I'd like to do whatever I need to do and get out of here. I'm willing to accept it's a long process, but the last one couldn't give me a single step to take.
Hmm. As you yet remain here, I would argue the Admiral does not find such sufficient. Thus I would propose your first step should be finding that which is yet keeping you here.
There is neither, to my knowledge. I am willing to assist in this endeavor to the best of my abilities, but I lack the context for your particular situation and that which has brought you here.
[A pause.]
Or had you expected something that could be more immediately acted upon?
[It's an honest question! And one largely aimed at helping him understand the situation as it stands.]
It is not, necessarily. But surely you have experience with situations in which there can be no immediate answer? That might require study or planning, beforehand?
Then allow me a further observation. The Admiral's intent is that his passengers 'graduate'. By your own admission, you would not repeat your previous mistakes. Thus, it cannot be that alone which ties you to this ship.
Would it not follow, therefore, that there is yet a matter to research?
He doesn't mind the bantering but. Huh. That's... depressing. He dips his head obediently with the pleasant little prickle against his scalp, focusing on that so he doesn't sound too grim when he says, "Oh, uh, years, actually." Which is unusual even for him, but what with one catastrophe after another, and then the six horrible months on the run, well, he didn't have time or energy.
It isn’t meant to be judgmental, rather a general gauging of how best to proceed. If it’s been a while he’ll be a little less selfish, even if he really just wants to be fucked until he can’t think.
“I don’t believe it,” he says, tugging gently on his hair to bring him back up for a kiss. “Not a beautiful thing like you.”
"I've been busy, that's all," he protests weakly. It's a lie, but it's one of those gentle, socially conditioned lies. The lie born in not wanting to burden anyone else with his personal drama. Elu's not as generous as all that. He just known that input and output are generally pretty strongly correlated. If everybody gets what they want out of these things, then everybody walks away happy.
He moves where he's tugged, because he's cooperative. But he doesn't drop the protest. "I'm at least two or three times your age. Years pass quickly once you have the hang of them."
“I’m just happy you’re not busy now,” replies Huaisang, deciding he opened up a door that he now wants to quickly close. He hopes to do so by fully pulling apart his robes and hooking one pale leg around Elu’s hip.
Elu agrees. Might it be nice to spill his heart to someone? Sometime. In an abstract future. Not at the moment. "I'm very busy. Just pleasantly." He is a little worried about these gorgeous clothes, though, especially knowing they're far more real than the ones he's used to. Hoping it seems seductive and not fussy, he catches one of Nie Huaisang's hands, and guides its clever fingers to his lapels.
Even though they're his own robes but he still takes a second or two to brush the tips of his fingers along the elaborate pattern of the silk brocade. He has good taste, he always has, and the color makes Elu's eyes glimmer and shine.
Naturally Nie Huaisang has Ideas, and so he'll undo the front of the robes and then the sash. "Leave the rest on," he says, eyelashes fluttering. "It feels so good against bare skin."
Well. If he says so. The fastidious nerd in Elu is powerful, but not enough to stand up to a look like that. "It does," he agrees lamely, and lowers his weight again with a slow shudder. Oh. Yeah, it has been a while, hasn't it? And all the reasons for that weigh on him, but defying them feels good. He groans softly and turns his attention determinedly back where it belongs, mouthing along Nie Huaisang's throat.
The both of them bare enough to Huaisang’s liking, he pulls Elu’s head up for a kiss with a little more spice behind it. “You’ll bed me tonight, won’t you? Or do you enjoy it the other way around?”
Nie Huaisang’s many facets means he usually knows what he wants and how he wants it, and tonight what he wants is for Elu to enjoy himself.
That at first seems a slightly absurd question to ask someone who's mostly naked on top of you, but then he parses the slight euphemism. Oh, he... hadn't thought that far ahead. And if he had, he'd have assumed they were heading for a casual roll with a lot of friction. His breath hitches a little, but this whole wild entanglement came of his saying he was perfectly game, no matter how mousy he seems. He nods and shifts so his thigh presses firmly between Nie Huaisang's legs. "I'd like to, if that's what you want?"
