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 Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:41 pm
Quote: Characters: Luka & Stefan Prompt: A casual meeting turns into a drink and a conversation.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:41 pm
   The last week had been... Rough. Though in a way, not rough enough. There was so much that had happened in that history class. Worst of all, he knew nothing of it. This was a first for him. Usually if something happened he could go back and see it. Regardless of his memory or whatever was in his system at the time, the threads of time that lived within him never hid the truth. Yet, apparently, the one solid truth that he based his entire guise of not having severe memory problems was now being called into question. All because of a little mass hallucination and everyone waking up from a dream Fane couldn't remember traumatized.
Okay, found that silver lining.
Either way, there was far too much that had been weighing on him. Knowing that this was something he could never possibly understand was killing him. Irene and Adelaide had both seen it, lived it. And here he was stumbling through trying to understand what had happened in that classroom. Sverre had helped some, but there had been a point where he couldn't let the brunette continue. Not when it was hurting him like that. Not after Fane learned what he had done.
Swallowing that thought, he managed to find himself in the school's wine cellar. Emotion had been building within him for days. Every task turning into some herculean feat to keep his wits about him while he was frayed beyond his limits. For problems like this he only had one solution, if only because Soyra did not take tattoo appointments so late in the evening. Apparently, he had not been the only one to think of the release of a drink after a stressful week.
It would have been a miracle if the name of the white haired man he was entering the room with had sprung to mind. Instead flickering through times in class left him learning that the other man's name was Luka. And thank Chronesian Jesus nothing else about him. There were so many people who were fine with oversharing and occasionally it left the prince knowing far more than he wanted to in the moment. But for now, it was just him and this new Luka fellow.
Time to make good on the promise of the school.
Offering his classmate a lazy smile, he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I see I wasn't the only one with a good idea." Strolling casually to the shelves, Fane started picking out exactly what liquors they carried. "Hopefully you don't mind the company. Anything good? I'm taking recommendations." Not that he needed them, but Luka didn't need to know that.
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 10:24 pm
 Burning flesh. Screaming cries. Agonizing pleas for mercy. Balim’s injured breathing. Lily’s hushed words of reassurance that were laced in fear. The memories of what they’d witnessed in that class had woken him up more than he would have ever admitted to anyone else. Even his own sister’s, who he was fairly certain had gone through trauma of their own. It wasn’t their job to hear about his nightmares. He was the eldest. The big brother. He comforted and supported them, not the other way around. The result? A restless Luka who often found himself in need of assistance to get through the night.
This particular night found him drifting through the school, his long legs carrying him to the one place he knew he’d be able to drink in peace. Or, rather, as peacefully as one could as they tried to drown themselves in wine. As he drew closer, the sound of footsteps seemed to echo around him. Those weren’t his, so who in the hell was with him?! Paranoia threatened to settle in, his hand moving to the dagger currently sheathed at his lower back. Whoever it was would be skewered in seconds if they even breathed the wrong way, consequences be damned.
As the stranger made themselves known, surprise danced over his face. He had seen this guy in class. Granted, that didn’t say much, but he had seemed…different than the others, for lack of a better term. Less of a pain in the a**. Yeah, that suited better. Luka let the door fall closed behind them as they both entered, his amber eyes following his new companion as he made his choices.
"I see I wasn't the only one with a good idea. Hopefully you don't mind the company. Anything good? I'm taking recommendations."
The familiar ease in which the other man chose his drinks told him there was no need to give his thoughts. This guy knew exactly what he wanted to drown his sorrows in. Of course, he kept that to himself. They were nowhere near familiar enough for his mouth to start spouting off. At least, not yet anyway. After a few drinks? He’d probably change that thought. Motioning towards the drinks in his hands, he moved to sit on a nearby wine barrel and did his best to put a friendly smile on his face.
”I’ll take whatever you’ve got there. I’m not too picky when it comes to what I drink.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he spoke, doing his best to relax as he followed the motions of his newest drinking buddy. ”I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of being introduced. I’m Luka. What’s your name, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Location: Wine cellar Company: New drinking buddy? Thoughts: 'Is it just me, or is he skinny for a royal?’
