judgementor | [Jikan IC Inbox][un: redwine]

Hmm... I'd like it if you would.

[perhaps its the contentedness of waking up after a decent night's sleep, or the fact that he's woken up to someone he's grown rather fond of, but, for now, Dohalim is allowing himself just that moment of selfishness. he wants the company, still; he's not ready to let Red Wine leave, just yet]

I do have to give you a house tour at some point, after all.

[Wine-red eyes widen for a moment, the amber flecks held deep in them almost seeming to glow for a moment. He gives another squeeze to the firm muscle under his hand.]

So you can give a straight answer! I'm impressed. [He truly is terrible.]

And you do, that's quite right... but I'm not in a rush to leave.

Oh shush. Don't make me change my mind.

[sliding his hand up, Dohalim gives Red Wine a light slap on the back of his shoulder, but he has a small grin on his face. no, it seems like he'll be keeping the other man around for a while yet, if he's not opposed to it]

Honestly, I'm not inclined to get out of bed right now, either.

[he'll ignore the fact that he has to wash the teapot and cups from earlier]

[He hums, then with a comfortable sigh he settles himself against Dohalim's chest and lets his eyes fall half closed. His long ears dip down slightly in contentment.]

Nor am I.

[To the surprise of no one who knows him well, but Red Wine doesn't really give off the air of a lazy person... so it might be a surprise to current company.]

For a while, at least.

[letting Red Wine settle on top of him, Dohalim lets out a content sigh; as much as it is a surprise at the lazy air of the current situation, it's not like he'll complain.

but, because he just wants to play with his hair a little, Dohalim will carefully pluck the hair tye out of Red Wine's hair, letting it fall free, so he can gently play with the strands, twisting them in between his fingers]

A terrible thought it would be, but what if we stayed in here all day?

[like the other man, Dohalim is usually the go-getter as well, but usually to distract himself from other things. this, however... this is also a good distraction]

What if we did?

[He shakes his head a little when Dohalim pulls the tie out of it. It had been half-loose already thanks to his movements while sleeping, but removing the ribbon from it sends it rolling in loose purple waves over his pale shoulders.

The suggestion has him picking himself up slightly, pressing a kiss to the man's lips and sliding a hand lightly down the curve of his hip.]

I haven't had a chance to treat you sweetly yet, have I?

[Dohalim can't help but smile into the kiss, his hand buried in the dark purple tresses of Red Wine's hair. the hand sliding down his hip pulls a slight shiver from him; he shifts more into that touch.

well, if they're planning on staying in bed all day, at least Dohalim had checked to see if his plants were still watered enough the night before. he really did do the most, instead of sleep]

Hm, I suppose you haven't. How are you planning on charming me today, then?

Tch, I need to charm you, do I? And here I thought I'd already put you under my spell.

[But he wants to be charmed? That's something he can do. Red Wine presses a kiss under the line of Dohalim's jaw and then trails a soft path of them down his neck. At his collarbone he nips gently, not leaving a mark. All the while his hand gently massages into the man's hip.

Most of their encounters so far have been rough ones. He likes being able to do this.]

I know you don't believe me, but you are so lovely. [He murmurs these words against the smooth line of Dohalim's collar, planting another teasing nip there.] Just look at you. Beautiful.

Oh, you have. But it does not mean I don't want to indulge.

[with a soft sigh, Dohalim tilts his head back as Red Wine trails those kisses, his own hand still weaving through his hair, or gently massaging the back of his neck, rubbing small circles with his thumb and forefinger.

yes, while he does enjoy the rougher side of... whatever they can call this thing between them, Dohalim has to appreciate this side of it as well]

As for this supposed beauty... I look at myself in the mirror every day, and yet, I do not see this beauty you speak of.

[He huffs out a softly amused breath and the attention of his mouth moves lower, finding the top of one pectoral muscle and brushing down over warm skin. Red Wine drags his tongue slowly over one nipple.]

Of course you don't. [Not for a moment does he believe that comes from a place of modesty. Self-loathing isn't the same thing.] But you are. Can you at least believe that I see it?

[If he could see himself the way Red Wine does...

His teeth close over that same nipple, giving it a playful little pinch.]

[Dohalim's breath catches in his throat at the pinprick of pain from the bite, his back arching just ever so slightly, silently asking for more]

I...

[it's a moment of hesitation; his own self-esteem will ever be a topic of contention, he thinks, and he doubts he'll ever view himself in a different light where he can't see his ugly truth. but if Red Wine, a physical embodiment of beauty itself, can see it, then... perhaps he can believe him, even just a little.

just a little]

I suppose I could... For the moment, at least.

