Eleven eased them to a stop at a low stone dock next to a pile of crates as she worked. When he looked back, Lily was dressed in far less finery.
"Is there anything your magic can't do?" he asked with a smile before finally moving to settle next to her. "Or is it that you're particularly talented?"
"I can't dig a hole with it," she offered with a little laugh, shifting to give him enough room to settle in beside her. "There's a lot I can't do, but Transfiguration is something I got top marks in."
Lily looked over at El for a moment, slightly flushed from the compliment. "If you were from my world, you'd be aces in Herbology. You'd never leave the greenhouses." If it were the case he'd be highly likely to find her in the back of one of those greenhouses, practicing her dueling on sticks stuck into flowerpots, but Lily managed to rein in her nervous prattle and withhold that information. Surely, he already had enough evidence of what a nerd she was.
While he didn't understand precisely what 'Transfiguration' was and couldn't be sure he could even repeat the word back to her, herbology made sense enough. He liked plants, after all.
"Probably," Eleven agreed, wrapping an arm about her waist to hold them together in a way that was growing ever more comfortable and familiar. "Though I'm only just getting to study them, here. Of which, I'm sure you wouldn't, but I'd rather not have accidentally poisoned you: it isn't safe to eat that Arnica plant."
The warning made her chuckle lightly, turning in her seat so that she faced him before comfortably draping an arm across his middle.
"I promise I won't try. Though I may talk to it." Back in school talking to plants was encouraged - though none of the plants she had seen since coming to this world were as overtly interactive as the ones back home.
"That was very sweet of you," she continued, leaning in to dust a quick kiss to his cheek. "I'm glad there's a moment to thank you properly."
"I'm just glad you like it," he admitted, increasingly nervous as he spoke. She had said she liked it, right? "It might not talk much, but I hope it's useful- or just brightens up your room a little. I'd actually been looking for something to take care of myself, but thought it might make a nice gift.."
The sight of him going a bit red made her grin, kissing his cheek a second time. "I adore it, though know I've got to figure out what to do for you." She chuckled warmly before turning her head to rest against his shoulder.
"It's one of my favorite parts of Taravast so far," Lily added thoughtfully, hiding a grin behind her hair.
She scoffed, the arm around him tightening slightly. "Don't you know me at all? Of course, it pleases me to plot revenge - especially of this nature. It's the best sort"
Lily let her eyes close for a moment, enjoying the moment even as her mind already began to work over prospects for said revenge. She was the sort of person who always loved a project.
"If that Beacon does get opened for us to all go home," she began quietly, drawing away enough to be able to look over his face, smiling. "I'd spend some time staying behind with you if you like."
Eleven met her eyes, heart dropping. Determined to enjoy the time they had together, he tried not to think too much about their inevitable separation, but his dread abated as she continued, assuaged to something softer and more tender.
Though he knew her world held little appeal to her, it still meant a great deal to think she'd choose to stay behind with him over returning to the place she belonged for even a short time.
He leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "..I'd be honored."
The smile on her face widened when she felt the gentle brush of a kiss against her forehead. Breathing out a soft laugh Lily shut her eyes once more, reaching up to rest a hand on his shoulder.
"I've never heard of anyone being honored over an invitation to loiter before," she murmured affectionately, tilting her head back just enough to smirk at him for a beat before drawing close, tugging at his shoulder to lightly pull him into a kiss.
Eleven met her with a pleased hum, slotting his lips against her mouth with thrilling ease. He returned her sweetness in kind, tucking gentle fingers beneath her hair to draw them that slightest bit closer.
They'd still have some time- at least until he recovered fully and could no longer delay returning to Erdrea. Battles they both had to face on their own, but in the meanwhile..
He breathed a soft sigh through his nose and parted from her just enough to speak in a low murmur.
Bringing the hand on his shoulder up to brush his cheek Lily breathed out a soft laugh at the suggestion, sneaking a quick second kiss before she spoke.
"Bit of an irresistible suggestion if I'm honest." Their time together had already become incredibly important to her and the prospect of getting to be this close and comfortable for a stretch of time was more than appealing.
Leaning into him she hummed thoughtfully, as her fingers gently toyed with the ends of his hair. "I wish we could do that now."
"Much as we can," he promised with a soft sigh. Pleasant chills brushed down his arms, charmed to know she enjoyed his company so much in turn. He kissed the top of her head. "Perhaps then we won't need to worry as much, too."
"That would be something," she had been on edge since the siege and it had manifested in one form or another, not having to worry about the ruse they were all putting on, or being harmed by someone in their group would be a wonderful turn of events.
