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[He... definitely gets points for honesty because Lorenz really didn't think that would have been the case. Constantin was a flirt in a lot of ways. Maybe it was less that he wouldn't have kissed him but that it would have been some sort of joke, another way to tease him for being so uptight or just... that he wouldn't argue a kiss from anyone, really. But there's something so much more honest than that in the way even he seems a bit awkward about the whole thing and it's that more than anything that makes Lorenz' blush deepen.]

Yes... perhaps...

[Quiet compared to his usual boastfulness but he really has no idea how to handle this whole thing. He'd never have allowed it back in Fodlan but did the constant ache of yearning this place caused really make a person different or was it more that... things that should take months to develop seemed to fit together a little more naturally. And was that entirely the heat of so many things tainted too force a physical response or was it the stress of the unknown, the eagerness to connect with someone, the forced proximity of strangers.

And Constantin didn't have the welcome relief of old friends here.

Lorenz is very clearly caught up in his own head, pacing away from the center of the room toward the windows, back again, heels snapping out a sharp staccato. As he does, though, he works his hands free of his gloves, tucks them into a pocket of his jacket which comes off to drape over the floor from a doorknob.]

Constantin...?

[Abrupt as he turns on his heel to look at the blond, lips pressed into a hard line, easier then to bite at them as he tries to weigh out his feelings. But Constantin doesn't have any expectations for him and there's something fleeting and almost fragile about the little flashes of something deeper than he'd originally given the man credit for. Didn't he at least deserve that same honesty in return?]

I-... I'm not sorry I did it. I should be. It's entirely- [No, he knows all the myriad reasons nobles aren't meant to go around kissing anyone that offers them a dance.]

but I'm not.

[Oh, and there goes Lorenz, pacing...? Constantin watches him go back and forth, not entirely certain what he's supposed to be doing while this is happening. It has the effect- definitely not intentional, but still there- of easing some of the tension that's cropped up all of a sudden, if only because Lorenz going back and forth in silence leaves Constantin with nothing to do but wait, and the longer he does, the less uncomfortable he starts to feel.

So... there's that? By the time Lorenz finally turns to speak to him, Constantin straightens up with a blink and a little Hmm? as if he might have started to let his thoughts wander. Aha...

He has the strangest feeling that a not-insignificant part of this non-apology is actually for Lorenz's own benefit and not for him, but it still gets a small smile out of him, for the sentiment.]

Well— thank you, I suppose. [He makes a face briefly, brow furrowing at the idea of thanking someone for not... hating kissing him? What a conversation this is all of a sudden-] Neither am I. We are simpatico! Mostly.

[He doesn't agree with what he's sure is a long list of propriety violations, or whatever, but the rest is fine. After a moment he pivots to the wall nearest Lorenz, where he will lean super casually for this break time.]

I've never had someone... not apologize to me like that before. I wouldn't have assumed, you know...

[Wellllll, he might have. But now he doesn't have to! It's worked out neatly.]

[It is more for Lorenz than for Constantin but telling Constantin is an important part of that. Giving himself permission to not be ashamed of something is... a lot, really.

The other man moves to lean against the wall and Lorenz shakes his head a little, flashing Constantin an apologetic little smile. The not apology was rather strange, perhaps but it was important to him. A couple cautious steps and then Lorenz leans into the wall a bit as well. Violet eyes cut to the side, watching Constantin, trying to figure out if he's actually okay with whatever the hell this is or if he's pushing to seem cavalier about it.

It's hard to say for sure but... Lorenz does reach carefully for Constantin's hand, curling his fingers (ungloved fingers) around Constantin's. He may not be brave enough to give himself permission to kiss him again or anything but this at least, he can have.]

[For his part, Constantin— well. Kissing is perfectly fine, he has no qualms at all about kissing whoever he'd like to kiss whenever he'd like to kiss them, so it's very much this bumbling aftermath that throws off his rhythm, as it were. If he's somehow put Lorenz into some kind of crisis, ah... he'll feel bad? He isn't callous, even if he has no patience in his own life for fretting over propriety.

So. He waits, tilting his head to look at Lorenz as he comes to stand beside him, saying nothing, still waiting. The first brush of fingers does surprise him, but hmm— he decides he'll accept this concession, shifting to hold his hand in a loose grip.

