teaism | pls don't judge me I have so many injured guren icons okay

pls don't judge me I have so many injured guren icons okay

[Compared to this, the talking furniture from ages ago seemed almost pleasant. The door clicks shut behind them, and Guren almost wants to drop down right here. It's the first building they've come across in a while now— some sort of cabin in the woods that's falling apart just like the rest of the town they'd started in. Guren was bleeding from a variety of areas— a number of spots on his torso, his head, his face, his thigh— and that doesn't even start on the broken bones he's sporting, but he had a demon to take care of those injuries.

The man he was trying to support next to him was a different story. Hadn't they said something about not wanting to test if he could die and come back...?]

Look at me, Dex. [Guren wasn't trying to hide his worry now. He'd arrived too late, or at least that's his perspective. He shows up and something is nearly finished toying with Dextera like he's some sort of doll— something grey, with wings. Guren couldn't grasp what was happening, but interrupting had shown him that he was nearly outmatched. Nearly. With some biting words, he'd slain the creature(?) just before he was about to be offed himself. It was risky, to say the least.

But they're indoors now. Indoors, and there have to be supplies they can make use of somewhere. He staggers his next step forward as he tries to lead Dextera in, coughing blood against the back of his own hand. He's noticing that even his own injuries are staying longer than usual, somehow...]

Damn it...

[But he needs to know how Dextera is doing. How much can he handle? Guren doesn't want to find out his limit right now. One hand grips at Dextera's shoulder. They've been supporting each other the whole walk here, and he's trying not to weigh him down. His other hand, though the back of it is bloody now, rests against Dextera's chest carefully.] Sit down here.

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Ah—! [ he's been got! ] Guren!

[ the smallest protest, but only because he's surprised to be pulled like this—it's a strangely affectionate gesture that he didn't at all expect, and he's left staring wide-eyed down at guren this time, on top and, yes, quite warm. ]

What are you doing?

I’m keeping you warm.

[ innocently, in that not so innocent way of his. His arms are around Dextera’s waist, and he moves one hand to run up his back now that he can. ]

Why, should I stop? [ A good nights sleep makes him like This, apparently ]

[ dextera will remember to be grateful for it soon, since this kind of attitude means that guren really is enjoying himself, but right now he's just flustered. there was a degree of flirtation that he could handle first thing in the morning and they've passed it!!! ]

...I didn't say that. [ a beat. ] I'm not too heavy, am I?

Yeah, you're super heavy.

[GUREN. He says it with this asshole smirk of his, and the fact that he can talk just fine and even links his hands behind Dextera's back says he's fine. Maybe not like, for an hour, but for now!!]

It's fine. I'm warmer, too.

[ guren! don't bully! ]

If you're sure.

[ dextera doesn't mind this position as long as guren doesn't mind it, and it's true that they're both close and quite toasty because of it. he smooths his hands across guren's chest, sliding up to his neck, then capturing his face—again, maybe, just to watch. ]

How are you feeling?

I can tell there's still something preoccupying Mahiru-no-yo... but it doesn't hurt at all. I feel fine, right now.

[Hopefully a more honest answer will put Dextera at ease... He watches him quietly, letting his teasing fade to a stop for now.] I'll tell you if it changes, so don't worry.

[ that's good. dextera doesn't feel as worried as he did the day before, now that they've both had some sleep, and they're in such a calming area. it's hard to fret too much with guren's hands linked behind his back, keeping him safe right here.

he leans down, answering that request not to worry with a kiss—how strange, how magical, to just be able to do something like this and it's perfectly acceptable. it might be weirder if he didn't kiss guren all the time!! ]

[At this point, it really would be weirder, wouldn't it? With how things are now, it feels like things like this should just keep building and building. Well, obviously there must be a point where it events out... But even that doesn't sound bad at all. Quite the opposite.

He's thinking gross domestic things right now, distracted and kissing him back, asking for a little more with it. It's first thing in the morning, but he can get a little kissing before they get up, he thinks.

It's only when he thinks that kissing any more will get them too excited that he shifts, hands carefully on Dextera's back to keep him close as he flips them over slowly.]

Haha. [He breathes against his lips once he sets him down on his back, hands slipping out and fingers touching his cheek.] Are you ready to start moving? We can take it easy.

