: STAR-CROSSED SPIES AU :

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek Thelyss had been set up on a double date by his friend Jester.

He was not one who particularly enjoyed social interactions. He had enough of them both in his profession as a model, as well as his moonlight job as a spy for the Dynasty Government. Both sides of him did not have much in the way of time for such frivolities as dates. Certainly he was seen on the arm of quite a few men, but those were for publicity only and otherwise he eschewed any such interactions.

But Jester was Jester, and she was insistent.

Jester had caught him reading some tome on the intricacies of Dunamantic Technology and said that she knew just the man for him. To which case it became a Hurricane; Hurricane Jester coming in to whisk him away. So he decided to go and then at the end of the evening he would tell Jester's mystery man that he was not interested and thank you for his time. But that did not mean that he was going to show up being anything less than the model Essek.

So of course he would dress with care; even though he was sent on crushing this man's hopes he at least wanted it known that he was quite the prize, because he did have a bit of vanity to him.

A small local restaurant was selected on the seaside of Nicodranas, where he was currently on location for a beach shoot. One that specialized in fresh seafood. He wear tight white velvet pants and an off the shoulder slinky tunic, his hair was styled immaculately with little sparkly stars that still managed to hang in those waves.

Jester had told him to carry the book and so he had it tucked underneath his alongside his little beaded clutch. He walked into the cozy little seafood restaurant and glanced around as he surveyed the people to see if he could possibly guess who his date would be. That is, if his date had even arrived yet. ]

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[zauberdecke]

[ There was something endlessly fascinating about the beach as it was presented within Nicodranas; in Jigow the waters were very cold and murky due to it's northern facing orientation. Certainly not suitable for swimming-- and while a festival of merit was held in Jigow on a yearly basis, any water activities as apart of the proceedings was with the full knowledge that the contestants would not know what was in them to begin with.

Here though, the waters were inviting and warm-looking. He'd dipped his toes in during one of the shoots and had marveled at how crystal clear and blue the waters were, like a sparkling ocean-hued topaz.

Once the blanket was spread out on the sand, Essek removed his sandals and then sank down to the ground cover, a very coy smile that lit the corner of his mouth as well as backlit his violet eyes. ]

I cannot imagine very many people who would not be willing to indulge you, Professor Widogast.

[ This was a candid observation; as this man's charm had worked so effortlessly on him.. he thought that everyone else must surely be easy targets. Which made him wonder why this man had not been snapped up yet? He was clearly single and also in a point in his life where dating was an option? ]

[ausgebrannt]

Ah well... perhaps you would be surprised. I am not the most socially adept person. Ask Jester about that.

[He was Jester's friend because she was aggressively friendly and had decided that they were going to do a friendship, and Caleb -- like most people caught in the little blue tiefling's wake -- had found himself with no defense against her charms and persistence. And he was grateful for it.

Since truly, social anxiety often got the better of him. Something about Essek though, about how effortlessly they connected, something that went far beyond charisma or charm, something about the drow's essence. Caleb was well and truly captured.

He stepped out of his shoes as well and settled on the blanket beside the other man. He reached into the basket and set out the rest of what he'd brought: a couple smaller blankets in case Essek caught a chill in the evening air, a bottle of wine and two conveniently plastic cups, and a container of fruit (cut strawberries, blackberries, cheese, all spelled to keep them chilled, along with the blush wine).]

[zauberdecke]

[ That was hard to believe with the way that Caleb talked to him so readily-- even asking if he could kiss him; those sorts of things that he could not imagine a shy person doing; or perhaps he saw just underneath the surface at the confidence that was an after-effect of the scourger, perhaps the only part of the scourger he recognized, a small thing and one that he would not be able to connect to his arch-nemesis.

He reached for a blackberry and popped it in his mouth, the layout was not one that anyone had ever tried when attempting to (unsuccessfully) woo him, but here he was-- not minding in the slightest. ]

I am very rarely fit for human consumption, it has been said. [ Essek said as he took up one of the blankets to spread it over his lap. ] The sea is so beautiful in Nicodranas.. I cannot imagine it is easy to leave, with the warmth evening in the evenings.

[ausgebrannt]

[One day, perhaps, if they both survived that long, they would laugh about all the ironies of two arch-nemeses encountering each other in their civilian identities without knowing and winding up immediately smitten with one another. Totally a story to tell their grandchildren.

Unless they murdered each other in the line of duty before they got to that point.]

That can't be true. You look entirely delectable.

[Awkward nerd was earnest enough that it was flirting but also the truth.]

It is difficult to leave, ja. Where I grew up we had small lakes and creeks, but nothing so majestic as the ocean.

[He opened the wine then and poured a cup for each of them, handing one to Essek.]

The sky though, it is the same.

