winderlust | i tried to think of a wind pun for this title

Mm.

[He agrees, but also he's very sleepy. It's been a long day and good sex and it's just natural to doze off after all that. He's not going to be very useful for pillow talk here.

It turns out, he doesn't move a lot when he sleeps either. He is a big comfortable log. But also, he's a big comfy log who wakes up at like 5 am naturally. Even after staying up partying, he's up at dawn, and he watches Jusis sleep a little before carefully extracting himself from the bed for a morning clean-up. He's got things to do... or he would, at home. Here he doesn't have chores, so the only thing he can think of to make himself feel useful is to go tend to his horse, and see if he can't find the others he brought with them and see that they're being tended to properly as well.

If Jusis wakes up before he's gone, he'll get to see the very nice view of Gaius getting dressed, with Jusis' marks turned dark against his skin, bathed in the pink glow of early morning light through the windows.]

[Good thing for Jusis he wakes up then. Sleepily appreciating the view before the reality kind of sets in that he caused those marks and well.. No he needs like 3 more hours of sleep before he can deal with today.

But He is going to sit up, yawning hugely and then going back to watching the pretty picture, that's about where he's at.

It was a nice sleep too, comfortable and warm and strangely relaxing despite being tucked against a man he hardly knows, who hardly knows him.]

It's awfully early.

[Gaius can hear Jusis move as he wakes up, but being watched has absolutely no effect on the way he's dressing himself. He doesn't try to hide, but he doesn't make a point to show off, either. He's relaxed, in a way he maybe shouldn't be so soon. He's an adaptable person, despite all the stress these changes are actually causing, and most importantly he's just comfortable in his skin. Jusis watching doesn't mean anything, and being in a new place isn't going to change his habits.]

Maybe for you.

[His voice is light and his smile, when he turns to Jusis, is warm. He slips into a coat, and as he's pulling on gloves he comes back to the bed, following the half-unnatural urge to be close to Jusis. He doesn't sit but he does lean over to run a hand through his hair -- he couldn't resist it if he tried, but he's not trying.]

You can go back to sleep. I was told we're supposed to be leaving tomorrow, so it's a good day to get some rest.

[He doesn't need an urge prompting him to lean immediately into the touch of Gaius's hand. It's warm, he wants more of Gaius touching him. He also wants to go back to sleep.]

What will you do?

[It really is very early for a noble to be up. Gaius might find himself with only servants for company at this hour. Not that Jusis thinks that's bad, it's just so early.]

I'll be checking on the horses.

[He's a little bothered to be leaving most of them behind, honestly. He should at least make sure they'll be okay before he goes off to some province he can't remember the name of.]

You can join me for a ride when you're ready to be awake.

[That's if Gaius can make himself stop playing with Jusis' hair long enough to go be productive.]

That sounds wonderful.

[He is just going to keep leaning into Gaius's touch, lifting a hand to trace his fingers sleepily over Gaius's arm. Kind of unbelievable he can just... Touch this person. They still barely know each other but he's sleepy and content and he likes Gaius so much that just having his hair played with makes him feel both warm and drowsy and little shivers down his spine. Utterly unfair.]

I would quite like to go riding with you. Ah... There's the library if you get bored.

Now that's a good suggestion.

[There'll be so many books he's never seen!]

I'll be in one place or the other, then. Enjoy your rest.

[Cause Gaius is forcing himself to walk away for now. He's happy enough with Jusis, but he doesn't want to do nothing but laze around with him, so he'll have to try not to get too into the whole honeymoon phase thing.]

[MAYBE THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR HONEYMOON IS THE RIGHT TIME TO HONEYMOON.

But Jusis settles back in bed, gravitating sleepily into Gaius's warm spot and falling back into dreams.

They're nice dreams too, of warmth and strong arms and a beautiful laugh. Maybe too nice? Not too nice for Jusis but Gaius will certainly be aware Jusis is dreaming, and probably at least vaguely aware of the subject matter, as well.]

[PROBABLY YEAH. But Jusis is sleeping and Gaius is conscious of becoming obsessed. It's kind of hard not to think of Jusis though, when he can feel those emotions coming across. It's really distracting, but he powers through.

He doesn't go to the library after he's done with the horses, though. He comes back to their room, shrugs his coat and boots off, and climbs right back into bed to bother Jusis.]

Now it's time to wake up.

Is it?

[Jusis grumbles, only half awake, trying to cling to vague, pleasant dreams. But on the other hand Gaius smells of horses and sweaty man and Jusis doesn't really dislike that, so he's cracking his eyes open to look at him.]

