calderamemes | TDM #4

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!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

They could be brave together perhaps. Alex was, in his usual fashion, figuring things out as he went along. But already some things were perfectly clear -- how very much he wanted Henry the clearest of all.

Henry came closer and Alex stilled at the touch, before turning into. There was no room for doubt how much he liked that touch, craved more of it. Heart on his sleeve, Alex tried not to melt entirely, even as he was called a menace, and a feral one at that.

"Even though I'm a menace?" He teased back, giving into his own desire to touch, hand finding its way to settle against Henry's chest, toy with the fine designs of the prince's fancy masquerade clothes, and then sliding up to let his fingertips brush against the hollow of Henry's throat. "You're very distracting, you know. I like it."

"Do you think so? I've never been called distracting before." he said as he closed his eyes to the touch, it was like a form of foreplay based only in touch and he found himself arching into it. "I said what I said, you are a menace but a very handsome one." and then he pressed himself up against Alex, his fingers slowly playing with Alex's own shirt.

Not that it was covering much, he got a nice view of tanned chest, the skin looked good enough to eat. He wanted to eat Alex up, see if he tasted as good as he had imagined. "You know, I've thought about how you'd taste..." he leaned in then and applied his mouth to neck, allowing his tongue to slide against a pulse.

"Then people have been lying to you. You're all I can think about." He'd be worried except that Henry as all he wanted to think of, all that he wanted, period. His breath caught as the other man stepped closer. Given his current wardrobe choice (not his choice, mind, but someone sure had made a choice) he could feel Henry oh so very close.

It was harder to breathe than he remembered it being only a moment ago, but breathing did not seem to be important at the moment. At all. Especially when Henry kept talking.

Now, Alex was not easy to strike speechless, but Henry'd gone and done it. His eyes went wide as Henry mouthed at his neck, at the heated touch of tongue along his skin Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Wide eyes slowly slid shut, head falling to the side. His fingers buried into Henry's hair, holding onto him like he planned on never letting go. "Hen... Henry."

"Do you like this?"

Right at the crook of that neck he could scent santel 33, why was it that this place had a near copy of it in the marketplace? It wasn't fair.. but also it was, he loved the way it was bright and clean on the other man, carrying a musk that enfolded and energized. Oh those pheromones were the best thing that nature had ever made for it managed to tangle with the scent to make something that was definitely attracting him.

Teeth scrapping against neck then after he had finished talking, his hands moving down to cup Alex's bottom to give a squeeze. He was finding it was easier to be bolder now well-- it was true that Alex was so very close to getting dragged and pressed up against a tree.

Did he like it? Like wasn't a strong enough word. It sent shivers through him, over his skin like a roaming caress, straight to the heart of him where it quickened his pulse into a fluttering mess and due south where it had his body stirring in response, far more quickly than he'd want to admit. Henry had such an effect on him.

His fingers curled tighter in that hair, breath leaving him in a trembling sigh. His other arm slipped around Henry, pulling him closer, hand running up his spine, around his side, anywhere he could touch.

"Fuck, Henry..." A quiet curse. "Of course I like it. It's... you're... perfect."

Perhaps they were edging each other just a tad, two men who desired drive each other to distraction. They would return to their own world one day and things would unfold in an entirely different way but Caldera choose to show them down this particular path.

He thought perhaps it would not do for everyone to see him pushing Alex's back to a tree and then going down on him which was what Henry wanted to do.

"A small request, Alex?" He said as he pressed himself up against Alex, breathing into those lips.

They'd figure themselves out back home too, Alex was sure, even if he imagined it would be more complicated. After all, back home they were separated by an ocean, by nationality, by the weight of a crown and the pressure of a spotlight. Here, the world was more complicated, but they got to be simpler.

Alex would not have complained if he had been shoved up against the nearest tree, but he would admit that there would be some drawbacks to being out in the midst of a public gathering. For one thing, there were likely to be interruptions, and he didn't really need anyone else seeing the things he wanted to do of Henry.

With a soft hum, he captured those lips instead of answering straight away, lingering in the kiss before remembering he ought to answer. "Anything, baby. What is it?"

Simplicity was so nice, right now Henry felt every inch merely Henry Fox, just a regular guy who was going about life; yes it was eventful but he could be who he was-- he could allow a part of himself to breath that he did not have the luxury of. He could kiss this man in public, he could go to the market and purchase veggies without much incident or anyone recognizing him.

Also no tabloids, anywhere and oh wasn't that a blessing in and of itself?

Right now though he rather wanted to kiss this man senseless, but he also wanted to do it in private. Just because there was no media presence around did not mean that he wasn't still wary of being watched. "I have not seen your place yet, and I'm finding that I want to very much-- I'm actually riveted by the thought."

