"Broken Shards"

[zauberdecke]

"In the dark
I need to taste the blood
Go on, draw another line
We can cross this time."
- Blindfold by Sleeping Wolf

---



[ Essek Thelyss: Shadowhand to the Dynasty.

One who reached further then the Luxon would allow, who would do absolutely anything for knowledge. Oh no, the man did not care for power, not really. He wanted to cast himself into the portal of knowing, he wanted to surrender himself to books and learning without having to deal with the mundanities of socio-politics that all of the Kryn engaged in. It was tedious and it filled him with sickness even as he plastered on an urbane smile for all and sundry to see.

Within the Dynasty, it was customary to take pets of the Empire; they were brought in across the border of Asarius, across the mountains and into the Dynasty. There were Dynasty born pets on the other side, both lost to the ravages of the other's civilization, generally never to be seen again.

Essek had never really had an interest to begin with when it came to pets; at the market he carefully avoided the slave blocks where those not of the Dynasty were paraded around. However, it had come to this-- it had come to his trading of the Beacon, and in return he recieved a Volstrucker to serve him. And yet, for all of that, Essek Thelyss had not thought he would receive a broken Volstrucker.

In fair trade, he and recieved a dossier on the man in question and had perused it with only a small semblance of annoyance while Trent Ikithon had assured him that a man like him could be rebuilt, the honeyed words of a silken snake which Essek recognized.

After all did not a predator recognize another predator? So now he held in his household a man whom had to be guarded carefully, though Essek was not cruel despite how he imagined Dynasty pets were treated, the cage that he had placed this Volstrucker named Bren within, well it was comfortable-- he'd seen pictures of Vergossen so he supposed it must be far better than that place. But he had not precisely interacted with him-- most of his unseen servants were given the walking of him, the care and maintenance of him.

Perhaps because he did not precisely know what to do with him, or what use he had for something broken. Though he arguably did not know what manner of broken the Volstrucker was, but after a week-- he decided perhaps it was time to summon him and see for himself; acertain what sort of work was cut out for him.

If this man was worth putting back together again.

So it was one evening, he had the Empire man summoned to his chambers. ]

Comments

[ausgebrannt]

Good.

[Bren smiled, grateful that Essek would allow him to take care of him. It was all that he desired right now, to see that sadness and hurt soothed away as best as it can be. He wrapped the towel around Essek and went about gently drying his Master before leaving it draped over his shoulders to go retrieve the salve.

He hummed softly at the question, not interrupting his ministrations as he considered that question.]

I suppose I am serving you, ja...

[A pause to press a kiss to the edge of the drow's shoulder.]

If you say so, then it must be, mm? But I am still doing precisely what I wish.

[Dried off, ministered to, and then Bren would guide Essek back to the bedroom to get him into his bedclothes.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek's own skin tingled underneath the warmth of Bren's palms, he wanted that warmth and he wanted to inhale it and savor it-- it felt like he could go trance underneath these conditions.. almost. There was a part of him where he was still uncertain if he would be able to fall asleep-- but his limbs felt heavy regardless.

The salve had a cooling affected on skin that felt somewhat burning. It was a strange sensation, he was not used to being overly warm but it was likely due to a combination of the hot bath and the salve working together.

The drow donned his lounge clothing, getting himself comfortable with the fresh clean scent of freshly washed clothing. Though there was a bit of silence after he'd clothed himself, his hands clasped together before he started to wring them in a manner that felt a bit nervous. When he spoke, it was to voice something that would come as a surprise to Bren. ]

Would you sleep with me tonight? In my bed? [ And then it came out in a rush ] I do not want be alone tonight.. and you feel safe to me.

[ausgebrannt]

[Oh yes a very surprising thing to hear. His eyes went wide, and he had to scold his own heart for the way that skips over itself. This wasn't time for him to be excited about spending the night with Essek in his arms.

Even if he was.

The fact that his Master had phrased it as a request though, and the admission that Essek felt safe with him, melted something in Bren. His broken, tattered little heart could barely take it. He wanted that, wanted to be a haven for his Master, a comfort. He loved this man, complicated as that was. He flushed only faintly at the path his thoughts had tripped down.]

