[ oh. he does like the sound of that. and he's doing his very best not to get super emotional hearing that out loud, because living for himself is all he's ever wanted. it's what his sister wanted, too, for both of them.
so he squares his shoulders and links their pinkies together immediately. ]
Promise.
[ and he tips his hand to touch their thumbs together as well before leaning in to place a light kiss against them. his eyes lift and he can't help but grin. ]
( finn can't quite put to words what he feels when yuri presses his lips against their joined hands, but his heart flutters in response to all of it and he beams at his soon-to-be partner.
he gently takes yuri's hand again, lacing their fingers with more confidence than before. )
[ yuri is pretty certain that holding finn's hand is going to be one of his favorite things to do. not the only thing, but one of them for sure. finn's hand is just so big, it makes yuri feel safe and warm to hold it.
maybe his parents have finally done something right for him with this arrangement.
the mention of dinner makes his stomach swoop a little and he lets out a slow breath. ]
Is your mother going to be joining us? If so, I'm definitely going to need time to get ready.
( instead of heading to the dining room, finn begins leading them through the hallways and back towards their respective suites, a smile on his lips. )
Right, we probably should freshen up after spending time outside! ( look, he forgets too. he's used to ambling into the apartment after spending all day outside and his dad not batting an eye because he had surely been working outside. the earthy smell was comforting to him.
the manor naturally has other rules.
assuming yuri wants to prettify, finn happily opens the door to his suite. )
[ yuri really, really wants to lean up and give finn a tiny little peck on the cheek, but he manages to somehow refrain. instead, he lifts their joined hands and gently rubs finn's wrist against his neck one more time (because that's somehow less intimate since he's already done this) before he disappears into his room.
when he reemerges later he's freshly washed and even though he's removed each of his patches, there's still the lingering scent of cherry blossoms on his skin. he's changed into a soft sweater, purple of a shade to settle well with his hair rather than fight against it, that settles lightly enough at his waist that if he raises his arms there's a bare flash of skin. his pants are loose and flowy, almost looking like a skirt when he stands still, and smooths out all of the fabric before knocking soundly on finn's door. ]
( smiling dopily, finn bows his head and closes the door before scurrying to his own room where he has an awkward but well-meaning conversation with his butler as they choose clothes for dinner.
"I - I don't want to claim him. I just wanted to be comfortable here!"
sometimes the most naive of men need a little wake up call from time to time.
he changes into a loose-fitting champagne pink button-down with billowing sleeves and a half-tied knot, tucking it into taupe trousers belted around his waist ( to show off his shape a little more ). finn blushes the entire time. he is at least able to insist on keeping his bangs down, still a little damp from the shower when he opens the door to greet yuri. )
[ in no way, shape, or form is yuri subtle as he lets his eyes scan over finn in front of him. the color suits him well, he thinks, and oh that waist. yuri would very much like to settle his hands right there, just to feel it.
he lets out a slow breath as his gaze comes up, and he lifts a hand to pat down a stray bit of hair trying to run away from the rest of them. he might be just a little pink. ]
( finn squirms under the weight of yuri's gaze, though he seems pleased with the assessment. it's clear this isn't how the outdoorsman normally dresses, but he does have aristocratic lineage that peeks through from time to time.
he fully steps out of the room and extends an arm to yuri. )
I heard that they were making a specialty from your home, ( he mentions excitedly. )
[ yuri tucks a bit of his own hair back behind his ear before he places his hand on the crook of finn's elbow to be led off. when he turns his head a passing light catches on his face, making the bit of highlight he has near his eyes sparkle. he's here to impress, sure, but it isn't his future mother-in-law whose gaze he's trying to keep on him.
his face lights up at that and he tilts his head back, humming in thought. ]
Oh, gosh, I wonder what it is. If it's black pork I might cry out of sheer joy.
