formmusebox | for Dorian (makingmyway)

for Dorian (makingmyway)

(( continuation of this au ))

[It has been a hell of a night. This isn't exactly unusual, really. Orym realizes he's lucky enough to have a roof over his head given the debt that he owes, and if he doesn't work, that debt won't pay off itself. But he's still ready to call it a night and deal with the repercussions of that come tomorrow.

His last client had been... unkind. He has a reputation for being able to handle himself, despite his size, so it's not a surprise that he winds up with clients who have a taste for rough. And he can handle himself, but that doesn't mean he isn't sore and exhausted and worn down by it.

There's a large bruise in the shape of a hand at his throat, that he has tried to hide with a collar of ivy and flowers, bitemarks and other assorted bruises that are only mostly hidden by the scant clothing that he's currently wearing. He had to come out long enough to be on stage or he might have stayed in his room after the man left. But dancing is fine; he likes the dancing. He can fall into the music, into the feeling of letting his body move to the rhythm, let the rest of his thoughts fall away. It reminds him of combat in a way, and there's some familiarity in that.

But dancing done, he hops down from the stage and looks around, very ready to stealth off, when a flash of blue stops him in his tracks. Is that..? Did he actually come back?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He hums a little, nodding. ]

That might be a good idea. [ He’s certainly in favor of Orym getting more rest. ] Will you be able to get up at dawn?

[ He gets up pretty early, but he still has to make sure he has time to get back home before he’s missed, and it’s all too tempting to just sleep wrapped up in Orym’s arms. ]

I will. I do it every morning.

[Orym assures him. Even if lingering in Dorian's arms is tempting as all hell. It's ingrained in him by now that he wakes with the sun and starts moving. Most nights it means he gets very little sleep given that the job often keeps him up late.]

It's old habit by now.

All right.

[ Another nod as he settles more against Orym, holding the halfling closer. ]

Is…this okay?

It's perfect.

[Orym murmurs, thoroughly content and sleepy. He tilts his chin up to graze a kiss along Dorian's jawline, soft and tender, all affection. Settling an arm around Dorian in turn, he tucks himself up against the other man and lets his eyes fall shut.]

[ Dorian can’t help shivering at the light touches of Orym’s lips. But as Orym settles in, he snuggles close against him. Pressing another soft kiss to the top of his head, he then hums a gentle song into his hair, hoping it will help Orym relax for a more restful sleep. ]

[The song works incredibly well. The halfling drifts off to sleep almost immediately. It's been ages since he's felt so warm and safe and right, so long since sleep has come so quickly and without any of the anxiety or bad dreams that usually accompany it.

The first rays of the sun do still wake him, even if as he opens his eyes to see Dorian's face there's a wash of temptation to linger. No, Dorian needs to leave. Orym knows this.

He leans up to press a kiss to his forehead, to each closed eye, the tip of his nose, and finally his lips.]

It's morning, Beautiful. The sun is rising.

[ Dorian smiles as he watches Orym drift off, humming the song until he’s sure the halfling is completely asleep. Then he presses another kiss to his forehead before closing his eyes and relaxing as well.

And maybe it’s due to his own fatigue after the past couple of months, or maybe it’s because of the warm company, but he sleeps deeper than any time he can ever remember.

So much so that when Orym gently starts to rouse him in the morning, he murmurs in sleepy protest, snuggling closer to Orym while trying to cling to the last bit of slumber, even as the light kisses cause a shiver to travel along his spine. ]

Mm…?

[That is so endearing that it almost steals Orym's breath away. How cute. Orym could get used to this, to waking up in these arms, with this sweet, beautiful man. He knows he can't get used to it, that Dorian couldn't... wouldn't...

For now though, he'll enjoy every moment of it.

He exhales a soft laugh, pressing another kiss to his lips, then another.]

While I would love to keep you in my bed all morning, I don't think we have that luxury. So wake up and kiss me.

[ As his mind awakens more, he finally recognizes Orym’s voice, and his eyes slowly flutter open. The sight of the beautiful face in front of him has his heart skipping in his chest.

