#vaebled

[vitavitale]

untitled III   (for @vaebled​)

If V had known that it was Garrett's habit to walk about his home half dressed, V might have considered more thoroughly whether it was wise to abide with him after all. Not because of offense, even less because of disgust: but because he'd seen in the demon someone painfully attractive and he hadn't the first clue what to do with himself about it. Until recently, he hadn't really gotten to think about anything like that… But this man he had unmistakable feelings for started to slip back into his comforts, and V awoke to the reality of things: that Garrett was built handsomely and V's eyes were prone to linger. He'd made it so embarrassingly obvious; the way he'd tried so hard to look at anything apart from tasteful contours, tattooed shoulders and tight muscles—ah, no!

He was short on breath and short on words. With his cheeks dusted in pink and his head dipped, he appeared as though a perfectly nervous schoolboy. And he was. He didn't know how to proceed, if he even should, and faltered before Garrett with two fingers pressed to his clavicle. So ashamed to admit that he liked the feeling, touching him where muscle was solid and far more fit than V's would ever be… Were he not so self-conscious of his own inexperience, he'd have allowed his hand, even both, to roam. He very much wanted to, but new lovers so far spent only meager months together. What would he think of me?

“Whaddya want, pretty boy?”

No, don't make it worse!

That purr had no business slipping out, yet V was driven to find an answer. He scrambled for it, hesitating to look his beau in the eye but managing to steel a small part of himself for it; and ultimately his head angled back, eyes met the opposite pair, and V, parting his jaws but saying nothing, blushed warmly at the countenance which so openly watched and waited, and smiled on. Garrett gave him ample opportunity to make his wishes known, to speak or do whatever was desired. That was the purpose of their stalemate: V knew enough about him to know, at least, this one thing. Foolishly, he gawped while a comforting brow pressed to his.

“'M not gonna judge you, swee'heart. Or maybe you'd like a suggestion?”

What was V supposed to do with that? How could he have possibly responded? His eyes slid to watch his own hand, mouth only slightly open as he contemplated and attempted to clear his mind. What did Garrett think then; that his own boyfriend did not anticipate their prospects, or did not...like him to such an extent? That perhaps this was too much for V to take, too soon? Did he begin to think poorly of himself only because V hesitated so plainly? The truth could not have been any more the contrary! And still Garrett gave V's arms a reassuring squeeze, leaving his forehead to itself. That might have done something: V's fingers traveled only then, but only ghosting down along the breastbone and no farther than an inch from where they started. He lost heart quickly.

V should have gone farther, or touched more where his fingers sat. Shit, he wanted to touch Garrett. “I don't know,” he finally said, uncertain even in voice as though he were conflicted. But...he did know, didn't he? At the very least, he'd had an idea. His beau seemed to perceive the same or he wouldn't have taken V's hand, grinning like a dope. There came such an open invitation to fall from his tongue, encouraging in the most selfless, most courteous manner.

V had to look at him. Uncertain, insecure, desiring now a little instruction or, or…

Maybe...maybe it was due. Maybe it was about time they take their relationship a little bit farther. But it was so sudden, wasn't it? They were presently at “first base” as V understood it, and even then only kept affection to tame kisses. To now...touch Garrett's body? V could not even imagine that. He sought a guarantee, asking him whether going on would be all right. “Are you sure?” But it was more for the principle than for the sake of his indulgence. Was it really acceptable to do this? Did Garrett really mean it when he invited V's hands so unashamedly?

