[He huffs a quiet, tired laugh against her hair, lifting his hand up again to slide up her back and sink into her locks, gently stroking, his other arm curving around her waist to hold her. His chest lifts her up and down as he breathes slowly to try to steady his heartbeat, still pounding feather-fast from adrenaline. His lips catch against her temple, humming in amused agreement.]
Hey, you know me. I like to come out on top.
[He can't miss the double-meaning of his own words, scoffing with another laughing exhale. Silly. And here they've made a hot mess of themselves, should probably clean up before long, but he really can't bring himself to move. She still feels so good, nestled around him, and the energy of their combined pleasure is buzzing around in his mind.]
Hey, you know me. I like to come out on top.
[He can't miss the double-meaning of his own words, scoffing with another laughing exhale. Silly. And here they've made a hot mess of themselves, should probably clean up before long, but he really can't bring himself to move. She still feels so good, nestled around him, and the energy of their combined pleasure is buzzing around in his mind.]
[He pauses for a moment, a faint, thoughtful noise vibrating softly against her head.]
We could switch it up more. [A beat, and then-] Next time.
[He can sense it from her as well, but he's feeling it. Between the creation of the flasks, the fact that it's getting later, and the mess of energy that round required (incredibly good and fun as it was), his stamina is awfully spent. In a good way. In all the good ways.
Not that he hasn't been on top before, she just seems to like it this way most often. Never tried the latter, though. He'll try to remember that.]
We could switch it up more. [A beat, and then-] Next time.
[He can sense it from her as well, but he's feeling it. Between the creation of the flasks, the fact that it's getting later, and the mess of energy that round required (incredibly good and fun as it was), his stamina is awfully spent. In a good way. In all the good ways.
Not that he hasn't been on top before, she just seems to like it this way most often. Never tried the latter, though. He'll try to remember that.]
[He shares her shiver, now just as exposed to the cool air, and releases her with one arm just long enough to tug at the other half of the blanket beneath him, ignoring the flasks as they roll further away. He wraps his arm back around her and flings the blanket over them at the same time, covering their exposed nethers. It's beginning to sink in just what they did and where, his cheeks growing pink, so it doesn't hurt to be cautious in case anyone in the distant neighbourhood decides to go on a midnight stroll by the lake.
He blinks down at her at the mention, pausing.] Did I? [Thinking back... he did, didn't he. He'd thought that he'd just run out of breath before the second syllable, but he and his usual social group have a habit of switching to nicknames, so maybe it was a subconscious choice. It's fitting, either way, so after a moment he adds,] Py... it's cute. [Then, with the obvious curve of a smile,] It's because you're a snack.
He blinks down at her at the mention, pausing.] Did I? [Thinking back... he did, didn't he. He'd thought that he'd just run out of breath before the second syllable, but he and his usual social group have a habit of switching to nicknames, so maybe it was a subconscious choice. It's fitting, either way, so after a moment he adds,] Py... it's cute. [Then, with the obvious curve of a smile,] It's because you're a snack.
Better than making flasks, that's for sure.
[Fun as it is to show off and share their magic together, this wins out in the excitement department, there's no denying it. He tilts his head a little, kissing her hair. Gods, they're sweaty.]
Welcome to the one-syllable club.
[Fun as it is to show off and share their magic together, this wins out in the excitement department, there's no denying it. He tilts his head a little, kissing her hair. Gods, they're sweaty.]
Welcome to the one-syllable club.
First one, huh... what an honour.
[He means it, actually. It's odd to think about, someone so apparently long-lived hasn't had an experience so simple and integral as getting a nickname, something he's so used to that he doesn't even think about it- at least, not unless someone uses his when he's not yet comfortable enough. A part of him feels bad about it, but he's mostly glad that he gets to enjoy her first reaction.]
Mythra never got one either?
[He means it, actually. It's odd to think about, someone so apparently long-lived hasn't had an experience so simple and integral as getting a nickname, something he's so used to that he doesn't even think about it- at least, not unless someone uses his when he's not yet comfortable enough. A part of him feels bad about it, but he's mostly glad that he gets to enjoy her first reaction.]
Mythra never got one either?
[He makes a faint, displeased noise at the "it" part, quietly stewing on it and the injustice of the unpleasant things that he's learned of her world and history, how she's been treated. He can recognize that she's trying not to dwell on those bad memories though, especially when she looks at him, so he exhales and goes back to stroking her hair, hoping the gesture will mollify the both of them, at least a little.]
I never liked titles all that much, either. Anybody can have a title- there's been a hundred princes, you know? A name's personal, it's yours. Nicknames are even better.
[There was probably another Noctis in history- maybe a different prince, or an everyday citizen, he has no idea. But did the others go by "Noct" to their friends? Was the pronunciation the same, did they prefer a different or a middle name instead? Who knows. It isn't him. And the same goes for Pyra; there must have been others, but none of them were her.
