burnination | Eudio IC Inbox; un: maximoose

[ L O L, ARTHUR. bless you, bless your ancientness. he might have told him exactly that on another day, but things are still awkward, so, he'll keep it to himself. ]

yeah, they're great. want to go?

Meet me in an hour

[ he's riding on horseback, okay, it'll take him a little longer to get there than by car, or whatever else. ]

k

[ that's it. this feels awkward. but whatever, he's gonna go see some fucking lions and maybe things will be cool with arthur, or maybe arthur will try to throw him into the lion pit, but either way, you know. lions. he's hoping more for the former, obviously.

while arthur takes his time riding his horse there, max has a jeep, and after a nap, it's easy to roll off the couch, pull some clothes on (he naps naked in a blanket burrito, ok?), toss some sunglasses on, and hop in to take the short drive to the zoo. he hadn't actually been to the Eudio zoo before, but manages a parking spot and makes his way in just in time to see arthur... tying his horse up. this isn't something he's that surprised by, instead, lifting a hand to rub the horse's muzzle, quiet for now, because Arthur said he wanted to talk, and he's going to let Arthur talk. ]

Edited 2016-04-19 05:11 (UTC)

[ arthur doesn't immediately say anything, lets the silence linger between them uncomfortably while he finishes with the reigns. he isn't quite sure what to say, either, even if he's been thinking about this for quite some time. it's all a little different when it's finally happening, and arthur isn't sure where to start. he knows, logically, of course, he should say hello. ]

Max. [ alright, not quite a hello, but it's acknowledgement of max's presence, which is a start. ] I should -- [ he hesitates, stroking his horse's mane idly. then, after a moment, he clears his throat. ] I owe you an apology. I was ... harsh, and quick to judge you unfairly, not based on your character, but -- my predisposition to mistrust those with magic. You have only ever shown me kindness, and I've rewarded that kindness with fear and anger.

[ merlin was right, of course. there comes a time when one should know when to put instinct before experience, and this is one of those times. it doesn't feel right to push people away who have never done a single thing wrong. so he bows his head, not out of humiliation, but humility, a show of deep respect. ] For that, you have my deepest regrets. The only thing I ask of you now is your forgiveness, if you're willing. [ arthur doesn't entirely thinks he deserves it, but that's for max to decide. ]

[ max is silent while arthur talks, nodding a moment, here and there, and chewing at the inside of a cheek as he smooths a palm down the horse's forehead, making soft clicking noises distractedly, before he settled on an answer for him. ] You have it. Forgiven, forgotten. [ that's it. done. max likes to be clean and clear about these things. decisive. of course, things aren't always so easy to just decide your way through, but max does alright with the smaller stuff. the bigger? well. ]

I knew the answered I'd get. Don't know why I got so... whatever... about it. [ no, he does know. he knows exactly why he'd gotten so upset and volatile with him, but he's not sure he has the words for it. that's not a conversation he's ready to have either way. what he doesn't know is why he'd thought that encounter would be anything but explosive in the first place, considering arthur, and considering himself.

but, yes. a conversation for another time. ] And I didn't mean it, by the way. You're a great knight, and you'll be an incredible king. [ a smile, warm and a bit apologetic, before he adds on - ]

We should go look at the lions before we get any gayer about this. [ because max is two seconds from hugging arthur's stupid, pouty face right now. come on, bro, let's do manly stuff. like go on a zoo date. ]

Edited 2016-04-19 22:00 (UTC)

[ arthur is immensely more grateful for max's assertiveness than he would ever admit, because feelings aren't exactly arthur's strong suit. he can only be so mushy before he feels like he has to backpedal out of being nice entirely. he can't let people know he's actually soft. thankfully, max just barrels on and it's a relief they don't have to discuss this any further. arthur won't forget, but forgiveness is all he asked for. ]

I appreciate your vote of confidence. [ especially since he still doesn't quite believe it himself, this whole growing to be the world's most legendary king business. but as long as things are square between them now, they can just move on. thank god this wasn't as awkward as he thought it would be. ]

[ he shoots max a strange look at the word gayer, because -- well, gay doesn't exactly mean what it does now, so he's not sure why getting gayer would be a bad thing. or an awkward thing? he can't tell. ] What do you mean by gayer? [ he has a feeling it doesn't mean happy. ]

