Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

Svarik did blush a little, but leant closer, giving him a better look... and when Conrad focused on his eyes, gave him a quick kiss.

[VisAnastasis]

Despite he was the one teasing him, Conrad didn't seem to expect Svarik to actually go for it, and gasped a little as the kiss ended, covering his mouth with a flustered gesture, not used to such things between them. Encouraged by it, though, and using it as a ruse to hide his reddened face, he used Svarik's closeness as well and embraced him suddenly.
" I was saving the first kiss for a more romantic occasion, you adorable thief... " he whispered, but he didn't seem to mind too much, hugging him closer, with just a slight tremble in his arms. " You are terrible at resisting temptations but... I love you too much. I... I'm going to buy you all the sweets you lay your eyes on in the Fourth city... No, scratch it. I'm going to get you everything you fancy... "

[Mirach]

Svarik's eyes twinkled. "That was just a little taste, not a proper kiss," he whispered. "Senecio just made you too irresistible..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Like you wouldn't do it anyway, no matter how the makeup turned out, " Falcon teased him, but with a gentler, softer undertone, whispering back to him conspiratorially. " Come on, do tell me, how long have you been burning to find a good excuse? Since yesterday, when you fell asleep before you got the chance? Or was it the day before, when we began dating? Or even longer? " he inquired with a whisper to his ear. " I'll forgive this insolent kiss heist in exchange for some quality flustered information... "

[Mirach]

"Oh..." Svarik thought for a moment. "A long time in a *wondering how it would feel* kind of way. But in actually considering doing it way, yes, I felt like I missed my chance that night I confessed..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I didn't think of it as a missed chance. Rather, I felt it was a good choice to save it for a time we got more used to the change. But you're always a step ahead of me, aren't you? I feel totally left out of your long crush, that's no good, " Falcon smiled a little bit, seizing the chance to ask what he must have been dying to ask for a while, raising one hand and caressing Svarik's hair encouragingly. " How long was that whole wondering period? Can I get any insight? I really don't feel like I regret not kissing the same second we choose to date. Rather, I feel regretful you didn't confess to me sooner. I'd feel way less sad for a long time if I had known... "

[Mirach]

"I don't know... it was really gradual, and I thought we're both taken anyway and I missed my chance, so I suppressed it," Svarik said. 

[VisAnastasis]

" It sounds like we were both needlessly sad for a while," Falcon  noted, but could not really hide the understanding." I get it why you hesitated, though. We can't know what would happen if you didn't ask at the right time," he whispered quietly." Even now, I am uncertain if I am making the right choice... Not because I don't want to be with you. I am just so worried I will ruin your future. If Lipka leaves you, you will be losing both wife and a kid,"  he admitted quietly, holding him close still. " This is the most risky, selfish choice I have ever made in my whole life... "

[Mirach]

"Whatever happens, we have this time," Svarik whispered and smiled despite a hint of sadness in his eyes. "No worries are allowed today, okay?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Nope, I will be as worried as I feel like. Bold of you to assume I won't be worried just because of an order. I hate orders, anyway," Falcon murmured. He seemed a little vulnerable as he added quietly, not releasing Svarik from the embrace yet, and a little tense, as if anxious king will withdraw." If you absolutely must order me something, make it something worth the weight, like doing your boring taxes or something. Don't order me not to worry. That's only going to make me angry," he said simply, with a little more distant, a touch hurt note in his expression, as his hand absently caressed Svarik's cheek. " It's not like we are speaking of something unworthy of worry, like some monetary loss of investment, or a house burning down. I am worried because I am risking losing scarce but good time with you, because I was too greedy for a label that would give me more right on your time, " he sighed." Nice time with you... is the most valuable currency in the world, to me. Of course it's not enough to me to only be rich with it for a  day... "

[Mirach]

Svarik leant his head on Conrad's shoulder. "It's not an order... I'm just worried you'll worry too much about me and not enjoy the day..." he murmured, smiling a little at the discrepancy. 