Mm.

[That's something. He smiles a little against the man's skin and looks up at him, amber-flecked red eyes steady on his for a moment. For the moment is still better than not at all.

He continues his slow exploration, across to the other side of Dohalim's chest and then down the centre of it. As he moves down he shifts position, eventually moving his hand from Dohalim's hip to the soft warmth of his inner thigh.]

It might surprise you... but I don't entirely like how I look either. [He says this so casually, but it's a large admission from someone who is so obviously prideful. Red Wine moves himself up to lightly lean on the other man's chest again as he says it, though he keeps his hand resting high on the inside of his thigh.]

[he's not sure when his eyes had slipped closed as Red Wine worked along his skin, letting himself feel the attention across and down his chest as he shifts under the other man. it's not enough to rile him up, but it certainly is enjoyable, especially with the warmth and comfort of the bed under him and Red Wine on top of him; he easily lets himself slip away in a reverie.

however, the admission does bring Dohalim back to the present as his eyes open to look down at Red Wine resting against him. he peers into those deep red eyes, highlighted with the specks of amber (he finds himself idly wondering if they've always been there or if it's just because of their bond), his brow creasing ever so slightly in confusion. with how confident Red Wine always seemed to be, this does come as a surprise]

How... You're absolutely stunning. Not a day goes by that I don't find myself wondering how someone like me has caught your attention.

[His free hand brushes through Dohalim's hair, moving a few curls off his forehead. He lets his fingertips linger by the man's temple for a few moments.]

My appearance is entirely due to what the person who summoned me wanted. [Red Wine says. He doesn't mind that. Maybe he would if she hadn't been so dear to him.] But what I look like is similar to something called a vampire. A creature of myth who lives in the shadows and drinks blood to survive.

[Briefly, he glances away. This isn't something he often puts into words and often, when he does, Steak is the first to scoff at him.] On Tierra... imagination is so powerful. Over the years... how people see me has affected certain things about me. And it has also allowed another Food Soul to manipulate human attitudes towards me. I've spent almost my entire existence convincing others that I'm not a monster... while always fearing I might become one.

[Dohalim vaguely remembers the stories of such mythical creatures in storybooks he'd read as a child; Red Wine certainly does look the part of a vampire, now that he thinks about it.

but as he listens to more of the other man's explanation, it does make sense, especially the subtle hesitations of biting down harder into his skin when Dohalim wants nothing more than for the man to mark him. he'd figured that Red Wine was just being careful, considering just how sharp his canines are, but for him to fear the idea of becoming a monster...

as Dohalim pulls his hand back from the back of Red Wine's neck, he gently cups the man's face, tugging him up to press a soft kiss to his lips]

You are not a monster. You never could be... To me, at least.

[honestly, the man could hurt him and he wouldn't think so. no, Red Wine is entirely too compassionate to be considered such an ugly thing]

I could. Even to you.

[It's said so simply, so gently, like a statement of fact. He leans his head into Dohalim's hand and half closes his eyes.]

I told you a little about Fallen Angels. I didn't tell you that Food Souls can become them too. [And that is what he fears. It isn't unheard of for Food Souls to become so corrupted by grief or rage that they turn into one of those things. Sometimes they can come back from it. Sometimes they don't go all the way. But those things are a small comfort.]

And I told you that I can sense your character by the scent of your blood. [The tips of his ears drop slightly.] And I can. But the smell of blood itself is dangerously intoxicating.

[He realises as the words leave him that he doesn't know if Dohalim will even believe him. Or, if he does believe him, will he still look at him in the same way?]

It's nearly taken me before. I know it could.

[with everything else he'd learned in his time in Nippon, as well as the other worlds that other people are from, it'd be silly of him to think that Red Wine is lying. no, the Food Soul had never done so in the past, so why would he do it now? so, of course Dohalim believes him.

as for how he views him... Dohalim shakes his head]

I still cannot see you as such.

[despite the confession of how intoxicating the scent of blood can make him (which, Dohalim will admit to himself silently, is an odd thought that he'll push away for the time being), and apparently how close Red Wine had become one of these Fallen Angels...]

You say you've nearly become one. And yet, here you are, not as a Fallen Angel, but as yourself.

[he kisses him softly again]

Who would ever consider you as a monster...

Someone-- saved me, back then. I suppose.

[Oh, but he won't tell him that. He'll never tell Steak that the sound of his voice hollering through the baroness' mansion had snapped him back to himself in a moment where he had been so close to giving in to his compulsions.