Nie Huaisang has enough confidence in bed to plow right through any perceived hesitation. His hips push back against his thigh and then he playfully shimmies away from Elu to collect the silver qiankun pouch underneath his pillow. He doesn’t take out the oil just yet though, nose wrinkling mischievously two beats before he straight up tackles Elu to the bed in a flurry of exquisite fabric.
“I wasn’t joking, I want to touch these metal pieces in your face. Is it taboo?”
Elu gasps and then laughs, a little closer to losing himself in this strange playfulness. He wouldn't dare. But he's glad someone else does! Slightly pinned, he contents himself with letting his eyes feast, shamelessly gaping at the elegant prettiness that just tossed him to the bed.
He even smiles at the question. It's a little outre, maybe, but Elu's flings have more often than not been with mortals who were more attracted to the idea of an angel than to him. The interest is normal, but the curiosity is sort of charming. "No. They just feel like metal, though, it's not very interesting..."
“I find them interesting.” If he could he’d piece himself together in jade and silver, but instead has to settle for the silver thread and jade rings and bracelets.
He brings a finger up to caress along his cheek and then up to the metal markings. The contrast of smooth metal and soft skin is delightful, a kind of indulgence that fits perfectly with fucking with one’s fancy clothes on.
Then Huaisang leans forward and licks one of the spots out of pure curiosity. Yep. They sure are just metal! But the grin on his face stretches from ear-to-ear, the pleased he was allowed the silly little experiment.
It's a new sort of attention. He's not sure if any explanation or defense is warranted. Since most of the utility of the plates is tied to ease of neurosurgery, probably not. Nobody wants to think about brain edits in bed. Odd to think of them as pretty. "They're mostly just a... badge of office." He wishes they were interesting!
Wanting to match then enthusiasm, he reaches up and slips his fingers into Nie Huaisang's hair. He doesn't want to muss it, just admire it properly, and is careful as he combs through, stopping when the hits the resistance of a braid. He really is too pretty a picture to muss.
"I don't see the problem with finding the mundane beautiful." He enjoys them like someone might admire a scar or a freckle.
There's only one more thing he needs to do. Huaisang sits up and pulls his hair from his metal guan, setting it aside and letting the intricate Nie braids fall over his shoulders.
An aesthete to the last, Elu gives the performance his whole attention, noting the pretty design of the hair ornament as well as the charming tumble framing Nie Huaisang's face. He reaches up to twist one of the braids around his finger and then to claim a hungrier kiss. Just shifting about like this is enough to make him groan, low and pitchy in the back of his throat.
A breathes a happy little moan against his lips, feeding his hunger with a slip of his tongue and a bite at his lip. There's few more little movements against his hips, pushing them together and grinding sweetly, as he produces the vial of oil and sets it into Elu's hand.
"You make so many beautiful noises, like a breathy song. I wonder what you'll sound like when you're inside of me."
He doesn't resist being flustered, because clearly Nie Huaisang set out to fluster him. "Well, you'll have to tell me. I'm sure I'll be too busy to notice." He uncaps the bottle and his brows knit a little (a very little, it's not a flexible part of his face with all the metal). "This is how you'd like...?" He looks up at Elu, not objecting, but making sure he wants to be on top at the moment. It's one of those things people can be particular about.
He answers Elu's unfinished question with an easy nod. Yes, this is exactly how he'd like it. He doesn't want to go into all the details about earlier preparations and plans, but he's ready in more way than one.
Huaisang shifts so Elu can make use of the oil, fingers walking up his chest and then pausing to play with one of his nipples. He wasn't going to make this too easy for him after all.
A startled, deeper moan rewards Huaisang's efforts and emboldens Elu, too. The game's only fun if they both play. He's gentle with his slicked fingers, but as he pushes closer, he emphasizes the press with a bite to Huaisang's prettily exposed neck. Careful, but not so gentle here.
Huaisang arches with a low groan, pleased with the balance of rough and gentle Elu’s managed to find, and perfectly happy to let him know through little gasps and sighs, and pressure of his fingers digging into his skin.
When his patience runs out he crawls back over and seats himself down on top of him, a low, slightly keening moan pushed out his lungs and throat. It feels so damn good, and the man below him is offering up a beautiful feast for his eyes and ears as he begins to rock.
