The Third Date [FFXIV Verse]

[viceofvoices]

In a small, charming house on a cliff by the sea, Rrhys Cyraeni finishes setting his humble table by the fire. He's lit candles and oil lamps, and with the crackle of the fire, his home is lit with a soft and hopefully romantic glow. He stops by the round mirror on the wall to check his appearance for the third time, and for the third time he smiles mockingly at himself.

How long has it been since he's been nervous about something social? How long has it been since he wasn't supremely confident he could talk his way into or out of anything? Llyradh makes him tongue tied in ways he's not used to, makes him feel like he's young and fumbling and foolish. It's terrible and wonderful all at once.

Tonight he's dressed simply -- his hair loose and damp from a quick bath, a white Limsa style shirt with lacings and the comfortable, loose cotton pants of a sailor, ending just under his knee. He's bare foot and still agonizes over that. Does he look too casual? But if he wears shoes in his own home, isn't that weird?

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[easorian]

Laying his fingers on the aetheric chime that will announce his presence, Llyradh bounces on the balls of his feet nervously. Now comes the proof of Rrhys' promises, for better or worse... and he prays to the Navigator that it's for the better.

He's opted again for simple layers of black, though the fabric of it shimmers green at the edges of its folds. After an hour of agonizing over jewellery, he's decided to have his peacockery be more subtle than his first plan of layering himself in jewels. He doesn't want to look like he's trying too hard.

[viceofvoices]

He jumps at the chime, jerked out of his feet contemplation. With a panicked glance to the longcase clock in the corner, Rrhys lets out a slow breath. Okay, it's time. Right.

He slaps his cheeks, squares his shoulders and moves to the door. He has everything ready, the perfect greeting on his tongue, but as he opens the door and sees Llyradh, all his clever words fly away. He simply stares down at him, gripping the doorjamb for purchase.

"Hi," he says after a pause, husky. "You look amazing."

[easorian]

"Uh. Thanks," Llyradh offers, stilling his bouncing and lowering down onto his heels. He follows it with a graceful fold of his hands in front of him--graceful if he wasn't visibly fidgeting. "Hope I'm not too early."

[viceofvoices]

Rrhys smiles, warmth in his eyes, and bends to kiss Llyradh's cheek -- his lips linger on his skin. He smells fresh and clean, bright notes of spice and citrus dancing over a depth of musk, light on his skin and in his hair.

"You're right on time," he murmurs against Llyradh's temple, his deep voice a rumble in his throat. He pulls back and steps out of the way to let him inside. "Thanks for coming."

[easorian]

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Llyradh smirks thinly, giddy with anticipation and barely able to contain himself. It's as though time has wound backwards and he's become an inexperienced boy unsure of everything to do with this particular brand of sensuality.

He steps in after Rrhys, biting his lip. Sea air and oak follows him, clings to him.

[viceofvoices]

As Llyradh brushes past him, Rrhys closes his eyes and tries not to swoon with hunger at the scent of him. Twelve, but he smells so good it's taking far more restraint than it should to stop himself from wrapping his arms around him and sinking his teeth into his neck.

He closes the door and follows when he composes himself, smiling again. "Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes. I, ah...hope you don't mind seafood."

[easorian]

"I love seafood," Llyradh smiles, offering him a shy smile. Damnit, confidence! Be assured, not bashful!

He slips the topmost draping layer off and folds it over his arm so he has something to do with his fidgeting hands. Rrhys is far too handsome and polite for him to keep his head.

[viceofvoices]

Rrhys is there immediately to take the layer from him. "Let me hang this up for you. Go ahead and take a seat. Thirsty?"

[easorian]

Llyradh blinks, flushing. Did he mention gentlemanly? He's going to need to sit down at this rate.

He finds a seat and successfully drapes himself onto it without looking as nervous as he feels and leans his chin on a hand coyly. "Always thirsty, my dear scholar."