Mmhmm.

[Gaius does in fact smell like that, and Jusis smells like... well, like a guy who hasn't taken a bath yet the day after sex. But that's okay too, and Gaius is happily leaning over him for a kiss.]

You've been distracting me all morning.

I've been asleep all morning?

[He isn't leaping to their psychic link, he really hasn't gotten used to thinking about it. Even still he's leaning up into the kiss before sitting up.]

Goddess I need a bath. What time is it?

Nearly noon.

[Gaius watches Jusis get up, not even bothered by the need for a bath. He hasn't even bothered to dress down all the way, still wearing gloves and covered in horsehair.]

You could take a bath. I was told there's a very nice large bath here somewhere.

[The clawfoot tub is nice but Gaius has never seen a fancy bathing room, the kind with magically heated water and nearly enough room and depth to swim. Probably there's other people there, but that part isn't even considered. Gaius doesn't care about other people seeing him, and even if he did, isn't Jusis powerful enough to tell them to go away?]

There is, would you like to try it?

[Bathing at noon is a perfectly princely pastime. But Jusis is going to rinse off in his own tub first, regardless. He's fastidious that way.]

Let's just say I'm curious.

[Yes, Jusis. Take him to the fancy bath. He's actually really interested, smiling like an eager puppy. He feels less miserably stressed today, so now he just wants to explore all the new, exciting things there are here.]

[He can feel how much bands Gaius wants to check it out, so he rinsed himself quickly and throws on light robes.]

Very well. It shouldn't be occupied this time of day.

[Gaius has absolutely zero shame in watching Jusis get rinsed off and dressed. He's not staring or anything, but he's not avoiding looking. It's a little late for that, and he's just plain not shy.

He's not shy in getting into Jusis' personal space while they walk, either. It's just comfortable -- closer than a polite friendship but not clinging, either.]

Would it matter if it was?

No.

[Sort of, yes. He is okay with Gaius watching him a little, but he wouldn't want to be naked around other people.

He leans a little into Gaius being in his space, happy in a just awake way, not sure what to make of their new intimacy, but it feels comfortable.

He leads them to the baths, instructing a servant that they're not to be disturbed as he strips in the outer rooms and takes Gaius through to the vast indoor bathing pool beyond.]

If you say so.

[He can tell Jusis is shy. He knows kind of intimately, actually, and it's cute. Gaius on the other hand has no issue getting his clothes off and eagerly following Jusis into the bath.

It's so big. He was used to rivers until a few days ago, but this is big and fancy and the water is gently steaming like some kind of hot spring. He's actually awed, but he's also embarrassed to be -- it makes him feel like the barbarian he's well aware some people are calling him. That someone has probably already called him today, as he was wandering around without Jusis to shield him. It doesn't bug him that much to be insulted, so nothing has come of it, but it is making him just a tad self-conscious now.

Not so self-conscious he's not going to get right in, though.]

...It's huge.

[He can act unshy, and certainly he's had cause to bathe with others before, but truly being comfortable with someone else there is new. Though there's still a lot of self-consciousness, considering he's next to Gaius "beautiful manly perfection" Worzel. Or, Albarea now, isn't it?

He slides into the water as well. He can feel that mix, awe and embarrassment, but he won't call out either.]

It's extravagant. But it's also quite enjoyable so enjoy it.

[He knows it's excessive but he doesn't mind having the luxury, especially if Gaius likes it.]

[Yep he's sinking up to his neck immediately. Nice.]

It is both of those things. I can't say I understand this country's need for giant houses and gilded things, but I have nothing bad to say about this one.

You're better off not getting it anyway.

[He sighs and relaxes into the hot water.]

I'm glad there's something you like here, though.

It's not the only thing...

[The most important thing is right here next to him, too. He still feels like a fish out of water, but all he can do to fit in more is learn, and let the small-minded comments roll off his back.]

[He blushes with that, sinking further into the water before pushing himself up to lean over and kiss Gaius on the cheek, brief and attempting to be confident but honestly a little shy underneath that. He could pretend he thinks Gaius is talking about horses or something but... He knows. The whole mental link thing.]

I hope you... Will like it here. For as long as you stay.

[That's an odd comment probably but maybe it'll be a good segue into his plans to let Gaius go home a lot.]

[He's a little derailed by the cheek kiss (how can my husband be this cute?), but the implication of that statement isn't missed.

He's not willing to trust it yet, though, even though it lights a little spark of hope.]

...I thought I was staying indefinitely.

[He was told that, in no uncertain terms. Give up your name, your home, your family. He already came to terms with that.]

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