[ It really is too bad his ability to float is gone. Hovering up at Fjord's eyelevel would be a terribly amusing way to needle him, but Essek can't quite entirely deny to himself that the looming isn't also causing his pulse to beat just a little faster.
If he's surprised to see that Fjord is rising to his casual tease, Essek hides it with a slow smile and a second, slower lick of lips. ]
Oh...[ another small piece breaks off the bar. ] Is that so?
[ Slender fingers place the morsel on his tongue. Violet eyes stare right back at gold as he savors it slowly, until it completely melts away, and he swallows. ]
[ He cups Essek's chin, thumb pulling down on his lip for a moment just to feel the softness there. Wondering why the guy hasn't been regaining spells at a crazy rate, and letting a smile curl onto his own lips because he knows the reason: Essek hasn't been getting anywhere fast with that damnable A5 card.
His hand slides around to the back of the wizard's neck, warm where it rests. ]
I though you didn't want me kissing you anymore.
[ Essek was the one who ended it, looking a little flustered but otherwise sensible about solving his own blindness. Nothing else has made Fjord think that kissing him again would end in anything but being derided by that sharp tongue. ]
[ He's getting places, Fjord, he's collecting what he needs. Regaining some power is well within reach. Soon.
But for the moment, no.
Fjord's hand is heavy and heated. He's nowhere near as large as the Qunari he'd trysted with at the masquerade, but the weight of the touch is just as alluring.
Essek tilts his chin upward so that the thumb settles just under his jaw, at the juncture of his throat. It would only take a slight press against the skin, and Fjord would be able to feel his pulse. It's mostly steady, if a touch faster than usual. ]
Perhaps teasing you is too much too resist, mm? You do rise to it rather easily.
[ This close, there's an unmistakable flicker in his expression, a fracturing of the smoldering smirk curled on his lips. Heat creeps up the back of his neck, tingles annoyingly at the tips of his ears as his pulse increases just a little.
Violet eyes shift away, dropping down to hover somewhere around Fjord's throat as he adjusts to the sudden change in dynamic with unexpected, gentle honesty. His gaze is searching when Essek looks upward again, taking in a breath. ]
[ It's moments like these that first reeled the Nein into caring about Essek, the quiet intensity and thoughtful pauses. Fjord leans down until their foreheads touch, his other hand coming to rest on Essek's waist. ]
It would be agreeable to me if you simply asked for help when you needed it, yes.
[ If he ducks down further to seal that kiss now, so that Essek needn't after all his flirting, it's meant as a kindness. ]
[ The sudden tenderness is almost too much. There's no hiding the sharp intake of breath when Fjord leans in closer, forehead to forehead and heart pounding hard in his chest partially from panic and partially from...something else he can't name in the moment.
Essek freezes, steadied only by gentle hands, but doesn't pull away. The moment before he responds is almost too long to be anything but rejection - but it isn't, and finally he does, allowing himself to lean in just a little.
The flush is full on his face now, and even with his dark complexion, is easily seen when they finally part. ]
...well...I...
[ He delicately clears his throat, carefully licks his lips once more. ]
[ Essek closes his eyes against another wave of heat that tingles from his cheeks to his ears, and instead tilts his head a little into the touch like a pleased cat. ]
I suppose...once more won't hurt either of us, mm?
[ one hand finds its way to Fjord's chest, fingers splaying wide. This has probably gone far enough, in truth; farther than he'd actually intended from the beginning, but it's now nearly far too tantalizing to not chase, if only a little. ]
[ Assessing whether it could hurt either of them, he hedges that possibility for himself and decides to give Essek an easy time of it, dipping back down to seize a second kiss that only seems content to feel those soft lips for a little longer than the first. He traces the seam of that mouth with a lick, not about to wait for permission when he suspects Essek wants to be tasted almost as much as Fjord is curious to do the tasting, chocolate or not be damned.
In the midst of heavy breaths and learning how to kiss together, a large hand slides into the dip of Essek's spine to sweep him closer, flush against Fjord's body. ]
[ Despite all of the smug bravado in his teasing, the superior air he pulls around him like his cloak, Fjord's intensity is still a surprise. Essek follows and allows it with only the slightest hesitation, not quite matching the heat of it but not discouraging it, either, almost as though he's still making up his mind.
It's only when Fjord presses him close that he pulls back only enough to catch his breath, heart pounding wildly in his throat. Essek swallows thickly, both hands curled tightly in Fjord's shirt.
It's good. It's good and warm and heady and safe. But...
[ It's a kiss that tests the boundaries of what Essek wants, getting a nice flavour of caramel in the doing but intended to loosen up his concerns when it comes to asking the Nein for assistance. When Fjord feels him pull back to catch his breath he listens, in mild confusion, to being told to stop so soon after being taunted to start, but he puts it down to Essek being a little bit weird and spending however many decades alone. Or possibly some misinterpretation on his part, he doesn't know. Either way, he gives him his space.
He pats him on the back and steps away, turning to the table where the fingers that previously wound through soft white locks now sift around crinkling candy wrappers, idle in their search. ]
Sure, of course. I'll ... tidy this all away, don't worry.
