Baby, it's cold outsid

[ausgebrannt]

[It was Caleb's first Winter's Crest in Rexxentrum, in the small cottage that he had taken to calling home now that the Nein had taken a step back from the more intense part of their adventuring. Lucien and Cognouza were dealt with. Trent Ikithon was imprisoned. The war between the Dynasty and the Empire ended. Jobs well done, he supposed.

He had Essek had plans to travel back to Aeor, to seek out the T-Dock and the other mysteries of magic that lingered there, but the trip had not yet been undertaken. After all, Caleb knew that the drow had to be careful. The eyes of the Dynasty and the Bright Queen would eventually fall on him in regards to the stolen beacon. But that didn't mean he didn't look forward to the evenings that Essek managed to drop by to spend time.

He treasured those times, when they'd discuss magic and theory. He'd make tea -- or sometimes break out something a bit stronger -- and they'd talk until all hours.

All that talking but some thing still remained unsaid, unspoken, and lingering on the tip of Caleb's tongue where he could taste the bittersweetness of it, of a longing and a desire that he genuinely believed he did not truly deserve to ever really satisfy. How could he? He was a tainted thing, hands still blood-covered, despite his continued attempts to atone.

But he was still too selfish not to want.

Tonight he was seated in his chair, glancing at the door with an undisguised anxious hope. It had been a while since Essek had come, and Caleb missed him. And with Winter's Crest upon them, well, he wanted to share that with the drow, to show him the traditions he had grown up with.]

Comments

[ausgebrannt]

[They'd seen the darkest pieces of each other, hadn't they? And Caleb found that he loved Essek for those dark places as much as the light ones, loved him all the more for the scars he'd carried from his past that had led him along the path to being this brilliant, beautiful, flawed, perfect man.

Except here was Essek continuing to say sweet things to him that had Caleb -- pale ass ginger that he was -- turning an even more noticeable shade of red.

So Essek would have to forgive him for tipping his head forward to hide it against the drow's shoulder before murmuring.]

I have told you that I'm in love with you already, ja?

[He felt like he was being wooed okay? And it was super effective and he liked it but also hearing someone say good things about him was not his strong suit and he didn't entirely know how to properly handle it. Never mind good things that were so achingly romantic like charting stars in his freckles.]

[zauberdecke]

Yes, that did come up in conversation.. I recall.

[ Essek said this quite matter-of-factly, even as he felt the forehead against his shoulder, could feel the heated blush as well as the complete and utter emotional wreck that he was making of Caleb. Good, very good; Essek found that he enjoyed that entirely too much.

Now that he knew, now that he understood that his feelings were reciprocated; there was very little he would not do for this man who promised to 'leave the light on' for him, who told him that he would wait for Essek's life to get settled. And now, Essek had something to return to, something to live for and to remind him that he could have a life full of this perhaps-- if he worked hard enough to deserve it. ]

You are not allowed to argue with me about how I perceive you, you are also not allowed to tell me I am wrong.

[ausgebrannt]

I was unaware there were rules.

[Caleb quipped, lifting his head to look at Essek with a smile that ran the strange border between mischievous and shy. The flush still lingering nudged it more towards the latter, even if the tone of his voice tried to tug it back to the former.]

Are there others I should be aware of? I'd hate to find myself in trouble unintentionally.

[Now, finding himself in trouble intentionally? Well. That might be fun.]

[zauberdecke]

Well not too many rules, I have had enough of too many needless rules but...

[ His arms were still wound around those shoulders, and he managed to give the other man a raised eye brow though those eyes held such quiet and pleased mirth-- the ex-shadowhand was enjoying himself, those smiles had become far more used to being on his lips and he looked far different from the slightly dead-eyed drow that held far more secrets then the Nein had been aware of. ]

There are a few rules, only a few.. and one of them is that how I see you may not be what you see.. but it is my truth. [ A fingertip just against the bottom of that chin, tilting it so that he could peer upwards, the tip of the elongated nail only just a little bit biting into bearded skin. ]

And did you not encourage me to live my truth and walk away from lies?

