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 Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2016 9:10 pm
No s**t. Callum scrunched up his nose, giving Nim a pointed look. He didn't appreciate being reprimanded like a child, but Callum couldn't deny his faults. Zena had proven a greater challenge then he had anticipated, and had almost cost him his life. This kind of lapse in judgement wouldn't have slipped past him if the situation was reversed, so why fight it? He wouldn't fight Nim on this, especially because he was just concerned for him, but that didn't mean he wouldn't pout.
Callum pulled the edges of his cloak tighter around him, curious eyes taking in all that the other was doing. A rather cozy little scene was starting to paint itself...though the turn in conversation had him quirking a brow. He opened his mouth to fuss, but closed it with a grimace. Nimueh knew the environment far better than he, but...the thought of taking off the cloak made him antsy. "...Fine."
There had never been a time in his life that Callum had hesitated when asked to strip. Nimbly he unhinged the clasp of his cloak, and let it fall from his shoulders onto the floor. While his clothing may have been fairly conservative, it was thin and clung to his chilled frame. Callum slipped out of his boots, setting them close to the fire with a pair of dampened socks on top of them. For a moment he bounced from foot to foot, unwilling to let his toes touch the cold floor for longer than necessary.
Shucking his shirt was easier by far. It provided little in the way of warmth, so pulling it over his head and dropping it didn't unnerve him like leaving the cloak behind. Callum's eyelids drooped a little as his hands hovered over the ties on his pants. For a moment he thought that sleep would get him, just like that, but he managed to pull himself through. He tipped his head back with an elongated sigh, fingers undoing the ties with a practiced rhythm. "This is...quite possibly the least romantic thing I've ever done." He lolled his head to the side to look at Nim, balancing his cheek on his collar bone while shucking out of his pants. Eventually he was forced to turn his head to face forward, and it became painfully obvious fairly quickly that Callum did not wear undergarments.
Stepping out of his pants, Callum left them on the floor, and held out his hand for blanket. His left arm was wrapped about his mid section, palm wresting on the jagged scar that encircled his right side.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2016 9:31 pm
Nimueh would like to give Callum the benefit of the doubt on this, and yet as soon as the man removed his cloak and he got a better glance at what he wore, it became obvious just how underdressed he was. Who would get this far into Zena in that! Callum was incredibly lucky that he hadn't lost toes, or other extremities by now! The patient guard offered a small, sympathetic smile to Callum's petulant pout, watching with growing concern as Callum wavered, seeming to wane into tiredness even as he was undressing. It wasn't until Callum spoke, commenting on the situation, his hands dropping to fumble with the ties of his pants that Nimueh realized he'd been watching him closely through the ordeal. Part of it had been concern, hoping to see if there were signs of damage as he pulled off his boots and socks - yet once Callum's nudity was called to the forefront of his mind, he realized with a start how creepy him watching must be!
Spinning on his heel, Nimueh flushed and busied himself by picking up and unfolding one of the bigger blankets. He'd seen the scar before, briefly, while they traveled... but seeing the stretch of sunken, jagged flesh still caused his belly to flip uncomfortably, his heart reaching for Callum's as, not for the first time, he wondered how on earth such a gentle, beautiful soul had received such a wound. Smiling somewhat sadly at the thought, Nimueh chuckled, tilting his head towards Callum, but not looking back at him, out of respect for his privacy. "Wonderful, my wooing is going off to a marvelous start then." He responded, his tone playfully dripping with self deprecating humor. When he turned back around, Nimueh's eyes were closed tightly, a smile still on his lips from his joke, and the blanket stretched open, one corner in each hand. He wasn't offering the blanket to Callum to take, but was holding it invitingly, expecting the older man to step forward into the circle of the offered cloth.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:04 pm
While his fingers and toes may have been colored a vibrant pink, Callum had never known them to be so cold. It hadn't been this bad when he was moving around, but somehow now that he was focusing on it whatever veil had been in place faltered. If he had noticed Nimueh's lingering gaze Callum wasn't making note of it. Whatever part of him that might have displayed his rather pale goods was long since retired for the evening.
"I think we've moved past wooing at this point." Callum quipped. He gave a tired little grin, and shuffled forward. A vague thought tugged at him, and it took him much to long to realize why something was bugging him. He couldn't see Nim's eyes! They were closed, in respect to his privacy no doubt, but Callum just found the entire ordeal horribly adorable.
