[ All of that is far too wasteful. While Jade might struggle with expressing his true self often (something Floyd and Azul have been working on with him ever since Azul's... incident), hesitating over something so impractical for so long seems incredibly foolish. At worst they would receive a rejection and be able to move on. Or perhaps the object of their affections already holds them on a pedestal they're too cautious to shake.

It's different than this case where Jade simply bided his time to ensure that they were in a suitable setting to make the proposition. Surely. Not at all nerves that he misunderstood Rook's demeanor as actual hunting mishaps.

The next nip to the hunter's throat is sharper and quickly followed by a dark teal tongue before Jade speaks against his skin. ]

I understand land dwellers do have different courting methods...

[ Another sharp nibble. If they were both merfolk perhaps he'd take that type of comment with more offense, but all things considered it is a fair request. Rook's heart is so overwhelmingly full all of the time, though it wasn't impossible for noone else to be interested in him. Admittedly, Jade doesn't consider that as a possibility for himself, either. ]

So long as you do not intentionally make me jealous.

[ His grip in Rook's hair relents, but only so his hand can trail down to his neck. Clawed fingertips pressing just lightly above where, were he still human now, his jugular vein would reside. ]

Or I may have to punish you.