[zauberdecke]

[ That was the crapshoot wasn't it? The fact that at any moment they could find out each others identities? Perhaps it was unlikely though because they were completely blind to anything but this moment and no other logic synapsis was firing in the brains, no logic.. nothing- just a 'wow, this man is hot' when it came to the other.

With am elegance, Essek took the cup and then brought it to his lips while he glanced upward at the sky that was spread out before them. The edges had darkened though there was still a faint rosy glow in the distance that spoke of sunset leaving night in it's wake.

"You are right, the skies are the same.. just positioned a bit different due to axis and axels." a nod then to Caleb. "Are you interested in the night sky?" while he tried not to focus too hard on how delectable this man thought he looked.

[ausgebrannt]

"I find them fascinating, ja. The constellations peoples have seen fit to draw among the star scape. And then of course, the thought of worlds far beyond and what they may be like, so far from us that we are only barely aware of their existence."

He was a nerd, Essek, full and completely. But he was also, at heart, a romantic. He'd grown up loving fairytales and folksongs, and even in his pursuit of the arcane in a very academic -- and espionage flavored -- bent had not shaken that from the foundation of him.

A hand lifted and he leaned in to point so that Essek could follow his line of sight. "Those stars just there, that bright group of them, in the Empire, that is the Great Stag."

[zauberdecke]

"Oh." Essek murmured as he glanced upward at the constellations where Caleb pointed them out, saw the pathway clear from the point of fingers to the glimmering stars in the horizon. He shifted a little bit closer so that he could look down the same vista, and slowly the image came alive for him. "Those are the antlers.." his fingertip tracing where he thought they were, though this was speculation of course.

"Not much else underneath the antlers because I have found though that most relied on symbolism within the trappings of history." he was so very close to just resting his head against Caleb's shoulder though he did not do it just yet.. perhaps he was choosing the most innocuous moment to do so.

"Though the two stars toward the bottom look somewhat similar to nostrils... almost as if the Stag is annoyed that he was placed up in the sky."

[ausgebrannt]

"Ja, exactly," Caleb agreed with a hushed enthusiasm. Essek had it exactly right. He also would not mind the drow resting against his shoulder at all. It would be, undoubtedly, the best thing to happen to him in ages.

The next observation earned a laugh. "It does, doesn't it? Perhaps he is upset at being up there without his herd. It seems a lonely spot to be a stag." Away from the forests and the rest of the deer.

It was a strangely magical moment, despite the fact that not a single spell had been cast since they'd settled down on this blanket together. This was the sort of magic that manifested itself between people without a single sigil or word of the spell.

[zauberdecke]

"Perhaps we should make up a companion for him in the stars." Essek said as with infinite gentleness, he settled in close to rest shoulder to shoulder with the other man. The skin of his cheek brushing the shoulder lightly as he continued to speak with the same hushed voice as Caleb-- so as to not disturb the spell between them that was being cast with synergy. "A stag is very majestic, so perhaps something to suit his own grandeur, such as a gazelle leaping across the night sky?"

"There.. that could be the curve of it's back." and then he took Caleb's hand and linked their hands together and then with such a casual grace he started to connect the starry dots with his fingertips, a very soft whisp of purple energy floating from his fingertip to follow the trail and to somewhat illuminate.

"Perhaps there is a constellation that already exists that it is a part of, but I have found that the process of creation comes from the end of something else."

[ausgebrannt]

Someday in the future, Caleb would likely to be able to pinpoint right to this exact moment, as when he truly fell past the point of no return for the drow. It was the way Essek's voice stayed soft and hushed like they were indeed sharing secrets here, alone on the seashore. It was the way the other man traced a new image in the sky, a constellation that would forever be a part of Caleb's star charts. The way his hand was taken and that little tickle of magic.

"Ah, ja. Perfect. There, proper company for the lonely stag. They can enjoy the sky together now."

Creation coming from the end of something else, birth and death different sides of the same coin. Yes, that was exactly it. Life was born from the embers and ashes of death.

[zauberdecke]

Essek knew nothing about Caleb's past but he did know the laws of equivalent exchange and how they applied to the world in which they had a stake in, how life and death were balances and ate of each other like the great Oroborous twined high above-- a separate constellation. He flushed only a little, soft darker lavender shimmering against his high cheekbones.

"You must not tell anyone that I am like this in private-- I have a reputation to maintain, Caleb Widogast." Essek reprimanded with an arch look that brooked no contest, though his eyes softened considerably just after the words were uttered. The perfectly poised and flawless model dripped away until all that remained was this rather vulnerable drow underneath the lighted path of constellations.

And then that same drow slipped willingly to resting his head against a broad shoulder, could scent the spiced body wash and a hint of cologne against that neck, as he merely succumbed to the pull between them that was nurtured by the talk of the birth of stars and the death of old ones.

