Times Waiting

by Chair in the Stairway

It remained, for the longest time, as a part of us; the third point of a triangle. Now, it slips between our fingers, just as you do, my beloved, between mine. We are forced to fall apart, possibly doomed to never reconfigure.

4. Flowers

Part One: Times Waiting --- Chapter Three: Flowers

Rek'd felt his muscles scream in agony with every given movement, forcing him to wince as he attempted to walk down the path, leading to Innurven's house, with as much grace as the form had been able to muster for the watchful eyes of his lover. He supposed it was rather foolish to aid the field hands in their eight day harvest, brandishing no recent experience towards such a task, after feeling both calves, quadriceps groups, shoulders, biceps, triceps, wrists, and even his fingers, as well as that sensuous lower back and the gluteus maximus that followed it, all revolt for a split second, causing all actions to cease before picking up from where they had left off mere seconds later. Vleo watched, as he walked beside his brother with both their hands locked about the opposing palm, the elderly youth fidget, or simply freeze, then go about his day as if anything colored outside the lines remained inconspicuous. These sagacious errors, as frequent as they were, usually would have been pointed out, matter-of-factly, by the younger Sangheili, whom grasped no concept of what was obvious and what hardly was obvious, though the pressure administered to his tiny fingers, trying with all their might to resist the temptation to grow as red the swirls upon the Sun's cheekbones, with every jolt of pain Rek'd received convinced him that delaying his sore brother with childish chimes would only draw out this undesirable experience.

With a bit of peace and quiet brought about by the lack of conversation, disregarding the shrill chills induced by stringed screams, the day prior, which marked the last of the Days of Harvest, was reviewed countless times, bringing about a certain sense of euphoria, or, perhaps, a heightened warmth injected into aching muscles by an unknown force to dull the senses of the host, including those that acknowledged pain, that Rek'd had experienced when his generously helping hand had allowed those palms to fall against his employer's shoulders, ridding them of the pains of labor through gentle rubs pulsating with an utmost sense of care, which one would have considered flirtatious if viewing just the application of such. The claim that the techniques employed expertly through the motions had been plucked from Innurven's very own mate and used, until this very moment, on her exclusively hardly helped throw assumptions in the opposite direction, though the assurance that the accompanied youth's body was not to be pleasured by foreign touches and strokes and pokes and glazings that his generously helping hand had stumbled upon after the questioning that took place in his childhood for the future seduction of desirable individuals somewhat convinced a blissful consciousness otherwise, while spiking the eyebrow of its corresponding subconscious steeply.

After a good amount of fields hands had slid by, snickering at Rek'd's streak, seven days long, of showing up to work at sunrise, only to be forced to drag himself back up the hill upholding that glorious structure, with its glorious concept of rest, at sundown and Innurven's willingness to baby him, even after that public display of a mating disgrace, through the end of the most taxing week in the year; perhaps it was the fact that sweat did not equally drip from their brows or that their muscles had not always swollen up like flaming meteorites equivalently that made the men, ever suspecting that the sweat weaved over their frames, polished with masculinity, had appealed to those sharp, green eyes, though ever thankful they were not as close to their employer as a half-brother, practically cast the physical and verbal depictions of spit in the elderly youth's direction. These men were sensible, though; they knew that their jobs laid with treatment of this one man that would otherwise be shunned, without the influences of his inheritance, save by the edges of rocks and unkind words, thus they kept their mandibles tied tightly and offered a nod of faux deference to Rek'd, almost giving in to the temptation to laugh at, to mock, to induce shame in this being because of the infantile obliviousness towards intentions of actuality maintained to the best of his ability. These men were sensible, thus they left the scene rather quickly, showing favor towards taking advantage of this grand chance to court their neglected mates, whom had remained grossly untouched this week of harvest, really just harvesting the flashiest perk within the grasp of a working man, leaving those who dwelt mainly on the hill, one of which owned a comforting, although small, house that rested just along the edge, just beyond A-kur's living structure, while the other owned the larger estate that rested directly on top, to enjoy a moment of silence in the cleared fields deprived of the dull roar that rustled the crops as they grew all year long, as it had gradually faded into a sort of disembodied state that preferred to shushed itself when the winter wind would render it disheartening to part one's lips; even for a being without physical evidence of its own existence.

Although Rek'd thoroughly enjoyed Innurven's unofficial services, he was the first to pull away, straightening his worker's cloths as harvested grains were brushed from his upper body, after declining another offer of assistance that would lead to those foreign palms being pressed against the back's muscles once again, and slipped from the overturned love seat, which oddly resembled the one used just a week before this day (this very minute, in fact), that had provided both men with medial comfort, finding, as he twirled about, that a set of golden eyes, surrounded by skin greatly complimented by the evening sky in the sense that all colors, no matter their characteristics, were gathered together and displayed incandescently through tiny beads of sparkling sprinkled sweat that heightened their glow, had zoned in upon his form. The accompanied youth returned the gaze absentmindedly, wondering as many things about this generously helping hand that the hand himself had wondering of his beholder, though the two like beings pondered two completely different subjects, mused in two different manners, and drew two different conclusions, though their silence was of the same essence. "I'was a'plesur ta'havya praulen tha'feld w'us, Rei," Innurven suddenly said, seemingly allowing this statement implying flattery to slip from between his mandibles for lack of a better thing to say. His employer noticed a shaken, and stirred, quality to the voice that drifted from his throat, however clenched tight it was to withhold phrases thought up with passion, and undesirable in accordance to one's assumed tastes, as it was, though even this blockade allowed such details to pass over his mind as pressing forward a conversation of any given topic, was placed as the focal point of focus. "Ai a'ogaize fo'not aiden ya'nuph ta'kep tha'sorens awah. Ai trai'd ma'bess, ai reely di', buh ai'was de-fi-ci-ent in'tha respek, ai'spose."

