He nodded slightly. "Yeah." he said in a soft tone. "Or, if it helps, think of it this way: if Arquis treated Rinlos that way, would you be upset on Rinlos's behalf? Would you think Arquis was being cruel or controlling, or would you think it was normal? Because if it's bad for Arquis to do to Rinlos, then it is also bad for anyone else to do to you." he gave Honey a small, soft little smile.
(honey is part of the rin protection squad)
A slight spark of anger flared to life in Honey's eyes, and he scrunched the pillow in his grip. Nobody should treat the bard like that. They were far too good a person to deserve any cruelty, much less the kind that the blond had suffered. Even the thought that someone might raise their voice at him for wearing what they desired was enough to make him seethe with rage.
"No one treats Rin poorly when I'm around," he growled, a protective note in his tone. "If Arquis did so much as threaten a single hair on their head, I'd make him regret it. No one hurts him. No one yells at them. He doesn't deserve it."
(yeah lol)
"Exactly." Ari said softly. "If it's a bad thing for someone to do to Rin, then it's bad for someone to do it to you too." he smiled a little bit, hoping that Honey understood the point that he was trying to make. "Does that…does that make sense, Honey?" he fidgeted for a moment, hoping he wasn't pushing the issue too much.
"Yeah. I know what you're trying to say. Doesn't mean I fully agree with it, but, y'know, that's 'cause it's not how I was raised. Been thinking the same way for so long that sometimes it feels like my brain's broken." Honey laughed, but it was humorless. The smile lines around his eyes disappeared as he exhaled and glanced aside. "Can't help it. But it's alright. It's not gonna change in a day. Maybe if I really can get outta all this, then I'll have a chance at fixing myself."
He didn't know if he fully believed that there was an out. Hypothetically, even if he quit The Cecilia Rouge, packed his bags and put Sugar into her carrying case, and convinced Lovey to move away with him, they'd still be in trouble. They'd only have enough money to last for so long. He could get a different job, one that was much less strenuous, but eventually his lack of skills and training would shine through. He'd be forced into lower-paying careers. A couple of slip-ups later and he'd be out of work again. Lovey couldn't do super difficult jobs. She wasn't cut out for it. He'd have to revert to his old ways, either stealing or, well, what he did at the inn, and everything would start over. At least, that's what his mind had convinced him would happen.
Ari nodded slightly, tucking his knees to his chest again and looking over at Honey. "Yeah. We can work on it together." he said, smiling a little bit as he looked at the young man near him. "You're going to be alright. And as for what you wear tomorrow…wear something that you feel comfortable in." he knew he had already said that multiple times, but he wanted to make sure Honey knew that Ari would never try to tell Honey what to wear.
Honey gave Ari a faint nod and the pillow a gentle pat. His nerves still remained, but he was beginning to feel that bubbly giddiness again. There was a whole closet of possibilities. Sweaters, fuzzy pants, and knee high socks with cute patterns; sleek, elegant dresses, long gloves, and heels; frilly skirts, scarves, and pretty coats; shirts with floral embroidery, fake flower hairpins, and sandals. He loved dressing up for himself, though he was rarely given the opportunity. Makeup was something he also liked to experiment with. The look he'd done earlier had been glamorous yet soft. He wished he'd gotten to enjoy it for longer.
"I've got some ideas!" he exclaimed by way of response. Then, still feeling a bit uneasy and shy about the whole thing, he added, "I don't know. Maybe they're silly? I know sometimes I can be kinda vain."
That was a word that he absolutely hated. It wasn't one that people used often because they usually liked it when he dressed up, but sometimes he got a client that just hated the whole parade. They wanted to get down to business, and if he made even the slightest fuss about them messing with his clothes or jewelry, they'd read him the riot act. He was snobby, self-absorbed, shallow. Those typically escalated into even worse insults, the kind he couldn't bring himself to think of. He hated that people had turned something as fun as fashion into a dangerous game.
Ari smiled at the response, then became a little saddened. "You aren't vain. It isn't vain to like to dress up and look nice." he reassured, smiling gently as he looked at the blond. "From what I've seen of you, you put together wonderful, beautiful outfits. And that is not vain, to enjoy doing that." he shifted in his seat a little bit, sad that so many people had said things to Honey to make him feel bad about enjoying anything.