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Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:35 pm
There was a level of trepidation that seemed to cloak the room. One that told Fane that Luka had seen straight through his bluff about needing a drink recommendation. Drat. Well, there were worse things that could have happened. At least he wasn't trying to openly call him on it. For that, the prince of Chronos to be grateful. It gave him more of a chance to look through the drink selection of the school.
”I’ll take whatever you’ve got there. I’m not too picky when it comes to what I drink.”
A lazy smile crossed over Fane's face as his hand came to rest on the neck of a bottle of brandy he recognized from Chronos. "A man after my own heart then." Taking the bottle from the shelf, he showed the label to the other man. "Hopefully, you're not just being polite. Would this do?" He didn't wait for a proper response to take a seat at the small table in the room and pull over a glass to pour himself a drink. Worst case he would just pick his own drink and leave Fane to his. Best case he would join him.
After all, the stiff body language that the other man was displaying wouldn't relax until they each had a drink or two. All the more reason to down his first glass. "I suppose you're correct Luka, we haven't. Please, call me Fane." With a small gesture to the seat opposite to him, he continued. "Can I pour you a glass?" Once again, he didn't wait for the other man's reply. Sliding another glass over, he poured off some of the brandy into it. If it sat for too long? Well, he could always drink it.
For a moment silence spread between them. Nursing his drink, Fane offered the amber liquid a somber smile. "Unfortunately, I'm terrible with small talk. Unless you have a topic in mind, I might have to bore you with trite bullshit like complaining about classes." Looking up to Luka, his smile flickered to something playful.
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2025 10:36 pm
The smile his response earned him had his own pulling at the corners of his mouth. Okay, dude seemed to be alright. Intrigued, Luka looked over the bottle that was chosen and nodded his head in response. Brandy wasn’t something he usually went for, but after the class they’d all gone through? Everything worked for him. So long as it burned away the echoes of Blondie beating a man’s skull in, or the feel of b*****d’s blood on his hands, he was good.
”I’ve no reason to be polite when it comes to drinking. If I had a set type in mind, I’d have told you. Pretty simple.” He shrugged at his own words, not really feeling like there was anything more to say about it. As the other man settled at a table, he chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment before giving in. It might have been his plan to drink in solitude, but that was just depressing. Drinking was meant to be a social thing. Luka held onto that thought as he pushed off the barrel he’d sat himself on and moved to pull out the chair across from his companion.
The name that was given to him had recognition lighting up in his mind. Okay, yeah, he had seen this guy in class. He was always with that big mouthed one. The one that thought himself to be a gift from the gods. That dude was definitely something else. Amused by his own thoughts, Luka couldn’t stop himself from smirking at the image his head created. It wasn’t until words drifted to his ears that he realized he was zoning off. Shaking his head, he looked back up at the other man and smiled sheepishly.
”Oh, yeah, thanks. Been a while since I’ve had brandy. Always reminds me of the holidays.” The words left his lips before he could stop them, the wall between his mind and his mouth missing the mark by a long shot. Thankfully, Fane seemed to be just as bad as he was at all of this. His admission tugged a genuine laugh from him and had him once more shaking his head. Their classes were definitely the last thing he wanted to talk about right now. A feeling he was more than certain both men shared.
”Dude, that makes two of us. Why don’t we start with something simple, okay? One truth, one drink. I’ll start.” He took a drink from his glass and tried not to hiss at the heat that lanced through his body. Gods, this stuff did not go down smoothly! Shuddering a bit, he set the glass back down and grinned at Fane. ”I’m terrible at math. Like, really terrible. I have to use my fingers to count sometimes.” Unashamed of his little secret, he tapped said fingers against his glass before motioning for Fane to go. If they were going to drink, might as well make it fun, right?
Location: Wine cellar Company: New drinking buddy? Thoughts: 'Is this stupid? Gods, why can’t I people right?!’
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 9:40 pm
The twinkle that lit in those amber eyes told Fane that he recognized him. That led to two new questions. Was the recognition based purely on seeing him in classes? Or was it that Luka was able to piece together that he was the prince of Chronos? The very thought send a dreadful chill down his spine. One that was telling him any sense of self preservation depended on getting him the hell out of dodge as quickly as possible.
But Fane had also always enjoyed living on the edge.
