|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:47 pm
“Mmm…” There was a great temptation to lean further weight on the bed, his attention undeniably rooted on the man across it. But he was still armed, and Leukos — while far more at ease now — had not given any direct invitation that he come any nearer. Thus, well aware that he was toeing some line, simply uncertain of exactly where it lie, he held his ground where he was for the time being.
«You do not need to be so hard on yourself. You worked diligently. I am just especially problematic. I have always been difficult to train.» As he listened to Leu working through his frustrations, however, a small splinter of something almost-resembling guilt returned again. It certainly was easier to take from persons he didn’t like or didn’t care about.
It was easier when almost everyone fell into that category.
He glanced to the window with a puff of a grunt, and then tipped his head back to eye Leu. «Perhaps I could make it up to you in some other way.» He debated a moment. «Steal you a tacky necklace of your own…bring you flowers. Write you terrible poetry. I could offer you service hours of my labor…» His gaze skimmed down the man on the bed. «But I do not know if you would find my time valuable, or what you would do with it. Or…» He tapped a boot lightly to the footpost of the bed before dropping to a perched sit at the cot’s edge, still near to the far end so as not to be directly intruding on Leu’s space. «I hear that there will be a performance troupe holding auditions in town soon…perhaps you will find far more profitable horizons before you soon.»
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 10:30 pm
Leukos snorted quietly, raising an eyebrow. ‘I have always been difficult to train.’ What sort of unruly delinquent had he gotten himself involved with? He could not relate very well to this apparently very free spirit― having been one who fretted over pleasing people all his life. He shook his head a bit, mumbling under his breath, “I guess that’s just one of the many ways we differ…”
But Sajahka was moving on, speaking of… consolation prizes? For him? Awful considerate for a thief. And all this talk of flowers and poetry… Leukos couldn’t stop the blush that found its way to his cheeks again, doggedly pushing some loose hair behind his ear, hopefully drawing attention away from his burning face.
He didn’t need that kind of stuff, he was a guy…
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t want them.
“Ah. Maybe. I might… take you up on that offer. If you could be useful, that is.” He stubbornly pushed those thoughts away, focusing on the most recent development Saj was revealing. “A troupe? Really? I hadn’t heard anything.” He crinkled his brow, perplexed. “That’s surprising; I’m sure someone would have brought it up by now. Do you know where or when they might be?”
[9/10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 11:05 pm
«Near here…» Sajah debated. He did not how soon, or where exactly Nyko intended to hold auditions, and it would be a long shot to persuade Leukos to show up—it was also, perhaps, arguably, a touch of an overstatement to call it a ‘troupe’ being that currently they consisted only of two people.
But, Leukos did not need to know that immediately. And Nyko certainly intended to take on several comers at least. Ideally.
«I will let you know if I learn more details. Within the next several days, I suspect, as I last heard…» He tipped his head, a thought occurring to him. «If you will be in town. Are you…staying long?»
It occurred to him periodically that the hour was late, he’d gotten what he’d come for, and the air between them was different now than it had been. Quieter, easier. He wondered if he ought to say his goodnights and leave the man be. What right did he have at this point to keep him up? But instead, his attention had caught on the rising color in the man’s cheeks, and then the skirt of his long fingers as he tucked hair back, and now his attention lingered there, on the details of the man’s face highlighted in silver.
I might take you up on that offer…
So, Sajah decided to let the moment linger however long it did, holding a quiet, anticipatory curiosity in him. «I think I could make myself useful,» he signed at length. «I have several talents that you have not yet taken time to appreciate…and others that you’ve already found enjoyable. I trust you can come up with something mutually workable…»
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 12:18 am
There certainly weren’t many details on this upcoming audition. But maybe they had just rolled into town and were still getting the word out, so information was still fuzzy. Leukos could relate to that: the same had happened a few times with their circus when they had deemed it fit to grow their ranks or fill holes left in their roster by members who had moved on. He’d have to keep his ears open.
