terrariums | open; 2024

Where would the fun in that be?

[ Even though Rook clearly was expecting him here--probably from the moment he started to prepare himself for the trip. At the very least from the time he entered Pomefiore's dorm tonight.

The hand that brushes over him causes him to still. Appreciating the way Rook's palm feels even through layers of his own clothes and the sturdy yet silky fabric of the ribbons wrapped around him. Being in the air like this isn't his favorite thing, but there's some security at least in knowing that his first thought that the ribbons were going to ~~yeet~~ throw him out the window was nothing more than a panicked thought. ]

You wear less to bed than I expected.

Where, indeed?

[Heh. Jade wouldn't have it any other way, would he? Just as he wouldn't, even if he makes a token effort to appeal to proper etiquette. Neither of them are really the knocking sort in private with a like-minded peer, are they?

Maybe he should pet Jade more, if it settles him while he's trapped like this. When else is he going to get to enjoy touching him with so little consequence or risk of "retaliation"?]

Is that so? What did you expect me to wear, pray tell?

I had thought of something more modest.

[ Because other than the night before and the occasional flash of neck when their outdoor exercises aligned, he hadn't had the pleasure of seeing much of the hunter's skin. Yet the color, much like his dorm's uniform, suits him well. It's fascinating, really---how Rook can look so different from simply changing his clothes. Almost like a different person.

Somewhat akin to his own kind (but not species) that change their fins or sexes at will. ]

Although I cannot say I am disappointed.

[ If Rook thinks that Jade won't bite him even tied like this, he's terribly wrong. Though he doesn't want to ruin such a pleasant expression just yet. Even if another shift of his legs makes him feel more closely related to shrimp than eel at the moment. ]

Heheheh..... modesty is necessary for polite society, not when you're relaxing alone. Since our uniforms are so suitable for hunting, I fear that I rarely get to wear anything else except for when I retire for the night.

[Modesty has its place, of course--but he has nobody to impress when he sleeps alone, and no shame over his body, to want to hide it from even his own eyes. Rather than carefully curating his image for the eyes of others, in these hazy twilight hours he can just..... exist, quiet and cozy in his own skin, indulging in the softer and more private parts of himself. How often does anyone ever get to see those?

He's been through so many metamorphoses in his life, transformed who he is so radically that very few people who had only ever known one of his personas could be expected to recognize any other. What would it feel like to be able to change so fluidly, at will?]

Ohhhh~? Don't tell me you're a fan of showing skin, when you dress as modestly as I do? Maybe I should call on you late at night one of these days, too.....

When we first arrived in the facility one of the first things we were taught... [ His shoulders shift, thighs parting the small bit they can before coming back together.

He really is securely bound, isn't he? Wound up worse than when he used to tease Floyd for getting tangled in nets and seaweed. ]

...was that nudity is improper among humans. Though living in a dormitory it is more difficult not to be seen than one would think.

Oui, that's right! But there's more nuance to it than that, of course.

[Awwww, Jade. Do you want to be let down? Maybe you should humble yourself enough to ask, and he'll let you come cuddle in bed with him. Have a little encouraging pat, hand lingering while Jade squirms. Is Jade really prepared for the sort of detail a Pomefiore student could go into, elaborating on human fashion etiquette?]

Given how difficult unified clothing standards must be among merfolk with such different body shapes, I can imagine why they would want to simplify for your sake. But humans, beastmen, fae..... we're all similar enough that the rules for what kinds of clothing are appropriate during which particular situations get very complicated.

Ah, you really must have struggled to stay hidden when there are so many obstacles in dormitories, haven't you? I hope you haven't suffered too much for it.

[ There he goes living up to the nickname his brother so aptly named him, though he hardly considers Rook's well formed and passionate words as squawks. He normally enjoys the sound of his fellow vice-warden's voice; and a part of him is interested--humans are fascinating, but... ]

I admit... I still find clothing rather uncomfortable.

[ It certainly doesnt hell that Floyd steals his clothes and leaves him with a jacket that is a little small and pants that are a touch too long. He's sure Rook can tell that centimeter difference between himself and Floyd from a mile away. That and the shapes of their teeth being so subtly different. ]

Many merfolk accessorize, but I have always been terribly plain.

[ These days though his left ear is always decorated with his earring, but underwater such a thing is a hindrance to morays. ]

Oh, Monsieur Prémédité..... You may prefer a minimalist look, but you could never be considered plain.

[What a gross oversimplification, made by blind fools who can't appreciate that things like beauty, charm, charisma, and grace transcend any mere outfit you may choose to wear. Who would ever slander a man like Jade with such base accusations? They probably wouldn't even be able to tell Jade and Floyd apart, in person or in measurements. Please.

~~Shhh. SHHHHH. It's Fine. Just let him squawk, he will not only extol Real Clothes to you, but also fight whoever made you think of yourself that way, Jade.~~]

Clothing can be uncomfortable and restrictive. But it doesn't have to be, if it fits well and is made of material you like.

