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Slow. Yeah.

[ He watches Drake for a long moment. There's a part of him that wants to reach for him again. Kiss him harder. Maybe -

Fuck.

Ephemera shivers a little. He watches Drake closely. ]

...come here?

[ Drake blinks, but slides back off the stool immediately. It's only then that he realizes he's still holding Ephemera's hand. ]

What's up?

[ Are things not actually okay? ]

[ Ephemera huffs a little, lifting their joined hands. He kisses Drake's knuckles. One by one. ]

Just wanted to do that.

[ Wait what-- oh no that's cute. Drake bites his lip to keep from grinning but it doesn't work. ]

You needed me to come closer for that?

Yeah.

[ Ephemera grins at him. ]

That okay?

[ Ephemera what did he just say about being charming?

More than anything it's good to see him smile like that, though. ]

Yeah, that's okay.

[ He starts to lean back again, expression questioning. Anything else? ]

[ Ephemera hesitates for a moment. It was good. They could let it be simple.

Ah. Fuck it. He squeezes Drake’s hand again, then leans forward and kisses him. Still soft. Still halfway expecting something to change, to catch him, but it doesn’t. It just feels -

Nice. ]

[ It's a good thing Drake was half-anticipating something like that, or he might have been knocked off balance. Instead he just straightens back up with a muffled laugh, his free hand settling on Ephemera's waist to steady himself as they kiss again. Soft and sweet, just exploring.

It's not hard to keep it that way. What is difficult is not to smile into it, because Drake is completely delighted right now. By the kiss, sure, but more by the fact that Ephemera initiated it -- playfully, even. That they've taken this step, that not everything has to be so fraught all the time. There's trust between them and they want this, and Drake has no problem going slow.

He kisses Ephemera breathless again, and by the time the kiss breaks he's pressed even closer, back between Ephemera's legs with his arm looped around his waist. Still holding his hand. He could do this all night, he thinks, just kissing and holding and being held. With a pleased hum he nuzzles the other man's cheek, pressing a kiss there as well, loathe to pull away. ]

Still okay?

[ Ephemera huffs, smiling up at Drake. He missed this, he thinks. Being able to touch someone else like this, without the underlying thrum of violence of him losing his shit because somebody stepped in range. How it feels to have Drake holding him, an arm around Ephemera's waist and the easy way they kiss. Because it feels easy now. So little has in this place. ]

Yeah.

Yeah, I am.

[ Drake can't help the smile now, finally letting go of Ephemera's hand to wrap that arm around him too and pull him into a warm hug. ]

We should actually eat dinner. And I've got something else to ask you.

[ After that he's looking forward to Ephemera spending the night in his room, even if it's just the usual cuddling. It feels like they've broken through some barrier he didn't want to admit was there before. ]

[ Ephemera goes easily into it, resting his forehead against Drake's shoulder. Things are finally quiet now. Settled. ]

Probably should, before it gets cold.

[ He breathes out slow. ]

Yeah? Ask me what?

[ Another tiny kiss to the side of Ephemera's head and Drake pulls back to return to his stool... but before he gets on it he tugs it closer and scoots his plate over as well. Picks up his fork so he's not tempted to just keep cuddling. ]

You know those gifts we got when we came back from camp? That everybody got.

[ They're closer now. Ephemera breathes out slow. He likes that, he thinks. Proximity. The way he can shift and bump his arm against Drake's. ]

Yeah, I remember. I got to see all those pictures of you as a kid.

[ That was pretty cute, he remembers. ]

Yeah. I'm happy having it, but it got me thinking... Padme got a kitten.

[ A lot of people got pets, actually -- and Ephemera still needs to meet Padme -- and that combined with memories of his childhood? ]

How do you feel about dogs?

[ Oh. Of all the things Ephemera was expecting, that wasn't one. He sits up a little straighter, thinking. ]

I don't know.

[ It's said thoughtfully. ]

There were dogs around when I was a kid, but they chased us. Mean as shit. I'm not afraid of them or anything. You want to get one?

[ A cat might be a safer bet, but Drake's really more of a dog guy. And he thinks a puppy, that they train themselves, might be really great.

He leans in to brush their shoulders together as he spears another piece of chicken. ]

Kinda. Would you come with me to look at least? There must be a shelter around or something.

[ Ephemera eats slowly, thinking. Oddly, he's realized he doesn't shield his food around Drake. Doesn't hunch over his plate and prepare to stab anyone with his fork. He's not certain when that happened, only that it did. This trust they've got built up quick. Even now, he's not sure how to account for it. ]

Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that. You thinking a puppy or something? Or an older dog?

[ Drake thinks about that for a moment, and when he answers it's kind of a non-answer. He isn't picky, he just wants it to be the pet that's right for them. ]

I wanna say a puppy... at least young? But if there's an older dog who fits I wouldn't rule it out. I think we should go and see what feels right.

You've still gotta meet Padme, too. And her kitten's freakin' adorable.

I don't know anything about dogs. So, I'll go with it.

[ See what happens. Maybe they can get a bigger dog, a dog he can take running. People do that, right?

Ephemera nods slowly. ]

I do. I want to. What's she like?

We'll see what they've got. And Padme's... pretty great. Smart, beautiful, independent as hell. She's married and her husband disappeared from here, though, and ever since she's been having a hard time. I think it'd be nice to drag her away from work for a nice dinner or something.

Hey, I still got that fancy chocolate.

[ He smiles a little. ]

Why not, right?

[ Drake smiles back, nodding. ]

Why not? We just have to pick a night we're all free.

All right. Let's do it.

[ He smiles again. ]

I like kittens. Crais has one.

Yeah? I'll ask her to bring hers, then.

[ He'll message her after dinner, do the scheduling. ]

I think you'll really like her.

Bet I will. You like her.

[ Drake's got good judgement with people. So, it'll work out. ]

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