lieabilities | [peacock] TDM Continuations

[ The mention of "physical assistance" gets him to stop short.

Somehow, despite still being in his own terrycloth robe, he still feels deeply, profoundly underdressed.

He's never been intimate, of course. He'd devoted his entire life to the Andersens. That left him with very little room for a personal life and personal relationships. His quite platonic friendship with the Navigator is the closest thing he has to intimacy.

And he still thinks of the look of horror on Nina's face, when she'd caught him bloody after a fight to save her father's life.

No one…should even think of wanting to be intimate with a monster like him.

A tight smile. ]

I doubt you'll have any trouble finding someone more suited to your needs. After all, I'm afraid I don't have the…necessary experience to assist you in this matter.

Edited (Phone tagging and weird mistakes, name a better combo ) 2023-12-31 15:42 (UTC)

[ Minos' hesitance is like a bucket of blood dropped into shark-infested water. Three guesses as to who the shark is in this scenario. ]

[ Though his smile remains the same, there's a far more predatory look in his eyes than just moments before, his gaze fixed absolutely on the other man. ]

If it's a matter of experience, I believe I could lend a hand in the matter.

There's no reason to be shy.

[ Is it him or does this room somehow feel like a proper torture chamber now? He can feel his tail stiffening in response. ]

And what makes you think I’m shy?

[ He’d like to say he’s more…wary, really. And the really annoying part is that he wouldn’t even hate doing it with Kleken, it’s just…

Why does he have to be so damned shady about this?

…Not that Minos can talk considering some of his nighttime activities, but. ]

I’m simply mulling over how to modify the terms of our alliance.

[ Such that it is. ]

[ Because Kleken has never lived a day of his life not being shady- ]

[ That infuriatingly 'innocent' smile remains on his face, but there's a dash of amusement in the edges of it at Minos' denial. One that they both know is nowhere near subtle enough to be unseen. ]

Is there a part of them you find in need of modification already?

[ It feels like he’s being backed into a corner and he hates it, thanks. And the last place he wants to be is in a vulnerable position with a member of the Istvan Gang, however benign they actually are.

To the Andersen family, anyway. ]

I should be asking you the same question. I doubt there’s much for you to gain by offering me…“physical assistance.”

Your intelligence gathering capabilities would be quite beneficial to me.

[ Lacking an information network is quite the deficit in a new place, and taking advantage of existing relationships, especially with someone with the reputation Minos had, would be one very good step in the right direction. Not to mention having allies in general would be of great benefit, for whatever odd activities or challenges may come with this place, but there's certainly no reason for Kleken to let Minos know just how much potential reliance he'd like to place on the other man in this stage of their alliance. ]

You're a very tempting person as well.

[ In what manner... well he wouldn't be Kleken if he specified. ]

…Your reputation certainly precedes you.

[ Now he knows that Kleken must be lying. He doesn’t see himself as tempting or desirable to anybody. But even that is part of Kleken’s charms (charms?) after all.

Maybe that’s why there’s a hint of sadness in his polite little smile. ]

But I have no objections. Likewise, your abilities will be invaluable to me. And as the butler to the Andersen family, it’s only right that I lend any and all assistance to the Istvan Gang, no matter what form that assistance takes.

[ A frown, as he strides right over into Kleken’s personal space with that ever-polite smile— ]

But you may freely reject this assistance, of course.

[ Whichever way Minos wishes to take it, Kleken won't correct. Not so long as it's amusing for him. ]

[ He can't say the sadness he catches is terribly entertaining though, but he does find himself raising a brow over the edge of his glasses as Minos walks right up to him. The bigger surprise here is how easy it is to read the expectant look on the other man's face as he speaks. ]

[ At this close of a distance, Kleken's smile in return likely looks anything but polite. ]

[ It looks downright predatory, and he makes no move to hide the hand that reaches out to curl lightly against the back of Minos' neck, if he doesn't move away from it. ]

Oh, I'm much too tempted to do such a thing.

[ The urge to yank those shades and kiss that smarmy look off his face is strong— ]

Funny.

[ Thankfully, years of butler training and putting up with Nina’s antics has given him some ironclad composure. He can feel a pleasant prickling at the back of his neck where the too-warm feeling of Kleken’s hands make contact with the sliver of bare skin there.

He doesn’t move an inch. Nor betray the fact that he’s really, really tempted to shudder, right now—and not out of revulsion, besides.

He can’t hide a flush, though.

And he returns the favor, by tracing one dangerously pointed claw down the lapel of Kleken’s robe— ]

I was just thinking the same thing—

[ Wow, maybe he should do it coward--]

[ There's a flicker of light in the red and purple swirl of an abyss that are Kleken's eyes, a light that is (unfortunately for Minos) one of pure amusement and entertainment as he sees that lovely flush spread across the other man's expression. ]

[ Oh, what a sight to savor. ]

[ He draws in a breath at the claw against him, well aware of the danger it could present to him with his tentacles momentarily tucked away as they were, but that makes this little encounter all the sweeter. Leaning in, his eyes are fixated on meeting Minos' gaze, but in true pain-in-the-ass fashion he stops just before their mouths touch, his words coming in soft breaths against the other's lips. ]

Do give into temptation then.

[ It figures Kleken’s going to tease him all the way till the end.

But you know what? Fine.

They’re a bit too close for him to yank those glasses off, but Minos reaches up with that hand to grab Kleken’s chin, briefly taking a moment to enjoy the little pucker formed by his fingers squashing those cheeks as he finally yanks Kleken forward for a sloppy kiss.

They didn’t teach this in butler school, all right? He has to make do! ]

[ Come now Minos, it is Kleken after all. He should have expected this sort of thing. ]

[ And while Kleken may have expected the aggression, who wouldn't become aggressive with such an aggravating man after all, he is still caught off guard for a moment when his cheeks are squished and he's forced into making an unflattering face. There's a flash of annoyance in his eyes for a moment that's gone just as quickly, smoothed over with his more usual expressions. ]

[ Like smugness, which is what he settles into as the other Aurorian's lips are pressed against his. And while there's something to be enjoyed in how messy the kiss is, especially coming from someone as neat as Minos, there's something even more enjoyable to be found in guiding the other man. ]

[ With the same sneakiness he approaches most everything in his life, Kleken presses into the kiss, curling his fingers into Minos' hair to tug briefly and sharply. All to bring attention to the technique in his own kissing and the growing, hungry heat he replies with. ]

[ Despite himself, despite everything…

Minos relents readily to Kleken’s guidance, some part of him almost relieved despite how aggravated he’d been only moments before. Especially since…well, this feels good. Better than he’d ever imagined—not that he’d even given himself room to entertain such thoughts back in Astra, when the Andersens already had top priority.

It’s…strange, letting himself go like this. As though some part of him had been waiting, wanting…

He’s not even bothered that it’s with Kleken of all people anymore, not when he’s proving to be far more experienced at this. And without even realizing it his arms have already wound themselves about Kleken’s neck, his eyes fluttering shut as he lets the sensations sink in, his own tongue tentative as it traces the outline of Kleken’s mouth.

Which is another surprise, come to think of it—he hadn’t counted on Kleken tasting, well, good. Intoxicating, even, like the fine wines they both serve their masters. ]

[ The moment Minos begins to relax, begins to give into those physical pleasures in the most pleasant of ways, is the moment Kleken pounces. ]

[ Figuratively, of course. His dignity is far too important to him to sacrifice for this particular moment, however tempting Minos' semi-unexpected inexperience may be. But he does press forward in testing those unknown limits, shifting forward in the same move he slides an arm around Minos' waist to draw his body up against his own. ]

[ The shameless actions continue with the widening of his smile against Minos' lips, which is smoothly covered over with the parting of his own lips to invite the other man to deepen their kiss. He wants to see him keep taking those steps forward, and keep giving into the temptation he presents to him. It's just so much more delightful that way. ]

[ He moans through the kiss as Kleken pulls them flush together, leaving Minos with little room to hide his own burgeoning desire…

And this is just from a kiss. Perhaps it’s a quirk of this place, or perhaps whatever he’d long since suppressed is finally coming to the fore—in any case, what choice does he have but to welcome it all? His forays into Kleken’s mouth are tentative, as though even now he expects some sneaky little ruse to come into play should he press any further.

But that sure isn’t stopping one of his hands from gliding downward, to catch at the lapel of Kleken’s complimentary robe and give it a tug to reveal the too-pale flesh underneath. ]

[ Would Kleken ruin such a nice thing- ]

[ Well, yes. He absolutely would. But the pleasure of having Minos in this position, willingly engaged with Kleken in such hedonism, was far too sweet to discard for a moment's worth of amusement. However tempting it might be to see such a look of indignation on Minos' face, those were something he was already quite familiar with. This was new. ]

[ So he behaves himself... for some definitions of behaving. Letting his robe fall open is behaving, isn't it? As would continuing to encourage those hesitant movements of his tongue with his own, giving a pleased sigh as further encouragement to the man. Shifting himself against Minos' body and letting his own interest be blatantly known is not quite as behaving, but it does feel good all the same. ]

[ Bring it on— ]

Kle—

[ He tries and fails to murmur Kleken’s name—so engrossed is he in their kisses that he merely lets that syllable hang in the air like a promise between them, a plea.

He has no idea where this is going, but he knows it’s far too late to stop now—

Is Kleken strong enough to resist a trained assassin? Especially one eager to shove him back down onto the bed? Time to find out. ]

[ All of Kleken's strength is in his tentacles, so unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for Minos) he doesn't have anywhere near the strength himself to resist. ]

[ Not that he would, smiling the way he is into the kiss and enticing Minos to further let himself go. He falls easily enough down onto the bed, eyes widened in momentary surprise before curving in amusement once more. There are zero attempts to keep his robe closed, the material slipping open with certainly no help from the tentacles sliding in and out of his shadows. ]

Ah... I bruise easily.

[ Is that a warning or is that goading. ]

Good.

[ Kleken’s provoking him like a matador toward a bull and Minos is completely falling for it even if he knows better, dammit. ]

I’m sure the Shadowlord won’t mind as long as I return you in one piece.

[ Granted, “knowing better” is becoming an increasingly farfetched thing the longer they go at this. ]

[ He certainly wouldn't admit it out loud, but the more Minos loses himself to his own passions, the more attractive he finds the normally stuffy man. And perhaps even worse, the more Kleken wants to continue provoking him into losing his cool. ]

I do hope you'll do your best to hold true to those words.

[ Reaching up an arm to curl around the other's neck once more, he drag him down into a rough kiss, challenging him to take the lead once more. ]

[ It’s been a while since someone had actually managed to goad him this far. Maybe it’s because he’s still feeling a little emotionally raw after earning Nina’s ire over the haunted house thing, but he finds it much harder to cling to things like composure and gentlemanly comportment right now.

When Kleken brings their lips together for another kiss, Minos bites down at his bottom lip, not so much to discourage this as it is satisfying a very simple urge to draw blood.

That brotherhood of assassins who’d trained him years ago had done a good job in drawing out his bloodlust—it seems that no matter how hard he tries to tamp that side of himself down, it’ll come back to haunt him anyway. His hands hastily undo the ties of Kleken’s terrycloth robe to expose him more fully, before tracing the sharp points of his fingernails over bare patches of skin, as though he’s marking Kleken’s vitals.

And he very well might be doing just that. ]

[ The bite to his lip draws a low hiss out of Kleken and a retaliatory digging of his own nails into Minos' back. The aggression suits him well, Kleken thinks in passing before pointedly groaning against Minos' mouth to encourage him further while arching himself into the trails of his fingers. He's never been one for chasing pain, but the desperation in the other's actions is all too sweet to turn away. ]

[ There would be other chances to teach Minos his own preferences anyway. Kleken was rather sure of that. ]

[ Each mark Minos leaves on his body blooms brightly against his pale white skin, as vibrant as his eyes that stay narrowed with heady interest as he makes a point of making their kiss even messier. ]

[ Minos drew this blood, he can have it painted on him as a result. ]

[ To his credit, Minos keeps his scratches light, but there’s no reason why he can’t let a spot redden or two, especially not when it’s already so difficult to simply focus with the way Kleken’s distracting him.

And the bastard hasn’t even started using his tentacles yet.

The kiss comes almost as a relief in comparison, as though he might be swallowing down Kleken’s lies, letting those words of his from earlier sink into him, almost convincing him that they’re true.

Which ones? Well, that’ll be up to Kleken to decide, won’t it?

Minos breaks the kiss with a gasp, the golden flicker of Luminatics in his eyes as his Minotaur seems on the verge of bursting through in the heat of passion—but something seems to keep it from manifesting further than this.

Frustrating.

He can at least appreciate the mess he’d made on Kleken’s too-pale chest, at the scratches he’d left behind, though what actually flickers across his face in that moment is a look of embarrassment—a brief moment of clarity.

He hadn’t meant to let it get that far. ]

[ What a lovely and dangerous look in his eyes. One he soaks in for the moment, but even more delightful is the embarrassment that follows once Minos sees the markings he's left behind on Kleken's body. How many could say they've seen that sort of look on the composed butler's face? ]

[ He smiles once more, fingers sliding up to brush aside a bit of Minos' hair in a light gesture of flirtation, gently leading the other man back on track before he can get any more of that clarity back. ]

I'll wear these with pride. Though I hope this isn't the only place you'd like to leave a mark.

...You’re goading me.

[ And it’s working goes unsaid. And as with many other things about this encounter, Kleken’s hand feels oddly warm as it slides through his hair—or maybe he’s the one who’s getting a little too hot and bothered for comfort himself.

He can’t tell. All this is so damned new to him. Whatever dossiers he’d studied, whatever research he’d conducted…all of that vanishes in an instant, dissipating into nothingness like the Luminatics he’s managed to finally tamp down.

He’d have torn this place upside-down with the Minotaur if he could. Right now the best he can manage is property damage, and he’s not willing to go so far just yet. ]

I see this won’t be an easy partnership.

[ Did he really need to state the obvious, though? This time he leans in to Kleken much more gently to kiss him before he can attempt any more of his little lies, his hands almost tenderly brushing aside any stray tentacles that might get between him and Kleken’s skin. ]

no subject

sorry for the delay, was on vacation then slammed by other stuff

glad to hear from you again! hope you had a rad vacation!!!

i did, thank you!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject