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[bajamutblast]

I won't make this prettier what are you talking about.

Notes:

- Gigaflare (March) = 3x Remaining

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[bajamutblast]

[Joshua's reaction is so sudden and so vivid that Dion finds himself immediately concerned. He starts to reach out, only to catch sight of his bare arm and realize what exactly seems to be the issue.]

Great Greagor I - just a moment, my apologies.

[He has the decency not to slam the door in Joshua's face, but he does quickly leap back and make for the shirt on his bed. He stumbles once along the way, tripping over his feet like a clumsy schoolboy. The shirt, still unbuttoned, is thrown on. His fingers fuss with the clasps as he turns back.]

Please, come in. I can be finished. [He shakes his head.] I hope you will forgive me for such a brazen display. My head was clouded and -

[kingincognito]

Oh, no. No, no, it's all right.

[ It's a quick forgiveness, Joshua mentally kicking himself for reacting so sharply. If only he'd been able to keep himself from flushing... But it's too late to do anything about it now. So, he steps in, shifting the small bundle in his hands as he closes the door behind him.

Ah... Dion is closing his shirt. Well, it's for the best, probably. He takes a deep breath, exhaling it through his nose. ]

It isn't as though we are all that different. Truly, there is no need to apologize.

[ He will! Move to take a seat! On the couch, of course, because despite sitting on the bed before, it still feels like a privilege he should not assume he has. ]

Were you exercising?

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[Dion takes a few deep breaths, before returning to his efforts. He manages to get it mostly buttoned but... ugh, he's getting too distracted. Hopefully Joshua will forgive him for being partially unbuttoned. It's a very Clive sort of look so... maybe?]

Be that as it may, we agreed we would take things slow, and I would not wish to disrupt that with my own clumsiness.

[He fully blames himself for this. He will have to say a few prayers in repentance.

Anyway, he follows Joshua with his eyes, almost discouraged when he alights upon the couch. It's probably for the best. Things almost got dangerous the last time he was there.]

I was. After my spar with the Tiger, I pinpointed a few weaknesses that I wished to focus on. [He holds a hand out to silence any potential protests.] I assure you, however, that I am being very careful. If there is any strain, I will come to you right away.

[He sits on the edge of his bed now and leans forward.]

Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company, my darling?

[kingincognito]

[ Joshua certainly does not mind! In fact, it's a good look on Dion, actually. It does bring Clive to mind, but... well, his own chest is visible in a similar manner when his cloak has been removed. It is not so odd. ]

Believe me, Dion, it is perfectly all right. I am not at risk of stumbling on our agreement because I have seen your bare chest.

[ He smiles, watching as Dion settles himself, unaware of the internal admonishments. If that was a real risk, he would have had the potential to stumble weeks ago when he'd first treated Dion's wounds.

The mention of weaknesses after the spar does make Joshua's lips part to question, so it is good that Dion knows to immediately silence any protests. Instead, Joshua listens, considering the words, and then nodding. ]

You are healing well. It should be fine, all things considered, so long as you do not push yourself too much. I would rather you here and whole than laying injured in bed again.

[ There's a soft fondness in his eyes at that, mingling with the concern. Which is immediately dismissed by Dion's questioning of his visit, which in turn makes him recall the package in his hand. ]

Ah! Yes. My apologies, I was-- [ Distracted. He clears his throat, standing and crossing the short distance between the bed and the couch. ] I have a gift for you.

[ He holds out his hand. Within it is a small bundle made of a handkerchief, and tied with a thin string. ]

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[He puffs out his chest the faintest bit. It's a very nice chest, he thinks. It could easily tempt a man. It had before, even.

Wait. What were they talking about. Right. Healing.]

I assure you, I push myself only as necessary to improve, and not a hint more. I would hate to have you cross with me, after all.

[His words are playful, but he does pause to offer Joshua a serious, somber sort of look. Yes, he can be a touch silly about it, but he doesn't want it to come off as him being careless overall.

That look quickly softens as Joshua approaches. The bundle is offered, but Dion doesn't accept it just yet. Instead, he folds Joshua's hand closed once more, then uses his own to maneuver Joshua in a way that allows Dion to press a kiss against his middle knuckle.]

