Nod. "You need - a context in which you can let down your guard. ...I assume it wouldn't work to just do the typical Osirian thing where you have absolute power over your spouse and can let down your guard because they're totally at your mercy? It doesn't really work for me."

"What? No, gods, that sounds terrible, it would absolutely not work. I want..." He shrugs a little. "Honestly it is very reassuring to be with you because you have absolute power, here in Osirion, but - not over me specifically." 

"Huh, what makes that work?"

It seems very obvious to Leareth. "That you have the authority and resources to keep both of us safe, so it is all right for me to leave that on you for a little while?" 

"Ah, that makes sense. I think - I mostly associate the crown with having to pretend to be - Abadar - and with people not being really free around me - it has lots of advantages, too, but in my personal life I mostly think of it as being in the way of what I - actually find interesting and fun."

Leareth finds his smile broadening. "What do you actually find interesting and fun, and - can I give you more of it?" 

"Oh, you are. I think I enjoy - challenges? It was fun, when I met you, to try to figure out what your secret was and whether I wanted to help you with it. It was fun, when I decided two days ago to try to get you into bed within thirty-six hours. It's - interesting when I have to work for things that I want. I guess I mostly don't get that, or - it's the kind of work where you refine a set of calculations a hundred times, not the kind where you do things that are intrinsically wonderful."

"Oh, you set yourself a deadline?" It's adorable and Leareth wants to kiss him about it, and then does so because why not.

"I know what you mean, I think. Most of what I have done with my life is very difficult, but in a relentless detailed way that is more akin to doing calculations a hundred times. In the past I - have only really had that with inventing new magic, and it is not the same, though, for example, dropping the entire army of Cheliax through a Gate into Nirvana was very satisfying." 

"I can imagine! I think there's something where - solving a problem by having absolute power is boring, and solving a problem by spending weeks or months or years of study and effort figuring out my best guess and then implementing it is important but it's not relaxing, and solving a problem by trying to size up a mysterious and talented and dangerous person and make him mine is a lot of fun."

- that isn't a framing that Leareth would have predicted at any point in the past would fill him with so much delight. 

"Well, congratulations on your well-executed problem solving, I do not think I have ever wanted to be - someone's - and yet here I am, quite enthusiastic to be yours." 

He should kiss him about this. 

He should! Leareth thinks it's a very kiss-worthy compliment. 

"Maybe you should set yourself some more challenging targets now," he says eventually, when he's been sufficiently kissed. "So that you do not get bored." 

"The thing that immediately comes to mind is that Urtho kind of looked old, though there's a spell for that."

Leareth gives him a startled look. "He was very old. Well over a hundred, I believe, though powerful mages tend to live a long time. There is a spell for - what, exactly?" 

"Not looking well over a hundred. This is a necessary element of any ambition to seduce ever more wildly improbable targets."

"You want to seduce Urtho? ...Huh. I do not actually recall anything about his love life, though you are extremely likeable and he would of course feel very grateful to you for resurrecting him." Leareth pauses. "Were you - wishing to do that soon?" 

"Before we get into a war with the Star-Eyed which is reasonably likely to make it hard to do after that. I am not, actually, planning to seduce him unless you egg me on about it, I have a recurring problem where if I have too much fun I neglect my wives."

"Hmm. I - feel that restricting the fun in your life is a suboptimal solution, there, but it is your life and your wives and I am not sure what would be better. I was about to say that if you want to seduce anyone who does not look over a hundred, you could try Vanyel. It would be challenging because he is very oblivious and also frequently very sad." 

"Hmmm." He looks intrigued. "Honestly I am surprised you haven't thought of seducing Vanyel. He is a very impressive person and he thinks so highly of you."

"Excepting... this," he gestures vaguely, "I do not think I have had a romantic relationship in the last millennium. Seducing Vanyel was not at all where my mind went. Also he is so young. - I suppose so are you, but you are also a godking with a mind-enhancing magic crown and it somewhat cancels out." 

Nod. "Well. Maybe I will seduce Vanyel. I am not sure, though, that I have uncovered all the Leareth-related challenges I would enjoy, or even a tenth of them."

“Since I am not sure what they are, I hope to offer an adequate challenge.”

He gives him a kiss. "Do you know what you want?"

“I am considering it!” Leareth has so little idea what sorts of things one might want in this very new context.

“I think... Last night you made everything very easy, and it was wonderful, but - I think I also want to do things with you that are hard, that take work and cleverness... And, I wish to give you things that you cannot get anywhere else, with anyone but me. Sorry, I know that is not very concrete yet.”

"Well, maybe with some practice and experimentation we can get somewhere concrete from there. - unfortunately, at this moment I have a meeting."