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

There. That was so much better. The world felt like a warmer, sweeter place with Henry's arms around him -- and wasn't that evidence enough of how much trouble he was in? There would be no recovering from any of this.

His hands set at Henry's hips, running up his sides and then around to wind around his waist, resting at the small of his beck. He smiled, a softer expression, as if something in Henry's eyes melted him. "You know, I'm not really sure. Want to help me test it out?"

They could put it through its paces, make sure it was up to the task.

No recovery, Henry was irrevocably lost in those dark chocolate eyes that held flecks of spice within them, he could see the world there, how it had expanded to include this dork of a man-- he leaned in to bump their noses together.

"It is important to make sure any bed is sturdy, I actually will look forward to stress testing it with you."

Henry was being altruistic, as his charity work was known far and wide; there should be some sort of name for it-- perhaps the "International Society for Bed Preservation" which seemed an inclusive enough name which aligned with purpose.

"Good. We should really put it through its paces." They would be sharing it, after all, once they'd moved Henry into his place so they could properly coparent their dragon egg. Their bed, but putting it in those terms felt weighty somehow, and Alex was still trying to feel out the shape of this between them.

Whatever it was, whatever it would be, he liked it. And he wanted it to last, wanted it to work for the both of them.

This was about when he began backing Henry up towards the bed, not stopping until the bed got in their way, and he could begin urging the prince back.

Henry Fox was caught up in the shape of Alex, in every nuance. He wanted to memorize him as if he were a well-read book, he wanted to savor the words and the thoughts conveyed by Alex's own energy. Very quickly though he found himself backed up against the bed where he quickly grabbed those shoulders to assure balance.

"Well, if i did not know better-- I would think that you were very very eager to test the integrity of the bed."

A tease, though there was something in those blue eyes, a desire to know everything that he could about the other guy.. intimately. Right now they were on the precipice of something, and they would not be able to climb back up; once they jumped? They jumped and it could not be taken back. He only hoped that it would be worth it, that they would be worth it.

"I'm very eager to test the integrity of something," Alex informed him, teasing right back. Maybe there was no going back, but weren't they already leaping? At least they'd land together, and wasn't there something beautiful and terrifying in that too?

He had every intention of tumbling Henry back to the bed, but first there were clothes to deal with first, and Alex was going to start the process of stripping Henry out of everything he hadn't gotten the chance to divest him of in their first collision just inside the front door.

"See, I found this gorgeous blond at a party... can't stop thinking about getting him into my bed."

"Hmmmm? Anyone I know?" He positioned himself in such a way that he would not topple easily into the freefall-- he was after all was privy to many secrets of the initiated, of which Alex still had a ways to go-- but he would share his expertise and knowledge willingly.

It did please him that he was thought attractive by Alex-- yes, he was mindful of what those close to him thought of him, that he was blessed inordinately by hundreds of years of good breeding.

But Alex thought he was sexy amd that was everything he needed and wanted, so he leaned up and beushed lips to lips, murmuring in the process. "Sweetheart, you should understand that I am prepared to give you anything you wish."

"Mm... just some Fox."

See what he did there? Sadly he was terribly pleased with himself for the pun. Besides, he meant it. Henry was this beautiful creature, all the more attractive the more Alex got to know him. God he was falling for a handsome prince. How was this his life?

A smile in the wake of that kiss before he chased Henry's lips for another. "Anything?" What a dangerous thing to say, except for the truth of the matter was, "I want you." Easy enough. "In my bed. Preferably naked. Preferably letting me make you feel good. ...and then letting me make you breakfast tomorrow." Okay so Alex had a vision here.

"Will there be tomatoes for breakfast?"

Henry murmured as he lay back on the bed, sprawled in a manner that was almost indecent, there was his shirt that hadn't made it's way fully off his torso, then those tight as sin pants that clung in all the right places including where his cock was pressing nearly eagerly in anticipation.

He tucked one arm underneath his head, the other slid against his inner thigh, and he was doing something as obscene as giving Alex a direct infusion of his own tempting lounge as if he was inviting the other man inside. "Very important, aside from the naked part." which he was not fully naked yet.

"Yes, there will be tomatoes."

If it made Henry, menace that he was, happy.

And well, speaking of menaces. There was a sight that would live forever in Alex's best fantasies, Henry sprawled on his bed looking like temptation made flesh, specifically created to undo Alex completely. For a lingering moment he enjoyed the view, letting his gaze rake slowly over every inch of him, committing it to memory.

Then he was moving to crawl on the bed along with the other man, hand splaying against Henry's stomach before running slowly up his side, leaning in to brush a whisper-soft kiss against those lips.

"There'll be anything you want, so long as I get to wake up with you in my arms."

It was not fair that Alex say things like that, about wanting to wake up in each others arms because that appealed to such a beautifully fragile part of him that wanted those intimacies too. For a standard 22 year old man, it was perhaps easy to not want a true relationship, but for Henry who was not allowed such little things as dating or casual things like holding hands (with the members of the same sex)-- it made things all the more precious.

