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 Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:35 am
As much as he was fighting the desire to drink, her common sense too was yelling in the back of her mind, holding her into the reality of the situation. It would be mad to think that such a thing was proper to drink. Completely mad.
But wasn't everyone a little bit?
Still, what he said resonated with her own thoughts. Yes. Wait first, drink later. And tea...? Oh right! "Ah, yes, you are right, I was preparing to brew tea for us." As she said that, though, there was little initiative to move and continue her preparations. Instead her eyes looked softly to him as she felt his hand, her ears catching the sound of his voice. Her eyes looked downward as he spoke, allowing him to express his feelings before she reached over to take his cheek in her palm. "You are no less of mind than any other. We are each blessed with different strengths and different difficulties. The words may not come easily to you, but..." she smiled very warmly, her thumb moving to brush his cheek, "...you are incredibly kind, and steadfast, and..." she laughed lightly, "...stubborn, to a fault even. Yet, that is what I have fallen for."
"You and all of your feelings, your hardships, your dreams... That is who has my heart."
Letting her hand fall after he came close, his lips brushing her cheek, the princess shook her head. "Do not apologize. There is nothing crueler than allowing a rabbit to judge itself on its ability to fly."
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:34 pm
Faroth hadn't expected that sort of response. He'd just meant to apologize for being in a bad mood earlier. He hadn't even thought about what he was saying about himself or how it would be taken. He certainly hadn't been expecting an argument against his viewpoint, nor all the complimentary notions. He seemed to have forgotten how to form words for a moment, simply leaning into her hand. When he did speak, there were touches of disbelief in his tone. "...you...really think all that?" He wasn't sure he believed it...but if she did...
"Well, I am pretty stubborn, you got that part right," he joked lightly, breaking the seriousness for a moment with a half-grin. Still...did she have a point? Alright, so...he couldn't read as well as others. Whoopie. And sometimes he stumbled here and there...didn't everyone at some point? It was all part of learning; all part of life, wasn't it?
"I...never thought of it like that," he admitted honestly. Was that what it was? Was he trying to fly without wings? He'd been given a strong pair of legs instead...perhaps running was good enough. And sometimes, if you ran fast enough, sometimes it was almost like flying. Absentmindedly, he reached up to lightly brush his fingertips over the top of her wing. Soft feathers, belying the strength beneath...
"You know...maybe I haven't screwed up everything I've attempted," he murmured quietly.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 5:25 am
Her smile still soft, but warm as the sun, she nodded. "Have I lied to you yet?" No, she hadn't. To her sister, her friends, the tree, yes, there were moments of falsehood. But to Faroth, no, never had there been a time. Her eyes followed his hands to her wings before looking into his. "Maybe? Perhaps, I sure believe not. Even an attempt is more credible than from avoidance. For, then, at least you tried and gave it your best. And the greatest rewards come to those who are persistent and who try in even the most dire of circumstances."
Honestly, it filled her with an immense joy to see his mood return due to her own efforts, rather than to the effects of a silly drink. Perhaps this was significant in more ways that it appeared; not only had they escaped that ordeal, but they had never lost sight of their hope and allowed the darkness to consume them.
Perhaps it was a symbol of their renewed selves upon exiting.
Reaching for it carefully with her fingers, she held it out to him, a slight glint in her eyes. "Many minutes have passed, my hare. Drink if you so wish."
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:41 am
"I certainly hope not," he teased in reply. Well, half-teased. Surely she wouldn't lie about something so important at least? No, of course not. After all, if she didn't really care...why would she bother telling him that she did? Why go to such effort to make him feel better?
He cast away his doubts, focusing instead on what she'd said, as well as the bigger picture. No, he hadn't screwed up everything he'd ever attempted. If he had, he wouldn't be here right now with her, so close, finding comfort in her company and her reassurances. Alright, so perhaps the path had been a bit rocky along the way...but, they'd gotten this far despite that. And perhaps he wasn't a perfect father either, but Ranuin was a good kid. He hadn't done that badly in raising him, despite the lack of experience or knowledge. Faroth had found a way to make it work in the end.
Wasn't that the best one could do? Find a way to work with what you have to get what you want?
Speaking of what they had and what they wanted...
