tampered | Log: Ongoing

Peony was dutifully impressed. The words that Greed had used in his approach had been, how had Rin phrased it? Lame. But Peony had to give him points for not being all talk. If anything it was a perfect match to the setting. A picnic, in the garden, during the midst of artificial spring? How perfectly novel. Lame or not Peony admitted to being quite amused, after all how many would dare to call the emperor of Malkuth “pretty?” There was a general consensus that his Majesty was quite stunning (especially undressed) but few would express it in such a way. Between the pick up lines and the adorable little set up it gave the distinct feeling of being courted. And that was certainly something Peony had never had the chance to experience.

“You live up to your promises, Greed,” Peony complimented honestly, that usual smooth, sensual smile of his sliding into his features easily.

"It's not in my nature to lie, because I'm never really ashamed of anything I do."

He led Peony to a cushion on the cloth and bade him to sit, then walked behind a smaller subsection of hedge and rolled out a cart next to them. There were several covered platters and a few pitchers. A lower section of the cart had some other platters and side pouch full of ice and a few bottles. Greed went about uncovering and setting them down with all haste.

"I think you'll like the selection," he said, quickly finishing the job, "So for drinks we have iced tea, orange juice, and milk. All ice-cold, of course. For more adult beverages we have sake, white zinfandel, champagne, and some bourbon. As for the main event, there's some sushi here, a bit of chicken fettucini alfredo, steak, mixed vegetables, baked potatoes, fried chicken, and a few other goodies. So, what would you like?"

It was a familiar scenario, if only because Peony read a lot. It was like something out of those yellow-paged romance novels he’d picked at curiously as a teenager. Though he suspected more than just a little that the intention behind it was more along the lines of the cheap erotica where sex occurred about twenty pages into the book. But Peony was hardly womanly in any sense of the word.

Still, it wouldn’t do to disappoint completely. “Personally I find shamelessness to be more of a virtue, especially in this city. And you are so well prepared I doubt I can hold anything against you at this moment.” He sat where Greed had gestured, easing onto the cushion. He tilted his head curiously at the food, the rich blue lapis bead shifting sliding against his sunkissed cheek with the motion. “Some vegetables and tea would be much appreciated, the way you treat your date I’d almost suspect you a proper gentleman. What else might you have planned in this little skit?”

He held up his hands placatively and laughed, "Don't worry too much. I remember your words. I may be greedy, but I'm not a beast. I find you almost unbearably attractive, but you did say something about not pressing my luck."

He readied the meal as per the blond man's specifications, then set it out in front of him. Greed's own meal was meat, meat, and more meat, followed by a large glass of iced tea. He turned to Peony as he took his own cushion seat.

"But I do to tend to go to the limit of what someone allows."

“Oh good, worrying might give me wrinkles,” he commented with a slight shrug of his shoulders. He wasn’t worried; it wasn’t in Peony’s nature to worry about much that wasn’t related to the well-being of his. His country, his companions, his Jade, everything else he really couldn’t care less. And honestly the idea of anyone taking advantage of him was…amusing.

“I don’t mind that though…after all you don’t know someone’s limit until you test it.”

Greed bit into a rack of ribs, rows of white, shark-like teeth shearing through flesh and bone, easily masticating all of the material. Greed had never been one for proper table-manners, and that certainly wasn't going to change, royalty or not. He took a few more bites and turned to his guest.

"So, how long have ya' been in this city, Peony? Ya' like it so far? Seems like you already made a good friends in that other guy. I know some people have trouble adjustin'."

Peony worked at his food leisurely, taking his time to enjoy this date. It was the second one he’d been on ever and should he return to Malkuth he probably wouldn’t have the chance to experience these kinds of things. Peony let an uncharacteristically soft smile wash over his features, “I was fortunate enough to find people from my own world here. I actually enjoy the City, I have much more freedom to do as I like here. Not that I want to stay here forever. But until I leave it’s just an extended vacation.”

He reached out idly to stroke a craning blossom with the tips of his fingers, one of many that surrounded the little private grove that Greed had set up. The petals were still tightly furled together, lips puckered and shut. “Pity I can’t properly show you a peony flower like I said.”

He took a swig of his tea and stretched his arms, several joints loudly cracking and popping. His fork stabbed into a slab of beef brisket and brought it back to his plate.

"But how can ya' not always want to be around that? Think about it! Money, women, power, land, status! All the worthwhile things in life right at your beck and call! Everybody want to be the man, while you get to live it!" he took a bite of his food and continued, "I just don't get the part about how you talk about freedom. You're the friggin' boss, can't ya' just do whatever you want?"

He enjoyed a bit of cheesecake, pointing at Peony with his fork, "If it were me, and they tried to restrict me, I'd tell 'em to sit and spin on my cock. I'm the goddamned king!"

He couldn’t help it. Actually to be honest Peony didn’t even try to help it, he set his food and drink down, breaking down laughing. Foolish. Such an impossible way to rule a country but the way it was expressed? Fascinating. It wasn’t the coarse language so much as the way it was used and the vigor that accompanied it.

“I apologize,” he said after he caught his breath. “Maybe.” He took a long drink from the iced tea, needing something to calm him from that rare fit. “Maybe you’re right, I should try that sometime.” He could only begin to imagine the reaction such statements would draw. “I fear some of them might take that suggestion too seriously though.”

"Eh? They'd really do that?" he asked, looking incredulously at the emperor, "That's some REAL loyalty, there!"

He began to let out a laugh of his own. It was a deep, booming sound that Peony would be able to feel through the ground. Greed slapped the ground in emphasis, then reached over to clap the hand onto his shoulder.

"You're alright, Peony! A real class act!" he chuckled, pouring himself a glass of sake. His ears twitched as a low groan from outside caught his attention.

"...Uh, did you hear somethin'?"

There was a rustle about the hedge of the bush and a less than friendly moan. “I did in fact…it’s a curse day today, isn’t it?” He hadn’t forgotten, nor had it escaped his notice that a curse of gluttony could be troublesome given the nature of some of the citizens. But Peony wasn’t someone that made plans and then cancelled them on the account of such trivial things. Peony closed his eyes for a moment, reciting the short incantation that he hadn’t used in some time.

“Oh sword of conviction, loose the might of your brilliant colours! Prism Sword!”

Too long, far too long since he’d felt the full power of the spell. It unfurled from the center of his being, the power of Rem. The blade of the sword that trust down swirled in a myriad of colours. It dissolved in a brilliant blast of light, taking down the ghouls that had been hovering nearby. “Well…it seems this place is not so private as it seemed.”

"Apparently so. There ants at every picnic, or so the sayin' goes."

He rose to his feet and cracked his knuckles, then his neck. His ears and nose twitched as he tried to get a feel for what was around them. The stench of rotting flesh and the sound of low groans was thick in the air.

"You, Peony, you know how to fight? I'd say there's at least 7, no more than 10 very bad things right outside this little area. I don't think they're too organized, though. I don't have anything to worry about, but I don't want ya' gettin' bit."

“Such a fitting saying…I can handle myself well enough but they do ruin my appetite a bit.” These were the only kind of creatures that Peony found truly distasteful. Creatures of such nature were in direct opposition with his fonons, it made him irritable to be this close to them. Peony shook his head slightly, disapprovingly though his slight smile was ever present on his expression. “Shall we relocate, or reschedule? As much as I hate to let such trivial things interfere with my plans I am required to stay relatively safe and alive.”

Greed transformed his body and cracked his knuckles.

"Sure. Be just a moment, your Majesty."

Greed ran off into the bushes, gone in a blur. For the next several minutes, the groaning became more frantic, almost as if creatures were roaring all around. There were great shuffling sounds, like someone rushing through underbrush, followed by a loud yell.

"C'mon, assholes! It's a U-turn back to the grave, for you!"

The din outside rose into a cacophony of yells, screams, groan, and various wet, squelching sounds. Then all was silent. Greed soon wandered back in, covered in...something.

"Taken care," he said, wiping himself off with paper towels, "But I think we should go someplace else. Temple should be good. More supplies and it's far enough away from the city that the ghouls won't go there."

“How so very valiant,” he commented with a smirk, letting Greed do as he would with the ghouls. If anything came too close Peony could defend himself but since Greed wanted to act as his roguish knight then he certainly wasn’t going to stop him.

It was less than appealing though to see him come back covered in unsavory bits of rotting flesh. “Impressive,” Peony stood up gracefully, swiping a linger clump that stuck to Greed’s cheek with his finger. “What exactly is that?” It was strangely impersonal at the same time almost sensual, the way Peony traced his finger down Greed’s jaw, down his neck, resting at the dip of his collarbone. “Fascinating,” scientific curiosity, it’d been a long time, deep down he was as bad as Jade was. But it rarely surfaced.

“The temple, huh? I’ve yet to visit, is that where the hot springs are?”

"Damn straight! Hot springs and hot meals. All the amenities you could want," he said, walking over to wash himself off in a nearby pond. He walked back up and changed his body back to normal.

"That? It was my other form. My Ultimate Shield. I can make my skin harder than diamond. It's a defensive power."

He cleaned up some of the picnic area, leaving it on the cart.

"I can get that later. Care to go there? I can even give ya' a ride there."

Peony watched the transformation with interest. Harder than diamond…interesting, he shook his head slightly to brush those thoughts aside. Those studies, labs, science, curiosity were far behind him now. But having something of such a curious nature in front of him it was hard to ignore.

“A ride? Well since you offered…”

"Excellent!" he grinned, flashing rows of sharp, even, pearly-white teeth. He scooped Peony up with his arms and started to run. Upon seeing yet another row of advancing ghouls, he detoured up the side of a greenhouse.

"Ah ha!" he said, spotting a grove of trees, "I have a plan!"

He took a running leap, bounding high and far, then coming to land on one tree. His legs took him down the line, bouncing from tree to tree and easily avoiding the beasts below. After they left the gardens and traversed the rooftops of the city, he slowed his pace and began to walk through the large stone arches that were on the path to the temple.

"I think you'll like it," he said, shifting Peony up onto his shoulders.

