[ He's about to lean in for another kiss, eyes half-lidded now, desirous for something more, when — ah. Well. Yes. They should still think about dinner before they... do... this. Yes.
(In Will's defense, he is eighteen and very new to the world and has recently realized that he likes Strohl very, very much.)
Pondering, Will contemplates what he remembers they have in the pantry. As captain, he does also have the sacred duty of considering what the others want to eat as well, but... they had Heismay's delightfully novel eugief noodle dish only yesterday. Surely that means it's Strohl's turn to have a favorite dish made tonight? ]
Mmm... how about your coney roast? We haven't eaten that in a while.
[ Conveniently, Strohl likes good, hearty food that no one dislikes (the less charitable reading of this situation is that Strohl is the pickiest of all of them), so everyone should be quite happy about coney roast for dinner. Hulkenberg is always happy as long as they have dinner on the table at all. But Will might be the happiest of all of them if it means he'll get to watch Strohl bustle about the kitchen, surprisingly self-assured and meticulous as he is in all things.
And the way he rolls the sleeves of his shirt up to his forearms when he's mixing things... yes...
Sometimes it's good for Will to get his hindbrain make decisions! ...Probably! ]
[ And again, it's very hard to resist Will right there within easy reach to keep kissing, but they do need dinner themselves. It's some consolation that they'll actually have plenty of time to sneak in more of their daily kisses in the kitchen, exactly as planned. The prospect of a delicious roast and delicious Will to look forward to puts Strohl in exceptionally high spirits; his face immediately lights up. ]
Your idea has my vote, Captain. You paid such close attention when you watched me before, so I'm sure we'll cook our meat to tender, juicy perfection together every time.
[ Moving from the bunk to the kitchen means having to let go of Will — but not for long. As soon as they've both climbed back out, on their feet in the runner hallway, Strohl holds out his hand to take one of Will's. He doesn't hesitate to seize the chance to kiss Will's cheek along the way.
It's off to the pantry first, and then the kitchen, their ingredients laid out on the benchtop in front of them. Hands washed, sleeves rolled up, Strohl begins to prepare the cuts of meat. ]
[ Will takes up his usually position to the right and slightly behind Strohl, under the guise of thoughtful observance as a sous chef, though he usually just does nothing. (This is fine. It is his right as Captain to blissfully do nothing.) He sure looks intelligent when he puts his little hand on his chin and nods along, but the words that come out of his mouth suggest otherwise... ]
But I don't pay attention to anything when you cook. I just watch you and think about how handsome you look.
[ Not a thought in that squirrelly blue head of his, apparently. His cheeks are soft and his head is empty, but his heart is full of love for bis reliable, responsible Strohl. ]
Oh! But I do remember you talking about how important it is to know the different cuts of meat, and... so on and some such...
[ He's partly teasing; he does remember the entire spiel quite well. But as long as Strohl is around to cook the meat again...! ]
[ Strohl was at least partially deceived by Will's thoughtful pose, full of faith in his captain's squirrelly blue head. Now, astonished even though he probably shouldn't be, he turns his head to gape at Will, knife stilling. Will watched and listened so intently... because of him? ]
What? Really? You were looking at me the whole time?!
[ Not the meat and its juices? Then again, "watch your meat and adjust the heat" aside, Strohl was the one to basically tell Will to let his preference guide him, which is what Will took to heart, in a way.
It's flattering, and just like Will's reverent remarks earlier did, it fills Strohl with an elated warmth. He is partly teasing himself, smiling at Will. He even sets the knife down for a moment to lean in again and plant another kiss on the tip of Will's nose. ]
I do know the feeling...
[ If only he didn't have to stop looking at Will every so often while they're cooking! ]
[ Will makes the sweetest little noises when he's startled by things that delight him — today, he makes a pleased little hwah! as his nose is summarily smooched by his beloved Strohl. Giggling, he takes up a new position immediately behind the clemar, wrapping his arms around Strohl's slim waist (he is careful not to jostle Strohl's arms as he does this, lest that sharp knife which has been safely set down wind up somewhere rather less safe). ]
You do, don't you? I remember...
[ Contentedly, he rubs his cheek up against Strohl's back, the way that cats claim new territory (perhaps this is in fact the same behavior, exemplified in elda form instead). He peers at the meat preparations from around the clemar's side. ]
Gallica told me you were staring at me the whole time we were in the caravan together, right after we'd been recruited. [ A sly little laugh. ] Was I really so strange, in your eyes? Or...
[ It's extremely unfair that Strohl can't wrap his arms around Will again for the time being, not without washing his hands after handling the meat first. He can't even turn around to give Will more kisses and get him to make more of his terribly cute noises! Or he could, but Will hugging him from behind, rubbing his cheek against his back, is just as cute. For all that they have dinner to cook, he doesn't want Will to stop any of that, either.
