jesterlies | OPEN POST 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

[And those letters he keeps tucked delicately in his desk drawer, where he takes and rereads them often. Where he would wait on pins and needles for the next one to arrive. Where his heart would ache to see him go through the cruelty of war, but he hoped still to see him come home, honored for his hard work, for every life he lost, surely five- tens were saved.]

[Fingers gently thread through his long hair, soothing.]

There's nothing to forgive, dear. I ...am sorry that I played this cruel game with you, when I knew at the end there would only be grief.

[He leans back a little so he can cup his face, hold their foreheads together.]

Your reaction was expected, and yet I allowed you to keep digging.

[ The gentle touch through his hair and the soft use of dear warm something in Percy far better than anything else possible could have. The love and care soothes away the last of the worry. He will, perhaps, always carry a smidgen of survivors guilt but here is the guide of the dead reassuring him that the dead held no ill will.

Here is his friend, the man his heart aches and yearns for, tendering away the last bit of grief.

His hands shift as Maverick holds his face, their foreheads together, to rest his hands against his neck. His thumbs gently against his jaw, where he strokes a little. And he smiles a little wobbly, shaking his head, rubbing their foreheads together. ]

You wanted me to know. Desperately. I saw it. But I also saw the fear. Your game was your way of offering me the chance to know, yet giving yourself - and me - and out. Oh, Seamus, do not be apologetic.

[ The urge to kiss him, to brush his mouth against Mavericks, is almost dizzying in its sudden overwhelming surge but he withholds. Even as his mind whispers Maverick called him dear. Dearest. Surely- Surely-! ]

Thank you. Thank you for trusting me. For being here for me. For them. For being you.

[It's wretched, being this close and still being so far away. He could bridge that gap, it wouldn't take very much at all. Just lean a little closer and he could just release all of the secrets he's kept in his heart all this time.]

Mm, guilty as charged. I've ... [His hands fall to Percy's, to cup them gently.] I've never told anyone else aside from Lily and Eochaidh, but I couldn't bare keeping it from you much longer.

[Ah, he's already laid himself bare more than he has ever before, should he just rip the bandage off? Oh, his heart would be thundering if it could.]

There's no one else I would trust this to, and though my heart quailed at the thought of rejection, I knew it could be no one else.

[ Maverick should have no issue hearing the way Percy's heart beat picks up. The way his pulse jumps, as those hands cup his own. His mouth feels suddenly dry, and he resists the urge to lick his lips to try and dampen them again.

Because Maverick is so close and what if he accidentally does something they'll both regret.

Or Maverick will not want.

Oh Saints, guide him, what does he do?

The idea of rejecting him makes him blink his eyes open finally, pulling back just a bit to study Mavericks face. ]

How could I ever reject you? No, impossible. It matters not what you are, what you have been or what you will be. You're Seamus. You're the man who knows my heart better than I feel I do. You're my deepest dearest friend. How could I ever reject you?

[ Perhaps that's what makes him not lean in, not press his mouth to Mavericks. There's still so much left between them to find out about the other, despite how deeply they know one another. How can he possibly rush it or ruin it by pouring his desire out right now? ]

[He does, he hears it and its all too hard to discount it as other things. Adrenaline from before, of course, they just had a very intense emotional moment together. And yet...]

[No, it isn't proper. Percy has only just gotten home, only just settled into his tenure. It would be far too much, especially after tonight. He inhales softly as Percy pulls away, and settles his aching heart down once again.]

Mm, spoken so plainly I have no choice but to believe you. Perhaps I was being foolish after all.

[Though he had reason enough to be worried, he thinks. It is fine, as the danger has passed now. He grins, more of himself returning after that emotionally charged moment they shared.]

Well, I think the exam went rather well, then. Have you any other burning questions that need answering? It's not ever day you get me down into my skivvies after all.

[ His heart aches as well. A missed opportunity. It's for the best, but oh.

Oh it's going to haunt him tonight.

He laughs softly, letting his mood rise with that grin. With the relief of some of his burden.

Then he sputters and flusters, turning cutely pink to the tease. ]

Only that I feel you're quite too skinny yet. Can Vampires gain weight? If yes, I order you to try and eat a little more.

[ He turns his hands against Mavericks, takes them to squeeze them. Pauses. ]

Those scales, do they increase - ah - every time you invoke your Saint-ness?

[Ah, but for their hands to be held like this, it's nice. Percy's warmth is nice. It will be sad when they part ways.]

This body is more like an avatar, and it's state is a result of a few factors. Do not be fussed about it, I truly do not need to eat much more beyond enjoyment with the exception of blood.

[He smiles a little to the question of the scales and closes his eyes, letting those scales slowly overtake his body again. Feathers too, trail down and the hands he holds become clawed, draconian.]

Ah, no, it is just that my form over across the veil is being gently reflected in my form here. I am ...split, in a manner of speaking, between my duties.

[ Hm. He will be fussed about it. He could pick Maverick up and throw him with ease. That's so skinny! But he's distracted as Maverick lets himself... shift? Watches the feathers and scales come back. The hands in his becoming clawed, scaled.

He's quiet as he moves his thumb over Mavericks hands, turning them around to investigate them. Catches his fingers against those claws.

The feeling is... ah. Hm. That's not going to help his crush any.

Instead he lets go to turn his attention to those feathers, touching them gently, investigating how they act. Are they bird like, truly? And the scales dotted through them. ]

What does it feel like...?

[Here, he sees the exam is not truly over. He shuffles a little and drops the robe again, and truly allows the form to take. He tries to bottleneck the Sainthood a little, so that his presence doesn't take over the room again, leaving just the shifted form.]

[He grows a little taller as the scales cover him entirely, a shiny blue-black all the way down, and his feet shift up, becoming almost birdlike. His arms stretch out into wings that are both feathered and webbed, and horns curl their way around the side of his head.]

I suppose I'm rather used to it, but as a Vampire I have had many beast-like forms too.

[As for what it feels like, he hums. As Percy touches the feathers they fluff up.]

It all feels like me, extensions of me. I feel at home in this skin as I do my other form, if that's what you meant.

[ One of these days, Maverick dropping his robes won't make Percy blush but today is not the day because it's still very new. But at least he's mostly distracted by the feathers. The scales. The way Mavericks legs and feet shift. Seated the way he is, Maverick now is taller than him.

He won't tease him about how that feels.

He hums gently, smiling a little as the feathers fluff up. Oh that's adorable. He gently ruffles his fingers through them, scratching lightly. Then smooths his fingers over them. ]

Amazing. Does it strain you any?

[ There's the healer scolding, Percy humming gently. Moves to stand, so he can run his hands along Mavericks wings. Stretching them gently, checking the membrane and feathers. Feels along them, fingers soft as he pulls lightly to make them extend out. Giving them a physical and acquainting himself to them.

As a healer, he should know the anatomy, after all!

Cough. ]

[As a healer, of course.]

No more than keeping physical form does.

[Which is the truth. It's not hard to conjure this form, and it isn't hard to put it away again, it's just a very cumbersome form so he often remains as he usually does. If he had the wings all the time he'd surely bump into things! And with these feet he cannot wear his favorite boots!]

[He flutters his eyes closed as Percy runs his careful fingers all along him, trying to banish that feeling rushing up again. The one that makes him just want to get it all out, but he bites his tongue. Percy will find the wings will gladly unfurl for his curious touches. The feathers on them are quite large, too.]

[His tail flicks a bit, possibly betraying his feelings under the calm.]

It's difficult to wear clothing like this, so you can imagine why I tend to keep the other look.

Hm!

[ So all physical forms put a light strain on Maverick but not in-so-much as anything would bother a normal person to do daily activities. The feathers are fascinating and he examines the flight feathers. A combination of bat like membrane, bird like feathers, and the scaling of a dragon. He's about to reach up to examine the horns when the tail flicks and grabs his attention, and he chuckles a little seeing it.

The transformation is extremely thorough. ]

Mm, I can imagine. Plus I'm sure our students would be besides themselves and hound you nonstop every time they saw you!

[ Goodness, if Barty saw him, the man would be over the moon to examine him. And he knows quite a few students would share the mans sentiments. ]

Is there anything I should avoid touching that may be sensitive?

Oh, I'm sure I'd never know a moments peace.

[Not that he does now, really, but it probably would be worse.]

[He hums a throaty little noise, something close to a purr as he thinks that question over.]

My spine is a little sensitive, right at the base of the tail. The horns can be a little where they meet my head, and there's a spot right under my ears, though I'm not opposed to being touched there.

[Here, would you like to see his range of motion? He will skitter around him and then perch on the exam table like a weird bird.]

[ The purring noise startles him for a moment, then delights him, and without thinking he reaches up to place his hand on Mavericks throat to see if the vibration is coming from there. No, hm? Further down? Ah yes, he can feel the vibration more along his chest.

Then feels bad he was touching up his spine earlier, noting the spots and snorting a hard little laugh to the sudden motion. Watches him clamber onto the table and perch there like a gargoyle. ]

My my, you'd fit right at home with the stone wardens on some churches!

[ He waits until he settles, then take some of Mavericks legs. Stretches it out to investigate it, working his way down to the feet. Noting the way they turn into talons, hooking his finger around one to test it. Fascinating.

He sets the leg and foot back down, moving to press little bits of magic into certain spots to text reflexes. Then back up to Mavericks face, smiling a little with a crinkle of his eyes as he takes his chin. ]

Open, tongue out, head tilted back a bit. Let me see.

[Feathers fluff up as Percy goes and feels along his vocal chords, but they settle as Maverick sees what he's doing.]

Would I not be the most handsome gargoyle?

[But yes, test out his weird limbs. He will find his range very good and that his ankle is quite long and that his talons will curl around his hand and shake. Very flexible!]

[His tail too, will curl around Percy's arm if it gets close enough. It's definitely prehensile.]

Mm?

[Bleh, out goes his tongue. It's long and forked! Hm!]

Oh, of course, no one would compare!

[ No lie detected there. Not even a real tease. There's some utter sincerity there. Is... he flirting?

The tail curling around his arm amuses him, and also makes his cheeks turn red. He grabs it with his free hand, rattling the end back and forth playfully as Maverick opens his mouth.

Percy gets distracted by the tongue momentarily, staring at it, before clearing his throat and tilting Mavericks head to check his teeth and the back of his throat. Tongue coloring as well. Commits this forms normality to his memory in case anything changes!

Yes! That's all! ]

There! Would you like a candy for being so good for your exam?

[ Please put your tongue away before he begins to think inappropriate thoughts more than he already is. ]

Edited 2025-12-29 07:50 (UTC)

[His feathers seem to fluff up with that praise. Oh, the Headmaster, the Heir of Death, he is a simple creature, actually.]

[His teeth appear fine, if a little sharper than a normal Vampire's should be, all in all he looks like a very healthy dead lizard.]

Truly?

[He leans his arms on his knees so he can cradle his head on them and give him a sly look.]

May I choose?

Only if you promise to brush your teeth after.

[ THAT is a tease, because the way Maverick gives him such a sly look is flustering him. Oh what does his friend have in that cunning, goblin little mind of his.

He stops shaking the tail tip and merely holds it, examining the weight in his hand a little. Tilts his head and gives Maverick a little look, an amused smile on his face.

What do you have planned, you creature.

Please stop looking at him like that or he's going to melt into the floor and disappear from the spire. ]

[Oh.]

[Oh, that one almost took him out. The only hint of which is the feathers bristling and his tail going still while he thinks that over. That was a tease- that was incredibly overt, wasn't? Is this dance foolish?]

[Is he being foolish?]

[Perhaps, but like with anything, his desire to know what will happen wins out in the end. His tail curls around Percy's arm and pulls him forward into Maverick so he can cup his face and plant a ...somewhat messy but delighted kiss on his lips.]

[He's already spilled one terrible secret, he may as well spill the other!]

[ The feathers bristle and the tail goes still, and Percy wonders if he went too far. The teasing from earlier and the way Maverick was looking at him had seemed flirty and teasing, so he had thought-

Did he... did he mess up?

Before he can fret and worry too hard, perhaps go to apologize for saying something so uncouth and downright naughty, Maverick is pulling him in with his tail and cupping his face and ah...

Percy pauses in surprise, eyes widening behind his glasses briefly, before he sighs through his nose and returns the kiss the best he can. It's unpracticed and messy, but just as delighted as Mavericks. His free hand goes to the exam table to brace himself so he can lean in a little closer, trying not to smile as he returns the kiss enthusiastically.

Which is very difficult because he wants to smile so widely and his heart is thudding in his throat in delight and his cheeks are burning and he's very aware Maverick is disrobed and- ]

[Shh, shh, for just a moment the entire world has stopped and it's just the two of them.]

[Though Maverick is not particularly warm, and he likely tastes a little of iron and whatever tea he was drinking (hints of vanilla and oolong.) he makes up for by being encouraging. As Percy actually kisses him back and he feels the thrill in his stagnant blood he grips the table harder with his talons and snakes one of his winged arms around Percy's waist to draw him in.]

[He does not seem too bothered by being naked, at least. Shameless creature that he is.]

[When he finally pulls away, he does by tugging on his lip a little and smiling.]

Just as sweet as I'd thought.

[ The taste and the cool touch doesn't bother him in the least. This is how Maverick tastes, this is how he feels, and as they kiss Percy presses it into his memory. The way his lips give, coax, and guide. The slightly sweet vanilla soothing out the hints of iron, the coppery tang.

And in turn Maverick will taste a soft touch of cinnamon and milk, flavored lightly with wildberries.

The arm around him makes him sigh again and he steps closer until the table stops him, until he's as close as he can be to Maverick and still keep their mouths together. He wants to drown in this feeling, and he feels a bit dizzy when Maverick pulls away.

The tug on his lip makes his cheeks redden dangerously slow, his flush creeping down his neck, and the comment makes him huff heavily. Turn his head a little to the side, shy. ]

And just how long have you been wanting that particular taste?

[ Mavericks feathers around him keep him warm and he in turns shares it with the body against his. Heated, heart pounding. ]

[Oh, don't be shy after all of that. The grin on Maverick's face practically splits and he ducks a little to try and catch his eyes.]

Oh ...perhaps since the start of your letters stationed on the front line.

[He'd fallen hopelessly in love with him then, and this week having him back has only made him pine worse. He simply couldn't take it anymore. Alas.]

I've been captivated by your kind and gentle heart and your insatiable curiosity, your diligence and compassion. Waiting for your return had wrecked my nerves beyond belief.

[ Their eyes catch and Percy offers him a sweet little smile, reaching up to adjust his glasses briefly, before blinking hard.

Then erupting in astonished distress. ]

You mean I could have kissed you the moment I came back?!

[ That his crush could have been realized from moment one? That he hadn't have spent this week staring out his window, sipping his tea, and trying desperately not to invade Mavericks every moment beyond what they've already spent together?!

He groans in frustration and amusement, and tilts his head back. ]

Oh Saints, if I had known-!

[ There's a polite knock on the door and Lofly's voice floats - suspiciously - through the keyhole. Just a "polite" check on all the noise finally. You two best behave-! ]

[Maverick can't help it, he bursts out laughing, though it's not entirely at Percy's expense, it's also at his. Yes, perhaps they were being silly dragging this out. Maybe Maverick should have said something sooner, but ah ...]

[He is old fashioned in a lot of ways, he wanted it to be proper. So much for that!!]

It seems we've lost time to make up for! How wretched.

[His laughing has quieted to snickering behind a wing, but before he can tease him further, there's that knock at the door. Ah- yes, they've been in here for some time and Saints know what noises have carried.]

Forgive me Madam! We are finishing up very shortly!

[Which he punctuates by stealing a little kiss at the corner of his mouth and then sliding off the table. His form slowly shifts back in turn, all those feathers and scales melting away to old, clammy skin. He reaches down to pick up his robes.]

Mm, perhaps we ought to discuss the results in my quarters?

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