Your presence is gift enough alone, I hope you know that.

[But he won't decline. He waits for Joshua to open his hand once more, then takes the bundle. He is careful with the string and handkerchief, treating them both delicate as glass, before unfolding the bundle for himself.] </small.

[kingincognito]

[ It is indeed a very nice chest. Joshua is inclined to agree. Joshua is also very much inclined to look at said chest, but he will be good. For now. ]

So long as you are careful. However, as your healer, it may not be a terrible idea for me to be present at times. Just to be certain you are safe.

[ If Dion can sound a little playful, so can he. Joshua knows he won't be careless about it, but still... It wouldn't be a terrible idea for Dion to have someone keeping an eye on him. Just in case.

It isn't an excuse. He truly believes it. Though, it isn't without its own benefits, he supposes.

He had expected Dion to take the small package, so when he instead finds his fingers being folded back around it, Joshua is briefly taken by surprise. And then a bit of a fluster - just a light one this time, barely making the tips of his ears burn - as Dion's lips press gently to his hand. Oh... ]

... you flatter me, Your Highness.

[ As soon as he is able, he does loosen his fingers, opening his hand again so that Dion can take the package. And once he does, once he begins to open it, Joshua will begin to explain.

Because, wrapped within the handkerchief, sits a pair of earrings - one a stud, the other a bit more dangly like Dion's current earrings - made of a very familiar-looking stone. And, if Dion were to look, he might notice that the chain of baubles that drapes from Joshua's belt is missing two stones. ]

You were kind enough to gift me a part of you, so I wanted to gift a part of myself in return. These earrings will protect you from even the most deadly of blows, healing you back from the brink should the worst befall you - but only once, I'm afraid.

[bajamutblast]

I believe that can be arranged. Though I hope you will be able to control yourself, should I choose to partially disrobe.

[He can tease right back, even if it makes the very tips of his own ears warm. They match now, at least.

In more ways than one, it would seem. Dion recognizes the stones immediately, without even having to look to see Joshua's own missing. He cradles them like something far more precious and fragile than they are. To him, that is the case. They are more than stones, but a piece of Joshua, whom he holds so dear.

He hardly knows what to say. Alone, the earrings are precious. Knowing that they've been granted an enchantment of their own, one close to Joshua's heart, only makes it all the more important. Rather than leaping to put them in. Dion finds himself gently closing his fist around both the handkerchief and the earrings. He presses his hand to his heart, eyes sliding shut.

Finding the words is difficult. His heart is pounding so heavily within his chest, emotions welling within his throat enough to make it tighten anew. Joshua had expressed his love verbally before, but here was physical proof of it.]

You - do so much for me, Joshua Rosfield. [He knows his words are stiff, the near emotionless prattle of a diplomat, but it's the only way he can control himself enough to speak, to reassure Joshua that he is more than happy with what he's received.] To wear a part of you would be an inexplicable honor.

[kingincognito]

[ The stiffness of Dion's words don't bother Joshua in the least. He is well aware from past experience that Dion is not used to such displays of affection, but... well, he did say that he would remind him of how much he was loved, did he not? What are the earrings if not a reminder? He certainly thinks of his own ear cuff with fondness on a daily basis.

Just seeing Dion clutching the earrings to his chest makes his own heart skip a beat, though. He takes it as a touched response, at least, though there's still a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. ]

I do hope that I am not offering these as a replacement for something sentimental.

[ He had thought about it when considering his options. It wouldn't be as easy to make an ear cuff from the stones, and a pendant would not be feasible for combat. A bracelet, perhaps, but somehow his mind had been sold on the earrings, even if Dion's current ones held some value in his heart. ]

I cannot use my healing on you without harming myself... But with these, if the worst comes to pass, I will not have to. Clive has already paid the price for a death here. I do not wish you to suffer the same fate.

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Not at all.

[He's quick to answer that question, at least. His hand remains firmly clenched around the earrings, keeping them secure to himself. His own were simply flashy adornments, worn to exemplify the extravagance of Sanbreque and little more. What Joshua offers is a welcome replacement.]