What is a man to do... For now, with another fond chuckle, Strohl peers down at Will as Will peers around him. He gives his impish sous chef a little nudge to the arm using one elbow, gently. ]
And here I thought I was subtle about it! Well, Gallica wasn't exaggerating, and you know that you're my kind of strange.
[ Strohl's smile softens here. ]
Maybe I already felt drawn to you from the start... I wanted another chance to talk to you, not just because you managed to read your book in that caravan.
[ Will maintains the position for several moments more, but after a minute, he sighs and resolves to let Strohl go. No matter how nice his body feels in Will's arms, he knows he really shouldn't disturb a chef at work in the kitchen...
It's time to do what he does best: sit back and observe! ...With occasional bouts of knifework as necessary! ]
Well, now you have all the chances to talk to me you could ever want!
[ The young elda manages to giggle as he fetches some vegetables to accompany Strohl's roast. Will doesn't need to do much with them — just chop into appropriately-sized pieces, then drizzle with salt and oil — but it's the least he can do while he's flirting up a storm with his beloved in the kitchen. ]
Maybe it's still not enough. I feel like I need more hours in the day just to listen to your voice. And we're always so busy in the mornings...
[ Of course, when eh thinks about the prince's life being on the line, Will always finds energy again. But... wouldn't it be nice if he had a lazy morning for once? Just once!
They're truly too busy, though, and their quest is important, but... ]
I feel the same way. We'll just have to find more chances to talk even then.
[ But no matter how nice it feels to have Will's arms around him, Strohl has to accept that they can't stay pressed against each other at the moment. Still, the kitchen seems so much colder after Will lets go... He tears himself away long enough to turn back to the waiting meat, finishing his preparations while Will takes care of the vegetables.
They make a good team, and cooking together is fun.
With the seasoned ingredients ready to set over the heat, they're free to wash their hands and go back to touching each other at last. Catching Will around the waist from behind, Strohl rests his chin on Will's head. They're still paying attention to the roast! ]
[ Once their hands are washed and dinner is safely ensconced in their little oven, Strohl comes over again, entwining their limbs like a loving octopus from the deep. (Will quite likes his big horned octopus.) He giggles; it would seem Strohl likes their constant contact just as much as he does, and he's all too happy to lean into Strohl's chest behind him as they wait for the roast to cook. ]
My Strohl blanket!
[ Playfully, Will rests his hands atop Strohl's arms on his waist, securing his "blanket" more tightly around his body. ]
Do you like being my Strohl blanket?
[ He must, or he wouldn't be doing it. It must be comfortable to be tall enough to tuck one's beloved right under one's chin; it's both protective and stabilizes one's own weight. Will can see the appeal. For once, he musters up an attempt at proper posture to keep Strohl's head safely in place. ]
[ Strohl's response is playful in return, warm with affection. Will fits into his embrace so perfectly, and Strohl does his best to tuck him in against himself, as if he really is a clemar-shaped blanket custom-made for Will. That's his answer, plain in the way he holds Will as close as he can: he likes this very much.
He likes Will's delight, and feeling Will press into his touch. He likes knowing that Will is comfortable in his arms.
And now that the roast is cooking in the oven, the aroma of the meat slowly filling the air, it's nice and cozy just to stand here together as they are, even if they can hear the usual noises of the runner in the background, or footsteps and doors down the hallway outside. ]
[ For a good long moment, Will closes his eyes and leans back into the warm embrace of his Strohl blanket. Everything feels so cozy, so right. The kitchen is a little warm from the heat of the oven, but in a good way; it smells deliciously of the spices from their marinade. If Will concentrates, he thinks he can even catch a whiff of Strohl's fragrance — a faint hint of some type of cologne, despite the fact that they've been on the road, and don't often have the luxury of smelling nice. Well, they do all get money for personal expenditures, and as a noble, Strohl would be exactly that fastidious, has probably been schooled on the necessity of presenting oneself well and smelling nice at all times...
...
Will has closed his eyes for some time, swaying gently back and forth where he stands, almost falling asleep — when he suddenly jolts at the sound of a laugh and a bark from out in the hall:
"Bunks are over here, boys, if you need 'em!" Neuras chortles, as he whistles through the hall on his way to the engine room.
Will colors slightly, cheeks bright pink through the olive tint to his skin; he's rarely flustered, but being so unexpectedly teased by Neuras has made him sink into Strohl's arms as if trying to use them to cover his face. ]
Ah... we've been caught!
[ Not that it's a problem that they've been caught, really... ]
[ There goes their nice and cozy moment. Will's Strohl blanket was just as engrossed in holding Will, steady as Will rocked against him, and he would have happily stayed like that, breathing in the scent of Will's hair and the spices in the kitchen, but Neuras's teasing jolts him out of it with Will. They've been caught... Of course, it's not really a problem, no, and it's not the first time that the others have come across them being, well, lovey-dovey.
Turning pink himself, Strohl throws a look over his shoulder. He doesn't let go of Will. ]
...Uh. Right. Thanks, Neuras. [ Never mind that they came here from the bunks just a little while ago... ] Dinner's almost ready, by the way!
[ Almost, as in not yet, since the roast needs more time to cook. Neuras is probably already out of earshot anyway.
Strohl glances back down at Will, who seems to be burrowing into his arms like a little rabbit might to hide there. ]
At least no one's thrown a single gauntlet shroom at us?
[ Despite the surprise of Neuras's bespectacled head popping into the kitchen, Strohl doesn't let go of his precious cargo... which makes his precious cargo feel all the more safe in his arms.
Feeling protected — enough to stop feeling anxious — Will pauses halfway in his rabbity burrowing, peeking up at his loving Strohl as he realizes that, indeed, yes, no gauntlet shrooms have been thrown their way. Once he processes the reality that there's no need to hide (against his irrational impulses), he seems to melt, leaning even more heavily against the clemar's larger body, and feeling all the more content for it. ]
Mmmm... That's true. Actually, everyone's been pretty supportive...
[ Liquid and lovey-dovey, Will turns around to face Strohl properly. Neuras just came by, so they probably won't be interrupted again for at least a little whie, right...? The elda leans up, almost close enough to kiss his handsome clemar's sloping nose, but he hovers instead, as if dreamily taking in Strohl's features. ]
Do you think that means we can get away with being more and more obnoxious?
[ More and more lovey, more and more clingy... Is there anything actually stopping them from just doing what they want all the time? Or is it all in Will's head? ]
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no subject
(In Will's defense, he is eighteen and very new to the world and has recently realized that he likes Strohl very, very much.)
Pondering, Will contemplates what he remembers they have in the pantry. As captain, he does also have the sacred duty of considering what the others want to eat as well, but... they had Heismay's delightfully novel eugief noodle dish only yesterday. Surely that means it's Strohl's turn to have a favorite dish made tonight? ]
Mmm... how about your coney roast? We haven't eaten that in a while.
[ Conveniently, Strohl likes good, hearty food that no one dislikes (the less charitable reading of this situation is that Strohl is the pickiest of all of them), so everyone should be quite happy about coney roast for dinner. Hulkenberg is always happy as long as they have dinner on the table at all. But Will might be the happiest of all of them if it means he'll get to watch Strohl bustle about the kitchen, surprisingly self-assured and meticulous as he is in all things.
And the way he rolls the sleeves of his shirt up to his forearms when he's mixing things... yes...
Sometimes it's good for Will to get his hindbrain make decisions! ...Probably! ]
And I want to watch you cook... heheh.
no subject
Your idea has my vote, Captain. You paid such close attention when you watched me before, so I'm sure we'll cook our meat to tender, juicy perfection together every time.
[ Moving from the bunk to the kitchen means having to let go of Will — but not for long. As soon as they've both climbed back out, on their feet in the runner hallway, Strohl holds out his hand to take one of Will's. He doesn't hesitate to seize the chance to kiss Will's cheek along the way.
It's off to the pantry first, and then the kitchen, their ingredients laid out on the benchtop in front of them. Hands washed, sleeves rolled up, Strohl begins to prepare the cuts of meat. ]
no subject
But I don't pay attention to anything when you cook. I just watch you and think about how handsome you look.
[ Not a thought in that squirrelly blue head of his, apparently. His cheeks are soft and his head is empty, but his heart is full of love for bis reliable, responsible Strohl. ]
Oh! But I do remember you talking about how important it is to know the different cuts of meat, and... so on and some such...
[ He's partly teasing; he does remember the entire spiel quite well. But as long as Strohl is around to cook the meat again...! ]
no subject
What? Really? You were looking at me the whole time?!
[ Not the meat and its juices? Then again, "watch your meat and adjust the heat" aside, Strohl was the one to basically tell Will to let his preference guide him, which is what Will took to heart, in a way.
It's flattering, and just like Will's reverent remarks earlier did, it fills Strohl with an elated warmth. He is partly teasing himself, smiling at Will. He even sets the knife down for a moment to lean in again and plant another kiss on the tip of Will's nose. ]
I do know the feeling...
[ If only he didn't have to stop looking at Will every so often while they're cooking! ]
no subject
You do, don't you? I remember...
[ Contentedly, he rubs his cheek up against Strohl's back, the way that cats claim new territory (perhaps this is in fact the same behavior, exemplified in elda form instead). He peers at the meat preparations from around the clemar's side. ]
Gallica told me you were staring at me the whole time we were in the caravan together, right after we'd been recruited. [ A sly little laugh. ] Was I really so strange, in your eyes? Or...
no subject
What is a man to do... For now, with another fond chuckle, Strohl peers down at Will as Will peers around him. He gives his impish sous chef a little nudge to the arm using one elbow, gently. ]
And here I thought I was subtle about it! Well, Gallica wasn't exaggerating, and you know that you're my kind of strange.
[ Strohl's smile softens here. ]
Maybe I already felt drawn to you from the start... I wanted another chance to talk to you, not just because you managed to read your book in that caravan.
no subject
It's time to do what he does best: sit back and observe! ...With occasional bouts of knifework as necessary! ]
Well, now you have all the chances to talk to me you could ever want!
[ The young elda manages to giggle as he fetches some vegetables to accompany Strohl's roast. Will doesn't need to do much with them — just chop into appropriately-sized pieces, then drizzle with salt and oil — but it's the least he can do while he's flirting up a storm with his beloved in the kitchen. ]
Maybe it's still not enough. I feel like I need more hours in the day just to listen to your voice. And we're always so busy in the mornings...
[ Of course, when eh thinks about the prince's life being on the line, Will always finds energy again. But... wouldn't it be nice if he had a lazy morning for once? Just once!
They're truly too busy, though, and their quest is important, but... ]
no subject
[ But no matter how nice it feels to have Will's arms around him, Strohl has to accept that they can't stay pressed against each other at the moment. Still, the kitchen seems so much colder after Will lets go... He tears himself away long enough to turn back to the waiting meat, finishing his preparations while Will takes care of the vegetables.
They make a good team, and cooking together is fun.
With the seasoned ingredients ready to set over the heat, they're free to wash their hands and go back to touching each other at last. Catching Will around the waist from behind, Strohl rests his chin on Will's head. They're still paying attention to the roast! ]
no subject
My Strohl blanket!
[ Playfully, Will rests his hands atop Strohl's arms on his waist, securing his "blanket" more tightly around his body. ]
Do you like being my Strohl blanket?
[ He must, or he wouldn't be doing it. It must be comfortable to be tall enough to tuck one's beloved right under one's chin; it's both protective and stabilizes one's own weight. Will can see the appeal. For once, he musters up an attempt at proper posture to keep Strohl's head safely in place. ]
no subject
[ Strohl's response is playful in return, warm with affection. Will fits into his embrace so perfectly, and Strohl does his best to tuck him in against himself, as if he really is a clemar-shaped blanket custom-made for Will. That's his answer, plain in the way he holds Will as close as he can: he likes this very much.
He likes Will's delight, and feeling Will press into his touch. He likes knowing that Will is comfortable in his arms.
And now that the roast is cooking in the oven, the aroma of the meat slowly filling the air, it's nice and cozy just to stand here together as they are, even if they can hear the usual noises of the runner in the background, or footsteps and doors down the hallway outside. ]
no subject
...
Will has closed his eyes for some time, swaying gently back and forth where he stands, almost falling asleep — when he suddenly jolts at the sound of a laugh and a bark from out in the hall:
"Bunks are over here, boys, if you need 'em!" Neuras chortles, as he whistles through the hall on his way to the engine room.
Will colors slightly, cheeks bright pink through the olive tint to his skin; he's rarely flustered, but being so unexpectedly teased by Neuras has made him sink into Strohl's arms as if trying to use them to cover his face. ]
Ah... we've been caught!
[ Not that it's a problem that they've been caught, really... ]
no subject
Turning pink himself, Strohl throws a look over his shoulder. He doesn't let go of Will. ]
...Uh. Right. Thanks, Neuras. [ Never mind that they came here from the bunks just a little while ago... ] Dinner's almost ready, by the way!
[ Almost, as in not yet, since the roast needs more time to cook. Neuras is probably already out of earshot anyway.
Strohl glances back down at Will, who seems to be burrowing into his arms like a little rabbit might to hide there. ]
At least no one's thrown a single gauntlet shroom at us?
no subject
Feeling protected — enough to stop feeling anxious — Will pauses halfway in his rabbity burrowing, peeking up at his loving Strohl as he realizes that, indeed, yes, no gauntlet shrooms have been thrown their way. Once he processes the reality that there's no need to hide (against his irrational impulses), he seems to melt, leaning even more heavily against the clemar's larger body, and feeling all the more content for it. ]
Mmmm... That's true. Actually, everyone's been pretty supportive...
[ Liquid and lovey-dovey, Will turns around to face Strohl properly. Neuras just came by, so they probably won't be interrupted again for at least a little whie, right...? The elda leans up, almost close enough to kiss his handsome clemar's sloping nose, but he hovers instead, as if dreamily taking in Strohl's features. ]
Do you think that means we can get away with being more and more obnoxious?
[ More and more lovey, more and more clingy... Is there anything actually stopping them from just doing what they want all the time? Or is it all in Will's head? ]