The Strangers in the Palace (Closed)(Fantasy)

(jsdhgkbj mood lol)

Rin stuck close to Arquis, laughing as the rain began to pour harder, plastering their hair to their forehead and running down their cheeks and throat, collecting on his skin. He gratefully took a warm towel from Lovey, smiling over at her. "Thank you, Lovey." he said, still smiling.

Ari was absolutely soaked by the time they arrived home, laughing nonetheless. His curls were drenched and hanging longer than normal, the weight of the water trying to straighten them out. That white shirt of his, drenched with rain, left little to the imagination as a result of his thorough dousing. He shook his head quickly, shaking off droplets of water that had collected on his head.

Lovey clucked her tongue. "Really, now, you wouldn't have to thank me if you weren't out and about in this weather! I know the storm came on fast, but still. You're all soaked through!"

Arquis took the towel from his lover's grasp and, with an adoring smile, began to dry their hair. As he was doing it, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to his mouth. He then moved lower, dragging his lips down, catching beads of rain on their throat. He laughed when he reached their collarbones and stepped away to continue with his task.

Honey blushed terribly when he saw the state of Ari's shirt. He hid his face in Sugar's fur, though that solution didn't last for long. The little dog barked happily and leaped over to Lovey. She continued to bark somewhat aggressively at the four men. Arquis paled slightly and stepped behind his partner.

"Woah, Sugar! What's gotten into you?" Honey scolded. The puppy growled. It was so high pitched that it basically wasn't threatening, but she was clearly guarding the young blonde woman. "Sorry, she's not usually, uh, like this. Sugar, c'mon, they're not a threat. They're not gonna hurt her."

"Oh, it's nothing. I guess she's just being protective." Lovey smiled quickly and tipped her chin at Ari. "Speaking of protective, I need to talk to you."

"Lovey," Honey groaned.

"No, no, I insist. If you're going to be taking my brother out on a date, then I've gotta do a little interrogation. It's my sisterly duty."

Rin inhaled softly at the drag of Arquis's lips against their throat, eyelids fluttering and he reached out to hold onto his lover. "You, my darling, are a troublemaker." he said, laughing softly and kissing Arquis's cheek, smiling up at the other man.

Ari took a towel, and began to work on mopping himself off, drying his hair and skin and trying to dry his shirt as well. "Ah, alright?" he said slowly, gaze flickering back and forth from Honey to Lovey, finally settling on Lovey. "Can the talk wait until after I have changed, though?"

Lovey tossed her head back as she laughed. It was both a pretty sight and sound. "Of course! I'm not gonna make you sit around in soggy clothes. Go get yourself all nice and dry, and then come to my room. Here, I'll write down the number for you."

She bounced over to the front desk, snatched a pen with a heart-shaped topper, wrote something down and hurried back. She slipped the paper into his palm. On it was, as she'd promised, her room number. Honey put his head in his hands. All of those years he'd spent protecting her, and now she felt like she had to return the favor. What questions was she even going to ask?

"Pretty's gonna take over here for me while we're talking. I'm gonna go ahead and put Sugar in my room, let her get comfy. See you in a bit!"

It seemed that boundless energy ran in the family. She carried the small puppy away, leaving the other four behind. Honey stammered something about changing as well—despite the fact that he wasn't wet—and left.

Arquis slipped his arm around Rin's waist and pulled them close. Their clothes were still drenched. They provided a nice yet odd texture as he moved in and kissed along his jawline.

"Mm, troublemaker? I like the sound of that."

He took the paper, glancing at it for a moment, then heading out to go to his room so he could change. His soaking wet clothing was sticking to his skin in ways that were rather uncomfortable, but it was alright. He was going to change soon. Once he reached his bedroom, he wasted no time in stripping out of his wet clothes, setting them on the edge of the bathtub to dry, and then got out fresh, clean clothes. He grabbed some comfortable pants, and a soft green sweater, which he pulled down over his chilled skin. He then headed into the bathroom, and dried his hair with a towel.