"Oh. Thank you," Honey replied, his eyes wide and cheeks flooding with a pretty pink hue. He was a bit awestruck. Ari had been so kind to him all day, even when he was being distant and grumpy during their meal. To be talked to so sweetly and then be asked on a date with no ulterior motive was an almost magical experience.
He glanced over, tempted to make a nice comment about Ari's outfit in return, but paused when he saw the look on his face. That slight sadness was alarming. Honey didn't think that he'd done or said anything to cause it, but he could've been mistaken. Had he reminded Ari of a bad memory of some sort?
"Did I upset you?" he blurted, then tried again. "Sorry, you just look a little, uh, yeah. Upset."
He flashed a quick smile. "No. I'm not…it's fine. You didn't do anything wrong, Honey." he didn't want to make the blond feel guilty for what he had said. He really didn't want to do that to Honey, since he knew that the young man would feel guilty and ashamed for saying anything if Ari told him.
Honey seemed unsure, but he nodded. If Ari wanted to talk about whatever might be bothering him, then he could. The blond would certainly listen. He flashed him a quick smile before rolling into a sitting position. The bandages on his side were starting to irritate him, and he rubbed at them absentmindedly. It was unfortunate that it had to be a burn. Those took a while to heal, which meant he couldn't wear any sort of crop top or two-piece dress. Even once the scarring began to fade, he'd still probably have to cover it with concealer if he ever wanted to dress that way. Otherwise, he'd risk getting a lot of strange, pitying, or terrified stares.
His mind wandered over everything that had been said about the date, and he realized he still had a few questions. These were much more pleasant than the ones he'd asked earlier.
"Do people buy gifts for their dates?" he asked. He'd already been planning something small, but he remembered Lovey talking about a lady that had bought her an expensive necklace and wondered if he should do more. "Like, is that a custom? Tradition? The norm?
Back in the guest bedroom, Arquis stirred but didn't wake. He was unknowingly pulling more and more of the blankets over to his side of the bed. Without intervention, Rin would basically be left without a single sheet on them.
Ari shrugged faintly. "They sometimes do. Usually depends on how serious the relationship is and all that." he said, giving Honey another smile. "Small gifts are more normal. Just…y'know, inexpensive little things. Just tokens." courtship was where gifts were more common, but courtship was usually done with the intention of marriage.
Rin snuggled closer to Arquis, sound asleep. His dreams were not great, but hadn't yet taken a downward spiral.
Honey beamed. It wasn't that hard to get him excited. He was planning all sorts of small, secret gestures, little ways to make Ari happy. The Kevran wore joy well. Each laugh and smile he won from him was like a prize, something that he cherished. He wasn't sure if he knew it, but he had a way of lighting up like a star, and it was terribly endearing. Handsome as well. Then again, he always looked handsome.
"Tokens. Got it," he said mischeviously, the left corner of his mouth quirking upwards. "Allergic to any type of metal, stranger?"
Arquis turned over in his sleep and took the rest of the blankets with him. He'd made a sort of cocoon around himself, which unfortunately formed a barrier between him and his lover. It was all unintentional.
Ari smiled again, and shook his head. "No. And what about you? Any allergies I should know about?" he asked, leaning forward to look at Honey, a smile on his face and his eyes alight. He was already thinking. What could he get Honey? Nothing too strange…would the blond like something that wasn't clothing or jewelry? Perhaps something sweet? Or…something soft? A small stuffed plush? He wasn't sure. Maybe he could ask Rin and Arquis.
Rin curled into himself, shivering faintly from the chill. His dreams, too, started to take a downward spiral.
(omg aw wait ari and lovey should have a solo conversation at some point)
Honey thought for a second. "Nah, not really. There's a type of lipstick I'm allergic to, but it's real rare, so that shouldn't be a problem." He poked his lower lip and laughed. "Mouth swelled up like it'd been stung by bees. Lovey freaked out. She kept crying that my throat was gonna close, but nothing really happened. It was kinda funny, actually."
