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TDM #4
Welcome! Everything is fine.
Uploading. . . Complete!
The Lobby.
- When you open your eyes, there is quite a lot of beige to take in. The unassuming walls of the room you've found yourself in are barren save for a single motivational poster directly in your line of sight. An illuminated sign above an open door on the far wall reads 'lobby exit.'
"Welcome," chimes a polite, synthesized voice. "I'm happy you're here." A moment later comes the clarity of the situation: you have died and so has the world you came from. "This is Amani, your new reality," continues The Peacekeeper. "Everything will be fine."
At least you aren't the only one here, you'll soon find out, as others who are just as confused and concerned as you are mingling on the main hub's first floor. Hopefully, you find a familiar face among the crowd. If not, that's all right. You'll get to know quite a few people very well soon enough.
- If you're one of the unlucky few whose death required a bit more intensive re-coding to maintain stability in the simulation, you'll instead awaken on a bed in the infirmary. Everything is strikingly white save for the occasional string of vines with lavender growing in bursts to help keep people calm. Whether or not it works seems to be on a case-by-case basis.
While there is no active medical staff, the voice of The Peacekeeper is there to explain the situation in a more delicate manner to these individuals. It's already stressful enough having to have gone through such a violent death, after all!
If characters want more questions answered, they'll need to speak to The Peacekeeper directly. But first, it will encourage socialization in the main hub and hopefully, you'll find someone you recognize to make taking things in a little easier.
WHAT
The fourth Amani TDM!
WHEN
April 21st, 2022
KINKS OF THE MONTH
★ Tickling
★ Facials
★ School Uniforms
★ Sharing
★ Hurt/Comfort
★ Facials
★ School Uniforms
★ Sharing
★ Hurt/Comfort
WELCOME
Throughout the main hub where everyone congregates, a light chiming echoes through the first floor. "Hello, everyone," comes the synthetic voice from when you first arrived. "Please, watch your step since there's quite a few puddles around. If you'd like, there is cake, some refreshments, and some eggs for you in these trying times. If they feel warmer than usual, that's because they're going to hatch soon!"
While the Peacekeeper doesn't elaborate, as usual, simulation inhabitants are free to notice the eggs that either they gathered or are still littering the simulation are now warm to the touch, give off a faint glow, and may even move subtly now and again if watched.
Dark, ominous clouds begin to gather over every piece of sky in the simulation and before long blot out the sun. Sheets of rain begin to pour down almost without warning. Hopefully, you've managed to fix those leaks in your house! Or maybe you're finding new ones...
Lightning splits the sky with a dramatic crackle and thunder booms not long after it. The wind howls and the worst of the storm won't relent for a few hours at the least. Even after, the rain will linger for days on and off to varying degrees of severity.
While the weather has taken a turn for the gloomy, that doesn't mean that simulation inhabitants have to be! In fact, it may feel somewhat refreshing as if the rain is washing away any negativity lingering after The Overseer's masquerade. Whether by her design or not, she - nor The Peacekeeper - will say but it does seem that she wants to keep relations as peaceful between the simulation inhabitants and creators as she can.
Of course, your buckets might not just be catching water. With the rising water levels, the fish that inhabit the simulation's waters are just as confused as anyone else. Even more confusing is the glitch causing them to transform once they find themselves on solid (mostly) ground.
Thankfully, they don't change into anything harmful. Well, maybe to your teeth since an abundance of sweet treats is bound to cause a cavity or two... Not to mention the other odd effects that food here is known to have.
If the party and its cake don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an (off-key) instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.
You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities.
While the Peacekeeper doesn't elaborate, as usual, simulation inhabitants are free to notice the eggs that either they gathered or are still littering the simulation are now warm to the touch, give off a faint glow, and may even move subtly now and again if watched.
APRIL SHOWERS
Granted, there are bigger things to worry about such as the storm that's rolling in.Dark, ominous clouds begin to gather over every piece of sky in the simulation and before long blot out the sun. Sheets of rain begin to pour down almost without warning. Hopefully, you've managed to fix those leaks in your house! Or maybe you're finding new ones...
Lightning splits the sky with a dramatic crackle and thunder booms not long after it. The wind howls and the worst of the storm won't relent for a few hours at the least. Even after, the rain will linger for days on and off to varying degrees of severity.
While the weather has taken a turn for the gloomy, that doesn't mean that simulation inhabitants have to be! In fact, it may feel somewhat refreshing as if the rain is washing away any negativity lingering after The Overseer's masquerade. Whether by her design or not, she - nor The Peacekeeper - will say but it does seem that she wants to keep relations as peaceful between the simulation inhabitants and creators as she can.
