IC CONTACT

[gemigod]

VOICE | ACTION | LETTERS

Steven lives in Helian's Glade and can usually be found somewhere in the gardens. Letters can be left on his bed, which is made of moss and several supernaturally large blooms, or the drawer filled stump where he keeps his belongings. He is responsive to network communications but prefers not to speak one on one over them.

Comments

[gemigod]

It's still better than nothing. [Steven insists with a sigh.] Do your illusions even keep you warm at all?

[He's not going to start talking about Gurges quite yet.]

[hippocarnival]

... No. [They don't. They don't actually protect from anything they just keep him modest.]

[gemigod]

You can't just be naked in this weather, Yuya!

[He can't even with you right now, my goodness.]

You need pants and boots something to cover your shoulders.

[hippocarnival]

How was I supposed to know he was going to make it freeze over out here?! [Which does not excuse not finding anything when it started.

Yuya pulls his arms back from around Steven... and instead tries to push them up under his sweater so he can warm his hands against Steven's chest. His cold, cold hands.] It's going to be a pain finding anything, and what if it's ugly?

[gemigod]

[Thankfully Steven does have some fur under there so its isn't as harsh a shock as it could have been, but he still winces and gasps softly when Yuya just straight up reaches under his shirt. For multiple reasons, really.]

I-It's... it's going to be a pain living beneath a blanket all season, is what it's going to be.

[hippocarnival]

[But now his hands are so toasty.

Yuya huffs indignantly. He knows he's just whining.] Okay, but right now it's only been like... ten minutes to an hour. Don't I need this more than those stupid plants?

[gemigod]

Well... yeah.

[That part he can't argue with. He was thinking the same himself.]

I just mean for later. It's not like you can use these in your bed without... hiding them, somehow.

[hippocarnival]

I knoooooow. [Yuya shifts up, rolling a little so he's just laying on top of Steven and looking down at him.] I'll find something in the castle later, okay? It's cold out there too.

[The only comforting place is between two magic electric blankets and Steven.]

[gemigod]

I could find something for you instead.

[Steven sounds slightly exasperated now, but he's playing along. He's just going to keep throwing out solutions until something sticks, and you can't stop him.]

With my sweater, it's not so bad.

[hippocarnival]

But I already have you now. [The lack of clothes is going to be a problem for future Yuya, because present Yuya has now claimed a warm Steven to cuddle.] You don't have somewhere to be, do you?

[gemigod]

[He is quite warm - with the added heat of the blankets raising his temperature, he's almost a match for the magic within them. Especially now that some of his heat has managed to transfer to Yuya's fingers, it's become a lot more comfortable.]

Not really. [He laughs softly.] I think... I've already done my part for today.

[hippocarnival]

Good. [Yuya smiles, then, leaning forward so their noses almost touch. This is definitely much more comfortable than the rest of the garden.] Because I'm already cozy, so I hope you are too.

[gemigod]

[That's very close. Steven snorts out a giggle through his nose, which Yuya will feel on his face.]

Well... now that your hands have warmed up, it's not so bad.

[hippocarnival]

Thanks for doing that. [Like Yuya even gave him a choice.

He then closes the distance to... bump their noses together.]

[gemigod]

[It's not completely what Steven was anticipating when Yuya leaned forward like that, and it leaves him blushing. For a moment, he wonders about what he should do, as a million little worries nag at the back of his mind.

Is this the right moment? How often should they do this? Is there an amount that's too much? What if all the stressful things ruin it? Is it appropriate to do this when there's so many more pressing things happening? Is it dishonest to pretend he's happy like this when there's so much dragging him down?

Finally, he surrenders and kisses Yuya on the mouth. It's pretty clumsy.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya pauses, still, at Steven's misaligned kiss, face blushing.

And then he laughs, leaning forward to press a gentle, closed lip kiss to the front of Steven's mouth. He lingers for a moment, while his eyes half-open to look at Steven through it.]

[gemigod]

[Steven relaxes slightly, comforted by the reciprocation. That's about as much as he was hoping for out of this exchange, so he giggles softly in response, nuzzling Yuya's cheek with the soft peach fuzz of his face.]

[hippocarnival]

... That didn't make you feel weird, did it? [He tilts his head to Steven's nuzzling. He remembers what happened last time.] Even good-weird?

[gemigod]

Huh?

[Steven sounds breathless, and also confused.]

[hippocarnival]

When... when you were suffocating in that space memory, remember? You were acting drunk, and said it started after I, uh... after I was sharing air with you.

[The not-kissing.]

[gemigod]

Oh, yeah...

[He pauses to consider. It had been hard to pin down why that happened in the first place.]

You think it was because...

[He blinks slowly.]

I mean, I don't really feel anything right now.

[hippocarnival]

So... it's safe to kiss you again? [Maybe? Yuya's gaze flickers up at Steven's, then back down. He shifts so their lips are closer again, not quite touching.]

[gemigod]

I think so.

[He smiles a little, leaning forward to tentatively brush his lips against Yuya's.]

[hippocarnival]

[Well, okay.

Yuya slowly leans into the kiss, taking his sweet time with molding their lips together. They've done this a few times now, but it's still so new and novel.

So this time, he indulges his curiosity a little more, if Steven doesn't fight him trying to marinate on every feeling.]

[gemigod]

[Steven won't fight it - in fact, he seems relieved to let Yuya lead for the moment, responding enthusiastically but allowing Yuya to steer the ship. It's still very novel to him, as well. No number of healing kisses would compare to this.

All the same, Yuya may feel a buzz of healing energy as Steven's kiss takes effect. It may not have much to heal, but minor discomforts may find themselves mending regardless.]