His eyes flashed up at the mention of the holidays, his gaze curious. "Really? I think I associate more lager with the holidays back home." Mainly because most of the holidays that Chronos celebrated involved some kind of massive street festival. Oh. And about thirty gallons of the finest beer per person. The kingdom of time really knew how to party at the end of the day and all of their holidays reflected it.
Luka's genuine laugh made Fane smile, enjoying the fact that he hit his mark with the joke. It was always touch and go, wondering if his humor would be appreciated in the moment. Few people tended to think that he was genuinely funny. Then again, there was a whole section of his life that he wasn't able to perform his stand up routine to. He could almost imagine the cold stares and crickets if he attempted to tell his advisors that their government business was trite bullshit.
The offer of a game was something that was more than welcome. Quirking a brow, Fane lifted his glass as a show of acceptance. One that was accepted by Luka as he offered up his terrible knowledge of math as the first fact. With a small laugh, he shook his head. "I can't imagine the idea of anyone being particularly good at math, if it's any consolation."
At the gesture he took a long drink, not one to snub the new tradition that he was just introduced to. The liquid burned down his throat but there was no reaction from Fane. The warm burn was too normal for him, one that he still frequently found himself seeking out to drown out his day to day life. "A truth? Hmm..." It took him a moment to try to figure out what a good truth for this was. It wasn't like he was interested in actively exposing his kingdom of origin.
"Ah, I've got it. I have ten piercings." With a waggle of his brows, he poured himself more. His first drink had drained most of his glass and he intended to keep going. "I don't imagine I have to tell you where exactly they all are to play the game."
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2025 11:05 pm
A nod was all he gave in response to the other man’s question. What more could he say? That he could smell brandy and be brought back to the drunken singing in the pub he’d lived near? That it was on the breath of every man and woman he had come into contact with around the holidays from the age of twelve and older? Nah, that was too much. Too dark. They were both there for other reasons, and Luka wasn’t about to rain on any of it because of his shitty childhood.
When his little truth was received with a laugh, he couldn’t help but grin. Fane was probably right, but he wasn’t going to argue. It was bound to give up more about him than he wanted to share. Not that he was worried that this man would use it against him. A quick glance at his lean frame told him everything he needed to learn. Luka was certain he could break this man in half with one hand. Of course, he’d never do that. Just a thought that made it easier for him to enjoy the little game and stay in the moment.
”Holy s**t, dude! No way!” Shock flashed over his face as he leaned closer, running his eyes over Fane for a second time. This study, however, was full of curiosity and fascination. He definitely wasn’t rocking them all on the outside. So, did that mean…Mischief raced over his face for a moment before he schooled his features back to intrigue, wishing he’d suggested they go with the added dare that came with the whole ‘drink and truth’ game.
”I mean, you don’t have to. Doesn’t mean I’m not on the edge of my seat over here wondering of just where they are exactly.” Luka brought his eyes back to Fane’s with a wink and a grin. He took his drink, waiting for his companion to refill his glass, and hissed at the heat that flooded his system for a second time. He reached for the bottle, determined to keep up, and let his mind ponder over what he could share next.
”I can’t stand cats. The judgy little beasts are fluff balls on legs and see way more than any animal should.” The years he’d spent living on the streets had given him a healthy fear of alley cats. Stupid bastards would fight him for every scrap and bit of food that was left behind the pub and brothels he would sleep near. He’d once contemplated killing and eating them, but didn’t want that on his conscience. A man, he could end, but cats were just…different. The thought had Luka shaking his head before he tapped his glass to the table and took his drink. Rose was flushing his features by this time, the brandy on a level he had just never gotten used to. Location: Wine cellar Company: Fane Thoughts: 'What in the hell is even in this stuff?! Fire?!’
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:30 pm
Damn he was crushing this game. His first fact had been a hit, one that he could feel as the white haired man leaned in and his eyes roved down Fane's face and body trying to guess where they were. Coy amusement had Fane brushing back some of his long hair, tucking it behind his ear.
"Here. There's four for you." The line of holes up his ear and into his cartilage were empty for the moment. The earrings weren't something he wore when he knew he would be around other royalty, though he was starting to think his strange need for separation of personal and state business was less and less necessary the more time that he spent in Utopia. It was becoming more and more clear that he was not the first and would not be the last royal with piercings and tattoos.