[ guren moves him so easily... but it’s kind of exciting, in this subtle way, that he’s strong enough to just flip and pull and push dextera as he pleases. he wants to keep kissing! but guren probably did pick a good time to exert his control and ask a question. ]

I’m ready. I just need my coat...

[ his precious coat!! he would probably die of heartbreak if something ever happened to it. it’s just a ratty old piece of fabric, like all the other shitty things he uses, but it’s his—and there’s some purification involved, which makes it a little more important in his hands than someone else’s. ]

I laid it out to dry over there. [He gestures, moving out of the way to let Dextera up.] We should pack everything else up, too, anyway.

[He's going to start working on that, since they're probably not going to come back here unless they don't find anything promising down the way. He figures they can take it slow, see how it is. As he's working on that, though, he glances over to Dextera putting the coat on.

An important thing, then? He'll have to remember that, since he wouldn't have put importance on it until now. Hmm.]

Is it finally dry? I guess I slowed it down when you let me use it as a pillow.

[ dextera looks much more comfortable once it’s on, anyway, and looks far less naked as well. ]

It’s dry. [ a pleased report, for such a simple thing. he retrieved his boots next, which have also thankfully dried, and then hitches his sword to his back. ] Thank you.

[ he looks battle ready! but hopefully they won’t have to battle—either way, he seems a little brighter than he did when they first wandered into the woods. a little more alive. ]

[Guren just has to shove everything they brought back in the bag, put his own jacket and shoes back on, and then grab his sword, and then he's ready to go. It doesn't take too long, but even if Dextera has to wait a little, he knows they're not actually in a rush. They're not trying to beat night time or anything like that. Just... move at their own pace.]

Is that coat important to you? [He figures he'll ask once he's standing again, gesturing that they can start following the water down.]

Important...

[ he maybe didn’t completely realize how important he thought it was until guren pointed it out, but then he nods, regarding the sleeve with some thoughtfulness. ]

It’s one of the few things I have that feels like... “mine.” I woke up with it, and I’ve kept it through all the times I’ve died.

[ it’s not sacred, but it is something precious to him. if he lost it, he would be devastated!! ]

I see.

[That means he'll have to look out for it, too! Worrying about the life of a coat as well as a person... it's something he can do, he just needs to know about it. Now, it can stay safe! Hopefully.

The water they're following drops down a couple of smaller waterfalls in the stone. Short distances that Guren and Dextera can step or hop down from. There's still forest surrounding them, but it doesn't feel nearly as eerie as the forest they'd dropped from above.

Guren notices something ahead that he worries is fog. When it's been so clear down here, he's nervous to see it— but as they get closer, he realizes that it's only steam. In grayscale, it's a little more difficult to tell the difference, but he can feel the temperature of the area changing. Stones, the air... He steps over to the water, crouching to carefully test the heat with the back of his hand.]

It's a natural hot springs. [It doesn't feel too hot to get in, either... It's a lot hotter than the warm water they'd fallen into, but it's... inviting. For some reason, relaxing isn't the exact word to come to mind. It's definitely inviting.]

[ dextera has most certainly never been even near a hot springs, let alone in one. he hasn’t even really taken a lot of baths—none that he can remember, and probably just showers before that. he’s nervous at the idea of water so hot it steams, but at the same time...

he finds himself gazing into it, dipping his fingers in before he can think better of it. ]

...it’s hot.

[ okay, maybe that’s obvious! but he still says it aloud anyway, and next decides to scoop up some of the water and let it drip through his fingers. something about it... he wants to get in. ]

It’s nice, though.

[ Hmm... Paranoia still hits, but with Dextera’s cute reaction, Guren doesn’t jump to just ignoring this, either. The steam isn’t so thick that he’d have trouble making out anything attacking them. He doesn’t sense anything alarming. No illusions, either... How long had it been since the start of their walking? An hour by now?

It wasn’t too far, but it was far enough, too... ]

Do you want to take a dip? [ Normally, he’d never be the one to suggest something like this, but this is a really nice area. The water is incredible— it’s almost soft? ] This time, we can take our clothes off. Haha.

[ haha!!! Casually!! ]

[ haha... so casual!!!

dextera glances between the water and guren and back again, and before he gives his answer, he removes his sword to test the depth of the water. it isn’t bad... the lake they just left was deeper, and this one even seems like something he could sit in, in the right spots.

so he nods. ]

Is that... okay?

