Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jory was still mussing with the collar of his vest as he damn near jogged down the walkway leading away from the dorms. He was running a little late. Dressing up nicely for the dance had been his idea, and he really liked the outfit he'd put together for it, but it had taken more time than he'd expected to dress and get his hair up. Even then, when Zaire's text had come in, Jory had still been struggling to get his vest on and layered properly with his shirt.

He managed to get the collar buckled as bare feet veered off the path to cut across the lawn, following the familiar route to the lake, and their spot on the bank.

Truth be told, the afanc was nervous. If Zaire had wanted to get a little something, before the dance, there was no need to call the smaller boil all the way out to the Lake. It seemedodd, and his chest felt tight in a way that was impossible to ignore as he slowed to a walk as he reached the clearing. "I'm sorry," it came out quick, as if it'd been resting on the tip of his tongue the entire way over. I was. "My clothing was giving me trouble."

He blinked as he got near enough to get a good look at the mahamba, and baby blues dragged up from wing-tipped shoes, to the waist coat, the tie(even if it was just laying loosely around his shoulders, it counted), the hair up in it's tight ponytail. "Wow."

He'd slowed to a stop as Zaire had turned to him, moving closer with an obvious sway of hips, and actually blinked, startled, as a hand touched his hip to pull him closer. Months together, and the other boil still had that effect on him. It made him blush, cheeks paling, and his gaze dipped, briefly, before eyes fell closed as they kissed. It was slow, and warm, and that tight knot in his chest loosened a tiny bit.

When they parted he looked a little dazed as he licked his lips, but he smiled, almost shyly. "It looks good like that." It fit him him better that way. "But I can tie it for you if you want?"

The compliment had him ducking his head, grinning. "Thank you. You look better. Very handsome," he said it quietly, hands moving to slip under the untucked tails of the other boil's shirt so he could touch tanned hips. Not to be enticing, just because. Because he could, because Zaire was muscled and handsome, because he liked to feel the pulse of his body through his skin.

Baby blues slip shut as those large hands slid up under his shirt to touch his skin. A soft smile playing on his lips, he leaning into the other boil, happy, even if that anxious knot lingered. He wanted to ask, but he was scared, too. So he bit his lip, and hr drink in the feel of hands on his sides, and shivered as lips moved against his ear.

His breath eased out in a sigh, and he leaned in closer, melting against that strong chest. When Zaire spoke, he gave a soft, inquisitive hum, head lifting up so he could meet glowing blues with careful eyes.

And he held his breath, because whatever it was Zaire had called him out there for, it was coming out. He tried to fend off the tension that threatened to crawl into his shoulders, down his back, and mostly succeeded. Only that quick pick up of his pulse gave away just how nervous he was in that moment.

The afanc nodded. He remembered, and he hadn't really dwelled on it too[/] much, but he had wondered. Now he was even more curious, but it was a curiosity he wasn't sure he wanted answered. He was picking up Zaire's nerves, so despite the affection, he couldn't help but worry over what the taller boil wanted to tell him. And because it was him, and because he still failed to see the value in himself that Zaire saw, his mind was quick to throw up awful scenarios.

It didn't help that Zaire was beating around the bush. The mahamba wasn't usually this tight lipped. Quiet, yes, but never this dodgy.

His ears were drooping as the answer finally came out, or part of the answer. Jory blinked, brows creasing briefly before the words had fully sunk in. "You got a job?" He hadn't meant it to, but it came out softly incredulous. Zaire, working, was something that required wrapping one's mind around.

Thankfully, the boil was plowing through, nervously rambling on. The smaller boil was standing very quietly not as he listened, once again holding his breath as he curled pinkies into the belt loops on Zaire's sides. Nervous and fidgety, even as adoration and kindness was rained down on him. His cheeks flushed paler, and pale eyes kept skirting up to meet glowing blue, then twitching down.

