[That minute flinch, the uncharacteristic way that Stephen seems to stall rather than to lob a joke back at him or play the moment off-- Yujin's expression turns inquisitive as he looks up again and searches Stephen's face. Thankfully, there's nothing like rejection in it. Just... confusion. An uncertain trembling in the man's hand, held fast in Yujin's own.
Good. For once, he's the one who's left Stephen spellbound. It's even more satisfying than Yujin thought it would be. If he's smug about it at all-- all right, he's a bit smug-- he doesn't show it on his face, expression level and even as always.]
Thank you.
[Surely this gesture alone would satisfy the orb. He could easily leave the man in peace to contemplate whatever he's just unearthed not-so-peacefully. And yet, over these last months, Yujin's gotten nothing from hesitation and taking half measures. Hell, the two of them are sailing miles above an earth that doesn't belong to either of them: what's it going to hurt to be more direct about what he wants, for once in his life?
Yujin meets Stephen's eyes and offers him one last sly smile. Faint wrinkles tug at the corners of his eyes, a deep, dark brown alight with the intent of calling Stephen Strange's bluff.
He brings Stephen's hand to his lips, presses a kiss to his knuckles for only a moment, then looses his hand, allowing the other man to finally slip out of his grasp.]
[ Stephen watches like a passenger, paralysed when wickedness steals warmly across Yujin's face and sparks a sharp frisson of anticipation somewhere behind his sternum. He snatches in a breath -
And then his hand is raised to lips and the glint in deep brown eyes makes perfect, too-late sense.
It's over as quickly as it starts, Stephen left blinking down at the planks of the deck somewhere behind Yujin where he'd started to follow his hand's descent and given up halfway. The other man's voice calls his attention again, lifts his gaze back to his face as Stephen tries to catch up to where they are, what was said, what it's his turn to say— ]
... Sure.
[ It's all he can manage. His hand is still warm from Yujin's, skin still tingling with the remembered impression of his lips, the faint soft scratch of a moustache. He's staring at him, he knows he is, but what else can he do? He's just been so thoroughly outplayed that he has no idea when the game started, let alone what the rules were or whether it's actually possible to lose.
This stretches on for too many seconds, Stephen staring at Yujin as he hyper-focuses on the parts of his hand that are apparently forming core memories - ]
[ Limp fingers twitch as he comes abruptly back to himself. ]
— What was the task?
[ Blurted out suddenly, before Yujin can vanish as swiftly as he'd conjured this strange moment up. Perhaps there's something in there to explain it away, perhaps there isn't. Whatever the case, it feels important to know. ]
Physical affection. [he answers, simple and matter-of-fact, like he didn't just intentionally douse the embers of Stephen's bisexual awakening with gasoline.]
That should cover it, don't you think?
[Graciously, Yujin doesn't push the teasing further. The man's already stunned, staring back at him like a startled deer half a second away from bolting back into the brush. Directness is one thing; delicacy is another. God knows the man has plenty to think about already.]
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be joining the rest of the crew. I wouldn't want to take up any more of your time. [With a nod, he steps aside, leaving Stephen alone by that quiet stretch of taffrail.
And although he tries to leave things there, Yujin can't resist the temptation to steal a glimpse at Stephen over his shoulder before he's gone. One doesn't just render an all-powerful sorcerer speechless every day. It's a good look on Stephen. Cute, even.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Good. For once, he's the one who's left Stephen spellbound. It's even more satisfying than Yujin thought it would be. If he's smug about it at all-- all right, he's a bit smug-- he doesn't show it on his face, expression level and even as always.]
Thank you.
[Surely this gesture alone would satisfy the orb. He could easily leave the man in peace to contemplate whatever he's just unearthed not-so-peacefully. And yet, over these last months, Yujin's gotten nothing from hesitation and taking half measures. Hell, the two of them are sailing miles above an earth that doesn't belong to either of them: what's it going to hurt to be more direct about what he wants, for once in his life?
Yujin meets Stephen's eyes and offers him one last sly smile. Faint wrinkles tug at the corners of his eyes, a deep, dark brown alight with the intent of calling Stephen Strange's bluff.
He brings Stephen's hand to his lips, presses a kiss to his knuckles for only a moment, then looses his hand, allowing the other man to finally slip out of his grasp.]
...and thank you for the favor, too.
1/2
And then his hand is raised to lips and the glint in deep brown eyes makes perfect, too-late sense.
It's over as quickly as it starts, Stephen left blinking down at the planks of the deck somewhere behind Yujin where he'd started to follow his hand's descent and given up halfway. The other man's voice calls his attention again, lifts his gaze back to his face as Stephen tries to catch up to where they are, what was said, what it's his turn to say— ]
... Sure.
[ It's all he can manage. His hand is still warm from Yujin's, skin still tingling with the remembered impression of his lips, the faint soft scratch of a moustache. He's staring at him, he knows he is, but what else can he do? He's just been so thoroughly outplayed that he has no idea when the game started, let alone what the rules were or whether it's actually possible to lose.
This stretches on for too many seconds, Stephen staring at Yujin as he hyper-focuses on the parts of his hand that are apparently forming core memories - ]
no subject
— What was the task?
[ Blurted out suddenly, before Yujin can vanish as swiftly as he'd conjured this strange moment up. Perhaps there's something in there to explain it away, perhaps there isn't. Whatever the case, it feels important to know. ]
the mikotoba rizz strikes again
That should cover it, don't you think?
[Graciously, Yujin doesn't push the teasing further. The man's already stunned, staring back at him like a startled deer half a second away from bolting back into the brush. Directness is one thing; delicacy is another. God knows the man has plenty to think about already.]
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be joining the rest of the crew. I wouldn't want to take up any more of your time. [With a nod, he steps aside, leaving Stephen alone by that quiet stretch of taffrail.
And although he tries to leave things there, Yujin can't resist the temptation to steal a glimpse at Stephen over his shoulder before he's gone. One doesn't just render an all-powerful sorcerer speechless every day. It's a good look on Stephen. Cute, even.]