Golden Peacock: Overflow

[philancer]

[ because apparently we thirsty, yo ]

Comments

For Eiden

[philancer]

( from here )

[ Sylvain's not shy, but he might be a little too accustomed to doing things like this with people who are. Or at least think there's something attractive in playing hard to get.

That Eiden doesn't bother with any of that is refreshing.

One corner of his lips quirk upwards as the other young man leans up to press his lips to his and Sylvain meets him in the middle, bending his head enough to make the angle better. His fingers slide away from Eiden's jaw to cup at the nape of his neck instead as he parts his lips. He shifts slightly closer, into Eiden's personal space, but his other hand drops to splay long fingers at the small of his back, holding him close at the same time as he makes a soft sound of appreciation into the kiss. ]

For Felix

[philancer]

( from here )

[ Sylvain would have been more than happy to work with him to get to where they needed to go - and might also be making mental notes of how to conveniently thwart Felix in the future when he needs him to stand still long enough to have an actual discussion about something.

And he'd been about to take a step in the direction Felix was clearly leaning. Except that final snapped retort just has him blinking down at his friend in bewilderment. What's he talking about? ]

What farce? Because I'm afraid to break it to you, getting out of some ropes isn't going to get us any freer of the rest of all this?

[ Just you wait, Felix, you'll both probably be dodging flying dildos next. That is how both their luck works, after all. ]

he did that already

[philancer]

[ Considering Sylvain much prefers Lorenz with his mouth otherwise occupied, they're both winning here. Sort of.

But just so the other man doesn't think he actually needs his hands for this part, he tips his head slightly to better improve the angle where they meet. Deepening the kiss on his own, he delves in to challenge Lorenz' control of the moment. Putting his considerable skills to use here, because his reputation hadn't all been gossip after all.

And he wants to see if Lorenz will fight back, or get distracted and give in. ]

[philancer]

[ Neither of those are anywhere Sylvain's ever heard of, but that's not really surprising to him, either.

He does look intrigued at Tighnari saying he missed it already. A sentiment a lot here share, probably. Sylvain's not sure he's one of them.

Then again, being kidnapped to a sex resort had the ideal timing of getting him out of a battle he'd never wanted to fight in the first place, so to say he's in no hurry to return... Well, that wouldn't be an understatement. ]

What's it like? Your Sumeru? If it doesn't make you homesick to speak of it?

and copious amounts of alcohol

[philancer]

I tend to think that those so swift to criticize tend to be a little envious that others have the courage to do what they wouldn't dare, or to achieve what they never could. But that might just be my experience.

[ Unfortunately, he has a lot of experience with criticism. ]

But it's good you've kept such a positive outlook about it, it seems. Most people would be bitter, for having to endure that. [ Not talking about himself there, nope.

As for that conclusion... It has a shadow briefly flitting through warm amber eyes as he takes a long drag of his wine, letting the sweet nutty flavor of it fill his mouth. ] I dunno. Some people have a time frame.

oh i just realized the confusion this could cause sorry violet

[philancer]

"You ride dragons in your world?" Sylvain blinks at that, completely distracted from the other topic for the moment. Dragons were basically legends in his world, and worshiped as creatures blessed by the Goddess to boot.

Then again, his one encounter with one had been the massive one that landed atop the Monastery and wrecked everything in a several mile radius so, his impression of the beasts were a little conflicted.

"Although people in my world tend to tame and ride wyverns, so it's not a completely foreign idea, but riding dragons... sounds considerably more dangerous."

Then again, maybe that's why she didn't have time for indulgence after all.

he'll do it again

[hotproblems]

[They've cracked the code on this one--

Now, it would be... weird, for Sylvain to not participate even if he can't use his hands; it would be very strange, and Lorenz acknowledges that, and yet he still feels the press of Sylvain's tongue and assumes that this is another scenario in which every possible response eventually leads to yet another "ha ha silly Gloucester you are so stuck up and unworldly" moment, which.

Well. In his defense, that's already happened here, like, twice. So he pushes back instead, intending to stay in the lead with more heat to the kiss and teeth tugging at Sylvain's lower lip.

Impatiently drumming his fingers on his chest is just the Lorenz Extraness Moment, as a bonus.]

[veardant]

[ tighnari shakes his head. ]

Don't worry, I'm happy to talk about it. Let's find somewhere comfortable to sit, hmm?

[ with a smile, he waves for sylvain to follow him toward the nearest empty table. ]

Honestly though

[massochism]

[Olivine... doesn't really disagree with Sylvain's assessment, in general. Sure, it's a little bitter and sharp, but it's plainly made based on his own interpretation of the world. The priest can't say that he's seen much of the darker sides of it, and so he's always been distantly aware of how... optimistic he might seem.]

