Algrim the Strong

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe. ⌘ Indie Roleplay Blog for Algrim from Tales Of Asgard ⌘ ♦ AUs/crossovers welcome/OC-friendly ♦ ♦ multiverse/multiship ♦ ♦ canon-divergent ♦ ♦ semi-selective ♦ ♦ mun is 30+ ♦

[algrimthestrong]

New Muses

Hey guys, this is just a little announcement regarding two new muses I am adding to this blog, Raoul Am and Riki, both from Ai no Kusabi.

At this time, I am limiting interactions with them to the lovely @vuhswrites, who's kind enough to indulge my cravings. If there is anyone else out there who wants to play with them, please let me know and we can try to come up with something. Other AnK muses are an instant 'yes', of course, so please, please hit me up if you see this.

The AnK world is rife with toxic dynamics, power imbalance, social injustice, and questionable morals, so just for the record, I draw a clear distinction between fiction and reality and my muses' views do not reflect my own.

I've been wanting to overhaul my blog for some time, I haven't even properly introduced Aednan yet as a muse and I've been writing him for a few years now. I'll try to pull myself together and finally get my blog in order soon-ish.

Thank you for bearing with me.

[beautiful-mischief]

Such ardent affection was…pleasant despite feeling so foreign, a sweetness that Mal realised he had so rarely indulged in back in that sleepy little village that was quite literally a world away now; for so long he had treated such intimacy as something transactional, each fumble beneath the sheets or in back alleyways of taverns a night of blissful anonymity to disappear into when he wanted nothing more than to be a mouth to kiss and a waist to grab, but Aednan had seen him truly, had seen stubbornness and softness both and had remained undeterred in his pursuit. It had been a long time since he had entertained the idea of being doted upon or spoiled, though countless would-be suitors had proclaimed themselves capable the florist had remained quite intent on caring for himself — but the elven prince seemed achingly sincere, every word steeped in a genuine care and fondness that both terrified and thrilled him in equal measure.

It felt unbelievably foolish to get caught up in the fantasy of it all, to allow himself to be the cosseted little thing that Aednan described when it felt so unnervingly familiar, but it was only a week. Surely a single week of adoration would not spoil him altogether, after having spent years trying to stand on his own two feet again?

Strangely disarmed by the softness and warmth in Aednan’s gaze, and that almost bashful admission, Mal feigned nonchalance with an easy, jingling shrug and a smile, pushing down the swell of emotion rising unbidden in his chest and trying not to get caught up in the past. Right now there was a literal fairytale prince wanting to give him the world — it would be rude of him to squander the opportunity. “What can I say? I’m a tough act to follow.” He teased, smile turning a touch sheepish as he found himself yawning again. “I’m sorry. Seems like our day together is determined to catch up with me.”

[algrimthestrong]

"That you are, petal," Aednan agreed, mellifluous voice laced with unmistakable fondness. Mal's unwavering confidence in his own brilliant, scintillating presence truly was remarkable – and entirely justified. When faced with Aednan's overwhelming beauty and easy charm, most humans would turn into blushing, stammering messes. But not so Mal. The florist had made Aednan work hard to earn his favour. Getting Mal to trust him enough to allow Aednan to get close to him and spirit him away to the elven realm for a week of sensual indulgences had required all of his skill, and the prince was determined to turn Mal's visit into an enthralling adventure for both of them. If all went as he hoped, Mal might even be persuaded to become a regular playmate of his. Aednan wanted Mal for himself with a possessiveness he had never felt so intensely before, fuelled by a fear of losing a precious treasure to another. Mal was the honey and Aednan was the bee who could not resist his sweetness.

Lips still hovering close to Mal's, Aednan was ready to steal another kiss from him, but he found his endeavour thwarted in the most charming way when Mal's exhaustion made itself known in the form of a hearty yawn. Aednan pulled back with a little laugh. "So it seems." It had been a long day and Mal had had little too eat. He was tired and famished, and Aednan was the one responsible for it. "You're not too tired yet for a little modelling, though, are you? You promised me." Aednan knew it was a selfish request, but he'd been looking forward to seeing Mal try on the clothes he had purchased him all day long and the notion of having to put off his pleasure until the morning caused a note of anxiety to creep into the prince's voice.

"You could curl up on my lap and take a nap until we arrive back at the palace?" Aednan offered with a hopeful look, leaning back against the upholstery of the carriage and opening his arms invitingly to Mal. "I promise I won't be as distracting this time."

[vuhswrites]

Iason lowered his eyelids, pleased by how Raoul submitted to his administrations without even trying to regain control over his own pleasure. If it was Riki, the mongrel would have reached forward without patience with his own hands. His grip lubricated by Raoul's wetness, slowly but very gradually increased its speed, massaging along the pulsing undervein. The obscene sounds were incredibly out of place with Raoul's presence, just as it was moments ago when those lips were around his own organ.

Heavy breaths filled his ear, while his own measured ones blew by Raoul's. Just as he reached a certain speed, Iason paused, squeezing around the base of that organ. While his arm around Raoul was not tight, they were firm in keeping him in place. Then he began again, as slow as he started with, but with a tighter grip. The Blondie was very studiously observing his pet's reactions, taking note of every involuntary twitch and the heart rate resting just above his own chest.

As a Blondie, Iason understood very well the self discipline they possessed if they put their mind to it, even after surrendering physical control. It was Raoul's voluntary submission, with each of his increasingly possessive demands, that gave Iason's mind a thrill that would have made any human's hair on their neck rise.

[algrimthestrong]

Being touched so intimately by his friend sparked arousal across Raoul's circuits like never before. Iason clearly knew what he was doing, how to touch him to make him experience the most delicious sensations his body could produce. Being held on Iason's lap and fondled with no regard for his dignity should have filled him with indignation; instead, it made Raoul melt into Iason's embrace.

Even so, he still refused to vocalise his pleasure as freely as he had done while servicing Iason earlier. Raoul had been an active participant then, the one who had pleasured Iason. Being relegated to a passive role chafed his pride. He could not control his body's reactions to Iason's caresses and his hips had begun to twitch and strain towards Iason's hand. As if sensing his desires, Iason began to quicken his strokes.

