere specific in mind? [Even if Neuvillette hadn't decided on a destination, Wriothesley was still not opposed. The logical part of him, tucked away now at the back of his mind in favor of his desires, could easily argue they both needed a chance to just get out of their respective domains... but that was really the farthest idea from his mind.
As for how long Neuvillette could have him, well...] I made arrangements with my staff to cover my absence for several days, honestly. So 'all night' and the next few, if you want that of me.
[Sigewinne had suggested a vacation, since in all his years as administrator he never took one. All of his trips to the surface had been only a handful of hours at a time. He would have to thank her for her insistence.]
no subject
I fear knowing you'd be waiting for me nightly may impede my work. [ But he says so lightheartedly, turning his head enough to glance at Wriothesley with a thoughtful hum. ] ...but I'd like that. [ His expression turns wry and fond all at once, then. ] I'm sure you must have anticipated such an answer, though.
[ There are proper channels for exiting Fontaine, of course, but Neuvillette takes Wriothesley to an older, less used lift in the city-- one that leads not to the aquabus but to a part of Fontaine that had fallen to the rising waters decades past. It's still here, quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the Court even in the evening; the waters outside the Court are always so calm to begin with, though, and there's a noticeable slackening of Neuvillette's shoulders as he allows the calmness to wash over him. ]
What do you think of the lake we live in, Wriothesley?
no subject
[As far as offering temptation was concerned, he was entirely unrepentant. He could still remember how it sounded when Neuvillette said he wanted him. Surely tempting him a little was only fair.
Their walk through the Court takes them to somewhere Wriothesley only saw once, back when he was still a child on the streets trying to find safe shelter. He'd never worked up the courage to use the lift at the time, and his curiosity had never really faded over the years. Did he actually have anything to be nervous about? ... sort of.
Neuvillette isn't the only one at peace once they reach the water. For all the surface had stopped feeling like home to him, Wriothesley still found the waters themselves to be home. Sure he was in the Fortress with less time to swim, but he often made his way to the large window on the way in -- often gazed out at the underwater landscape, at all of the curious creatures out there... just as he looked out over the water's surface now.]
Well, ever since partway through my sentence, the first thing that always comes to mind is that the waters of Fontaine are home, for me. Even in a sturdy underwater fortress, I always feel like... the lake floor and its inhabitants are my equivalent to the sky or birds to those who live on the surface. [He smiles softly, the gentle breeze tousling his hair.] But whether I look from the surface or below, I think it's a beautiful place.
no subject
[ It's a wonderful answer. At risk of sounding trite, it makes Neuvillette feel safe-- safe to be here with him, safe to be around him. Once upon a time, it was the heart of the Hydro sovereign that made the rivers ebb and flow; though his Authority was taken from him even before his birth, and likely it may never come back, the waters of Fontaine nevertheless feel like an extension of his being.
For Wriothesley to call such things "home" is as humbling as it is something that gives Neuvillette great peace. ]
I first came to this land through its waters, though back then it was less the city of machinations you see today and more a nation recovering after the fall of Remuria. [ Neuvillette steps forward, taking Wriothesley with him, until they're stood at the very edge of the submerged brick tower. ] Even before then, however-- and for as long as I can remember-- water has been part of my life... I believe I was swimming before I was walking, even.
[ With the index and middle fingers of Neuvillette's free hand, he draws a quick circle in the air. A single seal, one Wriothesley might recognise since that prolonged span of time Neuvillette had been in the fortress with him, appears in the air for a moment before disappearing, and the palm pressed against Wriothesley's starts to glow blue. ]
Come. [ Neuvillette takes a single step, and while it does lead downward, he doesn't plunge into the waters below. Instead, he drifts gracefully until he's hovering a few inches above its surface, still placid without any weight to ruin it.
Their hands remain connected, but Neuvillette doesn't pull-- only waits for Wriothesley to follow his lead, looking up at him with an undoubtedly serene expression. ] I won't let you fall.
[ And like this, they'll walk the lake until they come to the other side to step on grass again. ]
no subject
For the moment, Wriothesley listened as Neuvillette spoke of the city of centuries past -- peered down into the water toward the ruined tower. He was no stranger to the submerged ruins all throughout Fontaine, but that had always been while swimming, and there was something different when viewing them from the land.]
We both approached that from opposite directions, then. [A hum.] If I'm remembering right, I think I taught myself to swim when I was ten.
[His parents had never bothered to teach any of their children to swim, and Wriothesley's own lesson had only really happened when he fell into the lake when running from others equally down on their luck. A young boy on the streets garnered more sympathy, except from adults in the same situation.
Snapped out of his thoughts by the glow, the familiar seal is enough to draw his gaze up from the water, enough to bring back memories of Neuvillette spending the extended period of time in the Fortress -- of Neuvillette without the robes of the Chief Justice. But Neuvillette's first step over the gentle waters is enough to handily shift his attention out of these memories and draw his gaze up to Neuvillette.
