splitmemory | a lion and his fae

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a lion and his fae

two nerds, sittin in a hot spring, 0 ft apart bc they are gay
continuation of this with just random. leona/lilia shenanigans

ya

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Promises were very important. Not just in the concept as a whole, but in the way of deals and contracts. You do not make a promise you cannot keep, nor do you be someone who could not be trusted in the future to make promises. Lilia was not the type, as much as he was flighty and foolish in his own right.

There were times when one was meant to be serious, to make good on their words. This was one of those times.

The response to his little warnings makes the small fae laugh, moving to bury his face against Leona's shoulder, getting cozy then and there. If Leona isn't worried, carrying not just someone from the rival dorm but that dorm's Vice Housewarden, then Lilia wasn't going to worry at all. What would the point be?

The only thing Lilia is going to worry about is how small that kiss is once he gets it. ]

That's not nearly enough and you know it.

[ Lilia pouts, a bratty creature who tends to get his way when he doesn't need to be taken seriously. Leaning up further, bringing one arm properly around Leona's neck to tangle his fingers in his hair and tug him down, Lilia goes in for a better kiss. A longer one, deeper, caring; unlike what his lax attitude may suggest, this kiss says everything he wouldn't say in so many words. He'd missed Leona, wanted to be around him.

Maybe that's the real reason he'd come out to Savanaclaw instead of wandering the campus to look at the stars, even if he would never claim that as the reasoning. ]

That's more like it, see? [ He murmurs as he breaks the kiss, slowly petting Leona's hair. ] We deserve to share as many kisses like that as I want. As we want.

[ He's demanding, isn't he? Even more than that, he's nudging his forehead against Leona's cheek, leaning in enough to press a careful kiss against his jaw. ]

Did you miss me?

[ And, despite refusing to say it himself, he'd ask. Play to his own ego. ]

[ he likes... no, he loves the sound of lilia's giggling. his chuckles, those little titters of laughter. he can't imagine a time when he wouldn't want to hear them. he doesn't want to think about that possibility. sure, there are plenty of annoying juniors around that'll get on his nerves. even his peers do that but in a different way. but lilia? okay. sure. maybe once in a while. things have changed. ]

Yeah I know. What, you think I'm gonna deny myself the same thing?

[ it's the taste of lilia's lips and the... it's hard for him to describe. it's everything. like he can tell exactly what he's trying to tell him without words? it's the curl of the smile, the way he strokes through his hair while they hold each other. that leona can barely get himself over to the bed where he can finally take a seat, let lilia slip out of his arms so he can straddle his lap instead. he's far too focused on trying to read what's been said. what he's being told. and the yearning that he'd been keeping quiet can be let back up to the surface. ]

Lettin' you have anythin you want sounds pretty dangerous. Good thing I'm strong enough to handle you, right?

[ even if it's shared. he wouldn't want it any other way.

he takes a second to think even though he already has an answer in mind? wouldn't lilia already be able to tell? the beastman hums, tilting his head up, exposing his throat. his neck. places where lilia could bite and he would simply let him. a sign of respect? a sign of submission??? ]

I did. A lot.

[ and he's not sorry for admitting it. ]

[ Funny how things can change so drastically, isn't it? How one minute you can see someone as one of the most frustrating and annoying guys on campus - only for the next moment with that same guy to completely change your perspective of him. Before, Lilia saw Leona partially as a spoiled brat who didn't know when to give up. When to treat others with kindness, and as someone who would use others for his own gain.

That was accurate to an extent, before, as a surface reading of Leona. Now, Lilia was beginning to see further past the surface, to learn more; to become intrigued in the man in front of him.

Sliding into Leona's lap properly once Leona's sat down, he allows both of his knees to position themselves on either side of Leona, his hips pressed up against the other man's. Not immediately in a sexual sense, even. More to be close, to allow that affection to pass between them wordlessly. ]

Might be dangerous... but you're right. You can handle it. For the most part.

[ Another soft giggle can be heard, this one pressed against his skin in the form of several more small kisses. The tilt of his head allows Lilia more room against him, more room to press kisses and slowly nibble against his skin. He's going to take the opportunity, going to press his lips down against Leona's neck, trailing sweet kisses against his throat.

Unlike the last time, he doesn't rush into wholeheartedly sinking his fangs in. He instead takes his time, his kisses gentle with a rough edge as he gnaws on Leona in a similar fashion to how Leona had done to him. Careful yet precise little nips and nibbles, affectionate more than a strong and impactful need. ]

Good, [ He finally pauses there, pulling back enough to allow him to look up at Leona, to meet his eyes. ] I'd be disappointed if you hadn't.