And they would have every right to be bitter about it. [He sees through that one, though he's careful not to prod too deeply at the wound.] One need not be positive to deserve the friends and acquaintances to help live beyond their hurts.

[and then... it's hard to say how to respond to those words. He isn't sure if Sylvain is talking about himself or about some loss or another, or perhaps something else entirely...]

... plainly spoken, one's lifespan is a limitation, yes... [He could be off base, but there aren't a lot of other "time frames" in one's life. Hesitantly, quietly then:] are you afraid for yourself, or regretful over someone else, sir Sylvain...?

[almost immediately, he regrets it. They've only just met, and here he is talking like the man is one of their faithful, like he has any reason to not just get angry at the audacity of asking such a thing. Well, he can't take it back anyway.]

[precipitous]

[ Probably more pasta than seems reasonable for a girl of her petite size, and then next, she ladles a helping of what looks like a stew onto the place that Sylvain has. ]

Only one of the most filling and savory meals from my home. A medley of flavorful vegetables cooked in a broth with just enough eat to keep you warm on a cold winter's eve...it may not be a gourmet meal, but it's one of the most satisfying things you can eat! Would you like to share?

[ She grabs a few other things from the buffet, mostly some breads and cheeses, before stepping back. This will do...for now. ]

[silicone]

[ the security of the hand at his lower back earns a noise in return, a little shifting of his hips as he meets him part way, up on his toes to press back. if they want them to kiss and thought it would be hard, they've put the wrong people in this storage closet. eiden lets his fingers trail upwards into sylvain's hair, threading curls up to his knuckles. there's a bid to stay, to deepen the kiss, a breath taken between one to the next. ]

You're not shy... heh. I like that...

[ his teeth graze along his lower lip, playful, warm.

he doesn't see the point in dancing around it after all, playing at being hard to get. he knows precisely what he is, who he is, he doesn't have to be coy. sylvain's readiness to dive right in encourages him - so his other hand drifts along the line of his chest, sinks downward towards his chest.

back pushing against the door, he draws sylvain in closer this way. ]

I took her before she found out the truth

[silverviolence]

There is a chuckle from Violet at his reaction to her mentioning she was a dragon rider. Being surrounded by other riders day in and day out, sometimes one forgets how it felt before you bonded a dragon. How terrifying and impressive the dragons are and how badass their riders were.

“We bond with a dragon and they are our partners for life.” Speaking of the bond just made Violet miss Tairn and Andarna. It felt like she was missing a very large piece of herself. She couldn’t help but try and reach out to them only to get nothing in response.

There was a small frown at the mention of wyverns. “There is definitely no taming of the dragons in my world. They would incinerate us if we tried.” There was a pause. “You have both dragons and wyverns? Wyverns are just a myth in my world.”

[philancer]

[ Sylvain grins into the kiss - which will probably just convince Lorenz his suspicions were right, but honestly, Sylvain’s more quietly pleased the other man is choosing to challenge him back. In truth, he hadn’t expected it, or if Lorenz did, for it to be another show of temper tantrum like before.

He enjoys the rough edge the man’s added to the kiss, making a soft sound of approval as he, for once, surrenders to it. Letting Lorenz have the win and the control for the moment as he leans into the other man.

Still keeping his hands behind his back, of course. ]

[philancer]

[ There are a few scattered around and Sylvain doesn’t mind finding a quiet place to tuck away. It gets them a safer amount of distance between them and the poisonous kissing plant, too, apparently.

Reaching one of the empty tables, he automatically tugs out a chair for Tighnari without even thinking about it, the move merely considered polite where he comes from. Not that he can really guess what anyone’s social status would amount to around here, but he doesn’t really care about that part much either. ]

Will this do?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain just gives him a faint smile, however, not taking any offense. In fact, if anything, he looks apologetic for having turned the conversation darker, since that hadn’t been his intent to start out. ]

My country back home has been torn apart by a terrible war for the past five years or so. There’s rarely a day that’s gone by, of late, that I haven’t wondered if I’d see the next dawn. Or which of my companions might not.

[ And the battle that had been looming today was one he’d been dreading above all. He doesn’t know whether to be pathetically grateful for this timely kidnapping, or start grieving for all he knows he’s likely lost by now. ]

[philancer]

[ He’s seen what Annie and Ingrid can put away when they’re hungry, he knows better than to question a girl’s appetite.

Still, he listens to her explanation with a curious look, intrigued by the description and the scent of it. ]

So it’s like… a spicy stew? And sure. It sounds like the kind of hearty meal that’s common in my own lands. Although unfortunately, Faerghus isn’t known for their spices.

[philancer]

[ A soft noise of appreciation slips free when he feels fingers curl into his hair - always a sensation he enjoys. But he grins at the playful teasing and the words, following the draw and crowding Eiden in against the door as he braces one arm over his head and lets the other continue to splay at his back. One knee slides in between the other man’s thighs to balance it out, even though he never pulls away from the kiss for more than a breath or two. ]

No, shyness is definitely not something I suffer from. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Oh he’s safe then. Ish.

