yams°•☆

Albus can't keep his eyes away from Faithful and Kerano as they mess around in the flower patch. Well, it's not really messing around. Faithful seems to be doing some kind of sorcery, weaving the stems of the flowers with her nimble hands into some kind of crown.

Even Kerano is astonished, eyes absolutely sparkling upon seeing the completed headpiece as Faithful raises it to the sky.

"It's so pretty," Kerano squeals.

"So then it's perfect. It matches its new owner," Faithful smiles as she plants the crown on the little bugger's head.

And Albus has to admit, she's right. It's perfect on Kerano. The white and blue petals adorn her head perfectly.

"Isn't this so nice, scary man?" Kerano flashes a toothy grin at Albus. He starts, not expecting the attention now on him.

"Oh, uh..." He blinks, "yeah. Very nice."

Faithful snorts at him with a playful roll of her eyes.

"You want one too?" Faithful asks.

"Uh...no thanks. I'm good."

Faithful, ever the stubborn woman, stands and walks up to him. He finds himself trying to sit up straighter and shyly raising his eyes to hers.

"You're very close," the words tumble out of his mouth.

"Yes, I am," and she wastes no time, gently placing a yellow flower behind his ear. Her eyes are still locked with his as the tips of her fingers trace the shell of his ear, down to the firm slope of his jaw before finally trailing off his chin. "Nice," the whispered word sends goosebumps exploding down his arms.

Faithful giggles smugly to herself and straightens up. "Come along, Kerano. Let's go."

"Okay," Kerano chirps.

And Albus watches, absolutely gobsmacked, as Faithful walks up to the kid and takes her hand. She peers at him over her shoulder. "Coming Albus?"

Denny's is trying, they purse their lips and nod, furrowing their brow to force themself to lock in. "No, you're totally right. I'm serious now. Very serious."

Ash's brow raises. "Seriously?"

"Extremely."

He tries to fight the smile that tugs at his lips. "Can you at least lose the voice? It will help me believe you more."

Denny's drops their deep faux serious voice for their own. "Okay, I'm extremely super very serious now."

Ash shakes his head goodnaturedly, presses a kiss to their forehead and picks his script back up. He clears his throat dramatically.

Alright... from the top.

"Those lips would look a lot better doing something else," his line is soon interrupted by shy giggles gurgling out of his partner.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry--" they swat their hands all around. "I just... I've never heard you say things like that."

It's true. With their relationship just starting as his acting career was taking off, the two of them didn't have a lot of time for the more freaked part of their dating.

Ash gives them a look. He's not mad or anything, but God, this was a lot easier with Thad and he kept interrupting scenes to ask about 'character motivations'.

"You done?" He can barely hide his smile now.

"I'm done," Denny's smiles all innocent.

Ash closes his eyes. He knows better than to trust that smile. He makes a big show of clearing his throat yet again... and then he makes his move.

Leaning forward, he plants his hands on the chair, boxing Denny's in. His nose nearly brushing against their, their little gasp of surprise sends their breath washing over his lips. Ash makes a very deliberate show of lowering his gaze to their lips.

And in a low voice he murmurs to them, "those lips would look a lot better doing something else other than distracting me while I'm working," his eyelashes flutter as his gaze raises to theirs. "Don't you agree?"

Then he holds.

Only to immediately pull back as they move in for the kiss.

the earis had made the mistake of sitting in the palace gardens beside zaros. looking for some respite away from the chaos of the trials.

gods above, they swear never to do such a stupid action again.

"...you are quite scared of intimacy, aren't you?" there is no denying the playfulness in zaros' voice as he asks that.

a harsh bark that barely conceals their nerves is forced out of the earis' mouth. "what? of course not! what is there to be possibly scared of?"

zaros almost shrugs before returning to his notes, annoyingly unbothered. "it was a mere question."

the earis glares at him, "a bit juvenile, isn't it? to ask such questions."

zaros purses his lips as if in deep thought. "perhaps. except there's more to talk about now that we are older and not weaving stories for our peers." he smiles teasingly at his companion, "besides this is an attempt of normalcy in the turmoil of this week."

there may have been more to talk about for zaros, earis is still a little behind on that front. but hating to lose or admit any kind of perceived defeat, they pivot. "aren't there better things to talk about? topics that aren't so vulgar?"

zaros' brows raise in question. "you perceive intimacy vulgar?"

they blink at him. "well... i--" their words die on their lips. everything they have heard about such acts has been hushed or mumbled in secrecy. an act that brought out the most vulnerable, yet carnal sides of people. wrecked in pleasure, desperate for release.

focused green eyes observing every reaction. panting breaths. mused blonde tresses wrapped around eager fingers.

"earis?"

their eyes had been on him, before they quickly dart away.

"lost in thought?" the smile in his voice is obvious.

"certainly not."

zaros sighs, laying himself gently in the grass. "it is not always vulgar. especially when I do it."

"I did not ask--"

Every so often, he'd glance over at Zaros. And Earis happens to very casually notice Zaros lock eyes with him. The eye contact is heated. Enough to burn Earis' insides. And not in a pleasant way.

Zaros lets out a little chuckle. "Your espionage could use a little more tact."

Earis scoffs under their breath. "Espionage is quite an extreme word, is it not?" They pointedly ignore the burning of their ears in embarrassment upon getting caught. "I was simply observing."

"If you say so," Zaros' amused voice is a delectable rumble in their ears.