Of course. I will stay as close as you want me. Always.

[He would keep him safe, from anything that might try to come.]

[zauberdecke]

[ He had not expected a rejection, but he had phrased it as a request and not a demand all the same because it was well within his right to refuse; it also was not done he imagined-- to sleep in the same bed as your Pet, but he was not too worried about being proper. Instead he offered Bren a very real (if tentative) smile and then he walked over to the bed then to draw back the coverlet, and then he slipped inside before he waited for Bren to come in and join him.

And he was ready to curl up into Bren's side when the other man slipped underneath to join him under the covers, as if there was a gravitational pull to Bren's center of warmth. ]

I should stop saying thank you when you've already told me that there is nothing to be thanked for.

[ Every little bit of affection at this point, especially when he was so very hungry for it, was siphoned up in a manner that was new; perhaps he was always this broken after his times with Adeen but he had been forced to internalize it, never allowing it to be free but only fester. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Ja, that is true. This is the same... sleeping beside you seems to be a reward.

[That smile though, tentative as it was, that was the true reward, something that set that warm thrumming in Bren's chest all the stronger. He watched as his Master situated himself in the bed before moving to join him.

It was strange to be allowed, but he was not questioning it. Essek needed him, and he would be whatever the other man needed him to be.

The moment Essek settled against him, the drow would find himself enveloped in Bren's arms, as the ginger wizard turned onto his side to curl around him.]

May I kiss you?

[zauberdecke]

[ Settled in against Bren, he had nearly a faceful of chest hair which was not unpleasant in the slightest; however, he did shift upward to put himself more in level with his pet as he burrowed into an embrace that felt like heaven. Something about Bren carefully gaining permission for each touch seemed to endear the Pet even further to Essek.

It was acknowledgement that perhaps all touch may not be accepted, and he was grateful for that check in. ]

Please... you may kiss me.

[ He tilted his head on the pillow as if to prepare his lips for Bren's tribute, lips parted slightly as he slipped his leg between Bren's. All the while his free hand found its way against a hip that was bony but not as piercing as it had been over two weeks ago.

Still there was a way to go though before Essek would be content with Bren's weight. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Bren wanted to be certain, did not want to push Essek for something he did not wish. Especially now, especially after the evening his Master had had. If the drow needed to be held and nothing more, then Bren's arms were ready and willing. But he smiled at the permission, ducking his head to press a kiss to those lips.

It was a soft, tender contact, a tribute indeed, all affection that did not bother to disguise itself as anything else. It was brief, barely a touch at all, but it was followed on by a second contact, the same gentle touch but lingering this time.

His legs shifted to welcome the tangling of their limbs. One hand splayed against the small of his Master's back, holding them close together.]

[zauberdecke]

[ It was an intimacies that Essek was still getting used to, the soft touch of lips to lips-- but likewise it was also one that he had an inherent craving for, that contact of mouth that tasted like his Pet-- a sweet golden flavor that combined with the firelight in the hair and the deepest blue of those eyes.

He was fond, despite himself-- he was fond.

And also, this was preferable to what he'd had with Adeen, there was no way in which he felt unsafe or threatened, certainly not even a touch of violation in the contact. If he said 'stop' he knew that Bren would back away, and give him such sad guilty 'I did not mean to' eyes that would break his heart perhaps a little bit in that Essek never liked to see the other man frown or unhappy in any way. And even when Essek punished him, he could see that it gave him a purpose and a strange sort of twisted joy.

Essek would do whatever it took to make sure that the soft gentle look stayed on that visage. So he sank in the kiss, lips parting and tongue searching while he attempted to snuggle in closer, as if he could climb inside the other man in a purely emotional way and make himself one with him. That was the core, wasn't it? That Essek wanted to be emotionally as tight with Bren as it was possible to be. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Gods but he loved kissing this man, and he could lose himself in it so very easily. But he would not let himself be lost tonight, paying close attention to Essek and how he reacted, to make sure that his Master was at ease. He wanted to be that comfort for him.

He also wanted to find a way to get rid of Adeen, but that plotting could wait for another time.

