Gilded Words

Here I am with a mind like a loaded gun and scar tissue for a heart. —L.H.Z Jasper Oro; twenty-eight; benefactor

[jasperoro-blog]

oncehallowed‌:

𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 ; tsuki → a tavern in the valley. 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 ; late aries , 998 a. l. 𝖜𝖍𝖔 ; @jasperoro​

A SHADOW SKULKS ABOUT low lit alleyways , cloaked in something inconspicuous and dark , head ducked as she moves swiftly through the labyrinth of the valley. a hushed word is spoken there , a deal takes place here , she plays witness to it all on her venture and it makes her mouth curve sharply , a hint of diamond fangs glinting when someone offers her something powdered and shimmering. how foolish they all are — sheep herded into a pen , waiting for the slaughter. not much longer now , persia thinks to herself as she dismisses the man with a wave , and she’ll bring it to them. she slips down another , darker street , steady and silent as she ducks in the rear entrance of some unscrupulous establishment.

she laughs lowly to herself , in on some secret joke: she’d just rendered the crystal palace , along with her lover’s help , a veritable disaster; and yet here she was back in tsuki , undetected. were she not here on far more important matters , she might’ve indulged herself , might’ve drowned this kingdom on a passing whim. as it were , jasper had contacted her — and what he promised was far sweeter than tsuki’s destruction. for now.

ghosting up behind the man in question , she places both hands on his shoulders , leaning in as the hood of a rough spun cloak slips from her face to speak in his ear. “   did i keep you waiting long ?   ” they both know she isn’t truly courteous enough to care , his time is unimportant if it is not spent serving her. one hand squeezes his shoulder — she cares not for his comfort , either , and her own touch is used as a force of intimidation: with the palms that sit on jasper’s shoulders , she has murdered thousands. persia pulls away from him just to slither her way into the seat across from him , and it’s good he’s chosen a table far away from prying eyes , as the cloak pools around her shoulders.

“Never,” Jasper said, the tightness of his voice a faint echo — there were few things that scared him, but Persia was one of them. But along with the fear there was something else — perhaps something he got drunk off every so often: want for power; knowledge; everything.

This was a way for Jasper to get what he wanted — his arrangement with Persia had been a lucrative one, though not simply in the monetary sense. He’d gotten such priceless information from her for nothing but his own information about the world.

But this was different. This was dangerous.

“Are you here for pleasantries, or for what I have?” Jasper’s words were falsely sharp, plainly mirroring Persia’s own tone — it was one of the things he’d learned through their communications: he wasn’t going to be able to play an angel as easily as he played a human. So he decided to do the most straightforward thing, and match her tone. It also had the benefit of hiding just how terrified he was of her.

Jasper leaned forward onto the table, his gilded hands folding on the tabletop in front of him and glinting as he did so. “Where would you like to start?”

[jasperoro-blog]

satxrns‌:

Watching the shot slip between Jasper’s lips, it was humorous enough to elicit a chuckle from Saturn. Jasper was always immaculate perfection, glossy shoes and tailored suits - put together as well as an celestial. To see his facade break away even for a moment was refreshing, like cool Kovan air. “There’s a saying we have; the more you drink, the less it burns.” His first bottle was long ago - swiped from a traveler from the Tsuki-Kovan border, Saturn remembered coughing up his first drink it was so bitter. Warmth was scarce, yet alcohol plentiful - he got used to the taste. “It goes down easier after a while.” 

More drinks were welcome - Jasper’s very presence wounds him, heart tangled up in a web of Saturn’s own making. He was looking for the sweet spot; to become numb to his own heart pounding but still together. Becoming messy and undone was not an option, not tonight. “Thank you,” he replied, fingers curling around the shot glass Jasper had sent him. Glassy eyes stared at it, like a precious gem instead of the vodka he’d been downing for the past hour. Then he downed it, face unchanging except for a slight curve upward. It burned, of course, like his deep hidden love for the man standing before him. Soon, Saturn would learn to be used to the taste of longing as well. 

Truthfully, Saturn was surprised Jasper didn’t lie again - cover up his indecisiveness with honey-covered words and soft touches. Yet - he chose instead to reveal a part of himself, perhaps it had to do with Saturn’s gift from the other day. His cheeks became flush, from the alcohol or the praise, he wasn’t sure which. “Spend enough time with you and even a kitten can become a snake,” Saturn said, though he had far to go if he wanted to become as cruel and conniving as his benefactor; a place in hell he was still afraid to venture. “Why choose - there are multiple of us, aren’t there? Divide and conquer. Then you’ll hear everything.” 