Chuckling slightly, he eyed the offered bottle. It was true, he didn't feel any ill effects from the earlier sample. If anything, he felt much better now than he had earlier, though he suspected that was more from his change in mood than anything physical. Still, he supposed it was safe. That's what his reasoning kept telling him; sure, it was safe, now drink the tasty beverage. He reached to take the bottle from her. "It's not tea, but I suppose it will do," he joked. The thought passed that it wasn't exactly a lot to drink, even if it did turn out to be delicious. "You know, I'm not sure I've filled the water jug today," he admitted as a sideways sort of comment, thinking back. He'd meant to, then Celestia had come over, and well...he'd forgotten.
He should go do that if they were going to have tea later. Or, just for general use. He knew that, but the bottle was already in his hand...he could go ahead and have some first, then make the trip down to the main floor fountains. Yeah, it could wait a bit. "Eh, I'll get it in a bit. First..." He lifted the bottle slightly as if in toast. "Cheers!" He tipped it back, taking a healthy drink before lowering it, approximately half empty.
The liquid was cool, tasting vaguely sweet like the pastries brought to mind by the scent. However, as the drink was swallowed, he was filled with a comforting warmth...odd, but not unpleasant. He couldn't help but smile as the taste and sensation lingered. He wanted more...but, that wasn't fair. He offered the bottle back to Celestia with a warm smile. "My dear," he said, placing it in her hand. Only fair since she'd been the one able to open it finally, he'd left her a bit more than half to enjoy.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 12:42 pm
She was more than excited to have a chance to partake in this strange liquid, watching him drink and waiting expectantly for her chance. It was strange; not before had she yearned for something so much before, except, perhaps, for him, that one night in the ground…
But no, that was not correct. That was a strange, confusing, uncomfortable feeling. Something she did not wish to experience ever again.
Still, there was an eager smile as he passed her bottle. “Many thanks, my love~” Her hands took its cool surface softly, pausing a moment to take in the scent once more before sipping on it. Oh… wow… Yes, it was even better the second time. Glancing to Faroth, the princess laughed lightly before giving a shrug and, tilting her head back, decided to finish it in a single go. Why not? It wasn’t often she was allowed to have such delectable drinks without having to be the formal princess. What was that taste, though? It reminded her of warm wine, but with hints of honey and vanilla and… was that lavender?
Setting it on the table, she gave him a grin. “That was worth the wait, I think. Are you content as well?” Man… was he so pleasing to the eyes a moment ago? She just wanted to lean in and… no. Stop. Bad princess!
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:42 pm
The pleasant warmth from the drink didn't fade as he'd expected it to, leaving Faroth feeling just a bit hazy in thought, yet unconcerned by this for some reason. What reason did he have to be concerned? It was a pleasant afternoon, he had nowhere else to be today except right here with his lovely lady, and he couldn't think of anywhere else he'd like to be.
Hold on a minute though...she'd wanted to make tea. He hadn't even gotten the water to do so yet. What kind of poor host and companion was he, not to provide for his lady? The warm smile from the princess helped to ease the momentary concern; he could easily rectify the problem. But first...
Chuckling, he stepped closer, wrapping one arm around her waist, the other reaching to take her hand and lift it to his lips to kiss her fingers tenderly. "I'm content," he acknowledged with a smirk. Well, he was feeling rather affectionate today, wasn't he? He attributed it to simple relief and gratitude for the new point of view that Celestia had offered him earlier. He'd never really realized how much the thoughts had weighed him down before. Now, he felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Grinning mischievously, he placed his hands on Celestia's waist lifted her in a brief spin before placing her gently on her hooves once more. "Perhaps more than content," he teased, leaning in to touch his nose to hers playfully. "Now, if I recall, the lovely lady would like some tea." With some reluctance, he pulled away from his princess, but not before kissing her hand again.
He used a sizable jar for water collection from the downstairs fountains. Empty, it wasn't too heavy, but full of water, well...it was enough that few aside from him could comfortably move it. Still, it meant he didn't have to go collect water multiple times a day if he was using more than average. After moving away from Celestia, he collected the water jar and headed towards the door. "I'll be right back with the water. I don't have much in the way of fancy brews, but there should be a simple black tea in that cupboard over there," he nodded simply, so that she could finish prepping the rest while he was gone. "Back in a couple minutes," he quipped lightly, slipping out the door and heading down the spiraling stairs towards the bottom floor.
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Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 12:00 pm
The princess’s cheeks grew rosy as she looked tenderly to her man, perhaps provoked in part by the way his rough fingers brushed against her side and how warm his breath was on her hand. Such moves by him usually filled her with embarrassment, but for some reason today, it did not bother her. It felt natural, like this was how he was supposed to be handling himself around her. “I, too, am rather fine with this moment.”