Callum stepped around the offered blanket, then nimbly ducked underneath Nimueh's arm. He pinned himself between the blanket and the man, choosing the more appealing option to leech warmth off of. Grasping loose handfuls of Nim's clothing, the swordsman pressed himself against that oh so inviting chest and snuggled in tight with a rather contented sigh.
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 5:57 pm
Nim's eyebrows shot upward, but otherwise betrayed no response to the sweet words. Meant as a joke or not, it was still new and somewhat dreamlike to hear Callum speak that way way to him! He hummed, weakly, in agreement, flustered more than he wanted to admit... and while puzzling over just what Callum was thinking of, he lost track of the length of time in which he stood, arms oustretched, with the blanket. Where he'd expected Callum to step into the circle of blankets, and let himself be wrapped up, instead he surprised Nimueh by appearing in his arms instead. His eyes blinked open, but the confused slant of his lips finally melted into a smile. He draped the blankets over Callum's shoulders instead, then curled his arms around Callum's shoulders, hesitating before allowing his hand to lightly card through damp curls of silver. His other arm curled around Callum's middle, and gently pulled him into his lap as he sat on the couch, meticulously tucking the blanket around the shifter hybrid's exposed feet.
Once they were comfortably settled, Nim let his cheek drop to press against the top of Callum's hair, releasing a soft sigh through his nose. One arm stayed firmly wrapped around Callum's waist, on the outside of the blanket, so as to keep it held tightly wrapped around him.
Idly, Nim's hand dropped from Callum's hair down, under the blankets, to grip for his hand, flinching at the coldness of it. Gripping the smaller hand in his own, Nim pressed it against his heart, pinning Callum's hand between his own and his chest and carefully rubbing, working friction and heat back into the sore, flushed digits. "We'll have to go somewhere warmer as soon as you're ok to travel..." Nimueh mused, his voice a quiet grumble against his ear.
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 8:31 pm
Callum held tight to Nim with a little crooked smile and felt himself swaddled in pure warmth. His muscles, having contracted due to the chill, loosened considerably. Crisp silver eyes turned up to look upon the face of the one holding him, grin only broadening when, as an unintended result, a few curls fell across his eyes.
The swordsman easily nestled himself on Nimueh's lap and marveled at the attention being paid to his apparent needs. It was strange, watching someone else look after aspects about himself that he himself would not have bothered with. Callum viewed hismelf as a dispensable item. Something easily tossed away when no longer necessary, but...he couldn't deny that this felt nice. Callum wriggled his toes from beneath the blanket, curling them around the thick cloth with a relaxed sort of look. Why Nimueh bothered he couldn't say, but it made him all the more precious to the chilled nomad.
Once his shivering had begun to subside, Callum allowed his arms to disengage themselves from Nim's shirt in favor of tucking the blanket tighter around himself. However, he had every intention of retaining his close proximity and thus found himself leaning against the other man. His eyes had begun to droop once more, head lilting forward with each eyelash flutter. Idly he recognized the feel of flesh against his own and the pull of his hand being lifted outside the security of his blanket.
Callum forced himself to stay awake, to lace his fingers with Nim's and give what was meant to be a grateful squeeze. However, since his hands were only just regaining their vitality and his own was dwindling, the effort was minimized. Somewhere in his mind the whole ordeal made little sense to him. He had felt fine earlier, and thought himself recovered after his snowy misadventures. Then again, Nimueh had shown him just how wrong he was.
Making a noise somewhere between a tired huff and a grumble, Callum retorted, "I don't want to go somewhere warmer. I want to stay here and-" Callum yawned, but tried to stop it halfway through, contorting his mouth into a variety of less than attractive poses. "I want to see your world, Nimueh. I'll be fine tomorrow...I just need to do some odd jobs and buy thicker clothes."
In the past Callum's general lack of coin had never bothered him. In warmer regions he had nearly always worked in some fashion for his meals and lodging, though occasionally he packed enough to pay for goods. It just so happened that this time his minuscule funds had gone to the innkeep, thus leaving him in a tight spot.
Tilting his head at an angle, Callum managed to worm his way into the perfect position to kiss Nim's jaw. "I'll do better next time, so you won't have to worry."
