Give your heart and soul to charity, cause the rest of you, the best of you, honey, belongs to me

[ausgebrannt]

'Will you meet me at the dance hall this evening? After your classes are concluded?'

Caleb had been only slightly surprised by the invitation from Essek. It wasn't rare for one or the other of them to propose some outing or another -- dates, they were dates, because in this unlikely but treasured domesticity that they'd carved out for themselves, they could go on dates and other purposefully romantic activities -- though when it came to dancing, he was more often the one to offer that idea. Still, there wasn't even a shadow of a chance that he would have said no or otherwise demurred. An excuse to have the drow, in disguise as Cobalt Soul librarian or otherwise, in his arms? Caleb was in favor.

So perhaps he'd made a point of dressing for the evening, of tying ginger hair back at the nape of his neck with a satin ribbon in a very particular shade of lavender. Perhaps more than one of his students had commented on the fact that Professor Widogast looked more dressed up than usual, something that he demurred on and shifted topic pointedly to the lessons.

When classes were done, and the last of his work wrapped up well enough, he slipped his coat on -- spared a moment to unfasten the buttons at the collar of his shirt just enough so the slightest bit of chest hair was juuuuust visible, given that by now he had come to understand that Essek was fond of that particular feature. With that he made his way to the dance hall.

Inside the door, he let his gaze sweep the crowd looking for the familiar visage of his partner. But then, he was perhaps a bit earlier than Essek may have expected, given the poorly disguised eagerness to get here. But this was also fine. Caleb would abide, settling himself by the bar and ordering a drink while he waited.

"Bren?"

Caleb stood straighter in surprise at the familiar voice, turning to find himself face to face with not only one equally familiar face, but two. He half started to gently correct the Bren piece, but decided it was not worth it in the end. "Wulf, Astrid." A small smile in greeting at his former lovers-in-arms. "What a surprise to see you here." For Caleb anyway.

Comments

[zauberdecke]

Perhaps there had been an ulterior motive for Essek choosing this in particular, a Whelsen Evening to be exact; after all Essek happened to know the schedules of both Astrid and Eadwulf, this was to better avoid them if at all possible. No apology had ever been forthcoming, it did not matter if Caleb and the two had let the past stay buried-- that was of course because Caleb was of the Empire, and they had not cast slurs at him except that he was 'fond of running away' or other such things.

But Essek remembered well the derogatory terms that had been spoken to him, at him and he still nursed a bit of a grudge. Now Essek knew that he could not do very little in terms of retaliation, not outwardly. But there was still something that rankled their pride, and that was Caleb Widogast.

He was sure that Astrid and Eadwulf knew of his existence, perhaps they even knew of his existence within Seth Domade but they never mentioned it and he was quite alright with relative peace.

Seth wore a soft linen tunic, with little blue flowers against the hem of the neckline, and then dark forest green breeches, and soft leather boots. His hair was a bit shaggy, yes.. and he still wore those glasses, but as he entered and peered inside-- he caught sight of Astrid and Eadwulf engaging Caleb in conversation though he surreptitiously made a point of taking a bit of time to survey the hall where many couples were out dancing away.

"Whelsen is our usually Hall Day, do you not remember Bren?" Wulf stated, of course calling to mind those days when they had been three Solstryce Students letting off some steam after rigorous training.

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb was not privy to the treatment that Essek had faced, unaware of the slurs that had been hurled at the drow. He would have had more than a few things to say were that the case, and likely would not have been quite so quick to have released any animosity or hard feelings. What had been said and done to himself was one thing; he was a great deal more protective over the ones he loved than he'd ever been of himself. And Essek Thelyss was the one who occupied the top place on that list, and in his battered but healing little heart.

He tilted his head at Wulf's explanation, nodding at the reminder. "I suppose it had slipped my mind. It was a long time ago." A lifetime ago.

Astrid's eyebrows rose as if silently challenging the idea that anything would slip Bren's mind, but Caleb did not comment on it. She did not pursue the subject either, instead asking, "You are here to dance then?"

Caleb nodded. "I am. Though at the moment I am waiting for my partner." Who ought to be here soon, and his gaze swept the room once more, seeking.

[zauberdecke]

Caleb did not need to know about the treatment, Essek was fond of getting his revenge in other ways. And revenge it would be-- it was a soup and it tasted good both hot and cold.. at least to him, there were others who would not enjoy the taste of said soup, but that was not for them to enjoy in the slightest.

