[There was a paper wrapped package on the door step of Richard's house, or perhaps Whitey had been the best boy and brought it home. Either way, a light package arrived with a single hand-written note attached to it.]
These should be more comfortable to wear. Don't let me catch you in the poor excuse you've been using again. Your secret remains safe with me.
-S.
[Inside the package can be found two items (colour is your choice) of one strapless and with straps. Don't worry, he owns the tailor, so he can commission more or have alterations done.]
[Towards the end of the week, it's gotten more and more difficult for the Gnosia and their followers. People begin piecing together what's happening, suspicions abound. Gnosia are 'cured', according to those who stand against their progress, and repeatedly people try to find ways to keep their followers from action.
And so more and more he's out at those twilight times of day. Just before the sun rises, when those who operate at night are winding down and those who wake still aren't quite out. It means it's harder to find more tribute for Dara... but it also means there's far less likely of a chance to be interrupted.
The bars closed hours ago, he knows better than to try stalking the entertainment district at this time. Instead he's out closer to the water. Boats and crates and equipment provide ample obstacles and breaks in line of sight, and fishing is one of those hobbies or jobs that tends to begin far sooner than any of the others. He just has to wait for likely prey to show up.
--Though the footsteps he hears on the wooden docks don't sound quite like what he'd expect. They're sharp and evenly paced- like someone who knows exactly where they're heading, but isn't casual about it. They're like a hunter's. And maybe that's what draws him to stand up straight from where he'd been leaning against one of the massive containers, curiosity overtaking caution to investigate who else would be stalking the same prey grounds.
A gnosia, maybe? Another follower like himself? Or perhaps someone determined to 'cure' them, and taking a decidedly more aggressive approach about it than most.
Richard's face is only half-familiar. Once he's seen, probably, but not quite committed to memory. But the aura is decidedly one of a gnosia, and Shinjiro relaxes slightly at that, breathing out a faint relief.]
[The docks are known to be the area of the petty criminals. Full of swarms of the miscreants and unwanted. So, clearly and optimal spot for hunting. He has long time ago already forsaken the idea of honor and grace, not caring anymore who crosses his path. The world had been covered in a black veil, covering every inch of light underneath it. The only color that Richard could make out through the darkness was none other than red.
Richard stalks the area next to water, listening the subtle waves licking against the hard stony pavement and pushing small boats against the wooden structures. There is calmness in his heart, the drums of war having quieted down. It's fine. It's not like he is heading towards the blood filled battlefield. No, he is currently in the forest, moving quietly in the shades of the tree looking for his next prey.
And oh, look at that. There's one lurking around the containers, stepping right into his vision.
The mismatched eyes looks Shinjiro up and down, sizing him up with his eyes. And just like the younger man, Richard could tell that he had seen him before. But unfortunately the memory that surfaces to his mind is not their brief conversation on the network all those months ago. No. It is much more fresh and recent. One where he saw the man serve someone else. Another Gnosia.]
[Richard is right- Shinjiro had been serving others. Assisting most Gnosia he'd encountered and could, which was likely bad anough. But he'd been serving Dara as though she were his own personal sovereign and god. Always the priority, and with the most attention and fealty paid.
Even now, that was who he had in mind while out here hunting, and considering ways to lure people to her. But clearly his idea wasn't particularly unique.
Still, his stance is easy as Richard regards him. Unthreatened, despite the asymmetrical glances up and down. It's been harder for hunters to hunt-- of course a gnosia would be wary. And so he lifts a hand.]
His breath was quickened from excitement as they reached his desk, and he used Richard's distraction of staring at his face and his blue eyes to begin to open the younger man's clothing with jerking motions. His skin felt hot and flushed, loose strands of hair clinging to his forehead and the nape of his neck from the blood. If he had an extra hand, he might even consider pulling the tie from his hair to let it fall down, but that would mean taking his hands off Richard and that wasn't happening.
He paused as he was pushed backwards, performing a little hop to set his ass on the desk fully before he was eased to lay back. He shifted his shoulders to find a comfortable spot as Richard vaulted up onto his hips. He helped but mostly he returned to pulling open Richard's bloodstained top so he could work open the binder.
"Kiss me," he demanded hotly and rolled his hips under Richard's ass. Already, his pants felt tight from his arousal, but his focus was on those lips and getting them on his.
It truly was lucky that for once Richard had actually taken into consideration their agreed activities when choosing his outfit. Instead of the usual leather that clung to his body like a second skin, he had worn dark, loose shirt. It didn't take much effort from Silco to tug the strings and buttons on the front open, exposing the white binder flattening his chest. Some of the blood had trailed down along the collar of his shirt, staining the edges of the white cloth in dried red.
Narrowing his eyes, Richard cast a hungry look at the man underneath him. He kept his palm pressed down on the other's chest, keeping him down while the other one still griped on the knife. Richard slowly licked his top-lip and shook his head.
"No." He answered to the demand, voice full of authority. His poise did not even shake when Silco rolled his hips, briefly pressing his hardness against Richard's ass, sending a sharp jolt of electricity through his spine. A pleasurable pool of heat began to stir in his guts.
Richard mimicked Silco's movement, rolling his own hips and rocking them back and forth. Creating the friction between their bodies and making sure to lean against the hardness inside Silco's pants.