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:41 pm
It took everything in Nim not to duck his head and flush in embarassment at that incredibly happy smile, and so in the effort of resisting one temptation he gave in to another. With Callum more stable and comfortable in his lap, Nim released the supporting arm around him and instead rose his hand, sweeping the stray curl back from Callum's cheek with the lightest of touches. His eyes widened slightly in wonder, and he had to lean back the slightest bit so his eyes could fully take in the warmth of the scene. With the fire burning behind him, Callum's face was cast into soft shadows, save for the luminous brightness of his gray eyes, and the captivating way the glow dance across his silken hair.
The flash of teeth that came with his impish grin perfected the image of an otherworldly spirit, and Nimueh couldn't explain if the shiver that shot down his spine was one of thrill at the comparison, or simple longing.
Soon, Callum's body relaxed into the warmth, heated both by the growing fire and the body heat trapped between Nimueh and the blanket, and yet the stubborn thing resisted and continued to speak, even as his limbs betrayed his longing to sleep. Was it too soon to let him rest? Surely it would be a risk, so soon after nearly freezing. Nimueh would like to keep him awake a bit longer, but perhaps such caution was simply of him feeling overprotective.
Rolling his eyes at both the endearing yawn, and Callum's stubborness, Nimueh continued to card his fingers through Callum's hard, reveling in the flow of drying curls against his hand. "After the sermal, I'll never stop worrying about you." Nim reminded, cocking his brow and tapping his fingertip against Callum's temple, a simple 'did you already forget?' gesture. "The least I can do is get you proper clothes." He'd get such stuffy clothing, no one would dare look at Callum twice. And the flash of jealousy, considering the earlier misunderstanding, surprised him.
Humming softly in thought, Nim's eyes dropped halfway closed as his hand once again drifted to Callum's temple, smoothing the hair down thoughtfully. A subject change felt somewhat welcome. "You look so different - good different! I just... I almost didn't recognize you, before." He admitted, guilty. This time, he did duck his eyes, hitching his shoulder up in a helpless shrug that betrayed a small amount of anxiety for his lack of recognition, dropping the hand from Callum's hair even as the other remained steadfast around Callum's hand.
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 8:06 pm
For a lingering moment, Callum's hooded gaze was completely enthralled by Nimueh. The areas of his face which were cast in shadow served to darkened his already twilight skin, thus giving life to his eyes. Callum could almost see the moment that the fire caught in those golden orbs. He didn't realize that the only reason he could see the larger hybrid this clearly was due to the mutual gazing and yet, look on he did. Everything about Nimueh reminded Callum of summer sunset's. Those rich cobalts and indigos that framed the setting sun on it's journey across the horizon. There was a peace in those moments, a sort of calming effect, and an eerie sort of beauty. Something ethereal that could never be truly contained.
Callum yawned once more, though this one was stifled with a raised hand covering his mouth. For the briefest of moments the blanket swaddling him slipped off one pale, crystallized shoulder before he tugged it back into place. That sermal...it still gave Callum chills. It was as if the Gods themselves had placed that creature in their path to teach him just now important Nimueh was to him. He just wished that the lesson could have had less claws.
He shifted himself on Nimueh's lap, drawing his legs closer to his torso and balancing one foot solely on a well toned thigh. "You mean I look older." His voice might have been a murmur, but the self deprecating tone was real. "...but you're the one who changed. Every time I see you you've grown just a little bigger." When that feather light touch faded from his scalp, Callum took the initiative. He let the blanket fall from his shoulders in favor of reaching up to cup Nimueh's face in his hand. The pad of his thumb brush across Nim's cheekbone before he pulled himself up a little higher. "I like the changes; they suit you, really. And I've always been a fan of long hair." He quirked his grin into a more sardonic version.
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 7:43 pm
If either of the men noticed the long moment of veneration that hung between them, they didn't acknowledge it. The yawn, rather than breaking the moment, instead softened the fawning expression that had settled on his features into one of quiet appreciation. The flash of bare shoulder at any other time would have garnered his quick attention, but now Nim felt too warm and content to divert his attention away from this peaceful moment between them. That wasn't to say he didn't realize that he had the man of his dreams sitting in his lap, especially when Callum kept shifting and wiggling around as he was, of course, but he eagerly clung to the topic of conversation at hand as a distraction from the moment.
