Head lolling to the gentle pluck and tug of itchy fingers, Jon listened very, very, very carefully to every last word. After all, his boyfriend hailed from a land of natural born storytellers. A place of old where hearthfires and cold, wet nights were synonymous, and for more than the ebbing heat emanating from damp oaken logs, men circled round pillars of smoke as it curled towards the heavens. Carrying on ashen tails the oral traditions of a long repressed, exceptionally superstitious people rose prayers to gods no other culture in the contemporary world chose to believe existed. Omga, his son Delbáeth, the Fire-Shaped, Nuada, First of His Name and filial head of Tuath Dé, Tribe of the Gods - several of legendary names Jon recalled from his time in hallowed halls. No doubt Robb knew every last sprite, knowledge inherited generation to generation. Just like that silver tongue of yours...
Something fishy was going on, Jon could practically smell the sea salt and brine odor rising above sweet-breads and pastries baked in the heat of rolling island burr. Lizard brain burned base of skull; roundabout spiraling out of control in his gut, renewed centrifugal force threatening to boot him off the ride with every sentence added to the explanation.
And hence the roast and the wine... That sodding- oh, for fuck's sake! The cocksuck, as well? Was nothing sacred anymore?
Budging up, Jon gently freed himself from serpent's arms - yet another control tactic identified and filed a misdemeanor against manipulative, soon-to-be sleeping on the sofa lover - just enough to twist his upper body and reorient the couple face to face. Although immediately on the defensive, they’d been together long enough that trust had taken root despite all evidence to the contrary. When it came down to the nitty gritty, Jon trusted Robb with his life and his heart, and thus chose his words extra carefully.
“I do want us to grow closer,” admitted as fingers sought their mates, intertwining and locking. Never letting go of you, I swear it.
“And if swapping roles, learning from experience is how you need to explore that, then yeah, of course. Let’s switch it up. But... Robb? Can’t it be just us?”