"Tis my fault for failing to prepare this body to handle the strenuous taxes typical of field work, even with your generous palm tied to mine, Innurven," Rek'd affirmed as his eyelids separated lightly with a sighed surprise when a sudden slump backwards, onto the pile of harvested grains, stirred his generously helping hand, whom, while still atop the pile, supported his stumbling employer with two arms teeming with natural ability that was quite worth the praise that had been formulated in the accompanied youth's mind, though never delivered. Innurven, unknowingly, as he strained his limbs to aid this man, as he had all week, brought sealed memories of the week prior back to the forefront, silently forcing a reenactment of the moment in which generous palms rested upon his ribs, straightening the body that hosted them into a more permitting posture that would keep a wider range of movements from resulting in a wider range of pains, then move forward, through the week, to a point in which both men grabbed hold of a bundle of harvested grains, heaving it this way and that until, finally, slamming it into a reasonable spot before chatting nonchalantly, as they had before, then a bit back, to which they ate lunch together atop the hill that overlooked the entirety of the fields, scooted a bit closer to each other than initially intended. The stars sucked any startled stifles or stares from these men, allowing them just a moment to collect themselves before turning in for the night. "You're far from deficient," Rek'd continued, after a significant pause, as he glanced up to Innurven, who peered down at him from behind the golden eyes that very well could have been mistaken for stars had their size, their beauty, their grandness not outshone the demi-gods above. "Through my eyes, I see one whom utilizes his own generosity, good will, and kindness in a ploy to aid others wherever their abilities prove to be just short of making a given situation feasible-" And there are no mortals whom can color outside these lines just drawn. "-and one whom accepts aid whenever he needs another's palm to lock with his own as...well..." A soft breeze flew through the night sky, showering any stirring beings with leaves and flowers that that had long succumbed to the powerful influence of winter, flaunting dark purple and black bursts as they danced through the air; a stark contrast to the bright colors, ranging from pink to even a tanned brown, that held them to their roots. "...as one who is equal to any other, regardless of the size differences presented, or perhaps superior when compared with those whom drag you down through ill-founded speech and ideals, as you are two parts intertwined to create a whole being of commendable idiosyncrasies and magnanimity."

"Ya'delivur suhm'kain'd words, suhm'flaturen words, fo'ma sake, an'maine alone, Rei?" Innurven asked as he eased forward his employer, then slipped from the overturned pile of harvested grains of-a-love-seat and stood behind the man ridiculously taller than he, though found no impediments in keeping his hands along the sides of the shaken form, supporting it as if a fall could result at any second. "Ai'new ya'tabe a'kain'd man, a' gen-tle-man, buh na'ta thi'respek, Rei," Those palms grew tensed, surging with anxiety that cause each cell in that skin to jump about, colliding with Rek'd's skin at one point or another, causing the accompanied youth to turn about, in them, and run his hands along the impressively molded arms until they released his form, leaving the generously helping hand to be the one whom was touched, along his arms muscles, until all eight fingers drifted down to his own, graced their tips, then left. Innurven glanced up at his implied equal, just as his equal had glanced up at him, and almost protested the sudden departure of those fingers, though he found the words to become stuck in his throat, forcing the very profound voice that often led men to their work to slump into an underwhelming fit of, "Ai...ai..." that caused a smile to emerge in the on-looking features.

"We..." Rek'd suggested, then continued. "Perhaps we both should aspire to make haste down the paths to our rightful homes. Surely, we both have treasured beings awaiting our arrivals."

Somehow, the generously helping hand had come to forget about his home and the woman that dwelt within it this very night and, because of such, felt a wave of shame wash over his existence, mirrored by the motion that drove their bodies apart, however reluctantly, and glanced off to the side, slightly trembling as he watched the dead leaves, both dark purple and black, shuffle across the ground, dancing majestically, and pondered his answer. Something inside this blackened form, this mysterious form, ignited a flame, mixed with anger and passion, to burn inside him as he stood amongst the fields this frigid, autumn night and reflected upon the fact that, out of all the years he has spent upon this settlement, no one had explained him as being of equal ability, or, god forbid, superior, due to his characteristics rather than hindering his self-esteem, just a bit farther, due to his height, and the feeling that it caused invoked a sort of wave about the heart that soothed rather than stung. Somehow, this feeling was to be achieved again, Innurven resolved, once the burning finally settled as a fond sensation defining a memory that chilled vulnerable lungs with smoke and stirred choked breaths, which further delayed the awaited reply, though Rek'd was patient; he would wait all night for such an answer, if that's what it took to obtain these following few words, regardless of the priorities spelled out beforehand. 'Suhmthen els', yeh, fome ta'fain'd com-men-da-ble bou'im.'

"Ai'm wishen ta'escurt ya'home, Sur," Innurven spouted. He almost beamed as his employer bowed his head in a respectful manner, which garnered one of equal deference in return, thus finalizing the acceptance of the offer, giving permission to the generously helping hand to walk by his side and protect him from anything that fancied the suffering of other beings, be it the wind, another Sangheili, or even a craft of unknown origin; Rek'd would find that anything that would come his way would be effectively deflected. Of course, the walk was not long and almost completely devoid of danger, when contemplating renegade leaves flashing spines divinely weld, though both men enjoyed it anyhow, especially as they traveled the most serene section of the silent passage. It was an especially chilly night, the two had realized after walking through the clearing devoid of love seats, thus the accompanied youth offered Innurven the chance to join hands with him and step inside, a chance that would surely not have been passed up by the rather sane field worker.

