Week Six

[letsplayamod]

You've survived, for lack of better wording, the latest week of trials and tribulations. This one had been more costly than most: Typhon's machinations have brought your group to nearly half the size it was when Athena first brought you to this island. Whether it ends with him or with you is still too soon to make out. One thing's for certain. Things cannot be allowed to continue as they are.

Speaking of continuing, the next floor has been revealed to you. Just how far down this island goes is a bit of a mystery, but you get the feeling that you're close to something important. Maybe that thing Athena wanted you to find before Typhon does. You can ruminate on that as you watch the waters below. Waves still lap at the cliffs, but it all seems lower than it did weeks ago. Like the ocean itself is shrinking...

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[markofnobility]

[Again he doesn't answer right away, brow furrowing]

Some foolish choice I might make. Or thing I will say.

Ha... after what you said to me in the channeling room I should not worry, I know. I think the last few weeks are simply grinding on me.

[stringup]

Better still that you voice them, instead of stewing in them for days and weeks until the pot spills.

[ She runs her thumb over his knuckle. ]

Would you resent me over some foolish choice I might make, or thing I will say?

[markofnobility]

No! No of course not...

[stringup]

Then why would I ever resent you for doing the same?

[ ... ]

I can't say we'll always be in agreement or never argue. We're both still different people at the end of the day, after all. But as long as you're still the man who wouldn't apologize for harbouring such affections towards me...

I will never fall out of love with you.

[markofnobility]

...

[And some of that fear finally leaks out, and he smiles fondly]

And I you. I love you, Velvet.

[stringup]

[ There's still pink dusting Velvet's cheeks, and she feels compelled to express this feeling unambiguously.

For the first time, she says those three words to him, with the warmest smile she's given thus far: ]

I love you too, Ferdinand. My precious sun.

[markofnobility]

And you, the very guiding stars in my sky.

[stringup]

[ Velvet knows it would be rather cliché, trite, even, to kiss Ferdinand at this precise moment.

Velvet finds that she doesn't care and turns her head to press a kiss to Ferdinand's temple. Not the brief, shy thing she did on the rooftop, but one that lingers for as long he lets her remain there. ]

[markofnobility]

[He laughs in delight, making no move to stop her]

[stringup]

[ Good, because while her lips linger there for a while...

She then moves to tentatively kiss where his jaw meets his ear. ]

[markofnobility]

[Oh... he tilts his head, closing his eyes and sighing softly]

[stringup]

[ It's a nice sound, she thinks. She peppers a few more kisses at that spot, as if she's found a new favorite thing to do, letting her cold touch melt into Ferdinand's warmth.

And after a moment, she moves even lower, her lips brushing against what little of his neck that is exposed with how he usually dresses. ]

[markofnobility]

[he's been going without his jacket more, but there still isn't much to get to. Even with that little though he shivers]

And you got onto me for doing things in front of the pool.

[stringup]

Serenading me is a different matter. Especially when other people can hear you.

[markofnobility]

Hmmm, fair enough.

[ he reaches up and unbuttons his collar]

And you do seem to like when I am more selfish.

[stringup]

[ Oh. That's...






Her face is turning very, very scarlet, like it's just catching up to her now that's she's been rather uncharacteristically bold and her brain should be frying itself, actually. Way to go, Velvet, what the fuck are you going to do now?! ]

Y-you... You always seem like you're trying so hard to live up to one set of expectations or another.

[ (A bit like how she used to be, if she was being honest.) ]

[markofnobility]

[ doing it for dabo and doing it with intent for his lover are two very different things, and it shows with how the red blush creeps to his collar and makes the pale dusting of freckles there pop]

I suppose I do not know another way to live just yet. I do not mind it if it's your set though.

[stringup]

[ She suddenly recalls the shoulder freckles from the last time she saw Ferdinand shirtless, and suddenly feels like she should hide her face.

...Granted, she's hiding her face in Ferdinand's exposed neck now. ]

Well, I... Just want you to keep being you.

[markofnobility]

[ the vibrations of her voice and lips on his throat makes the red deepen, and he has to cover his face with his free hand]

Well, I can not be anyone other than Ferdinand. Nor do I want to be anymore.

[ no von Aegir. Just Ferdie]

[stringup]

[ It's hard to say if that was intentional or if she just happened to fumble into it as an unintended result of hiding her face against his neck, let's be honest here. ]

Should I no longer call you "von Aegir"?

[markofnobility]

I am not ashamed of it- my family did many great things over the last thousand years. But I will be the last... it is sad. And also rather freeing, I think.

[ pressed this close he can not turn to look at her, but his eyes flick toward her hidden face]

You... have always been the best at seeing what parts of me are name and what aren't. You know obligation well?

[ there's so much he still doesn't know about her life. But as one pressured child to another, he can see the signs like tattoos on the skin]

[stringup]

And I assume you have no intention of taking up even a byname?

[ She's asking more so out of curiosity, given the finality of what he's saying.

At his question, she stays quiet for a moment before she pulls out where she's tucked herself into his neck, instead settling for resting her head against his collar. ]

I did say I learnt artifice from the Lover, but...before that, crafts and engineering were my family's trade.

[ She thinks he can get an idea from that much. ]

[markofnobility]

Maybe if something inspires me. Or I inspire someone else- isn't that usually how such things go?

[ he picks it up well enough, especially with what she said about traveling, or not doing so, before]

Ah. You are the eldest then?

[ or only, he supposes, like himself. But that was not though lack of trying on his father's part.]

[stringup]

[ There's a small, wry smile. ]

You'd better hope it's a good one, then.

...I was the eldest, yes. I had a brother and much younger sister.

[ At least now it might make sense why she wasn't worried about the Winions rough housing each other? ]

[markofnobility]

[ he huffs at the first bit- of course it will be good! He deserves only the best!

But-]

Was.

[ inching on dangerous territory. But he trusts if this is a no-go topic she will tell him so]