Asking if he was staying long… Sajahka was being awful presumptuous. It was obvious he was fishing to see if Leukos was interested in continuing whatever… this… was. This weird, complicated, confusing thing they had going on. Was it a thing? Where did they stand now?
He’d started out interested in Sajahka on a confused and curious level, then hated him, then hated him some more, which had morphed into whatever had led to them spending last night together, and now they were here. He’d broken into Leukos’ room. Dared to touch him while he was sleeping. He should be furious.
But for some incomprehensible reason, he was not. He was back at just being… intrigued and interested. More cautious, that was for sure, but still curious; in spite of his better judgement. Something about Sajahka made it hard for Leukos to think straight. He’d never been with a guy like him before.
So when he proposed coming to some sort of arrangement, and felt the heat of his gaze upon him, Leukos felt curiosity stirring again in… other areas. He was probably playing with fire, but… “Which talents of yours would I find enjoyable? Of what I recall from our first night together, I don’t think I was that impressed with your skills…” He sat up more, letting the blanket slide a bit lower around his waist, showing a dangerous amount of skin below his stomach.
[10/10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 12:40 am
Sajah watched Leukos process, weighing the likelihood of any given response as best he could gauge—whether or not he would be kicked out, or permitted to talk longer, or…
Something else entirely.
Though he hadn’t let himself think it was necessarily likely, he had retained hope that it was at least possible — and not entirely improbable — that Leukos would invite such, given their experience thus far. And so, when Leukos spoke and shifted, the cover edging down along blue skin painted silver-white in the moonlight, Sajah’s eyes were on the cloth’s edge, tracing the line of fabric where it met skin, as sure and divisive as a horizon. Heat stirred in his gut, a low-burning ember blown on with invitation, and he slid his leg a fraction of an inch along the cot, adjusting his posture upwards also to a half lean forward.
«That’s what you recall?» He rolled his shoulder, gaze drawing down the path that Leu’s legs would make beneath the covers and then up. «You sounded very encouraging at the time…and certainly seemed to enjoy yourself. But, being that you were somewhat out of sorts, perhaps I was too gentle…I can promise to be a quick study, if you tell me how you like it…» He tipped his head. «Other than that, I have a special talent with my mouth and am quite happy to use it…»
He debated all of half a moment before asking:
«May I come nearer?»
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 1:11 am
Leukos was hyper aware of the way Sajahka’s eyes traveled across his skin, and though he kept a coy demeanor on his face and body language, his mind was clicking away, calculating and assessing. If he felt that those eyes were getting too greedy, or he saw something unwelcome there, he was going to bolt. Put more distance between himself and this man, who for all intents and purposes, was a stranger. But so far, his gaze only excited him, and he found he wanted to close the distance some more…
So he sat up, moving into a kneeling position in the bed as the covers fell away, “You can only come nearer…” He crawled forward a tad bit more, hair trailing around the bed below him, “…when I come closer. You have to earn the inches.” He stopped, raising one of his thick arched brows, "Do you think you have the patience?"
[11/20]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 1:27 am
If Sajahka’s attention had once wandered, it did so no more. Leukos’ eyes were on him, and when the man moved, Sajah swore he could feel his skin prickle, alive in an instant with interest like a physical pull and a want to act that made his muscles temporarily stiff with restraint. He held his breath in his throat for a moment, multi-hued gaze temporarily pinned on the paintbrush sweep of Leu’s hair across the cover before darting up, to hold Leu’s when he spoke.
Rules.
Sajah’s ears flicked, intrigue joining the heat of already-present interest, because he did like games. Apparently.
Do you think you have the patience?
He breathed out, a slow, guided exhale as his gaze skimmed from Leukos’ face, to his lips, down the pale column of his throat—he had moved closer. So, Sajah shifted, moving himself more fully onto the cot and allowing himself to progress an approximately similar, small distance nearer to Leu.
«I do.» He debated, attention settling back on the smooth swath of his neck just at the juncture where his hair rolled over to spill at the opposite side—and it seemed relevant to ask: «What earns me points?»