The lack of snapping photos and prying journalists was actually really refreshing, even for Alex who didn't chafe under it all quite so much as Henry did.

Was... was Henry asking him to get out of this place and go back somewhere alone? Yeah? Because Alex was ready. Masquerade had been great, but beating an early retreat? That worked for him, especially if it meant showing Henry his place.

And some other things.

"Yeah, okay. Let's get out of here. I'll give you the full tour, show you all my favorite spots." Like his bed.

Henry was only a little smug as he placed pulled away, but with the understanding that hopefully Alex would lead him into the sanctuary of his place, free of prying eyes and thankfully papparazi. His fingers twining right through Alex's and then following him in with a certain amount of trust though he could see the other guy was eager.

The houses were, admittedly not that big but Henry rather imagined that there were other things fairly big located in that house.. or rather what would be located.

"Favorite spots? I hope that you will give me a tour of every single one; I actually plan on charting my own favorite spots in your.. home." that absolutely possessed no innuendo in the slightest.

"I'll be incredibly thorough," Alex promised. The tour was going to be VIP all access with full service. The First Son did nothing by halves, and he sure as hell wasn't going to start any half-ing with doing Henry.

He led them out of the masquerade, away from the crowd and out into the night before starting the walk to his small but surprisingly cozy little house in Heaven's Bow. Henry might notice that Alex couldn't seem to stop looking over at him, like he was still convincing himself that this was real, that it was Henry holding his hand and coming back to his place and...

So yeah, maybe he was a little swept up. Maybe that was why he couldn't stop the impulse that came next, to lift their joined hands so he could press a kiss to the back of the prince's knuckles.

How dare Alex do something that sweet and romantic, it utterly undid him in a fairly obvious way. The way his eyes widened at the brush of mouth against his knuckles, the way that it felt like his entire world was upending and all the air being punched out of his solar plexus.

And then he made himself a bit more comfortable against that side, his arm looping around that waist as he tucked himself into the side so that Alex could feel his very athletic polo playing build up to that side, though to be fair he was far more toned in the lower half of his body, now Alex had the upper side of his physique that Henry could easily lap up with his tongue.

"You are cheating." Henry said this with a bit of a pout.

Henry tucking himself closer was a perfect reward, honestly, and guaranteed that Alex would keep that piece of knowledge in mind, that the prince seemed a bit weak to romance. Maybe more than a bit.

He slipped his arm around Henry in turn to hold him close as they walked. Alex was only just remembering to watch where he was going, to actual navigate so they ended up where they were headed instead of hopelessly lost.

"Yeah but you like it."

"You have your charms."

Henry attempted to remark noncommittally though the fact that Alex's arm was around his shoulder certainly did things to him , did things that goaded him to press Alex against something and at this time he wasn't picky where it came down to it. His fingers slipped against the small of back and the downward and then gave that ass a firm squeeze.

"You do not understand how much and how long I have wanted to do that, to grope you like that."

Alex laughed, clearly thrilled by this. Yes, he did have his charms. He was super charming, when he wasn't lodging his foot in his mouth. Obviously.

He certainly wouldn't have minded being trapped up against a tree either, if Henry truly felt the need. And he definitely did not mind those wandering fingers, even if he heard himself give a startled (but not at all displeased) squeak of sound at the unexpected squeeze to his rear.

"...how long?" Please divulge that very interesting fact to him Henry. Inquiring minds were desperate to know.

"Well.." It was important to create anticipation, so he drew that out as long as he could while he settled in closer-- let Alex feel like he was being the big man in this situation, a false sense of security for when Henry pressed him up against a door or a while.. they must be drawing closer to Alex's domicile somehow, which means then his plan could be enacted.

"I have thought you were rather the most attractive man I've ever met at the Peace Conference, and then when the spreads of you in People, well.. that is when I imagined ah.. shagging you."

Ah look how cute and british he was, Alex... he said 'shag'

The anticipation was going to be the end of him really. Though Henry tucking in closer was a soothing balm for his impatience. The prince was warm against his side, and Alex had to remind himself to focus on where they were going yet again.

They were getting close. In fact, it was about then that his little house came into view and he steered them directly towards it, fishing in his pocket for a key.

"Oh." A slightly surprised utterance when Henry finally answered. Back that far? Alex, with the benefit of hindsight now and the realization (that had taken far too long given he'd hooked up with men before anyway, and had been furious about how attractive Henry was for way too long) could recognize that attraction in himself too, longer than he'd fully grasped it.

More importantly though. "Shagging is the one that means fucking, right?" So eloquent. So cultured.

