Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

The crying subsided slowly, after a little while, and it seemed that with it all those feelings of anticipation and tension slowly dissipated. Instead, as creature listened to the actor's words, a new feeling grew stronger and clearer - a feeling of overwhelming hopefulness that was sprinkled with thousands of little twinkles of joy, coming from all different parts of him that used to be many. Actor treated him with such enthusiasm and freedom, and after worrying about it for so long, he seemed so happy now, that all his thoughts raced to put it into words, but no word that he thought of felt strong enough. Instead, he nuzzled lightly against Senecio's face, leaning into his touch with a purr louder than ever before.

* I wished... I had power over time, to have the far future come sooner instead, " at last, Senecio heard, not a voice out loud, but a vibrant thought sent to his mind, a thought weak and vulnerable, full of hope and longing, as even saying that he loves him wasn't strong enough statement, and he needed to share a much stronger sentiment. * I....want to marry you so much that my heart is burning with happiness just thinking about it. I have never wanted to marry someone so badly...  "

[Mirach]

"Wait, so are you asking?" Senecio tilted his head. 

[VisAnastasis]

* It... is too soon, * was what creature replied in thought, but his close hold did not lie, and neither did his feelings - Senecio was overwhelmed with a feeling of terrible temptation that bordered on desire, but not physical this time. * I want to ask so badly. But I need... to be responsible for you. I can not throw it on you when you are... in a vulnerable state... " creature's breath was warm and overflowing with awe, as it caressed his back lightly while still holding him, adding in a promise trembling with longing. " When... When you feel more confident and accomplished. When life is so great the temptation of death feels foolish... that's when I want to ask. Don't you think it would be unwise to offer such a thing now? * the creature inquired shyly, with a longing he was barely keeping in check. * As... your family... I can not possibly approve of such an early marriage. As your boyfriend, though... it's harder. So... So much harder. *

[Mirach]

Senecio smiled sadly and caressed him. "Yes, I think you are right. It's not a best time. But I would say yes, if you asked now."

[VisAnastasis]

Despite no physical change could be seen in this form, the degree of water around them rose a little, and it felt as if the demon was blushing, even if there was no difference at sight. Caught between surge or joy and a tinge of worry, the creature nuzzled against his body lightly, wagging its tail light in the soapy waters.

* Are you... disappointed?* it still slowly inquired with its biggest worry at the moment, holding him close still, rubbing him lightly against his soft cheek, as it seemed he found shy, timid pleasure with handling something tiny with care. * Don't... think about it as rejection... Rather... think about it as an opportunity, please. Would that be possible?* he requested shyly, in the gentle hope that washed over him. * Do not see it as rush... See it as a promise. You can judge when the time is right yourself. If... I mean, when you ask me, I will say yes... *

[Mirach]

"Okay," Senecio smiled. "I'd take it as pre-engagement. You know, like engagement is a promise to marry, then pre-engagement is a promise to get engaged later, when it feels right. We should celebrate our pre-engagement."

[VisAnastasis]

Demon slowly shifted a little, so he could see him with his large foamy eyes - they were full of vulnerable hope and wonder.
* I... Have been married two times. But... I have never been engaged before. Even less so, pre-engaged... * a shy thought voiced itself, while a giant hand with the backside of its thumb gently caressed actor's head, and creature asked, with growing enthusiasm. * What kind of celebration did you have in mind---* it gulped shyly. * My sweetest pre-fiance? *

[Mirach]

"I'm not sure if anyone has ever been pre-engaged, I just came up with that. So whatever we would like. We might be setting a trend about how a pre-engagement celebration should look like. Or we could just have some good wine and cake and thrn make love."

[VisAnastasis]

* I don't think you'd have much strength left for anything else if we suddenly threw a party... * demon whistled playfully with a thought. * Of course, nothing feels official without one, so how about we come up with a little private party with people we pick tomorrow? As for today, some cake wine and lovemaking sounds just right for me... * Being admitted quietly, lightly nudging him with its snout. * I am just constantly in awe... with how pleasant it is to be with you. Instincts of prey are highly engraved in me... yet, it's so hard to be really afraid, when everything around you is so playful, * creature gulped, for the first time, asking a little more daringly. * Would... it be alright if we bathed for a little longer? I would like... just a little longer memory first. Um, you see... This form is very old, and, even though my forms alter a bit when I add or remove from my soul, this is... the closest to the form I wore when I first met Hans. It is special to us. When we feel like having a bath here, Hans likes to take nice glittery soaps and wash and groom my feathers, and... I like when we do relax like that, too. * He admitted in thoughts a little embarrassedly. * Would you... like to? I can wash your hair and cuddle you in turn... or anything else, as long as it's fun... *

[Mirach]

"I would like that," Senecio nodded. "But I've never washed feathers, can you tell me how?"