[ That's his own way of admitting it without actually admitting it. Both hands come up to cup his face, squishing his cheeks in a way that he's not sure even he can get away with. Squiiiish! ]

Could have simply invited me. Or were you too prideful to do so yourself? Time is a different concept for us both, you know. For you, a few days can feel like a lifetime. For me, they go by in a blink of an eye.

[ his ears twitch as lilia presses his lips against his skin. that he leaves a line of kisses down and past his pulse point, intermixed with the grazing of teeth against his flesh? it sends shivers up and down his spine. he is completely transfixed on the fae and how he shows his affection. that as cryptic as he can be with his words, it's what else he does that makes him crave every little thing he does. leona would call him unfair. a chess piece that doesn't exist on the board, one that breaks the rules and the logic behind him.

so yes, he can handle it. he wants to. it's a challenge to deal with a flighty yet demanding guy like lilia. but he'll relish it. he'll enjoy every step he takes with him. ]

I laugh in the face of danger. [ and he chuckles, hands going to lilia's waist where he gives him a squeeze. he'd love to squeeze him other places. it's not the time. it might become that time but for now, he's simply happy to indulge in doting on one another. it's more peaceful that way. ] Especially when the danger is as cute as you are.

[ he quickly bleps. in and out and he smiles a little before his cheeks get assaulted!!! what the heck... ]

A few days feel like a few days. [ another snort while he hums. ] Time is precious regardless, don't you agree? And I was going to invite you. But maybe I wanted you to reach out first, just to see...

[ This is what Lilia wanted. To have Leona's every ounce of focus, to be such an alluring person that the beastman couldn't take his eyes off of him, couldn't keep from thinking about him at every moment of every day. It's who Lilia wanted to be, who he prided himself on being - someone who was so mysterious yet so obvious in his movements, his actions.

Really, if people believed the words he spoke, he wouldn't be all that mysterious in the first place.

The hands against his waist were comfortable, grounding in a way that Lilia found he needed. Especially after their brief delve into the depths of his memories, for the little explanation about what the stars meant to him. Being called cute was the cherry on top, leaving him with a gentle smile on his face.

His hands stay put there against Leona's cheeks, his head tilting to one side in a way that showcases a curiosity. ]

Time can be precious, yes... [ ... Especially in his case... ] Anywho, you should have invited me. Don't you know that it's difficult for us fae to go where we aren't invited? We have many rules about this very thing. We may not be in Briar Valley, my dear, but I am quite used to the customs I was raised on. Have your cross cultural teachings not been sufficient? Have you had any?

[ Another small squish. ]

Hm. Perhaps it is better if you do not know anything. Then I can teach you everything...

[ Bringing his thumb up to Leona's bottom lip, he traces the shape of it, pressing the pad of his thumb against the middle of it after. ]

All there is to know about me. What has made me the me that sits here with you now. The customs of my kind, our history. Mm, but that begs the question: how would you know if anything I say is the truth? Another deal, maybe?

[ if leona believed every word that came out of lilia's mouth, then he would've already been compromised. he needs a little backbone, doesn't he? he needs to be able to stand up to whatever or whoever may challenge him, even if it's an impish little fae who fits very well in his lap. who can snuggle up to him, press those teeth against his shoulders or teeth or wherever he wants. though by now, even leona can recognize that he's... in danger. in trouble. peril. allowing lilia to get this close. fucking was only one part of the equation. now the calculations get more and more complex. ]

Must've slept through those sessions. [ or didn't pay attention. he only needed to know one thing: that malleus was a pain in the ass, elusive, hard to get near, and the beastman didn't like him. that meant those around him were unfairly lumped into his judgement. with that thumb on his lip, it's easy for him to give it a quick lick. the tip of that blepping tongue from earlier giving it a few playful taps as he continues to think and then speak. ]

I figure... if you didn't want to tell me the truth, you wouldn't have come here in the first place, despite how difficult it may be for you. Maybe the night told you to be here. Maybe the stars brought you here. Either way, you're with me and you chose to follow somethin' because of it.

[ his brows furrow. or maybe leona might've wished that lilia would've forced the issue. made him confront his lack of initiative. ]

Could make a deal. But what if I just said you could come any time you wanted? That you didn't need my permission to come to my room. To wherever I might be at the time.