Does he know who he's talking to? Does he know me well enough? Does he really trust me? For this? Is it really all right to feel this way? Should I want physical affection so soon? Should I want it with...other men? I know it isn't inappropriate anymore. Men have flirted with me, I just didn't want them. But here is Garrett. Him I want. I love him. But why do I hesitate? Am I afraid of him? Do I sense insincerity? He's the first person I've trusted this much. I'm sure my love is real, I've never felt this way before—but then I've never had a friend. I might think it's love when it's not, but I don't know what else to call it. If I love him, why do I worry? I enjoy him, I kiss him, I want only to be with him. Then why am I behaving this way? I don't think I really know what I'm talking about. I don't know why I hesitate, why I'm so shy with him. I feel like I'm going to do something wrong. I worry I might disappoint him, or embarrass him, or embarrass myself—and then what would he think of me?! What if I try too hard and I appear insincere to him? I wish I could show him. I want to touch him right now. He smiles at me like nothing should be wrong. Maybe I really don't know what I want. I don't know, I don't know…

I want to stop thinking.

Garrett was agreeable even in the face of V's crippling insecurity. He had an answer to give through a laugh. “I wouldn't be sayin' so.”

Why had that not been enough to encourage the warlock? In all of his contemplation, he failed to notice the pounding of his heart. He hoped he wasn't trembling. “So you would want me to?”

“As long as it's what you want.”

“But do you want me to? Would you like that?”

That grin again. V may come to hate it before long, it charmed him so effectively. With it, a genuine response: “Of course. It'd be nice. Anything's nice comin' from you.”

V felt a firmer squeeze around his hand but it went right to his head. The pink in his cheeks deepened, his eyes descended again, and he felt like he ought to curl into a ball and hide himself. But he rather did the opposite, standing firm to rouse spirit, to free his hand, to drag the pads of his digits farther along welcoming skin. The touch was almost methodical; slow and gentle, really only a faint-hearted caress. But it was progress. Sadly, it all came to a halt when V stopped at the navel—just a hair's breadth from abdominal muscles he may have liked to touch most of all—and thought he couldn't go on. He wasn't sure where he would go from there.

“V, you don't have to do anything you don't feel like doing.”

“I like you, though...” He looked back up, his expression unreadable. “I mean...you feel nice.” He was heartened by the fresh smile come upon Garrett's face, a genuine sort of blush that was nearly imperceptible. But V had caught it, and he himself had a ghost of a smile to share for it.

The demon purred his thanks and replaced his hands to V's back for the purpose of drawing him nearer. He probably had a kiss to give, but he would have to hold on to it for a little longer. “If you wanna feel away, you're free.” Of course he invited again. “Whatever makes you happy.”

“You talk too much.”

“Do I?”

V saw uncertainty in him, much as he tried to mask it; but V had a wily smile to give that, just a brief flash of impishness before it melted into insecurity of his own. He thought it was so endearing, Garrett so cute to expose self-consciousness. It should have given him the courage to go on, but he had to be frank with himself. V simply wasn't ready. Those extra steps he thought about, wanted to take—it was too early for them. Still too early. If the mere thought of touching his beau daunted him, he really could not have been prepared for...anything more.

They'd only met so recently… What kind of romance could either of them expect if they rushed through the motions? It might have been terribly old-fashioned of him, but V thought these things were meant to simmer before boiling. And yet he wanted to hurry through it all just the same. Hypocritical and eager! But such was love, wasn't it? And without really intending to, V might have found the answer to all of his questions, the cause of all his doubt. But certainty wasn't for the taking today, and his head preferred vacancy. There were many more feelings in him. To stand inches from Garrett with their eyes bound, hands on one another…

“Sometimes, but I'd hate it if you didn't.” V's answer had come at last. Some small delay but worth the wait, he thought. You care enough to want me to feel comfortable.

He tried to smile, but with its return his eyes left. His hand ultimately followed suit, though rather than abandon the demon entirely, V brought his arms about Garrett's neck in an embrace that still permitted distance. Not because he couldn't hug Garrett, but because he wanted eye contact and the attention that came with it. Still, this was all...fresh to him. Even three months or so later, he had to fall into habit; and because of that, V sensed a soft blush come upon him. “I think,” he admitted, “this is...just about what I can handle. Right now.” I would touch you more, but I don't know.

