Line in the water of Limsa’s port, Chlodebaimt found himself relaxing despite the uncomfortable wood on which he sat. Roelle was sat next to him, feet in the water, sunglasses and sunhat donned and enjoying the silence with him. They knew Ciceroix’s kidnapping excursions were always meant to help him unwind, find his equilibrium between who he had to be in Ishgard and who he had found he was in the Shroud. Ciceroix hadn’t chosen to join them fishing this morning and Chlodebaimt suspected he was taking a late morning with Brave Horizon- not that he wanted to think too far into that.
With his line in the water and quiet around in the early morning, Chlodebaimt found his thoughts wandering to yesterday’s experiment. Had he been told even as little as one year ago that he would be in Limsa Lominsa setting up a kissing booth with his lowborn lover’s help and permission at the suggestion of his uncle, he would have thought the idea was born of some kind of delusion or fever dream. And now his lips were still slightly swollen from having done just that.
He’s not even entirely certain, yet what- if anything- he learned from the past day. That drunks tend to kiss harder than those sober, certainly, but he knew that beforehand. He had expected men to kiss differently than women, he supposed, so it was surprising to find that each kiss, regardless of gender had been different- and none felt inherently repulsive which was a surprise. Before Roelle, he had never kissed anyone, nevertheless strangers, the idea had been daunting, but he found the experience somewhat rewarding now that he had had it. Yet another fact of life outside of Ishgard’s walls that his father could never learn of.
The morning was in full swing now, and Chlodebaimt had caught and released more than a couple fish and was considering putting his fishing rod away and heading back to the Drowning Wench when he’s approached.
“Weren’t you the fellow what had the kissin’ booth yesterday?”
Chlodebaimt blinks, looking over to the man who’s spoken. He was a slender Viera, tall as the men tend to go as he seemed to be about his own height, minus the ears, and the way he carried himself could be described as nothing other than graceful. He was suntanned- as most in Limsa were, and smiling a rather disarming smile that Chlodebaimt found, with surprise, he wanted to return. Instead, he nods, pulling his line from the water. “That was me.”
“Well, seein’ as I was busy yesterday but I’m not now would you be willin’ to make an exception for today?”
Chlodebaimt considers the question as he puts his fishing rod away, closing his tackle box, Roelle watching them both, waiting for his decision and willing to back up any no need be. Their hand rests on his knee, more a question than anything.
“Unless- If I’m interruptin’ I apologize,” the man backtracks and Chlodebaimt finds himself shaking his head.
“No, no. I was just considering calling it a day on the fishing front, the docks are hardly the best place to get a bite on your line. And they’re- well, they are a lover but a...very encouraging one?” Chlodebaimt can feel the faint blush coloring his cheeks and he hadn’t even answered the question yet.
“Roelle,” they introduce themselves with a tip of their hat, standing and offering their hand to shake which the stranger happily accepts, buying Chlodebaimt a few seconds. He takes a deep breath and then hears Roelle speak again. “I would be honored if you’d kiss me boyfriend- providin’ he’s not opposed.” He doesn’t have to see their wink to know it’s there and his face goes red to the tips of his ears. They knew him, of course they did, they were his first and only lover and read him like a book. Of course they knew he was going to accept and had to tease about it.
The stranger’s startled laugh, however, is a bit distracting. It sounds so...genuinely happy. And the way the skin around his eyes crinkled when he smiled wasn’t helping. “Cedir,” he introduces himself to Roelle. “You might not be from around ‘ere but you sure have the spirit.”
Unknowing how to enter the conversation again to actually give his answer, Chlodebaimt instead loudly locks his tacklebox. He feels both of them turn to look at him and he clears his throat, not looking up. “I would- I wouldn’t mind-” He takes a deep breath, not normally one to stumble over his words. “I would love to kiss you. Actually.” he manages, finally, the tips of his ears still pink as he looks back up. Roelle’s grinning ear to ear and Cedir’s smile looks gentle. “And Chlodebaimt’s my name.”
“Chlodebaimt.” The name sounds foreign on his tongue, but not in a bad way. With a nod to himself as if deciding something, he offers his hand to help him stand. Taking the offer, Chlodebaimt stumbles a couple steps and ends up a step closer than he intended and found he was right- Cedir was just about exactly his height- putting their mouths but a couple ilms apart. At which point, Chlodebaimt freezes.
The stand like that for a second before Cedir lets go of his hand, letting it rest on Chlodebaimt’s hip instead, the other going to his chin to tilt his face slightly. “Still willin’?” he asks, breath ghosting over Chlodebaimt’s lips and giving him a shiver.
Instead of replying, Chlodebaimt finds it in himself to close the ilms, press their lips together gently. He feels Cedir’s lips part slightly against his, an invitation but not a request and Chlode almost accepts it. Instead, he suddenly notices his arms are still awkwardly hanging by his sides and that Roelle’s still watching, certainly affectionately smug, and he pulls out of the kiss- but not far. He blinks his eyes open- unaware of when they shut- in time to see Cedir open his own and smile at him.
“Thank you,” he replies, releasing Chlodebaimt and stepping back. “You’re simply quite ‘andsome an’ I didn’t want to miss the chance if I could help it.”
“We’re at the Inn for the next week if you-” he’s speaking before he realizes he is and cuts himself off the moment he can, but the offer hangs unspoken in the air anyway.
“I’m always fine with either sharin’ or vacatin’ need be. Inn’s got more’n two rooms,” Roelle chimes in helpfully over his shoulder to Cedir’s surprised expression.
“I’m not- I can’t promise anything. I’ve- I’ve never but-” he takes a deep breath. “I would like to see you again. Perhaps I can buy you a drink tonight?”
Cedir’s smile returns. “I’d like that. Drownin’ Wench at 9? Should be done on the ship by then.”
“We’ll be there,” Chlodebaimt responds with a nod and watches as he walks off until Roelle’s hand claps his shoulder.
“Look at ye, gettin’ yerself a boyfriend,” they tease and the color returns in full force to his cheeks.
“Nothing official!” He protests, knowing it futile.
“Yet,” they chuckle. “C’mon. Gotta tell the uncle the news.”