[ Knowing you're in danger and doing something about it was a whole other beast. If Leona stayed here, stayed put with Lilia in his lap and did nothing about the danger that keeps squirming closer and closer, then he would be doomed from the start. Would he see it in time? Would he do something about it, or see how far Lilia will take this himself?

Lilia keeps his expression neutral, his gaze even. That reply doesn't phase him. He does seem to be so focused on something else, his own mind working at picking apart calculations, pieces of this that Leona couldn't even see yet. Tilting his head to the other side, his eyes focus on each minute detail of Leona's face. His thumb drags along the tip of his tongue at one of those pokes, before pulling lightly at his bottom lip as he pulls his thumb away. His index finger comes up to help him trace the shape of his face. ]

I hardly need your permission, as long as you aren't specifically here... but a blanket permission to come to your room whenever I like? My, how could I pass that up?

[ Leaning back in, he presses his whole front against Leona, stretching up to try and aim his words for Leona's ear, to murmur them out and keep them quiet between them. ]

... What I'm trying to say is I was waiting on you. You have your whole life ahead of you. It's so very short compared to mine, you know. It has to be your decision, all of it. I won't have it any other way. Otherwise, whose to say I'm not taking advantage of you? Of your innocence, your naiveté?

After all, boys your age are still so very drawn in during moments of high emotion. They say things they don't mean. How was I to know... [ That he meant it.

Ah, and here it is. Lilia is pushing the issue. It took him a minute, but he got there. It was always going to end up here. ]

When I'm not in it, I figure there's nothin' really worth bein' here for.

[ there's nothing particularly special about it other than perhaps wrapping himself in the usually fresh linens that ruggie will often replace whenever leona isn't loafing in his own bed. the notes are usually written by others and the books and supplies that end up being unused go with his second year hyena as well. nothing truly has any significance unless meaning is assigned to it, and thus... he would hope lilia wasn't giving leona attention just for material possessions! that would be crazy.

and there it is. his own thoughts meandering for a moment before he's snapped right back, the touch of lilia's voice and words against one furry cupped ear that flicks against them. he swallows. right. does he think leona is a cub? maybe in his eyes, he is. that he is still so very young and inexperienced and can't see the background because the foreground is so bright. sparkly and distracting.

it seems so simple. maybe it is. maybe it's so obvious and stupidly in his face that he should've been more upfront? in matters of the heart, sometimes being too blunt can be a mistake. but for someone who has seen it all, felt it all, yet isn't sure... he needs reassurance that it is tangible. not fleeting like mortal lives could be to lilia.

... ]

I do. I do mean it. If my life is made more full by you bein' in it, then I want you in it.

[ brows furrowed, he reaches around to let his hands rest on lilia's back. on his waist, to his thighs where they stay still. not going further. ]

And if I end up bein' a fool until the very end, shame on me. Guess I'll be happy nonetheless.

[ another lean, to rest his forehead against lilia's chest. he is very real and tangible in his arms right now. ]

[ Objects hold memories, as people do. The only thing that these objects would be useful for was to investigate the sides of Leona's life that Lilia could easily insert himself into instead. There wouldn't be a point to being here without Leona - that much is true.

Leona seemed to understand completely what he meant even as he trails off, even as his words are lost to the quiet of the room. Watching the way his ear twitches, Lilia can't help but smile, even with the suggestion he'd made. The suggestion that Leona would've lied, that this would still be a part of that lie, without a firm confirmation from him that he meant his words, meant his feelings.

It's funny, isn't it? The one who plays games with people's feelings and perceptions without a single care, demanding that someone be blunt and clear with him regarding these matters. He falls back every so slightly, down from the stretch to murmur those words into his ear, his eyes now focused up on Leona's face, as the boy speaks those words, confirms it aloud. ]

You're so very earnest in your words, so sure. It's so strange to hear from someone like you.

[ There it is, a light taunt. A small joke, to ease whatever tension there might be. It's when Leona's forehead presses against his chest that Lilia shifts his hold, brings both of his hands up to slowly pet the other man's hair, that he finally seems to begin to settle down, into the moment ]

Alright. I'll stay a while, come around whenever I'd like, but you must promise me something, as well. That you'll ask after me. Do not assume that I'll know what you want from me. Take what you want, as that is what I will always do. And, if what you want doesn't come to you, you must let it go and move on before your heart gets too far damaged.

[ One arm slips further over his shoulders and around him, while the other continues to tangle in his hair. ]

Your life is too short to waste that time on assumptions. On waiting around.

