middaeg | 001. CLOSED ♘ WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING

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001. CLOSED ♘ WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING

Who: Arthur Pendragon and Ozymandias
When: After the September full moons.
Where: Home and The Coven.
What: Bonding
Warnings: N/A.

𝐼. 𝓒𝓛𝓞𝓢𝓔𝓓 𝓕𝓞𝓡 𝓞𝓩𝓨𝓜𝓐𝓝𝓓𝓘𝓐𝓢 ⇢

fulgency

𝔹𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 ♘ 𝔹𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝔸𝕘𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕝

[ When finally the shared dream of Dorchacht releases him, Arthur wakes with a start, pulse pounding hard in his ears and what remains of his own skin drenched in sweat. Though he’s regained consciousness, his mind is still a captive in the claws of the nightmare he’s just awakened from and green eyes dart around his darkened surroundings frantically as he tries to get his bearings. Before he realizes where he actually is, his hands are already flying to his neck, feeling for the thick, oppressive collar that was typical for his kind in the Black City.

He finds it isn’t there, of course. Finally recognizing that he’s in his bedroom back in Aefenglom doesn’t bring him much relief though. His throat, wings, wrists and ankles are still pained under the phantom weight of chains and manacles that were, in reality, actually never there. The bruises and scratches from the captivity that once marred the human skin around his scales are nowhere to be seen.

Arthur’s hands go to his face then, covering his eyes. A dream. It was just a dream. Or so he wants to believe, but while the events that transpired in the nightmare did not happen to his body, he knows the likelihood of Dorchacht not really existing is slim indeed and the thought that their actions there might have had repercussions in the waking world makes him sick to his stomach. He’s unsure how long he‘s been asleep exactly, for outside the sun has not yet risen, but now that he’s more awake, a different fear cuts clean through the slowly dissipating fog in his mind:

Ozymandias.

It’s enough to push him away from the edge of madness that his status as an Unbonded dragon constantly has him veering towards these days and Arthur is quick to jump out of bed. The fact that Ozymandias is a Witch and so, safer when it comes to Dorchacht than Arthur would ever be, isn’t really adequate for quelling the irrational fear the King of Knights has for the pharaoh’s well-being. Perhaps if he were thinking straight, he might have questioned his own heightened concern for the King of Kings, but as it is... well, he’s only compelled by this unrelenting need to know that the other man is safe and sound, as if he’s ever known Ramesses to be otherwise when left to his own devices. ]

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[When Ozymandias awakens from the dream, it is far more subtle and calmer than Arthur, allowing him to reorient himself to his surroundings faster and with less initial confusion. Sitting up in his bed, he rests his elbows on the pillow that he moves into his lap and rubs away sleep and grogginess from his eyes and face. The embodiment of the sun though he may be, he's never been one to wake easily even from a bad dream. Lowering his hands back down, he sits for a moment in the silence of his room and let reality sink itself back in to all his senses.]

[Ozymandias is growing tired of these shared dreams, but this one was unequivocally among the most horrid even if by being a Witch, he was exempt from the worst it had it offer. He can't make much sense of the dream's purpose or significance -- his mind still a little too addled by sleep -- but turns it over a few times regardless. At some point, he faintly wonders how others in the house are processing it and if he should at least check on them before deciding that it seems most appropriate to allow them their privacy. Although for differing reasons, neither Berserker nor Arthur are likely to be particularly honest about how they are faring.]

[He heaves a sigh before setting aside the pillow and throwing aside his blankets. Ozymandias is better off thinking about this later; right now, he needs a glass of water from the kitchen. Climbing out of bed, he runs a hand through his hair to smooth it out before throwing on his robe and heading to his bedroom door.]

[He doesn't make it very far out of the room. Although to Ozymandias' credit, he doesn't yelp out in surprise, he jolts at finding someone already standing on the other side of his door. Harshly letting the breath he held in his surprise go, Ozymandias turns towards the door, resting his forehead on it a moment.]