Rek'd felt himself being led, once again, through the large door frame of his housing, which seemed no more strange than usual until the lights inside, sparked by the little creature known as Vleo, rushed forward, with smoke in tow, and seized a hold of him, yanking the elderly youth from Innurven's grasp and delivering him unto the harsh hands of Rek'aug. Such hands lived up to god-given labels as they dragged the suddenly-youthful-elderly youth to the dinner table, placed in such a boastful manner, as it sat by the largest window any house had known, so all those who passed by the impressive estate atop the hill could peer at it, that had already serviced A-kur and the boy's mother, both of which were sitting in front of a pair of plates, still somewhat steaming. Once Rek'd reached an empty chair, he was forced into the air, then set down upon the wooden surface, across the table from he who coveted him as an object of affections, in a softened manner, as if the father who so openly displayed rigid tendencies took a breath of fresh air and came to the conclusion that he need apologize, however silently, to his deficient son. He could have hurt him, after all.

Soon, though, perhaps a little too soon, Rek'aug moved onto the mysterious woman whom had captured his tenderness through general characteristics and deeds, such as preparing the meal that sat on the table top, harnessing it only for herself as she allowed her eyes to glide over the two boys at the table as if they could hardly be described as legitimate life forms. The two adults met, briefly embraced, so as to not be driven into a fit of passion in front of the youths at the table by a teasing kiss, then sat down, prying at each other with their orbs from across the supportive structure; Rek'd and A-kur mirrored this, though the two boys allowed themselves to throw glances towards those at the deep end, just to make sure they were far too wrapped up in their own sheets to jump into someone else's. In between these glances, the object of affections told a story with his eyes; one detailing the day, as it had come to be. First, the boy had woken up early in the morning after being stirred by his father; today was branded the day he would learn of the grueling work that the field hands found to be mandatory to suffer through, while the youth's father merely endured it to retain the high opinion others held for him. After Rek'd had been dragged down the hill, the boy endured dry lectures on harvesting procedures, zoning in and out to the heroic actions of A-kur and the delightful kisses that occurred in the secluded spring, which begged both boys to shed their skins and flourish in their purest forms, regardless of their pounding hearts and shyness towards each other. The youth found his father to be an expert at timing, though, as the man woke him whenever a slight pressure and warmth had applied itself to his frontal cloth; surely, it would have been rather unfortunate for father to inquire about an irregular (or, perhaps, given the youthfulness and gender of the boy, quite regular?) bump in the otherwise stiff linens.

After a few close calls, Rek'd had decided to pay attention and force back any yawns, but found the odd allure to run at the first instance his father turned away to retrieve a prop. Naturally, Rek'aug was rather surprised, at first, after having whipped his head about to view locate a desirable crop and pluck it with his forefingers, to find the boy had launched himself, like a canon ball, through the crops, then grew enraged, a mood illustrated quite well by the red that swirled into his features, and barbarically stomped throughout the fields, seeking the boy; an ill-fated search that lasted the course of the day, leaving the father in a mood less stable than a hurricane that happened into the frigid north. This hurricane was at its strongest once it reached the door of its own estate, coming to find its offspring resting upon a pail with mandibles stretched wide in a greeting, only for such a welcome to be met with harsh hands and a raised voice that had ushered the child inside not too long ago. A-kur, honestly, had wondered why the boy was waiting by the door of his own house, throwing his head from side to side in anxiousness before waving wildly and allowing the two current guests inside, though this had failed to instill as many questions within the scheming youth as the fact that his object of affections had wandered about without seeking his company. Perhaps he had needed a day to himself in order to contemplate their relationship, as splendidly spirited as it was, after being forced onto the blandness that was the crop fields? Perhaps he went off through the woods to find a memento to present to his protector as a commemoration of the next jump they would take in their relationship? What could such a gift be, though? Something as simple as a rock? Something as grand as a jewel? Something as simple as the former but as precious as the latter? Could it even be physical if it relied so much upon the depth of meaning that it would, no doubt, radiate? Would it prove to be ephemeral so A-kur would remain to obtain it again? Would it increase in favorability as time passed? The scheming youth could only wonder as his thoughts progressed in one direction rather than exploring all possible paths, raising expectations towards Rek'd's romantic generosity, sparked ever since that fateful day that occurred just one week ago.

At the other end of the table, both adults had finished their dinner and stood, with plates in hand, still facing each other, then moved to the sink and deposited them to be dealt with later, as, now, the fit of passion that grew with each second their gazes were held seemed to become too much to suppress; alone, at least. As Rek'aug settled his hands over the spine of the womanly figure before him, unfixing her cloths in a way that drew a sort of chuckle from her throat and a slight smile; a slight smile that was nowhere near as endearing as the first that had fallen upon the father's skin, though he seemed not to notice, with his eyes focused elsewhere until two slender, elongated palms halted his substantial will. He blinked, then glanced to the children, remembering, now, that they persistently remained, existed, as if he had not believed it until he had seen it, and glowered. Though, his features brightened noticeably as a tender palm drifted upwards, gracing his stern jaw with a sort of elegance that invited his strength to challenge it, to take a hold of it, to take advantage of it and make of it something more; Rek'aug had hoped for no other invitation than this. "You tempt me," He stated, almost flatly, though there was an underlying excitement in his bombing voice that the mysterious woman had heard and attempted to bring about again, though in a more intense manner, as she slipped her hands behind his neck and ran them down his back. "You tempt me-" The father shivered lightly. "-to become more of a man, less predictable, more of nature, so you may tame me all ironically? Clever woman! I shall comply; I shall show you the true extent of my nature, so you will know of the man you wish to claim..."

The two adults excused the boys from their places at the table, then ushered them outside to play amongst themselves, while the adults, too, played amongst themselves. A-kur kept his eyes upon the ground, contemplating the occurrence that had just taken place and future events that it would impose upon this secret love, before Rek'd stepped forward and laced his fingers with his protector's nearest hand, attracting a neutral look that received a smile in return. The two boys had some time together now and one would be a fool to guess that the secluded spring had failed to cross both their minds, due to the skipped beats produced by their hearts, then crossed their paths, as they ran to it, hand in hand, for it was night and no one would see the loving gesture. "I've something to give to you; something very dear to me," The accompanied told his love, with enough motivation to allow A-kur to overlook the bond their parents shared and run, possibly the hardest he ever had, towards his shared dome of privacy.