“I’m not interested in drinking so it doesn’t have a taste anymore,” Jasper said, “If I am to drink, I’ll drink for the taste.” It was true, and it, perhaps, showed that Jasper had always held a place of privilege; never having to drink whatever he’d gotten his hands on so he could brave the cold for one more night.

“You flatter me,” Jasper’s words were cooed. He lifted the plum wine and sipped at it. “You are very clever, my angel.” Another sip of the wine. “And you are right. It’s better to have multiple avenues than a singular one — will you help me with this?” His dark eyes flicked to Saturn’s face, noting the slightest of changes in the other’s demeanour — was he drunk? How much had Saturn drank before Jasper had gotten there? The flush certainly lent itself to there being a decent amount of alcohol in Saturn’s system, or was it a blush?

A wicked smile split across his face.

“Please help me with this, Saturn,” the way Jasper said Saturn’s name was all molten gold — hot and gilded. Jasper wondered if the pretty flush across Saturn’s face had spread across other parts of the man’s body — and the thoughts themselves surprised him. Did he truly think that way about Saturn, or was it another game; another conquest?

Covering the surprise at his own thoughts with a lean into Saturn’s space, Jasper took a drink of his wine and offered the glass to the other. “Have a sip; something sweet after the vodka.” Perhaps this was a way to get a kiss without bowing to get one.

[jasperoro-blog]

sunisamai‌:

The invitation had come and whilst neither the sender nor the contents surprised her, the location did. Their past meetings had all been at her parent’s house, in the past, on in the fancy restaurants where Jasper seemed to seamlessly blend in.

His house, now that was something new.

So she didn’t know what to expect, didn’t have a set of rules to follow or a uniform to wear, didn’t have an mask to place on. They had been civil since she’d gotten back, a sudden letter in her room from someone she hadn’t really met since she was a child. Since his parents arrived at her place once in a while over a few years, talking behind closed doors, leaving the two of them to feel the tension.

She no longer looked at him so warily, didn’t mind his conversation, trusted his judgement on good food and tired of having to present the ‘good’ solider’ to the world. 

But this was new, so she set off with some time to spare, and knocked on the door.

The knock on the door made Jasper uncross his legs and fluidly make his way to the door. “Hello, Sunisa,” he said, voice gilded and smooth, “You’ve got a good sense of time.” He stepped to the side to allow her inside, before closing the door behind her.

“It’s almost done; you’re just a titch early.” He went to wash his hands before poking at the lamb again. “It’ll be nice and hot.”

Lolling his head to the side, he stared Sunisa down with sharp eyes. “Wine?” He didn’t wait for an answer and grabbed two glasses; poured the deep aubergine-coloured wine from the decanter sitting on the counter breathing. Lifting the glass in a smooth motion, Jasper held it out to Sunisa — expecting her to take it without much more prompting.

[jasperoro-blog]

→ EVENING → JASPER’S HOME; TSUKI → CUSP OF AQUARIUS AND PISCES, 998 A.L. → @sunisamai

Jasper checked the lamb shanks that were simmering in the wine-broth. The rosemary, thyme, garlic, and other ingredients that were sunk into the broth perfumed the kitchen of his home with a mouthwatering smell. He didn’t cook more than basics often, but it wasn’t because he didn’t know how to do so. There simply was no occasion for it. It wasn’t like Jasper would have to put much more than a balanced meal on the table for Saturn to be forever thankful for it.

I could give Saturn a potato with some cream and butter and he’d be thankful, Jasper’s thoughts said, making him laugh low under his breath.

But the lamb was nearly done, and Sunisa was likely to be arriving soon. Jasper sat down to wait for her to come to the door — there was little else he could do but wait at the moment.

[jasperoro-blog]

satxrns‌:

Lips brushed against his forehead and Saturn’s eyes lit up like stars, bright and glassy. “You’ve finished, I see,” he replied, a smile tugging at his cheeks. Loneliness melted into longing, a warmth blossoming in his chest stronger than any liquor. “As have I.” A belly full of secrets, a heart full of fondness - the Sapphire was a fixture in his life along with Jasper. 

“Drinking vodka, are you sure this is Jasper Oro? Perhaps this is someone else disguised under angel elixir,” Saturn joked as he mirrored the other. “To our combined healths then. Tvoyo zdorov'ye.” With that, he clinked his glass against Jasper’s, downing the thick, cold liquid in a single breathe. He’d inherited one strength from his mother country - tolerance in a boy to out drink a man. “I would of thought you’d rather wine.”

