calderamemes | TDM #4

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!mod post,
!tdm

TDM #4

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alex was not a stranger to kissing, not a stranger to enjoying kissing, to makeouts. He had never had a kiss make his knees feel weak, but here he was not entirely certain he could trust his feet beneath him. Maybe that was why his hold tightened on Henry, or maybe it was because there was a growing sense of desperation, of need to kiss the prince utterly breathless.

He'd forgotten where they were forgotten everything beyond Henry and that effervescent taste of champagne on the other man's lips, now on his own, and going straight to his head. His fingers were still buried in Henry's hair as he finally broke from his lips, though did not draw back far, lips still nearly touching.

"Oh..." Eloquence at its finest. "Wow." Alex Claremont-Diaz struck speechless. Somewhere pigs were sprouting wings.

Wow, indeed.

Henry was very eloquent but somehow the First Son had kissed all of the rational logic out of him, he never thought it would happen but here he was. Though he was perhaps the first to come to his senses, but only barely. "I take it that it was ah, favorable?" a huff because it sounded ridiculous to his ears, what he'd just spoken. "Because I ah, well I quite liked it."

Even more insufficient words for how he was really feeling about the whole thing. Oh no, he'd kissed Alex once and now he'd want to kiss him again and again. This was a true 'if you give a mouse a cookie' conundrum.

"Yeah. Real favorable. You're polling incredibly well right now," Alex teased, but it lacked any real bite because his voice was still a breathless near whisper. His hand lingered against Henry's cheek, holding, thumb tracing in an absentminded arc along his cheek.

And he couldn't stop himself from claiming those lips with his own again. Then again, briefer this time. "I did too. A lot. You are umm.." Infuriatingly handsome? Incredible? Delicious?

Too many things, too many wonderful delectable things, so instead Alex just shook his head ever so slightly, at loss for how to truly put it into words.

If Henry had been more lucid, he would've mentioned the House of Lords, which likely would've caused Alex some true panic; you know stuffy monarchy and all. Those damn british and their traditional titles and land-holdings of which was the only way in to the neoptism of the House of Lords.

But Henry was too kiss-drunk to think properly.

"You've kissed me, and for good or bad-- I will never be the same again." he murmured softly, yes there was the romantic drivel now, and it was heartbreakingly sincere.

Don't ruin the mood with the talk of titles, Henry. Alex would squawk, and there was so many more interesting things to do with his mouth right now that weren't squawking, and were kissing Henry or smiling an utterly smitten smile at Henry. Because there was the other man saying those ridiculous romantic things to him.

"Me neither." Time would be measured in terms of before he had kissed Henry and after. The world's axis had shifted, moving to revolve in a way where the man in front of him was the point on which it turned.

He did remember they were in public, that they were surrounded by other people. That was the only thing that stopped him from pulling Henry closer and trying to properly devour him whole. For now. It was clearly on his mind. "Come home with me tonight?"

Oh.

Oh.. oh.. oh~

Well this was a development though perhaps he should've expected it. Of course he should have expected it with the way that they have been dancing and flirting around each other. His fingers lightly danced up against that spine until it reached the wings that had been shimmied on. He felt breathless with what that could mean but, he was trying not to place any expectations on this. "I would like to come home with you, and whatever that entails." there was no buts or any pauses that meant that he had something to add onto it, it was just a simple answer that communicated a very complex want.

"You will.. still argue with me in the morning, right?" because that was an important aspect to their relationship, he loved the arguing and the jibing-- it made them who they were.

A smile broke over Alex's face at that answer, pleased and maybe just a little relieved. They were figuring out this -- whatever the hell this was and would be between them. He had enough faith in them to believe they'd manage it, together, but it was new ground. Alex wasn't the type to let anything stop him once he had something in his sights. And Henry was all he could see.

When Henry continued, Alex's smile only widened as he very deliberately wound his arms around the other man. "I think... that it's really cute you think I'll wait until the morning to argue with you."

It was who they were, the banter and the barbs, the gentle (and sometimes less than gentle) ribbing. "What we are doesn't have to change. We're just adding something new."

Perhaps he was a bit of a Hufflepuff because at times the other man could absolutely cause him to become speechless with the whirlwind of his words, the banter. Well if he couldn't get the last word in (a very hard thing indeed), he decided on something a little bit more concrete.

Hand sliding down, and then he pinched Alex's rear, a nice firm pinch, and then he said with a snort. "Brat..." which the First Son was, a unmitigated brat who could not watch his mouth to save his mouth.

"I cannot take you anywhere, can I?" though he managed to rest their foreheads together, to breath the other man in until he nearly exhaled sunshine and light. A light that the other man had rained down into his world.

