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[lordfuckleroy]

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"Prince Henry Belongs to Britain. Henry Fox has to belong to himself or else he’ll vanish" art credit code credit

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[internationalrelations]

[Alex was the type to rise to challenges when they were set in front of him, and Henry was the most intriguing challenge that he had ever found himself facing. He watched the prince go -- which was not a bad view at all, thank you.

A shake of his head to try to shake himself out of it and he headed out for that run. And flowers.

And other errands he had for the day. Eventually he'd make his way back to shower and get ready for their date, fussing more over what he was going to wear than he likely would ever admit to. In any case, six o'clock on the dot he was knocking on the door to Henry's room, dressed, groomed, holding a small bouquet of roses and baby's breath.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ So Henry had come back and pretty much overturned the entirety of the clothes that he had, which arguably was not much. He'd gotten some items of clothing from the town as well as from the coliseum. Finally he'd decided on a dark blue button down shirt and khaki pants, stylish but still casual. And then he opened the door.

He scented of soap and water as he did not quite have access to his cologne (though that would be something he would get at a later point in time) and when he opened the door he came face to face with Alex and the flowers.

No one had ever bought him flowers before. ]

Oh...

[ Excuse him for being dumbfounded, Alex.. this was literally the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for him. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Alex had chosen a pale blue Henley -- buttons deliberately undone because Alex Claremont-Diaz knew what he was about -- and jeans. He smiled as Henry opened the door, tilting his head slightly at that Oh in curiosity. What was that reaction, Henry?

He wiggled the little bouquet.]

These are for you. ...I know it's a little lame, but, well.. yeah.

[He wanted this to be a good first date, damn it.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ So they could be matching, which let us be real also touched Henry quite a bit. It was true that Alex was exceedingly clever, the sort of clever that made Henry admire him all the more. On a deeper level that wasn't entirely superficial. That Alex had substance behind his style, all the better.

He took the bouquet and then pressed his nose to the blooms, how could he resist. It was such a cliche thing to do, but this felt like a fairy tale of sorts. This could have never happened in the real world, and part of him wondered if this was something specifically constructed by his mind, and that they were dreaming.

Oh no, he was smitten. ]

These are beautiful Alex, let me go put them in water.. [ But in consideration, he leaned in then and brushed his lips against a cheek. ] Thank you, this is very touching and I am trying to decide if I am dreaming at this moment. You may have to pinch me.

[internationalrelations]

[Alex did not bother trying to hide how pleased he looked when Henry actually took the flowers and immediately smelled them. It was beautifully cliche, but then, there was good reason for that. There was something simple and clean and pure about a small bouquet of flowers as a gift. Nothing more complicated than this pretty thing made me think of you and I hope you like them. In the world they both were used to living in with political angles and power plays usually tucked somewhere underneath every conversation or interaction, well, Alex appreciated the parts that were just... what they seemed to be.

So he smiled, nodding -- though that stilled at the kiss to his cheek before melting entirely. Henry wasn't the only one smitten.]

Ha. I mean if that's what you're into, I'm here to help.

[With a helping, or well, pinching hand? Who knew.]

Not a dream though. I'm like ninety seven percent sure of that myself anyway.

[lordfuckleroy]

Well, we can have that conversation about what we are each in to later.

[ Henry said as he moved past Alex to get the flowers into a vase. There was a vase around the little kitchen area, he knew so. He set the flowers aside so that he could fill it with an amount of water that would not drown the blooms and then he placed them in the vase, and arranged then quite artfully.

It appeared that being a prince meant that you were naturally good at flower arranging?

But once that was done and the flowers placed on the counter, he turned around to regard Alex. ]

Well if you should know, I am at your leisure now.

[internationalrelations]

Oooh, can we?

[Promises promises. Alex watched Henry as he fussed over the flowers, feeling that warmth spread straight through his chest. He tried to remember the last time he felt this... this... fucking fluttery about a date. And he can't.

He smiled and nodded, tilting his head towards the door.]

Then let's go. Night's ours.

[lordfuckleroy]

[ As much as he wanted to know what Alex was into.. in graphic detail, the thought gave him palpitations also-- because it forced him to gear into thought of what Alex could be into. Oh yes, that was inspiring several ideas within him, fostering and festering in equal low swoops through his abdomen.

get it together, Henry.

Once he had arranged the flowers to his satisfaction, he turns to Alex and then he offers his arm.. it was a date after all, and one offered their arm. ]

I would like that--

[internationalrelations]

[If it made Henry feel any better, Alex was a corresponding sort of mess, entirely too easily swept up in pretty much everything about the other man right now. And look at him. How could he not be?

He even offered his arm like he was stepping out of the pages of a Jane Austen novel. Alex could have died right then and there, overcome with how absurdly smitten with Henry he was.

Fuck him.

He took that offered arm, though not without shouldering into him gently.]

So I figure we can grab something to eat, maybe a drink or two and then, you know, maybe just walk for a while? While the sun sets.

[lordfuckleroy]

[ That was the singular most romantic thing that anyone has ever done for him.

He was not given the luxury and yet here was Alex, making his first actual male male date something special. No sneaking about, nothing cladestine. Just two men on a date and getting to know each other, perhaps a bit of snogging later. Perhaps a lot of snogging, after all they had determined that they (each other) were fun to kiss. ]

I was not aware that you had such a soul of romance, Alex Claremont-Diaz.

[ Henry said, giving the other man a side eye with those entrancing blue eyes of his. ] But it is nice, it appears you have somehow gotten into my head about everything that I think I first date should be and you decided to make good upon it.

[internationalrelations]

I'm full of surprises, your majesty.

[Alex informed him with a grin. Look. He was surprising himself a little, okay? Henry brought something out in him that was, well, different than he'd felt with anyone else. And that was a dangerous thought to be having.]

Besides, this isn't something you really get to do back home, right? So you deserve someone going all out for it.

[So here he was Henry, really hoping this would be a good dat. ...and that it would involve quite a bit of kissing, thanks. For now though, as they slipped out of their building, he leaned in closer to murmur.]

I'm just getting started.

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Why did that even cause the faintest vibration up and down his spine, that promise and threat within that-- he found himself moving in a little closer and perhaps that was a gift as well, a gift for the other man in the form of trust. ]

Well, I appreciate that-- you are right that I have never had a proper date and that you are willing to go through with it goes far with me.

[ As if he was something to be gone through or endured, that was because he was used to his inclination being pushed underneath the rug/bed and/or in the closet. ]

You will recieve many kisses..

[ probably far more. ]

[internationalrelations]

Oh yes, what a hardship, going on a romantic first date with the most infuriatingly attractive man I've ever met. I am suffering.

[Woe is Alex. He did however, shoulder into the other man again as he settled closer.]

But I will not say no to kissing you.

[Like. Ever. Because Alex was not a stupid man and did not turn away things that he very very much wanted.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ For other people perhaps Henry would have said 'flattery will get you nowhere' because in such a case it would be a massively predictable ploy. Even when he'd gotten to Eton and was exploring what it meant to be gay, he was fairly certain that many guys went with it because he was a Prince and not because well...

The urge to pander within the circle of the British aristocracy was insanely high.

But he had a feeling that with Alex this was true.. attraction? What did Alex have to gain after all, especially here in this world. It made it far easier for Henry to sink into this, into the very promise of them. ]

Just so that we are clear that consent is very important to me, and if you do not want to kiss me I would never hold it against you.

[ that was likely holding the door open for something smart-assed. But instead he merely said. ] But many things you may be-- a literal chaotic whirlwind of excitement and enthusiasm; but you are not a liar and I know that. [ He had been perhaps even a bit turned-on by Alex's inability to hide the annoyance with him over several functions here and there. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Honestly, Henry? Alex had found Henry so obnoxiously handsome that it truly and greatly pissed him off for the longest time.

"You're beautiful (derogatory)" - Alex Claremont-Diaz, repeatedly, in his own head.

Since that kiss on New Year's Eve though, well, he'd started realizing a few missing pieces that shifted his view on the whole thing and part of why that had always been so deeply frustrating. Bisexual disaster in full bloom, this one.]

I mean, no yeah. Same for you. It's about what you want too, so don't forget that.

[Because the sense that Alex had gotten, after months of traded text and phonecall banter was that Henry seldom actually considered his own wants nearly enough.

But the serious words said, he couldn't help but add,] Will you hold something else against me? If I ask nice?

[lordfuckleroy]

[ It was true, Alex had Prince Henry figured out in that particular aspect. He was too eager putting others before himself, it was because he was lawful good but also because he wanted the best for those that he cared about; he also had strong opinions about duty and family.

Even the ones who ones did not like so very much. It was very Pisces of him, to be sure. ]

Well, I think that is on the table. Holding something against you other than my lips---

[ Do not worry, he remembered this morning and the kisses that they had traded. Eager and slightly messy, but ultimately fufilling-- about how they made him feel, how he had felt Alex to respond to him. ] I think that if the date goes well enough.. that is the plan yes.

[internationalrelations]

[Alex could admire it in a way, that commitment to duty and to what was right. But there was a piece of the FSOTUS that was far too attached to that ideal of freedom, of being more than the world said could could be and fuck anyone who doubted, they'd see. ...he might have a few issues that would be best resolved in therapy, but who had time for that really.

