The sudden change in fashion around the Crystarium was so drastic, that despite his distraction between his practice in creating crystals and teaching Ardbert in theoretical controlling of the Tower… Not to mention his longing for his lover and general disinterest in such… G'raha noticed.
He did, though again, disinterested – he ignored it at first. How the citizens of the city under his care chose to dress, was none of his business, after all. But when at the end of the second week of Senri's absence suddenly it seems like more than half of the females around the city took to wearing an absolutely hideous shade of green – it piqued his curiosity – when he wasn't choking on laughter caused by Damon's mean remarks when 'they' spotted yet another person dressed like that during his morning rounds.
A quick – and hopefully not suspicious – check-in with Katliss at Crystalline Mean didn't yield an explanation for the sudden assault on senses as she seemed as stunned.
"Beats me, lord Exarch," she sighed, bracing her palms on the table in front of her. "But as awful as it looks – about two weeks ago we were flooded with requests for outfits in this particular shade. But all things considered… I would ask Cylva at Wandering Stairs, sir. When we started to fulfill the orders, she seemed particularly… amused with the development."
Even more curious by that statement, he ended his rounds by making it a point to arrive at the tavern and soon spotted the tall, blond Elf busy cleaning the tables and preparing them for the arrival of the first clients of the day.
"Cylva, if I may have a moment of your time?" he asked with a polite nod, stopping by the woman.
"Of course, my lord," she smiled, straightening to her full height – towering over him – and waved toward the barkeep and the owner, Glynard, then focused her attention on him. "How can I be of service?"
"Ah…" he hesitated, then smiled a bit sheepishly. "I am not sure if it won't sound strange… But Katliss from the Mean suggested that you may know the reason why so many of the people around the city suddenly took to wear such a… interesting shade of green."
The woman's lips definitely… twitched as she looked around – certainly easily spotting at least a few of such… specimens already wandering the markets visible over the railing of the tavern's platform.
"I… might have an idea," she said slowly, looking toward him again as she rested her hands on her hips. "Do you remember, my lord, the evening when the Warrior and his friends caused the commotion in front of the Tower?"
"Yes?" he hummed, hoping the cowl covers most of his blush as he remembered all too well how it ended. "But what that has to do with…?"
"Getting there," she smirked. "As I was busy working here at the time, I missed the whole… spectacle, but apparently those who didn't, decided to cool down by a glass of wine or other beverages after the show was abruptly cut short…" she nodded toward him meaningfully. "And though I would have to be blind not to see that the Warrior is quite… a handsome man – the amount of gushing I was forced to listen to after that was… staggering."
G'raha blinked, trying to stifle the instinctive… proud purr at that statement – because yes, Senri was a beautiful man… and his.
Technically, that was Ares, hummed Damon with amusement. Then he chuckled when G'raha rolled his eyes.
"But I still don't understand," he said slowly, tilting his head curiously.
"Well…" Cylva chuckled, bouncing on her heels. "…before the audience went back to their homes, I was approached by a few… very interested ladies, offering me quite a handsome amount of gil for finding out some… tidbits about the Warrior's likes and dislikes – since he and his friends take their meals here. So, the next day when they arrived for dinner, while his friends were busy chatting I managed to innocently ask him about his favorite color…"
G'raha blinked slowly and his lips twitched involuntarily when Damon positively… chortled inside his head.
"Let me guess," he said, striving to keep the amusement out of his voice. "He said green?"
"I was surprised as well," Cylva nodded, not even trying to hide her grin. "I would guess black… considering how he dresses."
It was red, actually, he thought, choking down a quiet snigger. Yet she was right, his Warrior always wore black that fit with his hair and fur – but mostly out of convenience, since it was the easiest to keep the bloodstains out. His lover was a fighter, after all.
But far it was from his Senri to pass on a joke… especially as used as he had to be to this sort of attention by now.
"As for the… interesting shade," the woman said, openly grinning now. "I might have added that… for entertainment purposes. I honestly doubted someone would be… desperate enough, but as you can see, my lord," she made a wide gesture with her hand, and he nodded, stifling his amusement.
"Ah, I understand," he said, then cleared his throat. "Thank you for the explanation."
"Anytime, sir," she chuckled, then bowed slightly and went back to her work.
Senri is going to have a good laugh when he's back, hummed Damon when G'raha headed down the stairs leading to the markets.
Obviously, he replied as his lips twitched again at the sight of the sheer… number of individuals dressed in the hideous color.
We should do something to pay him back for this… assault at senses, suggested the immortal with a snicker.
Like? He asked, crossing the Excedra on the way toward the Tower. Then he almost stumbled when a… vision appeared inside his head to his passenger's quiet, devious chuckle. An image of his lover in… Damon! There's just no way…!
