They swallowed faintly, giving Arquis a little smile. "It's alright. No harm done." he said in a quiet voice, rubbing their thumb over Arquis's knuckles. "I just…" he trailed off, shakign his head. They didn't even know what they were going to say.
The door opened, and Arquis startled, dropping Rin’s hand on accident. He was expecting Serenity, but someone else stepped into the room. His eyes immediately went to their blonde hair, and his heart dropped. But then he saw that they were wearing all pink, not black, and had little hearts painted on their mask.
“Hello, Lovey,” he said, offering her a smile.
She blushed and did an excited hop in place. “Oh, you remembered my name! How sweet!”
He watched as she bounced over to Rin. There was something in her hands, but Arquis couldn’t tell what it was until she passed it over. It was a big, heart-shaped box covered in red velvet and draped with faux pearls. There was a tag hanging off its pointed end that read a name in loopy, golden script: Honey. He’d put a tiny heart at the end.
“Why is your brother sending my partner chocolates?” he asked, clearly more amused than offended.
“He was all mopey this morning, and when I asked what was wrong, he said that he’d messed something up. Wouldn’t tell me what,” her tone was jokingly conspiratorial, “but I told him that he should make it right somehow. He decided to send a gift. I thought it was a good idea, but he got all antsy and wouldn't leave his room. So I brought it for him! It took me a bit to find you. I got here eventually, though!”
Honey had a lot of nerve to be sending gifts after what he’d tried, but Arquis had to admit that he admired him for making the gesture. He hid a smile behind his hand and glanced at Rin, then thanked Lovey.
“No problem! He also told me to tell you both that he’s still very available if you’re interested, but that part’s kinda gross for me to think about, so I’m gonna pretend I didn’t say it.”
Rin took the box slowly, blinking at it. A quiet laugh left his mouth, and they ran a hand through their hair. "Well. Thank you for bringing it, Lovey, it was good of you, and can you tell Honey thank you for me, as well?" they were not quite sure what else to say in response. "And as for the, ah, other thing, that probably is not going to happen." he cleared his throat a little bit. "Unless my husband would like to, but I doubt it."
Arquis couldn’t help but grin at how awkwardly Rin was acting. He reached out to consolingly pat them on the arm, though the gesture was clearly both comforting and teasing.
“Looks like you are in very high demand, my dear,” he laughed, stroking his hand down the sleeve of the robe.
Lovey made a clicking sound and shook her head. “Well, actually, he said both of you. Which is nasty! I’m done thinking about it.”
Arquis instantly reddened. He withdrew his hand and buried his head in the crook of his elbow. His whole body shook with silent laughter. Honey did indeed have nerves of steel, apparently. And a very intense appetite.
“Your husband,” Arquis gasped in between laughter, “also appreciates Honey’s thoughtfulness, but would like to decline.”
Rin started to laugh himself, at the way Arquis reddened and turned away. "Darling, lovely, it appears I am not the only one in demand." he replied, laughing and giving Lovey a conspiratorial smile. "And I suppose you now have the answer for your lovely brother." they figured the compliment wouldn't hurt; Honey had been quite attractive, even if Rin was not interested.
“I’ll let him know!” she chirped, spun on her heels, and bounced her way to the door.
Before she could exit, Arquis cleared his throat. “Ah, Lovey? Might I ask you to tell Honey that he no longer has to hide? I would not mind seeing him around. Strictly platonically.”
“Aw, of course! He’s been in low spirits for a while. I think something’s been bugging him.” For a second, her bright smile dissolved, and she looked worried. She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it and turned away. “Anyways! I’ll see you two later. Have fun!”
And then she was gone. Arquis looked over at Rin. His expression was unreadable, which perfectly reflected what he was feeling. Amusement and concern and affection were all overlapping in his mind.
“I cannot believe he sent you chocolates,” he said. His lips curved into a soft smile, showing his lack of jealousy. “I wonder if they are any good.”
Rin smiled, nodding in agreement with Rin's original statement about Honey being welcome to come over platonically. He laughed at Arquis's comment, looking down at the box of chocolates in their hands. "Yes, I cannot quite believe it either. Let's give them a try." he opened the box and popped one into their mouth, taking a moment to savor it.
Arquis watched them enjoy it with a curious look. Part of him expected them to be aphrodisiacs or something similar, but he knew Honey wouldn’t do that to them. He’d seemed very upset when accused of not requiring consent. That appeared to be a topic that he took seriously, meaning that there was no way that he’d lead Rin into anything without permission.
“How does it taste?” He shifted closer in his chair to get a better look at the chocolates. Some were darker than others, though most were that light, almost caramel milk chocolate shade. He was surprised to find that he recognized them. The Palace did not craft and sell chocolates as much as they did other types of candies, but these were undeniably from the kitchens that he was so familiar with. He decided not to mention it to Rin.