Jasper was still full of surprises for Saturn - a man who’d dedicated himself to memorizing every angle of the other’s body, every lilt in his speech.

 “The Princesses Ball, do you plan to attend?” he decided to ask, curious since the invitation had arrived. “It seems to be the night for something to occur, don’t you think? Are you going with anything in mind?”

“It’s not something I indulge in often, you’re right, my angel,” Jasper said as Saturn clinked the shot glasses together, downing the thick and near-freezing liquid with a hesitant shoot. Jasper couldn’t help the screwing up of his face at the thickness of the Kovan vodka — it was almost like drinking oil — and he set the glass down on the bar top.

“I do rather wine.” Jasper was almost surprised that Saturn remembered that detail about him, but the loud, sure voice of his thoughts assured him that it was simply because Saturn loves him so — why wouldn’t Saturn love him so? Hadn’t he fashioned himself into a godling in Saturn’s world? Didn’t Jasper deserve this sort of attention?

Jasper flagged down the bartender with a glint of his fingers. He ordered a plum wine, and another shot of vodka. “This is for you,” he said as he slid the shot to Saturn. He wondered what the other would be like drunk, and made a mental note to run that experiment sooner rather than later.

Lolling his head a bit to the side, staring down Saturn with sharp, dark eyes, Jasper said, “I’m not sure.” It was the truth, for once. He hadn’t decided, but was leaning on the side of going to the ball. “It could be; you’re learning well.” The warmth — the pride — in the words was unmistakable. “But it could be just as valuable to not go, and simply work through the flush of visitors here at the Sapphire, yes?”

[jasperoro-blog]

satxrns‌:

→ LATE NIGHT → THE SAPPHIRE, THE VALLEY, TSUKI → MID-ARIES, 998 A.L. → OPEN

The bar at the Sapphire was quiet, a lull in the onslaught of traffic the hotel had seen since the Princesses Ball had been announced. Fatigue had set in early that evening - draining his soul into vials of crystal was an exhaustion like no other. Usually there was a high for Saturn on the other side, honeyed eyes and soft touches, words which warmed his soul like the liquor in his glass. His drug of choice had other business, yet the demand for magic never swayed, elixir passing through fingers like secrets. Indulging himself seemed the proper thing to do - by drinking shots of the top shelf Kovan vodka. 

Another patron arrived at the dimly lit bar, a surprising fixture for this late in the evening. Wallet filled, Saturn felt generous and lonely, a dangerous combination. Lifting up two fingers towards the barkeep, Saturn set the shot glass down the bar. “A drink, ” he said with a smile, lifting up his own glass. “My way of saying welcome. To your health and all that.” 

Jasper slid up to the bar with a practiced ease — the business that’d swept him away from Saturn so quickly after getting the other to bottle that precious magic had been dealt with — and he was lightly surprised with the offer of a drink to him even though it seemed that Saturn hadn’t registered who was seated beside him.

It was delightful, seeing how Saturn acted without Jasper. It was delicious to see that he was the same soft creature, but with an air of loneliness sitting across those pretty features — one didn’t drown oneself in Kovan vodka for pennies of feelings. It was, honestly, another surprise at the straight shot of vodka. Jasper chided himself — Saturn was, for a long time, someone who lived in the streets. Of course he’d become accustomed to the burning drink; it kept you warm when you were frozen to the core.

It wasn’t something Jasper himself drank often, through not liking the taste. He’d much prefer to drink something smooth or lighter — much more wine than hard liquor, tho a light brandy or cognac could do wonders for Jasper.

He wasn’t about to refuse the shot from Saturn though.

He took the shot glass between his gilded fingers and leaned in conspiratorially close to Saturn, lips grazing the other’s temple. “And here I thought you’d know me anywhere, my angel,” he said, “To your health too.” He raised the shot glass and leaned away. “For great health to both of us.”

[jasperoro-blog]

satxrns‌:

A hollow pit, a black hole which threatened to swallow Saturn whole opened in his stomach; his gaze flicked away from Jasper as he spoke. “So conversing with me is a bother?” he asked rhetorically, hurt quivering through his voice. Saturn knew Jasper - yet he was never prepared for the pain in his heart - words like cuts to his very soul. Even if he wanted to pretend for a fleeting moment, reality crashed through. His love was deep like the ocean surrounding Paol, like the snow banks in Kova - it was more than Jasper loved him. Jasper calling him beautiful can’t wipe away the tears falling on the inside. 

