Kissing Strangers

Muggy lanterns illuminated the Drowning Wench in an intimate light. G’raha Tia was enjoying his ale, sipping it a little slower than his first tankard to enjoy the beginnings of a gentle buzz. To say his spirits were high would be an understatement. The singing sailors nearby were delightful and the salt of the sea paired marvelously with the alcohol on his tongue to create an unparalleled ambiance he found himself becoming accustomed to on the spot. Dare he say, he could enjoy Limsa Lominsa for an extended stay if their travels allowed it. A week, however, was no length of time to scoff at so G’raha conceded it would more than suffice and he downed another happy sip. 

Just then, a familiar long leg scooted the stool next to him slightly closer and a fine elezen miss welcomed herself to the seat with painted lips grinning like a sunset. 

“Why, hello, sir~” she began playfully, brushing her bangs with her fingers so they fetchingly fell between her cyan eyes, “Come here often~?”

“Can’t say that I do, no~” G’raha quipped back and flashed the “stranger” a half-smile with a small chuckle. She giggled in return and rested her chin on her knuckles, batting those lovely, long, red eyelashes at him until her eyes settled in a sultry gaze. 

G’raha’s smile widened as an intense cherry hued blush washed over his face and his chuckle turned into a flustered laugh. Contagious as it was, the lady had a flush of her own lightly dusting the tops of her ears just barely noticeable in the candlelight and she too stifled a snort. 

Twelve and all creation, she was charming.

“Truly? Fancy that~ You remind me of my sweetheart I’ve been missing. Perhaps you’ve seen him?” she replied with her voice dropping as she leaned in far more than a newly made friend would ever dare. Her free hand even sauntered towards his idle fingers, pretending to be tracing the outlines on the wood table only to finally intertwine her digits with his. How G’raha’s heart thrummed just feeling her heat and the pressure of her touch.

“Oh? Why don’t you tell me of this ‘sweetheart’ and mayhaps I can be of assistance…?” he murmured as he inched his lips towards her cheek, tickling it with his breath and a phantom of a kiss. The woman shivered noticeably and G’raha fought the urge to claim her lips then and there. 

Not yet, he reminded himself, for the game has just begun. 

Still, he couldn’t resist massaging the back of her hand with his thumb and allowing a small round of footsie to begin under the table. That is what strangers who fancied each other normally did, right?

The elezen thought for a few seconds before beginning with a half-smile, “Well, he is quite pleasing on the eyes with striking red hair, much like yourself~”

G’raha welcomed her hand as it swept aside his bangs and affectionately brushed his cheek. The sensation, so soft and tender, left his heart fluttering even after she long retreated and he couldn’t quell the awed sigh as he settled back down. 

His opportunity passing to retort, the miss continued, gesturing a line over her chest.

“About this tall when I stand. Such a shorty though they let me focus on one of my favorite things about him~ I bet you’d stand at the same height.”

Tapping a knuckle against his chin thoughtfully, G’raha hummed and then said innocently, “What could you be referring to, Miss? Do you enjoy his hair so much or your ability to tower over him?”

The elezen exhaled a bemused, “Hah…” and then with a click of her tongue, drew her attention to the top of his head.

“Very handsome ears~ Quite the darlings, honestly.”

And like the traitors they were, his ears responded to their master’s call, squirming about to invite her touch. Daring as it was in public, she obliged with a warm caress and G’raha’s eyes fluttered shut at the sparks dancing down his neck. Thank the Twelve she did little else and he would be a liar if he said he hadn’t glanced over his shoulder to catch any wandering gazes as he did not trust he kept all noises at bay.

His fretting prompted her to giggle and lean back to grant some space, not that it would convince anyone otherwise of what would be their natural suspicions. There was no denying, they were far more comfortable together than any just met wanderers in the wind.

“ ‘Tis impolite to touch a stranger's ears without permission!” he scolded and flicked his tail in a desperate attempt to shake off the remaining jolts from his spine. A shudder grabbed at his shoulders and he pouted to mask the pleas of his body to pull the miss to the nearest dark corner and let her carry on.

“Excusez moi!” she cooed before joking, “I couldn’t resist~! You’re practically my sweetheart in every way~” 

“Yet I do not know your name nor you mine!” he reasoned and she, in agreement, nodded her head and then held out her hand in belated greeting.

“May I have the honor?”

G’raha considered being elusive and keeping his cards closely guarded, however, not willing to play that hard to get, he accepted the gesture. “G’raha Tia.”

“Oh! His name starts with a G too!” she cried out joyfully before placing a kiss on the back of his hand and G’raha rolled his eyes ever so briefly at the show she was playing up. However, regardless of the silliness of their little tail chase, he was floating in happiness. She was putting in so much effort and it was endearing, flattering even. How marvelous it was she cherished their spark so well.

Moved and bubbling with affection, G’raha scooted his chair towards her and following regularly practice routine, she outstretched an arm to hold him and he graciously accepted with a whispered, “And may I have the honor?” 

“Japhinne~” she purred and pulled him closer so their sides locked like puzzle pieces snapping together in a way satisfying and intimate. G’raha hummed contently and melted into the embrace, draping his tail around her hips and letting it rest over her lap. 

“Well, Miss Japhinne,” he continued, doing his best to hold onto the pretend unfamiliarity in his tone while she combed his tail with her fingertips, “I’m afraid many could fall into your description of him thus far. You must be more specific to convince me.”

Oh, how vain and a little selfish he felt urging her so. Yet, this was the game and the elezen’s eyes shined at the request, mind hidden behind them weaving together the details that made the picture of her dear one so appealing. Would it be a sin to confess curiosity even if he knew the broad strokes? To have affirmation to cement her adoration?

Japhinne certainly wasn’t going to pass up the chance even if he hadn’t pried.

“Your nose,” she said bluntly and G’raha nearly choked on his drink in surprise.

“My nose?” he echoed and found himself shrinking into his shoulders when she nodded and her gaze settled on the middle of his face.

“Oui, just like his, small and cute~ He often says how much he dislikes it,” Japhinne replied and then smiled sweetly, “But it’s one of his best features. Suits his face, cute when it crinkles, and when it causes him to make the softest snores, it’s precious~”

A disbelieving scoff was amplified in his mug as he took a large swig to obscure the feature of the moment and Japhinne’s eyes drifted immediately to the nearest next target.

“Lovely hands as well. Often found holding a book or a pen to write? Perhaps sometimes fidgeting about nervously? I love his best when they are holding mine…”

G’raha’s heart swelled at that and he fought fruitlessly against a smile that grew as he lowered his mug and let her steal one of his hands. But the warmth of the moment was little else but a match to spark that she graciously struck with a heated murmur as she examined his nails, “And when they are pulling on my shirt or clawing at my back~ You could leave a mark or two like him~”

Mouth agape at her audacity, G’raha ripped his hand away lightheartedly and his tail rose to smack her cheek in warning to mind those nearby who could overhear. Pleased with herself, she chuckled and bit her lip before dancing her gaze across his no longer hidden face as if overwhelmed with all she could say. Finally, however, her lips parted gently and her eyes became hooded as they settled lower than his nose and he flushed in instinctual realization.

“The most plush, full, kissable lips known on Hydaelyn,” she declared airily as if completely awestruck and G’raha turned his face away shyly before she grasped his chin to prevent his retreat. 

Trapped, he licked his lips and countered, “You shouldn’t sell yourself so short, Miss Japhinne.”

“Oh~? Have we kissed before or are you simply speculating~?”

“You could say I have a hypothesis or two based on substantial evidence.”

Their lips but a hair away from touching, G’raha inhaled the scent of oranges on her breath and he let the anticipation of the kiss edge on while he put a few more inches of distance to get back to the playing field –though he welcomed her thumb as it traced his lower lip gingerly. 

Sighing, Japhinne pouted for a second then a mischievous grin lit up her face brilliantly, causing his tail to bristle.

“These eyes as well. His are this exact shade. Matches his hair and so expressive– !” the elezen exclaimed and tilted her head as she examined his carefully, “Joy, sorrow, sincerity, lust…I could spend the rest wandering in them~”

Despite the scarlet deepening on his cheeks, G’raha surrendered to a grin and his eyebrow arched. “Mmmm, pardon my lack of faith, but one’s eyes are above their waist and you have certainly been “wandering” lower from time to time.”

Now it was her turn to be stunned at his boldness and he relished as her jaw dropped with guilt washing over her face as well as offense. 

“Halone forbid I appreciate other qualities as well!” Japhinne huffed and he wheezed with an impolite snicker took him over for several seconds making it hard to catch his breath. And with several poor attempts to compose himself, he only found himself tumbling back into a stronger laughter as her aghast expression stirred a sense of victory in him. 

“And while it’s on the mind, a beautiful laugh as well though it’s often paired with a smartass comment! You’re reminding me of him more and more by the second!”

His hand struck the table in a plea of mercy as he tried and failed to apologize between gasps of air. Tears budded in the corners of his eyes and he wiped them with a sleeve as he helplessly let the last waves of laughter roll over him. And despite her feigned exasperation, Japhinne guided him to muffle his noises in her blouse and she smiled warmly into the top of his head, letting the heat of her silent chuckle tickle his ears.

A shiver grabbed his attention and G’raha exhaled shakily as he finally regained control only to wish to give it immediately away to her. However, the chattering of folks around grounded him back in reality and he lifted his head to rest it upon her shoulder. 

“I concede,” G’raha sighed and reached for the last of his drink which he swished around along the bottom of his mug as he concluded, “ ‘Tis no one else I can think of but myself for your lost sweetheart.”

Japhinne’s lips pursed while she watched him polish off the ale, her eyebrows raising at the content smack of his lips as he carefully placed the empty vessel back on the table. 

“You still sound unsure~” she cooed and smirked when he side-eyed her with a suggestive expression. “Perhaps we can continue the comparisons elsewhere where I can…compare the more scandalous details~?”

A pause charged the air as he considered and Japhinne grew restless in her chair as she awaited his answer regardless of knowing full and well what he would say. It was quite loveable and he dwelled within that essence for a few heartbeats until she was prepared to burst. 

Finally, with a hint of glee, he huskily muttered, “I suppose it must be pursued now to put matters to rest~”

That was all the elezen needed to hear to leap out of her seat, the feet of the chair scraping loudly against the floor and speaking volumes of her readiness –eagerness– and what energy she had stocked away for the evening ahead. It shot a surge of adrenaline through him that he hid well as he courteously adjusted their seats comfortably under the table so as not to risk anyone tripping. Still, his hands trembled noticeably and she took them as soon as he allowed it, escorting him kindly out of the tavern and to the hallway where numbered doors lined the walls. 

Now alone in the dim corridor, Japhinne swept him into an embrace where the heat of their chests and middles mingled delightfully and he found himself reaching up on tiptoes to meet the warmth of her lips. She returned the gesture in kind, anchoring him with an arm firm around the small of his back and another cupping his cheek as she tasted the sweetness still lingering on his tongue as he enjoyed the citrus on hers. 

And once they parted due to a loud cough of an incoming fellow occupant in the inn, Japhinne tugged him towards a door with a scratchy “3” painted above the knob that paired with the key she dug out from her pocket sporting a matching number 3 tag dangling off its bow. 

Suddenly, he gasped and she turned to him wide-eyed and startled enough to pause before she unlocked the door.

“How fascinating!” G’raha cried out and Japhinne tilted her head in amused confusion which he quickly addressed with a swift retrieval of the key in his own pocket. “ ‘Tis same number on my key as well!”

“Well!” she replied and turned the key with a cloud click that let the door freely swing in, showcasing a room housing two familiar travel bags and copious souvenirs of a shared trip strewn about. “Add that to the list of similarities and…”

So skillfully she swooped him inside and shut the door in perfect timing to pin him against it for a kiss far more enchanting and deep. Arms reaching up to hold tight around her neck for support as a blast of bliss made itself known with the exploration of the elezen’s sneaky hands and weakening his knees, G’raha groaned into the kiss. 

“Mmmm,” Japhinne hummed as she broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to his, “That’s much like his too~”

Quirking his eyebrow, G’raha retorted, “You refer to the kiss…or…?”

And with a devilish grin painted across her face, she only murmured a culpable, “Yes…” then locked the door.