![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[He tilts his head.] For...the kiss?
[Wasn't Astarion the expert on sex, or something?]
I liked what we did earlier, to be honest. It's kind of...fast, to jump to this sort of intensity. [His head shoots up when he realizes something.] Are you afraid it'll be too late if one of us disappears?
[Wasn't Astarion the expert on sex, or something?]
I liked what we did earlier, to be honest. It's kind of...fast, to jump to this sort of intensity. [His head shoots up when he realizes something.] Are you afraid it'll be too late if one of us disappears?
[...........]
...Well, now I am!
[He breathes out, trying to think how to word this without sounding utterly pathetic, but he isn't sure there is a way.]
No one... no one has turned me down. And they were all people I didn't care for.
...Well, now I am!
[He breathes out, trying to think how to word this without sounding utterly pathetic, but he isn't sure there is a way.]
No one... no one has turned me down. And they were all people I didn't care for.
What? [His head turns sharply downward.] Oh. [It tilts as he grits his teeth.] Shit.
[That made things worse. Before he can think about responding to the second part, Taryon reaches for Astarion's hand and grips it tightly.]
I'm not turning you down, I swear. I mean- I like just staying together like this. I don't...I don't feel like doing much else right now.
[That made things worse. Before he can think about responding to the second part, Taryon reaches for Astarion's hand and grips it tightly.]
I'm not turning you down, I swear. I mean- I like just staying together like this. I don't...I don't feel like doing much else right now.
But it's my room. He wasn't in your space. That would have been worrying. I wanted to ask him about his music before you came in. [And ruined everything.
But Johnny could be correct in that Taryon destroyed any chance of a civil conversation long ago.
But in the end, Tary is angry at Astarion.]
Did you really think I was going to leave you for him just like that? That he could show off his guitar skills and his muscles and I'd forget how we went to bed together or how you helped me when I was sick from the rift? That you told me about your past and I was fine with everything? I forgave you for kissing me but I thought that was the end of all of your issues with Johnny.
Why did you have to go and act like I wasn't allowed to do anything with your permission?
But Johnny could be correct in that Taryon destroyed any chance of a civil conversation long ago.
But in the end, Tary is angry at Astarion.]
Did you really think I was going to leave you for him just like that? That he could show off his guitar skills and his muscles and I'd forget how we went to bed together or how you helped me when I was sick from the rift? That you told me about your past and I was fine with everything? I forgave you for kissing me but I thought that was the end of all of your issues with Johnny.
Why did you have to go and act like I wasn't allowed to do anything with your permission?
Your dorm is familiar to me.
[He has been in it fairly often before they became a couple, after all. It was a serving safe space.]
I never said you needed my permission, Taryon. I became jealous, yes, and I should have tried to keep my temper. However, that isn't the same as demanding you to ask if you may have friends over as if you're my whelp.
I also wasn't suspicious of you, I was suspicious ofhis motivations.
It's so easy to have someone wooed away from you. I discovered that not too long ago...
[He has been in it fairly often before they became a couple, after all. It was a serving safe space.]
I never said you needed my permission, Taryon. I became jealous, yes, and I should have tried to keep my temper. However, that isn't the same as demanding you to ask if you may have friends over as if you're my whelp.
I also wasn't suspicious of you, I was suspicious ofhis motivations.
It's so easy to have someone wooed away from you. I discovered that not too long ago...
[He doesn't know what to say for a moment. It felt like hours before he could say something, and he couldn't even look Astarion in the face as he does.]
You're content to be with me all night...like we were. No sex.
[There's disbelief in his voice. Disbelief, confusion, but also consideration.]
You're content to be with me all night...like we were. No sex.
[There's disbelief in his voice. Disbelief, confusion, but also consideration.]
...Yeees? [The turn of his head is slow, his voice uncertain that he's hearing what he thought he heard.] I'm not - I'm not really into having intercourse immediately.
[A pause. Taryon looks down at his lap.]
I'm not interested in you just for that.
[A pause. Taryon looks down at his lap.]
I'm not interested in you just for that.
If he tried anything untoward, Doty was there to defend me.
Now Johnny thinks I'm spreading lies behind his back. I didn't think you were going to share what I told you with him. I thought people weren't supposed to share that.
Is this about Tav?
Now Johnny thinks I'm spreading lies behind his back. I didn't think you were going to share what I told you with him. I thought people weren't supposed to share that.
Is this about Tav?
[He hadn't thought about Johnny attacking Taryon, Astarion's fears were purely the possibility of wooing, but at that moment he is glad Tary has his metal companion.]
I shouldn't have. He had just made me so angry.