That played exactly on the correct part of Henry.

"I suppose that I can grant that to you, Sweetheart. After all, I have a feeling that even if I wanted to leave, I would wake up with sprawled atop me." was he wrong? He had a few base assumptions about Alex being a whirlwind in sleep, it was a good thing that Henry was steady like a rock when he did allow himself to sleep. He met each kiss with one of his own, sweet and lingering.

This was starting to smell strongly of feelings and romance, wasn't it?

"It's good that you've already accepted that," Alex agreed. Yeah, there was no way that he wound not wind up draped all over Henry in their sleep. He was drawn like some irresistible magnetic force was pulling him towards the prince, even when he was conscious and able to reason with that compulsion.

He let his hand run up over Henry's chest, then down once more, fingers teasing in a feather light, likely ticklish way, over that taut stomach, down to hook into the waistband of his pants. "Speaking of being sprawled on top of you..."

It was a subtle segue, no? A masterclass in the understated. Or the exact opposite.

Henry would of accepted anything as long as it meant that Alex would continue to look at him like that and to lavish affection upon him. He wanted to feel the Alex's proximity, the warmth of his body and the heat of his kiss-- and it drew him like a moth to the flame. And wasn't Alex glowing incandescently.

A shiver roams through him at the touch of fingers against his chest, hitched breath that Alex can feel underneath hand, the barest tease before his trousers would be summarily divested as best as was able. "Speaking of, I suppose this means that you should like to lounge upon me?"

It was not an illusion that his legs cheated apart every so slightly.

"Among other things upon you, yeah." He teased lightly as his fingers began the slow and deliberate process of unfastening Henry's pants. He took his time with it too, even if his own arousal was aching, risen to the occasion once more.

Henry was clearly good for his libido.

"Would you let me, sweetheart?" And then, the far more important part of that question. "Do you want me?"

Because Alex found himself in desperate want of a particular prince he was in the process of undressing.

"I do.." Henry said, his voice a trifle breathless, that could've been the first indication that he would perish if he did not get Alex, he leaned upward to press his mouth against a jawline, tasting salt there as well as his every hope and dream, how colourful and brilliant. "So much that it nearly hurts."

Underneath his prick twitches underneath fabric, begging to be let out. Even the barest touch has him pulsing and full of aching need over and over again, and with Alex only able to fulfill it.

"I have been wanting you since before, when we were back in our home world-- wanting you and aching because I did not think that.." and then quickly, "Also because my world is not as easy as yours.. and my every move his monitored and I cannot have anything like this.. I seldom allow myself."

Alex's eyes flutter shut as those lips find his jaw, so weak to the attention that he was sure he'd physically melt for a moment. His fingers moved a bit more certainly to get rid of those pants, catching into his underwear as well and drawing them down his hips, shifting just enough so that he could drag them down those frankly perfect legs. Two birds one stone.

"We can't have that. No more hurting, baby. I'll make you feel good..." It was his current steadfast goal. His fingers moved to wrap their way around Henry's cock, stroking along him fingers teasing along the head to gather the slick precome beading there only to drag it down his shaft, smoothing the motions of his hand.

What Henry said next though drew a startled look from Alex, gaze finding Henry's face. Back home? Did he really? Despite himself he smiled, glancing down almost shyly. Perhaps it was bizarre to be shy while he was still slowly and deliberately jerking Henry off, but emotions were strange things. "You could have had me. I don't think I realized it, but if you crooked your finger... I would've come running."

But they were here now, this strange place that was a respite from the world Henry had been raised in. "No one's watching now. This is just ours, yeah?"

He propped his free hand against the bed on one side of Henry, leaning in to claim those lips with his own.

Henry knew without the doubt of a shadow, that Alex would follow through on that promise to make him feel good. But honestly, he would've accepted anything that Alex gave him, the sun that rained down on his ocean--- he soaked it up, sparkled perhaps underneath the rays of it; a shuddering gasp as Alex's hand wrapped around his cock and then gave it a slick smooth stroke; his entire psyche unused to this especially for someone he fancied as more than just a bed partner (he was archaic enough that of course he would use that term)

No one was watching, this was theirs-- it was theirs and he did not want to give it up.

He looked into those eyes, the whiskey desire within them and his fingertips lightly tracing against the curve of a hip, gods he could feel that part where the v would generally slide into pants; he'd seen enough of Alex in magazines-- clad in swimming trunks that looked absolutely decadent.

"I want that.. I want to steal that moment we are given."

"Good. Then that decides it. We'll take it and we'll make it ours." And, Alex thought, draw out that moment as long as it could possibly last. He watched Henry's face, meeting that unfairly sky-clear gaze as he continued his ministrations over his prick, enjoying the hitches of breath, the way that Henry looked, beautiful and wanting and, for tonight at least, his.

