Author: Nemu, Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 12:59 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

So it was the heat! Nemu worriedly pressed the hand’s at his cheeks, warm. He moved to feel his forehead, his jaw, his ears - really warm! ”You do not feel good?” Pressing the same hands against his own face, the warmth was there, but not as intense. Nemu furrowed his brows, clasping his hands back on Naota’s cheeks, ”You too!” he puffed his cheeks out, mirroring what the man had said earlier ”You tell me sooner next time, okay?”

Nemu held the mock expression as long as he could, just a brief moment, before breaking into a smile and more laughter. He released Naota from his hands and made his way out of the pool, shivering from the sudden hit of cool air and looking about, where did you put your clothes?

This was not common? The little star tilted his head, looking back to his friend then off to the distance Ehh… it’s not? The feeling had been different this time, to be sure, but this had happened before. At the manor. Many times, in fact. It had just been… it was different. He looked back to Naota and smiled wide, No - do not worry, I am used to this!”

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 9:55 AM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

There was a shaky exhale when their lips were parted and his eyes opened just enough to look back at him.  With Nemu’s movements though the moment was brief and his own eyes blinked open wider as their cheeks were pressed.  He smiled, eyes closing again with a short quiet laugh from how Nemu had reacted and the odd feeling was gone.  Hormonal urges…yes, those were still something he had to get used to, and reacting with laughter was better than being punched, or at the very least smacked across the face.

He moved his hands down from him, lips parting to suggest they leave but before he could his felt his lips press against his own with much more vigor than he had done.  His eyes widened and flickered brighter for a brief moment before fluttering closed.  And while there was a part of him – a more prominent part than he wanted to readily admit- that yearned to give him, there was still that flashing, almost alarm like sensation, going off in the back of his head that told him to stop.  For all he knew, Nemu had no idea what an action like this even meant and that brief moment of clarity from their lips parting was taking residence at the forefront of his mind.

Though he did let their lips stay for a moment longer, he made sure to gently move his hands to Nemu’s face: keeping him held there as he pulled his own back.  He breathed out slowly through his lips, regaining his composure though not chancing having his eyes open just yet.  The pace of his heart slowed, as did the tingle through his nerves that made it so much easier to give in than resist.  When his eyes opened they were their natural hue, but outlined in lavender that was slowly fading as he smiled, voice much quieter than it had been, “Heat can do things to your head, I think it’s best we get out for a little while.”

His lips pulled in and his eyes moved away, the subject still raw enough that his cheeks were warm but with the notion of moving he knew it would get better.  But still, “Forgive me for that though, it’s not common…to take an action like that I mean.”

Author: Nemu, Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:18 AM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

What is this? Nemu’s eyes went wide from the unexpected move. This, this gesture, it had happened before, but… this time was different. Absolutely, entirely different. This one, this was soft. Kind and gentle, the warm skin of his friend pressed against sensitive flesh and surging that electric feeling from being so intensely close to someone so incredibly kind. It tickles…

He smiled behind the kiss, holding still as long as he could. Being this close, this close - he could see the way Naota’s eyelashes fanned out around the closed lid, he could feel the raw structure of his face beneath his hands, the breath against his skin. It was overwhelming, and Nemu was overtaken by a need to laugh.

His body was abuzz, glow burning bright when he broke the kiss to fall into a fit of laughter. Nemu pulled Naota forward, pressing the side of their faces together and still clinging tight for fear that the other man might leave from the broken contact. This feeling, this joy this warmth - overwhelming and addictive. Nemu pushed forward when the laughter subsided, quickly returning the kiss with enthusiasm and a little less grace than Naota had initially.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:20 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

At first when he didn’t answer he felt his stomach twist.  Had bringing attention to this…less than normal scenario made it worse?  His eyes widened and his face filled with heat as he internally cursed himself.  Nemu was different, usually he was able to keep from drawing too much attention to that fact and his fingers curled ever so slightly in his hair as did his hand that was resting in the water.  Some things with him were just going to have to be different, and though they’d spent a good amount of time with one another over the last few months, it still wasn’t enough to learn everything.  After all, he’d only just discovered today where he’d come from.