Whatever's happened here- whether or not they ever actually kiss again remains to be seen, he supposes, but this will do for now. He's quiet for a moment, just standing there, holding hands...

(Very bold, to take off the gloves to hold his hand. Impressive.)]

Nobody's waiting on me, if you'd like to stay here a while.

Edited (casually adds missing word) 2020-09-20 07:18 (UTC)

[It is bold, thank you very much! He has actively removed his gloves to touch someone else precisely three times. And one of them was... well to hold Constantin's hand at the cafe.

Was this going to become some sort of trend?]

If I haven't made things too awkward for you.

[A little bit of a gentle tease, though whether it's directed at Constantin or himself is hard to say.]

It was- is surprisingly fun. Making up a dance like that... [The pause following is charged, nervous energy obvious, the need to say something more.]

... the kiss was nice, too.

[Did it count as his first since, technically, the first was something forced by Harpy intervention? The jury is still out on that.]

[Oh, he'll have to try harder than that to make things too awkward for Constantin. He swings their hands back and forth a little, not too much, but just sort of... because they're holding hands, a silent acknowledgement and approval of this other thing besides kissing.

...But speaking of kissing.]

It was, [he agrees, giving Lorenz's hand a tiny squeeze for emphasis.] Honestly, you surprised me— in a very delightful way, mind you.

[Suddenly sweeping him into such a dramatic embrace? Well! Surprising indeed for the man who blushes at the merest suggestion of touching another person.]

[See? This is precisely the problem. He gives himself leave to relax a little and then he just does things and it's so far beyond what he'd have wanted to do (except that clearly he did want it). But Constantin swings their hands and it's such a boyish gesture that Lorenz chuckles despite himself.]

I surprised me. [He returns that little squeeze, grateful for the gentle reassurance.] I don't know what came over me. I-

[No. He bites down on that next sentence hard enough that his teeth click. No, he said he wasn't going to apologize.]

[Constantin shrugs, not wanting to turn this conversation into something overly complicated yet again. It's not? It isn't, it's fine, and so instead he will lean into an old standard: quips.]

I daresay it was my innate charm.

[Actually kind of ironic, as many of the fussy nobles he's brushed elbows with at home for years and years consider him, hm, a literal nightmare if not a disappointing embarrassment, but— away from court he's very charming, indeed. So there, mystery solved.]

Edited (I forgot the icon.......) 2020-09-20 18:05 (UTC)

[Another delicate blush, lips curving up in a soft smile.]

Maybe so.

[Lorenz lifts their clasped hands, turning his so he can press a light brush of lips to Constantin's knuckles. His breath comes out shaky, embarrassed at himself, conflicted about simply acting on something instead of holding it close and turning it over for days, weeks, over thinking every angle.]

I believe you were supposed to be teaching me actual dances, though. Weren't you?

[Oh— hmm, that's sweet? Constantin doesn't blush, but he does smile warmly, tugging Lorenz's hand and sidling a step closer to him. He cants his head to the side, raising an eyebrow.]

I was. Would you like another? I do know a few actual dances, although there will be some stomping.

[Well, hopping? Stepping? And some clapping, but that would be a surprise.]

[Lorenz rolls his eyes, huffing out a put upon sigh and pushing away from the wall. He lets his hand slide away from Constantin's as he moves out to the center of the room again. When he reaches it he spins on his heel to face the blond. One brow arches and he adjusts his stance to bring his feet together with the sharp rap of hobnailed boots on the floor.]

I think I can handle that part. It's not such in Fodlan's dances but I do know some other regions use dance as some... part of the percussion?

[Okay no he doesn't know that but he's pretty sure he read it somewhere.]

Something like that!

[Once again, it would be better with the music, but they'll have to keep improvising. He claps his hands together and follows Lorenz out into the middle of the room, dropping his hands to his hips and looking side to side to judge if this is the optimal space to do some... noisy stepping.

Sure, why not. He motions for Lorenz to stay where he is, shuffling into place next to him but also facing him, so they're looking in opposite directions.]

Alright, well... do the opposite of what I do, then.

[He is not a dance teacher, as should already be obvious. This particular dance is the least boring and courtly he can recall, mostly because it has a bit of pep in it. He'll start slow, though, going through each step and stopping for Lorenz to mimic him before he goes on.