There's the barest flicker of uncertainty -- only natural as a human, even one who could use his Vision to cross the water -- before he takes the first step. His movement didn't show any hesitation after that, though. He would never doubt Neuvillette.]
I trust you, as always.
[Each step they take following the first, Wriothesley's interested gaze trails back and forth over the water's surface. This view was something he'd never really experienced before. When on a boat, the wake created obscured everything below, and everything looked vastly different when beneath the surface. He didn't keep his eyes off Neuvillette for long at a time, though. For all Wriothesley was a relatively mildly expressive person, his eyes were the giveaway for those who knew him.]
it's called liberally using genshin explo mechanics
[ But for now, he's pleased to lead Wriothesley through the grass until they reach a path, and further still until they reach a shallow pond with a small waterfall to the northwest. With most, there might be an expectation to speak, but with Wriothesley no such thing exists; he's comfortable in the silence, and in the warmth of Wriothesley's hand felt even through their gloves. As the cool breeze of evening blows, as the crabs scuttle over the shore, as the Fatui slink in the shadows and keep their distance... all that stimuli fades away, leaving Neuvillette walking unburdened by the eyes of the Court with the person he feels most himself with.
Another lift of the hand and one-two-three seals appear in the air, bringing to light what look to be steps of contained Hydro energy in the shape of a staircase. They lead up the side of the waterfall right to the very top, disappearing once again once they make it to their destination.
It isn't very high up, but Neuvillette doesn't have enough time for more than this distance. Maybe one of these days he'll take Wriothesley higher-- somewhere more special than this little stream and the flowers at its side, somewhere that he can overlook all of Fontaine with him. Still, there's peace in this as well: in sitting in the grass and caring little for his robes, and in getting Wriothesley to join him.
Some creatures of the wild-- slimes, Hydro Phantasms-- roam freely around them, but seem to lose interest once they catch sight of the Iudex. It must be that "affinity for Hydro" he always claims to have... but at least it means they'll be uninterrupted and safe out here.
A few Hydro crystalflies titter over the stream, glittering prettily under the moonlight as the muted sound of rushing water continues. Neuvillette, whose gaze had been skyward for a few seconds, looks at Wriothesley again. ]
At this hour, this far from the Court, I'm the only sentient being here more often than not. [ Which is to say they'll have privacy. ] I'm not sure if you'd agree, but at least to me, I find the outdoors-- and the fresh air, and the nature that surrounds me-- to be more comfortable than being in the walls that form our Court.
Truthfully, however, I... [ Stripped of his title and his image, Neuvillette clears his throat, looking the slightest bit flustered as his gaze falls over the rushing stream. ] ...I wanted to have you to myself without worry of others. Even if only for an hour or two more before I had to return.
Your smiles come wider when we're the only ones present, I noticed.
As you should, especially as Neuvillette
The silence they slipped into over the course of their walk was remarkably comfortable, just the sounds of the wild creatures around them, their soft footsteps in the grass... Neuvillette's hand in his, solid and warm. With each breath of the crisp breeze, Wriothesley feels himself relaxing -- certainly he hadn't been tense before, but there was nothing quite like feeling nobody watching, feeling only Neuvillette's presence by his side. He could only imagine how much better it would feel to Neuvillette, having no others around.
Since the very first moment of uncertainty before they'd crossed the water had passed, Wriothesley hadn't thought twice about even a single step. The stairs created of nothing but water before them was no different... Though he does glance back briefly as the steps vanish behind them -- the things Neuvillette could do with such ease always amazed him.
At their apparent destination and settled into the grass -- Wriothesley with the leg nearest Neuvillette bent lightly at the knee while his other is propped up over that one, his arm rested idly there -- he lets his eyes drift closed for a moment, sighing out a relaxed breath as the wind lightly toys with his hair.
It's when Neuvillette speaks that his eyes open once more, head tilted to allow him to meet Neuvillette's gaze. He does consider it a moment, the comfort of nature as opposed to the Court's walls.]
I spend most of my days unable to see the sky at all... to the point that by the time I'm on the surface again, I'd forgotten just how much peace coming out here brings. [For all the words imply melancholy, Wriothesley sounds comfortable -- at peace. Certainly due in no small part to the man at his side.
As Neuvillette breaks the eye contact, he shifts just a little, the hand still held so warmly by the other shifting just enough to brush his knuckles against Neuvillette's leg. He really understood the sentiment. He wanted time with only them... time with no risk of unexpected company. He wanted, if only for a while, to forget about duty, prophecy, anything that wasn't just them.
The chuckle brought about by Neuvillette's observation of him is soft, fond... deeply affectionate.] When it's only the two of us... I don't have to put on an act either.