He saw the way that Caleb was searching around for him, that caused an inordinate amount of love to wrap around that petty petty heart, his grudge was not with Caleb.. nor was he attempting to make things difficult for Caleb, another reason why he did not tell him. But he could see the two Volstruckers glance around with those piercing eyes, looking for what Caleb was looking for.

That was when Essek-as-Seth emmerged from the shadows, graceful but not too graceful. Let them watch Caleb who was watching him, that would be fun-- maybe he put a bit of gravity into his set, a dunamatic signature that was more of a flourish than anything else.

He paused at Caleb's side, looking up at him before adjusting his eyeglasses.

"Guten Abend, mein Herz und meine Seele." after all, he made it a habit of practicing Zemnian-- learning more of his partner's language was a love language that he practiced quite often; a kiss on the cheek, just above the beard before he glanced up at Astrid and Eadwulf. "Good evening.." not in Zemnian, to them.

[ausgebrannt]

To anyone watching, including Astrid and Eadwulf, it was blatantly obvious when Caleb found who he was searching for. His gaze lit upon the familiar illusory face of Seth and his entire expression brightened, something that could only be obvious affection lighting up blue eyes, tugging the corners of his lips upward. He even drew himself up a bit straighter, as if he couldn't help the little swell of pride at who his partner was.

As Essek came closer his hand gravitated to its favorite spot at the small of the other man's back. The Zemmian softened his expression into a gentle smile. "Da bist du, mein Schatz." Leaning close he returned the soft kiss of greeting, looking as if his lips were pressing the kiss through his hair but quite deliberately making a point instead to leave the kiss against the shell of a sharply pointed ear where it was hidden away by illusion.

If Astrid and Eadwulf reacted to any of this, Caleb was blissfully oblivious. And react they did, a slow narrowing of those sharp eyed gazes as they took in the newcomer, an assessment of who this was and what threat he may or may not pose -- physically and also, clearly, socially. Or romantically.

Hand still at Essek's back, Caleb finally turned his attention back to the two Volstrucker. "Schatz, let me introduce you to my former classmates. Eadwulf Grieve and Astrid Becke, Archmage of Civil Influence. Astrid, Wulf, this is my partner, Seth Domade of the Cobalt Soul."

[zauberdecke]

Essek was no stranger to the narrowing of the eyes, this was exactly what he had hoped for of course and the way that Caleb introduced him as his Partner, well that had already been exceedingly dear to him, but having it said to Astrid and Eadwulf without a single hesitation-- that was beautiful beyond all words could convey; his smile was soft and secret but there was a glint to his eyes that was almost imperceptive, and for a moment the green looked like they had gold flecks dancing within them.

He adjusted his eyeglasses with a very careful gesture. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He placed one hand on Caleb's shoulder, and then one against his chest, right against his heart. A vaneguard to keep the other man warm and safe.

"Very intimate classmates, we were very close with Bren."

"Ah.." Essek said rather simply."You must forgive me, I do not know him as this Bren.. but rather who he is now.. Professor Caleb Widogast, he has worked very hard to become that person that he is and I have the pleasure of being able to sit with him at the breakfast table in the mornings, study with him at the couch during the evenings and go to bed with him in the evenings."

In otherwords, 'you may have been intimate with him earlier, but I am his now and future'

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb Widogast was an intelligent man. He had his moments of being an utter idiot, of course, as all men did, and most of his seemed to centered around social contexts. But even so, he could sense the tension that seemed to be rising, subtle and slow, like the build of charge in the air before the balance tipped and lightning struck. He just could not, for the life of him, understand where it stemmed from.

After all, he was hardly anything worth being tense over. Whatever it was that had drawn him and Essek together, he was immeasurably grateful for it, even if he still sometimes found it astounding that it had. That said, he was not at all displeased about the way Essek was draped around him, and he rather instinctively turned into him. Yes, he quite liked that, thank you.

Astrid and Eadwulf seemed, in equal and opposite proportion, to not like it at all. "The past is not so easy to run from as putting on a new name, mm?" Astrid opined as she studied this unfamiliar human, making mental notes to dig up what information she could on this man from the Cobalt Soul.

Eadwulf spoke up next. "If you see so much of him, perhaps you'd be willing to spare him for a dance or two."

[zauberdecke]

Essek was not to be deterred, of course he was not. Caleb had made his own decisions, and that same decision had informed Caleb to protect him before he protected anyone else, not to mention that he trusted Caleb, trusted him to know exactly whom he belonged to.. and who belonged to him. That was how Essek glanced to Caleb's profile, caught the way the lights caught him just right.. the man he loved right here and now.

"As I trust my partner implicitly, you may have him for a dance or two that is if he wishes to dance with you." he very carefully smoothed down Caleb's collar, fingers lightly dancing against the collarbone. "I do not own him, he can make his own decisions-- but he has to give his implicit consent to it."

Despite his distaste of the Volstruckers standing before him, he was not jealous of what they had with 'Bren'; what he was petty about was their treatment of him. "I suppose that is the true test of that who he was once was and that which he is now."

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb's decision was Essek, and it was a decision as easy to make as taking a breath. He looked over at Essek at those words of trust. He caught those fingers in his own, lifting them to his lips to brush a kiss there. It was testament to how far he had come that he could give and accept affection so easily, how many wounds had been healed by the path he'd traveled. By the Nein and the power of friendship. By Essek Thelyss and the power of finding his heart's and mind's and soul's match.

His eyebrows lifted slightly at the I do not own him because, well, arguably, all of him did indeed belong to Essek. But he appreciated the sentiment still. "Perhaps later. I have been waiting since this morning to dance with Es...Seth."

Good job, Widogast. Stop making eyes at your boyfriend and remember the cover stories. "Shall we, Schatz?"

[zauberdecke]

"Perhaps later." Essek managed to echo even as he curled his fingers through Caleb's own hand, giving it a soft squeeze, palm to palm and digits to digits and then he inclined his head rather graciously toward Astrid and Eadwulf before he indicated the dance floor to Caleb. "I did invite my partner here to dance, so I shall cherish every moment that he is in my arms." and then with that he very lightly tugged on Caleb's fingers, toward the floor where there were dancing couples.

This reminded him of the first time they had danced, it had been when Caleb had not known who he was-- had just known him as Seth. And now look at them, together like this. "Come, Chathtiu..."

That would perhaps cause a sharpening, that is if Astrid and Eadwulf were familiar enough with Undercommon. But perhaps they were not, especially not with the endearments of the language.

[ausgebrannt]

It was Astrid who caught that unfamiliar word and it turned over in her head for a moment before it clicked into place. At the Blooming Grove, it wasn't the mousy little librarian that Bren had been so clearly attached to. It was their former co-conspirator. The damn dynasty turncoat. She reached a hand over to grip at Wulf's bicep, burning a spell slot to cast detect magic, the illusion cloaking Bren's partner shimmering in the spell's sight. "That sneaky bitch..." she muttered under her breath, not entirely sure if she meant Essek or Bren or both.

Caleb didn't notice any reaction one way or another from either of his exes, entirely too busy letting Essek lead him out onto the dancefloor. He remembered the first time they'd danced here together as well. He remembered every time they'd danced since, often enough just the two of them in their quaint little cottage.

Once they were properly on the dance floor, he turned to face Essek, letting his hand settle against his lover's hip. "You look lovely tonight, and no doubt even lovelier beyond the illusion."

[zauberdecke]

Essek did not notice a single thing, so focused was he on the inner seething that he could see radiating from Astrid but also on the warmth of Caleb's hand against the small of his back which grounded him considerably. He glanced up at Caleb as they walked away, those green eyes dancing quite merrily as his partner plied him with compliments.

It was true that Essek did love a proper dance with his lover, and so he slid happily into the safety and warmth of his lover's arms.

"Well I did go home to clean up a little bit before I met you here, you deserve to have a nice looking partner." he said this quietly though not without an arch raise of his brow. The thing with Essek that despite the guise of Seth Domade, he was intrinsicly still Essek, those mannerisms that were ingrained within him. Even though he did not resemble the drow, there were traces in his gestures.

"And you look, well you look good enough to eat." of course that was meant to be figurative, but Essek had been known to get those teeth in Caleb's skin for a nibble or two... funny how there were so many freckles scattered across skin that they made good guidance for hold.

[ausgebrannt]

Essek was always Essek, and Caleb adored those glimpses of the man he'd come to know and love even through the familiar illusory disguise of Seth. "I'm still not entirely certain I do actually deserve you. But it turns out I have become far too selfish to relinquish the treasure I've found myself in possession of."

Caleb had gone and fallen, and he was content to remain in that fall, the gravity of his personal universe forever shifted by the brilliant Dunamancer currently in his arms.

"When you say things like that, I have distinct memories of your teeth in my neck. They are... very pleasant memories." Just, you know, so Essek was aware that Caleb was a fan of those nibbles.

