TDM #4

[calderaevents]

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

WINTER'S WHISPER A fragrant spiced tea that calms the nerves and inspires the drinker to share their hopes and dreams.

JINGLE BELL A crisp, bright drink...that makes jingling bell sounds as you walk. There are no bells, and yet you jingle.

S(LAY) RIDE This drink has an earthy, woody taste. Almost as woody as the tavern floor it forces you to lie down upon. You cannot get up unless someone else helps you.

MISTLETOE MEAD Made with honey from enchanted bee hives and a touch of mistletoe leaves. Time to find a smoochin' partner!

HOLLY JOLLY SPICE A bold and fiery blend of rum, cinnamon, and cloves with a secret twist—just a dash of enchanted holly berry syrup that makes your cheeks flush with warmth and your laughter contagious. One sip, and you're the life of the party, even if you're by yourself.

CANDY CANE CRUSH A festive burst of minty sweetness with a cool, refreshing sensation that tingles the tongue. The drinker’s mood subtly shifts the color of their surroundings, briefly changing the hues of objects or lights in the room to match their feelings.

GINGERBREAD MAN A thick drink that tastes exactly like a gingerbread cookie. However, candy and other delicious accents start appearing on you as if YOU were the cookie. Is that icing on your nose? Candied cherries in your hair? Gumdrop buttons? But on the bright side, free candy!

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

Visitors in all starter cities are offered a standard home with basic necessities provided (your choice in design, etc.) that can house 1-4 people if they so choose. Home upgrades can be purchased via rewards.

FANNING THE FLAMES

The renewed seething of the lava flows brought on by the tempestuous events deep below the sea seem to have been dealt with, though city guards have been stationed around the crater and are barring anyone from approaching to investigate any further than the outskirts. Interestingly, not only does the crater seem calm, it appears to be changing. Any remaining lava flow is being directed as if by unseen hands, and when the light catches just right, the barest hint of a shimmer can be detected surrounding the glowing rivers. New rock formations take shape as the days pass, though one never can catch the presence of a mason working on the structures. It's as if something intangible or invisible is repairing what was broken, turning what was previously chaos and ruin into order and life.

SEASON OF LIGHT

The world remains unsettled, still bearing the scars of the trials endured just a month prior, not to mention the oddities happening with the volcanic crater and the ominous shadows creeping in from the sea continue to haunt the collective psyche, leaving both locals and visitors on constant edge, fearful of a sudden, unprovoked assault. Despite these lingering anxieties, the leaders have publicly reassured all that calm has been restored. They claim that the worst is behind them and that every measure is being taken to prevent such devastating magics from ever threatening Salt Spire again. The protective bubble holds, new Undine are being ushered into their roles, and the world, it is said, is slowly healing. Or so they claim.

Whether or not the assurances of the leaders ring entirely true, life, as it often does, presses on. The people of Caldera have once again immersed themselves in the comforting bustle of distraction, turning their attention to the imminent Season of Lights celebrations. This holiday, it seems, bears a striking resemblance to the festive cheer of Christmas (and a mix of new years), with gifts exchanged in abundance and decorations of shimmering silver and radiant blue casting their glow across the sky, sea, and land in harmonious splendor.

One of the seasons's highlights is the grand Feast of the Sky, a night when the people gather beneath a star-filled canopy to exchange gifts—ornate trinkets, hand-crafted items, and tokens of affection that carry deep personal meaning. In the days leading up to the feast, a tradition of "Lightwalking" emerges, where families and friends embark on midnight strolls through streets aglow with lanterns, singing carols and sharing stories of hope and renewal. Sea-going vessels, too, partake in the festivities, their sails and riggings festooned with glowing orbs that drift like stars across the waters.

The Season of Lights is, above all, a celebration of resilience, a time when the people of Caldera set aside their worries, if only for a little while, to bask in the glow of community, generosity, and the promise of brighter days ahead thanks to the Visitor's arrival...

