middaeg | ( closed ) july catch-all

[ Calling out the last dregs of her new magic is harder than she anticipates; barely more than a sad puff of smoke appears out of her outstretched hand, but it's enough to catch into the kindling already in the fireplace and slowly start to crackling away. For the stretch of a minute, only the sounds of wood snapping and armor slowly clanking fill up the cabin. Rosetta's too busy sitting in front of the growing flame, eyes staring deep into dancing red and gold as she lets the warmth of the fire wash away some of her exhaustion. ]

I agreed to this. We're both to blame, if anything.

[ What a pair they make, both wallowing in pity.

Eventually, she gets back up, walks towards where Siegfried sits. Her fingers are steadier than his, but instead of fussing with pieces of armor that she doesn't understand, they trace over the cuts on his shoulders and arms. Wounds gained in defense of her, in place of her. The least she can do is tend to them. ]

We should clean these. Healing magic would be easier but...

[ The rest of the words are left unsaid, but the meaning rings loud and clear. So much to learn, so little time, and more and more she's beginning to curse this place for stripping away all her powers. Being a primal had always brought with it its own set of challenges, but better a killing machine than wholly useless. ]

[ Siegfried is so preoccupied with removing the last of his chestplate while lost in his thoughts that he scarcely notices Rosetta come towards him.

Normally, he might have had some reservations. He's stripped away not only his metal armor, but the damp layers of underarmor, leaving his torso and shoulders completely bare. Bare, but still warmer than they were trapped in wet clothes.

Now, while the gentle tracing of her fingers takes him aback, he can only instinctively lean towards her. Despite the both of them being subjected to the same conditions, she is many degrees warmer, and more than anything, his body needs heat.

He looks up and gives her a small smile, not bothering to do anything about the wet and mangled hair obscuring his face. ]

Don't worry. I will be fine by the morning.

[ It's been so long since he's had to clean or dress any wounds, ever since Fafnir's blood gave him rapid healing abilities. He wonders if Rosetta has ever even had to. ]

Thank you for the fire. I can already feel my spirits lifting.

[ He could be covered in a thick layer of mud and he'd still be the hottest man on the planet. :simp:

His reassurances do little to knock the frown off her face; in fact, the chill of the skin underneath her hands only serves to deepen it. ]

I'd rather we lift your body temperature first. You'll freeze in no time if you keep this up.

[ Even if it is nice to ogle him, as always.

Up goes the blanket from the foot of the bed, unfolded and draped around his shoulders. Goodbye beefy shoulders, she'll tragically have to admire them another day. Another day, when the cold isn't cutting straight to her bones. The fire's rapidly growing, but it can only heat up the cabin so fast.

The wind howling outside, rattling the shutters to and fro, reminds her of the snowstorm falling atop them, and she shivers reflexively. ]

Just by lighting a fire we've guaranteed that I won't die on you, I think.

[ Already, Siegfried is shivering a lot less, and his words aren't stuttered by the chattering of his teeth as much. Still, he shivers, sighing in relief when Rosetta wraps a blanket around his shoulders. His pants managed to evade getting soaked, thankfully. ]

... T-thank you.

[ How many times would he be expressing gratitude? It still wouldn't be enough.

He frowns at the sight of her own shivering. She may have a physical form that still regulates her temperature well, but she isn't impervious to the cruelty of the cold. ]

You're quite cold, too.

[ And as luck would have it, the blanket he has is thick, but it is the only one. Still, he doesn't hesitate. Not when it's something so practical and easily remedied. ]

Come here. We should share this.

[ When you can only get a man to cuddle with you out of necessity.

Not that she's thinking any such thing right now, too busy is she trying to fend off both exhaustion and cold. Siegfried lifts the blanket as an invitation and she takes it right away, scooting over until she'd pressed up against him, head falling to rest easily on one shoulder. ]

We make quite the pathetic pair right now, don't we?

[ Battered and bruised and huddling for warmth under a single blanket while the fire cracks and snaps in front of them. He might not be any warmer than her at the moment, but there's something very comforting about the easy physical contact they share right now. ]

[ Now that he's starting to warm up a bit more, the feeling of this closeness is beginning to make him feel nervous. It isn't unpleasant: his body still craves any and all warmth, of course. He simply isn't used to having anyone see him this level of vulnerable, and he certainly isn't used to sharing such close quarters with them.

Siegfried coughs, which melds into a small laugh. ]

I suppose in the end we still emerged victorious, at least. But we have a long way to go before we can operate as we did before. [ Apparently.

He lets silence hang between them for a long moment. Although he's beginning to warm up, Rosetta may likely feel that his muscles tense rather than relax. ]

You weren't pathetic, Rosetta. I'm impressed with your resilience, even when burdened with weaker magic skills.

[ She laughs again at that, but it's a hollow sound, empty like the forests she once called home. ]

That's kind of you to say, Siegfried.

[ Always kind, always generous with his time and attention. A model citizen and a hero; no wonder he'd always been so sought after aboard the Grandcypher. And yet here he is, doing his best to reassure her though she hardly deserves it. Even as the thought fuels another flare of guilt, it also fills her with a swell of warmth, small and sweet.

From this angle, his face is awfully close. If she tilts her head up at just the right angle, she can catch the slant of his cheekbones and the depth of his dark gaze, even past the stray strands of hair falling past his face. He's always been easy on the eyes, but the shadows cast by the fire, constantly in motion, sets his face in an almost ethereal light.

She's openly staring at him now, but it's fine, being embarrassed about it would require a sense of shame. ]

I hope you don't use that line on every girl you fight with.

[ Yeah, there's definitely not a single drop of shame in that tired smile. ]

I'm not doing you a kindness, I'm speaking the truth.

[ He's never been a flatterer, after all. He had no qualms about telling his companions their flaws or when they weren't living up to expectations. He's also his own worst critic, so he readily accepts that he is pathetic. He doesn't feel like even a shadow of his former self.

Who would have thought that he would have become so dependent on his natural abilities, and even miss the monstrous traits he had secretly wished he could make disappear?

Siegfried isn't lost in his thoughts for long. His gaze flickers to the side, back to her, and he's suddenly extremely aware of how close she is. Perhaps the only upside to his current condition was that there is no color to rise to his cheeks, but if his body had the warmth, it would most certainly be there.

Pallid as he is, there's no denying the way his eyes are slightly widened, and how his words are tinged with much less confidence than before.

Rosetta has always been beautiful. Even he, who didn't notice such things, could see that, even if he had little interest in giving value to appearances. She was otherworldly and enchanting in the way that all primals inherently are, but right now, he doesn't see her as such. Right now, she is just as fallible as she is, just as prone to bruises and exhaustion, but still more lovely than anyone who had just gone through what they had had any right to be.

He realizes, in one mortifying moment, that not only has he not answered her question, but that he's been staring for far too long. Quickly, he diverts his gaze. ]

Sorry.

[ He also was apparently so zoned out that he doesn't catch what she'd said. ]

[ That expression would be cuter tinged with red, but she'll take it as is.

As much fun as it is to tease him, they're both tired. For once, she misattributes interest for exhaustion, and pulls away slightly. They need rest, Siegfried especially, if they're both to recover fully and take stock of their circumstances tomorrow. ]

Sorry for what? It's not the first time I've been stared at.

[ Though it probably is the first time she's been stared at while looking like a half-drowned rat with tangles and snarls running through her hair. Instead of trying to fix her own hairdo, she reaches out one hand to push a few strands of hair out of his face. ]

You should lie down and get some rest. You must be tired after all that.

[ When you only have one bed but your characters are fucking stupid. ]

Ah, no, I wasn't—

[ Yes he was. He 100% was staring.

Even the slightest shift away from him causes his skin to feel a draft again, as if Rosetta herself is more of a blanket than the fabric draped over them.

He can't help but lean back towards the slender fingers pushing hair out of his view, his heart beating faster even if the warmth of blood rising to his skin is a muffled feeling.

Siegfried is quiet again, this time understanding her suggestion, but choosing not to answer it.

Perhaps the cold is messing with his rational thought, or the brush they had with near-death causes him not to dwell on impulses. Whatever the reason, he draws the blanket around them even tighter and lightly clasps her wrist. ]

This is... [ Weird. Unhinged. Inappropriate. ]

Extremely selfish of me.

But please, don't go.

[ Rosetta is not a woman who is easily surprised by most things - after several centuries most occurrences become, if not commonplace, then at least well-prepared for - but this sudden insistence causes her to go momentarily still. It's not an unreasonable request. With the way things are, they'll warm up faster together than separated. There's only the one bed, so unless one of them wants to sleep on the floor, they'll have to share the bed. Even so...

