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[knowmyplace]

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[deuceoftears]

Jedao hums in pleasure, soft acquiesence.

"You'll hold me?" It feels so good to be held right now, to be touching, pressed close and present, an anchor as his mothsense flutters on the vast winds of the crowd.

[knowmyplace]

He doesn't let any hesitation show. "I'll be here," he promises. "I will hold you as long as you wish."

He doesn't want to let him go. Maybe he wants to indulge in the touch himself.

[deuceoftears]

He nestles in a little more, letting his eyes close, letting his mind drift. He drifts a little bit literally, too, occasionally starting to float for a few seconds until Iago tightens his hold and tugs him back down - at which point he always settles again, even as he drifts into true slumber, his body reflexively trusting the arms around him, content to be bound by them.

[knowmyplace]

Iago manages to stay awake for the most part, keeping Jedao literally grounded. The first time it happened, he was startled enough to almost let him go, but he flexes his arm around him and smiles as he settles in right beside him again.

Despite himself, despite his talk and his thoughts and his worries and his arrogance, he's - relatively happy here. Confused as to why he didn't completely give in to him. It would have been easy; he can see that now.

That feeling of wrongness sits with him, cold and hard in his chest, so he simply attributes it to not wanting to be caught out. Not wanting to destroy whatever goodwill he had accumulated.

He manages to doze off and on, though the moving people and aliens and - everyone - ensures that he doesn't actually sleep.

[deuceoftears]

Jedao wakes up with no high and no hangover, his strange version of immortality burning away all the effects of the dubious poisons when he isn't consciously stopping it from doing so. He just feels good, relaxed and rested and full of lingering connectedness, contentment, goodwill.

"I hope I didn't impose on you too terribly," he murmurs, as the dawn glows around them.

[knowmyplace]

Iago, in contrast, feels like he might rather be hungover. He's exhausted, the world seeming a little blurry around the edges.

"Not at all," he tells him and his smile is a little lopsided but completely, strangely, genuine. "How are you feeling?"

[deuceoftears]

"Lovely," Jedao says after a moment of thought. Beyond good. He feels lovely.

Jedao brushes Iago's hair back from his face and laughs gently.

"Thank you for staying with me. Would you like to go rest in a real bed now?"

[knowmyplace]

He leans into that touch. "I should, I should. But you are right that the ground is quite comfortable." He places a hand over Jedao's. "Are you offering to walk me to my cabin?"

[deuceoftears]

"You liar," Jedao says, utterly fondly. "I don't think you got any real sleep out here at all."

He pets a little more, indulging them both.

"I am, yes."

[knowmyplace]

Liar Jedao calls him and Iago smiles with warmth, finding nothing but amusement in the word.

He pushes himself up and away for a moment, stretching his arms over his head. He feels - sore in all the wrong places, but sleeping in a bed is exactly what he needs. "How do you wake so refreshed? Do you - recall anything of the evening?"

[deuceoftears]

"I remember everything," Jedao admits, pink tinging his cheeks, and the tips of his ears, a little bit of the dawn splashing him, embarrassed but not ashamed, still perfectly comfortable meeting Iago's eyes as he gets to his feet as well.

"So I know you've seen enough to guess that I'm not especially human."

[knowmyplace]

"I have met some exceptionally odd humans," he points out and stands, his eyes on that stain of pink on his cheeks for half a second too long. He looks away, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I can guess that you are much different than human."

[deuceoftears]

"Well, one of the...consequences, of what I am, is that I heal very quickly. Which, happily, includes both processing recreational toxins and apparently the aches and pains of sleeping on dirt."

He offers Iago an arm.

[knowmyplace]

He takes that arm. "Were you intending on being by yourself?" he wonders. "You were in no fit state, even as you are. Even with all the strange abilities you have."

[deuceoftears]

"I wasn't by myself. I was with everyone," Jedao says, and for a moment a little of the dreaminess slips back into his voice; he shivers happily with the memory. "But it was better with you there, because you knew you were with me."

He pats Iago's hand with his free one.

"You're very sweet to worry about me. If anyone meant me harm, they would have ended up very confused when they simply couldn't get to me. I was most in danger from poetic loneliness, from which you nobly saved me."

[knowmyplace]

That gets a laugh. "I had thought you would wish to return to a friend. A lover. Someone you have met on more than two occasions. I had hoped you would not fault me for staying."

He looks down. "It was selfishness, too."

[deuceoftears]

"Oh, good," Jedao says cheerfully, deliberately cheeky and bright, leaning over to press a brief, light kiss on Iago's cheek. "I like to be wanted," he confides, "And I did ask."

Selfishness is infinitely preferred over selflessly humoring him.

"Most of my friends and lovers had found other occupation, and my husband is being very responsible and getting supplies in the city. I thought it would be a nice time to simply...drink in the whole festival. And I did like that - but I liked it more with you there, too."

[knowmyplace]

If he has a reaction to the word husband, he doesn't show it outwardly. Instead, the blush that spreads to his cheeks and ears can be seen even underneath cheeks smudged with dirt.

"I enjoyed having you there," he admits. "Though I have found that your presence makes any moment brighter."

[deuceoftears]

He ducks his head, his own blush darkening.

Not sure quite how to deal with that compliment, he murmurs, "I care for people quickly. There's a young man, gone from the barge now, whom I've adopted as my son. It took me months to ask him, but I knew I loved him, I knew he was my child, three minutes after meeting him. So three meetings, or even two - sometimes, that's enough to know that someone delights me. And you do."

[knowmyplace]

Once again, Jedao's genuine nature stares him in the face and, once again, he's at a loss for words. He ducks his head as they approach the Barge and board, saying nothing until he's back to the reality of his prison, with the deck under his feet.

"Gone from the Barge? Will you return to him?"

[deuceoftears]

"Yes."

A fact, a promise, a loving threat. He will not tolerate the world in any other shape.

[knowmyplace]

"Good. I have no children, so I cannot imagine the pain at being separated in such a way, but - I know it must be immense."

He stops and takes his hand deliberately. "I didn't say explicitly, but you delight me as well. And we have enjoyed ourselves. But do not feel now as if you need to hide those parts of you that are hurting. Not now. I'd like to know you, Jedao. Hurts as well as pleasures."

[deuceoftears]

Jedao squeezes his hand gently.

"It's alright. I was very afraid, when he first disappeared, and I worried many of my friends, running recklessly, as they thought, into danger to find him. But I did find him, and helped him find a safe place to stay, until either the Admiral brings him back or I can return to him. I miss him, but I don't have to fear for him."

[knowmyplace]

"Recklessly is the best way, I think, to feel love. Familial or otherwise. And if we love someone recklessly, then we sometimes act the same when they are in danger." He stands there a moment and, on impulse, presses a quick kiss to his cheek.

"I'm glad you have him. And friends who care."

[deuceoftears]

"I've been very lucky in the people I've found here," Jedao agrees, instead of whining about how it's not really reckless if you're an invincible genius assassin, probably.