[ he huffs. yeah. maybe it is. maybe he hasn't had the opportunity to be open around someone like this before. in a dorm full of students who saw him as a leader, someone who would lead them to greener pastures, to overcome and defeat the students of the dorm that lilia represents... it's strange. weird that he would confide in him like this. it's not just from fucking, too. leaving the train with that kind of lightness in his heart, something to look forward to. the future didn't seem so bad when he considered lilia would be a part of it. ]

Maybe I'm savin' some surprises for you. [ he tilts his head so that he can look up at the fae, a flicker of warmth in the form of the smallest smile on his face. ] What, didn't think I had it in me?

[ one of those ears twitch. it wiggles. leona silently contemplates everything that's been said. ]

I promise that I'll chase you down. No matter where you think you are.

[ he can be defiant. he can be selfish. he can keep his head down and barge forward recklessly. he'd rather play everything like a chess game but there isn't always time to do that. like lilia said... time can disappear in a blink of an eye. ]

Verbally, physically. I'll get you. So I guess I won't be waitin' around. Even if I gotta stomp my way over to your dorm or wherever.

[ .... Look at him!! That little smile, the way his ear twitches, the way he says those little words... How was Lilia supposed to keep himself from smiling, too? How was he supposed to act all mysterious when Leona kept pulling these little smiles out from him? Oh well... he'd much rather be cute anyways. So adorable that Leona can't take his eyes off of him.

With that head tilted up, Lilia moves his hand to carefully pet over that one ear that had been wiggling earlier, thumb carefully brushing down against the fur there before his fingers move to scritch right behind that ear, like one would on a cat. ]

It seems we have that settled then. Good, [ His opposite hand moves down to cup Leona's chin, pulling his face up to make him sit up further, only so Lilia could look at him directly in the eye, ] You're always welcome. Ignore what Sebek may say if he sees you stomping around over there. He's headstrong, wants to prove himself worthy and all that. A good kid, really, even if he can be a little intense.

[ ... and, there's one more thing he needs to add, isn't there? ]

Oh. I do have one more requirement, for this arrangement to work. [ Leaning in, he presses a careful peck against Leona's lips, ] Take me on a date. We could go anywhere, do anything. Just the two of us. It'll give me a chance to dress up all cute for you. You won't be able to keep your hands off me with how cute I'll look. But you'll need to, for a while. Build up that anticipation.

Edited 2024-09-23 04:09 (UTC)

[ he would rather lilia be cute, too. not that he wouldn't break a sweat trying to bob and weave through whatever riddles he wants to provide because he's worth it, but. leona prefers exerting the effort when it's something serious. something dire. his feelings for lilia may have started small and expanded exponentially, but it didn't mean they couldn't stay inflated like that. they could grow into it. he can do that. he's worth his time, worth the energy. not just in the sense of fucking where he knows he'd have to do more than just please himself. he'd have to go the extra mile for that too.

just like now, where he snorts at the idea of going easy on sebek. that crocodile is a lot of bark and some bite, but nothing he can't handle. surely he knows that in a one on one, there are only a couple that could stand toe-to-toe with leona, one of which being sebek's housewarden. the other? well, he's sitting with the beastman right now, kissing him, staring at him, smiling... they're both smiling. especially when his ear is getting that attention causing his tail to flip and flop to the side. back and forth, back and forth. ]

Go anywhere, do anything? [ a few slow blinks accompany some very quick and fleeting thoughts, all internal. but he can think of a couple of places they could go, places that tourists weren't allowed to be. leona could take lilia to a location that they didn't visit the first time during the bead brawl. where the stars are the brightest and light isn't necessary to see the wide expanse of the savanna. ]

'kay. I can arrange that. But until then, I wanna...

[ ... pull lilia down with him. tug him on top and press their lips together, use that momentum to force their distance to close. use his tongue, dig in between them, take what he wants--- just like how lilia requested. he's his, after all. ]

[ One of the joys of youth is falling so quickly for someone. To get those sweet feelings and have them grow in an instant, almost overnight. As impossible as it seems some days, it very much happens, almost before someone realizes it's happening. Other times, those feelings slowly begin to bubble and boil until you can't hold them back anymore, until they're finally realized as they boil over and expand into something even greater. Lilia's not completely sure which half of the equation they fit under. He certainly isn't young, but... well, he can't deny that he's also having plenty of feelings regarding this beastman.

The effort that Leona was putting in, no matter how small or invisible at this time due to the very nature of the effort being emotional effort, silent yet there all the same, was showing. In the way they sit together, the way their hands press against each other, to explore parts of them that they'd come to know in passing touches and little loving grabs.