As they arrived, Rek'd sat his protector down next to the spring, facing the youth away from him, and jumped into the bushes, rustling until he had seemed to disappear, at which point A-kur glanced over his shoulder, though whipped those soft, green eyes back to the water when the rustling occurred once again, announcing the youth's emergence back into the clearing soaked by dew drops of moonlight. He next to the river bank, with a hand twisted around his back, then offered his significant opposite a quick kiss before a stunning flower, with storms of pedals dyed dark purple and a tanned brown with waving hues of blue about the stems, which connected at the middle of their lengths, displaying a rare mutation that was actually beloved by many beings, rather than scorned, was presented, bringing both youths to a moment of silence, of hesitation and deep thought for one, anticipation and suspense for the other, before they leaned forward, with both their hands gripping the stem, above its joining, of the flower colored in a manner not matching their own, and joined in a simple gesture of togetherness; one which prompted the two youths to wrap their nearest arm around their significant other as their free hands came around front, and laced, with fingers pointed towards the sky. A-kur lowered his head, onto which Rek'd would rest his head upon, then commenced a slow movement between the two that allowed them to swish back and forth with the graceful air about them whilst releasing a chorus of loving coos and squeals quite pleasing to the ears. They remained this way until they fell asleep, next to each other, ending a night not quite groundbreaking, as far as the next step in their relationship could go, though it was cherished nonetheless.

Rek'd awoke in his bed the next morning, jumping from one time to another unwillingly. He was glad to find that Innurven was not gracing his side with the frame the elderly youth found to be ever so attractive, though he mused that it would have eased his aching mess of a body. Amidst the pained stupor, a flower was spotted through the window of the building resting half-way down the hill; it was well grown, flourishing, and quite beautiful, regardless of the mutation that caused the flowers to be joined around the middle. Rek'd smiled, even though he already knew A-kur had kept the stubborn shrubbery since it was bestowed upon him that night, simply wonderful as it was. As the sheets were tossed aside, it was noted that the gift must be retrieved later in the day, so as to maintain it long enough to develop a soft of bargaining chip, which would effectively entice a certain, beloved warrior into moving from his establishment half-way down the hill (half-way too far, in Rek'd's opinion) in favor of joining his lover within the home he so rightfully deserved.

The elderly youth extended an arm, intending to place his fingertips against the chilled window before him, only to find his skin polish the surface of Innurven's head, which replaced the wooden structure that had replaced the glossy glace that had been latched in its position just moments earlier. Rek'd froze up gently, then continued with the stroke once he noticed that the generously helping hand before him had already bowed, expecting this gesture implying the proposal of good wishes upon his home, then straightened as the palm of dominant social characteristics was directed downwards towards a receptive batch of fingers, which wrapped around it carefully, though with a sort of quality to the grip that suggested it belonged to a man of foreign upbringing that could hardly care less for standings; what mattered to him was strength and his employer experienced a sort of empowering aura about this being that reinforced his silent disregard of money's authority. This new breach in character, this new brand of stern confidence, had caught the elderly youth off guard, though he didn't express it grandly as his host marked each finger of the captured hand with the imprint of a mandible before he stepped aside, making just about enough room in the doorway for Rek'd and Vleo to wander through, one after the other.

A crack of thunder graced their ears, "Welkem t'mai home, ya'tou."

Both brothers allowed their hand to join the others' as they looked about the house, which consisted of a large, central room containing a kitchen, a small area for a pair of mated Sangheilis to spend their time chatting and cuddling, and two closed doors; one, presumably, was to be the master bedroom, while the other was, surely, was a preplanned attachment room, which could serve oncoming offspring and visitors alike. Rek'd was busy studying the furniture, a dining room set with merely four chairs, a few countertops placed atop a storage section which housed every bit of food, a self-constructed fire place next to the counter-tops, which Innurven built himself, just as he built the whole damned house himself, with sizzling pots above it that made empty stomachs rumble rather loudly, a love seat turned upwards and made of bunched feathers wrapped in firm leathers, rather than grain gathered by thin wires, a stack of stuffed cushions lying in the corner of the room, and a table with adjusted legs, which was assumed to have been for guests to sit about and set their drinks whilst conversing heartily, when those two strong arms from the night prior whipped about his upper body and began removing the cloths protecting his eye-pleasing torso. A palm snapped onto one of the intruding wrists, halting its progress, before Rek'd reminded himself that this motion was the traditional removal of unneeded garments, performed by the host of any visit, and relaxed his tense muscles whilst delivering a mumbled apology to the generously helping hand, whom smiled brightly as he accepted it gracefully, then assisted Vleo with his own torso cloths and hung up the matching younger brother, older brother set of vibrantly stitched clothing, silently envying the fact that it, with its outrageous designs and schemes, had virtually made up for the lack of exposure of the naked hide below it.