[ausgebrannt]

"You have my word, Schatz. I am very good at secrets," said the secret agent. His voice a low whisper, conspiratorial even. He felt more than a little honored to be allowed this glimpse at Essek Thelyss, beyond the perfectly put together model persona that the other man wore so well.

The head against his shoulder continued slowly reducing his heart to a roiling little puddle, and he slipped an arm around the drow, hand settling gently against his hip. Something about the moment felt right, as if he'd stumbled into the place he belonged, right by this other man's side, like there was some connection between them that had already existed and he'd finally discovered it.

If only he knew.

[zauberdecke]

"So am I..." which was why it had previous-to not been discovered his weak points, but there was something about this man that felt safe as if he could entrust all of his secrets to and not fear for them. Not that he would do that of course, that would be highly ill-advised and he did not want this innocent man to be dragged into what he had going on with his life.

Better to enjoy the moment right here and right now.

A sip was taken of the wine in his cup, a sweet vintage that he'd never tasted before. It was quite unlike the ice wines of the north, which he'd partaken of in abundance-- this one had a brightness to it that was pleasing to the tongue but also each sip made him feel a little bit more intoxicated, a bit more reckless.

And cemented a thought that he'd had before the sips of wine. That he was going to take Caleb back to his lodgings, just casually invite him himself and then proceed to ruin the unassuming Professor until he could not see anything but him.

[ausgebrannt]

Here was Caleb entirely unaware that there were plans to rock his world to the point that he would never be the same. He would not object to that in the slightest. For now though, he was enjoying the way that Essek felt tucked against him, trying to keep himself from imagining a life that he could not ever actually have.

What harm could a little fantasizing do?

Hubris, at its finest. He leaned in closer, the soft icy jasmine scent of the drow entirely impossible to resist -- not that Caleb was trying to resist much of anything right now. "What I do not wish to keep a secret is how much I have enjoyed spending time with you today."

[zauberdecke]

A shiver went through him at the brush of lips against his jawline, he could imagine how Caleb looked in this moment, likely the moonlight was just as wonderful to him as the sunset was. He wanted more of that mouth against his skin, and the soft and almost sensual tone of that voice did rather alarming things to various parts of him.

It certainly made his cock twitch and his drow cunt nearly drip, and other places that were rather deciding that they were within existence and wanting to be fingered, filled, what have you; and to mask this he took a another sip of his wine, just as well a hum. "Oh? Well I rather imagine that Jester is gloating at this moment, thinking that she did well." though he tilted his head just a little bit to the side so that he could look up at the irresistible man with those cerulean blue eyes.

"She would be well within her right to gloat, I have enjoyed myself as well." which did not happen often when it came to dates, especially blind ones where he did not know what to expect. Most of the time his expectations had fallen to the center of the earth. This time though? Not so much.

"I would not ah.. mind another."

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb laughed, quiet, sheepish, but genuine. "Jester will be insufferably smug, ja. But I can't even begrudge her that smugness in this case either." Because yes, blind dates were disasters, but their mutual friend had been right about this particular match it would seem.

Essek turned to look at him, and even in the darkness, Caleb fell straight into those eyes, more dazzling than the star-filled skies above them could ever hope to be. There were constellations in Essek's eyes too, and Caleb wanted to map each and every one of them, learn the stories they would tell.

But oh. Oh yes. Another date would be amazing. "I would like that very much. ...I would very much like to kiss you again, soon."

[zauberdecke]

Essek's tongue slid against his lower lip, suddenly realizing that the taste of Caleb was not on his mouth anymore. Just wine; which while the whine was good-- it was no substitute for the other man's lips. So very carefully one of his hands slipped up until his palm pressed against the back of Caleb's neck and then he managed to shift so that his lips could be made available.

That is if Caleb wanted it.

And by the looks of it, he very much did.

"I certainly shall not stop you if you kiss me, Professor Widogast." was that the barest hint of a challenge, perhaps seeing if Caleb would rise to it. Though Essek was not above taking what he wanted if Caleb decided not to take this invitation for what it was.

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb was not going to let that invitation slip past him, at all. How could he? He was not nearly strong enough to resist the temptation of the drow's lips, a breath away from his. His tongue flicked at his own lower lip as if anticipating the taste of him.

He lifted one hand to settle against Essek's cheek and then he closed the distance between them to kiss the other man, lips claiming lips as if all the time that had passed since their kisses traded in the garden had left him starving for more of Essek.

He could taste the wind, sweet and light, but beneath that Essek himself, and that was so so much sweeter. A true addiction, he realized, one that he'd never be able to shake.

[zauberdecke]

He'd never been kissed quite like this, like there had been a need for him that kindled itself deep within the soul, but here he was with the poetic Professor with such heartfelt and warm words stealing the very breath from his lungs; his lips parted and he sank into that mouth as if it were ripe fruit, tasting wine on the lips which left him just as drunk as what was held in the cup that he'd set off to the side.