Think about it, Raha, the immortal whispered teasingly. I know for a fact that Ares loves this sort of… play. I can bet you, your Senri would as well. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise to welcome him back?
He flushed up to his hairline and swallowed thickly, dropping his gaze to his feet. But he would be a liar to say that the image wasn't… tantalizing.
He does like to… submit, he finally replied and his blush went darker and hotter.
Mhmm, Damon's chuckle was truly… depraved now.
G'raha took a deep breath, then turned his step, heading back to the Crystalline Mean.
Once they finally came back to Crystarium and reported their findings to their host – T'senri was almost… twitching with impatience and fought with himself not to instantly pounce at his mate – truly glad for his mask now as it hid his devouring gaze from his friends while he faced the cowled Exarch.
Then, after leading the Scions out of the Tower, he excused himself from their company – citing tiredness from the travel and the fight with the three-headed Lightwarden – and headed straight for his suite in the Pendants.
Even the sight of many ladies dressed in a truly hideous shade of green that would wave or smile toward him – as hilarious as it looked – couldn't distract him from his goal. He only breathed a sigh of relief when the door of his suite closed behind him and near instantly he felt something… unfurl inside him.
The feeling of his bond to Raha – his emotions and just… presence flooding his senses and heart had him moan out loud with bliss and nearly choke on his purrs.
Finally, hummed Ares. As necessary as it was… And will be until you're near Y'shtola… Eh, it is nice to be back.
"Why didn't you mention that Hydealyn and Zodiark are Primals?" he asked instantly the question that was on his mind since that… revelation as he headed deeper inside the room, discarding the pieces of his armor on the way. "Does that mean I'm… tempered?"
I guess, technically they are, the immortal said with consideration. As they were summoned under similar conditions. But no, you're not tempered, Senri.
"What is the… Blessing, then?" he scowled, naked as he neared the washbasin and set to swiftly was off the dust and white-tinted blood from himself.
It's called the Traveler's Ward and it is a spell to protect one's soul, Ares said calmly. Azem, the Traveler. That used to be my title and the… calling back then. Hydealyn, though I knew her as Venat, was the Azem before me and choose me to be her successor once she stepped down from the function.
"Can you cast it?" he asked, frowning.
I do, his immortal said pointedly. On G'raha, you mean?
"Obviously," he rolled his eyes, drying himself off and then heading toward his bag. After a short consideration, he put on only a pair of black shorts, then sat down on the edge of the bed to quickly brush his hair and fur. He liked to think he wasn't vain… but he did want to look good for his mate. "At least once we're done here and his back in his old body."
That's actually a good idea, Ares said slowly. According to Damon's calculations, he should be finally able to fully support his soul – but certainly, extra protection wouldn't hurt. And it's quite possible the Ward would have on him the same effect as on you – making him… them stronger, faster and their senses sharper.
"And unable to be tempered," he pointed out the most important. For him, anyway. That also meant that his lover could be always at his side – including in his fights with Primals. And not only that in itself – but from provided by Ares memories of the Holminster Switch, he knew that his historian grew to be an extremely skilled healer – among other things – and considering he never took to magic further than Paladin's class skills…
Actually, why not? Asked the immortal suddenly and T'senri's hand froze mid-move. Why didn't you get more interested in magic, I mean?
"Dunno," he shrugged a bit uncomfortably, then chuckled sheepishly, going back to brushing the fur on his tail. "I tried at first, after arriving in Ul'dah – even briefly signed myself into the Thaumaturge Guild… but it felt so… slow and annoying, I never went back to that again. And I kind of… enjoy being at the forefront and protecting my party from being hit, so I stuck with that. The furthest I went into magic, I guess, was picking up that… Dark Knight's miserable soulstone, I guess. But somehow I wasn't able to go back to that either… after the Dragonsong War. The whole thing with Esteem… really freaked me out."
It would be pointless anyway, Ares said… carefully. Esteem is gone from you, and would never be back.
"Huh?" he frowned, then shrugged again. "Well, good riddance, I guess… It wasn't pleasant, knowing I have so much… darkness inside me."
Each one of us does, his Ascian chuckled, then sighed. Though, back in my day our people enjoyed pretending they don't – and to be honest with you, my boy, I used to feel terrible about my temper, sure nobody else was as prone to vicious outbursts. The wild one, they would call me… While all I wanted was to be… free.
"Free?" he hummed with confusion.
Our… society was very stifling of any individuality, Ares said with obvious irritation. You weren't even allowed to dress out of… norms. It was very frustrating, I admit. Then I met Damon… and considering that same-sex relationships weren't really a thing… as according to our people they didn't serve the… purpose – we blew their minds by insisting on bonding our souls. And as calming as he always was for my temper – like your G'raha is for you – more than a few ended up provoking me into a rage by insinuating… I forced Damon to accept me.