That was before Honey had met Ophia, and it was one of many reasons for why he didn't like most doctors. This man had been a doctor for a noble family for a while before stopping by the village. He'd been very stuck up, and when Honey had explained that lipstick had caused the itching and swelling, he'd had the gall to say that it served him right. Men shouldn't wear makeup, he said. If they did, it was in small amounts and around the eyes to enhance one's natural features. Nothing on the lips, nothing on the rest of the face.
Ophia was a much kinder, accepting soul. She'd fought in a war for a country somewhere next to Anvillea and Kevra, which explained her surprising inner strength. She was sweet like a marshmallow or a cream puff on the outside, but her core was firm as steel. He loved her for that.
In the guest room, Arquis was still asleep. He hadn't noticed his partner's shift, but he moved closer, as if he'd somehow sensed that there was a change. His breathing was steady and slow.
(ooh yeah definitely! like he's trying to figure out what to get Honey and she's trying to make sure he isn't going to hurt her brother and yess)
Ari nodded a little. "Got it." he replied, smiling over at Honey. "That's a bit scary, but as long as you pulled through it alright." he ran a hand through his hair, the soft curls bouncing faintly with the motion. He didn't mind when other people wore make-up. He himself didn't do it often, since whenever he had done so around his family they would get on his case about make-up being a "feminine" thing and if he was going to wear make-up anyways then why was he so insistent that he was not a woman? So that had led to some rather bad associations with make-up, but he still foudn it attractive on others.
Rin sucked in a breath, curling tighter into himself as if trying to protect himself.
(yeah!! also I have a lovey related side plot idea and it might be neat for ari to be the first one she talks about it with?)
Honey waved it off. "Yeah, I mean, I was kinda rattled 'cause Lovey was real upset, but once that blew over it was all okay. She's always like that." It was clear that he wasn't making fun of her in any way. In fact, he sounded very proud. "Stuff scares her, and she'll let herself be scared, but then she'll do what she needs to do. She's the coolest."
There were very few people he loved in the world as much as he loved his sister. She'd suffered through the ills of poverty just like he had, and she'd come out the other side of it with a heart of gold. Sometimes, in between shifts at The Cecilia Rouge, he'd catch her chasing Sugar up and down the halls or filling the bird feeders with seed. She adored animals like he did, if not more, and would draw a flock of them wherever she went. Stray cats would weave in between her ankles when she went to the market. Wild deer would eat out of her cupped palms when she visited the meadow or the nearby forest. Even wolves and foxes liked to come play with her, bouncing around as she sang them silly songs. It was like everything in nature recognized the purity of her spirit. That was why she'd been given her nickname. Everybody loved her, and she loved freely in return. To lose her love was a horrid thing indeed.
Arquis was still resting peacefully. It would take something drastic to wake him, a loud noise or a dramatic movement. He still wasn't dreaming, which meant that he was very deeply asleep.
(ooh alright!)
Ari hummed faintly. "Yeah. That makes sense." he said in a soft tone, leaning back towards the fire and letting the warmth wash over his skin. He felt just a little chilled, but he'd be fine. When he went to sleep, he could curl up in a blanket and it would be perfectly alright. No problems there.
Rin was shaking now, breath coming in frightened little gasps, muscles tense and trembling as he drew himself into a tiny, fearful little ball.
Honey noticed that Ari was starting to lean towards the fire. There were a few patches of glowing red ashes left, but it was otherwise almost out. He stood, stretched, made his way to a pale yellow log holder on the right side, and retrieved four pieces of wood. They crunched dryly as he slid them into the hearth. He also used a poker to nudge in some old, faded paper so that the fire would spread quickly. When he finally sat back down, he did so much closer to Ari. So close, in fact, that it was easy to lean and loosely wrap an arm about his shoulders.
"Bit cold there, stranger?" he teased, ruffling his hair good-naturedly. "C'mere. I'm nice and warm."
Arquis stirred once more. This time, however, his heavy eyelids opened. He squinted blearily into the darkness for a long moment, ready to go back to sleep, before hearing the gasps. His heart stuttered. He leaned off the bed and thrust his hand out in the darkness until it tugged the cord of the lamp.
"Rinlos?" he mumbled. There was anxiety in his tone. His lips parted in surprise when he saw them, and a sadness washed over his expression. He placed his hand on their shoulder and shook him gently. "Oh, love. Wake up, my heart. Can you hear me? Wake up, Rinlos. It is a nightmare. Nothing but a bad dream. You are safe."
