victory_road | Arrival; [Video]

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Arrival; [Video]

The gear's feed flickers in to a rather disheveled looking redhead that clearly doesn't want to be doing this. Because goddess and all the saints, he does not want to be doing this. Asking for help is already a task. Asking for help within a brand new world he cannot even begin to comprehend? Nightmare scenario. He's clearly lost and disoriented, and there's music and a fire pony following him around. Really, the only good thing is the fire pony- ponyta- whatever.

"Okay, don't know what this is, where this is going, or who's on the other end, but I can read instructions well enough to get to this point. Hi, Sylvain here, no clue where I am besides a very unhelpful 'New Bark Town' sign a few paces back, and I found a horse on fire. A baby horse, err, or maybe a pony. So... help? Maybe? I'm not even sure what I'm asking here."

And the apparent cause of how much of a mess his red locks are becomes obvious as he sweeps a hand through it again like a nervous tick. Behind him, the camera is panned just enough for a ponyta to be seen running obviously bored laps back and forth. They're pretty clearly at the edge of town, the buildings of New Bark still somewhat visible. Sylvain didn't make it very far...

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It's a pleasant surprise when Felix doesn't deny or brush off his compliment. Even the genuine ones he's used to seeing roll off Felix by either dismissal or sheer obliviousness. So this is good. He deserves to know Sylvain's always found him unfairly gorgeous. It's always been a persistent thought he could never chase away.

Ah, but that pretty sound has him so distracted he doesn't even have a chance to react until he's got Felix under him. A hand braces beside Felix's head, his broad body looming over the other, and suddenly his pulse picks up in tempo to an uneven and roused pace. It's something straight out of a dream, Felix beneath him, that beautiful raven-dark hair framing his handsome face. Sylvain can even feel the way his breathing his quickened while astride him. He swallows hard.

"Damn," he gusts out, eyes darkening with a kind of old hunger as it all comes washing over him. He's wanted this for too long. Shit- he has to be more charming than that. He can't just let this go so simply while his heart is practically soaring. But it's all choked up in his throat. There should be something suave there. Some pretty words. Some heated flattery. Something-

"You're everything I've wanted my whole life," he finally just says what he's thinking. Because he can't remember a time before Felix. And he refuses to consider a time without him.

Felix never used to give much thought to his appearance. It never mattered - he didn't need to look good to fight well and he had no interest in pandering to anyone else's idea of what he should look like. And he used to be annoyed with himself for the amount of thought he did give to Sylvain's appearance; the older they got, the more attractive he was, and often when Felix snapped at Sylvain or walked away in the middle of a conversation, it wasn't because he was actually angry - it was because Sylvain smiled at him a certain way or took his shirt off after training, or the wind tousled his hair just so, and Felix hated it because it felt like torturing himself with something he could never have.

Except then they got here to Johto and he suddenly could. It changed everything, even if it took a while for that change to really happen. Felix learned to see himself the way other people saw him, and learned that it was okay for him to want someone. To want his best friend. And that it was okay to be wanted, too.

His heart races as he watches the way those eyes devour him. Goddess, he's missed this so much. He's missed Sylvain so much. His face flushes to hear that admission, almost feeling like this is all happening for the first time again because for Sylvain, it is.

"Then what are you waiting for?" It's a challenge and an invitation, and his body language seems to echo it as he lets his hands rest on the ground above his head and tilts his chin up.

He could beat himself up for how startlingly unbecoming it was to just blurt out his whole heart like that. It's not like him at all. To just be honest on his feelings. But Felix deserves to know. Well, he already did, but that just means he should hear it again. Because he'd know if Sylvain was lying by brushing it off or trying to play it cool.

So he takes a steadying breath. No, it's okay. This is okay. They're okay.

He has to meet Felix's challenge because that's what they do. A familiar game will do him some good.

"Guess for my heart to stop racing, but you're not gonna let that happen are you, handsome?" Sylvain leans in, fingers curling just under Felix's jaw before taking him in a hungry kiss. Not quite hurriedly desperate, but starving for it certainly. Felix can probably feel it too- it's not fair that he's got the upper hand on their (to Sylvain) suddenly evolving relationship. Maybe Sylvain can wrest it back a little bit- to win Felix's challenge of course. Not because he's daydreamed this scenario a dozen times over. No- no, of course not.

He lowers himself down on his forearm, chest to chest with Felix as he kisses him. His free hand seeks out one of Felix's, and presses to his palm. He twines their fingers, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Sylvain should know by now that if he did try to beat himself up for saying such a thing, Felix would have to beat him up first for thinking it. It is okay. It's better than okay. And Felix is realizing that he's going to have to brace himself to do the same thing himself all over again, because he can't let Sylvain think those feelings are anything but wholly, completely mutual.

...except first he apparently has to endure the pet names. Of course. At least this one's descriptive?

All that flies out of his mind, though, as Sylvain takes the reins in exactly the way Felix was hoping he would. He closes his eyes and arches with a low hum to meet Sylvain's body as he descends, fingers squeezing back in kind.

When they pause for breath, Felix's eyes blink open so he can deliberately look Sylvain in the eye when he says, "You're everything I've wanted, too."

The petnames stay, that's just how it is.

Also he'd rather be beaten up by Felix, truth be told. No one is quite as awful to Sylvain has Sylvain himself. But that's beside the point. He doesn't want to hesitate here. Not when something he's wanted for so long is just saying these kinds of things to him. And Felix deserves to know Sylvain's not going to squander something that precious despite the fact he's asked for time and patience.

Sylvain knows eye-contact isn't Felix's favorite, so he appreciates the sentiment. Not that he doesn't always appreciate those beautiful, fallow-gold eyes. Getting them focused on him does wonders for Sylvain, makes him damn near melt. It's no different now, and he brings their twined hands to his lips to press a kiss to the ring on Felix's finger.

Usually, he's got a silver tongue for every situation. This feels like one of those times maybe he doesn't necessarily need it. The kiss is a promise and reassurance that while he's apprehensive, he's not unwilling, he doesn't even hate it (to his own surprise, still). For Felix, he'd do anything.

"You've really gotten to be such a sap, huh?" he just has to tease though, and moves his attention to something a little less nerve-wracking: like pressing a collar of kisses across Felix's throat.

Felix's eyes widen and his pulse speeds up at this ridiculously romantic gesture - not because it's romantic, he's used to that by now (mostly), but because of what it means. Sylvain's right: he doesn't need words to convey this message. Felix hears it loud and clear, and it's his turn to feel like he's melting right into the ground.

Which is why he's almost grateful for the teasing. Almost. His face scrunches up and he whaps Sylvain on the arm with his free hand. "Shut up. I take it all back, you're a menace."

Who knows whether he might have said more or not, because Sylvain puts his lips to work and Felix tips his head back with a satisfied little noise. Sylvain is, for better or worse, right; Felix has gotten softer here in this world, and sometimes he's still not sure he likes it. Right now, though, he's glad for it. The Felix of a year ago would never in a million years have been able to just tell Sylvain a thing like that, and as he's learned in his time here, some people need to hear things in words.

Ah, still the same old Felix. Sylvain's laughing when he gets thumped on the arm, tittering like an idiot when his crush pays him attention.

"Yeah, but you like it. Admit it, Fe; I'm your favorite menace." C'mon, he has to be, right? Who else could take his place as obligatory troublemaker in their pair?

He breathes out another sure laugh against Felix's throat, lips lingering on his pulse. An experimental nibble is placed there, Sylvain teething at the delicate skin. Not enough to hurt, but between that and the rough kisses, he fixates on a leaving a noticeable mark. His mark. Just one (or two, or three, maybe... he's enthusiastic is all) for now. Wanting to see Felix's reaction to it first before he aims for a bigger, more obvious prize.

Oh, it has been far too long since Felix has heard Sylvain laugh, and it's all he can do not to ruin his vaguely grumpy act with a smile.

"Hmph. I admit nothing." But of course, he's full of shit, and he's sure Sylvain knows that. Sylvain has always been his favorite menace.

He closes his eyes, a little shiver going down his spine at the breath and soft lips against the sensitive flesh of his neck. A quiet hum of approval is all he provides as a reaction for now, though his free hand moves to thread his fingers into Sylvain's hair.

Felix doesn't have to admit a damn thing. Sylvain's already found him guilty, and is grinning like an idiot against his neck.

Ah, but that's a sweet sound, isn't it? It's certainly not a request to stop either. Sylvain presses kisses along the line of his pulse, tracing it down to his collar, and nosing into the crux of his neck and shoulder.

"How long do you think we have until Dimitri shows up?" No- no, reason, he's just asking of course.

The first thing that comes to mind to say is 'who cares,' but the answer is that Felix cares, and he doesn't want to ~~worry Dimitri~~ deal with Dimitri's gross puppy dog act, so he actually gives the question some thought. You know, just because Sylvain was just asking, obviously. No reason.

"With all that food he insisted on sending ahead and all the people he probably checked in with before he left? At least fifteen, twenty more minutes. Knowing Dimitri, he'll call when he gets close."

Yes, Felix is well aware that there is no inn in New Bark Town. No, that's not going to stop him.

A huff is breathed out against Felix's neck. Maybe it's enough time for a little play, but Sylvain's a creature of leisure, and would much prefer hours to minutes.

"Mm, as glad as I'll be to see him, should have told him not to rush." As if he would have ever had the foresight to think Felix was going to relay so much to him, and it would all lead to them kissing in the grass like enthusiastic teenagers. "Don't mean to be so impatient but I have waited a good portion of my life to do this sort of thing with you."

And the months I've waited to do it again have felt like years.

"Heh. I'm usually the impatient one. I suppose the tables have turned."

Though that's not to say Felix doesn't also want to continue this right now. "I'll send him a message. Tell him to meet us somewhere else in an hour. Or two." Or tomorrow.

"Hey, gimme some credit here. I think I was pretty patient all things considered." Sylvain insists he deserves that at least. "I have been pining for you since I was 16. Probably longer, but that's when I had the words for it at least."

Sylvain does a lazy stretch, ending in draping himself on Felix like an oversized blanket. Somewhere else, huh?

"You know someplace more private?"

"You say that like you were the only one. That hardly counts when it was both of us." Although Felix wouldn't say he was patient so much as resigned. But that doesn't matter now.

Ordinarily, Felix might have complained and pushed Sylvain off of him into the grass, but for now he couldn't ask for anything better than this. Someplace more private...the truth is, Felix doesn't really know New Bark Town very well at all. He barely spent any time here when he first arrived, because Sylvain dropped everything to come and get him, and they left immediately. ...to go camp in the woods. Well, he does have their tent with him, since they knew the trip back would take much longer than the trip here.

"I do." Okay, so he's gonna complain just a little. "Now get off me, you oaf, so I can text Dimitri."

"I think it absolutely counts!" Sylvain protests without a drop of actual offense. He's grinning, always quick to fall into their usual banter. Which is arguing. But in their own way.

He's rather enjoying getting to lay on Felix too. Sylvain's sizable enough to be comfortably over him, and pleasantly tangled. And maybe it settles something base in him to have Felix beneath him. Warm and safe (even if there's no real danger. Or the fact Felix can perfectly handle himself).

A protesting huff escapes when Felix commands him off, but he obeys after a moment. Raising up on his hands, he looms above Felix a moment, head tilted. "You're awfully pretty like this," he mutters, only half-aware it's aloud, but not caring much either way. Sylvain ends up laid out on his side so he doesn't have to cut physical contact completely while Felix responds to Dimitri.

It settles something in Felix, too. The both of them have led lives so much less peaceful than this place, and old instincts die hard.

This time, Felix's cheeks dust with the faintest hint of pink; pretty is a very different sort of word than gorgeous, and he hasn't always liked it, but right now anything that reaffirms Sylvain's interest in doing this is worth it.

(He draws the line at 'cute,' though.)

Felix pulls out his Gear and texts: found sylvain.
take your time.
in fact
stop for dinner.
we need a couple of hours.

He's... relatively sure Dimitri will get the implication. Maybe. Hopefully. If not, they may end up with a slightly traumatized king if he finds them early...ah well.

He pockets the Gear again and rolls easily to his feet. "Let's go." He starts walking back toward Foudroyant, where his packed bags are, before waiting for a response.

Cute is going to come up. Sylvain finds plenty of things Felix does cute, or when he gets a little huffy, that's always cute too.

Well-trained as he is, where Felix goes, Sylvain follows. It's his default by nature. When Felix moves away, Sylvain does as well, lagging a few moments behind. With a lazy smile fixed in place, he follows Felix to the giant insect, and tries not to seem wary of it. He probably owes it a favor or two for bring Felix here so quickly, but it's still a big bug-

"Do we, uh... ride it? To somewhere? Or...?"

Felix has, over the past year, become very aware of how many people think he's 'cute,' and he hates it, thanks! It's an unwelcome reminder of the pathetic little crybaby twerp he used to be as a kid; like they still see him that way no matter who he's become since then.

But that's a banter-argument for another time.

Foudroyant greets Sylvain enthusiastically with a wave of her little antennae and a happy spark of electricity arcing between her mandibles. "Her, not it," Felix corrects. "This is Foudroyant." Which may sound familiar to Sylvain as a reference to Foudroyant Strike, the signature attack of Catherine's Thunderbrand sword.

"But we're not riding anywhere just yet." He hoists one of the bags he'd set down on the ground onto his back. "Wait for us here," he tells the Vikavolt. "If Dimitri shows up...I don't know. Stall him or something." She chirps quizzically at him, but he's already turning back to Sylvain.

"We're walking, for now." He does just that, heading for the edge of town and the route that leads into the woods. After only a minute or so, he surreptitiously slips his hand into Sylvain's to hold it as they walk along, though he doesn't look over or acknowledge that he's done it at all.

Sorry Felix, you can't escape the fact Sylvain's known you since before you could toddle about on your own two feet. And he'll never forget just how adorable you can be. But it's a good thing. Sylvain thinks so anyway. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being cute.

"Ah, a proper lady," Sylvain corrects himself, and gives Foudroyant a quick, apologetic bow. Honestly, it's terribly uncouth of him to be so unbecoming around a girl. Even if said girl is, again, a giant insect. But it's Sylvain, so he has to have a bit of theatrics about it.

"Where exactly are we going?" Well, walking it is then. Sylvain follows diligently again, coming up beside Felix. He doesn't quite comment on Felix near-immediately holding his hand, but the knowing smile he gives Felix sidelong says enough. He's very pleased. But for once he's smart enough not to run his mouth about how cute that is. Instead, he just gives Felix's hand a gentle squeeze, and happily accepts that's allowed now. It's a nicer feeling than he'd ever imagined.

Felix thinks there is plenty wrong with being cute! And he's not. So there.

Foudroyant makes a quiet chittering sound that's awfully reminiscent of a shy giggle. Felix rolls his eyes. He cannot believe Sylvain is flirting with his Pokemon, now. Just because Felix told him she was a girl! ...okay no, he can absolutely believe that. Sigh.

"The woods. I have a tent. We're going to need it for traveling anyway. And there's no inn in New Bark Town." Felix only barely catches that knowing look out of the corner of his eye, and although he doesn't return it, his lips turn up into a small smile to himself as they walk. Surprising Sylvain with all the things that are now allowed between them is very satisfying, as it turns out. "We just need enough distance from the road."

You know, enough distance so no ten year old bug trainers passing by will end up traumatized or whatever.

Even in a literal other dimension, he has to stay on brand. If Felix thinks he won't, well, that's a very rude awakening then. Every pretty girl deserves her rightful attention. Yes, even Pokemon.

"Romantic," Sylvain teases, but he's absolutely not complaining. He's done worse things in worse places than a tent in the woods. Might be a bit of an improvement in the general gist of things as it were. "How frequently do random people come traipsing through the forest though? Isn't it dangerous?" No, he hasn't quite grasped the concept that ten-year-olds are allowed to just journey the country alone with magical beasts. And that they will appear everywhere.

Edited 2022-01-25 05:19 (UTC)

Oh, Felix is under no illusions about Sylvain's brand. He just reserves the right to be exasperated about it.

"Shut up." There's no venom in it at all, and anyway, Sylvain doesn't know how right he is. A tent in the woods is where they had their first time together last time, too, even if this time there aren't literal fireworks. It's about as romantic as Felix gets.

"It's only dangerous in the sense that if you don't have a team of Pokemon to protect you from wild ones, you might get your supplies stolen or something. They don't prey on humans. And people traipse through all the time - it's the best way to catch new Pokemon. After sunset, though, it should quiet down."

Finally, he decides they're far enough from well-trodden paths and sets his bag down. Opening it, he begins pulling everything out. "Here. Help me set it up."

He will not shut up, actually. In fact, he'll do quite the opposite. Because that's just what he does.

"I mean, for you this is probably peak courtship, huh? The guy that thinks swords are romantic gestures." He's grinning ear to ear while he gets to work on the tent though. Tease about it? Sure. But he's pleased as can be. Still halfway riding the high of having his feelings reciprocated far more than he ever thought possible.

He's pinning a stake into the ground when he glances over to Felix, and catches sight of the ring again. There's a strange feeling in his chest, one he can't rightly identify, but he doesn't think it's awful. Still, he'd rather deflect than think about it. With teasing, naturally.

"Did you have your wedding in the woods too?"

"Blades are part of courtship traditions back home. Just because they're outdated doesn't mean they're wrong." Since when does Felix know or care about courtship traditions? Granted, he didn't court Sylvain with a blade (or at all, really), but he did carry a ceremonial sword at the wedding.

Felix pauses mid-strike on his own stake at the question, but only briefly. 'Did you have your wedding.' It makes sense. Sylvain doesn't remember being there. For all intents and purposes, he wasn't there. It's fine.

"No. On the beach." I could show you, is on the tip of his tongue, but he bites it back. There will be more than enough back at the house to overwhelm Sylvain with, when it comes to photos and other things from before; Felix won't rush him.

"Oh, I'm aware. I'm never gonna let Dimitri live it down about giving Edelgard that knife. And I swear you'll get the same treatment too, so-" Sylvain's foxish grin grows even wider. "Y'know, keep it in mind."

It evens out when he tilts his head. The beach seems, well, quite nice actually. It's more romantic than he'd have suspected, ideal, really. And there's that feeling in his chest again, the one that's been hard to shake every time it crops up.

"Oh. That, uh, that sounds really lovely. I wish-" he wants to say wishes he could remember it, but it doesn't even feel as though he's forgetting something. There's nothing there to pull from, and it bothers him. "Sorry, it's probably weird for you, huh? Having to say these things to somebody who was there."

Arrival; [Video]

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