“Do you,” Peony commented lightly, keeping his tone light and even. It didn’t happen often that something would throw him off. He supposed he should enjoy it…but no he didn’t. Peony was always in control, liked to be in control, and no one could take that away from him unless given express permission. Peony smiled, the friendly disarming curve that he used so often, “Then why don’t you show me.”

He shifted slightly where he sat on Greed’s shoulders, leaning slightly against the homunculus’ head, fingers toying idly with the short spikes of his hair.

They arrived on the front steps of the temple ten minutes later, after which Greed opened the oversize front doors to show him in.

"You can set your shoes by the front here if ya' like."

Greed removed his own shoes and coat, then led the way down the hall. Several corridors were passed until there was a glass sliding door in front of them. The sides were the entranceways to two tiled rooms.

"Feel free to change into a towel in one of those rooms," he said, pointing. He himself stripped down on the spot, setting his clothing into a corner and wrapping the towel around his waist.

"I'll have refreshments out here too," he reassured.

Slipping his shoes off Peony paid the towels and the change rooms no heed. Surprised or not he really had no shame in his body, never had any shame in his body. His shirt was removed and carelessly tossed aside, pants unlaced and removed. He gathered his hair into a small ponytail so that it wouldn’t get in the way, leaving just the strand adorned with the blue bead framing his face.

Peony might have had some slightly more effeminate features for his face but he wasn’t a slight man. Tall, well built, once the clothes were off there was no doubt of his masculinity. Sinking into the water he sighed softly, “It’s been a while…” He so should have joined Luke and his companions when he’d given them the spa pass.

Greed opened a small ice-chest of cold drinks and set them by the side of the first pool, where Peony was. He inhaled a deep lung-full of steam and sat in the water, sinking down beside the emperor.

"It's a nice place. Can't say I have any complaints. It's spacious, gets fresh supplies delivered, and is fairly secluded. Strange thing is, for a temple it doesn't have any monks. Guess it's a quirk of the city. The damned place was empty, but perfectly clean and ordered when I found it.

"Thank you," Peony murmured sedately, relaxing in the hot water. It'd be nice to come here with Jade, perhaps Gaillardia and Luke as well. Oh he would have paid to see their visit to the spa after he'd given them the spa pass, and not just to get a good look at Tear and Natalia. Amusement tended to follow quick on their heels he found. Though if it was just Jade that meant they could indulge in other pleasures as well... Still this was an enlightening visit, interesting at the very least.

"Hm...not so strange in this city I think. Certainly I haven't noticed many priests despite the Cathedral and I'm sure the angels didn't come with it. So you took it upon yourself to make use of this place, good choice. Very nice and I'm sure an excellent excuse to have your dates strip down to nothing."

Greed listened to Peony's words and nodded a few times, scratching his chin.

"Yeah, plus a nice source of money during open hours," he said, stretching out, "So, your highness, how about a back rub? I promise I'm very good at it."

Greed grinned widely, practically bouncing around in his seat at the opportunity to touch Peony's skin.

"What could it hurt? You could even have a nice, cool drink while I work."

Peony gave Greed an answering smirk. It was expected of course, Greed had included that in their little date plan, part of the deal you might say. "Very well, you have my royal permission." He sat up slightly, cocking his head slightly in question. "How should I...ah, position myself to make this most convenient for you?" Peony wasn't submissive, not by any stretch but he was most definitely a tease.

"Just turn your back to me," he said, "Your sitting position is fine."

Greed moved up close to him and placed his hands on the blond male's shoulders, giving a tentative squeeze. Fingers that could crush solid marble crawled across human flesh and bone, tracing the contours of his muscles.

"Lemme know if I'm bein' to rough, okay?" he whispered to his date, showing actual concern, "I sometimes forget my strength."

"How considerate of you, I'll be sure to let you know when it's too much to handle," Peony commented softly as he turned his back to Greed, letting the other man do as he boasted. When was the last time he'd had a backrub? Or had he ever had one at all?

He must have had one before he decided, it probably just wasn't memorable. Something that was easily overwritten by something else. But it wasn't unpleasant, he sighed quietly as the near stranger worked at his muscles.

If there was one thing Greed disliked, it was unpleasantness. It made for awful date nights. Hence why he worked so hard to avoid it.

"So how you ya' keep in shape? For a blue-blood, ya' seem like you've put some hours in. I knew way to many royal types who were content to just sit around and make others work."

His hands slowly kneaded their way down, now massaging his lower back and sides.

Peony let out a short amused laugh, again with the compliments. He didn't tire of them yet. They were so wonderfully shameless and he doubted he'd have much opportunity to enjoy this breed of humor back home so it was permissible for the time being.

"My pets keep me rather busy. Taking care of them keeps me in shape," Gaillardia could attest to that statement no doubt. It was no easy feat taking seven rappigs out for a walk. Especially when Jade got mischievous.

Of course there was combat training. Peony had always enjoyed the exertion, it was a pity he’d never get to truly exercise his skill but that didn’t mean he didn’t practice. Still dreaming, maybe someday he could test out the arena in Baticul.

Log: Ongoing

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