[philancer]

“Dragons are actually thought to be a myth in my world. Or extinct. Which I would have agreed with, up until one almost landed on me in the middle of a battle about five years back.”

His voice is a little dry at that as he spreads his hands in a shrug. “I’m afraid I can’t say more than that about them, because I don’t have any idea where it came from, or where it went afterwards, although it did enough damage that I’m not sure I’d ever want to come face to face with it or any of its relatives again. There was a lot of incinerating, that’s for sure.”

[massochism]

[a war... despite all the troubles they've dealt with since Olivine met the other clan members and Eiden, he can still barely imagine it. they were things he heard whispers of, always in just the furthest whispers, usually in the capitol. to live that life, even for five years—to fear endlessly for one's companions and their own life...

it's darker, certainly, but it only makes his hand draw up, resting over his own heart in the sensation of empathy there.]

... I'm sorry. I can hardly fathom what that must have been like, how terrifying... [a little bit, sure. particularly after his most recent bout of utter stupidity, the knowledge that he's only still here because of the others... but to protract that for five years, even under the best circumstances...] I can... imagine you must be struggling with how to feel, being here. A reprieve, but with no knowledge of what to expect when you get back...

[that's been on his mind too, after all. particularly with Eiden here, when the others need him, and yet there's such a traitorous relief, a selfishness in having that break, isn't there?]

[philancer]

Yeah. [ His tone is rueful as he rubs at the back of his neck, then takes another deep swallow of wine. ]

It feels pretty wrong, to be grateful to be here, on so many levels. I still haven’t decided if I feel relieved or guilty. Or maybe guilty I’m relieved? That probably fits, too.

[ Faerghans do guilt a little too well, after all. ]

[massochism]

I think... it's normal to be confused by it. And to feel relief. When you spend so long fighting for every step, how can you not?

[Olivine sips his drink again, slowly to account for how infrequently he imbibes, and his brows furrow in an almost sheepish smile.]

But I think guilt is a little too much to bear. You didn't ask to come here. You didn't abandon your friends, or forget their struggles.

For now, all we can do is breathe. Until we can find a way back, it's better to recuperate than keep running yourself down. If your friends and comrades are anything like mine, I'm sure they would be relieved to find you safe.

At least... that's what I think.

[veardant]

[ pulling out a chair for him? how thoughtful. tighnari arches a brow, then chuckles and seats himself, setting his drink down on the table. once sylvain has gotten himself comfortable as well, tighnari leans his chin into his palm, his ankles crossing beneath the table. ]

So, Sylvain. My Sumeru..

[ tighnari looks distantly thoughtful. ]

It's beautiful. Partially rainforest, partially desert, and overseen by the Dendro Archon of Wisdom. It's a nation of learning.

[hotproblems]

[Oh, it's a tense two seconds for Lorenz, for sure. Sylvain can undoubtedly feel the way he stiffens (and not in the fun way) like he's preparing to nip all this in the bud, the tension going out of him unevenly only when Sylvain, ah- makes little noises and leans into him like that.

It's not what he expects; beyond mockery, he'd have thought Sylvain would only ever want to be blustering on about his many skills by charging on ahead. Hm.

Well, he's learned something new, he supposes. He hums into Sylvain's mouth, like, thoughtfully? He's evaluating even now, weighing the situation at the same time as exploring the inside of Sylvain's mouth. One of them tastes like those gaudy cocktails, maybe both - it's hard to tell.

After a moment Lorenz dips his hand down, fingers tracing Sylvain's chest and around his side to grip one of his wrists. Without pulling away from the kiss he holds for another beat and then taps a finger against Sylvain's hand, pointedly. He may have one hand, for good behavior.]

[philancer]

Is that your priestly advice?

[ As far as his typical defensive reflex of teasing goes, this one is gentle and fond, lips curving up into a smile as he pushes away what he can of his darker worries. This really isn't the time or place for them, and sitting here brooding over things he can't change isn't going to do anyone any good. ]

I'm still trying to convince myself of all that, honestly, with varying levels of success, but thank you for the reminder, all the same.

[ Something in that statement makes him thinking of something else, however, and he glances across to study Olivine curiously once more. ] Have you found any of your friends here yet?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain settles down in the empty chair across from him, dropping his chin into his palm - not intentionally mimicking him, but it is comfortable like that. Especially depending on how much Tighnari feels like talking about his home.

His eyebrow arches upwards at that description, trying to picture it. ]

That's a pretty vast range of environments. I take it your... Dendro Archon? Is someone important? [ It sounds like it anyway. That name definitely sound like it came with Capital Letters for Extra Importance.

What the hell is a Dendro though? ]