“I’m not like you - I don’t… I can’t,” Saturn sputtered in reply, tears really threatening to fall. “Sometimes I simply wish to have a conversation, to see a person - and not poke and prod them. To not use them, to just listen.” He settled slightly, a strange air of calm came over him as he thumbed over his shirts hemline. Yet it was truly only the calm before the storm, not the inner peace he was searching for. Not the closure of the deep hollowness that’d been created within. 

It felt like a slap across the face, Saturn certainly looked it, his face had gone red. He immensely disliked anger - even more so when it’d bubbled to the surface. Worst yet, it was Jasper, which caused sadness and guilt like a snowstorm, blinding and all-consuming. “Fine then,” he said, tone filled with childish emotion which threatened to overfill him so much he’d cry. “Magnus, he said his name was. The man who came to meet Selene. He had news of the utmost importance.” At this point, Saturn stood up abruptly, tears beginning to stain his face. 

He wanted to ask, was this what you wanted? He wanted to yell, I was going to tell you, why make me feel this way? “I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad with me anymore,” was all he could say. 

“You know I am a busy man,” he said; Jasper didn’t comment further on it bothering him. Saturn was an emotional person, and Jasper was almost jealous; almost angry. He’d been emotional like that once, and it had been turned around on him and choked out of him with the promises of passion and love.

Foolish thinking, Jasper’s thoughts gave him, I was younger than Saturn is now there’s no reason for him to be this way.

The sudden calm washing over Saturn made Jasper tilt his head — curious. “You don’t have so many avenues you have to explore when you speak with people. You’ve been allowed that ease,” there was a tinge of a warning in his voice.

The pretty, embarrassed flush on Saturn’s face along with the wavering of his voice and the crystalline tears was, usually, something Jasper would find entertaining. But there was something else. It was… almost sad. Almost something that made his chest feel tight. Jasper popped up when Saturn did, his gilded hands going to rest gently on Saturn’s shoulders — not commanding he stay where he is but definitely suggesting it. “My angel,” his voice softened from the knife-edge it had held previous, “I’m not mad with you.”

Magnus. Curious. I’ll have to see what Zoya comes up with; see if her information is worth a payment.

Wiping away the tears running down Saturn’s face with a light touch, Jasper pressed a kiss to Saturn’s hair. “You just were playing a game and I don’t like that.” It was a ridiculous double standard. Jasper was allowed to play as many games as he wished, but people he liked weren’t allowed to do the same. “You know I don’t like that.” The next words were cooed, “Just sit with me and have tea. Please. What would you like to talk about, my angel?”

[jasperoro-blog]

zoyaridzel‌:

Tsuki was a beast of many faces. Of snarling lips that rimmed the rat-dark curving of alleyways, glistening under the gums of red lantern light. Of paths and moth-beaten gardens, crowded with princes and demons, forked tongue tempting bloodshed over stardust-speckled crowns. If you sought the heart of such a monster, you needn’t look deeper than the Crystal Palace. If hunting its oncoming bowels, to follow Zoya. A little warning, so you know: Zoya was not in the business of hearts. More the piss and shit of a city, measured in needles and knives, in quick fixes for wafer-eyed, junkie princesses and pin bones pelleted up after a meal. Nothing beautiful, though the sheen of her silk shirts and golden vials might convince one otherwise: to forget the violence of the world if only for a minute, another minute, another hour, ah, what a glory, what a glorious life! To step out of the dark corner gods carved for you out of spite and into a warm room of your own, basked in the serene, jade-green light of a nondescript dive. “Wotcher, Jas?” Zoya greeted, slipping into a cushioned chair. The chatter of customers and clinking dishes masked the knife-edged tilt of her entrance. She siphoned a spoonful of her employer’s soup, letting the aroma of ground crayfish waft over her. Still hot — he’d been here minutes at most, and she tilted a well-manicured eyebrow to call his bluff. “I had some business to take care of,” she replied, taking her bite. “Shipment took longer than usual on account of increased security around Tsuki’s border, but I handled it. Riddle me with the job specs and I’ll see what I can do.”

Jasper let out a low laugh at Zoya’s behaviour — it was, honestly, expected. His sharp smile slid into place easily, and he allowed her to take the spoonful of his food. With a gentle push, he nudged the bowl of pottage toward Zoya more. “Enjoy it,” he said, before picking up his tea again and taking a drink. It wasn’t like he’d ever been starving.

