//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Who's move // Story: Veins and Arteries // by Rhino //------------------------------// Silk does a small loop in the sky before landing and entering her shared home after her little sleepover with Asylum. She half considered just going to work from there, but she had a few things she needed to grab, so back home it was. Shutting the door behind her, she strolls in. Unsure who is sleeping and who isn’t, she refrains from calling out. She gets a pretty good idea, though, when the sound of a small thud comes from the basement. Rather than a cry following it like the other day, however, a few moments pass before footsteps can be heard instead, and Winter pokes his head around the doorway, spotting his housemate. “Well, good morning, you.” He smiles. “Had fun?” “Oh very much so. Were you waiting for me?” She flutters her eyelashes at him. “More or less. At least wanted to make sure you got home fine.” He steps out, revealing that he has once again been working shirtless and gotten sweaty, both having reasons still unknown. “I take it you’re headed off to work soon?” “Well, not quite soon.” Setting her bag down, she brushes an errant strand of mane behind her ear. “In about an hour or so. Feel like taking a break to spend that time with me?” He nods. “Can’t go any further until tonight anyway, so might as well.” He starts heading into the kitchen. “Hungry?” “I could go for something light.” She follows him, looking at him curiously as she thinks. “Light… the best we have for that is fruit, or just a piece of bread or cheese. I’m assuming you’d prefer the first of those.” He opens the fridge and digs out two bright red apples, holding one out to her. “I don’t do the shopping until tomorrow, so there isn’t much choice. Sorry.” “Nothing to be sorry about, hun.” She softly grabs it from him. “It gives us time to talk, and there a few things I wanted to say.” He blinks. “...what about? Did Asylum tell you stuff she shouldn’t have?” He takes a bite of his own apple, looking a little worried. “No… but I was corrected on how some of my tactics might be… misconstrued.” She blushes slightly as she nibbles on the apple. “Tactics?” Winter tilts his head, looking more confused now than anything else. “Well, do you remember when I made that last comment the other day when I was patching you up? About…” She clears her throat, in hindsight seeing exactly what Asylum had been talking about. “You ‘experimenting’ with me?” He blushes a bit. “Y-Yeah…?” “Well, let me be clear. I was not proposing you.” She fiddles with the apple in her hand. “It was my way, in character and considering how you got your injury, of inviting you to get to know me better. Since, you know, I had been getting to know you and wanted to continue, I would invite you to do the same.” She steps closer, looking him in the eyes. Slowly, he nods, realizing what she means. “So you didn’t mean… alright then.” He chuckles. “I thought it was a bit too forward… even for you.” Nodding, she giggles. “Yes… there are lines even I don’t cross casually. Though, since you know what I was really asking…” The question lingers as she slowly takes a bite of apple. Winter blinks, then smiles sheepishly. “Well… I’m not really sure what to ask, here. I’m used to just letting ponies tell me about themselves, rather than pry for more information.” He sits down in a chair, gesturing for her to do the same. She does so, but not before moving her chair closer to his, though still with a small bit of space between them. “It’s not prying if you have an open invitation.” She smiles softly at him, spreading her wings slightly. “I guess… still, hard to think of stuff...” He takes another bite of his apple, thinking. “...where do you come from?” “Cloudsdale.” She says simply, shrugging her wings, one staying on the back of his chair afterwards. “If you think it’s uncommon to be a thestral, try being a pony in Cloudsdale who gets a mark that has nothing to do with racing or weather.” He rolls his eyes playfully. “Or try being a unicorn in Canterlot whose special talent has nothing to do with gems or royalty.” She covers her mouth as she giggles. “Oh? Do I get to see this mystery mark?” “...” He opens his mouth to speak, shuts it, and tries again, only to shut it again. As this goes on, his face slowly makes the transition from blue to red, before finally he finds some words. “...compromise: I’ll show you only if you show me yours.” His tone indicates he isn’t completely serious about this, but nevertheless, he looks at her awaiting an answer. “Deal.” Her eyes twinkle mischievously as she motions to him with a hand. “Do you want to go first, or shall I? I wouldn’t want to you to be too out of it from making a mess from nosebleed or other things.” Surprisingly, despite his blush returning, he replies without missing a beat. “If you’re serious about this, I’ll let you go first. If I do pass out from loss of blood or other bodily fluids, you have my permission to just take a look yourself.” “Well, that’s not as fun. I wouldn’t be able to see you reacting then.” She stands, loosening her belt a bit. “Best you try and stay clean then.” She winks. It seems to finally register in his head that this is actually happening; his face goes a very bright red, but rather than try to backtrack and stop her, he just watches, his half-eaten apple briefly forgotten. She only smiles at his face, pulling one side of her pants down enough to reveal the waistband of one of her classic lacey panty designs, this one magenta. It also reveals the yellow thigh beneath it, a large mark of an embroidered lace circle marring the otherwise pristine coat. “H-Huh...” He just nods slowly, his eyes glued to the mark and the bit of skin and fabric below and above it. “...wow...” Feeling cheeky, she shakes her hip a bit. “Like what you see?” He nods again absentmindedly. “Yeah...” Pulling her pants back up, she smirks as she looks to him, ‘accidentally’ nudging her chair to almost touching his before she sits down. “Fair is fair, right?” Blinking back to reality, he winces, realizing what has to happen next. “R-Right...” Sighing, he stands up, starting to undo his belt as well. “Had to shower and change anyway...” With less show than she had, he just lets his jeans drop and starts pulling down the side of his plaid