[ he’s more watching axel than he is his notes, at the moment, so when axel looks up, they lock eyes. his expression is a little hard to read as ever, though, perhaps he knows him enough by now to know he’s worried. ]
We do try. [ always. temenos certainly does - they found everything last week, too, the three of them. ] We’ve been a good investigative team, I believe. All three of us.
[ team rabbit out here solving crimes since week zero. ] And we will continue to be one tomorrow.
[ Axel can feel how worried Temenos is in the gaze, and something about that makes him able to pull something more of himself together, away from the shock. ]
...That's us. Able to still do us best in rounding things up.
[ They will when tomorrow comes. So for now, Axel finds himself disinterested in looking over the notes. They will not magically divine a killer's identity even if he stares hard at them.
Axel counts himself lucky that the three of them are still here to do that. That Temenos is here too. With the thought, he reaches out, for one of the other man's hands. ]
We've still got a whole entire day ahead of us. [ ... ] And I'm glad you're able to see it here too.
[ temenos is... temenos, which means that he is absolutely completely focused on looking over his notes, and quite frankly, if it wasn't axel sitting next to him looking distressed, he might not have even noticed. thankfully, they're close enough by now that he can tell something's up, and...well, he's not an idiot. he knows that sigrun and axel got along well.
he stops tapping his pen against his notebook. axel takes his hand. for a moment, he can set down the two cases - though just for a moment - as he recalls their conversation on wednesday. it's been a busy week since, but... ]
And I as well. [ temenos is unaware of how badly lum deathflags me every thursday :nyeh: but this changes nothing. truthfully, it's always a little worrying on thursdays. he's had enough of waking up and finding that the people he cares for are dead. so...
they no longer have to text each other every time, because they're always together. it's a little funny how things change, isn't it? he glances down at the hand that he just let him take, marveling a little at how easy it is for someone to slip between your ribs unguarded.
there's a long, thoughtful pause, and, like he's finishing his sentence, with all of his usual confidence, and the slightest smile, temenos meets his gaze; ] ...Lea.
[ names are important. temenos likes to nickname - he likes to tease, likes to bully, likes to call people playful little condescension, like 'mr. reliable', like 'captain', like 'little lamb'. but that makes it all the more important, when he takes the step to refer to someone by their name, and the gravity of using the one axel prefers for the very first time is not lost. ]
[ Axel wouldn't blame him — he knows somebody like that back home who concentrates that hard at tasks, far more than he ever does. Even when he's like this, it'd just mean he'd have moments more with his own thoughts.
But, Temenos is definitely not about to just let him stew in those.
Even like this, even with tragedy staring him in the face, he too also recalls what they spoke about then. He hears the words which come from the cleric's mouth, in agreement, but what follows after those is the most surprising of it all. He had told him he wanted him to call that name when everything was all said and done. But, Axel has always imagined what it'd be like to hear Temenos say his name.
It makes him realize that perhaps he might have been too arrogant. Maybe for these things there can never be the right time, until they make it be so. Who knows what might transpire in the trial tomorrow?
But, all he can hear in his head is Temenos' utterance of his real name, piercing like a visible hand reaching out through the darkness.
It's always the darkest before the dawn. ]
Heh. Looks like somebody couldn't wait to use my real name.
[ But, Axel is smiling nonetheless, words spoken gently. A smaller, more conservative version of his usual one, though there is a rekindling of something within the pain, embers of light that persist. ]
...Can you do something for me, Tem? Close your eyes for a moment?
[ it's a little satisfying to see his reaction - the soft smile, a little less bright, but warm like a hearth. the intention from earlier in the week had always been there, after all, and there seems no better moment.
he's unaware of any of axel's thoughts beyond that, though. his own smile is wry, and he turns his head back to his notes. he'll let him decide if he couldn't wait to use it or not, content as always with the mystery of the moment, to allow others to attempt to get a read on him when he is notoriously a very closed book.
but, as axel continues - and maybe in the greater gesture of his trust - temenos just makes a slightly questioning noise, an mm?, almost absentminded, then simply agrees.
alright, sure. he closes his eyes, turning his head back towards axel. ? ]
[ Spotting that wry smile, Axel thinks of even that it is one of the things he cherishes about him. Such that his mind is focused on the subject for certain reasons.