It's as Leona thinks through that request that Lilia's smile broadens with a bit of amusement. ]

I know you can--

[ He wouldn't have made the suggestion if he thought otherwise. Anyways. He isn't given much time to respond, as he's quickly pulled down with Leona. He's still stayed put there atop him, straddling his lap. That tongue is forced into his mouth, though much force isn't needed. The second their lips are pressed together, Lilia's parting his own lips, tilting his head into it to deepen that kiss in turn. He's using this moment to get comfortable there atop Leona, one hand moving to slide under the other's shirt without a care in the world.

Yeah, he's going to take what he wants too. And what he wants right now? He wants to feel Leona's skin under the touch of his fingers. Doesn't have to be sexual, but if it becomes that, that's fine too. All he wants is to touch. ]

[ he can have all of leona, if he wishes. yet he doesn't think lilia would do such a thing without seriously thinking about it. everything that lilia has said has been true: making a promise is a dangerous thing to a fae. offering unlimited anything is equally perilous. but is it a mistake? he doubts it. lilia's experienced more than anyone else in the world. what he wants is probably very specific. unique. special. something he can treasure. if leona can get it or give it, he will. he'll do his best. it's what he wants to do. and having that reason and purpose and goal... it gives leona a desire that's both selfish and not.

he likes the taste of lilia's mouth. it's sweet. no particular flavor, but he knows that he's hooked. the beastman arches his back into lilia's hand, letting him feel those muscles. a hidden source of pride that he is still a prime example of a lion beastman with royal blood. not that he has to say it, but his body is lilia's too. he hums in appreciation, in contentment, before he pulls his tongue out and flicks the tip of the fae's nose with it. ]

You're stayin' the night. Maybe the week. Should probably let your 'kids' know, hm?

[ leona reaches behind him, fingers against his back. it's his turn to sneak his hands underneath a shirt. except he doesn't stay there for very long and goes into his pants instead, immediately grabbing onto his cheeks and giving them both a healthy and possessive squeeze. ]

[ To have all of someone would mean to have nothing else to yearn for. Nothing else to desire, nothing else to want to have. In essence, there needs to be something to want. Needs to be something to yearn for, or else his fancy might waver and fade away as quickly as it has flit by. And, Leona's right; there isn't much that Lilia wants in this life, anymore, with how much he's experienced. More than that, it's very unlikely Leona would be able to provide him with exactly what he wants.

The boy can certainly try to provide it. Lilia won't stop him. In fact? He'll cheer him on. Assist him, in whatever way he can. ]

Mm, am I? [ The fae responds with a laugh, tilting his head to attack Leona's bottom lip with his tongue. A tiny flick of his own. ] ... I'll send Silver a small text. Those three are far too used to me leaving for weeks at a time. However, it is still common courtesy, isn't it?

[ And, out of all of them, Silver is the most likely to get the text and relay it to the others without panicking. One of his hands slips away from Leona, moving to pull out his phone from one pocket. That is all while he leans down further, pressing his face against Leona's neck. His lips find purchase against the soft skin there, kisses being pressed along him.

Somehow, as he works there, he pulls up his texts with Silver, not caring to hide them really. He figures if Leona looks, it won't be all that damning. He might learn a secret or two, but who cares? It wasn't like he would tell a single soul about the true nature of his relationship with Silver - if he knew what was good for him, Leona would keep his mouth shut and ask questions at a more appropriate time. ]

Mmh-- you are sure about it possibly being a week? I can tell him that, but I cannot guarantee you'll be spared a few glares from Sebek and possibly Malleus once I return to my own dorm. They aren't particularly fond of you, you know.

[ Another laugh, then. Yeah, he doesn't really mind the possible consequences either. ]

[ he wants to tear the shirt off of lilia's back, yank those pants down... and what's keeping him from doing it? there is no decorum, no responsibility that leona has to follow. lilia is his own fae! it's probably leona just exhibiting too much patience, too much respect. after all, they are in his den. in his little private space away from the rest of the dorm and its residents. instead--- he's watching lilia take care of his business, sending a text to silver, not really paying attention to what else he might end up becoming privy to. ]

Could be less. I dunno, I don't wanna limit us.

[ okay. now that he's done? the beastman hums, his hands sliding back down to lilia's waist. his thoughts have led him back here. do they have to fuck? no. but... it's not that he needs to. there's nothing stopping him. no one can. ]

But... I can't help it. If I can't have you when I got you, do I really have you in the first place?

