[no, linhardt, fodlan is much more normal than klein. linhardt just happened to encounter more worlds that are sexual in nature, but it certainly isn't indicative of the general population. the probability of it is so low, but not impossible, as evidenced by linhardt's experiences.
rei answers the door promptly, wearing only a robe because it's proven to make this entire experiment a lot easier. he seems to perk up in interest, eyeing the pile of files in his arms and steps aside.]
Set them on the table. And help yourself to the fruit and tea - they're for you.
[and it's quite the spread. being of king rank definitely comes with more advantages than disadvantages (though for rei in particular, the disadvantages are rather uncomfortable), and requesting that fruit and tea be brought to this room has resulted in a literal banquet of all kinds of fruit and fancy teas, all steeping in the finest of porcelain teapots.]
The one in the blue pot is apparently angelica tea. The one in green pine tea.
[he jots down a few notes of his own - linhardt's name, his world's unique form of magic, and anything else he remembers from their brief talk over the watch - before he clicks the pen closed.]
[ Linhardt does not need to be told twice. He starts to move things around on the tables, setting out his notes in logical order - here is what Rei needs to know about magic in Fodlan, here are the mathematical underpinnings of the different types of magic that Linhardt is aware of, here is the basic information on Crests that is known to everyone, here is more speculative information on Crests... ]
No. There is also information on magic and its fundamental constants. It would be useless to give you information solely on Crests - there is foundational magical knowledge that most Crest scholarship assumes you understand. And we can't assume that magic shares the same foundations between our worlds.
[ After lying all the notes on the table for Rei to peruse, Linhardt turns his attention towards the bevy of food and drink. The spread is more akin to what Linhardt is used to - a selection of top tier fruits and teas ready for his consumption. He picks up a strawberry and places it in his mouth, sucking on the fruit and then biting into it to enjoy the sweetness. Then he picks up a peach and does the same. When he lifts up the green teapot, Linhardt hefts it approvingly - this teapot will retain heat so he does not have to waste his magic heating the tea - and delicately pours not one but two cups of tea, passing one over to Rei.
Lifting his cup to his lips, Linhardt watches Rei in open curiosity.]
How would you like to proceed? This is your experimentation and data collecting.
[rei takes the papers at the beginning of the arranged order, skimming over the first few pages in interest as linhardt helps himself to the spread of fruit. he'll definitely delve deeper into it after they do what they're here for, but for now, his curiosity is piqued and he needs to sate it a little.
he sips at the tea poured for him, nodding his thanks.]
I have to agree with you there, just skimming through this I already see some discrepancies between our worlds. [he momentarily looks at the other stacks of notes, eyes skimming down the row for a few key phrases on each page. god, he wants to dig into it now... but! he's got his own research to conduct.]
Let me know when you've had your fill for now - we can get started on that bed over there. [he gestures with his pen.] Though, before that, anything off limits for you?
[ Linhardt is more than willing to sit in comfortable silence as Rei peruses. He himself would want to look at any magical notes presented to him immediately, he can hardly blame someone else. In fact, it's welcome to see somebody else with some sense of priorities. There is always time for intimacy later. Learning is more important. ]
Can you present me with a list of the discrepancies? We should also use our knowledge of said discrepancies to experiment with the native magic of this place.
[ Reaching out for a strawberry, Linhardt puts it in his mouth, biting down to suck out the sweet juices and closing his eyes out of enjoyment. It's so fresh. How? He doesn't know, but it is a delight. As is the feeling of the immaculately made teacup under his hands - the craftsmanship is impressive.
He tilts his head to the side. ]
I've never been asked that before. I am not sure. I enjoy most dalliances as long as both I and my partner experience physical pleasure.
[ He doesn't usually talk to his partners this much. ]
Mm. [rei's already jotting down a few notes in his notepad, on a separate page from his notes for linhardt specifically. it's fucking chicken scratch but hey, he can read them... ] There are a lot of various magic users utilizing all kinds of different magic, so many that I didn't even consider comparing against the native magic here.
[he's going to be so busy in the coming months just testing all the different kinds of magic and comparing and contrasting literally every variable he can think of. he's pretty excited, honestly, even if his placid expression doesn't betray much. there's a sparkle in his eye if you know to look for it.
he looks up from his scribbling for a second.]
Yeah? Well, I guess just let me know if you don't like something I do. I'm told I'm... intense.
[he smirks for a second before he goes back to jotting down some notes. once he's done (for now), he stands, stretching before grabbing a random fruit and tossing it in his mouth. it's a good thing linhardt requested some food, otherwise he wouldn't have eaten. he leans against the table and watches linhardt just enjoying the fruit for a second, admiring his beauty. he's not even being alluring on purpose, is he?
he tangles a hand in linhardt's hair, leaning in close, aiming to steal a kiss to get things started.]
If we compare everyone's magic and contrast it with the magic here, then we may be able to draw some conclusions about how magic functions here.
[ And use it themselves. Linhardt has found himself intrigued by several aspects of this place: the animated portraits and moving locations among them. While Rei writes, Linhardt eats a slice of apple and takes several more drinks of his tea. It is helping him feel marginally less tired - he could still go for a nap, but at least with some tea inside of him, Linhardt is fairly confident he won't fall asleep during the act. That would be rather mortifying given he actually would like to speak with Rei again.
When he looks up, he finds Rei watching him. Linhardt blinks and is about to ask if he has something on his face when Rei leans in. The lack of preamble makes Linhardt's eyes widen in shock, but he adjusts to the kiss easily, relaxing into Rei and returning the kiss, opening his mouth to allow Rei to explore and taste the mage if he so desires, eyes shut as he appreciates the touch for what it is: A moment of respite in odd and undesirable circumstances. He draws out the kiss, leaning his head into Rei's hands in a silent ask for more fingers in his hair, more tingles along his scalp, only drawing away after they've had a chance to thoroughly explore.]
I am comfortable expressing myself. Intense?
[ Linhardt's eyebrow lifts and his mouth twitches into a half-smirk.]
Now you're setting high expectations. Hopefully you can meet them.
[seeing that little half-smirk lights a fire in rei. this may be for scientific purposes ultimately, but that doesn't mean they can't have fun in the meantime. in fact, he vastly prefers when it is fun and when it does feel good rather than perfunctory as he's quickly finding out since meeting eiden. his pupils dilate in excitement, and he grins.]