Ari smiled, and did exactly that, moving closer to Honey and leaning his head on the blond's shoulder. "Mm, better." he replied, smiling a little bit. It was true; Honey was warm, and Ari was a bit chilled and tired, and this was perfect. He could snuggle with an attractive young man, and be warm.
Rin was crying, just a little, tears collecting in his eyelashes and running down his cheeks. When he did wake up, it was a touch violently, hands swinging out as if to defend himself, eyes wild and lost for a long, terrified moment. His gaze made its way to Arquis, and he stared at their partner for a second, face streaked with tears and gaze full of pain and memories.
Honey was ecstatic. Ari was leaning on him. They'd touched before, but each time felt like the first. He patted his arm, half teasing but half out of a genuine desire to make him feel cozy. The blond himself didn't need any extra warmth. He was blushing so hard that he felt like a heater.
"Mm. Tired, stranger? 'Cause you're treating my shoulder like a pillow." He smirked, though it wasn't super effective considering his flushed cheeks. "We could actually, y'know, crash for the night. Unless you'd prefer to stay here and drool on my shirt."
Arquis's first instinct was to catch their wrists so that he didn't get hit, but he refrained, knowing that it would only make them feel trapped. Instead, he moved out of their range until he was sure he would be alright. Then, he gave his lover a very soft, comforting smile to show that nothing was wrong. They were safe in the present. There were no threats there with them, only in his memory.
"There we are, love. Do you know where you are?" he asked in a hushed, patient way, still not touching them. He didn't want to overwhelm his lover, especially not when he wasn't certain that they weren't stuck in a flashback.
Ari smiled a little bit. "Mm, not that tired." he replied, though he yawned almost immediately after speaking, which rather defeated the very things he was saying. "And I am not drooling, either." that was true. He wasn't drooling. Just snuggling close to an attractive young man who had offered to let him do so.
Rin stared at him, chest hitching slightly as he took in shaky, gasping breaths. "I-I…" he nodded faintly. "I think so." he whispered, swallowing and pulling his arms close aorund himself.
Honey's dimples appeared as he grinned. That yawn was adorable. He resisted the urge to tease him about it, instead saying, "I was just poking fun, stranger. But not about the sleep thing. If you really wanna crash here on the carpet, why don't I grab a blanket?"
In the other room, Arquis nodded at his partner. He still hesitated to touch them. Unless he specifically requested it, he would hold back. "Alright, love. We are safe here. In the guest bed, remember?" They'd said he thought they knew, but the nobleman wanted to be sure. He let that soak in for a little bit before continuing.
"You had quite a nightmare. Try and breathe deeply for me, my dear. In and out. Everything is well. Ari and Honey are in the other room. Nobody can hurt you here. Just focus on your breathing."
Ari shook his head a little bit, then sighed. "Fine." he said. "Let's get some sleep, then. We'll be busy tomorrow." he moved away from the fire, sitting down on the carpet and letting out a soft, quiet breath. He was tired, and he did want to sleep. He didn't want to be tired during their date tomorrow, that was for sure.
Rin took a few deep breaths, a few hiccups escaping him. He was still crying a bit, tears collecting in his eyes and managing to spill down his cheeks. He did his best to focus on his breathing, their breath catching faintly. They kept their eyes on Arquis, though, sniffling softly.
As Honey stood and passed by Ari, he lightly combed a hand through his hair. It was just a brief touch, a tease of his fingers through his curls, yet he'd hoped it'd get his attention. He grinned to himself as he found the blanket Arquis and Rin had been using earlier. It was wide enough to cover both of them, but they'd have to be touching to fit. He tossed it onto the floor next to the other young man and followed shortly after, settling down beside him with a charming smirk. The pose he found himself in could only be described as intimate: he was on his side with one arm bent to prop up his head, the other resting casually against his abdomen. The orange glow of the fire outlined his figure. He looked roguishly handsome.
"Looks like we've gotta share. You good with that, stranger? Probably best to save body heat and all that." While he said that last part, he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. There was nothing serious about the motion. He was just joking, and the laughter that came after was proof of that.
In the other room, Arquis had assumed a similar yet much less flirtatious pose. His eyes remained locked with his lover's. He didn't want them to feel alone, not even for a second. Not when he was suffering.
"You are doing so well, my love. So well," he whispered, soothing them as best he could. "Everything is alright. Just keep thinking about your breathing. There is no hurry, nor any danger. Keep breathing in and out, just like that.”
Ari hummed, laughing tiredly. "Mm, I suppose we must share." he agreed, moving to snuggle up against Honey. "Now lemme alone, I would like to sleep." he actually didn't mind snuggling. He trusted Honey not to do anything inappropriate while he slept, and he was still a bit chilled, too. Therefore, this arrangement would work just fine.
Rin took another trembling breath, rubbing his hands over his eyes and looking up at Arquis. He hesitated for a moment, then pressed close to his lover, reaching out and holding onto him tightly. "'m sorry." he whispered, pressing his face to Arquis's shoulder.
Honey surprised himself with a giggly burst of laughter and hid his mouth behind his hand. Ari had just done a number of things he hadn't been expecting. The things he'd said and the immediate snuggling had startled him, but not in a bad way. He continued to laugh as he pulled the blanket to cover them, and it shook his entire chest.
"Sorry, sorry, I just—lemme alone, you say, and cover me like moss on a rock. Not very alone there, are you, stranger?" The things he was saying were slightly nonsensical. He, too, was getting kind of sleepy, and everything seemed funny. His smile was silly and sweet.
In the guest bed, Arquis let out a soft sigh. He hated to see his partner struggle. Not because they were a burden in any way, just because he knew that he was feeling so poorly.
"None of that, my heart. You have nothing to apologize for. Everything is alright. Just let me hold you." Arquis was more than happy to finally provide contact, embracing them and dropping a kiss on the top of his head. This close, they felt like two halves of a whole, two puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly. Every cliché metaphor from all of those love stories and poems he'd read suddenly made sense. This was his person. He loved them, and he dearly hoped he was bringing him some sort of comfort.
"If there is anything else you need, let me know. I will provide it gladly."
Ari let out a soft, sleepy hum. "Hush." he whispered, gently placing a finger over Honey's lips for a moment, then pulling it away and closing his eyes. He just wanted to sleep, now. His own tiredness had hit him like a ton of bricks, and he wanted to sleep.
Rin took in a slightly shaky breath, clinging to Arquis and trembling faintly as he tried to calm down, taking big, deep breaths. "'m just…I…" he sniffled softly, shaking their head for a moment.
The blond couldn't stop laughing for a long while, but eventually he managed to calm down. His eyelids inevitably began to drift shut. The living room was just so welcoming and the carpet so plush. There was still the aroma of cinnamon and sugar in the air from the muffins, as if a rather wonderful candle had been set out to burn. The scent paired with the crackling of the hearth to draw him nearer and nearer to sleep. It had been a long day for all of them. He'd had to go through several layers of stress and pain, and even the more positive experiences had left him tuckered out.
On the other side of the door, Arquis was still soothing his partner. "I know, love. I know. It is very hard. But you are doing wonderfully. Truly, my dear." He very gently stroked his hand up and down their back. "You are safe. I am here, my heart. If you need me to listen, then I will do exactly that. If not, then we can stay where we are. I am here for you, Rin. Everything is going to be alright.”
Ari fell to sleep rather quickly, curled up next to Honey and leeching off his body heat.
Rin was still trembling faintly, but snuggled closer to his partner, breath hitching again. "I just…I had a bad…I dreamed…I…" he stammered for a long moment before going quiet again, having a hard time bringing himself to say anything.
Honey was more than happy to let Ari leech off of his body heat. Just moments before he fully fell asleep as well, he thought of how odd it was that he was experiencing something so pure. There was nothing forced or cruel about this thing blossoming between them. He was worried for a fleeting second that he would wake up to find it had all been a dream, but then he was actually dreaming, and his concerns floated away.
Arquis made sure that his posture was soft and inviting. His arms were curled loosely around Rin, and their legs were entwined. He was still caressing their back and nuzzling into his hair.
"Rin, there is no pressure to speak," he hummed worriedly. "If you find the task daunting, then it can wait. Do whatever it is that you feel you need to do. I am here for you, my heart, no matter what.”