Silco had experience removing binders, and considering he was the one that had ordered them, he knew he could work them open easily enough. He started at the bottom with each interlocking hook, working it open with both hands and adding extra smears of blood to the white material. If anything the staining added to the aesthetic they were both wearing at present.
So intent he was on being able to get his hands on Richard's body that he didn't care about the restraining hand on his chest. He frankly didn't care if he was mostly clothed for this, so it went off of his radar for the moment.
However, he did immediately notice when Richard refused him. His fingers paused on the next hook, and his eyes flicked up from his work to Richard's face. It took his mind a few second to catch up to the refusal, both not used to it and not certain he had heard correctly. His own blue eyes narrowed in return, matching Richard's hungry look. "No? Do I need to sit up and take one then?" He was going to get another kiss one way or another.
The challenge of words only helped to drive his arousal higher, his nostrils flaring as his hips continued to roll under Richard's. He was already hyper-focused on the younger man, now making mental calculations if he had the strength from laying on the desk to flip their positions.
[A walk through the woods is all good for reconnecting with nature...until a river runs red. The vibrant coloring looks like the result of an active murder scene, especially with handfuls of hair and strips of skin floating through it all. Without the any accompanying screams in the distance, maybe someone's trying to dispose of a body.
Dara is all for ritual cleansing with water. In fact, the nearby waterfall is one of her favorite places to meditate and process things. However...the situation is much more extreme than her usual behavior.
With several pumice stones occupying four of her hands, she seems to be scrubbing viciously at her bare skin and scales. Her tail hardly takes a beating, but that can't be said about her upper body. Thick rivulets of blood stream from the self-inflicted wounds from her persistent exfoliation; the god seems to purposely work at sloughing off skin despite it immediately healing back to normal in a few seconds. Practically pristine once she wipes over the spots. Rinse & Repeat. The last two hands pull at her long black hair, gathering it up and slicing through with a knife. Fistfuls of it float down the river, yet every time she seems to chop the majority of it off, it grows back as if nothing happened.
Dissatisfied, Dara's unhappy expression persists while continuing the thorough "cleansing" of her entire exposed body. It's going to take awhile considering the length of her tail still submerged underwater.]
[Well. Richard certainly didn't have a rivers of blood in his bingo-card when he had left for the woods this morning. The sight of red didn't really bother nor surprise him that much, assuming that it must be a case where an animal or one of the monsters have fallen down and gotten injured. However, what catches his attention are the long dark strands of hair floating along the river current, making him to think that this might actually be more serious case than what he had initially thought.
So, driven by both curiosity and mild concern, Richard decides to investigate further, hand gripping tightly around the handle of his bow as he strides forward. From the corner of his eye he can see a very familiar white fur-coat moving in the shade of the bushes. It does seem like Whitey had decided to stalk Richard for this trip to forest. Well, it didn't matter much to him as long as the boar didn't accidentally do anything stupid and get himself in trouble.
Following the bloodied river current it doesn't take too long for Richard to find the source of it all. And just when he arrives close enough for the waterfall to swim to his visions Richard stops on his tracks, freezing still with his breath getting trapped in his lungs. With wide eyes full of disbelief and fear he stares at the sight in front of him.
The woman-- no, the being is like a vision come to alive straight from the old scripts and stories describing the demonic creatures. Something that will come and eat you alive, steal your soul. "That's why you can't go into the woods alone. The terrifying witch will get you," he hears a sharp hiss in the wind, rustling alongside the leaves. Silently, he raises his shaking arm, draws an arrow from his case and places it in its right place. Richard inhales deep through his nostrils, holds the air for a heavy second before letting it out, calming himself down.
Then, with sharp and focused eyes he takes aim, pointing the arrow at the demon's back]
[It had been a troubling day thanks to both of them enduring Jinx's versions of demandinginformation from both himself and Richard within hours of each other. His day hadn't gotten much better as he weighed his options, and he knew that Jinx wasn't going to stop until she forced one or both of them to admit their association regardless of reassurances.
It was also in that long pondering session that Silco realized how much he was protecting Richard. He was loyal enough to protect and provide benefits to allies, but he had never done so against Jinx before unless it was temporary to protect her as he investigated. But this?
He had come early in the morning hours, slipping in and announcing himself so that Richard had no need to attack him before he had shed his clothing and joined the younger man wordlessly in that bed. He had buried his face against the back of Richard's neck, curled an arm around his lover and willed himself to catch a few hours of sleep before he had to be up and out to upkeep their thin-veiled ruse to the world. What followed was a few winks of sleep between pondering how hard he was going to fight for this, the ability to surrender, to be briefly vulnerable, to have a secret he didn't have to share...
Silco sighed and unwound himself from the warmth of Richard's body and rose to nurse the fire back to life. That done, instead of pacing, he convinced himself back to Richard's bed but remained sitting up watching the flames grow and consume the wood.]
[It really had been trying times for them lately, hadn't it? First the glitches, unwanted quests and visitors as the world around them was falling apart and reality coming off the seams, and now they both had been confronted by suspecting Jinx. And well. Let's say that the girls sudden outburst and accusations hadn't really won any brownie points to her in Richard's mind.