Rin laughed again, shivering faintly and curling closer to Arquis. It probably wasn't the best thing for them to be cold and wet, considering how recently they had been sick. "Mm, I am sure you do, but can we go and change now?"

Lovey waited for Ari in her bedroom, which was very well decorated. She took pride in having this cute little nook in the inn to call her own. Her curtains were salmon pink, translucent, and strung up with faux pearls. On her bed was a silky comforter stuffed with feathers as well as several cute pillows, and her nightstand held a variety of vintage makeup products. The lamp in the corner was tall with a magnificent shade; it cast heart-shaped patterns all over her walls and tidy wardrobe. Her shoe rack was simple and organized.

She put Sugar in a cream-colored dog carrier before settling on her mattress. A nervous energy ran throughout her. If Ari was truly a good person, then perhaps she could ask him for some advice. She had a secret that she'd been keeping for a while, and she was excited to share it.

In the lobby, Arquis nodded and scooped up his lover. Carrying them bridal style didn't work very well last time, and it didn't work this time, either. He laughed softly as he staggered with him down the hall. He didn't even make it to the bedroom before he had to set him down. Sadly, they would have to walk the rest of the way. So much for chivalry. He guided them to the suite and began to undress once the door was closed.

Ari finished drying off and changing, and put on a fresh pair of shoes, then headed to Lovey's quarters. It didn't take him long to make his way through the halls, knocking on the door of her room and waiting to be let in. He didn't want to just barge in on her, even if he knew it was highly unlikely she would be changing or doing anything that she would be embarrassed about if he were to see.

Rin laughed when Arquis had to set them down, walking beside their lover back to their room. Once there, he begna to take off his clothes, grabbing soft, warm, and comfortable clothing to wear instead.

Lovey opened the door almost immediately and stepped aside to let him in. She'd lit a candle while waiting. The air smelled of rich, velvety cocoa. She hoped that was alright. Some people had allergies to scents and candles, and, well, she just wanted this conversation to go well.

"Hello!" she chirped as she bounced back to her bed. Her slippers were fluffy and lavender. They matched her long, pretty purple nightgown. Her blonde curls were loose over shoulders. "You already know this, but, um, I'm Honey's sister! You can call me Lovey. I like animals, sweets, and I have too many favorite colors to count!"

Now that her basic introduction was out of the way, she could get onto what really mattered. She adjusted her skirt nervously and offered him a sweet yet curious glance.

"So. My brother's been through a lot. And, um, I really, really don't want him to have to go through any of that again. I need to know what your intentions are. If you want anything sexual, then you're going to have to cancel the date. He'd probably lie to you and say that he's ready for it, but he's not."

In the other suite, Arquis accidentally caught a glimpse of his partner while they were changing. He yelped and shoved his face in the crook of his arm. He'd dressed relatively quickly and had wanted to ask after their plans for the day. What he’d glimpsed instead was unexpected.

"Sorry! That was unintentional!"

Ari listened to her words quietly, and shook his head. "No. I don't want…sex is not something that I want from him." he replied with a quick, soft smile. "Sex is something I don't want unless or until there's an emotional connection between us, and he and I don't have a deep enough connection yet for me to want sex." he hoped this made sense to her. "And, even if I did, I am an adult and perfectly capable of waiting until he is truly ready for that."

Rin laughed softly. "Darling, you have seen me naked more than once already, I really don't mind." they replied, finishing getting dressed and coming over to him.

Lovey bit her lip and tucked her legs up under herself. She wanted to believe him, and it was in her nature to trust in people. Over the years, however, she'd been taught the danger of easily accepting answers. Her trust had to be earned.

"I know this is all probably kinda odd to you," she started, clasping her hands together in her lap. "I mean, like you said, the two of you aren't that close. You haven't known each other for long, and here I am, interrogating you like you're gonna get married or something. Thanks for being patient. And also thanks for your answer. If he's gonna be going on dates with anyone, it needs to be someone that respects his needs."

Arquis flushed and groaned. He drew them into a hug to rest his cheek on their hair. "That was different!"

Ari shrugged slightly. "It's alright." he replied, giving her a quick, soft little smile. "I don't mind, ah, answering questions, if that's what you need from me to trust me. It's normal to be a bit protective over your siblings." he was, a bit, though his siblings were very self-sufficient and didn't need his help or protection.

Rin laugehd again, wrapping their arms around him and holding onto him. "Maybe so, but your embarrassment is still amsuing, my darling."

The young lady smiled at him in return. He seemed like a sweetheart. Looks could be deceiving, but her instinct was telling her that he was genuinely kind.

"Can I ask you a little more about what your plans for the date are, then? If you have any, that is. I know sometimes they're kinda spontaneous."

She was going to add more to the question, possibly asking about dining plans, but was interrupted by a bark. Sugar was clawing angrily at the walls of her crate. Lovey stood and went to get her puppy. The dog growled at Ari as her owner brought her back to the bed.

"Sugar, not again! He's not gonna hurt me," the blonde soothed. She suddenly looked nervous, yet it wasn't the bad sort of anxiety. There was a touch of excitement to it. She smiled awkwardly at Ari as Sugar wiggled and snarled. "Sorry about her.”

In their own room, Arquis made a noise of protest and, grinning, kissed messily along Rin's jaw. "Amusing! Certainly not, my love." He playfully tickled his side before teasing a finger across his lower lip. "We were interrupted earlier, were we not? What a shame."

Ari cautiously reached out a hand to let Sugar sniff him; maybe that would help? "Honey had a restaurant in mind to go to, and we might get ice cream, too. Beyond that, though, I'm not sure." he thought for a moment. "Ah…I did want to get him a small gift, though, and I was wondering what sort of thing he might like? Because I do not…I don't want to get him something that will make him spiral in some way."

Rin laughed at the tickling, squirming just a little bit. "It certainly is!" he retorted, smiling at his lover. "And yes, it is quite a shame. We had to cut ourselves off so quickly."

Sugar very much did not appreciate being offered the hand to sniff. She eyed it suspiciously and eventually barked at him again, though she didn't bite. There was the distinct impression, however, that she might if she got the chance. Or if Ari got too close her owner.

"Sugar, stop it!" Lovey looked apologetically at him once again. "Sorry, she's just been so overprotective since I- um, well. I think, uh, that ice cream is a wonderful idea, and it's sweet of you to want to get him a gift. He'd probably love anything, if I'm being honest. We didn't have a lot of money growing up. He's not super materialistic or anything. You might not wanna get him something expensive. He'd probably feel indebted to you if you did. Flowers are also kinda questionable. They'd likely be fine, but, um, I imagine he used to get a lot from his clients, since we sell them here. Champagne and chocolates are also probably bad for that reason. If you wanted to get him something art related, that might be cute? He likes drawing and stuff. Oh, and things that make music! Wind chimes and music boxes. He used to be fascinated by those when we were kids, and sometimes I still catch him looking at them when we go into town."

Lovey stopped and wrapped her arms about herself. She felt a bit unwell. The longer she'd talked, the worse it'd become. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

In their suite, Arquis beamed. His lover seemed to be in a better way than the previous night. He loved seeing them smile and laugh like that; it warmed his heart.

"So quickly, indeed," he repeated, his smile curling into a soft smirk. "That really is too bad."

Ari pulled his hand back again, clearing his throat faintly. "It's alright. And I'll keep that in mind. Figure something out." he replied, giving Lovey another quick smile. "And, ah, are you alright?" her behavior seemed a little bit off, but then again, he didn't know her taht well. Maybe it was normal?

Rin stayed snuggled close to Arquis, looking up at him happily. "It certainly is." he hooked a finger in Arquis's collar. "I suppose we must resume it now." he leaned closer, eying Arquis's lips, a smirk pulling at his own mouth.

The feeling intensified and then gradually subsided by the time he finished speaking. Lovey smiled to herself, petted Sugar's soft fur, and then looked to Ari. She had the eager disposition of someone about to disclose a rather big secret.

"It's morning sickness," she murmured, then grinned like she couldn't quite believe what she'd said. Sugar wiggled and licked the blonde's forearm as she slid her legs out from under herself. She put her purple slippers back on—they'd fallen off at some point—but didn't stand. Instead, she hugged her puppy closer to her chest.

"Honey doesn't know. I've actually been wanting an outside opinion about that. I just found out about a week or two ago. I'd been having these awful migraines, worse than usual, and started getting kinda sick early in the day, so, um, I went to a healer in town. Sugar had started to get all protective, too, so I wasn't surprised when the healer gave me the results." She laughed brightly and brought her right hand to her stomach. "I know I'm a little young, but I'm honestly so excited. I just don't know how to tell Honey yet.”

In their bedroom, Arquis moved closer to Rin. The way they were looking at him was enticing. A shudder ran through him, but he didn't give in. Not yet.

"I suppose we could," he said nonchalantly.

(awwwwww)

Ari blinked, a bit surprised but already supportive. "I'm going to guess you plan on keeping it, then?" he asked, smiling a little. "And, ah, that's…I'm really happy for you, Lovey." he smiled. "Is the…other parent in the picture?" he was careful to keep the wording void of gender; after all, if Ari himself did have any kids, he would be the father, and yet would also be the one carrying the child. So he did not want to assume there was a father involved. "No judgement from me either way." he knew that sometimes single parents got ripped into and he didn't want Lovey to think he was going to shame her if there wasn't a second parent.

Rin smirked again, bending to press their mouth to Arquis's jaw, dragging their lips along his skin and down his throat. "You suppose?" he murmured against his lover's skin.

(I know!! it's v cute :) )

Lovey nodded emphatically. "Oh, yes, I am! Keeping it, I mean. It's all been such a wonderful surprise, and honestly, I'm just so happy." She was positively radiant. Her cheeks were rosy, and her smile was sweet. "The other mother is in the picture. I'm not sure if you've met her or not. Her name is Pretty. She also works here. We had a lovely night together a while back, and, well, she's already been so supportive. We're together now!"

The thing that had blossomed between her and the other young woman had been rather sudden. Neither had expected it, but it was soft and genuine. They'd kept it mostly physical for a while, just indulging in one another's presence. After the news, however, Pretty had anxiously confessed her feelings, and Lovey had admitted to hers as well. It was still a secret to all but them and now Ari.

"I think I'm going to try and quit this job soon. This isn't really the right place to raise a kid. I'd like to move to the village, maybe. And I've been wanting to ask Honey if he wants to move as well, especially since I found out that people have been hurting him. I think he likes it there." She paused and gave Sugar, who'd quieted down, a gentle pat on the head. "He'll be such a good uncle, I just know it. Though he might spoil the poor dear. They can't have ice cream for every meal."

In the other bedroom, Arquis groaned faintly. They were going to kill him, at this rate. He'd gladly accept such a death. He couldn't keep up their little game for much longer.

"I do," he exhaled in response, closing his eyes. He had to wrap his arm around their waist for support.

(she's going to be such a good mom, awww. also i knew it would be Pretty, i love that)

"I don't believe I've met her, no." Ari replied, smiling as he listened to her plans. "And, ah, I think Honey would love that. A move, I mean. Staying here…I mean, I don't know him too well, but I'm inclined to believe that staying here would be detrimental for him. And from what I know of him, he will absolutely spoil your child rotten." this was all so sweet and adorable. Lovey seemed so happy, and the fact that she and Pretty were together made it even better. He hoped that they could move away, into the village, and that Honey would go with them.

Rin hummed softly, not moving from their spot, lips still planted to Arquis's skin. "Am I to understand you do not genuinely wish to continue?" he pulled back a little bit, looking at his lover. "Should I go and take a nap, then, and leave you alone for a while?" he was not going to take a nap; he just wanted to tease their partner.