[zauberdecke]

"Very good, I will not allow myself to be relinquished so easily..." he said this quite smoothly as they danced around the hall in a very measured waltz, it was not a fast dance.. but it was not too slow either, a reasonable pace which would keep the other man in his arms for as long as possible. But always when the other man decided to enchant him like that.. the earth always swayed on it's axis before it shrank to the size of just the two of them

"Oh do you now? I do seem to recall some very suggestive sounds you make whenever I do it."

And Essek knew that if he bit down, the other man would likely make those noises again while the rest of the world had no idea he was digging his teeth in. He was of a height that he could rest his head against that shoulder, so he did and then turned his head, and then teeth came out nibbling.. just a bite.

"You really should blame yourself for having delicious skin."

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb smiled, all warmth and affection. The world had distilled for him as well, down to nothing but the music and the waltz and Essek in the circle of his arms. He'd already half forgotten that Astrid and Wulf were here, or that anyone else was in the room for that matter.

His eyebrows rose along with a dusting of pink across the freckled expanse of his cheeks. Well yes, he certainly did make noises when Essek decided to treat him like some sort of Zemnian snack to be nibbled.

And then Essek went and leaned in close, and, well, those teeth. And Caleb did indeed make one of those noises, though he had the wherewithal to keep it to a soft gasp and a shaky sound in exhale, audible certainly to Essek and anyone in their immediate vicinity. "You are a fiend..." This was not a complaint.

[zauberdecke]

For all that they were oblivious to the world, somewhere in the back of Essek's mind, he knew that Astrid and Eadwulf were glowering. Good, let them do so-- he had no intention of leaving.. neither did he have any inclination of freeing up Caleb's dance card any time soon. If he had his way there would be a dark corner somewhere in their future where they could trade fumbling touches as if they were both teenagers again.

Except Essek had never had those sort of experiences until Caleb Widogast.

"Do you think so? That is how I aim to please." he murmured, his breath hot on Caleb's neck. Then very demurely he angled his glance upward, though he had to reach over from where his hand had been laying so that he could push his glasses back up onto the bridge of his nose. "But I think you like it.." he got in closer. "In fact, I think right now you are thinking of very naughty things.. is that right, Professor Widogast?"

Just try to deny all the filthy allegations, Essek would wait.

[ausgebrannt]

"You are so very talented with pleasing," Caleb agreed. Essek was a delight, even when he was clearly being wicked and trying to sweetly torture Caleb with kisses and nibbles on a public dancefloor.

He could feel each word, the ghost of heated breath, the slight brush of lips. And he shivered as those words raced through him. He managed to bite back most of a whimper. Almost all of it.

That question. Oh, well, no he couldn't precisely deny that allegation at all now could he? The blush on his face darkened. "It ah... it may be correct, yes. My mind has wandered down a particular path."

[zauberdecke]

There was something a little bit scandalous about the dance floor at this moment, and he nearly forgot that Astrid and Eadwulf were watching with little disguised jealousy in their eyes-- it was because Caleb had a habit of drawing to his mind only the pleasant things, the love that they had built around each other like a wall. It was unavoidable their devotion to each other in this moment.

And he did like the idea of Caleb Widogast like putty in his hands, the whimper was like music to his ears-- like a hitched gasp that echoed through the corridoors of time, he'd recall that gasp forever long after the other man was but a memory. Slowly he raised his hand to stroke the back of his hand against the other man's cheek.

"It is so easy to inspire you, but I dare say you must know that I am suffused with the same want.. I do not think I could ever get enough of you, even in my waking moments you possess the very scope of my awareness."

[ausgebrannt]

Oh so scandalous, and Caleb was so swept up in Essek that he didn't care at all that they were misbehaving in motion. He did know that the drow was deliberately stirring him up though, and it certainly was working. That touch at his cheek had him turning into his, like a cat nuzzling into his owner's petting.

He was always and would forever be weak to Essek Thelyss, and he had come to terms with this weakness -- knew that it was as much a strength as anything, that he was a better person for knowing and for loving the Dunamancer. For being loved in return.

"Are you? Then we are both in a predicament, mm? Wanting something that we probably ought not be wanting in the middle of a dance floor. But then, shall I share a secret?" He leaned closer then, quite deliberately catching Essek's lips with his own, a brief benediction of a kiss. "I always want you. Whether we are on the dance floor or on the battlefield or in our armchairs in the cottage."

[zauberdecke]

It was true that Caleb was his dearest friend, and that friendship had cemented his heart, made it indescribably weak for the other man, made him want to seek out intimacy in all forms. It would not be possible for him to lay his vulnerabilities bare like this with anyone but Caleb and he knew this.

