Ori laughed and didn't bother to keep himself from skimming across Florence's face all over again. So pretty, with a laugh like music. With all that dedication to a job that seemed so small to Orion, who had seen a great many things. "I'm sure you excel at it, darling, but doesn't it get boring? I know I wouldn't last a day in a cow pen."
“They’re like my babies, Ori.” Florence chuckled, still smiling. “It’s not just cows, either, anymore. Now it’s also chickens, sheep, dogs, so many animals. It’s heaven for someone like me.” He lit up at the opportunity to talk about his job, praying that Orion wouldn’t judge him too harshly as a stupid farmhand. “It’s not boring until you want it to be.”
Ori leaned against his shoulder as he lit up, watching him speak with a lazy honey-sweet smile. "Maybe not for you, darling, but animals have never been my forte. I'll believe you when you say you love them though, it's written all over your face." He hoped he could stick around for Florence to look at him like that, but those were hopes for another day. "Tell me more about your animals, are they half so sweet-tempered as you?"
“I like to think that they are. Let’s see.. we’ve got a couple heifers, they’re gorgeously well-mannered and gentle. The chickens.. not so much. Bastards, the lot of them.” He laughed again, trying to think about the others. “Our sheep, yes, they’re a breeze. The dogs are obedient, but most of them are too energetic for me.” Florence’s eyes sparkled. “What about you? Do you have any animals at home?”
Orion listened to him talk with a soft little hum, soaking up all the information he could about Florence's life. It mostly boiled down to easygoing with good opinions about chickens, but hey. It was a start. "Afraid I don't have a home to keep one at, should I even want a pet in the first place."
“That makes sense.” Florence nodded. He let out a quiet yawn, leaning against Orion sleepily. “It’s late, isn’t it?” The human’s eyes trailed back outside the windows, taking in the darkness outside. “I may have to go soon, but I think I have a little longer.”
Orion nodded and leaned forward to kiss the top of his head, watching with interest as Florence curled up against his chest. Adorable when he was full of energy and adorable when he was half asleep. Was there any way this human didn't look precious? "If it's not too forward of me, could I walk you home?"
His heart jumped into his throat when he felt Orion kiss his head. “Of course you can. If you’re not afraid of the walk, of course.” Florence sat up, rubbing his eyes, though he didn’t stand up just yet. “Do you have somewhere to stay for the night? I know you said that you don’t have a home here.”
(I’m just about falling asleep, so I may log off for the night! Gn!)
(Good night to you too!)
"Darling, I'm never afraid of anything." He let go of one of Florence's hands so he could loop an arm around his shoulders, pulling him back against his chest. He'd carry Florence home happily if it meant keeping him curled up like this. "I was planning on rooming at the Inn across the street, but if they're full I'm sure I can find something suitable."
“Never? Well, you’re quite brave, aren’t you?” Florence was practically fawning over Orion by now, almost cursing himself for already falling head over heels for the tiefling’s charm. A happy little giggle escaped from his lips as he was pulled back into Orion’s chest. “That’s a nice inn, but they fill up quickly. Especially with it being the time that it is, with the Festival of the Gods coming up soon.. rates will be high.” Florence thought for a moment. “I think I have space for you at my house if you can’t get into an inn, if you’d like to stay with me?” He worried that he was being too forward in his question, but what he said was true- inn prices were sky high around this time of year, and rooms were scarce.
(I’m not going to be on for most of the day due to family issues. I’ll do my best to be on tonight, sorry for the late warning!)
(No, it’s all good! Real life comes first, hope you’re doing well!)
(Things have wrapped up pretty well, thanks! We had to take my sister to the hospital but it turns out she's just got strep and we were all worked up over nothing lol)
"Of course I'm brave, darling. I'm an adventurer aren't I?" Once Florence had settled against his chest again he reached up, running his fingers through that pretty brown hair. It was very soft, very wavy. If they'd met a few years ago he'd have been jealous, but then again he'd always been a tad jealous of humans. They were so beautiful in ways he could never be, beautiful in ways that didn't make them stand out. He scratched gently at the back of Florence's head, zoning back in at the offer. "Oh!" He beamed, nuzzling the top of his head. "I'd love that pretty boy. I thought it too forward to ask, but a night with you would be a treasure unlike any other."
(Oh shit, glad she’s all good! Having strep sucks, can’t imagine having it right now of all times!)
Florence melted under Orion’s touch, especially when he touched his hair. He smiled at Orion’s words. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll have enough to make you an entirely new place to sleep, but I can build onto mine if you’re alright with that.” Florence’s house, of course, given that it was incredibly traditional, had large mounds of furs rather than constructed beds. “When would you like to go?”
(Yeah, it was a… journey, figuring everything out, but she's got some antibiotics or smth to deal with the symptoms and it's not corona, so I think we'll be okay)
Orion cooed at him softly as he relaxed, a sound not entirely human, and resumed his petting. "I'll be more than happy with whatever you see fit to give me, darling. I've never been overly picky about where I sleep, especially when I have someone beautiful laying beside me. We can go whenever you like."
(Good, good!)
“Hm.. well, it couldn’t hurt to go before the mead really starts to kick in. It’s a bit of a walk.” The blush in Florence’s face was starting to fade away, but his smile wasn’t. He took a final glance around the fire lit tavern, drinking in the people and the rest of the room. He sat up once again, brushing his hair out of his face and tucking it behind his ears. “Shall we go, then?”
Orion would miss the blush, but Florence seemed so happy to be with him that he couldn't really do anything but smile in return, the picture of a perfect gentleman as he helped the human up off the bench and linked their arms together. "Very well then, let's be off. I trust you'll be able to navigate in the dark?"
“But of course.” Florence nodded and smiled, taking a moment to place a few coins on the table before walking them outside and into the street. Rain drizzled down in consistent sheets, though tonight the wind wasn’t as strong as it had been the day before. The air almost felt stil as the pair walked. “Sometimes I ask myself why I even go to that tavern, though tonight I’m glad that I did.”
Orion paid for their own drinks and then swept Florence's coins into his palm, passing them back as they wandered through the town proper. It was a pretty little place, aglow with laughter and light. The rain looked like liquid gold as it came down, reflecting the cheerful gold of the lanterns. He smiled at the remark, bumping Florence with his hip. "Don't be rude to the Rusty Nail. She's my main employer when I'm in town, and a damn sight better than any other tavern here."
Florence rolled his eyes playfully when Prion handed the coins back. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.” He slipped the coins back into the purse at his hip. “Maybe so, but I find myself more partial to The Maiden Fair.. when she’s open, of course.” Florence looked around the town. “Gods, I adore festival time here! I’ve been meaning to decorate the altar outside the farm, but I just haven’t had the time.”
"I said I would by for you tonight, darling." He grinned, raising Florence's hand so he could graze his lips across his knuckles. "I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I went back on my word, though I doubt I'll be a gentleman for much longer if you keep spouting falsehoods. The Maiden Fair isn't half so fine as the Rusty Nail. They water down their mead!" He grinned, watching Florence take in the town with no small measure of joy. "I've actually never staid here for festival season. I celebrate with my sister."
“Maybe they do, but not all of us can handle our alcohol like you, darling. Notice how I didn’t finish the drink you bought me.” Florence noted, leaning into Orion and letting out a happy hum. He cocked his head at the last statement curiously. “You should invite her here for a year, if she can make it. Maybe it’s just the bias of a slightly tipsy local speaking, but I find that we celebrate the Festival of the Gods better than anywhere else in the world.” He giggled again, finally stopping at at a squat home and opening the door. “This is me, then.”
Orion wrapped an arm around his waist, holding him steady as they wandered. "I think you're a touch more than slightly tipsy, darling, but I'll still take it under advisement." He believed Florence when he talked about festival season, if only because any celebration that involved someone as lovely as him was bound to be fantastic.
Orion huffed out a laugh against the back of his neck as they stopped at Florence's, shaking his head. Already head over heels for this human and they hadn't even known each other an hour. "And me as well. This may not be the time, but you do live alone, right? I don't fancy a late-night introduction to your houseguests."
“Mm. I might be.” Florence nodded in acknowledgment of Orion’s observation, but laughed softly at the question. “Of course I do. I have a few pets, but I assume that that wasn’t what you meant.” Florence led Orion inside, sighing contentedly. The inside of Florence’s home just felt like.. him. It was warm, the fire roaring in the hearth casting a dim orange light onto the home. A few plants grew wildly out of their pots, but not so wild that they looked unkempt. In the centers of the walls hung tapestries- some merely cultural patterns, others snapshots of ancient folktales. And of course, there was his bed. Built from piles of furs and pelts, from wolves to the big cats roaming the area, to even the recognizable skins of the many curly rams that Duggan as a nation was famous for.
“What do you think?” Florence stayed leaning into Orion, silently praying that he wouldn’t let him go. He couldn’t believe that he already found himself smitten with this tiefling, someone he hadn’t even known for a full day.
Orion glanced across the house and was completely and utterly charmed by it. It was so… him, so homey and well kept and down to earth. He pressed a kiss to Florence's cheek and did his best to pretend like he wasn't halfway in love already. "I think it's very beautiful." Another kiss, this one to the soft place below his jaw. "And very welcoming." Another, to the side of his throat, to the crook of his neck, to the back of his shoulder. "And entirely too perfect for someone like me. I'll have to pay you back somehow, for letting me stay here."