But when he felt his hands on his face two things happened: the first was that he instantly began to straighten and caught himself before his moves could get too sharp; the second was the almost instant lack of thought.  Though there was confusion, yes, plenty of that.  Touch, a lot of touch, a different type of touch.  His instincts told him to push him, get up and away, teleport even –though there was slight risk of bringing him with him since he’d done so often lately, and there was so much physical contact to aid in that- but he didn’t.

If anything he felt a wave of calm when his head was pulled towards his, having their foreheads press, and his eyes slowly closed.  Yes, a very different type of touch.  It was light, and there was an intimacy to it that he couldn’t quite place yet very badly craved, and before he could stop himself he gently tipped his head and pressed his lips to his.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 1:06 AM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

He watched as his friend’s eyes trailed down then up, returning a pale shade of purple instead of the brilliant green they were just moments before. Lavender. He couldn’t recall having seen the color before. Something was odd.


The way he had asked the simple question, it was unusually quiet for his friend. Was Naota… not comfortable? Maybe the heat of the healing waters was starting to bother him - the two had been in the pool for some time and the heat coming off the man’s body was feeling hot. But he made no moves to exit, rather the hand that had slipped to the back of the little star’s head would suggest an intent to stay put.


Then what? Those pale eyes and unsure voice - There was something bothering his friend, and he found himself at a loss for a response. Nemu reached up, placing a hand on either side of Naota’s face and gently pulling down until their foreheads were touching while a smile began to spread.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Apr 9, 2016 9:23 AM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

This was close.  Very very close.  Enough that he could make out each individual star in the other’s eyes and he tried to focus on that rather than their very…intimate proximity.  Perhaps going to a hot spring hadn’t been the wisest decision, though really he hadn’t expected this type of interaction.  Dealing with Nemu’s lack of physical boundaries was easy while they were both clothed and dry on land but in this type of place, not so much.  Over the past few months that the two had spent with one another they’d grown close, and while it felt almost familial he couldn’t deny the rush of hormonal urges.

This was bad.  So much time had been spent on keeping him basically in chastity towards women that they’d never focused on how to deal with such things when it came to men.  And that near monk like abstinence for so long made the build-up that much stronger.  The only physical, well, anything that he had done with a person had been with Holly, but that was before their…predicament.  That whole flurry wasn’t helping either.  Life had been an emotional hurricane for the past year and he wondered if this was why his family was always so cautious about getting involved in the goings on of deities.

His attention was brought back by Nemu’s request and he nodded, that was all he could do for he hardly trusted any type of verbal response right now.  Even as he was thinking of the many reasons why anything physical he did could come back negatively, his hand still moved up to gently hold the back of his head.  He swallowed down, trying not to get too distracted by how his soaked through hair felt between his fingers and failing miserably at it.  …time to get out of the water.  Yet he didn’t move, his voice quieted though, 

“How are you so…comfortable?”  His eyes followed a single drop of condensation as it rolled down the line of his neck and he instantly regretted it.  He quickly returned his gaze to his face, though the green of his eyes soon faded and was replaced with a light lavender.   Y-Yes, time to get out of the water.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Mon Apr 4, 2016 8:10 AM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

Naota’s cautious movements as he returned the embrace was electric to the touch. It tickles… Nemu shivered and laughed, tightening his own grip around his friend as he pressed closer. It was unreal, just how much happiness could come from such a short few moments. Home was no longer so far away, a distant cluster of memories that remained in the past. Home was here, now, filled with wonders and endless curiosities and a warm, friendly embrace that let him know he would never again be so alone.