Mouth to mouth, the taste of parted lips and the subtle tang of tongue against the crease, he almost lifted himself a few inches but then that would have been unsettling to those staring. He was still thinking of the best way to approach this without tipping off suspicions.

"Perhaps not on the dance floor but I think I saw a few unoccupied corners, I suppose I could allow you to lead me into temptation... and perhaps a few kisses."

Realizing full well that it was likely they would not be able to stop short of a few kisses.

[ausgebrannt]

"Oh? Am I the one doing the tempting here? It seems to me the temptation is currently dancing in my arms." It was Essek. The greatest temptation of his life, beating out even knowledge and magic and books.

That said it was a very appealing idea. "That said, I would very much like to find exactly that sort of corner where I could kiss you properly." By properly he meant full on bedroom-rated kissing, the sort that really was frowned upon in public.

He smiled, glancing back over his shoulder briefly, wondering where the best spot to take their little assignation might be.

[zauberdecke]

"I think that I am tempting you just as much as you are me." And there was an almost smug expression on his face when Caleb started looking for a private area to dance him off into-- that pleased him an inordinate amount and that really had no comparison. "But I think that I will make the temptation worth your while, Chathtiu..."

His mind whirled with such giddy and slightly delicious palpitations, because there was something about Caleb that could make him feel totally adored, as if he was the center of the universe and there was Caleb as the light in his sky.

"I am so fortunate to have you, and I never want to take you for granted.. you will never be anything but loved by me."

[ausgebrannt]

"I have no doubt that you will do exactly that. You always do." Anything with Essek was worth his while, even if it meant trips back to Aeor and having to carry fish-Essek until the errant magic of transformation wore off. All of it just wound up becoming a cherished new memory in the story of a life they were writing together.

Caleb's eyes -- expressive and blue, and which could by turns look forlorn and full of enough sorrow to crush a medium-sized citystate or soft and gentle with a happiness he still felt like he hadn't earned -- fixed on Essek's face, so full of affection that they were near to glowing with it.

"I love you too, Mein Mondschein. More than I have words or in Common or Zemnian." Or in his ongoing study of Undercommon.

[zauberdecke]

"Mmmmmm.." he said, his arms draped around Caleb's shoulders as he leaned their foreheads together in a gesture that was part and parcel of the love that they felt with each other, he could almost taste Caleb's lips, the point of Caleb's nose lightly resting against his own. It was warm and safe, and he had never been in love like this-- his partner, his everything.

"I suppose we shall just have to use actions to convey what we feel for each other.." and then he turned his head and then spotted a little alcove, which was unoccupied. "I think I have spotted a nice cozy place that could fit just the two of us, that is if you are interested in making out like two teenagers." his fingertip lightly grazed against the collar that was slightly opened, and then he touched the sprigs of hair just peeking out over on the undone collar.

"You know, I really like it when you have your shirt open like this." he was sure that Caleb did that just because, as if to lure him with an unspoken promise. "It gives you an additional level of alluring."

[ausgebrannt]

It was genuinely amazing how that simple moment of their foreheads resting together had become such a familiar form of intimacy. Even in the middle of a dancefloor, here they were sharing that moment and all the spoken and unspoken love that went along with it.

"I am incredibly interested in that, yes. Bitte, bitte." Please and thank you, Essek. Caleb would very much like to have a thorough makeout session, maybe some heavy petting. Maybe more than that. Who could say? They were wizards. They were clever.

A shiver ran through him at the slow, frankly seductive touch of that finger. He cleared his throat. "I ah... I do know, ja." Well, confession made. He'd noticed Essek's attention and interest, and he was quite happy to court it.

Breaking the dance hold, he caught Essek's hand within his own and headed towards the previously identified alcove.

[zauberdecke]

The suggestion had not been innocent and they both knew that, because at times they were like two teenagers with each other, hands all over each other. Essek had never a demonstrative person in public but there was something about Caleb's arm around his waist or the catch of a hand-hold that was precious.. then there was the secret nuzzles, kisses and stolen gropes when no one was percieved to be looking.

Except wasn't there a thrill in the maybe?

Perhaps Essek was too eager to get to the darkened alcove, to enjoy the touch of his partner. A part of him inside glowed that Caleb called him partner in front of Astrid and Eadwulf, that felt even more wonderful because he had been chosen. Once there, he rested a hand against Caleb's chest and very softly shoved him back against the wall with a smile that was part charming and also part awkward.. because of his disguise self guise.

"I like turning you on like this."