He did take that invitation of parted lips though, letting his tongue find a slow slide along Essek's. His arms tightened around the other man, pulling the two of them closer. This was his first time joining his Master in his bed, and oh he liked it. The knowledge that he would be able to fall asleep with the drow wrapped up in his arms, that was beautiful. Thrilling. He would likely yearn to be exactly here from now on. So much for sleeping in his cot.]

[zauberdecke]

[ It was likely that between the two of them, they could get rid of the thorns in their sides, but for right now Essek did not want to think of anyone save for the comfort and safety of Bren, of that warm mouth that made him nearly unseasonably warm in return-- but not uncomfortably so. Right now he was at a nice cozy setting, with Bren's arms around him and that mouth speaking silent kisses against his own mouth.

It was like unvoiced poetry to him.

And Essek had never been one for poetry or romance.

But he was starting to come around to the concept of it, of companionship and embraces- and while he still did not believe in happily ever afters.. at the very least he could be comfortable here in this space that he and his Pet shared. Also, it was alright to become spoiled-- Essek was growing quite accustomed to Bren's presence, and his admittance to bed was an unlooked for treasure trove of safety.

At the moment though, he wanted cuddling and the intimacy that came with that-- slow langurous kisses until the two of them fell asleep. Though he did allow himself the luxury of his fingers curling through Bren's unbound hair, filling that fire ripple through him. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Bren murmured a soft, wordless sound to Essek's lips. Though they had proven time and again that they were certainly able to spark an intense desire between one another, that they were compatible on a carnal level, this was different. The desire was there, yes, would always be, but stronger now was the emotional connection, the desire to be close in a way that was warmth and safety and belonging.

He'd been given to his Master by one of the worst people that he had ever known, and perhaps he should have resented that. But no, Essek had proven to be so much more than Bren could have ever imagined, ever had hoped. This was where he belonged.

He broke from that kiss to rest his forehead against the other man's.]

You should rest, ja? It has been a long night.

[And then, pushing his luck, perhaps.]

Tomorrow, do you have engagements? Or can we have a quiet day? Another bath, perhaps, some time in the library?

[zauberdecke]

[ He had not taken a day off in a while. In the two plush weeks that Bren had known Essek, he had gone to the office every day, and while he had quiet evenings spent reading, there was never a real day of rest for the Drow.. and it was hard to say how long that had been going on. He heard that simple request, and he furrowed his brows in thought for a moment as he mentally calculated exactly what he had to do tomorrow. If he had any pressing appointments with key members of the Queen's court, well he'd have to go in.. but he realized he did not.

It was true that Bren was getting spoiled, for the words that came out of Essek's mouth was quiet and perhaps unexpected but clear. ]

I do not see a problem with that, it's been years since I've given myself a.. whole day off. [ There had been too much too prove, expectations to surpass.. his own and his mother's. Everyone took days off in the city, except for himself so perhaps he could allow himself a little holiday as a treat.

And perhaps he may extend it past a day and into two-- he was so very tired and worn down by everything and maybe he needed a bit of a recharge. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Ja? Good. Very good.

[Bren was thrilled with this idea, knowing that Essek would actually allow himself to relax. After what he'd been through tonight, Bren thought it would do him good. And it would give the broken Volstrucker the chance to see what he could do to pamper and relax his Master.

It was time that Essek was taken care of, was cared for in the way that his owner had been caring for him all this time. Bren had decided that this would be his mission now.

He smiled and stole another kiss.]

Then we will have a quiet day. It will be nice. I am glad.

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek settled into those arms, suddenly feeling a great deal of weight drop from his shoulders. He rested his head within the crook of Bren's neck. His body started to hum-- and this time Bren would be able to hear it close up, the rumble of it, the way that Essek's body denoted that it was to start it's trance soon. Often times it was a switch that he could turn on and off, but not this night.

This night, his body was not giving him any choice.

Sleep was regenerative, and perhaps this night's trance would be a dreamless affair that mimiced sleep more than it did his need to go into his Mind Palace. At this moment they were twined at key points and with little to separate them.

It was a blessing and he could feel himself drift off to the soft breath of Bren against his cheek. ] Me too.. I.. do not want any other Pet but you.