He hadn't really cared for the girl that much the begin with, aside from some mild curiosity, but he had seen the bond between her and Silco and that was something he respected. The closeness of the duo did bring fond memories of his own connection to his now passed father. However, with these recent antics of her that could very well be described as harassment, she had made herself to be an eyesore. And Richard was having hard time keeping himself neutral to her. It actually makes him miss Buckingham and his shameless and cunning mind.
But seeing that he was still alone here, Richard had kept quiet about Jinx's latest attempts to reach out to him. After all, he had said to Silco that he would not require his help when dealing with the daughter. That, and part of him did not wish to create a ripple between the family. Not now, anyway.
Richard had resigned himself to bed when he had seen the message from Silco, curling up in the sheets and trying to catch sleep. It had, of course, been an useless attempt as his mind was wide awake, too occupied by the thoughts and anticipation of knowing that there would soon be another body lying next to him -- unknowingly shielding him from the horrors of his own nightmares and coldness of the isolation. It truly was becoming like with Buckingham, as Richard found himself more and more relying on Silco's presence to be able rest in his own bed.
So, when Silco had arrived and joined him in the bed Richard felt a relief wash over him. He reached to take Silco's hand to his own, sighed deep and allowed his body finally relax as the long wait was finally over. It didn't take long until he found himself falling asleep on the man's arms.
He did not wake to Silco stirring in the bed nor to him getting up and coming back in. In fact, Richard stays in the blissful, dreamless slumber for a while. It is only when the first shy morning lights begin to peek inside from his window, waking up the early birds and inviting them to sing when Richard finally slipped back to consciousness. Slowly blinking his sleepy eyes open he glanced up at Silco and wordlessly moved his injured hand to place it on top of the other's, seeking for connection.]
[ugh, texting. absolutely his least favorite method of communication. right after voice chats. but hey, it's charles. so maybe he could go ahead and try out the new vocabulary junpei had taught him.]
soup, charles.
yes. i am faring well with all the things considered. i hope your expedition did not treat you bad and that you returned back in good health.
[You wake up in a courtroom. You’re not really sure how you got here, just that you’re here. There’s Jerry, sitting at the judges box. For some he might be new, and others he might be familiar or semi-familiar. He scrutinizes you, and then motions to the jury box. There’s a plaque that’s sitting on the outside that says “Council”, but there’s no one sitting there. Everything looks clean and maintained, but there’s no one in the courtroom but you and Jerry.
Weird.]
You are charged with existing.
[There’s something about his expression that makes you think that he might’ve already made up his mind…]
The Council has found you Guilty of this. In order to repent and further your rehabilitation, you have been charged to denounce the importance of status and embrace your own identity. If there is no action taken, there will be consequences.
[You wake up back in your bed. You remember everything – Jerry, the jury box, the words he spoke to you. Maybe you remember the words he spoke more vividly than anything else.
However you decide to proceed… there will be consequences.]
[ooc: you have until November 15th to submit your Sentencing HERE. Even if your character doesn’t proceed with the Sentencing, you must comment on the NPC inbox for your penalty.
Also, there are effects for ignoring this Sentencing. Richard woke up with a crown near his bed, and he finds that with it he draws more and more attention than ever before from NPCs and Chosen alike. The longer he goes without doing this, the more attention he will receive. If you have any questions about Sentencing, please direct it to the Mod Contact post.]
[Jinx was out of town, and while their normal late night meet-ups were either at one of his businesses or Richard's house, it seemed time to have Richard over to his own house. This was perhaps the second time he had offered such a invitation, and it would always be when his daughter had gone on some mission or another that took her from Aldrip.
He had left the Last Drop in the evening hours once assured that things would run smoothly for the night despite the natives being frigid towards the Chosen. Business remained steady, though the profits hardly mattered as he was supplementing anyway. The hours had shifted it from normal bar to night club, which is how he preferred it in Zaun and how he ran it here.
He returned to his home which was a two-story house where Silco primarily occupied the first floor and his daughter had the upper floor mostly to herself. While he waited for Richard to arrive, he found his way to his alcohol cabinet to pick out a single malt whiskey to savour for the night, adding three ice cubes and settling on the couch to read quietly.
Midway through a page, he became aware of first twinges of a burning sensation of the skin around his mutilated eye. Ah, he should have had Jinx administer his medication before she left, but no matter. He would have to do it while she was gone, and he may as well do so before his lover arrived and have a day of peace from the usual effects as the Shimmer faded. After all, he had no doubt that he and Richard would be spending an increased amount of time together with Jinx on her own little mission; it happened before and he stopped sidestepping the fact that it was bound to happen again.
He did, after all, enjoy Richard's company.
Silco pushed himself from the couch, setting the novel aside before he moved off to this office. By now, he expected Richard to simply walk in rather than knock. It's what he did at his lover's house these days. He was opening one of the drawers of his desk to search for his injection device, finding it and walking back to the open concept living room when the front door opened.]
[Some time had already passed since the morning when Richard had been summoned to meet the council in his dreams. Richard had, at first, merely scoffed at the idea that there was actually a man around who'd dare to judge him. 'Let them try,' he had thought, allowing his hubris to color his thoughts. There is no man who could judge him, not truly. After all, he had once made a deliberate choice to step outside of the circle of humans, embracing the darkness within him and walk his path as a demon. He followed different rules than the rest of the mankind -- accepting fully his place in hell.