They would roll their eyes in any other setting. But they have to maintain composure. "Are you familiar with the region's dancing measures?"

In the corner of their eye, they see Zaros trying (and epically failing to maintain composure, his shoulders slightly quivering with silent laughter). "No, I don't believe I am."

"Well... the dancing measure seems to be quite familiar with you." The Earis finds themselves glaring at the dancer doing a particularly impressive sequence of hip sways, before darting their eyes to the wine glass before them. They might need another glass. Or five.

"Ah," Zaros smirks at them over his shoulder. "I understand. To answer your unuttered question, yes, him and I have engaged in a few... dances... before."

Taken aback by how callously he admitted to such, the Earis whips their head to face him. "Surely you jest?"

Zaros puts on a mock innocent face at the mixture of jealously and intrigue that paints his rivals face. "When have you ever known me to jest?"

A frown tugs at their brow as they turn away from him upon hearing his voice drip with sarcasm.

"Who ever told you you were humorous is an absolute prevaricator."

Zaros swallows back the retort that they had once told him that themself... what feels like centuries ago. Instead, he revels silently in the relief that washes over the Earis' features at his seeming denial of the association with the dancer.

He watches them take a good long sip of their wine before he says as innocently as he can possibly muster: "I, however, have engaged in numerous intimate dances with the maiden serving us wine tonight."

You kick the front door shut behind you as you run up the stairs to Jonah's gaming room, where he'd obviously be at 10pm on a Friday night.

Without even thinking about it, you yell out: "Jonah, pause your game and take off your pants! I need a distraction--!"

Jonah is absolutely flushed as he stares at you, his headset and controller on... and his stream as well.

"Oh, shut up," they hiss at him as they storm over to the front of the wall to wall mirror. They visibly deflate. That is a lot of ruffles. They haven't worn this many ruffles since they were a squealing in their mother's arms.

They slide their glare from their own outfit to Zaros' reflected form the moment he plants himself behind them, punctuating the motion with a click of his boot against the marble floor.

"I don't even understand why we have to do this," they huff out.

Zaros' eyebrows raise. "You don't understand why we must have a final dance to show that there is no animosity between us, regardless of who wins or loses tomorrow?"

They roll their eyes. "I mean, why is it such a big deal? We have been showing a united front for the past few weeks, haven't we? Now we have to dance with each other too?" They pick at non-existent lint on their sleeve. "In these ridiculous outfits."

Zaros chuckles out, "speak for yourself."

And unfortunately, Earis knows he's right. His own suit is extremely well-tailored and streamlined to perfectly show off the sleek shapes of his athletic form. He has never looked more handsome.

"Besides, dancing with me won't be that bad." Zaros makes his way in front of them, and, smirking down at them, he lowers his voice as he says: "we've done it before."

Earis' ears burn at the suggestiveness of his tone. They scowl at him.

"Need a reminder?" Zaros holds out his hand to them.

Earis mirrors his action. "I'll lead, thank you." They flash one of their bitingly unimpressed thin-lipped smiles.

He lets out a breath of amusement, but relents as he takes the Earis' hand.

"So stubborn," he playfully clicks his tongue at them, with a shake of his head. Momentarily, Earis is enamoured by the sway of his golden tresses. They firmly, but gently, pull him into their chest.

The dance has begun.

"And impatient, I see."

Earis doesn't respond. They can't. Being this close to him, taking in his sweet but spicy scent, his warmth... and his hand in theirs. They have never felt more aware of any sort of contact in their lives.

His piercing green eyes aren't helping anything either.

The pair dance together, and it's as natural as breathing. No words are shared between them, but twining breaths and lingering glances speak louder than voices every could.

"You still look enchanting, you know, despite the ruffles."

Earis gives him a smug smirk. "My, my, is that a compliment, Zaros?"

"No." His eyes are firmly on theirs, "it's just a fact."

Right. Of course, what were they thinking?

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself," they say softly up to him.

"Yes, I rather assumed so, since you can barely take your eyes off me."

Earis snorts, outraged and embarrassed. They pull away from him, "you're more tolerable when you're quiet."

He glares at the locks that taunt him between his eyes.

Casper, who had been watching him, giggles and leans forward. Charlie's eyes find theirs and he can't help how they flutter, or how his heart starts dancing or how his mouth goes dry.

They're so close, and they smell so nice.

Casper slips their fingers under his golden curls and tucks them behind his ear, allowing the tips of their fingers to lightly graze down the back of his ear, and down his jaw. They give him a self-satisfied smirk as they watch him shiver in delight under the delicate touch.

"Better?" Casper asks, mockingly innocent.

"For now," he smiles up at them. Their beam widens. Ugh, he's such a cutie, looking up at them through his unfairly long lashes.

Casper finds themself leaning in to kiss him.

But his whisp of hair strikes faster, springing out from behind his ear and back between his eyes.

Charlie groans out, tossing his head back. "I needa cut my hair."

"No you don't, your hair is perfect," Casper whispers to him. Charlie's eyes dart from staring at the ceiling back to his beautiful partner.

"Ya think so?"

Casper hums in agreement before leaning forward again and tracing their fingers up the nape of his neck to lightly tangle into his curls, tugging him up to face them. "Course. It gives me a little something to hold on to."

Charlie giggles like a drain, pressing his forehead against theirs, their noses bump against each other as he whispers out: "you're sucha perv." His voice is playfully scandalised.

"You love it though," Casper kisses his nose.