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon didn't reply right away, as if gathering many troubled scattered thoughts.
" I only worry," he whispered finally." Because your happiness is the most important to me. Everything else, I aim for because it is the right thing in my mind... But this is one thing I want stubbornly, without any hidden benefit. I am really shameless, though. To be ready to risk your happiness just to gain an excuse to have a bigger role in your life... " slowly, he leaned his head at side of Svarik's, and kissed his cheek, lightly, timidly, and king could feel his bathed anxious breath against his skin. " I have nothing to say in my defense... "

[Mirach]

"You're not the only selfish one also ready to risk so that you can have a bigger role in my life," Svarik whispered, brushing his hair.

"Ahem..." Senecio coughed a little to get their attention, as he was feeling rather uncomfortable as he was privy to their emotions that clearly weren't meant to be revealed to anyone, but he’d never admit that he has that ability, as that would make it even more awkward. "So... do you want the make up as well?" he asked. "You're the only one without it now... If you want, you can pick on a scale from cute to hot what kind of look you want and I'll try to adjust my design to it."

"Yes, sorry for letting you wait..." Svarik murmured. He withdrew from Conrad a little, but still remained turned to him. "Do you want to pick for me?" he asked. "Maybe look into the mirror first though, to see what a 10 means..."

[VisAnastasis]

Despite he looked calm and collected on the outside, in Senecio's eyes, he could see that Conrad was unhappy with Svarik's withdrawal, even if light, with such a vulnerable and important talk to him. While he was the last to like attention when discussing his feelings, not knowing Senecio's ability, it was still not at a level where he would be comfortable with the abrupt stop. He still listened to Svarik, though, and took the mirror, at last, looking at his reflection thoughtfully.
" Well... it really does not look like me. But it really does not look like it's 1 through 9 either, so I guess it will do, " he still managed to smile, although a little distantly, as he was putting an effort to not trouble him. " Are we... using a scale from cute to hot, 1 to 10, then? " he asked to make sure, and coughed, trying to be constructive instead. " To be brutally honest, it's probably wisest to go straight to cute. Melody could go for either hot or cute easily, but I think you somehow managed to inherit only the cute part of the ancestry, " he smiled faintly. " It suits you... And I guess I also like the confidence with which you carry it, too. Trying to wear hot makeup would mostly end up looking like a circle trying to be a rectangle... There's not a sharp edge in you to make it stick. "

[Mirach]

"I dare to disagree," Senecio said as respectfully as he could. "I wouldn’t go for all sharp edges, but I think I could find some that would contrast the softness nicely, of you allow me..."

[VisAnastasis]

" What a wrong way to phrase it... *if I allow it*, " Finally, that was enough to distract Conrad, who seemed to be distracted from his gloominess only when it came to Svarik's satisfaction. " Naturally, I am just saying what I think goes well with him and what I enjoy, but I refuse to be the one to make a choice. Whether it's sweets, toys, souvenirs, flutes, makeup, or anything else - naturally, Svarik will only get what Svarik chooses. That's the only important objective. Gifts are a whole other thing, but meddling into your partner's self-expression? Definitive no, " he said, as he turned to the king with a slight frown. " You can aim for ten if you want, despite my opinion, you know that, right? I don't think it fits you, but your opinion of you is more important than mine. If you want it, you should have it. "

[Mirach]

"That's what I meant..." Senecio murmured. "If his majesty allows it."

"Oh, right... sorry, I was thinking," Svarik said and pressed Conrad's hand in appreciation of his words. "You know what? I'll let you do what you want. Surprise me."

"All right," Senecio said slowly and looked at his palette. 

It took him longer than the others, despite him only working in neutral tones most of the time. He enhanced some features, but didn't add anything that wasn't there, painted some shadows that made Svarik's blue eyes stand out more, with a delicate hint of gold and turquoise on the eyelids complementing them. 

The result didn’t feel as much like covering something, but revealing a deeper layer under the sweet facade, underlining the courage and determination that Svarik often needed to survive, or even to admit his feelings to Conrad. That's how Senecio tried to express his support of their relationship without revealing that he can sense their feelings.

