M E R C U T I O
Panic was definitely cute, or at least Mercutio found Cera's to be so, for it seemed to be driven by jumpy nerves rather that any form of true fear or discomfort. He'd meant to take a step back when he'd first seen the golden's bashful reaction to his casual wink; Mercutio might not think too highly of his own moral code, but he drew the line at pressing an advantage like that. Even though Cera didn't seem much younger than he himself, there was such an air of innocence to the pegasus that his mind had thought "boy" and tried to force back that flair of attraction. But Cera wasn't a boy, and unpracticed as he seemed to be, and when he'd taken the blue by surprise with his own forward flirtation, Mercutio hadn't been able to stop the bright interest that sparked into life.

In the past months the bulk of Mercutio's interactions had been with others more like himself: outcasts and vagabonds all too gruff and world-weary to be good company for more than a moment and now to come across Cera was like the sun breaking through clouds on a grey day. He hadn't realized just how much the solitude had been weighing on him (as much as he was convinced it was better that way) until he'd been granted a reprieve. For an hour or a day, Mercutio would let himself enjoy the company he had found for there was nothing else too be done when he knew that the clouds would roll in again, and he'd be on his own before long.

Amber eyes watched with bright enjoyment as they fell into step, Cera and his little red passenger leading the way south from the threshold of Helovia. Though he mostly managed to keep those eyes forward, taking in the the new landscape they moved through, they kept drifting back to his tourguide. It was a nice meadow, he was sure of that, but it was a meadow like any other and he'd seen a few; he hadn't seen the likes of Cera before. The patches of gold and white were striking stretched over the trim frame and the wings... Mercutio had to stop himself from reaching out to touch them for they were such a rarity even with all his worldly experience. Angelic, that was the only word for it, he mused, the long sweeping feathered that looked altogether powerful and delicate at the same time. And the scars, he felt the urge to touch them too; not ugly, but intriguing, a contrasting interruption to the pristine canvas and innocent air of their bearer. Had he suffered? How could he still be so open, so bright after such pain? Cera was a puzzle, and that pulled at the traveler's mind just as the handsome form tugged at other bits of him.

He'd been watching the other stallion when Cera had sucked in a breath as if gearing up for something and met the green gaze when it turned on him with another of of the golden's unpracticed (and utterly alluring) grins. Mercutio was smooth enough outwardly to return the smile with and easy one of his own but gods damn him if that wasn't making the fact that he'd just had another kick in the gut. Mercutio had always appreciated good looks (where was the harm in appreciation?) but it seemed so often that the good looking ones knew it, and were dead set on using it to their own advantage an so mixed that sexual magnetism with arrogance or conciet. Gods be damned, he doesn't even know what he's doing... and it was killing him. When had innocence ever been so attractive, nieveite so compelling? "It's a nice space." he rumbled, glancing around at the meadow around them when Cera paused in his explanation of the land. They'd stopped at a small swell of stream bank and Mercutio took the opportunity to look away to sooth himself as much as to admire the scenery. He was just entertaining himself, he thought, and where was the harm in that, to him or to this temporary tourguide.

"Central you say? So the four herdlands all branch off from this-" He stopped when he turned back to find Cera not standing beside him but sauntering into the water. When the stallion turned back with a mischievous glint in his green eyes Mercutio's brow raised in surprised admiration. His chuckled and shook his head almost to himself. Sure, Mercutio, he's not irresistible at all. Still smiling the grullo moved forward, long confident strides propelling him into the shallow water after Cera. His eyes followed the dip of the wing, almost mesmerized, but suddenly it flicked, flung, and a spray of water hit Mercutio squarely in the face. He froze, momentarily stunned at the daring playfulness, staring while water dripped down his face, into his beard and down in rivulets along his chest.

"You look even better wet!"

Fuck. Me.

His eyes narrowed again and a guarded expression crossed his dark face "Do I then..." He said slowly, as if carefully considering the comment. Two really could play that game, and gods know Mercutio was no saint. "Well, in that case-" With aplayful smile and a swift motion, he dipped his head down and splashed his forelegs in the cool water enough the soak the front of his body. Looking up again he sent Cera a roguish smile and moved forward. Trying to hold the Golden's gaze, he layed on the full court press, kicking into a canter to course from the stream and onto the bank. Still dripping, he exaggerated his movements, showing of the strength, the agility in his blood and matching it with a looked that oozed blatent invitation. "Well, Sunshine, if you like it that much I'll have to take a turn for the aquatic..." He moved to position himself in front of where Cera stood and brought his face close to his. He broke the eye contact to send a swift glance over Cera's shoulder at Illaria, as quick a warning as he could without giving the game away--and then Mercutio shook. He was careful to keep his horn pointed high and away from Cera's face, but water came of of him like rain the the stallion's direction. When he was done he rested back on his hind legs and surveyed Cera, eyes just as bright and playful as Cera's had been and surveyed the damage. "Hmm... looks pretty good on you too!"



If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking and you beat love down.

M E R C U T I O
And so it seemed a battle had ensued, shots fired and returned in volleys of water fresh from the cold stream. At Mercutio's retaliatory sneak-attack Cera squealed and went bounding away, lifting his wings as shields. Still dripping, the unicorn could only laugh at the antics, a booming sound and a pure one, mirth pouring out of him before the cynical beast could talk himself out of feeling it.

Somehow attraction fell away, not gone, but no longer a priority over the sweet and childish pursuit of fun. Sure, he had found entertainments on his road, diversions and distractions to chip away and the day's long hours but when was the last time he had played? When was they last time hes given up on thinking the world so flawed long enough to let himself find the fun in it? He'd flirted yes, he'd laughed and talked with careful words and smiled designed to illicit others; even without malicious intention there had for so long been something fake about his smile, something practiced, but as Mercutio's lips curved now there was none of that. Amusement without motive, simple joy without restraint, coaxed out of the guarded loner by a soul as bright as sunshine.

If he would have taken a moment to stop and think about it, he would have stopped. He would have pulled away and moved on to find others to entertain him who would have been just as selfish with their time and their joy as he thought he was. He was a bad bet, a rambler and a fool, the likes of Cera should never get messed up with one like him lest end up being disappointed in the end. But the Golden was so free in his smiles, so bright, Mercutio really was like a man who'd gone years without seeing the sun. Mezmerized. Magnetized. How could he help but be pulled into spending a few hours in such wonderful company. Cause you're a selfish man, Mercutio, and a foolish one.

Maybe it was a good thing Mercutio didn't take a minute to think, only to laugh as Cera scampered away and grin down at Illaria, glad she had picked up on the hint and abandon ship. He wondered about the little panda, for surely she was no ordinary critter or pet. He was thinking she might be a rather delightful partner in crime if he could figure how best to communicate with her, but Cera had recovered and was already promising retribution and charging, so he didn't have time to convene a splash-war-council. "Ahh!" he yelled in rather delighted surprise as the Golden came at him, and gave himself over to the simple joy of play. He backed up hastily, strong, nimble legs carrying him back smoothly into the water, but not past enough to escape Cera's playful attack. "Hey now," he laughed, between soft swipes of those fascinating wings, "let's not be forgetting who started it!"

He was herded back into the deeper water and was almost knee-high in it before digging his hooves into the soft bed and refusing to give up anymore ground. He saw the wicked glint of a plan in Cera's green eyes but there was no defense to mount against it. Heavy with water, the wings slapped at him until he was thoroughly drenched and despite the chill he only laughed. "Think a little water's gonna do me in, eh? Well let's see how you like a swim!" With no method of splashing that would rival the pegasus' wings, Mercutio surged forward to try and tip that stallion over and dunk him in the shallow river. The blue crustal around his neck swung wildly as Mercutio reared with a mock war-cry and pushed himself forward aiming his strong chest at Cera's slighter one.


If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking and you beat love down.

M E R C U T I O
Cera went down with a satisfying splash, and the tall stud flinched away from the spray of water that resulted. Still, he laughed, that big, heavy laugh that made his throat and belly ache as Cera jumped up again. The Golden pranced in the spot in defense of the cold and Mercutio howled with mirth, eyes shutting against the tears that formed. It felt good, so damn good, to give himself over to the fun of it, whether he truly had any choice in the matter he couldn't quite say. From almost the first moment Cera had tugged him right along with that pure, unpracticed charm. The vagabond liked to make other people smile but Cera's smile tugged at his own lips in a way nothing else had for a long while. There was so much about Cera that pulled at so much of him: humor to humor, joy to joy.

The man would pay for shutting his eyes even in laughter. Cera pushed suddenly into his unguarded side and with the help of the slippery creek bed beneath succeeded in toppling the mighty stallion. His laughs turned to a surprised "Woa-ho!" as his side met and sank into the gentle rush of icy water. All the parts of him that had remained blessedly dry were summarily drenched and set to shivering. Shocked with cold, his lungs weren't too keen on drawing in air, even when his head cam above the water again but he managed to jump to his feet again with a shout "Hells! That is cold!" and even that ended on a chuckle as her turned to find his smiling attacker again.

Bringing him back into view quickly, Mercutio thought he caught a glare and followed the green gaze to where Ilaria sat upon the bank. The little red thing was a strange creature and she had seemed to understand him well enough earlier and he wondered if the pair had some other strange form of communication, obviously the little panda had done something to earn that look. Cera turned back before Mercutio could ask and, obviously struggling again another smile raised his lovely wings in challenge.

Grinning ear to ear, Mercutio gave and exaggerated shake of his head, as if exasperated. "Oh, very well then!" He sunk into a mock bow, leg extended and bearded chin dipping low to Cera. "I yield to you, Cera the Magnificent: Mighty and Powerful King of the River!" He rose, comically businesslike and stuck Cera with that exasperated look again, as if he'd been having to placate the King of the River all day. "And now that's done-" He moved forward, not quickly but like some unstoppable freight-train and headed directly for Cera. "Back up on the bank, your highness. Can't have you catching a chill now, can we?" He pushed the pegasus toward the bank they had been heading towards in the first place, ignoring any protestations. Gently but unrelenting he pressed his neck and broad chest into Cera's side, even grazing a few soft nip against his hide to corralled him out of the water and up onto the shore.

Where wet skin met it warmed, and Mercutio did his best to ignore the swift kick of lust in his gut. If he shivered agin, he told himself it was the chill of the water, the bite of the cool air. he pulled away as soon as they were both on dry land and gave himself a shake to rid himself of most of the water...among other things. Yet, almost as soon has he was half dry, Mercutio turned back and crossed the stream again, only re-wetting the bottoms of his leg. He reached the other bank where Ilaria still sat and smiled at her. "My lady." He inclined his head to her, the perfect guise of a gentlemen, and took a knee to invite her to climb aboard his back.

If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking and you beat love down.