THE GRAND MASQUERADE

Another highlight of the season is the Grand Masquerade that unfolds high above the world in Heaven’s Bow, the floating city where the wind dances in the sky and the stars seem close enough to touch. The event is more than just a celebration of the Season of Lights—it’s a gathering of hope, a last-ditch effort to save Caldera from its slow unraveling. Here, among the clouds and the wind, the people of Caldera and the mysterious Visitors from other worlds come together in a shimmering, ethereal celebration, their faces hidden behind elaborate masks and appropriately fancy dress provided when one steps through the threshold of the castle gates.

The palace at the heart of Heaven’s Bow is a breathtaking sight, its walls adorned with silver and blue decorations that catch the light from thousands of lanterns floating in mid-air. The atmosphere is both jubilant and tense, a world on the brink of collapse holding its breath in the hopes that this fleeting night will offer a glimmer of salvation. The sky above is painted with the colors of dusk and dawn, swirling in a palette of purples, blues, and silvers.

Sylphs—the free-spirited, airborn people of the Sky—flutter about, their wings glinting in the light, performing acrobatic feats in the air, their laughter and music mingling with the sounds of the celebration. Guests, their masks intricate and stunning, move among the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and stories, some joining in the dances while others linger near the grand tables, laden with food and drink from every corner of Caldera and beyond.

As the night unfolds, the guests find themselves drawn into different corners of the event—each space offering the Visitors a chance to prove themselves worthy of the leaders’ favor. There is no shortage of opportunities to learn, grow, and, perhaps, change the course of this dying world.

THE SKY'S ASCENSION

At one end of the palace's terrace, a floating platform hovers above the clouds, surrounded by shifting air currents. Sylphs glide effortlessly through the space, their wings leaving trails of light as they move to the lively music, which seems written by the wind itself.

Aella, Admiral of the Slyph, stands at the center of the platform, her cloak of shimmering feathers rippling in the breeze. She surveys the crowd, inviting those brave enough to take part in her challenge. Before them, a maze of floating platforms stretches out, some wide and stable, others narrow and swaying in the wind. The task is simple: leap from one platform to the next, navigating the shifting air and ever-changing obstacles.

The platforms move unpredictably, some rising higher, others sinking, and a few disappearing entirely. Guests must time their jumps perfectly, balancing agility with timing as they avoid falling into the clouds below.

Those who succeed will earn Aella’s favor (in the form of 100 Bones and a single white feather). And those who falter will simply reappear the start of the challenge to begin anew or give up with no repercussions for the latter save perhaps a bit of embarrassment.

THE SEA'S SECRETS

On the other side of the terrace, a serene water garden unfolds, its shimmering pools reflecting the stars above. Water flows in delicate, endless cascades, filling the air with a soft, soothing melody that mingles with the distant sound of waves. The Undines, graceful and serene beings of the Sea, glide effortlessly through the space, their robes flowing like gentle currents, their movements as fluid as the water itself.

Cordelia, Queen of the Sea, stands quietly on a raised platform at the edge of the garden, her presence calm and powerful. Her eyes, deep and unfathomable, seem to reflect the vastness of the ocean, and though she watches the guests, she does not engage with them. Her stillness holds an air of mystery, as if she is both present and yet unreachable.

The Undines move silently through the garden, offering peaceful company to those who wander nearby. The garden is a place of contemplation, where guests can simply pause and connect with the tranquil beauty of the water—its soothing flow, its quiet depths, and its promise of renewal. There are no tests or challenges here, only the peace of the Sea to calm the mind and soul.

Those who linger may feel the weight of ancient knowledge in the air, a silent understanding of the oceans' mysteries and the healing power of water. In this place, the answers are not spoken, but felt—a quiet reminder that some of the world’s deepest truths are best discovered in moments of stillness.

As the evening fades, those who have found solace in the garden’s stillness will discover, tucked gently in their palm, a lustrous pearl. Unlike any found on the shores, this pearl is soft and warm, its surface shimmering with an inner light. It is a symbol of the wisdom that comes from quiet reflection—the knowledge that some things, like the depth of the sea, cannot be rushed.

THE LAND'S EMBRACE

In the heart of the palace gardens, beneath a canopy of flowering trees, the Dryads drift gracefully among the guests, their earthy skin glowing with life and their eyes bright with the vitality of nature. The air is thick with the scent of blooming roses and jasmine, while the ground beneath the guests' feet pulses with a quiet energy, inviting them to pause and feel the garden’s magic.

