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[ Luckily, Sylvain has become fluent in speaking Cale. ]

I'll let him know you liked it. I'm sure he'd be happy to make it again.

[ But his gaze is locked on those crumbs and that bit of icing after Cale has finished the pastry, especially when the redhead doesn't seem to immediately notice them. So instead, he catches Cale's chin to hold his head still and leans forward, his tongue darting out to flick the crumbs away and lap up the icing from his skin. Lingering in another series of kisses as he plays at cleaning him up. ]

Really sweet, indeed.

Keep it away from Ron. He'll try to add something like lemon to it and ruin the entire thing.

[ He still really hates sour things. Cale is convinced Ron feeds him lemonade and lemon teas just to spite him. Augh. To this day he hasn't figured out why Ron does that.

Now there is more to say. Rather, he had planned to take another bite. Sylvain beats him to that, deciding to lick and kiss first. Cale hums, returning the favor with small laps of his tongue against Sylvain's as he holds onto it for a bit longer this time.

Hopefully the children remain distracted. ]

Hmmm. Seems as though you like sweet things too.

[ he's gonna kick Hans' ass if he fails him, honestly.

But that's a worry for later. Right now, he's much more interested in distracting the redhead he's curled up against. ]

Mmm. Sweet. Spicy. I tend to be fond of them both.

That, honestly, explains so much.

[ About why Sylvain had become to attached. Cale doesn't mind. He finds himself oddly attached as well. For now he'll hum and continue to eat this sweet roll from Sylvain's hand. His tongue swipes over each finger and thumb, just to make sure that he gets every thing.

Then he tilts his head to the side. ]

Now you've kept your promise.

Sweetheart, if you think a single pastry is going to reassure them, you really haven’t been paying attention.

[ Sylvain chuckles even as he presses a kiss to the corner of Cale’s lips, tongue flicking out playfully against his skin. His eyes had darkened slightly from each of those teasing licks to his fingers.

What a tease. ]

But it’s a start.

I'm not sure what more they want. Rest, but not too much. Eat, but more than that. Between you and Raon, I'm not sure who feeds me more. Are you trying to fatten me up?

[ Actually? They probably are. Cale thinks that he is a good size? But maybe other people don't share that sentiment. Everyone seems to think that he's so unhealthy!

He tsks as Sylvain gives him another kiss. They're both teases.

Then, as though it were some kind of declaration, he fully lays back down. Chases Sylvain's lips for another kiss. Lazy, but with a touch more heat. He sees that look, sir. ]

You all can fuss less.

Maybe I am. Is it really so bad, to be fussed over by the people who care about you?

[ Cale lays back down in the bed and Sylvain follows him, cheek propped in one hand as he smiles down at the other redhead and kisses him lazily, leaning into him as his other hand comes up to cup against his cheek. Tangles fingers in his hair. ]

You’re always looking after everyone else around you. They want to return the favor.

[ Cale wants to point out that no one is duty-bound to stick around. Ron and Viscross might be in his service, but he's even Ron leave before. Even Sylvain could go and do what he wanted with whomever he wanted. All Cale had wanted for this man who gives him these lazy, sweet kisses that scream affection and fondness is Freedom of Choice. To be able to finally take his life in his hands and do with it what he hadn't been able to before.

So what is it that makes them all stay? What is it that makes Sylvain stay? ]

I'm perfectly fine as long as Vitality of the Heart never wavers. It's not as though any of them owe met for anything. Everything I did was ultimately for myself.

[ That doesn't really explain why he raised the cats and the dragon though. He fusses over them the most. Definitely acts like a parent and Cale knows it. ]

They've been returning the favor for years.

[ Sylvain just casts him a fondly exasperated look as he shakes his head, then wraps his arm around Cale's middle once more and tugs him closer, so he can tuck him across a broad chest and wrap around him more snugly. ]

For someone so smart, you can be astonishingly dumb.

[ Oh don't give him that look, Sylvain. He knows that look. There is nothing to be exasperated by here! Cale even begins to open his mouth to say as much when the man sees fit to manhandle him into a position of Sylvain's choosing. He makes a noise in the back of his throat. Sylvain gets away with that far too much, even if Cale is settling more comfortably against him. ]

I don't think you have any room to talk.