[ It was high praise, it meant that Essek would not go searching for another. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[It was high praise, and it had that ache starting in Bren's chest again, that wash of relief that Essek did indeed want him, that he would not be discarded or replaced. His arms tightened around him reflexively, and he turned to brush his lips against his temple.]

I am yours, Master. Only yours. I will never belong to anyone else.

[A quiet vow. And perhaps one day Essek would tire of him, would grow bored of him -- and Bren would never fault him for it. But he'd gone and lost his heart to the drow, and there was no help for it. Then again he wouldn't change it if he could.]

Rest now.

[zauberdecke]

[ Those eyes closed, white lashes falling against the tops of his cheeks as he entered into a fully relaxed state, a humming mass of drow within Bren's arms, his arms never once leaving where they had been stationed against Bren's torso, his breath soft within the crook of a neck.

And he slept.

There were no dreams, but there was an warmth that spread through him within the darkness, there was also the awareness that Bren was there with him outside of his body, was keeping silent sleeping vigil alongside him, and that thought caused the warmth to spread deeper until it turned into an ache but it was not a powerful one, it would allow him his rest for now, it would allow him the chance to get his bearings and to gain that respite that he required.

His trance prolonged into nearly six hours due to the exhaustion of the night before, though eventually that ache grew far more powerful and his eyes opened to the soft dawn haze of the morning as it peeked through the windows, though it was not light by any means.. it was the colour in the dark air that he was used to (he doubted Bren was used to colours the sky would take to signify the time of day) but there was a shifting as he looked up into Bren's sleeping form.

Disentangling himself as gently as possible so as to not to wake him, he sat up and allowed his gaze to linger all over Bren, on the beauty of his Pet within sleep. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Sleep took longer to pull Bren in. He fought it, clinging to wakefulness so that he could bask in the feeling of holding the other man in his arms, could listen to that soft humming, hear the way his Master's breathing evened out. That surge of protectiveness only grew stronger, to do everything that he could to keep him safe, to make him happy.

Eventually though, he slipped off into slumber.

Morning came, and Bren still slumbered. No nightmares found him, no terror, only the warmth of being tucked up close and curled around the drow. Slowly though, as Essek disengaged from his arms, he began to stir. But it was a slow waking, a bleary blinking of sleepy blue eyes as he found himself gazing up at Essek. A smile found his lips, soft and affectionate.]

Master? Is it morning?

[zauberdecke]

It is morning; although, I did not mean to wake you.

[ With such delicate fingers, he reaches to smooth his fingertips against the sleep shirt that had gotten slightly rucked up in the night. But he did not make a move to smooth it down, nor straighten it-- though lightly playing with it.

He made eye contact with Bren's, and his pupils were the golden of the morning sunrise (though Essek was not precisely aware of this), he felt strangely tight and hot this morning-- the warmth having spread into every part of his limb; it was not a feeling that he was familiar with though he did not feel precisely sick. He found though, that he enjoyed looking upon Bren, and that profile underneath the morning light was appetizing.

There was no shame in looking, this was his Pet and he owned him.

There was no shame in touching either, and his fingers strayed to the abdomen that was revealed, the line of hair that cut through the bellybutton and then downward just below covers. ]

Breakfast?

[ausgebrannt]

Mm... you didn't...

[Half true. The absence of Essek from his arms was what had woken him. But he had slept well, rested comfortably in his Master's bed and in his Master's arms. Besides, waking up to Essek's face was a very pleasant start to the morning -- and he did notice the golden hue that had taken up residence in the galaxy starfield of the drow's eyes.

The touch of that hand was welcome, if a bit ticklish. His stomach caved beneath those fingers, but the sleeps smile on his lips only settled more certainly on his face.

He shifted, comfortably, realizing that he probably ought to get up, to excuse himself from his Master's bed, well aware the invitation had been a very particular one given the circumstances. But he was reluctant to move, to put much distance between them at all. Especially as that touch continued lower. Oh ah. Well.

He took a breath, managed to keep his voice steady.]

Breakfast sounds very nice, ja.

[zauberdecke]

[ There was a brief command in Undercommon, the Unseen Servants would start to mobilize and to bring a repast up from the kitchens-- his hand though did not stray from Bren's concaved stomach, rather he made a concentrated touch to it, his palm lightly digging in dangerously close to where the line of covers obscured the rest of his Pet.

