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Being seventeen on the cusp of eighteen is hard. It's even more so when your body tries to tear itself apart at the slightest sign you just might be content. Fortunately, for Qifrey, the predicament he's been cornered in was quite the opposite of contentment.
"Come on, Qifrey," Olruggio extended his hand, revealing an extremely small amount of Spectresmoke pollen in an equally small pouch. "Ya' have ta' live a little, yeah?" Olruggio's dazzling smile was doing extreme heavy lifting for Qifrey's nerves.
The two were initially out running errands for Beldaruit, just the usual 'Go to Kalhn', and hints of 'Grab this, grab that'. So they did. Qifrey and his ever present Olruggio went to Kalhn, grabbed some ingredients for dinner for the next week, grabbed some components for spells, and last but (very much so) not least, the Spectresmoke pollen that Beldaruit uses to manage his joint pain. He always spoke so highly of how it 'put him at ease', and even how he 'slept like a princess'. Therein lies the source of the predicament.
Olruggio cares too damn much about Qifrey.
Qifrey had suddenly been dragged all the way out to Naakiwan Downs, far from the noise of Kalhn, and blissfully far from the oceans' murky depths. The raven haired witch had claimed Qifrey 'looked too tense'. Vague. Qifrey should've known something like this would happen.
"Olruggio, you know if Beldaruit finds out," Qifrey sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"He won't, aye? Besides, we never get ta' have time to ourselves like this," Olly extended his palm once more. The snow haired witch let his lone eye gaze at the powder, contemplating. They have had time together like this, but that was just another memory that the silverwood forced Qifrey to take from Olruggio. A more exasperated sigh vacates Qifrey's lungs upon remembering the whole encounter. Perhaps this time alone together wouldn't lead to such a rabbit hole of consequences. Cautious optimism fluttering in Qifrey's chest, he concedes.
"You know, Olly," Qifrey grins, chuckling softly. "You're going to be the absolute death of me," He looks at the small pouch, lifting it carefully now into his own hand.
"Now, don't say that," The shorter man smiled wide. "So, ye' keen on tryin' it?" He nods towards the pouch. "I'll protect ya' from all the hallucinations," He chuckles. He and Qifrey had heard it first from Beldaruit that the intense hallucinations from the pollen were not to be joked about, much less how numbingly asleep it can render you.
"I'm not going to do that much, Olly," Qifrey mumbled, trying to mentally sort what to do in a worst case scenario. Thinking, he set his pointed cap between them, and considers extremely briefly the parasite writhing behind his eye. The stress of this whole situation should be enough to keep the silverwood within him at bay, at least, he hopes. The worst case scenario, he'll just grab his cap, undo the flap and— "Aren't you joining?" He drags himself away from the next steps of the plan, trying to not use it as a crutch. He now stares at Olruggio through the transparent pouch in his hand, pollen shimmering under the sunset.
"Of course," Olly gestures to Qifrey, "You're first, though." Qifrey has a sneaking suspicion that his future Watchful Eye might've already snuck a sample at some point while navigating Kalhn. The usually well-directioned man kept getting lost attempting to lead Qifrey all the way to their safe haven in the Downs, and seemed to be a jumbled mess at any attempt of conversation on the way there.
Hesitance slightly trembling through his fingertips, Qifrey gently opens the pouch. Leaning forward, he inhales the pollen softly, his head and lungs immediately lighting up with a burning sensation. As fast as the pouch was opened, it had now been closed and shoved back into Olruggio's palm clumsily.
"Ya' alright, Qif?" Olruggio placed his hand on Qifrey's waiting kneecap.
Qifrey's glacier gaze drifted to that hand, and back up to his partner's deep blue ocean hues. Olly's touch on his knee felt as hot as a blade fresh out of a forge; Almost uncomfortable, but just right. Qifrey's eye strayed down, taking in all of Olly's features; His olive skin dotted with freckles, burn scars on his hands- some fresh and light pink, or angry brighter red, some others old and darkened. Eye wandering back upward, trailing up burn splotched toned arms, Qifrey notices Olly's beard finally coming in, pitch black stubble trying desperately to fill in gaps. The snow haired witch feels a giggle slip out from his own lips as his body begins to abandon the immense pain he had been in. He closes his eye, inhaling the fresh evening air, and exhaling.
"Qifrey?" Olly's now booming voice jarred Qifrey out of his momentary stupor, his eye snapping open to meet the deep blue pupils of his partner. Qifrey, trying to find a response to let Olruggio know that he was indeed just fine and peachy, could only utter one thing as he gazed at his soon to be Watchful Eye.
"Oh, wow."
"Oh,wow?" Olruggio repeated back. "That good, or?" The fire witch looks almost smug as he asks, even though Qifrey knew that wasn't the case. He knew Olruggio could never truly be smug about anything, even if he tried.
"Of course, I mean," Qifrey could feel his mind begin to betray his previous musings as he spoke. "I mean, look at you, smug little thing." Another airy giggle escaped him. What Qifrey didn't account for was how fast the pollen would hit his system, and how numbingly blissful it would make his head feel.
"Oi, nothin' smug about me," Olruggio chuckled, playfully pushing on Qifrey's leg. "'Sides, look at ye'. Haven't ever seen ye' so laid back." He slides the pouch back into the bag of the assortment of items Beldaruit had asked for. "Let me call up Beldaruit and let him know we'll be stayin' out here tonight, hey?" A warm hand rubs Qifrey's shoulder. As Olruggio stands and walks away, a realization crept into the crevices of Qifrey's dulled mind.
That slick bastard. He had planned this out with Beldaruit. Whether Olruggio is aware he got dragged into this scheme is less apparent, but the water witch knew without a doubt in his mind that this was Beldaruit's doing. The previous day, Qifrey had been giving his master an earful about how much stress he was under planning out the layout of his future atelier, even if it was years off from being official. As things were, Qifrey was almost scared to be a master. That's what he- no- the parasite needed, right? Fear?
Once again saving Qifrey from the corridors of his own mind, Olruggio plopped back down beside him, grinning.
"Oh no," Qifrey could tell what this look upon Olruggio's face meant, even in his pollen induced state. "What did he say about me? He always has something to say about me," He found himself babbling the end of the sentence slightly, praying he was still coherent as the pollen was running it's course through him.
"Spot on," Olly rifles through the bag, pulling out a fresh sourdough loaf that they had just bought from Kalhn. "He said that the food in here was ours ta' have, and-" He pulls out the pouch again, tossing it to Qifrey. "-He said that's yours ya' use. You're stressed about the kids, and we don't even have them yet, aye?" He pulls out a small wheel of brie, and a sack full of willowgrapes. Qifrey didn't even remember purchasing those.
"Olly, these willowgrapes," Qifrey pulled himself up, world spinning as he leaned towards Olruggio. "We didn't-" He's quickly cut off by the fire witch.
"Ye' didn't, I did," He holds out a handful of willowgrapes over a small bowl that he kept stashed in his bag for overnight trips like these, and a vapor bubble with his other hand. He gently tips the vapor bubble, rinsing the willowgrapes of any impurities, and sits them gently in the bowl. "I know they're yer favorite, couldn't help m'self." He slides the bowl over to Qifrey, who almost feels like crying over how sweet of a gesture this is. His darling Olruggio, his kind Olruggio, his selfless Olruggio,his —
"Olruggio, my radiant star," Qifrey feels his face burning bright red now as his thoughts shoved their way out of his mouth. He's never called Olruggio anything other than 'Olly', he's not even entirely sure how the words 'radiant star' even left his lips. Thankfully, the pollen is doing wonders masking the totality of how utterly embarrassed Qifrey is.
"I wouldn't go that far, Qif, it's just willowgrapes," The raven haired witch gave a deep chuckle. "Ye' deserve them, after all. Seen how hard ye' were pushin yourself." It is taking tremendous willpower for Qifrey to not cry over willowgrapes.
"No, Olruggio," Qifrey pouted weakly, drawing out every syllable of his partner's name. "You are always so kind, and I never know how to reciprocate," Eye wandering, he can feel his face flush a deeper hue of red. "I don't feel worthy to-" Qifrey stops, fearing that if he spoke any more, he'd start sprouting. Best not to finish that thought.
"Worthy ta' what?" Olruggio grabs the pollen pouch from beside Qifrey, taking another quick inhale, and quickly sitting it back down. "Hell," He coughs, "Ye' prob'ly shouldn't do a second round, Qif. Ye' been actin' too off kilter for me." He jokes. "Oh, and Qif?" He looks down at Qifrey out of the corner of his eye. The white haired witch looks up at him in acknowledgement. "Ye' don't have ya' reciprocate anything, you're doin' enough as is."
"I see." Qifrey whispered to himself, eye daring to prickle with tears. He wanted so badly to just cry about the willowgrapes.
Surely, it was just about the willowgrapes.
Qifrey couldn't stop staring at Olruggio, who was now repeating the process of washing the fruit for himself this time; Hair dark like a starless night sky falling gently around his slightly round face. His tongue poked out slightly from his lips as he tipped the vapor bubble again, calloused fingers focusing on not dropping any of the coveted fruit. Qifrey's mind could only focus on admiration for his partner in this moment, and it was unfortunately becoming increasingly apparent.
Qifrey was coming to a very distinct realization— His emotions were running rampant because of the pollen, and this evening was going to be a thorough test on his mental fortitude. Olruggio is handsome, and when Qifrey starts talking, he has trouble stopping. Still enraptured with the view inches away from him, Qifrey sighs in a dreamy manner.
"Oh, wow." The snow haired witch dumbly said.
Olruggio, popping a willowgrape in his mouth, laughs. "There ye' go sayin' that again," He digs in his own bag again, pulling out a knife and slices into the brie. "Am I that handsome to ye'?" He chided. Qifrey, knowing Olruggio was joking, was once again betrayed by his dulled mind.
"You are, actually. Quite." The pollen spoke for Qifrey again. Olruggio stares at the water witch like a deer caught by lamp light. Breath audibly catching, Olruggio searches for a proper response.
"Pollen must be doin' wonders for ye'," He finally manages to speak. Qifrey popped a willowgrape into his mouth, savoring the delicate flavor before speaking against his will once more.
"Oh no, I'm deathly serious." Qifrey slides himself closer to Olruggio, resting his head on his partner's shoulder. The silverwood doesn't respond to this, thankfully. Icy eye glancing up at Olly's now willowgrape juice covered lips, Qifrey chuckles. "You may be a mess, but you are quite handsome." The fire witch is taken aback with how vulnerable his usually secretive partner is being with him, and is frantically searching for yet another response.
"It's definitely the pollen," Olruggio reassures himself verbally, eating another willowgrape.
"It absolutely torments my heart that you won't believe I'm being truthful," Qifrey coos, sliding his upper half down to rest in Olruggio's lap. "Olruggio of the Torch doesn't love me anymore, it seems!" A dramatic sigh escapes him as he drapes his arm over his head.
"Hush," Olly smirked down at the white haired witch in his lap, playfully shoving a piece of brie partway into his mouth. "If I 'didn't love ye' ' anymore, why did I bother buyin' these willowgrapes for ye'?"
Qifrey let his gaze fall again on Olruggio's lips, lingering. A new thought burrows its way into the white haired man's mind; Qifrey wants to kiss Olruggio. Frantically trying to shove the thought away, he formulates an answer to the earlier question. "It was all a ruse!" He giggles, finishing the slice of cheese off. He couldn't part his gaze from his partner's lips. Just how much could the pollen stave off the silverwood's hunger, and exactly how long could he use this method to manage it? A few clockmarks pass like this, with Qifrey silently stewing, lying in Olruggio's lap,accepting occasional willowgrapes from the raven haired man's calloused palm.
The view above the pair of witches had slowly faded into an array of beautiful, blinding stars; spotting the inky black expanse of sky before them. Normally, Qifrey would yammer away at Olruggio about all the constellations, so on and so forth, but this time was a world of difference. Qifrey was the closest he's been able to get to Olruggio in years, and it was thanks to such a simple substance. He unfortunately knew though that he wouldn't be able to use this method repetitively, it would eventually stop working; then the consequences would become much more dire. He switches in between timidly glancing up at Olruggio, and glancing at the stars with just as much adoration.
"I think we should build it here," Olruggio was the first to interrupt the prolonged silence between them. "The atelier, I mean." He looks back down to Qifrey, his gaze upon him gentle.
"Our atelier," Qifrey whispers with barely contained excitement. His limbs felt absolutely useless at this point, only able to half heartedly wiggle a finger at his partner.
"Aye, but you're doin' the teachin'." The raven haired man lightly swats at the finger that was wiggled at him. "Quit that." He laughs, flashing a smile at Qifrey.
"Olly," The snow haired witch sighed, partially from his own embarrassment. "I don't think my legs or arms can function any longer," A pleading stare at Olruggio.
"Ye' need help up?" Olly asks, chuckling. Qifrey can only nod ferociously back at him. "Right then, let's get ye' up." He shifts his hand under Qifrey, resting right in between his shoulders on his aching spine, and pushes him upward. Qifrey winces at the pull in his spine, but at least he was sitting up now. Staring at his radiant star.
"Thank you, Olly." Resting his hand lightly on the raven haired man's shoulder, he softly chuckles. "What would I even be without you?" He half joked, but the question was more than real. Icy blue eye admiring Olruggio's features again, Qifrey finds himself staring at his ocean blues, and back down to his lips, a grin tugging at the corners. Testing his newfound limits, Qifrey shakily brings the hand that was resting on Olly's shoulder up to cup his stubbly cheek. No reaction- from the silverwood or Olruggio. They quietly stare at each other, both with baited breath, Olruggio now mirroring Qifrey's movements. The fire witch cautiously cupped Qifrey's cheek back, running a thumb just below the secreted away eye scar, lightly tapping the bottom rim of his spectacles. No reaction from the silverwood. Taking his spectacles off with his free hand, Qifrey decides that what he's about to do next is worth the risk, especially if it means Olruggio gets to walk away remembering this splendid night.
Qifrey leans into Olruggio, kissing him gently, cautiously— nonetheless, actually kissing him. Olruggio clumsily kisses him back, most likely stunned at how forward the pollen was making Qifrey. The snow haired witch ran his fingers through soft, inky black hair, not once parting for air. As long as the silverwood(and pollen) permits him, he's going to stay right here. Olruggio slowly finds his footing, hand running back through Qifrey's mess of snow white curls as he kisses him with a re-ignited passion. Testing the waters, the fire witch lightly nips Qifrey's bottom lip, a gasp escaping. Olruggio's hand carefully slides down Qifrey's back, attempting to pull the taller man even closer— krrk.
Qifrey's eye shot open at the sudden encroaching pain of the parasite, quickly shoving Olly away before it was too late. Qifrey desperately needed Olruggio to remember this, he needed it.
"Qifr—" The fire witch tried desperately to console Qifrey.
"No!" The silverwood infected witch snapped back, taking a second more to grab an excuse from anywhere."No," He repeats, much softer this time."Too much, I'm sorry." Qifrey whispered, folding his knees and hugging them up to his chest.
"It's okay, it was my first kiss too, ye' know." Rubbing the back of his neck, Olruggio gave a sheepish chuckle. "If anything, I did too much!" Qifrey gives a small sigh of relief knowing that that's how Olruggio had interpreted his sudden change in mood.
"Wasn't bad, though." Qifrey adds, shooting a quick glance to the raven haired man. "Just, um," He curls into himself. "A lot." Internally actually ecstatic, Qifrey was fighting to surpress his grin. He had finally gotten a sliver of normalcy to keep to himself .
"Oh, good," The faint blush on Olruggio's cheeks grew darker. "May I ask then, does this mean ye've always felt the same?" He stares at Qifrey, searching for any indication of an answer. A quick nod from the white haired man, who without his spectacles, looked very much like the timid little boy that Olruggio had initially fallen in love with.
"It's been a long day, Olly," Qifrey deflects, rummaging through his pack that had been toppled over behind him since the first inhale of the pollen. "Should probably sleep, don't you think?" He can hear Olruggio give a light hearted sigh as he pulls a blanket from his bag, and lies back, tucking himself in. He fears to tempt the now receding parasite any further.
"Aye, prob'ly a good idea." The raven haired witch grins, following suit. He pulls out his own blanket from his bag, and ensnares himself with the cloth. A heavy silence hangs between them once more as they both attempted to sleep. Olruggio would turn to face Qifrey, and Qifrey woud turn the opposite way. Eventually giving up their odd game, Qifrey tries to stop moving as much, praying that Olruggio would just fall asleep, hoping that he wouldn't continue the previous conversation.
"Qifrey?" Olruggio asks the bundle of fabric next to him, breaking the silence. No response. He sits up to see Qifrey, eye screwed shut, appearing to be blissfully asleep. "Ah, well," He huffs, lying back down. "I love ye', Qif." He mumbles, turning the opposite way once more.
Qifrey lies there for minutes that slowly crept to an hour before he's sure that Olruggio was asleep, gentle snores escaping the fire mage's mouth.
"I love you too, Olly." Qifrey whispers. He rolls himself facing away from Olruggio, and exhales. A long day indeed, he muses. There was going to be much to tell his master, and definitely part of that was going to be fussing with him over this whole debacle. At some point, Qifrey finds himself truly whisked away to sleep.