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AURIEL'S HOME - EARLY EVENING
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Lei wiggles at Auriel~
Auriel watches, humming quietly to herself. "You do get awfully excited, don't you?"
Lei grins. "Yup! 'Course I do, because there's so much to do and so much to see!"
Auriel chuckles quietly, "Both statements are quite true. I have done and seen quite a lot, but somehow there's always more." She extends a hand towards Lei.
Lei reaches forward and happily grabs hold of Auriel's hand. "Hehe, yeah, even with the internet, there's still so much we all don't know about."
Auriel takes Lei's hand and hmphs. "The internet is fine, but I don't think it will never replace personal experience."
Lei pulls herself forward and gives Auriel a warm hug. "Oh, definitely. Hands-on learning is always the best!"
Auriel returns the hug a little stiffly, making a few somewhat disgruntled noises, signs that she usually wants to say something a little more tender, but is still uncomfortable expressing her emotions. Instead, she says, "Well you have excelled at that."
Lei giggles and teasingly pokes at Auriel's side while still hugging her. "What can I say? There's a good reason for me to try."
Auriel manages a bit of a smile as she looks down at Lei. "More than I can say, sometimes. But if you mean me, then I will try and continue to give you reasons."
Lei grins up at Auriel. "Of course I mean you, Auri! You probably don't think so, but I've plenty of reasons thanks to you!"
Auriel does seem a bit torn in what to say, nodding slightly. She brings her hand up to Lei's cheek and rubs it gently. "I'm glad that's the case, though you are right. 'Plenty of reasons' seems to simply be a bit of flattery."
Lei tilts her head a little, leaning into the touch a bit with that same cheerful grin. "Flattery? Maybe just a little, but it's still true."
Auriel hmphs, but her expression relaxes. "I understand. I feel the same for you, Lei. I just... struggle to say it, sometimes."
Lei giggles again, then leans up to give Auriel a light kiss on the chin for fun. "I know, but I figure I could try and coax it out of you like this, you know? When it's just the two of us, you can open up a bit."
Auriel sighs, a bit of a blush creeping on her cheeks at the kiss. "I... am trying, yes. As you say, you are giving me many reasons to try."
Lei smiles. "So let's see you try, then~! You look like you've got something you want to say, and it's only me, so there's no reason to be shy about it~"
Auriel blinks, eyes going wide a moment as she is put on the spot. She stammers a little uncharacteristically, struggling to find the words at first, but the sentiment is true, "Oh... well... you... you are so enthusiastic, so eager to explore and learn, in a world where I have lived a very long time... some aspects grow stale, but there is a certain joy in experiencing things anew, through you. That's silly, perhaps..." She trails off, glancing away from Lei as if embarrassed by her words.
Lei simply smiles as Auriel does her best to stumble through what she wants to say. As Auriel trails off, though, she gives her another warm hug. "Hardly silly, Auri. You've seen quite a lot, by now, and it's all probably more than a little routine." She grins, "Experiencing everything anew is super exciting, and I'm glad to share it with you!"
Auriel sighs again, but a little more out of contentment this time as she hugs Lei back. "You are also a terrible influence... it reminds me of better times. Or, perhaps 'better' is the wrong word. Good times, to be certain."
Lei hugs a little more closely to Auriel. "Gotta have a little excitement in one's life, right? And if I'm the one to do it for you, you know I'll keep it up to make sure you're happy!"
Auriel chuckles, releasing the hug after a moment to shift her position to stand besides Lei. She lets her tail idly curl around Lei's leg. "Hmm. It is appreciated. But what about you, Lei? What can I do to make you happy?"
Lei hums softly and leans a bit against Auriel as she stands beside her, an arm lightly wrapped around her waist. "Silly as it sounds, just you being you, really. You indulge my antics and have just that right sort of response that makes it all the more fun."
Auriel smiles, shaking her head, "It doesn't sound silly to me either." Her tails squeezes, then loosens, and Auriel reaches over place a hand against the small of Lei's back, guiding her forward. "I think we've stood here long enough though, don't you?"
Lei giggles at the squeeze on her leg, then nods as she moves forward at Auriel's urging. "Yeah, we could probably do with sitting down somewhere a bit more comfortable, I think."
Auriel nods, "My thoughts exactly." She leads Lei towards a cushy-looking sofa, appropriately furnished with a quilt hanging over the top, and several pillows. Letting go of Lei, Auriel takes a seat, settling into the cushions before patting the other side to invite Lei to sit with her.
Lei happily moves to the sofa and plops down next to Auriel with a smile upon being offered a seat. She doesn't waste any time in scooting up beside Auriel again. "Hehe... comfy, as always~"
Auriel hums, having more or less expected that. She leans back, taking Lei with her, and her tail comes up to wrap gently around Lei's waist, as Auriel's wings unfold to drape over the two like a blanket. "What about now? Few beings in this world call a dragon 'comfy' and get away with it you know."
Lei hums happily, wiggling slightly in the embrace so she's resting partway on top of Auriel with a cheeky little grin. "Oh, you know I'm not intending to get away when I call you comfy, Auri." She gives a teasing wink, "It's why I say it~!"
Auriel smiles, wrapping her arms around Lei as well. "You are quite unique. Usually a dragon lays upon her hoard, and not the other way around."
Lei smirks at Auriel from her spot on top, though she looks quite comfortable indeed. "I mean... if you want to do the proper dragon thing, I won't complain. You're just cozy~"
Auriel hmphs, "It's quite alright with me. I just wish to keep things precious to me close at hand when I'm able." She pauses a moment, closing her eyes in thought, then sighs, "It's easier to say such things when I think about it like a Dragon would. But it isn't just that desire that makes me hold you close."
Lei chuckles as she simply cuddles up atop Auriel, getting a little more comfy in her embrace. "That's because dragons are more than "just dragons", especially you!"
Auriel laughs in turn, "You speak rather authoritatively. How many other dragons have you studied, hm?"
Lei winks. "Only you, Auri. But I like to think I prefer my studies being deep rather than broad. Besides, you've told me a lot about how dragons typically are, and how you differ."
Auriel smirks softly, eyes still closed as she simply enjoys Lei's weight atop her, "We're not so different from one another, and yet we're all quite different. It's not so different from humans. It's why I found them so fascinating for so long."
Lei grins as she just lightly rests her head on Auriel's chest, gazing up a bit at her from below. "There's so much variety within a species that there's always going to be at least a few that break the mold, in a way. Dragons, humans, AIs, all the different kinds of Demis..."
Auriel reaches a hand up to Lei's head and gently strokes her hair with her clawed fingernails. "I shall take the compliment as you intended it. I have a bad data set when it comes to AI's, I'm afraid."
Lei giggles, both at the comment and the light strokes through her hair. "Hehe... I can say that even AIs are pretty varied. Sona, myself and Liza are pretty different, even on the surface."
Auriel hums, "You are, yes. But you all have big hearts. Maybe that makes you three the mold breakers."
Lei sighs happily, content to just snuggle against Auriel. "When you put it that way, yeah... yeah, you're probably right. It makes sense we'd all be at AD-HOC, because of that."
Auriel continues to caress Lei, her wings and tail holding her close against her body. "And I am glad you are. All of you." She seems fully relaxed now, a lot of the stiffness in her demeanor gone, and even her tone of voice seems less formal.
Lei slides her arms out and around Auriel, giving her a warm hug as best as she can from her current spot. "I'm glad I'm here, too. Well, here here... and at AD-HOC."
Auriel shifts backwards into the sofa, but also giving Lei a little more leverage to hug. "I'm glad you're here here as well. You certainly make my days and nights much brighter."
Lei scoots with Auriel and happily hugs her a little more warmly, only to giggle as she activates a flashlight function on her chassis for a few seconds. "In more ways than one, even. But, really, between you and what I usually do at home, I'd rather be with you!"
Auriel rolls her eyes with an exaggerated sigh. "Cute. Ah, but I would rather be with you as well. It does mean I get less work done however..."
Lei chuckles. "Well, only when we spend time just snuggling like this, which is still good for both of us! I could always go along with you to some functions here and there, if you want the company while getting work done."
Auriel smirks. "I've never attended those functions with a plus one. They're usually quite boring, even the ones that I want to attend."
Lei grins. "Then, maybe with me coming along, I could make them more entertaining for you."
Auriel chuckles, "Or just make you share in my suffering. Up to you, but I can add your name to the invites if you wish."
Lei reaches up and lightly pokes Auriel on her nose with the tip of a finger. "Now, see, when you put it that way, that makes me want to come along all the more to make sure you're not bored!"
Auriel crosses her eyes to follow Lei's finger as it pokes her, seemingly confused by the gesture, but she doesn't shy away from the touch. She instead responds with a slow squeeze of her tail around Lei. "Hmm, you're quite brave then. I would be honored to have you alongside me."
Lei chuckles, then lowers her hand to Auriel's shoulder and scoots a little more comfortably up along her body, just so she can peck Auriel on the chin. "Of course I'm brave, Auri. I'm in a dragon's embrace right now, and I feel perfectly safe~"
Auriel gives Lei a kiss in turn, on her forehead. "All true. You've conquered this dragon before as well."
Lei smiles at the kiss. "It wasn't easy, but it was all entirely worth all the effort."
Auriel hmphs, leaning back into the sofa pillows (And ensuring Lei stays close with her.) "You make it sound as if this was your plan all along."
Lei giggles, moving with Auriel as she gets more cozy. "I'd say it was, but it wasn't, because really, the only things I plan in depth are work duties and pranks. Spontaneity is more fun for other things."
Auriel shakes her head, concealing a smile. "You and Pip certainly agree in that regard. I'm not so certain I enjoy 'pranks'..."
Lei takes a moment to adjust her hair just to get it out of her face from the two shifting about, but continues to smile as she does so. "That's why we don't really pull anything on you, Auri. I like seeing you smile more than pestering you when you've already got AD-HOC weighing on your day to day."
Auriel's tail squeezes again, and then releases. She reaches up her hand to stroke Lei's hair again, helping smooth it out of the way. She is smiling warmly, "Nonetheless, your spontaneity is quite endearing, even if I am a creature of habit. My own long term plans certainly did not include you."
Lei hums happily when Auriel's tail squeezes her, rather enjoying the sensation, as well as Auriel's hand stroking her hair. "Keeping things routine is good, but a little randomness keeps things interesting, too." She chuckles, giving the dragon a cheeky grin, "And you know me, always butting into plans~"
Auriel chuckles, her tail unwinding to give Lei's butt a playful slap before it winds down her leg. "Yes, but I am very good at adjusting plans on the fly."
Lei eeps at the brazen smack, but simply fixes Auriel with a playful smirk as she shifts a little more comfortably atop her, letting her straddle one of her legs. "Oh, you definitely are, Auri. I think that's one of several reasons we work out so well together."
Auriel nods, humming in agreement. "Perhaps you're right. Your spontaneity and my foresight and planning make us rather strong together."
Lei hums and nods. "Exactly! I get to drag you out to mix up your routine a bit, and you get to keep me on task when things need to get done."
Auriel gives Lei another kiss, "And I appreciate both. And adding a bit of close time just for the two of us..." Her tail wraps around Lei's leg, tugging gently. The longer they've been snuggling, the more at ease Auriel has grown, and her tone and her words reflect it, her barriers seemingly fully gone at last, "Ahh, every bit of instinct in me wants to cover you and hold tight. I love you, Lei."
Lei leans into the kiss with a warm little hum, only to giggle quietly as she feels Auriel's tail pulling at her leg, which she answers with a little wiggle just for fun. "If it's what you want, Auri, you know I won't object one bit, in whichever form you want to do so." She gives Auriel a loving hug in turn, "And I love you too, Auri~"
Auriel kisses with a bit more passion, tail tightening around Lei's leg, and her wings folding across her back. Auriel hugs Lei against her tightly. It might be a bit uncomfortably tight for someone made of flesh and bone, as Auriel's hug might be a bit smothering to lesser beings, some odd draconic instincts at play, for sure.
Lei settles into the embrace, almost melting into Auriel's arms and wings as she meets the kiss with equal passion. She isn't bothered at all by the strength of the hug, nor the firmness with which she's being held, having been more than a little roughly handled by Auriel in the past to no real trouble.