They are... perfect. Would be, even without your enchantment. [Even if he is touched by the offer. It's both an acknowledgement of Dion's own request and an admission of his care — a two-fold gesture that nearly forces tears to the dragoon's eyes.] It is obvious how deeply you care, and moreso knowing that you would keep me safe with this.

[He offers a watery smile to Joshua, before standing.]

Would you be opposed to me putting them in now?

[kingincognito]

[ Oh. That acknowledgement makes Joshua breathe a sigh of relief, his smile returning from where it had briefly fled. That the earrings Dion wears now are of no sentimental value means that his gift was a wise choice. ]

I am glad, then. And I am happy that you like them.

[ Dion sees the meaning in it, too. He doesn't have to explain any further than he already has. And clearly, his gift is touching, if Dion's expression is anything to judge by. An all around success.

Dion moves to stand, and Joshua takes a step back, giving him the space he needs. ]

By all means. I would love to see how they look on you.

[bajamutblast]

More than like them, truly.

[He makes his way to the bathroom. The piercings he currently wears are carefully taken out and set aside, next to the sink. He examines his ears quickly, making sure there are no issues, before plucking out the first earring. The dangling one is secured in the right, while the stud is secured in the left.

Now settled, he tilts his head, cupping his ear behind the left side in order to angle it forward. He studies it in silence for a long moment, before dropping his arm. He turns back to Joshua as a bright grin forms. He saunters back across the room, stopping in front of his beloved.]

Well, what do you think?

[kingincognito]

[ More than. Joshua's heart soars at the thought. Dion loves them. His decisions were good ones all around. It reflects on his face in the way that his eyes light up and his smile broadens.

But, while Dion retreats to put them on, Joshua takes a seat. On... the edge of Dion's bed, because that's where he's closest to. He watches the doorway to the bathroom for a moment, but then turns his eyes elsewhere, taking in Dion's room. He's been in it before, but always otherwise occupied by the company. But his eyes land on the feather that sits safely aside, and his smile softens and warms. Dion really has been holding on to it all this time. That such a simple and quickly thought of token could mean so much to him...

But before long, Dion returns, earrings freshly placed. Joshua stands to greet him, beaming, and when prompted for his opinion he lifts one hand, gently touching the dangling earring with gloved fingertips. ]

Incredibly handsome. I was right - the asymmetrical look suits you well.

[bajamutblast]

[Joshua's arm extends, and Dion finds his head tilting to meet it. His sigh is low and pleased, and while his eyes do briefly flutter closed, they're quick to open and find Joshua's once more. The gratitude there is nigh immeasurable, albeit a touch lost in the adoration that almost permanently seems to exist there.]

You know me well. [And since he can't resist, he angles his head just so, kissing Joshua's palm once, then twice for good measure.]

They are nearly as dear to me as you are, Joshua. [He shifts forward, arms moving to wrap gingerly around the other man's waist. He wastes no time in pressing their foreheads together.] I am glad to carry a piece of you wherever I may go.

[kingincognito]

[ The gentle kisses to his palm make Joshua's heart flutter in his chest. The adoration could easily be overwhelming, but not to him, not now. It feels like a warm blanket on a cold day, keeping him safe and comfortable from the chill. He could drown in it, if he so chooses.

Instead, he floats along the current, letting Dion wrap himself around him, letting their foreheads press together. The tips of their noses brush, and he can feel the dragoon's breath ghosting on his lips, but he doesn't dare ask for permission to kiss him again. Not yet. He doesn't want to fall head-first into those depths. He wants the magic of this closeness to continue for as long as possible, so he can soak in it.

He wraps his arms around Dion's waist in return, blue eyes flicking up to golden brown even at such a close proximity. ]

You truly do flatter me, Dion.

[ He laughs softly, barely a sound and more of an exhale. Only then do his eyes close, but he stays relishing in the warmth of Dion's presence. ]

And I, you. With your armor gracing my ear, you are always with me, always protecting me.

[bajamutblast]

Is it flattery if it is the truth?

[If Dion struggles to hold Joshua's gaze in this close, intimate space they share, it is only because he finds himself distracted by the proximity of his lips. He has so much more praise to heap upon Joshua after all, and he can't exactly do so if they get distracted.

Focus, he tells himself, almost desperate.]