Elu might have consciously resolved to match Huaisang's energy, but that part of his brain isn't working anymore, and the repressed bits are. His own noises are more muted, but his hands move firmly to grip Nie Huaisang's hips, more pressure for its own sake than guidance.
So he doesn't sing, not quite yet. Nie Huaisang is still enjoying himself, placing his hands firmly onto Elu's chest for balance as he brings himself up and then lowers back down. He gasps and groans each time he fully sheaths him inside of him, leaning forward to look down at his face as he speeds up.
[Elu keeps the groan internal. None of these have been any use whatsoever.]
Do you actually have anything to say that won't waste both our time? I've already heard that graduation is different for everyone and all I can do it be open to change, several times.
I actually want to learn more about you and you are welcome to ask anything you like about me. If that doesn't suit you, I would also like to test your self-defense.
backdated to just after pairings
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[Normally he'd at least try to be polite, but he's feeling testy.]
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[Elu has yet to learn the difference between things like honesty or responsibility and the appearance of apologetic self-awareness.]
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Would you do so again, should the opportunity arise?
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[He has... some inkling of perspective. Sometimes.]
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Is there a pamphlet, or maybe a guided worksheet, or do we just speak in broad generalities ad infinitum?
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[A pause.]
Or had you expected something that could be more immediately acted upon?
[It's an honest question! And one largely aimed at helping him understand the situation as it stands.]
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Would it not follow, therefore, that there is yet a matter to research?
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He won't stop him, encouraging the further removal of his sash with a little wriggle. He raises his hips and lazily twists Elu's hair in his fingers.
"How long has it been for you?"
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“I don’t believe it,” he says, tugging gently on his hair to bring him back up for a kiss. “Not a beautiful thing like you.”
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He moves where he's tugged, because he's cooperative. But he doesn't drop the protest. "I'm at least two or three times your age. Years pass quickly once you have the hang of them."
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Naturally Nie Huaisang has Ideas, and so he'll undo the front of the robes and then the sash. "Leave the rest on," he says, eyelashes fluttering. "It feels so good against bare skin."
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Nie Huaisang’s many facets means he usually knows what he wants and how he wants it, and tonight what he wants is for Elu to enjoy himself.
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Okay, a little mousy still.
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“I wasn’t joking, I want to touch these metal pieces in your face. Is it taboo?”
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He even smiles at the question. It's a little outre, maybe, but Elu's flings have more often than not been with mortals who were more attracted to the idea of an angel than to him. The interest is normal, but the curiosity is sort of charming. "No. They just feel like metal, though, it's not very interesting..."
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He brings a finger up to caress along his cheek and then up to the metal markings. The contrast of smooth metal and soft skin is delightful, a kind of indulgence that fits perfectly with fucking with one’s fancy clothes on.
Then Huaisang leans forward and licks one of the spots out of pure curiosity. Yep. They sure are just metal! But the grin on his face stretches from ear-to-ear, the pleased he was allowed the silly little experiment.
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Wanting to match then enthusiasm, he reaches up and slips his fingers into Nie Huaisang's hair. He doesn't want to muss it, just admire it properly, and is careful as he combs through, stopping when the hits the resistance of a braid. He really is too pretty a picture to muss.
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There's only one more thing he needs to do. Huaisang sits up and pulls his hair from his metal guan, setting it aside and letting the intricate Nie braids fall over his shoulders.
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"You make so many beautiful noises, like a breathy song. I wonder what you'll sound like when you're inside of me."
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Huaisang shifts so Elu can make use of the oil, fingers walking up his chest and then pausing to play with one of his nipples. He wasn't going to make this too easy for him after all.
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When his patience runs out he crawls back over and seats himself down on top of him, a low, slightly keening moan pushed out his lungs and throat. It feels so damn good, and the man below him is offering up a beautiful feast for his eyes and ears as he begins to rock.
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[Video]
Greetings. I am Song Zichen and I will be your temporary Warden.
[Which he understands can be awkward.]
Would you be willing to meet me in person?
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Do you actually have anything to say that won't waste both our time? I've already heard that graduation is different for everyone and all I can do it be open to change, several times.
[Video]
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[Elu's response to physical violence is to recoil and whine and maybe flop like a wet noodle.]
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