At Luka's wink, Fane offered a mocking scold. Really selling it, his brows furrowed far more than they actually would if he was upset and his mouth turned down in an exaggerated frown. "No more freebies, you have to find the rest on your own." It was one he could not maintain, not as a smile twisted his lips and a dry chuckle forced it's way out of his mouth.
That dry chuckle grew into a wheezing laugh as Luka let his opinions on cats be known. "I - I mean you're not wrong!" Was all he managed to get out between wheezes for a moment. "Can't really say I ever thought about it much before."
His laughter rang out around them for a moment, making it impossible for Fane to drink his share to offer a truth. Finally after a few false starts he was able to pull himself together enough to choke down a third of the glass. "I might look like a stuck up p***k -" Cutting himself off, Fane started unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt. "But I don't just have the piercings. Tattoos too."
Pulling the fabric down to expose his inked left shoulder, he waggled it suggestively at the other man. There was not a single serious note in his voice as he asked his next question. "Impressed with me yet?"
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 11:31 pm
The sight of four piercings in Fane’s ear was not the win he had been hoping for. Granted, he hadn’t assumed someone that looked like his drinking buddy to be rocking the hardware. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t interested to see just how far he had gone. The ears? That was child’s play. Hell, he had two each in his own ears. What he was curious about was the rest. Was he pierced beneath his shirt? His pants? Now that would be fun to uncover, though the thought had him swallowing a giggle that Luka solely blamed on the brandy.
The denial of his curiosity had a mock pout playing over his lips. The expression only lasted as long as Fane’s did, after which the grin returned. Okay, this guy was alright. And he wasn’t above playing the same game Luka did when he drank. It wasn’t quite how he had expected to spend his night, but he sure as hell wasn’t complaining. Not when he had an interesting new drinking buddy.
”Alright, alright. No more freebies. I’ll just have to wait and find them myself.” Leaving it at that, he tossed back his drink and nearly choked on it when Fane laughed. It was unlike any kind of laugh he’d ever heard. It tugged at his own and had him chuckling through the burn in his chest. The damn brandy hadn’t wanted to get out of the way! Smacking himself on the chest, he shrugged a shoulder in response and ignored the heat he could feel growing on his face.
”Now you’ll never be able to look at them the same. Furry little menaces that they are.” He grumbled the last few words as he thought of the felines he had been forced to deal with growing up. It nearly soured his happy little bubble, so he brushed it aside and refilled his glass. Wait, was he supposed to be drinking? How many was he on now? Did it matter? Another shrug to himself was the answer to all before he leaned back comfortably in his seat.
Fane’s comment on himself furrowed his brow and had him opening his mouth to tell him off. He didn’t look like a stuck up p***k! Luka would know. Dealing with pricks was his bread and butter. He had barely gotten the air to say such things when a flash of skin greeted his eyes and had him snapping his lips shut. Well now. Not only was this guy studded, he was inked too. And he used the plural term for what graced his skin. Intrigued, he grinned and nodded his head in response.
”Very. And don’t insult yourself. It’s not cool.” With that, he tossed his own drink back and racked his mind for what to say next. The idea that popped into his head had him laughing once more. He set his drink aside and held out his hands, exposing the bottoms of his hands. Calluses and scars ran the length of them, all in varying lengths and widths. He had forgotten his gloves, having assumed he’d be spending the night alone. It felt weird to show another, but he was too drunk to let it get to him.
”I grew up on the streets. I was forced to work on a ship at the age of 12. I can work the rigging of most fishing boats and spent more time scrubbing decks than I care to admit.” He didn’t bother going into too much more detail, wiggling his fingers to have water pooling in his palms. The liquid solidified into twin balls of ice, which he then dropped in his glass. With a wave of his hand, he tossed the ball back into Fane’s court before reaching, yet again, for the brandy. Location: Wine cellar Company: Fane Thoughts: 'I’m loving the warm fuzzies this is giving me….And why is this guy so cute?’