[ fingers idly slide inside the waist, though he is careful to unbutton and unbelt. get them out of the way. he just wants to feel and touch lilia more. it doesn't have to go farther. but he wants it to anyway. it means more. everything does when it comes to them. ]

And if they don't like me, I don't really care. Only people that matter are right here.

[ Fair enough, really. Lilia moves to set his phone aside once he's done, not caring where it ends up as long as it's somewhere on that bedside table. No, he doesn't want to focus on that now that he's completed his task. His focus is right back on Leona almost as quickly as it'd left. His hips lean in as if to help give Leona a better angle at those bottoms of his. To get them off, out of the way.

He helps, with a few small movements. Even further, his own hands grab at Leona's shirt again, pulling on the fabric and pulling it up to tug it over his head. Who needs clothes, anyways? Isn't it more special to be able to press close, skin against skin? ]

You do have a point. Who am I to say otherwise? I want you the very same. [ One single finger traces along the curve of Leona's chest. ] As long as we're having fun, as long as we're enjoying each other...

[ One of his hands comes up to work on helping get his own shirt undone to make it easier to pull off. ]

Then we should be allowed to continue, for as long as we'd like. I want your skin on mine, to feel your warmth directly against me. To feel your adoration. You do adore me, don't you?

[ Oh, he's digging for those sweet words, asking for more little compliments and comments. His lips find Leona's neck again, a hot breath let out against his skin from between those parted lips. ]

You better. I deserve to be adored. As do you. As you are.

[ he hates how lilia is right. is leona kingscholar adored? yes. but is he feared? yes. loved? maybe only by one other. while he wants the attention and the prestige, finally being recognized for his contemporary viewpoints and desire to see his home and his people given opportunities to do more than survive... but thrive. those hopes and dreams stifled by the feeling that everything that he does ends up meaning nothing. efforts wasted. all because he's not the king.

and even though it might sound silly, it's a core tenet to who he is. leona recognizes it as such. but it still means something to him deep inside. ]

Tch, of course I adore you. No one around here could ever match your spirit. You leave everyone in your wake.

[ it's not that he wants to go directly to touching lilia down there. it's... the more skin that touches skin, the better he'll feel. the closer they'll be. they're separated in many ways: by age, by station. by experience. but he doesn't want there to be any other disparities. he doesn't need to know everything. yet if he doesn't, that expanse between them will feel even wider. ]

How else do I gotta show it? [ he smirks. ] By ring? By bite? Leave somethin' permanent on ya that won't ever fade?

Edited 2024-10-01 03:11 (UTC)

[ He might have seen so many more years than Leona, but even he had complicated notions that couldn't necessarily be explained away. Complicated feelings and thoughts that came along with them. Things that he'd experienced that shaped how he saw the world, that shape how he continues to view different topics and areas of life. This was one of those areas: love, adoration.

The both of them had complicated thoughts, didn't they?

That's why, once Leona's shirt is pulled off, and his own is halfway there, Lilia moves himself to fully press his bare chest against Leona's without worrying about pulling his shirt off the rest of the way. His head tucks in against Leona's shoulder, cheek pressed there comfortably. His hands shift, slipping around and under Leona to hug him close, despite being on top of him. ]

Not by ring. You can't go throwing something like that around. Marriage, or a physical promise like a ring, is such a big deal, you know. Bigger for us fae than you humans, [ Yeah, he kind of just calls anyone 'human', even if they're beastmen. They're close, of course, but not the same. ] ... A promise that means way more than you could imagine. It's not something you should take lightly. Throw around. To even offer me of all people in the first place.

It wouldn't be right, for a prince of your kind. Second prince or not. In line for the throne or not. It doesn't matter. Something like that is too important.

[ His voice is quiet, somewhere slightly further away, before he pulls himself back to the conversation as a whole, back to this moment, leaning in further to press another kiss against his neck. ]

I wouldn't say no to a mark. Something to prove I'm yours. A bite, something deep enough it'll never fade. A scar of some kind to go along with the others I have. Make me be vulnerable with you. To your bite, to your hands, to all of you. Show me by making my body yours in some way that no one can dispute.

[ both ears twitch. yes, the world can be very complicated and annoying. red tape, sometimes physical, can get in one's way. but leona doesn't have time for that. with one uttered phrase anything in his path can be destroyed and turned to sand that'll fall at his feet. wielding that with conviction has been a struggle; intimidation can turn into fear which can turn into distrust and an erosion of a kingdom. the thing that he has, no matter what, wanted to avoid. he can't become a king without a kingdom. it's in the word. ]

Yeah, I know it's important. It's why I'm bringing it up in the first place.