[ Mister "I never see any good traits in myself." ]

[ Admit it, Cale, you like it when he manhandles you.

But he just grins down at the redhead, leaning forward to trail playful, nipping kisses along his jaw, all affectionate teasing. ]

I have no idea what you could possibly mean.

Besides. None of them stay because of a debt owed. They stay because of you.

[ He'll admit nothing of the sort to Sylvain's face. Yet if the right person asks, Cale will likely not disagree. He'd say that it's a private matter and leave it at that. Of course, Sylvain is going to act the same way that Cale is, dodging that comment with a "I don't know what you're talking about" sort of air. All the while Sylvain knows damn well what Cale is talking about.

That's probably why there are little nipping kisses in an area that is meant to distract and make Cale more pliable.

Mostly, he hates the fact that it kind of works. His irritation ebbs, a hum accompanying those kisses. ]

Hong and On, I understand. Choi Han, I also get, to a degree. Raon Mir and some of the others? I don't know what it is about me that would make them want to stay.

[ Well... Cale knows that Raon Mir is attached to him. He just doesn't understand HOW that happened when he had given the brat freedom. ]

Because in your own way, you’ve saved them all, in one way or another. Offered them a hand when they needed it most. A light in the darkness, a doorway, when they were trapped.

[ Another light nip, this one just under Cale’s ear as he tucks an arm about the other redhead’s waist, his fingers playing along the lines of his ribs through his shirt. ]

That isn’t something you just walk away from.

The children are one thing... Most everyone else would have made out just fine without my meddling in their lives.

[ Okay, that might be true, but only to a degree. Cale won't acknowledge it, but the people around him are happier. Healthier, both physically and emotionally. They are in better places than where they would have been if things were still strictly following the novel. It's maybe the difference between surviving and thriving. Cale still doesn't think much of himself, after all. He's someone that, ultimately, gave them all those options because it would benefit him as well ( but he didn't have to and maybe that's the point ).

His breath catches at that last nip. Attacking the sensitive spots are we? Cale tsks even as his hands finally begin to wander. Mostly along Sylvain's neck, applying just a bit of pressure. Fingertips skating up into hair and then back down again to the neck then towards the shoulder. Just lazily repeating the motion, occasionally giving the back of the neck an affectionate squeeze. ]

Now if you tell me I was your light in the darkness, I might kick you out of bed.

[ All he did is offer a place for Sylvain to go. Nothing more. ]

Edited 2025-07-24 17:57 (UTC)

What, don’t you think it’d be poetic? Maybe I should start calling you my shining star.

[ He’s pretty sure Cale’s going to immediately hate that idea, which is why he’s grinning as he says it.

He doesn’t argue with Cale’s earlier statement - despite it being outright wrong - because he’s pretty sure the redhead won’t really get it anyway. Words aren’t what will convince him, Sylvain knows, so he lets the debate go for the time being.

Instead, he lets his own hands start to wander more, sliding along Cale’s body with a familiarity that spoke to all the time they’d taken to explore one another in the past. Not that Sylvain will pass up any excuse to do it all over again. He loves getting his hands - and his mouth - and the redhead’s skin and now is certainly no exception. Even as he preens and leans into those touches, soaking up the easy affection between them. ]

[ The hands and the way they move will always be achingly familiar. Sometimes Cale wonders how Ron might have threatened Sylvain the moment he sniffed the both of them out. It's not like Cale hides that fact - well, he does try his best to keep it from the kids. Sylvain's likely realized, by now, that Cale is actually an affectionate person. ]

That's right up there with Alver's name for me. I don't want to be reminded of him in my bed.

[ He's also realized that Sylvain hungers for that affection. So Cale doesn't deny him it. He strokes the area behind Sylvain's ears, teasing touches along the outer shell before placing an easy kiss on the man's brow.

...Cale is actually rather happy that Sylvain decided to stay. It would've felt too much like losing someone otherwise. ]

Don’t tell him that, he’ll be devastated.

[ Sylvain just grins at that, thinking of the Prince’s face. He was still trying to figure out if there was more to their dynamic than they showed. It was hard to tell sometimes. Especially when most of his views of the Prince were still through a magical scrying ball. And then it was mostly Cale and him sparkling annoyingly at each other.