The hands on his back were supportive. He felt those thumbs stroke soothingly the thin fabric that separated skin from skin. Garrett spoke to V's insecurities directly, reiterating that V needn't do anything he wasn't ready for; that everything was just fine and would always be.

Maybe, if you touched me first...

Pallid lips pursed for a second, maybe less. V had something on his mind again. His arms slid just enough to have his hands clasp his beau's shoulders. This he was not afraid of doing (and he enjoyed the sensation that blessed his palms). Properly preternatural, that man was sculpted so delightfully. “But...I want to tell you,” the sorcerer continued, brave: “You're beautiful.”

The sentiment wasn't exclusive to figure, not to form or face. There was a kindness behind all of that. Sincerity, authenticity, generosity, and something undefinable which made a demon pure of heart. He was so, so careful with V, so thoughtful, so attentive. The sort of thing V knew nothing about—not in the flesh—until they both agreed that their love was mutual. “I don't mean only handsome. You're...more than I thought you'd be.” He minded himself almost painfully for Garrett's benefit, wanting the right words to speak, even the right way to move. The last thing V would have wanted to do was to screw things up. Such a feeling was mutual, he knew. Perhaps they were both so careful for that very reason—though V did not have wisdom on his side, and for that he was ever bashful and insecure.

“I think the same of you, swee'heart,” purred his fox.

V smiled at his smile, content, needing no more to say. They'd said so much already, anyway. He tugged on shoulders for proximity, allowing his mate to draw him nearer when he picked up the cue. Their lips met, softly.

And somehow inked hands found a restful place over Garrett's chest.

[bclasaeg]

@vaebled​ liked for a starter!

//   Lately, there was something eating at Yuu. It’s not often he would find himself at the mercy of his own emotions and thoughts, unable to decipher them ( and far too stubborn to accept outside help ). It wasn’t his work, nothing stressed him out there... what could it be?

    ‘ Yuu-san, please have these--! ’ A customer had offered. A ticket to a student-run art exhibition at a local university. At first he had planned to fold it into a paper boat to amuse himself but then decided a change in atmosphere would help him with his ongoing problem.

  So then-- on a rare day off, when the sun was just about to set. He looked to his leather-strap watch to check the time as he entered the cool embrace of the building. This had been a last minute decision, he only had twenty minutes to look around before they packed up for the day. What a pity. 

  With his ticket clipped, Yuu entered the exhibition, the hum of air-conditioning and stray coughs filling the silence. Most of the artworks he didn’t quite understand but he did enjoyed a few of the works, the sculptures weren’t half bad. Finally, his feet stopped at one particular artist’s section after meandering without truly looking. Strange, there was something about this person’s paintings that made him pause for longer than the rest. 

  Was the structure? The colour? He couldn’t put it to words. It irritated him. Stressed him. What was the meaning behind this? The intention?

     Yuu’s fingers extended towards the canvas, about to touch it.

@vaebled​ | ‘ tell me the meaning ’

[vitavitale]

@melmalum-a / @vaebled​ (Garrett) ;

If V didn’t have to get dressed tonight, he’d have been disappointed. It was thanks to reasonably deeper pockets that he could afford new articles with which to pretty himself twofold. It just so happened that Valentine’s evening had come upon them, and V was only too eager as he’d buttoned up a rarely worn shirt, laced rarely worn shoes, and fastened around his hips a belt he’d not touched until today. Such a clean appearance once he was all clothed, though did little more to his hair than comb it. Skin spotless, not a speck of facial hair where it needn’t be, eyes crisp and clear as they’d stared back at the visage that studied them—V thought himself fair, ever modest even as he’d put in a conservative effort to dress better than he normally would. He did not anticipate a formal occasion; he didn’t have the garb for one, anyway.

Their shared flat may have been humble, but it suited their needs. V neatly tucked away his older clothes and accessories in his own space save for the silver-plated ring on his left hand and the demon’s tooth on his throat. He was certain Garrett would not mind, not by the way he’d looked at the slim figure tugging on sleeves a dark shade of violet. Inked arms would be exposed from the elbows down, and in fact he’d wear all of his demons no matter where his beau would take him tonight. Regardless of the season’s chill, he suspected he’d spend more time indoors than out and decided not to wear anything more.