Will it wind up even sillier than the dance he made up? Maybe so.]

I rather think I do that already.

[The tiniest smirk as Constantin moves into position, one last tease before he.... very quickly gets overwhelmed. This is not completely off the cuff like the last one but it's also not the measured steady rhythm of something nearly so slow as a waltz. There's a lot of steps, a lot of turns, a lot of this direction then that direction and he tries, he really does, but- ]

Goddess, there's still more?

[He lifts a hand, shaking his head and laughing under his breath. It's a lot to keep track of.]

Give me a moment, Constantin, please. This is... I've read music less complex than this.

[Maybe some of it is still made up, who knows. It's definitely more fast and loose than a waltz, and so while Constantin isn't surprised Lorenz doesn't take to it immediately— well, he pauses mid-step, holding the position a few seconds longer before, ah, his talented partner has totally lost the thread...]

Once you've got it, it's easier.

[He relaxes, crossing his arms and turning to face Lorenz.]

I suppose we could keep working on the first part for a while longer. Unless...?

[Are you tapping out, bud. This is the moment.]

[Definitely lost the thread.

He huffs a breath, one hand coming up to settle on Constantin's shoulder for a moment as though he needs to reorient himself. But he's been trying to watch Constantin's feet, his own feet, and still prance around in circles. He's pretty dizzy at the moment.]

Let me.... just let me get up to being able to actually do the first bit at the right tempo, okay?

[Just think, they could simply spin around in circles some more and save so much time. Constantin touches his arm lightly, steadying. Lofty goals, sir...]

Alright, alright. That will be enough to bump you from beginner to novice.

Hah-

[Exasperated and unamused. You keep your criticisms to yourself, sir.

It takes him a few moments and he has to close his eyes so he can focus on what he's doing over what he's seeing. It, honestly, helps a lot. Once he's gone through it decently on his own he adjusts his position, offers Constantin a weak smile.]

Okay, okay let's try this one more time and then... I guess we start the next section?

[Oh but doing this without needing to focus as hard on his feet means there's an awful lot of just barely brushing against the other man and very intense eye contact. He hadn't even really noticed at first with how much he was concentrating on his feet.]

[Take him how he is, Lorenz, this is the Constantin package deal. He nods, shifting back to the proper starting position.]

I am ready and willing to try as long as you are, my friend.

[Credit where credit is due: this time, it's better, although how much of that is the technical skill and how much of it is the way their eyes meet every other step is anyone's guess. Both? Probably both. This is hardly a dance to try without looking, lest they smack into each other, and so intense eye contact it is.

And then, just towards the end of this first section, Constantin turns one of those almost-brushes into an outright touch, reaching to catch Lorenz's hand and bring it to his lips this time, a quick kiss to the backs of his fingers before he lets go again.

...Tada!!]

[It's be...tter?

No, actually it isn't exactly because every time they rush back into the center he seems to forget himself for a moment, utterly captivated by honeyed eyes and pinked lips and Goddess help him Constantin really is beautiful isn't he? It's distracting and makes him fumble his steps a few times but never enough to actually call it quits.

Then the blonde goes and steals his hand and even when he releases it Lorenz doesn't take it back, instead he turns his hand to cradle Constantin's cheek, thumb brushing gently over one high cheekbone, absolutely fascinated by him all over again.]

I'm... not very good at this...

[Well, this is nice, so Constantin is calling this dance a success. He tilts his head into Lorenz's touch just so; a moment ago it was tempting to lean into his supposedly boundless energy and go right into the next section of steps, but now, well... Now there's a different energy between them, softer but no less charged.

It's warm, comfortable— hmm!]

At learning a new dance?

[Hah... because he's not doing half bad at showing affection right this second, all things considered. Constantin takes a half-step towards him, covering Lorenz's hand with his own and threading their fingers together. A very large part of him wants to lean in and kiss him again, and who could blame him!— but the line is delicate between this moment and spoiling it entirely, it feels.]

From where I'm standing, you're doing quite well.

[Yes at learning new dances, at dancing in general, at all of this close contact, everything about this afternoon. But Constantin is still so softly encouraging, even with all his fumbling. Holding his hand so gently that it makes Lorenz' heart race.

Slowly he shakes his head, a quiet denial of something in his mind.]

Oh... If we were in Fodlan... I would run from you.