Oh, I intend to.
[with both hands now in linhardt's hair, he pulls him into a far more aggressive kiss. the first kiss was to just gauge the other's reaction, how receptive he'd be. and oh, linhardt did not disappoint.
now, his switch is flipped (though he doesn't think his mind could ever fully switch out of academia mode, he's always analyzing essence to some degree somewhere in his head), and he's trying to usher linhardt back towards the bed, all the while slipping his tongue back into the other's mouth, devouring him, licking up every drop of essence in his saliva he has to offer.
(rei would luckily not be very offended if linhardt fell asleep on him, as he could just finish them both off regardless, but boy would it be a first - and rei doesn't have a lot of 'firsts' to go around in his older-than-he-seems age. it would certainly be kinda amusing, at least!)]
[ When it comes to important matters, Linhardt is capable of taking a hint. So he falls back towards the bed, grabbing Rei by the hips and pulling him along. Taking a moment to enjoy the feeling of Rei on his lap, Linhardt gives him a kiss of his own before laying him down on the bed and stretching out next to him, sweater rising to reveal a sliver of pale torso.]
Discover anything yet?
Give me your hand. I want to try something.
[ The mage reaches out to present Rei with an upturned palm, an anticipatory look in his eyes. ]
[they fall into rei's favorite position, and rei's arms instinctively go around linhardt's shoulders as he eagerly takes the kiss he's given. that is, before he's placed on the bed with linhardt laying beside him. for a moment, rei is utterly confused (how are they supposed to fuck like this!), until he's presented with a hand and a question.]
So far, I can tell you're a powerful mage. [his "essence" is delicious. filling in a way that his own essence sorely needs.] Though, I'm sure you could have told me that.
[he places his hand in linhardt's, curious as to what he's planning.]
[ So Rei likes being on his lap. Linhardt notes this preference, ideas being planted in his mind for how he would like this particular encounter to go. If they did ... then he'd be able to.... hmmm. Linhardt had not come there for sex, but he's not upset that he's going to be having it. Even if he is a bit worried. He likes Rei and would like to continue speaking with him. Which means it matters how this goes. ]
Yes. I am good at magic, though my strength is in breadth and control rather than pure magical strength. Hubert is stronger than I am, but he also would not be amenable to this form of study.
[ To say the least. Knowledge is a circumstantial good to Hubert, not a good thing in its own right. Linhardt lazily traces his fingers over Rei's palm and up his forearm and down again - there's no need to rush. ]
I thought we could kiss while I experimented with using different forms of magic. I'm curious if you could feel the difference - I practice both faith and reason magic.
[rei, too, quite enjoys linhardt's company, far more than he does the average person, toward whom his general disposition is barely held-together tolerance. this 'hubert,' even if he is as powerful as linhardt claims, sounds like exactly the kind of person rei butts heads with as he has someone in his life back home who believes much the same.]
Still, I could tell how skilled you are.
[rei cannot hold back the utterly bewildered expression on his face at the light, gentle touches. okay, it isn't like he's never experienced this sort of thing - it's just usually not what people want from him, and most certainly not how rei approaches sex. however, the mention of experiments ignites his interest again, and he keeps his hand in linhardt's.
and, well, he's the one who asked linhardt to come here in the first place, might as well go at linhardt's preferred pacing since linhardt is taking time out of his busy day of naps for this. even if it's gnawing at his patience.]
Oh yeah? That does sound like a worthwhile experiment. I assume you don't need incantations for your magic, or making out would heavily hinder that.
[he scoots closer, propping himself up on an elbow so he can hover over linhardt, fingertips slipping under the cuff of linhardt's sweater teasingly.]
[ Oh no. He's doing something wrong. Linhardt doesn't usually get that look in bed - it's normally given to him when he says or does something that goes against social norms. But what has he done? Linhardt immediately pulls his hand back, not wanting to touch Rei in a way that he doesn't desire. ]
What have I done wrong? I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I actually like you and would prefer to be on speaking terms with you afterward.
[ Not that he would want someone he doesn't like to be uncomfortable, but. Linhardt's first thought is that Rei does not desire him, but that does not make sense given that Rei is responding well to his suggestions and is even reaching out towards him. He smiles, although it does not erase the anxiety set into his face.]
Technically the spells do require vocalization, but the words don't need to actually be spoken aloud - subvocalizations are sufficient. The most common spellwork used to hinder another mage is a silencing spell, but it's actually a paralytic spell focusing on the vocal chords, not a spell focused on the concept of speech.
[ He's babbling - does Rei actually care about the fine distinctions in spellwork? Linhardt isn't sure, but now he's nervous. And when he's nervous, he babbles. ]
[ rei shakes his head, directing linhardt's hand to his waist, keeping his own hand on top to silently say it's okay, you can touch me. how to say this... rei is so, so bad at feelings, and conveying those feelings even worse. he's slightly aware that the way he personally approaches sex and touch isn't palatable to some people - eiden's talked his ear off enough to last him a lifetime. but he's like an old grandpa. set in his ways. it's difficult when it's all he's ever known. ]
I'm not uncomfortable.
[ there's a part of him that's touched when linhardt says he likes him. he understands where it's coming from - it's so rare to find someone else as interested in research and experimentation, after all. he gives a little reassuring smirk - or at least, what he thinks is reassuring. ]
I intend to keep speaking with you regardless - we've yet to scratch the surface of sharing our respective research, after all.
[ now for the difficult part, and the small smirk turns contemplative. ] I was just confused. People generally prefer to jump straight to penetration in some way. [ a shrug. ] Clearly you don't, which is fine. I shouldn't have made that assumption. I asked for your time, we can do this the way you prefer. Nothing is off the table for me, so there's no need to worry whether you've done something wrong or not.
[ rei actually does care about the fine distinctions in spellwork and actually finds the babbling to be quite informative. he takes it all in carefully, making notes in his head. ]
I see - I'd also like to see that in action as well. Perhaps you can use that spell on me after this so I can understand what it feels like personally. So. Shall we get started with your proposal? [ kissing while using different forms of magic. ]
Nothing being off the table does not mean that you do not have preferences or that I should not pay attention to how you receive my actions.
[ But...Linhardt understands. Rei is used to people who are quick and to the point - most of Linhardt's own bedmates prior to his arrival at the Golden Peacock had been people who were not well known to him, and he's had a few encounters that were direct and to the point: Mostly after particularly harrowing battles. He hums in the back of his throat, considering how to proceed.
The healer reaches out and holds Rei's cheek in his palm for a moment before he traces a finger across the man's jaw and then he leans in to kiss him, pressing their lips together in silent acceptance of what Rei has just told him, opening his mouth again to allow for Rei to explore. His hands take Rei's and lead them to the buttons of his hunter green pajama top, inviting Rei to begin stripping him bare. Then Linhardt places one hand at the small of Rei's back, pulling his power to him and expressing it as heat, causing a spike of warmth to spread both from his hand and up into Rei's spine.
When he withdraws to breathe, Linhardt takes the opportunity to nuzzle in to Rei's neck, monitoring his reaction. The reason Linhardt takes his time is because he wants to learn what his partners enjoy: If Rei has told him that he would enjoy moving faster, then there is no reason not to.]
Mmm... I actually don't know the Silencing spell. The idea of learning it always made me uncomfortable.
That was a Reason spell - a spell involving the application of will as force interacting with the fundamental forces of the world.
Is there anywhere that you have tension that bothers you? Your skull? Perhaps your hand?
[ Hand cramps are a perennial annoyance to most serious scholars. ]
I appreciate the consideration, but I assure you it's not necessary. I'm fine regardless of what you do or don't do.
[rei takes that kiss, pushes bodily into it and accepts the generous invitation into his mouth. linhardt's unique taste is as delicious as linhardt is beautiful, and rei very eagerly and hastily unbuttons his top with efficiency and expertise, pushing it off his shoulders to touch soft, warm skin. he can practically taste the honed mastery over his magic, the focused might in his healing magic. it's intoxicating, and rei's body yearns for more.
he hums in appreciation at the warmth blooming from his lower back, warming his cooler body. most importantly, rei can taste the "essence" signatures, how it differs from his neutral state.
linhardt pulls away, leaving rei flushed with desire and want for all that linhardt has to offer.]
Oh, ah- my back.
[because he sits like a fucking shrimp as he pores over his notes and reads through books. and also getting his back blown out repeatedly since coming here.]
I don't want you to be fine, I want you to enjoy yourself so much that you think of this time in the future.
[ And that really is it: It's important for Linhardt that his partner enjoy themselves, and Rei is allowed to express that verbally. He doesn't have to, however, as his enjoyment and consent is obvious in his body language: In how Rei responds to the kiss, in how quickly Rei removes Linhardt's shirt, and in the delicate way Rei touches Linhardt's revealed skin, causing the healer to shiver in delightful anticipation.
So he can continue, and he can lose himself to pleasure without worrying about stepping over Rei's boundaries.
His back? Linhardt pulls away from their kissing to nod, reaching up to push Rei's robe off of his shoulders. He leans in to kiss one, inhaling deeply and letting his hands roam around Rei's torso both out of desire and out of a need to know which of his back muscles were tense. There. The middle. Deciding to show off a little, Linhardt presses their lips together again and lets his hands explore Rei's body. He doesn't need to touch the man's back to use magic on it.
Suddenly, without warning, the muscles in Rei's back relax, years of tension disappearing in an instant, replaced with a feeling that is somewhere between having had an amazing massage and having had a solid rest - full of energy and pliant, ready to be used. Linhardt smiles against Rei's mouth and he starts to plant kisses on the other man's jaw.]
Do you see why I suggested we lay down?
[ He's teasing. Just a bit. Sometimes people are known to fall over when healing magic is used on them so suddenly. ]
[ah... it seems it's not just eiden invested in rei's enjoyment in his sexual activities. he's feeling some kind of way about it, because he's starting to question his understanding of the word 'enjoyment.' is feeling good not the only prerequisite to enjoyment when it comes to sex? that's honestly all he needs to have a good time. are his standards too low because he uses sex as a means to an end?
well. he gets the feeling he's not going to get the answer to that quandary anytime soon. and he really doesn't want an answer anyway. there are other questions he'd rather look into! like his research!
linhardt seems to be more relaxed, less timid, and that's what's more important right now.
hands move across his body, pausing every so often, strangely intimate in the gentle, searching touch. rei can't suppress the shudder that racks through his body, especially when linhardt kisses him once again and bathes his body in the warm glow of faith magic. he can feel every muscle unclench, even muscles he didn't think were clenched! he's left breathless and boneless, and all linhardt had done so far was kiss him. damn. this guy's a master kisser, apparently.]
Fuck- yeah, that's phenomenal healing work. [he rotates a shoulder, amazed at how... loose his body feels. he takes every kiss given to him, returning it tenfold with a heated one, just to double check his read on linhardt's essence. and perhaps also as gratitude.]
Thanks for that. Yeah, I can absolutely sense a difference. Your neutral essence is calm, and your essence when casting that spell was more - hm. Warmer for sure. And bright. Perhaps intense is a more quantifiable term. Interesting, but not altogether surprising given the nature of the spell. Now, you had another kind of spell you wanted to try?
[ Linhardt tilts his head, amused at the profuse praise that Rei levels on him. At the same time, although Linhardt will never admit it, it does bring him pleasure to watch people after he heals them. The joy with which Rei moves his shoulder is a simple one, yet it does provide some measure of fulfillment. Not to a level where Linhardt would like to do such things all day, but he still enjoys it. ]
It's very elementary, actually. If you had a brain injury, a complex fracture, or multiple poisons attacking your systems, I'd consider that healing to be closer to 'phenomenal'.
[ It's a distinction that Linhardt wants Rei to have - this isn't just about Linhardt's magic in isolation, but about how it compares to the magic of other denizens at the 'resort'. So giving Rei context and perspective would be helpful. ]
Intense and warm makes sense - that spell was essentially focused life energy.
[ Rei is very focused. If they were discussing any other topic, Linhardt would find this annoying, but since it's magic, it is, instead, delightful. He is not solely responsible for remembering all the variables they want to test! Wonderful! Linhardt smiles and slowly unfolds himself into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. He then pats his lap in invitation as Rei had indicated a liking for that position. ]
Hah - I've had that knot in my back for ages, and no other healing magic's worked on it. I'd say that's phenomenal in its own right.