The seconds tick by as she assesses him, trying to decipher the precise meaning of his words.

She's keenly aware of the strength of his hand around her wrist and the proximity of his body next to hers. ]

Is that an invitation?

[ She's no stranger to sex, and hardly adverse to a fun romp in bed with a handsome stranger she's met over drinks. But this is Siegfried, a man whom she deeply respects and whose companionship she values deeply, and if holding onto that friendship means keeping an amicable distance from him, then that's a price she's willing to pay. ]

I'm not sure how much experience you have with women [ are u a virgin, buddy ] but typically you don't say such things and still expect to get a good night's sleep afterwards.

[ Just sayin'. ]

[ In his defense, Siegfried isn't really sure what he's asking for when he asks her to stay. He would have been happy to remain as they were, basking in each other's warmth like this even if he feels inadequate because he can't even offer an equal share of that.

But the way she responds leaves absolutely no room for ambiguity, which makes him stumble back to reality, and impressively, actually makes his cheeks color. Just a little. ]

That isn't quite what I was getting at...

[ Or is it? Does he even know what he wants? :pepehm:

What follows is possibly the most discomfort Siegfried has ever put himself in, and that includes the ordeal they'd just gone through. He lets go of her wrist and sighs, very very much unable to meet her eye. ]

But I wouldn't be opposed. I've found myself quite... drawn to you over these past few weeks.

[ was it a consequence of his transformation to whatever his fate would be? He doesn't think so. His attraction to Rosetta feels real, however unable he'd been to acknowledge it until now. ]

My apologies. You can go, if you'd like. I'm not sure what's come over me.

[ He wants to crawl into a hole now. ]

[ Oh, he can crawl into a hole, alright. Just not the one he's thinking of right now. Anyway I'm tired and we're moving on.

It should be a relief, to know that even Siegfried is not immune to her charms and that he does, on occasion, view her as a woman and not just as another one of his many crewmates. But instead she's more concerned with trying to unravel the confusion on his face. ]

It's not wrong to feel this way, Siegfried.

[ She says the words softly, one hand reaching out to take hold of his. Underneath her fingers, his palm is calloused and rough, a sign of the hard work he puts in each and every day. If she had to pick one thing to admire most about him, it wouldn't be his good looks or his easily drawn out blush, but the dedication he holds in his heart, true and unwavering. ]

It's fine to want things for yourself, to be selfish every now and then. [ Has this man ever been selfish a day in his life? ] I'll go if you truly want me to, but please don't dismiss your own wants and needs for the sake of someone else.

[ She may be an incorrigible flirt, but the freedom of choice has always been something she's valued highly. Of course, that doesn't mean she can't try and tip those scales to one particular side. ]

But I have heard that there are quite a few benefits to spending time in someone else's arms, such as better sleep and a reduction in pain.

[ Sometimes the way to a man's ~~dick~~ heart really is just through a list of mundane but practical facts. ]

[ Somehow, her patience and understanding just makes him feel more mortified. He feels as though he's regressed back to being a teenager, as if he'll need his hand held. It isn't that he doesn't have experience, it's just strange to think of acting on his attraction to her right now, of all times.

Rosetta holds his hand and he marvels at the feeling of her soft, slender fingers against his own, rough and calloused. It's a reminder of how different they are, and perhaps that is why it took until this moment for anything to come to fruition. Siegfried laughs, and though he sounds nervous and uncertain, it's the first joyful sound since they embarked on their mission. ]

I'm aware there's nothing wrong with it, it's just— sorry, I don't have much experience with these sorts of things. It's difficult for me to find the right words to express myself.

[ Did he mean sex? Romance? Surprisingly, he's more okay with the former, but perhaps unbeknownst to Rosetta, he finds himself drawn to her for more than simply physical attraction.

Her lighthearted nature does serve to calm him, at least this time, anyway. Spouting facts at him makes his grin widen, so much so that it looks as though he's trying not to laugh again. Now that she's made is fairly clear that she does want to be with him, and isn't just flirting to flirt, he can't help but relax.

He entwines her hand with his own and pulls her closer, drawing her into his lap with one sweeping motion. It's incredible how much strength an injured man still has when intimacy is on the line. It would seem that even Siegfried isn't immune to such things. ]

I don't need an excuse to want to be with you, Rosetta. Besides, you just told me that I wouldn't be getting much sleep. So, which is it? Better sleep, or no sleep?

