[That laugh encouraged a genuine smile out of Vander, and some of the tension drained from his shoulders naturally in reply. He took the offered carving with one hand and then threw his arm across the back of Fabian's shoulders with the other as they begun to take the stairs.
He brought the carving closer to his face, turning it this way and that. It definitely was shaping up to be dog-like and needed some extra details to set it apart from bears or cats, he supposed. Fabian was good with his hands that was for certain.]
We're all full of mysteries, I expect. There's still plenty that I don't yet know about you, but I suspect I'll encourage it out of you soon enough.
[After all, there was a sadness to Fabian that mirrored his own, pushed further back behind the smiles, the compliments and the gestures. Maybe that's why they were drawn to one another.]
You're going to need more wood for that carving. There's a lot of me.
I suspect so, as well. I try not to bring down the mood by sharing too much... But I'm not exactly a vault. [He laughs a little.] Get a drink or two in me and I'll be crying into your chest before you know it. So be careful!
[Distractible though he is, his attention when he's with Vander is always glued to him, as it is now, watching him examine the carving.]
I ought to ask him about his dog's features. There are many sorts of dogs in my world, and I am only really familiar with the stray mutts I befriend here and there.
[He grins deviously, wrapping his arm around Vander's waist as he's held by the shoulders.]
There is so delightfully much of you. [He nuzzles his head into Vander's chest, stifling the immense urge to chomp on his pec muscle.] We'll have to find a tree somewhere and cut it down. A very big old one. That would be the only thing thick enough.
You wouldn't be the first nor the last to cry when I serve them drinks. [It was the cost and benefit of being a bartender.] I'll wipe your tears with either a napkin or my shirt, so you'll be alright.
[He was gaining the impression that Fabian, Miller and himself were going to be taste-testing a lot of his attempts to create a palatable mushroom vodka. That meant that they would be spending time together but also there would be a lot of drinking. Laughs, stupidity and tears were highly likely.]
You should. Do you put dogs on your ship for companionship?
[They were used to being physically comfortable with each other, always nudging and pushing the other on each meeting. It was all part of the game they played. He made a point to flip some of the longer hair at the back of Fabian's neck affectionately as he leaned into the arm around his waist.]
I think you have a size kink at this rate... [He was teasing. Or was he?
He hummed as Fabian nuzzled in, and he brought them out of the stairwell to cross the ground floor to the water tunnels.] Good luck with that. We are sorely lacking on trees, but maybe take up sculpture? I'd stand for that.
Your shirt will do nicely. It's hard to be sad with such a nice cushion to cry into.
[He smushes his face into Vander's tit to demonstrate.]
Not usually; they're a bit of a liability, really brings down morale if you lose them in a skirmish... And potty-training and walks are a bit of an issue.
[When at sea, a ship is a closed container; there's no way to take the doggie for a longer walk, or out to the woods to pee.]
But when we're ashore, I usually end up feeding some skinny little thing and getting just a smidge too attached before we move on... [He smiles fondly, as though remembering those pups right now.]
What kinks don't I have, Vander? [It's obviously not hard to get him going.
His step quickens as they get nearer to the pools. He cannot wait to dive in, even as shallow and bland as they are.]
Hm, at least it would be something to do... Speaking of things to do, how is our mushroom moonshine project going? How can I help?
[By Janna, he was at risk of tripping over this man and toppling them both at the rate that Fabian was burying into his chest. His arm tightened around the other man's shoulders so he could lift Fabian a little off the ground so their feet didn't tangle]
It feels like you're growing obsessed with my chest. [Bemused.] You know I usually charge extra for a peep show, but I like you so a freebie or two.
[Ah well, it was clear that there were different rules for different ships. He knew a few that took along cats for vermin control, but there were the occasional small dog that filled that role here and there.]
You can't help but pick up strays wherever you go, hmmm? I bet you're an overall crowd pleaser and a bit of a scoundrel. [So honestly, his type of people. No wonder they managed to see eye-to-eye easily.
He released his grip so that Fabian could rush the rest of the way to the pools, which he knew the younger man was keen to strip and dive into. At least it was clean and cycled to remain that way, which was a boon.]
It's coming along. I actually think the alcohol we make might glow like the mushrooms themselves.
I'm obsessed with all of you, Vander, I thought I had made that perfectly clear. And ooh, a freebie in the pool! I can't wait!
[It sounds teasing and flirting, but it's true. He is incredibly attracted to this man, not just for his looks but for his charm, his kindness, and his history of trying to overthrow regimes.]
That is an incredibly accurate description of myself, yes. And yourself too, methinks?
[And rush he does, not able to contain himself. He strips completely, in record time and without care, revealing a lean, tanned, and muscular body covered in scars. The pool is not deep enough to safely swan-dive into, really, but he does a graceful sort of push off the edge with his feet and slips seamlessly under the surface.
He's under there for a minute, swimming all the way down to the bottom before coming back up. When he does, he's in mer-form, partly covered in maroon and gold scales and fins.]
Ooh, glowing alcohol! How fun... Those mushrooms gave me a sort of high, as well, so I wonder if the booze will too...
[Vander chuckled at Fabian's larger-than-life enthusiasm for him and for water as well. It had been quite some time since someone matched his flirt game and he wasn't behind a bar for it. He thought it even felt authentic, which he still had to consider the implications for. All fun and games until someone made a bold move in underground prison and everyone else was subjected to the sounds of that choice.
He hummed at the verbal nudge, shrugging his shoulders just a touch as if to say 'guilty as charged'.]
I would like to claim my scoundrel days are over, but I do still have a hand in the import and export of illegal and sometimes illicit supplies. [He ran a quiet but tight ship, allowing many to thrive in that setting and carve out a life not of industry or sciences. Zaun had been founded on the idea of commerce after all.
He let Fabian rush on ahead, taking his time as he approached the edge of the water. By the time he arrived, the younger man was already divested of clothing and sliding into the water like the man had been born into it. He took his own time removing his clothing, body shyness long since squashed in his youth. There remained a bandage on his right forearm from wrist to elbow that he did not remove, even as he stepped into the water and waded his way to waist deep.
And Fabian? Well, he was a sight to behold, wasn't it? Different than Vander's exposure to a similar species and certainly so elegant and bold in coloration.]