"I'd say I have a perfect place to hide, but it's full of ghosts, and I know you don't like the necromantic part of town." Aware that that was a statement worth questioning Lily kissed him again before he could.
"I'd never let you neglect something that important." Lily turned her head, resting her cheek against his so that she could speak quietly against his ear, "at least, not forever."
She laughed against his skin, ducking her head down enough to kiss the side of his neck.
He lost a breath to the fanning ghost of hers. Eleven swallowed, the arm wrapped about her waist holding tighter in the wake of a kiss more sensual than their previous ones, then gradually loosened.
"Mm," he managed after a moment, clearing his throat. "That's ah, good to know."
She turned in her seat, leaning into him when he pulled her closer, her skin flushing from her scalp to her shoulders, rather pleased at his reaction. One arm stayed around his shoulders as she continued to toy with his hair.
"For a day though, at least," Lily pressed her lips to his again.
How easily she could silence his thoughts and hold his attention with just the press of her mouth. Contentment spread through his mind, and his arms shifted to draw her in closer without conscious will.
..What were they talking about again?
"A whole day," he breathed with a brief smile before he interrupted it in favor of another kiss. "I could be convinced.."
Letting her thumb brush over his cheek while they kissed she chuckled against his mouth, "I could be convincing."
Aware of what she had said, she was quick to distract him from it, not allowing either of them to dwell long enough to be flustered. Everything was far too nice to ruin it with awkwardness.
Eleven was more than sure she could be, and his throat ran a little dry to think about it. Strength he rarely felt enough to appreciate willed him to meet her boldness with his own. It wouldn't take too much- he could pull her into his lap and.. well, they'd certainly be closer then.
His ears warmed.
He broke off with a sharp inhale. The alcove felt like it was getting smaller- or perhaps simply cozier. Warmer, certainly.
Dimly aware of how hot her face was, Lily caught her breath as she tried to work through the slight haze hanging over her thoughts. Did she want to go somewhere? They had discussed it, but.
Humming thoughtfully she leaned forward to kiss him while rolling her shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. Going somewhere would make it a lot easier to think and breathe normally again, which was a plus - but he was so warm and close and it was difficult to imagine anything in Taravast as interesting as that.
"There's somewhere better than right here?" Another kiss followed the question before she added, "I could change your clothes for you so I don't have to worry about staying close to you." It was probably smart to go get some fresh air, she knew, but her question had been quite sincere.
Eleven hummed through her kiss, trying and failing to think about it. They probably should go somewhere else, put some physical distance between them, but who was he to refuse?
The thought of Lily changing his clothes held his attention for all of a moment before of course, asserting a reminder of the magic she'd used on herself just a short time before.
"..If you want," he volunteered, not minding terribly either way so long as he got to keep holding her like this. "But it might not be unthinkable that a gondolier might find some favor.."
The notion of pulling him down to lay across the seat with her was becoming very difficult to resist - the afternoon they'd spent together in that secluded patch of flowers already becoming one of her favorite memories. Lily reasoned with herself that a little space was prudent, and it was wise not to trip over her own bravado as she had with El so many times in the past.
It was just really, really, nice in the gondola right now. "I would say he found more than some favor," her hand carded through his hair as she rest her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Could we stay here just a little while longer?" It seemed a fair compromise between reason and all this giddiness anyway.
His eyes closed to fully indulge in the sensation of her fingers in his hair. A sweetly intimate gesture he couldn't recall feeling before now, cloaked in the sort of kind affection that effectively soothed away any immediate concerns.
"Hm," he sighed softly, eyes opening to meet hers. With nothing but vague blackness to see beyond her, it seemed as though she filled his vision. "As long as you like."
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"Is there anything your magic can't do?" he asked with a smile before finally moving to settle next to her. "Or is it that you're particularly talented?"
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Lily looked over at El for a moment, slightly flushed from the compliment. "If you were from my world, you'd be aces in Herbology. You'd never leave the greenhouses." If it were the case he'd be highly likely to find her in the back of one of those greenhouses, practicing her dueling on sticks stuck into flowerpots, but Lily managed to rein in her nervous prattle and withhold that information. Surely, he already had enough evidence of what a nerd she was.
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"Probably," Eleven agreed, wrapping an arm about her waist to hold them together in a way that was growing ever more comfortable and familiar. "Though I'm only just getting to study them, here. Of which, I'm sure you wouldn't, but I'd rather not have accidentally poisoned you: it isn't safe to eat that Arnica plant."
