animatedsmoke | (no subject)

(no subject)

Who: Potemkin, Ky Kiske
What: Ky invites Potemkin to the wicked sweet library he has.
When: After Revelator?
Where: Illyria Castle

High ceilings and bookshelves that rise up to meet them are a combination that makes for a grand impression to anyone, and Potemkin is approving before he even starts to read the spines. Ky was right that this room was something to show him. There's so much to look at that in order to not look like an overexcited kid, Potemkin has to set priorities. Starting with what's lined on the walls seems logical, and soon Potemkin is peering down at a manuscript on display under glass.

"This must be the very original!" Potemkin's voice booms. "Handled by illuminator himself at some point in history," Potemkin talks while turning toward the nearby shelves. He assumes that most of the other pieces here aren't as prestigious, if the Royal family actually spends time in this place, but there is undoubtedly many more gems kept here.

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Seeing Potemkin so enthused by the items in the library brings a smile to Ky's face.

"You are correct. We were very fortunate to receive it for our library."

He chuckles, mostly to himself. "Although, it admittedly goes overlooked due to the amount of other books. There are too many options to choose from."

Potemkin is going over those too many options right now, having so much to absorb that he lets Ky chuckle behind him without facing him just yet. He's busy reading the titles, Potemkin's raised eye level letting him scan more of the shelves without using a step ladder. Combined with his arms practically all of it is at his hand.

Which gets shown when Potemkin eventually stops pacing, and with a single finger he nudges a book until it falls open into his hand - a volume of poetry. "Out of all your hardships that seems like the least of them," Potemkin says while reading.

He watches Potemkin reach for the book in his own, delicate, giant way. The smile doesn't leave his lips. "If a day goes with that as my only hardship, I certainly consider it a wonderful one."

Ky peeks at the title of the book, tiptoeing a little to see it clearly.

"Do you enjoy poetry?"

Ky hopping up into his sight brings Potemkin abruptly out of his childish reverie, and Potemkin's face behind the book is almost startled. And also blushing a bit. Ky's smile is showstopping like that.

"I do. It's like making words beautiful," Potemkin explains his feelings. Not wanting Ky to have nothing to do while he reads, Potemkin waves one arm toward the rest of the shelf. "How about I grab something for you?"

Potemkin himself is so poetic. Ky wonders if his partner has ever tried to write poetry, and what it would be like.

At the offer, Ky nods. "All right." He muses over his choices for a moment. "How about a book you would read? I would like to experience for myself what you enjoy."

Potemkin's hand hesitates from how it was hovering over titles, since he wasn't expecting to hear that. Potemkin closes his eyes in thought, and then nods as he apparently comes to a confident answer.

"In that case, I think I saw a copy of Dumas over there," Potemkin walks off to a different shelf, already getting occupied again away from Ky. But even though he's not facing him Ky is the focus of his mind, and what starts as a single book becomes a stack in his arms.

Oh, Potemkin. Ky watches with amusement as the books pile on. From the looks of it, they might be here all afternoon and well into the evening. It's a prospect Ky isn't completely against; if he had the freedom to choose, he would absolutely choose time spent with someone important to him. No question about it.

He follows Potemkin without further interruption, watching with anticipation and curiosity. The librarians will have a lot of re-shelving to do tomorrow morning, he supposes.

Left uninterrupted, Potemkin runs free in his search for books, completely ignorant of time and company. He's anything but detached or absent minded though, because he is thinking this out very thoroughly, processing long expanses of titles and poking at the ones he couldn't make out. The entire time he compares them to what would be Ky's taste.

It's not the appropriate time to put a damper on such a peaceful day, so for now he ignores the morose novels and the treatises on existentialism. Potemkin keeps in mind how Ky is high minded, idealistic, intelligent...

Potemkin's arm is strong enough that weight is never going to be a factor on when he puts the stack down.

Edited (redudant word) 2017-04-20 03:25 (UTC)

Honestly, maybe 'a book Potemkin would read' wasn't a specific enough request. Not when the man could sit down and read the entire library if given the opportunity. Infinitely curious to see when Potemkin will find his selection sufficient enough, he keeps a mental count of how many books make up the stack.

Ky is also keeping an eye out for a suitable table for them to use. The required table size is growing larger and larger the books Potemkin grabs. One of the longer tables meant to seat multiple researchers. Was there a suitable seat for Potemkin, too? Hmm, Ky hadn't thought of that before. If he's planning to invite the giant man over again for another visit to the library, then he should have a seat prepared, too.

What stops Potemkin is not hitting any limitation on reading but a question, which causes him to shake his head and turn around from staring at books. "To grab the version with the foreword or not ..."

When he opens his eyes, what he sees is Ky milling around, considerately thinking of them both. It suddenly occurs to Potemkin that Ky invited him to somewhere alone, in private, and protected against interruptions.

Potemkin clears his throat next to Ky to call the man's attention (and to clear his thoughts).

Ky is busily brainstorming some options. Perhaps they could bring a couch to the table. Potemkin could easily move it, although it's rather inconsiderate to ask the man to arrange his own seating. If Ky were a more proper host he would have prepared this beforehand—

The noise cuts into his thoughts. Oblivious to Potemkin's realization, Ky turns and approaches his partner.

"Yes?" He shoots an amused glance at the stack of books before looking up again. "Have you found something?"

"I've found enough for now," Potemkin leaves that statement open, in a final bit of reluctance to tear himself away. Just like that it's as if Potemkin didn't have those thoughts at all.

"I can carry these to where you would like to sit," Potemkin offers even though handing the whole stack over would be very ungainly to say the least. "Do you have any favorite spot?" he asks, not really caring if there is any space for him.

"Not particularly," Ky answers. And it's true for the most part; whenever Ky comes here alone, he usually just finds the nearest seat to plop himself down. Sometimes it's a stool. Sometimes, he'll remain standing. He doesn't claim an actual table or spot unless he has multiple books to burn through.

"There's a couch somewhere around here," he suggests. "There should be a small table and a chair near it as well. It should be suitable enough for the both of us."

Because that's what matters — the both of them. Even if Potemkin falls head over heels into a book, Ky will still treasure the opportunity to have a quiet evening with him. He leads the way to an area not too far from the shelves. The table is a simple, round table that might not accommodate too many novels, but Ky figures they could just place some on the floor.

Potemkin goes for the table to set down his load, which turns into two stacks when Potemkin simply lifts the tower at the halfway point to divide it. It makes for a neatly symmetrical layout that also matches the number of people in the room.

There it is again. Potemkin turns around to face Ky slowly, like he's not sure what to do with his occupation lifted off of him for now. He starts by looking at Ky's face, who is right by him and Potemkin fills with fondness for.

"Thank you again for the invitation," he says without moving to either seat just yet.

Ky smiles, his eyes brightening under Potemkin's gaze. The blond is far from needy, but he still can't help enjoying the attention his dear partner grants him. One would think being king meant he had it all, but Ky never acts as if that's the case. He always seems grateful enough, just as anyone else would be, simply for the company.

"There's no need to thank me," he responds warmly. "It's a pleasure to be with you like this, in an environment that is less formal than our usual encounters."

Potemkin agrees with all of that now that Ky's said it. Potemkin is so used to the constant pressure of their respective duties, he didn't feel the relief from it until it was pointed out, and it seems to be hitting him all at once.

He doesn't respond verbally yet. Potemkin picks the first book off of one of the stacks, which doesn't require him to move because of the length of his arms. If he was still in the mania from earlier he would already be opening the covers, but he holds it to his chest for later, his first order of business now being addressing Ky. With the book pressed to his shirt, Potemkin ducks to land a kiss on Ky's forehead, above the eyes which were looking at him admiringly.

Ky's lashes flutter in surprise at the contact. It seems it's his turn to be caught by surprise by the sudden gesture of affection. His cheeks feel rather warmed when realization settles in, though he doesn't quite start blushing pink yet. He was still so certain Potemkin was more focused on the books up until now — he didn't think he'd be on the receiving end of a kiss.

Before Potemkin can pull back completely, Ky reaches out to gently cradle the side of the man's face with a hand.

"You reward me too easily," he says with a little humor.

Potemkin's lips are on him for just a bit too long and too strongly for the kiss to be considered a peck. Despite not aiming for the lips, the treatment Potemkin gives to the just the fringe of Ky's hair shows how precious the man is to him. Potemkin probably would have retreated his head quickly nonetheless, but he's stayed by the elegant hand on his cheek. Potemkin is stuck in place, entirely held in place by Ky's hand.

Since Potemkin wasn't expecting this, he's still holding the book, though the fingers around it wrap tighter.

"Hmfph, how could I ever spoil you?"

"You're doing a fine job of it right now," Ky teases softly. His hand remains where it is, thumb gently stroking Potemkin's cheekbone. With no one around to witness, he can express his fondness however he chooses. Even with something as open as a caress.

Potemkin's face is warm against his hand. Ky smiles, glancing downwards. "Thank you."

For being here with him, for loving him, for sharing this moment of peace with him.

Edited (ANATOMY) 2017-05-13 21:49 (UTC)

Potemkin savors Ky's touch, sensitive to every bit of his thumb softly tracing his cheek. It's a show of affection Potemkin can only expect from Ky, as who else would be so nonchalant around the stone-faced super soldier. He would have leaned into his touch like a pet, if he wasn't unfortunately oversized for such an action. Potemkin settles for keeping his head completely still, even if he has to stay leaning.

"It's nothing, to give anything I can. I'm yours." It sounds like Potemkin is taking his turn to be lightly teasing, seeing that he speaks while settling into a comfortable smile. But given how Ky can keep such an obviously powerful soldier utterly captivated by lifting a finger, it's not actually a deviation from the truth.

Ky chuckles softly, returning his eyes to Potemkin's. "Those are dangerous words," he cautions. "I've done so little to earn them."

That's the way affection works, of course. There is little one needs to do when it comes to the nature of the heart. But Potemkin shouldn't be the only one declaring his loyalty and devotion. Despite his teasing, Ky refuses to allow himself to be the only one receiving favors.

His hand slides down to curl beneath Potemkin's jaw, where Ky's thumb can trace the lips that have tilted into the handsome smile before him.

"I extend the same respect to you, Potemkin." He speaks as if he's reciting an oath. "If you need me, or want me, I am here for you."

Potemkin feels Ky cradle his face from underneath his chin while his mouth bends slightly to Ky's thumb, and though Potemkin isn't known for any physical vulnerability, he still has soft skin there like any other. He could kiss his thumb from where it is, but Potemkin shows restraint by letting it lie on him. Potemkin is very careful to talk with Ky's thumb held at his lips, but he manages.

"If that's true, then how about you come take a seat with me?" Potemkin drops in his first request of the day. He adjusts the book that was held to his chest as he returns to the subject. The couch probably could just barely fit Potemkin alone, but Potemkin seems serious at sticking to this request and making it work.

Edited (the thumb is not a finger) 2017-05-16 15:01 (UTC)

Ky's eyes soften with affection. He slowly pulls his hand away to place it on his chest and bow in a partial salute. He acts as if Potemkin is his superior, not the other way around. It's a fun, little play on things; Ky is clearly enjoying himself.

"As you wish."

He motions towards the couch to allow Potemkin to seat himself first.

It's not surprising that Ky would pick up on how rare it is for Potemkin to make a demand for himself. Even if Ky didn't have such close knowledge of the man, Potemkin is reliable enough that any change sticks out. Still Potemkin is treating this seriously, in fact what Ky is doing seems to encourage him. Newly puffed up with pride, and with a smile that's much sharper than how it started, Potemkin marches past Ky, to place butt on the couch.

He sits off to one side of it, though it's not very effective since Potemkin makes up the reserved space in shoulders and arms. After looking back to his book, which he keeps on the arm rest, Potemkin turns back to Ky.

Ky observes Potemkin for a moment, checking out how much space is available on the couch. Not much, of course, but the king is fairly certain Potemkin made his request with that knowledge in mind. It's no oversight that the both of them would be a close and intimate fit, which is perfectly fine with him.

He steps over to take his place by Potemkin's side, picking up a book from the table as he does so. Ky seats himself in the small space right next to Potemkin and right underneath the man's large arm.

He looks over to Potemkin. "Will this do?"

Potemkin scoots when Ky pushed his way in, though there isn't anywhere to scoot to. He doesn't want Ky to be uncomfortable, but not only is Ky able to sit, this arrangement is quite nice for both of them.

With the arm facing the side of the couch Potemkin takes the book from the arm rest and spreads it open with a thumb. He holds it above his lap for easy reading.

And to his other side, Potemkin looks near straight down to see Ky, who from his end has to angle his neck upward to Potemkin, and he is warmed just by seeing Ky content and close to him. Potemkin makes a few more adjustments, this time moving forward and bringing his arm closer, so that Ky is lightly slanted against his chest. "Yes, I would grade this...satisfactory."

Edited (missing a) 2017-05-18 08:15 (UTC)

"Only satisfactory?" He asks with humor. There's no bite behind it; Ky was making his brand of a joke. The king settles in his seat against Potemkin's chest, feeling the rise and fall of the man's breathing. The book might as well be forgotten at this point with the loose way he's holding it.

He's relaxed. Nothing needs his urgent attention or action. What a blessed moment.

From way higher up, Potemkin settles into his own world of calm. From where he is behind Ky, everything he could ever want for the next few hours is right beside him. With Ky already reclining on his chest, Potemkin barely moves to hug him, holding him in the curl of his body.

And for the only angle not covered, Potemkin presses his cheek against Ky's head. The shorter man makes the perfect neck pillow for while he reads.

Ky has, essentially, become Potemkin's stuffed toy. It's an amusing thought to have while cuddled against a strong, warm body and filled with comfort from the position. The book remains in Ky's lap as he closes his eyes to savor the calming moment. He looks like he's fallen asleep for a second or two... as if the hectic days of the past week have finally caught up to him. But that isn't the case at all; the blond is simply taking the time to make a mental prayer of thanks. Thank Heaven — thank God — for this opportunity, for the company, and for the love. What more could a man ask for in his mortal life but this?

When he's finished, he slowly opens his eyes to thumb open the book and begin casually reading the novel he's holding. Ky doesn't even know what he picked, so it's a pleasant surprise to see it's one of interest to him. Potemkin certainly knows how to choose wisely.

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