giveanything: (009)
[personal profile] giveanything posting in [community profile] gremlinhaus
"Bless me father, for I have sinned," the words tumbled past his lips, ingrained in the well worn pathways of his memory from the years he'd spent in catechism and as an altar boy. Not that Liam was devout anymore -- how could he be, given what he'd become, given what he did and continued to do. The confessional booth was small and dark, light filtering in only dimly through the door and its screen that kept him hidden from the sanctuary beyond and from the priest he assumed would be on the other side.

"It has been... a very long time since my last confession."

What was he doing here? This was ridiculous. He couldn't possibly expect forgiveness and absolution. There had to be true repentance for that, real contrition, and Liam knew he couldn't manage either. He hated what he did, despised every moment of it, but he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. The price for disobeying was far too severe, and he would not be the one to pay it. The price for his disobedience and his failure would be paid by his brother, and he couldn't live with that.

So William had made his choice, made it again and again, putting that one life ahead of so many others. And oh he was good at what he did, talented at ruining people, in shattering whatever it was in a human being that kept their souls in place, until they were ready to throw it away. His watcher commended him for it, in a sick and sadistic sort of amusement.

Today's lost soul had been... fuck. It had been hard. She was young, barely nineteen, and her road had already been a hard one. He'd played the game with her for the past few weeks, insinuating darkness and doubt into the cracks of that already-battered soul. Today. Today she'd shattered, and there would be no recovering from it. Another soul for the demon who owned him.

He could feel the panic rising up in his chest, cold and hard and threatening to freeze his lungs so he couldn't draw in enough breath. In the dimness and silence of the confessional, all the carefully constructed walls and facades trembled and fell away. Gone were the easy smiles and quite literal devil-may-care attitude, all the charisma and charm that he relied on in his cursed excuse for a job. It was him and his breathing and the silence and the faceless priest in the chamber beside him. Liam wondered if he could hear the panic in his breathing.

"I... sorry. This was a mistake. I should go. I'm sorry, Father, for wasting your time."

Date: 2025-06-02 08:04 pm (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (Default)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
He was not okay.

There was nothing okay about the dark circles underneath those eyes, and his eyes strayed downward until it hit where the bite lay bruised and ugly, with little streaks of blood still dried from where teeth dug in and broke skin. Riley took this in with those disassociated blue eyes, though the swirling miasma-- he caught that, and he wondered if it was his imagination, except they looked far too real and pressing to be a figment of a nightmare.

His hand was caught and then he was dragged up the stairs.

But he stayed there, stayed there rooted and did not follow him, not yet. He had rain dripping from every point on his face, and he looked a mess as well but that was not important, no of course it was not.

"You are not okay." He spoke this and it had an almost hollow sound to it, "Are you?" this was a question, but he knew that Liam likely had his pride as well, he tried to get Liam to turn around and face him, there on the steps leading up to the apartment. From where they were standing, Liam's face was in shadows, and Riley's held the outline of the light that backlit Liam, like a nimbus around him.

He reached with his free hand and dug into his pocket, finally remembering it was there-- and then he clicked the play button. After all, he had not tabbed away from their texting messages. In the desolate staircase it played, first Liam talking to Maurice, and then Gregory-- for a long moment it played before the message was ceremoniously cut off.

Then Riley spoke and it was quiet. "You deserved none of that." and even more quietly, a whisper. "I do not think I should leave you alone tonight."

Date: 2025-06-02 09:25 pm (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (4)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
Riley walked up to the step just below Liam while he jammed his phone back in his pocket-- then once there he released Liam's hand put only so that he could place first one palm and then the other against cheek, pulling him down until they were forehead to forehead, until Liam could feel the wet plaster of hair.

He did not attempt to look further into Liam's eyes, he knew the vulnerability there and did not want to intrude upon those secret and personal windows to the soul. "You deserve so much better." He repeated as if it was a litany that he could offer the other man.

