He takes that arm. "Were you intending on being by yourself?" he wonders. "You were in no fit state, even as you are. Even with all the strange abilities you have."
"I wasn't by myself. I was with everyone," Jedao says, and for a moment a little of the dreaminess slips back into his voice; he shivers happily with the memory. "But it was better with you there, because you knew you were with me."
He pats Iago's hand with his free one.
"You're very sweet to worry about me. If anyone meant me harm, they would have ended up very confused when they simply couldn't get to me. I was most in danger from poetic loneliness, from which you nobly saved me."
That gets a laugh. "I had thought you would wish to return to a friend. A
lover. Someone you have met on more than two occasions. I had hoped you
would not fault me for staying."
"Oh, good," Jedao says cheerfully, deliberately cheeky and bright, leaning over to press a brief, light kiss on Iago's cheek. "I like to be wanted," he confides, "And I did ask."
Selfishness is infinitely preferred over selflessly humoring him.
"Most of my friends and lovers had found other occupation, and my husband is being very responsible and getting supplies in the city. I thought it would be a nice time to simply...drink in the whole festival. And I did like that - but I liked it more with you there, too."
If he has a reaction to the word husband, he doesn't show it outwardly.
Instead, the blush that spreads to his cheeks and ears can be seen even
underneath cheeks smudged with dirt.
"I enjoyed having you there," he admits. "Though I have found that your
presence makes any moment brighter."
Not sure quite how to deal with that compliment, he murmurs, "I care for people quickly. There's a young man, gone from the barge now, whom I've adopted as my son. It took me months to ask him, but I knew I loved him, I knew he was my child, three minutes after meeting him. So three meetings, or even two - sometimes, that's enough to know that someone delights me. And you do."
Once again, Jedao's genuine nature stares him in the face and, once again,
he's at a loss for words. He ducks his head as they approach the Barge and
board, saying nothing until he's back to the reality of his prison, with
the deck under his feet.
"Good. I have no children, so I cannot imagine the pain at being separated in such a way, but - I know it must be immense."
He stops and takes his hand deliberately. "I didn't say explicitly, but you delight me as well. And we have enjoyed ourselves. But do not feel now as if you need to hide those parts of you that are hurting. Not now. I'd like to know you, Jedao. Hurts as well as pleasures."
"It's alright. I was very afraid, when he first disappeared, and I worried many of my friends, running recklessly, as they thought, into danger to find him. But I did find him, and helped him find a safe place to stay, until either the Admiral brings him back or I can return to him. I miss him, but I don't have to fear for him."
"Recklessly is the best way, I think, to feel love. Familial or otherwise. And if we love someone recklessly, then we sometimes act the same when they are in danger." He stands there a moment and, on impulse, presses a quick kiss to his cheek.
"I've been very lucky in the people I've found here," Jedao agrees, instead of whining about how it's not really reckless if you're an invincible genius assassin, probably.
He reaches out in gratitude, linking their fingers like adolescents,
smitten and serious.
He ducks into the corridors and to the steps, finding his room with the
small door attached. He lets go only to unlock it and open it into his
room. It's dark for a moment until he can light the lantern, but nearly
spartan in its display. His sword lies reverently on his desk, his journal
open and pen nearby. His bed is meticulously made and the rug swept.
His gaze lingers for a few seconds on the sword, before he focuses again on escorting Iago to his bed, watching keenly for any hint, any suggestion one way or another. Iago is tired, does need the sleep. He kissed Jedao last night - Jedao is quite sure Iago initiated the kissing at least some of the time - but also slowed him down when Jedao got too handsy. But Jedao has given him chances to shove Jedao off several times this morning, and he has taken none of them.
He's exhausted, but some moments transcend the need for rest, especially in these circumstances. Rest, like most luxuries, can always come later. Iago has been deprived for longer and with less motivating endings, after all.
He follows, never taking his hand from Jedao's, and when they reach his bed, he cups his face so he can kiss him soundly, laying to rest his own earlier hesitations.
It's endearing in a way that seems strange to him, but he's far too lost
in his own head to question it. He leans into the kiss, following him down
to the bed, bracing himself up with his hands.
How would you like me, he asks and Iago has a thousand ideas,
spurred on by brief flashes of breach knowledge and the Cat King's lessons
on pain. He has his own lived experiences, both exciting romps on the Barge
and fleeting moments of rather unremarkable sex in his marital bed. But he
still doesn't know how to answer.
"I am still learning that," he admits against his kiss, honest before he
can stop himself. "Tell me what you like and we can settle in the middle."
"Ah, I like almost everything," Jedao admits ruefully, although he's comfortable enough with it now that he doesn't blush for it.
"But it's a bit early in the morning to be demanding anything elaborate." And a bit early in their courtship, too. "You didn't let me get too close to tasting you, last night. Was that a general preference, or just because we were out in the open?"
Courtship indeed. His shoulders relax, though, a release of tension he didn't know was there. Less theater now...more - realism.
He shakes his head. A no to both questions, even as he lowers himself down onto his elbows to kiss him again.
"I wasn't certain if it was what you wanted or if it was what the influence wanted. You tested my resolve, to be certain, so I have every intention of letting you get very, very close now, if you'd like."
"Now who's been a perfect gentleman," Jedao murmurs after a moment, stroking the side of Iago's face, genuinely touched. "It was quite both, I think." A few more kisses, a moment nuzzling Iago's cheek.
"I like to have a man in my mouth very much," he murmurs, voice dropping half an octave, purring with the truth of it, no longer mere information, but teasing prelude. "I like when he finishes on my face, but I like even more when he finishes in my throat. I like to be allowed to tease and show off and take care of you, and I like to be used. I never choke. I'd like for you to touch my hair - as sweetly or roughly as you'd like."