[ he nods - yes, sure, anytime. it's actually not often that max just pays compliments to people, outside of doting on those in witch haus, but arthur's someone he's seen a lot of things that are admirable in. and he'd rather he knows that, instead of harm what good he could be doing by second guessing himself.

and then, ah. yes. time to have that talk. ]

Gayer - um, homosexual. Men having sex with other men. Like we're going to start making out right here. [ Max rattles off in a blank succession, like it was a game of word association. then flashes a cheeky grin, giving the horse a farewell pat, and heading towards the main entrance of the zoo. ] Come on. Lions waiting.

[ homosexual. well, okay then. how about let's just change the subject. even if it's something that arthur has kind of been weighing in on recently, whether he wants to or not. lowell called it loved; but, sometimes, arthur thinks it's more than that. more than just an emotion, but a desire, and that's what he's really unsure of. ]

[ he shoots max an odd arch of his eyebrow. ] Right. [ that's about all he has to say about that, for now. yes, lions sound much more appealing than this gay conversation. ]

[ he follows max toward the entrance, carefully considering whether he should actually ask -- ] Are you...? [ except, whoops, he said that out loud. guess they're having this conversation anyway. ]

[ approaching the kiosk to purchase tickets and give out maps and all that good nonsense, max tugs his wallet free, looking over the options, not terribly concerned about whatever issue arthur's having over the revelation of The Gays. though, after all this crap about magic, wouldn't it just be so appropriate if sucking dicks was what drove the nail in the coffin for arthur. ]

Gay? Sometimes. [ he shoots arthur a look, sidelong, across a shoulder, with a brow arched in a way that says 'how did you not notice that before?' ] Bi, I guess, is the term. Pan?

[ a shrug, and max hands his money over to the woman in the kiosk for a little wrist band pass thing into the zoo, thanking her before yoinking himself out a map, turning to wait for arthur as he skims through it. ] I like what I like.

[ arthur is the least observant when it comes to anyone other than, say, merlin, so no, of course he hadn't noticed before. he's also just not perceptive about that kind of thing, because homosexual isn't something he assumes anyone would be. he thinks of it more as a persuasion and not a who you are, born with it kind of deal. it's something people do in private in the middle of the night, and it's certainly not anything he expects anyone to admit to being. it's complicated. ]

[ regardless, he's never particularly cared what any person does behind closed doors. if that's what max is into, it's really none of his business. he might give him kind of a look, not entirely judgmental, just curious. being ... gay isn't exactly a reputation anyone in camelot would want to have. he's still getting used to how much things have changed. ]

[ a day pass acquired for himself, he makes his way over to max once he's through the gate, brows furrowed in contemplation. ] Men and women. [ it isn't a question, more of a confirmation. ] You like ... both? [ he wasn't even aware that was a thing... ur breaking his brain, max. ]

Sure. Why not? [ the least observant. he can believe that. considering you can't really be around max for three days in a row without hearing something like this: ] Boobs are awesome. Dicks are awesome too.

[ walking through the gate and strolling along through, at arthur's side, max looks up from the map he'd been inspecting, squinting around before his eyes land on an appropriate subject. lifting an arm up, max points across the courtyard just inside the park, at some super model looking dude with excellent hair, not concerned about the fact he's hella pointing. ]

That guy? Hot. [ searching around, he moves his arm, pointing at a girl now. ] That girl? Also hot.

[ glancing back to arthur, he shrugs. ] What junk they have to work with doesn't make much of a difference to me.

Oh, hey. Lemurs.

[ reaching out, max's hand grips arthur's bicep, giving him an excited tug towards the lemur pen, knowing this is something exotic to the UK. and also that they're adorable. and arthur needs to witness it. ] You probably haven't seen these.

Edited 2016-04-25 08:57 (UTC)

[ arthur still doesn't get it. his brain just hasn't been programmed to comprehend the complex concept of sexuality, so even when max points out a boy and a girl, he doesn't get it. he doesn't see anything except a boy and a girl. maybe it's also just the fact that the word "hot" is foreign to him and far too forward. he might agree the girl is pretty and the boy has handsome features, but that's as far as he would go. he has a feeling he's doing it wrong. ]

[ he continues to mull it over while max pulls him over to the lemurs, and he's more distracted by his thoughts than the strange animals in front of him. he seems to be staring at them curiously, but he's still stuck on this whole concept of liking boys and girls. arthur has looked at gwen and thought her beautiful, of course; now, there are days he looks at merlin and has to will himself to stop. he's not sure if it's the same thing. ]

[ it's certainly not in any carnal sense, which is generally the feeling he gets from max half the time. "hot" seems to indicate more of a lust, he's noticed, even as casually as people use it. it doesn't seem quite appropriate, but things have changed a lot since his time. ]

How did you figure it out? [ because, certainly, arthur never would in a place like camelot, where there are expectations of who and what he's supposed to be. he's always lived by those expectations -- charmed noble ladies because that's what princes do. it never would have occurred to him he could be anything else, until here, until now. until merlin, really. ]

[ sweet baby lemur jesus, arthur. you are diminishing zoo time excellence with your straight boy panic. ]

There's a very complicated series of tests we do. [ which is a joke, but given the way max usually says jokes like he's completely serious, there's a good chance that's missed. and given arthur's track record for Getting It, it was probably missed.

but you know, maybe that's not so bad. and maybe marco's about to owe him twenty bucks. okay. we've decided on a plan. it involves max reaching out, gripping arthur by the shoulders, scooting him to move his back against the railing max had been leaning on a moment ago, looking like this is a very involved process, glancing down at the ground, looking up at the sun, shifting his arms slightly for no particular reason. it's a complicated test, arthur.

his hands go to arthur's cheeks, turning his face one way and another, like a doctor examining a patient, one hand moving to pat as his chest a moment. Then, abruptly, Max covers the small distance between them with one foot between arthur's legs, chest pressed flush to chest (and max isn't wearing a very heavy shirt today), hand on his cheek pushing back into his hair, and the other on his chest dragging down his side, and slipping behind to the small of his back. That, and, he's pressed lips firm and demanding against Arthur's, a deep and heated feel to it, though he doesn't try to part his lips at all. Hell, he's not even expecting Arthur to kiss back. More so, he's wondering if he'll shit himself. Max might consider that a victory.

When he presses a second and a third, without moving away from him, they're each softer than the last, Max faking a groan (that could sound very real) into it because he thinks he's hilarious, and pulls at Arthur's lower lip with his teeth enough to make a funny popping sound when he pulls back and releases, before stepping away completely. Max goes right back to the place he'd been on the railing, watching the lemurs swing and jump around like he hadn't just aggressively sort of made out with the straightest person he knows. ]

If you, or your body, liked it, maybe you're a little gay. If you didn't, maybe you're not. Now look at the damn lemurs.

[ goddamn, arthur. the shit you make him do. what a good friend he is. and while it's on his mind - ] And if you need to do the test again, type "gay porn" into the internet and watch whatever pops up.

Or call me.

Edited (formatting bugged me lallalafdsagsaewfq) 2016-04-27 07:27 (UTC)

[ oh, it's definitely missed. but it probably is a good thing, that arthur completely misses it, or he might be a lot less willing to let max touch him like he's currently doing. mostly, arthur just stares at him like he's not quite sure what's going on (he isn't quite sure what's going on), but he lets max do as he pleases, because ... well, if it's part of a test, he should let him do it. he did ask, didn't he? how max knew. there's part of him that feels he's being made a fool of, right around the time max moves his face to and fro, but then -- ]

[ things change, abruptly, and max is much closer than arthur expected, and he's touching him in ways he's never allowed anyone to touch him before. not even merlin would ever cross this line (though there have been times when he's been close, a hand smoothing arthur's shirt, fingers brushing through his hair during other nightly rituals, but there always remains a line, invisible and uncrossable). max isn't merlin, of course. what was he thinking? ]

[ it happens so fast arthur isn't even sure what he's supposed to do. which isn't to say he's unaccustomed to being kissed, but -- well, yes, one might say that he is. he's only ever kissed gwen, and it wasn't like this. it felt different, calmer, less like a fire in gut and more like being awoken from a pleasant dream. he's not entirely sure what that means. so he stands there, awkwardly stiff, his mouth only parting slightly near the end, when his brain finally catches up to the rest of him. he wouldn't really consider it kissing back. more like ... gaping in the middle of being kissed. ]

