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]

[ Her smile that forms is still hidden by the edging of the bathtub, but it is certainly obvious by the way her eyes seem to sparkle. Much sooner? It is certainly a wide net, but she cannot imagine it would have been before the ill-fated first attempt at the conference. Which, in hindsight, is rather ironic considering how he wishes to remain proper. ]

I had often wondered if I fell in love the first time I saw you. [ Her ears bend back only in embarrassment, as is obvious by the red that can be seen creeping over what is visible of her cheeks. ] I thought it was childish to think it... and convinced myself you would have no interest other than that of an ally.

[ Which, now, she can see was clearly wrong.

She gives a small tug to his hands for him to lean closer. Then, she captures his lips with hers in a kiss. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ Practically speaking, perhaps he could not have put forward his proposal any sooner than he had, but if he could have thrown around practicality, he is certain he would have done so at his earliest opportunity. ]

Certainly, you did manage to catch my eye at that time, in a way that none other has done; I believe that had I not been so reticent and convinced that surely, the Warrior of Light either had her eyes drawn to another or had no desire for such entanglements, I might have approached you sooner, at least that we might have a conversation or two.

[ But he hesitated, even though he knew that she had captivated his attention and his thoughts. And looking back, he wishes that he would have acted differently. ]

You always find ways to surprise me. [ And then he leans willingly into the kiss, arms moving with little regard for the tub that separates them as if wishing to wrap themselves around her frame. But he pauses at the last moment, a question forming in his eyes as if asking permission to touch her. She presently is unclothed as she is, of course, in the bath, so perhaps she does not wish for him to place his hands upon her right now. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ She laughs gently. ] Well, if you had eyes for my sister, you would have been right. I'm not certain she will wish to settle down for some time yet.

[ Alkaid shifts against the tub as well, her front pushing against the porcelain. There is a brief thought of pulling him further into the tub. However, she discards that thought. He has already made his position clear and she will not push him from it. There is nothing wrong with her meeting him at his level of what he is comfortable with.

She gives him a smile, nudging her nose to encourage him. He has, after all, seen her practically naked once. ]

... I hope those surprises are good ones.

[thewayforpeace]

Ah, but that is part of the experience, is it not? Finding one whom you are drawn to and becoming better acquainted with them, perhaps even coming to the conclusion that you wish to spend the rest of your days with them...

[ He does not bother concealing the smile that spreads across his face. ] I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have met you, and might I say, even blessed that our paths crossed as they did.

[ And having said that, he ceases his hesitation, moving forward again and this time completing the action of gently wrapping his arms around her, paying no heed to the water from her bath nor the water that is clinging to her skin. He only wishes to touch her, to feel her, however she might allow. ]

They are only the best ones, of course. [ His tone has lowered several notches, growing deeper the more his desire for her grows. If not for his own reticence, he would join her in the bath, because he wants nothing more than to be as close to her as he can manage. ]

[shepherdtostars]

I very much doubt that is an experience and journey she has even considered. [ Still, she smiles as he does. ] I have no doubts that Thisru will find someone when the time is right. I simply hope she does not let the opportunity pass her by again.

[ There has always been a small sting in her heart that K'thisru had never noticed the interest G'raha Tia took in her. While he was certainly a tad childish and dreamed very big? She could tell the affections the man had for her sister were genuine. Yet, Alkaid felt it was not her place to try and push them together, and instead hoped it might have happened naturally. Instead, he chose to reign his budding emotions in and use it as a driving force. It is so very bittersweet in so many ways. ]

I would have liked very much to see G'raha and Thisru together.

[ Her hands finally leave the edge of the tub and raise to drape around his neck as he wraps his own around her. She tilts her head back with her black hair but brightly tinged pink ends shifting to frame her face. She would have him touch her in any and all intimate ways. For now, however, she will settle for him simply touching her bare back.

Gods, he is so very talented at distracting her. His lowered tone causes her heart to skip a beat and she all but melts into his hold. Aymeric needs to do very little in order to stir her own desires, no matter how much she attempts to temper them for what she understands are his own wishes. She nudges her nose against his, then his chin, fingers tilting upwards to curl into the hair at the bottom of his neck. ]

Even the ones that may be inappropriate for our status? [ Even if in her mind, he has already claimed her as his and she has claimed his. A ring only represents that to everyone else. She has considered herself his ever since the night of the first failed attempt at the Conference.

Now, her voice lowers and she presses down those stirring desires. ] I can't imagine the requests are very seemly for a bride-to-be.

[thewayforpeace]

[ His smile remains in place as he surveys her. ] Like you, I am certain that when the time is right, everything will fall into place exactly how it should. Surely K'thisru will catch someone's eye, or the other way around.