T'senri scowled, honestly… sympathetic for his original incarnation. He with his misgivings about his preferences before falling for Raha… more than understood. Yet…
"Why they would think that?" he asked with a frown. "If you were both adults and willing…?"
That's… complicated, there was a clear… evasive note in Ares's voice and his frown grew even more pronounced. Or maybe, not so much, the immortal admitted with a sigh. You see, some of our people were born with unique… aptitudes to certain magics. Hades, for example, was and is a true prodigy in creation magic, the obvious pride in the immortal's tone had T'senri snicker, earning Ares's sheepish chuckle. I'm gushing again… but it's quite true, believe me. None could claim to have higher aether stores than my little brother. Me, on the other hand… ah, I have a thing for… controlling others.
"I beg your pardon?" he scowled, putting the brush away and folding his hands on his lap. "I thought you're like that only with me," he snarked when Ares obviously… hesitated.
I guess, his Ascian chuckled, then sighed with resignation. But no, I mean quite literally… controlling the other creatures. My people, too… Though that required massive amounts of aether and was quite… exhausting. Now, in this fragmented world… I have quite a good idea that I could ask many, many mortals to off themselves at the same time… and they would do so with a smile, he said matter-of-factly and T'senri's eyes shot wide open… while a cold shiver trailed down his spine. Not that I would do so… but it is a possibility. That's why… I was so hesitant to let you know about my presence, Senri… Since considering our souls intertwining… it's more than possible that you can access that… skill.
"I have… no interest in controlling others," he scoffed, raising to his feet. "Especially… not like that. But I get it then. Your people thought you used that skill on Damon?"
Yes, Ares hummed, now with a hint of amusement and maybe a bit of… relief. Not that T'senri didn't understand the… temptation behind a skill like that – which his Ascian could read without a problem – but a skill like that for him just sounded… wrong. As if I ever would… shame myself like that. But the moment I saw him… Gods, I simply didn't care about his gender – his soul was the most beautiful thing in existence! Still is… and blinded by it, I didn't think much but instantly begged him to be mine… And considering it was in the middle of quite a busy square… you can imagine his shock, he laughed fondly. Or mine… when he agreed. Always a scholar, my Damon. He was curious instantly – as he admitted to me later – if it was even possible for two men to be together… and later fell for me as hard as I did for him, thank the gods…
T'senri actually grinned, self-consciously checking his appearance in the big mirror. He always did like a good love story… and considering in the end it brought him his Raha…
Do you ever wonder? Ares asked, reading his mind. If you truly love him for him… or because of the bond between me and Damon? You're our reincarnations, after all.
"I love Raha because the day we met, he looked at me and saw the man, not the title, and without a judgment offered his heat in comfort to a stranger… when he needed it the most," he said toward his reflection with a smile. "I love him because he's brave, not because he doesn't feel fear, but he's ready to face it head on – as the night he came to me after I avoided him – terrified of my attraction to him and the idea that he would reject me if he knew… And yet, there he was, with a mix of fear and determination in his beautiful, mismatched eyes looking at me… with hope and not bolting as I would. I love him, because he saw the worst of me – the cold, merciless rage as I tore apart the female that dared to threaten him… and yet he didn't back away from me or looked at me like at a monster – as he maybe should. I love him… because faced with the choice between his dreams and the responsibility that came with his inheritance, no matter how much it hurt both of us… he choose what he believed was better for the world. And I love him because he spent one hundred years lonely and isolated… for me. Thinking he would have to die to save me – yet not hesitating – because he's the most selfless idiot in existence and as much as I still hate that plan… I can't not admire his bravery at the same time. Finally, I love him… because he makes me laugh… and being with him makes me… happy like nothing else ever could. Not the cheer, I pretend to appease my friends… But one smile of his makes my heart sing. That's why I love Raha… that thanks to you I could make him truly mine… is just a bonus."
I see, Ares hummed, and he felt something like a… gentle pat on his soul – which wasn't unpleasant. Then… what are you waiting for, boy? Time to get your man and show him how much you missed him.
"With pleasure," he grinned again, then took a deep breath and teleported to his mate.
And froze at the sight that meet his eyes while his jaw simply… dropped.
Ohhh, Ares sounded as… stunned.
"Your expression… was definitely worth it," his lover chuckled, then flashed his teeth at him in a daring grind, despite his fiery blush.
"Wha… R-Raha…?" he choked out, staring, as his dazed eyes traveled over the… vision his mate made… and suddenly he could barely catch his breath as his cock throbbed sooo… painfully it tore a breathless whimper from his throat.
Because his beautiful lover sat on his knees in the middle of their nest, on top of the seemingly new black blanket, naked but for a… red ribbons adorning his gorgeous body in a way… that had T'senri instantly, painfully aroused.