The sentencing had came. Initially, Richard hadn't thought much of it. It did seem like the council was truly out of its depths when they had cast their judgement upon him. "Denounce the importance of the status and embrace your identity." Ridiculous indeed.
But then Richard woke up after the restless dream. And as he opened his eyes the first thing he saw was the crown. His father's crown. The circle of light, empty and abandoned. Now, that had offended Richard. The true meaning behind council's sentencing. They wanted him to betray his father and abandon his legacy. Well, needlessly to say he wasn't going to follow such demand.
He had his the crown in his cabinets, trusting his lover to respect his privacy enough not to snoop around the apartment uninvited. And it wasn't like they had such idle time during their meetings and shared moments -- no, their time was reserved for other activities all together.
And perhaps unsurprisingly enough, Richard had stayed quiet about the whole thing. He had not shared news about his summoning to Silco, neither had he revealed him the crown. There were so many secrets and untold stories behind Richard that he didn't even know where to begin. And, admittedly, there was the seed of the doubt in his mind taking root, one to make him question whether the older man would be able to understand the meaning of it all. Silco had scoffed and rolled his eyes at the thoughts of God and his might. He disregarded the light as unimportant and walked his own path in the darkness. While these traits and opinions were something that draw Richard towards him, keeping his intrigue up and alive, he couldn't deny that at times he found it frustrating that his lover kept failing to understand him. If Richard were to reveal the crown to the other man would he just laugh at him?
So, he had stayed quiet. And while they had continued to meet as they regularly did, there was no denying that he was even more absent minded and withdrawn that normally. Often finding himself falling into his own thoughts and memories. Joan was present, of course. Richard could see her in the shadows - but she was, also, uncharacteristically silent. He could tell that she had something on her mind but for a reason or another she couldn't voice out her thoughts. As if she was being silenced by something.
There was the sound of heavy wings hitting the air. Almost as if something was approaching.
But no matter how much Richard tried to avoid it, he couldn't ignore the side effects of his sentencing. The more he tried to ignore the council's orders, the more he could see the people eyes at him - following him and casting their pressure on him with his gazes. As if they knew the secret he was hiding.
So, when he was invited to Silco's apartment, a place that he ever so rarely could visit, he swallowed his pride and doubts. Deciding that it was the time to address the elephant in the room. Richard arrived to his lover's house later in the evening, carrying a wooden crate tugged underneath his arm. He was alone this time, Whitey choosing to spend his night elsewhere. Which suited Richard just fine, he preferred not to have distractions tonight.
Richard walks in without much of a note, just as Silco had presumed, and placed the crate on the table. The long gloved fingers run carefully on the top of it as he looked over the desk.]
[Devices had started to work again and the continual twilight had apparently lifted. Yet, a realization had come that left him quiet and sullen. Normally he wouldn't talk to anyone and just be furious, but... this was different. Who else was he supposed to talk to? Ragna? Man was more emotionally constipated than dug hole.]
Jinx appears to have returned to Zaun. I will be working overnight.
[That whole 'keep off of his injured leg thing'? Not today.]
[ The video opens to Mitama, though just like in her recent post, she's wearing her "Santa disguise". She's here on an important business, after all. ]
Ho, ho, ho! Thank you for joining our Secret Santa event~ It's time to find out what ─ or rather who ─ your assignment as Santa's Little Helper for this year is! Drumroll, please...
[ She makes a pause for a dramatic effect, her hand slipping into a Santa hat she's holding and pulling out a small piece of paper with a name on it. ]
It's none other than... Yosuke Hanamura, the hapless romantic!
Remember, you should present your assignee with a gift of your choice until December 25th! Good luck, and remember: your main task is to spread joy, happiness and the spirit of Christmas cheer!
[A package arrives at the inn addressed to Richard. The box is wrapped in brown paper rather than actual Christmas wrap because Silco still had personal standards and wasn't willing to embrace this strange holiday completely.
Inside the box, there are several contents including a compass, a small make-up kit that was set for Richard's specific skin tone, and some well wrapped frozen small birds that had been plucked and prepared for eventual cooking.
A small neatly written note accompanies the gift: I owe you a dinner party. -S
An hour after the box arrived, a bouquet of a dozen white roses arrives with Richard's name on the card.]
[At one point in the day during Richard's activities at the inn, a boy will wander in carrying a long box, simple in design and without particular markers. There was a small card attached to the nondescript string holding the box closed with a simple S. written on it.
Inside the box is a dozen long-stemmed white roses.
There is another note inside:
Apparently there is a holiday today if flower sales are any indication. For you and only you.
[After Jinx had informed him that she would be staying with her boy-toy because he was too sad to be alone, Silco had moped around the evening hours of work while also trying to decide his course of action. Instead of returning to the home he shared with his daughter, he headed for the inn in the early hours of the morning and slipped his way into the suite that Richard had claimed as his own.
They had reunited for the remainder of the night and slept between intimate interplay that night. He hadn't intended to sleep in, nor had he intended for his lover to pull him into the bathtub for a soak an hour or two of the morning away, yet here he was. The water was scented with roses and it was warm.
Silco had never been much of a purveyor of baths, finding grooming to a quick and necessary step of the day. Yet, he leaned back on the back of the tub, one arm draped over the side and the other down Richard's body where he could stroke his fingers lazily over warm wet skin. His head was tilted back to rest on the tiled wall and his blue eye was closed as he breathed evenly with the weight of his lover leaned against his chest.