And the very hint of a tongue tip which he coaxed into his own mouth.

Could feel the kiss pool through his entire body and spread warmth and heat there, with the brush of Caleb's facial hair as it scratched against his own chin, a texture that was far more pleasing then he would ever have admitted to himself.

The kiss very quickly became hot and deep, as Essek's mouth opened up fully-- and his arm wound itself even more securely around a shoulder, a purr at the back of the throat that likely the other man would be able to taste.

[ausgebrannt]

Oh there was indeed a heat building in the kiss, the start of a fire that would burn in Caleb Widogast like a seam of coal deep in the earth caught alight and left to smolder for centuries. He took the invitation of that tongue to explore Essek's mouth, a soft sound in his throat, pleased and so swept up in him that the rest of the world slipped away entirely.

He slipped an arm around him, urging him closer at the sound of that purr. That was an irresistible sound that Caleb wanted to hear more of. It took all his self control not to tumble Essek back on the blanket -- and so far he was just barely managing to behave.

[zauberdecke]

This kiss was doing things to him, causing him to throb from the inside out and with absolutely no saving himself from the sheer need of it and it was taking Essek's own self control to not climb up onto Caleb's lap and straddle him while they continued to kiss and make-out like they were both teenagers caught in a web of exploration, but he was swept up in it just as much as Caleb was.

Finally though he drew his mouth away, with a nip against that reddened lower lip, slick with saliva from their kiss. His fingertip lightly traced the skin of Caleb's neck just against the collar and then he spoke a bit huskily.

"Do you want to come back to my bungalow, Caleb Widogast?"

The stars would always be there, and if they really did want to go outside, they could for he had an enclosed patio with his own private pool and hot tub, such was the amenities of being a world famous model. They were on a blanket surrounded by sand however, and sand was not sexy, he'd taken a shower that had lasted a half an hour to get all of the sand out of everywhere. "Of course, you are under no obligation." he reiterated with a quiet sort of hum, the pads of his fingers tracing underneath a chin, the bristle of facial hair tickling him with a tactile ease.

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb would not have objected at all to having Essek in his lap, straddling him, however the other man wanted to be so long as it was close. As it was, Caleb's hands began to wander, running up Essek's side, around to his back to follow the graceful curve of his spine.

When the kiss broke, Caleb remembered he ought to breathe, even if the way Essek's fingertips played over his skin was supremely distracting.

"I... ja. Yes. Gods, yes. Please. I would very much like to come back to your bungalow." Obligation. Clearly he was jumping at the chance, chin lifting ever so slightly at that touch, as if he were an adoring pet eager for his owner's attention.

[zauberdecke]

The eagerness did delight Essek and it showed in the very curve of his smile that Caleb could almost taste, certainly be could taste the breath as it huffed out amidst the salty sea breeze that wrapped them up. It did not help of course that the questing hands was inspiring his body to arch ever so slightly against the other man's ministrations. He'd displayed several cat-like tendancies, but this seemed to be the most prevalent at the moment, the arching as if his entire body was made of water and it was naturally rolling up into the warmth of Caleb's hand.

Caleb had given him a taste of romance, he wondered what else may the ginger haired professor give him a taste of.

He slowly lifted himself up from the blanket. The stars were now spread out like jewels against the sky and the sunset was a long thing of the past, and it would not take long to pack up the cups and the snacks that they had consumed as they traced constellations with their fingertips. A rueful smile, as he knew that he was perhaps acting far too eager, but it was not every day that Essek Thelyss was horny, and gods was he ever.

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb was, even if it was currently subconsciously, a fan of the feline-esque qualities that Essek possessed. Then again, he was a fan of all Essek's qualities. Something about the drow had thoroughly captured him, drawn him in and refused to let go, like the hold of gravity itself.

He helped pack up as well -- quick, yes, perhaps even a bit haphazard, though at least he remembered to re-cap the wine -- and once that was done, he held out a hand to Essek. Could the hand holding continue perhaps? That might tide him over for the walk back which would no doubt seem endless for how long it meant he had to keep his lips from Essek's.

Caleb Widogast was no stranger to horny, but the level of it in this moment was heretofore unprecedented.

[zauberdecke]

Essek had been meaning to help, he really had. But it appeared that Caleb was set to make very quick work of it and so Essek stood back and watched. Inserting himself in to help in small ways, until finally Caleb finished and then when the hand was offered to him, he took it rather gratefully and a smile as he started to pull the other man to him.

He had a makeshift teleport set up in his cottage.

But he rather like the idea of walking with Caleb like this, letting the anticipation seize the both of them this first walk back; though perhaps tomorrow they could avail themselves of the teleport circle when needed. He allowed himself to tuck into Caleb's side and then peered up at him as they walked. "You will go down as the man who taught me the meaning of romance, I hope you are satisfied with yourself, Chathtiu."