I expect the distilling process may nullify certain natural chemicals that might bring about a high, but hey, it could be. We'll have to come up with a good name for it when we market it. [Not Shimmer, he mentally said.]
Eh, use sand if you can find some. That's what I did as a kid.
[He grins, watching Vander undress and wade in. Gods, he is a lot of man, expansive and scarred, strong and sturdy and finely aged. Fabian admires him openly, swimming in a smooth circle around him as he gets up to his waist in the water.
In this form, Fabian's vibe is... Different. He's more ethereal, and there's something almost predatory in his gaze, which does not waver from Vander's form for even a moment. Rather than having an intimidating effect, though, there's a natural draw to it. It's something passive that can easily be resisted, but it changes something in the air slightly.]
Oooooh... I will begin brainstorming.
[Glowglug... Caveshine...?
His eyes soon lock on the bandage on Vander's arm, and as Fabian is prone to worrying over his comrades' injuries, he swims closer to it with concern.]
Hound, actually. My moniker from when I was younger which I never outgrew.
[He kept his eye on Fabian as the other man glided through the water, and even in the dim light, those scales glimmered. It was rather ethereal, and he could imagine the truth to all those tales of sailors becoming besotted with a merfolk and pulled overboard to relish attention on them, only to drown.
He dipped his hands in the water and splashed it up his arms and across his chest, since they technically had come here to bathe. It wasn't his fault that Fabian was a distracting and light-hearted presence to be around. His eyes continually fell to the other man, as if drawn without thought.]
You, me and Miller all three. I don't think we'll have an issue convincing people to trade for it once we have it established. Maybe even get enough to make it worthwhile to set up a gathering place.
[He noted the attention to his bandaged forearm and smiled, shrugging his shoulders and making a point to sink down in the water to properly wet his skin.]
No, it's an old injury. There's tendon damage, so I need support of a bandage. My old brace never made it here. [He lied so smoothly that he was convinced it would sound like truth. Well, partial lies.] And all my bruises and scrapes have healed since we had our first adventure with the worms.
[His brows lift and he grins. Everything he learns of Vander only makes him more interested, more impressed.]
I love it.
[How tough, like how some pirates have nicknames... "Captain" had always been enough for Fabian, but he's had some more menacing monikers over the years... Ones he won't mention right now as some are related to his acts of drowning people.]
A gathering place? A bar perhaps? [Still grinning. It sounds like fun, to him.] And yes, perhaps the shopkeepers would look upon us favorably for this offering.
Oh, good. [Fabian looks visibly relieved by that news. Not that it's a good thing Vander was ever injured, but he was already beginning to dread the worry over his friend's wounds getting infected.] Though I do not like the way the gods withhold certain things from us. Prisoners are we, yes, but we need the essentials to live! [A brace seems essential, as does the ability to communicate verbally, which they've seemingly taken from Dante...]
[As Vander moves deeper into the water, Fabian takes his hand gently.]
[He smirked and pushed his fingers through his hair as if he were preening in feigned personal fame.] The one and only. The Hound of the Underground.
[He suspected that Fabian had to have some interesting names beyond captain, and he was curious of what those might be. Maybe he would decide to add to it, his own propensity to occasionally call people be a nickname, especially since Fabian wasn't exactly an easy name to shorten.
It was something to consider as he developed a more intense friendship with the other man. Something would come up naturally, he suspected.]
Yeah, a gathering place that would also be a bar. There are empty rooms, and I've found some barrels that I've planned on using to hold and age alcohol. It will be quite the party once we get it up and running. [It would be good to have a gathering place of their own, he thought.
He allowed himself to be drawn further into the water, nodding his head at the question.] I can swim, yeah. [He hummed in agreement, but he knew from experience that this was all for punishment.] I think they might believe food, water and toilets are the basics. At least there are not guards to beat us, right?
[Fabian's tone is starstruck, which is partly him playing a long with Vander's preening, and partly genuine. It's an extremely good title.
Ugh, when can they kiss?]
Look at you, master planner! This sounds absolutely delightful. [To punctuate his excitement, his tail flicks up out of the water, sending a few droplets flying.]
Ugh, Vander, must we talk about prison?
[Now knowing that Vander can swim, he tugs at his hand, pulling him out into the deeper part of the pool.]
We are in prison all day, every day, and I am sick to death of it. I would rather pretend we're somewhere else. If you could be anywhere in any universe right now, where would it be?
It means people remember it more often than not. It has greater impact that way.
[Well, there were other reasons that it also had impact, especially way back in his scraping days and his pit fighting evenings. Later on, his reputation proceeded him thanks to the failed revolution where he managed to become a household name. All of those stories for other times.]
This place is going to need a location where people can gather and it needs to be purely ours. I want to build a community here, and a gathering spot is important for that. [So yeah, he was planning. It wasn't like they had underage kids and even if they did, he'd consider them welcome anyway.
He chuffed an amused sound and allowed Fabian to pull him out to deeper water where even his feet didn't touch the bottom without complaint.]
I bet you'd be out on the high seas or some trading port, right? [He did consider the question for himself of course.] My bar. It was where I was the most comfortable, where I raised my kids and my favourite people gathered.
[He kicked his feet so he could bring himself closer to Fabian, mischievousness glinting in his eyes.] I guess you don't want me to show you some of the fun skills I learned in prison, huh? [He didn't learn them in prison, but hey, he knew it happened there.]
[Fabian will certainly remember it. And he definitely wants to hear about the pit fighting sometime. Hot...]
I love that idea, truly. I will do all I can to help you realize this goal.
[He smiles and swims a tight circle around Vander, his tailfin and the fins on his arms brushing against the bigger man's skin lightly under the water.
Vander says he wants to be at his bar, which is what Fabian thought he would say. Fabian was hoping for an outdoor locale, because he misses fresh air something fierce, but he still moves his hands and whispers an incantation to create some of the atmosphere of a bar. Sounds of glasses clinking, steins thumping against wooden tables, people talking and playing pool, a bit of music in the background (though it's acoustic lute music due to that being Fabian's exposure to tavern music).]