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 2:13 am
Leukos grinned, enjoying himself despite the inherent risks, glad to have gained the upper hand again. It might have been a temporary, delicate power, available to Leukos only as long as Sajahka was willing to give it to him. But he was going to use it while he had it.
“Points are earned when you are well behaved…” He lolled his head to the side as he craned his neck, slowly running his fingertips along the arch to his collarbone, “…when you are good, despite the temptations…” He moved the hand lower, along the curve of his well muscled chest, “…when you prove that you are trustworthy. You have some negative points from earlier mistakes, so you’ll have to work hard to establish some credibility…”
A thought occurred to him, an idea, and he sat up, reaching his hand out towards the man, “You’ll need to make some sacrifices… show you aren’t a threat: give me one of your knives.”
[12/20]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 4:04 pm
Well behaved.
Sajah’s eyes followed the trail Leukos’ fingers, watching as the drew along skin in stark contrast between the silver that lit them, and the shadow cast behind. Make up for past mistakes, mm? His gaze flit from Leukos’ eyes, down to his open palm. Leukos had the size and strength advantage between them, but he was currently, undoubtedly, in the more vulnerable of the two positions, and Sajah had recognized that before.
It wasn’t an unfair request.
Besides, he’d chosen to trust Leukos—in portions perhaps more than advisable—already. So, Sajah reached, carefully unfastening one of his blades and pulling it from its sheathe. Turning it to hold the flat of the steel himself, he extended the hilt towards Leukos and tossed lightly, the weapon dropping with a soft thwwp to the cover near enough for Leu to take it up.
«Be careful.» His gaze lingered on Leu’s fingertips, and felt his pulse quicken with intent. It was possible Leukos would take up the blade, toss it, and he’d be so quick about it, he could spear Sajah through the head before he’d had opportunity to move. Instead, though, Sajah’s mind saw fit to focus on other, equally (and hopefully far more) probable options involving the juxtapose of so much soft, unmarred skin, and cool, unforgiving silver. «This one is sharp too.»
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 5:32 pm
As the dagger landed on the soft covers, Leukos felt a satisfied hum in his chest; he hadn’t been 100% sure that Sajah would part with one of the knives he seemed so attached to. It was pleasing that he’d gone through with the gesture. He leaned forward enough to take the hilt of the knife, weighing it in his palm as he pulled back again. It wasn’t a very flashy piece of equipment, but it looked well cared for. Just a different kind of tool. But one that was to be treated with respect.
Leukos brought his eyes away from the weapon to meet Saj’s gaze again, brushing the pad of his thumb lightly against the edge, “Don’t worry about me… I’m quite familiar with the bite a knife can give.” He tapped the flat of the blade against his lips, lowering it to rest against his chin, “I’ve felt it in… far more interesting places before. Certain men find it very… exciting… to decorate the canvas they are working with in splashes of red.”
Following his words, he pressed with more force, drawing a thin red line along the underside of his jaw, watching Saj’s reaction to the small beads of blood that welled up, a cold glint sharper than the knife’s edge deep in his eyes. “I think you might be one of those men.” He pressed harder, a small stream of blood trickling down his neck to pool in the sharp ridge of his collar bone. “Tell me…Sajahka…would you like to be the one holding this knife?” There was a distinctly harsh undertone to his question, but also something else there as well: searching hopefulness. Because regardless of Sajahka’s answer, his natural, involuntary response to watching as Leukos cut himself without any joy there would tell him more truth than his words ever could.
Men could not hide the evil in their eyes, no matter how pretty their lies were.
[13/20]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 7:26 pm
When Leukos first took up the blade, Sajah’s attention was on nothing else, watching as Leukos weighed and inspected it—it felt, almost, in that first portion, like a test or personal evaluation. Of all his possessions, the likes of which he could likely count off on two hands, these were perhaps the only ones of any real value. And far more so to him than anyone else, likely. Thus, he was more invested in hoping Leukos found it at least adequate.
When Leukos looked up, Sajah met his gaze, focus flitting between that, and the skirt of Leu’s thumb—I’m quite familiar with the bite a knife can give—Sajahka’s eyes, in the span of an instant, narrowed a fraction, his gut giving a low, suspicious lurch of warning.
