museboxingring | There was a split moment to think.

There was a split moment to think.

It was another day just like how it has been. Connor did his rounds in the town and his job on campus, not in that order.

He was probably going for a few days, hardly speaking to people and it wasn't really on his own volition. When he was at work, he was like a locomotive, he would be running and trying to accomplish what he could with any amount of energy he had. Whatever time he had to rest, it was to assess what had been done and what should be done next.

Research, and what not.

These times were bad, the very town up in arms about the insects and the horrifying rip in the sky.

It was like a nightmare, a nightmare that decided to be real.

Connor had just returned to his dorm, a place he actually wasn't in much these days. He was covered in remnants of the shadow bugs, as he was fending them off from harming citizens.

He remembered his discussions with people, and he had tried to send off citizens to safety. He was trying very hard.

So what next? What could he do now? He had not heard from that mysterious man yet about the bombs, but surely whenever he was ready, he would be back in action to find action. This was the sort of thing you had to be ready for; those were bombs.

---

He unlocked his door to the dorm only to find it empty, which was okay. Desmond was surely busy too.

He decided he was to wash his face, suddenly feeling tired. The many days of working were finally getting to him, and he felt that it hit him hard. He turned on the faucet to splash the cold water on, and it felt a little better. Now he got a better look though, and he truly looked tired. Perhaps he needed to get his robes cleaned and go find something to eat. He needed to rejuvenate somehow.

It was already late evening, what else could happen?

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"No one trusts him, nor do they trust Doctor Eggman."

Connor almost laughed, but instead he gave another genuine smile. Eirik, the proper princess she usually is, just used the word "crushed". So merciless, so bold, so great to hear.

"We could do that, and we will," Connor responded. They could do it together.

What a thought, and it was a thought he enjoyed; fighting alongside.

He softened even more as well, taking in that last statement. He felt his tiredness wear away, but then he started asking himself numerous things. Why not take this moment to just enjoy something? There was a small moment of peace, and Eirik was here; these two things lead to an automatic feeling of joy and not something he wanted to throw away. Just a moment in, without any distractions but each other. That sounded very nice.

Connor gave Eirik a gentle kiss on the forehead. "I like that idea. Let me get changed first, I am filthy. Not very befitting for a night with you."

Did he have to phrase it like that? "Not very befitting for a night with you." A night with her. He could have been caked in dirt and she wouldn't have given a damn. It wasn't the what, it was the who. Dirty or clean didn't make too much of a difference. If he wanted to clean up, fine. That would be more for his personal comfort, though she did appreciate that he thought of her enough to present himself in such a way.

He had no reason to impress her, however.

Eirik smiled a bit bashfully and turned her sights from him momentarily. "No rush. I'll stay for a bit, if you'd like. I didn't have any other plans." Because it was nice to know he wanted her to stay. And when he was mentioning spending the night with her, it was a good indication that he wanted to share her bed (or have her share his). Not routine by any means, but a rather pleasant exchange when it happened.

Even with the lingering proverbial intimacy elephant in the room.

It was even more so that it was shadow bug remnants with the dirt than dirt alone. He would not like to spend the night with that kind of filth. No remains of the defeated, none of it.

"Neither do I now," he replied, parting and making his way to the restroom. "I will be back, I promise I shall not be long."

He walked there slowly and calmly, looking back at her for just a moment. He gave her just one more smile before retreating back into the restroom, feeling an odd sensation. This was like way back when, when Eirik returned from Magvel. How he cleaned in her restroom to just a tunic after the heavy rains. Most importantly, their first night in a bed together. He remembered waking up that morning feeling more rested than he had in years.

Sleeping peacefully did that, sleeping happily.

He washed his face again, feeling the tiredness be completely gone by now. The robes were taken off and hung on the shower rack, he'd wash them later.

He emerged from the restroom in that simple tunic like that one night, and met with her again.

She waited patiently, almost uncertain of what to do with herself during so. It wasn't like she hadn't visited him room before, for she certainly had. It just felt different and maybe that was because she knew Desmond was there as well. She didn't want to leave behind a trail. She didn't want to cause Connor to face any awkward situations without her to endure them as well.

Through joy and pain, she wanted to stand with him.

Yet he didn't make her wait long and with how simple he looked, she felt overdressed. But she usually did when she stood beside him. She always had earrings, always had her pendant, almost always had her own tunic and skirt ensemble. But in his eyes, she probably simply looked 'nice,' and he probably didn't give a damn as to what she was wearing. Having her there was likely more the way he wanted to put things, even if he didn't say it.

"You look better," she observed with a gentle smile when he returned. "I would have been fine just visiting with you for a few minutes. If you're tired, you should rest, Connor. Lest you overwork yourself."

He was feeling refreshed, so he shook his head and said, "I feel fine, better actually."