(hey omg wait we've got like three good parents total then, including ophia and pretty! wow look at us go lol but also yeah they're v cute together)

Lovey tucked her hair out of her face so that she could see him a bit better. It was far too early for her to have an actual pregnancy glow, yet she seemed almost as if she was lit from the inside. She hummed cheerfully and unknowingly touched her stomach again, as if by instinct.

"I think you're right. About moving, but also about the spoiling thing. I mean, he already spoils Sugar. I can't imagine what he'll do for a child!" The thought made her so happy that she actually teared up a little. She could easily picture Honey cooking pancakes for her toddler or playing fetch with them and Sugar. Her brother had suffered so much. He deserved to make some good memories. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her nightgown and laughed.

"I'm alright. It'll just be so nice. I can imagine him walking them to school with me and babysitting, and it's just so sweet, you know?" She looked down at her flat stomach. "Whoever this little one turns out to be, they'll be so loved."

In the guest suite, Arquis blinked, distressed by the lack of touch. Everything had been going so well. He missed the press of their lips on his skin.

"No! I mean yes! Or no! Whichever one means kiss me, my love, then that is the one I meant."

(:D yeah!)

He smiled happily. "Yeah. There's no way Honey will do anything but spoil this kid rotten." he replied. He could see it, in his mind. Could see Honey being an absolutely wonderful uncle, who would most certainly spoil his sister's child absolutely rotten. "He seems like the type to do so."

Rin snickered at that, leaning forward again to tug Arquis close, leaning in and very lightly brushing his lips against Arquis's. "What, like this?" he questioned, mouth barely touching his partner's. "Is this what you wanted, my darling?" their mouth curved in a very faint smirk.

Lovey giggled at what he'd said, imagining it herself a moment more, and then stood. Sugar yipped. The blonde dried her eyes another time. She really was such a sap. It was the hormones, she told herself, though she'd always been the sort to cry over happy endings. She couldn't help it.

"You know, I was pretty worried about you, but I think you're actually very nice." She sniffled and smiled bashfully. "Sorry. So emotional today! But yeah, really, you seem like a good guy. I give you full permission to take my brother out on a date. Be careful with him and make sure to have a good time, okay? Oh, and please don't tell him about the baby. I wanna tell him when you two get back."

"Rin, love," Arquis breathed shakily. Every single one of his nerves felt alive and responsive. He'd beg for a kiss if they asked, but he wouldn't move unless told. He was clay in the palm of his hand. "Please, yes. So badly. I want it so badly."

Ari smiled. "Thank you for the permission, then." he replied, smiling over at Lovey. "And I won't tell him. It isn't my secret or story to tell him." he wasn't going to tell Honey, not when it was so clearly Lovey's secret to tell. It wasn't as if Ari was the one that was pregnant. Though, if he had been, he wasn't sure he would have told Honey to begin with, when it wouldn't have been Honey's. Or, anyone's. It had been a while since he last slept with anyone. He shook his head faintly, chasing his thoughts away.

Rin hummed softly, pressing his mouth to Arquis's skin and dragging his lips along it again. "So badly?" he echoed, snickering softly.

Lovey's curls bounced as she nodded. "Thanks again for that! And for putting up with my nosiness. I really hope that you guys have an amazing time. Try not to bring him back too late!" She tapped her chin as she considered what else to say. "I think I'm going to start getting things set up for tonight. I wanted to do something special for the reveal, so I've got a bit of a plan. You're welcome to be here for that, by the way. I get it if you'll be too tired from the date, but if you do wanna stop by with him for it, he'll probably be glad to have you there."

Arquis shivered all over. He was holding his breath. His heart felt like it was going to burst straight out of his skin. He tugged them closer against himself and exhaled in one big sigh.

"Love," he pleaded. He was devolving into babble. They still had yet to actually kiss him, and it was going to drive him wild. "Please, my dear. So badly, yes."

"Of course." He replied, standing up and giving her another quick smile. "I'm going to get ready for the date, now, but I'm glad we had this talk. And I might tag along for the reveal, provided that both you and Honey are alright with my being here." he smiled softly, stretching.

Rin laughed a little, and tugged Arquis in for a kiss, smiling as he did. "Love you, my beautiful darling." he said softly, holding onto his lover.

"Of course I'm alright with it! And he will be, too, I promise. He's fond of you already. Said he thinks you're super nice and cute. Don't tell him I told you that, though. We're supposed to have sibling confidentiality."

She took Ari's hand and let him to the door. Sugar growled in warning. Lovey shushed her, smiled at the young man, and patted his shoulder with her free hand. She still had that excited, rosy glow about her. There was no doubt that she would make an excellent mother. Every part of her already radiated love for her future child.

"See you later tonight! Oh, and tell Honey to get me some ice cream while you're out! I'm really craving it, now that you've said it. The shops sometimes have this incredible berry kind. It's got pieces of pie crust actually mixed in!" She laughed brightly. "Honey and I both have such a massive sweet tooth. Don't let him eat so much that he gets a brain freeze! He's prone to doing that."

In the other suite, Arquis kissed them back passionately, really leaning into him. His arm was still braced around their waist to keep himself upright. He whimpered faintly when they called him beautiful and went in for another kiss. Praise really did have such a noticeable effect on him.

Ari smiled, letting her lead him to the door. "Of course. I'll make sure he doesn't get a brain freeze, and we'll do our best to bring you back some ice cream, though I'm not sure about how easily we'll be able to transport it without it melting all over the place." he laughed quietly. "But, ah, I'll see you later, then." he didn't quite know how to end this conversation, but that was alright. Lovey seemed wonderful, and he didn't mind talking with her for a while, as they had.

Rin hummed a little bit, shifting the both of them to gently push Arquis onto the bed, so that the nobleman was seated on the mattress. He carefully moved to sit in Arquis's lap, kissing him again and again. "There we are. Beautiful." he whispered, reaching up to cup the back of Arquis's head.

"Yep! Go on and get prepared for your date." Lovey turned the handle and stepped aside so that Ari could go out into the hallway. She gave him a joking little curtsy. Sugar relaxed when Ari was no longer in the room, and her owner gently shut the door.

Arquis's pulse jumped at the word. Beautiful. He didn't think he was beautiful, but hearing it straight from their mouth almost made it believable. He groaned, feeling needy, and tried to match them kiss for kiss. He pressed his forehead against his lover's and nipped their lower lip.

"Oh, my heart," he whispered, and it was all he could say. Overwhelmed wasn't quite the right word to describe what he was experiencing. He felt loved. Adored. Cherished. Like he really was someone worthy of such praise. He hoped Rin felt the same, especially after the night they'd had.

Ari grinned at her, and then headed back to his own room so that he could get an outfit together for the date. He didn't have the right clothes to be too over the top or fancy, but that was probably a good thing; after all, he didn't want to overwhelm Honey with too much fancy clothing and such. He just wanted to have a good time, so fancier clothes probably would be a mistake.

Rin smiled into the kisses, hand sliding through Arquis's hair as they pulled their lover closer. "Love you." they said again, still kissing him over and over and over, just happy to be with him.

Honey was in his room, getting changed at the same time as Ari. His outfit was going to be a surprise. He'd already washed, dried, and styled his hair, and he'd put his clothes on right after that. All that was left was his makeup. He spent quite a bit of time on it, nervously touching and retouching it until he could stand it no longer. Anticipation was going to drive him up a wall.

Arquis returned the words and kissed Rin until he felt drunk on love, then finally pulled away. He looked a gorgeous mess. His hair was mussed from their fingers, his pupils were dilated, and fair skin was made pink by a pretty blush. He swallowed and gently shifted him out of his lap. To show them that he still cared, he smiled and caressed their cheek.

"Apologies, dearest one. I am afraid, that, well, how did I put it before? I might get rather, ah, excited if we continue. I do seem to have quite a habit of doing that."