The bluntness was what Henry admired even if he wanted to also strangle the other guy when the mouth ran away with the tongue, it was a balance right? Well Alex did have a wonderful mouth with a smile that could channel sunlight-- it was no wonder that Alex was air.

He leaned in and pressed his lips against a jaw, perhaps only settling to disarm the other man a little bit in the most delicate of increments. "Yes, it means that-- should I set you down and give you a lesson on british colloquiel phrases? We can have a test on it later and I will give you head if you make over 80 marks on it."

Alex was very easily distracted by Henry, as it turned out. A brush of those lips and his capacity for higher thought went scattering to the winds. He hummed a soft, pleased little sigh.

He'd managed to get his keys out of his pocket, and very nearly fumbled them when Henry spoke. Somehow he didn't drop the key, but only barely. He turned to look at the other man, wide-eyed. "You know I was valedictorian, right?" Because look, Henry, he was a quick study especially when motivated and holy hell was that some motivation. "So try me, pretty boy."

He disengaged from Henry then, but only long enough to get his key in the door and get the door opened.

Once the door was open, Henry entered in though as soon as he stepped over the threshhold, he turned on his heels and then took that hand and pulled him into the house and then very soon, if Alex would allow-- he would find him up against the door and with the Prince pressed up against him.

And his lips absolutely seeking out Alex's; the subtle rush of exhilaration, the surge of adrenaline while his fingers slipped against hip and he pulled himself right against the First Son. Oh yes, his mouth was absolutely hungry in a way that he'd not been in the middle of the dance floor.

You invited this beast in, Alex. Now it was your job to assuage it's hungers; especially since it'd been so long and Henry was matched with someone he fancied, which gods it was a potent combination.

Alex had just finished shutting the door behind them when he found himself pressed back against it. A soft gasp of breath and then Henry's lips were on his, and Alex was very busy finding himself kissed breathless near immediately. He lost a low, needy sound against Henry's mouth. His hands moved as if with a will of their own, suddenly desperate to touch the other man, anywhere and everywhere that he could reach.

The kiss was intense in a way that Alex could not remember ever being kissed, like they both were intent on devouring each other then and there. His hands slid down Henry's sides, down to grip at his ass and pull him closer.

Henry had dreamed of kissing that insolent and impertinent mouth-- repeatedly and often; not their first kiss but oh how it would not be their last by any stretch of the imagination; his body pressed flush as he consumed the low moan of the decadent sound that came from Alex's mouth, that he tasted as it ripened over tongue.

His tongue sliding in between lips, his hips rolling as he unleashed that intensity that surely Alex had sensed underneath the surface.

Self-control had put it firmly in place.

There would be no pulling Henry away tonight, so Alex had better mean that he wanted to give the Prince a tour of his room, his bed-- because Henry would probably die if he didn't get a taste of Alex in some form or fashion.

Alex was not surprised at the intensity, not really. Because yes, he had sensed it beneath the surface, the irresistible rip current of this man that threatened to pull him under and never let him surface again -- and oh he would happily sink into those depths with eagerness. Another quiet sound, halfway into a moan was lost into the kiss at the taste of Henry's mouth, at the slide of their tongues together.

His hands gripped at Henry's hips, holding on for dear life as they pressed together, rocked against one another. There'd be no missing his own arousal, awake and alert and aching at the prince's proximity.

"So..." he didn't break from Henry's lips even as he spoke. "Welcome to chez Alex." A pause to dive back into kissing the prince. "Make yourself at home."

"I think I rather am.." he said as he moved his hands to take Alex's jaw and then he was kissing him with far more passion than with reason; he would let Alex's hands guide while his mouth moved over Alex like a man starved. It was time to get out of clothing, for if they stayed in them-- they'd rather ruin them just as much as it was possible for the two of them to do so.

And honestly, Henry was looking forward to peeling that whore shirt right off Alex-- revealing skin that clearly begged for his mouth. "So, Sweetheart-- I think that I am going to start taking off your clothes and then I'm going to endeavor to lick every inch of your skin..." it'd been a while since he's had any sort of sex.. maybe upwards of two years?

Henry had honestly lost track.

Oh Alex fully agreed. Clothing needed to be gone immediately if not sooner. There was too much between them, and he wanted to feel Henry -- all of Henry -- wanted to learn all the lines and curves and angles of the other man until they were familiar territory that he could map with his eyes closed.

He was clinging to Henry now for dear life the way the prince has the world beneath his feet trembling. That did not stop him from beginning the process of working Henry's fancy party clothes off, that damnably sexy little bow at his neck, the ornate buttons, all of. He was very aware of the absurd wings of his own masquerade outfit pressed against the door, but they didn't matter so long as Henry was kissing him, touching him.

"Oh... Yeah, that sounds... yeah, good. Please, baby..."

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