[Rook drops his hand to his waist, tugging his robe's sash free. His robe hangs loose and open over his shoulders, baring an even more immodest amount of skin for Jade to look at--but it does mean he has something nice and soft to trail lightly over Jade's cheek, by way of illustration. Has Jade ever just..... focused on how fabric felt against his skin, rather than struggling with how inconvenient and confining the garment itself was?]

I see... Azul and Floyd have always been more drawn to standing out than I have.

[ Being plain isn't something Jade sees as a negative--if anything, it is a boon. While he may stand out in other ways, it's somewhat relaxing not to have to pick out his own clothing. ~~Even if Azul won't let him wear the cute and ugly graphic t-shirt Floyd bought him that would possibly even make Rook judge him. Or his disaster of a hand-picked hiking outfit..~~.

The fabric touches his face and it brings the moray some pause, mismatched eyes shifting back up from where they were previously admiring the new skin he's been offered by the robe falling open back up to the vice's face. While none of that makes his own clothing feel any less unpleasant--especially with the ribbons holding them so snuggly against his trapped body--he can appreciate the quality. ]

Is this the type of fabric you prefer, Rook-san?

Their temperaments are better suited to it, I suppose.....

[Floyd and Azul are most certainly the more attention and validation-hungry of their little trio, aren't they? Jade clearly already has the respect of the people who matter to him, but Azul..... Azul wants more. More than only one or two people could have to give, possibly. And Floyd, who thrives on the novelty and attention alike, who loves it all for its own sake.....

Maybe Jade is the cleverest one out of all three of them, in the end? Or maybe he just hasn't found what makes him light up inside, the way it had taken Rook so long to.]

One of them! I'm still experimenting here and there to find things I like, when there's time..... I couldn't have cared less about clothes until fairly recently, you know. It is all a bit esoteric to get into, when you've never needed to pay attention at all.

[ Jade's head tilts into the soft fabric and warm hand passing over his face, though his eyes remain firmly on the man before him. His amber eye faintly illuminated in the relative darkness of the room. ]

I see... with how effortlessly you embrace and explain human styles that is somewhat surprising. Though considering your adoration of Vil-san, I imagine his influence is what encouraged you?

[ His father has told him and Floyd that looking good on land is important, but... does it matter all that much if he is only there for his education? ]

Oui~ If not for Roi du Poison's endless patience, I'm certain I would still be playing in the mud without a care. Ah, what have I ever done to deserve such beauté to uplift me?

[Were you hoping to get down from there anytime soon, Jade? Too bad, he's distracted by a special interest now. Rook loosely reties his robe before turning to his wardrobe, reaching deep inside to pull out..... possibly some of the most tragic pants Jade has ever seen, honestly. Loose and easy to move in, sturdy and rough, frayed at the hems, stained with old grass and dirt that never quite washed out, a faded drab color that would blend effortlessly into the savannah grass.....]

Heheheh..... I just couldn't bear to part with what I was wearing when the Dark Carriage came for me. How nostalgic!

[ If he were Floyd he would likely be thrashing again to look for the opportunity to snap his teeth on one of the ribbons to free himself, but Jade only subtly shifts and flexes in hopes to earn a little enough wiggle. Yet when the pants come out of the closet the merman's head tilts to look them over.

They were perfect for a hunter like Rook, when he thinks about it. A wonderful camouflage and their embedded dirt and plant matter only add to that. It's easy to imagine what he must have smelled like---a warm sun and dry, thick grass. Dust and earth. It's different than what he loves about the mountains, but if he wouldn't dry out in such heat it would be a pleasure to experience all the same. Would Rook grow bored of all of the extravagance one day and return to those roots one day? ]

Oh my... They certainly look far more freeing than your newer attire. Vil-san certainly put far more work into you than I had even imagined.

Oh, you have no idea the sort of pains he took to teach me. I truly am a changed man!

[Rook just laughs at that, warm and fond, offering over the pants to feel; this time, the rough scratch of canvas touches Jade's skin, only no longer stiff thanks to all its age and wear.]

They were so freeing, I could race like an antelope! They weren't very pleasant to wear, though. I had never even considered that I should want to be comfortable, only that what I wore served its purpose well.

Ah--

[ When the fabric touches him it is almost startling in comparison to the soft, satin sash holding the hunter's robe together.

To Jade, it almost feels akin to rope. It isn't a feeling he dislikes, though not one he has experienced on more than just his palms before. The sore burn that rope leaves on his hands after a long climb has always been deeply satisfying---and he did enjoy the difference between their texture on land and the sea. Waterlogged fabric holds such a unique sensation compared to dry, rough jean or hemp. ]

I think I would find something like this unbearable to wear...

You would, wouldn't you? But I just thought that was what clothing was supposed to be. I ran and climbed and crawled in it, and if I could do everything I wanted and still wasn't torn to ribbons by the end of the day, I was satisfied, no matter what the outfit itself did to me.