[ Does she have to answer that?

His hands are strong against hers, and his lap solid as she sits atop him. Her exhaustion from before is already fading away, replaced by a familiar heat rising in her abdomen. It'd be easy enough to call forth another witty rejoinder, but there's something special about this moment that she doesn't want to cheapen, one where only the two of them exist, blind to the snow and wind that rage outside.

So instead, she kisses him, leaning forward to snugly fit her lips against his without preamble while her free hand tangles in his hair, pulling him closer. All things considered, it's not a particularly greedy kiss, but it is curious, her lips parting slightly as she tastes him. As much as her previous flirtations might have implied otherwise, she's more than happy to start off slow and enjoy their time together. ]

[ That kiss warms him up more than any blanket or fire could. He's sure that Rosetta can feel his heartbeat quickening with how close they've drawn together, the tenseness in his shoulders relaxing as he resolves to let instinct take over.

Perhaps it's better that he express himself this way, anyway. With actions rather than words. With a parting of his lips to deepen the kiss and a gentle squeeze of her hand, a silent I will stop overthinking it, I simply want to be with you.

Though their kiss begins relatively chaste, the weight of her on his lap, pliant and warm, makes his body tense in a different way. However long it may have been since he's had sex with anyone, his body is responsive to each curious flicker of her tongue and fingers entangled in his hair.

The spark of desire is there, evident by the way he never quite ends their kiss, simply shifts so that his mouth lavishes attention to her bottom lip, and then, along her jawline. ]

[ She might have done this a hundred times before, and enjoyed each one of those times, but there's something different about the way Siegfried touches her now, his calloused fingers sending shivers across her skin, even with the warmth of the fire roaring behind them.

As he moves lower, she tilts her head up to give him better access, eyelids fluttering closed at the brush of his lips against her skin. Her fingers, too, move downwards, past the pulse point on his neck and down his sternum, and across the broad expanse of his chest. Admiring the way his shirts fit so snugly around his torso is one thing, but feeling muscle jump and tense underneath her hands is something else entirely. It's exhilarating and desire-inducing, and she can't help but unconsiously grind against him, her hips rolling up as her hand finally comes to a rest at the waistband of his pants. ]

[ The bruises and cuts on his skin linger, and though her touch brushing over them make the abrasions raw and tender, it's a good feeling, a warm feeling that makes his nerves stand on end with anticipation. Rosetta's skin is soft beneath his kisses, and unlike his, completely free of imperfections.

Siegfried's breath hitches in his throat when he feels her hand come to a rest along his waistband, his mouth now rested along the curvature of her neck and lightly biting. He releases her hand and instead trails his hands down the sides of her waist, resting them on her hips as she rolls them against his lap.

The friction is enough to make his heightening arousal more and more evident, breathing growing shallower as his cock hardens and presses uncomfortably against the fabric. ]

I only regret that I'm in less than ideal shape right now. [ He murmurs, shifting so that he looks back up at Rosetta, giving her a small smile. ] I hope I don't disappoint you.

[ Ah, Siegfried, ever the gentleman, apologizing even now as his mouth trails fire across her skin and her skirt is hiked up past her hips. ]

I don't think you could disappoint me if you tried.

[ For a fact, she can't think of a single thing she dislikes about this whole setup. Certainly not the way her breath hitches every time his teeth press into her sensitive skin, or the way his hands rest atop her hips, holding her firm against him. If anything, the worst part of this whole affair is that there's far too much fabric separating the two of them, though even all her extra layers can't hide the mounting evidence of his desire. ]

But if you're really worried about it, you could always help me take this off.

[ Her hand slips away from him to tug at one sleeve of her dress. He has his shirt off already, so it's only fair she matches him in that regard. ]

I think I can do that much, at least.

[ Truthfully, he feels a lot more like himself now. It likely also helps that the sun is setting by now, filling him with a newfound energy akin to waking up, perhaps not after a restful sleep, but in this case, a small snooze.

But he's glad to see that Rosetta seems accepting of whatever state he's in.

He leans forward and blindly searches for the buttons along her spine, taking the opportunity to once again kiss her, this time more assured than before, teasing her tongue with his own as he undoes the clasps. He works quickly, and though his hands don't move with finesse, he's practiced enough (from having to deal with his own ornate court clothes) that it isn't too long before every button is undone and the dress is pulled down Rosetta's shoulders and down her arms. ]

[ Maybe there are perks to Siegfried being a vampire after all.