Being made to feel so vulnerable was strange and new. The natural urge to dominate that was present in all Blondies demanded that he take matters into his own hands, but Raoul kept the impulse firmly in check through formidable discipline and strength of will. When Iason's caresses ceased just as the pleasure was starting to build, Raoul could not rein in a shuddering groan, forcibly wrung from him by the sudden absence of touch. His hips stuttered forward in search of friction.

Then, Iason began his game all over again, dragging Raoul back into the realm of sensual pleasure. Just then, it occurred to the scientist that Iason did not appear to be sharing his state of arousal. He had been too distracted by Iason expertly manipulating his body to notice the absence of the other Blondie's erection before, but during the brief interlude his attention was drawn to the fact that Iason did not appear to be hard. "Iason," Raoul glanced at him over his shoulder, his eyebrows furrowing. "You are not erect?"

[vuhswrites]

Again, it was about Freedom. Iason honestly could not understand Riki's obsession with it, when it gave his pet nothing but danger and poor conditions. The pet pools in Eos were a comfortable temperature, relaxing and safe. Still he listened to the rare occasion of his pet being talkative, tilting his head trying to emphasize with the human while observing him. Riki was always so passionate about Freedom.

Those sparkling black eyes imprinted themselves on the Blondie's crystal blues. "Humans are too impulsive to see the consequences of their 'potential'. When it comes time to pay the price, they often become resentful of it instead of taking responsibility." Iason stated his observations about his subordinates and other humans in Tanagura. "Unable to see the tides and what wanders beneath it, you could drown or be eaten by any predators that swim near the shore. What skills do you have then besides flailing around and choking? And I said I would bring you to swim." The cyborg's replied in a procedural manner to Riki's indignant tone.

Then he paused, pulling Riki close by the leash, his fingers sliding up along its length to near Riki's collar. "You should have practiced in the pet pools first then." He reminded his pet. "Because unlike the sea, you belong to me. If anything happened to you, how will you be responsible for my loss?"

[algrimthestrong]

The downward slant of Riki's eyebrows and the tightening of his mouth clearly communicated his displeasure at being lectured about freedom by someone who had never tasted the bitter flavour of oppression. Iason was free to do as he pleased, could go where he wanted, could pluck a mongrel off the streets on a whim and turn him into his plaything. "Some of us prefer to die trying than never try at all," Riki argued, brushing aside Iason's concerns for his safety. "It is called free will, something you have taken from me." He stared accusingly up at the taller man.

His indignation cooled a little when Iason repeated his earlier promise that he would teach his pet how to swim, but then Iason pulled him close by the leash and Riki felt his cheeks grow hot. A shiver prickled across his skin where the Blondie's fingers slid across the exposed part of his neck. Riki looked to the side, biting his lip. Iason's possessive gesture sparked arousal in him, his body responding reflexively to the harsh pet conditioning the Blondie had put him through.

The mongrel's temper flared again at Iason's insistence that he should have practised swimming in the pet pools first. "I said I don't care about the pet pools, Iason. They're nothing but a playground for those vapid, inbred pets you Blondies are so obsessed with. I want something that's real and naturally grown, even if it's dangerous. But you wouldn't understand that. You're not human," Riki added, frustrated with Iason's lack of comprehension.

"Only my body belongs to you." Black eyes flashed defiantly as Riki's voice rose with annoyance. "You cannot imprison my thoughts." Or my heart. Iason had called it a loss if something were to happen to his pet, which momentarily stunned Riki, but he was quick to recover from the brief shock. "Would it be so great a loss, though? If anything happened to me, you could just get a new pet." His gaze held Iason's stubbornly. "I am nothing special."

[whitefoxed]

Svartalfheim was not very open to those who were not dark elves, and even though foreigners were allowed in certain spaces, its climate was often too dangerous to send any agents to investigate. As there was no necessity to come in contact with the realm before, the foxes explored realms more open to those from other realms and hence lacked information on Svartalfheim. In a way, both of their realms were similar in seclusion.

Seeing Algrim enjoy the food and approve of his idea, Lise anticipated their alliance deepening in the future. Having an external alliance that knew about Yelihaa was quite an exciting prospect and the crown prince felt very inspired. If his mother was around, she would dampen his optimism in favor of caution, but she wasn't, so his tails were swishing happily behind him throughout their dinner.

After passing his fiance the manual and making move to leave, the young fox was suddenly pulled into a hug and given a kiss. Lise froze, not so much out of shock as it was out of awkwardness, his body flexible and soft enough not to be frozen solid. Red crept up his neck and onto his cheeks, a shy smile unable to be kept down twitching on his lips. He bit his lip to not grin like an idiot, but his swishing tails were giving him away. The fox took in Algrim's smile and returned the hug, tightening his hold on the dark elf for a moment before letting go. "So do I... I'll see you tomorrow."

Lise left reluctantly, constantly turning back to look at Algrim at the door before the estate's gates closed and kept them out of each other's sight. The head maid waited patiently by the side till she was needed, before guiding her new master to the bedroom. Most of Algrim's standard belongings were already sorted, while more private and specific items still remained in their chests awaiting instruction. But tonight was not the night for packing, and the head maid sought Algrim's instruction before readying for his rest with the other servants. Then with a gentle reminder on when she'd be waking him up tomorrow, the servants retreated, only to ring the chime by his bedroom door before the sun was even up.

[algrimthestrong]

Algrim could tell his kiss had caught Lise by surprise. Though it was nothing more than a chaste brush of lips, he felt the prince stiffen in his arms even as Lise hugged him back, suggesting that his display of affection was not at all unwelcome. When Algrim pulled back, he found his fiancé flushed and struggling to keep a grin in check. So, he is only shy, how adorable. The happy swishing of Lise's tails gave away the delight he tried to keep from showing on his face and Algrim's own smile brightened in response.

He stood by the door with his hands folded in front of him, watching Lise leave for the night. The fox seemed quite reluctant to part with him, judging from the way Lise kept looking back over his shoulder, and Algrim was half expecting him to break with tradition and come running back into his arms. Or perhaps this was more wishful thinking on his part? He found himself already missing Lise's gentle presence the moment the gates closed behind the crown prince.

Following the head maid to his quarters and dismissing her once she had helped him complete his bedtime routine, Algrim slid under the silk coverlet and sat with his back propped up against a pillow as he began to familiarise himself with the pregnancy spell that would be cast on him. The procedure sounded not altogether intolerable or unduly humiliating, and though he felt a sense of apprehension returning regarding his aptitude as a vessel for Lise's child, he kept reminding himself of the fact that he would not have been chosen to carry out the task if Lise's family had any doubts about his ability to see the pregnancy through to a successful completion.