He considered the other man for a long moment. "You look so good in my bed." It was frankly ridiculous.

A glance to his nightstand, considering. "I think I have something we can, ah... use." Conveniently enough he'd picked up some massage oil that he liked the smell of, figuring that sore muscles from questing were likely inevitable. But he looked at Henry for confirmation that this was okay, that it was what he wanted.

"Do I? Perhaps I should visit your bed more often."

He allowed his hand then to stroke the covers, it all felt so very real the scent and the taste and also the touch and how they all melded together to bring them into something beautiful and inclusive. His eyes strayed to the bedside table and ah, well that made sense that there would be massage oils there-- he had followed Alex's line of thinking.

The uncertaintly of which he spoke of it attested to the fact that he had not been pondering use it before this moment. That quelled a little of the insecurity within him-- that Alex could have anyone (Man or Woman) he choose) so what would make him special, a product of the anxiety.

Definitely the anxiety.

"Yes, that is quite alright-- I actually want this, you know." he was assuring Alex that he did, that he trusted Alex. "It's a bit tighter, but it's not unlike well..." he gestures, attempting to erase any doubts that the other guy had.

"Maybe you should." Maybe he should just stay in it, in the long term. Alex had no inkling at all that Henry had any insecurity at all about Alex's attention being on anyone else. Really, how could it? He'd been so distracted and swept up in Henry long before they got here. How many days had he spent texting the prince over and over again, trading barbs and banter. How many times had he felt his phone buzz and hoped it was Henry?

In retrospect, perhaps, it should have been obvious.

A smile at the reassurance, and he nodded. "Yeah, right of course. Just... if I do anything wrong, you'll tell me right?" He was already reaching over to the nightstand to find the bottle that they'd need.

"Believe me, Sweetheart-- I will tell you if you are wrong."

They were the sort of couple in which 'google it' was a surefire method of competition between the two of them. Especially when either of them insisted they were right. But in this he was inclined to be a little bit more forgiving, because it was a point of vulnerability for the both of them. "But.. that being said, there is very little that you can screw up. There are after all no cakes for you to plow into."

He did not realize that he had just made an unintentional innuendo right there.

Alex realized it though. Oh did Alex realize it. His eyebrows lifted slowly as he looked at Henry and informed him, with full and complete sincerity. "There is absolutely cake, and plowing into it is exactly what I plan on doing."

That ass, Henry, was a cake of all cakes, putting even the most lavish and expensive of other cakes to shame. His smile turned wicked then, the sort of expression he'd been told was rakishly charming, the sort he wore that got him both into and out of trouble.

Opening the bottle, he poured a generous amount into his hand, working it over his fingers. He rose up on his knees, shifting closer, between Henry's legs, urging the prince to spread them wider for him.

"Oh?"

The wicked smile struck and then Henry allowed for a cough into his hand, also a slight flush which went rather well with his english rose complexion, how dare he have the smooth skin of a Princess, it wasn't right. "Oh--"

Well it slammed into him with the same diametric force as he supposed that Alex was going to slam into him, and that was quite alright. "Well then, I think that ah.. I've never heard it referred to as cake before." Because he'd never googled himself and also he did not appear on social media sites where there were much lingo involved.

Blushing was a good look on Henry too, Alex thought. "Baby, we have got to get you on Insta more." Get him caught up on what the kids these days were saying, down with all the hip lingo. "...when we're back in a world where that exists."

For now though, no social media. No googling themselves or each other. They'd have to find other ways to pass their time.

Like getting to know each other more intimately. Alex ran his fingertips down the inside of Henry's thigh, slowly tracing over soft, pale skin. And then slick fingers would find their way to exploring as well, down to rub a slow circle over his hole.

Immediately, Henry's mind blanked of the previous discussion especially when Alex's fingertip started running a revolution around his tight entrance, he closed his eyes and hissed out while his legs spread even further apart to allow for the other man to touch him even more.

"I actually have forgotten what we were talking about."

Very good, no more talk of social media or dick sizes. His own dick had been absolutely rock hard but well, this had him clenching even more beyond all thoughts that perhaps he couldn't get any more upright. But here they were. "Oh darling, that feels so good.. you can continue to do that, but deeper; I want your fingers as soon as possible"

Greedy, much?

"Nothing important," Alex agreed because what was important was the way that Henry reacted beneath his touch, the way his legs opened further, that permission to touch, to move closer. He had to swallow back a groan of his own as Henry spoke, because it was entirely too sexy the way he said what he wanted, especially when it was something that Alex could give to him.

An insistent slow pressure then, and one finger sank slowly into that tight passage, and Alex had a moment where his brain nearly went blank on him as he thought about being inside him, about how Henry would feel around him, squeezing at his aching cock.

He kept that steady pressure, sinking slowly to the knuckle, twisting gently to begin a slow massage of those inner walls.

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