[though that might honestly be because he's never allowed anyone close enough to properly heal him until he came here and is now surrounded by powerful healers. it's like the entire world and universe is telling him to take better care of himself. he will not, thank you, but he won't say no to a nice healing spell from a proper healer, not a shit healer like himself.
(he'll have to see if linhardt would follow up on that 'multiple poisons running through his system' thing after they get to know each other better... it could be an interesting experiment? test the limits of linhardt's magic while simultaneously gauging the amount of magical energy expelled. ah, but if this healer is anything like olivine...he'll probably decline. healers don't usually like to purposefully harm those around them. goes against their whole nature normally. hm... a thought for another day.)
he eagerly crawls his way toward linhardt, perching into his lap like he was made to be there. he slides his arms over linhardt's slim shoulders, leaning in to press his lips against the side of his face, his ear, down his neck. his heated breath ghosts against linhardt's skin.]
Perhaps. Or perhaps your world has very little healing magic in comparison to Fodlan. Or you haven't had access to healers at my level before.
[ Linhardt does not know what Rei's social background is. He's had access to talented healers his entire life, but that is far from a normal experience, even in Fodlan. He's one of the more educated, skilled, and talented healers in Fodlan. There are some that reached his level - or eclipsed it - but not many. So it is a possibility worth mentioning that Rei simply might have not encountered healers on that level before.
His hands come to rest on Rei's hips, holding him firmly in place as Linhardt takes the time to enjoy the other man's ministrations: The feeling of lips against his skin, the eagerness in his motions, and the warmth of the other man's breath all coming together to tell Linhardt that it's okay to relax. To give in to enjoying himself. He runs a hand along Rei's jaw and then tilts the man's face up to give him a thorough, exploratory kiss, savoring Rei's taste. ]
Mmm...
[ Ah yes. That's right. Magic. ]
Fire - though technically I'm only going to generate heat. I don't want to hurt you.
[ The goal is to please Rei, not immolate him or give him severe burns. ]
So you're going to need to pay close attention since I won't be using much power.
[ Linhardt leans in to kiss Rei again. His hands reach to push Rei's robe off his shoulders, letting his fingers trail over the man's skin. Then he murmurs something against Rei's mouth and the fingers touching Rei are suddenly awash with heat, each one trailing warmth that would not be out of place in a hot stone massage: A controlled and pleasant heat that can seep into Rei's body while Linhardt touches him. ]
Mm - we'll have to test the efficacy of our worlds' healing sometime. I'm not very practiced, but there's someone from my world here who is.
[linhardt wasn't too far off the mark, to be honest. while rei's life before becoming a cryptid living in the forest to run experiments was more similar to linhardt's life growing up, he'd since given up all of that and cut off ties with his bloodline. and he'd only met olivine very recently before coming here, so yeah. no good healers around to sooth his aches other than himself.]
You're a healer, can't you just-
[he's cut off with a kiss, distracted by the touch and warmth on his exposed skin. he absentmindedly just gets rid of his robe altogether, not at all shy about it as he sighs contently into the kiss. the warmth seems to further loosen his back muscles - and honestly anywhere linhardt's hands touch, and rei has never felt more relaxed in his entire life.
but of course, he doesn't forget the point of this - he takes in linhardt's essence, licking it up from inside his mouth, tongue eagerly seeking it, as he compares the signatures with the previous exchanges. his memory is excellent enough, at least for this kind of thing, to memorize and separate the three different signatures, thankfully.
and if he grinds his hips down against linhardt, that's another thing entirely, of course.]
Oh? Who is that? I would welcome that idea - I think that any time that we can compare like to like, we ought to. That will minimize potential confounding variables. Although we'll want to do the healing on the same being as well - we may have differing physiologies in ways we aren't aware.
[ For example, what about Rei (and presumably other people from his world) makes them able to sense magic through eroticism? There are theories about the influence emotions can have on magic - mostly on those who bear Crests - but none of them focus on that emotion. Linhardt nuzzles against Rei's neck, stopping semi-frequently as a thought occurs to him to follow up on, making a mental note before he continues his attentions.
It's easy to make Rei melt into his hands, which is just what Linhardt wants - he wants the other scholar to exist in a haze of relaxed pleasure. He presses his fingers into Rei's skin, giving the man an impromptu massage, coming to knead at his shoulders while continuing to kiss him.]
Couldn't I what?
[Don't withhold from him. It makes him wonder what Rei is wondering about. The question bees are buzzing. Linhardt nips at Rei's nose to convey his not-seriously-irritated-but-still-curious feeling before his lips capture Rei's again. He tastes good. Is it wrong to enjoy it?
The healer groans into Rei's mouth at the delicious friction, heart starting to beat faster as Linhardt's mind and body come to full agreement: Sex good. Yes. Linhardt's hands slide down to grip Rei's hips and encourage the motion, pressing his own groin - and his quickly coming to attention erection - against Rei's. ]
Mmm...do we need to do something in particular or do you only need to orgasm?
Ah- a priest named Olivine. Green hair with an amazing chest. [a small, breathless laugh. it is, indeed, quite the sight to behold when olivine's shirtless.] I'll be the test subject. I'll be able to more accurately describe the factors we'd be testing for anyway instead of giving vague, subjective statements that hold no value.
[he's had one too many test subjects who gave him just that kinds of answer, unfortunately...
that massage feels amazing, and he can't help the satisfied sigh that spills from him, leaning more into linhardt's fingertips, adjusting himself so they more precisely reach the places that really need that warm, probing touch.]
As a healer, couldn't you just heal what you burn? [he chases after each kiss, getting more and more riled up, his hunger rising with it.] Come on, I can take it. This is an experiment, after all.
[and rei will do anything for an experiment. short of dying, of course. it may not be very conducive to the current...intimate atmosphere for most people, but rei's used to both sensations during sex. there's something just as rewarding in getting good data, after all.]
Ah- fuck- [he braces against the headboard behind linhardt, chest against chest, grinding hard and more fully against him. he wants- he wants more. he just needs linhardt to specify what he'd like to do before rei can dive in and take what he wants.]