Terra, the Lady of the Land, stands at the center, her form adorned in living vines and blossoms, moving as if the garden itself flows through her. Her presence is both nurturing and fierce, a silent invitation to those seeking connection—to the land, to love, and to one another.

Guests are drawn to the tranquil beauty of the garden, stealing soft moments with their partners among the flowers. Lovers exchange quiet glances, touch petals with gentle fingers, and share unspoken promises beneath the soft glow of lanterns. The garden hums with romance, as if the earth itself is blessing these tender moments, offering the quiet assurance that love—like the land—can grow in the most unexpected places.

As the night draws to a close, Terra’s gentle power is felt in the air, and for those who have taken the time to connect with the garden’s beauty, a soft gift of nature is bestowed. A flower—unique and radiant—appears in their hand, a token of love and growth, a reminder that even the briefest moments can take root and blossom into something everlasting.

QUESTBOARD [NEW QUESTS ADDED]

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fourth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored!

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

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Dion Lesage | Final Fantasy XVI | Sylph

[lightundying]

I. Masquerade

As a military commander, Dion is well familiar with the importance of bolstering morale and maintaining it- and these festivities are most certainly that. Smiles are tense and cheer is forced, their dissonance cloaked by masks and frippery. Champagne will see them become genuine enough for a time, at least.

His own magicked mask and clothes are nearly disturbingly well-chosen, down to the golden claw tips adorning one hand. It seems even at rest, Bahamut is known.

Dion drifts out of the cold and into the palace proper, and whilst he intends to spend much of the night with his arm fixed around Joshua, considers that he may yet accept a few other invitations to dance. And naturally, the evening does find them parted at odd points throughout.

Eventually, Dion breaks from the ballroom floor to make his way up to the mezzanine, and leaning against the rail with an eye on the crowd below, nurses a glass of champagne. He tips it in a brief toast upon catching another visitor's eye and offers a faint smile.

"I hope the evening has been treating you well."


II. Sky's Ascension

The platform jumps are nothing to a seasoned dragoon- or would not be, if they did not constantly change elevation, with obstacles thrown in seemingly at random. Still, it is a thrilling challenge, and Dion does not intend to give up until he has conquered it at least once. Still, he does need for a break after some time, and drains a glass entirely of its contents with a hard breath and a grin.

"It would be easier with wings," he remarks to a fellow contender. "But admittedly, that would feel rather like cheating."


III. Wildcard
[ooc: as always, feel free to tag in anywhere adjacent to these prompts, or if there's a quest from the list below you'd like to do, I'm open!

Quests of interest:
YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE HARDERSFIELD ALIVE
AN ANCIENT SECRET (PART 2)
THE WINDS OF WINTER (x2)
DANCING WITH DISASTER]

I

[featheredflames]

Joshua cannot remember the last time he attended such a lavish party. The courts at Rosalith were far more modest and celebrations were never done so with the same sort of pomp and ceremony. Maybe in Sanbreque one would find such friviolities but not in Rosaria.

The outfit he's found himself in is definitely...something, but it isn't terrible by any means and Dion seems to approve of it. He also seems to approve of setting his hand at the small of Joshua's back now and again.

Joshua can't help but approve as well.

His own flute of champagne is raised toward Dion when he spots him approaching, returning his smile twice as wide as he leans against the railing.

"It is a bit overwhelming, admittedly, but I am enjoying myself overall. What about yourself?"

[lightundying]

Ah, there he is.

As seems to be his wont this evening, Dion's gaze drifts down Joshua's form and lingers appreciatively on the trailing deep red ruffles encircling his legs and hips. They are hopelessly entrancing, shifting as Joshua's walks in a strong echo of the Phoenix's own tailfeathers. After a moment's such indulgence however, Dion's eyes return to his lover's face.

"I have danced and it was not terrible," he surmises with a smile.

Dion turns back toward the crowd below then, curling an arm about Joshua's waist as he does so. Golden clawtips rest carefully over the small of his back as they have for much of the evening- as though they'd never parted.

