Martin has, since his brief meeting with the raven-girl, helped himself into the treehouse. Blame it on the drizzling rain. Here, in the warmth and dryness of the little domicile, he's got a pot of tea steeping, a lantern lit, and a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose, reading glasses for the sheaves of papers he sorts through. His black book is open beside him where he sits cross-legged on the bedding, his boots shucked and left by the trapdoor so as not to track in mud. The quill bobs lightly as he scribbles a line, pausing to nudge his glasses up as they slip.

Serendipity has tried a few other places first, like Martin's putative current camp, the diner, the library, etc., before he ends up at the Treehouse, climbing the rope to slip inside. He looks slightly frustrated, which immediately lifts and turns into a bright grin when he sees he's got company. He pulls himself the rest of the way in with more enthusiasm.

Martin glances up, and the spectacles give him an oddly intellectual air somewhat spoiled by the puzzled look he wears as Ren seems frustrated, and then pleased. He offers a vague pleasant smile all the same and says warmly, "There you are. Good evening, Serendipity."

Serendipity slips out of his boots as he takes the couple steps on his knees it takes to get over to Martin, and the bed. "Hi," he replies, and very gently takes Martin's pen and paper from his hands, marking the spot in the book with the feathered part of the quill, and without further ado is kissing him ardently, careful of the ink but otherwise without restraint.

Martin relinquishes the pen and paper, but hastily caps the inkwell and sets his book aside safely, not quite a paragon of spontaneity. It makes for an interesting kiss at first as he makes a muffled sound, flailing a bit as the book is tucked out of the way. Then he lets himself fall back into the bedding, his arms slipping around Ren, spectacles skewed as he settles into this kissing situation.

Serendipity somehow manages to slide out of his coat in the midst of this, and presses Martin down into the bedding -- not that he could ever hope to without the decidedly larger man's cooperation. The kissing is very hungry, hungrier than usual, that is, and Ren's hands seem absolutely set on getting rid of Martin's clothes as soon as humanly possible.

Martin fortunately seems inclined to be pressed down, and he even helpfully lifts his arms, tight stomach tensing as he sits up a little to let his shirt be pulled off, taking the spectacles with it. They're fairly sturdy, though, so long as they don't get stepped on. "What's gotten into you?" he asks, voice muffled as he gets the words out between kisses. He doesn't sound offended by any stretch -- amused, more like.

Serendipity half-growls, pushing the shirt away and drawing his hands down the exposed skin. "...want you. Thinkin' about you all day. Want =you= gettin' into me," he replies, similarly muffled, as he doesn't take time out from the kisses -- and bites, now -- to even grin at his twist of the question, let alone to speak.

Martin muffles a low growl at the biting, and his arms tighten around Ren. With one swift motion, he has the kin on his back and his propped above him on one strong arm. "I'd hate to deprive you," he generously confides between kisses, and a light nip at Ren's lower lip.

Serendipity breathes hard, kissing and nibbling back, hands down between the pair of them, working at getting rid of Martin's breeches. "Went lookin' at houses t'day," he murmurs breathlessly between kisses, "with Danny an' 'relia. Kept goin' inta every room an' thinkin', I wanna fuck you here," kiss, "an' here," bite, "an' here..."

Martin's cheeks flood with color, despite that his body shows all signs of keen interest in response to this kind of talk. He helps Ren with the breeches, first working his way out of his own, then helping Ren strip. There is a soft, blissful sigh at that first fullbody contact of skin on skin. Yep, definitely interested. "You're incorrigible," he complains as he nips at the kin's collarbone.

"You keep incorriging me," Ren replies, briefly grinning as he runs his hands over Martin's shoulders and grinds up against him, nibbling at his neck and jaw, near his ear. Which means Martin can hear him half-whisper, half-breathe, "...fuck you in th' kitchen, an' th' attic, an' on th' porch, an' in th' living room, an' th' garden, an' th' big clawfoot tub in th' bathroom..."

Martin's eyes drift closed, and his breath comes quicker. "Heaven help me," he utters in a breathless laugh, then melds his body against Ren's, not speaking anymore for awhile as he, ah, shows rather than expresses his abiding affection for the man.

There is, in fact, a great deal of physical affection shown. Enough that anyone at the lake would be worried about sitting under the tree the structure's in. If they weren't driven off by the noise. However, all good things, as they say, must come to an end... no pun intended. Eventually, Ren flops on his side into the mattress, closing his eyes and sighing as he starts catching his breath, and altogether looking rather blissful. And sweaty.

Martin is a heat factory, radiating as he lays back, chest rising and falling heavily. His hair is darkened by sweat, which glistens on his skin. He smiles contently, eyes closed as he gropes around for Ren, then draws him into the crook of his arm, heat notwithstanding.

Serendipity is drawn in, and nuzzles a little, giving the blond's chest a few small kisses and licks. He lifts a leg to twine his foot around Martin's ankle, and ignores the heat a while, cuddling up. Eventually he sighs again, and murmurs, "dark, I needed that. ...thanks, han'some."

Martin's smile broadens, and he leans over to plant a kiss lazily atop Ren's head. "Must be something in the air, not that I'm complaining." He nuzzles the kin's hair, sighing softly and kissing again. "You smell nice," he points out.

Serendipity mms. "You too. Love how you smell. An' look. An' sound. An' taste. An' feel..." He idly steals a good grope, and opens his eyes just enough to glance at Martin from beneath the lids. "You're just pleasin' to all five senses, what can I say."

Martin murmurs wordlessly at the grope and turns to lay on his side, propped up on an elbow so that he can gaze down on Ren, toying with a lock of the kin's hair with his free hand. "I'm glad," he says with simple sincerity. "You make me feel..." He sighs again, blissful. "You make me feel incredible."

"Well," Ren replies with a distinctly lascivious grin, "I =do= try. ...We aim t' please..." His fingers travel restlessly over Martin's side, rather giving the impression they're impatient for the next round, even if the rest of him doesn't.

Martin seems like downtime is inevitable, despite what the spirit may desire. "Mmn, you certainly do, at that. But that's not all of it." He kisses again, tenderly to the temple. I'm so blessed that I met you," he whispers.

Serendipity opens his eyes a touch more, peeking up at Martin. He looks a little lost, not quite sure how to react, and he might even be blushing slightly. "...what, blessed? 's the first time anyone's ever called meetin' me =that=..."

Martin ducks his head, grinning a bit foolishly. It's that post-trysting glow. "I can't imagine why this would the first time you've heard those words. Clearly you haven't met people who know how to be properly appreciative."

"Well, that's always been =my= theory," Ren agrees with the airy faux-arrogance he's so good at putting on now and then. He falls silent for several seconds before remarking quietly, "...'s nice, havin' you around. Glad we ran inta each other."

Martin gazes down at Ren soulfully as his calloused, large hand cups the youth's face. "Me too," he says gently. "I pray that our roads never diverge so far they fail to cross again."

"Yeah..." Ren murmurs a touch uncomfortably, and tilts his head up to catch Martin's lips with his own, in a relatively chaste, but lingering, kiss.

Martin is momentarily distracted by the kiss, indulging in it unhurriedly, but when he draws away, his gaze seeks out Ren's as he presses, "What is it?"

Serendipity grins crookedly. "'s nothing," he replies, reaching up to toy with a blond lock. "Anyway, I'm pretty sure our paths'll never diverge permanently."

Martin smiles a bit and says, "Good. Because I don't want them to." He continues to study Ren, not wholly convinced that there is nothing as claimed. "You're very pretty," he says awkwardly.

Serendipity laughs, startled, and equally spontaneously wraps his arms around Martin and gives him a quick, tight hug. "=That= I've been told b'fore," he admits, "...but not real often. 'm glad y' think so, han'some."

Martin grins, then utters another one of those soft, utterly blissful sighs at the touch of skin on skin. His hands stroke Ren's back as he takes him in his arms, warm and strong. "I wonder sometimes," he muses, and then his words taper off into thought.

Serendipity seems quite content to be cuddled there; his breath is slow and calm now, and he snuggles in closely, resting his head on Martin's shoulder. "...wonder what?" he asks eventually, unable to reign in the curiosity.

Martin gives Ren the puppy-eyes, in some ways not merciful at all, and replies wistfully, "What you must think of me." His breath has calmed as well, and though he's still snuggly-warm, he's no longer radiating such intense heat.

Serendipity blinks, brow furrowing, and tilts his head. "...what d'you mean?" he asks, looking somewhat lost again.

Martin's expression goes helplessly adoring at the lost look, and he gives Ren a kiss on the tip of his nose before settling into the more intent cuddling, nuzzling his hair. "Just that you're so well traveled in the world, and we come from such different places. You must think I'm a sentimental buffoon."

Serendipity makes a dismissive noise, grinning and ducking his head a bit at the kiss. "'course not. I mean, hey, you don't think I'm a directionless slut, right?" He glances up again, as if making sure that Martin does not, in fact, think this. "...you wanna know what I think of you?"

Martin's eyes widen at the mere mention and he says scoldingly, "I don't even want to hear those words from your lips Serendipity Jones." He gives the kin a squeeze, hugging him closer. "Not even in jest," he grumbles. Then, "Of course I do."

