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[judications]

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[captivitea]

Not the strangest request I’ve ever gotten and besides… I said it was worth it, didn’t I? [ he’s reluctant to pull away, but eventually he does, so he can fill the kettle and set it on the stove. ]

What is it? [ there’s the slightest bit of hesitance when he turns on the burner, turning to meet neuvillette’s gaze. ] Now might not be the best time, but I don’t exactly think keeping it to yourself is helping any.

[judications]

[ He squares his gaze on Wriothesley's face, his expression betraying none of his thoughts as he says– ]

While speaking with Matriarch Megumi and learning of the practices among her tribe, I had wondered if perhaps I had erred in assuming our arrangement is a monogamous one. You had used the term 'mate' before, yet I realize it may not hold the same weight for you, and if you do wish to pursue other partners, please know you are allowed.

I have no desire to be with anyone else but you. I do not think I ever will. Before you, I felt neither lust nor longing...and I wish for you to find happiness however you need to.

[captivitea]

I found happiness, Neuvillette, and it’s with you, so I have no desire for other partners. Everything I need right here. [ he reaches for his face, cupping his cheek to draw him in for a kiss. ] And perhaps I don’t really know the weight of the word ‘mate’, [ maybe it’s for a more serious relationship than he initially thought, and they only just started dating… so he jumped the shark dragon. ] so someday I hope we can use it to refer to each other.

[judications]

[ He smiles faintly into the kiss, his hand covering Wriothesley's on his cheek. ]

I would like to one day, but as I said, it is similar to your human marriages. It symbolizes devotion until death and a bond as deep as blood, and you would bear my mark permanently –not just my bite. Though I realize I cannot bear neither your mark nor bite in return given your human biology...We can consider an alternative if it comes to that.

[ He's content now just to have Wriothesley's scent on him. ]

[captivitea]

...ah, then it's a lot more serious than I initially thought. I just thought it was a term for your partner. Humans give rings to symbolize the same. And that's probably as close to a 'mark' as I can get. A ring's design is meant to convey eternity and how our love cannot be broken, and will persist even in death. [ he moves his hand to neuvillette's, turning his head to kiss the inside of his palm. ]

[judications]

A marriage ring...I am familiar with the practice, but a ring would be difficult to wear at all times. Flesh condenses in the cold water, and it may slip off.

...Forgive the premature consideration. Please do not worry about it at the moment.

[ He rubs his free hand against the side of Wriothesley's neck then gently tickles the hairs at his nape. ]

What term do humans use to refer to their partners prior to marriage?

[captivitea]

...well, there are also promise rings. It's kind of like a prerequisite. A promise that, one day, we'll be something more. [ that could work, if not for the fact that neuvillette thinks he might lose it in the water. ]

Mm. [ he merely hums in response. ]

Boyfriends. It sounds a little childish, but it fits the bill.

[judications]

[ His fingers slide down into Wriothesley's collar next, brushing over the bite mark there. ]

I cannot heal myself presently. If you were to leave a deep enough wound, it would remain on my skin for a prolonged period of time.

And the term "boyfriends" is too inaccurate. I was never a boy, and you have not been one for some time. We have also bedded one another, which insinuates that we have long since crossed the bounds of friendship into something else entirely.

[captivitea]

Is that something that you’d like me to do, Neuvillette? Do you want me to bite you, and mark you?

[ he just smiles, because it’s not meant to be accurate in that respect. ] Lovers? Unfortunately that’s the only other one I’ve got, but there are a number of different kinds that I’m hesitant to bother using it. [ some people can be lovers in only the physical sense, and because it can be interpreted in so many ways he’d rather find something more specific. ] Do dragons have a word for people that date, ..? [ is that even a normal step for them? ]

[judications]

I did the same to you. It is only fair that the gesture be returned, though it may require some effort on your part. Human teeth were not designed to cut through hard flesh.

[ He tugs the fabric further aside so he can kiss the marks he left there on Wriothesley's skin. ]

For dragons, there is courtship then mating. You may say we are still courting one another and carefully assessing our viability to one another as mates. Lover may be the best compromise in that case.

[captivitea]

I'm sure I can manage. We might not be built with that sort of thing in mind, but where there's a will there's a way. [ he's got this. he hums when neuvillette kisses the bite, which sits on his neck among a number of other marks on his skin. he keeps them all wrapped for a reason, but neuvillette doesn't seem to mind how marred it is. ] If you want to remove the wrappings, Neuvillette, then go right ahead. I don't mind, and it seems like they're in the way anyway.

...so there's not really a word for it then. I guess we can go with lovers, but there are a lot of different kinds of lovers, that... [ he'd rather find another word, but there probably isn't one. ] How about I just call you mine?

[judications]

[ He doesn't mind the scars at all himself since it's proof of Wriothesley's strength to have survived so many battles in the past. He continues to rub his fingers over the newly revealed skin once he peels the wraps away.