( the staff had reached out to yuri's family's staff for a list of yuri's favorite foods, both for the wedding and the welcome meal. with another new addition to the household, it has been rather exciting for the kitchen staff lately, who have been educating themselves on finn's extensive list of sweet treat favorites. )
You look like a fairy, by the way, ( finn adds in a whisper as they make their way through the halls, servants stepping to the side to let them through, bowing their heads in greeting. finn's ears redden with each step. he doesn't particularly like being bowed at but he can't tell them not to while his mother is still the head of the household.
eventually, he leads yuri to his seat at the table, where there is quite a grand spread for a small household. there's the pork as yuri has predicted, along with fried rice dishes and other delicacies. finn is already looking forward to dessert. )
[ he whispers it back, giggling quietly as they make their way past the various servants. it's-- there's a lot of them, yuri can't help but notice. it's not as though his own family didn't have any, but they certainly didn't have even a quarter of the number that seems to be around this estate. he wonders, vaguely, if or when he'll have his own that attend to him. he's gotten so used to doing things for himself...
yuri sucks in a breath at the spread, his eyes widening in sheer delight. he wants nothing more than to just dive into it but he can't, doesn't, instead taking his seat as it's pulled out. he lets out a slow breath, nerves suddenly spiking through his body as his eyes dart toward what he assumes is the door the lady of the house will be coming through. he'll be ready to stand again at a moment's notice, if it looks like he needs to. ]
I'm glad that you'll be next to me.
[ if finn was going to be sitting on the other side of the table, yuri's not sure how well he'd be able to get through this meal. ]
( finn gives his hand a squeeze before releasing it, getting up just as his mother glides through the doors. it's as if she can sense what has already transpired between the two of them and raises her eyebrows. the expression is indiscernible to finn, who shrinks under her gaze, stealing a quick glance at yuri before they take their seats.
dinner begins as normally as it can, filled with a few awkward pauses but otherwise genuine attempts to have some kind of formal-informal conversation.
finn stammers through most of it, his mind more interested in the food in front of them. if these foods are important to yuri, well! they're important to him now. )
[ oh, she definitely knows. yuri stands and gives an appropriate bow before settling back into his seat again, meeting her gaze for the briefest of moments. he feels like an entire conversation happens in that glance and his ears suddenly light up red, the color creeping down his neck when he looks away.
she knows. and she's probably already figured out more about their relationship than they have.
he thanks her profusely for the thoughtful gesture with the food, makes sure the compliment her on her beautiful home and the gardens, and does a good job of praising finn for being the perfect gentleman on their tour and oh, gosh, he is handsome, isn't he? it's been a long time since yuri's done proper etiquette training, but he still remembers all of the classes that he did take, down to which fork and spoon to use for which dishes.
when dessert arrives yuri can't help the grin on his face, his gaze sliding sideways toward finn. ]
He's got a bit of a sweet tooth on him, doesn't he? If his choice in teas is anything to go off of.
( at the mention of 'perfect gentleman,' lady aurora looks proud, though that doesn't stop the corner of her mouth from twitching upward, an expression shift so subtle that finn missed it entirely while he was blushing behind his glass of water. he doesn't drink alcohol that often, preferring to indulge himself in other ways.
and it's clear that yuri has figured out exactly what his vices are after spending a few hours together. )
Sometimes, I think sugar is the key to happiness, ( finn muses without thinking. his mother, much to his surprise, mentions that his father had said something similar when they met. the revelation isn't as stunning as the mere mention of his father's existence. is it meant to put finn at ease or something? he isn't sure.
he chuckles anyway and pulls the bowl of raspberry vanilla ice cream closer to him. )
[ oh, she's too observant. yuri makes eye contact with her at that little shift in her expression and almost immediately looks away, busying himself with fiddling with his own glass of wine. he's going to need to watch himself around her. and her staff.
a thought that leaves him later, as finn happily pulls his bowl of ice cream toward him. his eyebrow lifts just a little and he tilts his head, humming thoughtfully. ]
Noted.
[ oh he can give you all the sugar you wa--
AHEM.
and actually, this is a decent segue... ]
We've, um. Already had some thoughts, for the wedding. After walking around the grounds. Right, Finn?
[ is it weird to bring this up already? probably not, it's not as though the wedding is far off as it is. ]
One of the cake layers needs to just be a nice, simple vanilla. We both have notes of it in our scents, and thought it'd be nice to play into that commonality.
And orange and cherry blossom petals in frosting! The buttercream kind, ( finn manages to chime in while taking a spoonful of ice cream, smiling around the spoon.
his mom gestures to one of the staff who pulls out a small notepad to jot down any other notes. but, oh no, that just makes finn a little nervous and he can feel his ears and neck warming up. it's nice to dream but to see things through until they become a reality? terrifying.
still, he presses on. )
And an outdoor reception? In the gardens? ( he looks to yuri to make sure that's okay. )
[ yuri nods, dropping one hand below the table to rest it reassuringly on finn's thigh. it's as innocent as it gets, just a gentle pat pat to let finn know that he doesn't need to feel nervous talking about this. but it still feels intimate, somehow. or like they're slowly starting to build a united front, at the very least. ]
They're beautiful gardens, they should be showcased. With peonies in the bouquets, if there are enough.
[ when yuri looks toward finn again his gaze is soft, already distressingly fond. ]
He's really at home out there. It was absolutely delightful to watch him.
( it is comforting, just having someone immediately rushing to his side to support him. he's felt so lost navigating this new world, asserting himself in any situation seems like an ordeal.
flowers are important to this family, the lady tells him with a small nod. the garden hasn't held a full reception in goodness knows how long.
finn raises his eyebrows at that. )
The gardens should be celebrated more!
( his mother smiles and assures him he can tend to that when he's head of the household. gulp. another scary reminder. )
[ into flowers themselves and what sort of parties work best in a garden. they didn't have the space for a proper one at home, and as he'll be the... well, the lady of the house, really, it'll often fall to yuri to host these things.
with dessert aside, yuri leans back in his seat with a soft sigh, his eyes threatening to close. ]
This has been wonderful, Lady Aurora, and incredibly thoughtful besides. However, the day has worn me out, and I think I look forward to nothing more than sinking into bed, so please forgive my early retirement this evening. Finn, could you walk me back to my room?
( finn perks up suddenly, looking between his mother and yuri before nodding at once and scrambling to get to his feet. he stumbles over the leg of his chair before catching himself with a solid grip around the backrest.
with a flustered smile, he maneuvers himself to stand behind yuri's chair to help him up and out. )
Yeah! We all should get rest, right? ( aurora looks back at him amusedly, nodding as she gestures for him to go. )
[ yuri's lips curl inward as he tries very hard not to start giggling. because that was adorable, to say the least. when he catches aurora's eye across the table he sort of tips his head a little bit with a raised eyebrow as if to say see? a gentleman.
he stands as his chair is pulled out and he offers aurora a smile before giving her a small bow. ]
Thank you again for dinner. Until tomorrow.
[ yuri moves around the chair and reaches out for finn, settling his hand on his elbow again before turning toward the door and heading out. as soon as they're out of view of anyone still in the dining room he lets out a slow exhale and leans into finn a bit. ]
Really, really intimidating! I'm still getting to know her, honestly, ( finn admits in a whisper, actually covering yuri's hand on his arm for a second to squeeze his fingers. )
But I think dinner was okay! I hope everything was a good reminder of him without making you too homesick. ( as much as he wishes he could be back home where he grew up, he can't keep complaining about it. it's really not like him to dwell so much on it, but this has been a considerable upheaval to his life, in all fairness to him.
yuri is sweet and wants to be a partner to him and finn wants to do his best to make this new life good. )
[ yuri giggles quietly and lets his head drop sideways to rest on finn's shoulder as they make their way back through the hallways again. ]
It was wonderful, really. Almost as good as if I got it from the local family-run place. I'll have to reassure my parents that they'll enjoy the banquet.
[ he's almost sad when they reach his bedroom door, even with knowing full well that finn is right next door. yuri stops when they reach it and he lets his hand fall from finn's elbow, just to slide down and take the lightest hold of his hand instead, fingertips curled around fingertips. ]
Thank you for today, Finn. I had a lot of apprehension coming here, if I'm being honest with you, but... I feel like a lot of it has disappeared.