A near squeal escaped from her lips as she was airborne, her arms immediately embracing him and pulling him closer in the process. She could feel her heart rate rising, but there was something else she could feel: the beat of his heart against her chest. Ba-dump… Ba-dump… Ba-dump…
It was perfect
He was perfect.
This moment was perfect.
Everything was perfect.
“Tea…?” She mused aloud, wondering whatever she would want tea for when she could just rest beside him. As her thought dawned on her, she realized that there must be something wrong with her mind, clouding her judgment. Was it that drink they’d had; was it an elixir of sorts? Her body had followed after him when he pulled away, reluctant to let him go. “But…” she started, but he was already leaving the room.
Pouting as if she were a child whom had just lost their favorite of toys, Celestia halfheartedly walked to the cupboard he had motioned to in order to find that tea. He had better come back soon!
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Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 1:40 pm
He was nearing the bottom of the Tree by the time he hesitated and glanced back upwards, over his shoulder. Faroth was seized by a sudden regret, as if he shouldn't have left after all, water or no. He should have just stayed...
Shaking his head, he pushed on to the fountains. He was already here, it wouldn't take but a minute more of his time, then he could head back up. He couldn't explain the sudden sense of unease...as if something were missing. He was quick to fill the jar from the fountains, then heft it upwards, bracing it against his side. The walk back up should have taken longer, but his haste shortened the trip duration severely. He felt immensely better once he returned to his alcove, pushing the door shut behind him. He'd only been gone for a few minutes at most.
He couldn't seem to set the jar down quickly enough, moving directly towards the winged white Fauny at the cupboard nearby. Faroth looped his arms around her waist from behind, leaning in to nuzzle her neck affectionately.
"I missed you."
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:31 am
The time had seemed to pass slowly as the princess was left to herself, her eyes and hands aimlessly looking through what Faroth’s cupboards held. Very little, as it were, though perhaps there was a bit more than she had expected from one who was known to frequently leave this room for large periods of time. Her ears flicked towards the door as she heard it move, a delighted grin spreading on her lips as her love returned.
Any doubts or inhibitions that might normally have restricted her intimacy were slowly being broken down, as could be seen by the lack of embarrassment and generally positive reception to such displays. When he took hold of her, a shiver shot up her spine (perhaps physically), and she reached up to brush the side of his chin with her palm.
“The wait for your return was quite unbearable, my love.”
In a seemingly uncharacteristic manner, perhaps more true to her actual personality than her actions suggested, she turned her head and pulled the faun behind her into a deep kiss.
She was a leader at heart, after all.
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:27 pm
While unexpected, the reaction was far from unwelcome. Only for a moment did surprise cause him to hesitate before Faroth was eagerly returning the passionate kiss. He felt at ease here...warm, as contrasted by the cool breeze that entered the window at that moment, stirring Celestia's long, silken tresses.
Okay, perhaps a bit heated if he were honest...but sometimes, when they were alone, certain feelings were stirred that he'd love to act upon...but not unless Celestia was ready. He'd gotten used to some of the 'tension' that could rise, but they had time. Plenty of time. When they were both ready, then maybe...
It was some time before he could pull away, and even then, it was only the hope of another kiss like that in the future that he was thinking of. He'd never known her to kiss him like that before.
He liked it.
Separated, at least for the moment, he grinned at her, unable to shield the pure joy he felt in seeing her here, with him. It wasn't long before he felt the yearning begin, to take her in his arms, to show her what he felt for her...
He'd told her plenty of times that he cared for her. That she was special to him. Similar phrases and the like...but he'd never actually told her that he loved her; not in those words. It seemed like such a massive step. Not one to be made lightly. And honestly, he'd started this because he'd acknowledged that he was attracted to her. It wasn't the same thing...though, they could exist simultaneously, he just hadn't been sure before. He was still attracted to her...very, very much given where his thoughts kept straying. Yet, he didn't act on them...for her sake. Wasn't that a sign?
She'd become so much more to him as time had passed. She was a part of his life now, as much or more than any of his friends...nearly as much so as his son... He'd been in a sort of relationship before, but it had been nothing like this. Was he ready to open up? To take a risk like this?
Reaching up to stroke her cheek tenderly, he looked into her eyes with no sign of hesitation, only a warm smile.
"I love you."
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:37 am
As their lips parted, there was a fleeting remorse in the princess’s eyes, wishing for him to quickly return to her. What were these strange feelings, boiling from inside, tinting her cheeks red and clouding her mind? They were complicated, unusual, but it felt like a want, no, a need for him to come closer to him once more.