boxers next, showing off a golden shield emblazoned with a light blue snowflake. “A shield? That is uncommon…” Her eyes roam up and down his legs as she speaks. “I think it’s a lovely mark though, and the snowflake is a nice touch to make it suit you.” He smiles despite the situation. “Um… thanks...” She hums in thought. “Though really, hun, are you that eager to drop your pants around me?” “...you asked, and we made a deal.” He quickly pulls both his boxers and jeans back up. “You weren’t exactly hesitating, yourself...” Waiting until he sits down, she gives him a small nuzzle. “I like to think we’re comfortable around each other.” He chuckles and nuzzles back. “I agree. Though it’s kind of funny, us being comfortable enough to show off cutie marks when we’re not a couple or anything… even Sy and I never really do that too often.” Ears pricked and teeth glinting from her smile, she rests her head on his shoulder. “Well, it’s not like you need to check and see if they changed. Though, as for it being odd how comfortable we are…” her head tilts and she gives him a kiss on the cheek. “We could always correct the ‘not a couple’ part.” Winter is quiet for a moment before speaking, looking surprisingly unfazed from both the kiss and the statement. “Is this another one of your teasing jokes, or is that a serious suggestion?” Narrowing her eyes, she sits up straight, one hand turning his face towards hers. Their lips meet in a kiss for a brief moment before she meets his eyes again, raising an eyebrow. “...the latter, then,” he just says calmly, looking a little stunned. Rolling her eyes and sighing, she gets up, swinging one leg up and over him as she smoothly sits in his lap. Her arms come around him in an embrace as she nuzzles his chest and neck. “I’m not hearing an answer…” He sighs, nuzzling back. “Silk… on one hand, I want to say yes… but I need to know if this would actually work out first. I’ve only known you for a little over a week, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about you, it’s that you and I are very, very different.” “And what’s wrong with that?” She leans back a bit to look him in the face. “I think it makes us interesting to one another. Ask away anything that troubles you and I’ll answer what I can. For what I can’t, well… that’s what dating is for, right?” “I guess...” He shrugs. “Well, first and foremost concern… I’ve seen girls like you back in high school; flirtatious, forward, a bit of a tease… and rarely were they seeing any less than three stallions at a time.” He quickly holds up a hand. “Not accusing you of doing the same; I just want to make sure we’re on the same page about not starting herds.” “Good to know I didn’t have to bite you for that accusation you almost said. Still, you have a fair question.” Her head tilts back and forth as she chooses her words. “I consider myself a very open mare, hun, when it comes to new things. However, romance and intimacy are very personal, private things. I’m not saying that if Asylum came to me in a few years and pitched the idea I wouldn’t at least give it due thought, but honestly monogamy appeals to me. Just me and the one I chose among all others. The term is ‘special’ somepony. It’s less special is there’s more than one, at least to me.” She ends with another nuzzle. He chuckles, nuzzling back. “Fair enough on all points. And I agree with them all.” He thinks another moment. “I doubt I even need to ask this, but… you’re not just suggesting this to try and get lowered rent, are you?” He smirks. She laughs and shakes her head. “Not even close… so…” She slides her arms forward over his shoulders, bringing herself with them until their muzzles are touching. “Is that a yes? Because if so, there’s something I need to warn you about thestrals.” “I… I think it is. Yes.” He smiles, nuzzling her. “We can give it a try, at the very least… and see where it goes from there.” “Good, now for your warning.” She gives him a kiss, holding it for a few seconds before speaking again. “Thestrals are very affectionate… and we need just as much in return. So, I hope you’re a snuggler.” “Snuggler, cuddler, hugger, nuzzler, kisser...” He smirks. “Just don’t go asking for cunnilinous on day one and I’ll give you whatever affection you need.” His arms wrap around her in another hug, left hand starting to trace down her back. “The last one can wait a bit. For now…” She presses herself against him as she nuzzles again. “Why not give me a little taste to get me through the day, and maybe something to look forward to when I get home, hmm?” The unicorn grins, smooching her on the cheek. “No complaints from me. Though… should we do this in my room? Lime’s asleep, but she is still home, and we wouldn’t want her walking in on us...” His hand begins rubbing gently on her lower back. She shivers, her wings flaring happily. “I think that sounds lovely…” Reluctantly, she eases off him, but holds his hand to her back. “Lead the way.” “Gladly.” Keeping his hand on her back, he begins leading her out of the kitchen, depositing their apple cores in the trash along the way. As they head upstairs, he keeps his ears pricked for any noise from his sister’s room; hearing nothing, he chuckles and leads her into his own, shutting and locking the door behind them. “I’ll let you decide how far we go and what we do this time.” “Well, I do only have less than an hour before I have to leave for the shop, so we are limited.” She rubs her hand over his that is still on her back. “I liked what you were starting with this; let’s see where those instincts take us.” He smiles, letting his hand wander further down and gripping her rump. “It was just a little quest to feel you over; I’d call it a success.” He rests his other hand on her shoulder, starting to lead them closer to the bed. “If you want it to keep going, though, you’re welcome to reciprocate… or make it easier. Or both, even.” With a small squeak, she jumps forward a step, looking back at him. “I’ll keep that in mind…” She looks him over almost hungrily. Noticing this, he chuckles. “Like what you see, or did you want to see more?” “Let’s just call it anticipation and excitement.” She flutters her eyelashes at him, looking towards the bed after. “Me or you on first?” He responds by hopping into the bed ahead of her, smirking and patting the spot beside him.