"Such a home displays your superiority in the league of craftsmanship, Innurven, and the efficiency of it, that being determined by the fact that it's just snug enough to keep you and your Misses warm and any possible babes or 'venturers, is far more admirable than my own," Rek'd complimented his host's housing as he took another look around, then met the anxious, golden eyes ever rested upon his form, giving them the signal to relax and become content as a palm was rested against their host's shoulder, over a effervescently red tattoo the elderly youth had become quite familiar with over the years, and a satisfied spread of the mandibles came about; Vleo reflected the latter showing of glee as he jumped into the pile of cushions. The initiative to follow the boy's lead and glide across the floor to the table for light conversing purposes rather than full feasts was taken, finding the two attending men to face each other as they got onto their knees and placed both palms firmly against the surface. This motion would not be released until both were given their drinks by the female of the household, or called to the table. "That tattoo," Rek'd's sharp, green eyes marveled at its elaborate design as it curved from Innurven's neck, slipped over the edge of his shoulder, and seized the elbow, where thin edges carefully carved with ink rounded the prominent joint meet about the start of the radius bone, coming to an end. It was rather impressive, especially if the assumption that it was self-applied were to be fact. "Twas gnawing at my lobes all week, and continues to do so even now, as its make-up, its actual essence and beauty, must mean something, something foreign, I'm guessing-" A hand was turned upwards in silent questioning, with a sideways nod confirming that the tattoo was, indeed, of foreign origins. "-that one such as myself, whom has lived amongst myself in this clearing for so long, could not come to comprehend without the generous palm of one educated in that respect."

"Rei; a'ways s'outen words o'kain'dnes n'flaturie, a'ways a' gen-tle-man firs'!" Innurven exclaimed with a fit of glee brought about the constant praise, from his equal, no less, as he attempted to return it, to give his guest something to blush about rather than the other way around, which proved to be successful. Rek'd couldn't help but to smile widely, with his definitive cheek bones quite reddened, as his host laughed in a manner most good natured, quite enjoying the conversion undergone by those grown features he found his tastes so drawn in by, which shifted them in such a way that brought out that quality of charming adorableness not quite lost after all these years, though certainly dulled by external causes that drove millions of mortals prior to an early decay. "Thes'marken 'ere issa' path fo'maiself, fo'mai Misses, ev'n fo'yurself, ta'follo," The generously helping hand explained as he brought the tattooed arm around, with its palm still pressed to the table, and set the elbow down, flexing those muscles above it, so as to widen the path and illustrate his point. He glanced up, noting his guest's wriggling mandibles, as well as the present youth's watchful eyes, which peered over the horizon of one of the cushions. "Tha'meenen o'tat isyuroan ta'fain'd, Rei, so'make o' i'wu'ya weel," Rek'd was caught off guard, once again, by his host's straightforward approach to answering the questions posed to him, which, in turn, eliminated all extra time in which to respond, as the generously helping hand turned his attention to the squirming mass of youthful joy in the cushions, chuckling at the stiff movements produced. "Li'el Vleo! Com'an sit wih'us," The youth complied, taking the place next to Innurven, whom wrapped his strong arm around the boy and pulled him close, with obvious affection, as a proper father would have, causing the boy to collide with his body and wrap both arms around the bulky form presented. "How'v ya'be'n, bo'?"

"Fairly fortunate," The young sangheili replied as he was stroked about the temples, which prompted him to spread his short, pointed mandibles and close his eyes with glee, before releasing the generously helping hand and placing his own atop the low-level table in a sort of mock of the adults present, though the boy had not structured himself on his knees, but, rather, his bottom. He peered up at the strapping worker with a sort of admiration that reflected the given effects of the disease that little body carried through impressionable eyes. "I haven't been able to go out and play as much, because of winter-" Vleo shivered, then coughed, just thinking about such a season. He garnered the warmth of the darkly colored hand of the man who sat next to him, whom reflected the concerned look that overtook the elderly youth's features. "-but I've found entertainment through books and the arts and my dear brother, after he had come home from helping you in the fields."

"A', so'heh wuh'out fo'mai sake," Innurven concluded as he spotted an expression, which begged the young one to hold his tongue when it came to such subjects, flash across Rek'd's features out of the corner of his eye. Further caught by this eye, precious and golden as it was, was the figure of a feminine being that had emerged from the master bedroom, dressed in impressive linens the generously helping hand had remembered paying for and plucking from a cart about a month ago, then presenting to his wife in exchange for a bit of furthered togetherness. His smile brightened just a little as the figure- "A'!" -that was presumably- "Mai Misses!" -seized a tray from the counter and started towards her husband and his guests. "Ai'ha' wundr'd wenya'd jo'nus," Innurven was hushed as beverages, prepared beforehand, were brought about the table and set down in front of each man, while a cup of dimensions hacked in half was dispensed to the front of Vleo, likely of less intensity, as far as the contents went, giving Rek'd the time to bow his head and retract his hands in thanks and widen his eyes as he was discombobulated by the woman before him. "Sh'rlie," The strapping worker spoke as his hand gestured towards his wife, suggesting to her that she meet his palm halfway; she did, and bent downwards, just to render her face recognizable by her husband's guest. "Ya'no o' Fiera."

"I had witnessed you both hugging hips the day I had pronounced, silently, that A-kur's and mine own were to be considered concurrently conjoined, but I had never figured-"

"He does," She assured Innurven, then ushered Vleo over to his brother's side so that she may hug her husband's hip and admire the resistance both his and the elderly youth's knees displayed when pressed to withstand the harshness of a floor bearing no decorative covering of comfort. Those eyes, pink at the edges, though red near the center, as they were, twirled colors about their pupils as curiosity took hold of the hostess' features, which expressed satisfaction as she researched his form, finding not the frailty that was present within it before, but, actually, an enhanced tinge of masculinity that had enveloped him all the same when he was just a boy, though developed quite nicely, more noticeably, over the years; it wasn't quite as impressive as her husband's frame, though Fiera attributed that to Rek'd's height, which stretched out the provided muscles to fill his elongated limbs; something rather unusual for the member of a species that is quite tall, in its own right, compared to other species; the generously helping hand was, although inversed physically, just as odd, when it came to biological phenomena. "Tis a pleasure to have you about again, Rek'd."