But he still had a long way to go. Nemu curled his fingers against Naota’s back, humming lightly to himself as his face grew flush from embarrassment. Speaking, communicating, was one of those things. This wasn’t the first time his lackluster vocal prowess had caused his friend some concern or bother. He was so often lost in his own inner thoughts, until he met Naota there hadn’t been much reason to speak out loud. But being able to explain, to understand - it was a foreign feeling to know someone was curious to hear his thoughts. Nemu lifted his head to face his friend ”I am sorry…”

They were close. He was quickly distracted by the sudden proximity, taking the rare opportunity to scan the smaller details of Naota’s face. His dark hair was wet, somehow, though Nemu was certain his head had not entered the water - yet the dark brown tips clung to the man’s tanned skin in curious little swirls and twists. How? In their time together, Naota had proven he had many abilities that were definitely not common to the peoples here. He could turn invisible, travel great distances by blinking, and his eyes. They could and would change color at a moment’s notice, not to mention the glowing. He was absolutely fascinating, but entirely a mystery - Naota would explain anything and everything Nemu could possibly ask about his newfound home, but the man wasn’t the type to talk about himself much.

”But, you too.” he tilted his head slightly, looking straight into the other’s eyes ”You tell me, too.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 12:15 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

If the conversation had not been about something so serious he would have laughed.  Of course he wouldn’t be disappointed that he’d decided to stay here.  How long had he even been thinking about this to build himself up into a worry?  He smiled as he shook his head, “No Nemu, I most certainly would not be disappointed.  You choose where your home is, nothing else and no one else should be able to dictate that.”

Nemu’s eyes shifted just before the glow he had grown accustomed to with him flashed brighter.  He blinked a bit, not used to seeing it grow so intensely and the brightness of the sun being overtaken only made him realize just how intense it truly was.  His hand moved from the back of his head as did the one at his own chest, wanting to bring them to his eyes to rub away the slight burn he felt but before he could he felt fast movement in the water.  

Long arms wrapped around him quickly and his eyes opened wide as the other pressed against him.  Personal space.  Personal space.  He’d tried to go over it with him as much as he could over the last few weeks about personal space and while he could understand his excitement at knowing he had a new place to call home, he was still naked…and wet, and heated from water, and pressed very very closely to him.  He swallowed down, his face filling with warmth that had nothing to do with the hot spring as he slowly, carefully, wrapped his arms back around him.

This was…different.  He’d been barred from any form of relationship with women since childhood, even friendships were kept monitored, but they’d never touched down on men and it seemed to make that area much more…delicate.  It also left his mind to wander in that direction as he grew, seeing as it appeared to be the only safe option he would have for a while, and now this very friendly, very…very naked and attractive young man was pressed against him.  

He slowly breathed out, eyes closing, “Y-Yes…well, there you see?  Nothing to worry yourself about.  I wish you would have told me sooner that this was bothering you…”  His voice quieted and his arms gently wrapped more around him.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:46 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

It had been explained, gradually over their time together, that Nemu had in fact been kidnapped from his home and then immediately taken into servitude. Both of these are things people should not do to one another. These things are horrible, as Naota said. But regardless, Nemu found he couldn’t dislike the man he knew as Master. Not sitting here right now, with a friend and a warm hand against the back of his head. Despite his intentions and methods it was Master who had brought him here, and because of that he had a chance to experience this.

He missed home, yes. Nemu had learned this was not an unusual feeling for people who leave their home behind for whatever reason. Had he of never left he may well have been perfectly content, but to return after having been to this world which so readily fed his insatiable curiosity and knowing that there was so much he did not understand still - That, I think, would probably be horrible.

You can stay here… Nemu sat up straight at those four words, suddenly, eyes wide and searching deep and direct into the other man’s pupils. Did I hear right? The star-speckled patterns of his iris began to shift as excitement threatened to consume him, ”You understand, then? You are not… disappointed?”