"But full glad am I to hear you are enjoying yourself. I must say it is rather more an enjoyable atmosphere absent the expectation to dance with every eligible maiden in attendance. Now, as then, I've eyes for none else."

[featheredflames]

It's delightfully strange how pining after Dion has now resulted in this, having the man's arm around him in a clear show of possession. When he had confessed he hadn't thought Dion would be open to displays of affection between them, after so much had been confined to their shared bedroom...but apparently Joshua had been wrong. He instinctively leans into the touch, lifting the rim of his glass to his lips for another sip.

"I suppose it is fortunate that I am no maiden." Nor can he really relate to being forced to dance with many. He had been given some lessons, sure, but those were ages ago.

[lightundying]

"Quite," Dion agrees, amusement echoed in his glass as he follows suit. "I rather prefer you as you are."

The champagne is rather decent as such things go, but the night is certainly one of indulgence. Indeed, he must take care not to overindulge. At least, so far as drink is concerned. His other appetites, however, must wait.

Still, his fingers drift steadily to curl lightly about Joshua's hip.

"I would even go so far as to say you are the most compellingly dressed this evening."

[featheredflames]

"You think so?" He laughs at that, cheeks flush beneath his mask. Dion finds his attire compelling...well. He definitely had more of an eye for fashion than he did.

"This is the fanciest thing I've worn in decades, fabric and all." Which isn't surprising considering the ragamuffin collection of scarves and other pieces of clothing Joshua usually dresses himself in. "Do you find it suits me?"

[lightundying]

Dion turns another look over him, then shifts his claws beneath a layer of chiffon with a considering hum.

Conceited though it may seem, even the nebulous magic at work at the gates had not seen fit to change Joshua's carefully selected attire. His own however, had been replaced, and he could say it was nearly as though it had been making a point, if such things could.

"Well, suffice to say I am nearly tempted to search for a suitably compelling location in which to make my full appreciation known."

[featheredflames]

A laugh spills out of Joshua, his eyes bright behind his mask. Dion the Bold, it seems, was his company for the occasion. "You tempt me, Your Highness." Dion should know better, considering how gung-ho Joshua had been since he'd had his feelings accepted.

"It is a bit unruly, is it not? To have me while I'm dressed up in such a fashion." There are a lot of layers...that Dion would have to overcome to get to his prize.

[lightundying]

He grins, allowing himself a more suggestive sweep over Joshua. It is a thrill to do even that, as he'd forced himself to keep his eyes off of Terence many times during such occasions so as not to draw attention to him. But now, he has many more freedoms, and they are as sweet as they are bitter.

His blunted clawtips rake gently over the small of Joshua's back as his mind gives idle consideration for where they might go.

"Unruly," he muses with a smirk. He can very well imagine such a picture, and it is certainly a compelling one.

Dion sighs and shifts against the rail. Well that he is wearing robes.

"I shall behave myself for now, but once you have had your fill of the festivities, I will be happy to escort you elsewhere."

[featheredflames]

The sensation of claws has Joshua's spine alighting with a shudder, arching beneath the touch as Dion's words echo a dangerous promise.

"To have my fill of you instead?"

A brow is raised but hidden behind bangs and the mask, but the playful, teasing tone drips off his words anyway.

[lightundying]

Dion tips his head to give Joshua a sidelong look. He looks and sounds like temptation. His hand at last curls around Joshua's hip.

"Unless you've finally tired of me, of course~"

The chances of that however, seem slimmer by the day. Since that first night, Joshua has been near-inatiable.

[featheredflames]

"I think that nigh impossible, Your Highness."

He leans into the way Dion embraces him, lifting his glass once more to take a playful sip of it.

"I expect to fully indulge in you when the opportunity presents itself."

[lightundying]

Warmth presses into his side as Joshua slots himself against him. It is startling, how much Joshua seems to want him- how he cannot seem to get enough of him. The man's desire is both flattering and daunting, and it has been a miracle that his own body has been able to keep up with such demands.

Even when he'd been younger, he cannot recall having this much freedom and opportunity to indulge so frequently. It is heady.

Dion shifts to settle the length of his body more firmly against Joshua's side.

"As you like then, Your Grace. Parapets are oft well-shadowed, and there should be little enough reason to visit them."