Puffs were gonna puff, it was true. Alex was a talker, so Henry should at least be aware of what he'd gotten himself into, first with friendship and then with... whatever this was. Friendship plus? The premium subscription? The one where he wanted to -- and was allowed to -- kiss Henry breathless, maybe take the prince to bed, learn all the things that drove him wild.

Alex had plans, and he was far too smug in that moment about those plans coming to fruition. Then he was pinched, and he couldn't stop a startled sound escaping. His expression softened back into a smile.

"You really can't. I'm barely housebroken."

By this point they were sharing a subscription together, they were in it at least while they were here in Caldera; yes they lived in Water and Air respectively but at the least they were able to cross over fairly effectively-- and there were enough instances that they could interact with this world in all of its confusion.

He would not dare call it love though even though he knew on his end it was; they were clearly going to be idiots about this much like they would if they had been allowed to go at it in their own world.

At least they did not have to navigate the royal family or presidential elections, and gone were NDAs to think of.

"You are lucky I have experience, though I have never had to housebreak an American before, is it any different from a standard run if the mill british man?" He wasn't going to mention tomatos, he was not...

The air and water thing was, well, it wasn't surprising. They were different. He'd told Henry that the prince reminded him of still, deep water, and that was true. And he was sure there was some quip to be made about him being an airhead. That said, even before they'd started this flirtation and thing-that-neither-one-of-them-was-brave-enough-to-call-falling-in-love Alex had thought it might be worth broaching the idea of living together. For safety.

And company. He really and truly was awful on his own. For now though, he'd take Henry staying with him for the evening, worm his way into being invited to the prince's for a night.

"I don't know. We're probably wilder by nature. It's all the open spaces. And I grew up in Texas, so good luck to you."

If Henry had been able to read Alex's mind, he would've called the other man highly sneaky-- but he wasn't able to and it was likely that he was going to cave to the storm that was Alex because it was true that Alex needed someone to look after him. Perhaps they would cohabitate, considering that it was possible for people of other factions to live in the others realm.

But right now it was one step at a time, and the next step was following Alex as if he was the pied piper. "So does this mean that I need a lasso to tangle with you, the idea of tying you up though? That is something that I would imagine comes on the third date." he said matter-of-factly, with a twitch to the corner of his lips.

"Maybe I will tie you up and then read Great Expectations aloud to you."

Wow. Not sneaky. He was just resourceful and planning ahead. Sneakily. Alex would learn to love living under the sea if need be, because a watery bubble abode was much preferable to the empty rooms of his current place of residence. Tonight at least it would not be empty, and Alex's heart was beating at a fluttering pace at the idea of it, since Henry had agreed to come home with him. It wasn't likely to stop any time soon.

"I'd love to see you try a lasso. Do they teach that at fancy British academies?" Threaten him with a good time why don't you, Henry.

His eyebrows rose slowly at the mention of being tied up, as he was clearly not opposed. Until Charles Dickens came into the picture, and his expression fell flat. "Do not ruin bondage for me before I've even tried it."

"Oh but Alex, there is one thing you and the author of the book have in common."

He leaned in very close, did his voice a breathy husky whisper and his blue eyes dancing perhaps a bit playfully. "You both have dick in them, or will--" and then Henry drew back as if completely nonchalant, as if that entire statement had not been meant to upend Alex's entire world. It appears that the Prince did have his naughty streak, for good or very bad.

"I may also be able to clear my schedule to fit one in..."

Henry leaned close and Alex unintentionally wound up holding his breath. The prince's voice in that tone sent a frisson over his skin, a rush of goosebumps that shivered through him. Oh. Oh that was not playing fair at all. Then what Henry actually said registered, and Alex choked on absolutely nothing.

He was staring at the other man like he was a dinner setting and Henry just pulled the tablecloth out from beneath him and he remained where he was but with his entire world utterly in disarray despite having not changed an instant from the moment before. His mouth formed a surprised (and okay a little impressed at Henry's wicked streak) little o while he tried to find words. And failing.

"You are... evil. It's disturbingly hot."

"There is a fine line between a Disney Prince and a Villian." Henry said with a chuckle and then he started to tug Alex toward the refreshment table. "My villian origin story involves cake."

The wicked streak though was not one that he showed to everyone, it could be a bit snarky and there was a hint of something else in him; Pez could've told Alex that every time they attended a Wimbledon match and there was the men moving around the tennis courts in rather form fitting shorts, and Henry had a ready word for all of those.

"But I am thirsty now..."

