#cathaedra

it's good to know they're on the same page about this. teasing may be second nature to sinbad, but he has grown enough as a person not to pretend he hasn't scrubbed himself clean and rubbed scented oils into his skin before coming to see proteus. days like this, where they get to just be together are few and far between, after all. responsibilities pile up and soon, sinbad will be venturing out on another voyage, which is easier to deal with now that they're no longer so freshly reunited and have managed to solve some underlying issues. sinbad can't be blamed for feeling a little eager.

❝ we've had the same idea. ❞ the words warrant a happy smile to bloom on his face. in a languid movement, sinbad easily drops on lounge seat. though his hair is clean and unbearably fluffy, making him look softer than usual, his shirt is held together by a measly tie that nearly pulls apart as he lies down. he seems to pay it no mind, however, his gaze focused on proteus. ❝ did you have a plan then? we've talked about making a trip to our old places... ❞ fingers smooth over the expanse of the seat, and the gaze he sends proteus is cheeky. ❝ unless you'd rather stay in? ❞

jess and dex have twin children early in their marriage : robert ( robbie ) and rose ( rosie ) . rosie is immediately a daddy's girl, even when she was still inside of jess. robbie is far more attached to both of his parents equally -- but he's attached to rosie most of all .

it was more than a little disheartening for jess for a time, when dex would have a difficult time articulating that he loved her using the exact words. but they taled it through, and settled on two alternatives. one : a different phrase that they both know and agree means " i love you " . two : the classic " three hand squeezes means i love you, four hand squeezes means i love you too " . it works perfectly well for them.

dex was present for jess' first ever rage, and it was a surprise for them both. but even in her shock as the rage wore off, she was never worried that dex would reject or dislike her for it -- though the realization that she wasn't worried came as as much of a surprise as the rage itself.

" i — would like to thank you for keeping an eye on zagreus, sir. it's good to know he has more allies than just me out there. he's spoken of you."

It's easy to grin at Proteus. The years spent apart allowed Sinbad to briefly forget that being with him is easier than breathing, but it's a matter easily mended. ❝ I live to please His Highness, after all, ❞ he says, voice like honey, teasing him with a mischievous smile. Still, Sinbad is pliable in Proteus's hands — he lets him wrap arms around his shoulder, guiding him wherever he wants. If his fingers sneak to brush against the prince's hip, that's his business alone.

frank asks  :  frank, noticing a strand of hair fall from the cassandra’s hairdo, carefully tucks the strand back behind the cassandra’s ear.

“do you trust me?”

“i trust you.”

patroclus’ fingers are nimble as they skate across achilles’ skin — practiced and confident, his skills with his hands have grown in his time as a healer. strong hands that can break and reset bone can also be gentle. gentle, yet firm. guiding. quietly commanding. achilles’ head bows at the silent instruction to stay still, keep his hands crossed behind his back as patroclus carefully ties a rope to bind his wrists together. the golden boy is patient and unafraid. the rope, strong enough to keep their camp’s lifestock restrained, is hardly more of a confinement than a strand of hair tying down a lion. none at all, in fact. only a reminder to keep his hands together.

but patroclus told him to keep his hands behind his back, and achilles will obey.