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"I promise I won't try. Though I may talk to it." Back in school talking to plants was encouraged - though none of the plants she had seen since coming to this world were as overtly interactive as the ones back home.
"That was very sweet of you," she continued, leaning in to dust a quick kiss to his cheek. "I'm glad there's a moment to thank you properly."
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"I'm just glad you like it," he admitted, increasingly nervous as he spoke. She had said she liked it, right? "It might not talk much, but I hope it's useful- or just brightens up your room a little. I'd actually been looking for something to take care of myself, but thought it might make a nice gift.."
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"It's one of my favorite parts of Taravast so far," Lily added thoughtfully, hiding a grin behind her hair.
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He tipped his head against hers as warmth bubbled through his chest. How lucky was he to have her here with him like this?
"But if it pleases you to plot your revenge, I won't take that from you."
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Lily let her eyes close for a moment, enjoying the moment even as her mind already began to work over prospects for said revenge. She was the sort of person who always loved a project.
"If that Beacon does get opened for us to all go home," she began quietly, drawing away enough to be able to look over his face, smiling. "I'd spend some time staying behind with you if you like."
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Though he knew her world held little appeal to her, it still meant a great deal to think she'd choose to stay behind with him over returning to the place she belonged for even a short time.
He leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "..I'd be honored."
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"I've never heard of anyone being honored over an invitation to loiter before," she murmured affectionately, tilting her head back just enough to smirk at him for a beat before drawing close, tugging at his shoulder to lightly pull him into a kiss.
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They'd still have some time- at least until he recovered fully and could no longer delay returning to Erdrea. Battles they both had to face on their own, but in the meanwhile..
He breathed a soft sigh through his nose and parted from her just enough to speak in a low murmur.
"We could spend each of those days like this.."
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"Bit of an irresistible suggestion if I'm honest." Their time together had already become incredibly important to her and the prospect of getting to be this close and comfortable for a stretch of time was more than appealing.
Leaning into him she hummed thoughtfully, as her fingers gently toyed with the ends of his hair. "I wish we could do that now."
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"Much as we can," he promised with a soft sigh. Pleasant chills brushed down his arms, charmed to know she enjoyed his company so much in turn. He kissed the top of her head. "Perhaps then we won't need to worry as much, too."
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"I'd say I have a perfect place to hide, but it's full of ghosts, and I know you don't like the necromantic part of town." Aware that that was a statement worth questioning Lily kissed him again before he could.
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"..We'll have to find somewhere," he murmured, raising a hand to brush a few strands out of her face. "But then I might neglect my studies."
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She laughed against his skin, ducking her head down enough to kiss the side of his neck.
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"Mm," he managed after a moment, clearing his throat. "That's ah, good to know."
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"For a day though, at least," Lily pressed her lips to his again.
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..What were they talking about again?
"A whole day," he breathed with a brief smile before he interrupted it in favor of another kiss. "I could be convinced.."
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Aware of what she had said, she was quick to distract him from it, not allowing either of them to dwell long enough to be flustered. Everything was far too nice to ruin it with awkwardness.
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His ears warmed.
He broke off with a sharp inhale. The alcove felt like it was getting smaller- or perhaps simply cozier. Warmer, certainly.
"You ah.. wanted to go somewhere..?"
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Humming thoughtfully she leaned forward to kiss him while rolling her shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. Going somewhere would make it a lot easier to think and breathe normally again, which was a plus - but he was so warm and close and it was difficult to imagine anything in Taravast as interesting as that.
"There's somewhere better than right here?" Another kiss followed the question before she added, "I could change your clothes for you so I don't have to worry about staying close to you." It was probably smart to go get some fresh air, she knew, but her question had been quite sincere.
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The thought of Lily changing his clothes held his attention for all of a moment before of course, asserting a reminder of the magic she'd used on herself just a short time before.
"..If you want," he volunteered, not minding terribly either way so long as he got to keep holding her like this. "But it might not be unthinkable that a gondolier might find some favor.."
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It was just really, really, nice in the gondola right now. "I would say he found more than some favor," her hand carded through his hair as she rest her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Could we stay here just a little while longer?" It seemed a fair compromise between reason and all this giddiness anyway.
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His eyes closed to fully indulge in the sensation of her fingers in his hair. A sweetly intimate gesture he couldn't recall feeling before now, cloaked in the sort of kind affection that effectively soothed away any immediate concerns.
"Hm," he sighed softly, eyes opening to meet hers. With nothing but vague blackness to see beyond her, it seemed as though she filled his vision. "As long as you like."
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