kingincognito | sticks inbox/inventory

We are. But I feel it should be your touch that guides the seeds.

[Maybe the sentiment is silly, but if they are so meaningful to Joshua, it feels only right that he be the one to lay them into the soil. Thankfully, he doesn't seem keen to argue, and Dion gladly takes the knife and sets to carefully cutting into the dirt.]

I've found that since arriving here, I have been doing my best to be deliberate in everything that I do. If words have intention and power, then so, to, do actions. It should be your love that goes into this soil, so that it is your love that makes it grow.

[ And as Dion carves out a hole, Joshua plants a seed inside of each one, patting the dirt back over it one by one with a gentle, caring touch.

Dion is right, though. If what they call the fallen god can give it power, perhaps the intention and love with which he plants these seeds can make them grow strong and bright. A softer, warmer smile touches his lips as he tucks them into the dirt. ]

You have the right of it, Dion. Then, these will surely grow to be beautiful flowers.

[ Both because he is planting them, and Dion is carving the earth for them. The love of two, because for Dion, he knows that this gift comes from a place of love, platonic or otherwise. ]

[Joshua, intentionally or no, seems to be on the right track. Dion hadn't meant to lead into this with his speech, only to express his intentions. But now that the words have been spoken into the air, he knows that this is the only moment in which he can act.

He glances down into a freshly filled hole, carefully spreads dirt back over it, and then looks back to Joshua's eyes.]

May I ask you something, then?

[The moment he starts, his heart leaps into his throat. It might have been better for both him and his nerves to launch into his speech now. Instead he waits. He'll get permission first, thank you.]

[ It's a rather mindless process, all told, with Dion digging a hole and Joshua filling it. He could do this mechanically without even really thinking about it, if he so chooses, but he won't let himself. He focuses his all on making sure each seed is placed carefully, lovingly, in the hopes that each one will be lucky enough to sprout.

And that concentration is why he doesn't notice, at first, that Dion is looking at him for a moment. He's busy pulling another seed from the sachet, but quickly realizes that Dion has not yet dug another hole. Those words bring his eyes up, and-- and he feels the shells of his ears flushing warm, suddenly quite aware of how close the two of them are in all of this. ]

Oh. Yes, of course. What is it?

[Greagor, they are close aren't they? He considers leaning back, but no. He shouldn't shy away in a moment like this. He meets Joshua's eyes, his own half-lidded and filled with a fondness he hasn't so boldly let himself entertain. He swallows once, trying to quell the pounding he feels in his very mouth, but fails miserably.]

Ah, well... I suppose it isn't much of a question, but a declaration. Or perhaps an offer? I know not the words to describe it, only how I feel.

[He tries to calm himself by drawing in a breath, but his words slip out quickly all the same.]

You are so bright, and warm. You are beautiful, and kind. You have listened to my greatest needs and pleas and met them with such grace. Anyone would be lucky to stand at your side as a friend, and yet I find myself greedy enough to ask for more. To be not your shield, but your lance. The one you may turn to in your darkest moments and find support.

I - [Another inhale, as he reaches into a pocket. He pulls out the silvery ear cuff, its color and luster a match to Dion's armor. It's tucked away in his inn at the moment, but the next time Dion chooses to wear it, Joshua will find some of its more elaborate ornamentation has been plucked away.] - Wish to ask you to be mine, selfish though it may be. Swift though my actions are. I know we have not had but a few weeks, perhaps a month in the grand scheme of it all, but I know my heart. And I know it yet yearns for you.

[ ... oh.

Whatever Joshua expected out of this day, it certainly wasn't this. While he was vaguely aware - thanks to Clive pointing it out to him - that Dion felt some sort of way about him, he couldn't have been certain that it was anything other than just the love of friends, really. Dion had mentioned someone important back at home, after all, and he had committed himself to waiting to ask even just for clarification, let alone any selfish reasons. Dion was fresh from their encounter with Ultima, and Founder knows it had taken him a good month or more to come to terms with everything that had happened.

And yet, here is Dion, offering him his hand. Freely, willingly, without Joshua even having a chance to ask whether he had someone at home or not. ]

Dion...

