Unexpected Gifts

[Pearce Lockheed]

He had been rather excited for the week he had to wait. Well, mostly excited, if a bit tempered by the scare he had had a few days ago. But he was doing his best to move past that. Not forget it, exactly, but he didn't want to dwell on it. And he didn't want Zander to worry about him so much. There was...an uncomfortable fine line in the middle that he was still trying to find.

But today was about something else. Something...simpler. He'd invited Zander Brogthamon (and his sister if Zander wished her to come and if Briella wished to come anyway) to visit the market place with him. It was conveniently eight days after he had spoken to Celeste the first time and the nobleman was not only happy to enjoy the day with his boyfriend, but also to show him the present he had got him and hopefully continue to befriend the potter.

Pearce wasn't quite prepared to walk hand in hand with the young man. Even as laid back as Aralore was, he still felt a little awkward about it. But he wasn't opposed to being close to him or using the term "boyfriend" publicly. It was...everything else still that he was feeling out. Today would be good for him to relax into that.

He paused outside the carriage, at the edge of the market place. "See anything you want to look at first?" he asked with a smile. He wanted more than anything to rush over to the artist's stall, but he tried to contain himself. At least at first.

[Zander Brogthamon]

The term "boyfriend" was still fairly new to Zander. Not that he was opposed to it by any means. Given that it was Pearce. When the man had asked him to come with him on a day out to the market place of course he wasn't going to refuse. Though Briella had turned down the offer to spend time with her own friends. While he didn't like leaving his sister alone the boy was more than happy that she had so many friends.

Being publicly open about their relationship was a bit more anxiety raising than anything else. Though the people of Aralore seemed more accepting of most things there was always a worry there. Though Zander wouldn't openly admit those anxieties. Being close to Pearce made things easier. As they stepped out of the carriage his eyes wandered around. The first thing that caught his eye was a stall selling necklaces.

Though he didn't talk about it often the redhead was a sucker for jewelry. Especially chokers. Mostly due to he'd have dangling jewelry in his mouth constantly. "What about over here?" Though he didn't plan on actually buying anything it was still nice to look.

[Pearce Lockheed]

'Want to look at' he had asked, as if all he would do was look. Pearce was a noble, a very well to do one, and they were at a market. People like him didn't just 'look' at a market. But he knew if he told Zander he had bought him a gift and would buy him more, the boy would probably refuse. Or at least, he worried he would refuse. He wasn't trying to show off or buy him or anything like that. He simply enjoyed using his wealth to make other happy. He wasn't doing much else with it.

Pearce smiled and followed him to stall with jewelry. The nobleman himself wasn't much for that sort of thing. He owned a very fancy pocket watch, but he didn't often wear it. He couldn't recall ever seeing Zander with jewelry, but he kept a careful watch on what caught his attention. He tried not to be obvious about it of course, but he wasn't exactly good at pretending. That and he couldn't keep his eyes entirely off of Zander's ass either.

"I did not peg you as one for jewelry. Wouldn't that get in the way of combat?" That and he knew Zander couldn't sit still or with idle hands.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander on the other hand was used to window shopping. Given that the boy had never had much money he preferred showing his love through physical affection. The idea of people spending money on him though made uncomfortable. It had always made him feel like he owed them something. Not that he assumed Pearce would ever hold something like that over his head. Old habits died hard though.

When asked about the jewelry getting in the way of combat he chuckled. "I don't wear things during combat or training." He stated as his eyes lingered on a black silk choker with gold trimming and a lavender jewel hanging from the middle.

"I like pretty things though." He said teasingly with a flirtatious smile as he glanced up at Pearce. Zander didn't even wear his bracelet when training or working out of fear of breaking it. But he could never resist something shiny or colorful.

[Pearce Lockheed]

He sometimes forgot that other people couldn't simple have what they wanted. The assumption was slowly fading as he spoke to more and more people, especialy with the kingdom rebuilding. He certainly didn't mean anything by it. He kndw he couldn't buy happiness, but that didn't mean he couldn't help others enjoy themselves. That notion held true in a lot of ways.

He'd forgotten about the bracelet. But even then, it was all he had seen Zander wear and he could tell he was greatly attached to it. "You don't wesr things?" the noble repeated slowly, emphasizing the final word and raising a politely curious eybrow. "And you...you haven't invited me to watch any of this t-training?"

His nerves he put down to the clear fact he was making them a public item. More accepting or not, it wasn't a common thing. He blushed as Zander called him pretty. Okay, maybe that was why he was nervous. He toom the compliment but it was hard to make it stick. It was nice though

Pearce glanced at the vendor to get his attention and then carefully took the black silk choker. He made a 'spin around' motion at Zander. "Try it on at least," he half offered and half ordered and would help him put it on if he let him.

"Purple is a good c-color," he said with a smile. "Especially on you."

[Zander Brogthamon]

With a chuckle Zander shrugged his shoulders. "Well normally I don't wear more than armor. Sometimes I don't even wear that." Training while shirtless was one thing. Though it was still good to train in his armor from time to time if just to get used to how it weighed him down. When Pearce stated that the boy had yet to invite him to watch him train he paused and eyed the noble curiously.

Of course he'd seen some of the other soldiers significant others come watch them train from time to time but he hadn't thought about it himself. Not to mention the idea of bringing Pearce around the other soldiers as his boyfriend felt different. A little scary. "You're welcome to come along but we get pretty rough." Zander knew how the man felt about blood and it wasn't uncommon for there to be busted lips, cuts, small gashes, or just general injuries that happened in training. "If you wanted to see me sweating and flexing all you had to do was ask." He teased with a laugh.

The idea of trying on the choker made him freeze for a moment. He was a bit more aware that the vendor was now was giving them more individual attention. Still he turned around and let Pearce put the choker on him with a soft blush. "I certainly think it looks lovely, it brings out your eyes." The vendor said with a sweet smile. Zander chuckled with a shake of his head.

"It's awful nice but I was just looking. I can't afford this right now."

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce had been arguing semantics rather than what Zander was actually wearing. The idea of men fighting with each other, shirtless, sweating...the ideal was enough to make him blush.

The reality, as Zander suggested, was a lot rougher. And that sort of fluster had him shift awkwardly and keep his mouth shut because he didn't want to think about blood or any sounds or anything. The man could talk about blood without passing out...but seeing it... "Mmmmaybe not then." He had no idea if significant others watched them practice or not, he had just thought it was a good joke. But with the actual invitation...he'd really like to as long as he didn't cause problems fainting. He smiled a little, blushing again as Zander described himself shirtless and sweating. Oh dear.

"That's okay." Pearce shifted and pulled coins from a pouch. He could habe said something to get more attention or to show off or make a joke, but he just wanted Zander to have it and he didn't need to make a big deal out of it. It was just a present. It didn't mean anything. Besides, he liked seeing the boy wearing it too.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander blinked in confusion as Pearce pulled out his coin pouch. There was a large part of him that wanted to tell the man not to worry about it. That he didn't need to buy him anything. Though he also didn't want to put up a fuss. Instead he bit his lip a bit nervously for a moment and toyed idly with the choker.

Once they stepped away from the vendor Zander looked up at the noble. There was a light pink color painted across his cheeks as he clasped his hands behind his back. "You didn't have to do that, you know." Though his voice was light and playful there was still a nervous edge to it. There was a part of him that wanted to reach out and grab the mans hand but he kept his hands to himself.

Still he smiled as his hand went to toy with the new choker again. "Thank you though." He said a bit softer as they walked. "Though I'll need to figure out how to pay you back." He teased.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce smiled, slightly ashamed of himself for the manipulation at getting Zander to put the necklace on.

But once away from the vender that was that and he wasn't inclined to worry about it. He met Zander's awkward blush with a smile. "I know. I wanted to." Hopefully Zander got used to being a little spoiled because that was hardly the tip of the iceberg. The boy was worth it, and he liked spoiling him.

"P-please don't. I just...like spoiling you," Pearce said softly. He desperately wanted to kiss the young man but he didn't dare. Maybe they could figure out how to hold hands by the end of the day at least. He wasn't opposed to Zander paying him back but he certainly wasnt keeping track or going to hold the man to anything. It was gift.

[Zander Brogthamon]

"But what if I like spoiling you too?" Certainly he couldn't shower the man in gifts, at least not ones that needed to be bought. But at the very least he could spoil the man with affection and gifts that he could find or make.

There was the question now though as to why they were at the market place. They could have gone anywhere after all. Not that he had a problem just walking around the market place. With a smile he turned to walk backwards and face the man. "So why did you want to come out to the market place today?" He asked playfully. There wasn't much real curiosity behind the thought. Zander was more than happy to just spend time with Pearce.

"Also I was serious about you coming to watch me train if you want." He said with a shrug. "Some of the other men have wives or girlfriends that come to watch and faun over us from time to time."

[Pearce Lockheed]

"I am n-not going to to stop you. But I also will not keep track," Pearce said. They were both allowed to spoil each other he supposed. More than anything he enjoyed Zander's company and he could tell the boy enjoyed his too. So while just a walk was all this needed to be, he had a reason.

He blushed again. "Oh, well. I got you a present." The man chuckled at himself briefly. "A d-different one. Specially made for you." A lot spoiled. Watching the man walk backwards like that was more that was cute. A little silly. More than attractive.

He directed their walk toward the potter's stall, but didn't rush them to their destination.

Pearce gave Zander a nervous smile. Knowing other people watched was a little reassuring. And Zander was more directly inviting him. But then something occurred to him and he stopped, staring at Zander. His smile warmed to almost a smirk at the thought. Pearce was almost too embarrassed to say it but he committed. "You? 'Serious?' N-now that obligates me to watch. Let me know when?"

[Zander Brogthamon]

"Another gift?" Zander bit back a soft whine as a half hearted pout formed on his lips. Of course he couldn't really be upset with a gift. Still it made the boy a bit shy about the whole idea. There was a desperate need in the pit of his stomach to wrap his arms around Pearce. Press close to him with a whine and a pout. Though he pushed that thought down.

"Well what kind of specially made gift are we talking about?" He asked with a soft smile. Though gifts made him anxious he'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least curious about what it was.

The comment on him being "serious" made him chuckle and shake his head. "Scary isn't it?" He teased as he stepped slightly closer to Pearce. "You could come along tomorrow if you wanted. You'll have to get up early with me though."

[Pearce Lockheed]

He could hear the anxiousness in Zander's tone and his standoffoshness and Pearce immediately decided he must have done something wrong. He had hoped the man would be excited, not bothered by it. "Did...I do s-something wrong?" He asked instead of answering the question.

"Not scary," he shook his head. Tomorrow, but he would have to get up early. Becaise that had gone so well last time. The noble had avoided morning walks since then. At least, when they slept together and as long as Zander didn't wake him up beforehand.

"Tomorrow," he confirmed. "You'll have to wake me up," he teased faintly. Becaise Zander always had to wake him up.

[Zander Brogthamon]

The question on if Pearce had done something wrong made his brows furrow with worry. "Wh- No you didn't do anything wrong." Forgetting that they were in public Zander stepped closer to him and took the mans hand in his own on instinct. "Gifts just make me...nervous is all. I wasn't allowed to have gifts when I was younger." He admitted softly with a nervous chuckle.

"Whenever something was given to me I had to give something back in return." There was a comment about how his father disliked handouts but he kept that to himself. Zander didn't like bringing up Jaskier unless he needed to. "I know you're not like that but it's an old habit." At least admitting how presents made him feel was something right? As he reached up to cup Pearces face in his hand it reoccurred to him where they were.

The sudden feeling of some curious eyes on them made Zander pull his hand back. "Waking you up is harder than any training my commander can put me through." He teased, hoping to make the man feel better.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Well, making Zander nervous wasn't at all what he wanted but he clung to the reassurance that he hadn't done anything wrong.

He both appreciated the physical contact and also felt a little nervous about it. But he needed it, even with the looks. It was just hands. "Well..." he swallowed. "You're allowed to now," he said, trying to smile. "And I don't n-need anything in return. Just means I l-" and the he also realized they were in public as Zander lifted his hand toward his face. Pearce flinched slightly. He felt immediately terrible for stumbling over the word, almost guilty that je couldn't say it. "Love you," he finally whispered. Well, better than not saying it.

He felt awkward and uncomfortable and ashamed to feel that way. Thankfully Zander seemed to understand some of that.

Pearce smiled and let out a breath. "I can't help it. I like sleeping." Especially with Zander. "You should be a great s-soldier then."