[He'd never before admitted to anyone that when he could be observed he would put up something of a front. He had to appear in control -- had to appear unflinchingly confident -- while still simply being just an ordinary man. Still just a man who feared losing everything good in his life as he had once before so long ago. Someone who wasn't as intimidating as he looked. He could only be himself completely around Neuvillette.]
no subject
But it's comforting, in a way, knowing that Wriothesley feels as he does in a manner so acutely similar. So while it pains him some to separate his hand from Wriothesley's own, Neuvillette reaches up to brush the backs of his knuckles against Wriothesley's cheek. ]
I'm glad to offer you any respite from the role you have to play, Wriothesley.
[ And he does mean it. If he could give Wriothesley the same peace of mind that the other no doubt provides for him, then Neuvillette would be content. With all the good that he does, Wriothesley deserves it. ]
For centuries I believed I could only find peace when I was alone. [ His hand turns, cupping Wriothesley's cheek with his palm. Neuvillette's thumb strokes the rise of his cheekbone and the corner of his lips. ] It wouldn't be the first time you've proven me wrong, though.
[ The corner of his own mouth tugs up fondly-- minute, but nevertheless there. ]
no subject
[There had been so many times in the past where Wriothesley wished he didn't need any masks... but his long years as an inmate had drilled it into him that in order to survive, he would have no other choice. The Fortress of the past had an aura of danger that you could never escape, where people he'd spoken to the day previous had at times simply vanished. Hiding fear or uncertainty had become so second nature...that the first time he'd dropped that mask around Neuvillette had been an unfamiliar, safe peace.
Over the years, the peace the other brought him had only become more pronounced. Tonight was a perfect example of it. The brush of Neuvillette's knuckles against his cheek, that soft touch that felt so... accepting, was enough to draw his eyes to lightly close.]
If I can give you anything at all, anything you want, I will... so I'm glad to be able to give you that same peace.
[His eyes drift slowly open as Neuvillette's hand shifts -- as he leans into the warmth of the other's touch. He really did allow himself to be completely open around Neuvillette alone, the other man's fond look returned with one of his own, warm and open.
He lifts his hand after just a moment, palm rested softly over the one Neuvillette had raised to his cheek, his whole body seeming to relax here in the quiet of nature -- allowed to relax because he's here with Neuvillette. Nothing else could be better... and after a moment, the touch at the corner of his lips draws them to part ever so slightly.]
no subject
And, ever so softly, he whispers, ] I want to be as close to you as I can.
[ So he leans in, capturing Wriothesley's mouth once more. It's all so novel to him still-- the pressure of Wriothesley's lips, the warmth of him and how his scent elevates with the rise of his heartbeat-- but for once, Neuvillette welcomes the change. He likes the way Wriothesley feels, and he likes the security of coming nearer, and out of instinct not entirely connected to his rationality his torso moves so he can set his free hand more steadily onto Wriothesley's waist.
The kisses are gentle and exploratory in the newness of this physical intimacy, but something about being out here-- here where he's nothing but himself-- makes the sensations all the more acute. Neuvillette feels impatient, and in that sense reprieve only lasts for a moment at a time before he kisses Wriothesley again, over and over, deeper and deeper.
And briefly, even boldly, his tongue brushes Wriothesley's lip the next time he leans in, and the taste of him makes Neuvillette shiver before he kisses him harder. ]
no subject
Out here now, not another sentient soul within a considerable distance, Wriothesley allows his own desires to bleed into the very way he moves. His free arm slides around Neuvillette's shoulders -- fingers threaded into soft hair as his nails drag gently against the other's scalp. His legs shift just a little with the touch of Neuvillette's hand on his waist, his very posture practically asking for more even without conscious thought directing such.
Neuvillette's impatience is perfectly reflected in the way Wriothesley meets each kiss as they grow deeper and deeper, as the hand that had covered Neuvillette's at his cheek shifts -- as his fingers find puchase in the soft fabric of the robes of the Iudex. There's clear, desperate desire in the way he holds the other man, in the way his heart races -- desire in the very way each breath trembles.
Wriothesley's breath catches a moment at the brush of Neuvillette's tongue, lips parting involuntarily as Neuvillette isn't the only one who shivers. He'd never wanted anyone or anything in his entire life more than he wanted the other in this moment, and it's instinct as opposed to thought that has him leaning closer still.]
no subject
As Wriothesley comes closer, Neuvillette considers the idea of offering. And that, if nothing else, has him breaking the kiss to utter a short, ] Come here.
[ There's a sense of demanding in the grip of his hands as his fingers slip to Wriothesley's thigh and hold there. Neuvillette pulls with a gentle tug, his head dipping to nuzzle Wriothesley's jaw and neck, and he kisses over the collar wrapped around his throat. ]
I want you closer.
[ Onto his lap, preferably, and if Wriothesley's pliant that's exactly how Neuvillette plans to manoeuvre him. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)