He crossed the very small distance and brushed his lips against Liam's-- trembling and soft, as if the other man was a precious and priceless treasure; the priest tasted of rain and also sugar cookies and he gave that comfort to Liam in this moment.

Without any expectations of being given anything back.

This was not about sex or lust, it was about intimacy-- about becoming the balm to be wrapped around Liam's soul; tendrils of healing as if it could reach the darkness and sweep it away.

Date: 2025-06-03 12:42 am (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (10)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
The softest scratch of facial hair, the press of mouth to mouth-- and then the almost desperate whisper begging him not to leave. And all he could think of, could convince himself was that he was providing Liam with something, that this was not a lie. He fortified himself, he knew that if he wanted to-- if he felt he needed to he could leave and Liam would understand.

The thing was? That he did not want to in the slightest-- not when he had something to share with the other man.

"I won't." he promised with a bedraggled chuckle against Liam's lips before he was dragged under again, into the kiss.. into that embrace He did not let go of those cheeks, pressing open mouthed kisses with the barest hint of tongue while he stood there a step down from Liam. "Whatever you need.. I am here." like a guardian angel.

Date: 2025-06-03 01:07 am (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (4)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
Riley nodded with that baby blue softness in his eyes and then he slipped his hand into Liam's and then made a nod upward toward the apartment where the light glowed. He felt breathless and perhaps that was just the barrage of kisses that stole all of his thoughts and rendered them a puddle-- he'd never felt this dizzy from a kiss before and yet here he was.

"I barely noticed the cold, to be honest." he said, perhaps it was just rightous indignation and worry that powered through him but perhaps a blanket and some hot cocoa would not be amiss whatsoever. After all he did like sweet things, and he could be easily plied with snacks in an effort to warm up.

Date: 2025-06-03 01:37 am (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (Default)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
"Hot chocolate..."

Riley called as he took the sweatpants and the t-shirt and then moved to the bathroom to strip right out of his own soaking clothing, it peeled off him like onion skin though thankfully he did not smell like an onion-- thank the powers above for small mercies. He draped first his button down shirt over the shower stall door, and then followed with jeans.

After that left his boxers which he.. well there was no sense in keeping those and so he followed suit with those and over they went. He dried himself off thoroughly with the towel provided and once he was satisfied with that, he dumped it into hamper and then pulled on t-shirt and sweatpants. Ten minutes elapsed before he walked out, his hair was still damp but no longer plastered.

"Thank you." he said as he wandered over to where Maurice was napping on the chair and then he gave him a pet. "How is the kept cat life treating you?"

Date: 2025-06-03 02:48 am (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <lj user=hiraethe> (13)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
This was not how Riley expected that he would spend a friday night to be honest but that was fine, he normally would have spent it reading in his room and then doing the occasional rounds. He realized that he probably should be back at the dorms, but the thing with Saintsmourn Dormitories was that there was very little in terms of accountability so the dorm would be fine.

There was also the ghost who would likely check in on them? I mean he hoped at least.

A few extra scritches underneath the chin for Maurice, then the top of the head. It was the Cat Tithe, alright, suitable attention needed to be paid to the cat-- finally he turned around and plodded over to sit on the couch beside Liam, reaching for the mug of hot chocolate.

Then he saw the marshmallows, and he very carefully dumped two scoops in.

Much better.

"Thank you for the clothing, I hung my clothes over the shower rod if that is alright."

Date: 2025-06-03 12:14 pm (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (Default)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
Even now Maurice was making his way over to sit between the two of them which he had determined the prime spot for pettings; clearly and by Riley's determination, he likely concluded that there was no shame in being opportunistic, but also there was comfort in furry little ones.

Though the frown grew as Liam attempted to justify everything, from the phone to trivializing everything. He was not going to bring the phone up unless Liam did and even now he decided to play into whatever Liam said. It was mainly so that he did not bring any horrible memories to the forefront. "Maurice seems very precocious, it does not surprise me?" he offered as he rested his hand the back of Maurice's neck to give a nice kneading massage.

"I had a english sheepdog by the name of Samwise. I miss having a pet."

Date: 2025-06-03 07:35 pm (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (9)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
"Good Maurice." he said, applauding Maurice's resourcefulness even as he gave Liam a rather wry smile, "No, I won't deny that, I used to sit alone at the lunch table and read-- though you could say it was because I had five brothers at home so I was not too keen on being social-- and I've read through a few libraries in my childhood." or it felt like it.

His hand was caught and he looked down at it, at their fingers entwined. "I came because I was worried about you, the message ended abruptly and I was afraid that.. he hurt you."

It had sounded like a threat and a promise, those words.

Also a warning. "That is the demon, correct? The one that you sold your soul to?"

Date: 2025-06-03 08:19 pm (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (3)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
"Dante, Alain, Leander & Lysander-- they're twins, and then finally Orion. My parents were very much nerds as you can tell-- my full name is Cyril please do not laugh." he said with a sheepish smile. "You can imagine that we all go by shortened versions of our name, except for Alain, people just pronounce it like Allen, which makes him angry.

Though once perhaps the laughter subsided he watched all of Liam's gestures and then he furrowed his brows. "Your keeper, I do not like that at all--" he said as he brushed his thumb lightly against the edge of Liam's hand.

It was delicate but fraught with infinite care. "I feel helpless when it comes to this, I do not even begin to know what to do to make this easier for you-- I do not know how to fight demons, Liam."

Date: 2025-06-03 11:32 pm (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (4)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
Only a little shrug to his name, but at least he had an easier time of finding a suitable nicknames, his other brothers were not quite so lucky and had to be very creative with their own nicknames. His eyes widened though when he found Liam straddling him, he looked up at the other man with those blue eyes that almost looked a little bit startled at the proximity.

His resolve was certainly like one of those fairy-tale knights.

"I can promise that I will not go out seeking things unless something occurs to me." he was not hotheaded though, aside from.. well this swimming in the atlantic coast rain storm. "It is unreasonable though to think that if the opportunity to help a friend comes up, that I will not take it."

Date: 2025-06-04 12:32 am (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (2)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
There was quite a bit that Riley had to say to that statement; however, as he opened his mouth to speak -- that was exactly when Liam used that to corner him, to cover their mouths. And those words died on his lips as he felt the pliancy of Liam seeking against his. Fingers through his hair and then his own arms slipped around Liam's waist.

Unfortunately for Liam, the Priest was stubborn and now that he had gotten into his mind to do so?

No promises hmmm? He could not make a promise and the declaration that they could not be friends-- he would think of something later. Right now though the weight of Liam against him filled his body with a heat that he had not felt in a while, but this time it was sharper and far more dangerous. Whatever tension that had held between them out on the cliffs had suddenly unfurled into something that stood to sweep them away, the waves reaching up to touch the two of them.

Date: 2025-06-04 01:20 am (UTC)
eblouissant: made by Nia @ <user name=hiraethe> (7)
From: [personal profile] eblouissant
Riley forgot everything except for the moment, except for how it felt here pressed back against the couch and with Liam perched upon him, the freedom of mouth-- he forgot that he was a priest, anyone more than just Riley. They had shared too much for this to halt at this moment, and deep inside he knew that Liam needed this, needed the assurance of something good-- it was the promise of something deep and more.

More nuanced than even lust.

His fingertips slid up and down the spine while his mouth parted for Liam to enter, to taste his tongue, his mouth-- gods, whatever he wanted to consume. He was his in this moment, and perhaps he had always had been his and he just did not know it yet? It felt like fate that had drawn them together there in the confessional but weeks ago, and now they were here.

No, there was no way that Riley would fight this, not like had on the cliffs and there was signs inherent in the vibrations of his soul, that dare not disrupt this.

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