lieabilities | [peacock] TDM Continuations

[ Darn it, his sensitive ears turn even redder as Kleken shifts his focus to massage behind it, causing Reign to exhale a shuddering breath. Either Kleken has practiced before, or he's really good with his dexterous digits.

It's hard to trust a man like Kleken, but Reign wonders if there will ever be a time where he would see the other's true personality. Or perhaps parts of him that are seldom seen by others.

He snorts softly, ignoring how Kleken's low voice seem to glide across him like running water. ]

Once we're done here, maybe we can then leave this room in search of your wine. It's a resort, after all. There's bound to be beverages of all sorts for you.

[ Trusting someone like Kleken would truly be a fool's choice, given the way the man purposefully and pointedly leads a life of stacking lies upon lies. He's quick to squirm his way away from any sort of attempt to prod and probe at his personal life, and even quicker to turn the tides on a person whenever he can. It's a lifestyle he's used to, and thusfar, hasn't seen any reason to change. ]

[ But with enough exposure and acceptance that Kleken was simply... Kleken, one could perhaps find the honesty in all his dishonesty. ]

That sounds like a pleasant idea. Though perhaps you'd like to seek some more proper attire beforehand?

[ As if to accentuate his point and reminder of their near nudity, there's a light brush of a tentacle over exposed skin on Reign's thigh, teasingly brief but there all the same. ]

It would be a shame to cover up such a lovely figure though.

[ Reign can't imagine living a life of lies. Or hiding his true self. It had eaten him from the inside out, and already there are people who talked about him before he told his father the truth. Lying, half-truths, denying oneself... It's exhausting.

Doesn't mean that Reign doesn't keep parts of himself a secret either. Even so, he isn't going to poke and prod others uninvited. And Kleken is exactly the type who will slip and slide away before Reign could even delve deeper.

Though if he dives too deep, will he drown?

A flush of colour paint his cheeks as he is reminded of the state of their clothing, and Reign quickly glances down to make sure the tentacles hadn't pulled back his robe too much. ]

Unlike you, I rather conduct myself with decorum and modesty. But you're right. Clothes first, then drinks for you.

[ He tries not to squirm at the feather light brush against his thigh. ]

...how long does this massage last?

[ It would be a pleasant drowning- ]

[ Kleken's own eyes shift as well to follow Reign's gaze, rather blatantly looking over the other man in the process as well. Though Reign's modesty remains intact for the moment, he'll need to smack that tentacle away from its slow but steady path of nudging aside his robe to get it to stop. ]

[ He's rather interested to see if he will or won't. ]

However long until you're fully relaxed.

[ Another white-ish lie. What he means is however long Kleken can continue to push this little charade of his. ]

[ He leans in then, using his hands on Reign's head to turn his head just enough to guide his gaze back up on Kleken. His touch is still soft, leading rather than forcing, but the look in his red and purple eyes all but demand the other man's attention on him once more. ]

You still seem rather tense. Perhaps I need to do more. There are other ways to wear out the body, after all.

[ Please don't drown him.

On the other hand, sex underwater...

Reign does try to shift his leg slightly, trying to nudge the inquisitive tentacle aside, and is about to move his hand to bat it away when Kleken physically redirects his gaze at the man himself.

Tentacle forgotten, he stares up into Kleken strange eyes, the colours intriguing in its own hypnotic and alluring way. ]

I'm not— [ There's a sigh. ] Waking up in a strange place practically naked is bound to put anyone on edge. Except you. [ Doesn't help that he'd been crying his eyes out just before sleep overtake him, only to end up here. Which would explain his mildly tired look. ]

[ What if drowning AND sex underwater. Kleken could do both. ]

[ Reign's honesty is its own type of charming, in the way that it contrasts Kleken's penchant to skirt the truth. It's a quality he's been attracted to in the past at times, and it certainly keeps Kleken's interest on the other man right now. He's not the sort to offer a massage to just anyone, after all. ]

Oh, I'm terribly frightened right now.

[ He doesn't look the least bit frightened. ]

It sounds as if you have too much on your mind right now.

[ That is not a tempting notion Reign ever wants to consider. He will leave it in its "what if" category.

If there's one quality about Reign that defines him, it's that he's honest. Honest with his feelings, his thoughts, his desires. He may not share all of it or make known publicly, but neither does he want to lie and hide about it. If he can help it.

Even now, he doesn't hide his annoyed expression from Kleken, frowning up at the man's response. ]

Oh, yes. I can clearly see that.

[ Though he turns pensive a moment later, avoiding Kleken's all too perceptive gaze. ]

Nothing that concerns you. Don't worry.