Arthur... [Another, more tired sigh before he looks at the dragon in his doorway.] What are you doing?

[ Relief that’s as powerful as it was when he saw Ozymandias again finally in the dream washes over Arthur when he sees the Rider open the bedroom door just half a second before he reaches it himself. Arthur gets probably much closer than he needs to but he’s already putting his hands on Ozymandias’s shoulders and looking him over with worry etched into his features while the other man leans against the doorframe. ]

Ozymandias! Are you all right?

[ He disregards the older king’s question purely because he’s too occupied with checking on him. It’s only when he’s can’t visibly find any wounds or any real signs of stress that he calms finally and realizes he must have given the other Servant a bit of a fright. It’s still dark and he’s already a terror to behold in the light when expected, let alone when he’s not expected. ]

Er, ‘sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. How are you feeling?

[Arthur's reaction is a little puzzling at first and some of that confusion shows on Ozymandias' face for a moment, at least until it clicks. Arthur would likely have greater concerns after his experiences within the dream.]

It was a dream, Arthur. [Ozymandias lets go of the doorknob, putting his hand on Arthur's shoulder in return.] Regardless of how long or real it felt, nothing happened to either of us in the waking world.

[Not that much happened directly to Ozymandias within the dream either that would be much cause for concern. He never faced any repercussions for actions taken, didn't suffer any physical or magical attacks, and certainly was never enslaved. But it probably couldn't hurt for Arthur to have the reinforcement that nothing that he experienced really happened. Not physically, anyway. He's just as safe as he's ever been within these walls.]

[Giving Arthur's shoulder a light squeeze, Ozymandias lets go.]

You should go back to bed. It's still a few hours before dawn and I'm sure you could use the rest.

[ Arthur frowns a little, even as glad as he is to find Ozymandias just as steadfast as he always is. Shrugging off everything that happened as though there’s no possibility that it might actually be happening somewhere in this world doesn’t sit well with him. He shakes his head, tail thrashing behind him to show his unease, but he does withdraw his hands from the pharaoh’s shoulders. ]

I couldn’t sleep again even if I wanted to. It was not just a dream. You know that. None of them have been just dreams. They have significance.

[ Ah, but... now that he’s looking at the older man’s face and not checking him for any illness or wounds, he can see that it is the pharaoh who’s still sleepy probably. He inclines his head to the side and his brow furrows again. ]

...Why are you not in bed still?

[Ozymandias makes a quiet noise at Arthur's near-scolding about the importance of the dream. At this time of night, he doesn't really have the wherewithal to express the extent of his displeasure over it. (Because he's not saying anything Ozymandias doesn't already know. This simply isn't the time to be putting that much thought into it.) The noise will simply have to do.]

I'm a little parched. I was going to get some water before you jumped out of the shadows at me to fuss.

[Because that is exactly what happened. Do not challenge Pharaoh's narrative.]

[He rubs at an eye for a moment.]

You're welcome to come with me if you're really not going to try and get some more sleep. [He stops rubbing at his eye and folds his arms loosely.] But I will be going back to bed afterward. I'll be completely useless tomorrow in class if I don't get some more sleep.

[Since his recovery from his illness, Ozymandias has been throwing himself into learning magic nonstop. Not that he didn't take it seriously before, but he's been strict on himself about catching up. He's nearly there.]

[ Arthur doesn’t challenge the pharaoh’s narrative because even he knows he definitely came to fuss a little over the man. He’s not sorry for it, but he allows Ozymandias to express his annoyance with it. Arthur almost resigns himself to waiting until the Rider class Servant has quenched his thirst before talking any more to him, but as he watches Ozymandias sleepily rub his eye and talk about keeping up with his studies, something that once seemed incredibly bizarre coming from a king like him, Arthur finds himself accosted by his growing fondness for the older man. His feelings swell in his chest and the decision he’s been avoiding thinking about suddenly comes to the forefront of his mind. ]

After you, then.

[ He steps aside to let Ozymandias pass, but even as he does, his wing nearest the shorter man stretches out to drape gently across his shoulders. Fussing again, but he can’t help it. It’s what he wants to do and the dragon in him is nothing if not a slave to its desires, impulse as they might be. Arthur schools his features into a much more pleasant expression, his green eyes softening and lips smoothing into a calm, quiet smile. ]

Let us get you something to drink, sleepyhead.

[Once Arthur moves, Ozymandias finally steps out of his bedroom, leaving the door open behind him. There's another quiet, almost questioning noise out of him at the wing on his shoulder, his head turning to glance at it briefly. There's a few seconds of debate about what to do about it -- allow it or swat it away -- but when he looks at Arthur and sees that look in his eyes... There's no stopping this man's constant fussing. Ozymandias decides to let it be.]

[He does, however, frown a little with slight amusement at the very edges of his expression and puts a hand over Arthur's mouth, just for a second or two. Long enough to tell him,]

Be quiet.

[Do not accuse him of being a sleepyhead??]

[Ozymandias doesn't outpace Arthur at least. While he may be shorter, Ozymandias almost always has a tendency of a fairly fast, confident gait that leaves others trailing behind him. Which to him is simply the natural order of the world. This time, he allows his pace to be a little slower, walking a little closer to truly beside Arthur as they head down the hallway. He only pulls away out front once they get to the stairs, which are a little too narrow for the two of them. Then there's simply no negotiating that he will descend first.]

[ The touch of Ozymandias’s palm pressing against Arthur’s lips is notably warm— warmer than an average human’s would be, and Arthur realizes that it must be the effects of the fire magic the pharaoh has been practicing. He hadn’t really noticed it before, unacquainted with the normal temperature of Ozymandias’s skin, but now he’s very much aware of just how hot the other man’s body temperature runs.

At first, when Ozymandias didn’t reject his protective gesture, Arthur couldn’t help but be pleased by his small triumph over the older man’s pride. Just when he thinks he’s gotten a bit of an upper hand over the Rider, the pharaoh usually does something that never before entered the realm of possible ways he would behave with his once-enemy in Arthur’s mind and quickly makes him forget any further plans he might have had for good-natured teasing.

This time is no different. The hand covering his mouth catches Arthur off guard, but the heat from the other man’s skin appeals to the dragon and Arthur feels his lips tingle pleasantly at the contact. Ozymandias leans close and issues a firm little chastisement, but the subtle curving of his full lips at the corners where they meet doesn’t escape Arthur’s eyes. Seeing the older king being amused at Arthur’s teasing remark in spite of himself makes Arthur’s chest feel a little tight again and a smile melts against the hand covering his lips. Perhaps because they’re still on the tail-end of the full moon period when monstrous impulses are strongest (at least that’s what the King of Knights tells himself), Arthur has to force back a sudden urge to open his mouth and bite the warm flesh of the pharaoh’s palm.

He’s grateful when the pharaoh takes his hand away, leaving Arthur to his thoughts, even if they are just all about him anyway.

Once they reach the bottom level of the house, the dragon again comes close to the pharaoh, but he resists the urge to return his wing to his shoulder, simply following close beside him instead until they come to the kitchen. The house is large. Much too large for just the two of them, but Arthur hasn’t ever found it cavernous or lonely. Just the opposite, in fact, because though he accepted Ozymandias’s offer to be housemates, for a while, it’d been difficult and not only because he was so used to being by himself on his journey. It was hard to live with a constant reminder of a past that was painful and the source of much shame for him. He couldn’t be like Ozymandias and even now, he still can’t. The pharaoh might not blame him for Manaka desecrating his body in 1999, or at least not hold it against him while they’re here in this strange world, but Arthur still wants to do all that he can to deserve the pharaoh’s forgiveness. And his friendship. And maybe, just maybe, if he’s able to see to it that Ozymandias is never violated again, Arthur can forgive himself too. ]

...Bond with me. If you still will have me.

[As they enter the kitchen, Ozymandias continues further in without Arthur. He doesn't look back at Arthur, taking a direct path to the cabinet where the glasses are stored and opens it up. He pauses a moment, scanning his options. (Or more accurately, trying to find a more appropriate glass than the plethora better suited for alcohol consumption.) Making his selection, Ozymandias manages to get his hand on the glass when Arthur speaks again and pauses in removing it from its place on the shelf. He thinks for a moment that perhaps he's misheard and has to lean back out around the cabinet door blocking his view of Arthur to be sure. It seems unlikely that he misheard with no other possibilities and Arthur looking as sincere as he does.]

[Almost as if remembering what he was doing, Ozymandias picks up his glass and closes the cabinet, but then makes no further progress to getting his drink of water.]

...What's brought this on?

[Although he does not clarify as much, Ozymandias has not changed his mind. But the decision is an important one. He will not accept an answer with poor or unacceptable reasons behind them. If they are not true to Arthur, then he simply will not allow it.]

[ Arthur can tell he’s said something unexpected and he’s quiet for a moment, eyes dropping to the floor and brow furrowing, as he struggles with finding the right words to match his feelings. He himself hadn’t thought this far ahead. Of course Ozymandias would want to know where this is coming from so suddenly. Of course he’d want to understand that Arthur means this. ]

If you’re concerned with my sincerity, let me assert that I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.

[ He hesitates for only a moment before walking deeper into the kitchen and coming to stand before the pharaoh. The other king has always been shorter than him and this is especially so now with his dragon nature giving him that little growth spurt, but it’s never mattered with Ozymandias. Even if he’s crowding him just a bit right now, the King of Kings isn’t intimidated by his greater size in the least, for which Arthur is relieved. ]

I still don’t fully understand how you can just leave the past where it is. But I am grateful that you want to. I don’t deserve this friendship you’ve so freely offered me, Ozymandias.

[ Arthur stops suddenly and shakes his head, correcting himself. The pharaoh might have something disapproving to say about this liberty he’s taking, but he feels it’s only right. If this is his acceptance of the older king as his Bonded, then he should stop thinking of him as Heroic Spirit Ozymandias, as a god-king who was Ancient Egypt’s greatest ruler, but rather as simply a man who was born entirely human, with his own wants and pain and flaws, who took on heavy responsibilities when he was even younger than Arthur was when he pulled Caliburn from the stone. To truly see them as equals, even in spite of his guilt. ]

Ramesses. I was weak. And you and the others paid for it and so many innocents paid the price for my indecisive foolishness. And now, possibly even more will pay for it. You know all this, yet you still offer me this friendship. You still invite me to live with you. You still offer to share the deepest parts of your mind and heart with me.

[ Arthur’s tone is growing deeper, more impassioned. He must sound like a madman. Well, it’s too late to stop now. ]

I want to feel I’ve earned these precious things. I need to feel that I deserve them. Perhaps it isn’t something I have to prove to you anymore, but I have to prove it to myself. You are the only person here who knows me. And I... I don’t want to be alone anymore.

[ He reaches out to take the glass from Ozymandias’s hand. ]

I’ve always felt this way, but I never allowed myself to acknowledge these feelings. But that nightmare... It wouldn’t let me ignore these truths. It’s made me realize that I want to always have you close, even if we’re apart.