Alex didn't bother trying to temper the laugh that burst from him at that. Cake. Always back to the cake. That damn cake. Alex was so stupidly fond of that cake now, as much as he'd cursed the whole ordeal when it first happened, when it first meant he had to go pretend to be best friends with Henry.

Funny how things change.

"No shit," Alex muttered. Thirsty? Henry? After the dick comment? Yeah, Alex could see the thirst all right.

In any case, he followed after Henry towards the refreshments. "There are some gardens that make for a good stroll, apparently. Do you want to check them out?" They were disgustingly romantic apparently.

"Are you attempting to get me alone? Do you realize how scandalous that is?" he said as he picked up a fruity pink drink with an umbrella it, there were cranberries dancing amongst it, and it fizzed rather delightfully. He did have a secret weakness for most gorgeous drinks, you know the ones that tasted like spun sugar.

"Of course say the right words and I will disappear into the garden with you."

"Yes. And yes." At least he was honest about it, even if he was also entirely unapologetic. Alex snagged himself a drink as well, something a little less pink, though honestly what Henry had looked delicious and he was not above stealing a sip at some point. Or maybe just seeing what sweetness would cling to the prince's lips. Either way.

"The right words?" Alex echoed, glancing down. Fine Henry wanted the right words, Alex would absolutely deliver. He looked back to Henry through that dark fringe of impossibly long lashes -- that he was well aware by now that Henry had noticed -- before leaning in close, like he was whispering a secret to the other man, voice pitched low and lips just shy of brushing against his ear, "Pretty please, baby?"

Gods help him through the many levels of weakness he experienced when Alex said things like that. He was used to being full of poise, he was used to having to stay through functions and see them to their bitter end (or at least until his grandfather and brother wanted to leave, to which himself and Bea were beholden to that) but he had the inexplicable urge to just drag Alex off.

He did not know where Alex lived, but he was almost tempted to 'guess'. He took a sip of his drink, trying not assuage the flush that came to him. Yes it was really telling and the parts of him was that were the most flushed were the tips of his ears; oh-- maybe he was an elf in a past life?

He cleared his throat. "That was not fair, Alex Claremont-Diaz.. and you know it."

Alex would let Henry drag him off wherever. Didn't have to be his house. He'd settle for a decently private maintenance closet. But a bed and some privacy would be better for so many reasons.

He tried not to look too smug at the way Henry reacted, as understated as it was. He could see the flush, watched the way that Henry deliberately sipped at his drink. He exhaled a laugh before grazing his teeth against the shell of Henry's ear. He absolutely knew it.

"Is that a yes?"

"It is very much a yes.." there was a measured glance around but no one was looking at either of them, so intent on their own self-indulgence to pay a mind to anyone else; he rather liked it because it meant that he could escape notice. Much easier to breath when his every move was not being watched.

Well, it was alright if Alex watched him.

This drink was too good to toss back so he did keep it in his hand. "I take it you haven't been to the gardens yet?" they could get lost together potentially; there was likely also shadows right where the night and moonlight kissed, shadows where they could easily get lost in. Well, Henry tried not to think of that too much.

"I haven't. I heard people talking about them though." And the word romantic got thrown around, and well, romantic sounded good to Alex. Really good, actually, especially after the dancing and the kissing.

Alex took a moment to tip back the rest of his drink before he set the glass aside. The liquor was starting to give him a pleasant warm little rush, though it paled in comparison to the warmth still centered in his chest that had everything to do with the prince.

"It sounded pretty."

They both needed a bit of liquid courage and maybe it was the feeling of anticipation that followed them, because this clearly meant something to them, it certainly was not something frivolous to him-- his idea of frivolous was sitting around in his robe whilst watching Bake-Off.

But he found that he was following the light that was Alex, drawn like a moth to the proverbial flame. It was a compulsion and those laughing eyes and a smile that touched every part of him, he trailed after. Another sip and he found it empty, and then the giddiness ran through him, tendrils that reached his brain and made him dizzy.

"Well I do love pretty things.." like Alex's perfect features.

"You are a pretty thing," Alex informed him. The liquid courage probably helped propel those words right out into the open air, but they were entirely true, and it was not the first time Alex had thought them. Even when they were the worst of enemies he'd thought Henry was unfairly gorgeous -- though he'd deny it up and down at the time, especially when Nora tried to argue the fact.

But well, Henry was beautiful. He was also smart and funny and dedicated. Alex was starting to realize how much trouble he was in, and found himself eager to chase after it anyway.

The garden had come into view before them, and even from the distance as they approached, it really did look lovely. Alex reached over without looking, catching Henry's fingers with his own, a brief touch to let the other man know he was there before linking their hands together properly.

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