Feeling that he had done everything he could to prepare himself for the coming day, Algrim put aside the manual, shifted onto his side and closed his eyes, focusing on taking deep, even breaths to will his body to rest.

Roused from his sleep by the chime of a bell, it took him a moment to match the surroundings he found himself in to the reality of his new life.

It was his wedding day.

It was still dark in his bedroom, the sky behind the gauzy curtains not yet touched by the light of dawn. Algrim sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. Thoughts of his conversation with Lise from the previous day found their way back into his consciousness, making his lips curve with affection. Lise would be a good spouse, providing a kind, uplifting presence in his life. There was nothing to be afraid of. Fate was finally smiling down on him once more.

[vuhswrites]

Abnormal heat seeped through the fabric between them like languid honey on a summer's day, as did that voluntary kiss from Raoul. Seduced by the other Blondie's siren-like lull, Iason listened to his needy little pet while he took in Raoul's scent by his neck, lips pressing along the jugular vein. His hand found its way to Raoul's hips, holding him still from the rocking. "Indeed, but we shouldn't send you back like this. What if someone saw?"

Withdrawing, Iason leaned back and looked up at Raoul. "Turn around and rest against me. You'll return to your quarters after this." Controlling his body such that he would not get an arousal, Iason waited for Raoul to obey before wrapping an arm comfortably around him. His other hand groped his bulge, massaging before undoing the front of those pants to reach in. He did not intend to get either of them soiled again, hence the position.

Recalling the notes he had taken earlier with his foot, his fingers wrapped around that hefty length and stroked. The long digits slid their way over the tip, thumb rubbing Raoul's slit before squeezing down the column with the rest. Iason took his time, the arm around Raoul keeping him in place as the straight haired Blondie controlled his pleasure. In the meanwhile, he shifted forward to nuzzle and kiss the back of Raoul's ear.

[algrimthestrong]

Iason's lips on his neck sent a shiver prickling down his spine and Raoul could not contain a sigh even as Iason's hands gripped his hips to still his squirming. Iason's pointing out that Raoul would do well to release some of his pent-up tension before stepping out the door revealed a concern for the scientist's reputation that suggested more than just professional pragmatism. Raoul nodded, golden curls falling across his face. "Yes, I suppose you're right." He took a moment to calm himself a little, then shifted around to assume the requested position, an arm around his waist securing him firmly on Iason's lap.

Having a good idea as to how Iason intended to relieve him of his compromised state, Raoul leaned back against Iason's chest and opened his legs to the other Blondie. It was the first time that Iason offered any direct stimulation to his genitals save for the earlier, brief but profoundly humiliating experience involving Iason's foot, and the moment Raoul felt Iason's hand cupping him through his trousers he had to clench his teeth firmly together to keep the moan that tried to escape him trapped in his throat. Raoul's erection was thick and full, pulsing gratefully in Iason's grip as the blue-eyed Blondie released the engorged organ from its confinement and wrapped his fingers around it. Being touched by Iason was worlds apart from self-pleasure. Iason was controlling the rhythm and intensity, teasing him with measured caresses but keeping the friction too light to be truly satisfying.

Each stroke and squeeze threatened to upset the meticulously crafted persona Raoul was so intent on presenting to the outside world. He let his head fall back against Iason's shoulder, his eyes drifted closed and his breathing grew heavier. Raoul wanted Iason to speed up his strokes, but he would not resort to begging for pleasure. His pride as a Blondie did not allow him to humble himself in such a fashion, insisting that he remain beautiful and dignified even while letting Iason play with his body. Iason's caresses were made smooth and easy by the wetness leaking from Raoul's tip. In fact, Raoul was dripping so much that the sounds of Iason's stroking were obscenely loud in the quiet of his penthouse. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands, so he put one on top of the arm that was looped around his waist and let the other rest on one of Iason's strong thighs.

[beautiful-mischief]

I am willing to learn. For you.

It was a surprisingly sweet admission, almost disarming in its sincerity as Aednan’s downcast gaze brightened once more with a glimmer of hopefulness, his embarrassment seemingly forgotten. Mal certainly didn’t have the heart to taunt him any further when the other man had seemed so genuinely mortified by his little faux pas, instead humming softly and nodding as he so ardently expressed his willingness to try his hand at being a better host. It was strange to think about the other mortals he had entertained in the past, those that the elven prince had taken to bed and nothing more, the fact that Aednan seemed to think him so different to them proving both perplexing and strangely flattering all at once. When they had first met Mal might have chided him for insinuating that humans were all the same, that he was certainly nothing special aside from bearing the touch of Faerie, but try as he might to deny it the florist had rather enjoyed the special treatment.

“We’re not especially complicated creatures.” He assured, lips curling into a playful yet good-natured smile as he lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “Well, I’m certainly not. Good food, good wine and good sex and I’m quite content.” Why he felt so compelled to soothe the prince’s ego he wasn’t sure, but Mal knew better than to think about it. The fact of the matter was that they’d had a wonderful day together, albeit a somewhat overstimulating one, and though he could feel a bone-deep, contented sort tiredness settling in amidst his hunger, he found himself wanting to enjoy each and every minute of what remained, to wring the bottle dry of every drop before it all caught up with him.

As Aednan’s slender fingers curled warm and gentle at the back of his neck and drew him in Mal went easily, sighing happily he was coaxed into a kiss that veered far more tender than those they’d shared before. There was no desperate heat there, no impatience, just a pleasant, spreading warmth in his chest as he melted into the embrace, quietly basking in the other man’s kisses and compliments and easy warmth. When he had to break away to breathe, not pulling back entirely, Mal’s gaze flit away from Aednan’s soft pink lips and up to meet his gaze. “All those pretty words are going to start going to my head.” He teased, soft and slightly breathless before he leaned in to sweetly kiss him again.

