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Who: Exael and the Unlucky Contestants
Where: The Game Tower
When: 86, Evening

[ Between one step and the next the walls (or streets, or open air) around you changes. The sight before you is a room inside the game tower, a new pressure at your neck. Reaching up or looking at the people around you reveals it to be a collar, titanium with a small green blinking light set in the center. ]

[ the screen flickers on, on your cellphone. It's a half-second, blink and you miss it— Exael, chewing on a nail, looking uncharacteristically nervous— then the moment's gone and she waves both hands and smiles for the camera. ]

"Ladies, gentlemen, honored guests! Units of all stripes and sizes! I come offering you a game and a few familiar words, rearranged for the occasion!"

Her carnival barker demeanor shifts for a moment as she lowers her head to say: ] "Glory to the highest, and on earth peace—" [ her head snaps up, her pigtails bouncing with it, and she's grinning again, all pomp and energy ] "even if we're not getting much down here! So let's kick up a ruckus, put on a show, and see how much good goodwill alone can manage! If you wish to save your fellows, now is the time speak!"

[ The rules appear on your phones. ]

[ Rules ] [ Rooms ] [ Results ] [ Endgame, Revivals & Winners ]

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[. . . it's almost funny, how one doesn't even fully realize how much they wanted something until they have it. until there's the warmth of another person curled up next to them, dropping tiny little displays of affection as though it's the most natural thing in the world. Mars soaks it all up like a sponge-- especially in the wake of that goddamn game-- and tries his best not to think how weak this makes him feel]

[after a moment. . . he speaks up again]

Hey. . .

[but he trails off hesitantly, as though he isn't quite ready to finish that thought]

[Lily really, really likes Mars. like, a lot. so this truly all does come from the heart, come from a place of caring, and even without a Buddy Bond active, it's probably obvious enough in the way he holds him. his heart races just a little in his chest, betraying how happy he really is to be here despite the circumstances that lead to this moment, and he lets out a soft sigh of contentment. a warmth grows inside him, spreading throughout — for someone that remembers a childhood full of loneliness and rejection... having this moment of mutual acceptance is wonderful.]

Mm? What is it, Ren?

[his voice is soft, calm]

[Mars is not good with words. he never has been, and even if he has been getting slowly better at navigating relationships? there's no way he'll ever improve his verbal communications skills. but in a place like hell, that's okay]

[with a small breath in and out, something knocks against the warmth Lily is feeling right now. something soft and surprisingly gentle, warm and inviting, and yet somehow the tiniest bit hesitant all at once]

[hello friend, it's another Buddy Bond call, are u going to answer]

[you know he's gonna answer, kiss friend.

the first most apparent thing to come from Lily's end: a fondness and affection for Mars, and a curiosity as to what he was hoping to express to him through the bond]

[well]

[Mars doesn't feel things in halves]

[he's gotten far better at managing his emotions during a buddy bond, sure, but he doesn't feel things in halves. and as soon as that acceptance comes from Lily's end of the bond, it's met with an entire wave of overwhelming affection and fondness and gratitude. a small dash of confusion-- it's only been twenty days, how can I feel so strongly after such a short period of time-- but also a sense of. . . it doesn't matter. I don't care. I feel what I feel. that's that.]

[he probably wanted to say something along the lines of. . . "hey. i really like you." but couldn't bring himself to do so, because he sucks]

[the feelings hit him like a truck, and he soaks them up and lets them wash over him like a tidal wave. he's happy, almost perhaps even a little surprised — these sorts of feelings were a new land to traverse for him, but a place he's happy to explore.

those feelings of loneliness, of rejection... even though he had so many amazing people at his side, it still would rear its ugly head when he was alone, a nagging voice in the back of his head: what if he wasn't good enough? what if he wasn't deserving of care, if so much of his life was spent being rejected?

but he did deserve it. and he felt it coming from Mars, and it was overwhelming in the best sort of way. his fingers curl against the back of Mars' shirt, holding on tight, almost a little shaky.

if Mars didn't want to say it, now with the distinct sense that Mars wouldn't run if it were established... Lily would.]

Hey.

I like you.

. . . yeah.

[under normal circumstances, that would be a totally inappropriate response to someone saying, "I like you." but considering the emotional honesty buddy bond allows for? these circumstances aren't normal. and despite Mars's completely and utterly lackluster verbal reply, Lily will be able to feel a distinct sense of. . .]

[hm]

[that feeling one gets when their stomach does a little flip of pleased nervousness. that light and pleased emotion one has when they know someone they care about feels the same way. the quiet knowledge that just being in that person's presence is enough to wash away every bad thing that just happened in the past twenty-four hours]

[in a way, perhaps all of this is way way better than Lily getting a simple "I like you, too" in return]

[Lily certainly knows Mars well enough by now to know that he isn't good at words — that's why they're using the Buddy Bond right now, isn't it? so he knows there's more to it when he gets that simple reply, and he's not disappointed in the feelings he receives from Mars' end. it's touching that he means something to Mars, is a calming presence... that's as much as he could hope for, really.

Lily's heart is a-flutter, quite pleased. he doesn't need verbal confirmation when he can so clearly feel that Mars feels the same, and that's more than enough for him. this is the happiest he's ever been in this place... and the fact that he could be so happy in Hell was amazing in its own right. no matter the circumstances, no matter the hardship... one can always find a place to call their own.

he can feel his heart lurching up his throat, and he swallows. he was just... really, really happy. he almost felt like he might overflow with all this emotion, which was a new and weird feeling for him. he reaches out to gently hook his fingers under Mars' chin, trying to guide him to look upwards. if he does, he'll be greeted with a soft kiss, gentle — he knew Mars could already feel what he was feeling through their mental bond, but he wanted him to feel what he was feeling through a physical connection, too.]

[there's something addicting about Lily's happiness. something that makes Mars himself happy, too. something that washes away his frustrations and exhaustion, his fear and hesitancy, and brings out an emotion he knows he doesn't feel very often at all. happiness of his own]

[so of course he tilts his head up when Lily tucks his hand under his chin. of course he lets his eyes slip shut as lips brush up against his, soft and gentle. and of course he leans into that, reciprocating quietly and chastely, scooting as close to Lily as he can get on this tiny, single-person bed]

[happiness, giddiness, contentedness. . . Mars can't remember the last time he felt these emotions. he wonders if he's capable of feeling them on his own, without Lily's encouragement]

[Lily has the utmost faith in Mars. sometimes all you need is a little guidance to find something you've lost, a helping hand; Mars was perfectly capable of feeling those things on his own, surely, but maybe all it'd take was a little help from Lily to remember those things were well within his grasp, too. but if it was hard for him to reach out and find those feelings on his own, he'd happily be there to remind him, always.

one hand curls around Mars' waist while the other gently cups his face, thumb stroking along his cheekbone — his hands are a bit shaky with nerves, but that's okay. for now, he keeps the kiss gentle, sweet — his own eyes are half lidded so he can keep looking at Mars somewhat through the veil of his lashes, a distinct and overwhelming feeling of adoration and endearment washing over him. a soft happy noise escapes his lips; he definitely didn't feel this way about anyone else, and traversing new emotional territory was always a little scary, but if it was Mars there beside him, he felt like it'd be okay. if one of them stumbled, the other would be there to catch them. that's how this sort of thing went, right?]

[for all of the crushes Mars may also have on other people, it's also true that he doesn't feel this strongly about anyone else, either. he isn't sure what it is about Lily that makes him different. his quiet acceptance? his gentle company? the fact that he accepts Mars for what he is? the balance he brings to Mars's life? the serenity he can somehow make Mars feel despite the rolling chaos that is his life?]

[. . . it's different than his admiration for Maki. his love for Fox and Prim as members of the Phantom Thieves. his longing for the aspects of Joker that he lost ages ago. he likes Lily simply because Lily is Lily, and that's all there is to it. and if Lily is going to give him adoration and endearment in return, then. . . he's going to soak up as much of that as he can, and return those feelings himself so they echo between them in stereo]

[Mars finds himself lifting a hand and pressing it against the backs of Lily's knuckles to quell the shaking, and though he lingers in the kiss long enough to drink in that happy noise, eventually he does pull back to mumble]

. . . you okay?

Yeah. It's just... very new.

[it's a whole new world to have mutual affection with someone like this, let alone to feel it as vividly as they were. it's a bit overwhelming but in the best of ways, and he certainly doesn't want it to stop, and that is coming across quite clear. even if it's a whole lot to take in... don't let it stop, please. he wants to soak up every possible moment of this.

he wraps his arms around Mars and holds him tight, face pressed against his neck, which he gives a soft kiss. regret flares again for a moment, having the scar right in front of him and all, but he squashes it immediately, holding onto a calm instead.

it's okay.]

Ren...

[still holding onto him, he suddenly shifts — if Mars doesn't resist, he's moving to adjust so Mars is laying over top of him. there's the tiniest spark of shyness, but mostly contentment — his secret is revealed, thanks to the Buddy Bond: he really likes having Mars on top of him like this.]

[oh--]

[the moment Lily's lips brush against Mars's neck-- against the fresh new scar decorating his skin-- he'll absolutely feel a flash of interest on Mars's end of the line. it's quashed quickly, shoved aside so Mars can reach for that calm and bury himself into it, even though a small shiver courses up his spine. it's okay. it's definitely okay. despite his experiences with Man Eater, despite the scar on his neck, he is definitely okay with this]

Mmm. . .? What is i--

[and he'd respond to Lily muttering his name, but suddenly his world is shifting and Lily is flopping onto his back and pulling Mars flush on top of him, and that small bit of interest is back, stronger this time, even though it's just as easily shoved aside]

A. . . ah.

[oh]

[maybe... Lily doesn't want him to shove it aside? he reaches out for that interest, ever so carefully, as if encouraging Mars to let him feel what he was feeling]

[oh. . . well then]

[tttentatively, Mars allows Lily to nudge at that interest, allows it to be pulled into the open and acknowledged. although he stutters almost immediately]

-- it's only been ten days, I know, I'm not. . . I'm not expecting anything.

[SLIGHTLY FLUSTERED]

[Lily tilts his head slightly, expression thoughtful. with that out in the open, the first thing to come from Lily is the sense that this is territory even less traversed than before, a place where he didn't even know where to begin. but also... those feelings aren't unwelcome? that is abundantly clear, emphasized almost.

in fact... there's interest coming from Lily's side, too. growing a little, perhaps, now that he realizes that it's okay to have those feelings, that it wouldn't be... weird.]

...It's okay.

[PFFFFFFT]

[Mars ducks his head a little bit, quiet for a moment, a flicker of embarrassment appearing on his end of the bond. and then he dips his head forward and catches Lily's mouth in another kiss]

[it's not quite as gentle and reverent as their earlier one-- there's a bit of heat to it, just a small spark-- but he isn't seeking anything more, either. that's abundantly clear from the buddy bond. there's interest, but he isn't letting it grow, isn't letting it consume him. he's happy with just this. he's okay with just this]

[and for now, just this is probably for the best while they both try to figure things out]

[that was for the best, really — Lily needed to figure out his bearings a lot more first, take a more gentle dip into the water before plunging headfirst into the deep end. but if there's one thing for certain, it's that he responds immediately and positively to that kiss, a small spark of excitement shooting through him.

gently, he parts his lips a little, seeing if Mars wanted to take it further.]

[that's an invitation if Mars ever saw one, and there's absolutely no hesitation in the way he responds, head tilting to the side and tongue sliding past Lily's lips to draw him deeper into the kiss, curling and exploring territory that's become a little more familiar in the past week. his hand wanders as well, grasping lightly at Lily's and lacing their fingers together before he raises Lily's arm above his head and pins is soundly against the mattress]

[there's a flicker of excitement on Mars's end of the bond as well, mingling with Lily's, amplifying it ever so slightly. it's tempered by the fondness and affection they were sharing earlier, of course. . . because even when things get a little more heated, that aspect of Mars's feelings cannot be drowned out]

Edited (nts: don't tag at 8 a.m. when sick) 2019-02-21 13:55 (UTC)

[Lily lets out a soft noise, practically a moan, the back and forth of emotion between the two of them causing his stomach to alight with heat. there's a spark of excitement at having his arm pinned above the mattress, and his fingers curl to hold onto his hand a little tighter. however, the first and foremost emotion still continues to be sincere affection for Mars, with the interest being a secondary event.

he responds to Mars' exploration by running his tongue back against his, pressing forward to return the favor and delve into Mars' mouth. the persistent lingering taste of nicotine hadn't been the best of tastes at first, but he'd grown to appreciate it, mostly on account of the fact that he only tasted it when kissing him. positive associations, and all. the sensation has a shiver running down his spine, which has him squirming a little underneath Mars.

though he knew, understood, and agreed with the notion they weren't going to take it too far, he still can't help but hook one leg around Mars' waist and pull him as flush against him as he can.]

[that sure is a noise, and Mars drinks on that moan as heat curls in his stomach as well. and then Lily squirms underneath him, and hooks a leg around his waist to pull him close, and]

[well]

[he makes a noise of his own, strangled and low, that he'd consider extremely embarrassing in any other context. possibly even embarrassing in this one? whatever!1 he doesn't give Lily much time to think about it because he's diving deeper into the kiss immediately afterwards, almost like he's trying to pretend that didn't just. happen]

[hearing that noise from Mars immediately sends a sharp spike of heat to the pit of his stomach, and Lily kisses him back fervently with another noise, a little more needy this time, escaping his lips. he pulls back after a long moment though, needing a moment to catch his breath and calm down, evident by the way he squeezes his eyes shut and takes in a deep shaky breath, in and out.

but then he looks up at Mars and smiles, with no shortage of fondness in his expression or his end of the Bond, and laughs very softly.]

You're cute.

[ah. . .]

[a. . . ah]

[SHOVES A HAND INTO LILY'S FACE. . . because there's another strong wave of fondness and adoration quickly being shoved aside for his way more typical t-tsun]

Stop that. . .!

[STOP WHAT, MARS]

[amusement comes from his end, laced with fondness]

Okay, okay.

[he won't say you're cute anymore, but he's exuding the emotions of it in waves.]

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