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 6:45 pm
A lazy smile crossed Fane's lips at the comment about being cool. "Jokes on you, buddy. I have it on good authority I am about as cool as a rusted clock spring." He hadn't meant for the comment to sound flippant, but the idea that he was anything but a disappointment didn't settle right in his stomach. Not when he couldn't think of a single person in his family that wanted anything to do with him. Not to mention Sverre was hot and cold with him on the best of days if only because of his memory.
But those were troublesome thoughts. Ones that weren't welcome here. Not when Luka was more than happy to meet him on the same level and indulge in Fane's bullshit. He didn't bother attempting to rebutton his shirt as he watched his new drinking buddy take his drink and offer his newest truth.
Also those hands were distracting. There was something about rough hands that were just kind of sexy. Without a second thought, his hand came up and a delicate finger traced a scar down the other man's palm. "Honestly, that's pretty ******** hot." Oh had he said that out loud? Oops.
Oh well. At least he could blame it on the alcohol.
With a slow drag across Luka's skin, he lost contact only to watch Luka's palms fill with water. Pinching his brows together, he hated that it was enough to help him piece together where Luka was from. Then watching the water turn to ice gave him just a moment to doubt himself. Then his mind started whirring back to life to try to dissect it. Which was the opposite of the goal right now. Also he wasn't interested in doing dirty to Luka like that. In the sheets though?
Wait, no. Okay, he needed a drink to stop thinking. Lifting his glass to begin taking a sip was the best solution he had at the moment. Then Fane realize how little was in his glass. With a shake of his head and a small frown crossing his lips, he pulled the bottle back over to pour himself more. Once he was satisfied, he pulled his glass back to his lips and downed most of the contents.
After a beat, he realized he needed to offer up a truth. That was, like, the whole point of the game they were playing... right? A quick flip through time reminded him that yes, it was. Now he just needed something to share about himself.
Finally, after a moment he blurted out the first thing he could think of in the moment with the help of flickering through time. "I lost my virginity when I was fourteen because my a*****e friends paid for me to get laid." Realizing the truth that he'd just spit out made him laugh. Not the same wheezing laugh from Luka's admission about cats, but still a genuine one.
"Jesus, are you sure you think I'm cool? That might be the lamest s**t I've said so far." Elbows on the table, Fane dropped his head into his hands to laugh more. "Does it make it worse to know I only went through with it because I felt bad they would waste their money on me?"
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:46 pm
It rubbed him the wrong way to hear Fane speak of himself as he was. Even if it was said in such a careless way. He’d spent his whole life being told he was unwanted, worthless, and unwelcome. He had been forced to fight tooth and nail to get anywhere in his life. He’d done things he wasn’t proud of and hurt people he wished he hadn’t. All to become the man he was today. So to see someone like his drinking buddy repeating a similar sentiment back to him, well, that just pissed him off. He wanted to find the people that had convinced him of this and give them a good thrashing. Of course, Luka kept that to himself. They barely knew each other, and he didn’t want to spook the guy just yet.
”Might want to get their eyesight checked then. I happen to think you’re pretty cool, and I’m the best judge of character.” He left it at that, not wanting to bring down their rather fun evening. Thankfully, Fane gave him something new to focus on and sent shivers racing up his arms at the brush of his finger. Amber eyes narrowed in on the contact, his cheeks momentarily flashing scarlet at the sudden admission from his companion.
”Well now, that’s a first for me. I’ve never had anyone call my hands hot before. Not in such an obvious way, anyway.” Luka chuckled softly at his own words, lifting his glass to swirl the ice ball he’d put into it through the brandy. While he waited for Fane’s truth, he studied the man a bit more closely. He could practically see the wheels spinning in his companion’s head, the sight pulling his lips back into a grin. Okay, that was ******** adorable. He remained silent the entire time, enjoying the show as the other man tried to piece together whatever it was that had him looking as he did.
When Fane finally spoke, he couldn’t stop his mouth from dropping open in shock. Okay, that was not where he had thought he’d go. It took him a moment to get his bearings back, after which he set his glass aside. His body shifted in his seat, tipping his head to the side so he could try and catch the other man’s eyes once more. It was hard, what with his head being in his hands and all that. So, Luka reached out and gripped Fane’s wrist gently. A soft tug followed, his small hope that it would bring his companion’s gaze back to his own.
”I’m not one for judging a person for their past. We all make stupid choices, we all have regrets. I prefer to focus on what someone does in the now. To me, you’re pretty damn cool. You’re tatted, pierced, and you’ve got one hell of a laugh. In my eyes, you are far from lame. So, forget about it, okay?” He gave the part of Fane he held a quick squeeze before releasing him, moving to sit back in his seat once more.
”If we’re trading virginity stories, I lost mine at fifteen to a brothel worker named Bertha. She was missing three teeth, and was about twenty years my senior, but the woman had a mouth that wouldn’t quit.” He grinned playfully before lifting his drink to his lips, hoping his admission would bring the other man out of his self deprecating moment. Location: Wine cellar Company: Fane Thoughts: 'Hot and a little tortured…I’m screwed.’
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 7:53 pm
The fact that Luka was more than willing to get upset on his behalf was sweet. Like genuinely so touching he might get cavities sweet. It was hard to remember the last time that someone had gotten upset on his behalf. Which was a poor way to phrase it when he didn’t really have memories, but that wasn’t really the important part in all of this.
Adelaide, Irene, Sverre, his stepmother… for each and every one of them he was a raging disappointment . Even on the days when he’d managed to impress them and pull some kind of positive reaction out of the depths of their souls it was lukewarm at best. Well, sort of. That wasn’t entirely fair to Sverre, who had only been disappointed because he’d made the assumption he was getting kicked out with the trash. Because apparently Fane was a pretty s**t communicator.
Yet the idea of arrogant little Addie needing glasses just like him made Fane snort ungracefully, a hand snapping up and over his mouth to try to minimize the damage to his reputation. ”If you ever meet my little sister, please let her know.” Though on some level he could already see her squaring up to try to take on the big guy across the table from him. ”And please also go easy on her when she makes it her life mission to take you out. As much as she hates me saying it, she’s still just a kid.”
Fane was many things, but one of them was not blind. Vision impaired? Oh definitely. But that wasn’t blind and he would take any win he could get. Being picky never worked out for anyone. It also meant that he caught the narrowing of Luka’s eyes as well as the flash of scarlet over his cheeks for just a moment. So quick, in fact, that he’d thought he’d imagined it. But then the other man commented on it.
All Fane could offer was a flippant shrug. ”I just call it how I see it.” Flashing Luka a toothy smile, he continued. ”You might be the best judge of character, but I’m a good judge of hands. And yours look like they would hit all the right spots.” Was this a hole he was digging himself into? Absolutely. But he had never won an award for being a genius.
It did not make the attempt at bringing his mood up any less cute. Or thoughtful. Damn this guy was really out here trying to be an upper. Was this real life? Prince Charmings did not just walk out of books and try to make you love yourself every day. Which god did he blow in his sleep to end up this lucky? Because sign him up for another round.
Giving Luka a teasing frown, he brought his glass up. ”Hey, hey, hey. Be fair. It’s not how many teeth you have, it’s how you use them.” He could not hold the frown on his face, not even for the bit. Not when a laugh was creeping into his voice. ”And it sounds like she knew how to use them. Though I’d bet I could give her a run for her money.”
Bringing his glass to his lips, he too a swig. It was time for another truth. One so tantalizing and devious Luka wouldn’t know what hit him. Fane leaned in, bringing his mouth close to the white haired man’s ear like he was about to tell him a deep, dark secret.
”I don’t have a middle name.”
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 9:52 pm
The snort his words earned him had a snowy brow rising slightly. He hadn't meant for his words to be amusing, but he'd take what he could get at this point. Not that he didn't find the sound to be another adorable thing about him. Luka wondered, for a moment, if there was anything else he could say to garner such a response. Whether it be a snort, a snicker, or an outright laugh. Anything to get the other man to smile.
"Wait, rewind. Your sister is the one that told you such things? Ouch. So much for sibling solidarity." While he might not have met his siblings until coming to Utopia, Luka knew he would have never put them down. He was all about the lifting up of people, after all. Fane's comment about his sister attempting to take him out had his own amusement escaping his lips, laughter bubbling out of her at the thought of a kid trying to square up against him.