Serendipity grins crookedly again, and shrugs slightly, leaning into the hug. "Been called worse, lover," he murmurs, and goes thoughtful a moment. "Think you're gorgeous. Think you're onea the best people I ever met, carin' 'bout other people an' tryin' t' do the right thing an' all. Think you're kinda fascinatin'. Think you're-" there's a tiny pause, and he looks almost embarrassed, "really sweet. Think you got just about enough bad left in you t' be any fun." He grins, suddenly, and adds, "...an' you're fuckin' =incredible= in bed," punctuating it with a teasing bite.

Martin melts at the bite, a low chuckle in his throat, tempered by a whimper. He is, when it's all said and done, only human. Hands begin to wander casually as he kisses at Ren's throat. "I don't think of it as bad," he murmurs against his ear. "Acts of love are inherently good."

Serendipity mms, tilting his head to make more room for the kisses, and his hands move off on a little exploration of their own. "Well, that wasn't 'zactly what I had in mind..." he starts, and trails off, listening to the words. "How d'you define acts of love?"

Martin pauses, then rearranges himself in the nesting again so that he lays on his back and can more easily draw Ren into his arms, offering up one broad shoulder for a pillow. "At first, it was a need to be with you, to touch you. It had been so long, and that night, I felt so disconnected. I needed to feel human. It's not like that anymore. Now, when I'm with you..." He closes his eyes, smiling softly, and he sneaks in another kiss. "It means more than that now. It means a lot to me."

Serendipity cuddles in, accepting the pillowing shoulder comfortably, and returns the kiss, though he's quiet for a little, thinking, presumably. What he says when he finally speaks is, "...means a lot t' me, too."

Martin grins, a bit subdued, but no less sincere for it. "Thank you," he replies quietly. "I wouldn't ask for your love in return. It's something one gives freely or not at all. But... that it means a lot to you is... thank you."

There's another pause. "...in return?" Ren repeats, turning his head to better see Martin's expression. "Wait, are you- ...what kinda love d'you mean?" It's a quiet question, sounding very uncertain.

Martin hesitates as well, regarding Ren with a look that goes from peaceful to somewhat guarded, vulnerable. He doesn't muster up a tough guy facade, though. Those eyes remain vulnerable as he looks at Ren squarely and replies, "I love you, Ren." And to emphasize, he offers up a lingering, sweet kiss. As though words enough won't clarify just what kind of love he has in mind.

Serendipity returns the kiss as given, and for quite a while. When it breaks, he meets Martin's eyes again, and there's quite a bit of vulnerability there, too. "You... are you sure? Like, in love? You don't wanna... I mean, there's better people, with, y'know... stayin' in one place, bein' all longterm reliable, bein' safer t' take out in public, not sleepin' with other people, stuff like that," he points out; there's a hint of self-deprecating humour, but he sounds quite a large percentage more than half serious. "An' they c'n... I dunno, do things, build you houses an' stuff..."

Martin blinks a bit, regarding Ren with a somewhat puzzled expression that turns concerned. He draws away, but only so that he can sit up and draw Ren into his arms, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders and cradling him. "Of course I'm in love," he says with a bemused little laugh. As for there being better people, I believe that's up to me to decide, isn't it?"

Serendipity lets himself be gathered up without resistance. "That's what I'm a-," he starts, and then sighs, glancing around the interior of the Treehouse. "You might end up decidin' that," he changes his comment, rather bleakly. "...an' I dunno 'f I can do that again, yet."

Martin curls his fingers through Ren's hair, smoothing out the locks, and then he draws his fingertips to the kin's chin to lift his gaze to his own. "I know," he says softly. "It's too soon. Serendipity, I'm not asking anything of you. I'm not even asking that you love me in kind. I feel how I feel, and that's all I mean to say. What you do with that knowledge is up to you."

Serendipity closes his eyes and rests his head against Martin's shoulder for a little, silent. "...I do love you, y'know," he eventually murmurs, subdued. "'s just if I... I dunno if... yeah. 's too soon. So maybe not ready for in kind. But do love you."

Martin holds Ren closer to him, and if nothing else, he's got the arms for cuddling someone Ren-sized up all warm and secure. "Then you've made me a happy man," he replies quietly, his low baritone soothing and resonate in his chest, "And it's more than I could possibly ask for."

Serendipity wraps his own arms around the arms around him, cuddling them tighter to him, and gives a sudden tiny laugh. "So can I-, will you..." he starts, shakes his head slightly, and opens his eyes to look at Martin, lips quirked up at one corner in a tiny smile, "...I s'pose this kinda means I oughta be thinkin' of you as my boyfriend, huh?"

Martin watches Ren's face with a look of dreamy-eyed fascination. Tactile man that he is, he continues to cuddle and hold, stroking bare skin, smoothing locks of hair. He manages to find an intense intimacy free of innuendo or demand. "If you wish," he replies earnestly. "I would gladly call you the same." He steals a small kiss, then adds quietly, "Just be there, Ren. I won't push you, not into anything."

Serendipity steals one back, a relatively gentle one. "...yeah," he decides, when it breaks. "I mean... 's something I never did b'fore, so I prolly oughta try it, right?" He smiles just a little and leans in against Martin again, touching him about as much as he's touched; they're both very tactile creatures.

It makes for an awful lot of rather hedonistic naked lounging coupled with warmth and cuddles, and skin on skin. Martin lays back again, draping himself upon cushions and blankets comfortably, sheltering Ren's slight frame close to the firm bulk of his own. In the dim light, he watches with fascination the play of pale skin upon dark as his hand settles over the curve of Ren's hip. "I must admit, it makes me happy to think of you like that."

Serendipity grins, sudden and boyishly. "Yeah," he agrees, wriggling in closer to Martin, and pressing several little kisses to various portions of skin before finding a comfortable place to rest, warmly entwined. "'s kinda nice."

Martin can't help but grin foolishly, and there are kisses distributed in turn. Once they're both enshrined in comfort, he sighs blissfully and lets his eyes drift closed, not from weariness but rather a savoring of the moment. "I definitely have to annotate that book," he murmurs. "There is no way something that feels so peaceful and good can be bad."

Serendipity giggles a little, and sighs. "Mmhmm," he agrees, "thing's got some issues that need clarifyin', or whatever. 's good you're doin' it..." He seems relaxed now, at peace with the world for at least the time being. After a few moments, his brow furrows a little. "Martin?" he asks.

"Hmm?" Martin replies, sounding far too content for anyone's good. One hand idly strokes Ren's chest and stomach, the other has him neatly secured in his arms, as if the kin had any designs on going anywhere. Well, if he did, he'd have a big beefy arm to get around first. "Yes, Ren?"

"So... let's say when I'm tryin' t' find the 'wisha, Coyote act'ly, y'know, talks to us or me or appears or somethin' like that. Would that be, y'know... a problem?" Ren asks tentatively. He does not, however, show the slightest inclincation to try to leave.

Martin considers the question, for so long and in such intense silence one might begin to wonder if his mind has wandered or if he's starting to drift off. He's not a quick thinker, alas. Eventually, however, he does say, "I don't know what you mean by problem."

Serendipity waits patiently for the reply, wrapped up in Martin's warmth. "...mm, I mean... seein' as I haven't read your book, I dunno, but does your god have a problem with Coyote or anythin'?"

Martin frowns faintly as he mulls it over some more. "Well the book doesn't mention Coyote per se. One of the commandments from the Word itself is to have no other gods before Him. I think that if I don't actually, you know, worship Coyote, then it's probably fine."

Serendipity makes an agreeable noise, and nods. "A'ight, then. That's okay." He lifts his head, then, and gives Martin a decidedly firm and affectionate kiss. "...when th' house's done... you'll come stay there with me an' all? When you're in town, I mean..."

Martin returns the kiss readily. Easily trained, this one. Not that it takes much coaxing. "Of course," he replies contently. "Pass up a warm roof overhead and the arms of my lover? I don't think so."

Serendipity smiles, idly running a hand over one of Martin's arms. "Speakin' of. Have I mentioned how nice yours are, lately?" he asks. "...an' when we're fixin' up the house, d'you wanna help? I'm gonna make you come see it t'morrow..."

Martin grins boyishly, ducking his head so that his hair falls over his eyes shyly. "I'm glad they meet with your approval," he replies, as gravely as he can manage around the dimples. "Of course I'll help out. I look forward to seeing it."

Serendipity's hands explore further, covering familiar but pleasant terrain. "...mm. Everything 'bout you meets with my approval," he assures Martin, and presses up against him with more intention. He returns the grin, though his is less boyish and more wicked, this time. "...how tired're you?"

Martin's brows lift significantly. "My goodness," he murmurs. "My first real boyfriend, and I can't seem to keep him satisfied." He sighs, slipping his arms around Ren to draw him closer, this time not so much for the cuddling. "I suppose I'm not to tired," he muses. Then, "Who am I kidding. Even if I am, I can't say no to you."

"'s just that I can't get enougha you," Ren retorts, grinning broadly, and continues amongst kisses and nips to Martin's collarbone and neck, "...but y'know, if you're too worn out, there's always t'morrow morning..."

Martin kisses Ren, blocking the wordhole before any other notions of waiting til morning come out of it. He's not too tired, apparently. Though it takes him a little coaxing to work up the stamina, all that means is that once, ah, aroused, it lasts a long time.

Serendipity is evidentally not set on that idea, since he doesn't bring it up again, focusing instead on coaxing that stamina back into play. There's no hurry, after all, so it might as well be done right. It is indeed quite a while before things settle down in the treehouse again.