Certain men find it very… exciting… to decorate the canvas they are working with in splashes of red…
Sajah’s pulse felt like a wave, but one that never ceased rolling inward, over and over the rocks. Leukos drew the knife low, under his jaw and pressed—and it was difficult to describe the tangle of reactions in him then. A base, instinctive heat flushed up his neck and with it, a spear of guilt laced with just an instant of fear that Leukos was right. But then, he drew his gaze up, to meet Leu’s, to see his face, and the chill there was sobering and distinct. And he knew that he wasn’t, because in that instant he loathed whoever inspired that much hurt and cold in Leukos’ expression the first time—and wanted to take his knife to them himself. Sajah’s lips drew back in a brief grimace as the feelings in his gut condensed into a low, cool knot, and he shook his head.
«Yes,» he signed at length, his attention pinned on Leu’s to be sure the meaning was not lost or misunderstood. «I would like to be holding it. But not like that.» His grimace intensified, almost a sneer. «Never like that but on a body that deserved to scream for what it had put others through…» In those cases, he didn’t feel any need to feel responsible for what he saw fit to do with his knives. But that had nothing to do with Leu or his immediate intentions. He felt, though, after a moment of hesitance and despite great desire to the contrary, that he needed to admit:
«Blood…does…sometimes…» He glanced, frowning at the red now marring Leu’s flesh and breathing out. «It sometimes excites me. But it does not interest me to hurt you.» His eyes raised back to Leu’s face. «And never to inspire that look…I think you could turn the summers cold.»
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 8:54 pm
Holding the knife still against his skin as small red beads rolled down the blue steel, collecting in the crevices of his curled fingers on the hilt, Leukos watched the other man with silent intensity. And at first… a disappointed knot tightened in his chest, because there it was, that look; Sajah was getting something out of this. But that loosened a little as another reaction took its place: abhorrent disgust. He might not be able to control what his body was interested in, but at least… it looked like Sajahka himself was not interested in this, at this moment, this context.
And that was a relief beyond measure.
Leukos continued to hold Saj under his scrutinizing gaze until he was finished, had admitted himself what Leu had already deduced; it was only then that he took the knife away. “Good answer.” He wiped the blood off the blade onto his arm, and once it was clean, extended his reach over the side of the bed, dropping it to the floorboards to clatter heavily. “Thank you for being honest with me. It must not have been easy to own up to that.” Taking up a corner of the blanket, he unceremoniously and methodically wiped the blood off of his chest and neck, getting to his arm and hand last; in a divey place like this, he found it highly unlikely they would care or even check to see what the condition of the bedding was like after he left. There were still some traces left on him, but that hardly mattered, he could get to them properly tomorrow. He rested his jaw along the back of his hand to stop the bleeding; it wasn’t a very deep cut, it would close up soon. It had mostly been for dramatic effect.
For now, his attention turned back to Sajahka, gaze much softer without the hard glint there was before. His tone reset back to before the knife was pulled out, cocking his head as he rested back on his haunches, “So, are you still interested in continuing this?” He was still very much naked, and Sajahka was very much not. “Because if you are…” His eyes traveled down Saj, landing on the crook of his pants, “You earned quite a few points after that.”
[14/20]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 8:16 pm
Sajahka had not planned on discussing this particular variety of interest with anyone. Ever. He had his sights on Nyko and hadn’t intended even to entertain such notions with him. Certainly he didn’t expect to ever have his friend’s attention in that matter to begin with but even if he had—not with this. It wasn’t an interest he had specifically with regard to anyone, and in all earnesty it probably brought him more discomfort than anything else. He knew it was an association that leant itself to foul intentions-
More than that, Sajah thought, frowning.
His instinctive excitement with blood had, particularly initially, caused him something almost akin to shame—a rare emotion for him—because it had felt that surely only they got excited in grotesque ways at the thought and sight of pain, only they-
But it wasn’t that. It was a specific, finite stirring of interest for him that he could ignore. And over time, Sajah had come to settle himself with the thought, more or less. It just was. But no one needed to know—until now. At the words, It must not have been easy to own up to that… he frowned, because there was truth there, and he hadn’t meant to divulge-
Had Leukos planned—?