Not Alex Claremont-Diaz. Especially not now when he was on a date that had him feeling full of butterflies and giddiness. And lust. Also there was a whole fuckton of lust.

He shifted his hold on Henry's arm so that he could instead tangle their fingers together.]

It's a good plan. I like it. Straight to the point. [Wait.] Or, extremely not-straight, but still very much to the point.

[Haha he was funny. At least he thought so anyway.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Oh god, finger-tangling.. how very forward of the other man, it brought high colour to his fair complexion and he was looking straight ahead, except there was nothing straight about anything he did right at this moment. So perhaps 'gay ahead' might be the better descriptor.

He chuckled as he caught what Alex had said, about the straight thing-- it appeared as if their minds were running concurrently. ]

There has been nothing straight about me since the day I was born.

[ But he laughed just the same, because it was funny and it was true that a sense of humor was a must for him. Thankfully, Alex had that in droves. ] Did my future self tell you my favorite foods?

[internationalrelations]

See? You've definitely got the home court advantage here. [...the homo-court advantage?] This is all new to me. I was pretty certain I was straight until some British asshole went and kissed me.

[He tightened his fingers around the hand of said British asshole playfully. Thanks for being his bisexual awakening, Henry. You really threw him for a loop. Though like Alex was also an idiot because straight guys don't mess around with their male best friend in high school but that was beside the point.

Anyway, he nodded at the question.]

Your actual favorite foods and not the bullshit fact sheet info? Yeah, you mentioned the falafel stand you like near Kensington. And I mean, I already knew about the Cornettos. And the Jaffa Cakes. And a few other horrifying insomnia snacks.

homo court advantage i am dying excuse you

[lordfuckleroy]

[ It was him, he was the British asshole. Though case in point, he had wanted to kiss the other man for the longest time, and so he was glad that he could contribute to a bit of eye-opening on that front. Instead he said almost charmingly. ] Well sweetheart, your world has just opened up quite a bit larger in a way that mine is not.

[ Because Henry had never wanted to kiss girls, had never been tempted. ] You will forgive me though if I only want to kiss men.. only want to kiss you, yes?

[ He thought that Alex could probably handle that? ]

It appears that my unholy desire for american snack cakes were not mentioned?

I'm so glad you get my terrible sense of humor ahahaha

[internationalrelations]

[The pinnacle of British asshole, really. Who, yes, was remarkably charming too because Alex had no real defense at being called sweetheart in that posh honey-smooth voice. He could feel heat rising in his cheeks, but there was a corresponding warmth in his chest.

Especially at only want to kiss you because oh yes, good. He ah. He shared that sentiment right now, thank you. God help him Henry had been all he could think about for a month, and had been preoccupying his mind even before that and he.

Then he just short circuited as the innuendo that Henry dropped next landed. He nearly tripped over his feet, staring for a moment before laughing, ducking his head.]

Wow. How long have you been working on that one?

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Henry caught the way that Alex flushed like a giddy schoolboy at the mention of snack cakes to which cake he raised a brow as he wondered what this man was interpreting that he did not understand. Sorry, Alex-- this was the man you were digging-- he had no grasp over slang, and especially words that could mean one thing far dirtier than expected. ]

You do realize that I meant actual snack cakes, right?

[ Such as ho-ho's, and dingdongs. Also he would not throw a twinkie out of the kitchen, though they were arguably not his favorite. ]

[internationalrelations]

..yeah of course I knew that. [No he did not shut up.] But just so you know, nothing good comes from consorting with ho-hos and ding-dongs. Only shame and regret.

[Look, Henry. That was a perfect innuendo that apparently you just accidentally stumbled into? What a world. Alex's grin turned smug as he added,]

I, on the other hand, am the sort of quality American Snack Cake (TM) who comes with a satisfaction guarantee. Probably.

[He was running with it anyway.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ The look that Henry gave Alex was in fact not filled with shame and regret but rather judgement, deep abiding judgement over who could possibly not think that snack cakes were the best thing in the world-- this was Henry, and Henry needed a little work on his humor, at least the spicy sort.

You had your work cut out for you, Alex Clairemont-Diaz. ]

I think that we can compromise and say 'both'; you know that I cannot choose between you and chocolate.

[ They could cuddle while Henry ate a Hostess Cupcake, alright? ]

[internationalrelations]

[Wow okay dial back the judging Henry. Alex shouldered into him.]

Yeah, okay, fair. I wouldn't even try to compete with chocolate. That's a losing battle every time.

[Cuddling and cupcakes sounded fine though. But now, he was considering.]

Would you have been in a better mood if The Cake Incident had been a chocolate cake? Was it the vanilla all along?