"I can assure you both that a likewise sensation erupts within me whenever I lay at your fingertips, as a hastening visitor, a passing friend, and so on, though, now, as I rest in your home with you, I must say that such a feeling has increased intensely," The elderly youth bowed his cup forward as he lifted it, a sign of respect towards those whom sat across the table from him, then emptied a batch of fluid into his mouth and gathered those mandibles about each other to contain the liquid, so as to keep it from enhancing his own sexual appeal through drops sliding sensually over the exposed chest below, as he gradually spilled its contents into the stomach that so readily awaited a time of arrival. Rek'd's tongue brushed against the teeth outlining each mandible, drawing out the stragglers of the drink whilst the main body was set back down onto the table. This drink was rather odd, he decided, not being quite like anything he had consumed before, though it was pleasing in just about every aspect, save sight; the cup in which the liquid presented sloshed about proved practical enough, though the literally lively, and bubbling, mass within caused the whole package to erupt into a revolting mess. Thankfully, the elderly youth had not peered down into his glass before warming his innards with the beverage, as his hosts would have come to be insulted through a simple retraction of the palm that surely would have come to pass. "I had forgotten what it was like to be amongst friends, as of late; thank you, you both, for allowing me to indulge in this flourish of mine; one I treasure greatly," Rek'd shivered as he took another swig of the drink in front of him; just before the warming sensation drew him into a dream-like daze, chilled hands took a hold of his form and massaged its aching muscles, causing him to set down the drink and press his palms firmly against the table as he sung, in unison with Innurven, a song commemorating the laboring men, laboring friends, written specifically to ease their pains, just as this drink, wherever it had been concocted, had been made to lure its predator into a state of bonafide euphoria.

Rek'd struck that label in his mind; this could not be a true state of bonafide euphoria without the hands of his beloved warrior being those which caused this skin to sliver and vibrate and muscles to loosen in preparation for the-gods-know-what, though all mortals knew they would offer an arm and a leg in able to become one half of the whole happening; this elderly youth was no different. In fact, the wish for pleasure, regardless of whom it was delivered by, after a week of hard labor and unnecessary abstinence, illustrated just how easily it could grab one by the nether region and intensify one's need to achieve their desires, with another of open arms, through Innurven's and Fiera's guest as he propped himself onto both knees and pressed one palm against the center of the table, for support, after almost stumbling forward, whilst the other laid suggestively atop the fiery tattoo of the field tender, calling forth heat from the flame ridden weaves and the muscles below to wrap about Rek'd and keep the hold alive and well, though render the being, whom initiated this hold, frozen in a posture that suggested a failure of heart brought about by the coldness of winter. Only Fiera's touch offset the man, bringing him back to reality as the ever growing possibility of a black out surged throughout those softening muscles strapped to that ridiculously scaled body, and forced him to come in touch with his senses, which lead him to believe stroking the surface of this generously helping hand with the intention of converging wasn't quite the first-rate idea that this drink, laced with whatever chemicals the elderly youth had not been properly warned of, made it out to be. He drew his hand away, only to have it caught by the strength of Innurven, whom had worn a look of bewildered interest up to now, then turned over to the Misses, whom took it upon herself to remove Rek'd from the room for a bit of rest before dinner. She seemed devoid of anger, though contained an overabundance of shock; the elderly youth wondered if Fiera had seen his actions as a sort of accident, triggered by the want to get up and the deficiency to do so properly, due to alcohol plaguing this man's system. Either way, such a cover was appreciated.

It was rather impressive that both beings made it inside the master dwelling before either collapsed, the one from strain, the other from being dazed beyond reason. Rek'd was placed onto the bed and allowed to sort his mind out as it swirled round and round, creating a whirlwind of ideas and events from which the elderly youth was forced to pick while enduring chuckles likely aimed at his inability to consume a foreign beverage, let alone one which literally swum about in its own drunken stupor. He felt his eyelids slowly engulf the orbs below, sending him sprawling backwards into the ever flowing sheets below, though they did not feel like fabricated sources of nightly warmth. Curious palms found several upwards bursts of outgrowth to curve under them, only to spring back up in between the inevitable appendages, before being swayed to bend once again, or after the invading hand had left them to go about the rest of their lives. Both sharp, green eyes revealed themselves, in turn drawing a smile, extra bright with searing light, from the sun that pressed the cover of each eye to flow down half-way, so as to preserve the clarity of vision they provided.

A few moments of sickeningly sweet silence passed as the grass swayed and leaves played amongst each other mid-air and the sun warmed everything in the fields, though it seemed as if the rays had no effect beyond keeping those crops from shivering violently for just a few more days before they were cut, ground, seasoned, and consumed during the winter, aside from a few down on the restricted side of the field, which would be cut, ground, rolled in paper, and smoked. Rek'd wondered, at first, why he was laying about the grass, shrouded in its influence rather than over at A-kur's house, inquiring if the scheming youth was able to provide a lone youth with some company, then, as the future slipped away, the past hit him with an answer; should he parade about the clearings carelessly, his father surely would unearth his position and punish him for running off. The youth shivered just thinking about it, or, perhaps, that was suffocating needles tickling his spine. Either way, he sat up, looked about and spread his mandibles, then pulled them together and spread them again absentmindedly before they widened further with surprise, quickly being twisted shut by an unfamiliar form that had emerged from the fiery bursts of outgrowth not too far away to keep any squeals the Sangheili boy could muster from cutting through the autumn air. Rek'd mumbled a bit, though, and attempted to shimmy away until the loveliness of this form caught his attention, effectively halting him in his fumbled tracks as she released his features, then motioned for him to follow. All features were scrunched with appalled curiosity before a roar, citing the boy's name, caused the crops to tremble in its wake, then more to be pushed aside as a getaway route was adopted after, first, being established by the mysterious girl, whom had disappeared back into the fiery bursts of outgrowth, he followed.