It would be hard for me to choose... But yes, likely the sea or coastline. Oh, maybe a beach. Best of both worlds. [He smiles, imagining his favourite beaches.] Sunsets. Waves. Warmth. [At "warmth", his hand caresses his friend's upper arm, his other hand coming up to tuck Vander's hair behind his ear, looking at him amorously. Still with his strangely ethereal mer-charm. There's a light in his brown eyes, and it's hard to tell if it's an actual glimmer or just a sense of warmth.]
Fun skills? [He matches his mischievous tone.] Don't be obtuse, my dear, you know I want to see those.
[He smiled, appreciating the assistance. It was definitely a goal that was in need of active participation from others to generate and maintain. Fabian was more than welcomed anywhere he went.]
You're already helping! I expect we'll all soon get drunk and you'll teach us all sea shanties from your world.
[He stretched his arms out to pull himself along the water, feeling the caress of the fins on his skin. A shiver ran across his shoulders and down his spine in response, and he made a point of turning his head to keep an eye on his friend. He hummed at the sounds that filled the air, knowing they were meant to make him comfortable and appreciating the gesture. This was all about little bouts of escapism, wasn't it?]
A beach that gives way to crystal waters of the sea then. What would you want on your beach, hmm? White sands, shadow of tall tree leaves, good company or would you prefer quiet time to yourself? [As Fabian happened to swim in front of him, he moved to catch the younger man around the waist, careful of dorsal fins and perhaps sensitive scales. This was his first time in actual close contact after all. He was definitely charmed.] Worst part of the underground, isn't it? Colder than when kissed by the sun, yeah?
[He huffed a soft noise of amusement.] Just see? Here I thought you were more adventurous than just observation only.
Yes! [He beams.] That would brighten this dark place, certainly. If only I had my fiddle.
Soon may the Wellerman come, to bring us sugar and tea and rum!
[He sings up into the ceiling of the cave, his tenor unnaturally clear, its echo sounding more like an instrument than a person. The music in his illusion changes to The Wellerman's melody, subtly, switching from lute to fiddle.
He hums happily as his waist is grabbed, and moves into Vander's embrace.] All of that, yes. And I'd want you with me. No one else. [His hands slick Vander's hair back, combing from front to back, fingertips scraping lightly against his scalp. He wraps his arms loosely around his neck and plays with the hair at the back of his head. He puts almost none of his weight on Vander, treading water effortlessly.]
Yes. It's terribly cold here... [He pouts.] You would not believe how many people I've had to beg for a hug just to warm up.
Oh, so pedantic! [He chides flippantly.]
I want to experience your skills, then. With all five of my senses. [His gaze becomes more intense, sultry. He's clearly serious about this. Vander's handsome face is inches away from his, and he wants to close the gap, but he'll be patient. Wait for the right moment.]
Well, that Green Corridor could bring musical instruments, yes? We can check there.
[He smiled at Fabian's singing, appreciating that he had a nice singing voice. He imagined with some musical instruments and people to play them, they could put that voice to good use and create some cheer in this place. Would that revelry be put down or punished? They would have to find out through trial and error.
He raised his thick eyebrows at the declaration. He knew escalation when he saw it; this meeting for a quick bath and conversation was heading in one direction. Would he put a stop to it? He hadn't yet decided; it was fun right now. Distraction was necessary to stop dwelling on otherwise deep grief.] Me and only me? Please, you could have anyone since it's your dream location.
[His head tipped back slightly to those fingers, eyes fluttering closed for a moment.] With your flirty nature? I can actually imagine how many people you have propositioned. Now how many would take you up on the request is a more difficult guess. There are some prudes in this place. [He sent a coy smile at Fabian.] You haven't asked me, I've noticed. Making up for lost time now?
[Fabian was alluring. It wasn't just the exotic look and feel of those scales and fins and the curl of that tail. It wasn't just the fingers in his hair, but the timber of Fabian's voice and the glamour of those eyes. Vander had experience though, and he used it to navigate the effects of this allure.]
You assume that all my bluster and flirting means I have skills. What if I'm lying? [He wasn't. He might have been out of that game to this level for years, but he didn't forget. It would be so easy to lose himself in it too, forget his problems, push them down, down, down.
His arm cinched tighter around Fabian's waist, and he tried to force them to tip even if he didn't have nearly the power of that muscular tail. He was by no means a weak man, and perhaps diving under the water was the area he thought best for their game to take them. Fabian's world beneath the surface.]
[If not a fiddle, he can make do with most string instruments.]
Hm... [He pretends to think about all the people he could have on the beach with him. And there are others here he likes, as friends or potential lovers or otherwise, but right here and now, there is only one person he wants. With an innocent smile:] Funny, I cannot seem to think of anyone else.
You would be surprised. If you look pathetic enough, some people will just hug you unprompted, apparently. That was when it was freezing in here, though. Alas, it would seem there are many prudes here, as I have somehow not yet been laid.
[At this point, by Fabian's standards, it almost qualifies as a dry spell. The longest he tends to go is however long they're at sea, which is rarely more than a month.]
Well, I did not want to seem pathetic around you. And you are very fun to play with, regardless of whether anything comes of it.
[But he does want something to come of it, certainly.]
You're not.
[Fabian says this with certainty. He can read people well enough that he would have noticed little flecks of nervousness by now, if Vander was bluffing about all of this. It is clear the man lives it, just as Fabian does. Or at least, he lived this life at some point in the past, for long enough that returning to it feels natural to him.
Fabian does not resist Vander's hold. He's been dying to be manhandled by these arms since they met. They fall under the water, and Fabian grins. He pulls them down a bit further, spinning them around as he does. Vander may be bigger than him, but everyone weighs far less underwater. He soon stops, not wanting Vander to suspect he's trying to drown him. Fabian can breathe, whereas Vander cannot, so he'll let the other guide what happens down here. He looks at him with that same adoration, and keeps a loose hold of him.]
[Couldn't think of anyone else, hmm? It seemed that Fabian had decided to focus on him for the time being was how he interpreted it, sensing that their connection could lead to something both of them would surely enjoy. Perhaps afterwards, it would be off to find the next mark, and that beach island would be privy to someone else. He'd been there; he'd been that nudge; he'd used that smile.