[algrimthestrong]

Contrary to Mal's statement, Aednan found his human companion quite an enigma, one who intrigued and attracted him in equal measure. In fact, he could not think of any other time someone had fascinated him so. While it was true that humans were generally considered simple creatures among his peers – a preconception he had found to be confirmed during the many encounters he had enjoyed with Mal's countrymen – Mal had turned out to be a challenge from the start, and though Aednan's initial goal of seducing the florist into his bed had been completed, he found Mal much too fascinating a person to simply add him to his long list of romantic conquests and be done with it. Food, wine, and sex Aednan could provide in abundance. But with Mal, the elf wanted to not just satisfy, but exceed the other man's expectations. Aednan wanted to impress Mal, wanted to be looked at with eyes glittering with wonder and adoration, he wanted Mal to cling to him as he took him to the highest peaks of pleasure. Being with Mal sparked in Aednan emotions new and sublime, emotions he poured into the kiss he was currently pressing to Mal's lips.

When Mal pulled back to catch his breath, his observation met with a delighted sparkle in amethyst eyes, but before Aednan had a chance to reply Mal's lovely mouth was back on his to initiate another kiss. Thrilled with Mal taking the initiative, Aednan let him take the lead, his free hand coming to rest on Mal's thigh as he returned the kiss gently, affectionately, eventually pulling away with a teasing flick of his tongue against Mal's bottom lip.

"Perhaps that is what I want," the elven prince revealed, smiling. "A lovely little thing like you should be adored and spoiled, swathed in silk and velvet and adorned with precious gems, have poems and ballads written about you, and be made love to night and day." He slid his hand from Mal's neck to his cheek and stroked his thumb over his skin, looking at Mal amorously. "I'd love to do all that for you while you're here with me." Aednan breathed a little laugh and leaned in for another quick peck before admitting, "Truth be told, petal, you may well have ruined me for other humans."

[beautiful-mischief]

Mal felt a pang of sympathy for the elven prince for all of a few seconds as Aednan suddenly realised his error, to his credit he seemed genuinely mortified, but truth be told it was rather amusing to see that sultry, easy charm fall to pieces so spectacularly; evidently he had been much too caught up in all the delights of their evening together that something so practical had entirely slipped his notice. It was easily done of course, there were other appetites that his host was keen to satiate and the florist could not begrudge him that much, but perhaps now he would remember that mortals required better tending to.

“I suppose it’s an oversight that can be forgiven.” Mal pondered with a rueful sigh, feigning thoughtfulness as he watched Aednan brush an apologetic kiss to the back of his hand through eyes glittering with mirth, lips quirking at the corners even as he tried to stifle his amusement for the sake of the act. “You really aren’t used to humans, are you?” There was no judgement to the remark, more a wry sort of humour as Mal shifted in his seat to face him, curling his legs beneath him and leaning against the wall of the carriage. Though the forest beyond the window was strikingly beautiful in the moonlight, it looked so otherworldly that he dare not look too closely lest he see faces amidst the looming shadows and gnarled old trunks.

“That’s hardly necessary, we can just eat in your quarters.” The florist assured, not particularly bothered where they stopped for a meal so long as he got to eat something, mildly relieved that his stomach hadn’t growled during the performance. Really, he supposed he had gotten as caught up in it as Aednan had when it was so unlike anything he’d ever seen — as far as a first visit to the theatre went, it was certainly a memorable one. “I really have enjoyed today, you know.” Mal added, hopeful that it might soothe the prince’s guilt somewhat as his mischievous gaze softened. “This place…it’s beyond what I imagined.”

[algrimthestrong]

It was not often that Aednan had felt genuine embarrassment in his pampered existence before, which only made the experience all the more mortifying. The prince could barely withstand Mal's teasing, his eyes cast down and his expression meek. He felt his face grow hot all over again as he was forced to admit, "No, I am not used to dealing with humans much outside of the bedroom. But," he continued quickly, a hopeful smile springing to his lips as he lifted his gaze back to Mal's, "I am willing to learn. For you."

Keen to move on to a different subject, Aednan nodded his agreement to Mal's preference for dinner, resolving to pay more attention to his needs for the rest of his stay. For tomorrow's outing, he would make sure to have his servants pack up a picnic basket they could bring along. Fortunately, Mal was not inclined to linger on Aednan's lapse either. When the mortal admitted how much he had enjoyed their time and how much of an impression Aednan's home had made on him in just one day, the elf felt his chest expand with a swell of happiness that manifested itself on his face in the form of a brilliant smile. While he had never doubted that Mal would find Alfheim utterly enchanting, hearing it from the man himself was immensely satisfying.

"So are you." Mal looked beautiful bathed in silver moonlight, like a vision from the realm of dreams that did not quite belong in the waking world. "You are beyond what I imagined any human could be like." Aednan reached out and curled his fingers around the back of Mal's neck, then leaned forward and pressed his lips to the other man's, a kiss that was not playful or passionate like the kisses they usually shared, but full of tender curiosity.

[whitefoxed]

"Yes I did, I'm so happy to be marrying you." Lise exclaimed in reply. Looking carefully at his fiance's expressions when talking about the food, the vulpine prince hoped their dishes would meet Algrim's expectations. "Svartalfheim seems to have had a hard era. I hope to learn more about your realm's history." Compared to the foxes who have always led secluded lives in the safety of Yelihaa, Svartalfheim's residents did appear to have gone through a lot more than they had. After all, any hardships they had were chosen when they leave Yelihaa on missions in Midgard and other realms. Young foxes are often sheltered till adulthood.

"We do have plenty of mushroom dishes. Berries are usually used in soups and desserts." Making a mental note of his soon-to-be husband's preferences, he looked forward to learning more about his fiance and the realm he came from, if Algrim was willing to share. "Although our trade agreements were for minerals in exchange for food supplies, I hope we can have more edible varieties from Svartalfheim under your advice. Perhaps we could also reproduce them here and ship back excess to your realm." Lise's initial purpose was to learn and prepare more familiar cuisines for his fiance, but his words turned to work out of habit. Being the crown prince, much of his time was taken up by education and work for his future position.

It was time to leave when their meal concluded. A servant appeared at his beckon, as he took the manual from them to pass to Algrim. "This is the manual on the pregnancy spell, as promised. I suppose you'd look through it tonight, but please have an early night as you'd have to prepare early tomorrow." He advised out of concern.

[algrimthestrong]

Lise's interest in the history of Svartalfheim struck Algrim as sincere, more than just interest out of politeness or mere political considerations. "Svartalfheim has a long, bloody past. Most children have to learn to fend for themselves at an early age." His own children had had the privilege of growing up in a relatively sheltered environment, but many others were not so lucky. With the foxes' support, perhaps a network of orphanages could be established in the elven realm, or some of those unfortunate children could even be relocated to Yelihaa. But of course, this was all in the future and dependant on the success of their alliance. "I am grateful that the fruit of our marriage will grow up in Yelihaa," Algrim admitted quietly.