Perhaps G'raha will be that someone, or perhaps it will be someone she has not even met yet. Either way, I am certain it will be quite an exciting time for both you and her.

[ He continues to hold her, realizing not for the first time just how much he likes having her in his arms. He keeps one hand positioned where it is, while the other reaches over to her ear so that he might begin to stroke it.

And when her fingers curl into the shorter hairs at the base of his neck, a shiver climbs up his spine. He is no more sensitive to touch than anyone else, and yet there are certain places that she has found that render him quite relaxed indeed. The back of his neck is one such place, and now it is his turn to have to fight to remain focused and not distracted. ]

Especially those. [ He knows it might not be becoming of someone in his position to tease her the way he is, but he finds that he cannot quite help himself. Of course he knows full well that he means to not cross certain lines, not yet, but he can still have a moment of levity without fear that she will be offended by it. ]

But I suppose that I best save some of those for our first night as a married couple. I would hate to disappoint you, after all.

[ And try as he might to keep a straight face so that he does not give away the ruse, the corners of his mouth twitch in spite of himself. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Has everything fallen perfectly into place? How much had to happen--how much pain had to occur--for it be to the point it is now? She certainly wishes it had been easier, and their losses not so great. Still, as she sits in the water, looking up at him, she cannot help but agree with the statement. She never would have thought she would be betrothed to--let alone sitting naked in a bath with the Lord Commander of the Temple Knights those months ago. Her gaze softens. ]

I hope she does. [ Even if G'raha may never see them again, merely read about them in history books. ] And, it would be an exciting time for you as well. You will be apart of her family too.

[ She wishes she might find a way to bring the pair of them together in a more friendly manner. That can only happen on their own time and pace. Still, she hopes that her sister may one day not be so awkward in a non-formal setting with Aymeric.

Well, if she hadn't melted in his hands before, she certainly is. Her head tilts entirely into his hand and she also leans into the hand at her back. His comment makes a gentle laugh come from her. Especially those, is it? She can certainly meet his teasing. Even more so if he continues to stroke her ear and press his hand to bare back. ]

Some, but not all, I hope.

[ She tilts her hands so the tips of her fingers gently brush along the back of his neck and the end of his hair. She uses her elbows to push herself up in the tub. Alkaid leans forward, elbows on the rim of the tub, and pressing a kiss to his lips. He may be in too proper of a mindset to look downwards at her exposed top, and that is certainly alright.

At the moment she would rather focus on kissing him and making him feel as happy and ...well, good, as he does for her. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ But if they had come to this point without experiencing all of the pain and the loss, would it still feel so meaningful? For his part, Aymeric remains certain that it would not. After all, one can hardly live in the world and not experience difficulty, even pain and loss. It is the balance between hardship and happiness that he, like so many others, has had to find. ]

I am certain that she will, even though I cannot explain what it is that makes me feel that way. And I would consider myself quite fortunate indeed should I be considered part of your family. [ He considers himself quite honored that she and her sister even gave him a second look. ]

Oh, of course, not all. I must do my level best to ensure that you do not grow disheartened or discontent while we wait for that occasion.

[ When she presses a kiss to his lips, his eyes close as feelings of pleasure and happiness sweep over him. Something is stirring inside him, a feeling he has not felt before, and it is clear that she has succeeded in making him feel both happy and good, although aroused might be a more accurate term. ]

/starts to wraps this one up as well?

[shepherdtostars]

[ Suffering will always bring strength and love that will last longer and survive more. She simply wishes there had not been as much. Was losing Haurchefaunt necessary to her and Aymeric finally coming together? It is a dangerous thought process to tread and certainly not one she wishes to focus on at the moment.

She deepens the kiss for only a moment. Then, her forehead presses to his as her gaze softens once more. Her eyes have darkened with her own desire and arousal, but unlike the night following the first attempt of the Conference? Alkaid does not rush after it. She intends to respect his wishes to the utmost. Another kiss is pressed to the side of his mouth and her nose nuzzles his. ]

It wouldn't hurt for me to hold back. [ Her smile turns a tad guilt ridden. While she would love more nights as the intimate one they had? She won't push for it. ] I would rather that than push you away.

<3 they're just gonna be there awhile kissing lbr

[thewayforpeace]

I can scarcely begin to imagine anything you might do that would push me away.

[ He is content to just spend the rest of their time together enjoying each other's company doing whatever it is they feel like doing. ]

I would have you be yourself and not have to worry about anything, including the need to hold back.

[ And he chooses that moment to plant a kiss on her cheek, followed by several others in succession. ]