Only to pause at Wriothesley's words. ]

Yours. And you are mine. But if that is truly the case, perhaps it is not completely premature to consider you a mate. Only we can define and dictate the pace of our arrangement, and the more you speak words like that, the less daunting the thought of forever seems.

[captivitea]

[ he sets a hand on neuvillette's wrist, turning his head to kiss whatever part of his hand he can reach. ] And I am yours. Well, I'll leave that decision to you, since it's more of a dragon term than a human term. If you think it's fair to call us mates, then that's fine by me. Time is what we make of it. We should enjoy and make the most of what we have, especially together.

[judications]

[ He brushes his forehead against Wriothesley's, his hand cupping the back of Wriothesley's neck. ]

I would like to, but I hesitate when I consider what will happen when we return to our world. You will return to the Fortress of Meropide, rarely resurfacing, and I to the endless court cases and my office at the Palais Mermonia.

This time we have here is precious and rare, even if it is tainted with much sorrow and strife.

[captivitea]

How about we take this one step at a time? If you focus on the future, then you'll miss out on the present. When we get back home we'll figure something out. I do have a lot more spare time than you think in the Fortress of Meropide. It's not like I couldn't add a couple trips up to the surface to the agenda now and then. And you deserve a break too. [ he kisses him softly. ] Mmm, ...you're a bright light in an otherwise gloomy hell hole.

[judications]

[ His eyes shut for another fleeting moment, leaning into the kiss, both his hands stroking their way up to Wriothesley's cheeks. He reluctantly pulls back when he remembers they're in a very public kitchen at the moment. ]

I suppose I could find more reasons to visit the Fortress after hours, though I would have to find a way to conceal my presence. Gossip travels quickly, and I would not wish for the prisoners to impart their contempt for me on you as well.

[captivitea]

[ greed's kitchen be damned. he loops an arm around neuvillette's waist to pull him in real close, his head tipping so he can begin stringing kisses up and down his neck. ] ...see. I told you we'd make this work. And don't worry about that. Let them try and get rowdy as a result of my mate coming to visit. I'd love to put them back in their place and show them why they ought to mind their own business.

[judications]

[ Maybe permitting Wriothesley to call him that so soon was a mistake because it makes his skin tingle all over with hyper-awareness that he's with his mate. The instinctive need to please, claim, and protect all at once roils through his mind, reminding him that his human skin is superficial and that he'll always be more dragon than anything else.

His head tips back as he rubs his nails a little roughly along the nape of Wriothesley's neck, trying to keep his thoughts from straying where they want to go. ]

...Your tea, Wriothesley. You should finish it before you get sidetracked any further.

[captivitea]

[ he might not know the extent to which calling neuvillette his mate has affected him, but he can tell that it's done something. he tries not to smirk, but he's privy to it now, so he's not going to let up. ] What, tea, ...oh, right, but I do have something so much more satisfying to drink in riiiight here. [ and then he kisses him. ]

[judications]

[ That tea is never getting done at this rate as Neuvillette licks Wriothesley's mouth open to taste him fully. His nails move a little lower, pushing into the top of Wriothesley's spine before reluctantly prying himself away again.

He's a little more breathless when he speaks again– ]

If you are that determined to continue, we should relocate somewhere your housemates do not eat in regularly...or–...is that another kink?

[captivitea]

Is this another... what? [ neuvillette please. ] We can have tea first. Dessert comes second, always. [ he leaves him with a kiss. ] Exhibitionism is a kink, but the kitchen is the last place I'd want to do it if it's something I was interested in. [ he's never thought about it before, but... hm. that's something to think about later. ] How do you want your tea?

[judications]

[ Why is he surprised? He was the one who defined that word for Neuvillette. ]

You do not know if you enjoy it? I had assumed your experience was vast, though I never asked about your former partners. And I would like my tea with...minimal tea. If possible.

[captivitea]

...we'll talk more about this later, Neuvillette. [ we're not having this conversation where everybody can hear it. ]

So you want water... flavored only subtly like tea then. [ he'll accommodate him, even if he thinks he should have more tea with his tea. ]

[judications]

[ That response is curious, but he will not press Wriothesley further at the moment. Instead, he sets some cookies on a plate for Wriothesley. ]

Yes, a subtle flavoring will do, so long as the tea does not overwhelm the senses. I had melted some of the fresh snow to make an optimal water base. I should have brought some over as well for you, but I can endure the water from the tap.

[captivitea]

Alright. [ a nod as he flavors neuvillette’s ‘tea’, steeping the remainder for himself and anybody else in the house of greed. he brings a couple of mugs over, setting them down at the table as he takes a seat next to him. ] Here. Let me know how it is and… I see. Perhaps we should go collect a lot of fresh snow, since it’s not going to stick around forever, especially if you prefer it to the tap.