[ The troubling part is that Essek realizes even he doesn't know. When Fjord releases him and steps away completely that feels wrong, too - suddenly cool and left adrift and missing...something. For a few moments he stands there almost as though stunned, unable to quite puzzle out what had actually gone wrong and why or the real source of the strange, unpleasant feeling in his stomach.
Finally he unsticks himself, taking a breath and managing to not turn it into a sigh. A couple of steps close some of the distance between them again, and Essek reaches to curl one hand carefully over Fjord's wrist, fingertips pressing against the soft underside just slightly. As he looks up into golden eyes once more, there's...confusion and a little bit of uncertainty, but sincerity as well. ]
...Thank you. For the gift, and...
[ and what?
a faint smile flickers over his face for the briefest of moments before he turns to go. ]
[ The touch has him stilling, blinking at Essek expectantly and getting back pretty much what he thought he would. Appreciation and awkwardness. He nods and offers a reassuring smile as the drow leaves, then looks back at the kitchen table covered in candies with hands planted on his hips, letting out a breath once alone. At least he knows not to take Essek's teasing seriously anymore, it's got to be all for show. An attitude instead of an invitation.
He eats the last square of caramel, tusks be damned. ]
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no subject
If he's surprised to see that Fjord is rising to his casual tease, Essek hides it with a slow smile and a second, slower lick of lips. ]
Oh...[ another small piece breaks off the bar. ] Is that so?
[ Slender fingers place the morsel on his tongue. Violet eyes stare right back at gold as he savors it slowly, until it completely melts away, and he swallows. ]
...well?
no subject
His hand slides around to the back of the wizard's neck, warm where it rests. ]
I though you didn't want me kissing you anymore.
[ Essek was the one who ended it, looking a little flustered but otherwise sensible about solving his own blindness. Nothing else has made Fjord think that kissing him again would end in anything but being derided by that sharp tongue. ]
no subject
But for the moment, no.
Fjord's hand is heavy and heated. He's nowhere near as large as the Qunari he'd trysted with at the masquerade, but the weight of the touch is just as alluring.
Essek tilts his chin upward so that the thumb settles just under his jaw, at the juncture of his throat. It would only take a slight press against the skin, and Fjord would be able to feel his pulse. It's mostly steady, if a touch faster than usual. ]
Perhaps teasing you is too much too resist, mm? You do rise to it rather easily.
no subject
[ His thumb runs back and forth under the sharp line of a jaw, calloused but gentle. ]
You don't have to tease, just ask.
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Violet eyes shift away, dropping down to hover somewhere around Fjord's throat as he adjusts to the sudden change in dynamic with unexpected, gentle honesty. His gaze is searching when Essek looks upward again, taking in a breath. ]
And that would be agreeable to you?
no subject
It would be agreeable to me if you simply asked for help when you needed it, yes.
[ If he ducks down further to seal that kiss now, so that Essek needn't after all his flirting, it's meant as a kindness. ]
wow this is very rude all of a sudden
Essek freezes, steadied only by gentle hands, but doesn't pull away. The moment before he responds is almost too long to be anything but rejection - but it isn't, and finally he does, allowing himself to lean in just a little.
The flush is full on his face now, and even with his dark complexion, is easily seen when they finally part. ]
...well...I...
[ He delicately clears his throat, carefully licks his lips once more. ]
...hm. Are you sure you got what you wanted?
puts a green flag here
Did you?
[ He runs his fingers up to play in the shorter hairs near a nape, lightly scritching as he waits for Essek to think it through. ]
no subject
I suppose...once more won't hurt either of us, mm?
[ one hand finds its way to Fjord's chest, fingers splaying wide. This has probably gone far enough, in truth; farther than he'd actually intended from the beginning, but it's now nearly far too tantalizing to not chase, if only a little. ]
no subject
In the midst of heavy breaths and learning how to kiss together, a large hand slides into the dip of Essek's spine to sweep him closer, flush against Fjord's body. ]
no subject
It's only when Fjord presses him close that he pulls back only enough to catch his breath, heart pounding wildly in his throat. Essek swallows thickly, both hands curled tightly in Fjord's shirt.
It's good. It's good and warm and heady and safe. But...
His breath is hard to even out. ]
I think perhaps...we should stop here. For now.
no subject
He pats him on the back and steps away, turning to the table where the fingers that previously wound through soft white locks now sift around crinkling candy wrappers, idle in their search. ]
Sure, of course. I'll ... tidy this all away, don't worry.
no subject
Finally he unsticks himself, taking a breath and managing to not turn it into a sigh. A couple of steps close some of the distance between them again, and Essek reaches to curl one hand carefully over Fjord's wrist, fingertips pressing against the soft underside just slightly. As he looks up into golden eyes once more, there's...confusion and a little bit of uncertainty, but sincerity as well. ]
...Thank you. For the gift, and...
[ and what?
a faint smile flickers over his face for the briefest of moments before he turns to go. ]
...thank you.
no subject
He eats the last square of caramel, tusks be damned. ]