[ they’re not in any hurry, and guren is the one who suggested it so it must be okay, but dextera finds himself shyly asking anyway—maybe because he knows where this could go. a coy look, sideways. ]

Why not?

[ Even the steam in the air is encouraging, not that Guren is picking up on that right now. He doesn’t think anyone is going to find them out here, and if they do? Who cares. They could use more relaxing, and it’s just forest surrounding them right now. It’s better to stay here.

He pulls his hand from the water and sets his bag down nearby, fingers moving to his jacket to undo that. ] If you’d rather stay dressed, that’s fine. It’s warm enough here. [ Buuuut it’s probably better to strip. ]

[ since guren is already stripping, dextera gives into peer pressure—though he was going to get there eventually anyway, and so he gently places everything aside. his coat, his sword, his boots... though he hesitates a little when he goes to take off his shirt. a part of him retains his modesty yet.

halfway out of it, he pokes his head over the fabric to watch guren instead. he'll feel better about being in the nude once guren is!! ]

...have you ever been in a hot spring before?

[ some conversation... to pass the time. ]

Yeah.

[ He doesn’t expand on that, and it doesn’t look like he’s too modest to strip, either. Though, he did save his pants for taking off last... He’s doing that now, close enough to the water and the rocks that he doesn’t feel too weird about it. His belt is set down, and then he’s slipping out of the rest as he peeks over at Dextera. ]

...What about you? [ He’s figured that doing this could end up with them fooling around, but it’s a little different to feel so instantly interested, he thinks. Dextera looks cute in just a shirt, and it’s even cuter when he’s hesitating to come out of it. But Guren is fully naked now, leaving his sword near the edge of the water as he takes a careful step inside. ]

[ dextera is shy, guren must know that, but there's a by-now-familiar interest in his eyes when he looks over at guren entering the water—something hungry, behind that shyness. he's no stranger to lust, and anyone he asked would agree that guren's body is appealing. not cute, not like this. it's just perfect to look at. ]

No. It's my first time.

[ he's finally out of his shirt, but then the next task is forcing himself out of his pants—and maybe he's hesitating because he's being decent, but there's a wanting in the silence he leaves that suggests, maybe, he's hoping that guren will invite him to strip. ]

[ He will now that he’s dipping into the water and it feels incredible. It’s not just hot, but it’s nice against his skin in a way he can’t describe— he leans over the side of the rocks, reaching out with one of his hands and smiling. There’s clear interest in his eyes now. He can’t help it. ]

Come on, it feels great. [ take it off!!! Does that help ] It’s just me here.

[ it does help!!!

that was what he seems to have been waiting for, anyway. some kind of invitation—wanting to expose himself here, but waiting for a good reason to do it. guren is right. it's just him. just them, soon to be together in this nice, hot water. he's finally out of his pants, and he quickly slips into the spring by taking guren's hand. ]

Ah—

[ it's warm, and his pale skin almost immediately flushes with heat—and maybe something else, too, since he balances himself by stepping as close to guren as he can ""accidentally"" get away with. ]

[ Guren, meanwhile, has no subtlety at all. He grips Dextera’s hand and helps tug him close, his other arm sneaking around his waist as he hovers closer— but they’d just done something like this last night. He’s not sure where this overwhelming desire came from, but it doesn’t seem too out of place with his feelings. But desire is something he should be careful with, so too much makes him a little nervous.

His lips were too close to Dextera’s. ]

...Just tell me if you want to get out. [ Or it’s too much, he means, because he feels very overwhelming in general, all of a sudden. ]

[ dextera doesn't want to get out. it's such a powerful desire that it surprises him, but his whole heart rejects the idea of escaping now, when they're this close—this hot, their bodies touching without anything in between. it's like the water itself is bleeding out dextera's near-virginal modesty, and in response to guren's quiet assurance, his eyelids lower. ]

I will.

[ that, he promises, even if he can't imagine acting on it when there's something much better, much more appealing right in front of him. ]

But I don't want to.

[ he hides his face and kisses the place where guren's neck curves into his shoulder—if he's standing upright, they're almost the same height, but his habitual slouch means that he's at the perfect angle to hide away and kiss guren's warm skin instead of confronting how badly he wants more of this. ]

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