“I’m all dressed up with somewhere to go, and I still don’t know where that is.” He amused himself with both the play on words and the fact of the matter. To know the specifics of their dinner was really quite a paltry thing, but he thought to wonder regardless. All the while, he was cheery and his smile bright. V didn’t remember being in a better mood, and looking at his beau granted him all the anticipation in the world. “Are you going to keep it to yourself until we get there?”

[vitavitale]

@vaebled​​ (birthday boy)

V was useless at a great many things, but he knew he could love at the very least. On a day he deemed auspicious, previously wishing he had a good effort to make to please his mate, he resorted to a gift he knew would not fail, and at the earliest opportunity he stood before Garrett with enough confidence to wear a smile. He did not miss a beat when he took Garrett’s hands, clasped them together, and held them between his own; peridots gleamed within air that was warm and sweet, missing all of the bashfulness and modesty that was at times a strong part of V. But he was strong today, he and his heart, and he would show how his passions fortified him, inspired him, drove him to (hopefully) weaken Garrett’s knees. He would so subtly modify a stanza picked out from among his favorites and, warm of tongue and heart, recite it while hands still dearly held.

“One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er his face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.”

Whether or not Garrett agreed would be an argument for a later date. But in him V saw all that was sweet and pure, worthy of every praise sung and all of love felt. The tenderer heart swelled, the smile brightened, and upon his toes V pushed himself to plant a proper lover’s kiss on lips he would never dare deny nor neglect. Were it not for the occasion at hand, he’d not have eventually broken away to remind his mate of the birthday they were set to spend together---the first of many to follow.

“Many happy returns, my love.”

[vitavitale]

prompt  |  @vaebled​ sent:  your muse falls asleep on mine [ v & g ]

It might have been an insensitive thing to wish for, but V would have wanted to borrow a pinch of Garrett’s insomnia. Just for tonight. He’d stayed up so long already, pushing himself toward three o’clock, and he determined to finish the television program he’d been in the middle of watching before finally putting himself to bed. But halfway through it he’d begun to doze and spent the remainder of the final half-hour fighting himself awake. Against the advice of his mate, it should be noted. Garrett had him outmatched in this arena. Surely he had watchful eyes on V’s continuous struggle to keep awake while he sat beside him all the while. The story that followed a pair of snow geese through their migratory and nesting seasons was one that V could simply not miss, evidently. 

At one point V shifted in his seat to rouse himself more effectively, but made the mistake of resting his tired head on a shoulder that invited him. His beau’s voice was above a whisper when he was asked if he’d like to turn in for the night, but V refused. He yawned first, of course, covering his mouth as was his habit, and only then he countered, “No, I can make it to the end...” He sounded almost offended by the notion that it was long past his bedtime. As if he were a little boy...!

And he would try, stubbornly, to stay awake, nodding off and starting right back up in a contest of wills against himself. Truthfully, he had lost the thread of the program by now... Still he persisted. With fifteen minutes to go, ten---until his eyes sagged shut and did not fly open again. No, he wouldn’t start himself awake; seemed he sank into the comfort provided by his beau. V failed then, betrayed his resolve, falling into slumber before he could satisfy himself with the end of the program. He would be sore at Garrett in the morning for letting that happen, if only to have a scapegoat...

[vitavitale]

prompt  |  @vaebled​ sent:  your muse kisses mine on the forehead [ v & g ]

Fingers were eager to capture lethal jaws in the prelude to an embrace, though it seemed not to follow while V bestowed all of his attention in the fussing of his hands that were fast on warm fur. Somehow V could discern a grin spread wide across a panting maw, and he wore his own as if he tried to match; but there was sincere gladness in his heart and that was all it took for him to beam when he caught sight of his fox speeding toward him only seconds prior. There was more dog in that demon than there should have been, every inch of him bouncing, each tail wagging, his tongue seeking V’s face as if out of desperation. Licking---rather, kissing---his sorcerer anywhere he’d find some skin. Typical of Garrett.