Something pulses in the back of his mind, heavy and ominous, and the feeling is familiar enough that he knows not to chase it, pushing it aside in favour of holding her more tightly. This is better.]
I never liked titles all that much, either. Anybody can have a title- there's been a hundred princes, you know? A name's personal, it's yours. Nicknames are even better.
[There was probably another Noctis in history- maybe a different prince, or an everyday citizen, he has no idea. But did the others go by "Noct" to their friends? Was the pronunciation the same, did they prefer a different or a middle name instead? Who knows. It isn't him. And the same goes for Pyra; there must have been others, but none of them were her.
Something pulses in the back of his mind, heavy and ominous, and the feeling is familiar enough that he knows not to chase it, pushing it aside in favour of holding her more tightly. This is better.]
Damn, I was closer than I expected. [Well, even with so many words for darkness, the way she narrowed it down was very helpful. Not as many words for that.] I can't point fingers, my family's super obvious about names, too. My dad might as well have been called His Majesty King King the Kingliest.
[That's not even getting into Mors when their whole family is all about death. And Somnus? "Sleep", really, when he napped in the ring for thousands of years? It's kind of silly how on point it all is.]
[That's not even getting into Mors when their whole family is all about death. And Somnus? "Sleep", really, when he napped in the ring for thousands of years? It's kind of silly how on point it all is.]
[He chokes back a laugh at that- Nocti, god. That sure would be a way to pluralize him, huh.]
I can't think of any. A lot of the names of old kings have been lost to time. None of the kings I've researched or come in contact with have had those names, though.
[The ring hasn't shared any name twins, either, though he's not sure how he would even begin to check that. Shouting into the void, metaphorically speaking, doesn't get him that far.]
I can't think of any. A lot of the names of old kings have been lost to time. None of the kings I've researched or come in contact with have had those names, though.
[The ring hasn't shared any name twins, either, though he's not sure how he would even begin to check that. Shouting into the void, metaphorically speaking, doesn't get him that far.]
[He makes a thoughtful noise at that, tilting his head in her direction.]
What would you do, if there were two of me? Like you and Mythra, or something.
[Back when they first became a couple, the question that had been on his mind was more like, "what would you do if Somnus came back?" though he'd never dare ask it aloud. The idea of competing with another version of himself - very different people but with a similar background and appearance - had been daunting, especially when he felt he couldn't measure up with the Founder King. Now, though, the thought is more idle, almost playful. Like he's reached a point where he knows better than to worry, even if it did happen.]
What would you do, if there were two of me? Like you and Mythra, or something.
[Back when they first became a couple, the question that had been on his mind was more like, "what would you do if Somnus came back?" though he'd never dare ask it aloud. The idea of competing with another version of himself - very different people but with a similar background and appearance - had been daunting, especially when he felt he couldn't measure up with the Founder King. Now, though, the thought is more idle, almost playful. Like he's reached a point where he knows better than to worry, even if it did happen.]
[Different versions... yeah, he's heard that too. There were two different versions in the world Gladio came from before his arrival here, and one of them was blind and a total asshole, apparently. He hopes those two don't show up here one day, as he's not sure how he would deal. If it's more for a joke, though-]
What, you don't wanna double up on the boyfriend? [He rolls to face her, cupping her face and kissing first one cheek, and then the other in return.] But you'd get so much of this.
[His tone is jovial, but the soft redness on his cheeks from the sincerity she just offered up is apparent, even in the dimming firelight. He certainly wouldn't want to share her with anyone else, and it's fortunate that she and Mythra are in such a unique circumstance that 'sharing' isn't really an issue. Though admittedly he does have some biased preference, with Pyra being the gentler soul he gets to spend every day with.]
What, you don't wanna double up on the boyfriend? [He rolls to face her, cupping her face and kissing first one cheek, and then the other in return.] But you'd get so much of this.
[His tone is jovial, but the soft redness on his cheeks from the sincerity she just offered up is apparent, even in the dimming firelight. He certainly wouldn't want to share her with anyone else, and it's fortunate that she and Mythra are in such a unique circumstance that 'sharing' isn't really an issue. Though admittedly he does have some biased preference, with Pyra being the gentler soul he gets to spend every day with.]
Ahh, I guess we wouldn't want that.
[He does like spoiling her, but he might like it less if he had to share credit for it. He's a needy fella, the reassurance that he's doing well means a lot to him. He winds his arm around her again, tugging her close.]
Okay, okay. If another one shows up I'm gonna tell him to buzz off, I won't share.
[Even for a joke, let him be greedy...]
[He does like spoiling her, but he might like it less if he had to share credit for it. He's a needy fella, the reassurance that he's doing well means a lot to him. He winds his arm around her again, tugging her close.]
Okay, okay. If another one shows up I'm gonna tell him to buzz off, I won't share.
[Even for a joke, let him be greedy...]
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