Svarik didn't look into the mirror either, but watched Conrad's reaction.

[VisAnastasis]

While before, Conrad must have been definitely ready to teasingly insist that whatever he did, he looked cute, it seemed that something about the solemn way Senecio worked pulled at his heartstrings, and he forgot all about the talk from before, watching each actor's move almost tentatively. There was a slight frown on his face, but not one of disapproval, but a lot of brewing feelings beneath it. He was one of the few who was privy to Svarik's lowest moments, and seeing him bright and casual in this situation, contrasting the memories where he was afraid to even be in the room with other people, seemed to make him emotional. Makeup that was bold and dignified was a big step from back then. So, almost lost in thoughts, he only noticed Svarik expects his opinion when the king turned to him, and he seemed unsure what to say.

"  I... I have missed seeing you... look so much like yourself. You look... so healthy. So... confident, " he finally managed to say, with a lump in his throat, and warmth was in his voice, and on the tip of his fingers, from his new blessing, as he hesitantly reached for king's hand, and pressed it firmly, with his own, that was more sweaty and shaky. " You are... positively majestic, my majesty... "

[Mirach]

Svarik also expected the result to be cute despite Senecio's effort, and so was a bit confused by the reaction and its solemnity. He reached for the mirror to see what it's about, and was abit taken aback when he saw his reflection. "Oh..." he murmured, "I see..." He watched it thoughtfully, and then pressed back Conrad's hand and interlaced their fingers. "Thank you," he told Senecio simply, but full-heartedly, and then sat down next to Conrad, pressing close thim. "Are you still worried?" he asked quietly.

[VisAnastasis]

As if he was waiting for it for all this time, encouraged by the gestures, Falcon leaned into his touch, and slowly, while making sure Svarik can see what he is doing, he raised him and put him on his lap, embracing him like that over his shoulders. Despite the early morning weather wasn't cold, Svarik also felt the air around him growing pleasantly warm, like with a breath of scorching summer - by watching him make ice cream, it seemed Conrad already figured out the basics of his new blessing, and put all warmth of his feelings into it.
" I feel a little less worried when you sit properly like this..." He whispered. " Just pretend it's a proper way to sit until we get to the city, and I will let you do and get everything you want later, okay? I just feel really proud of you right now and I don't have an outlet...  "

[Mirach]

Svarik leant back at Conrad. "I don't think there's any more proper way to sit," he smiled. 

[VisAnastasis]

Finally, Falcon seemed to begin relaxing with those words, as he watched the makeup process rather tentatively before. Only now, with Svarik's closeness and presence, especially after the talk before, did he begin to feel more secure.
" Can I... feed you ice cream like this, too?" he murmured after a moment, as he relaxed with the hug, growing bolder with his requests and expressions, with hesitant to reveal, clingy overprotectiveness. " Being fed by your boyfriend is definitely the most proper way to eat, after all... "

[Mirach]

"But I habe a condition," Svarik said. "You have to taste is as well. I made it and I want to know how you like it."

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh... Well, why not? It's not like it's something one often gets to eat. It's hard next to impossible to transport ice to the capital. So, sure I can, " he nodded slightly, turning his head aside a bit to see Svarik's expression, as he offered with a little flustered note in an unusual setting. " How did you imagine it, though? Do you want us to eat from the same bowl, should I eat afterwards... or did you want to feed me after you eat? Uhm, I mean, I'm not used to such a thing, the only other person that I've tried it with is Melody, but it's only fair to offer it. I really don't know what all couple things you imagined having, but having an excuse to feed you was definitely in my top ten list of things to look forward to. You can refuse, of course, I just feel the need to offer, because I understand I may seem unapproachable in a lot of ways, so I'm trying to make an effort... "

[Mirach]

"When you start thinking about logistics of such a thing, if gets complicated," Svarik chuckled. "And I'll admit feeding you wasn't really something I would think about. I think more about sharing. Breaking a little loaf of bread in half and offering a piece to you. Cutting and apple and sharing it with you. I'll be content if I can share the ice cream with you, eating from the same bowl."