You have the right of it. No matter what darkness this place brings, you will always carry my light with you. [And that begged the question that Dion himself would ever be far. He can scarcely imagine the idea, considering just how much they've gravitated around one another the last month.]

But we need not think of that. Right now, it is only us. No darkness to fear, or battles to fight. [He angles his head just enough to brush their noses together.]

And so I must ask, what do you wish to do with this time?

[kingincognito]

[ Oh, Founder, Dion is difficult to resist. Particularly as he tilts his head, making their noses just briefly touch. Joshua breathes in deeply, trying to will himself into maintaining his resolve with those lips so very, very close.

Not yet, Joshua. Soon, but not yet. ]

I must confess, the amount of possibilities is truly tantalizing.

[ So close are they that he keeps his voice to little more than a murmur, soft and breathy. And if that comes off a bit suspect, well. He can't help it. ]

But it is your time as well, Dion. You, too, have a say. So, I believe I wish to do with it whatever strikes your fancy.

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And I believe that answer is cheating.

[Though there's a scolding note within Dion's tone, the smile he wears belies any sort of actual criticism. If anything, he's touched by the value that Joshua places on his opinion.

Unfortunately, his thoughts are much in line with Joshua's own. And while Joshua has carefully resisted the urge, Dion can do so no longer. He tips his head, just barely brushing their lips together. When he parts, he doesn't go far — with each word he speaks, their lips continue to graze.]

I admit to being quite fond of this particular avenue.

[kingincognito]

[ The scolding note in combination with that smile just makes a soft laugh bubble up from Joshua's chest. This time, it's less an exhale of breath and more a genuine laugh. ]

Well, consider me a cheater, then.

[ Because Dion's opinion holds just as much weight as his own. This is a mutual situation - he wants to meet Dion on even ground, not from a pedestal.

But all further comments vanish from his mind as those lips brush his own, causing his thoughts to short out. He's been successfully resisting temptation, but oh, to have such a taste of it... Even as Dion pulls away, the contact is still there, fleeting and feathery, and the feathers on his wings and in his hair ruffle with a slow wave of goosebumps throughout his body. ]

... I believe I may have to concur.

[ Founder, the barest glances of those lips against his own are maddening. He isn't sure he can keep resisting. He shifts just the slightest bit closer, testing the limits of that grazing touch. ]

You are more than welcome to continue, if you like.

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[Well, there's no sense continuing to beat around the bush. Dion can tell that Joshua wants desperately for it. Perhaps that doesn't bode well for their continued promise to take things slow. Right now, though, he could hardly care less. The words for his gratitude, for the depth of his feelings for Joshua, all seemed to fail. At least like this, he wouldn't stumble.

So he surges forward, catching Joshua's lips in a slow kiss. It's chaste for the time being, even though Dion's hands do wander. One hand shifts back, splaying against the small of Joshua's back, then clenching almost possessively. The other moves upward, tilting so as to scrape a knuckle against Joshua's cheek, then drifting back into his hair.

He is, of course, painfully aware of how close the bed is. The back of his mind sings with the desire to coax his partner backward, but he swallows it down. For now, he can remain strong.

For now.]

[kingincognito]

[ They can still take things slow. Joshua fully intends to. Limiting it to kissing is just fine by him, and he is more than content to sit and do just this. This sort of closeness makes him feel incredibly giddy.

As does the way that Dion's lips press just so against his own, his partner's hands sliding to find their respective perches. Joshua's heart beats sharp in his chest, and his own hands seek out their own resting places. One settles on Dion's hip, the other sliding up to rest innocently on the man's shoulder blade. For now.

But the kiss is slow and soft, and Joshua feels the thrill of it anyway. Dion may have difficulty expressing his feelings in words, but never in this way. Like this, he can feel what Dion cannot find the words to say, the warmth and the love that sit trapped within his chest able to leak out in actions. He smiles against Dions lips, just for a moment, suppressing the delighted little laugh that threatens to spring up.