[ He feels, for a moment, as though he's been struck in the head. He feels vaguely dizzy with it all, despite being firmly on the ground, on his knees in the dirt. His eyes focus on the ear cuff, the metal looking so oddly familiar in a way he can't quite place, and his lips part just slightly. He's planned this. Planned all of this, right down to the flowers, the seeds, things that Joshua holds so dearly and hasn't seen since his childhood. This has taken no small amount of effort.

Oh, his ears burn and his cheeks feel warm, but his heart soars as the pieces click into place. The sachet of seeds drops from his fingers as they lose their grip, and he lifts one hand, dirt-streaked and only very slightly trembling, to touch the cuff in Dion's hand. Gently, barely, as though if he touches it too firmly it will crumble. ]

I-- Yes, Dion, of course. Founder, I thought that you had someone, I-- I wasn't about to assume--

[ Oh, Flames take him. He's always so good with words, and yet now, his tongue fails him. ]

[The stillness of the moment makes Dion begin to worry. To Doubt. He was so certain he had read the signs right, but now he can't say for certain if he has. He counts each heartbeat, willing himself to keep breathing. He thinks to pull his hand back, to bluster his way into an excuse or write his feelings off as a joke.

But he doesn't, and it pays off in the end. He sees the way those cheeks begin to warm. The seeds are dropped, and before Dion can worry, that hand is extended to him. It's okay. Joshua seems to feel the same and -

then he speaks. Dion's heart doesn't quite fall, because it's not a no. Still, he's left something critical out before his offer, and the guilt immediately comes flooding in. Not for his feelings, he's come to terms with that, but for not ensuring that Joshua knew his heart and his decisions.]

I - [He breathes in, trying to steady himself.] I will not pretend that I did not and do not love Terence. But he and I said our goodbyes, knowing that I would likely not return from the battle. Even still...

[He glances off into the distance, toward the bar.]

I spoke with a young man, Ezell. He told me that for him, love is not so easily divisible. That one can love two people with equal amount of ferocity. While I do not know if what I feel for you yet treads upon love, I know that my passion for you does not diminish when I think of him.

But, Ezell was quick to warn that it is not for everyone. And if you are not comfortable in the knowledge that my heart does have room for two, I understand.

[ Ah. Ezell. Joshua wasn't aware of Ezell's situation, but... If that's what Ezell feels, that love can be spread equally and you can love more than one person without dividing it...

Dion still loves Terence, despite having said goodbye. He cares about Jote, albeit not in the same manner, but... Is it really all that different from loving many different people platonically? He doesn't feel like it is. You can love many like family, and many like friends, so why not this way?

He pulls in a breath, keeping his hand resting on Dion's, loath to pull it away. ]

I care for you a great deal, Dion. That you have come to me today with this offer means more than I can put into words. But I do believe that the heart is capable of a great many things, and loving more than one does not seem so strange.

[ He has feelings for Dion. That much, he knows. And though Dion says he doesn't yet know if it is love, there are feelings there, too. Perhaps they are the same.

There's only one way to find out. ]

I would be glad to follow this road with you, to see where it may lead.

[The longer Joshua speaks, the more Dion begins to hope. He closes his hand carefully around the other man, tentative though the grip is. Should he decide, Joshua could easily pull back. He could deny Dion, and he would accept it with as much grace as he could muster.

But he doesn't have to. Joshua accepts his offer, and Dion swears he feels his heart sing. It feels as if Greagor herself has reached down and blessed him. Scarcely as he believes it, Dion finds himself blinking a few times just to ensure that his vision has not played tricks on him.

Joshua is still there, hand in his own. It is all so very real and

Dion has no idea what to say. His mouth, which he only just realizes has spread into a near grin, opens and closes. He feels helpless, but it isn't an altogether unpleasant feeling.]

I - should I thank you? [He lets out a timid laugh.] I have never done this properly. I know not what to do next.

[ It's... it's cute, honestly, seeing Dion like this. The grin, the timid little laugh, it all serves to make his heart flutter in his chest, and Joshua lets out a soft, delighted laugh in turn. ]

Neither have I. I haven't had the privilege of the security or the opportunity.