Red Wine shifts in close, kisses the line of Dohalim's jaw, and smiles a little.]

It's easy for people to fear what they don't understand. Sometimes all it takes is a few words.

This is an unfortunate truth.

[there's no point on denying that, at least. Dohalim had been the subject of such misunderstandings when he first ascended his lordship in his realm. but, then again, the Dahnans in the country were, understandably, afraid of him, afraid that he'd be just like every other lord before him. afraid that he'd let the Renan soldiers continue to mistreat them, almost torture them.

but, again, a thought to push aside so he can think about them at a later time. he shifts all of his focus on Red Wine, to help talk him through what seemed to weigh in his mind]

I may not know any other Food Souls, or if any of them are also in Nippon, but who would spread such terrible rumours about you? Who would go out of their way to say that you're some terrible creature?

[There's a smile on his lips as he pecks another kiss to Dohalim's lips. Despite what he's discussing he does feel relaxed, still. Comfortable. Maybe it's because it's all being so easily accepted.]

His name is Bloody Mary. He's another Food Soul.

[And is... unfortunately here. The only reason Red Wine hasn't killed him yet is that ignoring him actually bothers him more than confronting him head on, and Red Wine is entirely content with being a thorn in the other Food Soul's side.]

He despises me. Partly due to my close association with the companion I've mentioned, who he is... unfortunately obsessed with. [Very unfortunate...] Partly because I... killed his Master Attendant. Two hundred years ago.

[Dohalim's brow furrows at that; luckily, he'd never met the other Food Soul (that he knows of, at least), but if he were to come across him... Dohalim isn't one to retaliate on behalf of someone else. however, he would be so inclined to give the man a piece of his mind]

I understand that he may still be hurt over the death of his Master Attendant, but... He had spread rumours about you because he is jealous?

Edited 2021-12-16 01:11 (UTC)

[Red Wine laughs at that. Not because it's entirely untrue but because the reality of the deep animosity between himself and Bloody Mary isn't something that can be explained so easily.]

He hates me because I killed his Attendant. He also hates me because he desires Steak, and Steak has barely left my side in over two hundred years. As for why he desires him. [A soft sigh puffs out of him. He settles himself very comfortably against Dohalim's warm frame and leans in for another soft kiss.]

Bloody Mary has a similar inclination towards blood as I do, but he's... [He shakes his head.] We're different.

[there's just something about this Bloody Mary that doesn't sit right with Dohalim. hopefully he never has to meet the Food Soul.

as they kiss, another thought wanders into Dohalim's mind for a moment, one about this... Steak. as they pull away, he looks at Red Wine]

...Is Steak your lover?

[it would explain why they've been around each other for as long as they have been. his voice doesn't carry any sort of envy, but a simple curiosity]

[He goes quiet still for a moment and then pulls away from Dohalim, sitting up with a tight frown on his face. They had-- at the springs, but they hadn't really addressed it since and it was just easier not to.]

No.

[The answer comes out firmly, not giving room for argument.] He is my brother in arms and we have a mutual loyalty to one another, but he's also a borish lout who wouldn't know grace and good manners if they smacked him across the face.

[How he feels about Steak is so complicated. He's not entirely lying if he says he doesn't love him, because what he feels for him can't be described in so simple a word.]

He was the Food Soul of my Master Attendant's fiancé, later her husband. Before she died, I made a promise to her to take care of him. [A small frown twitches at his brow.] And I have. Or I... did. I suppose he had the last word in the end, protecting me like the idiot he is.

[Dohalim matches Red Wine's frown as the other man sits up, shivering slightly at the sudden lack of warmth on top of him. he follows suit as he pushes himself up; had he said something wrong?]

...My apologies if I've said something to offend you.

[it merely was a simple question of curiosity, but then again, as the saying goes, curiosity did kill the cat, after all. and really, who is he to make a comment on the tumultuous complications of love, and other such feelings, when he, himself, had never even felt it? twenty eight, and yet he'd never felt such things. as romantic as he is with his poetry, he's loathe to admit that this is an area he has no experience in.

then again, with how far down his sleeve he wears his heart on, it might be for the best.

he doesn't press the subject of Red Wine's feelings towards the other Food Soul any more, not wanting to make him angry, nor does he reach out for him, truly believing he'd offended him. he reaches up to his own shoulder, arm crossing over his chest, partly to keep himself warm, but also as a comforting gesture to himself; something he'd adapted to doing whenever he felt awkward or uncomfortable]

It's nice to know that such comradery can last as long as yours has.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject