Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 24, 2020 22:21:09 GMT -5
The soldiers were all unknowns to Pearce. Even had he been assured of their reactions he would have been against such an open confession. Maybe he was overly cautious and overreacting but he hadn't grown up in a world where any of this was okay.
And here he had been worried about blood. Hah!
The noble mumbled faintly in Zander's arms. He was trying to be conscious by the time Zander placed him on a cot but he wasn't really sure what had happened or where he was.
He lay there limp for another minute or two before he blinked and shifted slightly. "...not just...n-new friend..." he mumbled. Pearce looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Where was the tree? And the bench?
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 24, 2020 22:33:12 GMT -5
Zander held the nobles hand as he waited for him to regain consciousness. Of course there was a deep put of worry in his stomach given the recent heart attack but he tried not to think about it. He hoped this was just Pearce becoming a bit overwhelmed and not knowing how to handle it.
When he heard the man speak he smiled a bit and gave his hand a soft reassuring squeeze. "Well would you prefer if I told them I was a teachers pet?" Should he still be teasing him after he just fainted? Probably not. But they were already in the infirmary so what could possibly go wrong? Scratch that, maybe not the best question to ask when it came to Pearce.
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 24, 2020 22:42:47 GMT -5
He closed his eyes again and squeezed the hand that was around his. Zander? Probably. He certainly felt overwhelmed and stress was never something his body knew how to handle.
"Teacher's pet?" He repeated, confused. He felt like he should understand but he didn't. His brain was still stuck somewhere else.
Pearce managed to get his eyes open and to focus this time. "Zander? What...happened?" His heartbeat was still rather frantic and thready and it was difficult to focus. Also difficult not to throw up. That reminded him of the other day a little.
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 26, 2020 21:05:05 GMT -5
"What have you never heard that term before?" He asked with a laugh. Hearing the nobles question Zander blinked then shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I called you my boyfriend and you fainted." Perhaps it was more due to Pearce being introduced to strangers as the redheads boyfriend but still.
Still, he smiled as ran his thumb soothingly over the back of Pearces hand. "So I brought you to the infirmary to take a break."
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 26, 2020 21:25:07 GMT -5
He blushed. Should he have? Maybe it was a colloquialism. "Only in reference to Breeze," he replied awkwardly.
"S-sorry," he said faintly. Well, that was embarrassing. More than embarrassing. Pearce felt ashamed of himself. True, the forwardness and open displays of affection were a bit...uncouth and improper to say the least, to faint when Zander called him that... "I...I d-do not mean to imply I am emb-barrassed, it's just...a lot. I haven't...ever had a boyfriend. Or..." The noble didn't know what to say and was pretty sure he was just rambled so he closed his mouth.
"Sorry," he mumbled again, looking up at the young man with concern. He took a deep breath to trt and calm down. Zander's touch helped.
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 26, 2020 21:35:16 GMT -5
Seeing him so upset made Zander frown. It wasn't something he'd really been hurt about. Did he think Pearce was embarrassed of him? Not really. Would it be the first time someone was embarrassed of him? Not even in the slightest. "Don't worry about it." He insisted quickly. Possibly a bit too quickly.
"The only reason I said anything was because these are people I care about and you're someone I care about." He began as he ran the fingers of his free hand gently, absently, through the nobles hair. "I want them to know how happy you make me. But...if it makes you this uncomfortable I'll let you say it instead when you're ready." He shrugged his shoulders a bit then smiled softly at him.
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 26, 2020 21:57:33 GMT -5
Zander's quick reassurance didn't make hin feel better. But Pearce tried to smile appreciatively anyway. The other man did a much better job of supporting his end of their relationship, after all. He didn't want to make things more difficult.
Pearce sighed and his shoulder sagged slightly. "You're entitled to present our relationship however you like, Zander. I... It just might t-take me some time to get over that..."
What was that exactly, he wasn't sure how to explain. That was him being used to being formal and keeping his preferences to himself. That was having it beaten into him that who he was, was wrong. That was his general fear of being hurt by anyone for going against anything. It might have been a few years since any thing of the sort but it was ingrained in his general nature. Was that why he was nervous all the time? Not entirely. But it certainly didn't help
"You make me happy too," he said quietly, his tone much more firm and clear than before. Pearce reached up slowly to press a hand to Zander's cheek and lean up to kiss him.
The noble grinned suddenly and added, "You make me a little uncomfortable too, but you are worth it. Thank you for carrying me here."
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 26, 2020 22:12:00 GMT -5
"Well I'd like to present our relationship in a way that makes you comfortable." There was a bit more of a seriousness to his tone though he kept the soft smile. There weren't many places Zander felt safe enough to be himself. Even with some of the other infantry men he was unsure and uncomfortable around them. Still, he didn't like hiding himself from the few people in his life he did feel safe around.
Of course he had never really needed to worry about being formal in such a way. Certainly he'd worried about carrying on his family name but that wasn't something he cared about anymore. Though he knew Pearce worried about carrying on his family name. That was something that worried the redhead. A lot. It wasn't something he wanted to think about at the moment though. As Pearce pressed his hand to Zanders cheek he leaned into the touch before leaning down to meet him in a kiss.
"You know I'll always make it up to you for making you uncomfortable though." He purred teasingly with a mischievous grin.
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 26, 2020 22:45:32 GMT -5
Pearce smiled and pulled himself up a little in the cot. "I'll get used to it," he said. He wasn't sure how long that might take but he wasn't interested in lying to anyone either. It was just...very very different.
The nobleman was indeed very concerned with having a family. But not like that. To be honest, Pearce intensely avoided thinking about his options. It was a conversation he would ha e to have evebtually. That or he could put it off indefinitely and be entirely discontent the rest of his life.
"I know," Pearce smiled back. "Maybe after I assure your friends I'm alright?" He glanced around the infirmary. Not exactly a private space.
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 26, 2020 23:27:56 GMT -5
"There'll be plenty of time to get used to it." At least he hoped there would be. When Pearce sat up in the cot the redhead leaned back in his seat and looked around the small empty room. There was the sound of people talking and moving about very close by but the little room itself was more private than most of them. Still, not the most private place by any means.
"They're still at the training yard if you're feeling up to go back out." Zander stood up with a stretch and groaned softly before offering his hand out to Pearce to help him up.
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 26, 2020 23:45:57 GMT -5
Considering Pesrce wasn't planning on going anywhere, nor was he planning have any other relationships, there should be plenty of time for him to get used to it.
Empty private room or not, Pearce wasn't sure it was that private. He did appreciate that Zander had set him up somewhere woth less prying eyes.
He nodded and smiled nervously. "You need to get back," he said, taking Zander's hand and getting to his feet carefully. He leaned against Zander a moment just to be sure he had his balance and to avoid some faint lightheadedness. He gave the young man an easy smile and gestured for him to lead the way.
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 26, 2020 23:59:26 GMT -5
Once he was up on his feet Zander was glad to let Pearce lean against him for the moment to regain his footing. "I suppose I should go back." He said with a small pout before leading him out of the infirmary. Once they were back at the yard the redhead placed his hands in his pockets as he walked back to the tree where Mrs Harver was sitting. She looked up at the two and quickly rose to her feet with concern.
"Are you alright? I'm sorry if I got a bit too personal." Zander put up his hand to calm her worries and shook his head. There were a lot more people at the yard now than there had been when Pearce fainted. People the redhead wasn't entirely comfortable with. He turned his attention to Pearce with his charming crooked smile and dragged his fingers through his hair. "I'll see you before I start my rounds."
The redhead waved to both of them quickly before jogging out towards the men, picking up a practice sword from the ground on his way.
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 27, 2020 0:14:45 GMT -5
He heard the reluctance, though Pearce couldn't imagine why. Zander liked being a soldier, he thought. Was it him? Probably him. He was tempted to promise he wouldn't faint again...but..promises like that were hard to keep.
"N-no need to apologize, Miss Harver," Pearce replied. He took a breath and smiled at her. "I get...nervous easily." He missed Zander's motions to the woman, but he gave the young man a nod and pressed a hand to his arm briefly. See, he could handle physical contact in front of people. Kind of.
Pearce settled on one side of the bench. More sword combat from the look of it. He glanced at Harver's wife. "I...don't know if we met properly, but I am Pearce Lockheed. Which one of them belongs to you?" He teased gently. He didn't quite remember, having passed out.
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Ollie
19
Dating a nobleman
Infantry Soldier
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Post by Zander Brogthamon on Aug 27, 2020 0:27:18 GMT -5
Even small touches were enough to sustain Zander. At least for the moment. When questioned the woman chuckled at Pearce as she motioned to her husband. "The short burly one with the beard there." Harver was charging at the redhead with a shield making him dodge out of the way quickly and swing for an open spot on his leg.
"Zanders is such a good boy and his little sister is just precious." She turned her attention to Pearce with a soft smile. "How did you and Zander meet?"
After another two hours the group began to disperse as some men went to take a break and others went to put on their armor. Zander jogged back over to the tree, sweat pouring down him and a few new bruises forming on his chest and left shoulder. Harver slapped his hand down hard on the redheads back with a slightly out of breath laugh. "You're gonna give me a run for my money boy!"
Zander shook his head then turned his head to Pearce. "Glad to see you're making friends. Want come with me real quick before I have to get to work?"
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Orion
35
Unmarried
Marquis | Tutor
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Post by Pearce Lockheed on Aug 27, 2020 0:55:08 GMT -5
He smiled, watching their significant others spar. Harver seemed quite capable of testing Zander, moreso than the other man.
"He is. Brielle is quite the intelligent young woman," he agreed. He avoided the word precious mostly because he was certain he wouldn't be able to say it cleanly. He glanced at Lady Harver. "Oh, Brielle is one of my students. And Zander is...was too." He blushed. Regardless of how proper it was, Pearce did think of him as more than a student. Theu were dating after all. Saying 'boyfriend' out loud might be awkward still but he could think it.
He chatted with the woman for a while longer, enjoying the morning air on the bench. Waking up this early every morning was a little much for him but Zander seemed just fine. Maybe it was because he was young.
He smiled as Zander approached. "Working on a quite the collection," he noted playfully, a tad concerned. Despite the bruises and the glistening sweat, the redhead still managed to have nearly perfect hair. "Oh, s-sure," he said, hesitantly, though if Zander took his hand he was more than willing to follow. More work? How did Zander have the energy?
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