And he didn't mind either. The need for escapism was building, the culminative weight of his failings, the growth and struggles of his remaining children, the loss of his adoptive sons, the revelations of the loss of the Lanes, the undercity, and the uncomfortable itch of want for that glowing purple drug he had taken knowing there would be consequences.
So he smiled right back, humming in amusement, playing to the beats of the dance that they were undertaking together.] No, it wouldn't surprise me. You're young, gregarious, friendly and with the correct attitude of charms, self-deprecation and boldness to disarm people.
[Aware that he wouldn't be able to talk more just before they went under, he decided to punctuate the last moment with:] Oh, so being laid is where the issue lays now, is it?
[Then he was under the water, slipping beneath the otherwise calm circulating waters because no, he wasn't lying. They both knew it. The coolness washed away the weight on his shoulders and the back of his mind, focusing him as he opened his eyes in the seemingly clear water and continuing to spy Fabian who somehow managed to appear even more ethereal completely submerged.
The spin was fun, reminding him of play as a boy in the few 'safe' water sources or when they'd splash around the ship docks. He was holding his breath, but he wouldn't mind being starved a little for oxygen. He lifted a hand to cup one of Fabian's cheeks, feeling the whiskers of his facial hair under his palm, thumb stroking under the other man's eye. He leaned in, aware of what Fabian wanted, aware they had been playing this game since they met.
He had no issue taking lead. Never did, never would. He closed the distance and kissed the merman, letting out a few bubbles from his lips to tickle Fabian's. Not too much as he did need to conserve oxygen, but it was all flirty and in good fun as he tasted those lips for the first time.]
[It is likely that Fabian, on another day, will be on the mind-beach with another person. However, that doesn't mean he'll ever forget about Vander. It's not just a game to him; he does truly fancy the older man.]
Oh, goodness.
[He smiles bashfully at the compliments, then deviously at the implication of getting laid with Vander.
In the water, they're suspended, weightless. As Vander touches his face, his lashes flutter slightly, and he reaches out to caress his bearded cheek in turn.
He's a bit surprised when Vander kisses him. Though they've been flirting constantly since they met, Fabian sensed the other man may have still had a guard up, ready to decline any actual advances he made. The kiss makes it feel like the game is over; like this is now real.
Fabian doesnt hesitate to return it, to pull Vander closer by the back of his neck, arching his now oddly flexible body up into him. The bubbles make him laugh slightly, his own bubbles escaping, and he presses their lips together more firmly, opening his mouth so they're sharing a small pocket of air. He wonders how long Vander can hold his breath, wonders if this might turn out to be an intense thrill for him, the longer they're under here.]
[He wasn't looking for anything serious. He wasn't looking for much of anything but a good time now and again, even if that good time was laughing, flirting and doing something he probably shouldn't. It felt like this situation now included all three, and the distraction would let them both step out from under all those subjects they didn't talk about.
As far as he was concerned, the game had shifted and moved to the next step. They would always have flirting after all, but sharing a kiss was a reminder that a physical connection chased away some of the isolation that seemed to be by design in this place.
Fabian's lips felt and tasted as expected, firm and with experience as the younger man replied in kind to his gesture. The air sharing was interesting, not something that he had experienced before and certainly sent a thrill through the connection of their mouths. He sucked some of that air to his lungs to maintain himself, even if he would not be able to stay under more than a minute and a half normally.
So he kisses like he's on the limited time that he is, nudging their noses together as he made a point to mouth gently on Fabian's lower lip before adding another full bodied kiss to both. He leaned their chests together, allowing Fabian free reign to twist and turn them in the water as the other man clearly had a better mastery of it than himself.]
[It seems they're a remarkably good fit in that way. Fabian just hopes he won't catch too many feelings and ruin the fun by accident. It's harder, here, to distance himself from people to avoid that issue.
For now, that worry is the last thing on his mind. He holds Vander close and propels them downward with his powerful tail in loose, corkscrew spirals. He kisses Vander greedily, but gives up his air generously. Fabian's gills mean that the air in his lungs is constantly being oxygenated, so no matter how many times they pass the same breath back and forth, Vander likely won't feel the pain or desperate panic of lacking oxygen. With any luck, it will become a rhythm, and their time underwater will be greatly extended.
Vander's lips are even lovelier than he'd imagined. Surprisingly plump, meaty like the rest of him. Experienced, but also gentle and careful. The combination of those things is like a drug to Fabian. When one is experienced, it's all the more easy to fall into a trap of being too rough or careless with a partner, but Vander is not that kind of man. It speaks to his character, and importantly, it feels safe.
Meanwhile, the deep and animalistic side of Fabian's mer form lurks as the desire to pull Vander down into the deep until he can breathe no more, or tear into him with claws and teeth. It makes him feel guilty; he'd never want to hurt Vander, so why is he having those urges now? Instincts don't discriminate, he supposes. He does allow for his claws to come out, just slightly, to thread into Vander's hair and scratch at his scalp.]
[He noted that they were twirling deeper, the pressure on his ears building but only as a sign that Fabian was taking them towards the bottom. It did remind him that it would be easy enough for them to stay down there, especially as Fabian was clearly the better and stronger swimmer than he could ever be. Maybe the threat of being forced to stay there and the upcoming burn to his lungs would be welcomed. He didn't know yet.
The air bubble was security, but as quickly as it could be produced, he knew it could be taken away. Again, he never had that sense with Fabian, but he didn't deny that the hairs on the back of his neck rose in animalistic concern as they went deeper and exchanged both air and a kiss.
His arms remained firm at the elbows to keep Fabian close bodily, yet he made certain to keep his hands freed up so that he could stroke over those scales with one and across the younger man's shoulders with the other. He kissed like they were sharing a secret with one another, still flirting in a new way and still playing the game with one another with an added element. He was both a tease and used his skill to see where he could take advantage while also being fun. His tongue traced Fabian's lips, tasting and testing to see if the younger man would battle him or just let them enjoy a back-and-forth of control.
His eyes close as those fingers with their claws comb through his hair, and he managed a low rumble in his chest of pleasure to that action. He had to breath out into their air shared air bubble to make room to take in more to his slowly starving lungs. It prolonged the time they could be underwater, a fact that he found thrilling.]