[ And then, because this is an awful lot of honesty for Arthur, he turns away from the pharaoh towards the sink and busies himself with filling the glass. ]

[Arthur says many things. He uses so many words. None of it is all that surprising or even necessary to hear, not when Arthur's guilt and his shame are so inextricably linked to his identity at this point. Even if Arthur does not always give voice to his discomfort with the past, it's always been plain to Ozymandias that his very presence acts as a reminder to Arthur of things Arthur wishes so desperately to forget. And yet, he cannot. He will never truly allow himself to set it aside the way Ozymandias has because of who he is and what he values, those things that Ozymandias has long-since come to both admire and be incredibly irritated with. None of it would have been acceptable as a reason to Ozymandias; this decision could not be wrapped up in his guilt, nor could it be an attempt at some form of reparations either.]

[But then he says that he doesn't want to be alone anymore, and Ozymandias feels himself go incredibly still as though he's felt a cold shock, and there is only a small amount of resistance in Ozymandias' grip on the glass as Arthur takes it from him, their fingers brushing against one another briefly. He says nothing, allowing the sound of water to fill both glass and air, and merely watches Arthur. As a man who was once surrounded by others who both loved and betrayed him deeply, it could be said that he was alone even before his self-imposed solitude. To hear him admit that he would wish it any other way, that he would take ownership of such selfish feelings...]

[Ozymandias has wanted this for Arthur for some time now, of course. He'd held hopes that with enough time and encouragement, Arthur might arrive at the conclusion that he is not merely the sum of his mistakes and that which led him to those mistakes are part of what also makes him worthy of whatever he might deny himself.]

[Ozymandias' gaze falls sideways from Arthur for a moment, towards one of the counters, as he weighs the sum of Arthur's explanation.]

[...]

[He looks at Arthur again, waiting a moment until he is facing him again.]

Very well. I will take you as my Bonded.

But I will hear no more talk of whether you deserve it or not. I will not tolerate my judgment being questioned like that in the future. [He holds his hand out. Maybe for his glass of water, maybe not.] Understood?

[ Arthur had been taught these lessons before. By a young girl he’d similarly pledged to protect at all costs. Having accepted them, he had been ready to be laid to rest in Avalon, but circumstances changed. Wandering from one dead world to another in search of that evil after Merlin sent him out, nothing but monsters in need of slaying and his thoughts to keep him company, he realizes he’s forgotten so much of what he’d learned back then. Ozymandias — Ramesses — being insufferable with his efforts to pull him out of his solitude and brooding, reminds Arthur of Ayaka in the most absurd of ways. Both warm, just like the sun.

He gives Ramesses the glass of water back, but doesn’t release his own grip right away. Facing the other man when he looks so pleased while still being firm in his insistence that Arthur not be so hard on himself, in that typical Ozymandias way, the King of Knights can only sigh and try not to look as embarrassed as he is. Selfish desires don’t come easily to him, admitting to them even less so. ]

If that is what you are asking of me, as part of this relationship, then I will ask something of you. All I want from you is a promise that if you are ever... unhappy or unsatisfied with me as your Bonded, you will look me in the eyes and tell me with your own words. That is all I expect from you.

[Under other circumstances, Ozymandias might have -- at his own expense -- light-heartedly pointed out that there is very little and infrequent masking of his opinions or feelings on matters of varying degrees of genuine importance. It would also not be out of place for him to point out that with the Bond, there would likely be some things that are not as easily kept from him. But it seems inappropriate at this moment to be so...inadvertantly dismissive by speaking of it. Arthur does not say as much explicitly, but Ozymandias can sense that Arthur does not possess a fear of the truth so much as the fear of a lie. Ozymandias feels the weight of that fear in Arthur's continued hold on the glass.]

[Some of the mirth leaves Ozymandias' expression as he considers Arthur quite seriously, not tugging the glass out of his hand. If anything, his own grip shifts just ever so slightly to allow for more contact between their fingers.]

Should you somehow fall beneath what I find to be acceptable and expect of anyone I would consider calling my Bonded, I shall remain honest with you. You have my word.