[ which is exactly his expression when max pulls away and goes back to looking at the lemurs. did he like it? he has no idea. he's still processing the fact that it happened at all. he can't even decide if he's mad or not. he still doesn't look at the lemurs, too busy staring bemusedly at max. he's probably never going to understand this. ]

You kissed me. [ thankfully, he sounds more incredulous than angry. and yes, it's obvious, but it's helping him process. sort of. saying it out loud makes it seem more real than it felt. he's just trying to work through this, and his mind is only full of an incoherent jumble of thoughts, mostly involving what it would be like to kiss merlin (and wondering why he's even thinking about that in the first place), so aloud is working better for him. ]

[ he hesitates for a moment, but then his voice goes slightly softer, almost as if he's ashamed, though he doesn't know what for. maybe just because ... he hasn't thought of gwen much, lately. since when did merlin become the forefront of his mind? arthur wonders if maybe he always was and gwen was simply a distraction. he hates to think of her like that. ] It was different than kissing Gwen. [ because he's going to be stuck on this kissing thing for a while. is that normal??? shouldn't kissing just be the same with anyone??? tell him these secrets, max. ]

Noticed that, did you? [ omfg, arthur pendragon, you are hopeless. And you’re still not looking at the lemurs, god freaking dammit. Max is seriously about to call off the zoo trip and poof them into his room instead, to work out this Am I Gay shit with Arthur so he can freaking concentrate when they go back. Sighing, Max straightens up from the railing, turning to face Arthur with a flat expression and slightly pursed lips. Are we doing this, homie? ]

Are you going to need to take the test again, Arthur, or am I going to have to drag you to a bathroom and blow you before you make up your mind about this? [ because he will, don’t fucking think he won’t, okay? It wouldn’t be the first time he got on his knees for someone in a less than pristine bathroom stall, and Arthur’s at least his friend. ]

Of course it’s different. [ his brows raise, an amused smile playing at his lips. ] Men aren’t women, I don’t have boobs, I’m not short, I’m not that soft, and I’m more likely to try to sweep you off your feet than your girlfriend probably is.

[ and he would absolutely top the shit out of arthur so freaking help him, he’s too adorable and panicky not to. ]

These days, everyone experiments, so experiment. Try it a while, if it’s not your thing, go back to girls only. [ a beat, and his voice turns a little wry ] Though, it might work better if you actually put some effort into it.

( the fact that he's ... actually considering max's proposal (or whatever it is you want to call it; proposition might be a better word) says a lot more for his state of mind than the expression on his face, which is still somewhere between pensive and completely, utterly lost. he doesn't know what blowjobs are (have they been invented yet? surely, but arthur doesn't exactly keep that sort of company and the term itself is much more modern than he is) but he's fairly certain it's sexual in nature, because half of everything max says to him is sexual in nature. that's just the way he is. and it doesn't bother arthur, not really, he's just not used to that kind of ... flamboyancy. conceal, don't feel is more how arthur rolls.

that said. )

I might put more effort into it if I knew what I were doing. ( he sounds almost petulant. but mostly, he's just embarrassed. maybe he should be checking out these lemurs after all. he turns, a meager glance in the animals' direction. what must it feel like to not have all these complicated emotions? to be able to just exist without a care in the world? no responsibility, just the natural order of things. then, just briefly, he wonders if there's such a thing as gay lemurs. probably not.

after another moment, he sighs, frustratedly more than defeatedly, though he feels like somehow he has lost, maybe to himself. he's still trying to wrap his head around all of this, but he always has been more of a see it to believe it kind of man. maybe the same concept applies to ... well, whatever it is that he feels when he sees merlin, or when max kisses him. a spark, the tiniest flame of desire.

he glances back at max, his friend, someone he trusts. someone with much more knowledge of intimate relationships than arthur. ) These experiments. Would you ... ( uh, he's bad at this. how to say this without sounding like a total fool? ) That is to say, I would need guidance.

[ it is nice, not being concerned about these things, and maybe max was a little bit lucky in that he had much bigger problems to worry about than sexuality and how it's taken by the rest of the world. all of his fucks were used up on other things, then again, he isn't known to have a great abundance of fucks to give in the first place. his fuck-fields, they are barren.

but hey, lemurs are cute, and while arthur's having a small internal crisis, max is smiling softly at the fuzzy monkey things bouncing around and playing on the other side of the guardrail. his lips part, about to go off on a story about some other monkeys he ran into in the amazon rain forests, but then arthur's talking about experiments and guidance?

look, he made the proposition, yes, but he wasn't at all expecting it to be taken up. that, however, does not mean he'll let the opportunity to make out with arthur even a little bit pass him by, thank you very much. sorry, merlin, but some things you just can't say no to. it's for the betterment of merlin's possible future relationship anyway, okay? okay. ]

Arthur Pendragon, do you want me to be your queer sensei? [ probably not the best or most reassuring answer, but his brain to mouth filter has never been great. whatever, ignore that. ] Don't worry about what that means, just come with me.

[ forgetting the lemurs entirely, max reaches down to grab arthur's wrist, tugging him along through the park as his eyes scan the area. they could slip into a maintenance closet maybe, but the thought of a space that small and enclosed already makes his skin crawl. maybe a bathroom, but those aren't much better. decision, decisions. Max ends up stopping in front of a wall covered in advertisements and pictures of animals featured, blocking off a section that's being remodeled, and all it takes is a short glyph traced on top of the lock to pop it open and slip behind the wall. come along, your majesty. ]

( it really isn't reassuring when half of what max says to him he doesn't understand, and, naturally, he pulls a face of someone trying very hard to understand a foreign language while also trying not to look like they've assumed what was said was something horribly offensive — )

My wha— ( but then max is cutting him off, telling him not to worry about what queer sensei means (and arthur, truly, has no earthly concept of its meaning) and grabbing his wrist, which arthur does not immediately yank away. honestly, he's been manhandled by merlin often enough, he's used to this, even if there should be some etiquette when it comes to commoners touching crown princes (there is, of course, merlin just doesn't follow it, and max is too ... forward to bother with such practices, especially in a place that thrives on touch). nothing arthur knows seems to apply here, and he's having quite a time trying to throw it all out the window. he expects to be respected, and yet he also finds that the thrill of the unexpected is quite enticing, even if he's momentarily offended by it.

which is why he sounds a bit prissy when he replies, ) Where in God's name are you taking me?

( don't think he didn't see that little magic thing you just did, maxwell. though the magic is the least of his concerns; it's the fact that they seem to be breaking in to somewhere restricted that's ruffling arthur's naturally chivalrous feathers. )

[ max has done much worse things with magic in much worse places than the zoo, so if there's any frowning at his tactics, all arthur gets is a shrug and a 'pfft' sound before he drags the man back behind the wall, closing it again behind them. ]

Somewhere five year olds won't stare at us while I'm trying to get in your pants. Kills the mood. [ max reports casually while he glances around the blocked off area they've snuck into, making sure there's no other attendants or construction workers hanging out. still, rather than being out in the open, he tugs arthur along a little more, until they find an alcove with an awning covering it, giving some shade and a bit better of a hiding place.

once there, his hands are light against arthur's chest as he pushes him back against the brick wall of the alcove, a smirk dragging across his lips while he steps into his space, far closer than anything platonic would be, the hands at his chest drifting down to lightly drag against his sides, over his ren faire shirt. ]

Guidance the first - don't overthink it.

[ which he's pretty sure arthur has been doing since the gay thing came up at the zoo entrance. he needs to learn how to turn his brain off, but they'll get there. for now, Max leans in, taking his time more now than he had before, letting their lips brush before pressing in, the kiss firm and certain in all the ways arthur isn't right now. fingertips brush the side of his neck, pushing back into his hair, and max's thumb strokes a soft line just behind arthur's ear. there's a shift, lips pulling back just enough for max to watch arthur's features for a brief second before kissing him again, the lightest scrape of teeth against his lower lip. ]

Eudio IC Inbox; un: maximoose

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84 YEARS LATER WE DO WHAT WE WANT

DARN SKIPPY WE DO

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