And like that, the negativity in the air, the tension, it all lessened exponentially. Although Vinanye got to hug and touch people all the time, it never stopped feeling fantastic and new. When Logan latched on tighter to him, Vinnie didn't dare pull away. It seemed to him that the Unicorn boy needed a good hug, this was the correct thing for the Fae to do.
Vin didn't even pull back when Logan asked why he was stressed. He gave a fond sounding little sigh, a mixture of contentness toward the hug and the release of stress.
"It is.. all the human things, honestly. I have learned the language better, but it is still challenging, and there are many things that elude me. I think there are certain aspects of this culture that I will never be able to understand. And being positive all the time, you know, that is tiring, but it is worth it too."
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Logan listened quietly before giving his input, limbs becoming less stiff while he rested against Vinanye. "I can… relate to that, in a way. In an opposite sort of way. I was raised in a very particular manner, but the magical culture here is so much more open and free, encouraging things my teaching would have me cringe away from. I've been trying really hard to be okay with it, understanding, but it's hard, and it's so in your face and loud. Everyone is much more proud and comfortable than I am, and so quickly, too. There's not really any room for easing into it, I need to accept all these different, scary things at once or else I'll hurt people I like."
He bit at his lip. "I imagine it's not the same with you? Maybe you're adjusting to more rules rather than less. But we could have something in common with the… newness of it. I've had years clumsily attempt to adjust, so if it's of any reassurance, you're doing a lot better than I ever have."
"You don't have to force yourself to be positive with me, if you don't want to. It's not something I'd mind. It's just us here at the moment, right? Nobody else is listening." He wondered if Vinanye would feel it, or mind, if he... they were touching, right now, his face at their neck. He let a little of his sedation magic turn on, nothing intense. He didn't want them to pass out, no interest in it, but with a tiny dose he could make people relax, clear their mind, focus less on all those big things. If there was a complaint he'd hastily stop.
He bit at his lip. "I imagine it's not the same with you? Maybe you're adjusting to more rules rather than less. But we could have something in common with the… newness of it. I've had years clumsily attempt to adjust, so if it's of any reassurance, you're doing a lot better than I ever have."
"You don't have to force yourself to be positive with me, if you don't want to. It's not something I'd mind. It's just us here at the moment, right? Nobody else is listening." He wondered if Vinanye would feel it, or mind, if he... they were touching, right now, his face at their neck. He let a little of his sedation magic turn on, nothing intense. He didn't want them to pass out, no interest in it, but with a tiny dose he could make people relax, clear their mind, focus less on all those big things. If there was a complaint he'd hastily stop.
As Logan told Vinanye about his home life, the Fae hugged him a tad harder. Vin could actually understand this; it was like that for him, too, but in a more subtle sort of way. Newness was terrifying as was a whole new culture. It seemed in the end, they both needed this hug.
Vin pulled away, only a little, so he could look into Logan's face and smile softly at the other boy. "It is the same. It is less rules here and sometimes more. Very situational. Back home there are many things not to say or do, and that does not apply here. I have to remind myself not to always tell people to be careful." Vinnie shook his head, gently squeezing Logan's shoulders, where his hands had rested. "I think you are doing good. I do not know you well, but you seem smart and strong."
Vin hummed as Logan used his magic and leaned in again, back to the embrace, so very warm and comforting. For a second, the Fae teared up, but he didn't cry. He gave a heartfelt, "thank you." Then laughed a little. "But I do not know if I could... not be? I am so used to it by now. You know, when you do something for so long it might as well be a part of you even if it is not?"
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Logan breathed. Here he'd been, nervous about the intimacy, and yet, they'd ended up like this anyway. He wondered what it must be like, to have others trust and enjoy you so quickly. He wasn't overly familiar with the concept, himself. Perhaps he would start to get used to it, but before, he hadn't been anyone remarkable. Nobody had an interest in bland, reserved little Delacroix. He was bolder, now. He hoped his leaving a better impression on others wouldn't stop here.
He blushed a little at the soft smile, averting his eyes, though he continued to listen quite intently. It was more similar than he'd assumed by far. He hadn't expected it from someone this cheerful and open, and swallowed. "I don't mind getting to know each other better," Logan said, after a moment of silence, in a small voice.
The cuddling resumed, and Logan closed his eyes, nuzzling Vinanye, not thinking of much else anymore. The potion had kicked in, and their presence was a big help, on top of that. This person, he decided, wasn't bothersome. He couldn't be too ruffled or jealous with Dorian's clear affections towards them, as he clumsily found himself feeling a little of the same.
When the 'thank you' was uttered, Logan's eyes snapped open and widened. He wasn't an idiot, even if ignorant in some areas. He knew a bit about Fae debts, and the offensiveness of a thank you otherwise. Even without that, the tone caused him to turn further pink.
"Yeah. I get that too," he mumbled. A lot of his personality was nurture, not nature. He'd only just started testing having a sense of self outside that. "It's not fake anymore, at a certain point, but it can be painful if it's the only thing there. You can take breaks, or introduce something new into the mix, without taking what you're used to away. I did that."
He blushed a little at the soft smile, averting his eyes, though he continued to listen quite intently. It was more similar than he'd assumed by far. He hadn't expected it from someone this cheerful and open, and swallowed. "I don't mind getting to know each other better," Logan said, after a moment of silence, in a small voice.
The cuddling resumed, and Logan closed his eyes, nuzzling Vinanye, not thinking of much else anymore. The potion had kicked in, and their presence was a big help, on top of that. This person, he decided, wasn't bothersome. He couldn't be too ruffled or jealous with Dorian's clear affections towards them, as he clumsily found himself feeling a little of the same.
When the 'thank you' was uttered, Logan's eyes snapped open and widened. He wasn't an idiot, even if ignorant in some areas. He knew a bit about Fae debts, and the offensiveness of a thank you otherwise. Even without that, the tone caused him to turn further pink.
"Yeah. I get that too," he mumbled. A lot of his personality was nurture, not nature. He'd only just started testing having a sense of self outside that. "It's not fake anymore, at a certain point, but it can be painful if it's the only thing there. You can take breaks, or introduce something new into the mix, without taking what you're used to away. I did that."
Vinanye had taken to rubbing Logan's back. Gently, soothingly, like a parent or older sibling. Logan wanted to get to know him better? Vinnie wondered if that had to do with the anti-anxiety potion, his powers, or both. Logan had been distant before, but he wasn't now. Maybe, if Vin was human or his power was more demanding -- less subtle --, he'd have felt guilty about the idea that his abilities had Logan relaxing around him.
Being Fae meant that after the thank you was utter, Vinnie didn't mention that Logan could have gotten a favor out of him. Kind and humanized as he was, instinct kept him from giving someone that much an upper hand. If Logan understood, good, if not that was unfortunate.
The concept of adding to the mix, rather than taking away, had never occurred to the Gem before, but the notion was an absolute delight. "You are so smart!" Vin said, voice raising in a burst of pure bliss at this revelation.
He blushed, giggled at his ignorance. Look at him, having just been moping when the solution was quite simple. Back to Logan's earlier point, much chipper and less soft than before, Vinnie said, "I would like to get to know you better, too, Logan. We are going to be on the council together; I know that. We should be friends, yes? Friends work better together."
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Logan was a little taken back at the excitement, and laughed. "I'm just speaking from experience. I had to go through a lot to learn that. It'd be nice if you didn't have to have the same hardship, skip it and get the lesson anyway, so I'm happy to share my solutions." He rubbed the back of his neck, falling back into modesty, embarrassed. "It's not a big deal, though, really. I'm not that wise, I don't think."
Friends. He nodded slowly. "I agree. You're one of the people I want there with me and Dorian. You, Anthia, and Sherry. I'm sure we'll all make a wonderful team." He could see an optimistic future here. He paused, though, for long enough for it to be considered awkward. He leaned forward again with round, curious eyes. "Do you ever kiss your friends? I wouldn't do it here, in public, but I want to kiss you." He knew that was terribly blunt, but he didn't care.
Friends. He nodded slowly. "I agree. You're one of the people I want there with me and Dorian. You, Anthia, and Sherry. I'm sure we'll all make a wonderful team." He could see an optimistic future here. He paused, though, for long enough for it to be considered awkward. He leaned forward again with round, curious eyes. "Do you ever kiss your friends? I wouldn't do it here, in public, but I want to kiss you." He knew that was terribly blunt, but he didn't care.
Vinanye nodded his understanding, enthusiasm declining. "There is no need to be that way," Vin said, noticing Logan's modesty. "I think you are wise, even if you say you are not."
Logan's silence didn't bother Vinanye. Vin assumed Logan may have just stayed quiet from there on and had taken to looking around the room at the few students and staff around. When Logan spoke again, Vinanye's attention immediately snapped to him as if he had never been distracted at all.
It seemed a complex question to Vin, but maybe the Fae was thinking about it too much. Did he kiss his friends? Not usually freely, but if they came to Temptations he did. He wanted to kiss Logan too, if only because Logan looked like he really, really wanted and needed it.
"Sometimes. I work at Temptations, so I am bound to kiss many of my friends." Vinanye nodded. "But not usually on my free time, no."
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