judgementor | [Aefenglom IC Inbox]

[Oh.

Well.

Red Wine at least does Bailey the courtesy of turning slightly pink.]

That-- [Hm.] We were--... complicated.

[Are complicated. It had always been like that between them. He had never considered that kind of relationship with Steak on Tierra, but here... maybe it had been the bond, and the stress of being here, the constant fear and being the only truly familiar thing to one another. Red Wine never really got the chance to work out if the things he was feeling were real.

He clears his throat and sips his tea.]

Though I don't see what's obvious about it. You don't need to be embarrassed.

Complicated.

[Just. Gonna take another sip of tea. It's a bit too hot, but Bailey is ignoring that.]

I- Yeah. I can see that.

[They say, like they know either of them that well.]

I- Well! I mean. I'm not really like him, you know? I'm not... Strong. Or anything. So you wouldn't be interested in me the way I'm interested in you so, you know. I'm not embarrassed.

[Which... Is probably not all that convincing, and they're freshly mortified at admitting something so bold. It's something about being a faun, they think, because they never used to... Think of people like that, much.]

[His expression flickers.]

Bold.

[He murmurs against the edge of his cup.

And oh, he's fielded these kinds of declarations before. Usually from blushing young maids he had to gently let down, because a relationship with a Food Soul wasn't something a human should get into out of something so simple as infatuation.

He never let it get anywhere.]

Strength is not something I deem as worthy of being attracted to. Anyone can be strong. It says nothing about them as a person.

[They wish something would strike them down, stop their mouth from saying everything they're thinking.]

Well, you're very handsome, so can you blame me?

[Please... Have mercy...]

Well... That's... Fair, I suppose.

[Their tail thumps nervously against the back of their chair, as they stare very intently at their teacup.]

...I'm still not going to assume you definitely wanted to, but if you did want to, we could... Do that.

[The vampire rests his chin on the heel of his hand, the other hand curled loosely around the cup. He appraised Bailey quietly, and he--

He doesn't say 'no'.]

We shouldn't waste the tea. [He says softly, but there's still that faint smile. It still isn't 'no'.]

You should tell me a little more about yourself.

[Their tail stills, as it sinks in that... That wasn't a 'no'.

It wasn't a 'no', and they have no idea what to do with that.]

...Yeah. It's good tea.

[Not that they've really been able to taste it much.

They cock their head, finally looking up at Red Wine again. There's still a heavy blush on their face, but they manage to push down their embarrassment.]

...Well, you already know my name is Bailey. [A quirk of their lips.] I'm twenty-three, have a degree in psychology, and back home I could talk to ghosts. Can't do that here, though.

You're a medium?

[He didn't expect that, but he's learned in the last several months to not take anything for granted. Someone who could speak to ghosts... that's curious.]

Do you miss it? [Red Wine imagines that such a thing gets noisy. And... intrusive.]

I am. Was.

[They press their lips together, swirling the tea in their cup and considering.]

...I do. It's been such a large part of my life for so long, that being without it is strange.

... I know that feeling.

[He sips his tea again. It's still a little too hot, but he doesn't flinch as he swallows a mouthful and it burns on the way down.]

You've likely surmised that I wasn't human before. I wasn't a vampire, either. What I was... was something that defined me. [Red Wine smiles, a gentle tip to one corner of his mouth.] Being without it is very strange.

Yeah, that was pretty obvious.

[Their lips quirk, and they let out a soft laugh.]

This place seems to be built on changing our perspectives.

[There's a pause, as they hum.]

It's not the strangest thing to be without, though. [...] I... Saw and felt other things, too. Like other people's emotions.

[The confession is quiet - they can count the number of people who they've told that too on one hand, and it hasn't been anyone in Aefenglom. Not even Sylvia knows.]

I don't think many would wish to hear my opinions on what this place is built on.

[He doesn't have many positive opinions about this world, or the Coven, or how they conduct themselves towards the Mirrorbound. As he sees it, it's false smiles and handouts, and pulling them to the front line whenever danger rears its head.

It's interactions like this one that make being here at all worth it.]

An empath, too. [There's no judgement in his voice.] You must be a very special person, indeed.

I would.

[It's almost like they care about your thoughts and feelings, Red Wine!! It's almost like that's the entirety of their self-identity!!

They hum softly, looking a little... Sad.]

I suppose. I definitely stood out, that's for sure.

[Red Wine smiles again then, faint but certainly there, and he looks down at his tea. His mind should be racing, really, and for a myriad of reasons at the moment... but he feels strangely placid.

He stands up and offers Bailey a hand.]

Come with me.

[They blink a bit, surprised, and slowly lower their teacup.

...This might not be the best idea, but. Seize the moment.]

Okay.

[And they'll take his hand, standing from their chair.]