[Fabian's keen ears hear that rumble, and he feels it against his own chest. It encourages him, pulling him out of the doubt and guilt of grappling with his nature. This is Vander, a man who was beating the shit out of a giant rock-worm when they met, a man who has scars aplenty and made the first move to pull the two of them underwater. He is not averse to risk, and if Fabian had to guess, probably likes it rough. He need not be gentle and soft and demure, not with a man who's hinted at fucking him since the moment they met. Perhaps he can indulge in his animal urges just a little.
He huffs some air into Vander's mouth and rakes his claws down the man's back, hard enough to leave long red marks, as he continues to swim with him. Coming up toward the surface teasingly, then dipping down again, all the while dutifully providing him with air. He gropes greedily at Vander, pressing for dominance in his mouth a little, though secretly hoping for force to be returned.]
[There was a part of him since arriving that was leaning into the old thrill seeker of youth, dredging it up to be his armour against the hurt that he was experiencing. And the danger of Fabian's potential nature was part of that thrill, aware the younger man could harm him, could hold him at the bottom until the air ran out and they'd fight and perhaps he'd lose. They were relatively gentle on the surface; it wasn't necessary here.
His back flexed and undulated with the drag of those claws, feeling the burn of rising welts in their path. In response, he freed a leg from the tangle of Fabian's thick tail to curl it around one portion as if he could grapple in return. One hand moved to entangle in Fabian's hair, twisting strands around his fingers so he could begin the slow experienced process of stripping the power dynamic to be in his favour despite the environment being completely in Fabian's.
In their kiss, he gave way to the dominance for a few seconds then came roaring back to bite at the younger man's lower lip, drawing it into his mouth to suck on it greedily. Setting his teeth like a threat but aside from a further nibble, he didn't bite. Instead, his hand moved to use Fabian's hair to draw the younger man's head back so he could lick and nip a line down Fabian's neck. He was back to holding his breath for now.]
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no subject
He brought the carving closer to his face, turning it this way and that. It definitely was shaping up to be dog-like and needed some extra details to set it apart from bears or cats, he supposed. Fabian was good with his hands that was for certain.]
We're all full of mysteries, I expect. There's still plenty that I don't yet know about you, but I suspect I'll encourage it out of you soon enough.
[After all, there was a sadness to Fabian that mirrored his own, pushed further back behind the smiles, the compliments and the gestures. Maybe that's why they were drawn to one another.]
You're going to need more wood for that carving. There's a lot of me.
no subject
[Distractible though he is, his attention when he's with Vander is always glued to him, as it is now, watching him examine the carving.]
I ought to ask him about his dog's features. There are many sorts of dogs in my world, and I am only really familiar with the stray mutts I befriend here and there.
[He grins deviously, wrapping his arm around Vander's waist as he's held by the shoulders.]
There is so delightfully much of you. [He nuzzles his head into Vander's chest, stifling the immense urge to chomp on his pec muscle.] We'll have to find a tree somewhere and cut it down. A very big old one. That would be the only thing thick enough.
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[He was gaining the impression that Fabian, Miller and himself were going to be taste-testing a lot of his attempts to create a palatable mushroom vodka. That meant that they would be spending time together but also there would be a lot of drinking. Laughs, stupidity and tears were highly likely.]
You should. Do you put dogs on your ship for companionship?
[They were used to being physically comfortable with each other, always nudging and pushing the other on each meeting. It was all part of the game they played. He made a point to flip some of the longer hair at the back of Fabian's neck affectionately as he leaned into the arm around his waist.]
I think you have a size kink at this rate... [He was teasing. Or was he?
He hummed as Fabian nuzzled in, and he brought them out of the stairwell to cross the ground floor to the water tunnels.] Good luck with that. We are sorely lacking on trees, but maybe take up sculpture? I'd stand for that.
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[He smushes his face into Vander's tit to demonstrate.]
Not usually; they're a bit of a liability, really brings down morale if you lose them in a skirmish... And potty-training and walks are a bit of an issue.
[When at sea, a ship is a closed container; there's no way to take the doggie for a longer walk, or out to the woods to pee.]
But when we're ashore, I usually end up feeding some skinny little thing and getting just a smidge too attached before we move on... [He smiles fondly, as though remembering those pups right now.]
What kinks don't I have, Vander? [It's obviously not hard to get him going.
His step quickens as they get nearer to the pools. He cannot wait to dive in, even as shallow and bland as they are.]
Hm, at least it would be something to do... Speaking of things to do, how is our mushroom moonshine project going? How can I help?
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It feels like you're growing obsessed with my chest. [Bemused.] You know I usually charge extra for a peep show, but I like you so a freebie or two.
[Ah well, it was clear that there were different rules for different ships. He knew a few that took along cats for vermin control, but there were the occasional small dog that filled that role here and there.]
You can't help but pick up strays wherever you go, hmmm? I bet you're an overall crowd pleaser and a bit of a scoundrel. [So honestly, his type of people. No wonder they managed to see eye-to-eye easily.
He released his grip so that Fabian could rush the rest of the way to the pools, which he knew the younger man was keen to strip and dive into. At least it was clean and cycled to remain that way, which was a boon.]
It's coming along. I actually think the alcohol we make might glow like the mushrooms themselves.
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[It sounds teasing and flirting, but it's true. He is incredibly attracted to this man, not just for his looks but for his charm, his kindness, and his history of trying to overthrow regimes.]
That is an incredibly accurate description of myself, yes. And yourself too, methinks?
[And rush he does, not able to contain himself. He strips completely, in record time and without care, revealing a lean, tanned, and muscular body covered in scars. The pool is not deep enough to safely swan-dive into, really, but he does a graceful sort of push off the edge with his feet and slips seamlessly under the surface.
He's under there for a minute, swimming all the way down to the bottom before coming back up. When he does, he's in mer-form, partly covered in maroon and gold scales and fins.]
Ooh, glowing alcohol! How fun... Those mushrooms gave me a sort of high, as well, so I wonder if the booze will too...
[He gasps as he realizes something unrelated.]
I forgot my bar of soap! Drat.
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He hummed at the verbal nudge, shrugging his shoulders just a touch as if to say 'guilty as charged'.]