He always looked so simple compared to Eirik, divinity in royalty compared to the rustic natural Native. It just made sense to him she might have more than him, and he was fine with that by now. He was happy with all he had, and took pride in his own heritage and the values that came with it.

"I am alright as long as you are," he continued. "Because you were right, I want to take advantage of the peace we have."

His reward was a genuine smile, and not one of the diplomatic sort. Soft and gentle by comparison. He was alright as long as she was? Was that truly the way of it? By how confident he looked, strong facial features that showed an age she was foreign to, she had a hard time contesting his words.

"Is that your way of saying you wish me to stay the night?" she asked him, a sly curve at the corner of her mouth. "Not that I have any complaints, mind you. Simply that usually we are in my room and I did not bring a change of clothes with me or any robes."

Although in hindsight, Connor probably wouldn't completely dislike her being without garb. If their last encounter was any indication.

That wasn't where he was really going. Sure, they have spend many nights together, but it was perhaps hard to still ask of her if she wanted to. Of course though, he enjoyed those nights and wouldn't turn it down if it were to come up.

But the choice on her end was always there, never would she forget that.

"Only if you want," Connor said. "I merely meant that I do not think we have to force a short visit. As busy as we tend to be, I always want our meetings to be meaningful."

Briefly, she looked a little disappointed. Not because of his reaction, for she knew what he was doing and what he meant. But mostly that after all of the time that had passed between them, he still wandered about like he was a scared little puppy, afraid of whatever noble wrath she had concealed beneath her regal bearing.

It's okay for you to say things you want, she thought as she stared at him, wordless for many moments. Or can you only say those things when you've got your hands on me? And she knew better than to say, but how she wanted to in those moments.

"I understand," she found herself replying gently with a short little nod. "I think length of time may not necessarily be of issue. We always cherish one another, no matter how short or long we may see one another."

He bashfully looked to the side.

What was his deal then? He assumed he was really just hoping he never overstepped any boundaries. After the last night they spent together, it was a wonder if there were any boundaries to begin with anymore. They were still shy of...intercourse, their top halves exposed and them enjoying each other's touch in a way that was unlike anything Connor had experienced.

It was truly a moment of something special.

So then, why this? I do not want you to think I am a 'hungry' man. I do not want to impose any pressure. Though I am possibly not helping with that right now.

He was perhaps nervous when he shouldn't be. In an effort to relax, he sat back on the sofa, keeping his eyes on her. He was attentive to her, after all. So he noticed how somewhat disappointed she looked.

Yes, it was because of that one time. What was she expecting him to say? Something appropriate, akin to what had happened then? He was very close to offering on of his tunics if she wished to sleep in something more comfortable-

"You could...borrow a tunic if you wish," well, he blurted that out. Happy now, Eirik?

Edited (graggh) 2014-08-28 01:25 (UTC)

He sat. She didn't. Because she was still nervous, naturally. It wasn't her room and she didn't frequently come to visit. Maybe because subconsciously she remembered that she was a princess. Princesses didn't go see people; it was people who were supposed to come see her. Consequently, there was a difference between checking in on Connor every now and then and genuinely paying him visitation.

It probably would have been the same in Renais.

Her hands laced together. Her posture straight. Her very air speaking everything noble about her. No wonder he got intimidated around her. There was over a decade between them in age, but she had a penchant for carrying herself with a wisdom that was beyond her years.

His offer rendered a pause from her and she looked down to herself as she considered the invitation. "If I wouldn't look too silly to you, then that would be fine. I'm sure it'd fit me as well as a gown."

"Of course not," Connor gently remarked, perhaps a little off put by her nervousness. He always hoped that he made her feel comfortable but then the princess airs shown up and he wasn't sure.

Then he would tell himself that that really wasn't the case here, it was just respect and upholding her title. He was reminded constantly that the princess side would always be there. So he had to accept it; and he did.

They were both nervous, and Connor wanted to rid of that feeling. He thought of the tunic again, and did picture how large it would actually be for her. He was much, much larger than she was. It was amusing to think about in principle.

"You never look silly," Connor remarked again.

Edited 2014-08-29 16:30 (UTC)

"If you get me one, I'll change."

It was as simple as that, really. She wasn't going to turn him down. For her, it was something of a great privilege that he would want her so close. Some time before they'd established that Connor's rule of 'no touching' had somewhat gone out the window. They respected one another and that was really what mattered. If there were boundaries, one could easily tell with the other, and until then, they'd each have to tread carefully.

She laced her hands together and tipped her head in his direction, as if to encourage him. "On the other hand, if you tell me where your tunics are, I'll fetch one myself. You look so restful, after all. A shame if I disturbed a man at rest."

One one hand, he could just be a gentleman. Though she may find that too overbearing, maybe. On the other, telling her where he kept such things may be testament to more trust. Those were personal belongings, and Eirik could have right to his quarters and search what she needed.