"I promise to go easy on her. I don't usually take on little kids, or women for that matter. Little women appeal to me even less, especially as possible opponents." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized they could have been taken in the worst of ways. Damn it, he was going to earn the worst reputation if he didn't watch what he said!
"Not that I think about little women in any way, of course. That is to say, I don't think about them at all. No interest what so ever." He could practically taste the leather of his boot as he shoved more and more of his foot into his mouth. Thankfully, the gods were feeling merciful tonight and had his companion responding in a way that cleared up his rambling almost immediately. Surprise had his amber eyes widening a bit, uncertainty dancing around the edges as he studied the man across from him.
"I've yet to hear any complaints so far. I'd be inclined to give you a demonstration one of these days, should you be interested." If Fane was, in fact, flirting like Luka thought him to be, then he was more than happy to go right along with it. If he shot the snowy haired man down, well, he'd just continue to drink and leave it at that. No matter the outcome, he was going to get shitty and drown the echoes of their history class from his mind.
The next words out of his companion's mouth was all he needed to clear up the confusion he had been feeling. The dude was definitely flirting. Maybe it was the alcohol, or the need to forget, but the prospect of a drunk night with a cute guy didn't sound half bad. Especially one that figured himself to be better with his mouth than Old Bertha.
"You aren't wrong, and I'd be willing to take that bet." Leaving it at that, he tossed back the remainder of his drink before reaching for the bottle. It had been a while since he'd drunk himself stupid, but he didn't bother stopping. He just poured another glass and waited for the next secret to spill from his companion's lips. With how things were going, he was certain it was going to be another amusing and off the wall answer.
What he hadn't anticipated was the sudden invasion of his space. His heart skipped as the scent of brandy and the intriguing man before him filled his senses. Was he going to...No, that wasn't possible. They weren't that drunk. Not that he needed to be drunk to be interested in the guy. No, Luka knew he could be completely sober and still enjoy chatting with Fane. Hell, he could enjoy doing a lot with the guy, but he kept that to himself. The proximity of his companion had him holding his breath, his eyes looking towards the opposite wall as he waited.
A snort and a laugh of his own followed the secret that he was given. No middle name? That was it? Gods, he had expected some tortured and tormented confession. Shaking his head, Luka turned a bit so that he could look Fane in the eye. The closeness between them had him looking to the other man's lips for a second, curiosity swirling to life within him before he lifted his gaze back to his companion's.
"No middle name, huh? What a travesty. You have been saved the horrific embarrassment of someone finding out what it is and using it against you." He grinned at the memory of such an occasion happening to him, having made the mistake only once in his lifetime. Not wanting a repeat, Luka brushed away the idea to mention his own in place of simply enjoying having Fane's face so close to his own. He wondered if he would taste like the brandy they were sharing, or of something else. Something far more dark and tantalizing than the secret that had just been shared between them.
"My turn now, right? I'm not sure I can beat a truth as devastating as yours, though." Once more, his eyes lowered to the other man's lips. Was talking really needed at this point? Did they have to keep playing? This game, anyway. Luka would definitely be all for playing a new game. One with less clothing, perhaps? Location: Wine cellar Company: Fane Thoughts: 'Would he try and take a swing at me if I just kissed him right now?’
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 7:02 pm
The comment about little women had a grin spreading across Fane’s face. He knew Luka hadn’t meant anything bad by it. The guy was too much of a glass of ******** sunshine to be disgusting. Unless it was disgustingly sweet. But that didn’t stop his words from sounding bad in light of what they were talking about.
”Thanks,” He laughed, some of the brandy in his too-full glass sloshing over the rim and down onto his hand with the shaking of his body. ”I’ll keep in mind that you aren’t interested in my sixteen year old sister when it’s time to start worrying about arranging her marriage.”
Then the mention of demonstrations happened. The snap was instantaneous. His eyes had been alight with mirth only seconds ago and then there was a new heat in them as he brought his hand up to lick the brandy off of his fingers. Fane had been expecting tall, dark, and snowy to be less open, less willing. Frankly, there weren’t a lot of the guys here that he expected to be depraved enough to take him up on his offers.
Being proven wrong was always so, so satisfying.
Luka had not only rolled along with his own flirting, but in the moments since had reciprocated. It had made getting into his space all the more enticing. The fact that he was laughing over Fane’s’ truths was attractive. Laughing, defending him, going along with the flow of banter? This guy knew how to have a good time. And Fane was determined to give him a better time.
The first time he’d glanced down at Fane’s lips, he’d brushed it off. They were going back and forth in verbal foreplay. This was part of the game he was all too familiar with. One he enjoyed playing and Luka seemed to be happy to be part of the ride. ”I hope this isn’t coming off as too intimidating for you to keep up with.” He leaned back a little, just enough to get a better view of the other man’s face as he laughed. Damn. He really was good looking. It was then that he noted the second glance down at his lips.
”Oh ******** this.”
The words were a heady mumble as his resolve crumbled. They’d been playing the back and forth game Fane knew all too well but sucked a** at. Waiting it out and letting the tension build? Why wait when he could immediately have what he wanted if the other party was willing?
”You have about three seconds to tell me you’re not interested.”
Waiting was the hardest part. He was not a patient man. He didn’t thrive under making calculated moves or playing long games. Fane liked simple, easy choices. He liked honesty. So waiting those three seconds felt like forever. Especially when he was waiting for some kind of protest. A denial. This hadn’t been flirting. But it never came. Not as his internal clock ticked off each long, long second.
After the count of three finished his rational brain shut off. Instead his instincts took over, his hands threading into Luka’s white locks as his lips pressed against the other man’s. His mouth was tentative, soft slow kisses at first. As if he were asking for permission even as everything in him was asking to be bent over the little table they had found.
Finally he pulled his mouth away from Luka just in time to still have his memory to be catty. ”So about that demonstration I was promised.”
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Wine Cellar ♦ Luka ♦ fit
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 8:22 pm
The thought of marriage at all had him chuckling softly in response. Yeah, he definitely wasn’t interested in the guy’s kid sister. Or anyone else for that matter. At least when it came to the act of tying himself to someone for the rest of his life. He finally had a freedom he’d never had as a child, and more wealth than he knew what to do with. There were things he wanted to do, places he wanted to see. And with his younger brother in charge of the crown, Luka was able to have it all without the strings that usually came with being the eldest. It was a win-win in his book.
”Any time.” Was all he could manage, his focus shifting to lock on Fane’s mouth when he moved to lick the brandy from his fingers. Was something burning? He could have sworn he smelt smoke as he watched the movement. Maybe it was all in his head. Yeah, that was definitely a possibility. They were drinking, after all. People acted all sorts of ways when they were drunk. Luka tried to reason with it all as the heat in his body reached new levels, refusing to believe that this was more than just a game between them. He really didn’t want to be the first to fold and have it blow up in his face.
”Oh, nah, I’m good. It’s hard to find someone as cute as you intimidating.” It wasn’t an outright lie, but it wasn’t completely the truth either. He was pretty damn cute, but he was also doing something no one else had before him. It was borderline intimidating, though not in any way Luka was going to stop. He was usually the one putting the moves on people, so it was kind of intriguing to have the roles reversed on him. More than intrigued by the concept, he arched a snowy brow at the look on his companion’s face and laughed softly at his ultimatum.
”Three seconds is nowhere near enough time to make an honest decision. That’s barely a breath. More like a blink than anything else. Why would you only….” The sentence was cut short by a mouth that was surprisingly softer than he had anticipated. Hands in his hair, breath mixing with his, and the scent of brandy filling his head to have him feeling dizzier than he had been a moment before. Okay, what in the hell was happening? How was this guy winding him up and spinning him out with nothing more than a brush of his lips? Torn between pulling back and giving in, Luka let him do as he pleased for a bit before his words danced through his head to pull his laugh free.
”I don’t remember promising anything, but if you’re asking…” His arms wrapped around the small frame of his companion, pulling him in closer until his mouth was within range once more. Teeth nipped at his bottom lip, his tongue trailing over the bite within the same second to ease any pain he might have caused. Long legs kicked the table that had been between them back so he could settle Fane into his lap, amber eyes watching him for any sign of hesitation as his hands began a lazy trip up the back of his shirt. ”I’d be more than happy to oblige.” Location: Wine cellar Company: Fane Thoughts:’I ******** love this school!’
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