“I want you to get information,” he said the words easily, “Who was the figure at dear Daphne’s coronation? Who was it that whisked away the celestials so easily?” There was almost a hunger in his words — what or who was so important that it can take an angel’s attention so easily? — and it showed in his eyes. “If you find anything useful, I’ll compensate you.”

[jasperoro-blog]

satxrns‌:

In all of his unease, Jasper was dousing - cool water like the ocean, impossible to harness or change. Saturn was still mesmerized by him, the fluidity of motion that came with his charisma and noble birth. He could drink it up at length to his own detriment - watch as his heart would unravel without even a word. The words cut deep, Saturn can’t play subtle or teasing like his benefactor. It was like him - to twist the conversation into something where Saturn would pour out everything he knew and yet give him nothing in return. “Maybe,” he answered nonchalantly, it wasn’t in his nature to lie. He took a sip of his tea, bitter green almost causing his face to sour. “It’s hard to say if I’ve heard anything important.” 

Yet, Jasper could never let anything go, any weakness he sunk his teeth into. Saturn’s story was clearly waste worthy, a throw-away tale to create some sort of chatter. To entice him to give away some morsel of information. “I - uh - it doesn’t matter where I heard it, Jas.” Questions were caught in Saturn’s throat, like wouldn’t you know if it was true or not? I thought you knew everything. It felt cruel - hurtful even. It was a childish way to press someone, left over from his naivety about the world. His stomach churned like rapids, heartbeat so loud he swore Jasper could hear it. 

“I thought logically,” he decided to say in the end. “Only another celestial could have that kind of sway, right? She isn’t gonna skip some coronation for a mortal.” In some regard, Saturn thought at least that could be obvious, but perhaps his own knowledge colored that. It sunk in deeper that if Jasper didn’t know, if he was attempting to dig for any and all information, perhaps nobody knew. Or, only important people knew. 

Clearing his throat, Saturn turned to stare at Jasper. “You really don’t know anything? Like… do the royal families know who showed up?” 

“If it’s not important why would you bother me with it?” The edge to Jasper’s words inside of the soft tone was unmistakeable. If he were anything, it was touchy about gaps in his knowledge. He wanted to know everything about anything, and he wanted to know it instantaneously; as soon as it happened. “Don’t play coy, no matter how beautiful you are, I don’t like coy.”

Tilting his head, Jasper said, “It always matters where you’ve heard information — it opens up more channels. I thought you knew better.” A pause. “I thought I taught you better.”

Another sip of his tea while Saturn spoke. While Saturn stated, simply, that it was logic that gave him his conclusions. Jasper looked offended — angry, if one knew his expressions. “Are you saying I’m not quite so clever as you to come to this conclusion, Saturn?” His words were sharp. “Is that what you’re meaning to insinuate?” He took a sip of the hot tea, showing a tightness in the action that wasn’t there previous. “Your information is useless if it’s just based on empty conjecture, and it doesn’t matter what I know if you’re so logical that you can make these wild conclusions.” He wasn’t going to give Saturn anything if he was going to act like that.

[jasperoro-blog]

→ EVENING; BEFORE SPEAKING WITH SATURN → NONDESCRIPT DIVE, THE VALLEY, TSUKI → EARLY ARIES, 998 A.L. → @zoyaridzel

Jasper drummed his fingers on the scuffed tabletop he was sitting at tucked away in the corner, the thin gold rings decorating his fingers glinting even in the low light. He let out a sigh — Zoya should be arriving soon, and Jasper didn’t like to be kept waiting. The food, a fish pottage, was steaming on the table just in front of him, still too hot to eat — though that didn’t stop Jasper from dipping his spoon into it and testing the temperature. Deciding the food was still too hot to enjoy — one of the great things about this little hole-in-the-wall place in the Valley was its food being so freshly made despite being so cheap — he picked up the tea and sipped at that. His eyes flicked up when he heard someone sit down opposite him. “You took your time, sweetness,” he said, voice silky even though he knew it likely wasn’t going to work on Zoya. “And here I thought you’d be more eager.”

[jasperoro-blog]

satxrns‌:

→ AFTERNOON → JASPER’S RESIDENCE, THE VALLEY, TSUKI → EARLY ARIES, 998 A.L. → @jasperoro

It had been consuming Saturn for a while, visions from the Paol coronation replayed in his mind incessantly. Yet, in two months time, he wasn’t able to make much sense of the situation. Jasper had seemed almost delighted at the scene that was layed before him, all diamond cut smiles since they’d come home. He’d assumed the man knew something, after all they didn’t call him an informant for no reason. Deep in his own thoughts, Saturn almost missed the water boiling, in haste pulling it from the flame and siphoning it into one of the nicer ceramic pots. Saturn’s taste for green tea never developed, but it was Jasper’s favorite. So he’d drink it anyway - it felt like another way to be close to him. 

