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[vrdantwind]

"Hey, this is Claude! Pretty sure I'm doing this correctly. You can leave me a message here, and I'll get to it as soon as I can. Talk to you soon~."

Comments

[nastyboy]

[Oh.]

[Dimitri, roughly, vaguely, understands that there are a variety of different kisses. That's just how things are. However, to actually experience it, the passion and hunger in Claude's lips as they press against his own and the heat from his breath...]

[Dimitri shudders, fingers squeezing around Claude's free hand, and he breaks the kiss briefly with his forehead pressed against Claude's.]

I... don't know how to reciprocate properly, this kind of kiss...

[vrdantwind]

You could just follow my lead. [Claude chuckles breathlessly.] Learn by example, that sort of thing...

[nastyboy]

Is that alright? [Dimitri is just as breathless, one hand brushing against Claude's waist.] I want this to be good for you...

[vrdantwind]

Oh? And you think your kissing me the way I want to kiss you has any chance of being bad for me? [Claude's eyes are dancing.] Dimitri, if I didn't want a kiss like that, I wouldn't be the one making it happen.

[nastyboy]

I just - I don't know how -

[But Dimitri supposes the only way to change that is to do it. So, swallowing his nervousness, Dimitri wraps his arm around Claude's waist and pulls him close.]

[Kissing Claude like this... feels as though he's going to swallow him whole. There's a heat bubbling in him, a heat fed by this kiss, and he can't help but chase it as his attempts at this new way of kissing slowly grow all the more ravenous.]

[vrdantwind]

[If Dimitri expects Claude to stop him, much less to complain, he's going to be disappointed. Claude instead makes a breathless, eager little sound against Dimitri's mouth as the kiss between them only grows more intense; even with his active encouragement, he'd never have believed his first time getting to kiss Dimitri would go quite so well or progress so fast as this. He should be flattered, but he's got nothing to spare for that; the warmth spreading from Dimitri's lips against his is quickly escalating to a heat that burns all conscious thought out of him. He could probably think if he tried, if he put real effort into it, but...nothing feels remotely as important as giving himself over completely to this, and enjoying every second of it.

When he does finally break the kiss, it's because he's overwhelmed enough that Dimitri's arms around him are practically needed for support, and Claude feels like he needs to get his bearings in some way. He blinks dazedly at Dimitri, skin flushed and lips parted.] For someone who doesn't know how...you're a fast learner.

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri is just as dazed as Claude, although he seems to be doing a much better job at keeping himself upright on his own two feet. He's slightly transfixed on the way Claude's lips are parted.]

Ah... You are a good teacher. I - apologize. This is a lot...

[vrdantwind]

What are you apologizing for? [Claude licks his lips, smiling at him.] That was incredible. I think if you weren't holding me up, I'd melt.

[nastyboy]

[If Claude is trying to break some world record with how red he's making Dimitri's face, well, he's definitely going to get that trophy.]

I am still only a novice at kissing. And - Nevermind.

[vrdantwind]

No, tell me what you were going to say. [Claude's eyes gleam with curiosity.] I have to know now that you started.

[nastyboy]

[Ugh. He really did sign himself up for this kind of embarrassment. Dimitri tilts his chin down slightly.]

I feel I might have been... leaning in the direction of going too far and too fast.

[vrdantwind]

And how is that? [There's a smile on Claude's lips; he looks the furthest thing from bothered by this idea.]

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri's face could melt marshmallows.]

It was - our first kiss - [Technically their third, but who's counting] - and I was starting to get... far too passionate, I think.

[vrdantwind]

Is it still too much if I want you to get that passionate with me...? [Claude leans a little closer, eyes roaming over Dimitri's face.]

[nastyboy]

[Oh, shoot.]

I... think so, yes. We have only so recently agreed to any of this, and... It is too much, isn't it?

[vrdantwind]

If it's something we both want, why is it too much? [Claude raises his eyebrows.] Who are you holding yourself back for, if not for me and not for yourself?

[nastyboy]

Is it not for us? [He's starting to look a little perturbed, now.] A relationship should be... It is important. Especially so early on...

[vrdantwind]

Is it? [Claude tilts his head.] What is it you're worried about, Dimitri?

[nastyboy]

I... [It's a struggle to explain, and his gaze flick downwards again.] I do not wish to ruin this... or - This sounds foolish.

[vrdantwind]

No it doesn't. How you feel can't sound foolish to me. [Claude takes Dimitri's hands in his.] This is important to me. Are you worried? Uncomfortable? Because I'd be happy to do anything with you, Dimitri - and I do mean anything - but I don't want you to feel pressured into doing any of it. I don't want you to feel like it's happening too fast, or that it's not special, or like you're doing something wrong.

[nastyboy]

I... I only know the one way to pursue romance. [The courtly version.] That way is what I have thought makes their lover feel cherished, special, loved, and that is what I have always wanted for all of you.

Rushing so quickly... I am uncertain. [He shakes his head, fingers tightening in Claude's grip just a little bit.] And if I am uncertain, I feel that the chance only grows greater that I will do something wrong, something hurtful.

[vrdantwind]

Oh, Dimitri. [Claude relaxes into a smile.] That's sweet...but you know that's not the only way to make people feel loved and cherished and special, right? Honestly, just the way you're looking at me right now makes me feel like that. It's not about having to follow some particular guidelines. A lot of the things you were taught...well, they were about formality, not feeling. Those things can go together, sure, but you don't need one to show the other at all.

I have a hard time picturing you hurting me, when you're so careful about that sort of thing now. [He lifts a hand to cup Dimitri's cheek.] But I can always tell you if you're going off-track, or if you're going too far too fast. Can't I? You holding yourself back isn't the only way to make sure nothing bad happens, you know.

[nastyboy]

Even so, with guidelines, I know that I won't ruin things...

[It had been something he had wondered, occasionally, in the wake of the Tragedy. If he didn't have guidelines, would he fall apart into the wretched monster he knew he was?]

[Sighing, he nuzzles against Claude's palm.]

But... Yes. You could...

[vrdantwind]

Not to completely terrify you, Dimitri, but...all the guidelines you've learned are Faerghus guidelines. [Claude looks amused.] Almyrans have different standards, you know. There isn't some guaranteed formula for success with me...or Grant, for that matter, since he's not from Faerghus, either. Or Felix, who kind of hates the formal Faerghan way of doing things...so really, you were always going to have to have individual approaches for all of us. There's no simple checklist of things to do and things to avoid. There's just...being with us, learning what we like and what we don't like, figuring out what we're okay with. And we have to do the same with you.

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri just makes what sounds faintly like a death rattle.]

I could not make things simple for myself, doing this for the first time with so many different people, could I?