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After having been doing gleaner work for several moons, Erenville brought Ind’hii along to one of the gatherings the workers put on once a month.
Held in an ornate banquet room on lower floor of a building in Old Sharlayan, these mixers gave the workers a chance to unwind with food, drink, and dance.
Over the course of the evening, Ind’hii noticed people he met earlier in the evening leaving in twos and threes. Sometimes even fours. The Miqo’te tried not to notice, to not pay it too much attention. He wanted to respect people's privacy, and them his, especially being a much more well-known figure than he'd prefer.
Erenville caught Ind’hii watching one such pair as the two relaxed next to each other on a sofa. He followed the smaller man's gaze, then looked back at him.
"Are you looking for a match tonight?"
The Miqo'te blinked in surprise, ears flying as he shook his head just a tad too forcefully. "Nah. Just found it curious, people leaving like that."
Erenville shrugged. "It's what we do. Work hard. Party a bit. Fu— Hm. Oh. I suppose I didn't really mention..."
Ind’hii cut him off with a shrug of his own. "You didn't need to, I know how this works. People hang out and then go home with each other for the night. We did that at my old job too, before I got into the whole adventuring thing. Nothing wrong with that."
The Viera's ears twitched in interest and surprise. He didn't think that Ind’hii was particularly straightened, but it seemed like the man was even less so than he assumed. "What did you used to do?"
"I... I worked at adult clubs for a while." Ind’hii's unadorned ear flicked with a hint of embarrassment.
Erenville smirked, his eyes flicking lower at Ind’hii's body for a moment. "Dancer?"
"Hah! No, my job way less interesting. Staff alchemist." Ind’hii chuckled. "I can make a mean aphrodisiac, though. I'll even give you a discount."
"I see. Perhaps I'll take you up on that sometime."
Returning his gaze straight ahead to watch his coworkers dancing in the dim light, Erenville dared to sneak his hand towards Ind’hii's in the space between them.
Then a little closer.
And a little bit closer still.
His fingers brushed against his Miqo'te friend's, and he waited to see how they would be recieved.
Ind’hii's hand didn't move an ilm.
Erenville waited a moment.
This isn't getting anywhere. Letting out a small sigh, he decided to shoot his shot anyway.
"Ind’hii, would you be interested in, well, going off together?"
An awkward laugh. "You know, a while back, we would've already been there." Ind’hii's index finger slowly traced the top of Erenville’s pinky. His fingertip ran up toward the back of his palm, then back down again. As he reached the other man's fingernail, he moved away slightly. "I can't say yes though, not these days."
Erenville hummed quietly, thinking for several moments. "That redhead? 'G'raha,' I think?"
Ind’hii chuckled, flashing his signature fanged grin at him. Erenville couldn't help but smile back—he did like the sight quite a lot, after all.
"Yep. He catch your eye too, Eren?"
The Viera felt warmth creep over his cheeks and gave his thanks to the darkness of the room. It wasn't like him to get flustered at all, not like this. "Perhaps. I noticed you two are close... But now I'm getting the impression that's not quite the right word."
"Maybe not." Ind’hii shrugged and continued. "Mates."
"Oh. I apologize, I didn't know."
"Most don't, not even all the Scions. I'm a pretty private guy."
"So I've noticed."
"Anyway," Ind’hii started again, "I wouldn't do any, uh, 'extracurriculars' without his permission. I'm sure you get what I mean."
Erenville laughed. "You sound like one of the stuffy scholars around here, putting it like that."
"Ugh! Gross." The Miqo'te scoffed and playfully swatted Erenville's hand. The amber-eyed man was thankful for the contact. "Maybe Raha’s rubbing off on me."
And maybe I didn't make this too awkward. A dozen dirty jokes ran through Erenville’s head, but he elected to keep quiet instead lest he threaten their friendship again.
"A-ny-way." Ind’hii tapped the Viera's hand as each syllable left his lips. "If that's the case, maybe I'll head back to the Annex. I don't want to get in your way."
Erenville frowned slightly as Ind’hii's touch faded. He watched the smaller, feline man rise to his feet. The Viera hadn't had his sights on anyone else, so he wasn't quite sure how to go from there. Maybe he'd just go home too. "I wouldn't say that you were."
Ind’hii took a few steps and stood before him, his eyes only slightly above Erenville's despite him sitting. Ind’hii patted him on the shoulder, and this time, the other man's twitching ears didn't escape his notice.
The Miqo’te grinned. "What I mean is, I'm goin' 'cause I'm not gonna cockblock you, Eren."
The Viera opened his mouth to protest, but Ind’hii cut him off.
"Oh, but one thing I should add..."
"Hm? What's that, Ind’hii?"
Ind’hii leaned in and over slightly, looking Erenville straight on. Without realizing it, Erenville found himself biting the inside of his own lip in anticipation.
"You know," Ind’hii started, "I didn't say 'no' overall."
That was not what Erenville expected to hear. He stared at his friend, and his raised eyebrow conveyed his thoughts better than he could verbally at that moment.
Something akin to a giggle left Ind’hii's lips. "All I can say is, well, maybe you should get to know Raha. If he interests you."
"...Maybe I should."
Ind’hii reached out and brushed a bit of hair away from Erenville's face. The Viera let him, and without thinking, found himself doing the same.
With a smile, Ind’hii finally backed away with his freshly tucked hair. "Night, Eren."
"Goodnight."
Erenville watched Ind’hii leave the party alone. He then sat back in his seat, taking a long sip of whiskey.