The pearls steeping, Saturn took the pot and two cups into their sitting room, placing them gently in front of Jasper. “I made tea,” he said, pouring them both cups before taking the seat beside him, eyes watching as the steam disintegrated into the air. There was a nervousness that set in, a rhythmic thumping in his heart as his fingers were warmed by the ceramic cup. “Have you - uh, heard anything? About what happened at Daphne’s coronation?” Saturn knew there was no official story yet, the Valley had still been abuzz with rumors of all sorts surrounding the matter. Yet, perhaps, Jasper knew something more. It always seemed as if he was one step ahead and Saturn wanted to finally seize that for himself. 

A part of it was also testing the waters, seeing what everyone else knew. If Jasper was unaware of who the identity of the uninvited guest was, perhaps no mortal was. If so, the information Saturn held was important indeed. It was selfishness that made him want to keep it locked tight - so perhaps finally he might know something Jasper didn’t. Yet, the man was everything to Saturn, he wasn’t sure who else he’d ever tell. “I heard a rumor the other day that maybe it was some celestial, like one that doesn’t really come to Earth. I mean, who else’d be able to command an audience with Selene so quick?” 

The two months had been something delightful — a coronation happened every so often, there wasn’t anything interesting there, but what had happened at Daphne’s coronation had been special. Just how so, Jasper didn’t know. Which was why he’d commissioned his dearest Zoya to start digging. Perhaps he could have commissioned Marius, but how could he guarantee the information Marius would have dug up was genuine? The poor boy didn’t really settle after Jasper had stabbed him. Sad, really. It was just boredom.

But that wasn’t the task at hand. He had been reading — keeping up with the times required time — but nothing important had graced the scraps he’d gotten his hands on. Nothing interesting, just rumours that weren’t especially viable.

Saturn came into the sitting room with an offering of tea — and Jasper knew it’d be one of the expensive green teas he preferred over whatever kind it was Saturn did (not that Jasper could remember what that was). He uncrossed his legs to remove the barrier between him and Saturn, and leaned to pick up his own teacup. Tilting his head as he watched Saturn — the boy was nervous about something, it screamed out in his body language — his sharp eyes focused on the other.

Ah, there it is, Jasper’s thoughts said, a sharp smile spreading across his face at the nervous asking if he’d heard anything. He was almost proud that Saturn knew to ask him. “Have you?” The words were curiously soft for Jasper, like he was handling Saturn with silk gloves (for now). Jasper’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “Oh?” The noise escaped him without much thought. A pause, and he took a cautious sip of his tea. “Where did you hear that rumour, Saturn?” It wasn’t in any of the channels that Jasper had his fingers in. Where would Saturn have heard it? Jasper wanted to know. “What makes you think that?”

[jasperoro-blog]

Zip Me ;-)

Leave a “Zip Me” for your character dressing mine, or the other way around.

“No,” Jasper said, propping himself up from where he’d been lounging,  “you are not wearing that.” He swung his long legs off the edge of the seat he’d spread himself over, the thick line of golden thread shining even in the dim light of the guest room. He stood, moving to stand in front of Saturn, and rested a gentle, gilded hand on Saturn’s shoulder palm up.

Saturn looked up to Jasper with wide eyes, taking in a breath to ask a question.

“No,” Jasper repeated, his voice not holding the shine it usually did — it felt more like raw amethyst than polished obsidian; it felt more intimate than he’d allowed it to dip before. “I’ll choose it.” Jasper carefully undid the belt holding the deep cobalt fabric in its place at Saturn’s waist, where it was sitting just slightly off what was acceptable by Jasper’s standards. He dropped the belt carelessly.

Pushing the shirt off Saturn’s shoulders, he dropped the expensive fabric to the floor like it was nothing to him. There wasn’t anything money couldn’t replace, and Jasper wasn’t about to become concerned with something he could easily obtain again. Letting Saturn stand — shirtless — in front of him, Jasper had a smirk of a smile twitch up one corner of his mouth when the other man squirmed just that little bit. Almost imperceptible, but Jasper knew Saturn well.

Jasper tapped a finger gently on Saturn’s cheek. “Don’t be shy,” he said, “you’re a thing of beauty.”

Leaving Saturn to stand in an awkward state of undress, Jasper strode to the wardrobe in the room. Quickly, he selected a swath of a shirt. It was a charcoal with burnt orange reeds and golden cranes stitched into it.

