noctis lucis caelum

Ardyn roars, driven both by lust and by Rosie's command. He slams into her more roughly, hardly caring about her pain, fingers digging into her flesh hard enough to bruise. Soon he's coming, the sounds of their union changing as he pumps his lover full of his seed.

"Is this what you want?" he hisses. "The full royal treatment? You'll get more than you can handle."

Just because he's coming doesn't mean he's stopping. Rosie's familiar enough with this, of course--overstimulated she may be, but as far as his body's concerned the night's just starting. If she wants to be ruined, he's more than happy to oblige. And of course, his heedless fucking provides relentless stimulation on Noctis' buried cock as well.

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If Noctis thought he was close before, hearing Rosie say she loves them and calling them loves is what pushes him over the edge. Call him sentimental, but it's still new for him to hear that from anyone and it makes him feel warm. A sense of belonging. A sense of perhaps beginning to slowly fill the gaping hole that losing so much he cared about made in his heart.

Now, that warmth blooms into an intense heat and drives him to release. He cries out, and it's a good thing Ardyn's supporting Rosie's full weight because Noctis all but collapses against her back, burying his face in her hair and just riding the wave as far as it will take him.

It's not long before Ardyn hits release, too, and for one more blissful moment, Noctis forgets. He forgets again what he should have remembered before they began. He's too far into his post-orgasm haze to notice the way Ardyn gets rougher at first, but that hiss gets his attention. He picks his head back up to look at Ardyn over Rosie's shoulder with a frown.

"Dude, relax--"

He breaks off with a choked gasp as Ardyn ramps up instead of winding down and throws his inhuman strength into it. Sure, Noctis figured they'd go more than one round, but not like this. He wants to say something, but he can't get any words out under the merciless thrusting that squeezes him tightly inside Rosie over and over. Just incoherent, breathless sounds that Ardyn wrings out of him with every pound.

Instinct tells him to pull out, but he can't just leave Rosie to this. Instead, he wraps his arms around her waist and leans into her, clinging to her even as his legs tremble slightly from the excessive stimulation, as if he could somehow bolster her against the onslaught and ground himself to withstand it at the same time.

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The wet, slick sound of Ardyn's thrusts as he continues to buck up into her is beautifully obscene. Then, Noctis is unraveling too and falling against her as she feels those warm bursts of seed inside her. What else is she to do but follow their lead and give out squeaky, delighted peeps as she sees stars again briefly with each wave of pleasure that rolls up her body? Oh, gods, it's so good and she wants to answer Ardyn's question with an enthusiastic 'yes' but then...

Noctis says something that she unfortunately misses in her blissed-out state. It's actually the tight wrap around her waist and the way he leans even more bodily against her that sees her remember what she'd promised in the beginning. It occurs to her that Noctis isn't used to such intensity as Rosie is and that's why Ardyn had asked her to help him keep composure to begin with. Later, she might reflect on how that means he isn't like this with Noctis but, for now, all she recognizes is that this is probably a lot for the younger man.

And if it's too much, he might not want to do this again which- That just won't do.

"Ardyn," she starts, trying to channel that power she has that probably got him so fired up in the first place, "slow down." It's punctuated by a kiss, even, as if that will help with the sway. If that doesn't, maybe the subtle yet harsh dig of her claws will. "Why rush things? Don't lose control. Make this enjoyable for all of us."

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Ardyn hears Noctis' words, but he can't concentrate on them, can't really think beyond his need. He can feel himself slipping, can't see how to regain purchase. What part of him remains self-aware supposes that this was inevitable, after all. Time for the veil to fall away, for Noctis to understand what Ardyn is really like...

...but the command slams into his mind like a wall. He growls at the pain, at the Scourge's frustrated hunger. He could, perhaps fight the command, but really it just gives him the purchase he needs to exert control. He slows down, his growl turning into a drawn-out exhalation.

Maybe Noctis will enjoy hurting Rosie together, he thinks in Aera's voice, but he quickly recognizes how insane that is. Noctis isn't a monster like his current lovers... or at least he isn't ready to play like one.