Until that last, trailed-together bit of confession. Then his head snapped up, eyes going wide with wonder, and battling it out with disbelief. "You-you..." Pale cheeks were burning

"...I" He swallowed, with drawing his hands from Zaire's sides so he could lay palms against his chest, fingers curling around his tie. "I l-love you too..." It came out in a quiet, bashful squeak

cheekieebirdie

Truth be told, Jory really didn't know how relationships were supposed to work. Or rather, when they had first gotten together, he hadn't. Through time, and attention, and spending time together the afanc had worked out the finer points. Well, he'd worked out what worked best for him and Zaire, and that was what mattered. What they had worked. It made Jory happy.

It made them both happy.

The confirmation, the grin, the ease of tension around them; all of it had the boil's shoulders loosening, an easy smile gliding along his own lips. Adoring and and maybe just a little smug, even if only on a subconscious level.

Someone loved him. They loved him, and they wanted to be with him. It made his chest swell, eyes hot with emotion.

When hands caught his own, drawing them down, he let the tie slip through his fingers and rose up on tip toe to meet the mahamba half way, melting into that kiss eagerly. Even his tail came up, curling around the both of them, hugging them together while Zaire held his hands at his sides.

Perfect. It was perfect. The press of lips, and teeth, and tongue; the wrap of long fingers around his wrists, holding his arms down at his sides; and the weight of Zaire's tail wrapped around his hips, holding them close. It pulled a small, helpless sound from the boil, almost a whimper, and pale hands tensed, clutching at air. He wanted to throw his arms around the taller boil's shoulders and climb up his body, to cling, and never let him go. It was such a selfish desire, and he didn't care.

Could he be selfish? Was it really okay?

His mind tried to tell him he didn't deserve it, this happiness, and he pushed it back, shut it away. It would come back, it always did, but for now, he just wanted to be happy.

When they finally parted the smaller boil swayed on his feet, features slack and expression dazed as his tongue slid over his lips. It took a moment for him to regain his focus, to blink up at Zaire and register was he was saying. "Go?" He couldn't quite remember what they had been doing before they'd met.

Frowning, he turned his head towards the faint sound of music, and then he remembered. The dance. They were supposed to be going to the dance. Worrying his lower lip, he stared across the lake, leaning into Zaire as strong arms wrapped around his shoulders.

He did want to go to the dance still, but as he looked back up at Zaire, saw the look in his eyes, a pout touched pale features. "Please?" His head ducked, arms coming up to wrap around the other monster's waist. "I have something for you, for after." It was dark, but Zaire could probably still see the color drain from already pale cheeks.

Jory never asked for much, it just wasn't in him to be demanding. He was doing better, lately, with Zaire. Asking for things he wanted, though always shyly, never demanding. It would never occur to him to nag his boilfriend, to insist he be more than he was, because this Zaire was the one he had picked, the boil that made him happy, that he'd fallen for. When he did do more--make it to his classes, get his homework done on his own, the job--it meant more, because it wasn't expected.

The kiss to his head made him hum, a small little affectionate sound as he held onto the boil, and he he squeezed tighter as those lips ghosted over the tip of an ear.

When Zaire reached for his hand he slid pale fingers between darker ones, and his other hand came around, playing over the back of tanned knuckles. As if he couldn't quite get enough of touching the other boil, and that was even more reinforced by the weight of his tail as it looped around the much thicker one.

The question made the fading blush blaze bright again, and he actually stumbled, gaze dropping down and to the side as they walked back towards the school. "Um." He kept his gaze on the ground, as if to make sure he didn't trip again, but he didn't think he was fooling anyone. "Well..."

It had been hard enough, mustering up the courage to do it all on his own, without any prompting. So, absolutely flustered, he finally looked up again. "It-it's a a surprise. You'll have to wait for later." And it occurred to him, en, that if he had mentioned it, they likely wouldn't have made it to the dance at all.

No, keeping it a surprise was the wisest choice.