Older? It was true, his face had shifted some, but the way Callum sounded he made himself out to be a wizened, curled up elder. The way he held himself was more relaxed, it seemed, and the curl of silver locks around his cheekbones accentuated the length of his face, whereas the long braid of old exaggerated the plumpness of his cheeks and made him appear younger than his adult years. Nimueh cocked an eyebrow, doubtfully, at the tone, and opened his mouth to correct him, but Callum doggedly continued, and any complaints dried up at the unexpected turn.
It was just a touch, nothing so strange or foreign, and yet Nim felt his breath catch, eyes widening fractionally at such a sweet caress. Without realizing it, he tilted his face into Callum's hold, releasing his breath as a shuddering sigh against the cool skin of his wrist. Keeping eye contact with him felt like prodding an oversensitive nerve, suddenly, and he ducked his head marginally to break their locked gazes, tilting his face to kiss the palm. His hands, somehow finding themselves inside the confines of the blanket, gripped the edge of the fallen curtain and tugged it upwards again, and over his own shoulder. Callum was once again covered, but now the blanket wound around the both of them, with the end draped over one of Nim's shoulders- and under the cover of warming Callum's skin, Nimueh dragged his hand up his spine and settled it against the back of the blonde's neck, fingers petting the short curls there.
"Hmm, well if I grow mine out, will you keep yours short? It suits you." He responded, his tone mostly playful - still embarrassed from being overcome with emotion just moments ago, and eager to change to the subject Callum had provided. Hair seemed more innocent a topic than that warm touch and stare of before.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:05 pm
There were drawbacks to being a sensual soul. Such as the lack of energy necessary to fully respond to such an intimate kiss from the tender soul in his palm. He couldn't help arching his back with a sharp inhale when the warm caress traveled up his spine. It felt like a charge of raw energy lighting him up from within, only to settle into a moderate thrum. The reflexive movement caused his hold on Nimueh to strengthen for the moment before relaxing.
It was enough to draw a more lasting reaction from him, however. Callum shifted once again, leaning forward so that he could balance his right knee on the cushioned love seat while swinging his left left across Nim's lap. He tucked both legs in close, squeezing Nim's hips with his thighs in an effort to both conserve body heat and get to where he wanted to go.
"As long as you like it short, I'll keep it short. You can cut your hair if you want, and I'll still keep mine this way." If it meant that Nimueh would continue to weave his fingers through the ivory strands with such tender care then Callum would never let his hair grow out again.
From underneath the blanket, Callum brought his free hand up to drap it around Nimueh's shoulders. He came in close; close enough so that his cheek brushed against Nim's before his lips settled on the tender flesh above his carotid artery. Leaning his head against his own arm, the pale swordsman nipped at the dusky skin before setting his lips against it to suckle.
When he pulled away it was only because he could no longer hold his eyes open. Face nestled in the crook of Nimueh's neck, Callum fell into an easy sleep.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 9:10 pm
The temperature in the room seemed to kick up ten degrees, but as tantalizing as Callum was in this moment, he was simply too tired to act any further on it. Even so, the evidence of chemistry between them was enough to steal his breath away, shivering under the other man's grip as he shifted in his lap, before settling into a position that was comfortable (and not as tempting) for both of them.
After such sweet words, Callum shifted closer and Nim adjusted his grip to help him, one hand remaining at the back of his neck, while the other dropped to circle his waist, hand settling against his lower back to offer some stability. Their cheeks brushed together, a chaste enough motion, and Callum briefly pressed a kiss to his neck. At least, that was what Nim thought for a brief moment - what followed, however, quickly broke at what resistance Nim had. The contact shot through his body like lightning, and his fingers gripped, hard, at Callum for a brief moment before he remembered himself. They were such light sensations, and yet that shot through his belly easily, and by the time Callum had drawn away and hid his face against his shoulder, Nimueh was breathless and shaking from the brief sensory attack.
It took a few long, laborious moments to calm his nerves, but with no further actions forthcoming (beyond that cool breaths that Callum exhaled against his neck), Nim soothed his frayed nerves as best he could, and finally realized that the alluring shifter had fallen asleep. Shaking silently with laughter, Nim settled back once more on the couch, dropping to lean his cheek against Callum's head, closing his eyes in pure happiness. Even if Callum was a tease, he was HIS, and for that Nimueh couldn't even pretend to be annoyed. It took only a few moments to readjust the blankets around them so Callum was swaddled against him, and warm, before he dropped into thought - and, eventually, to sleep.
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