[ what he says... leona can hear the meaning behind it. does lilia think that he can't belong with leona in that way? that the throne doesn't deserve him, in passing or otherwise? ]

I'm not gonna live my life balancin' on the precipice of being both committal and not. I want you.

[ and he knows that lilia wants him, too. there's no questioning the desire, physical and otherwise. but what holds him back is what holds leona back as well. doesn't he recognize that? they are bound to one another. going ahead can't happen if they don't do it together.

he thinks about a mark that would be unique enough to fit on lilia's body. they could mate repeatedly, but that's not something anyone can just see on the outside. public displays of affection may do the trick. that their presences alongside one another could leave an impression. ]

Well. I figure at some point that's gonna happen anyway... but it might hurt pretty bad if I give ya a really hard chomp. Might have to offset it with sometin' else. Don't you agree?

[ leona noses through lilia's hair, inhaling deeply. his scent is remarkable and it's all his to have. ]

[ Why was he allowing fear and doubt to rule over him when it came to this? It wasn't like he let that take control back in his younger years. He was reckless, pushing forward for what he felt was right and what he wanted, back in those early days. Now? ... He supposes it has a lot to do with the experiences he's had through the years, compared to how little he'd gone through before, when he'd first proposed to someone himself. He was but a child then, stumbling through the world at his own pace.

Maybe that's why he was trying to warn Leona. To make sure that he knew what he was getting into, knew what he was asking for. Leona's life was so short compared to Lilia's, as Lilia had already mentioned, already brought up. He wanted Leona to be sure, to not rush into something so important.... but he understood why this boy might want to.

Lilia wants it too. Wants a commitment, something physical, some sort of promise that shows they're actually committed to each other. ]

... You should be so much more careful with the fae and things like this. Promises, deals, contracts, anything like that. You can't be sure I won't take advantage of it. Of you.

[ Says the fae who is currently nudging his way closer, his fingers pressing against Leona's back and spine in a way that's affectionate and kind, even with the pressure of the mattress under him. ]

In all the years of my long life, I've never had a boy as bold as you around. Declaring they want to marry me, to make me theirs. Once, I was that bold boy. [ This was comfortable. Almost too comfortable... but he forces himself to look up at Leona. ] I'll consider it. It could do me good to be tied down. Let's think more on it in the morning, alright?

[ Back on that other topic, though.... ]

I can take a little pain. That said, I wouldn't complain if you were to offset it with something sweeter. Hmm... What if I ask you to pay me back now? To give me what I'm owed from our little trip? Would that be enough to offset the pain, you think?

[ Yeah, he might've spent a moment shifting to look up at Leona, but that isn't lasting very long. He's nosing back against his neck, pressing his lips there again, enjoying the feeling of his warmth. ]

If I was gonna regret anything, it'd be not chasing you down if you thought that the best way to have any kind of relationship was to be careful.

[ careful is for people who can afford to live hundreds of years. beastmen can live for a while but compared to any fae, it's probably as lilia has described it: like a blink of an eye. but when leona blinks, he sees lilia. when the other blinks, time has not passed for more than a minute. sure--- he knows a lot. but maybe knowing too much is the weakness that lilia hasn't considered yet. that a thoughtful and heartfelt promise from someone who finds them pointless is worth more than its weight in gold.

but all he hears are compliments. the boldest boy. someone that's being allowed to give him the pleasure and pain that others probably haven't been trusted to do. he takes that in stride. that lilia cares. he cares to warn him, to not make a mistake... maybe a mistake he's made himself.

unfortunately, leona is very dense. purposefully, sometimes. ]

As far as I'm concerned you've already accepted. [ a beat, then he nods. ] Yeah. I can give you what you want. Just... name it.

[ he reaches up and with one hand, cradles the back of lilia's head. ]

[ For someone who didn't have the same number of years on him, Leona sure did have a sense for wisdom, words that Lilia could understand and relate to. Being careful was only part of the equation - Lilia doesn't actually care to be careful, to be cautious in his decisions. More...

He doesn't want to be something that Leona regrets spending so much time with, investing so much energy in.

Oh, but why should he really worry that far about it? Leona was a grown lion, no longer a little cub who was stumbling about and didn't know what he was doing. He knows what he needs, knows how to take care of himself and when to lash out when something isn't going his way. This was something he'd need to let go of, to trust in Leona to know what he wants.

So, that's what he begins to do. To relax somewhat further, expression softening as he watches the beastman. That little touch against the back of his head, cradling it with that one hand-- and here he was, having been ready to ask for something in a completely different vein.

No, now... ]

You might be right. I might not have said it in words, but...

[ He'd already accepted, didn't he? That was a warning, but it wasn't a 'no.' Anyways. ]

... What I want is so very hard to explain in words. I want... [ These gentle touches. Not tentative, yet still so careful. Nothing but love and adoration shown through each one, with a language of their own. ] This. You're already giving me what I want. Just....

[ Lilia leans in, giving Leona a small peck on the cheek, trailing a few kisses down to his lips, pressing one against the corner of his mouth. What he wants is intimacy, in a way he hasn't gotten before. Something he's sure, if he asks for it bluntly, he'd get. Instead, he's hopeful that Leona will get it without him saying it. ]

Kiss me.

[ it's not like leona lacks patience. what he wants is direction. a way forward. when they take it together, things will feel smoother. better, for the both of them. how he feels about lilia has been a quickly changing perspective; from annoyance due to his relation toward the more well-known figures of diasomnia to great fuck, to a person who could only fit one particular hole in his heart. as sappy and saccharine as it may seem, it would be hard for anyone to replace lilia. ]

I get it. And if I don't, then I got time to figure it out. [ what lilia wants... what leona wants. they may not be the same. they may be misunderstood. but if that's the case, the best way to approach it is head-on. not through being purposefully misleading or accidentally misinterpreted. and if lilia finds himself in unexplored places, hard to explain feelings, then he's just as 'young' as leona. they're both new to this. that's easy enough to see and leona needs no help comprehending that.

a kiss should be easy. it's what else he wants to do, to give lilia something different... he needs it. he wants to be cared for, doted on, treated like no other in leona's life. that he listens and gives, lips that touch lilia's before pressing in deeper. harder. firmer so that he can dig in between so he can get some tongue in there. that the aggression he once showed isn't lacking; it's now reinforced by the affection that he has. be bold but not ravenous.

but it's touch he wants and what he will have. all roads lead to this anyway. lilia should know that. yes, they could enjoy one another without it getting sexual but... blame the testosterone. the carnal desire building up. he cups lilia's crotch, squeezing and kneading through the fabric of his pants.

this fae is his. a soft moan, despite not being the one receiving that kind of attention, still leaves him anyway. ]

[ Lilia so loved to pretend he knew it all. That his years provided him with infinite wisdoms. That was far from true- there were still ways in which he, too, needed to learn. There’d been a time where he hadn’t thought himself even capable of loving and being loved within a family, yet here he was, so adored by his little trainee, his Prince, and most of all his dear son. Now, maybe the notion lies within the other type of love.

The one that he wanted to desperately, the one that he’d reached his hand out for time and time again, only for it to be stripped away from him, cut away before it was time. Maybe that’s why this felt so dangerous, so risky, so… terrifying, in some ways. He doesn’t want to lose this - is he capable of feeling this without it being taken from him? Is he willing to risk it?

… Yeah. Yes, he’s willing. More than willing. He wants to risk this, to take that path with Leona. To learn; together.

Besides, there’s something Lilia’s forgetting. Leona might be at a loss for Fae customs, for the way a promise can mean the whole world, but doesn’t the same go for Lilia when it comes to beastmen culture? When it comes to life in the Savanna, and the ways in which Leona had already laid claim to him. It becomes a little more clear now, with this kiss.

What becomes even clearer? He doesn’t need to think. Why worry about that right now? Why worry about anything, when the two of them are stumbling along together?

Lilia parts his lips, allowing the kiss to deepen, his own tongue coming to meet Leona’s. To tangle with his almost in the very same way that their bodies were tangled together.

With that hand against him, Lilia lets out a soft noise into the kiss, shifting his hips to press into the touch. His hands slowly move against Leona’s skin, trailing from their spot against his back, pulling back out from under him to instead trail against his bare sides, to feel him up as much as Leona’s feeling him up. ]

So obedient… [ A small tease, a little murmured comment, ] Only for me, I’d hope.

[ That’s enough of an acceptance in itself. He moves one hand down to trace the edge of Leona’s pants, slender fingers quickly getting to work undoing anything he might need to before beginning to tug the fabric down. It’s almost a lazy motion, made as he presses right back into their kiss. ]

Edited 2024-10-05 16:08 (UTC)

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