One of which has to do with what he's just about to do.
Axel moves to hold his free hand against the other male’s cheek and leans in to press his lips gently against Temenos'. It's soft, gentle, but meaningful.
Even now he's a man of his word. He meant what he said, even before everything that happened had. Pulling back only just slightly, he says: ]
...I told you that I would take responsibility.
[ And of course, even like this, he decided to follow up on it. ]
[ the timestamp on this tag makes me want to fight god I CANT BELIEVE YOU DID THIS
it is hard to catch temenos off guard, in general. he tends to be one step ahead of most situations, always dancing a bit ahead of most people - hard to know, hard to understand. and perhaps it is because he lets his guard down that this happens so easily - and perhaps even more importantly, he lets his guard down in the first place.
it's not the first one, thanks to party games earlier in the week, but it is the first without that kind of push, that kind of necessity. the first time a gesture like this has ever been turned towards temenos, in his entire life. most people wouldn't even dare to come so close, but the thing is, he let axel in first.
there's a soft, sharp inhale of unadulterated surprise. his eyes blink open, almost immediately, and it's over just as fast as it happened, leaving his mouth tingling, and...
... well, in what has to be just as satisfying of a reaction, temenos mistral is struck completely speechless. and maybe even more excitingly, for the first time ever for axel, this smoothness completely works, because his face starts turning red immediately, coloring from cheek to cheek and across his nose.
and for once, he has no sassy comment, or even any kind of comeback, just a very soft - ] ...Oh.
[ and a tiny, surprised laugh.
oh. maybe he's an idiot. how did he not see this coming? it's always the most obvious things that slip right by under his nose. he's half amused at the situation, half at himself, and all flustered, heartbeat arguably going about a thousand miles an hour. ]
Axel doesn't know what kind of reaction he has been anticipating. He hasn't thought that far ahead. But, what he knows is this:
Seeing the way that Temenos reacts? He can't help but be pleasantly surprised. Perhaps he thought that there would be, well...actually, once again, he doesn't know. But seeing that the other has been adorably caught off-guard, with his face flushed, Axel can't help but feel giddy.
And the surprised laugh? Absolutely cute. It's perfection wrapped in a neat bow, from his point of view, even if his mind is starting to get perhaps a bit too cheesy here. So he forcefully pulls himself out of his head. ]
...You liked it?
[ Axel dares to ask, trying to seem cool as he does, and not like he's smiling a little, but he is. ]
it's not like, mean laughter, but it is actual, genuine laughter, a pffft-- startled right out of his mouth like temenos can't help himself, because he cant. it's a combination of a few things. it's the fact that axel did, in fact, catch him off guard. it's the fact that this is happening. it's the fact that this is an exceedingly dorky reaction and maybe worse, it's the fact that he really likes that, that axel is trying to be extremely cool and just coming off like a puppy, instead. it is so unbelievably endearing.
send help. he just kind of laughs, delighted, bewildered at himself, at this situation, hopelessly endeared by it. fuck!!!!! he's down bad too!!!!! ]
-- What am I supposed to say to that? Lea. [ like, yes, probably? but he's laughing anyway, because it is just so ridiculous and so hopelessly endearing that the answer is clearly yes.
that's the other thing, too. it's not bullying: this is genuine, mirthful laughter. he doesn't pull away far, either, letting him stay close, nearly enough that their noses are brushing, and when it finally subsides into mirthful little giggles, he shakes his head a little, and the smile on his face is so, so fond. ] You're so direct.
[ Well, when he feels that amount of laughter, Axel's face begins to turn kind of red not unlike some of the colors one might spot in the afternoon sky. Really, how is he supposed to react when the other man is giving such a reaction? But, it isn't like he feels humiliated despite it all...it's just — he really likes the sound of Temenos' laughter.
(He's got it bad, fam.)
...And he can just tell — in his heart, even if it sounds so cheesy — that the sound means that the other man really doesn't think of it as a bad thing at all. Then, he's talking, saying his name, and Axel feels his own heart race again.
He's enraptured by the fond smile — the genuine mirth, and delighted emotion etched into every single bit of Temenos' being. ]
It seems to me that's just one of the things you enjoy about me. I'm not wrong, am I?
[ Look at the grin that's coming across Axel's face, with their noses brushing against each other's with incredible ease. ]
the fact that he keeps going makes him start laughing again, even if this time it's a little quieter - another bright burst of it, because he actually cannot help himself, and he starts to very playfully push his face away, leaning backwards, but only far enough that he might have to be chased. temenos's ears are red, but the light, almost giddy mood of it does wonders for his boundless confidence and his catholic embarrassment. ]
Hush. [ that is not a no and temenos knows it's not a no. but he's also just not going to let axel - lea - fish around for praise, or call him out on it...
so after a brief moment, with all that playful pushing away included, he very quickly removes his own hand, long enough to hook it around the back of his neck so he can duck in and return the favor. it's a brief, soft kiss - almost playful - but it's an answer all the same. ]
Though, when the other man laughs again, Axel's heart feels like it leaps again, only in pure happiness. In pure glee that remains even when the other playfully pushes at his face, and that actually incurs a loud sort of boisterous laughter from the red head in question.
But he dares to give Temenos a look — a knowing one at that — even at the singular comment he's made. He might even start to wag his eyebrows like the most clever man on the planet, up until the cleric swoops in to return the kiss softly. The hint of potential playfulness is felt, and Axel is smiling into the kiss, which remains even after it ends. ]
I'm not good at being quiet. Even after you've given me a kiss in return, Tem-Tem.
[ Wink.
The answer has been received and set in stone, as far as Axel is concerned. ]
[ for as light and unaffected as he says this, falling back into the easy teasing he's more or less characteristic for, his ears are red. so axel really do be winning, here.
his gaze flicks up, briefly, like he's going to address this - say something, maybe give a real comment about taking responsibility or what this means for what their relationship looks like but, because he is temenos mistral who cannot do anything like a normal person, he gets internally flustered and does not, instead just huffing a laugh and shaking his head, a little fondly. he'll... talk about feelings later, probably. or he'll just rely on the fact that it's probably blatant? words about feelings are really hard. ]
Creative is my middle name, but I'm always glad to hear it straight from you.
[ Axel thinks it's more than blatant. Actions speak louder than words at times. If Temenos didn't have feelings for him, he wouldn't have returned the kiss, that is just the type of man that he is.
...Just be prepared for 'later' to potentially include a restaurant dinner date.
Though he notices the other about to say something, Axel still on cloud nine to properly consider the 'what'. ]
If you wanna add something else to the rain of compliments, I won't stop you.
[ what's extra funny about this is that he has absolutely no idea what's coming. this is so beyond temenos's purview of anything, and he is just a ye olde. courting is for princesses! he has only seen hikari and agnea clearly and awkwardly dancing around each other in his own close sphere, and he has never even considered having a single romantic feeling for a single person in his life, mostly because it involves a lot of. again. feelings. emotions.
so!! this is about to be an extremely wild adventure for him. after being love arrowed, too! what a week.
when axel addresses him again, it snaps temenos out of whatever he was thinking of. he rolls his eyes, though it's very fond, and reaches out to bop him gently on the nose with his pen. boop. ]
You are both shameless and spoiled. [ no more compliments!!! ] Do you know that?
[ Guess this is proof of Axel's true status of a disney princess all along. Where are the lies, right?
Anyway, romance is also relatively new for him, where he has no idea what he's doing. Either way, Temenos is the person who he shared his first kiss with, even if it is in a game of all things, it felt like beyond that, and he recognizes that he...felt things, for him.
The only step forward is to continue doing this properly, or crashing headlong into things, it's fine. He even chuckles a little when he gets a light bop via pen. ]
Me? Shameless and spoiled? I'd prefer to think spectacular and superb.
[ he wants to bully axel so bad which is actually why he's into him. it's the combination of both being a good boy and funny and smart and goofy and also being like, inherently bulliable. he was so doomed.
his ears are still very pink, but he snorts, taking the pen back to tuck it behind his own ear and shake his head. ]
A preference does not the truth make, Lea. [ light and teasing. his heart is still going about a thousand miles an hour? it's fine. temenos is so cool. so smooth. look at him using the name again. ]
[ Cute...seeing the pink still catching around the other male's ears makes him want to dive in for another kiss.
How would he react to a nose kiss? That'd be fun to do when he least expects it. ]
Not even in the slightest?
[ Shifting a bit enough just so he can plant a quick kiss on his nose, because the usage of his real name makes him just that infinitely more giddy, and feeling like he should surprise him with it now. Impulsively. ]
[ the nose kiss gets results immediately! it gets him to cut off his sentence mid word, very surprised by the sudden intrusion into his space: axel gets a moment of wide blue eyes before he blinks and regains his composure. he also gets to feel that his skin warms up at the contact, and he’s a little more flushed than he was before. ]
…. Compliments. [ his sassy little remark gets finished deflated. embarrassing. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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We do try. [ always. temenos certainly does - they found everything last week, too, the three of them. ] We’ve been a good investigative team, I believe. All three of us.
[ team rabbit out here solving crimes since week zero. ] And we will continue to be one tomorrow.
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...That's us. Able to still do us best in rounding things up.
[ They will when tomorrow comes. So for now, Axel finds himself disinterested in looking over the notes. They will not magically divine a killer's identity even if he stares hard at them.
Axel counts himself lucky that the three of them are still here to do that. That Temenos is here too. With the thought, he reaches out, for one of the other man's hands. ]
We've still got a whole entire day ahead of us. [ ... ] And I'm glad you're able to see it here too.
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he stops tapping his pen against his notebook. axel takes his hand. for a moment, he can set down the two cases - though just for a moment - as he recalls their conversation on wednesday. it's been a busy week since, but... ]
And I as well. [ temenos is unaware of how badly lum deathflags me every thursday :nyeh: but this changes nothing. truthfully, it's always a little worrying on thursdays. he's had enough of waking up and finding that the people he cares for are dead. so...
they no longer have to text each other every time, because they're always together. it's a little funny how things change, isn't it? he glances down at the hand that he just let him take, marveling a little at how easy it is for someone to slip between your ribs unguarded.
there's a long, thoughtful pause, and, like he's finishing his sentence, with all of his usual confidence, and the slightest smile, temenos meets his gaze; ] ...Lea.
[ names are important. temenos likes to nickname - he likes to tease, likes to bully, likes to call people playful little condescension, like 'mr. reliable', like 'captain', like 'little lamb'. but that makes it all the more important, when he takes the step to refer to someone by their name, and the gravity of using the one axel prefers for the very first time is not lost. ]
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But, Temenos is definitely not about to just let him stew in those.
Even like this, even with tragedy staring him in the face, he too also recalls what they spoke about then. He hears the words which come from the cleric's mouth, in agreement, but what follows after those is the most surprising of it all. He had told him he wanted him to call that name when everything was all said and done. But, Axel has always imagined what it'd be like to hear Temenos say his name.
It makes him realize that perhaps he might have been too arrogant. Maybe for these things there can never be the right time, until they make it be so. Who knows what might transpire in the trial tomorrow?
But, all he can hear in his head is Temenos' utterance of his real name, piercing like a visible hand reaching out through the darkness.
It's always the darkest before the dawn. ]
Heh. Looks like somebody couldn't wait to use my real name.
[ But, Axel is smiling nonetheless, words spoken gently. A smaller, more conservative version of his usual one, though there is a rekindling of something within the pain, embers of light that persist. ]
...Can you do something for me, Tem? Close your eyes for a moment?
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he's unaware of any of axel's thoughts beyond that, though. his own smile is wry, and he turns his head back to his notes. he'll let him decide if he couldn't wait to use it or not, content as always with the mystery of the moment, to allow others to attempt to get a read on him when he is notoriously a very closed book.
but, as axel continues - and maybe in the greater gesture of his trust - temenos just makes a slightly questioning noise, an mm?, almost absentminded, then simply agrees.
alright, sure. he closes his eyes, turning his head back towards axel. ? ]
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One of which has to do with what he's just about to do.
Axel moves to hold his free hand against the other male’s cheek and leans in to press his lips gently against Temenos'. It's soft, gentle, but meaningful.
Even now he's a man of his word. He meant what he said, even before everything that happened had. Pulling back only just slightly, he says: ]
...I told you that I would take responsibility.
[ And of course, even like this, he decided to follow up on it. ]
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it is hard to catch temenos off guard, in general. he tends to be one step ahead of most situations, always dancing a bit ahead of most people - hard to know, hard to understand. and perhaps it is because he lets his guard down that this happens so easily - and perhaps even more importantly, he lets his guard down in the first place.
it's not the first one, thanks to party games earlier in the week, but it is the first without that kind of push, that kind of necessity. the first time a gesture like this has ever been turned towards temenos, in his entire life. most people wouldn't even dare to come so close, but the thing is, he let axel in first.
there's a soft, sharp inhale of unadulterated surprise. his eyes blink open, almost immediately, and it's over just as fast as it happened, leaving his mouth tingling, and...
... well, in what has to be just as satisfying of a reaction, temenos mistral is struck completely speechless. and maybe even more excitingly, for the first time ever for axel, this smoothness completely works, because his face starts turning red immediately, coloring from cheek to cheek and across his nose.
and for once, he has no sassy comment, or even any kind of comeback, just a very soft - ] ...Oh.
[ and a tiny, surprised laugh.
oh. maybe he's an idiot. how did he not see this coming? it's always the most obvious things that slip right by under his nose. he's half amused at the situation, half at himself, and all flustered, heartbeat arguably going about a thousand miles an hour. ]
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Axel doesn't know what kind of reaction he has been anticipating. He hasn't thought that far ahead. But, what he knows is this:
Seeing the way that Temenos reacts? He can't help but be pleasantly surprised. Perhaps he thought that there would be, well...actually, once again, he doesn't know. But seeing that the other has been adorably caught off-guard, with his face flushed, Axel can't help but feel giddy.
And the surprised laugh? Absolutely cute. It's perfection wrapped in a neat bow, from his point of view, even if his mind is starting to get perhaps a bit too cheesy here. So he forcefully pulls himself out of his head. ]
...You liked it?
[ Axel dares to ask, trying to seem cool as he does, and not like he's smiling a little, but he is. ]
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i'm so sorry to my sweet axel
he starts laughing.
it's not like, mean laughter, but it is actual, genuine laughter, a pffft-- startled right out of his mouth like temenos can't help himself, because he cant. it's a combination of a few things. it's the fact that axel did, in fact, catch him off guard. it's the fact that this is happening. it's the fact that this is an exceedingly dorky reaction and maybe worse, it's the fact that he really likes that, that axel is trying to be extremely cool and just coming off like a puppy, instead. it is so unbelievably endearing.
send help. he just kind of laughs, delighted, bewildered at himself, at this situation, hopelessly endeared by it. fuck!!!!! he's down bad too!!!!! ]
-- What am I supposed to say to that? Lea. [ like, yes, probably? but he's laughing anyway, because it is just so ridiculous and so hopelessly endearing that the answer is clearly yes.
that's the other thing, too. it's not bullying: this is genuine, mirthful laughter. he doesn't pull away far, either, letting him stay close, nearly enough that their noses are brushing, and when it finally subsides into mirthful little giggles, he shakes his head a little, and the smile on his face is so, so fond. ] You're so direct.
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(He's got it bad, fam.)
...And he can just tell — in his heart, even if it sounds so cheesy — that the sound means that the other man really doesn't think of it as a bad thing at all. Then, he's talking, saying his name, and Axel feels his own heart race again.
He's enraptured by the fond smile — the genuine mirth, and delighted emotion etched into every single bit of Temenos' being. ]
It seems to me that's just one of the things you enjoy about me. I'm not wrong, am I?
[ Look at the grin that's coming across Axel's face, with their noses brushing against each other's with incredible ease. ]
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the fact that he keeps going makes him start laughing again, even if this time it's a little quieter - another bright burst of it, because he actually cannot help himself, and he starts to very playfully push his face away, leaning backwards, but only far enough that he might have to be chased. temenos's ears are red, but the light, almost giddy mood of it does wonders for his boundless confidence and his catholic embarrassment. ]
Hush. [ that is not a no and temenos knows it's not a no. but he's also just not going to let axel - lea - fish around for praise, or call him out on it...
so after a brief moment, with all that playful pushing away included, he very quickly removes his own hand, long enough to hook it around the back of his neck so he can duck in and return the favor. it's a brief, soft kiss - almost playful - but it's an answer all the same. ]
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Though, when the other man laughs again, Axel's heart feels like it leaps again, only in pure happiness. In pure glee that remains even when the other playfully pushes at his face, and that actually incurs a loud sort of boisterous laughter from the red head in question.
But he dares to give Temenos a look — a knowing one at that — even at the singular comment he's made. He might even start to wag his eyebrows like the most clever man on the planet, up until the cleric swoops in to return the kiss softly. The hint of potential playfulness is felt, and Axel is smiling into the kiss, which remains even after it ends. ]
I'm not good at being quiet. Even after you've given me a kiss in return, Tem-Tem.
[ Wink.
The answer has been received and set in stone, as far as Axel is concerned. ]
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Continue to call me that and you can consider that the last one.
[ which
implies more kisses in the future but is also temenos being a bully so maybe axel is still winning ]
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[ Axel says with a paper-thin hidden amused smile, help. ]
Don't worry, though, I've got other ones in store if you're not fond of that way.
[ Is he testing fate? No (yes), not at all. ]
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[ for as light and unaffected as he says this, falling back into the easy teasing he's more or less characteristic for, his ears are red. so axel really do be winning, here.
his gaze flicks up, briefly, like he's going to address this - say something, maybe give a real comment about taking responsibility or what this means for what their relationship looks like but, because he is temenos mistral who cannot do anything like a normal person, he gets internally flustered and does not, instead just huffing a laugh and shaking his head, a little fondly. he'll... talk about feelings later, probably. or he'll just rely on the fact that it's probably blatant? words about feelings are really hard. ]
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[ Axel thinks it's more than blatant. Actions speak louder than words at times. If Temenos didn't have feelings for him, he wouldn't have returned the kiss, that is just the type of man that he is.
...Just be prepared for 'later' to potentially include a restaurant dinner date.
Though he notices the other about to say something, Axel still on cloud nine to properly consider the 'what'. ]
If you wanna add something else to the rain of compliments, I won't stop you.
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so!! this is about to be an extremely wild adventure for him. after being love arrowed, too! what a week.
when axel addresses him again, it snaps temenos out of whatever he was thinking of. he rolls his eyes, though it's very fond, and reaches out to bop him gently on the nose with his pen. boop. ]
You are both shameless and spoiled. [ no more compliments!!! ] Do you know that?
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Anyway, romance is also relatively new for him, where he has no idea what he's doing. Either way, Temenos is the person who he shared his first kiss with, even if it is in a game of all things, it felt like beyond that, and he recognizes that he...felt things, for him.
The only step forward is to continue doing this properly, or crashing headlong into things, it's fine. He even chuckles a little when he gets a light bop via pen. ]
Me? Shameless and spoiled? I'd prefer to think spectacular and superb.
[ Superb...who says that... ]
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his ears are still very pink, but he snorts, taking the pen back to tuck it behind his own ear and shake his head. ]
A preference does not the truth make, Lea. [ light and teasing. his heart is still going about a thousand miles an hour? it's fine. temenos is so cool. so smooth. look at him using the name again. ]
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How would he react to a nose kiss? That'd be fun to do when he least expects it. ]
Not even in the slightest?
[ Shifting a bit enough just so he can plant a quick kiss on his nose, because the usage of his real name makes him just that infinitely more giddy, and feeling like he should surprise him with it now. Impulsively. ]
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[ the nose kiss gets results immediately! it gets him to cut off his sentence mid word, very surprised by the sudden intrusion into his space: axel gets a moment of wide blue eyes before he blinks and regains his composure. he also gets to feel that his skin warms up at the contact, and he’s a little more flushed than he was before. ]
…. Compliments. [ his sassy little remark gets finished deflated. embarrassing. ]
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Heheh, maybe I did. But, looks like I made you a bit speechless did, huh?
[ And, of course, he's proud of that too.
What a scoundrel. ]