( his gaze is ever so soft when he looks back at yuri. he doesn't have the forsight to imagine the potential between the two of them but he can at least hope for a comfortable existance. )
To be honest too? I... I really didn't want to get involved with this, but I'm feeling better now that we've met. I'm really, really glad it's you and not someone else!
( he covers their joined hands with his, palm large enough to cover most of their fingers. )
Sleep well tonight! I'll see you for breakfast later. I think we're having cinnamon buns.
yuri does a good job of schooling his expression because goodness it has been a long time since he's heard that inner voice speak up. he manages not to look stunned by it, even if his hands maybe tense up a little. he will not be inviting finn in, thank you, but there is something else he can do.
he steps in and leans up, letting his lips brush ever-so-lightly against finn's cheek. yuri hovers there for a moment, just so he can drop a quiet good night into finn's ear, before he finally steps back and turns around, disappearing into his room with one last quick look over his shoulder before the door clicks closed behind him. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 01:33 am (UTC)so he squares his shoulders and links their pinkies together immediately. ]
Promise.
[ and he tips his hand to touch their thumbs together as well before leaning in to place a light kiss against them. his eyes lift and he can't help but grin. ]
Our first vow.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 04:52 am (UTC)( finn can't quite put to words what he feels when yuri presses his lips against their joined hands, but his heart flutters in response to all of it and he beams at his soon-to-be partner.
he gently takes yuri's hand again, lacing their fingers with more confidence than before. )
Let's get ready for dinner?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 04:46 pm (UTC)maybe his parents have finally done something right for him with this arrangement.
the mention of dinner makes his stomach swoop a little and he lets out a slow breath. ]
Is your mother going to be joining us? If so, I'm definitely going to need time to get ready.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 05:14 pm (UTC)Right, we probably should freshen up after spending time outside! ( look, he forgets too. he's used to ambling into the apartment after spending all day outside and his dad not batting an eye because he had surely been working outside. the earthy smell was comforting to him.
the manor naturally has other rules.
assuming yuri wants to prettify, finn happily opens the door to his suite. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 06:52 pm (UTC)[ yuri really, really wants to lean up and give finn a tiny little peck on the cheek, but he manages to somehow refrain. instead, he lifts their joined hands and gently rubs finn's wrist against his neck one more time (because that's somehow less intimate since he's already done this) before he disappears into his room.
when he reemerges later he's freshly washed and even though he's removed each of his patches, there's still the lingering scent of cherry blossoms on his skin. he's changed into a soft sweater, purple of a shade to settle well with his hair rather than fight against it, that settles lightly enough at his waist that if he raises his arms there's a bare flash of skin. his pants are loose and flowy, almost looking like a skirt when he stands still, and smooths out all of the fabric before knocking soundly on finn's door. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 09:48 pm (UTC)"I - I don't want to claim him. I just wanted to be comfortable here!"
sometimes the most naive of men need a little wake up call from time to time.
he changes into a loose-fitting champagne pink button-down with billowing sleeves and a half-tied knot, tucking it into taupe trousers belted around his waist ( to show off his shape a little more ). finn blushes the entire time. he is at least able to insist on keeping his bangs down, still a little damp from the shower when he opens the door to greet yuri. )
Oh. Hullo. I mean, Yuri! Hi.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 10:27 pm (UTC)[ in no way, shape, or form is yuri subtle as he lets his eyes scan over finn in front of him. the color suits him well, he thinks, and oh that waist. yuri would very much like to settle his hands right there, just to feel it.
he lets out a slow breath as his gaze comes up, and he lifts a hand to pat down a stray bit of hair trying to run away from the rest of them. he might be just a little pink. ]
Stunning, really.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-07 11:40 pm (UTC)( finn squirms under the weight of yuri's gaze, though he seems pleased with the assessment. it's clear this isn't how the outdoorsman normally dresses, but he does have aristocratic lineage that peeks through from time to time.
he fully steps out of the room and extends an arm to yuri. )
I heard that they were making a specialty from your home, ( he mentions excitedly. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-08 03:46 am (UTC)[ yuri tucks a bit of his own hair back behind his ear before he places his hand on the crook of finn's elbow to be led off. when he turns his head a passing light catches on his face, making the bit of highlight he has near his eyes sparkle. he's here to impress, sure, but it isn't his future mother-in-law whose gaze he's trying to keep on him.
his face lights up at that and he tilts his head back, humming in thought. ]
Oh, gosh, I wonder what it is. If it's black pork I might cry out of sheer joy.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-08 04:37 am (UTC)You look like a fairy, by the way, ( finn adds in a whisper as they make their way through the halls, servants stepping to the side to let them through, bowing their heads in greeting. finn's ears redden with each step. he doesn't particularly like being bowed at but he can't tell them not to while his mother is still the head of the household.
eventually, he leads yuri to his seat at the table, where there is quite a grand spread for a small household. there's the pork as yuri has predicted, along with fried rice dishes and other delicacies. finn is already looking forward to dessert. )
Your chair! Right next to me.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-08 10:41 pm (UTC)[ he whispers it back, giggling quietly as they make their way past the various servants. it's-- there's a lot of them, yuri can't help but notice. it's not as though his own family didn't have any, but they certainly didn't have even a quarter of the number that seems to be around this estate. he wonders, vaguely, if or when he'll have his own that attend to him. he's gotten so used to doing things for himself...
yuri sucks in a breath at the spread, his eyes widening in sheer delight. he wants nothing more than to just dive into it but he can't, doesn't, instead taking his seat as it's pulled out. he lets out a slow breath, nerves suddenly spiking through his body as his eyes dart toward what he assumes is the door the lady of the house will be coming through. he'll be ready to stand again at a moment's notice, if it looks like he needs to. ]
I'm glad that you'll be next to me.
[ if finn was going to be sitting on the other side of the table, yuri's not sure how well he'd be able to get through this meal. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-09 05:56 am (UTC)( finn gives his hand a squeeze before releasing it, getting up just as his mother glides through the doors. it's as if she can sense what has already transpired between the two of them and raises her eyebrows. the expression is indiscernible to finn, who shrinks under her gaze, stealing a quick glance at yuri before they take their seats.
dinner begins as normally as it can, filled with a few awkward pauses but otherwise genuine attempts to have some kind of formal-informal conversation.
finn stammers through most of it, his mind more interested in the food in front of them. if these foods are important to yuri, well! they're important to him now. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-10 03:03 am (UTC)she knows. and she's probably already figured out more about their relationship than they have.
he thanks her profusely for the thoughtful gesture with the food, makes sure the compliment her on her beautiful home and the gardens, and does a good job of praising finn for being the perfect gentleman on their tour and oh, gosh, he is handsome, isn't he? it's been a long time since yuri's done proper etiquette training, but he still remembers all of the classes that he did take, down to which fork and spoon to use for which dishes.
when dessert arrives yuri can't help the grin on his face, his gaze sliding sideways toward finn. ]
He's got a bit of a sweet tooth on him, doesn't he? If his choice in teas is anything to go off of.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-11 01:30 am (UTC)and it's clear that yuri has figured out exactly what his vices are after spending a few hours together. )
Sometimes, I think sugar is the key to happiness, ( finn muses without thinking. his mother, much to his surprise, mentions that his father had said something similar when they met. the revelation isn't as stunning as the mere mention of his father's existence. is it meant to put finn at ease or something? he isn't sure.
he chuckles anyway and pulls the bowl of raspberry vanilla ice cream closer to him. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-11 03:17 am (UTC)a thought that leaves him later, as finn happily pulls his bowl of ice cream toward him. his eyebrow lifts just a little and he tilts his head, humming thoughtfully. ]
Noted.
[ oh he can give you all the sugar you wa--
AHEM.
and actually, this is a decent segue... ]
We've, um. Already had some thoughts, for the wedding. After walking around the grounds. Right, Finn?
