𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓃

[callmedeath]

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[callmedeath]

It might be weeks before we reach our destination.

[ She gives him a little pout. The thought of weeks without sounds terrible. She has half the mind to take him off other boat, and they'll find another way to travel. But that's foolish and reckless which Matthias makes her apt to do simply because she adores him. ]

So just kisses? Not even some heavy petting then?

[furred]

[ He exhales loudly. Kissing leads to heavy petting which leads to her knowing how pleased he is to be sleeping beside her. As much as she teases him for being so proper, Matthias doesn't particularly want their first few times together to be on a creaky ship with strangers. ]

Maybe some kisses.

[ He glances at her with a sly smile. ]

And some petting. But nothing more, Nina. This is a ship, not a whale hut.

[callmedeath]

[ As much as Nina likes to tease and cajole, she's also respectful of his boundaries when she knows he means them. She'll resign herself to kisses and touches, but nothing more. She can handle it. She curls against him, arms wrapped around him, and rests her head against his broad chest. ]

As you wish, my husband. I promise to mostly behave.

[furred]

[ His poor little witch wife. While Matthias likes her arms around him, he knows that Nina would appreciate one of her hands being somewhere else.

With a soft sigh, ] You can move one of your hands lower.

[ No one can ever say Matthias Helvar is completely innocent. ]

[callmedeath]

[ Before he even sighs and concedes a little, one of her hands is already wandering further south at his back. When she hears his words, she shoots him a perfectly innocent look.

What? She's just being efficient.

She gives his ass a little pinch for good measure. Her expression never falters. She's all big eyes and sweet smile. ]

More?

[furred]

No further.

[ In case she intentionally misinterprets him and gropes at the back of his knee instead.

Wrapping his arms around her, he can't help but glance off to the side to ensure no one's looking at them too strangely. ]

Didn't you know this is a marital custom in Fjerda?

[ She's corrupted him. ]

[callmedeath]

Pinching your spouse's bottom? You Fjerdans are much naughtier than you let on!

[ She's already gauged everyone on the ship. She's clued in to all their heartbeats and where they are. Nothing sounds amiss to her. Everyone is focused on preparing to disembark.

She takes one of his hands and guides it down her back to return the favor. ]

[furred]

Sh. [ He laughs.

He lets her move his hand without fighting her. Cupping her ass firmly, Matthias tugs her impossibly closer to him. It's best that she's tucked right up against him; he doesn't want her to get lost at sea without him. ]

It's a very sacred custom. It's not spoken about because of how important it is to be shared between man and wife.

[ And how blasphemous it is to Djel. But would Djel have put Nina in his life if he didn't want Matthias to live a little? ]

[callmedeath]

[ His laughter makes her glow. Happiness looks so beautiful in Matthias. He would have been wasted on the severity of the drüskelle. He has a face that's meant to express joy. His large hand grabs her pert ass, making sure she's flush against him. She flutters her lashes at him. ]

I'm learning so much about Fjerdan culture. Is there anything else I need to learn? I want to be a proper wife, you see.

[furred]

Hm.

[ He peers over her head, looking out at the horizon. What other lewd things can he think of? What other things can he suggest to prompt her to laugh again? He keeps his hands on her ass, ignoring the quiet voice in his head telling him it's not proper. It's not. But it's how he and Nina have always been—improper. ]

Fjerdan wives like to kiss their husbands wherever they can.

[ The great Matthias Helvar is, apparently, a sucker for kisses. ]

[callmedeath]

Oh, that's easily done. One of my favorite things actually.

[ She steps on her tiptoes and peppered his face with kisses. She presses it on both cheeks, all along his jaw, the tip of his nose. Even his forehead. She leaves his lips for last as she smiles against him.

To everyone onboard, they look exactly as they say they are. Besotted husband and wife. Newlyweds that ran away to be together. Truly a romance. ]

[furred]

[ Scrunching up his face, the moment he begins to tilt his head upward, he ensures to lower it. Nina's capable of many great feats, but a growth spurt isn't one of them. He laughs, wrinkling his nose. He'd asked for this. He'd leaned through their trek through the snow that Nina Zenik rose to every single challenge presented to her and with gusto. ]

Hm. [ He impulsively takes her bottom lip gently between his teeth. When he lets it go, he flushes softly. ] You should have done that in the huts. I would've been warm.

[callmedeath]

Oh, you were plenty warm! I know that for a fact!

[ Nina gives a huff of amusement, brows raised at his gall. She remembers how warm they'd been together, tangled up in one another, and with his rather enthusiastic morning greeting.

She does appreciate how he bends for her, so she can kiss his forehead better though. Good man. Best man really. Her favorite even. She traces the flush of his cheeks and looks quite pleased with herself. ]

I bet I can make you warmer.

[furred]

Not on the ship.

[ It's a pointed murmur that he knows will prompt her to roll her eyes in exasperation and insist that she'll be good. She's well-behaved. But it'll encourage her to be cheeky and find the nearest loophole. ]

What if they throw us out to sea because I cannot keep my hands off you?

[ It's never about her hands on him. In these playful scenarios, Matthias is the one who lacks control. ]

[callmedeath]

I imagine they've seen worse.

[ Her tone is mild and amused. Sailors are a different breed. She doubts some heated kisses and wandering touches or anything more will make them blush. She doesn't tell Matthias that they might even enjoy that. She doesn't think that'll comfort him any. ]

We'll have to keep each other warm in our bunk though. You understand.

We will have to cuddle close in our bunk.

[furred]

I thought we would be on opposite sides. Far away from temptation.

[ He says that with an amused smile. There's no way in hell he'd leave Nina on the other side of the ship, even if it was the ship's protocol. Call him clingy or overprotective, but letting her out of his sight for a minute had almost let the thin ice outside the huts take her away from him.

But he holds her closer, in case she thinks to see right to it she stands on the opposite side of the ship. ]

Yes, we'll have to keep each other warm. I hear it gets very cold on Ravkan waters.

[ Not as cold as Fjerdan waters, but still. ]

[callmedeath]

[ Her lips part to protest because there's no way she'll sleep without him. Nina is spoiled now. She's very fond of sleeping with his body pressed to hers. Thankfully, he's only teasing. She wraps arms around his neck and stands on her tip toes to kiss him comfortably. She presses against him, smiling into the kiss. ]

I need to be a little warmer please?

[ Around them, everyone is boarding and they're preparing to disembark. She feels the crowd of people starting to get closer as they settle in. All the more reason to stay near him. ]

[furred]

You are always so cold.

[ He shakes his head, tsking, and wraps his arms tightly around her to pull her snugly against him. Why did he waste so much time in the whale huts not pulling her close?

Resting his chin against the top of her head, he kisses her hair and holds her tighter. He's not one for the sly work, not like she is, but he takes this as his opportunity to glance around—all ordinary people. No one on board strikes him as drüskelle. He thinks there are a few Grisha on board. ]

Recognise anyone? [ He murmurs. ]

[callmedeath]

Good thing I have my giant wolf man to keep me warm.

[ She's able to peer around discreetly as he envelopes her in his arms. Nina scans the others onboard from the crew to the passengers. No one she recognizes. Whether they're Grisha or not, she's not sure. She can't tell by heartbeat alone. With some of the crew being Grisha, she figures this might be a preferable ship for them to board. ]

No. No one.

[furred]

[ That comforts him. If no one who'd recognise her is on board, then they really have a good chance of seeing the plan succeed.

With them still docked at Ravka, there's still too many opportunities for things to go awry. He supposes that's why they're on the opposite side of the ship, away from where the gangway is and where people are boarding and leaving as the crew prepares the ship for its departure. ]

If I am a giant wolf man, what does that make you?

[callmedeath]

You tell me.

[ Her eyes return to him, her favorite sight. She knows that the Squaller is already preparing to direct the wind to the sails as the other crew members unmoors from the docks.

Soon, they'll be sailing far away from Ravka and Fjerda. They can be together without their people pulling them apart. ]

[furred]

[ Nina isn't a wolf. Even though she can be, he doesn't want her to be. He doesn't want her to be like the women of Fjerda, docile and quiet and softer than they should be because it's been demanded of them. He wants her to be herself, brash and loud and unapologetic.

He takes a moment to think and bows his head so his mouth is against her hair. ]

Little Red Bird.

[ Birds are free to do as they please, but they always come back to their wolves on the ground. ]

I have always liked birds. And you are very much a bird.

[callmedeath]

Your Little Red Bird?

[ She twitters in delight at the title. She loves it. Matthias, her wolf, is a romantic at heart. It's one of her many favorite things about him. She tilts her head to look up at him. The brightness of her eyes shine with the adoration she holds for him.

Nina's lips pull into a teasing grin as she feigns innocence. ]

Because of my lovely singing voice? [ Certainly not. She's terrible at it. ]

[furred]

[ He laughs. ] Especially because of your lovely singing voice.

[ If he never heard Nina sing again, he'd be a sad, sad man. Djel wouldn't want that, surely.

He glides his hands up and down her back, peering over her head as though he's able to hide the fact that he's smiling. He's a romantic. He's showing too much of his hand, and he loves it. The crew around them are in the final stages of clearing the ship for sail. ]

No second thoughts?

[callmedeath]

Mm, only slightly.

[ She's teasing, of course. Nina doesn't regret this. She doesn't regret choosing him. She hums at the way his hand runs up and down her back. It makes her feel good, sending warm tingles all throughout her body. She looks up at him with a smirk. ]

But only because if I'd know you'd want me to behave then I wouldn't have suggested a ship to travel.

[ That's a lie. This is the best way to travel. It's faster than on foot. She can behave herself for the duration if it means his safety. ]