[ Not when you spend so much time with a group of people that deify you. His time with Clive and his group of outlaws at the Hideaway has been short, for all that he loves it. He has simply not had the chance to live like this, until here.

But he grips Dion's hand tightly, firmly. The cuff presses into his palm, and its solid weight reminds him that this is real, that Dion truly does want him. ]

May I kiss you?

[ The words are past his lips before he realizes it, but he doesn't even seem embarrassed by how bluntly he's spoken. The elation he feels is too great. ]

[Despite the high that has gripped Dion's heart, Joshua's words do produce a pang of sympathy. Dion's own circumstances had been difficult, but they had not been so limiting. He had been able to love, after all. It may not have ended particularly well, but he'd had the opportunity.

But he knows Joshua, knows that he would not want Dion to linger in this moment. Especially when their hands are pressed together, when he, too, can feel the weight of that cuff between them. His gift to Joshua, a symbol of his feelings. The past may have been grim, but at least there was the future.

A future that looks... very bright, if Joshua's words are anything to go off of. Dion's smile turns a little lopsided, a hint shy and a touch confident. He glances toward Joshua's lips, then back up to his eyes.]

You may. By all means.

[Honestly, he's already leaning in. Better hurry, Joshua.]

[ Is this what it feels like, to truly fall for someone? Joshua feels as though his heart is fit to burst from his chest. He laughs once more, soft and lilting. He can see Dion already beginning to lean in, and it's enough to embolden him into leaning in himself.

His free hand lifts, cupping the side of Dion's head in a gentle, shy sort of touch. He has no personal experience in this, but throughout his and Jote's travels, he has certainly been privy to seeing several stolen moments between lovers. He knows how it is supposed to go, in theory. In practice, well... there is no better way to learn than to do.

Joshua's eyes slip closed, and his lips brush against Dion's in a soft, experimental touch. He's so warm in contrast to the cool spring air, and it makes him want to lean closer, press more firmly. But not yet. Not while he is still soaking in the electric experience of this first touch, breathing in Dion's scent and basking in the comfortable warmth that radiates through his chest. ]

[For Dion, this isn't an entirely novel experience. That said, there is something to be said for the tension that has brewed between them, likely ever since the moment Joshua first entered his tent. Each touch sends a thrill cascading through Dion, to the degree that he swears the hairs on the nape of his neck stand on end.

He doesn't mind if Joshua's fingers might be smudged with dirt, same as Dion's own. He cares not for how unpracticed he may or may not feel. He has dreamed of this moment, wanted it even as he told himself not to. It is a blessing from Greagor herself, and he intends to cherish it.

The return touches are gentle, careful even. Here and there he shifts, a gentle nudge to a better position. It isn't judgemental or borne of irritation. His heart aches with the desire to tend to and nurture this little flame between them. He mirrors Joshua's touch in a way, except instead of laying his hand against the other man's cheek, he cards tenderly through his hair. It's just as soft as it had been the day he woke up in Joshua's bed.

As much as he would like to, Dion ultimately doesn't linger. He pulls back, settling instead with pressing their forehead's together. He breathes to same air as Joshua, tasting his breath with each intake of his own.]

I - forgot something. [His voice is light, almost sheepish. Once again, he finds himself rambling, lest he forget.] The cuff is enchanted. Should you ever find yourself in need, it shall protect you with Light no different than my own.

[ Though Dion may redirect from time to time, Joshua never once takes it the wrong way. He's aware Dion likely has more experience than he does, so he doesn't mind being led. Like a dance, it is something he will learn, but he is nothing if not a quick learner.

But this is everything he'd wanted it to be. Everything he'd hoped it would be. The warmth of their lips pressed together, the mingling of breath, the feel of Dion's hair beneath his fingers and Dion's fingers in his own. He could - and would - do this forever, if given the opportunity. But they both need to breathe, and so when Dion pulls back, he does not protest. He simply leans into the press of foreheads, letting out a shaky exhale as his thumb strokes the prince's hair.

And then laughs, softly, no more than a breath, as Dion explains the cuff further. ]

You truly do mean to be my lance, don't you.

[ With Clive as his Shield and Dion as his lance... he should last forever, he thinks. There is no more formidable trio than the three of them together. ]

Would you put it on for me?