[VisAnastasis]

* I am not exactly a bird, so you don't have to worry about startling me or pulling the feathers too hard... I am quite tough, physically. But if you'd like tips of how I like it, um.. lots of foam and happy glittery soap is a must. And... I like lots of patting and caressing while cleaning feathers and furr... nice, soothing circular moves, and strokes in direction of fur's growth... It's my favourite part of grooming. And I can't reach the upper part of my back and head in those forms, so... it's nice when Hans can do it for me... * he said, and shyly, easy to give, but timid to speak of what was important to him, but encouraged to share it this time. He released the actor from the hold of his hands lightly, and lowered his head docile on the water level, timidly giving him space to touch and explore his head and upper neck...

The layer of feathers was the thickest and most abundant there, but Senecio soon noticed something more, something definitely newer. Hidden beneath black feathers here and there, there were bright pomegranate flowers growing, the same as in his default humanoid form ever since he ate that part of Cernunnos's soul, bright and vibrant. It seemed those grew since he took on this new form, in response to Senecio's reaction to it, as under such weight of positive feelings, it was inevitable for them to appear again. Here though, they were harder to find, and among the long feathers, they were beautiful bright patches of colours and appeared as if they were growing out of abundant black grass. In just a minute or two Senecio has already found a couple, and it seemed many more were hiding in layers of feathers.

[Mirach]

Senecio ran his hands between the fur and feathers and caressed the flowers. "Could I... climb on your back?" he asked hopefully.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed that Tide was slowly getting more used to interacting casually in this form, and even more so, that he began growing used to being handled by him a little more - and when Senecio asked, instead of anxiously, creature responded with growing curiosity and even a little of embarrassed pleasure.

* I like... feeling your presence close to mine. It feels reassuring, after everything...  * creature lowered its back more, so he could climb more easily, sending a bright shy thought. * There is no way I would refuse such a pleasant request... *

[Mirach]

Senecio grinned and climbed up the creature's back to sit in the place just behind the head, burrowing into the fur and feathers.

[VisAnastasis]

He indeed picked the softest, fluffiest part, that with him in it, it felt like he was in a big warm nest. The creature whistled a little as if it was ticklish, but it sounded happy - not with intense joy of acceptance like before, rather, in a quieter, more bubbly way, as while face couldn't show such expression, the feelings Senecio perceived were soft, equivalent to someone smiling from ear to ear brightly. Neither he nor Senecio was clothed, and presence lying against him seemed to feel more personal and intimate this time, especially, since nape of the neck was rather a vulnerable place for Beings. However, instead of shy, Tide seemed to grow more confident, closing its eyes and relaxing fully and trustfully, as he seemed to feel cosy and pleasant with such close presence.

When he thought back, his mental voice was drowsy and full of tenderness. * I am so lucky... * it said.

[Mirach]

"Mhm," Senecio just hummed contentedly, enjoying the feel of the fur against his naked body. 

[VisAnastasis]

Senecio's contentment and closeness seemed to have a positive effect on Tide, as there was no better proof of his complete acceptance of the demon's differences that this. He enjoyed being in the flowery water, in more unrestrained form, and he enjoyed the actor's presence, so calm and free against his - indeed, the actor could feel, with close contact and his feelings, how Tide's presence grew much more noticeable in the air, intertwined with warm air that kept them cosy.
 Time seemed to stop for Tide, distracted with this little pleasure, and he forgot about everything for a moment - the bathing, the cake, the wine. He just indulged in the little stolen wholesome moment of emotional intimacy and rest, floating freely in the water along with him, like he probably used to do once, long ago, with vulnerable young Hans, in a world distant and primordial, but doing something that brought the same fulfilment.

[Mirach]

After a while Senecio took the glittery soap and made a lot of foam between his hands. Then he started washing the fur and feathers that he could reach, letting them pass between his fingers. 

[VisAnastasis]

The fact that Tide asked for it even though he was shy to request it must have meant he really liked it, and indeed, creature leaned into his touch with growing trust. It seemed, despite he tried his best to comfort Senecio, that demon needed some pampering to feel better, too, and being tied to waters so much must have meant this was a good way to give him a treat, because creature could not hide its enjoyment, its furr and feathers fluffing up, and  even seeming to begin to glow with soft blue color over time. Throughout the pleasant grooming, creature began to purr softly, distracted from all other thoughts by it, but it didn't try to open its eyes throughout the tending, as if it tried to focus fully on the new touch in this form, exploring how it feels.

[Mirach]

Tide's body was too big in this form, but Senecio washed at least where he could reach comfortably, caressing and playing with the fur and feathers as he washed them.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide indulged in it for a while, enjoying the enthusiastic and playful tending, as it seemed that was just what he needed after a lot of anxieties and insecurities of the last days to slowly rebuild his confidence. By the end, his fur and feathered glowed quite a bit, and they all appeared shinier and healthier - Being's look was often at least slightly influenced by their state of mind and soul, so being soothed well seemed to reflect well on the demon's physical state.

At one point, though, it was too nice, the creature couldn't keep calm any longer. It finally opened its foamy eyes, that shone with bright glow, and turned its head to the actor. Since the actor was on the lower part of the long neck by now, in this pose, he could turn to face him easily, and he could reach for him. A giant gentle arm picked him up lightly from the side, and creature held it between its palms softly, and rubbed its cheek against his chest, closest to a kiss that was harmless in this form without proper lips.
* Senecio... I... had time to clear my head a little, * creature thought warmly to him. * I was... really anxious at first when you told me you felt you may have fallen under the temptation of dying. But... that was a foolish fear. That is to say... I don't believe you. I believe IN you... * creature leaned its head against him quietly, with trust. * Even without the ability to sense feelings... I know that deep down, you can not possibly not know how happy you make me and would choose to stay, even if struggling. This ability... it lets you see me better, but it does nothing for your heart. Can I... do anything for it instead? I know you are still learning to ask for things, but I ask you this, with all my honesty. Would you... take on the ordering role, just for a little bit? Until you fall asleep tonight, I want you to tell me whatever wishes you have. I want to pamper you relentlessly... * terrifying creature full of fierce love grinned at him, revealing a row of small teeth in its thin mouth, indeed, unmistakably unrefined. * Until all you feel is sickeningly sweet... *

[Mirach]

"Take on the ordering role?" Senecio asked uncertainly. "Well, I guess I could try if you don't call it ordering. I... uhm... I'd like to show you something, but you'll need a smaller form with proper hands. So, not just yet. Let's just swim now and enjoy this form a bit longer."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide's face lit up with with the words, and even more so, with the notion actor wants to spend more time in this form with him. Also, however, he was clearly content actor promised to ask for something later.

* I don't know what you have in mind, but whatever it is, I will... Take on any smaller form you feel like is fitting for that. Until then, let's play a game, though,* he said in thoughts lovingly, with a playful grin. * Right now... Why don't we play pretend, that you are my cute little king, and I am your mysterious sea critter lover? Isn't it natural for a king to ask things from others? Or a cool nobleman from a beloved servant? I am okay with any role in which you want to ask me for more... I know what bring pampered means to me, but I want to give it to you. For a start, what kind of swimming do you have in mind? Just swimming around me or else? You are ride on my back some more if you would like, or use me as a soft jumping ramp. Or, if you would like, you can pick a nice soap and I can use my waterbending skills to wash you while we cuddle... * He blushed." You... Gave me a really nice treat, and... I just want to give you a really good treat, too. But nothing I can think of feels good enough for you...*

[Mirach]

"Could you hold me while you swim?" Senecio asked. "You could make a bubble of air for me, so that you could hold me underwater."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide seemed a little relieved and pleased that Senecio didn't deny him telling him something he wanted, as after actor pampered him, he was restless to do something for him in turn, and it was almost a phisical need. It was such a strange feeling, for such giant terrifying creature to gaze at him so lovingly. It held Senecio gently in his soft palms, and brought his snouth close to him as he submerged him under water, creating a little air bubble for him. As a demon, he was breathing out oxygen, and his breath under the air bubble kept its air ever fresh, as creature swam around the deep pool freely, glowing with bright blue colour as he swam around it.