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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:23 am
”I want you to saf’e ze Negaverse, zen, if you still feel any weight in my words. Return it to glory, if you can - but do not fault yourself if ze task proves too heady, even for yourself. It is not a burden meant for one.” The draw toward the Negaverse and aversion against felt painfully dichotomous, and he felt far too muddled in that muted war even in light of Quenton’s assurances. Idly he considered teasing Xenotime with the advent of another lover, but that tricky tendency would better serve when he repaired what relationship still remained between them.
“If you are certain.” His gaze followed to hers at the beckon of her hand, a soft touch against brittle bones to guide his attentions. He looked exhausted, though not defeated. “I would be a fool to turn down a free lunch.”
Oh Quenton, I need not wonder if you would lecture me for giving in to the same manipulative behavior that landed me in such a sore predicament. But you would love me all the same - and that is, perhaps, the greatest freedom offered in a relationship. However… No love is unconditional. That freedom is nothing more than hidden chains. Of all the lovers I might keep, Metallia is not one you would sanction.
“I haven’t seen any blistering fools wandering the alley of late, but I am certain zere’s someone wors’ draining somewhere around here… You could make a game of it. Find me ze energy from ze most offensif’, sloppy git you can find wis’in… a comfortable distance of my location. Sound fun? You could even beat ze s**t out of zem if zey happen to resist. Zough I suspect zat fighting punching bags is a bit boring for you by now…” He grinned, drawing a free finger to tap her chin.
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:07 pm
It had her tilting her head, that request, and silver eyes found glittering gold, searching for for the light that, for a short time, followed every move she would make. What she found was exhaustion, weariness, suffering. A pain so great it she felt it second hand, fingers closing around the beat in her chest. Save the Negaverse, drag it up from the ashes of stagnation. She didn't even know where to begin. Again, she let it go. Too large to think about, too important not to. Fingertips followed the contour of his jawline, and the warmth of her palm sliding softly against his skin as she cupped his cheek. A tender gesture that was woefully familiar. She knew the curve of those bones from countless occasions. An intimate caress, the casual brush of knuckles in passing. Here, at least, nothing had changed. Warped in chaos, stretched thin and monstrous, the lines of his face were unchanged. Lips ticked in smile, soft and self-deprecating, as he tapped her chin. "Or I could give you my own." Then she wouldn't be forced to leave his side. An inevitability that couldn't be avoided, but at the very least delayed. Just a little longer, let the little illusion carry on. Turning, the captain moved her leg over his thighs, not quite settling her weight on his lap because she didn't want to risk hurting him. Fingers left his hand, but that absence of contact was brief, left hand rising to join the right. Drinking down the feel of skin beneath her touch, the soft warmth of golden eyes.
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:19 pm
Any mirth from his features faded upon her presentation of a compromise. “You would be hard-pressed to convince me to put out that kind of effort, Xenotime.” Draining demanded its own measure of energy - a cost he grew averse to paying of late. He drew a sigh, gaze cast over her new position as he felt the breath leave his lungs. He held its absence a few seconds before retracting breath once more.
“We’ll make it a game nonezeless. You can try to convince me to drain your energy, or I could just sleep to recuperate.” Likely you’ve already considered how difficult it is for me to sleep in any location beyond the Rift. While quiet, you were never dense.
“First, I argue zat draining your energy is not a gain for ze Negaverse, but actually a loss - given zat I am in such a deteriorated condition zat my efforts amount to far less zan yours. Secondly, I’ll probably get found out and eizer incarcerated or my wings broken off or some ozzer insane punishment handed down by Zinkenite. Last, while energy is beneficial in keeping me alif’e, sleep is also a necessity zat I cannot afford to axe. You may be better off to let me doze a while.” Bischofite settled beneath her legs, easy as their pressure was against his frail form. The warmth was welcome, both from palm and limbs, even if he made no outward comment of it.
“Your turn. Tell me why it’s a better idea to drain your energy. Or if you concede zat my napping is better, zen you could argue for a better location to nod off zan… zis.” He gestured down the length of the alley, toward all the dirt and detritus that caked every corner.
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:54 am
She cradled the sharp bones of his face as if her were glass that might crumble under a careless touch, but as each long second ticked past, that careful delicacy faded. Whatever they were, whatever they might have been, it had never been made up of delicacy and tender care, even at it's softest. Where gentle touches were paired with biting snark and needling banter, and the bruising press of fingers in the dark had been accompanied by murmured voices. This was not normal. As he spoke she settled, a little at a time, against him. No pain sounds, no pinch of what features she could see. Her weight didn't hurt him, and her proximity had inspired no protests. It had been a long time since the captain had been this close to him, but the familiarity in it, despite his obvious changes was almost frightening. It would have been so easy to fall into old habits, to lose herself in the soft gold of those piercing eyes. He saw her, truly saw her, more clearly than any one ever could. Xe still felt it, that close connection. She didn't want it, but it persisted. Smoothing her thumb along his dip between lip and chin, she tilted her head to look up at him. "A temporary expenditure that will be repaid ten-fold once completed. A small effort, for a large reward." Logical, though very likely not good enough. "I want you to, but I can't force you. It would be a gift, a sacrifice." Leaning, she brushed her lips against the side of his jaw, the briefest touch, before drawing back. "You don't honestly think I would turn you in," she spoke through an incredulous smile, humor present in the low murmur of her voice. "I would never do anything that would put you in harm." Even after all this time, the distance, she still meant it. "Though." And this came with a soft sigh, her head lowering to rest her brow against his shoulder, turned just so, so she could watch his mouth when he spoke. "I won't pretend as if I know better than you what it is you might need. If it is sleep, you won't be dozing here." A dirty alley was not acceptable. How far had he fallen? Her chest hurt to even imagine it. "There are better places."
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:24 pm
"I know you won't turn me in. Zere was but one fatal flaw in ze way I taught you to follow ze Negaverse, and zat was..." He paused for a light laugh, barely a snort that teased a smile. "I never taught you to follow ze Negaverse. I don't know if you fostered any lof'e for ze organization on your own. But... I taught you to follow me. Pretentious, is it not? Ach, it is of no matter. It serves me well nonezeless." I never managed to form many allies, but the few I managed would follow me into the grave. I would call myself lucky if it wasn't purely intentional.
"I imagine zat... If you're so insistent zat I must sleep elsewhere, ze reward from such an action would amount to ze same if not more zan ze payout for donating energy. Besides, I just might'f forgotten how, and Malicious seems a little too indisposed of late to remind me. What a shame." You sacrifice to gods, Xenotime, and I lack the monumental power housed by Metallia to be considered such. Have I not taught you otherwise? We have no room for reverence, my dear.
Slowly he drew a sigh that filled his weary lungs and stirred an old ache. "Fine, zen. Take me elsewhere. If I can't sleep wherever I want, zen I'm not putting out ze energy to find an 'acceptable location'," he shot back, feigning petulance.
"You haf' ze ability to teleport. Take us to one of zese better places. Consider it an order, Captain." And only a breath of a wait remained before the alley knew only emptiness.
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