She turned in Faroth’s arms so that their foreheads touched and her arms reached up to wrap around his neck. Her smile was soft, but twisted in an almost uncharacteristic way. Just feeling his heat around her… Well…
It was amazing.
Strong arms, rough skin, soft hair. Fingers that brushed on her cheek, that shot electricity through her body. Someone whom she could trust with everything, with her emotions, with her insecurities, and with her joys in both the good times and the bad.
‘I love you.’ The words she had been waiting so long to hear, that she would have been willing to wait forever for. Small tears came and fell quietly down her cheeks and she looked into his eyes, the warmth in her smile bright as the sun. She laughed lightly, pulling herself into his shoulder as she hugged him tightly, pulling back only some long moments later.
“And I love you…”
Celestia’s eyes looked deeply into his. How could she have not known what a strong feeling such a love for another was? It was terrifyingly beautiful. Was that what this feeling bubbling deep within her was? It seemed to be distinctly different, yet the same. Her mind was too full of the moment to consider this in greater detail, though, as she again pulled his lips to hers, her eyes closing upon contact.
For today, for just this fleeting moment, she wanted him to belong to her and her alone.
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:50 am
Normally, his heart fell at the sight of tears on her cheeks, but the difference this time was all in her expression. Yes, happy tears existed as well, Faroth reminded himself, and hers showed that she understood just what a momentous step he'd just taken. That they'd taken. As she pulled him in again, eyes closing, he reached up to tenderly brush the light wetness from her cheeks. He appreciated what they stood for, but he couldn't let them mar such beauty.
His hand moved from her cheek to her shoulder, down her back, to her waist, fingertips trailing lightly over her hips. He felt a warmth, a need building within his core, their contact only fueling the fire. His light touch turned to a firm grip, pulling her close as he seemed to pour that need into the kiss. The close contact fed the desire, but only seemed to make it grow. His grip tightened...
...and he gently pushed her away. With great reluctance. His heart was pounding and his breathing was heavy. He couldn't bring himself to pull far from her though, leaning in to nuzzle his cheek against hers, whispering, "Celestia...I...I need you..." Faroth was flushed; not with embarrassment, but with desire. He brushed her hair back, trailing kisses down her jawline. He'd felt such urges before, but he'd always been able to fight them. He wasn't sure he could continue to this time.
"I don't want to pressure you...I'd never want to do that," he muttered, pulling back to stroke her cheek with his fingertips. "It's just...if we keep this up, I'm not going to want to stop. I'm going to want to keep going." If she wanted to stop before they got carried away, well...normally he'd leave, but this was sort of his place. It didn't feel right to ask her to leave though. He didn't know what the difference was...that kiss maybe...but he was having more trouble than usual at stifling the urges that came to mind when he looked at her. She could leave if she were uncomfortable, he wouldn't hold it against her. After all, he'd promised he wouldn't push, he'd wait until she was ready.
...was that what was going on here?
He hesitated only a moment, searching her face before asking, "Unless...you want to keep going?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:18 am
The feeling of his lips on hers, the racing of her heart, the rising warmth in her chest… Everything about the moment just felt so right. His trailing hands only excited her more, though Celestia didn’t really understand exactly what she was feeling or why she might be feeling it. Waves shot through her as he pulled her in closer, and she moved her hands down to cup his chin before resting them on his chest.
She could feel his heartbeat on her palms. Ba-dump ba-dump ba-dump. It felt like electricity tingling, stimulating her senses heightened in the moment, dulling any thoughts of reason that might have otherwise been going through her mind.
When he pushed her away, an immense yearning filled the princess immediately, and if it were not his immediate return of contact to her face, hot as his own, she likely would have pulled him back.
She wanted to pull him back.
Kisses like fire left her skin warm and her breathing quickened, but not as heavy as his own. There was a light film of sweat on the skin despite the cool breeze that continued to pour in, sending different shivers to her brain than his touch did. What came after this, only the spirits knew. Only one thing was certain…
If this urge deep within her was not satiated soon, she might go mad.
Brushing her fore- and middle-fingers on his cheek, she cooed softly to him. “I know not what comes next, what frightens you so about it. But…” her eyes looked away bashfully, the flushing of her cheeks in stark contrast to her skin, “…perhaps it is not as bad an experience as you preempt it to be. After all, why else would you care to experience it with me?” She mimicked his kisses with one of her own, placed on the side of his neck just below the jawline.
Yes, she had indeed gone mad.
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:11 pm
He couldn't help it. He laughed. If ever there had been a massive misunderstanding or misinterpretation, that was it. Faroth was still chuckling, even as he tilted his head to give her access for more kisses before turning to meet her gaze again. "Oh, 'Tia," he crooned, lifting her chin with his hand. "I'm not frightened; far from it. This is something I've wanted for a while now, as long as you feel the same. There's nothing bad about it. It's a wonderful experience, a beautiful way for two Faun to show one another how much they love each other..."
He dropped his arms to loop around her waist, holding her close. "It's just...well, I know this is all new for you and this is about as intimate as it gets. I didn't want you to be uncomfortable." He leaned in to kiss her briefly, feeling the heat stirring once more. "I know this is something new, but I promise, if you let me, I'll guide you through it. And any time you want to stop, just tell me. Deal?"
Feeling playful and possibly a little mischievous, Faroth smirked at her briefly before slipping his hands down to grip her hips and pull her towards him. He then lifted her up easily, one by one looping his forearms beneath her thighs. He held her like that, her legs around his waist, grinning up at her cheekily. His expression softened after a moment, showing nothing but devoted concern. "Don't be afraid, 'Tia. Promise, you're safe with me. I'll take good care of you." With that, he moved towards his sleeping pallet to set her down carefully.
Of course, he talked as if he had so much experience with this sort of thing. First-hand experience, there'd been just the once...and the details were a bit fuzzy. Of course, if he could do this sort of thing when he'd had too much alcohol, he was pretty sure he could figure it out when sober. It couldn't be that difficult. The important thing was that they were together and for once, he would be free to show her by action, not just words, how much he cared for her. It would all be just fine.
Besides, one could learn all kinds of things from scrolls...even if they couldn't read.
*****
The afternoon sun had long set, leaving the outside in darkness while a single lantern light remained to light a section of the room inside the Tree. It's soft glow illuminated the forms of two Faun, tangled within the confines of a light sleeping blanket. One stirred, carefully slipping from beneath an arm, and lifting his own hoof free from another before he was able to swing both legs over the edge of the pallet. He took care in his movements not to disturb the other more than necessary, glancing over his shoulder with a wistful smile. Then, he stood and crossed the room as quietly as one can on hooves, picking up a cup and a ladle on the way to the water jar to fill it. He drank a full cup, then filled it a second time...then filled a second cup as well before returning and setting both by the bedside.
Faroth lifted the blanket, pausing just a moment to gaze fondly at the figure beneath before lying down to join her again. Still, trying not to disturb her terribly, he still couldn't resist curling up close, one arm around her protectively. Leaning in, he kissed the gentle slope of her shoulder, murmuring, "...love you."
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:07 am
The princess stopped her kisses as he began laughing, making it a point to pout at him. What was so funny? As far as she understood, all she had said was the truth; had she been mistaken? Her eyes closed as his fingers pressed on the underside of her chin, expecting him to bring her to him, but opened to look into his as the words returned. If he wanted it, if it was to show her his love… What reason did she have to reject it?
Details be damned, if she could get even closer to him, she wanted to be closer to him. She was ready for that step, no matter what it entailed.
Kissing back, she nodded, trying to placate his worries. “If it is you… I can trust you with my heart: its insecurities, indecisiveness, and hesitations. It can become overwhelmed and it likes to question itself, but it is usually strong in the moment of an important decision.”
Squealing lightly as he started to lift her up, her arms naturally wrapped around his neck, her legs mimicking in part to help in balancing herself. She looked around, the flush on her cheek reddening as she laughed at the new situation. However could she have guessed months ago that such a thing would happen? That from her moment of greatest weakness a love so strong would bloom.
When he placed her on the bed, she looked to him with expectation and childish curiosity. What was going to happen now? There was little reference for her to make on the possibilities, having been far too sheltered as her land’s princess. That all seemed so far in the past, though. What matter was the now, and at this moment…
“This experience… I wish to have it with you.”---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celestia lay on the bed, her hair somewhat disheveled and strewn across the frame and onto the ground, her body exhausted. The wind from outside brushed her skin softly, cooling it. The mind was as groggy as her muscles, dulling any immediate reaction she might have had thinking in retrospect to what had just happened.
What had happened?
It all seemed a blur of strong emotions and even stronger feelings: too much to decipher at the moment. The feeling of his arm draped around her waist and the warmth of his lips worked well to quiet her thoughts. Turning her head, she looked to him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I know…”
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