Despite his best intentions, he lingered here. Their relationship had seemed... complicated with Jinx's return, seeing one another less, sleeping over even more rarely, so this felt like an odd return to form. He couldn't convince himself that he had missed this (he had), but he was aware he was refreshed and relaxed after a night and morning with Richard.]
This place is better than that cabin in the woods. Do you prefer here or your flat for living, hmm?
[Despite always claiming not to be one to indulge in pointless luxuries and opulence the same way as his brothers had done, long baths were something that Richard continuously kept treating himself to. They were the moments that could allow him to forget the rest of the world and himself. It was also one of the few times when he felt no contradiction when touching his own body. They were private moments, something that he would not normally share with others. But then again, Silco was hardly just anyone.
The water gently lapped against their bodies, coaxing them to relax in its warm hold. I felt soothing against Richard's aching thighs that were still recovering after the night's (and morning's) activities. His knees were poking out to the surface of the milky water. He's idly rubbing against a shy bruise located above his collar bone with his thumb. It is yet another mark left on him by his lover, something that would not be visible to anyone else but to them. Honestly, it is what keeps from falling asleep here. Because, let's be real, falling asleep here in the tub against his lover's chest. It was very tempting to, with the subtle scent of roses filling the air and Silco's heart softly beating to his ear.
Everything seemed just right, for a moment. He could really put all the worries and concerns behind him.]
Mmm.. [He hums quietly, Silco's question bringing him back into the moment. He had to agree with the statement. The cabin had served its purpose for a while, but ultimately? It was better left in the past, along with the memories that it had dragged into surface. The cabin was nothing but another reminder of the man that he used to be, a corpse that hid away all his ambitions and desires.] I suppose this place is better. It reminds me more of my home.
[The inn was bigger than the flat he had claimed for himself. And not to mention that here he had actual staff, which came close to having maids and other servants...]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
traumaticus) wrote2022-08-15 11:44 pm
Delivery
These should be more comfortable to wear.
Don't let me catch you in the poor excuse you've been using again.
Your secret remains safe with me.
-S.
[Inside the package can be found two items (colour is your choice) of one strapless and with straps. Don't worry, he owns the tailor, so he can commission more or have alterations done.]
Gnosia Event :>
And so more and more he's out at those twilight times of day. Just before the sun rises, when those who operate at night are winding down and those who wake still aren't quite out. It means it's harder to find more tribute for Dara... but it also means there's far less likely of a chance to be interrupted.
The bars closed hours ago, he knows better than to try stalking the entertainment district at this time. Instead he's out closer to the water. Boats and crates and equipment provide ample obstacles and breaks in line of sight, and fishing is one of those hobbies or jobs that tends to begin far sooner than any of the others. He just has to wait for likely prey to show up.
--Though the footsteps he hears on the wooden docks don't sound quite like what he'd expect. They're sharp and evenly paced- like someone who knows exactly where they're heading, but isn't casual about it. They're like a hunter's. And maybe that's what draws him to stand up straight from where he'd been leaning against one of the massive containers, curiosity overtaking caution to investigate who else would be stalking the same prey grounds.
A gnosia, maybe? Another follower like himself? Or perhaps someone determined to 'cure' them, and taking a decidedly more aggressive approach about it than most.
Richard's face is only half-familiar. Once he's seen, probably, but not quite committed to memory. But the aura is decidedly one of a gnosia, and Shinjiro relaxes slightly at that, breathing out a faint relief.]
...Hey.
uwu
Richard stalks the area next to water, listening the subtle waves licking against the hard stony pavement and pushing small boats against the wooden structures. There is calmness in his heart, the drums of war having quieted down. It's fine. It's not like he is heading towards the blood filled battlefield. No, he is currently in the forest, moving quietly in the shades of the tree looking for his next prey.
And oh, look at that. There's one lurking around the containers, stepping right into his vision.
The mismatched eyes looks Shinjiro up and down, sizing him up with his eyes. And just like the younger man, Richard could tell that he had seen him before. But unfortunately the memory that surfaces to his mind is not their brief conversation on the network all those months ago. No. It is much more fresh and recent. One where he saw the man serve someone else. Another Gnosia.]
I saw you before.
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[Richard is right- Shinjiro had been serving others. Assisting most Gnosia he'd encountered and could, which was likely bad anough. But he'd been serving Dara as though she were his own personal sovereign and god. Always the priority, and with the most attention and fealty paid.
Even now, that was who he had in mind while out here hunting, and considering ways to lure people to her. But clearly his idea wasn't particularly unique.
Still, his stance is easy as Richard regards him. Unthreatened, despite the asymmetrical glances up and down. It's been harder for hunters to hunt-- of course a gnosia would be wary. And so he lifts a hand.]
...Gnosia, right? No worries, I'm with you guys.
cw: blood play, sexy times
His breath was quickened from excitement as they reached his desk, and he used Richard's distraction of staring at his face and his blue eyes to begin to open the younger man's clothing with jerking motions. His skin felt hot and flushed, loose strands of hair clinging to his forehead and the nape of his neck from the blood. If he had an extra hand, he might even consider pulling the tie from his hair to let it fall down, but that would mean taking his hands off Richard and that wasn't happening.
