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[...Well, he did ask.
And thus Thancred proceeds to take the glass, knock back a nice healthy mouthful, and abandon it haphazardly on the counter (hopefully) as the hand in Ryn's hair shifts to press against the back of his head.
And guide it forward.
And, like shotgunning a mouthful of smoke, presses half the same mouthful of Number Nine past Ryn's lips with a deft sweep of his tongue and a firm seal of a kiss to match.]
And thus Thancred proceeds to take the glass, knock back a nice healthy mouthful, and abandon it haphazardly on the counter (hopefully) as the hand in Ryn's hair shifts to press against the back of his head.
And guide it forward.
And, like shotgunning a mouthful of smoke, presses half the same mouthful of Number Nine past Ryn's lips with a deft sweep of his tongue and a firm seal of a kiss to match.]
[as if he'd care if the glass missed the counter, it's not their problem.
and anyway, he's more focused on thancred's little plan, leaning easily into that kiss; he'd had a slight suspicion, but being proven right like this is always nice, he thinks. it's an enjoyable way to experiment, and he definitely proves not to be shy about it, tasting the liquor from him with a satisfied little hum.
he leans back enough to pull away, but not so far that his hair tendrils unwind from thancred's wrist.]
...still tastes the same to me. We're going to have to test the other glass.
and anyway, he's more focused on thancred's little plan, leaning easily into that kiss; he'd had a slight suspicion, but being proven right like this is always nice, he thinks. it's an enjoyable way to experiment, and he definitely proves not to be shy about it, tasting the liquor from him with a satisfied little hum.
he leans back enough to pull away, but not so far that his hair tendrils unwind from thancred's wrist.]
...still tastes the same to me. We're going to have to test the other glass.
Indeed. For scholarly purposes.
[Rationally, it should occur to him that the way he's behaving isn't — well, it is the sort of thing he'd do, just in a wildly different set of circumstances. The sort where there weren't more pressing questions of security and safety to demand his attention. The sort where he wasn't alone, bereft of the comrades he'd entrust his life to on a moment's notice.
It should occur to him that prioritizing pleasure over just about every other possible concern in the book isn't like him. And yet here he is, with the taste of Sharlayan memories on his tongue and a blue void Elezen's hair tendrils tying lovers' knots around his wrist.]
And yet I'm not altogether tempted to let you go far enough to reach it.
[Rationally, it should occur to him that the way he's behaving isn't — well, it is the sort of thing he'd do, just in a wildly different set of circumstances. The sort where there weren't more pressing questions of security and safety to demand his attention. The sort where he wasn't alone, bereft of the comrades he'd entrust his life to on a moment's notice.
It should occur to him that prioritizing pleasure over just about every other possible concern in the book isn't like him. And yet here he is, with the taste of Sharlayan memories on his tongue and a blue void Elezen's hair tendrils tying lovers' knots around his wrist.]
And yet I'm not altogether tempted to let you go far enough to reach it.
You prefer me over it? High praise- but I don't really expect anything less.
[be a little more smug, why don't you, ryn.
there's nothing out of the ordinary for him, though; he's well-practiced in escapism, in duality. in leaning into this sort of thing to avoid dealing with the rest, taking what he's able to wherever he can get it, and indulging his pride and vanity while he's at it. rynlan might well do this without the drink's encouragement.
he doesn't move to lean away so he can reach for the glass, seemingly just as content here.]
[be a little more smug, why don't you, ryn.
there's nothing out of the ordinary for him, though; he's well-practiced in escapism, in duality. in leaning into this sort of thing to avoid dealing with the rest, taking what he's able to wherever he can get it, and indulging his pride and vanity while he's at it. rynlan might well do this without the drink's encouragement.
he doesn't move to lean away so he can reach for the glass, seemingly just as content here.]
I'm afraid I'm not much of a scholar.
[And there's really no academic purpose to excuse the second kiss that follows after the first, but probably they can think of one later if they really try. Maybe.
As his hand shifts minutely again from head and tendril-hair to settle at the back of Ryn's neck, his fingers happen across that thin gold chain from earlier, and after a moment's hesitation he rolls it against the pads of his fingertips, seemingly in idle thought.]
I wonder who gave this to you. Someone lucky, to be sure.
[And there's really no academic purpose to excuse the second kiss that follows after the first, but probably they can think of one later if they really try. Maybe.
As his hand shifts minutely again from head and tendril-hair to settle at the back of Ryn's neck, his fingers happen across that thin gold chain from earlier, and after a moment's hesitation he rolls it against the pads of his fingertips, seemingly in idle thought.]
I wonder who gave this to you. Someone lucky, to be sure.
Oh, I suspect your mood will continue to improve in short order.
[He says, as he pulls out his phone and offers Ryn a picture of the current state of the House of Mirrors.]
Well?
[He says, as he pulls out his phone and offers Ryn a picture of the current state of the House of Mirrors.]
Well?
What do you mean, magic-
[-but he's distracted by this rabbit? he blinks at it, taking it in. the little bottle, the shirt.
and because it is emotional overload week, he bursts into laughter, enough so that tears prick at the corners of his eyes. as he reaches up to wipe his face, still laughing:]
I swear to you-- I swear on the Void itself, if you picked a rabbit for the ears-!
[-but he's distracted by this rabbit? he blinks at it, taking it in. the little bottle, the shirt.
and because it is emotional overload week, he bursts into laughter, enough so that tears prick at the corners of his eyes. as he reaches up to wipe his face, still laughing:]
I swear to you-- I swear on the Void itself, if you picked a rabbit for the ears-!
The resemblance is striking.
[But it's — this is good, he decides. An odd relief, to earn such emphatic laughter when he's been more than a little worried ever since the trial, knowing full well the demands that the House of Mirrors likely put on his blue Elezen friend (or so he's willing to guess, based on not-altogether-subtle context clues), as well as the reluctant submission to the strip search for the sake of the collective.
Horrible stuffed rabbits bearing wine bottles don't fix any of that. The laughter might.]
Satisfactory, then?
[But it's — this is good, he decides. An odd relief, to earn such emphatic laughter when he's been more than a little worried ever since the trial, knowing full well the demands that the House of Mirrors likely put on his blue Elezen friend (or so he's willing to guess, based on not-altogether-subtle context clues), as well as the reluctant submission to the strip search for the sake of the collective.
Horrible stuffed rabbits bearing wine bottles don't fix any of that. The laughter might.]
Satisfactory, then?
Ah...how to sum up such catastrophe in just a few mere sentences? They were a casualty of being tossed in and out of death, I suppose. 'Tis a favorite invocation of a dear reckless comrade of mine — solving her problems by flinging herself into the Great Beyond.
[He shrugs slightly.]
The alternative was to be crushed under a falling ceiling or execution on false charges of treason. On the balance, I suppose the loss of a perfectly good set of honey-brown eyes is a worthy enough sacrifice in exchange.
[He shrugs slightly.]
The alternative was to be crushed under a falling ceiling or execution on false charges of treason. On the balance, I suppose the loss of a perfectly good set of honey-brown eyes is a worthy enough sacrifice in exchange.
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