"They're really good." he replied, holding out the box to Arquis. "You can take some, if you like. We are, after all, married." their tone was light and easy and teasing, not at all serious about it. They, obviously, were not aware of the chocolates origins, though they likely would not really have cared.
Arquis hesitated, plastering on a smile to distract from his indecisiveness. “I do not believe this is a situation that most married couples run into.”
It wasn’t that the chocolates didn’t look good. Of course they looked good; the kitchen staff took pride in everything they made. He just wasn’t sure he could stomach anything from the Palace. Hadn’t they put so much effort into trying to escape it? The fact that it could follow him all the way out to the inn made him a bit nauseous. It felt like a bad omen, though he knew he was reading too far into everything. They were just chocolates.
Rin kept holding the box out, a soft laugh leaving his mouth at Arquis's comment. "No, you are correct in that. This is not something most married couples run into." they agreed, smiling gently at the nobleman. The chocolate had been delicious, really; sweet and soft and good.
Reluctantly, Arquis finally took a single chocolate. He nibbled the corner and immediately frowned. Of course the one that he got would be filled with nougat. Not that there was anything wrong with nougat, it just wasn’t one of his favorites. It felt as if the Palace was mocking him. He could run as far as he’d like, but it would still cause issues for him.
The door opened and closed again. This time, thank goodness, it was Serenity. She was balancing a tray of about five glasses against her hip. Most of the cups were filled with various types of juice, though two looked as if they had water in them.
“Here we are!” She set the tray down on the cabinet and pointed at a few of the cups. “I brought a few different kinds of juice, and the water has berries infused into it.”
“Thank you very much, Serenity,” Arquis said. He set the rest of the uneaten chocolate on a napkin and gratefully took one of the cups of water. It washed the remaining taste out of his mouth.
“You’re welcome! Now, let me get to work on that second coat.”
She went to Rin first, stooped, and began to apply the second layer, just like she’d said.
Rin set the chocolates aside and out of the way, so that Serenity could get to work. "Yes, thank you, Serenity." he echoed, running a hand through their hair again. They had not noticed Arquis's disdain for the chocolates, and enjoyed it quite a lot.
(I meant to say this a while ago lol but happy 1000+ messages!!)
Serenity finished both of their second coats, waited for them to dry, and then applied two layers of top coat each. After she was finished, she drained the tubs of water and left a towel on them to remind her to clean them. She took the other cup of water when Arquis offered it and drank it slowly. The small smile she gave him after was sweet.
“Alright, that’s all done! Now, originally you’d said manicures, and I know you decided to change that. I’m also going to assume—unless you tell me otherwise—that the massages are also off the table. At least for now.”
“That is probably for the best,” Arquis agreed, “unless my partner would like one. Do you want one, love?”
(lol yay!!)
Rin took a sip of the juice, shaking his head slightly. "No, thank you, Serenity." he replied, setting the glass of juice aside. "I do not need a massage." they gave her a quick smile, sitting up a little bit. They were careful not to accidentally rub their nails against anything, not wanting to mess up the polish.
“I’ll clear out of here, then, and give you two some privacy. Feel free to use the hot tub or just take some time to relax. There aren’t any other clients that need the room, so you can take as long as you’d like.”
Arquis smiled at her. “Thank you. You have been absolutely wonderful, Serenity.”
“It’s been my pleasure! Let me know if you two need anything else. I’ll be down the hall.”
Before she left, she popped two pairs of warm, fuzzy slippers from the cart and left them by the hot tub. She informed them that they didn’t need to return the robes or the slippers, then ducked outside. Arquis stood slowly and stretched. He put the empty water glass on the nearest surface, smoothed down his robe, and went to sit on the edge of the hot tub. The water, which was strewn with flowers, was bubbling.
He looked away from the water and up at Rin. His gaze was soft. Throughout most of the session, all he’d really wanted to do was hold them. But he was still too rattled to ask for it.
“What would you like to do, my dear?” he asked quietly.
Rin waved as Serenity left, getting up from the seat and moving to sit beside Arquis. "Mm, I think I would just like to sit with you for a bit." he said, wrapping an arm around Arquis and pressing a kiss to his cheek. "If that is something you would also enjoy?" they gave him a soft, gentle little smile.
“Please, yes,” Arquis whispered, immediately melting into his touch. He tucked his head under their chin and let out a sigh that was shakier than he’d anticipated. Apparently, the whole thing with the gloves had made him feel more vulnerable than he’d initially let on. He positioned himself so that both of his arms were around them.
The Palace couldn’t harm him, he thought, head clouding with a blissful fog, if he was with Rin. They felt like safety and warmth. He kissed the hollow of his throat, fighting back the urge to nip at that spot. There was a time and place for everything. His breath ghosted over it as he caressed their shoulder blade with his fingers.
Rin held onto Arquis gently, kissing the top of his head. He inhaled very quietly at the kissing and the touching, happy to just hold his partner. "How are you feeling, darling?" he asked very softly, their gaze and touch soft and gentle. "I know today has been a lot for you."
