terrariums | open; 2024

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.

[ He feels exposed.

It doesn't matter how many layers he's wearing or how tightly the ribbons wrapped around his body feel. His smile doesn't slip, but it does falter just slightly. The same difference that he and Floyd have in height or when Azul seems to notice when he has even an eyelash out of place before opening. ]

So that is what you think of me.

[ He'd felt better than he'd had in a while after the other night, but now? It isn't unfair to say he feels seen in a way he's unused to. Gloved hands unclench before clenching tightly again, the silk of his uniform's gloves pulling taught from the pressure. But he smiles again even as it clenches his jaw under Rook's fingers. ]

I will work on it.

[Rook's expression and tone soften just as quickly as they had grown intense, feeling the way Jade tenses uncomfortably in the face of his words. That piercing gaze is replaced by soft lips pressed over Jade's brow, a warmth in his voice that's unusual only in quietly intimate and personal it is, rather than his usual explosive energy.]

Have you forgotten how I adore you, or should I start praising you again?

If I wasn't planning to help you with it, I would have stayed quiet, and let you realize your mistakes only once it was far too late to fix them.

[ The breath he doesn't realize he's been holding is finally exhaled when Rook's lips press against his brow. It seems obvious when he says it now, but it hadn't felt good to hear all the same.

As he is now he's not as exciting of a hunt as he could be. It's like being given a capelin instead of a mackerel--dissatisfying even if it's still food. Even if it's still a hunt. As he is now it's easy to see himself becoming overwhelmed again. ]

If you are planning to help, then I accept. I am in your capable hands. Although, it sounds as if you wish for me to simply take more breaks.

Heheheh..... I don't mean you should simply lay idle. There is purpose to every way you can take care of yourself, beyond simply thoughtless indulgence. Perhaps it's difficult to understand for a born predator, able to rely on the weapons that nature has blessed you with..... But to me, you feel like a neglected bow.

[Neglected, overworked, make up your mind. It's an obtuse metaphor to anyone who doesn't share his passion for archery, even he realizes that, but..... it's difficult to immediately express in mere words what he knows on instinct so deep in his gut.]

Stay with me tonight? Maybe I can show you a little of what I mean, and you'll see the difference for yourself in the morning.

[ Neglect can lead to tension much the same as abuse can. Bodies and minds need maintenance just the same as every object one holds dear. Jade doesn't neglect his knife that the hunter has hidden here somewhere (likely on himself since the moray is fairly certain he was holding it before), nor does he ignore trimming down his human nails when they start to wear on the fabric of his gloves.

He doesn't have to like the truth, but it doesn't make it any less the truth. ]

Only if you do not intend to keep me hanging all evening, Rook-san.

Perish the thought. I want you laid out on the bed for me. Have you ever gotten a massage before, Monsieur Prémédité?

[Rook says something else incomprehensible, a commanding sibilant hiss (clearly some dialect of snake, but the school's translation spell apparently doesn't see fit to translate, as it so often does with him) that sees the ribbons lower Jade gently into his waiting arms before retreating back to their hiding places. In a matter of moments, it looks as though nothing had happened at all.]

A massage? I cannot say I have.

[ Not truly anyway, but one occasion does come to mind back in the facility he first entered upon coming to land. It was far from a pleasant experience, though. Harsh and grinding combined with deep tissue kneading on his new legs to assist with building their muscle enough to help him properly walk. Each step back then was agonizing, but it's fascinating even to himself how far he's come from that.

Learning to become something else entirely even when he's digging his claws to familiarity. Not unlike what Rook is suggesting now. ]

Not in the traditional sense, at least.

I find I quite like them. Given how tense you are right now, you'll probably be sore at first--but I suspect the difference will feel like night and day.

[Rook shifts to set Jade down on his feet, giving him an encouraging little nudge. A bit of digging in his toiletries bag, and he'll be ready to start giving this poor forgotten bow a new lease on life.]

Come, now. Why don't you bare a little skin for me, and get comfortable?

[ Returned to his feet, Jade takes a step toward the bed--though his eyes don't leave the blond as he leans down to pick up his dropped fedora and magipen.

