A Glorious Wine Tasting

[heiresy]

[With the new Alliance came eager merchants and expanded trade routes. The Limsan wine makers and sellers snapped at the chance to expand their markets; and what better way to sell wine than a wine tasting? The tables were lined all around the ballroom, ready-set to host the moneyed of Ishgard.

The Lord Commander was certainly invited, and he felt obliged to accept. His wine cellars could use some replenishing anyway...

The merchants poured him a little glass at every table, pushing it on him. He drank every glass, and with each glass the next seemed more reasonable. He had worked himself at least halfway around the room before he was starting to eye a way out. His exit is cut off. Nowhere to run-

A woman with a tray of wine stands before him, offering it directly. He can't refuse. He takes it, trying to seem as sober as possible. He thanks her, stepping away. At least with a glass in hand, they aren't making him take up another.]

Comments

[sylphisticated]

[Kiehl tears himself away from the books to sit across from Aymeric.

He's sure he's offended people with how he takes his tea. His coffee too. Not that it matters to him. If he's going to consume something; he's going to enjoy it.

Except it's a bit too hot. He recoils a little and places the cup back down to let it cool for a bit. Kiehl will help himself to a biscuit instead.] I would have expected there to be more people with a place of this size.

[heiresy]

Don't burn your tongue, Kiehl. [A smile crossed between genuine concern and teasing. Silly.]

My parents were the last of the Borels, and unable to have children. Between the hardships and tragedies of war and their family line's difficulty in having children, our house has emptied save for me.

[ He looks into his cup and sips his tea. He has no difficulty with the near-boiling water.]

I would like to have children, someday. Though for the life of me, I can't imagine when that might happen.

[sylphisticated]

I stopped drinking, didn't I? [He childishly sticks his tongue out at the other.]

Ah... [There's a distant look in Kiehl's eyes. Talk about family and the likes is an awkward topic.] That's unfortunate. Things are looking up now though.

[Awkward. Going to move on from the topic and absentmindedly eat his biscuit.]

I don't understand that sentiment.

[heiresy]

[He smirks for a moment before returning to his tea]

I would certainly say that Ishgard's— and mine own house's futures have vastly improved.

[He looks at him, head tilting slightly.]

Do you dislike children?

[sylphisticated]

I don't like people much. Wouldn't really matter if they were a child or an adult.

[He probably shouldn't say it so casually, but he has never been the type to lie or be vague. He's just the type who doesn't answer questions if he doesn't want to answer them.]

That isn't the reason though. I'm not attracted to women.

[heiresy]

Am I an exception, then? I know men who don't care for others. You seem very sociable in comparison.

[He regards him a moment. How very blunt.]

Is that so?

[It's not as if that was exactly a problem, just...

He gives a bit of a chuckle.] You never cease to surprise me, do you?

[sylphisticated]

I don't invest this much time in someone if I didn't find your companionship worthwhile.

[It's a problem to Kiehl. He isn't really going to have kids unless he decides to take someone in. Having a child with blood relation to him? Not a chance.

Kiehl tilts his head at the other and frowns a little.] Is what I said surprising?

[heiresy]

Then I'm grateful that you find me worthwhile. [a grin]

I suppose I hadn't thought about it, not specifically. Most men aren't so upfront about having those sort of affections.

[He bites his lip, making a split decision with an awful lot of wine in his blood, smearing his judgement.]

Myself included.

[sylphisticated]

There are plenty of people who probably would love to spend their time with you. [There's a lot of things about Aymeric that would make someone want to spend time with him.]

I can't have sex if I'm not a little upfront about it.

[Kiehl looks genuinely surprised. He stops mid sip of his tea.]

I think what you said is more surprising than what I said. [Aymeric, please. Claiming to want kids then saying this. It'll confuse a guy.]

[heiresy]

[Aymeric is hardly a blushing maiden, but to speak so plainly about sex was not common in polite society.] Ishgardian men oft manage without speaking so bluntly. [He chuckles.]

Is it? I suppose I do keep the company of quite a few women. [ He thinks momentarily of all the dancing he does. He has a couple regular dance partners- Not that he sleeps with any of them.]

[sylphisticated]

Am I speaking out of line to say what I did? [He asks seriously. He isn't always aware if he might be speaking out more than he should be. His people skills are weak.] I feel that being up front makes it easier on me. People are not always open minded about my race.

