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Even a hardened witch has something to learn.
Qifrey was no exception to this rule. He was prompted by his apprentice's prowess to learn a bit of witchcraft he's only practiced a few times under Beldaruit's watch.
Laying under Hedgecraft's umbrella of minor magic, he sat at his desk carving away. However, this sort of thing could prove dangerous without supervision and many witches forbid their apprentices to learn without a watchful eye. So, Qifrey taking note called upon his own watchful eye to put out any fires be they literal or metaphorical.
The girls were fast asleep. Olruggio was sitting behind him, quiet yet attentive enough for his gaze to be felt by Qifrey.
The candles lit up the workspace in soft orange hues while the carefully chosen scent of mugwort and cardamom filled the air.
The only noise was the flicker of flame, the flipping of parchment, wooden slabs being slid across the table, and the sound of a boline blade scratching into their surface.
Olruggio was listening in closer, to the more nuanced sounds that may go unnoticed. An incorrect nick in wood could be the source of danger they were avoiding.
"Phew." A breath of composure. Qifrey was shirtless, the fabric pulled to his waist to avoid getting ruined. For his hands and forearms were covered in oils. This practice called for oils warmed by the body. He was mildly at ease since telling the other man of his scars scaling his skin. He didn't have to hide even if he felt exposed.
His fingertips would slide over his skin, mixing and gathering the oils before tenderly anointing the blade's edge. He grips the white handled boline and gently carves making sure every groove was soaked through.
"Qifrey." Olruggio called out low, careful to time it when the blade was resting in it's sheath.
The back of Qifrey's head lifted, from this angle he had to look over his shoulder to address the other. "Yes?" He smiled, taking a few seconds before continuing, "Olly?"
Swallowing down nothing, Olruggio pointed to his arm. "You'll drip just there." He scooched forward on his knees, "May I?"
Qifrey's back was pin straight, posture perfect so he looked down as Olly cupped a hand below his elbow threatening to drip oils onto white cloth. "Mm. Please do." He kept his hands hovering over his station. He was overtly aware of his own partial nudity having him so close.
Olly smiled, trying to hide it by lowering his head further. "You plan to use these seals solely to show off to the girls or are you going to exchange them in Zozah?" His skin touched skin, raking his thumb over Qifrey's elbow and down his arm to collect the liquid.
Though expecting it, Qifrey still had a chill run up his spine failing at hiding the shiver. "Ohh, uh. I figured a quick history lesson on these slates uses then we would go as a group to give them to those who may need it."
Olly bracketed Qifrey around the table as he raised, the oil on his thumb tickling the back of his brain. He resisted the instinctual urge to dip his thumb in his mouth as if licking off frosting. Instead, he rubbed his thumb on a piece of dry skin on Qifrey's upper arm. "Aye. I'd want to see it in action as well."
This close, Qifrey could see the intrigue in Olly's eyes as the flame flickered it's glow over their faces. Those words that rumbled out had put a new sort of shiver through his body, giving his wild imagination material to run wild. "Do you now?"
Olly leaned both hands against the table, Qifrey caught in the middle. He poured his eyes over the scattered wooden boards, some finished while some laid half-sketched. "Seeing you work so hard on something in my expertise?" Their faces were so close, Qifrey seemed blurred out of his peripheral as he breathed warm air down his neck at his words.
Qifrey both loved and hated being praised, he knew this well.
Olruggio finally turned his head when he felt a wet fingers at his jaw, urging his attention. "?"
The little gesture said enough. If Qifrey couldn't immediately reply and resorted to causing a mess- beads of oil now dripping down Olly's neckline- then he's hit his mark.
Olly looked at his soft expression, pushing himself to continue his thought before it left completely. "Then, i'd be a fool not to be interested."
Those fingers traveled down to anchor onto the lapel of Olruggio's shirt, Qifrey's mouth tried forming around soundless words before giving up. Instead, his eyes darted slowly from his eyes to oil now on his face then lingering on a more central place on his face. Qifrey lingered at his lips for a moment before meeting his gaze again.
As if it were a mindless thing like fixing your hair or twiddling your thumbs, Qifrey cocked his head and inhaled gently onto Olly's mouth. Kissing him oh so gently yet deeply.
Shocked, Olly exhaled his breath as if Qifrey had stolen it. He didn't jump, though his heart did. He instead leaned into it, resting his hand on the nape of Qifrey's neck to hold him close. The warmth from his hold made a pleasant noise escape him, Qifrey wanting closer. He splayed the hand that once held Olly's shirt onto the skin exposed on his chest, hand feeling how real and alive he was.
They licked at each other's mouths at the same time, creating a mood shift from sweet and simple to 'We both know we both want this'.
Qifrey needed this so bad, tears formed in the corner of his eye as he gave up on any composure and pressed his body close until he toppled atop Olly. Their legs slotted and bent between one another while Qifrey found himself struggling to get even closer, like climbing into Olly's skin wouldn't even be enough.
The writhing made Olruggio's pants tight, his hands finding Qifrey's antsy waist. "Hmmph." He pulled his head back to look at that flushed face, "Is the oil not enough of a mess?"
"Huh?" Qifrey paused to assess the damage. Not only were they coated in oils that would be difficult to remove from their clothing and a task and a half to wash out their hair, but one of the bowls containing the oils had tipped over the side of the table and seeped into the hardwood floor. He would feel ashamed, but the growing hardness he pressed up against was very distracting.
Olruggio made a gesture to press his hips up, highlighting that fact.
"Oh." Qifrey said, mildly pleased at the idea of making his dear watchful eye finish while fully clothed. He physically responded with another kiss and another. He peppered Olly's face until a low chuckled vibrated out and the kisses were returned.
As Olly began mouthing at his neck, Qifrey's hips moved less frantic. It was pure delight, one he thought he'd never get. Every touch was something he was memorizing while letting his body react naturally. His legs rubbed his and his little noises became more frequent.
Qifrey was sure they'd both come within a minute if allowed, but as it were even if it was the dead of night they still had young unpredictable apprentices.
Between the noises of their mouths, the shifting of their clothes, and the little gasps leaking out they didn't hear the door squeak open- but they did hear the squeak of a young girl.
They looked up, seeing Agott and Coco both red faced, the embarrassment had frozen them in place.
"Ah- Co-" Qifrey's voice was shaky, and his position over Olly must be more than indecent. Both of them covered in oils, lack of breath while sprawled on the floor.
"S- Sorry! Master Qifrey!" Coco said a bit loud with a hand covering her face.
Agott lowered her eyes, "We'll get out of your hair. Sorry to interrupt." She bowed, beginning to pull Coco back with her.
"Wait." Olruggio sat both himself and Qifrey upright, turning fully to the girls. "Is something wrong? It's nearly midnight."
Qifrey looked at the girls carefully. They were in their sleep clothes, however, a closer eye showed ink stains on their fingertips.
"N-no! Promise, we just-" Coco was interrupted by her own stomach growling, feeling even sillier being called out like this. She clutched her belly trying to silence it.
Qifrey laughed softly, pulling his sullen clothes back on. "Everything's fine, Olly. The girls are just hungry after staying up late practicing."
Agott was halfway out the door, arm still tugging on Coco's. "We can find our own food! Coco, come on already."
"There's a bowl from dinner left in the pantry, the tan one. Help yourselves!" He used his cheerful voice as Agott successfully pulled Coco out and slammed the door. Their voices drifted down the hall, one bickering and one full of shame.
Olruggio looked at Qifrey once more, seeing the work they've done on each other. He smiled wryly, "D'ya think it's the same as seeing your parents kiss? For them, I mean."
Qifrey smacked his leg playfully, "Stop, Olly!" Though, he did find it amusing.
Getting up on his knees, Olruggio made his way to Qifrey and mused back his wild hair. "It's late. Let's get cleaned up, yeah?" He kissed his forehead.
Grumbling but agreeing, Qifrey nodded. "And tomorrow we'll talk with those two."
"And make a 'forgive us' breakfast." Olruggio added with a sigh.