But he does do as he's told--heading toward the bed while removing his scarf and works open the buttons of his peacoat. Once they are laid over the back of Rook's desk chair he can work apart his bowtie and shirt buttons. ]

How little would you like me to wear?

[ Because they both know his preference of 'comfortable', but... well, he's removing his shirt and gloves all the same to join his outer layers. His shoes quick to be set beside the chair on the floor because putting shoes in a bed is rude ~~, Floyd.~~ ]

Your underwear is fine, unless you would rather strip fully.

[Just as Jade had surmised, a hand dipping into his robe brings out his own magical pen and Jade's knife, freshly polished and sharpened for him now that he's finally returned to reclaim it. He sets them on the desk, instead turning his attention to the lovingly hand-labeled bottles lining a shelf. A few moments to stretch out his hands thoroughly, and Rook picks out a bottle, drizzling unscented oil into his hands to start warming. This is probably going to take a fair amount of work, isn't it? Much more than he normally needs for himself, these days. Best to brace for a rather long and strenuous session.]

Somehow he feels more tense than he did a moment ago.

I suppose it would be rude to expose myself fully on your sheets.

[ The comforter is so... high quality. He doesn't even have to touch it yet to know. Jade finishes stripping out of his pants and gloves before finally taking a seat on the edge of the bed. It is immediately as he thinks---a different type of soft, plush fabric that their dorms in Octavinelle simply doesn't provide. While Octavinelle's water absorbency is likely superior, that's a far cry from comfort.

He feels like a fish out of water. ]

You say that as though I don't intend to expose you on them myself, sooner or later.

[Rook can't help but smirk, eyebrow raised in playful challenge. Honestly, to worry about propriety in a position like this..... How cute. Especially coming from someone who seems to take such delight in sidestepping or abusing rules when it's convenient for him.

At least such a nice comforter is easy to push aside and spare, already turned back from when Rook had gotten out of bed. Rook raises one slick hand to make a little shooing gesture as he approaches, as though he intends to just push Jade over himself. Don't worry, little fish, he'll take good care of you.]

Face up or face down to start is fine. Just let your arms stay by your sides.

I had thought you were intending to make me relax, Rook-san?

[ Though he had felt so spent after their first trist together that he likely should have expected it. A small part of him assumed they would tangle together again eventually, but it hadn't been Jade's original intention tonight. He had things to retrieve and possibly earn a kiss or two in the process--to feel the experience of human lips on human lips.

Which he has earned already, albeit briefly.

Jade settles onto the bed on his stomach, careful to adjust his body to fit Rook's request as well as give the other ample room to join him without having to move awkwardly over his long limbs. ]

I never said it would be tonight, never fear. We have plenty of time.

[Laughing softly, Rook moves to join him--but rather than settling in next to him, he quite pointedly throws a leg over Jade's waist to straddle him instead. There are yet more sensations to learn about today, it seems--the whisper of silky robe and gown on bare skin, the touch of lace panties far more easily felt than seen, the slick warmth of oil on his skin.....

That one, he'll learn about quite intimately. Rook's hands settle onto Jade's shoulders and neck to start meticulously soothing away tension and kneading stress knots loose, leaning over him to help put his own weight behind the gesture. Had Jade guessed just how strong he was, even as a mere human?]

[ That much is true. If Jade has his way then they would have quite a lot of time together, but he is attempting to keep his expectations more human than nature.

The fabric that hits the small of his back is cold and pleasant in contrast to the intense warmth of Rook's skilled hands immediately setting to work on him. His neck instinctively cranes when fingers work their way to his nape and he can feel the tightness pull with each movement. Too many nights looking down at his notes or studies, craning over tables or even simply looking down at so many people to even have conversations.

Rook is one of those people, though to a lesser extent than say, Riddle, who he actually shares a class with. ]

M-Mm.

Shhhhh. It's fine. Just let me take care of the stretching for you, this time.

[Rook leans down to press a reassuring kiss against Jade's ear as he works, voice little more than a murmur. How is he ever going to relax and let his body start to recover, if he doesn't trust the process? Honestly, Jade's neck and shoulders probably need the most help of anywhere on his body..... Both tall and hardworking as he is, it's a natural place for tension to collect.]

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