[Kiehl guesses that being attracted to both isn't weird. Maybe he's just surprised by the other when they spoke of children then spoke of being attracted to men.] It caught me by surprise. I suppose it isn't uncommon.

[heiresy]

Then may I take it that you will accept an up front sort of question?

[ He asks this, but really gives Kiehl no time to respond before hitting him with it.]

Are you attracted to me, then?

[sylphisticated]

[Ah.

Kiehl doesn't answer the other. It's kind of silly to be bashful or shy when he was so blunt before. It's a little different to admit to Aymeric that he finds him attractive.

He looks probably a mix between a deer in headlights and looking significantly embarrassed. The other managed to make him flush a bit.]

[heiresy]

[He seems surprised to have taken the other off guard when he so easily spoke about sex with men half a minute earlier.]

My sincerest apologies, my friend. I hardly meant to upset you. I simply thought that such a question wouldn't be out of line for you. You needn't answer me and we can pretend I never asked.

[sylphisticated]

[He clears his throat.] I'm not upset. I...

It is embarrassing to be honest about something like that to someone I value so highly. You are an attractive person. [It's different to tell a stranger he thinks they're attractive.]

[heiresy]

I value you, as well. You should allow yourself to be freer with me with how long we've known one another. [He regards the other for a moment, taking in his facial features, the way he holds himself.]

I find you attractive as well. [pause] Have you ever hoped something might come of it?

[sylphisticated]

Do I seem reserved around you? [He isn't sure what Aymeric means by being freer with him.

He tilts his head and regards the other. He isn't sure why things are going as it is, but this is a lot different than propositioning a random person for the night.] For a one night stand? [He wouldn't deny that having a fling with the other hadn't crossed his mind before.

He has never considered anything passed temporary though.]

[heiresy]

Not... exactly. You needn't put me on a pedestal is all.

Is one night all you would want of me? [He doesn't sound offended, merely just trying to feel the other out. He rearranges himself in his chair, crossing and uncrossing his legs.]

[sylphisticated]

I wasn't quite aware I was doing that.

[Aymeric's words confuses him.] I don't expect commitment. [He doesn't mean to Aymeric specifically, but that he had gone into all his flings with the idea that they would be temporary. Short lived. It's a pretty sad way of viewing things if he sat down and thought about it.] You said just moments ago that you wish to have kids. [He can't exactly help in that department.]

[heiresy]

I was adopted, and I expect to repay that kindness. There are always orphans in Ishgard

[He stands, finally, from his chair beside Kiehl to stand directly in front of him.]

I don't require commitment from you, not like this. [He wets his lips, lifting his eyes to Kiehl's.] I was simply attempting to gauge interest and intent to follow through. If you are interested, then so am I.

[sylphisticated]

Ah. [He has nothing else to really say on that matter. What else could he say?

The way that Aymeric stands above him and looks at him as he licks his lips sends a shiver down Kiehl's spine. Oh.] I'm interested.

[heiresy]

[He continues to gaze down at the other man, looking at his unfamiliar garments. His lips part as he undresses him with his eyes. He tilts his hips to the side, shifting his weight. Part of him knew that he was running away with his lowered inhibitions,
but he felt that he wouldn't regret this.]

Show me how your foreigner's clothing comes apart, then.

[sylphisticated]

[There's a small, rare smile on Kiehl's face as he gets to his feet.] They aren't that foreign, Commander.

[He unbuckles the chest harness with ease before undoing the buckles on the waist tassets that sit over his coat. With those out of the way; all that leaves is the coat he is wearing.] Surely, a coat is not too difficult unless you're asking me to undress in front of you.

[heiresy]

[ He steps just a little closer, taking a braid in his hand, tugging his head down to meet him at his level, eyes half lidded. He kisses him, open-mouthed and hungry as his eyes close. There's the beginning of a moan as his brows knit. He breaks the kiss to press his lips against one of Kiehl's horns, catching his breath. His voice comes firm. ]

I am. Strip.

[sylphisticated]

[He's actually taken quite off guard and lets out a surprised yelp. The noise he makes is almost immediately muffled with Aymeric's mouth over his own and he returns it with fervor.

Kiehl isn't sure the whimper was because of Aymeric's mouth against his horn or the command that the other gives him. He isn't going to outright admit that he finds that immensely attractive.

It also wouldn't be Kiehl if he wasn't going to be a bit slow about it. Kiehl could easily unbutton his coat quickly, but slowly unbuttons them one by one. He keeps his eyes locked with Aymeric's own as he does so.]