inbox;

[longitudinal]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
longitudinal

text ❖ audio ❖ video

quentin toma NOTES: sailor, navigator, loverboy, war-bringer. THREAT LEVEL LIKABILITY LEVEL SCANDAL LEVEL FASHION LEVEL WEALTH LEVEL

Comments

[longitudinal]

It's already ours. It belongs to us.

[ he laughs, peppering koby's face with sweet kisses all over again, lingering on the plush line of his mouth. that koby would think for a moment he didn't want this? it makes something twist guiltily in his gut. ]

I would spend every day, every minute at your side if you would have me. I want you here, I want you there, I want you stay wherever I am. And I'll stay wherever you are. Isn't that what being a boyfriend is?

[ a soft, cheeky smile. ] I don't know. But I know it's what love is. Where would a sailor be without the sea? Without his north star? With the sun warm on his back and the wind in his sails? It is that simple.

[ he kisses his forehead, slides hands down to drag koby close. ] This is a most excellent present. I suppose I will have to celebrate this Christmas thing every year if it is to be so nice. Though I don't think we'll ever top this.

[ even if he has a few ideas. ]

[kobes]

I know, I know, it -- I know. I just wanted to -- make sure. Make a point of it.

[Koby's laughing, smiling, hands coming up to curl into Quentin's shirt, letting go the last shuddery exhale of nerves, of fear that maybe, maybe it would all be too much, maybe he'd say or do something wrong and drive away the greatest, brightest warmth he's ever had. Trust wars with fear, and for the first time in his life, trust wins.

Because Quentin talks about every year and Koby's chest goes alight with longing, heart leaping as he looks up, so much raw hope in his eyes, his face that it nearly aches. Quentin talks about a future that Koby's so, so scared he won't be allowed to have, but that he wants so much, enough that it makes him feel brave and strong and terrified all at once. Quentin speaks sweet, lilting words, like he did on the lake out under the sun, and it's freezing cold in the dead of winter, but Koby grins like the sun and rises up on his toes to press his forehead to his boyfriend's, slips into the wonderful ease of being with him.] You can have it -- all my minutes, all my days. All the messy noisy ridiculous stupid parts, all the simple parts. All of it.

[There's a laugh, watery, teary, because -- it's Koby.] We might need to, yes. I'll start planning now. [For Christmas and birthdays and all the holidays Tim's talked about and all the ones Koby's read stories about -- he wants them all, he wants everything, a hundred days, a thousand, more. He wants forever, after a lifetime of living for the next hour, next minute, next heartbeat. It feels like a heart's desire, like a dream. If you could do anything, be anywhere, Koby, where would you be?

Here. I'd be here.]

[longitudinal]

I think I like the messy noisy ridiculous stupid parts of you best. The simple parts, too. The handsome parts. The parts where I get to kiss you like this.

[ and it's a little on the dramatic side because quentin has watched one of those movie things recently, and he bends deep, enough to tip koby back, to dip him just a little in his strong arms and kiss him hard and wanting. just so koby doesn't have to reach or tiptoe to kiss him - because koby deserves to have everything made easy for him.

he deserves a softer journey than the ones they left behind.

he laughs against koby's mouth shortly after, keeping him tilted back, looking into his wide eyes with such adoration. their auras are one mess of violet in the room but the blue begins to beat it out just a little, magic tickling in the freckles he'd kissed into his skin so long ago. ]

I love you. It doesn't matter where we are. That will never change.

[kobes]

[There’s a soft gasp as Quentin bends him back, tips him like in a movie, like when the music swells and sweeps and the wind blows and the romantic leads kiss each other like there’s nothing else in the world. It had always seemed silly, in the movies, especially when there were other things going on – saving the world or a ship sinking or something.

It doesn’t feel silly now. It feels like coming home, it feels like steady ground beneath his feet, like an anchor, like a north star, like all the things Quentin’s called him over the months they’ve known each other. Koby lets himself imagine being called such things for longer, for days and weeks and months and years, lets himself believe that there’s a way to open a door between here and his world, lead the man he loves through and close it firmly behind him, so nothing monstrous or cruel or hopeless can follow.

And then he lets it slip away and curls into the sweet, wonderful warmth of now, of his heart in his chest and the grin on his face and the spark of Quentin’s magic teasing at his soul, his skin. Koby laughs softly, smooths back a loose, dark curl, lets his hand linger on Quentin’s cheek.]

I love you too. [Kissing him again, sweeter, quicker.] No matter when or where.

[longitudinal]

Well then we're settled. I like you, you like me. This is our home together and it will always be a safe harbor to return to.

[ he laughs into each sweet little kiss before pressing one more lingering and loving against the plush line of koby's mouth. he raises them back up but keeps his arms wrapped around him, fingers pressing into his sides, keeping them pressed and flush together. ]

I suppose we have to enjoy everything in here again differently now don't we. Do you remember when we ruined one of the maps because I had you pinned to our desk? Or the very first bath we shared? Or the carpet. The rug, the door. Or when we ate toast together, when you showed me how texting worked. The times you've dressed me. The boat on the lake. The swims. The sun on your face.

[ he snorts a little, dipping to nip at koby's jaw once, letting his hands slide down now to koby's ass, giving a playful squeeze. ]

I look forward to every moment with you.

[kobes]

[Quentin reminisces, and Koby smiles brighter, warmer with each recollection, nodding along -- of course he remembers, the bath and the bed and the desk, the lake, the sun, of course.]

I remember all of it. [Soft, pressed close against Quentin, hand tracing the line of his cheek, thumbing over the lines that appear when he smiles, the crinkle-eyed grin he adores so much.] I remember every day with you. Every moment. [He doesn't let any of it blur into mundanity, even the long lazy mornings spent quietly chatting beneath the covers, delaying getting up until Quentin suddenly springs up, stretching and yawning like a bear and announcing he needs breakfast -- or until Koby squirms a little closer and slips a hand up under Quentin's shirt, coaxing them into staying beneath the sheets a little longer. Koby sears it all into his mind, remembers the taste, the feel, the smell of each day, each hour, revels in it like a pirate king with his hoard.

And he laughs, wiggling closer, scrunching his nose at the cheeky grab, at the playful lightness in Quentin's face, his warm eyes, his bright grin.] Well, I did bring dinner up, but...we can always reheat it if... [Koby glances over at the newly-made bed, arches both eyebrows.] If you want to properly christen our new home?