On the contrary, you're the one who needs to, nngh, orgasm. Inside me is best. Oral is fine, but anally will yield me the most, hah, accurate readings of your magical energy.
Oh. Him. The talkative one. I haven't seen his chest, so I cannot speak to that one way or another.
[ Rei has a very valid point regarding his suitability as a test subject, so Linhardt nods in ready agreement. That makes sense to him. It is infuriating when he has to walk people through his thought processes for experiments, even though some basic logical thought on the part of others would help them understand. Apparently that is too much to ask for.
Linhardt hums in the back of this throat and uses Rei's subtle motions to direct his efforts towards where they will be the most useful - to find muscle knots and oh so gently tease them apart. His movement is slow, a counterpoint to Rei's frantic excitement. The contrast is deliberate, which is hard to catch except for the smallest smirk on Linhardt's face. He's here to enjoy himself too.]
I know you can take it. I could heal you, but I also wanted to see if small amounts of magic were sufficient for your abilities. I have things I want to know as well.
[ He's not Rei's lab assistant or scribe - he's there to sate his own curiosity. Linhardt grinds his hips against Rei's more, closing his eyes with a sigh as pleasure rolls through him. ]
You should ride me until I come inside of you then. I want to watch you.
[could linhardt get any better? any more perfect? well, okay, he could be more up to rei's speed in terms of sex (no soft touches, no lead ups, just hard and fast fucking), but that's whatever. that's beside the point entirely. linhardt's perfect in the ways that matter. because he's never met someone who 1) also had some things he wanted to test during an experiment, 2) had things he wanted to test within the things he already wanted to test, and 3) isn't a crazed stalker.
test within a test within a test. lots of testing going on.
and rei is so thrilled. and he's not even scolding rei for his lack of boundaries when it comes to experiments. truly a bond between men of magic and science! he understands! it makes him want this man in ways he didn't go into this wanting.]
I thought you'd never ask.
[he tears open linhardt's pants immediately upon gaining consent with a remarkable speed and efficiency. he doesn't waste a single moment- no, he lines linhardt up with his hole before sinking down in one smooth motion. he groans deeply, head tilting up as he just takes a moment to feel the fullness, the satisfaction of finally having something inside him again. finally having linhardt in particular inside him.
he can already feel the pinpricks of essence and magical energy from just this. greedy for more, he starts to move, hips quick and practiced.]
I was able to read your essence even with you holding back. I could - hah - tell it was much more erratic. With high highs and low lows - nngh. Still controlled, though. It isn't erratic due to lack of mastery. It's simply the nature of elemental magic in general, and perhaps the nature of holding back.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
rei answers the door promptly, wearing only a robe because it's proven to make this entire experiment a lot easier. he seems to perk up in interest, eyeing the pile of files in his arms and steps aside.]
Set them on the table. And help yourself to the fruit and tea - they're for you.
[and it's quite the spread. being of king rank definitely comes with more advantages than disadvantages (though for rei in particular, the disadvantages are rather uncomfortable), and requesting that fruit and tea be brought to this room has resulted in a literal banquet of all kinds of fruit and fancy teas, all steeping in the finest of porcelain teapots.]
The one in the blue pot is apparently angelica tea. The one in green pine tea.
[he jots down a few notes of his own - linhardt's name, his world's unique form of magic, and anything else he remembers from their brief talk over the watch - before he clicks the pen closed.]
Are these notes all about Crests?
no subject
No. There is also information on magic and its fundamental constants. It would be useless to give you information solely on Crests - there is foundational magical knowledge that most Crest scholarship assumes you understand. And we can't assume that magic shares the same foundations between our worlds.
[ After lying all the notes on the table for Rei to peruse, Linhardt turns his attention towards the bevy of food and drink. The spread is more akin to what Linhardt is used to - a selection of top tier fruits and teas ready for his consumption. He picks up a strawberry and places it in his mouth, sucking on the fruit and then biting into it to enjoy the sweetness. Then he picks up a peach and does the same. When he lifts up the green teapot, Linhardt hefts it approvingly - this teapot will retain heat so he does not have to waste his magic heating the tea - and delicately pours not one but two cups of tea, passing one over to Rei.
Lifting his cup to his lips, Linhardt watches Rei in open curiosity.]
How would you like to proceed? This is your experimentation and data collecting.
no subject
he sips at the tea poured for him, nodding his thanks.]
I have to agree with you there, just skimming through this I already see some discrepancies between our worlds. [he momentarily looks at the other stacks of notes, eyes skimming down the row for a few key phrases on each page. god, he wants to dig into it now... but! he's got his own research to conduct.]
Let me know when you've had your fill for now - we can get started on that bed over there. [he gestures with his pen.] Though, before that, anything off limits for you?
no subject
Can you present me with a list of the discrepancies? We should also use our knowledge of said discrepancies to experiment with the native magic of this place.
[ Reaching out for a strawberry, Linhardt puts it in his mouth, biting down to suck out the sweet juices and closing his eyes out of enjoyment. It's so fresh. How? He doesn't know, but it is a delight. As is the feeling of the immaculately made teacup under his hands - the craftsmanship is impressive.
He tilts his head to the side. ]
I've never been asked that before. I am not sure. I enjoy most dalliances as long as both I and my partner experience physical pleasure.
[ He doesn't usually talk to his partners this much. ]
no subject
[he's going to be so busy in the coming months just testing all the different kinds of magic and comparing and contrasting literally every variable he can think of. he's pretty excited, honestly, even if his placid expression doesn't betray much. there's a sparkle in his eye if you know to look for it.
he looks up from his scribbling for a second.]
Yeah? Well, I guess just let me know if you don't like something I do. I'm told I'm... intense.
[he smirks for a second before he goes back to jotting down some notes. once he's done (for now), he stands, stretching before grabbing a random fruit and tossing it in his mouth. it's a good thing linhardt requested some food, otherwise he wouldn't have eaten. he leans against the table and watches linhardt just enjoying the fruit for a second, admiring his beauty. he's not even being alluring on purpose, is he?
he tangles a hand in linhardt's hair, leaning in close, aiming to steal a kiss to get things started.]
no subject
[ And use it themselves. Linhardt has found himself intrigued by several aspects of this place: the animated portraits and moving locations among them. While Rei writes, Linhardt eats a slice of apple and takes several more drinks of his tea. It is helping him feel marginally less tired - he could still go for a nap, but at least with some tea inside of him, Linhardt is fairly confident he won't fall asleep during the act. That would be rather mortifying given he actually would like to speak with Rei again.