[He really doesn't want to offer what he is about to offer, it leaves a bitter taste on his tongue, but if he is going to make things right with Taryon.]
I will try and talk to him. It was my misunderstanding, and you were bragging with a friend. My mind, it's bent to assume certain things when it shouldn't.
Yes. Tav.
I shouldn't have. He had just made me so angry.
[He really doesn't want to offer what he is about to offer, it leaves a bitter taste on his tongue, but if he is going to make things right with Taryon.]
I will try and talk to him. It was my misunderstanding, and you were bragging with a friend. My mind, it's bent to assume certain things when it shouldn't.
Yes. Tav.
[Everything seemed to be going so well, but it turns out Astarion isn't suddenly free from all negative thoughts just because they're dating. Anger? At Johnny? Sure, Taryon can be uncomfortable with his sexual comments, but it's nothing he can't manage.
...Should he have warned Astarion that Johnny is a crude man? Another piece of evidence that Taryon could have prevented all of this if he were more forthcoming.]
Alright. Good to know.
I'm not Tav, you know. I may not be aware of what exactly happened, but that's a conversation for later.
I think I need some time alone.
...Should he have warned Astarion that Johnny is a crude man? Another piece of evidence that Taryon could have prevented all of this if he were more forthcoming.]
Alright. Good to know.
I'm not Tav, you know. I may not be aware of what exactly happened, but that's a conversation for later.
I think I need some time alone.
[He isn't free of his nastier faults, and as he has this conversation he wonders if he can be. Does someone like him dare to hope for happiness? After all he has done, after everything Cazador has done to break him?]
You're not him, no. And that's good.
[He frowns at the last message. Part of him wants to protest this. Astarion wants to see him, badly. He had apologized, hadn't he?
But he closes his eyes, tells himself to calm down. Don't be so ridiculous.]
All right. I will wait for you.
You're not him, no. And that's good.
[He frowns at the last message. Part of him wants to protest this. Astarion wants to see him, badly. He had apologized, hadn't he?
But he closes his eyes, tells himself to calm down. Don't be so ridiculous.]
All right. I will wait for you.
[Of course he knows there are people like that, who don't get wooed into having sex on first blush. But he has to convince those people to give up on that ideal, to join him, come to the palace...
No. He doesn't have to. He doesn't have to do that any more. He isn't trading his body for anything. Taryon only wants him for him.
He leans in, wrapping his arms around Taryon and pressing his face into his shoulder.]
No. He doesn't have to. He doesn't have to do that any more. He isn't trading his body for anything. Taryon only wants him for him.
He leans in, wrapping his arms around Taryon and pressing his face into his shoulder.]
[Taryon startles at the hug - not the response he expected in what he though was the midst of a serious conversation, but it's a good sign. He raises a hand to rest on Astarion's arm.]
...This is also nice. [He's held. He's being held like he's important and that's the greatest intimate act he can imagine on this night.]
...This is also nice. [He's held. He's being held like he's important and that's the greatest intimate act he can imagine on this night.]
[He's worried for a moment he'll be pushed away, but he isn't. Instead he touches him with his warm hand.]
It is. I really do like this.
[Just spending a night with him, like before when they were merely friends. But with a little more to it. More affection, more gentle touches and sweet kisses.
Not feeling like he has to do more.
He has a similar sensation in his chest as the moment Taryon said he wanted to try being with him. With wonder, he says into Taryon's shoulder:]
I feel happy.
It is. I really do like this.
[Just spending a night with him, like before when they were merely friends. But with a little more to it. More affection, more gentle touches and sweet kisses.
Not feeling like he has to do more.
He has a similar sensation in his chest as the moment Taryon said he wanted to try being with him. With wonder, he says into Taryon's shoulder:]
I feel happy.
[Taryon's smile curls like a happy cat's. A weight in his arms, a body holding his as if he were a precious person - it's been years since he felt like this. Men who got physically close, men with whom he had wonderful dates, but now he has a close friend in love with him.]
It feels rather sweet.
[Romantic. A kindness in this ugly and terrifying world.]
...I hope I can keep you [There's a slightest pause.] happy.
It feels rather sweet.
[Romantic. A kindness in this ugly and terrifying world.]
...I hope I can keep you [There's a slightest pause.] happy.
I'm sure you can both keep me and keep me happy.
[Astarion would like that. Someone to care about him. Someone that would be upset and passionate about saving him if he too was taken by a rift.
He leans back, loathe to leave the hug, but it might get too awkward remaining like that. He nods his head at the bed.]
Let's rest, shall we?
[Astarion would like that. Someone to care about him. Someone that would be upset and passionate about saving him if he too was taken by a rift.
