lieabilities | [peacock] TDM Continuations

[It's just changing his mind back to some old settings, really. Maybe he'd gotten a bit too comfortable under the agency's roof and under the care of Rhodes Island. Just because this place was better-lit than Lungmen didn't mean it was any better.]

Okay. [said in the eye-rolling way a teenager does]

What's your guidance, then?

[He leans back a bit, so he's not so close up against the plant's pot.]

[ Aak won't be able to get terribly far, not unless he's quick, because Kleken will be reaching out with a tentacle to catch his wrist and guide his hand right back to the pot. All the while smiling quite ~~suspiciously~~ innocently. ]

You'll mimic as I do, of course.

Edited 2024-01-18 08:05 (UTC)

[If Aak moved fast enough to get out of the way, it'd be obvious how suspicious he was. So, of course, he's caught by the tentacle and trying not to look spooked by it.]

[Trying not to be spooked by it, too, taking a moment to try and see how physiological or spiritual they were. Not a lot of the operators going through medbay had such refined control of their extra appendages.]

Oh, got it. Grateful for the hands-on lesson. [he attempts to waggle his wrist at that pun]

[ No need to be nervous Aak, it's not like Kleken is a deadly predator or anything. ]

[ Just an opportunist, which is possibly worse. But surely the reassuring smile he gives to Aak is just that. ]

I enjoy helping.

[ Never mind the blatant lies he's telling. ]

[ The tentacles feel solid, but lack the sliminess feel that one might expect of them. Instead, they're smooth and cool to the touch, translucent to an extent with a blue-ish tinge to them. What might be most odd is that some of them have suckers along the bottom and some don't, and there's no consistent pattern to which have which. ]

[ Their movement patterns, however, are extremely pointed, curling over Aak's palm as it leads him into some very suggestive motions. ]

You just need to follow their lead.

[A predator, an opportunist, a liar, at very least someone who held their cards close to their chest. You could lie with good intentions, of course. It took a lot of time to find out if someone's lies pointed towards good or evil. And most of the time it wasn't worth it.]

[The tentacles were wild. With his completely amateur assessment Aak's putting their threat level at high. From Kleken's appearance alone Aak would think he was dangerous but not in a physical sense. He'd taken punches from people with more. These tentacles, though, seemed like they could be just as good with heavy throws as delicate work.]

[... so, he's definitely gonna play nice. Be friendly, Mr. Lee's advice rings in his ears. Even if that meant fingering some plant roots.]

Like that, yea?

[ Subdue the predator with plant fondling- ]

Yes, gently like that. They do seem to like a good tease.

[ And though Kleken's tentacles may be busy at work, showing the way to woo a sensitive plant, Kleken's own hand is moving to rest on Aak's shoulder, cooled fingertips pressing lightly against the other's neck. ]

You're surprisingly calm about this.

[If it wasn't obvious that the only way forward was playing along and playing nice, that hand on his shoulder would definitely cement it. It was reminiscent of "let's just take this to the alleyway" and even though it probably wasn't the case here...]

Huh? [his response is a bit higher pitched, just the sign of nerves you want when someone says you're being surprisingly calm]

What, about the plant? [he chuckles, willing away some of those nerves] You're being so gracious as to help me. It'd be lame if I acted like some embarrassed virgin about it all.

Or, [his eyes glance to the side, where that cool touch seems to seep down to the skin beneath fur] about you being touchy?

[ If there was an alleyway, that would in fact have been their destination at some point. For what sort of matters, that much would depend. ]

[ The hitch in Aak's voice isn't lost on him, but it's politely left unmentioned. Impolitely, Kleken maintains the same amount of intimidating pressure and keeps close, smiling that same naturally suspicious smile of his when Aak looks pointedly at his hand. ]

Both. I'm a bit impressed.

[Well, he's gotten beaten up in an alleyway before. Might be time to try something new instead.]

[Aak's glad that, for any signs of nervousness, he was used to keeping his breath and hands steady. This wasn't something that would ruin a life if his hand slipped but it keeps him from looking pathetic.]

Yea? Well, y'know, [sometimes the easiest way to dissuade a predator was not to be a good target, to be boring,]

I figured if you were gonna do anything you'd take me to dinner first. [or to bluff your ass off and try to act like a peer]

[ Oh there's a number of new things Kleken could introduce to him- ]

[ He does have a point in avoiding a predator type; Kleken very quickly loses interest in things that he deems boring, but unfortunately Aak has been just interesting enough so far to keep his interest. He'll have to keep working at it to lose it... ]

Oh? What if I promised a wonderful breakfast instead?

[Aak glances at Kleken's face again and he can't tell how seriously he should take that. Damn. He snorts a bit,]

I'm not falling for that. [his tail lashes, hitting against the tile on the floor]

Payment before services rendered. If you save it for after someone can just try to dash.

[Never mind that the meal shouldn't be judged as a payment for anything. As far as Aak understood it, girls on dates expected a kind of this-for-that. As for the idea that the night could be a mutually-exciting and yearned-for thing... well, he just doesn't exactly trust this guy.]

[ Unfortunately, his face is a terrible indication of how seriously one can take the man, given that it's stuck in a business smile most of the time. But that glitter of amusement remains in his gaze even as it flickers toward Aak's tail for a moment. Annoyed, as much as he knows how to read tails like that, but that doesn't deter him from his light comments as he guides Aak's fingers in 'finishing' their task, as it were. ]

I hadn't thought of it as a payment, but as a promise instead. That you might find my rendered services satisfactory enough to stay for breakfast.

[Aak is fairly good at keeping his hands moving even when he's nervous, or surprised, or anything really. That said, as the conversation keeps moving, his fingers do slow down a bit. There's a part of him that's slowing it down as a kind of test. Would he end up forced to keep up the pace or would it drop?]

Rendered services sure sounds like paying something.

[or is he paying with his body in this case?]

[There is a part of him that is pretty sure it'd be some kind of satisfactory. His hands, those tentacles, he absolutely made the flower quiver and come. He could surrender himself to that. That's the problem, though, that the surrender might come with all sorts of caveats. The surrender was scary, even at the premise of a good time.]

[ The slower his fingers move, the more sensual it becomes as a result, and the more Kleken can let his fingers tease and glide. Something Kleken certainly doesn't mind, but perhaps not the aim that Aak was going for. ]

Are you that worried about hidden fees? I can write up a contract to alleviate your fears, if you'd like.

[ He's joking, even if his tone suggests he isn't. But in the same vein, he would write one up if asked to purely because he'd find it entertaining to. ]

No, wait, that sounds even worse.

[A written contract may be able to put all the terms on the table but then it also bound you to those terms! No contracts! Absolutely no contracts! He signed the one with Rhodes Island because they were way to hoity-toity to scam him (and also Lee helped).]

[Either way, something about the way that the fingering motions have slowed down does seem to have an effect. The poinsettia had been still and silent to the point that possibly this entire thread they've just been working at an inert one with no reward. Suddenly, though, its leaves do start to quiver in response to the slower more deliberate touch.]

Ah! Finally! Spew something! [... it seems to recoil from the crude language]

[ A shame that he's aware of the dangers of signing a contract, Kleken does so love using those to his advantage. ]

[ It would seem however there were other distractions that needed to be seen to. Nevermind that the entire conversation had been a distraction itself and this was the main goal, Kleken solidly held to the opposite. Hands and tentacles from Kleken's end were finally withdrawn now that the plant had started to react, fiishing out a handkerchief from his jacket to clean his hands with. ]

... I believe that our victim here has finally shown its preferences. You'll do better by abiding by them.

[ Yes that word choice was on purpose. ]

[Aak is excited enough by there actually being a change that he doesn't notice immediately that he's free. He's furrowing his brow again, peeved that the plant seems to care how he speaks to it, and giving it a few faster-than-desired rubs out of spite.]

Ah, man. Fine, I'm abiding, I'm abiding...

[slow, deliberate movements, with his fingertips dragging along the material of the roots, a wriggle of his fingers underneath one of the root worn clean from his ministrations]

Good... plant? Pretty?

[Here he realizes there's no long a face by his face and that he has to look up from his stooped position to glance at Kleken.]

What's a fancy way to tell it. [you know, to spew something]

[ Instructing Aak on how to sweet and dirty talk a plant wasn't exactly one of the pathways Kleken had thought this would go, but it was an entertaining one nonetheless. He raises a brow unhelpfully at the question asked of him, the amusement in his eyes all too evident. ]

[ Kleken is actually a terrible teacher in many regards, as Aak is painfully learning. ]

That would depend. Would you like for this to be a one time event or are you hoping for repeated future encounters?

I do hear honest opinions are very attractive to a number of individuals though.

[An unhelpful teacher is better than no teacher. Probably. It at least feels closer to real life than anyone being good at teaching stuff like this.]

You know, I'm probably not gonna call her back. [he tilts his head, like it's a conspiratorial truth]

[Anyhow, attention back to the plant. He's wracking his brain for something honest, slow, and sweet. Something a plant would want to hear. He feels a bit like he's lost his mind.]

Come on, my cute little specimen... don't you wanna give up that special stuff? I wanna study you caaa~refully.

[It's not a bad reaction, at least?]

[ The 'confession' tugs a smile out of Kleken, one that doesn't come at the cost of Aak's sanity. It's always fun when someone goes along with one of his inane jokes for him, and especially when someone actually listens to his advice, however questionable it is. ]

[ His smile widens a tad more at the positive response from the plant, a hidden part of him surprised at the actual reaction from it. ]

It seems to like that. Do continue.

[The thought of honestly seducing someone was probably a good one to get in his head for eventually. It's just a bit weird to be starting with a plant. At least a plant he wouldn't have to call back, like a comfortable one night stand. A plant couldn't come back and smile over his shoulder like Kleken either.]

Slow, just like you like it... [he murmurs,]

[There's a bit of quivering. Aak angles the little plastic container a bit more intently.]

You're real shy but I think you like having us watch. Two handsome guys hanging on your every move. Uh huh, don't you? Just go ahead and,

[poof- a puff of pollen comes out into the waiting bottle]

[ A plant could if it tried really hard- ]

Wonderfully done.

[ It's an honest compliment, though it may not sound like it coming from Kleken. But apparently the other man had a knack for sweet talking, even if he didn't seem to think so. ]

[ He finally gives them both breathing room once the pollen comes out, stepping away himself to avoid getting caught up in any lingering spray. He has a hint of the effects of them, having witnessed others, but... well, far be it from him to deny Aak the experience of finding out for himself. ]

[Aak lets out a sigh of relief while his hands get back to the more clinical job of making sure any of the released particles stay isolated within the bottle. The hand that was fingering the roots pulls back, reaching for a cap in his pocket, and he uses the cap to try and seal as he pulls away.]

... Yeesh, if all my dates are gonna be this rough I should get gloves... [he shakes his loose hand]

Maybe a vibe or something... [The bottle is closed, and he blows a breath to try and make sure any free-floating particles go away from him.]

And don't you, [he does seem to be addressing the plant] complain about it. Nothin' wrong with technology! Unless you're a sadist who wants me to get carpal tunnel.

Practicing your technique would also have merits.

[ Kleken adds helpfully, or unhelpfully. Depending on the standpoint. ]

[ His tentacles make a small effort to keep stray pollen away but otherwise begin to settle back into their lazy drapings now that the entertainment has mostly finished. ]

I'm certain that with practice you could halve your total working time.

[ He's being super unhelpful. ]

[Aak swings his head back and gives a sour look for a second. The profound lack of helpfulness is noted, processed, and then released. He doesn't feel comfortable enough to be as much of a brat as he would with someone he knows, so the dismissive look gets replaced with a more neutral tone.]

You think? I'll have to put in the time.

[Yeah right, he thinks to himself. From there he turns up the volume on his business smile.]

Thanks for your help, Ah Sir! Rest assured this pollen will be used for the betterment of medicine everywhere~

[That one could be true. Plenty of things led to the betterment of medicine. This one probably would, eventually, once he played around with it enough.]

Sorry for the delay, medical RL things came up but all's good.

lieabilities - 2024-04-25 06:47 (UTC) - Expand

[peacock] TDM Continuations

hope vacation was fun!

It was, thank you!

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Sorry for the delay, medical RL things came up but all's good.