[ Oh yes, he was getting Caleb Widogast on a technicality now. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[See, this was the problem with falling in love with beautiful, staggeringly brilliant wizards; you often got trapped by logic that you couldn't possibly wiggle your way out of when it came to debates. And here he was with Essek handing him back his own words.

Yup. Well played.]

I suppose I did do exactly that, didn't I?

[There was a note of amusement in his voice still, as if he was fully aware of what Essek was doing. There was a note of something else entirely there too, inspired as he lifted his chin at the sharp pressure of that nail because wow holy crap why was that so much a turn on?]

[zauberdecke]

[ Very carefully, Essek leaned upward and pressed a full-mouthed kiss against that lower lip that was encased by the ginger of Caleb's beard, something that Essek was very much enamored of-- yes, Caleb had been very handsome clean-shaven and he had a feeling that was to impress him-- but he rather liked the beard more.

So he allowed his spare palm to move upward until his digits could run through the hair at jawline. ]

You are very very pretty, did you know that?

[ He was testing the other man, to dispute it.

Perhaps he was showing that deep down inside, he was still a little bit calculating and maybe just a little bit evil-- but only in the nice way. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb was quite content to sink into that kiss. He had not picked up on Essek's fondness for his facial hair yet, but he'd be terribly pleased about it when he did. ...he'd likely discover it at some point when the drow stole away his razor when he next got it into his head to go fresh faced again.]

I am--

[He was going to dispute it, Essek. But he saw what the Drow was doing here and his mouth snapped shut.]

That is not something I have ever been made aware of before, no.

[But he did find that he very much liked the idea of Essek finding him pretty, or any other flavor of attractive.]

[zauberdecke]

[ That was when Essek pulled Caleb's head down to fully kiss him, this time without the call of the mistletoe; because at this point in time he did not think that he needed an excuse, not anymore-- not when Caleb found it pleasant; he kissed that snapped shut mouth to soften it while his palm felt the bristle of beard.

Perhaps he even licked at the soft crease between the lips to further the endeavors. ] Good boy...

[ He breathed like a reverent praise against Caleb, before he parted his mouth just underneath the other man's; giving the other man a reward in the form of a deeper hotter kiss, the bare essence of Essek's tongue a distraction while he nuzzled as best as he was able. ] You are.. very much so-- to me, like a zemnian kitten.

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb did not resist that pull, sinking all too willingly into those lips. No, no excuses were needed any longer. They'd both discovered how perfectly their lips slotted together, and Caleb was quite certain he was already addicted to the taste of the Dunamancer. He started to part his lips to welcome the kiss deeper when those two words derailed every thought he'd had in his life to this point.

The simple praise rushed straight through him, infiltrating his bloodstream and siphoning almost all of said blood directly downward. Oh. He liked that. Should he like that quite so much?

He would consider this question as he took that reward of more kissing, a soft unintended sound that approached being a full on moan, entirely distracted and spun up. Well done, Essek.]

A kitten?

[zauberdecke]

Yes...

[ He breathed, no expounding upon it even as he pressed himself closer, their bodies flush against each other while they kissed each other into another demiplane, one that was created between the two of them-- along with heat and warmth, all intrinsic and almost primal.

That too Essek liked; he'd never thought that something like this could cause nearly riotous emotions to flow through him, but here he was in the circle of Caleb's arms while he enjoyed the fruits of their mouths, the kiss reddened lips and the hum of breath that expelled right into his mouth.

Essek was also feeling the effects of their prolonged kissing in a very visceral way; and he managed to get his fingers into the abundant ginger locks of hair, to curl in them softly and carefully. Not with intended urge to tug but he could if he so wished. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[The cats in the Tower had, quite wisely, withdrawn to give the wizards their privacy -- smug in the way only cats could be at their little nudges of matchmaking having clearly been so successful. Not that Caleb noticed their absence at the moment. How could he have, when all of his senses were wrapped up in Essek Thelyss?

He stepped that much closer, arms wound around the slender drow to pull them flush to each other. Essek would, inevitably, feel the effects of the kissing on Caleb too, in the form of the growing bulge in Caleb's trousers.

There was a soft murmur of approval mostly lost to Essek's mouth as those clever fingers buried in his hair. Yes, that was lovely. More of that would be wonderful. More of everything or anything so long as it was Essek would be wonderful.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Sliding upward, sliding both their bodies together in a movement that sizzled like electricity throughout the two of them; there had always been chemistry and well, magic between them, but there was also fire and gravity as well-- both their elements, and both which they had borrowed between them back and forth as unspoken affection that they had not really wanted to admit to until now.

Essek ran a bit colder than humans, but oh goodness he could feel a fire siphon through him-- intense and hot.

He parted their lips, forehead to forehead and then spoken in a manner that was most breathless. ] You mentioned something.. about, and I hope I am not being too forward, a bedroom?

[ Because Essek was polite, and this was still new and he did not want to make demands-- but as he had dragged their clothed erections together, he had felt a jolt of awareness at the pleasure and wondered if Caleb had felt it as well. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Oh no, not too forward at all. We should... ja. Yes. The bedroom.

[Sorry, Essek. He was normally smarter than this. Really. But his entire brain had been put on standby mode so that resources could be allocated elsewhere. Because yup, oh yes, he had absolutely felt the press of Essek's prick against his own, nearly dizzied in the realization that they were both in this state.

He did his best to summon up enough wherewithal to navigate, reluctantly stepping back from the drow. Caleb couldn't quite make himself give up contact fully though, and caught Essek's hands in his own.]

This way then. We must head upwards...

[zauberdecke]

Ah yes, auf...

[ Truth of the matter, Essek held on to every single bit of knowledge to him taught by Caleb. Despite the delicate flush to his cheeks, he certainly did have the wherewithal enough to keep that contact with fingers twining within fingers. The lack of warmth was immediately noticeable as well as the beguiling flush that also rose high on the other man's cheeks.

Then he started toward the other man and pressed close to the side. ] Take me there then, yes?

[ It was cold outside, and Essek would not mind being warmed by a man like a furnace-- in fact if given the opportunity he could be quite snuggly with just the right person, and that right person? Well he was standing but a few inches away. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Auf indeed. But mm. This way, Schatz.

[Caleb couldn't help the smile at hearing Essek remembering the key word to the little trick of movement in the center of the tower. His fingers tightened securely around the drow's, leading them both to that center circle so they could make their way up to the level where Caleb had crafted sleeping arrangements.

Even when he summoned the tower for only Essek and himself, he tended to keep the general configuration he'd first crafted, with spaces carved out for each of his dearest friends so that they would feel as much a part of his temporary demiplane as they were a part of his heart. What this meant, after they'd alit on the correct tier, and he moved to lead Essek to his room, the door would open to the very sparse and severe space that he'd left for himself. There was a bed, yes, and a desk, but in so many ways it was a bit of a cell, as if a reminder to himself of what he'd done and that he hardly deserved the vibrant new family that he'd found his way into.

Perhaps, if he expected to be sharing this with Essek more often, he ought to reconsider the decoration of the room, a fact he noted as he stepped inside with his dear friend and soon to be lover.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek was delighted by the magic words, and even though Caleb had once upon a time told him that he did not need to say them, Essek always wanted to speak those words-- the simple delight in the demiplane and in the magic that was so uniquely Caleb's, well he could not help himself whatsoever. Then as his feet touched down on the floor and he was led to the door with the little fire symbol on it.

And then he was very carefully pulled in.

For a moment he stood their on the threshold and took it in. The first thing that occurred to him that the rest of the tower was lavish; he'd seen Jester's room and saw that it had every comfort imaginable. The other rooms, he thought would be no less full of care for the individual. But this, this was how Caleb chose to decorate his own quarters, even though he had the resources and the imagination to do so?

He let go of the hand, and then he floated over to touch the duvet on the bed, it did seem warm enough, and there was a fire in the hearth. He did not want the other man to change his room just because of him, he wanted Caleb to change it because he deserved comforts too.

He cheated in the direction of Caleb and then a smile tugged against his lips even as he started to tug lightly at the fastenings of his tunic-- perhaps attempting to prove a distraction to the wizard.. it was not wholly by accident that Essek decided to reveal the column of his neck as well as the top of his smooth and hairless chest. ]

Should we make a pallet with blankets in front of the fire? I think it would be warmer there.

[ And meanwhile, Essek was letting Caleb watch him take off his own shirt, as each button that those skillful fingers pushed through holes, the more skin revealed until his shirt was hanging on by a single button and giving Caleb the best view of starry climes and soft velvety lavender sky. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb was, bit by bit, starting to circle the idea that he might deserve some kindness in this world, approaching it slowly like it might easily startle and flee from his grasp again. He was, and ever would be, a work in progress.

But being with Essek like this made him feel like perhaps, just maybe, that he was worth wanting after all. It was in the way that the drow looked at him, and the way that Essek let Caleb look at him in return. And oh he was looking, watching the spellbinding display of the other man easing each button open, baring more of that irresistible looking skin that was begging to be touched and explored -- or that Caleb was ready to beg to touch. Maybe both those things, actually.]

Hmm?

[So distracted.] Right, the fire. This is a good idea, ja.

[He did not move to gather up the blankets though. Oh no, instead he moved towards Essek, his hand slipping beneath fabric to brush along the side of Essek's ribcage, down and along his stomach.]

You are impossibly beautiful.

[It defied all imagination, all laws of nature itself.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek wanted to make sure that Caleb knew that he was worthy of care and affection, he wanted the other man to want good things for himself, and perhaps yes.. even feel that he deserved them. Essek knew that if Caleb thought that he deserved nice things, then it could easily be turned around. So he would do so, try as effectively as possible-- to draw them both into this circle together.

A shiver as Caleb's very warm and very calloused hands touched against his ribs, perhaps a bit too pronounced but well-- he was still learning to care for himself as well. ]

A very good idea, but I see you are distracted.

[ He raised his fingers, and then he was unbuttoning Caleb's own tunic, sliding the fabric apart inch by inch and revealing pale freckled skin. He stood back a bit to survey that which was revealed, then there was the lick of his own lower lip, and then teeth digging into that same lip, it was unmistakable the desire and want that seemed to vibrate off the drow, and all directed right at Caleb Widogast. ]

And you.. dare I remind you that you are very handsome...

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb smiled at that accusation, ducking his head with a laugh.]

Ja, I am very very distracted. I find I can't take my eyes off of you.

[Or his hands for that matter, and he freed that final button so that he could slip Essek's tunic off entirely. Then his touch returned, exploring that star-scattered expanse of lavender skin that reminded him of the night sky when the sun had just released its grip on the day, a soft evening that promised secrets and rest.

He looked up again at the compliment, and found himself stilled from argument by the way that Essek looked at him, the way the drow bit at his lip, the way those eyes seemed like they simultaneously took him in wholly and saw straight through him to his very core. How beautiful and terrifying to be so thoroughly perceived.]

[zauberdecke]

[ No words from Caleb, good.

He did not want any disputes from the ginger wizard, though he highly thought that they would not be forthcoming and perhaps it was the distracted light in those blue eyes, the reverent way that he touched him and like a cat, Essek arched into the sweetest of touches against his chest while he himself started to run his fingers against the springy hair of Caleb's chest.

No, the other many was not allowed to shave any of this off.

A hum of delight as he ran his palms both up and down that chest, the tactile feel of it appealed to the part of him that liked to rub himself up against course things, as if that would get those itches scratched even more thoroughly.

Perhaps he had been a cat in a previous life. Maybe he would have considered it if he had been born consecuted. ]

Distracted though you may be, we should make up the pallet on the floor. Once that is accomplished, perhaps we can touch each other all over?

[ausgebrannt]

Right, the blankets.

[Caleb tried to shake himself back into coherent thought for at least long enough to accomplish that. But Essek was making it infinitely challenging with the those hands running over his chest. The drow was welcome to do that as long and as often as he liked, as it turned out.

With all the willpower he could muster, he drew his hands away from Essek and moved towards the bed to grab up blankets and pillows.]

There should be extra blankets in the chest.

[A funny thing to have considered in his demiplane, given that it was always appropriately temperate, but bedrooms ought to have spare blankets. So it had found its way in, and see? There had been a reason for it anyway.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek walked over to the chest and drew out some blankets, some quilts and some knitted throws in brightly woven colours, looking at it-- he wondered if perhaps this was a trace of Caleb's memories made flesh. They felt meaningful and cozy, and so it was an easy thing to scoop up the blankets out of the chest and then carry it toward the spot by the fire where Caleb was getting ready to set up for their sleepover.

There was the scent of something warm and like home about them, and it brought instant life and colour to the otherwise sparse room. He considered it for a moment, the surroundings and then he decided perhaps he would engage Caleb in some sort of, 'what if' and see if perhaps he could get Caleb to decorate this room to something that suited him. ]

You know, that little wall there? I think that it would look good with shelves.. and a little line of Xhorhasian Cat Statues on it.. maybe also plants from the Blooming Grove, and some of Jester's paintings... but not the one with dicks.

[ Was he encouraging Caleb to make this room meaningful to him? Of course Essek was. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[They were memories, metaphorically tucked away in case their warmth was needed, though Caleb had never before opened the chest where they waited.

Caleb spread the blankets and pillows he'd nabbed from the bed out by the fire, neatly enough, wanting to be certain they would be comfortable -- though he was quite certain that having Essek in his arms would make it impossible to be anything but.

He looked up as Essek spoke, considering.]

All her paintings have dicks.

[All of them. Sometimes they were just more hidden than others. But he looked to the wall space.]

That would be nice there, though. You are right.

[Hesitantly, almost unsure if he should be saying it, he added,] Perhaps... it might be a good place for a few memories from childhood too. I had a few small wooden toys, when I was a boy... [A couple Chetney Pock O'Pea originals, Essek. The craftsmanship.]

[zauberdecke]

[ At this point in time, he does not know who Chetney is, but give a few years and they will have Chetney the Original marking his territory in their garden. Which would make Essek maybe a little bit cross with the Toymaker-- but that was a problem for future Essek.

Right now current Essek was quite pleased with himself, putting little hints in Caleb's ear. ]

You are right, all her paintings have dicks but we should probably pick the least dickish of her paintings. [ Essek said, pleased at the way that Caleb seemed to open up. ] My own room was devoid of things, of mementos because I did not have friends to share them with, my brother? He left jam prints in my books, so there are those.. but otherwise? [ Essek shrugged a bit. ]

My room was a beautiful room with every single luxury, but it lacked warmth and life.. and I see that now, but you Caleb.. you have loved ones and friends, you should let those in, they want to be let in.. and perhaps that can be a Winter's Crest present to yourself, to allow yourself that.

[ausgebrannt]

Perhaps I will commission her for a tastefully subtle dick inclusive painting.

[Caleb offered, amusement lighting up blue eyes. Essek did have a way of finding his way past Caleb's defenses. Of course, those defenses had been aggressively beaten down by friendship with the Nein as well. So he did understand what Essek was getting at here.

He settled back on his heels, kneeling where he'd been smoothing out the blankets by the hearth, and looked up at the drow. Allow himself that? That moment of doubt in his features, that lingering question of whether he truly deserved that warmth, that love. But he pushed past it and reached a hand out towards Essek.]

May I begin with you then? You are loved as well, Schatz. Not just by me, but... also very deeply by me.