ONE FISH, TWO FISH...
The constant rain brings water levels of the rivers and eddies up at an alarming rate. Flooding is inevitable and, hopefully, the place you've claimed as your own isn't in the way. If it is, you might want to get the buckets ready or consider a relocation!Of course, your buckets might not just be catching water. With the rising water levels, the fish that inhabit the simulation's waters are just as confused as anyone else. Even more confusing is the glitch causing them to transform once they find themselves on solid (mostly) ground.
Thankfully, they don't change into anything harmful. Well, maybe to your teeth since an abundance of sweet treats is bound to cause a cavity or two... Not to mention the other odd effects that food here is known to have.
- ★ Taiyaki » Despite having just jumped out of the chilly waters, these tasty treats will be warm to the touch and generate steam. After biting into one, you'll radiate warmth no matter what for a brief period of time. Being a walking furnace sure is nice with this damp, cold atmosphere... Maybe you'll find a friend or two to huddle up with and keep warm.
★ Swedish Fish » Eating one of these stretchy, gummy candies will increase your flexibility. Literally and metaphorically! It might be easier to be convinced to do something you wouldn't have before and now you can bend just the right way to make it extra fun.
★ Hard Fish Candy » These tart candies will render someone unable to speak until it completely dissolves. This can take a while, too, since they seem to be persistantly stuck to the roof of your mouth! Yet, don't underestimate the power of body language to speak your mind.
★ Chocolate Sardines » Eating one of these rich bite-sized treats will make you sweeter. No, really! Candy kisses isn't just an expression after eating these fish. You taste delicious. Maybe too delicious... Be careful! Once someone gets a taste of you, they might not want to stop anytime soon.
WHAT'S YOUR DTF STATUS?
If the party and its cake don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an (off-key) instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.
You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities.
RAINING CATS AND DOGS
While the fishy foods are odd enough as is, another glitch appears to be occurring throughout the simulation but this time originates not from the rain but The Peacekeeper's humble musings. "Did you know," speaks the resident AI, "that there is an expression called 'raining cats and dogs'? I think that's such a curious saying! It made me wonder what it might actually look like..."
Following the strange, unexpected 'announcement,' inhabitants may begin to notice large globs of water falling periodically from the sky now amidst the regular rain. When they hit the ground with a large splash, nothing is there... at first. The water will burst apart only to reassemble into a canine or feline friend. Well, it's shaped like a dog or a cat.
Due to the sudden nature of their spawning though, some things aren't quite right. Perhaps that cat has only three legs instead of four; a dog may be missing an eye, an ear, or even its tail. And those are the more tame oddities! While the unique animals aren't overly abundant there are still a good number that spawn across the days of rain. Don't be surprised if a dog takes up shelter from the storm on your porch or you come home to a cat you don't own having climbed through a loose window.
While this might be exactly the addition to your home that you wanted, it doesn't change the leaky roof or broken window in your new place. Or, unfortunately, the fact that there's no extra space for a pet yet. No, unfortunately that will still need to be fixed the peaceful way. If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important!
It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.
Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.
Following the strange, unexpected 'announcement,' inhabitants may begin to notice large globs of water falling periodically from the sky now amidst the regular rain. When they hit the ground with a large splash, nothing is there... at first. The water will burst apart only to reassemble into a canine or feline friend. Well, it's shaped like a dog or a cat.
Due to the sudden nature of their spawning though, some things aren't quite right. Perhaps that cat has only three legs instead of four; a dog may be missing an eye, an ear, or even its tail. And those are the more tame oddities! While the unique animals aren't overly abundant there are still a good number that spawn across the days of rain. Don't be surprised if a dog takes up shelter from the storm on your porch or you come home to a cat you don't own having climbed through a loose window.
While this might be exactly the addition to your home that you wanted, it doesn't change the leaky roof or broken window in your new place. Or, unfortunately, the fact that there's no extra space for a pet yet. No, unfortunately that will still need to be fixed the peaceful way. If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important!
It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.
Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.
SEEING PINK
ear the end of the week, the rain finally relents and temperatures continue to gradually increase. Those May flowers can't quite seem to wait though since several of the trees lining the edge of the forest bloom brilliant pink blossoms that a DTF will be able to identify as love blossoms. While the blooms won't last very long, they certainly are using all the time they have to take over.