When he looks up, he finds Rei watching him. Linhardt blinks and is about to ask if he has something on his face when Rei leans in. The lack of preamble makes Linhardt's eyes widen in shock, but he adjusts to the kiss easily, relaxing into Rei and returning the kiss, opening his mouth to allow Rei to explore and taste the mage if he so desires, eyes shut as he appreciates the touch for what it is: A moment of respite in odd and undesirable circumstances. He draws out the kiss, leaning his head into Rei's hands in a silent ask for more fingers in his hair, more tingles along his scalp, only drawing away after they've had a chance to thoroughly explore.]
I am comfortable expressing myself. Intense?
[ Linhardt's eyebrow lifts and his mouth twitches into a half-smirk.]
Now you're setting high expectations. Hopefully you can meet them.
no subject
Oh, I intend to.
[with both hands now in linhardt's hair, he pulls him into a far more aggressive kiss. the first kiss was to just gauge the other's reaction, how receptive he'd be. and oh, linhardt did not disappoint.
now, his switch is flipped (though he doesn't think his mind could ever fully switch out of academia mode, he's always analyzing essence to some degree somewhere in his head), and he's trying to usher linhardt back towards the bed, all the while slipping his tongue back into the other's mouth, devouring him, licking up every drop of essence in his saliva he has to offer.
(rei would luckily not be very offended if linhardt fell asleep on him, as he could just finish them both off regardless, but boy would it be a first - and rei doesn't have a lot of 'firsts' to go around in his older-than-he-seems age. it would certainly be kinda amusing, at least!)]
no subject
Discover anything yet?
Give me your hand. I want to try something.
[ The mage reaches out to present Rei with an upturned palm, an anticipatory look in his eyes. ]
no subject
So far, I can tell you're a powerful mage. [his "essence" is delicious. filling in a way that his own essence sorely needs.] Though, I'm sure you could have told me that.
[he places his hand in linhardt's, curious as to what he's planning.]
Care to share what you're thinking?
no subject
Yes. I am good at magic, though my strength is in breadth and control rather than pure magical strength. Hubert is stronger than I am, but he also would not be amenable to this form of study.
[ To say the least. Knowledge is a circumstantial good to Hubert, not a good thing in its own right. Linhardt lazily traces his fingers over Rei's palm and up his forearm and down again - there's no need to rush. ]
I thought we could kiss while I experimented with using different forms of magic. I'm curious if you could feel the difference - I practice both faith and reason magic.
no subject
Still, I could tell how skilled you are.
[rei cannot hold back the utterly bewildered expression on his face at the light, gentle touches. okay, it isn't like he's never experienced this sort of thing - it's just usually not what people want from him, and most certainly not how rei approaches sex. however, the mention of experiments ignites his interest again, and he keeps his hand in linhardt's.
and, well, he's the one who asked linhardt to come here in the first place, might as well go at linhardt's preferred pacing since linhardt is taking time out of his busy day of naps for this. even if it's gnawing at his patience.]
Oh yeah? That does sound like a worthwhile experiment. I assume you don't need incantations for your magic, or making out would heavily hinder that.
[he scoots closer, propping himself up on an elbow so he can hover over linhardt, fingertips slipping under the cuff of linhardt's sweater teasingly.]
no subject
What have I done wrong? I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I actually like you and would prefer to be on speaking terms with you afterward.
[ Not that he would want someone he doesn't like to be uncomfortable, but. Linhardt's first thought is that Rei does not desire him, but that does not make sense given that Rei is responding well to his suggestions and is even reaching out towards him. He smiles, although it does not erase the anxiety set into his face.]
Technically the spells do require vocalization, but the words don't need to actually be spoken aloud - subvocalizations are sufficient. The most common spellwork used to hinder another mage is a silencing spell, but it's actually a paralytic spell focusing on the vocal chords, not a spell focused on the concept of speech.
[ He's babbling - does Rei actually care about the fine distinctions in spellwork? Linhardt isn't sure, but now he's nervous. And when he's nervous, he babbles. ]
no subject
I'm not uncomfortable.
[ there's a part of him that's touched when linhardt says he likes him. he understands where it's coming from - it's so rare to find someone else as interested in research and experimentation, after all. he gives a little reassuring smirk - or at least, what he thinks is reassuring. ]
I intend to keep speaking with you regardless - we've yet to scratch the surface of sharing our respective research, after all.
[ now for the difficult part, and the small smirk turns contemplative. ] I was just confused. People generally prefer to jump straight to penetration in some way. [ a shrug. ] Clearly you don't, which is fine. I shouldn't have made that assumption. I asked for your time, we can do this the way you prefer. Nothing is off the table for me, so there's no need to worry whether you've done something wrong or not.
[ rei actually does care about the fine distinctions in spellwork and actually finds the babbling to be quite informative. he takes it all in carefully, making notes in his head. ]
I see - I'd also like to see that in action as well. Perhaps you can use that spell on me after this so I can understand what it feels like personally. So. Shall we get started with your proposal? [ kissing while using different forms of magic. ]
no subject
[ But...Linhardt understands. Rei is used to people who are quick and to the point - most of Linhardt's own bedmates prior to his arrival at the Golden Peacock had been people who were not well known to him, and he's had a few encounters that were direct and to the point: Mostly after particularly harrowing battles. He hums in the back of his throat, considering how to proceed.
The healer reaches out and holds Rei's cheek in his palm for a moment before he traces a finger across the man's jaw and then he leans in to kiss him, pressing their lips together in silent acceptance of what Rei has just told him, opening his mouth again to allow for Rei to explore. His hands take Rei's and lead them to the buttons of his hunter green pajama top, inviting Rei to begin stripping him bare. Then Linhardt places one hand at the small of Rei's back, pulling his power to him and expressing it as heat, causing a spike of warmth to spread both from his hand and up into Rei's spine.
When he withdraws to breathe, Linhardt takes the opportunity to nuzzle in to Rei's neck, monitoring his reaction. The reason Linhardt takes his time is because he wants to learn what his partners enjoy: If Rei has told him that he would enjoy moving faster, then there is no reason not to.]