He licked his lower lip in a truly unconscious gesture. To a casual outside observer, it felt nearly predatory, as if he was going to eat someone alive, the tongue retreated but not before it caught beneath one of his sharpened incisors. For all of the aura that radiated from Essek though, there was still a tenderness there despite it all. ] I will make sure you are fed very well indeed.

[ Little did he know, it was the subtle under-urge of Essek looking after his Mate.. providing for him. He cast his eyes downward then, sliding his gaze away from those luminous blue eyes and then downward to that stomach. ] You were very warm last night, I think it's catching because I woke up feeling the same... perhaps I siphoned some of that out of you while we slept?

[ausgebrannt]

[Bren realized with a sudden heated twist low in his own stomach that Essek was looking at him as if he were breakfast. That lingering touch, the way he watched that tongue lick at lips.

Even those words, there was a weight to them that threatened to set the ember already smoldering in Bren to fanning into a flame. He must be imagining things, surely. Mustn't he? That didn't stop a faint flush from rising across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, a faint pale pink beneath freckles.]

Ah... perhaps. I know I tend to be warm... I hope it was not too uncomfortable for you.

[Though he rather thought that perhaps, just perhaps, Essek was not complaining?]

[zauberdecke]

It was not uncomfortable in the slightest.

[ Until the end, but that had perhaps everything to do with the ache-- it seemed to intensify the more that he looked upon Bren, looked at each perfect inch of skin-- he was almost startled to realized that he was hard, very very hard. Why had he not noticed that? But he was and it was hidden in the twisted sheets wrapped around his own hips. ]

Food will be up here, perhaps within 20 or 30 minutes...

[ He leaned down then and pressed his lips against the jawline while his fingers kept stroking flesh underneath his palm; as if he was attempting to urge his Mate into an interested state. All of these was nearly subconscious-- all logic had fled from his mind, replaced with pure and unadulterated instinct.

But he was being coy about it, he was maybe even playing a little bit with his prey. And right now Bren was his Mate and his Prey. He also realized that he wanted to taste skin, he was hungry for Bren-- that was a realization that came to him as he sat there toying idly with the landscape of his Pet's flesh. ]

Would you like to have something that I've never given to Adeen, Pet?

[ausgebrannt]

I'm glad. I was very comfortable. It was... I liked having you in my arms.

[A quiet admission, as he continued to watch Essek, as he realized just how intently his Master was looking at him. His breath caught as those lips found his jaw, the touch of those fingers lingering. Oh he was certainly interested, and his arousal was abruptly very much awake as well, something that Essek would discover if his touch strayed any lower at all from where it lingered.

He bit back a whimper and swallowed to try to find his voice.]

I... ja. Yes. I would like anything you would give me.

[Without a single doubt in his mind.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Oh yes, he could scent the arousal on Bren-- it suddenly spiked sharply, it was in the pupils that had blown wide, it was in the hitch that he could hear.. it was in his scent; all of these senses were heightened, all of his awareness was on Bren. He purred, it was a soft rumble against that jawline and then without understanding what he was doing, he slipped his hands underneath, and the heavy prick all but twitched into his open palm.

The way his fingers coiled around it mirrored perfectly when Essek's lips found ear, he teethed against the lobe and then he tugged while his hand started a very pronounced exploration of that head, could feel the precome attack his hands with a slippery sensation.

There was no doubt about it, the Shadowhand wanted to fuck. He had become a creature of his own desires and they were all focused on Bren in this moment. ] I've never sucked Adeen's cock before-- would you like my mouth on you?

[ausgebrannt]

I... that... ah. Yes. Please.

[Gods even the thought of it had his cock twitching even as that hand found him. His hips jerked of their own volition towards that touch. He hadn't expected to wake to his Master being quite so, ah, amorous. It was, however, a very pleasant surprise. Incredibly pleasant.

Bren's hand settled, fingers trembling, against Essek's back, running up the gentle curve of his spine. His exquisitely beautiful Master. Bren's voice trembled out of him in a moan.

He could picture it, those plush lips wrapped around his prick, and he had to force himself to remember how to breathe.]