[featheredflames]

"Is that so? Am I to assume you've quite a lot of experience hiding in the shadows, participating in salacious acts?"

Joshua can't help but be curious despite his teasing. Dion had quite a bit of experience, that much was obvious, but just how much trouble had he allowed himself to get up to?

"Or am I to find out by way of surprise?"

[lightundying]

Dion laughs and takes another sip of champagne.

"Sneaking about, certainly- most of which was in my younger years, so rather less salacious in purpose than you might imagine."

He mulls over whether or not to say more, hesitant as he has become to mention Terence now that aught has changed. But Joshua has asked, and in full knowledge, and so he dares for further transparency.

"In truth, there was oft little need to escape for such. As my personal guard and second-in-command, Terence already had every reason to be close at hand. In that regard, we were rather fortunate."

[featheredflames]

It sounds convenient really, and beyond said convenience, Joshua is happy that Dion had Terence close to him at all times. To know that Dion hadn't been alone throughout his life and had someone by his side is a relief, even if he's aware that the prince may find Joshua thinking so strange.

"It does sound rather fortunate." That said, it doesn't mean that Joshua is any less fortunate right now. "Am I causing you to indulge in terrible mischief then?"

[lightundying]

Fortune was mayhap the incorrect word when Terence's roles were rather more by design, but that did not mean that the man had not done absolutely everything possible to earn them.

And well that such musings do not derail Joshua's apparent interest. Dion's shoulders lax as they return smoothly to topic, and he smiles.

"Terrible misconduct ill-suited to my station," Dion agrees loftily with faint amusement. He would affect an imperious gesture, but both of his hands have rather more important duties. "You are a poor influence on my behavior and I must needs spend the next moon in prayer to both reflect on such and seek Greagor's forgiveness."

[featheredflames]

"In just prayer? Or would abstinence also be included..."

He knows that Dion is just teasing him in turn, but the thought of having to go an entire moon without touching (or being touched by) the man who was currently holding onto his waist seemed insufferable.

"In my defense I think I am a rather wonderful influence."

[lightundying]

Dion gives it a moment's thought, then tips his head.

"Well, given that the issue surrounds temptation, abstaining would certainly be necessary."

But he turns his head to brush his lips over Joshua's forehead. "But as it happens, there are no Cardinals nor High Priests to criticize my conduct, so you are quite fortunate indeed."

[featheredflames]

"How blessed I am."

He means that truly. To think that he had been given another opportunity to live, to actually explore things that everyone should have the chance to in life was something Joshua would be eternally grateful. The kiss to his forehead leaves him smiling, arms soon looping their way over Dion's shoulders to hug him.

"I would be terribly sad if you abstained from delighting in me."

[lightundying]

He smiles, and as Joshua turns more fully into him, allows his hand to slip a few ilms lower than what is considered strictly appropriate.

Dion chuckles against Joshua's ear. "Yes, you have grown into quite the little minx. What ever shall I do?"

[featheredflames]

"What would you like to do?"

He squeezes the prince tighter to himself, all too aware of how his hand dips lower.

"Surely you have a course of action, being the brilliant strategist you are."

[lightundying]

Dion turns his face into Joshua's hair and dares to flick his tongue over his earlobe. And already, this far more daring than he'd ever been in a room full of witnesses. His heart hammers in his chest.

"What I wish to do, and what is strategically sound are rather different courses of action at present," he says lowly, skimming his clawtips through Joshua's ruffles once again. "Alas, I do not have any oil upon my person. Mmn. Mayhap a retreat, to arrive home before the other two.."

[featheredflames]

It's a pleasant surprise that Dion dares to be so bold. The teasing lick to his ear has him shudder forward against the other man, eyes widening at the mention of lacking oil. Well, if that's what Dion wants Joshua won't say no, especially when he's equally inclined to indulge.

"I...would not be averse to a tactical retreat."

[lightundying]

Dion grins and grants him a kiss, then shifts a half-step back. He brings his blunted claws gently to Joshua's face.

"I would not take you from the festivities before you've had your fill of them. But if by chance you would prefer to leave, then of course, I would escort you home."