Mmm... I actually don't know the Silencing spell. The idea of learning it always made me uncomfortable.
That was a Reason spell - a spell involving the application of will as force interacting with the fundamental forces of the world.
Is there anywhere that you have tension that bothers you? Your skull? Perhaps your hand?
[ Hand cramps are a perennial annoyance to most serious scholars. ]
no subject
[rei takes that kiss, pushes bodily into it and accepts the generous invitation into his mouth. linhardt's unique taste is as delicious as linhardt is beautiful, and rei very eagerly and hastily unbuttons his top with efficiency and expertise, pushing it off his shoulders to touch soft, warm skin. he can practically taste the honed mastery over his magic, the focused might in his healing magic. it's intoxicating, and rei's body yearns for more.
he hums in appreciation at the warmth blooming from his lower back, warming his cooler body. most importantly, rei can taste the "essence" signatures, how it differs from his neutral state.
linhardt pulls away, leaving rei flushed with desire and want for all that linhardt has to offer.]
Oh, ah- my back.
[because he sits like a fucking shrimp as he pores over his notes and reads through books. and also getting his back blown out repeatedly since coming here.]
Lot of late nights hunched over a desk.
My health + spring = bad news bears
[ And that really is it: It's important for Linhardt that his partner enjoy themselves, and Rei is allowed to express that verbally. He doesn't have to, however, as his enjoyment and consent is obvious in his body language: In how Rei responds to the kiss, in how quickly Rei removes Linhardt's shirt, and in the delicate way Rei touches Linhardt's revealed skin, causing the healer to shiver in delightful anticipation.
So he can continue, and he can lose himself to pleasure without worrying about stepping over Rei's boundaries.
His back? Linhardt pulls away from their kissing to nod, reaching up to push Rei's robe off of his shoulders. He leans in to kiss one, inhaling deeply and letting his hands roam around Rei's torso both out of desire and out of a need to know which of his back muscles were tense. There. The middle. Deciding to show off a little, Linhardt presses their lips together again and lets his hands explore Rei's body. He doesn't need to touch the man's back to use magic on it.
Suddenly, without warning, the muscles in Rei's back relax, years of tension disappearing in an instant, replaced with a feeling that is somewhere between having had an amazing massage and having had a solid rest - full of energy and pliant, ready to be used. Linhardt smiles against Rei's mouth and he starts to plant kisses on the other man's jaw.]
Do you see why I suggested we lay down?
[ He's teasing. Just a bit. Sometimes people are known to fall over when healing magic is used on them so suddenly. ]
Can you tell any difference in essence?
no worries!! take care of yourself first!!
well. he gets the feeling he's not going to get the answer to that quandary anytime soon. and he really doesn't want an answer anyway. there are other questions he'd rather look into! like his research!
linhardt seems to be more relaxed, less timid, and that's what's more important right now.
hands move across his body, pausing every so often, strangely intimate in the gentle, searching touch. rei can't suppress the shudder that racks through his body, especially when linhardt kisses him once again and bathes his body in the warm glow of faith magic. he can feel every muscle unclench, even muscles he didn't think were clenched! he's left breathless and boneless, and all linhardt had done so far was kiss him. damn. this guy's a master kisser, apparently.]
Fuck- yeah, that's phenomenal healing work. [he rotates a shoulder, amazed at how... loose his body feels. he takes every kiss given to him, returning it tenfold with a heated one, just to double check his read on linhardt's essence. and perhaps also as gratitude.]
Thanks for that. Yeah, I can absolutely sense a difference. Your neutral essence is calm, and your essence when casting that spell was more - hm. Warmer for sure. And bright. Perhaps intense is a more quantifiable term. Interesting, but not altogether surprising given the nature of the spell. Now, you had another kind of spell you wanted to try?
no subject
It's very elementary, actually. If you had a brain injury, a complex fracture, or multiple poisons attacking your systems, I'd consider that healing to be closer to 'phenomenal'.
[ It's a distinction that Linhardt wants Rei to have - this isn't just about Linhardt's magic in isolation, but about how it compares to the magic of other denizens at the 'resort'. So giving Rei context and perspective would be helpful. ]
Intense and warm makes sense - that spell was essentially focused life energy.
[ Rei is very focused. If they were discussing any other topic, Linhardt would find this annoying, but since it's magic, it is, instead, delightful. He is not solely responsible for remembering all the variables they want to test! Wonderful! Linhardt smiles and slowly unfolds himself into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. He then pats his lap in invitation as Rei had indicated a liking for that position. ]
I did. My elemental magic. Come sit with me.
no subject
[though that might honestly be because he's never allowed anyone close enough to properly heal him until he came here and is now surrounded by powerful healers. it's like the entire world and universe is telling him to take better care of himself. he will not, thank you, but he won't say no to a nice healing spell from a proper healer, not a shit healer like himself.
(he'll have to see if linhardt would follow up on that 'multiple poisons running through his system' thing after they get to know each other better... it could be an interesting experiment? test the limits of linhardt's magic while simultaneously gauging the amount of magical energy expelled. ah, but if this healer is anything like olivine...he'll probably decline. healers don't usually like to purposefully harm those around them. goes against their whole nature normally. hm... a thought for another day.)
he eagerly crawls his way toward linhardt, perching into his lap like he was made to be there. he slides his arms over linhardt's slim shoulders, leaning in to press his lips against the side of his face, his ear, down his neck. his heated breath ghosts against linhardt's skin.]
What sort of elemental magic do you have for me?
no subject
[ Linhardt does not know what Rei's social background is. He's had access to talented healers his entire life, but that is far from a normal experience, even in Fodlan. He's one of the more educated, skilled, and talented healers in Fodlan. There are some that reached his level - or eclipsed it - but not many. So it is a possibility worth mentioning that Rei simply might have not encountered healers on that level before.
His hands come to rest on Rei's hips, holding him firmly in place as Linhardt takes the time to enjoy the other man's ministrations: The feeling of lips against his skin, the eagerness in his motions, and the warmth of the other man's breath all coming together to tell Linhardt that it's okay to relax. To give in to enjoying himself. He runs a hand along Rei's jaw and then tilts the man's face up to give him a thorough, exploratory kiss, savoring Rei's taste. ]
Mmm...