You can't get away with this forever, he thinks in Somnus' voice, but Ardyn's been putting off the inevitable for months now, and Ardyn can tune that voice out as well.

The roiling darkness recedes, and when Ardyn opens his eyes again, they're merely amber. "Of course," he rasps. "Of course." He kisses Rosie in return, and steps/topples back onto the seat for her to plop on his lap.

He looks in Rosie's eyes for a moment, and says, "I'm all right." Then he looks to Noctis and holds out a hand, beckoning the younger man to come sit or lie with them. "We're all right," he assures Noctis.

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Noctis is finally starting to sober up by the time Rosie just...convinces Ardyn, with nothing but words, to abruptly assert control and stop. What? Either Ardyn's been lying to him about how difficult it is to keep control of the Scourge, or Rosie's just that convincing, somehow. Or else something weirder happened, and Noctis has no idea what that might have been. But whatever the case, it's obvious to him that he's missing something important, one way or the other. His heart sinks. What a familiar feeling, in the absolute worst way.

He can't see their faces while they're kissing and gazing into each other's eyes, so he can't tell if either of them is surprised by the way things went, but he doubts it. And then Ardyn is pulling Rosie away from him, making him pull out whether he wants to yet or not, making him stumble. He manages to catch himself on the table and then drops bonelessly to his hands and knees on the floor as he tries to catch his breath, sweat-slick hair falling forward into his face.

He glances up from under his bangs when Ardyn speaks, looks at that hand being offered to him. He's not sure what to feel or do just yet. Eventually, he nods, though he stays where he is for now. "Good," he says, still a bit breathless. "I, uh...I'd love to know what the hell just happened."

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The toppling back sees her clinging tightly to Ardyn to keep herself from falling. Beyond a small peep of surprise, the only other sound she makes is a light whine at being pulled away from Noctis so abruptly. Both in disappointment and a little bit of ache. Next time, she'll definitely need to be a little more prepared. Tomorrow Rosie is going to be so upset with drunk Rosie for her poor decision making this evening.

Her own amber eyes catch his gaze as she smiles lightly. "Good," comes the soft answer to him being alright. Them being alright. Noctis stumbling shortly after sees her ears perk up though in surprise and she follows the line of Ardyn's hand to where he's on the floor.

"We..." she starts, before glancing back at Ardyn. Well. This does include all of them now, right? She turns and reaches for Noctis herself. "We'll explain," she offers, "once you let me know you're alright too. Yeah? Or just... lay with us for a minute first, maybe?"

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Rosie's question to Noctis is a good one, and her offer... well, it would work on Ardyn, but Ardyn's not too surprised that Noctis is skeptical. It's a good thing, really--whenever Ardyn thinks he's manipulated everyone around him, Noctis reminds him that he can only go so far as he's allowed. Which, ultimately, is quite necessary for Ardyn.

He sighs, nodding. "Of course. I'd hoped..." Well, that doesn't matter. "You know that when I fall too far into lust, I have trouble controlling the Scourge. That day on the Regalia, the rain protected me, but normally... well I think I've told you that Rosie and I can be rough with each other. I commanded myself to obey her commands, in case it ever went too far."

He looks to Rosie and gives her a nod of appreciation for helping him a few minutes prior.

"...I wanted this to be good for you, Noctis. For all of us. I've been looking forward to something like this for... a long time. I might have gotten too carried away."

And... that's it. Rosie's made the invitation, and Ardyn's given the explanation. There's nothing now but to respect Noctis' choice, whatever that might be.

(And if Noctis is done, Ardyn doesn't know what he'll do.)

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Noctis really isn't sure what to make of Rosie's offer. The warm feeling of belonging he had when she said she loved them has receded out of reach behind a combination of post-nut clarity and the old, familiar ache of feeling like he's watching everyone else from the other side of a window. He'd almost forgotten it on the road, involving himself in people's lives, helping them solve their problems, building his own bridges. Once he entered the Crystal, the ache came back in full force, and he recognizes it now, too. How long has he been feeling it tonight and failing to notice in his pleasant haze of alcohol and pleasure and romance? He's not sure.

Before he gives Rosie a response, he glances at Ardyn, and Ardyn just explains without the caveat - which is a relief. The explanation makes a kind of sense, even if it doesn't seem like a very stable way of going about it. "And, what, you figured that was something I didn't need to know? I'm not stupid, I knew you losing control was a possibility. You should have told me the plan."

I wanted this to be good for you, Noctis. For all of us. Noctis doesn't doubt the truth of that, but...

He pulls himself up to his feet and moves to flop down onto the couch, but he keeps a bit of distance between himself and the two of them where they're still entwined with each other. He doesn't want to leave - he isn't done. But his feelings are muddled.

"Looking forward to something like...what, exactly? You'll have to fill me in, I didn't exactly have the best seat in the house." He scrubs one hand over his face and then glances to Rosie, to answer her question: "Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Which is true, for certain definitions of 'fine.' He's not in danger of succumbing to a daemonic frenzy and he wasn't the one impaled by two dicks at once - so, by comparison, totally fine.

He shrugs. "And it was good, but...I guess I thought it would feel more...intimate."

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Oh. It's a new experience for Rosie, admittedly, who almost always could convince someone to stop for a little bit and take comfort instead in her embrace. They didn't need to talk about it now, did they? It didn't need to be solved right away. Noctis being skeptical might actually be good for Rosie, too, who will learn she can only avoid confronting uncomfortable truths for so long.

Speaking of- The rain protected him? Her disappointment at Noctis' refusal to lay with them is replaced by momentary confusion. A raise of an eyebrow in time with her ears going up speaks to that being news to Rosie. What did the rain that day have to do with anything other than being colorful (and fun to fuck in)? In her tipsiness, she doesn't chase that thought further since there are more pressing ones that should be addressed. Such as: "We should have," she agrees.

"But, at least for me, I... also wanted it to be a good time. I didn't want you to have to worry about anything other than just enjoying yourself with us, which. Maybe I, uhm, I also got a little too excited and carried away because of it." She looks almost a little sheepish about it, honestly, since she's aware of how she can be. So is Noctis by now, honestly, that she tends to go full speed ahead even in the best of times. He usually liked that about her though.

Didn't he?

"I meant what I said before about, like, thinking this was all a little too good to be true. Having the opportunity to be with both of you, to love both of you. Still, I... ran away with that idea, maybe, without really considering some things." Like her and Ardyn's intensity was a little much for someone like Noctis for what was technically their first true date with all three of them. "I'm sorry it wasn't... maybe what you expected but, I mean, now I know. We know." As she says this, she's untangling herself from Ardyn to kneel next to Noctis on the couch where he sits. "I'd like to try and work on it, if you still. Uhm. If you still want to." She understands if he doesn't, really, but can't help but hope despite herself that they didn't ruin their chance completely.

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Ardyn listens to Noctis, he really does... but he's left at something of a loss. Not by Noctis' preference for the up-front truth--despite Ardyn's tendency to assume any secret might be the end of things, Noctis is consistently not as naive as Ardyn thinks. No, it's Noctis' final complaint that Ardyn can't make heads or tails of. He listens to Rosie's response, but it only confuses him further. Are they even talking about the same thing?

"I... I don't think I understand, Noctis." He hunches forward a little, winces at the friction on his still-extremely-hard-and-sensitive member. "Nn. I... what do you mean, more intimate?" He thinks back to the last threesome they had together, and Ardyn had certainly focused more on whispered promises and dirty talk. Had Noctis been hoping for more of that?

Ardyn had a tearful breakdown with just the two of them. He and Noctis shared Rosie's body. Rosie even let him fuck her ass, which... all right, Noctis might not have enough experience to realize that that's contextually a bit different than his other partners offering the same. It's hard not to feel, well, hurt, to have the intimacy of this experience minimized.

"I was looking forward to sharing an experience with you that neither of us had ever had." A bit of defensiveness slips out in his tone. "And... well, maybe I'm not very good at dating, per se, but I wanted to try. For both of you."

He looks to Rosie as well, as if seeking confirmation. What is he missing?

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In the light of day, fully sober and not so emotionally compromised or sexually overwhelmed, Noctis would have been able to dismiss these feelings - outwardly, at least. Play them off as nothing and move on, the way he always did with the guys. Put them aside in favor of the task at hand until he could let them fade into the background and stop mattering.

Here and now, he's not sure how to even begin doing that. He is at least sober enough not to just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, to hear them both out fully before he responds. And there's a part of him that wants to just drop it and retreat, the way he does when the world makes it clear that what he wants doesn't matter - but that's not the case here. That much is obvious. Rosie moves closer and there's another part of him that wants to just give in, let them make it physical again until he can forget the rest for a while. But that doesn't feel right. Still, he doesn't move away, either.

He's not sure how to explain without sounding pathetic, but he's still muddled and he's never been any good at taking the time to try to figure it out before he starts talking.

"I mean, it was plenty intimate for you. Easy to feel intimate when you get to look each other in the eye and...kiss whenever you want, whisper stuff to each other, and...ugh, I dunno." It's hard to pull his thoughts together into something coherent, but he's trying. "Hell if I know anything about dating either. Just...thought with you guys, I wouldn't feel like I was a step removed, for once. Here, but not really here. But you had your secret, and..." He waves a hand vaguely. The secret, the way they keep talking like everyone always does, like he's something different and apart - like they wanted to share something with him, rather than the three of them all sharing it together. Not like Noctis had ever done this before, either. He can almost hear Ignis telling him it's a matter of semantics, Noct, you're splitting hairs and maybe he is, who knows? All he's got right now is what he feels.

"I just...wanted to be with you, not watch you."

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In Rosie's mind, it was plenty intimate. In her mind, it was. In Ardyn's mind, too, it seems. He looks to her for confirmation and she glances back to the younger man. That's the problem, isn't it? In Noctis' mind, well... Had they even considered what he'd really wanted out of this, too? Rosie thought she had, maybe, but in actuality- He mentions them looking into each other's eyes, being able to kiss, whispering secrets, and that paints a pretty clear picture of where things went wrong. Even tipsy as she is, the woman realizes it'd only likely contributed to his feeling like he was looking at their relationship from the outside rather than being truly invited in.

"So, if you guys want to know something," she starts, settling in next to Noctis as her tail curls around her lower half. For as much as she wants (and needs, almost) the reassuring affection she's trying to be respectful of his space too. So, for now, she just nervously fiddles with her tail. "I, uhm. Dating isn't new to me, exactly, but it was rare that it was like this. Authentic, I mean." As authentic as it can be in a sexy simulated afterlife. "Where I really, really wanted to spend time with you both and just... get closer together. Going out, having some drinks, a good time..." She's rambling, she knows, but trying to find the point again.

"The point is, I want to be with you too. Both of you. I'm sorry that it didn't feel that way. We were trying, of course, but this is all... kind of new ground. For all of us, really, I think. So I just-" It's here that her voice catches as a fresh wave of emotion catches her off-guard. She brings a palm up to her eyes to catch the tears spilling over suddenly.

"Ah, sorry. Sorry, this isn't. C'mon, I know, this isn't about me but- Agh. Just, sorry, give me a moment. I mu-meant what I said though. But I understand if it's too little too... too late."

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Ardyn nods, just listening as Noctis talks, trying to understand. Then he grimaces as Rosie's tears start to flow. He doesn't try to interrupt, just... take it all in. He puts a hand on Rosie's scarred back.

"I think I see now."

Ardyn sighs, looking up at the ceiling. "Our big secret, Noctis--the biggest secret of them all--was that we both want this to be... real, I suppose. Me, Rosie, and you, together, and not just for sex. I've been acting like it's already real so much that... well, I think I forgot it wasn't. As Rosie said, as far as we're concerned you're already with us, not just some observer, interloper, or fling. Perhaps we were too casual, as a result."

He lets out a breath. Frustrated the Scourge may be, but it's calming. "I purchased an apartment with three keys, and there won't be more. I've made up my mind, you see: I'm not giving either of you up, ever. And if you don't like it, well, you'll just have to kill me." He gives a faint, wry smile.

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Rosie starting to cry catches Noctis off-guard, too. His brow furrows with concern, but he's really not sure what to do about it, other than--

"Nah, it's not, but..." He trails off, not sure where to go with that thought because he still doesn't understand exactly why this date was so important to them. Important enough for Rosie to shed tears over it. And Ardyn, for that matter, earlier. And yeah, Noctis caught himself agreeing to another date at some point, and he did mean it, but did they really take that so seriously?

Ardyn's the one to finally explain it. The biggest secret of them all - that gets Noctis' hackles up a little. There's more? Did he really just...stumble ass-first into something they planned out ten steps ahead of him, like he always does? The thought jars him into more sobriety.

We both want this to be real. Real, Ardyn says, and not just for sex. Noctis can't honestly deny that the thought makes something pleasant flutter around in his chest, but the way Ardyn says it makes it crystal clear that it was their plan that they just expected him to go along with, never even knowing that it was one.

"...you both want this to be real. As far as you're concerned. You've made up your mind. It seriously didn't occur to you to tell me that and ask me what I wanted? And you somehow thought keeping me in the dark and making the decision for me would make it feel intimate?"

There is some anger there, but it takes a backseat to disbelief and a kind of too-familiar frustration. He can almost understand where Rosie might have gotten the impression that this would be fine with him, but Ardyn? Of all people, Ardyn knows better than anyone - knows intimately - how long Noctis has been struggling with feeling like he had any choice in much of anything. What anger there is isn't for Rosie, but for Ardyn, who should have known better. There's a small part of him that can't help wondering whether this was more deliberate than Ardyn's making it sound, but for the most part, he dismisses it.

"Look, I'm...I'm not saying no, but I can't just shrug this off. You can't keep all this stuff to yourselves and expect it to just spontaneously become real for me. Of course I felt like an observer, what else would I feel?"

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They did take it so seriously, it seems. At least, Rosie had. She's been taking all of this far more seriously than maybe she should have. It shows in the way that she gives a little half-choked laugh at the mention of the three keys and a new batch of tears overtakes her just as she thought she was calming down. Funny, in a way, how much she worried about Noctis and Ardyn being beyond her reach then... only to realize the idea hurt so much because she wanted to be with both of them if they'd have her.

Rosie shakes her head though at him mentioning them keeping secrets being more intimate. She inhales deep and gives a shuddering exhale to steady herself. "No, we... I, at least, I agree with Ardyn that I just. I thought going on this date was me telling you I wanted this to be real. I don't actually tend to hope for - let alone ask - for dates or anything more out of my rolls with other people here."

She gets infatuated and easily swept away in emotion, sure, but she tries not to hope for anything too real. Seteth and Byleth have been the exception, not the norm. And even with them both she just kind of stumbled into her relationships with them rather than trying to set things down that path. Even Ardyn had been an exhilarating whirlwind of intense trysts leading to a recognition of the messier parts of herself. It lended itself to a surprisingly comfortable intimacy almost immediately.

"This was supposed to be something special. Something that said how serious I was about us being more. I guess I thought that was clear but it wasn't. I'm glad you still want to try again, maybe, and I'll..." A glance to Ardyn before looking back at Noctis with a misty-eyed smile. "We'll try to be better about being more upfront about what we want. Starting now, even!"

She straightens up all the way to her tall ears and looks at Noctis with newfound (even if still slightly snotty) confidence. "I want to be with you and Ardyn. I don't want you to feel like an outsider anymore with me because that's definitely not how I feel about it all. If anything, I'm the odd one out since I'm not from Eos but...! I hope that clears things up to start. I know you might still need some time and that's okay, but I promise I'll work on being better about expressing things like this!"

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Ardyn can't help feeling frustrated, and unusually defensive. He wouldn't have had to go to such measures if Noctis would simply spit out his own feelings. And Ardyn's hardly a dater, what did Noctis think they were getting at with that? Ardyn was trying to be considerate of Noctis' feelings in not coming on too strong. Where does Noctis get off being disappointed in Ardyn?

But Rosie adapts more quickly, and Ardyn takes a breath or two as she speaks. That adaptation is, perhaps, a good thing to emulate at present. Besides, Noctis is spitting out his feelings now, isn't he? And when he's less frustrated, Ardyn actually appreciates that Noctis often doesn't overthink things. Like Rosie isn't, right now.

"I wasn't... I wasn't trying to make decisions for you, Noctis. I just wanted to show you a good time. The benefits of dating Ardyn and Rosie, so you could make your own decision." He sighs. "And if I never came out and said it, perhaps it wouldn't sting so much when you decided that the idea was insane. But to put it plainly, all I truly want is to have the two of you in my life, however I can fit in yours."

He raises his hands, palm up, as if to show that they're empty. "Well, that's it. Rosie and I have said our peace. What do you want, Noctis?"

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Something about the way Rosie straightens up and explains herself as if she's making a declaration strikes Noctis as adorably earnest. From the way Ardyn's looking at him, Noctis expects an argument, but instead, Ardyn seems to have calmed down by the time Rosie's finished. Which in and of itself says something, Noctis thinks, now that it's a little easier to think. ...maybe he should drink more water.

His kneejerk reaction to what Ardyn says at first is defensiveness of his own. How was he supposed to make a decision when he was never actually offered the choice? And it would hardly be the first time Ardyn had maneuvered him into a corner--

But no, Noctis knows that's unfair, and once he pauses to take a breath or two of his own, he knows he doesn't actually believe it, either. Ardyn's been one of the few people in Noctis' life who has made it a point to ask what he wants, lately. And Rosie's the one who told him it's okay not to conform to whatever's expected of him. It's one of the reasons it feels good to be with them - they know just as well as he does what it's like to fight to figure out who they really are without the weight of what others want them to be.

And even as he's thinking this, Ardyn keeps going. And this, Noctis knows for sure is no deflection. No, none of this was manipulative or malicious, they weren't deliberately keeping secrets from him. They're just...well, human, for lack of a better word. Maybe he saw shadows that weren't there simply because he's so used to their presence. Being intoxicated and drained after an intense orgasm while he was feeling eerily detached didn't help either, he's sure.

He thinks for a moment, before he lifts his gaze again - to Rosie, first, and then to Ardyn. "Well...the idea just might be a little insane. Doesn't mean it's a bad one, though." He smiles a bit. "What I want...is the same thing you want." He's not sure when he decided that, but it was well before they all stripped out of their clothes, he knows that much.

"I want both of you, for real. I want to feel like...like I belong here, by your sides. Like there's a place for me, not set apart, but as one of you." A pause. "Maybe...I didn't recognize that place when you offered it because I've never had one before. Not like this."

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She gives a glance back to Ardyn and a reassuring smile. Of course, she understands it isn't easy to be quite so honest and vulnerable so he gets a small chu against his cheek as a reward for doing so. On her end... For all that Rosie has wanted to be human nearly her entire life, she sometimes fails to see the ways she utterly and inescapably is. She is better at communication than she used to be but obviously still has some work to do. Work that, as she said, she's willing to put in and especially if it means what he wants is what they want.

Her ears give a little twitch at those words specifically as she turns to look back at Noctis. She lets him finish, of course, but he might be able to see the way her pupils widen slightly like a cat about to pounce and her tail gives a couple of quick, sharp swishes while he speaks. To her credit, she does wait until he's done even if it grows increasingly difficult. "You do belong here!" she chirps cheerfully before just

bridging that small distance left between them with a soft tackle of a hug. She's also kissing him because, look, she's a little abuzz with emotion but also still sticky and slightly aroused. Even so, she does recognize that she might still be crossing a line though, and pulls back to ask: "Wait, sorry- Is this okay? I hope it's okay, I just- I got excited."

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