[Probably not one of his better ideas, really. He's still hurting, still very much in denial about how much it hurts, but...

This is something, and freely offered, and he doesn't want to turn it down. He turns a small smile up at them when they stand and with his cool hand loosely clasped around Bailey's he leads them up through the house to one of the rooms upstairs, quietly closing the door behind them.

Seize the moment, indeed.

He looks up at Bailey, scanning their face for a moment, then slips his fingers around the back of their neck and draws them down for a kiss.]

[They follow him without question, slowly trying to memorize the layout of the house as they're led through.

The kiss doesn't come as a surprise, but Bailey still finds theirself freezing as they get pulled down. The blush returns to their cheeks, they have no idea where to put their hands, and they realize very quickly that there's no way they can get out of this without Red Wine knowing.

They pull back after a moment, blinking, and they look to the side, embarrassed and shy.]

Um. I know I talked a lot, but... Ah. Well.

[They bite their bottom lip.]

I've never actually done this before?

[He doesn't quite manage to conceal his surprise. The fumbling through flirting had been one thing - plenty of people didn't really know how to flirt, and Red Wine knows he's an attractive person - but that they would let it get this far without actually having done anything like this before--

Gods, is it a faun thing?

Red Wine glances offside for a moment, letting out a small 'hm' of thought. He takes both of Bailey's hands in his and brings them to his lips, planting a kiss to one of the knuckles.]

If it's something you want, it only needs go as far as you want it to. I'm no cad.

[It's... Not not a faun thing. Well. It's definitely not something Bailey would do before, not something they had much drive to actively pursue and had always been content with just idle thought, so...

Yes. A faun thing.

They lick their lips, nervous, and shift a bit.]

...I'm not sure how far I want it to go.

[It's an honest admission, at least.]

But I don't think you'll treat me wrong.

Don't worry. [He's... actually a little touched, if he's being completely honest with himself.] I don't bite.

[The joke is lightly meant, given his current status... but in truth, he really doesn't bite. Not unless he has no other options. He draws Bailey's hands to his hips and places them there, his frame slim but solid beneath the shirt and waistcoat, and he lifts his own hand up to their neck again. This time, he lets it rest there, his thumb idling at the top of Bailey's jaw.]

All you have to do is tell me to stop. On my oath.

[It's a corny, overdone joke, but it still gets Bailey to laugh and relax.

They keep their hands on his hips, squeezing gently for a moment before relaxing again.]

Okay. [A pause, as they look him in the eye.] ...Okay.

[They feel far too tall for this, which feels like such a bizarre, ridiculous thought that they don't know what to do with it for a moment.]

And you're okay...?

I'm alright.

[He still feels that peculiar placid sensation - nothing unwelcome or strange, but not what he anticipated. Though, none of this was really anticipated, was it? Red Wine lets out a soft little laugh, his fingers shifting back to toy with a few locks of hair.

It's half a lie. He's not alright. He isn't sure when he will be alright, but he's alright with this, and right in this moment with... whatever this is. Something quiet and gentle with someone so wholly inexperienced who somehow trusts him to be the one to explore with.]

You can kiss me now.

[They watch him quietly, searching for any indication that he doesn’t want... This. Whatever this is. It was easier to read people, before, when they could just feel what they felt. Losing that means they’ve had to relearn how to read people, and they’re not sure they’re any good at it.

They know there’s no way that Red Wine is truly, completely okay. That will only come with time, but... Bailey can be a distraction from everything that’s weighing on him right now.]

Okay.

[They laugh again, more at their self than anything else, before leaning down and pressing their lips to his gently.]

[Never one to be pushed into something he doesn't want to do, Red Wine would have been vocal enough about not wanting to follow through with this. His concern, really, is that Bailey feels pressured into it.

But he has his attention ready for any signs of that.

The kiss is a very welcome one and Red Wine rises to meet it, shifting up onto his toes and running his fingers into Bailey's hair, his other hand resting on their upper arm.

It's good to just... feel close to someone.]

[The hand in their hair feels nice, and their eyes slip shut as they focus on the kiss. They can only vaguely remember the last time they kissed someone - they were at a party, and they hadn't graduated yet, but all the details are fuzzy. There wasn't this... Promise, though, or the feeling that things might go further.

Their hands shift, fingers curling in the fabric of Red Wine's shirt. Their tail starts to wag, slowly, and they let out a curious hum. So far, things are... Nice.]

[It's easy enough to guide someone into this, with the hand on the back of Bailey's head acting like a point of reference. He feels that grip against his shirt and smiles very faintly as he tilts his head, presses in closer, parts his lips just slightly and tightens his grip on their arm.

His fingers card slowly through Bailey's hair, and the side of his thumb finds the base of one spiral horn.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject