FF PSL | ❝ for those we can yet save. ❞

[hobbitholmes]

AFTERGLOW

— hear, feel think. —

❄️ HEAVENSWARD

★ Ever Heavensward (3.0)
    — Ishgard Meetings, Part 2

★ As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness (3.1)
    — Unfleeting Emotions

★ The Gears of Change (3.2)
    — Heavy Hearts, Part 2

★ Revenge of the Horde (3.3)
    — Starlight Festival (Alkaid)
    — Starlight Festival (KP)

🔥 STORMBLOOD

★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission

BEYOND

CODE BY TESSISAMESS

Comments

[shepherdtostars]

[ There is much they still have to learn of one another, and yet her heart has already decided it belongs to him. Their full range of likes and dislikes, childhood details, even the knowledge of each other's trades. She wishes to know more of his childhood and the Borels. They, in her mind, are his true family. Thordan may have been father by blood, but surely it was not he who cared for Aymeric when he was sick or of a hesitant heart. She would know more of the two that instilled their love of Ishgard into the man she is now in bed with. A later time, for certain, but she can only wish they would have nights where they could speak endlessly.

She presses a kiss to his jaw between each breath. Her ears raise slightly at his statement. The kisses pause so she might turn her eyes upwards to him again. The mind could run wild with such a question and yet she does her best to quiet it. ]

Yes? What might that be?

[thewayforpeace]

[ Truthfully, if only they had the time, he knows that he would be quite content to sit with her and listen to her talk about any subject she desired for hours. The many things she has seen and people she has met would astound him, he is certain of it, and he wishes to hear anything that she would tell him. And of course, he would not withhold an ounce of anything from her. He would have no secrets from her, that much he is certain of. ]

Well, I- I wondered if I might... [ He has not felt this nervous about anything in quite some time, but he decides it is well worth the effort to push past his nerves and put forth his request. ] Knowing that it is quite a ridiculous request, I-

[ Suddenly, despite his resolve, it seems as though his nerves get the best of him and he shakes his head. ]

No, never mind, it is far too foolish of me to even ask it.

[shepherdtostars]

[ A tilt of her head follows his stammering. He is not one she associates with the word or even the motion. Yet, such is a time where they are learning things of one another that others may not know. His ability to stammer, her inability to say things that she wishes to. It has certainly been a time of revelations.

Her eyes narrow slightly in concern that he is unable to ask whatever it is that he desires. She moves forward to lean over him, hand beside his head, and looking down at him. The shirt far too large for her hangs off her frame with little thought of the impropriety or what exactly he might see. ]

Aymeric, [ while gentle, her tone does convey a sense that he look straight to her. ] You have me barely clothed beside you in bed. Surely, whatever it is you wish to ask for cannot be nearly as scandalous as this.

[thewayforpeace]

[ If he had any other request but the one he finds himself wanting to make, for reasons he feels absolutely foolish for having, he would not be so hesitant. Perhaps on some level, he is afraid of her reacting badly to his request, and that is why he stammers.

For a moment, his eyes travel to her borrowed attire, taking in the way it hangs off of her, but he wills his senses to remain as intact as possible. ]

I suppose it is not scandalous at all, in light of that, but I fear you may find it crossing a line or ridiculous enough to cause you to despise me for asking it.

[ But what is living and being in love without taking a little risk? Even if this turns out to be no real risk at all... ]

I wondered if you might permit me to touch your ears. [ He wishes to do more than merely touch them, perhaps kiss them if she allows him to, but he feels the need to ask permission first.

On some level, he feels as though this may be too intimate, because her ears are simply a part of who she is, but he would be lying if he said he has not wished for this before now. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Her head tilts to the side as she waits for his request. She has no issue with his eyes wandering or taking her in. Waiting for his request does feel like ages if only be cause she is so intent on it. What sort of line would he be afraid it crosses? In her mind, they have already crossed a fair amount of lines. Certainly those that come from his traditional background.

At the sound of his request, her ears stand on end. She is far from applaud by it -- if anything she seemingly is embarrassed. A gentle smile takes her face as she looks to the side as her cheeks turn pink. Instead of vocally answering his request? She settles back down to rest her chin on his chest. Her hand moves from beside his head to take his, gently resting them atop her head. Fingers guide his along to her ears before sliding down and resting at his wrist.

Her tail sways side to side underneath the blankets. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ There is no better way to say it: when she rests her chin against his chest and takes hold of his hand, his heart leaps into his throat. Some talk about feeling as though butterflies are fluttering around in moments like these, and he can say with confidence that that is exactly what he is feeling: nerves, yes, but also more love than he can remember feeling for anyone.

His touch is brief, but he gives the ear his hand is resting upon a light stroke before he slowly withdraws it again. Why he wanted to do that, he isn't sure, but she was kind enough to let him try. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Alkaid closes her eyes at his touch and cannot help the smile that forms on her face. His touch is gentle, as always, but it causes a small thrill to run up her spine. Of course, even like this, they ought to be restrained not driven by passions. Rather... she would let her passions run if she felt he would wish to do the same thing. How could he if he was hesitant to touch her ears?

An eye opens to look at him when his hand withdraws. ]

They will not bite back if you continue, Aymeric. [ She has learned she adores saying his name over his title. Still, she gives a playful smile. ] I may give a loving bite, but my ears are very incapable of doing so. You don't need to stop.

[thewayforpeace]

[ He is doing his best to keep his own passions controlled, because while he wishes that the two of them could come together as they lie beside each other and become intimately acquainted as a husband and wife would. But he fears what might happen if they do cross that threshold too soon.

He opens his mouth to respond, but once again, she has managed to take him by surprise. His eyebrows lift and he stares at her, clearly not prepared for what he just heard. When he finally speaks, it is with no small amount of effort that he manages to keep his voice level. ]

I am sorry, I must have misheard or perhaps misunderstood you. [ He is still attempting to reconcile her words with the image that has suddenly formed in his mind that he resumes touching her ear once more. As strange as it would seem, he rather likes performing this particular action, and he hopes that it is comforting for her as well. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ There is none other in her mind she would lie with. The knight has certainly stolen her heart and thoroughly claimed it, even if he never meant to. It only feeds the desire for him to touch her and make her his in all things he might think of. Her eyes fall shut as he soothes her ears, causing her tail to flick again. His touch is comforting as well as incredibly intimate.

With a shaking inhale and exhale she moves forward once more. This time she stops short of kissing him, looking down at him with as much restraint as she can muster. Her lips brush against his cheek instead. ]

I said, [ her voice lowers just a tick, ] that I might give a loving bite. If it pleases my sir knight.

[ Oh, Gods. She ought to stop and respect any perceived boundaries given by his status and his culture. Perhaps she is pushing too far and it is unwanted. Yet, everything inside her is screaming to move atop him and kiss him. ]

we can call this one wrapped after this if you like!

[thewayforpeace]

[ He certainly never intended for any of this to unfold the way that it has. While she turned his head from the moment he first met her, and while his interest in her rapidly turned into admiration and then further into love, he always imagined that she would find someone else who turned her head, and that it would never be him.

But he is truly in love with her now, and there is no going back, not that he would ever wish to. ]

I think you will find that it pleases him very much. As does being called your knight. [ In fact, his heart has leapt up again into his throat, and a sensation not unlike flying far above the ground has taken hold of him. Perhaps his heart has grown wings, as trite an expression as that may be.

He might be one who has his share of boundaries and customs due to his upbringing, but he is finding that the longer he is with her, the more those boundaries begin to lower. They do not fall, not entirely, but one by one, they begin to shift and change to account for the depth of his feelings for her.

As for this night, he could carry on like this for some time yet, if not for the fact that exhaustion has finally begun to creep up on him. She might notice that his eyes are beginning to droop at the corners, as if indicating that sleep will be pulling him under soon. Still, so long as she is beside him and awake, he will do his best to stay that way for her benefit. For as soon as they are both asleep, then the morning and their inevitable separation will come whether they like it or not. ]