"I... Ancestors, Mark, I don't know what to say. You're welcome? I like you, I care about you, I still think your standards are for shit but I understand them much better now..."
Mark starts giggling helplessly. And sort of tearfully. Giggle-crying.
The way they're curled up together, Stalas happens to be very well-placed to kiss Mark's forehead just now. It occurs to him to do, and he doesn't see any reason not to, so he does it.
"That sounds like a fine idea," says Stalas, and proceeds immediately to implementing it.
He sneaks a hand under the hem of Stalas's shirt.
Underneath it, bruises in every colour show through his pale skin - deep purple-black shading into red and from there to a fainter yellow-green. It's pretty ghastly.
"You're beautiful," he murmurs. "You're fucking glorious. The things I want to do to you..."
"...You could... tell me about them," Stalas suggests. "I wouldn't mind hearing what put that amazing look on your face."
"Creepy was when I felt like you were looking for things I didn't want you to see, and finding them," says Stalas. "Now I don't mind you looking, and the way you look... it's like... I can't even describe it."
"Like I want to find out everything you've ever wanted, and give you all of it," says Mark. "Like you're the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen. Like I can't believe I'm allowed to touch you and I want to do as much of it as possible."
Then he grins.
"I still feel like something needs to be done about your standards, though." He picks up one of Mark's hands from where it rests on his shoulder, and kisses the palm, and nuzzles his cheek against it. "Maybe you should just keep touching me until you get used to it."
He does that.
He does a lot of that.
"Wow," he concludes.