The bed is indeed close behind him. Should he take a step back, his legs would bump against it. But for now, the softness and warmth of Dion's lips is all he could ever ask for. ]

[bajamutblast]

[The smile is as good of a segue as any to shift the kiss elsewhere. Dion traces gentle pecks over Joshua's cheek, then up to his forehead, before finally stopping to press a few more into his hair line. Dion doesn't resist nosing in there, drawing in the traces of soap that he is still trying to memorize. The hand in his hair shifts as well, twirling a longer strand around a finger before letting it go.

And then he drops back down once more. This kiss has a touch more urgency to it, a deeper layer of passion that Dion has been scared to loose. This time, he allows his tongue to trace along Joshua's lower lip, a careful taste before drawing back. He won't push beyond this, not without reciprocation, but he at least lets himself try.

Even if he has to fight the way the hand at Joshua's back twitches. It would not be so unreasonable, to simply want to feel his skin beneath the tips of his fingers. But it's a dangerous game, and he will not let himself fall to temptation.

He hopes.]

[kingincognito]

[ Moving away from the kiss and into affection isn't what Joshua expected, but oh, does it make his heart soar. At the same time, he melts into every touch, a loving ache blooming in his chest. The last time anyone was so lovingly affectionate with him like this was Clive, after they had been reunited after eighteen years apart, and even then it hadn't quite been like this. And before that... Before that, he can't even recall. Perhaps never.

But that warmth spreads further through him as Dion returns to his lips, a new urgency to the movements that sparks something within him, nearly making him suck in a breath. And when Dion's tongue traces his lip, that spark ignites a flame, making Joshua's fingers briefly tense against the clothing beneath them.

Dion's tongue retreats, and Joshua parts just an inch, letting out a shuddering breath. But he doesn't part for long, pressing right back in to meet that slight urgency, shyly mirroring Dion's movements by tracing the tip of his tongue along the dragoon's lower lip. The fire that's been stoked within him is dangerous, and he knows it. He doesn't want to risk pushing things too quickly. But Dion has already introduced something new, so it should be safe enough to meet it. ]

[bajamutblast]

[They'll stay safe until they don't. Dion ultimately knows that. They're both playing with fire at the moment, and Dion has to continue to remind himself not to let them get burned.

Those reminders might just fall silent, though, swiftly silenced by the tongue tracing over his lip in kind. His body shudders beneath Joshua's grasp, and he finds his own lips parting beneath the returned touch. The fingers in Joshua's hair tighten for just a moment, briefly tugging before remembering to release once more. He thinks to apologize but - not yet.

He won't be the one to break from the kiss. Rather, he'll shuffle forward to fill any amount of space between them, almost eager to devour Joshua's warmth. The heat he radiates has always been intoxicating, so how ever can he resist it now?]

[kingincognito]

[ Dion's lips part as his tongue traces along them, and Joshua has to stop himself from being too impulsive. He still isn't all that personally experienced, but he isn't naive enough to have missed the way two lovers may have slid their tongues down each other's throats in back alleys of cities, or to have ignored the chatter on the same topic from darkened corners of taverns. He knows the practice in theory. Whether he can do elegantly has yet to be seen.

But before he can try, Dion's fingers tug just a little on his hair, and he gasps softly against the prince's lips. Oh, Founder. His fingers dig in to Dion's hip, just a little bit, and he briefly considers saying something. Just for a second.

And then decides against it, because they aren't quite pushing the boundaries just yet. If Dion wants to fill the space between, Joshua will gladly make sure he is pressed flush against the other man. And if Dion's lips remain parted, he will certainly introduce the tip of his tongue once more, as though asking permission. ]

[bajamutblast]

[If there's any complaints to Joshua's methods (there aren't), Dion shows no intent in voicing them. He doesn't protest Joshua's presence, instead shifting to accommodate for him. He brushes his tongue against the other man's in kind, encouraging the attempt.

It isn't lost on him that the sudden tug might have been startling, either. He shifts his hand up, smoothing Joshua's hair once more, then massaging his fingers against his partner's scalp. It's perhaps too gentle of a gesture, considering everything else they've been up to, but as long as there are no complaints, Dion doesn't intend to stop.

And of course, there's no ignoring the flame that's building within him. He wants, so desperately to ignore it, but knows that he can't. Just a few moments more. He'll stop just shy of the edge — he's certain he can manage it.]