Beginning to eat when Lise did, Algrim found Yelihaa's cuisine highly pleasing to this palate. Every bite was fragrant and flavourful, beautifully presented and expertly seasoned. He listend with avid interest to Lise talking about how their realms might grow even closer by extending their trade agreement beyond the mineral business. "An excellent suggestion," Algrim agreed, once again touched by how dedicated Lise was to ensuring his comfort and respecting his heritage. "From what I have seen of Yelihaa, its climate appears to be well-suited for agriculture. So, if you really wanted to start growing edibles from Svartalfheim here and share the excess with my people, you would have my deepest gratitude." Lise's efforts to accommodate him and help him settle into his new life far surpassed Algrim's expectations. The fox cared about his comfort, trying to come up with ways to introduce small touches of the familiar into the foreign. Algrim felt that Lise truly wished to create a lasting bond between them, uniting them both in heart and intellect. Meeting someone who was so dedicated to his happiness was a novel experience for the elf and he enjoyed the rest of their meal with a bright sense of hope for the future swirling inside him.

Once they finished eating and he was presented with the manual Lise had mentioned, Algrim took it from the prince and set it down next to him, intending to read through it before bed, nodding at Lise's reminder to retire early. When the time came to part for the night soon after, Algrim reached for Lise's shoulders and pulled him forward into a hug, angling his head to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. They were expected to share a bed starting tomorrow; it was only sensible that they got comfortable with each other. "Thank you again for welcoming me so warmly into your family." Algrim's smile was gentle and heartfelt. "I am looking forward to tomorrow."

[beautiful-mischief]

A dark brow arched as Aednan read the note and his blissful expression immediately scrunched in distaste, though as he explained just who had gifted them the cask of ale Loki was quick to laugh, delighted to realise that the pride of the Dwarven prince that his husband had once fooled with his disguise had not been so severely wounded that it prevented him from sending a wedding gift — but he was certainly in agreement that it was a gift better offered to his brother, when both their tastes veered more refined. “I suspect Thor may still be recovering from his hangover, but I am sure he’ll appreciate it.” The younger prince smirked, huffing his amusement as Aednan thoughtlessly discarded the note, evidently unimpressed.

Loki’s impish smile broadened as Aednan’s lips brushed his knuckles, a soaring, elated sort of warmth in his chest as he drank in the man that he so adored, laughter spilling forth free and easy as he dragged him down into his lap, the book of poetry that he had been perusing abandoned on the chaise beside him in favour of gathering him in close. “It does.” The dark-haired prince agreed in a contented hum, lips curling as he bared his neck to Aednan’s mouth, sighing happily as he added to the constellation of love bites already littering his skin. They had indulged in one another plenty since the night of their wedding, scarcely leaving their bed at all for that first day; Loki suspected the indulgence would only continue once they reached Alfheim and were given their space once more, though he imagined there would be a great deal of fanfare surrounding their initial return — as Aednan had said, it wasn’t often that the realms were treated to a royal wedding.

Slipping his arms around Aednan’s neck, carding his fingers lazily through his loose, silken locks, Loki leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to his husband’s lips. “The most wonderful dream that we may briefly have to wake from, mind you. Your family will be expecting us soon.”

[algrimthestrong]

Aednan had half a mind to drag Loki back to bed. Even after the many times they had enjoyed one another since their wedding night, which Aednan would always remember as one of the most emotional and fulfilling experiences of his life, his appetite for his husband was still not satisfied. But time stood still for no one and they were expected somewhere else. Loki's reminder not to keep Aednan's family waiting met with a sigh from the elven prince, though at least Loki had the good sense to soften their waking up to reality with a kiss. "Oh, very well. If we really must." Aednan released the other prince from his arms and looked around Loki's chambers at the piles of gifts that had accumulated throughout the past three days. "Let's just leave all of them here. Your servants can pack them up for us and send them along after us." He rose and cast a glance up and down Lok's body, smirking at the fresh kiss marks peeking out above his collar. "Let's go, then." Aednan held out his hand to his husband. "I can't wait to ravish you on Alfheim soil for the first time."

When they arrived at the Bifröst, Aednan's family were already there, along with Algrim, who had come to see them off. The dark elf's eyes shone with gentle, parental pride as he pulled both princes into a hug, one after the other, reminding them to be good and wishing them a wonderful honeymoon. Once they arrived on Alfheim, an open carriage hung with garlands of flowers was already waiting for them to take them to the palace. Pulled by unicorns and accompanied by a long procession of guards and nobles, they travelled through the capital city. People had lined up on either side of the streets to catch a glimpse of the newly-wed couple, cheering as the carriage passed. Aednan smiled and waved at them, basking in the adoration of the crowds. The fingers of his other hand were linked with Loki's and he kept exchanging happy looks with the other prince, amethyst eyes sparkling with joy.

The carriage rolled to a stop in the courtyard and the palace gates closed behind them, shutting out the jubilant crowds. The princes were allowed an hour of rest before they would be expected to present themselves on the grand balcony and greet the sea of people crowding the square before the palace. The silence in Aednan's chambers was a welcome respite from all the enthusiastic attention their pairing had received. The elf turned to Loki and slipped his arms around his waist, his lips curling with mischief. "They'll want to see us kiss, you know. Perhaps we had better rehearse that again. We owe them our best performance."

[vuhswrites]

Iason watched with wonder as Riki finished off another slice of cake despite having eaten so much. As a cyborg, his body was able to burn as much food for fuel as he could eat, but even that was limited to the volume of his stomach. Yet for a sensitive human like Riki, their stomachs can seem to expand. Still the Blondie was slightly concerned his pet would be in pain later and so he intended for it to be a long walk.

Having Riki wandering by his side in a relaxed manner made the air so much fresher by the sea. Moonlight shone brightly in the clear skies overhead and Iason felt the urge to preserve the memory in print. His mind argued that it was enough to memorize the moment, that it was not so momentous to behave like a common human tourist. Blue eyes gazed fondly upon his pet, who was looking out to the sea. "It's night time, you'd never know the dangers of such." He said, finally giving a hint of returning to the beach at another time.