She leans into his kiss with equal ardor, matching every teasing motion of his tongue with her own and biting gently on his upper lip.

His hands are defter than she gives them credit for and it's not long before her dress is pooling at her waist, leaving her bare in front of him. (Thank the Astrals for all being secret neckbeards and ensuring that she'll never need to wear a bra in her life.) But it's still not fully off, so she leaves one last lingering kiss before pulling away to shimmy the offending garment up past her shoulders and onto the floor.

Which leaves her in nothing but a lacy pair of panties and matching thigh-high tights. Hot. ]

No complaints so far, I hope?

[ Either about her state of (un)dress or her appearance. Or anything, really. Speak now or forever hold your peace. ]

[ Almost immediately after Rosetta pulls away, Siegfried once again feels the draft of cold in the room despite the fire crackling away. His body craves to have Rosetta against him again, and he subconsciously leans forward when she draws back to remove her dress.

Of course, the sight he's treated to is more than enough to make up for the momentary absence. Siegfried is, by nature, a man who defaults to silence, but it isn't often that he's actually stunned into silence. He feels his face color as his gaze falls and lingers on the sight of her bare breasts, the curvature of her waist, the shapeliness of her hips and thighs—

Ah, but he has to find words. He's also now nearly painfully aware of how much his own body craves what he sees. ]

I fail to see how anyone could possibly have complaints.

[ He says softly, gazing up at her longingly while his fingertips trail along the tops of her thigh-highs. He tugs on the elastic, a silent urging of her to come closer again.

#blessed. ]

[ Some several hundred years have taught her better than to hinge the crux of her self-worth on what a man might think of her. Even so, it's impossible not to feel a rush of pleasure at his response, the silence a higher compliment than any verbal praise he could give.

Not that she dislikes the words that come out of his mouth; far from it, actually. She follows the invitation of his fingers easily, sliding close until her bare breasts are pressed up against his chest and only a whisper separates her lips from his. ]

Then, what about this?

[ Her hands settle on his shoulders, fingers pressing firm into his skin as she starts grinding against him a second time, clit rubbing up against his still-clothed cock. She can feel the dampness building up between her legs already, a growing want to feel him buried inside her rather than merely against her, but they've got all night to tire themselves out.

Why not have a little fun in the meantime? ]

[ This is far, far from what he imagined when he'd told Rosetta he wanted her company. But not only does he not have any complaints— he wonders why he could not have acted on his attraction sooner. Battered and bruised as he is, he wishes he could give himself to her in his full condition.

His exhaustion matters little when it comes to his desire, however, breath hitching in his throat as she straddles him and presses her body close to his. Rosetta's bare nipples brushing along his chest makes his muscles tense once more, blood coursing faster as he feels his mind give in to more instinct and hunger rather than reason. There's friction between them as she rubs herself against him now, and he can feel her growing warm and wet with need, making him instinctively roll his hips against hers to seek more of it.

He wants to touch her, all of her, but he supposes he should take his time, as she is, so he explores the expanse of her back first, calloused fingers massaging her shoulderblades and then trickling down her spine. All the while, he dips his head along the curve of her neck and kisses down her collarbone. ]

I think it's quite clear that I have no complaints about any of this, either. [ He sighs, hands now gripping her hips and pushing them against his groin, having lost all shame and wanting her to feel just how much his body wanted hers. ]

My only regret is that I'm not able to move as much as I'd like to.

[ He murmurs, though he finds a bit of amusement that these are the circumstances they've found themselves in.

He may not be able to move much, but his hands have no such impediment, and so, his fingers sink beneath he waistband of her panties, palms cupping and squeezing her bare rear with newfound confidence. ]

[ Siegfried might bemoan his current weakened state, but Rosetta doesn't have a single complaint about it - though his hands on her ass, squeezing and kneading and rubbing her further against him certainly chase away all thoughts that don't revolve around her mounting pleasure.

Her usual control seems to have unraveled, a feat Siegfried can pride himself on, and when she speaks again, her voice is husky, punctuated by gasps as his hands move back and forth. ]

Oh, I don't think that'll be a problem.

[ One hand slides down from his shoulder onto his chest before pushing him back with no small amount of insistence. She's a woman of many talents; there are plenty of ways to make this work. ]

Assuming you don't mind me taking the lead, of course.

( closed ) july catch-all

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oh right cw: smut

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