[ Another conversation for another day then. ]

[ At Reign's honest skepticism, he merely smiles down again in that mysteriously frustrating way of his that the other man must be growing to expect from him by now. It's a smile that remains even when Reign turns his eyes away, trying to hide the look in his eyes that's already caught Kleken's interest. ]

My empathy for others would never allow me to disregard someone like that.

[ Reign may have known him for ten minutes but that's one of the bolder lies he's told by this point. ]

Would you like to talk, or would you like to forget?

[ Reign truly finds it hard to know when is Kleken being honest or not, or even sincere in his lies. White lies. Lies meant to comfort others. He'll just pretend that Kleken truly meant it about his empathy. It's way too exhausting trying to discern truth from lies, and will just have to trust his own judgement. So long as Kleken means him no harm, that's good in his books until the foreseeable future.

He gives an imperceptible shake of his head, a thin smile on his lips, a suddenly all too tired look in his eyes. ]

That's not a matter for me to divulge, and neither do I want to forget about it. [ A soft sigh slips out, then he glances back up at Kleken. ] You're really good at getting people to talk without revealing much about yourself, huh? Or should I say, everything out of your mouth needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Edited 2024-02-18 07:05 (UTC)

[ There's a rare moment where Kleken falls silent, simply looking down at Reign, before closing his eyes and continuing on with that cooling massage of his fingers and tentacles. It's a look Kleken has seen before, a few times now in the eyes of other residents of Umbraton. And more importantly, it's one he would never admit he's terrible at handling. ]

[ So instead he moves with the flow of the conversation, even if it means attention falls on him instead. ]

My livelihood comes from people, after all. A con artist like myself wouldn't exist if not for people to con.

[ A truth so blatant it sounds like a lie. ]

[ Something he said or did must have affected Kleken, the way he looked with his closed eyes, as if deep in thought over matters unknown to Reign.

For some reason, Reign believes him this time. It's the tone of his voice, lacking the usual teasing or playful cadence to it. By reflex, he tries to reach a hand up, then remembers that the tentacles have a hold on him.

So he settles for turning his head slightly and nuzzling against Kleken's fingers. ] Has it always been like that? [ A beat, and then repeating the man's word: ] Want to talk about it?

[ He's quick to chuckle away the moment of vulnerability and open his eyes once more to glance down, even if the chuckle is softer than he might normally give. It's a dangerous path to go down, and he gently reminds himself that such vulnerabilities aren't a luxury he can afford, especially in a new and unfamiliar location like this. ]

I would be a terrible con artist if I were to let my con be turned back against me. I'm afraid my secrets lay at the bottom of the sea, shy sailor, and you'll have to dive much deeper to unearth them.

[ That he slips right into his nautical talk might be odd for someone hearing it for the first time, but Reign may just learn that it's a mark of him speaking more honestly than not. ]

[ They can shake hand on that, though Reign tends to show his vulnerabilities much more easily, more so now when his mind is so frazzled by recent events back home.

The fact that Kleken mentions something about the sea and calling him a sailor says a lot, and Reign wonders if there's a deeper story behind that. Perhaps a sailor himself? A captain of the ship? Or is that all metaphorical? It's an odd analogy to use, nonetheless, and the vampire files that away in his "Kleken" folder. ]

I may not be a sailor, but neither am I shy. [ Look who's lying now?! Trying to be coy as well.

He opens his mouth, wanting to say more, closes it, mulls over his indecision, then asks in a quiet voice: ] If you'll allow it one day, may I dive deeper?

[ His mysterious little smile only widens at the protest, a charming reverse from what he's come to know about the man so far. The lack of venom in his tone as well is a surprise, given how suspiciously Reign treated him before he'd expected him to still be treating Kleken cautiously for a while more. ]

[ That the man is so curious about him, however, is the greatest surprise of all. ]

Perhaps someday we can drown together.

[ Truth or lie, literal or figurative, the interpretation is completely left to him. ]

[ It's the massages! It's doing things to Reign and causing him to lower his guard. There must be something with those tentacles working his limbs!

Though honestly, once Reign has gotten over his wariness about Kleken and gotten to know him a tiny bit more, he's less on edge. They've still yet to step out of this room and find out what the heck is going on, but it seems they're still quite preoccupied with each other.

Also, that's morbidly romantic and Reign doesn't know what to think of it. So he doesn't say anything more to that, even as that statement sinks deeper into the depths of his mind. ]

D-do you still want to look for your wine? [ He asks a few moments later. They also should find proper clothing to wear, as Reign remembers that he's still very much naked under the robe. ]

[ If Kleken had a hormonal influence drug that he could secrete from his tentacles, he would truly be a dangerous force for the citizens of Umbraton. He'd certainly have a lot more smoothly handled deals, at the very least. But unfortunately, that particular skill was not one of his. Only an annoying amount of charm was to blame. ]

I'd forgotten all about it after finding someone much more interesting.