[viceofvoices]

He smiles over at him as he hangs the drape on a hook on the wall. He'd say it's a bit early in the evening for such blatant innuendo, but considering what Llyradh's here for, it's probably inevitable.

"I have water, Ishgardian wine, tea and juice."

[easorian]

"Water for now, wine later," Llyradh murmurs, sitting back and relaxing into the chair he's claimed. He watches Rrhys under lidded eyes to see if he presses for the wine, but he doubts that he will, and the very doubting is delightful.

[viceofvoices]

He doesn't press at all, instead merely nodding and moving to the sideboard where he's arranged drinks. The glass pitched of water has ice floating into it, and a cube falls into the glass as he pours.

When he hands it to Llyradh with a smile, his hand shakes a bit.

[easorian]

Llyradh meets his gaze steadily and takes the glass with brushing, cool fingers. "Thank you. Parched after dodging a dozen lalafell shysters on the outskirts of Limsa. Little bastards are persistent," he smirks, trying to lighten the mood.

[viceofvoices]

Rrhys smiles too, something in his eyes like relief. "What in the world did the little knee stabbers want?" he asks, gratefully taking the line Llyradh offers. He turns and heads over to his kitchen, which is little more than a wide alcove next to the main chamber. A black iron stove glows from within.

[easorian]

"One wanted to sell me a bottomless ether potion and another was quite sure the larger races are packing rather less than one of their own people and would I like an enbiggening flan packed ready for the road?" He swirls his water and downs most of it, preparing quietly.

[viceofvoices]

He has to laugh, rich and dark as he finishes cutting up something on the counter, his broad back to Llyradh. "Pardon, are you saying a lalafell implied we have smaller dicks?"

[easorian]

"I think the descriptor he used after I ignored him was 'shrimpdick,' so yes. Delusions of grandeur, perhaps." Llyradh watches him work appreciatively, tucking his feet up under him after having left his sandals by the door.

[viceofvoices]

"Having seen your glorious dick," Rrhys says, smirking at Llyradh over his shoulder, "that lalafell would have to have a third pant leg if his claim were true."

[easorian]

"Perhaps he has a fabled bottomless bag in order to tuck it out of sight," Llyradh chuckles, running his icecube around in his mouth with a series of small clicks.

[viceofvoices]

Rrhys laughs again and gathers up what he's been cutting into a big bowl to his right. He tosses the contents around a bit, then turns to set it in the middle of the table -- it's morel salad, like what they had on their first date.

"I thought dinner should be light," he murmurs, dishing some out into a smaller bowl for Llyradh. "I asked for a couple recipes from that chef I know."

[easorian]

"That was considerate of you," he smiles, a bit flushed because of it. So quickly and helplessly he falls for thoughtfulness. Llyradh finishes his water, watching Rrhys curiously. "Does it please you to cook? To think about these things?"

[viceofvoices]

"Yes," he says after a moment's thought. "I hadn't really considered it, but now that you ask me, yes." He sits at the table as well with his own bowl of salad. The fish should be finished baking and cool enough to eat by the time they're done.

He meets Llyradh's eyes, lips tilted up. "Maybe it's just because I'm cooking for you."

[easorian]

Llyradh's lips cant in a small smile. "Maybe. Or you're very giving and aren't even aware of it." He dips into the salad and sighs in pleasure. "This is well done. You could moonlight at the Bismarck, I suspect, with no depreciation in quality."

[viceofvoices]

"I can just imagine my old crew now, seeing me happily baking," he snorts, cheeks a little darker from the praise. "I'm glad it pleases you. Baked Pipira Pira is in the oven, and for dessert, if you'd like, I bought some Mint Lassi. It's chilling as we speak."

[easorian]

"Light and fresh, as I like it," he murmurs, the salad sweetened by the fact that Rrhys would notice his preferences. It's simply smart considering their plans, but that's hardly the whole of the reason for a light meal. Gods, how syrupy his insides feel already!