I would like to claim my scoundrel days are over, but I do still have a hand in the import and export of illegal and sometimes illicit supplies. [He ran a quiet but tight ship, allowing many to thrive in that setting and carve out a life not of industry or sciences. Zaun had been founded on the idea of commerce after all.
He let Fabian rush on ahead, taking his time as he approached the edge of the water. By the time he arrived, the younger man was already divested of clothing and sliding into the water like the man had been born into it. He took his own time removing his clothing, body shyness long since squashed in his youth. There remained a bandage on his right forearm from wrist to elbow that he did not remove, even as he stepped into the water and waded his way to waist deep.
And Fabian? Well, he was a sight to behold, wasn't it? Different than Vander's exposure to a similar species and certainly so elegant and bold in coloration.]
I expect the distilling process may nullify certain natural chemicals that might bring about a high, but hey, it could be. We'll have to come up with a good name for it when we market it. [Not Shimmer, he mentally said.]
Eh, use sand if you can find some. That's what I did as a kid.
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[He grins, watching Vander undress and wade in. Gods, he is a lot of man, expansive and scarred, strong and sturdy and finely aged. Fabian admires him openly, swimming in a smooth circle around him as he gets up to his waist in the water.
In this form, Fabian's vibe is... Different. He's more ethereal, and there's something almost predatory in his gaze, which does not waver from Vander's form for even a moment. Rather than having an intimidating effect, though, there's a natural draw to it. It's something passive that can easily be resisted, but it changes something in the air slightly.]
Oooooh... I will begin brainstorming.
[Glowglug... Caveshine...?
His eyes soon lock on the bandage on Vander's arm, and as Fabian is prone to worrying over his comrades' injuries, he swims closer to it with concern.]
What happened? Worm damage?
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[He kept his eye on Fabian as the other man glided through the water, and even in the dim light, those scales glimmered. It was rather ethereal, and he could imagine the truth to all those tales of sailors becoming besotted with a merfolk and pulled overboard to relish attention on them, only to drown.
He dipped his hands in the water and splashed it up his arms and across his chest, since they technically had come here to bathe. It wasn't his fault that Fabian was a distracting and light-hearted presence to be around. His eyes continually fell to the other man, as if drawn without thought.]
You, me and Miller all three. I don't think we'll have an issue convincing people to trade for it once we have it established. Maybe even get enough to make it worthwhile to set up a gathering place.
[He noted the attention to his bandaged forearm and smiled, shrugging his shoulders and making a point to sink down in the water to properly wet his skin.]
No, it's an old injury. There's tendon damage, so I need support of a bandage. My old brace never made it here. [He lied so smoothly that he was convinced it would sound like truth. Well, partial lies.] And all my bruises and scrapes have healed since we had our first adventure with the worms.
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[His brows lift and he grins. Everything he learns of Vander only makes him more interested, more impressed.]
I love it.
[How tough, like how some pirates have nicknames... "Captain" had always been enough for Fabian, but he's had some more menacing monikers over the years... Ones he won't mention right now as some are related to his acts of drowning people.]
A gathering place? A bar perhaps? [Still grinning. It sounds like fun, to him.] And yes, perhaps the shopkeepers would look upon us favorably for this offering.
Oh, good. [Fabian looks visibly relieved by that news. Not that it's a good thing Vander was ever injured, but he was already beginning to dread the worry over his friend's wounds getting infected.] Though I do not like the way the gods withhold certain things from us. Prisoners are we, yes, but we need the essentials to live! [A brace seems essential, as does the ability to communicate verbally, which they've seemingly taken from Dante...]
[As Vander moves deeper into the water, Fabian takes his hand gently.]
Can you swim?
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[He suspected that Fabian had to have some interesting names beyond captain, and he was curious of what those might be. Maybe he would decide to add to it, his own propensity to occasionally call people be a nickname, especially since Fabian wasn't exactly an easy name to shorten.
It was something to consider as he developed a more intense friendship with the other man. Something would come up naturally, he suspected.]
Yeah, a gathering place that would also be a bar. There are empty rooms, and I've found some barrels that I've planned on using to hold and age alcohol. It will be quite the party once we get it up and running. [It would be good to have a gathering place of their own, he thought.
He allowed himself to be drawn further into the water, nodding his head at the question.] I can swim, yeah. [He hummed in agreement, but he knew from experience that this was all for punishment.] I think they might believe food, water and toilets are the basics. At least there are not guards to beat us, right?
What are prisons like where you're from?
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[Fabian's tone is starstruck, which is partly him playing a long with Vander's preening, and partly genuine. It's an extremely good title.
Ugh, when can they kiss?]
Look at you, master planner! This sounds absolutely delightful. [To punctuate his excitement, his tail flicks up out of the water, sending a few droplets flying.]
Ugh, Vander, must we talk about prison?
[Now knowing that Vander can swim, he tugs at his hand, pulling him out into the deeper part of the pool.]
We are in prison all day, every day, and I am sick to death of it. I would rather pretend we're somewhere else. If you could be anywhere in any universe right now, where would it be?
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[Well, there were other reasons that it also had impact, especially way back in his scraping days and his pit fighting evenings. Later on, his reputation proceeded him thanks to the failed revolution where he managed to become a household name. All of those stories for other times.]
This place is going to need a location where people can gather and it needs to be purely ours. I want to build a community here, and a gathering spot is important for that. [So yeah, he was planning. It wasn't like they had underage kids and even if they did, he'd consider them welcome anyway.
He chuffed an amused sound and allowed Fabian to pull him out to deeper water where even his feet didn't touch the bottom without complaint.]
I bet you'd be out on the high seas or some trading port, right? [He did consider the question for himself of course.] My bar. It was where I was the most comfortable, where I raised my kids and my favourite people gathered.
[He kicked his feet so he could bring himself closer to Fabian, mischievousness glinting in his eyes.] I guess you don't want me to show you some of the fun skills I learned in prison, huh? [He didn't learn them in prison, but hey, he knew it happened there.]
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[Fabian will certainly remember it. And he definitely wants to hear about the pit fighting sometime. Hot...]
I love that idea, truly. I will do all I can to help you realize this goal.
[He smiles and swims a tight circle around Vander, his tailfin and the fins on his arms brushing against the bigger man's skin lightly under the water.