He paused as he was pushed backwards, performing a little hop to set his ass on the desk fully before he was eased to lay back. He shifted his shoulders to find a comfortable spot as Richard vaulted up onto his hips. He helped but mostly he returned to pulling open Richard's bloodstained top so he could work open the binder.
"Kiss me," he demanded hotly and rolled his hips under Richard's ass. Already, his pants felt tight from his arousal, but his focus was on those lips and getting them on his.
Ah, Shit. Here We Go Again 🔪
Narrowing his eyes, Richard cast a hungry look at the man underneath him. He kept his palm pressed down on the other's chest, keeping him down while the other one still griped on the knife. Richard slowly licked his top-lip and shook his head.
"No." He answered to the demand, voice full of authority. His poise did not even shake when Silco rolled his hips, briefly pressing his hardness against Richard's ass, sending a sharp jolt of electricity through his spine. A pleasurable pool of heat began to stir in his guts.
Richard mimicked Silco's movement, rolling his own hips and rocking them back and forth. Creating the friction between their bodies and making sure to lean against the hardness inside Silco's pants.
no subject
So intent he was on being able to get his hands on Richard's body that he didn't care about the restraining hand on his chest. He frankly didn't care if he was mostly clothed for this, so it went off of his radar for the moment.
However, he did immediately notice when Richard refused him. His fingers paused on the next hook, and his eyes flicked up from his work to Richard's face. It took his mind a few second to catch up to the refusal, both not used to it and not certain he had heard correctly. His own blue eyes narrowed in return, matching Richard's hungry look. "No? Do I need to sit up and take one then?" He was going to get another kiss one way or another.
The challenge of words only helped to drive his arousal higher, his nostrils flaring as his hips continued to roll under Richard's. He was already hyper-focused on the younger man, now making mental calculations if he had the strength from laying on the desk to flip their positions.
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cw: self-harm
Dara is all for ritual cleansing with water. In fact, the nearby waterfall is one of her favorite places to meditate and process things. However...the situation is much more extreme than her usual behavior.
With several pumice stones occupying four of her hands, she seems to be scrubbing viciously at her bare skin and scales. Her tail hardly takes a beating, but that can't be said about her upper body. Thick rivulets of blood stream from the self-inflicted wounds from her persistent exfoliation; the god seems to purposely work at sloughing off skin despite it immediately healing back to normal in a few seconds. Practically pristine once she wipes over the spots. Rinse & Repeat. The last two hands pull at her long black hair, gathering it up and slicing through with a knife. Fistfuls of it float down the river, yet every time she seems to chop the majority of it off, it grows back as if nothing happened.
Dissatisfied, Dara's unhappy expression persists while continuing the thorough "cleansing" of her entire exposed body. It's going to take awhile considering the length of her tail still submerged underwater.]
cw: hearing voices
So, driven by both curiosity and mild concern, Richard decides to investigate further, hand gripping tightly around the handle of his bow as he strides forward. From the corner of his eye he can see a very familiar white fur-coat moving in the shade of the bushes. It does seem like Whitey had decided to stalk Richard for this trip to forest. Well, it didn't matter much to him as long as the boar didn't accidentally do anything stupid and get himself in trouble.
Following the bloodied river current it doesn't take too long for Richard to find the source of it all. And just when he arrives close enough for the waterfall to swim to his visions Richard stops on his tracks, freezing still with his breath getting trapped in his lungs. With wide eyes full of disbelief and fear he stares at the sight in front of him.
The woman-- no, the being is like a vision come to alive straight from the old scripts and stories describing the demonic creatures. Something that will come and eat you alive, steal your soul. "That's why you can't go into the woods alone. The terrifying witch will get you," he hears a sharp hiss in the wind, rustling alongside the leaves. Silently, he raises his shaking arm, draws an arrow from his case and places it in its right place. Richard inhales deep through his nostrils, holds the air for a heavy second before letting it out, calming himself down.
Then, with sharp and focused eyes he takes aim, pointing the arrow at the demon's back]
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cw: hallucinations
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[Action]
It was also in that long pondering session that Silco realized how much he was protecting Richard. He was loyal enough to protect and provide benefits to allies, but he had never done so against Jinx before unless it was temporary to protect her as he investigated. But this?
He had come early in the morning hours, slipping in and announcing himself so that Richard had no need to attack him before he had shed his clothing and joined the younger man wordlessly in that bed. He had buried his face against the back of Richard's neck, curled an arm around his lover and willed himself to catch a few hours of sleep before he had to be up and out to upkeep their thin-veiled ruse to the world. What followed was a few winks of sleep between pondering how hard he was going to fight for this, the ability to surrender, to be briefly vulnerable, to have a secret he didn't have to share...
Silco sighed and unwound himself from the warmth of Richard's body and rose to nurse the fire back to life. That done, instead of pacing, he convinced himself back to Richard's bed but remained sitting up watching the flames grow and consume the wood.]
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He hadn't really cared for the girl that much the begin with, aside from some mild curiosity, but he had seen the bond between her and Silco and that was something he respected. The closeness of the duo did bring fond memories of his own connection to his now passed father. However, with these recent antics of her that could very well be described as harassment, she had made herself to be an eyesore. And Richard was having hard time keeping himself neutral to her. It actually makes him miss Buckingham and his shameless and cunning mind.