He catches Iago's hand, kisses his knuckles.
"So you may experiment and continue to learn. Would you like to lie back on the bed, or sit on the edge with me kneeling on the floor?"
Even surrounded by those who speak so plainly, Iago has yet to absorb it himself. He has twenty seven years of societal nonsense to push through, and while he has never been the prudish sort, it still makes him stammer in his words.
"Sitting, I think," he eventually decides, pulling back to sit up. "And I have - a rough touch."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:19 am (UTC)He pats Iago's hand with his free one.
"You're very sweet to worry about me. If anyone meant me harm, they would have ended up very confused when they simply couldn't get to me. I was most in danger from poetic loneliness, from which you nobly saved me."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:30 am (UTC)That gets a laugh. "I had thought you would wish to return to a friend. A lover. Someone you have met on more than two occasions. I had hoped you would not fault me for staying."
He looks down. "It was selfishness, too."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:36 am (UTC)Selfishness is infinitely preferred over selflessly humoring him.
"Most of my friends and lovers had found other occupation, and my husband is being very responsible and getting supplies in the city. I thought it would be a nice time to simply...drink in the whole festival. And I did like that - but I liked it more with you there, too."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 12:40 pm (UTC)If he has a reaction to the word husband, he doesn't show it outwardly. Instead, the blush that spreads to his cheeks and ears can be seen even underneath cheeks smudged with dirt.
"I enjoyed having you there," he admits. "Though I have found that your presence makes any moment brighter."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 12:49 pm (UTC)Not sure quite how to deal with that compliment, he murmurs, "I care for people quickly. There's a young man, gone from the barge now, whom I've adopted as my son. It took me months to ask him, but I knew I loved him, I knew he was my child, three minutes after meeting him. So three meetings, or even two - sometimes, that's enough to know that someone delights me. And you do."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 01:00 pm (UTC)Once again, Jedao's genuine nature stares him in the face and, once again, he's at a loss for words. He ducks his head as they approach the Barge and board, saying nothing until he's back to the reality of his prison, with the deck under his feet.
"Gone from the Barge? Will you return to him?"
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 01:05 pm (UTC)A fact, a promise, a loving threat. He will not tolerate the world in any other shape.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 01:21 pm (UTC)He stops and takes his hand deliberately. "I didn't say explicitly, but you delight me as well. And we have enjoyed ourselves. But do not feel now as if you need to hide those parts of you that are hurting. Not now. I'd like to know you, Jedao. Hurts as well as pleasures."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 01:59 pm (UTC)"It's alright. I was very afraid, when he first disappeared, and I worried many of my friends, running recklessly, as they thought, into danger to find him. But I did find him, and helped him find a safe place to stay, until either the Admiral brings him back or I can return to him. I miss him, but I don't have to fear for him."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 02:02 pm (UTC)"I'm glad you have him. And friends who care."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 02:15 pm (UTC)"As have I."
He steps back. "You've fulfilled your duty to walk me, if you'd rather return to the festival," he points out.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 02:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:00 pm (UTC)"No."
The answer is decisive. Delivered without hesitation.
"Are you asking to continue?"
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:29 pm (UTC)He reaches out in gratitude, linking their fingers like adolescents, smitten and serious.
He ducks into the corridors and to the steps, finding his room with the small door attached. He lets go only to unlock it and open it into his room. It's dark for a moment until he can light the lantern, but nearly spartan in its display. His sword lies reverently on his desk, his journal open and pen nearby. His bed is meticulously made and the rug swept.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 03:46 pm (UTC)He follows, never taking his hand from Jedao's, and when they reach his bed, he cups his face so he can kiss him soundly, laying to rest his own earlier hesitations.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 04:20 pm (UTC)"How would you like me, darlin?" Jedao asks, with a little bit of that odd hick twang that seeps into his voice at emotional moments.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 04:30 pm (UTC)It's endearing in a way that seems strange to him, but he's far too lost in his own head to question it. He leans into the kiss, following him down to the bed, bracing himself up with his hands.
How would you like me, he asks and Iago has a thousand ideas, spurred on by brief flashes of breach knowledge and the Cat King's lessons on pain. He has his own lived experiences, both exciting romps on the Barge and fleeting moments of rather unremarkable sex in his marital bed. But he still doesn't know how to answer.
"I am still learning that," he admits against his kiss, honest before he can stop himself. "Tell me what you like and we can settle in the middle."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 04:52 pm (UTC)"But it's a bit early in the morning to be demanding anything elaborate." And a bit early in their courtship, too. "You didn't let me get too close to tasting you, last night. Was that a general preference, or just because we were out in the open?"
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 04:58 pm (UTC)He shakes his head. A no to both questions, even as he lowers himself down onto his elbows to kiss him again.
"I wasn't certain if it was what you wanted or if it was what the influence wanted. You tested my resolve, to be certain, so I have every intention of letting you get very, very close now, if you'd like."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 05:14 pm (UTC)"I like to have a man in my mouth very much," he murmurs, voice dropping half an octave, purring with the truth of it, no longer mere information, but teasing prelude. "I like when he finishes on my face, but I like even more when he finishes in my throat. I like to be allowed to tease and show off and take care of you, and I like to be used. I never choke. I'd like for you to touch my hair - as sweetly or roughly as you'd like."
He catches Iago's hand, kisses his knuckles.
"So you may experiment and continue to learn. Would you like to lie back on the bed, or sit on the edge with me kneeling on the floor?"
no subject
Date: 2025-03-28 05:19 pm (UTC)"Sitting, I think," he eventually decides, pulling back to sit up. "And I have - a rough touch."
That he knows about himself intimately.
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