They stopped, side by side, in front of a cleared path as the Sangheili girl glanced over her shoulder, then snatched Rek'd's hand and bolted forward again, dragging him along until the speed of this run could be adjusted to without any stumbles taking place as a penalty for hastening. This quite reminded him of the adventure through the forest the accompanied youth had shared with his protector just a week prior, which had sparked that kiss, and ensuing kisses of equal wonderment, and brought the two boys to a physical understanding of one another; their bodies were quite different, in the sense that only their gender rendered them fitting to be considered alike, and, thus, would hold many startling discoveries, all favorable in the very sense of the word, that they both silently agreed to explore when they were older; when they could truly appreciate the beauty that they both had to offer, be it under abrupt circumstances or after the tenderness of secluded moments stringed together to make a very memorable night. Tonight, after the parents and two boys ate, both Rek'd and A-kur were almost guaranteed to be booted from the house, at least, that was part of the accompanied youth's plan, which would, thus, lead to another night they shall spend together, be it significant or not.

A sudden skid, another stop, and both Sangheili children found themselves in a patch of extraordinarily vivacious flowers that glowed with the utmost glee and offered, to all who wandered into their domain, a reflection of the sun smile's, which made the spinning buds, seemingly switch colors as they remained in their rightful spots, all the more blindingly beautiful. Songs strung together by sanguine spirits floated with the breeze, though remained in this one clearing, this one special spot, without becoming as stagnant as a room whose main entrance had been sealed, before skillfully swaying through the trees at such a time that allows the next song, the next batch of spirits, to flesh themselves out in an overblown manner that actually fit the scenery. As the girl launched herself forward, dancing amidst the flowers so cheerfully spitting their soulful notes, Rek'd merely glanced around, then plucked a flower by the stem, ending, although not immediately, its part in this grand chorus of life, which actually consisted of pushing ear-pleasing vibrations through two vocal cords cleverly placed about the dark purple pedals of one bud, and the light brown pedals of the other, instead of right below the stamen of both. The song seemed hampered by this sudden dismissal, almost to the effect in which the accompanied youth wished he hadn't stolen this unique flower, though there was nothing to be done about it now. The boy figured it would not hurt the song as much to seize another flower for this girl, whom still skipped about the chorus, as a parting gift, though Rek'd did not rush her; he surveyed the dance laid out before him, pointing out, to himself, which steps he favored over others and which could use a little work in order to accent the young body using them as footstools for every given motion at every given point in the dance, then clapped lightly as the dancer settled into a twirl that utilized the transparent cloths hanging from those of actual practicality. As her hooves pressed together to signify a dignified end, she smiled at him, gladdened by the fact that he had enjoyed the presentation, despite the missteps that had littered it throughout.

He walked over, handed her the flower not mutated and she smiled. "I'm Fiera," She claimed. "Fiera Tem'ress," She was given his name and then was gone, having disappeared through the fiery bursts of outgrowth delivering the expected, "Twas nice to meet you!"

Then he appeared. Rek'd redirected his eyes to meet the golden orbs just across the batch of flowers, contemplating just who this other Sangheili child, mysterious as far as the identity of the dancer had been, as he rose a foot, then placed it firmly against the ground, as if afraid to venture further. This youth, foreign to the set standards of this clearing as he was, was permitted to work out his insecurities, drawing out one foot, then the other, in a stiffened cycle of tenseness that would prompt him to run at the first sight of trouble, though none came, so he was reluctant to have even thought about going away, especially after harnessing the courage to finally seek to interact with this youth; to accompany him, to become his friend. He wasn't sure why these aspirations had developed; he just knew they were right, in feeling, as this boy, whom had dashed by that memorable day just one week ago, shared with him a dreaded similarity, one which actually could be manipulated into a bearable genetic fault that brings these two boys closer. If only Innurven had noticed the light brown flower already so closely clenching the accompanied youth's hip.

"Hello," Rek'd greeted his observer, holding out a hand for the foreign youth to take a hold of; oh, who knows what type of hopes bounced about his lobes because of this! "Are you lost?" Innurven nodded slowly as he reached out and seized the palm, staring at the joining of hands with both his eyes before directed them towards the flowers, searching for a certain breed his homeland had known, which consisted of a lineage of flowers known to brandish velvety black pedals that stole the cherished rays of the sun, as if to take hold of the distributing powers bestowed upon the beholder, and display a sense of confidence in such an alluring way that other flowers had no choice but to grow facing towards them. Regardless of the eye strains and thoroughness and effort placed within the searches, not one of these flowers were to be found stealing influence from the sun, leaving a sort of void in the collection, or, perhaps, a lack thereof to prevent an intruder to steal the eyes of flowers in need of the engaging release that was the sky above.

"Ai'spos ai'm laust," Innurven returned as he gazed at Rek'd, hesitantly taking in the sight of the accompanied youth in between torn glances that placed his pupils anywhere else, save the gathering of flowers just a few feet away, which led all those about, including the sun and the flowers and the trees and the leaves, to ponder his temperament, be it only temporary, hiding an individual worth extracting from this protective shell that cloaked him, or of eternity of this air, regardless of the stagnancy that would surely be about it, as his golden eyes, all wise in appearance, deflected all attempts to peer into his mortal soul. It was almost heartbreaking, this privacy the foreign youth involuntarily exercised, though it was readily dismissed in favor of the mindset that intended on seeking out the appropriate kin and deliver this boy onto them; into arms that could wrap about him in ways that expressed understanding and togetherness so desperately hunted by each and every child that had come to live, continued living on, or had yet to be born. Innurven trembled as he stood next to this youth and focused those golden eyes mainly on him, proving successful at utilizing those ever useful reserves of courageousness thus far, though it was a universally asked question as to how long he would be able to remain gazing forward before exhausting those dire resources. "Ya'no tha'way?" He asked as he faced away, attempting to collect himself long enough for just one more look at this being. For both youths, this moment would come and form a friendship between the two that would last to this given point in time, but for Rek'd, as he stood (or, rather, laid), this moment would drift away as it came for his time to recollect for just one more look at the being before him. The elderly youth stirred the sheets as he erected himself with a palm pressed against his temples and the other held dearly by Innurven, whom had taken it upon himself to remain at his guest's side while Fiera entertained Vleo in the room immediately outside the door. "A'!" The generously helping hand exclaimed as Rek'd's shoulder brushed his own. "Ai'taut ya'ta hav'be'n laust, Rei."