The hand pressing against his chest, a gesture mirroring his own - he understood. Even Nemu didn’t quite comprehend the feeling he had been trying to convey and still Naota understood. The glow came back with a flash, bright and intense, and a great big smile found it’s way across the little star’s face. The quiet fears that had been bottled and brewing since that first night - the worry that Naota wanted him to go home and would be upset when he couldn’t or worse, would be mad when Nemu didn’t even want to. It was too much, the excitement, the relief, the joy - Nemu lurched forward with a laugh, wrapping his arms around Naota and burying his face against the man’s neck as he hugged him as tight as he could muster thank you thank you~

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:29 AM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

Naota’s eyes saddened as he spoke.  The tone of which his voice flowed as well as the anxious actions of his hands had him urged to move his hand from his shoulder to the back of his head.  Instead he left his hand there, though he eased his previously excited grip to a gentle rest there instead.  His shoulders slowly dipped down as he listened and his eyes lifted up to the sky.  As amazing as it was, it was still far and that was an inconceivable amount of loneliness.  Why wouldn’t he be able to get back though…?  Maybe something about being here, on land, had stunted his ability.  Honestly he knew absolutely nothing on the subject but hoped he’d be able to help in some way…Even if that meant being a good friend while he was here.

He offered him a small smile when he rested his cheek down on his knees and he shifted his hand down to his shoulder blade due to the curl in of his body.  What were they going to do to get him back?  He didn’t even know where to start with something like that, who could they even go to?  A deity might know, but he was hesitant to approach one, and wasn’t sure how comfortable Nemu would have been with that in the first place.  If anything it might end up being a trek he’d make on his own, at least to find out if something could be done at all.

His lips parted and he straightened slightly when Nemu reached out and touched his chest though.  He looked down at himself, expecting to see something on his skin, some reason for him to have done it, but as he began to talk it came together.  Nemu…didn’t want to go home.  From how he was talking it was almost as if  he’d never even been around another person before –not in a good way at least-, but how could that be?  Was there no one there with him before he had fallen?  There were so many stars in the sky that he wasn’t able to logic out how that was possible, but those eyes and this touch were enough of an explanation that he was right.  That would be something to question later, if ever.

For the past few weeks he’d gently pulled him around from place to place, trying to fill his head with as much knowledge for the world that he could in such a small amount of time.  In that time, he’d pulled him back from streets, ducked him down, anything necessary to keep him safe from falling victim to his own naiveté, nearly all of it involved touching but this was different.  It was so simple but the reasoning behind the action made it feel more…intimate.  And now the touch on his chest was all he could think about, of all the places he could have decided to press his hand.  

His smile faded, though not in a bad way, and he moved his hand from his shoulder blade and gently rested it on the back of his head; fingers lightly woven between the locks, “You know, if you’re this hesitant, maybe it’s not so horrible that you’ve fallen.”  He wanted to ask him more questions, most revolving around how he could be alone up there in the sky, but kept from doing so, “You can stay here.”  The smile returned, though it was slight as he moved his other hand to gently rest over Nemu’s at his chest, “You can have this.”  

Author: Nemu, Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 3:59 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

Nemu pulled his legs towards his chest and propped his chin atop his knees so he could look towards the sky. He was aware enough now to know that Master was under the belief that as a star his tears were valuable, and much of his punishments revolved around the fact that Nemu couldn’t cry. It was the reason he had taken Nemu from the sky in the first place, and as Naota said others may try to take advantage of him if they found out.

But something about what he said before, it gave Nemu pause to think. On the night they first met, Naota had talked about getting him home. He knew, even then, going home was impossible - something about himself has changed, though what he still did not know. Occasionally, throughout their travels and now - Naota would still mention this intent to get him home. The buzzing sensation that had persisted this whole time subsided along with his glow as Nemu was consumed by an odd feeling. Why? Why does the thought of going home feel so… sad?

”I-I can’t go home - but, I-” But what? Nemu ran his fingers through his hair, struggling to find words to explain himself. The lilac strands were still a bit damp from where he’d submerged himself in the water. It was an odd sensation, the wet hair dragging across skin as the fingers moved pass. One of many, uncountable sensations and experiences he’d learned about in his time on land. Things he would have never known if none of this had happened. Is it, maybe - you don’t want to go back?

Nemu turned his head, the side of his face resting on his knees as his gaze fixed itself on his friend. He missed home, desperately but… but something. Here was Naota, who had shown him the world, was sitting here talking to him about the wonders of his own home in a way he himself had never known - or even considered. Naota, his friend, who was sitting so close they were within arms reach of one another, was smiling at him and talking to him and making sure he was safe from those who might wish him harm.

Nemu reached out, slowly pressing his palm against the chest of his friend, spreading fingers against his skin. A heartbeat, the vague rise and fall of the chest as he breathed, the sensation of warm skin against the muscles of a man far stronger than he. Naota, a person he met, is alive, and Nemu can feel it.

”I do not…” Back home, in all the years, countless years - he never, not once met another being. He watched, pining for knowledge and understanding from afar and never could he simply reach out and touch another person as he was doing now. Physical contact, the sensation of touch that let him know that the other person was alive, and let the other person know that he was as well. Genuine interaction with another living being, and not simply observational sonder.

”This. I do not know how to explain - If I go home, I can not do this.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:47 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

His smile grew wider as did his eyes, making no movement or flinch when Nemu touched his face, though he did lean back against the edge of the spring to keep from staring at him with expectant eyes.  That would have been too much pressure and he was already realizing how it could be bad to spread information like this around, despite how they were the only ones in this particular spring.  He looked out over the steaming water, shaking his head in excited disbelief,

“What it means is that we aren’t alone in the expanse of space.  We know so little about it now, but knowing there are others like you could open up the possibilities to being nearly infinite…!”   He looked back over at him, smile just as wide but eyes finally calming down, though still sapphire in hue as he looked upon him,

“Just imagine Nemu if we could get you back where you came from, we’d be helping you but also it’d be such a huge advancement for us as well.  You’ve been here, seen what it’s like, don’t you wonder what other places are like out there?”   He tilted his head back, looking up at the clear blue sky in indication,

“It’s terrifying…”   Yet the smile never faltered.  He likened it to the thrill before going into an unknown forest or cave: you didn’t know what was there, and that was scary but that also meant that anything could be there including wonderful discoveries.  But he was no fool, he knew that if such information fell into the wrong hands then horrible actions could and would transpire.  Anything could be abused, no matter how beautiful it was.

Still, maybe it was best not to linger on the subject for long, previous thoughts being a big part of why but also because Nemu was such a timid person that he didn’t want to overwhelm him anymore than he already had, “F-Forgive me…”   His smile turned sheepish as he looked back at him, reaching a hand out and gently gripping his shoulder,

“For now it might be best to keep such information between the two of us, just until we can know a bit more about your entire situation.  Not to alarm you, but I’m sure there would be those that would make a spectacle of your origins…exploit it.”   His former enslaver had already seen to that and he didn’t want to see any further abuse, not if he could help it.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Sat Mar 5, 2016 6:19 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

Nemu recalled the night of their first meeting, how he had explained his arrival on land by simply pointing upwards then downwards, ’from there to here’ no wonder. That doesn't make any sense, now that he thought about it. Nemu smiled sheepishly and tapped the side of his head ”I’m sorry, I did not explain well.”

”The other stars…” unknown. Naota was closer now, the water rippling from his sudden movements and Nemu could feel the excitement beaming off of him. He is alive. The other stars, too. However distant, he could feel their happiness when they flickered, their sorrow as they faded to nothing and their curiosity and confusion when they flashed in from nowhere. Perhaps the neighbors so far away had been looking down on him and feeling the same. You are alive, why wouldn’t they be? ”Yes, they are.”

Intense, wide-eyed, color-changing and glowing, Naota stared at him as he had that first night they met. Nemu was entranced, caught in wonder of Naota’s curious eyes. He leaned forward, reaching out to once again to touch the cheek of his friend, just below those eyes. Then he said it. Me, amazing?! Nemu flushed, freezing in place as his eyes grew wide from shock, not you, can’t be you that’s impossible - he’s amazing, this world is amazing… not you. In spite of his own nay-saying thoughts his heart raced, a furious pink spreading across his face as he knotted fingers together in some vague attempt to calm down ”Eehh…” Nemu tilted his head to the side, trying to hold a smile against quaking nerves ”I think… ehm - I am not s-sure what it means.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Mar 5, 2016 4:27 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

His head tilted to the side as he listened to him and he felt his eyes shift ever so much despite himself.  That amount of solitude, or loneliness, he couldn’t begin to comprehend.  But something he said caught his attention and made his heart skip a beat.  Star?  His lips parted, eyes instinctively raising up to the sky.  Right now it was midday and the light of the sun was blocking out the rest of the stars but he knew they were there.  They were…alive?  He looked back down at him, hearing him but unable to keep the shocked look from forming: lips parted, eyes wide, trying as hard as he could not to stare immediately now that he knew what he was.

Now that he said it, it all made too much sense.  How had he not put those pieces together?  Nemu talked about it as if it was something extremely common, and admittedly for him it would be, but this was beyond what Naota could comprehend.  Everything he’d been taught, their advances thus far in the sciences, all of it could be completely wrong.  Yet it didn’t frighten or upset him in the least, on the contrary it interested him greatly.  Even though he’d heard everything Nemu had told him, this was what his mind was focusing on, and he moved closer to him in the water quicker than he meant to, all of a sudden feeling exuberance he hadn’t felt since childhood,

“You’re a star?  An actual star, from the outer regions-You-”  He shook his head, all of his words coming out faster than he meant but still not keeping up with the thoughts racing in his head.  There were so many questions, so many things he wanted, almost needed to know.  “Are all stars like you?  Alive?  Thinking, breathing, conscious?!”

His hair, his eyes, he looked at all of his features as if he’d just met him and had the sudden urge to reach out and touch him but refrained as much as he could.  For extra measure he kept his hands under the water though they were balled into excited fists.  His eyes shifted, turning from emerald to blazing sapphire as he smiled, their glow bright enough to cast shadows on his own cheeks despite the height of the sun, “Th-That’s amazing!  Do you realize what this means?”   Even he wasn’t sure if he knew how to properly put into words what this could mean.  Not just for Revaliir, not just for Nemu: people existed past their own world.  It was as amazing as it was terrifying…but somehow in a good way.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Thu Mar 3, 2016 5:38 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

“Is that what they look like?” Nemu’s fingers moved from the cheek of his friend to his own. I never knew. Truth is he’d never seen himself before. Not except what he could see by looking down, anyways. Before coming to the land it hadn’t occurred to him he even had an appearance, and even then it wasn’t something that frequented his mind. Nemu drew his hands in front of him just above the water’s surface, turning them over and inspecting them as he pondered. Do I look odd, maybe?

His hands - they were different than Naota’s, or really anyone they had passed in their travels. Pale and iridescent, unusually long and thin. Spindly, like a spider’s. Freakish, Master would often say in passing. Nemu returned his gaze to his friend sitting before him. Naota was strong, toned muscles curving around his body underneath a layer of lightly tanned skin. Certainly he was a pleasant to look at, but normal, and even still he looked different from the people they had encountered in their time together. Everyone they passed looked a bit different, somehow. Nemu thought back to home, the night sky and his neighboring stars in the far distance, would they have looked something like me? If I met one now, would I even know it?

“Eh, Maybe… At home I liked to look at all the other stars, and I’d think to myself, who are they, what are they doing? I never met any, so I just watch and wonder.” Nemu grinned, waving his hands in the general direction of the sky above “Maybe my eyes watched too long, the other stars get stuck in there?”

He laughed, openly, at his own joke. He missed it, home. He truly did, but had he never been taken from it he would have never known any of this existed. He wouldn’t be having such deep thoughts as the nature of appearance, he wouldn’t have felt the warmth of volcano-water, he wouldn’t have met anyone, and certainly no one as curious and interesting as his friend Naota. Even still, the idea that he perhaps somehow managed to take a piece of home with him - it was comforting.

Author: Naota, Posted: Thu Mar 3, 2016 12:41 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

When he was sure that Nemu wouldn’t be sick or asphyxiated from the water he moved his hand back from his face, sighing as his shoulders drooped.  He was fine, thank goodness, but he still had so much to learn about the world.  It wasn’t a subject he broached too often, but he knew this wasn’t his land at all.  The heavens were his home, but he wasn’t quite ready to question him too extensively on that.  Things had to be so different there than here, so much so he couldn’t even begin to imagine.  Hopefully his origins would be more good than bad for him here.  Already someone had tried to exploit him into slavery…he dared not question any further than that for fear of his own protective rage.

His lips parted when he touched his face and he had the immediate urge to quickly draw back from him.  Not wanting to startle him he withheld that very urge.  He wasn’t used to having his face touched in a way that wasn’t aggressive given his line of work and a soft laugh escaped his lips, his eyebrows raising to his comment, “Well thank you, it’s nice of you to think so.”  His eyes narrowed in thought, studying Nemu’s for what felt like the millionth time since the two had met,

“I have to say, yours are quite interesting.  Is there any correlation as to why they resemble the night sky so much?”  His legs pulled up, crossing them at the ankles to sit comfortably while still facing him, all the while he kept from moving his face too much.  Thus far he’d kept Nemu from any harshness since helping him escape from his past dwellings, and he wanted him to continue to feel comfortable around others.  

The personal space bit was something they’d need to work on in the future, but luckily he himself was an understanding person.  In all reality he still had a problem with touch from others at all, and it would do well for him to get over his own hurdles too, so helping Nemu was inadvertently helping himself as well.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 3:32 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

Oh. I’ve done something stupid again, haven’t I? 

Nemu flushed, eyebrows raising at the middles as his head was tipped side to side, I’m fine, no please don’t worry. He hated the idea of making Naota worry. He wasn’t the smartest by any means, but he knew well enough the risk his friend was taking in spending time with him. It tugged at his heart, but he knew Master must be looking for him by now and their time on these adventures would have to end at some point. Each moment was more important than the last as this time went on, and spending any of them making his friend worry was… stupid.

But Naota’s worrying over him left the two face to face, and Nemu got distracted from his own worries with looking at his friend’s eyes. They were neat. The irises, shimmering and surrounded by a dark ring, looked different than Master’s, his own or even anybody they’d met in their travels. Sometimes they would change colors, too - a slow fade or a quick flash, never quite the same. Nemu had observed long enough to know the changes were somehow linked to his friend’s mood, but hadn’t yet been clever enough to figure out if the colors indicated a specific mood or if the change itself was random. 

”You have pretty eyes.” Nemu remarked, reaching his fingers out to press them against the upper cheek of his friend.

Author: Naota, Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:29 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

His eyes closed and his head leaned back against the edge of the pool as the warmth continued to flood over him.  Sometimes he had to be careful not to let himself doze off while he was in a hot spring, but knowing there was another person there with him would keep him from drifting into sleep.  

As if on cue he heard him go under the water and opened his eyes, lifting his head up to watch him.  His eyes widened and he sat up right, realizing that he’d completely submerged himself in the hot water.  Nemu’s glow was even brighter than usual and he couldn’t stop himself from moving his hands to his shoulders under the water and lifting him back up, 

“H-Hey, careful.  You can make yourself sick getting overheated like that.”  Not to mention it probably wouldn’t be good for you to get any of it into your stomach, certainly not your lungs.  He still wasn’t sure of Nemu’s inherent abilities but this wasn’t the way he would have wanted to test them.

Taking extra precaution to be gentle in case his skin was sensitive from the water, he moved a hand out to Nemu’s chin, turning his head this way and that slowly to check for irritation.   “You don’t want to breathe any of that in either, or swallow it down.  The minerals are good for you but probably not on the inside.”  

Author: Nemu, Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:45 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

A volcano? He stared at Naota, watching him undress and eventually settle into the water. Truth be told, he liked to watch his friend move. His friend had proven as much a fascination as the places he’d taken Nemu to see. He would often boggle at Naota as they walked, his feet his hands his shoulders, there was a coordinated grace to his movements that was such a contrast to his own. They were like, candle-smoke in the breeze, or flower petals down a river. Like a cat. Nemu had to slap his hand against his grinning mouth to stifle his laughter. Naota, a cat.

Nemu quickly undressed, though without so much coordination or grace as his friend, trying his best to not laugh. Stark naked, he crawled into the pool and submerged himself into the warm and bubbling waters. The sensation was incredible - warm water, all encompassing and seeping towards his bones. Relaxing. Nemu felt light, weightless, he closed his eyes and felt as though he was back in the night sky, back home. He felt a pleasant buzzing, his glow growing stronger as it illuminated the waters of the pool. This, just stay like this for a while longer…

Author: Naota, Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:28 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

He breathed into a smile, nodding as he undid the fastenings of his pants.  “Of course it is!  The heat comes from the volcano itself.  The minerals in the water are good for you but to be honest, I just love sitting in the hot water…It gives you time to think.”   He slowly nodded, moving the rest of his clothing off and pulling himself into the water.  Instantly his eyes closed, already soothed from the steam around his face and the warmth seeping into his skin.  His arms rested on the edge of the pool and he looked back at Nemu,

“If you think it feels good on your hand wait until it goes up your legs.”   Part of him had worried that it might scare him since some people weren’t always comfortable the first time they came to the springs.  But Nemu always seemed to take things in stride.  Sometimes he wondered if that could be a dangerous thing, to be so kind and accepting.  You’ll be all right… 

He knew that one day they wouldn’t always be able to be with each other like this, but that was something to think about later.  Right now he wanted to enjoy the time they had with each other.  Maybe he would introduce him to his family one day, he wanted him to know that there really were good people in the world.

Author: Nemu, Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:17 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

He squatted next to the pool, wrapping his long arms around his long legs, eyes watching the steaming water with wild wonder. The water here was bubbling. Naota had taken him to many amazing places in the month since his escape, and yet every new thing brought renewed fascination with the world beyond the walls of Master’s home. What makes it bubble, I wonder? Nemu glanced over to Naota sitting beside him. Naota is a good person. A really, really good person. The thought of befriending someone with such a measure of kindness he’d not experienced before, it made him smile.

He returned his gaze to the water before them, bubbling and steaming the air around them. Reaching out his hand, Nemu grazed the water with his fingertips to be met with an incredible warmth that creeped up his hand. He gasped, thrusting his hand in further and twiddling his fingers to feel the warm waters rushing over his skin ”It’s so warm!”

Author: Naota, Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 4:17 PM, Post Subject: It's Hot [P][R]

Apoy Island was so different from any other place he’d ever travelled to in Revaliir.  For a while now he’d been trying to take Nemu to as many places as he could to see all that the world had to offer outside of his shackles, and as luck would have it the man that had locked him away was still unable to catch up to him.  Nemu deserved his freedom, he deserved to enjoy the world and see it for how truly beautiful it could be.  There were some less hospitable places to be sure, but for now he had made extra careful to avoid them.

It wasn’t always easy, especially since he still had his job to do while traveling, and so far he had been able to keep his profession from being talked about.  He didn’t want him to see him as a killer, it wasn’t often that he was able to make friends and keep them, this one had been through so much that he didn’t want him to grow afraid of him. 

They made it to the part of the island that he’d wanted him to see the most, the part that made him think of home since it was so similar: hot springs.  As there was no target for him to pursue today he’d be able to completely relax and spend time with him.  He was already down to only his pants, no shoes, and was weaving in and out of the trees that surrounded the vast spread of springs. 
Other people where there, all of them speckled about in different pools of their own, families, friends, it reminded him so much of when he would go with his brothers.  Hopefully Nemu would like it just as much as they had.

“Remember, you probably don’t want to wear all of your clothes when you go in.  The full effect comes from how much of the water you can feel on your bare skin.”   His smiled grew and he nodded once, stopping next to one of the further springs.  Already his hair was being weighed down by steam as he sat cross legged next to the bubbling pool.