The pollen is one thing. It may start out as just a tickle in your nose or stuffy head but eventually turns into something much more lovely. You're tickled pink about almost everything, it seems, and want to share that happiness with others. And who needs rose-colored glasses when almost everywhere one looks there's a string of love blossoms blooming?
These invasive flowers are in your garden, along the vines in the city, and even sprawling through the main hub! It actually seems almost impossible to avoid them. The Peacekeeper assures inhabitants that it isn't purposeful and just the natural cycle of the love blossoms.
Enjoy the mood-lifting and groin-tingling effects while they last! The love blossoms will only linger for a few days, at most, before receding back to the forest line and eventually falling dormant again until next spring.
The pollen is one thing. It may start out as just a tickle in your nose or stuffy head but eventually turns into something much more lovely. You're tickled pink about almost everything, it seems, and want to share that happiness with others. And who needs rose-colored glasses when almost everywhere one looks there's a string of love blossoms blooming?
These invasive flowers are in your garden, along the vines in the city, and even sprawling through the main hub! It actually seems almost impossible to avoid them. The Peacekeeper assures inhabitants that it isn't purposeful and just the natural cycle of the love blossoms.
Enjoy the mood-lifting and groin-tingling effects while they last! The love blossoms will only linger for a few days, at most, before receding back to the forest line and eventually falling dormant again until next spring.
SEXY STAMP CARD
If you're wondering about these 'peaceful interactions' that keep being mentioned or what the kinks of the month are for... Here's your answer! Upon arrival, all characters will receive a digital copy of their very own sexy stamp card.
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!NOTES
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!
★ The kinks of the month have changed! Be sure to check this post for what the new ones are. Also, give a congratulations to Corrin (
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fatefulprince) as the as the new leader of the sexy leaderboard! 🎉★ The effects of the strange fish candies can, as always, be as heavy or light as you'd like! It can be chalked up to differences in resistance, non-humanity or not, etc. etc. Also, they can mixed-and-matched! Have fun with that.
★ The flora and fauna page will be updated. It's also still open for player suggestions! All you need to do now is link your check-in (or player claim) comment to make a submission!
★ Make sure to dunk your questions/feedback in the thread below!
NAVIGATION
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Despite having enough self-awareness now to feel a bit chagrined about the state he's in - he's still feeling incredibly relaxed, content. Hopefully he didn't accidentally get the better end of the deal. "How are you feeling now?"
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He pauses. "And you're the one who did me the initial favor. At the most, you could consider this repayment. At the very least...it's simply consideration."
Once Zechs is properly (to a given value of 'properly') clothed again, Seph once again single-arm carries him so that his other arm is free to scoop up his coat. This he lays in Zechs' lap. "Hold this for me," he instructs, even as he carries Zechs outside(adjusting back to holding him in both arms on the way). Leviathan, who'd been stretched out in front of the door, hops up and is moving away even before Sephiroth emerges; after one glance at their owner, Levi de-materialize back into the earrings Sephiroth is wearing.
Evidently, they'd been reading his intent. Because, as Sephiroth stands in front of the door, Zechs will feel a slight shift in Sephiroth before a massive black wing abruptly unfurls from his back, stretching itself.
"Are you afraid of heights?" Sephiroth asks after a moment's pause, as though this just occurred to him. His intent is clear, although how he's supposed to fly with only one wing isn't clear.
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that Sephiroth should be able to fly. His wing is too singular and asymmetrical to get his massive body off the ground. Sephiroth, of course, flies anyways. Because Sephiroth doesn't care what humans think is impossible.no subject
Though Zechs saw little physical resemblance between them - he could easily follow Sephiroth's reasoning. Understood where he was coming from. It was a somewhat reassuring kinship, even as he hoped (in vain) the other man had a far less bleak past to shape it.
Then, a coat is being placed in his lap. Zechs was about to object to being carried before Sephiroth just - stepped out of doors anyway, holding him like he weighed nothing. A pride that Zechs tried to deny exist flared, felt injured, wondering for the first time at who might see them. His ears were red.
Then, a giant black wing emerged - Zechs' eyebrows raised. How could he fly with only a single wing? And his injured pride was distracted by that impossibility, by the question posed. Zechs scoffed, a small snort and a twisted smirk.
"Hardly," Zechs told him, dry. "I am a pilot."
As Sephiroth's DTF materialized back into jewelry - the small, miniature mobile suit that Minigeese was hovered off the ground with tiny jets. Every part of Zechs, even this one, seemed to be stubbornly independent.