Holding onto the leash, Iason led Riki on the way back to the restaurant after reaching the end of the beach. "Why do you want to swim?" Riki had never shown interest in the pet pools at the Salon before, only making such a request upon coming to Jibril. The sea was much more dangerous than those pools, with its tides and sometimes living creatures. But then again, it seemed characteristic for his pet to enjoy danger.

[algrimthestrong]

Riki could not keep his disappointment from showing on his face when Iason declined his request to go for a dip in the sea. While the Blondie's reasoning made sense, it was not the answer Riki had hoped for. He turned his head away, lowering his gaze to the sandy ground. What gave him hope was the fact that Iason had not ruled out the possibility completely. There was still a chance that he would be allowed to return in daylight.

Riki walked beside his master, hands in his pockets. "You wouldn't understand," he sighed. "You've been made to be perfect. You're beautiful, strong, intelligent, successful in everything you attempt. I am not. If I want to learn something new or improve myself, I need to practise. You'll never know the satisfaction of mastering a new skill. The world you come from is cold, artificial, devoid of emotion, but this—" He nodded at the ocean, "—is the real thing. It's natural, wild, imperfect, and free. The sea belongs to no one." Just like a human should never be treated as property. "The pet pools in Eos are boring and I don't care for the company of those idiotic pets. The only aspiration they have in life is to please their masters. I want to do something for myelf."

"In the slums, it's either sink or swim," Riki recalled his former life. "You either live or die. I've never let anyone push me underwater. I've always stayed afloat." He lifted his head to look at Iason, black eyes glimmering with emotion. As he continued to speak, he let the sense of injustice he felt at having to depend on Iason for every little thing spill over into his voice. "Why shouldn't a human being make use of their full potential, just like you Blondies do? Swimming seems like fun. Something worth putting my energy into. Why should I content myself with sitting on my ass on the shore when I could get in the water and try out my skills instead? If there's an opportunity, you gotta seize it. You never know if you'll get another chance."

[vuhswrites]

It was easy to understand and forgive Raoul's instincts to be dominant, unlike Riki's mysterious pride as a mongrel. They were both Blondies and designed to lead, giving Iason a sense of challenge when managing his new pet as well as a pleased satisfaction whenever Raoul gave in, knowing his pet was purposely doing so for him. It was different from the satisfaction when forcing Riki to give into him, and Iason could not quite tell what that difference was at the moment.

There was also a thrill to learning how much Raoul wanted him, so much that the other Blondie was losing self control. That could be said to be the greatest praise Raoul could give him, and he found himself looking forward to seeing more of it. His pet's affections were not lost on Iason and he enjoyed the attention, again different from the uncontrolled desperation from Riki. Being with Raoul was a very novel experience for the head of Tanagura.

Parting from their kiss as Raoul wished - Iason found himself inclined to indulge a well behaved pet's desires - he listened to what his pet had to say. He raised his hand to cup that perfect face, thumb brushing over Raoul's smooth cheek. "Of course. It would be a pleasure to do so, to have another understand what I do." That same hand moved to catch one of Raoul's, pulling his palm over for him to kiss. Iason believed his siblings all had similar conclusions regarding sexual desire as he did before he met Riki. Now he learned that it was dependent on meeting the right person, one that suited their high standards, he found himself greedy for the understanding from his own kind, especially when Raoul offered to do so willingly.

[algrimthestrong]

Raoul's golden lashes drooped when Iason cupped his cheek, slivers of emerald peeking from beneath lowered lids. The unexpected tenderness of the caress stood in stark contrast to how roughly Iason had handled him earlier. Raoul wasn't sure which he preferred, Iason's authority over him or this new, gentle attention. His eyes slid closed when the other Blondie reached for his hand and pressed a kiss to his palm, the softness of Iason's lips pulling a sigh from him. "I am beginning to understand why you gave in to temptation," the scientist admitted.

Eyes fluttering open, he shifted on Iason's lap to straddle him. His body moulded itself to Iason's and he found himself wishing for the barrier of their clothes to disappear. This new closeness felt so good, so intimate, despite his mind screaming at him that this was wrong, forbidden.

He leaned in for another kiss, then pulled back to brush his lips across Iason's cheek, then along his jaw. Raoul had to fight the urge to flick his tongue across Iason's skin. "Perhaps you should send me away for the night," he suggested, his breath heavy with burgeoning arousal. His hips had begun to rock against Iason's gently. Iason had an agenda for him and it would be a shame to let his newly-awakened urges spoil his plans. "I understand you don't want to rush my training, and we should seek Jupiter's permission before we proceed."

[vuhswrites]

The dishes were fragrant and Iason enjoyed the meal, pleased that his pet had waited for him. Riki was doing so well today, he felt his efforts to make the birthday memorable for his pet well worth it. The Blondie ate, listening to the sea and watching his pet devour his food. Riki's enthusiasm was overflowing to the point of influencing Iason, increasing his appetite. Then Riki mentioned swimming. "Yes, you said you wanted to learn." The Blondie gave a non-committal reply, intending to tease his pet and make him wait. It would be nice if Riki begged, but he had learned how headstrong his pet was in that department.

Iason helped himself to two more rounds of food, taking his time every time. After the lobster and scallops, he had baked fish with chili and prawns, inspired by his pet's earlier meal. For the third round he had grilled squid and seaweed salads, pleased with the restaurant's standards. By the time he finished that, he knew his pet would be full. "Still have room for more cake?" He asked, wondering if Riki would have extra stomach space for dessert as humans often claimed they do. As for himself, he simply nursed the white wine till the end of their dinner. It blended well with the taste and fragrance left behind on his tongue, allowing him to savor the memory of what he ate.

Noting that Riki was done with his food and had sufficient time to rest and digest, Iason rose from his seat to walk over to his pet, taking his leash in hand. "Let's go for your walk now." It would ease their digestion as well as use the time to take in the scenery. While Iason did not find the view of the sea new, it certainly was relaxing and refreshing with Riki around.

[algrimthestrong]

To Riki's chagrin, Iason offered little in the way of a reply. He drew his brows together and thrust his lower lip out in a pout, directing his gaze back to his plate. Perhaps he'd simply run off and fling himself into the waves, force Iason to come after him and prevent him from drowning. Then, Iason would realise that it was in his own best interest to teach his pet how to swim… or Iason might decide to lock him up for the rest of their stay instead, making tonight's outing their only trip to the beach. No, that was not what Riki wanted. He could not risk forfeiting his holiday privileges.