[Oh, what an adorable little startle..... Rook takes the time to carefully hang them back up; unsatisfactory though he finds his old clothes now, they still hold sentimental value. Besides, what if something untoward happens and he needs to get very messy?]

If you put in the effort, you can find things you actually enjoy, instead of just tolerate.

As you have?

[ His eyes drift to the closet as Rook neatly takes care of such a strikingly different garment, admiring the neat organization and deep hues. He might not jump straight into fashion studies when he returns to his dorm, but perhaps he might consider adding a new shirt to his wardrobe. Something a little more high-quality with the allowance he's been given, even if at first glance it wouldn't look any different than any other shirt he owns.

He feels his wrist slip, the ribbons brushing against his slightly bared wrist just another sensation tonight. ]

Admittedly, I feel it somewhat of a waste to personally invest in extra clothing considering they would not survive underwater.

Oui!

[It's an interesting little collection, isn't it? Mostly his uniforms, of course, but other things sprinkled in alongside them..... Including suspicious glimpses of rugged leather and colorful beads, or the hint of bright yellow armband and vest, deep in the back alongside the old clothing he had pulled out to show Jade.]

How true, it would be difficult to take them back home..... But even if it's not much, is taking care of yourself the way you deserve in the interim really wasteful?

[ It still amazes the merman just how striking colors are on land compared to the sea. His eyes immediately focus on the minuscule bits of color that peek through the uniforms in front of them. Like a fish hiding in a nestle of dark foliage, only noticed thanks to the gentle current causing them to shift just enough.

Yet his eyes then drop down to the hunter's bare legs, trailing slowly up muscular and sharp calves until he focuses again on the strikingly elegant fabric in comparison and how it hangs off of such a strong form. ]

My, Rook-san, are you scolding me? Does my form as it is disappoint you so?

And what if I am~?

[Oh, is Jade enjoying getting a good look at him in this state? Good. He'd better be, because Rook is turning back to catch his jaw and kiss him again, free hand trailing more firmly over his body while Jade is dangling so nicely on display for him.]

It's not your form that disappoints me, but how you treat it. We'll both enjoy you even more if you're also feeling your best, Monsieur Prémédité. Don't you think so?

[ The kiss shouldn't catch him off guard, but it does. His breath hitching as Rook's hand drags along his body as if it isn't the first time like this. Jade squirms, but it isn't as much to get away as it is on how unused to touch he is in this body. Something he hadn't considered until this exact moment.

The kiss is too short, but Rook's hand gripping his jaw seems to linger. ]

Mm... Physically I like to believe I take wonderful care of myself.

[ He might not count calories and make sure his measurements stay in the 'golden ratio' that Azul has decided for himself, but he has always had a much, much more ferocious appetite and energy level. Whether he's working tables, hiking, or swimming... he feels well in shape. Though he lacks much of the stamina that a hunter like Rook has. ]

What advice would you give me, then?

Do you, now?

[The hand cradling Jade's jaw remains, gentle but insistent, holding the merman's gaze. The hand coaxing Jade into squirming keeps fondling him, slow and purposeful, each deliberate stroke seeking out the tension under the surface that he feels almost certain must be there. How could it not be, with how Azul's demands have been overburdening him lately?]

How much time do you spend resting, Monsieur Prémédité? How often do you stretch, or rub your muscles down? When do you get to spend any meaningful time in the water?

[It's not exactly advice, is it? Or even directly related to physical health in the way Jade might be used to. Nonetheless, his expectant gaze is proof that they're hardly rhetorical questions.]

[ Jade's body is tense, but when has it not been? With the stresses of classes, Azul's demands and their goals, his mountaineering, attempting to keep Rook from finding the prized algae--which he feels the hunter surely has found by now--he's been pulled taught like a bowstring being held in wait for so long that it feels second nature.

Like it is how a human body should feel, really. He has never been like Floyd in that regard.

And his words briefly fail him as the questions strike a bullseye he hadn't realized was there at all. ]

I see. I suppose I can say it has been a while.

I thought as much. As you are now..... even in the water, I wonder: how long could you really last against me?

[There's something knowing in his smile, in the way he looks at Jade; he isn't surprised by the answer in the slightest, feeling how tense Jade is beneath his questing fingers. Because raw strength and size, agility, and sharp teeth aren't everything. Because that's not how he prefers to hunt. Whether in the mountains or under the sea, how many hours (or days, even?) could Jade run away from someone who refuses to fight fair and face him directly? How long until he grew exhausted enough to make mistakes, until he overextended his strength and hurt himself, until his energy finally ran dry? What would happen, once Jade was allowed to grind himself down into a pitiful creature that was only a pale shadow of the majestic and powerful predator he was meant to be?]

You're not doing a bad job, of course--but there is plenty of room for improvement, even so.

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