He returned to Saturn, eyes lingering on the imperfect skin of the other for a moment — perhaps a beat too long. Draping the shirt over Saturn’s shoulders, Jasper looked to the other with a single expectant glance — get dressed, it said — before disappearing from in front of the other again.

Saturn put the shirt on — fastened it with the belt that he’d picked up from where Jasper had let it fall — and waited obediently for Jasper to return; knowing the other well enough that he wasn’t finished.

And Jasper wasn’t. He returned with a thick gold choker that glittered with diamonds and sapphires. There was a pause before a sharp smile split across Jasper’s mouth. “Sapphires are associated with your planet, my angel,” he said, “And for the diamonds and gold? Well….” He didn’t finish, simply fashioning the gilded collar around Saturn’s pretty neck.

Those are mine. You are mine.

Adjusting the edges of Saturn’s shirt, and tugging the tangles out of Saturn’s dark curls, Jasper placed a gentle kiss to the shorter man’s forehead. “Now you’re acceptable.” A pause. “For now.”

[jasperoro-blog]

Offer Me :^)

Leave an “Offer Me” for my character giving yours a gift.

Now, Kou was a tricky one — he wouldn’t simply fall to Jasper’s feet for the promise of a clean outfit or a warm bed — but that just made Jasper all the more interested.

What would it be like to have the future king of the Tsuki Kingdom in his diamond-lined pockets? What would it be like to have that bright mind bending to his whims? What would it be like to perhaps even have both of the Tsuki heirs in his pocket? Turning them into things he could pull out to admire himself in like a crystal.

It was very nearly something Jasper would get drunk off — if he wasn’t going to be divine, then he was going to be a mortal god among men. This was what he deserved.

But that was simply the future, not the now. Jasper still had to work to get Kou into his circle — to get the other to allow Jasper into his circle.

“Kou,” he said, trying a familiarity with the younger man, “Could I interest you in a wine I’ve recently acquired?”

Kou looked to Jasper, his smile gold and glorious as the words slipped past his lips, “No, I’m sure I’ve had it before.”

Jasper bowed his head, a grin in place, but he didn’t say anything further. Oh, this thoughts said, this is going to be fun.

[jasperoro-blog]

tell me.

Leave a “Tell Me” for my character confessing something to yours.

Jasper’s dark eyes were sharp — he was watching, waiting, for there to be a breath of an opportunity to speak with Yuna. The princess was oh-so-perfect with the way she worked the crowd — that Jasper could see; could appreciate — but he had noticed something. A little tarnish in the silver.

She had been brilliant — he knew from hearing stories about the older Tsuki when they had both been more in their youth — but what was she now? Was she nothing more than a jewel lost in a sea of gold? Glittering; gleaming; but ultimately ignored?

Or was she not allowed to participate?

Jasper wanted to know. What had happened so those stories of how well-suited Yuna was to the throne had disappeared? Was it something to do with her younger brother? He wanted to know.

There was a break in the crowd she was speaking with — giving each person a sliver of her attention and making it feel like it was a generous portion — and Jasper slid his way in. His gilded hand hovered over her shoulder (careful constructed to seem respectful but familiar) and he leaned in close. “Princess,” he said, voice smooth and soft compared to the noise of the event, “Why do you do this?”

His words were cryptic, and his face was neutral. There was a flash of confusion over Yuna’s face, showing in the twitch of her eyebrows and a tightening of her mouth — though only for a split second.

“All of this,” Jasper continued, the sweetness of his voice making the observation seem more like concern, “I remember the stories about you.”

Her mouth opened. To protest? To ask what he meant? Jasper didn’t care to wait before he continued.

“The stories about how brilliant you are, Yuna.” A knife-sharp smile. “What happened?”

[islapevensie-blog-deactivated20]

♚ drabble list - send me one, or two, or three ♚

[jasperoro-blog]

islapevensie-blog‌:

↳ Here’s a shorter drabble list as I find the massive one is a bit repetitive. If there’s nothing that you want to send here, just send it as a request.

Amuse Me: I will write a funny drabble about my character trying to cheer yours up.

Accept me: I will write a drabble about my character accepting yours or vice versa. /Or both to accept one another/

Break Me: I will write an angsty drabble about our characters.

Befriend Me: I wil write a drabble about our characters meeting for the first time in an AU.

Call Me: I will write a drabble about my character asking for yours [be it at the brink of death/in a battlefield/knocking on the front door wounded, feel free to specify.]