“Mm,” was all he could manage. He shook his head against their chest and kissed his throat again, then closed his eyes. His exhaustion from staying up all night had finally caught up to him. He yawned quietly. After a moment, he shifted again so that both of his legs were over theirs. That wasn’t very comfortable, so he moved again, this time sitting directly on their lap. He opened his eyes and squinted at them.
“You are not a bed,” he muttered, which had seemed like a very intelligent thing to say in his head. It’d sounded pretty strange out loud, he had to admit.
Rin squinted right back at him, a quiet laugh pulling from his mouth. "I am not, my darling, but I don't mind holding you." he replied, pulling Arquis closer and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "I care for you, and you seem tired."
“Do not make that face at me,” Arquis warned, but it wasn’t a genuine command. It was teasing and paired with a soft, sleepy smile. He reached up, placed his thumbs at the sides of Rin’s mouth, and moved them very gently until they were smiling as well. That made him laugh. His hands dropped into his lap.
“I am not tired,” he insisted after a little bit, as if he’d just heard him. “Not at all. I am very awake. Lucid. Articulate. Eloquent. And I would like it a whole lot if you did that again. Kissed me. Please.”
Rin let Arquis move their lips around, then kissed the side of his head. "You are not fully awake, dear, I think you are more tired than you are letting on." he said softly, holding Arquis close. "But that is just fine. I like holding you."
Arquis shook his head again and smothered another yawn with the back of his hand. He kissed the underside of their jaw twice before leaning away. With one of his fingers, he tapped their lips, then tapped his own.
“Please?” he murmured. “Unless you do not wish to. I understand that. I do. You do not have to. But if you want to, then please?”
He wasn’t sure why he was so desperate all of the sudden, but he didn’t like it. He felt extremely weak and vulnerable. He felt like begging. He felt like crying. He wanted them to kiss him, and he wanted him to refuse. His head hurt from all of the emotions swirling inside of it.
(heading to bed now, goodnight!)
Rin studied him carefully, unsure where all of these emotions were coming from, but complied with Arquis's request, pressing his mouth to his partner's. "There we are, darling." they said soothingly as they pulled away, gently stroking a hand through the nobleman's hair.
(okie dokie goodnight!)
Arquis let his head drop against their shoulder and crumpled inwards. The only thing keeping him grounded was the hand in his hair. He nodded frantically for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut, and waited. Clarity and calm came after about four long minutes of silence.
“Sorry. Sorry, love. I am so sorry. I did not mean to lose my composure like that. I am terribly sorry.” He swallowed and moved his head instead to the spot over their heart. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was soothing. “I just wanted- I think I just wanted to be good? For you? I have caused you trouble all day, and I just- I thought I could- I wanted to make you feel nice.”
He wasn’t making much sense. This sort of thing always happened when he was very tired. He could tolerate a certain amount of sleeplessness without a problem, but eventually he got emotional. On days like these, he’d drink himself to sleep, yet he couldn’t do that anymore. Not with Rin around. He wanted to be a better person for them. He didn’t want to crash or be pale and withdrawn and hungover.
Naturally, he’d said all of that aloud. He hadn’t meant to, but he couldn’t seem to stop talking once he’d started.
Rin listened quietly to the outpouring of words from Arquis's lips, still gently stroking his partner's hair. "Shh, it's alright." he said softly, kissing Arquis's forehead. "It's okay." he reached up with his other hand to rub Arquis's back, still trying to soothe him. "I've got you, darling. You don't have to be perfect for me, love. We all have bad days."
“I am not having a bad day,” Arquis protested weakly. In an act of desperation, he leaned up to kiss the sensitive point below one of their ears, then trailed his lips to his collarbone. The edge of their robe brushed against his cheek as he pressed his forehead to the bare skin of his chest.
“Just fine. I am just fine.” He closed his eyes. After a moment, the tension drained from his frame, and he went limp against them.
"Mm." He didn't comment on whether or not they believed that Arquis was not having a bad day, merely continued to hold him. When the nobleman went limp, Rin looked down at him, concerned by this move. He wanted to make sure his lover was alright, but they also knew Arquis seemed to need sleep right now more than anything. If Arquis had just suddenly fallen asleep, Rin was just going to let him sleep.
Arquis had in fact fallen asleep. Not quite mid sentence, but the effect was the same. He certainly hadn’t meant to drift off. Almost immediately, he woke up, an abrupt gasp escaping his mouth. It took him a second for his vision to settle and his pulse to steady itself. He detached himself from Rin and staggered to his feet, scrubbing at his eyes furiously.
“Goodness, I apologize. That was embarrassing,” he admitted in a small voice. At this point, he just felt defeated. But he wasn’t going to tell them that. He’d already ruined so much of the day; there was no reason to do more damage. He put on what he hoped was a charming smile. “You are very warm.”