Once he had polished off his plate, he went back for seconds and thirds, deciding to try the lobster and scallops Iason favoured before moving on to grilled eel and caviar, all of which he devoured with great enthusiasm. "There is always room for cake," Riki informed the Blondie, then promptly cut himself another slice. Being treated to cake, a fancy dinner, and an outing to the beach could not be further apart from the birthdays he had spent with Bison, painful memories of spending the day with his gang getting high on stolen trippers and spending the night in Guy's arms lurking just beneath the surface of his mind, kept in check by the realisation that Iason must have been planning out this evening for some time. The fact that Iason wanted him to enjoy himself on his birthday made Riki's eyes glitter with an emotion he could not entirely reppress.

Nodding at Iason's suggestion, Riki rose from his chair and followed him down the steps to the beach. The sand looked like a carpet of silver under the light of the moon, the sea like a vast, glittering mirror. The wind had receded and the water lay still and calm as they walked along the shore. Every so often, Riki would stop to pick up a seashell that had caught his eye and put it into his pocket for safe-keeping. The fact that he was taking a walk on the beach under the stars with the very man who had abducted and humiliated him felt utterly surreal, yet he could not deny that Iason provided him with experiences he would have never had in Ceres. Riki had sworn to find a way out of the slums, and though he had ended up sorely regretting his naive outlook on life, this was his reality now and he'd latch on to every moment of freedom he could wrest from his master.

His lips curved wistfully as he gazed out across the sea. "I'd love to go in." Riki nodded at the calm water. "Surely there's no danger in the shallows?"

[whitefoxed]

Lise had not noticed the passing time in his lovely fiance's company and was following his line of sight when he realized the sun was half set and the sky painted dark blue. Perhaps sensing their gaze, red ears and tails popped out from the side of the main door, the head maid gave a bow and asked if they would like to be served dinner. "Yes please." He answered, before looking to Algrim. "I apologise for not noticing... you must have gotten hungry." The fox prince had not let go of Algrim's hand, casually and comfortably holding the dark elf's.

Dinner was quickly served and set in the next room, where there was a dining table for two. Glowing jade ornaments diffused light similar to sunlight in the room, a stark contrast to the quickly darkening skies outside. "Hopefully our cuisine suits your tastes... we couldn't find any records of dark elven food, so for the wedding it's similar. Our chefs made variations of our dishes with ingredients from Svartalfheim." Well ingredients they could recognize. A large bowl of braised fowl soup with a mix of Yelihaa and Svartalfheim mushrooms, a plate of shallot omelettes and sauteed venison and Svartalfheim vegetables accompanied bowls of fragrant rice on the table.

Lise sat down at the round table together with Algrim, having passed a message along the way for the manual to be brought over. "What do you normally like to eat? Do you have a favorite dish?"

[algrimthestrong]

Though Algrim would have been happy to converse with Lise for a little longer, time had flown by in the prince's presence as they were getting to know each other, and it was only during a brief lull in conversation that his body's needs began to make themselves known, even if he would have never embarrassed the fox by asking him about dinnertime. Fortunately, their ever attentive servants had kept track of the passing of hours. "A little," Algrim admitted to Lise, bowing his head slightly in apology. "But I really enjoyed our conversation and the opportunity to get to know you better before our wedding. I hope you did as well."

The tall elf rose gracefully and followed Lise along into the next room, which was just as elegantly furnished as the salon. The room glowed in the soft light cast by the jade lamps, making the space feel cosy and intimate. "I am sure your food is outstanding. It looks and smells wonderful." Algrim sat down opposite his fiancé, smiling as Lise talked about the culinary considerations for their wedding banquet. "I am not a picky eater. Dark elven cuisine is quite robust and resourceful. We make do with what we have. Our realm has seen a lot of war in the past and people have learned to survive on little." Unsure whether it would be polite to help himself to what he wanted or if there was a certain order in which the offered dishes had to be consumed, he waited for Lise to start first. "Some of our dishes would surprise you, I am sure. But I do have a fondness for mushroom and berry dishes," Algrim revealed.

[whitefoxed]

You Belong to Me

[whitefoxed]

Feeling himself stretch open to Algrim’s entry, Vuhs breaths caught with anticipation and relief. After a whole night of tension, it was like finally knowing when he could rest. Of course, at the moment blood rushed fast through his veins, and there was still a lot to do. Algrim always had this strange effect on him, making him feel safe, secure and incredibly comfortable, but oh so thrilled and turned on to have his affections. The combination drove Vuhs wilder than he knew himself could be, even though he considered what they were doing at the moment tame.

Moans slipped free in time with each stroke within the fox’s tight hole, sucking hungrily on every inch. As Algrim picked up the pace, Vuhs also began rocking his body to match his love’s rhythm, pushing back to meet the smack of the elder’s hips. Pleasure sparked every time Algrim’s cock rubbed past his sensitive muscles within, sending tingling strikes up his spine and had him clenching around it by reflex. His ears pinned to the sides trembling, fluttering fur making it all the more obvious.

Every thrust was increasing his urge to climax, something his body was trained to restrain from - at least for a longer time than most peers. Vuhs’ inner walls massaged and milked his lover’s cock with a starved desperation, making the fox feel fully filled over and over. “Algrim… ah-hahh… ah!”

[algrimthestrong]

They moved in perfect unison – when Algrim pulled back, Vuhs rocked forward, when the elf drove himself back inside, the fox pushed back, taking him into his body to the hilt, their testicles meeting with a wet slap every time their hips connected. Vuhs was lean and beautiful under him, his muscles shifting and tensing under his smooth, pale skin, and Algrim kept his eyes open, wanting to witness every moment of his lover's pleasure.

In contrast to Vuhs, who expressed his enjoyment openly, Algrim kept his pleasure carefully contained, his quickened breaths the only sounds the elder let slip. The way Vuhs twitched and clenched around him spoke of his mounting desperation, but Algrim was not yet ready to let their coupling rush to a quick finale, wanting to savour the silky slide of Vuhs' hole around him for a little longer as he took him with deep, steady strokes. Knowing that the younger loved him with all his heart made the pleasure so much greater. Algrim felt as if he were overflowing with love for Vuhs, the euphoria of finally being joined with him after the humiliation they had endured from the king earlier making him want to provide Vuhs with a truly memorable experience.