Comfort Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character comforting yours- vise versa.

Drink Me: I will write a drabble about my character taking shots with yours.

Dominate Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character dominating yours. Or vise versa.

Enamor Me: I will write a fluffy drabble about my character trying to woo yours [be it out of the blue/Valentines Day,feel free to specify.]

Embarrass Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character saying or doing something embarrassing to himself or to your character.

Fight Me: I will write a drabble out my character fighting with/or against yours.

Forgive me: I will write a drabble about my character forgiving yours or vise versa.

Get Me: I will write a drabble about my character saving yours.

Humor Me: I’ll write a funny drabble about our characters.

Hustle Me: I’ll write a drabble about our characters hustling.

Humiliate Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character doing something humiliating to yours.

Haunt Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character watching over yours [as a ghost, watching from a distance, or otherwise, feel free to specify.]

Hunt with me: I’ll write a drabble about your character and mine on a hunt together.

Invite Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character asking your character to

Join Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character giving your character an offer [be it a proposal for an alliance, asking them to join them in an activity (you can get dirty if you want), feel free to specify.]

Kill Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character killing yours.

Love Me: I’ll write a fluffy drabble about our characters.

Mourn Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character mourning your character’s death.

Nurse Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character healing yours.

Offer Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character giving yours a gift.

Paint Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character drawing a picture of yours [like one of your french girls~ be it painting them or drawing them, maybe offering a picture of them as a gift, feel free to specify.]

Quiet Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character trying to calm yours down [be it from crying, from lashing out, feel free to specify.]

Remember Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character trying to get yours to remember them [be it from an accident, meeting them after years apart, feel free to specify.]

Raise Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character resurrecting yours. Vise versa.

Reunite Me: I’ll write a drabble of our characters reuniting together.

Shag Me: I’ll write a dirty drabble about our characters. specify 

Surprise Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character surprising yours. Vise versa.

Save Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character saving yours or vise versa.

Shoot Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character shooting yours or vise versa.

Tell Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character confessing something to yours [be it a love confession, a secret, feel free to specify.]

Text me: I’ll write a drabble about my character texting yours or your character texting mine.

Trick Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character tricking your character.

Unbind Me: I’ll write a drabble about your character freeing mine, or the other way around, or something among the lines [be it freeing them from jail, from handcuffs, from a trap, from a curse, feel free to specify.]

Value Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character telling yours how they feel about them.

Wed Me: I’ll write a drabble about our character under the subject of wedlock [be it my character proposing to yours, or marrying yours, feel free to specify.]

X Me: I will write whatever it is that you wish, [specify.]

Yahoo Me: I’ll write a drabble about our characters celebrating something [feel free to specify.]

Zip Me: I’ll write a drabble about your character dressing mine, or the other way around [this can also be used for shutting them up as well, but feel free to specify.]

Torture Me: I’ll write a drabble about your character torturing mine or vise versa.

Take Me: my character will kidnap yours

Leave Me: my character will leave your character behind.

Deny Me: my character will either deny your character’s advances or deny them a ’ happy ending’

Lick Me: my character will lick yours in any specified place or manner.

Suck Me: my character will suck on any body part of your character

Tease Me: my character will tease yours, whether in a friendly or a sexual manner

Please Me: my character will do anything to please yours

Bite Me: my character will bite yours on any part of their body

Blindfold Me: my character will blindfold yours in order to have their fun

Meet Me: My character is meeting yours either for the first time or just causally.

Greet Me: My character will greet yours, either at the door, at work, or somewhere else.

Slap me: my character will slap yours. In the sexual manner, or of anger. specify.

Call Me: My character will call your character for whatever reason.  Hug Me: My character will hug yours. Either by surprise or for a specific reason.

Give Me: my character will give yours a gift  Tickle Me: my character will tickle yours ruthlessly. 

[sagamemes]

send me a biblical or a historical sin for a drabble or a starter themed around that topic.

LUST  –  intense longing, sexual or otherwise, that subverts propriety.

GLUTTONY  –  the overindulgence and overconsumption of anything to the point of waste.

GREED  –  an artificial, rapacious desire and pursuit of material possessions.

SLOTH  –  cessation of motion and an indifference to work.

WRATH  –  uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage, and even hatred towards oneself or others.

ENVY  –  a sad or resentful covetousness towards the traits or possessions of someone else.

PRIDE  –  putting of one’s own desires, urges, wants, and whims before the welfare of people.

ACEDIA  –  neglect to take care of something that one should do.

VANITY  –  the excessive belief in one’s own abilities or attractiveness to others.