If you would have me. [Dion's voice is low when he speaks, as if his very words were a secret only to be shared between the two of them. He meets Joshua's eyes through his own lashes, half-lidded though his gaze is. His hand remains twined within his hair, and he doesn't plan on moving it.

Or, well. He didn't. But placing the cuff on Joshua's ear is a far more important task. He leans back, separating their intertwined hands. He carefully dusts off any residual dirt from their efforts, before leaning forward once more. Joshua's hair is gently swept behind his ear, while Dion barely swallows the urge to press a kiss behind it. It's a far too intimate gesture for this moment, he thinks.

Instead, he opens the clasp up, then carefully fastens it into place. He thumbs over it once it's settled, observing the draconic imagery etched into it. Heimr had been right to suggest Sesa, it's a truly beautiful piece.]

It's material far better suits you than it ever did me.

I would. Gladly.

[It's said with so much warmth, so much adoration. Dion could have simply asked to court him, no gifts or romantic words needed, and yet here he is. Being courted in a way that he never would have dreamed. Even if his life had gone a different way, he would have been the Archduke, and it would have been him doing the courting.

Not that that won't be the case here, of course. Dion may be courting him, but he fully intends to court Dion in return, however it may look.

Joshua lets Dion move him however is needed to put the cuff on, though the gentle touch of fingertips against the shell of his ear is enough to make the hair on his arms stand on end. But he will ignore that for now, as the metal warmed by their clasped hands is affixed to him. The weight of it on his ear is familiar in a way he hasn't known for the past eighteen years, but all the same... it feels like home. It feels right.

He lifts his hand, pressing it against the back of Dion's, cupping that hand to his cheek as he does. ]

Oh? Was it yours?

[The utter thrill that courses through Dion is one he's almost forgotten. There is such devotion in that word. He's used to a sort of reverence that comes with his post, but he knows what Joshua feels is far from it. There's no sense of duty or admiration for the dominant of Bahamut. He knows he can trust that whatever Joshua feels, it is for him.

Dion leans back to admire his handiwork, though his hand lingers. He scarcely remembers Joshua with a cuff like this. There had been far more to focus on during the summit, after all.

He can't help but wonder how different things might have been, if they had grown up alongside one another. He had fallen so deeply for Terence given how much time they'd spent in one another's company. Would he have done the same with both men, if given the chance?

It's a moot point, he supposes. The past could not be changed. Right now he has the present, where Joshua's hand is pressed to his. His heart skips a single beat as he glances away. He isn't embarrassed by his efforts by any means, but the idea of witnessing Joshua's reaction in real time? Terrifying.]

In a manner of speaking. I am sure you have seen that my armor is less practical in many regards, and more emblematic of my post. I simply... removed the pieces and had someone melt them down for me.

[ Meanwhile, Joshua's reaction in real time is one of significant surprise. Dion... had melted down part of his armor, to make this? This token of his affections, this charm that he'd specifically had enchanted to help him defend himself without using his own magic... ]

Oh.

[ But the word is warm, humbled, breathed out so softly that it's barely a word at all. But, close as they are, he knows Dion can hear it.

And, just for a moment, he closes the distance between the two of them to press another brief, gentle kiss to Dion's lips. But only for that moment. He pulls back again, and when he does, his eyes are glittering with affection. ]

Dion Lesage, you are a wonderful man. I am honored to carry a piece of you with me wherever I go.

[ Even though it's just a piece from his armor, the meaning is not lost on Joshua. ]

[The kiss surprises Dion, to the point that he remains locked in place for a handful of seconds after. Eventually, he lifts his hand, thumbing over the place where their lips had met. A shiver works through him, one that culminates with a careful half-smile.]

I am but a man. One that wants only the best for you.

[He leans in once more, though not to steal a kiss in kind. He lays his forehead against Joshua's shoulder, eyes closing as he breathes in. A weight has lifted from his shoulders, leaving nothing but light within his chest. He is no fool, knows that they yet face an uphill battle. But for right now, he can celebrate his win.]

We ought not forget about our flowers.

[He says this, but doesn't move. He's content in this moment, nestled up with Joshua as he is.]