"You… like it, Snark?" Raha whispered hesitantly with a nervous twitch when the silence extended.
"I…" he swallowed thickly, trying to collect his scattered wits… then cleared his throat and moved slowly toward the… vision, climbing the nest as he admired the sight in mind-blown fascination. "You look… oh, g-gods, Raha…"
"I guess that's a… yes?" his heart stuttered to a stop when his lover blushed even darker, but his crimson irises lit up with pleasure and a slight, smug smirk tilted his plush lips. Lips, he had to taste, like… right now… As he neared, the maddening scent of cinnamon and almonds, swollen with the arousal of his mate, assaulted his sensitive nose and he whined in the back of his throat… sure he was going to pass out as pure, undiluted lust had his whole body nearly… shake as he fought the instant impulse to pounce and fuck his man senseless.
"I… love it," he panted out, purring loudly and needily as he carefully, on all fours, leaned in and pressed his nose against the crystal on Raha's throat, taking a deep breath and moaning helplessly at another painful twinge in his throbbing dick. And his mate – tease that he was – tilted his head slightly, allowing him greater access even as he pressed his crystalized hand over his heart and pressed meaningfully, keeping him back. "Ra-Raha…" he mewled his need, carefully sliding his hands up from his lover's knees toward his hips and nuzzled against his shoulder, losing his mind in the desire mounting so quickly he was dizzy with it when his hands brushed on the way the soft, beautiful ribbons. "You look like a… gift waiting to be unwrapped," he purred, sneaking his hands around his lover's behind and delicately kneading his marvelous ass.
"Not… exactly," Raha chuckled breathlessly, and T'senri almost lost it when his 'normal' hand shot up suddenly and fisted in his hair, the grip deliciously brutal, tilting his head to the side as his lover rose on his knees, pushing him back slowly. "You see, my love…" he purred – sound low and so enticing it had the Warrior mesmerized while his gorgeous 'gift' tore a string of breathless whimpers from his mouth while he trailed small, sharp bites up his throat. "…each of these ribbons… is for you, Senri," he chuckled, then pressed a tender kiss on the corner of dazed Seeker's mouth. "Would you mind… becoming my present, Snark?"
If possible – the image that sprang to his mind – had him almost spill, and a soft, needy whine that slipped his throat was beyond embarrassing… but he was rewarded by his lover's wonderful, deep purrs as Raha took his mouth in a rough, devouring kiss – his taste on T'senri's lips after sooo long without it… he mewled his approval. Then gasped under Raha's mouth when without breaking the kiss, his lover somehow with his crystallized hand untied one of the ribbons adorning his other arm, then almost brutally forced his arms back and tied them at his wrists behind his back. Delicate as it was, he could tear it at any moment… but when Raha freed his mouth and pulled back, panting harshly as he untied another ribbon and his darkened, narrowed eyes traveled over his skin… so full of lust and pleasure at the sight... T'senri could merely choke out a whimper from his too-tight throat, sitting back on his heels and spreading his thighs as the previously loose material of his shorts now felt too… stifling on his painful erection.
"You're… such a good boy, my Snark," his lover purred, raising his crystalized hand to gently, soothingly ran his fingers through his hair, then the Warrior almost expired when that hand curled into a fist at the back of his head and a truly… gorgeous and mischievous smirk bloomed on his mate's beautiful face as he rose on his knees then delicately wrapped the ribbon around his throat, brushing his smiling lips against T'senri's cheek before in a quick move biting his lower lip – tearing a helpless groan from his throat. "I'm going to have so much… fun, making you beg," Raha cooed, trailing small, sharp bites along his jaw.
"…b-beg?" he choked out, arching with a quiet snicker when his lover almost brutally pulled his head back, his hungry eyes admiring the sight as he licked his bruised lips – setting Warrior's heart aflutter. "I have… no problem begging for… you, my heart," he admitted shamelessly.
"Not for me, love," Raha flashed his teeth at him in a daring grin, then with his free hand pulled roughly at the waistband of T'senri's shorts. Almost too eager, shameless, he helped his lover to swiftly get them off him, preening under his heated gaze. Until… his curious eyes widened when Raha untied another ribbon, from around his chest now, and with a teasing smirk wrapped it delicately around the base of Warrior's cock, making him choke on a string of choked whimpers and profanities until he pulled back to admire the view again. Then he grinned, and rose again to wrap his mismatched arms around T'senri's neck and pressed his almost too-hot body against him, and smirked in a way that had the Warrior… sweat. "You'll beg me to be allowed to come, Snark…" he purred, then nipped on his lower lip. "And if you're a really, really… good boy, maybe I'll let you."
T'senri swallowed thickly and his lover laughed a bit… evilly at the sight of his expression…
…but this was definitely… interesting!