[ The tightness of Arthur’s fingers around the glass slowly relents at this promise. For a moment, they even tremble underneath Ramesses’s increased efforts to maintain skin contact and Arthur’s cheeks flush lightly. There’s some brief hesitation, but even he realizes now that maybe he’d misjudged why Ozymandias put his hand out. The knight-king reaches up with his free hand to take the glass out of the equation entirely and place it on the countertop. ]

I will hold you to that vow, Ramesses. And in turn, I give you my word that I will strive to think less often that I am undeserving of you. I promise you this, on my honor as a knight.

[ Arthur breaks eye contact once he’s uttered these words, but it’s not from a lack of sincerity. Rather, he’s embarrassed that they are now just blatantly holding hands in the kitchen, their fingers intwined between them. This is more intimacy than he’s had in many years— at least ten. ]

...Have your water, then go get dressed. We’re going to The Coven.

[Ozymandias shows some mercy, choosing not to point out the King of Knights' obvious embarrassment at such a small thing as holding hands and tease him for it. He would deserve it, of course. They've touched one another plenty of times before this in affectionate camaraderie as part of their continued agreement of remaining one another's ally in this strange world. But Ozymandias supposes that this is a bit different. That many things will be a bit different.]

[Without releasing Arthur's hand, he picks up his glass of water and takes a sip of it.]

[He wonders how exactly Arthur will cope with those changes, or if he will at all. Simply because in this moment he has decided to approach at all, to take that step closer, doesn't necessarily mean he will continue to do so. There's a greater likelihood that he will retreat. Especially given that Ozymandias is under no preconceived notion that anyone choosing to Bond with him will likely find the experience intense. Arthur is capable of weathering much, but Ozymandias would rather Arthur not merely tolerate being Bonded.]

I'll be back.

[He steps around Arthur to leave the kitchen, giving his hand a light squeeze to his hand before he's too far away to continue holding it and must let go. Ozymandias takes his glass of water with him up the stairs to get dressed as he considers that perhaps this will not be quite so different after all. He will have no more control over what Arthur chooses to do than he's ever had. All he can do is be present and be patient as he's always been, and remain confident that Arthur will continue to come around in his own time. Whatever adjustments need to be made will ultimately not change too much.]

[ Arthur isn’t so certain how he is going to handle being Bonded to someone like Ozymandias either, but he’s made his promise and they’re about to exchange vows in front of The Coven. Arthur being the reserved sort, he hasn’t been the most vocal about he feels about Ramesses or the process of Bonding at all. Well, soon, he’ll know exactly how he feels about it; how he’s hoping Ozymandias isn’t Bonding with him purely out of convenience, and how Arthur has developed affection for the pharaoh that even he doesn’t fully understand and has been trying to ignore, honestly. They’ve clearly developed a friendship, but it’s a different matter to say the older man is aware of how it’s progressed for Arthur.

And then, the way Ramesses squeezes his hand and his fingertips linger on his as he walks away, Arthur wonders if he not only knows, but also returns his complex affection. The knight watches him go until he’s left his sight, standing at the doorway of the kitchen. He waits until Ozymandias disappears into his room, lost in his thoughts for the moment, then hurries back upstairs himself to wash up and dress for the ceremony. ]

[By the time Ozymandias reaches his room, he reaches the conclusion that he is probably not going to have much if any further sleep for the night. Regardless of whether or not there is actually time for him to sleep for a little while longer, he can't imagine the newness of the Bond making sleep come easily to either one of them. As such, he decides he might as well engage in his usual morning routine. It seems only right, anyway, since this is to clearly be a more modest ceremony than most he's participated in. Simply because it is lacking in the usual flourish does not mean that he ought to lack in personal flourish.]

[And so, if Arthur were anticipating Ozymandias to shotgun his water and make a speedy return to downstairs, he's to be sorely mistaken. Ozymandias does not skip any steps in his morning routine from washing his face to applying creams, perfume, and makeup (even taking the extra time to apply shadow in addition to his usual liner to his eyes) and takes his time with finishing his water. He also does not rush himself in the process of selecting an outfit or his accessories.]

