#i was on hiatus for a while djfalsfd a lot of changes i got to learn now

[artificidel]

It had only been since appearing in Fodlan that Ephidel interacted so intimately with humans. His time in Elibe was certainly filled with work in the shadows of every ruler and Marquess's audience chamber, but that was the passing duty between the silent days upon Valor.

Company was best kept with his own kind.

But now, every moment not spent in solitude was filled with the life of humans. Beasts. Even dragons.

Every moment was spent drinking in how humans communicated, as he was now drinking in Leanne's lips--and a taste of the full breadth of her quintessence.

Humans showed affection in curious ways, this among them, he had learned. The act like a trial--a battle, a dance--between two, and Ephidel endeavored to be a quick study and worthy adversary.

He could not say exactly why. He could see vulnerability in Leanne when they were together, but it would be foolish to not recognize it reflected in his own self as well. She had changed him somehow. Made the chaos inside him make more and less sense all at once. To go against everything he once understood.

Against all logic, he yielded before her, and whether he would admit it or not, it was all together willingly. He wished to put his entire being in her hands, and if she crushed or comforted it, he cared not.

He cradles her against himself, feeling the rise and fall of her back.

"I do." He speaks quietly. "I would like to do this more." He says, craning his head down to see her. Her face is buried in his neck, so to compromise, he finds a spot along her jaw to kiss, tracing upwards towards the curve of her pointed ears.

a kiss stolen away in a corner, ignoring crowds

Leanne holds tight to Ephidel's hand, weaving through the crowd to find a place of respite in a wayward hallway. Parties are lovely, but the emotions of everyone at once is so much, and she would like to have some time to feel Ephidel alone, thank you very much.

Away from the partygoers and in the comfortable quiet, Leanne takes a moment to study Ephidel's face. They're stoic as always, but the faint affection that thrums from them is something she wants to soak in all she can. They really are a pretty individual, she thinks as she runs her free hand through their ponytail.

"Ephidel...is it okay if I try something?" The feeling tugging at Leanne's heart is impossible to ignore, but she does not wish to overwhelm Ephidel. He nods, though, following her lead as he's been doing all night. He is powerful, strange, something she does not fully understand, and yet he trusts her, takes her words in like she is an oasis and he is a wanderer in a strange land. "I would like to kiss, again."

Another nod, and she moves her hand from theirs to their cheek. Their skin is warmer than normal, no flush but where it is usually cool to the touch it emits a gentle heat. It's exciting, and she squeezes her eyes shut as her lips meet theirs. They still don't seem to know what to do, but they follow her lead, moving their lips back against hers, awkwardly mirroring her arm positions and bringing them closer. Kissing is completely foreign to them, it seems. Leanne will do her best to teach them, then!

"You can kiss in a lot of different ways." Leanne tries to keep her voice steady as she takes a moment away from kissing to catch her breath. She tucks a strand of hair out of her face, studying Ephidel's expression. Minuscule differences, but there's an implacable change. They look intently at her, interest written all over them. The beginnings of joy twinge in their soul, a feeling she's hardly felt in this caliber for them before. She wants more. "I've only read about this one, so we'll have to learn together."

Back in she goes, this time parting her lips and letting her tongue snake through. At first Ephidel does not open his own mouth, but he learns quickly, his own tongue entering the scene and finding Leanne's. They explore each other's mouths, hands beginning to roam elsewhere. Ephidel no longer mimics her like a mirror, though he still shadows her movements. She can hear their breathing; a rare feat, and if she focuses, distinct small whines. It's intoxicating, to be able to cause this.

"Mm..." Leanne doesn't want to fully stop kissing, so she mumbles her approval during a lull. Ephidel pulls her closer, almost as if they are protecting her. She likes the feeling of it, and evidently so do they. Leanne does need to breath, though, so she has to separate eventually, panting against the morph's shoulder as she grasps for their hand. "Do you like it? I do. I would like to do this more, if you would."