[A fragile little laugh, barely more than a breath. It's not the first time someone has affected him so strongly but there was no room in Fodlan for the Prime Minister of the Alliance to take a man as a partner, not when the demand for heirs and crests was so great.]

Or be petty... cruel, even. [As he'd been, still was in some ways, to the one person he hadn't been able to flee from. Another shake of his head. He doesn't want to do that, here. Doesn't want to be that person anymore. Hasn't for a long time but when had there ever been time... space...

Violet eyes flicker down to his lips briefly, tilting ever so slightly closer to the other man.]

Constantin...?

[A breathless request, hope that the other man might cross that line for him. He'd been caught up in it all earlier. This? This is a decision, a concession, one he's not sure he's brave enough to make on his own just yet, no matter how much he wants to. ]

[Oh, running away is very seductive, indeed. Or: Constantin raises an eyebrow at him, more than a little skeptical, but not interrupting. This is going somewhere, he supposes, or at least the implication left to dangle at the end of it is meant to do the work without being said—

He has to stop himself from jokingly thanking him again, for not being cruel or what have you; Lorenz is so, hm, delicate? Uncertain, when it comes to this? He is so very something compared to the other people Constantin has met and connected with here, but Constantin has more patience for one man fumbling through propriety than he does for propriety itself. So. He will not quip about this, at least not right now.

So that leaves them with the simple facts of the present, notably that they are very much both thinking about the same thing, that is well and truly obvious, and it is up to him to give the go ahead. That's fine; that is a dynamic he's rather familiar with.

He reaches up, free hand coming to rest at the back of Lorenz's neck again, like before, this time to pull him down closer— gently, but still—]

It's alright, I know.

[And he leans the rest of the way in to kiss him slowly.]

[If he couldn't avoid him, or this feeling, then his only defense against someone as charming as Constantin was to be mean. Constantly criticizing and biting out sarcasm and never allowing anything remotely close to these close, quiet moments to happen.

He's been doing it with Claude for years.

For a long moment he wonders if he, perhaps, wasn't as obvious as he thought. Constantin hesitates and fear starts to creep into him, coiling tight in his shoulders and- the warm press of fingers against his neck, dipping under the ends of his hair makes him shudder, melts that growing tension out of him.

Constantin urges him closer and Lorenz doesn't resist in the slightest. That soft assurance earns a tiny nod, grateful acknowledgement for a fleeting moment before Constantin kisses him again and Lorenz absolutely melts against him. A small sigh of pleasure muffled against the other man's lips, the hand on his cheek sliding back into his hair a little. Lorenz' other hand drops down to Constantin's side though, drawing him closer, facing him properly.]

[With a low hum Constantin closes that last bit of distance to fit himself up against Lorenz, winding his other arm around his shoulders as well. For someone so fussy he's surprisingly easy to actually kiss; the earnest relief and that soft sigh do wonders for Constantin, all things considered. To be wanted in some way is such a simple pleasure, and so now - indulging.

It's a good kiss again, some few degrees more comfortable and warm than the one before, and Constantin is far from shy, eagerly kissing him again after a stop for breath. He takes, slowly, a step back without letting go, to none too subtly get Lorenz to come move with him, towards the wall and more specifically the door to a smaller room he knows has furniture in it, more of a proper lounge unlike this comparatively empty space.

Like, he will accept backing himself up to the wall in a pinch, but-]

Lorenz, [he breathes, without pulling away more than is necessary to get a word out.] Come and sit with me.

[That first careful step back almost breaks the moment, the fingers in his hair tightening, the hand at his side curling into his shirt, trying not to let him go. There's the slightest delay for him to realize Constantin isn't trying to move away but to guide him. That is a little difficult, trusting someone else to move him but also far too anxious to dare open his eyes at all.

It isn't until Constantin speaks against his lips that he really lets himself follow his guidance. A soft hum against his lips, a vague nod, steps awkwardly loud in the emptiness of the room now without their laughter. Kissing is new and uncertain for him, kissing and walking is nearly impossible. It's more of a press of lips, a slight pause to breathe in each other's air while he takes a step, and then another kiss.

Lorenz doesn't dare let himself give them enough space to actually step back or look at Constantin, though, knowing well enough that he'd lose his nerve the moment they stop.]

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