[He makes his appearance downstairs when he's damn well good and ready.]

Edited 2019-10-03 14:04 (UTC)

[ Indeed, Arthur is washed, groomed, and downstairs set to go long before Ozymandias is. He doesn’t mind waiting for the other man, as he does anticipate him wanting to come to the ceremony in his finest clothes, but he wasn’t really expecting the other primping. Arthur did take the time to observe the significance and formality of the event, however, even if he was the first ready. He’s dressed himself in a lighter palette this morning, opposite of his usual black, wearing a white tailcoat and charcoal gray, thinly striped slacks to match the lighter gray of his double-breasted waistcoat. He’s even carefully tied a cravat around his throat, opting for a gold paisley-patterned material in honor of his Bonded-to-be, and white gloves.

When finally Ramesses comes down, it’s clear that Arthur has taken notice of the extra thought he’s put into his appearance, his reaction rather obviously written all over the younger man’s features. His green eyes widen and his lips part in quiet awe as he watches the King of Kings descend the stairs. He says nothing at all about how long the other man took; he says absolutely nothing at all, in fact, until— ]

You’re beautiful.

[ Ah, awkward... Honest, but Arthur certainly could have blurred it out less suddenly. Oh well. He might as well start getting used to having the Rider know his mind even when it’s embarrassing. Soon, he’ll know without anything needing to be spoken aloud.

Arthur clears his throat and tries again. ]

Er, I mean... you look... very attractive... Lovely...

[ Nope, he’s terrible at this. All right, he should just stop now. ]

We should go. The sun will be up soon.

[Abrupt though his initial compliment may be, Ozymandias' pleasure at the compliment is apparent in his expression. He is pleased the praise itself, of course, but more than that he enjoys that Arthur's earnestness makes the thought of his appearance one too difficult to contain and left unspoken. As Arthur fumbles about, trying to recover from embarrassment only he feels and likely feels is justified to feel, Ozymandias' expression shifts into one of light amusement, eyebrows raising in patient expectation that at some point, he'll stop.]

[Ozymandias uses the time to make a slight adjustment to Arthur's cravat. Standing this close to him, Arthur will likely notice the hues of green and gold Ozymandias selected for his eyeshadow, and the scents of myrrh, cinnamon, and lily. Once Arthur manages to stop himself from trying to smooth over his embarrassment, Ozymandias seems satisfied with his adjustment and holds Arthur's face in his hands.]

Relax. You've nothing to be nervous or embarrassed for, Arthur. [He grins wickedly before letting go of Arthur's face, turning to leave.] Besides, when I have I ever admonished anyone for praising me as I ought to be?

[ Ozymandias's devilish smile combined with his closeness only makes Arthur feel more embarrassed, but thankfully, the younger man is pretty good and distracted from his embarrassment by everything else about his housemate. He probably shouldn't be so surprised that the pharaoh has opted to get hands-on with his assurances, but Arthur usually keeps most people at arm's length so to have someone just boldly bypass his personal boundaries and touch him like this does make him nervous.

Nervousness aside though, he doesn't exactly mind Ramesses's hands on his face. Or his closeness. He feels some disappointment when Ozymandias withdraws his hands, in fact. He can't stop staring at the other man, even as he begins to move away from him, and there's really only one thing Arthur wants to do then, even if he's afraid of letting himself be at the mercy of his impulses. Relax? Well. All right then. ]

[ Arthur decides to throw his reservations aside for the moment. Before Ozymandias can get too far away from him, the younger king reaches out to grab his wrist, pulling him back towards him so he can take a hold of both of his hands. ]

If you want me to wax poetic about your beauty, I'm afraid I will disappoint you. I'm not golden-tongued like you, Pharaoh.

[ Arthur raises those hands back to his face and presses his lips to the knuckles of one, closing his eyes and letting them linger there for a quiet moment. Then he does the same to the other before whispering against Ozymandias's skin. ]

This is the best I can do.