[ A light lie, Kleken is fully aware of their time spent here and surroundings, but he rather enjoys being a distraction, and Reign himself has already proven to grow more interesting with time. It makes him curious just how much more interesting he could be. ]

Are you feeling relaxed now then?

[ That is certainly a dangerous skill for Kleken to have. His charm is already potent enough, and has been working on Reign at occasions.

Reign huffs softly at that, though his lips does quirk briefly. ] I wonder who that interesting person is to have caught your attention.

[ There's a nod of his head as he gently tries to pry his arms free from the tentacles. ] The headache's gone too. Let's at least find some clothes to wear.

It's a mystery.

[ Truly, no one will ever know. ]

[ For a moment Kleken looks as if he's actually considering keeping Reign restrained, the tentacles around him tightening for an eeirely long moment before the man simply smiles down and retracts all of his tentacles along with his hands. ]

If you insist.

[ He's still far too comfortable dressed in barely anything, given the way he picks slightly at the rob hanging off a shoulder. In the bedroom, he has little problems with this sort of outfit, even with a stranger in the room, but going out like this... ]

[ He does have standards. ]

[ Nor will it ever be revealed.

Oh, oh no. Is Kleken going to keep his restrained to the bed? He'd thought the tentacles were messing with him, but when the seconds ticked by... And then they're gone. Reign breathes a sigh of relief and quickly sits up, still feeling the phantom touch of the tentacles on his skin. ]

Thanks for the massage. It was... pleasant. [ Reign did enjoy it, somewhat. Kleken also did help him to relax and calm down from the anxiety of waking up in a strange place.

Getting off the bed, he retightens the belt of his robe — one of those tentacles must have loosened it, he figures. ]

Let's at least find management or staffs to get some answers.

[[ ooc : we can handwave the rest in a couple tags? ]]

[ With all of his tentacles retracted for the moment, Kleken looks suspiciously normal... white skin and pointed ears and all of his other unique features aside. At least he finally turns away from Reign for once to straighten up his appearance now that the threat of other social interaction looms, hair and clothing (cloth) smoothed into something serviceable. There is a moment where he pauses in his ministrations to smile a bit, glancing over his shoulder at the other man. ]

Do feel free to call me whenever you need another.

[ It's lightly teasing, since he doubts the other would ever actually think to reach out to him again for such a thing. With how skittish the man had been throughout the whole fairly tame encounter, Kleken suspected he might well be suspicious of every encounter he had moving forward involving either massages or tentacles. But perhaps Reign will surprise him. Wouldn't that be entertaining? ]

Oh, let's. I'm interested in hearing what those answers might be.

(( OOC: Sounds good to me! ))

[ All of a sudden and Kleken is being entirely modest?! The importance of societal appearance can change a person's demeanour. Regardless, Reign tries not to flush at the teasing Kleken throws his way. He has no idea what the "another" may truly entail, but is sure that it wouldn't be just massages with tentacles as a side option. ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[ Either way, he waits for Kleken before opening the door that leads out to a rather unassuming hallway. If this is a resort, they've certainly ended up in one of those cheap rooms. There are no staffs in sight, and unlike the rest of the same unassuming doors, one stands out at the end. ]

If we're at the lower floors, the only way is through that door and head up.

[ Public appearances are just that important. But in private... well, Reign now has an introductory experience into Kleken's private habits. And perhaps that unknown 'another' would provide further examples of just how different his demeanor was in private. ]

[ Once they step out of the room, a fedora and pair of small rimmed red glasses have somehow (illusions, that's how) appeared on Kleken's head and face, the glasses tiled down as he peers down the hallway as well. ]

Lead the way.

[ If nothing else, Reign is certainly intrigued by now, despite their rocky start. Kleken not being a human also lends a hand in Reign being more friendly towards him.

He does raise a brow upon seeing the items that materialised out of thin air, and Reign begrudgingly admits to himself that Kleken looks good in it. What does Kleken usually dress like, he wonders.

But that's a thought for later as he nods and leads them towards the door, intending to find anyone in charge for much needed answers. ]

[ If it hadn't been a rocky start, it wouldn't have been a proper introduction to Kleken. ]

[ In contrast to his behavior inside the bedroom, Kleken obediently follows after Reign, even affording the man some semblance of personal space as they approach the door that hopefully gives way to freedom. He does, however, take the lead in extending a tentacle to wrap around the doorknob and opening the door for them both, but after that, well... ]

[ Reign is the one who most obviously wants answers, so he'll have to take the lead in getting them. Kleken will simply leach off all the overheard knowledge he can get in the process. ]

[peacock] TDM Continuations

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