[ Ah yes. That's right. Magic. ]
Fire - though technically I'm only going to generate heat. I don't want to hurt you.
[ The goal is to please Rei, not immolate him or give him severe burns. ]
So you're going to need to pay close attention since I won't be using much power.
[ Linhardt leans in to kiss Rei again. His hands reach to push Rei's robe off his shoulders, letting his fingers trail over the man's skin. Then he murmurs something against Rei's mouth and the fingers touching Rei are suddenly awash with heat, each one trailing warmth that would not be out of place in a hot stone massage: A controlled and pleasant heat that can seep into Rei's body while Linhardt touches him. ]
no subject
[linhardt wasn't too far off the mark, to be honest. while rei's life before becoming a cryptid living in the forest to run experiments was more similar to linhardt's life growing up, he'd since given up all of that and cut off ties with his bloodline. and he'd only met olivine very recently before coming here, so yeah. no good healers around to sooth his aches other than himself.]
You're a healer, can't you just-
[he's cut off with a kiss, distracted by the touch and warmth on his exposed skin. he absentmindedly just gets rid of his robe altogether, not at all shy about it as he sighs contently into the kiss. the warmth seems to further loosen his back muscles - and honestly anywhere linhardt's hands touch, and rei has never felt more relaxed in his entire life.
but of course, he doesn't forget the point of this - he takes in linhardt's essence, licking it up from inside his mouth, tongue eagerly seeking it, as he compares the signatures with the previous exchanges. his memory is excellent enough, at least for this kind of thing, to memorize and separate the three different signatures, thankfully.
and if he grinds his hips down against linhardt, that's another thing entirely, of course.]
no subject
[ For example, what about Rei (and presumably other people from his world) makes them able to sense magic through eroticism? There are theories about the influence emotions can have on magic - mostly on those who bear Crests - but none of them focus on that emotion. Linhardt nuzzles against Rei's neck, stopping semi-frequently as a thought occurs to him to follow up on, making a mental note before he continues his attentions.
It's easy to make Rei melt into his hands, which is just what Linhardt wants - he wants the other scholar to exist in a haze of relaxed pleasure. He presses his fingers into Rei's skin, giving the man an impromptu massage, coming to knead at his shoulders while continuing to kiss him.]
Couldn't I what?
[Don't withhold from him. It makes him wonder what Rei is wondering about. The question bees are buzzing. Linhardt nips at Rei's nose to convey his not-seriously-irritated-but-still-curious feeling before his lips capture Rei's again. He tastes good. Is it wrong to enjoy it?
The healer groans into Rei's mouth at the delicious friction, heart starting to beat faster as Linhardt's mind and body come to full agreement: Sex good. Yes. Linhardt's hands slide down to grip Rei's hips and encourage the motion, pressing his own groin - and his quickly coming to attention erection - against Rei's. ]
Mmm...do we need to do something in particular or do you only need to orgasm?
no subject
[he's had one too many test subjects who gave him just that kinds of answer, unfortunately...
that massage feels amazing, and he can't help the satisfied sigh that spills from him, leaning more into linhardt's fingertips, adjusting himself so they more precisely reach the places that really need that warm, probing touch.]
As a healer, couldn't you just heal what you burn? [he chases after each kiss, getting more and more riled up, his hunger rising with it.] Come on, I can take it. This is an experiment, after all.
[and rei will do anything for an experiment. short of dying, of course. it may not be very conducive to the current...intimate atmosphere for most people, but rei's used to both sensations during sex. there's something just as rewarding in getting good data, after all.]
Ah- fuck- [he braces against the headboard behind linhardt, chest against chest, grinding hard and more fully against him. he wants- he wants more. he just needs linhardt to specify what he'd like to do before rei can dive in and take what he wants.]
On the contrary, you're the one who needs to, nngh, orgasm. Inside me is best. Oral is fine, but anally will yield me the most, hah, accurate readings of your magical energy.
no subject
[ Rei has a very valid point regarding his suitability as a test subject, so Linhardt nods in ready agreement. That makes sense to him. It is infuriating when he has to walk people through his thought processes for experiments, even though some basic logical thought on the part of others would help them understand. Apparently that is too much to ask for.
Linhardt hums in the back of this throat and uses Rei's subtle motions to direct his efforts towards where they will be the most useful - to find muscle knots and oh so gently tease them apart. His movement is slow, a counterpoint to Rei's frantic excitement. The contrast is deliberate, which is hard to catch except for the smallest smirk on Linhardt's face. He's here to enjoy himself too.]
I know you can take it. I could heal you, but I also wanted to see if small amounts of magic were sufficient for your abilities. I have things I want to know as well.
[ He's not Rei's lab assistant or scribe - he's there to sate his own curiosity. Linhardt grinds his hips against Rei's more, closing his eyes with a sigh as pleasure rolls through him. ]
You should ride me until I come inside of you then. I want to watch you.
no subject
test within a test within a test. lots of testing going on.
and rei is so thrilled. and he's not even scolding rei for his lack of boundaries when it comes to experiments. truly a bond between men of magic and science! he understands! it makes him want this man in ways he didn't go into this wanting.]
I thought you'd never ask.
[he tears open linhardt's pants immediately upon gaining consent with a remarkable speed and efficiency. he doesn't waste a single moment- no, he lines linhardt up with his hole before sinking down in one smooth motion. he groans deeply, head tilting up as he just takes a moment to feel the fullness, the satisfaction of finally having something inside him again. finally having linhardt in particular inside him.
he can already feel the pinpricks of essence and magical energy from just this. greedy for more, he starts to move, hips quick and practiced.]
I was able to read your essence even with you holding back. I could - hah - tell it was much more erratic. With high highs and low lows - nngh. Still controlled, though. It isn't erratic due to lack of mastery. It's simply the nature of elemental magic in general, and perhaps the nature of holding back.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
You're really good at this, Rei! He can't talk
oh no, the one time rei doesn't want his partner to be speechless LOL
Well then stop being good at sex
but then rei can't see lin's cute faces hehe he'll take the speechlessness
Lin hearing that like 'just gonna put a bag over my face forever now thx'
no!! too pretty to put a bag over it!!!
Bag. NOW.