But, he supposed as the other man cleaned himself up, it didn’t matter. Under the circumstances, he surely deserved to know the truth regardless and that was why Sajah had shared. Not because he had been tricked, but because there oughn’t be lies there. His gaze trailed down, though, at the latter words, and after a moment, he snorted and plucked at his blades—one, two, three—setting them aside at the foot of the bed before moving forward. If there was a fourth on his person elsewhere, well, Leukos already had one so surely that was fair and it wasn’t as though he intended to use it for anything but his own protection if need be in any case.
When he had closed half the space between them, he hesitated, and as tempting as it was to cross all the remainder, since he seemed on decent footing already: «How many?» He eyed the man across from him with open interest. «And what can they buy me?»
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 8:14 am
So it looked like Sajahka was removing his other knives without being prompted to. That was a good sign. The blades glistened blue under the light of the moon, left behind at the far end of the bed as he moved closer.
Well, not all of them.
Leukos had counted when he had taken them before; he was aware how many Saj had. But whether or not he decided to leave that last one on him for underhanded reasons, or more practical ones, was still up for debate. Leukos wanted to believe it was the latter. So he didn’t say anything.
But feeling like he still needed some protection… did Leukos really seem like that much of a threat? He certainly didn’t feel very intimidating right now. Maybe some of their talk of deadly vipers from before was still on Saj’s mind? The notion wasn’t… displeasing.
Taking some of the strength afforded by that thought, Leukos channeled more confidence into his posture, assuming an air of alluring dignity, “Well, this system is much more interpretive than most; I don’t like to use specifics. But…” He glanced past Sajah to the aforementioned knives at the foot of the bed, then back to the other man, “…Enough to earn yourself something special. And since you seem fond of playing games, I’ll give you a choice how you may spend your points.”
He moved closer to Saj, within touching distance, but made no move to initiate contact with him, instead settling with his legs folded to the side, one knee raised as he lounged. “You get to decide how this adventure plays out. One…” He held up a singular finger near his lips, propping his other hand for support on the bed, “You may come here and put one kiss anywhere you’d like; you can be creative, I’m open to the possibilities.”
“Or two,” A second finger rose to join the other, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he leaned in closer, “I come over there… and put my mouth wherever I want to.” His fingers came down, walking across the sheets to stroke along the bare skin of Saj’s arm, “You either get to be touched…” They then retreated, pushed up along the inside of Leukos’ toned thigh until they reached his raised knee, coming to rest there as he watched Saj with smoky eyes, “…Or do the touching. Which will you choose?”
[15/20]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 7:44 pm
You either get to be touched… Or do the touching…
Sajah had observed with careful intent as Leukos had progressed in and then eventually made his offer—or invitation. It wasn’t a difficult decision. As pleasant as he was sure Leu’s hands—or various other portions of him—would be on him, what Sajah wanted always most immediately was to touch. And so he did.
Not moving too suddenly — for the middle ground between them had been tense but a minute before and he didn’t want to dispel the return of the eager calm that had settled in its place — he brushed first with his fingertips along the line of Leu’s throat as he leaned. Though there were many options, and it was tempting in some respects to move boldly and abruptly and put things immediately ‘underway’, there was was a curious excitement that came with closing the space between them slowly instead. After brushing aside hair to clear his way, he touched his lips to the juncture between the bottom line of Leu’s earfin and his throat.
He nipped.
And the fingers of his spare hand — because it was so near already and Leukos had said he could touch hadn’t he? — dropped, touching to the man’s knee and skimming an experimental few inches to test if this was ‘permitted.’ Leukos’ pulse was invigorating beneath his lips and he wanted to draw down the length of it, feel the push back of his breath against the skin of his neck—and bite hard enough to mark.
But he had some points to earn before then, he guessed. Even if Leu had spared him no roughness in their last encounter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