[When Arthur grabs Ozymandias' wrist, Ozymandias assumes at first that Arthur merely intends to keep him from getting too far ahead. It would not seem so stranger, after all, that he insist they walk together to the Coven in as close an approximation of equals as they've ever been. But Arthur pulls a little and Ozymandias has to take a step or two back to be directly in front of Arthur again.]

[And yet, even though Arthur has managed to catch him off-guard with the gesture, Ozymandias does not become embarrassed or find himself at a loss with the affection. He watches with curiosity as his fingers merely curl ever so slightly when Arthur's lips come into contact with his skin before there is something both pleased and almost gentle in his smile.]

To speak of it in such a way, you give yourself little credit, Arthur.

I would prefer that be your judgment of me than have you think I give myself undue credit.

[ He lifts his lips from Ozymandias’s knuckles then, but he doesn’t let go of his hand just yet. Instead, he begins to take one of the older man’s arms and hook it around his own. It seems the pharaoh’s suspicions about Arthur wanting to walk closely together were completely unfounded. He begins to lead them towards the door. ]

Or worse—

[ He looks down at Ozymandias now and gives him a sly little smile and a wink. ]

Fair amount of credit but constantly.

[Ozymandias narrows his eyes slightly at Arthur, but that his smile remains (even forming itself into a grin) tells that he isn't truly offended by Arthur's teasing. But there are appearances to maintain here, and he cannot allow Arthur to so brazenly insult him like that.]

Watch your mouth. [Ozymandias elbows Arthur in the side with enough force that while it doesn't particularly hurt, it also cannot be ignored.] Becoming my Bonded does not suddenly give you permission to speak to me in whatever way you please.

[...It kinda does actually. Or, at least, grants a lot more leeway than if that were not the case. But Ozymandias will not surrender such information to Arthur.]

I’m sure I haven’t the faintest idea what you are talking about.

[ Arthur chuckles quietly at the dig to his ribs as they leave the house. But whether it’s in apology or silent acknowledgement of the actual truth that has the knight-king squeezing Ozymandias’s hand with his where it’s wrapped around his arm, is hard to say. Certainly though, there’s undeniable affection in his eyes as he looks at the other man.

Outside, the air has the faint crispness of an early autumn morning, the last heat of summer beginning to fade, if only just. The moon is still out and the sky is still dark, but the black of night is receding, giving way to purple hues as the sun slowly creeps up on the horizon. For Arthur, the timing is perfect; he could think of no better moment to tether their souls to one another than this. Excalibur has an affinity with the moon, after all, and as its wielder, so too does he. There are only two times of the day where the sun and moon might visibly share the sky if the sun’s rays permit and this is one of them. ]

[Some would likely consider the affection between Ozymandias and Arthur strange given their history. It would perhaps seem more likely that they would share animosity before any sense of camaraderie. After all, Ozymandias' pride was difficult to match and no doubt Ozymandias' actions still strike the same chord with Arthur that resulted in his need to take action against him beyond the competition for the Grail. But in the end, neither Ozymandias nor Arthur could hold a grudge against the other. Ozymandias accepted his defeat in the moment and holds the battle as among the most glorious and Arthur does not place blame on Ozymandias for any painful reminders his presence might inspire.]

[And so, they are able to walk side-by-side like this with a look of affection in Arthur's eyes and Ozymandias' casual acceptance of touch.]

[Although the air around them is not particularly cold -- nights in Egypt certainly were far colder than this -- Ozymandias remains close and with his hand on Arthur's arm throughout their walk to the Coven. Perhaps more importantly, however, is that he remains quiet. It's a rare thing when he chooses to remain quiet, but with their decision reached, there seems no need for further words. At least for now.]

[Once they reach the top of the steps leading to the Coven, Ozymandias separates from Arthur to open the door.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001. CLOSED ♘ WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING

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