Shifting the angle of penetration to massage Vuhs' sweet spot with every stroke, Algrim resolved to make him come on his cock alone. "You want to be good for me, my love, don't you? Then, you're going to come just from this." His words were strict, but his tone was tender as he loosened a hand on Vuhs' hip and smoothed his palm down his lower back. His decision to neglect Vuhs' erection tonight was not born of selfishness or cruelty, but of a desire to heighten his lover's pleasure, to prevent him from achieving a quick, easy release and instead let him focus on the bliss of their joining, knowing Vuhs' eventual arrival at the peak would be so much more rewarding after such an arduous climb.

[vuhswrites]

The childish excitement and pure joy on Riki made the Blondie fawn over him with his eyes, watching each smile and grin and sparkle in the eye. When Riki cut an additional slice meant for him, he could not help but smile and join his pet in eating the cake, even though he did not mean to do so in the first place. Iason took his time with the cake, watching Riki with fascination even as he did something as mundane as walking to gather dishes that he wanted.

One of the reasons why he thought a seafood restaurant would be good was because of Riki's preference for fish. Seeing what his pet brought back, he took mental note to keep in mind which ones Riki favored more by the end of the dinner. "Yes, it would be nice to have a walk after." Iason replied, finally finishing his cake and setting the dirty plate aside. Then he rose to help himself to a plate of buttered lobster and seared scallops. His drink, as usual, was white wine.

The staff in the background was still cooking at their stations, in small amounts and adding what was taken to the side table as well as more variety, showcasing Jibril's seafood cuisine. Iason found himself rather enjoying the scent of barbeque and cooking, however crude in Eos, in the sea breeze. In a way, it was a new experience for the Blondie, having dinner with his pet by the beach and watching his pet enjoy himself.

[algrimthestrong]

To Riki's surprise, Iason joined him for dessert, even if the Blondie, with his refined table manners, took much longer to finish his slice than Riki, who returned with his plate of seafood by the time Iason was finishing his cake. He looked up when Iason agreed to take a walk after dinner, obsidian eyes shining with delight. While Iason had told him earlier that he would take him to see the sea, Riki had still been harbouring some doubts as to whether he would stick to his word. It wasn't as if there were any consequences for a Blondie breaking his promise to a pet; Iason could do as he pleased with no one to answer to than Jupiter herself. Riki restrained his appetite and waited until Iason had filled his own plate and rejoined him at their table, stealing a curious look at the dishes the Blondie had selected for himself.

Riki picked up his cutlery and began to eat, listening to the sound of the waves receding and returning. The food was excellent, fresh and flavourful, and Riki devoured his swordfish steak with relish, enjoying the tingling burn of the chili pepper sauce on his tongue.

"You asked me earlier if I wanted to learn to swim," he reminded his master. He said nothing more after that, deciding to simply let his remark hang in the air between them, unwilling to outright ask Iason for a favour. Begging him for release in bed was something he had grown accustomed to, as much as he hated the humiliation of it. It always made him feel weak and pathetic afterwards. Outside of the bedroom Riki clung to his pride fiercely, even at the cost of his wants and needs. He had no doubt that Iason was an accomplished swimmer. After all, Blondies had been created to exceed at everything they attempted. It was not difficult to imagine him gliding through the water, wet hair streaming out behind him, sculpted muscles glistening in the moonlight.

[vuhswrites]

Raoul was larger and taller than Riki was, the difference held in his arms made obvious. Whether or not it would be awkward was not Iason's focus, but rather getting used to having another in such an intimate hold. The position of his arms were not where they habituated. He could not help but remember how small and cute Riki fit against him, unlike Raoul's larger frame. Still it was not uncomfortable and his thoughts quickly returned to the kiss they were sharing.

Gentle soft lips pressed up against his own willingly, again making the memory of Riki's resistance or reluctance flicker in his mind. It was a comfortable lull, one which made him distracted before realizing what Raoul had done. Feeling that brush of tongue, Iason refocused, eyes opening and narrowing at his pet's comment. His pet's initiative took him off guard once again and their lips met. Iason could not help but bite lightly at Raoul's lips, remembering how glossy and plump they were. "So do you."

Iason found himself enjoying Raoul, whose willing affection was like sweet honey to Riki's sharp alcoholic taste. As much as he loved teasing his pets, Riki's pure distaste of him at times had grated on his nerves unshown on his face. It was what made knowing when Riki could not resist the pleasure satisfying. But for Raoul, a Blondie who should not indulge in pleasures, to be doing so with him was another kind of satisfaction, one which felt indulgent to him.

Deepening the kiss, the master of the two took reins of the pace once more, keeping it slow and sensual. The shadow of desire lurked at the edges, making itself known to Iason how close he was to being aroused again. It was not in his plans to get more intimate for their first night, and so he kept tight control of their kiss, taming Raoul whenever he sought for more faster than he liked.

[algrimthestrong]

They had been in this exact position before, though whereas the first time had been a somewhat tentative exploration of their new dynamic, Raoul, who had never been held or hugged by anyone before, now felt pleasantly relaxed in Iason's embrace, relishing their newfound intimacy. This could not be wrong. Two of Jupiter's sons expressing their fondness for one another.

Raoul enjoyed the feel of Iason's sleek, powerful body, so similar to his own, pressed against his as they indulged in the pleasures of each other's mouth. The scientist found it impossible to remain entirely passive, his natural dominance trying to assert itself, which Iason did not hesitate to temper whenever his pet attempted to deepen their kiss into something more demanding. Raoul was conscious of his own mounting desire and the rational part of his brain insisted that he retain control over his sexual impulses, knowing he could not suffer another humiliation like before, when the intensity of the new sensations Iason had forced on him had pushed his body into spending itself prematurely.

Moving and pressing against his master, Raoul sighed into Iason's mouth. He trailed his hand up Iason's back to stroke the nape of his neck and drag his nails across his skin. Kissing Iason felt both right and wrong, natural and unnatural, exciting and unpredictable. Touching his lips to Iason's produced a swooping, quivery feeling in his stomach, a novel sensation that Raoul could not get enough of. "Iason." Raoul disengaged for a moment to speak. He swallowed once, his throat bobbing. His lips were plump and glistening. "During this arrangement of ours, I want you to teach me everything you enjoy."