Honestly, it was like watching Claude and Yuri in a room together, and even the idea of that was a little terrifying.

Also let’s not talk about Ron and his scary threats. Sylvain still has nightmares. ]

[ That's the same ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪smile ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪ that Cale is giving Sylvain right now. ]

If you're so concerned about Alver's feelings, I can always tell him you're an outstanding knight and would love to devote yourself to his service. ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪

[ He bites down on the curve of Cale’s throat in revenge for that. He should have known Cale would try and divert it like that. ]

Nah, you’d miss me too much. And I’ve more than had my fill of a lifetime of serving a prince. Alver is a perfectly good prince. Even if he does want to be in your bed.

[ It's... Not diverting. Cale isn't necessarily a jealous person. If Sylvain decided that Cale isn't enough for him, then he probably would be disappointed, but not someone that would hold the other man back from following his desires. Cale just. Augh. All right, he's maybe a touch possessive.

A little.

There's a small, strangled noise at the bite. Cale leans to expose more of his neck and he wonders, distantly, if this is really what Sylvain came here for outside of making sure that the "young master" has been fed. His own fingers are working at tugging out Sylvain's shirt, so that he can get a hand under there. ]

You're imagining things. There's only one person that wants in my bed and he's already in it.

And this is why I will keep telling you how dumb you are, despite being so smart.

[ A swipe of his tongue over the spot he’d just bitten, soothing the reddening skin, even while being a hint smug, knowing that will probably linger for a few days. Worth the glares it’ll earn him. ]

The number of people in this house alone who would love to be in your bed number more than my fingers. And no, I’m not counting the children.

[ He doesn’t resist when Cale tugs at his shirt, grinning about it, even as he slips his own hand under Cale’s nightshirt - much easier since he’s not even dressed right now. His fingers splay over the man’s stomach, thumb swiping at the waistline of his underwear.

I'd hope not. Even I'm not sure when that started. In fact, I don't know when they started letting you in at night.

[ He's so thankfull that he has a large bed. It's the only way to accommodate everyone at this point. And yet, Cale doesn't actually complain about it. He sleeps... Actually quite peacefully with the beings that matter most to him all around him. Cale's just not sure when he became that sort of person.

Sylvain's touch and tongue, however, cause him to shiver. Cale has no idea what time it actually is. It could be late morning. Could be early afternoon. If Cale has to do something today, he'd actually prefer it to be this. Hopefully Sylvain locked the door. ]

Anyway, regardless of what you think they want, I believe I've made my preference clear.

[ He says, gripping the crotch of Sylvain's pants like he owns the man. ]

Unless, of course, you think I should give them the opportunity?

[ OKAY WELL NOW HE'S JUST BEING A BRAT. ]

Brat.

[ Yes, he noticed and he’s calling you on it. And also yes, he totally locked the door, but it’s unlikely that would stop any of Cale’s ‘family’ for long if they really wanted in.

But he rocks into the grip of that hand with a smirk, rather pleased with the possessive gesture. Cale doesn’t show them often, but Sylvain’s always delighted when he does.

He leans forward to kiss him again, deeper this time, as he tangles their legs together. ]

I think you should tell me more about these preferences of yours, actually.

Somewhat. You enjoy it anyway.

[ Sylvain is one too, so the other man can't say anything. They likely wouldn't have reached this point if either one of them were anything less than who they are. So Cale will grind the palm of his hand against Sylvain as he rocks into it before pulling back. Sylvain is tangling their legs together so that just makes the angle a little difficult.

Besides, the kiss is enough to make up for the loss. Maybe. Rather, Cale can kiss back with his tongue moving against Sylvain's lips. That can be a possessive gesture as Cale's hand tangles in Sylvain's hair. Keeps the man there until he is ready to break the kiss, thanks. ]

All these years together and you mean you tell me you don't know?

[ His other hand, the one not in Sylvain's hair, is back to sliding up Sylvain's shirt. Two fingers pinching a sensitive nipple. ]

[ A hissed out laugh as he squirms away from that pinch, although Cale’s hand in his hair ensures he doesn’t actually go far. ]

Maybe I still like to hear about them. You could have discovered some new ones when I wasn’t looking.