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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:15 am
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Between the children and his duties as a God, Grendel's every waking moment had been filled for quite some time. As of late, he had been away from the temple more and more while finalizing his decisions and implementing the new Disciples he had chosen for the lacking clans. With each that accepted, with each new tethered bond, he felt his powers grow, and in return, every Disciples power grew as well, until, finally, the day came when he had fulfilled that particular duty.
There was satisfaction with the completion, similar to the satisfaction of having raised Kieran and Vadoma to near adulthood and seeing them ready to care for themselves and carve their own paths. It was meaningful for the God, who had never done such a thing before, and who now felt a sense of fulfillment.
And now, finished with those tasks, both arduous in their ways, he had more time to focus on other things.
Such as Ravnos. Though time together lately had been very brief, the God still noticed things and could still sense when something was amiss. He knew that it would happen eventually. The Disciple's need to move beyond the confines of temple walls, his restlessness was palpable. But Grendel would never begrudge him the opportunity to travel, to wander. He had told the Disciple he would wander with him and meant it so long as the ancient vampire would have him.
But the topic had not arisen yet, even though Grendel had been waiting for it. Ravnos seemed to be holding off, burying the urge, possibly because Grendel himself had been so busy and very likely because of the children and because of events not long passed with the Scarlet Queen. There was hesitancy, perhaps even fear, or maybe it was guilt. Whatever it was, Ravnos stayed. Beyond reason.
He stayed.
Grendel found him one evening in the sitting room. It was a night unlike others because it was the first night that the God had not needed to rush off to meet with anybody in what felt like ages. He approached the Disciple silently from behind, not wanting to disturb him while he read. But he was aware that Ravnos knew he was there; he always did. Still, the silence, as Grendel came to a stop behind him, a hand reaching out to slide over one of Ravnos's shoulders as he leaned down, the arm moving to cross in front of the vampire's chest in something akin to a half embrace as he placed his face near the Disciples, glancing at the book in his hands, though ignoring it in favour of greeting the man he loved.
"Good evening, Dracian." His voice rumbled quietly in the vampire's ear, and he turned his face to place a tender kiss against the Disciple's temple.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:37 am
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Of course he knew he was there.
How could he not? Grendel gave off a particular energy that proceeded anything visual. It had gotten stronger and stronger as of later, probably from all the connections with the other Disciples he was creating. It was dark but it was familiar and warm.
As the arm slipped across his chest he smiled, closing his eyes as he half closed the book in his hand. Leaning his head into the kiss. Turning his own face to the God and placing the softest of kisses on his cheek bone. Then he leaned his head back onto the God’s shoulder. Green eyes opening half way seemed to glow. They always did when Grendel was around.
“Good, evening, Dragul meu. Are you done for the night then?” Any minute Grendel could be swept away for one reason or another. But the night was still young, so maybe it was just a brief encounter for now.
His free hand came up to grasp the God’s wrist lightly, just holding it there before it slid to his hand and he laced his fingers with the others. Bringing Grendel’s hand up and kissing his knuckle. The warm feeling of metal from the ring he wore touched his lips. It was Ravnos’s ring that he had given him.
He hadn’t asked because he could not in good conscious tear Grendel away from his duty. It was too important to him. The hesitation came from waiting, not fear. No, Ravnos had survived a lot and while not completely fearless the thought of travel still drew him. Maybe he would ask soon, things surely had to be winding down for the time being.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:05 am
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He felt a lingering warmth from where Ravnos kissed him back, something faint and imagined, but he felt it all the same. His lips curved into a small smile as the vampire settled in against him, and his red eyes began to glow softly as if in response to the green.
"I am done for however long I wish to be done." Came his reply, the slight smile growing more prominent. "All of the new Disciples have been chosen and established. No clan is now without a leader. My niece has taken over in her mother's stead to look over the clan vampires, and then, there is Ennoia."
By now, Grendel was practically grinning. When was the last time he felt the heaviness of burden eased off his shoulders? There was none, not in the memory of his entire existence, that he could think of.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:28 am
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The God leaned into the feel of Ravnos's hand against his cheek. If outwardly he appeared happy, inwardly he felt downright jubilant. He had managed to do so much, and that sense of accomplishment filled him to the brim, but more than that was the relief of it all. To have it finished and for it to have gone far better than he had expected. Though the path forward had seemed long and arduous at times, he had continued to forge ahead, his strength growing as he went.
But his true strength was sitting here in front of him, the grip he held on Grendel not just as physical as the fingers that laced through his fingers or the hand on the side of his face. They were bound together through a love that had transcended realms, and without the Disciple in his corner, he was not sure he could have done any of this.
"All yours." The deep voice that rumbled from his chest was full of promise, and his eyes glowed a little brighter, the grin falling to a smirk that held heaps of insinuation within it.
But perhaps now was not the time for that. He felt it again, that restlessness emanating off of the vampire. The following words out of Ravnos's mouth made something in Grendel's chest tighten. Was this it, then? Dracian could always leave and return to his wandering ways until his urges were sated; Grendel had promised him that. Freedom from the responsibility of being tied down by the God. Freedom to stay, go, or take Grendel with him if he wanted, though he would never assume that is what the Disciple wanted. If he wanted to go alone, Grendel would let him and not resent him for it.
Thankfully, however, Ravnos asked the question that the God had hoped he would, and his eyes closed briefly as he let out a breath he had been holding.
"Of course, I will go with you. I would go with you anywhere, anytime you asked."
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 8:49 pm
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The God smiled into the kiss, however brief it seemed, relishing every short second of it before Ravnos pulled away. Grendel gave the vampire a nod then, a slight inclination of his head, and straightened, his arm pulling away from the Disciple as he stood and looked down at him in regard.
The Vardo. It seemed like so long ago now that they had embarked on their first adventure together. It had been nearly disastrous back then until they had both admitted their feelings for one another. Returning to where it all began filled him with nostalgia and the knowledge that it would begin much better this time. There was a warmth in the God's gaze, a merriment that reflected the excitement he was starting to feel at the prospect.
Words did not need to be spoken.
However, when Ravnos held up the book, a sudden frown creased Grendel's brow. "You went back to the library?" He asked, remembering how it had been the first time, how a more ancient deity had guided their search, and what the result of all of that had been.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:20 pm
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Memories of what had happened in the library, the only time Grendel had been there, continued to invade his mind until Ravnos spoke up. It was not that Grendel did not feel like Ravnos could take care of himself or that he felt the Disciple did not know what he was doing. On the contrary, he had every confidence in the ancient vampire before him. It had just reminded him of things he wished he could forget, except that forgetting the past risked the chance of repeating it, and that was something he never wanted to repeat.
The God blinked, and the frown cleared.
"It is not that." He said and shook his head as he moved around from behind the chaise to the front of it, "It is fine. But, I recall that the last time a book flew off a shelf was because a certain Goddess orchestrated it. Are you sure it is safe?" He asked, giving the book a sidelong glance.
As for the packing, Grendel shrugged and held out his arms. "What could I possibly need to pack?" He smiled with teasing humour returning to his eyes.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 1:01 am
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The God considered Ravnos's words for a moment, mulling them over, wondering why such a book could be of any importance or if it might be of some danger to his very existence as the last book from that particular library had been. Of course, he was taking it much more seriously than was likely necessary, but that was his nature. He was prone to jumping to the worst possible outcome before easing back and looking at things from a more realistic perspective.
And that is where Ravnos often helped him. He often looked at things in a much calmer and more logical manner.
"Hmmm, well. I will trust your judgement on it then."
He could not help but rake his gaze over Ravnos's form as he stretched, for a moment frozen in place, admiring what he could see. In the next moment, he found arms around his neck, claws sending shivers from the base of his skull down his entire spine. Open arms encircled the Disciple, pulling him in closer with a low sound, like a deep growl that was faintly possessive.
He tilted his head slightly and stared into the Disciple's eyes, then moved to press his forehead against the others, his eyes closing, The Vardo. The location was easy to find, the information right there on the surface, though if he had to, he could have extended his powers to find it on his own. Still, he preferred this method, the intimacy of it, the way Ravnos's thoughts flowed freely in his mind.
In a blink, they had left the temple and found themselves in dark woods on the outskirts of the Kumpania. In the distance, the howl of wolves rang through the night. Grendel's eyes glowed softly in that space as he pulled his forehead away from the Disciples.
"We are here, Dragul meu." He smiled and gave Ravnos a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:10 am
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The God chuckled, a deep sound from low in his chest and gave the Disciple a quick squeeze before they parted, and Ravnos took up his hand. "Flatterer," he smirked and allowed himself to be led off toward the camp. The energy surrounding it and within was quite different from the last time or two that Ravnos had brought him, much quieter and still, which was not unpleasant. They weaved their way through, Grendel only giving a cursory nod here and there when appropriate, though nobody spoke to him directly, only to Ravnos.
As he always did when walking among mortals, he kept his Godly guise tucked neatly away, his shadow tendrils gone, the glow of his eyes dulled, and his overall appearance much more natural. At some point, he had even summoned a shirt to wear so as not to look strange in the biting chill of the evening air.
Eventually, they made their way to a familiar sight, and the God smiled, following Ravnos inside his Vardo, a place of good memories, one where their love for each other had taken hold. He stopped just inside the doorway and took it in, allowing nostalgia to roll over him like a wave, and he let out a quiet breath, eyes roaming around.
It was mostly just how he remembered it, though perhaps slightly more cluttered than it had been. Not surprising. He was aware of Ravnos's vice, even if it was never mentioned between them.
The God moved further inside, footfalls creaking on the wooden floor, the door closing behind him as if of its own accord. Coming up behind Ravnos, he slid his arms around him and buried his face against his neck to give a quick n** of teeth followed by a gentle kiss, his own eyes glowing softly now that they were safely indoors and away from mortal eyes.
"Yes, perfect." He said, breathing the words against Ravnos's skin before resting his chin on the vampire's shoulder.
"So, what is on the agenda...besides you smoking that."
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