He felt he could really trust her enough, there was nothing in his bedroom he felt he should hide. Nor did he really NEED to hide.

He titled his head toward his bedroom, finally making up his mind. He was going to go through with this. This was something he should do, and he was still smiling at her mannerisms.

"In the closest, you can pick which ever you want."

Yeah, wear whatever article of his clothing you want.

It was a pleasant surprise to hear his response. He was inviting her to his apparel. However she pleased. Whatever she wanted. Surprise faded into softness and wordless to begin with, she moved toward his closet and shuffled through it carefully.

She did settle on a tunic, well enough aware that anything she wore was going to be hideously large on her. But perhaps he'd find that appealing. It's this or nothing, she thought as she picked out something white, not too unlike what she was accustomed to seeing him in.

Turning, she lifted it to show him. "I'll go change," followed next with a small smile. Bashful, in an endearing fashion. Because it was a first for her. She'd worn Innes's clothes once and that was when she was a boy thanks to the hot springs. This was completely different.

It really was different, but it was done so...casually. Was this all meant to be casual now? It was fine for her to wear his clothes, they could visit each others' rooms, everything was just coming along so naturally. Every time they saw each other, another line was crossed. As nerve-wracking as that could be, it wasn't something he could regret.

What a life he led now.

For once, he completely stayed put. Not moving a muscle, actually listening for once. Eirik wasn't ever silly, she was endearing; just like the smile she gave.

Tonight may be interesting, Connor couldn't predict that. As of now, he was just letting her borrow his clothes to sleep in. He smiled at her some more, and took a deep breath. Completely relaxed.

It didn't take her long. It wasn't as if her typical garb was complicated, as it wasn't. It was a less fitting tunic and far looser. In fact, as she examined herself in the mirror, she wouldhave said she swam in it. But maybe he'd like that. It was so hard to tell. Sometimes he wasn't the easiest to figure out.

When she finally had the courage to leave his bathroom, she held her clothes in a tidy, folded pile between herself and her arm. "Connor, I wouldn't say it suits me, but it's intriguing. I mean, it may look good, but your clothes look far better on you."

She found him after setting her clothes aside on the desk reserved for him. Then she approached him, lifted her arms, and even slowly turned do he could see her from all angles. "What think you?"

Connor always thought Eirik looked very slender. She was probably average in height for a woman, maybe some odds taller than average. But looking at her wear his tunic made her seem so much smaller than she actually was.

She could fit maybe another one of her in there, being generous.

"Intriguing" was perhaps the word, but he still wouldn't say she looked silly. It just perhaps put proportions into perspective.

"It is far too large for you," Connor truthfully remarked, though he looked pleased. This sure was an experiment. "But we have both expected that. You are the first to wear those other than me."

He finally got up, came to close proximity to her person, much like she did when she came to freshen him up a bit. He straightened the wrinkles around her slender shoulders, just so it could rest more comfortably around her delicate clavicle. "Is this the first time you wore such things? Are you at least comfortable?"

Slender was a good word for it. Eirik from head to toe had been the centre of many beauteous rumours in Magvel. Even people she'd never met or heard of seemed to have heard about her beauty in both appearance and spirit. But vanity was never a part of things. Sometimes Eirik thought her eyes were too wide or too large, and sometimes she thought her hair didn't fall 'just right.' But those were idle thoughts and insecurities, most of which just lived in a house in her mind.

She chortled when she heard him, knowing he was completely right. Of course it was far too large for her. And when he continued, she felt genuinely touched. Like many things, Eirik got to travel this pathway before anyone else. It was hard not to be completely flattered by the concept. He was always giving her privileges he wouldn't give to anyone else.

Eirik didn't move or shrink back when he reached over to fix how it laid against her. Instead, her chin tipped up and she kept her blue eyes upon his face. Then she nodded, "Well, like this, yes. There was the incident with the hot springs some time ago, but I was a boy for that. As a girl, I've never worn a boy's clothes. Ephraim used to tease that we should wear each other's clothes and pretend being one another. We never actually did, though. He and Lyon said I was too skinny to be a boy, and they're right."

Eirik as a boy was something that was hard to imagine, but thinking about the hot springs was an adventure he went down regardless. And so, he thought about a manly Eirik anyway.

She, or "he", would've still stood proudly and be strong. Then Connor's mind went to how her mannerisms would translate to being a man as opposed to a woman. There were many ways it would translate well, and ways it would translate terribly.

Of course, Connor was no exception, he was turned into the opposite sex as well.

"Would it be strange of me to say that I was there and I was turned into a woman?" Connor remarked, blocking out the memory of his father there. Blocking it entirely.

"I was hardly recognizable. I imagine you would have the very likeness of your brother."

"I seem to recall many people endured similar, yet temporary, fates," Eirik replied with more ease than she expected herself to hold.