Why, he hadn’t even bothered to change out of his fur. A short separation was the cause of all this enthusiasm, and neither man nor beast was the worse for it. V went to his knees before Garrett would bowl him over, they met and all was well again. No amount of ash and soot shed would deter loving hands from pouring forth their due appreciation. Not even Griffon had seen this sort of affection from his master, but then there was a maddening romance shared between the reunited pair and Griffon had wanted nothing of that. It was for the best that he perched somewhere, kept his beak shut and ignored them as he’d elected to. There might have been a bystander near, but who were they to a man and his...demon?

“You’re such a pup.” Not a kit. That was deliberate. Without a retort heard, save for a half-hearted whine, V persuaded Garrett to still on his haunches (though it was noted the way in which his muscles tensed for the sake of obedience or he would have spun himself dizzy). Those tails were persistent, but they slowed a mite when a kiss found itself a home between the brows. A simple thing, but there wasn’t a need for more; and when V pulled away to flash another pearly smile, he made certain to scratch at his fox’s nape. “Gone only an hour and I’d already begun missing you.”

Oh, Garrett had a reply for that. The kind that made warlocks laugh and diabolical birds groan.

[vitavitale]

prompt  |  @vaebled​ sent:  my muse cuddles up to yours in their sleep [ v & g uwu ]

When arms pulled and a body shifted ever closer without the benefit of consciousness, it was a strange turn of events indeed. Sleep for V must have been light or he wouldn’t have awakened so easily to childlike tugging. Lo, there he lay in the dark of night with a demon clung to his back, hugging and nuzzling as though he shared in V’s wakefulness---but for all of his attention, Garrett snoozed soundly. His lover trapped beneath an arm and robbed of sleep, V said little and did even less out of a selfless need to have his insomniac mate sleep. 

Garrett, eternally sweet, pressed his nose and mouth into V’s hair. His breathing was easy, soft to the ear and tranquil. It was something of a shame that V had his back turned to him or he would have delighted in the sight. His darling deserved this sleep, always should have had it, but it seemed it wasn’t meant to be. Whatever miraculous force stole upon him to give him tonight’s rest was a benevolent thing that received in turn wholehearted gratitude from the warlock who, from fear of waking his beau, kept utterly still and silent; but in all of his drowsiness he smiled into his pillow, expecting he would soon slip away to join with Garrett in slumber.

[vitavitale]

prompt  |  @vaebled​ sent:  your muse carries / helps mine to bed [ v & gary ]

It was rare when the job of putting the boyfriend to bed was V’s. Not a thing to dislike, however, but rather to take a little pleasure in. “Garrett,” he almost cooed, thoughtful in tone, “you needn’t sleep, but at least get into bed and stay there.” Whatever ounce of resistance occupied Garrett’s body was fleeting and effortlessly crushed the instant bony digits stroked his chin and, then with a soft palm, cradled the demon’s jaw. Simultaneously had V soothed and coaxed his mate into following him into the bedroom, not unlike a snake charmer entrancing his subject. But there was awareness in eyes so blue, so wily and adoring. For as long as V led him thither, back turned to the path he walked so that his eyes held Garrett’s, he would keep his hand where it was; stroke comfortingly with his thumb, coo and, in his own veiled way, plead with his beau to alight with him on that eve. No, it wasn’t necessary, it hadn’t happened that V suffered time without his company. Garrett often did not sleep, but that hadn’t meant he should not rest.

And in the flashes of teeth and in bright eyes, devotees to one another were in total understanding. In so small a flat, the journey between rooms met its end within a minute. Even at the side of the bed, especially at the side of the bed, V would not let him free, and a fateful kiss there sealed the deal.

Maybe it was all a game to them, but they enjoyed it.