But seeing that he was still alone here, Richard had kept quiet about Jinx's latest attempts to reach out to him. After all, he had said to Silco that he would not require his help when dealing with the daughter. That, and part of him did not wish to create a ripple between the family. Not now, anyway.
Richard had resigned himself to bed when he had seen the message from Silco, curling up in the sheets and trying to catch sleep. It had, of course, been an useless attempt as his mind was wide awake, too occupied by the thoughts and anticipation of knowing that there would soon be another body lying next to him -- unknowingly shielding him from the horrors of his own nightmares and coldness of the isolation. It truly was becoming like with Buckingham, as Richard found himself more and more relying on Silco's presence to be able rest in his own bed.
So, when Silco had arrived and joined him in the bed Richard felt a relief wash over him. He reached to take Silco's hand to his own, sighed deep and allowed his body finally relax as the long wait was finally over. It didn't take long until he found himself falling asleep on the man's arms.
He did not wake to Silco stirring in the bed nor to him getting up and coming back in. In fact, Richard stays in the blissful, dreamless slumber for a while. It is only when the first shy morning lights begin to peek inside from his window, waking up the early birds and inviting them to sing when Richard finally slipped back to consciousness. Slowly blinking his sleepy eyes open he glanced up at Silco and wordlessly moved his injured hand to place it on top of the other's, seeking for connection.]
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cw: mental illness
good that one of us is responsible with the cws...
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tl;dr
the delicious inner monologue
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a day or so after the reset;
you okay after all that?
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soup, charles.
yes. i am faring well with all the things considered. i hope your expedition did not treat you bad and that you returned back in good health.
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SENTENCING
Weird.]
You are charged with existing.
[There’s something about his expression that makes you think that he might’ve already made up his mind…]
The Council has found you Guilty of this. In order to repent and further your rehabilitation, you have been charged to denounce the importance of status and embrace your own identity. If there is no action taken, there will be consequences.
[You wake up back in your bed. You remember everything – Jerry, the jury box, the words he spoke to you. Maybe you remember the words he spoke more vividly than anything else.
However you decide to proceed… there will be consequences.]
[ooc: you have until November 15th to submit your Sentencing HERE. Even if your character doesn’t proceed with the Sentencing, you must comment on the NPC inbox for your penalty.
Also, there are effects for ignoring this Sentencing. Richard woke up with a crown near his bed, and he finds that with it he draws more and more attention than ever before from NPCs and Chosen alike. The longer he goes without doing this, the more attention he will receive. If you have any questions about Sentencing, please direct it to the Mod Contact post.]
Sentencing & Medical
[Jinx was out of town, and while their normal late night meet-ups were either at one of his businesses or Richard's house, it seemed time to have Richard over to his own house. This was perhaps the second time he had offered such a invitation, and it would always be when his daughter had gone on some mission or another that took her from Aldrip.
He had left the Last Drop in the evening hours once assured that things would run smoothly for the night despite the natives being frigid towards the Chosen. Business remained steady, though the profits hardly mattered as he was supplementing anyway. The hours had shifted it from normal bar to night club, which is how he preferred it in Zaun and how he ran it here.
He returned to his home which was a two-story house where Silco primarily occupied the first floor and his daughter had the upper floor mostly to herself. While he waited for Richard to arrive, he found his way to his alcohol cabinet to pick out a single malt whiskey to savour for the night, adding three ice cubes and settling on the couch to read quietly.
Midway through a page, he became aware of first twinges of a burning sensation of the skin around his mutilated eye. Ah, he should have had Jinx administer his medication before she left, but no matter. He would have to do it while she was gone, and he may as well do so before his lover arrived and have a day of peace from the usual effects as the Shimmer faded. After all, he had no doubt that he and Richard would be spending an increased amount of time together with Jinx on her own little mission; it happened before and he stopped sidestepping the fact that it was bound to happen again.
He did, after all, enjoy Richard's company.
Silco pushed himself from the couch, setting the novel aside before he moved off to this office. By now, he expected Richard to simply walk in rather than knock. It's what he did at his lover's house these days. He was opening one of the drawers of his desk to search for his injection device, finding it and walking back to the open concept living room when the front door opened.]
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The sentencing had came. Initially, Richard hadn't thought much of it. It did seem like the council was truly out of its depths when they had cast their judgement upon him. "Denounce the importance of the status and embrace your identity." Ridiculous indeed.
But then Richard woke up after the restless dream. And as he opened his eyes the first thing he saw was the crown. His father's crown. The circle of light, empty and abandoned. Now, that had offended Richard. The true meaning behind council's sentencing. They wanted him to betray his father and abandon his legacy. Well, needlessly to say he wasn't going to follow such demand.
He had his the crown in his cabinets, trusting his lover to respect his privacy enough not to snoop around the apartment uninvited. And it wasn't like they had such idle time during their meetings and shared moments -- no, their time was reserved for other activities all together.
And perhaps unsurprisingly enough, Richard had stayed quiet about the whole thing. He had not shared news about his summoning to Silco, neither had he revealed him the crown. There were so many secrets and untold stories behind Richard that he didn't even know where to begin. And, admittedly, there was the seed of the doubt in his mind taking root, one to make him question whether the older man would be able to understand the meaning of it all. Silco had scoffed and rolled his eyes at the thoughts of God and his might. He disregarded the light as unimportant and walked his own path in the darkness. While these traits and opinions were something that draw Richard towards him, keeping his intrigue up and alive, he couldn't deny that at times he found it frustrating that his lover kept failing to understand him. If Richard were to reveal the crown to the other man would he just laugh at him?