[ The way that the motion leaves Dion responding in such an awestruck manner has Joshua unable to muffle the grin that spreads across his face. His suitor is somehow even more attractive when he's so stricken by affection.

And when Dion leans in again, Joshua is fully prepared for another kiss. But it doesn't come. Instead, Dion tucks himself into his personal space, and his heart soars. To know that he's so comfortable already, when he's always been so guarded... His affectionate excitement tempers into soft adoration. ]

You're right. We ought not. It would not be fair to keep them waiting.

[ He lifts a hand, threading his fingers into Dion's hair, holding his head gently to his shoulder and pressing his lips to the side of it. ]

But the best part, Your Highness, is that once our task is complete, we have the rest of the day to ourselves. Should you want it, I would gladly give my day to you.

[There is much to enjoy about Joshua's presence, Dion is swiftly learning. His favorite partes, however, continue to be the moments of radical gentleness. A kiss to the side of his head feels almost foreign to him, and Dion finds himself treasuring it all the more. It leaves him feeling remiss about sitting up straight, moving out of that aura of warmth and comfort for the time being.]

Glad though I would be for your time, I admit that I have not planned out any more beyond this. [He carves a hole into the earth, deep in thought. There isn't much to be done around the grove, and even if there was, Dion would be reluctant to travel too far. He shouldn't have anything to fear when it comes to the snakes, considering his own abilities, and yet...

Instead, he sifts through the memories of what Clive suggested. He remembers all the food he'd recommended, which... quickly gives him pause.]

We could... find a sugar beet?

[ When Dion lifts himself to straighten back up again, Joshua shifts to allow it, as reluctant as he is to let that warmth go. But Dion is right, they do have flowers to finish planting. So, he moves to retrieve the seed sachet, watching as Dion carves out the next hole.

And Joshua parts his lips to speak, to respond that they don't have to have anything planned, that he would be more than happy to just spend time with him however he feels comfortable.

But stops as soon as Dion utters the words "sugar beet".

Nearly immediately, he sighs, tilting his head up to look at the sky. ]

By the Founder, Clive.

[ It's little more than a soft grumble, but despite that, his shoulders gently shake in quiet laughter. By the Flames, his brother had given Dion advice and here Dion is, taking it entirely to heart. ]

A sugar beet... won't be necessary, I'm afraid. Clive likes to liken me to a chocobo. But I would be glad to have tea, or... perhaps we could have dinner?

[Oh. Dion's face falls just for a moment. The exasperation is clear, and he immediately feels a sense of regret. Clive himself had walked it all back, hadn't he? Perhaps he's now ruined the moment and -

Oh, he's laughing. Somehow the quiet exaltation is even more charming that the outright laughter. Maybe some of it is directed at Dion but, you know what? He isn't even mad. He'd be glad to have Joshua laugh in his face if it meant he was feeling some measure of delight.]

I - should have known. [He shakes his head, but maintains his good humor. He'll have to tell Clive of this. Perhaps the other man will get a laugh as well.] But I think tea would suffice for now. Not that I am opposed to food, either.

[They've just enjoyed so many pleasant moments over tea. He's starting to see the appeal of it.]

[ Not a single bit of it is directed at Dion, in fact. In all actuality, the fact that Dion had taken it so earnestly is immensely charming, and Joshua finds his lips curling up into a smile just at the thought of it. Clive had clearly given him information, and Dion was so intent on this that had remembered even the parts that weren't meant to be serious.

What else had Clive told him, he wonders?

Leaning in just a little, closing a bit of the distance between them, Joshua presses a gentle kiss to the top of Dion's forehead. Flames take him, but now that he has the freedom to do so, he wants to drown the man in affections. Perhaps, if he does it enough, it can smother the shade that seems to haunt him. ]

Tea would be wonderful. And then we can see where the rest of the day leads us.

[ He's tempted to leave another kiss, but for now, he will practice incredible restraint. Joshua sits back a little, letting a hand come to rest on Dion's shoulder. ]

If you would like to spend the rest of the day together, of course. I do not wish to hold you hostage. But now that we have been given this opportunity, I find myself wanting to spend all of my time with you.

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not here/gag

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