He leans back, loathe to leave the hug, but it might get too awkward remaining like that. He nods his head at the bed.]
Let's rest, shall we?
[Taryon doesn't vocally respond, but he fluffs his pillow and lies.]
...I'm alright with hugging in bed.
[He feels rather cold this late spring night. He just hadn't noticed it until he let go of Astarion.]
...I'm alright with hugging in bed.
[He feels rather cold this late spring night. He just hadn't noticed it until he let go of Astarion.]
[It's chaos after Ereshkigal is defeated, and it feels like years until they return to their current to their base of operations where their beds await--well, bed now, as Taryon had invited him to stay with him, and of course Astarion agreed.
They part briefly for him to go grab what few belongings he had but, more importantly, freshen up. His body aches, he is so tired, he has bandages here pr there to cover up the deeper cuts and wounds Taryon's potions hadn't taken full care of, but they weren't necessarily bleeding.
He was...rather low, in that regard. It could become a problem if he didn't take care of it soon, but he should be fine this night. He didn't want to think about hunting for blood, he just wants to be with the human. Together, alone, in peace.
Reaching Taryon's door, he gives it a knock and cracks it open, calling in:]
Taryon...?
They part briefly for him to go grab what few belongings he had but, more importantly, freshen up. His body aches, he is so tired, he has bandages here pr there to cover up the deeper cuts and wounds Taryon's potions hadn't taken full care of, but they weren't necessarily bleeding.
He was...rather low, in that regard. It could become a problem if he didn't take care of it soon, but he should be fine this night. He didn't want to think about hunting for blood, he just wants to be with the human. Together, alone, in peace.
Reaching Taryon's door, he gives it a knock and cracks it open, calling in:]
Taryon...?
[Taryon gulps down the next glass of water with the vitamin supplement. After fighting through several gates and a monster while suffering Sumerian Fever, the medics demanded that he recover whatever fluids he lost and to rest. With thr majority of his wounds dressed, Taryon has been focused on rest and good.
A knock on the door, and Tary opens it expecting a nurse. His neutral, polite expression shoots into surprise and delight.] Astarion! Did you come to visit me?
A knock on the door, and Tary opens it expecting a nurse. His neutral, polite expression shoots into surprise and delight.] Astarion! Did you come to visit me?
[Ah. That smile. Any nerves Astarion may have still had melts away. He responds with a confident, roguish smile.]
Of course I did, darling, how could I stay away from you for long?
[A beat, then more awkwardly:]
Erm, and perhaps you would like my company tonight?
Of course I did, darling, how could I stay away from you for long?
[A beat, then more awkwardly:]
Erm, and perhaps you would like my company tonight?
[He looks at the hallway. No sign of a doctor who would scold him for taking his guests whe he should he resting alone.]
Of course. It's getting rather dull resting all day.
[He rapidly waves Astarion inside.]
...Are you still hurt?
Of course. It's getting rather dull resting all day.
[He rapidly waves Astarion inside.]
...Are you still hurt?
[He slips on in with his small bag, dropping it by the bed.]
Oh, don't worry about the plasters.
[He says as he stands there, looking like literal death. His pallid skin is even paler than usual, his eyes more sunken with darker circles under them. The only thing keeping him from not seeking out a coffin to curl up in is Taryon.]
Oh, don't worry about the plasters.
[He says as he stands there, looking like literal death. His pallid skin is even paler than usual, his eyes more sunken with darker circles under them. The only thing keeping him from not seeking out a coffin to curl up in is Taryon.]
I would think that all those bandages are worth being concerned over.
[The pallor could be concernin, but Taryon must consider that being a vampire could affect his appearance for the worse. Would it be impolite to point out that he's looking particularly terrible today?
His consistent staring isn't helping matters.]
[The pallor could be concernin, but Taryon must consider that being a vampire could affect his appearance for the worse. Would it be impolite to point out that he's looking particularly terrible today?
His consistent staring isn't helping matters.]
I'm not even bleeding, darling, there is nothing to worry over.
[He wobbles a bit. Oh.]
Er, may I sit?
[He wobbles a bit. Oh.]
Er, may I sit?
[Taryon reaches out to grab Astarion before he apparently faints, but the uneasy stance does not comfort him.]
You really need to.
[One hand on his back, Taryon guides him to sit on his bed.] I hope you didn't escape from your observation room or whatever doctors put you while they're working on you.
You really need to.
[One hand on his back, Taryon guides him to sit on his bed.] I hope you didn't escape from your observation room or whatever doctors put you while they're working on you.
Page 9 of 14