somewhat stable ¦ 🍉

"How is it that you keep finding all of these priceless artifacts?" Eiland sounded mystified as he sifted through your bag bulging with weird trinkets, scrolls and jewelry that you found buried in the oddest places. "I almost want to steal your hands! Ah, but that's a little too morbid isn't it? I'm sorry."

"No need, no need," you waved away, settling into a chair that you're very sure wasn't your actual chair. "Hey, did you replace my chair again?"

"Hmm?" He pulled his gloved hands out, shaking the dust off. "Oh, yes I switched it out to match mine. But," Eiland tilted his head away from you, tips of his ears flushing as if realizing how weird that might've been, "if you want the other chair back, I can go get it."

"Nah, just wanted to know." His shoulders relaxed and an urge rose up in you. Prompted you to say, "It's cute." And there goes the back of his neck, taken over by the rushing blood and beating of his heart. Looked like he wanted to jump out of his own skin. Oh the power you hold over this man.

"T-thank you." Eiland managed to get out, trying to hard to keep his hands steady as he opened a little treasure you found sitting at the bottom of the sea. Contained a set of pearl bracelets, kept pristine. Amazing. Speaks of how well the box was made if it can keep the water away. "Oh, let me gather some books, I just know I've seen these somewhere. Let's see, the writing inside the bracelets could potentially be a name, but the length of it suggests it could be a phrase. Perhaps a blessing? Oh, or a possible confession? Oh, I'm just kidding."

He pushed a stepping stool to his bookshelf and reached up to the highest shelf. When he started to stand on his toes, you got up and walked over. On any other day, a hand on his lower back would have him jumping and probably landing in your arms, but…

"I think these bracelets might originate from the age of the Witch Queens, perhaps a tribute to them? But in that case I would have to enlist Juniper for help with translation, but no matter how I go with raising a bargain with her, she never accepts! Refuses to layout terms for me to follow even! Though, that's assuming what's written on the bracelets is Witchspeak. I actually suspect it might be a heavily transformed dialect of Witchspeak." Eiland's clearly in the zone, took your hand in stride and even used your shoulder to balance himself as he jumped. Finally swiping the book he was looking for, Eiland skipped off the stool and jogged to his desk. He flipped through the pages, voice quieting to a mutter as he speed through the contents.

It's always fun to watching him flit around his office like this. Going back and forth from the shelf to the artifacts while spouting random facts and odd little bit. Always glows the brightest like this, clearly loving as the past slowly gains more shape in his mind. One of the main reasons why you go out of your way to find him these things.

You sat down in Eiland's chair this time, and the oddness of you on this specific side of the room got him lifting his eyes. They sparkled in interest still, like he was waiting for you to give a signal for him to unleash more of his thoughts to you. Instead, you waved him closer.

Eiland raised an eyebrow, but went around his desk nonetheless. "Yes?"

You reached out and brushed your fingers under his chin, caressing the side of his jaw. The red bloomed over his cheeks, and he almost flinched but reigned it in. He leaned towards your hand, murmuring your name into your palm as he closed his eyes.

"Eiland."

"Hmm?" His voice has taken on a dreamy quality, riding high on a cloud from a festive day of newly discovered artifacts and your affection.

"Look at me." You gently gripped his chin, angling his face towards yours.

"Mm, okay." Slowly, he opened his eyes. The energy once danging in them has slowly faded, but the intensity still laid there nonetheless. It was warm, unwilling to look away from your own eyes, and if you were the sole subject of interest. A smile slowly spread across his face. You suspect he doesn't even realize it.

"You always look beautiful like this," you whispered as you pulled Eiland closer, "entirely consumed by your passions like this. I like watching you focus like this."

"…on the artifacts or on you?" You can tell he wanted to shrink inside his clothes, but that would mean not feeling your hands on his face.

"Both." You brought him closer still, and just when Eiland closed his eyes and puckered his lips a bit, you pressed foreheads instead. "It also doesn't help that you're easy to tease."