So, he had stayed quiet. And while they had continued to meet as they regularly did, there was no denying that he was even more absent minded and withdrawn that normally. Often finding himself falling into his own thoughts and memories. Joan was present, of course. Richard could see her in the shadows - but she was, also, uncharacteristically silent. He could tell that she had something on her mind but for a reason or another she couldn't voice out her thoughts. As if she was being silenced by something.
There was the sound of heavy wings hitting the air. Almost as if something was approaching.
But no matter how much Richard tried to avoid it, he couldn't ignore the side effects of his sentencing. The more he tried to ignore the council's orders, the more he could see the people eyes at him - following him and casting their pressure on him with his gazes. As if they knew the secret he was hiding.
So, when he was invited to Silco's apartment, a place that he ever so rarely could visit, he swallowed his pride and doubts. Deciding that it was the time to address the elephant in the room. Richard arrived to his lover's house later in the evening, carrying a wooden crate tugged underneath his arm. He was alone this time, Whitey choosing to spend his night elsewhere. Which suited Richard just fine, he preferred not to have distractions tonight.
Richard walks in without much of a note, just as Silco had presumed, and placed the crate on the table. The long gloved fingers run carefully on the top of it as he looked over the desk.]
What are you looking for?
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cw: ophthalmic treatments
cw: ophthalmic treatments
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Text; un: eyeofzaun
Jinx appears to have returned to Zaun. I will be working overnight.
[That whole 'keep off of his injured leg thing'? Not today.]
un: plantogetit
are you certain?
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video; un: misscoordinator
Ho, ho, ho! Thank you for joining our Secret Santa event~ It's time to find out what ─ or rather who ─ your assignment as Santa's Little Helper for this year is! Drumroll, please...
[ She makes a pause for a dramatic effect, her hand slipping into a Santa hat she's holding and pulling out a small piece of paper with a name on it. ]
It's none other than... Yosuke Hanamura, the hapless romantic!
Remember, you should present your assignee with a gift of your choice until December 25th! Good luck, and remember: your main task is to spread joy, happiness and the spirit of Christmas cheer!
Miss Santa Coordinator, out!
Christmas Gift
Inside the box, there are several contents including a compass, a small make-up kit that was set for Richard's specific skin tone, and some well wrapped frozen small birds that had been plucked and prepared for eventual cooking.
A small neatly written note accompanies the gift: I owe you a dinner party. -S
An hour after the box arrived, a bouquet of a dozen white roses arrives with Richard's name on the card.]
Backdated to Valentine's Day
Inside the box is a dozen long-stemmed white roses.
There is another note inside:
Apparently there is a holiday today if flower sales are any indication.
For you and only you.
-S.
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They had reunited for the remainder of the night and slept between intimate interplay that night. He hadn't intended to sleep in, nor had he intended for his lover to pull him into the bathtub for a soak an hour or two of the morning away, yet here he was. The water was scented with roses and it was warm.
Silco had never been much of a purveyor of baths, finding grooming to a quick and necessary step of the day. Yet, he leaned back on the back of the tub, one arm draped over the side and the other down Richard's body where he could stroke his fingers lazily over warm wet skin. His head was tilted back to rest on the tiled wall and his blue eye was closed as he breathed evenly with the weight of his lover leaned against his chest.
Despite his best intentions, he lingered here. Their relationship had seemed... complicated with Jinx's return, seeing one another less, sleeping over even more rarely, so this felt like an odd return to form. He couldn't convince himself that he had missed this (he had), but he was aware he was refreshed and relaxed after a night and morning with Richard.]
This place is better than that cabin in the woods. Do you prefer here or your flat for living, hmm?
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The water gently lapped against their bodies, coaxing them to relax in its warm hold. I felt soothing against Richard's aching thighs that were still recovering after the night's (and morning's) activities. His knees were poking out to the surface of the milky water. He's idly rubbing against a shy bruise located above his collar bone with his thumb. It is yet another mark left on him by his lover, something that would not be visible to anyone else but to them. Honestly, it is what keeps from falling asleep here. Because, let's be real, falling asleep here in the tub against his lover's chest. It was very tempting to, with the subtle scent of roses filling the air and Silco's heart softly beating to his ear.
Everything seemed just right, for a moment. He could really put all the worries and concerns behind him.]
Mmm.. [He hums quietly, Silco's question bringing him back into the moment. He had to agree with the statement. The cabin had served its purpose for a while, but ultimately? It was better left in the past, along with the memories that it had dragged into surface. The cabin was nothing but another reminder of the man that he used to be, a corpse that hid away all his ambitions and desires.] I suppose this place is better. It reminds me more of my home.
[The inn was bigger than the flat he had claimed for himself. And not to mention that here he had actual staff, which came close to having maids and other servants...]
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May 6 - text; un: altius
Good morning, your grace. I wanted to ask if I could trouble you for proper horse riding lessons.
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i see our nightly ride left an impression on you.
very well. when do you wish to start?
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> action
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