Vander says he wants to be at his bar, which is what Fabian thought he would say. Fabian was hoping for an outdoor locale, because he misses fresh air something fierce, but he still moves his hands and whispers an incantation to create some of the atmosphere of a bar. Sounds of glasses clinking, steins thumping against wooden tables, people talking and playing pool, a bit of music in the background (though it's acoustic lute music due to that being Fabian's exposure to tavern music).]
It would be hard for me to choose... But yes, likely the sea or coastline. Oh, maybe a beach. Best of both worlds. [He smiles, imagining his favourite beaches.] Sunsets. Waves. Warmth. [At "warmth", his hand caresses his friend's upper arm, his other hand coming up to tuck Vander's hair behind his ear, looking at him amorously. Still with his strangely ethereal mer-charm. There's a light in his brown eyes, and it's hard to tell if it's an actual glimmer or just a sense of warmth.]
Fun skills? [He matches his mischievous tone.] Don't be obtuse, my dear, you know I want to see those.
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You're already helping! I expect we'll all soon get drunk and you'll teach us all sea shanties from your world.
[He stretched his arms out to pull himself along the water, feeling the caress of the fins on his skin. A shiver ran across his shoulders and down his spine in response, and he made a point of turning his head to keep an eye on his friend. He hummed at the sounds that filled the air, knowing they were meant to make him comfortable and appreciating the gesture. This was all about little bouts of escapism, wasn't it?]
A beach that gives way to crystal waters of the sea then. What would you want on your beach, hmm? White sands, shadow of tall tree leaves, good company or would you prefer quiet time to yourself? [As Fabian happened to swim in front of him, he moved to catch the younger man around the waist, careful of dorsal fins and perhaps sensitive scales. This was his first time in actual close contact after all. He was definitely charmed.] Worst part of the underground, isn't it? Colder than when kissed by the sun, yeah?
[He huffed a soft noise of amusement.] Just see? Here I thought you were more adventurous than just observation only.
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Soon may the Wellerman come, to bring us sugar and tea and rum!
[He sings up into the ceiling of the cave, his tenor unnaturally clear, its echo sounding more like an instrument than a person. The music in his illusion changes to The Wellerman's melody, subtly, switching from lute to fiddle.
He hums happily as his waist is grabbed, and moves into Vander's embrace.] All of that, yes. And I'd want you with me. No one else. [His hands slick Vander's hair back, combing from front to back, fingertips scraping lightly against his scalp. He wraps his arms loosely around his neck and plays with the hair at the back of his head. He puts almost none of his weight on Vander, treading water effortlessly.]
Yes. It's terribly cold here... [He pouts.] You would not believe how many people I've had to beg for a hug just to warm up.
Oh, so pedantic! [He chides flippantly.]
I want to experience your skills, then. With all five of my senses. [His gaze becomes more intense, sultry. He's clearly serious about this. Vander's handsome face is inches away from his, and he wants to close the gap, but he'll be patient. Wait for the right moment.]
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[He smiled at Fabian's singing, appreciating that he had a nice singing voice. He imagined with some musical instruments and people to play them, they could put that voice to good use and create some cheer in this place. Would that revelry be put down or punished? They would have to find out through trial and error.
He raised his thick eyebrows at the declaration. He knew escalation when he saw it; this meeting for a quick bath and conversation was heading in one direction. Would he put a stop to it? He hadn't yet decided; it was fun right now. Distraction was necessary to stop dwelling on otherwise deep grief.] Me and only me? Please, you could have anyone since it's your dream location.
[His head tipped back slightly to those fingers, eyes fluttering closed for a moment.] With your flirty nature? I can actually imagine how many people you have propositioned. Now how many would take you up on the request is a more difficult guess. There are some prudes in this place. [He sent a coy smile at Fabian.] You haven't asked me, I've noticed. Making up for lost time now?
[Fabian was alluring. It wasn't just the exotic look and feel of those scales and fins and the curl of that tail. It wasn't just the fingers in his hair, but the timber of Fabian's voice and the glamour of those eyes. Vander had experience though, and he used it to navigate the effects of this allure.]
You assume that all my bluster and flirting means I have skills. What if I'm lying? [He wasn't. He might have been out of that game to this level for years, but he didn't forget. It would be so easy to lose himself in it too, forget his problems, push them down, down, down.
His arm cinched tighter around Fabian's waist, and he tried to force them to tip even if he didn't have nearly the power of that muscular tail. He was by no means a weak man, and perhaps diving under the water was the area he thought best for their game to take them. Fabian's world beneath the surface.]
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[If not a fiddle, he can make do with most string instruments.]
Hm... [He pretends to think about all the people he could have on the beach with him. And there are others here he likes, as friends or potential lovers or otherwise, but right here and now, there is only one person he wants. With an innocent smile:] Funny, I cannot seem to think of anyone else.
You would be surprised. If you look pathetic enough, some people will just hug you unprompted, apparently. That was when it was freezing in here, though. Alas, it would seem there are many prudes here, as I have somehow not yet been laid.
[At this point, by Fabian's standards, it almost qualifies as a dry spell. The longest he tends to go is however long they're at sea, which is rarely more than a month.]
Well, I did not want to seem pathetic around you. And you are very fun to play with, regardless of whether anything comes of it.
[But he does want something to come of it, certainly.]
You're not.
[Fabian says this with certainty. He can read people well enough that he would have noticed little flecks of nervousness by now, if Vander was bluffing about all of this. It is clear the man lives it, just as Fabian does. Or at least, he lived this life at some point in the past, for long enough that returning to it feels natural to him.
Fabian does not resist Vander's hold. He's been dying to be manhandled by these arms since they met. They fall under the water, and Fabian grins. He pulls them down a bit further, spinning them around as he does. Vander may be bigger than him, but everyone weighs far less underwater. He soon stops, not wanting Vander to suspect he's trying to drown him. Fabian can breathe, whereas Vander cannot, so he'll let the other guide what happens down here. He looks at him with that same adoration, and keeps a loose hold of him.]
lol sorry, this went places XD
And he didn't mind either. The need for escapism was building, the culminative weight of his failings, the growth and struggles of his remaining children, the loss of his adoptive sons, the revelations of the loss of the Lanes, the undercity, and the uncomfortable itch of want for that glowing purple drug he had taken knowing there would be consequences.
