expereiment | 🦉 golden peacock inbox

[ OOC: Continued from here ]

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[ Linhardt still isn't certain what to think about the idea of a world where one's magical ability is analyzed via sexual activity. It sounds like the sort of absurd thing that a 14 year old boy would come up with after getting into his parents' wine collection. On the other hand, that describes a lot of the Golden Peacock and Linhardt does not know where Fodlan falls on the scale of how sexuality is regarded. Maybe more worlds are like Rei's than Linhardt's.

Either way, it makes the most sense to take the other man at face value. The worst thing that could happen is that Linhardt has mediocre sex, which he does not consider to be a problem. Besides, he had been promised tea and fruit. Given his...less than ideal living situation, Linhardt is not in a position to turn down such things.

Mating Season is a ridiculous name, and Linhardt finds himself ducking his head as he enters. Not out of shame, but because he does not want to be perceived by the staff. He finds the room that Rei mentioned and raises a hand to knock firmly. ]

It is Linhardt. I have notes.

[ Many of them. Linhardt has somehow cobbled together a series of notebooks - where he has found them he has not disclosed - and is carrying a pile of five as well as a number of different colored pens. The different colors are very helpful when it comes to marking and sorting different observations. ]

[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.]

Are these notes all about Crests?

[ 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.]

Care to share what you're thinking?

[ 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.]

[ Vash has, lately, taken to wandering the Vale when he gets the chance. It may not be real (he's not entirely sure) but that's not stopping him from enjoying what's available. In some ways, it reminds him a lot of the potential in Luida's efforts to bring flora to NML, and as he stops to admire some particularly deep blue flowers he can't help but wonder how long it will be until she can make something like this happen.

He has all the faith that she can, if she's let to. There's an air of quiet ease about the way he crouches down to brush fingertips over the petals of a flower, the corners of his lips turning up into a smile. He's honestly in his own world, so much so that he barely registers the presence of someone else. That is, until a twig snaps or something rustles and then he snaps his head up to look over the rim of some spare sunglasses he's managed to find here. His gaze finds Rei immediately then, and he laughs a little. ]

Sorry, I'm not in the way am I? [ He tilts his head to the side slightly in an inquisitive sort of expression, not moving from the squat position in front of the flowers he now assumes they must have both been admiring. ]

[what a coincidence because rei, too, has been in the vale recently ever since olivine handed him his extensive notes regarding it. he's taken to cross-referencing with the notes and his own observations and diving deep into what each plant does when imbued with his essence. it's been days since olivine gave him the notes, and he's not even halfway done yet...

...which is fine, because he's having fun and enjoying learning new things, even if it doesn't directly have to do with essence.

he sees someone else squatting by the flowers - the one in particular rei had next on his list - and he's not the shy type so he just kneels next to him, getting all up in his space unapologetically. he looks up when he's asked a question.]

You are. [bluntly.] But it's fine, I can still run my experiments with you here. [he holds his hand before the flower, once again imbuing it with his essence. it seems to glow bright before producing another bud that immediately flowers. he jots down the results in his notebook.

oh. actually-] -hey, since you're here, do you use magic?

[ Vash's attention is laser focused on the moment Rei gives it essence, and his eyes widen a little as he watches the flower bud and then bloom. He doesn't realize his mouth is hanging open just a little, his own fingers reaching out towards the flower to investigate.

'do you use magic?' Vash blinks at the question, hand still on the flower as a quiet second of hesitation settles in the air between them. He eventually before he lifts both hands up, fingers splayed in surrender. He chuckles, brows pinching together. Explaining is complicated, and always seems to lead to more questions... ]

No, not exactly. Sorry. ...What did you just do? It's not going to hurt the flora, is it? [ He doesn't THINK it will, the flower bloomed again... but it doesn't hurt to ask. ]

[shame. rei was going to ask him to use magic on the flower in turn, but looks like that's no dice. though he notices vash used the phrasing 'not exactly'... ]

I injected my essence. [and normally he wouldn't have to explain what essence is but considering only he and olivine know what it is...] A sort of magical energy, so to speak. It shouldn't hurt the plant, no, but I won't know until I return after a few days to see the full effects. I theorize it will simply return to its original form.

[he takes a photo with his watch.]

When you said 'not exactly,' what did that mean. Do you or don't you? If it quasi-magic, something you need a mechanical conduit to use, I still consider that as using magic.

Oh. [ He turns to watch the flower for a moment, then glances around their surroundings for a moment. The Vale isn't huge, but he'll be able to find this spot again pretty easily, now that he's made a mental note. Some kind of experiment then? He wonders, considering the way Rei speaks about the whole thing, it certainly reminds him of some of the scientists he's known in his life.

But before he can follow up with a question of his own, Rei's curiosity is whirled around to face him again, and all Vash can do at first is laugh again, like some kind of nervous tic. ]

Well, it's hard to explain. [ He pauses here, considering just how much he wants to share. It's only fair, considering Rei has been nothing but straightforward with him, and since Knives is here, there's no sense in trying to play human. ]

I'm not human, so I wouldn't consider it magic. [ I'm not exactly the best example anyway. That remains to be his brother, the actual perfect example of a Plant. But this isn't about Vash's long standing insecurities about what he is or isn't. ]

[rei continues scribbling some notes down and taking pictures on specific details of the flower while vash is lost in thought. he only gives vash his attention once more when he answers his question.

he raises an eyebrow, looking vash up and down. though, appearing human doesn't mean shit when yokai can hide their animal-like characteristics and e-droids with flawless skin seams exist. he leans in close, trying to see if he can see any seams in the face plates. nope, no dice. darn - that's another thing he would love to test. an e-droid with all this technology.]

You can just say you don't want to explain, I won't take offense. [a shake of his head. he will be extremely curious though... but he's not so curious as to invade people's privacy. without consent anyway.]

What are you, then? Unless that's a secret, too.

hey.
i need you.

For a fuck I'm assuming?
Why?

[a second before another text comes in.]

Is it for the game that's going on right now.

it doesn't have to be for a fuck
but it can if you want it to be

and yes.

it's because of a transformation
and i want to know if my essence has changed
potentially

[he was about to tell leona to just use his hand but he said the magic words.]

Oh yeah? That does sound like an interesting experiment.

Looks like you'll get your dick warmed after all. Are you in your room? I'll be down in five.

[ well, he's using his hand! to text!!! ]

yeah, i'm in my room.
you sure you're okay with it? because i bet yours is a lot nicer than mine.

It'll take longer to explain how to get here than to just head to your place since I've been there already.

[honestly it WOULD be easier to run his experiments in his suite with all his apparatuses and shit there... but the trauma, man. the damn trauma... sigh.]

You're like in heat or something because of the game right? Lol. So don't you need me as soon as possible?

don't you know how to multitask?

but fine, fine. you don't have to explain shit. and of course i'm in heat. or something like it. i don't normally go into heat, so how would i know what the damn thing is like???

how long.

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IDK man I do what I want.

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un - kingscholar; text (march event)

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