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To that end...Sephiroth expects that hit Zechs' pride takes at the thought of anyone seeing him like this. Hence, of course, the wing. If he flies Zechs to his home, then very few people - quite possibly none - will witness the man being carried through the city. Therefore, nothing to complain about except the man's own personal awkwardness.
At hearing Zechs is a pilot, Sephiroth chuckles quietly to himself...and then leaps into the air. Despite the seeming complete impossibility of it, he flies as smoothly as though he had two wings and his body were built for flight like this, even though both those things are demonstrably untrue.
"In that case," he says, over what little wind there is - they're not moving all that fast - "where do you live? I can get you there quickly."
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But he did enjoy being in the air once more. Pity they weren't going faster. Zechs absently considered eventually asking for some kind of aircraft, before he reached with one hand, grasping onto Sephiroth's coat securely with the other.
"That building, there," Zechs pointed. "On the corner of that intersection."
Far, far below - if Sephiroth's eyesight was as enhanced as anything else about him - the teeny form of Zechs' DTF was making a beeline for it.
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He follows Zechs' finger, and his eyes are indeed sharp enough to at least pick out Minigeese's movement even if he can't make out details. (He has the eyes of a cat, not a hawk.) It's enough to confirm their heading, however, and he promptly turns in that direction. It's a considerably faster trip to Zechs' home as the crow flies than it would be walking; in less than a minute, they're lightly touching down in front of Zechs' door, which Sephiroth opens without hesitation.
He hasn't wholly considered that Zechs might be living with someone, but at the same time, it's Zechs' own house. Knocking would seem a bit superfluous even if he was thinking about it. He carries the man over the threshold not unlike a bride, very possibly fully in ignorance of the custom.
"I imagine you'll want to shower," he says, glancing down at Zechs. "I can help you with that, if you're still unsteady on your feet." His lips quirk. "It's not as though I couldn't use one myself."
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"Hyacinth, my love, you've certainly been busy~" As he speaks, though, he's appraising the man holding his fiance, quite pleased with the view really. He tuts softly looking from Sephiroth to Zechs with a smirk. "I'm disappointed you didn't offer to share."
Then he's beaming at Sephiroth, giving him a gracious nod. "Lorenz Hellman Gloucester. You have my thanks for returning my wayward fiance. I hope he didn't cause you any trouble. Well, any more than you enjoyed, I suppose... Would you like to stay for tea?"
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Focus.
His smile was wry. “I am always amenable to sharing, but it takes longer negotiation than his needs warranted. This is Sephiroth, and he’s rather correct. We’re both entirely filthy and could use a hot shower. Would you be able to help him?”
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Sephiroth had been aware Zechs was either engaged or married from his ring(and trusted the man, conscientious as he seemed, to have some kind of Arrangement in place with them), but he hadn't quite prepared himself for running into them. Even if he had, he'd still be set on his heels by Lorenz. The man's quite attractive, though that wouldn't be enough to fluster Sephiroth - he's often surrounded by attractive men. He appreciates them, but he's certainly built up an immunity to being shocked by them. It's more the charm. The immediate, downright familiar friendliness aimed at him, despite his bringing home this man's fiance freshly fucked and barely capable of standing without warning as a total stranger.
He blinks at Lorenz, visibly a bit taken aback.
"He was no trouble," he says, after a moment of catching himself up. "If anything, he helped me significantly when something I ate or drank - " It was both, but who's counting. " - affected me. He...invited me to go for as long as I needed, and I wanted to make sure he was taken care of after I wore him out." He shoots Zechs a sidelong look. "He suggested I leave him and simply contact you to help him, but I considered that unacceptable."
He clears his throat. "As he says, before anything else, we should probably get cleaned up." Should he accept the offer of tea? Sephiroth can't recall ever being invited to have tea with anyone besides Lazard. (He's had tea with Genesis and Angeal, but not as a matter of formal invitation - they'd simply made it and shoved it at him when they felt like drinking tea together.) He has no idea what he's doing here, quite suddenly, and Zechs will likely be deeply amused by how quickly the shift from confident to awkward has been flipped.
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Sephiroth's insistance that Zechs was so very helpful only gets a wider smile, a bright, delighted sort of laugh as he lays a hand lightly on one of those powerful arms. "You needn't be so polite. I know my fiance well enough to know that, no matter how genuine the offer and how very obliging he can be he is also a horrible brat."
