[Aefenglom IC Inbox]

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.]

[The horns are something that Bailey hasn't thought about, much, since they've grown in. They were one of the first parts of their change, and they had had time to adjust.

That didn't prepare them for how that touch would feel.

They try to hold back a moan, but it just comes out as an embarrassing squeak. Their hands tug at his shirt and they pull back from the kiss, taking a shaky breath.]

Sorry, sorry. I... Wasn't expecting that.

[His hand had drifted there as something familiar and natural, but he twitches that light touch away the moment that Bailey flinches. His hands don't quite leave their hair, however, as he looks up curiously.]

I didn't mean to startle you. [That squeak hadn't sounded like a bad squeak. It sounded like a noise made in the effort of holding something else in.]

Should I not do it again?

Um.

[Oh, they're so very, very out of their depth. They blink at him, a little stupidly, before shaking their head slowly.]

N-no. It felt... Good.

[A beat.]

So you can do it as much as you want.

... Understood.

[And as he lightly pulls Bailey down to kiss them again that same hand slowly strays back to where it was, brushing a light touch around the base of one horn before slowly curling around it, tucking the firm shape into the space between his thumb and forefinger.

There's no need to rush anything.]

[They're prepared for the touch this time, and the noise they make is much less embarrassing for them. They're not sure whether to lean into the touch or the kiss, before deciding on the kiss. Their lips part as they press closer, making up the distance they put between them.

Their hands uncurl from Red Wine's shirt, smoothing the fabric back into place apologetically before settling back on his hips. Their tail starts wagging again, and their ears twitch, occasionally brushing Red Wine's arm.]

[It's a better noise, he thinks, and it doesn't go unnoticed. Nor do the tentative movements of Bailey's hands, or the way their ear twitches against his arm. He traces the shape of the horn under his hand, lightly around the spiral to the tip and back, and leans up into the kiss to deepen it.

It's nice.]

Let's sit. [He mutters, barely drawing back to say it.]

[They relax under his touch, leaning down into the kiss. It’s... Nice. Really nice, actually, and they’re surprised by that, somehow. They’re glad they decided to take this risk; even though they have no idea where things are going to go, but that doesn’t matter. They’ve never really lived in the moment, but why not start now?

When Red Wine suggests sitting, all they can do is nod dumbly before their words catch up to them.]

Yeah, yeah. Please.

[He chuckles, letting his hands slip down to the crooks of Bailey's elbows. Lightly, he snags a hand and takes them to the neatly made bed.

Red Wine sits down first. He curls one leg up under him and leans back on one hand with his head faintly tilted.]

You sure you're alright?

[They hesitate for a moment, before settling on the bed next to him. Their knee brushes Red Wine’s, and they place their hands on their thighs.

They look at Red Wine through their lashes, before nodding.]

I’m as alright as I think I can be.

[There's a soft, low ache in the centre of his chest that he idly identifies as the replacement for what would be a racing heartbeat, if that was something that still happened to him. Bailey may be taller than he is, but they still have this certain fragility about them that makes the pit of his stomach flutter.]

Hm... [He hums softly, reaching out for one of the faun's hands.] Is there something you're curious about..? Or should I lead.

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