[ is it weird to bring this up already? probably not, it's not as though the wedding is far off as it is. ]
One of the cake layers needs to just be a nice, simple vanilla. We both have notes of it in our scents, and thought it'd be nice to play into that commonality.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-11 03:39 am (UTC)his mom gestures to one of the staff who pulls out a small notepad to jot down any other notes. but, oh no, that just makes finn a little nervous and he can feel his ears and neck warming up. it's nice to dream but to see things through until they become a reality? terrifying.
still, he presses on. )
And an outdoor reception? In the gardens? ( he looks to yuri to make sure that's okay. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-11 03:56 am (UTC)They're beautiful gardens, they should be showcased. With peonies in the bouquets, if there are enough.
[ when yuri looks toward finn again his gaze is soft, already distressingly fond. ]
He's really at home out there. It was absolutely delightful to watch him.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-11 04:32 am (UTC)flowers are important to this family, the lady tells him with a small nod. the garden hasn't held a full reception in goodness knows how long.
finn raises his eyebrows at that. )
The gardens should be celebrated more!
( his mother smiles and assures him he can tend to that when he's head of the household. gulp. another scary reminder. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-11 03:54 pm (UTC)[ into flowers themselves and what sort of parties work best in a garden. they didn't have the space for a proper one at home, and as he'll be the... well, the lady of the house, really, it'll often fall to yuri to host these things.
with dessert aside, yuri leans back in his seat with a soft sigh, his eyes threatening to close. ]
This has been wonderful, Lady Aurora, and incredibly thoughtful besides. However, the day has worn me out, and I think I look forward to nothing more than sinking into bed, so please forgive my early retirement this evening. Finn, could you walk me back to my room?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-12 12:06 am (UTC)( finn perks up suddenly, looking between his mother and yuri before nodding at once and scrambling to get to his feet. he stumbles over the leg of his chair before catching himself with a solid grip around the backrest.
with a flustered smile, he maneuvers himself to stand behind yuri's chair to help him up and out. )
Yeah! We all should get rest, right? ( aurora looks back at him amusedly, nodding as she gestures for him to go. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-12 03:13 am (UTC)he stands as his chair is pulled out and he offers aurora a smile before giving her a small bow. ]
Thank you again for dinner. Until tomorrow.
[ yuri moves around the chair and reaches out for finn, settling his hand on his elbow again before turning toward the door and heading out. as soon as they're out of view of anyone still in the dining room he lets out a slow exhale and leans into finn a bit. ]
She's intimidating, isn't she.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-12 03:41 am (UTC)But I think dinner was okay! I hope everything was a good reminder of him without making you too homesick. ( as much as he wishes he could be back home where he grew up, he can't keep complaining about it. it's really not like him to dwell so much on it, but this has been a considerable upheaval to his life, in all fairness to him.
yuri is sweet and wants to be a partner to him and finn wants to do his best to make this new life good. )
no subject
Date: 2024-06-12 04:44 am (UTC)[ yuri giggles quietly and lets his head drop sideways to rest on finn's shoulder as they make their way back through the hallways again. ]
It was wonderful, really. Almost as good as if I got it from the local family-run place. I'll have to reassure my parents that they'll enjoy the banquet.
[ he's almost sad when they reach his bedroom door, even with knowing full well that finn is right next door. yuri stops when they reach it and he lets his hand fall from finn's elbow, just to slide down and take the lightest hold of his hand instead, fingertips curled around fingertips. ]
Thank you for today, Finn. I had a lot of apprehension coming here, if I'm being honest with you, but... I feel like a lot of it has disappeared.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-12 05:22 am (UTC)To be honest too? I... I really didn't want to get involved with this, but I'm feeling better now that we've met. I'm really, really glad it's you and not someone else!
( he covers their joined hands with his, palm large enough to cover most of their fingers. )
Sleep well tonight! I'll see you for breakfast later. I think we're having cinnamon buns.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-12 05:27 am (UTC)yuri does a good job of schooling his expression because goodness it has been a long time since he's heard that inner voice speak up. he manages not to look stunned by it, even if his hands maybe tense up a little. he will not be inviting finn in, thank you, but there is something else he can do.
he steps in and leans up, letting his lips brush ever-so-lightly against finn's cheek. yuri hovers there for a moment, just so he can drop a quiet good night into finn's ear, before he finally steps back and turns around, disappearing into his room with one last quick look over his shoulder before the door clicks closed behind him. ]