So he smiled right back, humming in amusement, playing to the beats of the dance that they were undertaking together.] No, it wouldn't surprise me. You're young, gregarious, friendly and with the correct attitude of charms, self-deprecation and boldness to disarm people.
[Aware that he wouldn't be able to talk more just before they went under, he decided to punctuate the last moment with:] Oh, so being laid is where the issue lays now, is it?
[Then he was under the water, slipping beneath the otherwise calm circulating waters because no, he wasn't lying. They both knew it. The coolness washed away the weight on his shoulders and the back of his mind, focusing him as he opened his eyes in the seemingly clear water and continuing to spy Fabian who somehow managed to appear even more ethereal completely submerged.
The spin was fun, reminding him of play as a boy in the few 'safe' water sources or when they'd splash around the ship docks. He was holding his breath, but he wouldn't mind being starved a little for oxygen. He lifted a hand to cup one of Fabian's cheeks, feeling the whiskers of his facial hair under his palm, thumb stroking under the other man's eye. He leaned in, aware of what Fabian wanted, aware they had been playing this game since they met.
He had no issue taking lead. Never did, never would. He closed the distance and kissed the merman, letting out a few bubbles from his lips to tickle Fabian's. Not too much as he did need to conserve oxygen, but it was all flirty and in good fun as he tasted those lips for the first time.]
YYYEEEEESSSSSS
Oh, goodness.
[He smiles bashfully at the compliments, then deviously at the implication of getting laid with Vander.
In the water, they're suspended, weightless. As Vander touches his face, his lashes flutter slightly, and he reaches out to caress his bearded cheek in turn.
He's a bit surprised when Vander kisses him. Though they've been flirting constantly since they met, Fabian sensed the other man may have still had a guard up, ready to decline any actual advances he made. The kiss makes it feel like the game is over; like this is now real.
Fabian doesnt hesitate to return it, to pull Vander closer by the back of his neck, arching his now oddly flexible body up into him. The bubbles make him laugh slightly, his own bubbles escaping, and he presses their lips together more firmly, opening his mouth so they're sharing a small pocket of air. He wonders how long Vander can hold his breath, wonders if this might turn out to be an intense thrill for him, the longer they're under here.]
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As far as he was concerned, the game had shifted and moved to the next step. They would always have flirting after all, but sharing a kiss was a reminder that a physical connection chased away some of the isolation that seemed to be by design in this place.
Fabian's lips felt and tasted as expected, firm and with experience as the younger man replied in kind to his gesture. The air sharing was interesting, not something that he had experienced before and certainly sent a thrill through the connection of their mouths. He sucked some of that air to his lungs to maintain himself, even if he would not be able to stay under more than a minute and a half normally.
So he kisses like he's on the limited time that he is, nudging their noses together as he made a point to mouth gently on Fabian's lower lip before adding another full bodied kiss to both. He leaned their chests together, allowing Fabian free reign to twist and turn them in the water as the other man clearly had a better mastery of it than himself.]
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For now, that worry is the last thing on his mind. He holds Vander close and propels them downward with his powerful tail in loose, corkscrew spirals. He kisses Vander greedily, but gives up his air generously. Fabian's gills mean that the air in his lungs is constantly being oxygenated, so no matter how many times they pass the same breath back and forth, Vander likely won't feel the pain or desperate panic of lacking oxygen. With any luck, it will become a rhythm, and their time underwater will be greatly extended.
Vander's lips are even lovelier than he'd imagined. Surprisingly plump, meaty like the rest of him. Experienced, but also gentle and careful. The combination of those things is like a drug to Fabian. When one is experienced, it's all the more easy to fall into a trap of being too rough or careless with a partner, but Vander is not that kind of man. It speaks to his character, and importantly, it feels safe.
Meanwhile, the deep and animalistic side of Fabian's mer form lurks as the desire to pull Vander down into the deep until he can breathe no more, or tear into him with claws and teeth. It makes him feel guilty; he'd never want to hurt Vander, so why is he having those urges now? Instincts don't discriminate, he supposes. He does allow for his claws to come out, just slightly, to thread into Vander's hair and scratch at his scalp.]
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The air bubble was security, but as quickly as it could be produced, he knew it could be taken away. Again, he never had that sense with Fabian, but he didn't deny that the hairs on the back of his neck rose in animalistic concern as they went deeper and exchanged both air and a kiss.
His arms remained firm at the elbows to keep Fabian close bodily, yet he made certain to keep his hands freed up so that he could stroke over those scales with one and across the younger man's shoulders with the other. He kissed like they were sharing a secret with one another, still flirting in a new way and still playing the game with one another with an added element. He was both a tease and used his skill to see where he could take advantage while also being fun. His tongue traced Fabian's lips, tasting and testing to see if the younger man would battle him or just let them enjoy a back-and-forth of control.
His eyes close as those fingers with their claws comb through his hair, and he managed a low rumble in his chest of pleasure to that action. He had to breath out into their air shared air bubble to make room to take in more to his slowly starving lungs. It prolonged the time they could be underwater, a fact that he found thrilling.]
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He huffs some air into Vander's mouth and rakes his claws down the man's back, hard enough to leave long red marks, as he continues to swim with him. Coming up toward the surface teasingly, then dipping down again, all the while dutifully providing him with air. He gropes greedily at Vander, pressing for dominance in his mouth a little, though secretly hoping for force to be returned.]
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His back flexed and undulated with the drag of those claws, feeling the burn of rising welts in their path. In response, he freed a leg from the tangle of Fabian's thick tail to curl it around one portion as if he could grapple in return. One hand moved to entangle in Fabian's hair, twisting strands around his fingers so he could begin the slow experienced process of stripping the power dynamic to be in his favour despite the environment being completely in Fabian's.
In their kiss, he gave way to the dominance for a few seconds then came roaring back to bite at the younger man's lower lip, drawing it into his mouth to suck on it greedily. Setting his teeth like a threat but aside from a further nibble, he didn't bite. Instead, his hand moved to use Fabian's hair to draw the younger man's head back so he could lick and nip a line down Fabian's neck. He was back to holding his breath for now.]
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