Connor as a woman. Probably very beautiful and equally statuesque. Probably akin to his mother, who Eirik thought was a cold woman and yet succinct and to the point. With a calm composition, a female Connor likely would have been quite the leader. But to be fair, he was already a man with all of the qualities necessary. Stern when he needed to be, but of heart to counter everything firm in him.

"I told you before. My brother and I are twins. In some way he looks more like our father and I, our mother. It is very easy to see that he and I are related. And we... act the way I imagine twins would act. Although I have never met other twin siblings before." For they were a rare occurrence, and some seemed to think that Fate had a hand in the Renais twins. "You are right, however. I was the very likeness of Ephraim." A bittersweet sting tapped her heart.

Connor knew that, that was a thing he would never forget, that Eirik did have a twin brother. He had heard so much of him, after all. They spoke of him numerous times, and Connor was sure he made apparent that he held respect for men like Ephraim.

If he met Ephraim, awkward as the meeting might be, Connor would uphold that respect. Family was family, and Ephraim was particularly treasured family; even though he learned how they butt heads on an issue, and they don't usually butt heads. But even so, there was respect there always. It was a bond Connor felt could be envied by most.

Connor also had no siblings...yet.

He smiled, "Yes, you have told me many tales of your brother. And I have told you he sounded like a great man."

She smiled. There was a kind of sisterly pride whenever she heard someone else praise him. Eirik could compliment and flatter her twin until she was blue in the face, but it meant something more when someone other than her did so. She was biased, however, and perhaps one could say it was like a narcissism. The relationship between twins being what it was and that Eirik had little trouble admitting Ephraim was more oft than not most important to her.

"I hope when you two meet, if you do, that you will both think so of the other. That would bring me a great deal of joy." And relief, but she didn't want to say the last of that.

"And yet, my brother is not you," she found herself reassuring Connor. "You are both strong men of will and of heart. I admire you both, care for you both. And envy you both with all of the affection I can muster."

Familial pride was expected, and hearing of her, ever so growing, praise made his insides flicker some more. That butterfly feeling he got often whenever Eirik flattered him. A feeling he was used to, but came up and made him feel fuzzy all the same.

She always made him feel so tender inside. Surprise to no one.

"Surely, the opportunity will arise," he told her. After all, they each invited each other to their respective homes. Somehow, it had to happen, if they could be so easily drawn to here, why not there? Where there was a will, there was a way; that was how the saying went. Maybe they would stand out, but they could always work it out. Timelines have changed here after all; Eirik could've married Innes and he some other woman. But then this all happened, and it wasn't something Connor planned on falling back on.

When it came to space-time, Connor left the logistics to those like Gordon who found an interest. Connor only cared about the cause and effect.

Act upon what happens, and don't let what you couldn't control harm you.

"But know you are one with a stronger will," he decided to reflect back, feeling a good mood arise even further. "And I will not take 'no' for an answer to that."

And stubborn, as a mule, always.

If she did not know him so well, she might have been put off with how to the point he was. But Connor had this way of making sure she wasn't underestimating her own abilities. She never really thought she did, but she understood that the standards she held for herself were based on what she thought a competent ruler ought to be like. Truth be told, from an objective eye, Eirik could sometimes be unnecessarily rough when it came to her personal capabilities. A habit that was difficult to break and mostly originated from past 'failings,' yet people like Connor could help her curb just such a thing.

And if not curb, then it was nice (if not flustering) to hear his kind comments.

"Well, then. I suppose if it is not up for discussion I ought to just blindly accept your generosity." But she was smiling and it was a grand smile, on the very verge of baring teeth. It never quite made it that far, yet it was close.

Her hands lifted again to gather up her hair and pull it over one shoulder, as if wearing it over both had become too heavy. Then she reached over to him, loosely wound her arms up over his broad shoulders and tipped up her chin just enough to brush her cheek affectionately against his. Their height differences could have been worse, but he never had to lean down too much to embrace her and she never had to make him break his neck just to give him a kiss.

"You invited me to stay the night and yet you don't seem tired at all. Maybe I should wear you down with talk of royal politics." And she wasn't serious. At all.

Modesty was sometimes infectious, but Connor and Eirik both were quite humble. But of course, being on the other end, Connor felt Eirik didn't need to be humble. Mainly because he had so much faith in her abilities, another boundary of trust.

Sort of also like now, in which both were stripped some of their usual armor. Not exposed as they were previously, but since then, both of them seemed to no longer be afraid of the tender touches.

Very tender apparently, as Eirik displayed.

Oh, so, this was happening sooner, with even smaller introductions by each time.

It meant they were getting more courageous, the reserved ones, more courageous with every visit.

"You would want me tired?" Connor asked her, mildly bemused, as he planted another kiss to her forehead.

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