"There's no need to worry on my behalf, Innurven," His guest assured, then hesitated slightly before brushing their heads together, a double-edged sign that expressed a deep gratification in the fact that the man had remained by his side and an intense chemistry hidden beneath the implied friendship of the two beings sharing the motion, which took the host aback for just a few seconds before the gesture was returned with a series of rigid coos and squeals, which mixed together in a delightful way. After their forms separated, Rek'd added, "I've known the way for some time now."

"Ai'spos ya'hav," Innurven squeezed Rek'd's hand, applying just the right amount of pressure to instill, in the elderly youth, a cloud of confusion that remained after failing to be cast away through a fit of silence that enveloped both men as the host stood from his spot on the bed and glanced over his shoulder, back at his guest, just taking in this view of him, here, where he had never come to be before, and probably would be reluctant to be again, given the context of this situation. Golden pearls met sharp, green orbs in a reading that turned up messages lacking coherency, though messages all the same, to be deciphered whenever the receptive hairs wafting about desired to be of more immediate use or either youth, either warrior, as a matter of fact, found the time to sit or lay about alone and ponder this chance meaning, in hopes of indulging in a dissection to study the contents lying within. "R'gar'les, ai'd'laik ta'givya a'hand," Contrary to his speech, though, Innurven allowed their palms to slip, as he knew, if his assistance was desired, this guest of his would surely throw all four fingers forward and suspend his hand; the host merely waited for an insistent tug as he turned about and took a step towards the door; the sound of two sets of skin colliding rang out far sooner than expected. Both men found themselves glancing at each other again after the natural reflexes had intertwined their appendages left, allowing all muscles to make peace amongst themselves, save those behind the features of the generously helping hand, whose mandibles clamped together on separate sides of his mouth, then pulled apart in pairs, underside his gums, as a charming noise drifted from his throat, a sort of 'Oh, what have we here?' for Sangheilis both big and small, and excited Rek'd's muscles and heart, though he would only have the pleasure of noting the tenseness of the former, missing the looping beats of the latter that both sped and skipped. "Shud'ya so'wish i'..."

"I believe, it goes without saying, that I do," The elderly youth stated as he, too, stood from the bed, restoring the height seen as far more impressive than his equal's, though he felt as if he was peering into this being before him at an elevation of equivalent measure, even as he drew closer, readying for an implied motion before Fiera's voice sailed through the door and placed both men on their toes. Rek'd glanced towards his host with disappointment flooding his features before he slipped his hand, seemingly to walk through the doorway without any assistance whatsoever, and wrapped his arms around the generously helping hand, taking him into his grasp, as if he'd never let go; or, at least, that was the implied notion behind the motion, brotherly as the tight embrace was, that surfaced amidst Innurven's thoughts as he returned the favor, placing his head and twirling his neck against the chest before him, while the ring leader of this charade bent over him and graced the back of that exposed neck with his own. "You have proved to be more of a brother, as opposed a mere friend, and I thank you for this, especially as I wander about my time of need," The embrace was loosened as the elderly youth stepped back from his previous spot with his finger tips sinking down, farther down that mass of flesh, to meet the tips of opposites not quite significant, though certainly cherished. "One fit to act of my kin is always appreciated, cherished, just as kind words or a brightened smile are."

As they drifted further apart, Innurven couldn't help but smile and blush as Rek'd proved, yet again, to be an upstanding gentleman, always offering compliments and upbringings in the wake of crucial moments that were destined to be interrupted by the chiming of a bell, or the roar of a beast, or the sweetened call of a mistress laying in wait for her lord, as if he was her prey. Another squeeze of the palm, enacted by both men and drawing of a breath from both men, came to pass before they complied with the pleas of the disembodied voice floating just outside the door, likely hanging from its upper frame as a sign of greetings would, though intentions were not spelled out upon this one, before both arms were retracted and the beings made their way towards exit. At the last instant, before Rek'd passed through, Innurven proved, yet again, to be a faithful escort and slapped that once occupied hand against his guest's spine, propelling him forward. Just a pause, a small pause, was taken, as the elderly youth feared being thrown into yet another long gone memory, before he warily slid through the frame, feeling his pectorals to make sure they had not decreased in a childish manner, and was pursued by the host just behind him, whom practically pressed him to lurch forward and seize the time they had together within this comfortable home.

The door behind them shut softly, marking a departure that, without outside influences, possibly would have never come to pass, as this room signified a haven, just as the secluded spring did, in which for two lovers could come to join and make something of their time together. The window, across the room from the door, remained slightly open, quite inconspicuously suggestive, as all things had come to be, by now, allowing a fitting breeze to shimmy through the crack and illuminate the room with a scent most pleasing and condoning of its purpose, however restricted by limitations it was to express this. Beyond this window, if one squinted hard enough, one would be able to see a flower patch containing an ever flowing sea of vibrant weavings of loosely related colors so heavily influenced by this wind as life was gone about and enjoyed for the time being, displaying, in itself, a sort of lesson that all onlookers would be wise to learn. What lesson this was, exactly, was not made clear by the unintelligible lyrics, or, perhaps, lyrics too intelligent to be comprehended, that were captured by the breeze and pressed into the emptied room, though halted by the door until Rek'd forced it open, intending to fix the sheets he had come to disrupt earlier. The elderly youth, as he stepped inside, stopped and listened to the breeze, finding, within it, a message that would come to alter his given mindset and mutate his very being as he viewed the garden just outside the window.