"I do appreciate you bringing him home, however. If he'd have waited much longer I might have been elbow deep in lye and then what would he have done, hmm? Make me send Sylvain to collect you?" Another little tsk, this time one of those elegant hands darting out to slide beneath the sloppily buttoned vest? unbuttoned shirt? really Zechs. But it's space enough for his fingers to dip beneath the material to find one nipple, tweaking it just a little too hard, enough to sting.
Long nails skim down Zechs' chest, completely unbothered by the fact that he's still in another man's arms. "There is a bathroom just through there." A nod towards the door beside the stairs. "I can collect some towels if you like... I may have to deprive you of his company, however. I'd had plans for him."
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To wit. Being called a brat had him flushing slightly - though Zechs notably did not protest it. He did point out, “I could have waited for you, or perhaps No-“
His nipple was tweaked and his ears turned pink as he made a soft, pleased and pained sound. Zechs swallowed, his eyes much darker, dilated and reducing the slight glow from borrowed mako. The nails down his chest had him shuddering slightly in Sephiroth’s arms. “I’ll need to request a restorative first, if you want use of me.”
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But then...Lorenz is very clearly playing with Zechs' chest, while the man is still in his arms, and Sephiroth's awkwardness peaks again. He hasn't the vaguest idea what he's expected to do in this sort of situation - and for once, he doesn't feel that this is some glaring gap in his social skills as a result of having spent his entire life either as a lab experiment or a soldier. He feels that most people would probably be at a loss in this situation, which...is that a comfort? He's frankly not sure.
He clears his throat again. "I'd appreciate the use of your shower," he says, trying not to sound as awkward as he feels. "Of course, it's fine if you have things to take care of in the meantime. Though as he says...I did exhaust him, so I agree that should be taken into consideration for whatever plans you have. Which I hope I haven't disrupted." He pauses, uncertain of the etiquette here - or, more precisely, unsure if Zechs is stable enough on his feet to simply put him down - and, after a moment's hesitation, simply...holds out Zechs to Lorenz. Lorenz doesn't look strong enough to simply take Zechs from his arms, if Sephiroth is any judge, but he's not clear what else he should do here. And perhaps Lorenz can simply...support Zechs as he stands himself upright? All he knows is that his presence feels like something of an imposition, even though Lorenz and Zechs certainly aren't treating it anything like one.
Oh, Sephiroth, what sights they have to show you.no subject
While Lorenz could probably lift him, if only briefly and because of the ease of transfering rather than lifting him from the ground, he doesn't bother attempting any such show of strength. He murmurs a word in a rolling, hiss and Zechs is magically lifted neatly out of Sephiroth's arms. Lorenz' fingers trail over his lover's shoulder as the magic relocates him to the nearby couch, his other hand coming up to lightly touch Sephiroth's chest.
The touch is not suggestive this time though, merely gentle and meant to be reassuring.
"Honestly, Sephiroth. Thank you." A soft smile, an encouraging sort of nod. "I tease but I do not wish to make you genuinely uncomfortable. We've both been in this sort of place for a long while and, as such, are sometimes a bit... much for new arrivals. You're delightfully handsome and you're sweet. Given the chance I will happily devour you." A smirk, fingers lifting to pat his chest lightly. "But, feel free to use the bathroom, I can collect a couple towels for you and leave them by the door."
Then Lorenz finally steps back, letting the man have his space. "Stay put." A sharp command to Zechs as he taps long fingers along his chest as he turns to go collect said towels.
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Lorenz, though, seemed to know how to manage this - ever the more adept in this area than he. And oddly enough, Zechs felt a little bit proud of the fact he introduced these two - entirely illogical. He wasn't alarmed by the display of magic, obviously - simply sighed a little in contentment as he was set onto the couch. Zechs watched the other two men.
Zechs couldn't help a small smirk. Lorenz would happily eat Sephiroth alive. Only with permission, however. He gave his fiance a soft smile before he went to collect some towels.
Alone for the moment, Zechs nodded toward Sephiroth. "Feel free to avail yourself of whatever you wish. Take your time in the shower, enjoy some tea and food after - none of it has been tampered with, here. His gratitude is genuine. Lorenz ..."
... He needed to find words which didn't sound foolishly besotted. "... Has far more steel than he appears, and is far more patient than I deserve. Take whatever time you need to recover, should you wish."
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He shakes his head at Lorenz's reassurances. "I'm not...uncomfortable," he says, after a moment's pause, with a somewhat wry expression. "I don't know that whatever effects I'm under have completely worn off, though Zechs helped me bring it to manageable levels. And...you're an attractive man, who's no more a stranger to me now than Zechs was a few hours ago." Read: he's neither disinterested nor has any more reason to be put off of Lorenz than his fiance. "It's simply that my social skills have always been...lacking. I used to be a soldier, as Zechs will tell you, and what parts of my life weren't in the military were spent in a lab. Though I think even if I'd lived a more normal life, this sort of situation would still be beyond my experience." A wry smirk tugs at his lips. "Though I suppose that given how Zechs and I seem to have a decent amount in common, perhaps I'm worrying for nothing being concerned about the impression I give." He inclines his head. "So...I'll simply thank you for the hospitality."
When Lorenz leaves and Zechs speaks to him, Sephiroth turns to him with a slight smile. "Aside from the patience...he reminds me of my own partner. Far more at home in social situations than I am, for one. We may share an attraction for the same sorts of people, as well." He nods. "But...I can see hints of the steel. He has a force of personality."
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Not to say Lorenz wasn’t incredibly attractive. But if there hasn’t been that steel underneath the lace and silk, Zechs would likely only see him as a close friend.
He shifted slightly on the couch, but didn’t move to get up. Not after that sharp demand. Instead, he asked curiously, “Your partner?”
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He shakes his head, and a small smile returns. "But here...the two of us were able to reunite, with both our sanities returned. And we mean more to each other now even than we did before." His gaze flicks to Zechs, amused. "He's charming, verbose, handsome, has a fondness for magic...and has a certain flair for the dramatic. As I said, Lorenz reminds me of him."
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… yes, he already heard Lorenz reprimanding him in the back of his mind for that one. But habits were difficult to break. Either way, he sympathized.
Now didn’t seem the time to get into that darkness, however, especially given the tension already broken today. By the time he’s remarking on how similar their lovers were, Zechs had already adjusted his expression to something softer.
In fact, he even smiled, very slightly. “You’ve taken Lorenz’s measure astonishingly quickly, in that case. He also is passionate about his believes and stands by his principles, having grown and learned through many hardships to achieve a just and noble perspective. Lorenz is a good man to know, no matter what other factors are presented.”
So Sephiroth should feel so lucky if they became friends, in other words.
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He looks thoughtful. "As for beliefs and principles...that may be something Genesis and Lorenz don't share. He certainly has his own ideas and preferences about things, but...his focus has always been on the people he's fond of and his own ambitions, not on any larger ideals. We were soldiers together; most of our lives consisted of doing our jobs, and enjoying the time we had together in between them. I suppose our scope was rather limited." He smirks. "Even with your clear bias taken into account...Lorenz sounds like an admirable man."
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That brought a considering hum. When Zechs was a soldier, he had little use for soldiers who scurried around just to gain favor and rewards from their superiors. That was one form ambition could take. Yet, another would be how Zechs had been himself, full of idealism and vengeance. What did Genesis strive for with that ambition … his own glory … or perhaps the safety of his companions?
It’s not a question for Sephiroth, all the same. And Zechs had no ground to judge others for their ambitions any longer. Not after horrors his path had lead him down.
He managed not to blush at the accusation of bias. “He is. And perhaps I should meet Genesis myself in the future - this simulation does not seem that populous. Hopefully under better circumstances - we’d both likely prefer not to be drugged, it is my guess.”
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He shifts his smirk to Sephiroth, something even more predatory in his smile as he turns to face him more fully. One handlifts to walk those delicate fingers up the larger man's chest appreciative and playful. "It's charming you think he is not just as bold as I am~"
And then, just like that, there's a pair of towels being pressed to his chest. As though Lorenz wasn't just looking at him like he'd rather devour him than let him shower.
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When the towels are pressed to his chest, he reflexively reaches up to secure them. If his and Lorenz's hands brush in the process, Lorenz certainly isn't likely to complain about it. (Although, of course, Sephiroth is wearing his gloves at the moment, so Lorenz may get more out of that contact than Sephiroth does.)
"To be honest," he says, a touch slowly, "I haven't seen Genesis around many other people, or how he interacts with them. He and I, and one other...were always something of a group apart in our own world. He rarely showed much interest in anyone outside us that I saw. Of course, things are different here." His gaze, having been preoccupied, down and looking inward, flicks back up to Lorenz's face. "But I can see why he'd take an interest in someone like you."
Hadn't Sephiroth himself just remarked on their similarities? And that man Kuja that Genesis has been so taken with is much the same. Clearly Genesis is drawn to those like him; there just hadn't been many people like him in SOLDIER back home.
He glances at Zechs. "And considering how much alike the two of us are...Lorenz is probably right. He'd be interested in you under any circumstances."