driftfleet | Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

Ah, right. I could see why that could give you some trouble. We got lucky there.

[But like he said, the touching from all the locals must've been weird. Especially when Clay, while pretty honest, had his own things about privacy. Which...]

So...um, what do you think we should do?

[And then there's that question. Clay gives a shrug with one shoulder, still keeping his arms crossed for now.]

Well... we already share a lot, so I wouldn't mind the whole touch thing with you. [And now he does uncross them to hold out his hand for Allen, though he doesn't take his hand, instead letting Allen decide for himself if he's okay with that.] What do you think?

[Allen, for a moment, hesitates. The idea of opening up on such an intimate level to anyone is an intimidating idea for him. A lot of bad things could happen, being exposed like that.]

[But...this was Clay, he reminds himself. He loves Clay, he trusts him. Clay was someone he felt comfortable about being himself around, which wasn't a small thing. He knew Clay always accepted him, always cared for him- the good and the not so good parts of him. There was no reason to be afraid.]

I...guess we will be here at least a few weeks. [slowly, he will his hand to move and take that hand being offered to do so. Which he does, tentatively. ] It'd be better to just try to get used to it.

[ Through the touch, Clay can feel Allen's nervousness. But that love he felt earlier? It's still there. Along with the feeling of trust. ]

[And on the other side of things, Allen can feel nervousness as well, though a different sort, born from a fear of rejection that Clay had been hiding. But that dissipates quickly, and something like both joy and pride practically blooms in its place. That burst of feeling is accompanied by Clay's big smile, and he leans in to place his other hand on Allen's shoulder and kiss his cheek, the undercurrent of love and affection he always feels for Allen rising as he does so.]

We'll work it out. We'll be fine! [He gives Allen's hand a squeeze, gratitude and trust showing through the gesture.] And... let me know if it's too much? I'll do the same for you, too.

[Not that he could ever get tired of Allen, but feeling emotions like this can probably get exhausting after a while.]

[Allen meanwhile? Now that he knew what was going on when they were touching, found himself feeling floored by what he was experiencing. That each of Clay's movements were accompanied by a direct emotion. Emotions that he could guess that Clay was feeling from knowing him as well as he did, but that was hardly the same as feeling those emotions play out in real time. It was like being opened up to a new sense he never experienced before, or even the first time his left arm moved well enough to be of some use. Like a whole new world opened up...]

[ Whoa. ]

[The thought rings clear through their minds, along with the feeling of amazement]

[And he's feeling much the same way, especially as he experiences Allen's feelings of amazement. And the thought - wow. He kept experiencing the villagers' thoughts, and that was just invasive for him, but now that there's permission on both sides? It's deeply intimate, a level that he never thought possible that's totally and completely new.]

[ This is so intense. ]

Yeah.

[Wow okay, that voice in his head definitely wasn't his own. Just like the feelings of amazement that was coming from Clay. It was incredible and so strong at the same time.]

Yeah, I'd say it's intense. [He laughs a little, it's clear now he does this out of habit to deal with nerves] Were those thoughts just now?

[Yup, he can feel the nerves that comes along with the laughter as well. He kind of figured after all this time, but this just confirms it, and he lets out a huff of laughter as well, but there's a giddy sort of thrill there with it.]

[ Nervous? ]

I think so. That's what it felt like when the villagers kept touching me.

[ That was so weird I didn't like it but it's okay right now. ]

Ah- A little!

[Yeah it's going to take a bit to figure out how to know when respond to things via thoughts or vocal words. But Clay can feel a bit of warmth swell up when Clay thinks that last part. That this is okay with him but not with other people.]

[ We're out in the street maybe we should find somewhere private... ]

[Oh man, it's so weird having Allen respond to a thought he had. It's weird, but not necessarily bad. Like he thought before, it's okay when he's with Allen. He can't see himself tolerating it much with anyone else, like the locals who kept doing so.

That thought of Allen's makes him blink, then look around - that's right, they are in public. He feels sheepish as a result; not embarrassed, not really, but he definitely feels the need to get out of public eye when they're sharing something like this.]

Uh, yeah.

[ Where should we go? ]

They've got inns here... and we can rent tree houses? That's what they told me, anyway.

[ Tree house is probably less expensive it might be nice ]

[Considering what they usually get a room at the inn for? Outwardly, it causes him to blush a little. But in his mind? It flashes back to one of those hotel stays. Skin pressed against skin, the feeling of desire, lust-]

[ Bugger. Not now.]

[He scolds himself as he shakes off the memory. Definitely not what he meant. And the fact that Clay might've seen that makes it even more embarrassing.]

Ah, no I meant, just somewhere more- secluded. Just-

[There's embarrassment and a flusteredness to his feelings as he starts tugging Clay along- away from the Inn and out towards what looks a less busy area of trees]

[Lets just go.]

[Oh.

Considering the way Clay blushes, and the flustered feelings that show up from the memory suddenly flashing in his head? Yeah, he definitely saw it.]

[ Was that from me or ]

[Memory sharing wasn't really touched on when they locals talk to him about the whole hand-holding thing - mentioned, but not in detail, so he wasn't really expecting it. And especially not that memory. Wow.

He follows after Allen as he tugs him along, a little laugh escaping - though it's more out of sheepish embarrassment than amusement.]

R-Right, right. We can, ah... Later. Lodging stuff.

[Yep, this is definitely the feeling of mortification right now.]

[ Oh my God he saw it. Bloody brilliant Allen. Stupid... ]

[Oh right. Shit. Clay can hear that too]

Gah- sorry.

[YOU KNOW WHAT? HE'S JUST GOING TO PULL CLAY ALONG IN SILENCE WHILE HE WAITS FOR THE GROUND TO SWALLOW HIM WHOLE]

[He laughs at that, amusement bubbling in his chest, and he gives Allen's hand a squeeze]

It's fine, don't worry about it!

[But since Allen's going to be silent, Clay looks around at their surroundings, taking in everything, and... still feeling that sense of weirdness.]

[ Not used to places like this not like the buildings back home at all, weird feeling about this place don't know what it is maybe something about the air? A lot of the magic folks seem to really like it though so maybe it has to do with that? ]

[Oh right, Allen can hear all of that...]

Sorry, I'm thinking a lot... [ So weird. ]

[Honestly, Allen is so used to Clay thinking outloud when he's trying to theorize about a place, that the thoughts going on in his head aren't that strange. If anything, it's a comforting sound that gets him to stop thinking about his own mortification, causing him to relax some. ]

[So when Clay stops and apologizes? Allen shakes his head and squeezes his hand]

It's alright. Think how you normally think, I don't mind.

Oh... well, okay!

[Though his thoughts do pause for another moment or so, still feeling some embarrassment, before that fades enough for him to keep going.]

[ Maybe the planet has magic elements and that's why the people with magic react well to it, maybe that's what's making our sense of empathy heightened, but then how does it affect those who don't have any magic like me?

Everything here is so lush and green it's almost unnatural especially after that last moon, I hope that place is okay I wish we could've kept up communications to see how the process is going even though they likely won't see any results for a while

I wonder if this place was terraformed I'll have to ask ]

[While Clay thinks, Allen keeps leading them. Eventually they start to leave the bustling area of the city, and more into a quieter area with just trees.]

[ Some magic can affect anyone. ]

[He approaches a tree that has some sturdy looking branches. It'd be climbable if they let go of each other's hands, but...]

Clay, hold onto me. [It'd be easier to use his Innocence to get up there]

[ Oh yeah... ]

[Still weird to think about. But as Allen leads them to the tree, Clay looks up at it, then at Allen, and there's a feeling of understanding as he figure out what Allen plans on doing. Understanding, and a growing excitement as well as a tiny shot of adrenaline as he lets go of Allen's hand, only to wrap both arms around his neck.]

Ready when you are!

[He feels that excitement and adrenaline coming from Clay. It's cute, but he has to focus on his powers. His emotions turn to concentration]

[ Innocence, Activate! ]

[When he thinks that, there seems to be a change. Not quite in Allen, but it almost feels like there's another presence in their mental connection. It's not sentient enough to feel like another person or even an animal - but there almost seems to be something alive about it, in some form.]

[Allen doesn't seem bothered by it. If anything, he seems entirely comfortable with having this other presence here. He looks up and points his left arm up at the tree, and there's a feeling of will and understanding from the presence about the intent- no, it's more than that. It was more like they're utterly in-sync with one another. There's no real structured thoughts commands to hear Allen think, the intent and feelings were enough alone to communicator.]

[And next thing you know, the ribbon shoots out and wraps itself along the tree. Once he's got a firm hold, they shoot off the ground towards the intended branch.]

[Oh, wow. Curiosity and intrigue fill Clay as he focuses on that other presence, and it's easy to figure out that it's the powers Allen has. This is the first time he's really considered that the Innocence has sentience, or at least enough to follow orders - no, not even follow it, but be in-sync with those orders, the intent in Allen's head to lash out and wrap around the tree.

In fact, Clay's so intent on analyzing this new information that he's not even prepared for the lift off. Suddenly he's jerked into the air, and a stab of shock fills him before that fades into adrenaline, the yell he gives turning from surprised to excitement signaling those changes as well. His hold tightens around Allen's neck, and a big smile comes up as he squints against the wind.

And from their connection, Allen can feel utter joy, a sense of freedom, the thrill of flying through the air, a feeling of belonging, and under it all? Even though he still feels the adrenaline and excitement from the danger this poses? He feels safe. There's trust and security, because he knows Allen won't let him go. He knows that even if he did, he'd be caught again. He's safe with him, and Clay's absolutely certain of it.]

[Even though he's focusing on his Innocence, he still feels those feelings coming from Clay. Part of it explains a lot, why he always loves Allen using these powers so much. Clay was someone who loved to be in the sky after all, loved the thrill. But the feeling of safety and trust...well, it's pretty touching to feel that coming from him. Knowing Clay feels that safe with him]

[But it's not a long trip. Soon enough Allen and Clay land on the tree branch. With how huge these trees are, there's more than enough room for them to sit down and it can easily support their weight. Once Allen's sure both of them are firmly on the tree, he tells his Innocence to deactivate, and the other presence goes away along with the ribbons.]

There. This should give us enough privacy.

[And now that presence is gone. Clay really wants to jump around, yell and holler from the adrenaline still in him, but doing so would probably make him fall out of the tree, and that's something neither him nor Allen wants. Instead, he keeps holding on to Allen, a big smile on his face while he presses his cheek to his shoulder, just trying to hold himself back from bouncing.]

That was awesome!

[ THAT WAS AMAZING I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN SO COOL I LOVE HIM SO MUCH ]

[It makes him really happy to feel Clay's joy and excitement. He gets his own big smile and tilts his head down to kiss Clay's head, expressing his own love.]

Maybe later. I want to get used to...this, before I try too much with my powers.

[It was easy to shoot a single ribbon- but something more complex? Well, he wouldn't want to accidentally fall out of sync because Clay's mind caught him off guard.]

Ha, right, right!

[All those feelings inside him make him think about the sensation he'd feel back home, unaware that it leaks through: Looking down at the controls of the plane he rented, then taking a moment to look out the window and down at the Manhattan Beach Pier, where several people on the beach below it walk around, some surf in the ocean beyond it, and some walk along the pier itself, eager to see the aquarium at the end of the pier. They look so small from way up here, and the thrill of wondering what it was like to look up and see that plane up the in the sky -

The memory ends after that, just as the adrenaline slowly starts to recede from Clay, and he leans his head back to look at Allen again, this time moving his hand down to hold his boyfriend's once again.]

So... Maybe we should sit and figure out how to deal with all this?

[Wow...that definitely wasn't his memory. He could tell it was the ocean and some sort of pier, but it was looking at an angle he wasn't used to at all- from above. It was different than seeing it in the movies. Maybe from a shuttle or the ship, but it still wasn't quite the same.]

[Pretty...]

[The memory fades and Clay speaks as he takes his hand again.]

Yeah, that'd be best if we did. [His thumb runs along Clay's thumb in the handhold] Feels...better than I thought it would, though.

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