[Love Conquers All] Sensorial Linking - James and Tahi-shei

James was familiar with spell failures, so he was determined to try again in order to have him and Tahi bonded like they wanted. He was giddy, excitement welling up like a fountain.

A piercing pain shot through his head instead of the wonderful bond, and his eyes rolled up, head shaking slightly. Thanks, magic, you absolute prick.

Alright! Let's try this again.

Second time seemed to be the charm, and he sighed in relief as magic stretched between him and Tahi. He leaned over and rested his head on the deer's back, almost purring with happiness.

"It worked," he said, and nuzzled into Tahi-shei's fur, focusing on the warm emotions flowing between them rather than the secrets that lay dormant...

For now. There would need to be conversations later.

For Tahi-shei, the experience was inverse. Suddenly, the world exploded with color. It was something he had to focus on, of course, but now... now he could see, sort of. At least, when James was nearby. His breath caught in his throat as he looked around, and then back to James. "There's-- I-- I forgot what it looked like. I can-- I can see what you can see." Which probably meant that James could see the fungus (not that there was much in Tunnel M) -- a sudden flash of panic took Tahi-shei, along the lines of What if he's cursed, too?

He flicked his ear and shook his head slightly. "If that's the case, I'll finally get the courage to tear his head off." Still, Tahi-shei's tone was warm as he leaned into James. "I love you, too. Isn't this wonderful?"

James fluffed up his wings and looked around in awe at the white dots that lit up the world. Magic and sight was shared, and he teared up a little.

"You can," he whispered, "I'm so... happy."

He laughed softly and sniffled, leaning into Tahi-shei and flushing as he felt Tahi's feelings for him. All of a sudden he felt love for both the deer and himself. Tahi could definitely feel his own adoration for the stag, how he went gooey-eyed even now, could feel his tail feathers shake out and lift in a beautiful display.

"... You can see our children," he said suddenly, and nearly cried all over again, "You won't have to live without seeing them grow up."

Tears welled up and he wrapped his wings around the deer, sobbing into his fur, "I'm so happy.."

Tahi nosed at James. A fleeting thought came through along the lines of I have spells for that which he brushed away, before remembering that James could hear his thoughts now. No sparing his feelings, at any rate. "Properly, anyway," he said awkwardly. "A-Anyway. I love you! I'm so happy!"

He was a little wary of being wrapped up like this with so many other people around, but relaxed into James's touch anyway. Darling, why don't we go back to Pegasus? he asked, without saying anything. That was going to be a fun party trick. He mused that, if they'd had this during the Aethereal fight, things might have gone much better.

James huffed and nodded gently, 'It'll take some getting used to. I'm afraid I'll end up mute around you because this feels so much easier.'

He laughed and pranced forward a few steps before looking back at Tahi-shei, ears perked forward, 'But yes, let's go home.'

A memory was dredged up, of his conversation with Aethereal and Pride, the stag's words of welcome bubbling up. He clumsily directed the memory to Tahi-shei, hoping he'd understand.

'We could live there. The house I had is a bit dusty, but there's still plenty of things there. A bed, my mantle-piece,' he thought.

Memories flashed through his mind rapid fire. Stars above him, falling abruptly onto something else's chrysalis, meeting Pride as a child. Wandering through Orion, and straying further, towards Polaris, Eridanus, Canis, beyond. But in those early days, he'd always returned to Orion. It had been where he slept before the Collector, and then he'd moved between there and Canis, and now he lived everywhere at some point or another -- but Orion, somehow, was still just a little bit home.

I wouldn't mind it, he mused. Might be small with all of us, though. He reflected on the chrysalises, and focused on not slipping. Ice, as it were, was absolutely treacherous.

James huffed softly and nodded. It'd be cramped but they could move into the houses next to his. Maybe they could make holes in the walls and connect them together.

He smiled gently and guided Tahi forward, sharing his memories of his home before everything went to hell. Soft furs and a bed of grass, a gem piece of art that reflected light all over. He was excited!

"Let's go home," he said softly.