If only he could wake up like this all the time.

Pushing that thought aside, he smiles and does as asked, catching Orym’s lips in a gentle kiss. ]

Good morning.

[There he is. There's an answering smile starting on his face. He's still smiling when Dorian kisses him, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere at all. Like it could. This is the nicest morning he's had in so long.]

Good morning.

[He echoes with another quick kiss before informing Dorian.] You make it very hard to want to get out of bed.

[ Dorian hums softly as he returns the kiss, nuzzling a little into Orym. ]

Mm…you’re pretty distracting yourself, honestly. It would be nice to just stay like this for a while.

[ Just the two of them. ]

It would be so nice...

[Orym murmurs, a note of longing that he can't keep out of his voice. He really could pretend. He could pretend that outside the curtained window there was nothing but a flower filled garden glowing in the early morning sunlight, that beyond the door a small kitchen where he could make tea and cook breakfast for this beautiful man in his bed. He could pretend the door doesn't lead to a dimly lit hallway in a brothel, that Dorian didn't have to leave, that Orym wouldn't be taking other men to his bed over and over again and pretending they had impossibly bright blue eyes and a gentle smile.

But it would only be pretend. He knows that. He really does.]

But you'll be back soon.

[ Dorian nods a little, even as his mind drifts to similar thoughts; of taking Orym away from this place and men who would hurt him and use his body, and finding a place where they could live just the two of them. Of waking up every morning to see the halfling in his arms, lazy morning kisses and cuddling. Of just being able to be together.

It was a nice dream, but…that’s all it would ever be. ]

Yeah, I’ll come back soon.

[ He brushes his lips over Orym’s again before finally - reluctantly - drawing away to sit up in the bed. ]

But for now, you were going to show me you practicing with your sword?

Right. I am.

[And even if there's still a reluctance in the way he moves away from Dorian, he does slip out of the bed. Ducking down, he reaches under the bed and comes out with a sword, a simple but well-made blade, etched here and there with the images of vines and leaves.

He moves to the most open space in the room. Small though it is, it's enough. He glances at Dorian with a faint, almost shy smile -- not many people outside Zephrah have seen the Zeph'aeratam -- before he begins. For a moment he shtus his eyes and takes a breath, and then he's in motion.

It's clearly martial in nature, but there's something of a dance in it, a ballet, motions slow, then quick, flowing one into another. It shows what Dorian has by now had a close up view of, that though slender, Orym's body is all muscle, lithe and wiry, a dancer with a blade who could be lethal should he need to.]

[ Dorian bites back a sigh as Orym moves away, and has to fight the urge to pull him back and just hold him for a moment longer. Instead he pushes himself to sit up, folding his legs as he remains on the bed and watches Orym retrieve his sword, then move further into the room.

When Orym begins moving, Dorian’s eyes widen a bit. He tracks the precise way he seems to flow from motion to motion, the graceful way his body twists and curves. He sees the way those muscles ripple with each movement and stance, and his heart races as he thinks about how elegant it all is.

And in the back of his mind, music seems to be writing itself, notes and instruments playing and working to find something that would match the halfling perfectly. ]

[Eventually he comes to a stop, sword held in front of him, chest rising and falling in slow breaths before he opens his eyes and looks back to Dorian with that same almost shyness.]

It's called the Zeph'aeratam. It's a practice among the Ashari.

[He explains, slowly lowering the sword, his eyes dropping to the blade almost as if grounding himself to the feel of it in his hand.]

[ Dorian has to catch his own breath when Orym finally stops, and it takes a moment to find the right words. ]

…you’re beautiful.

[ Okay, well, he’d meant to say it was beautiful. But he also means that, and he won’t apologize for it. ]

[Orym looks back from the sword to Dorian, feeling the start of a blush rising, the heat of it spreading across his cheeks. Maybe it was strange to blush over a compliment like that given his current occupation, but well, Dorian sounds like he means it.]

Thanks... [The halfling ducks his head with a laugh.] I haven't shown that to anyone else here. It feels a little like it's part of my past, but... I'm glad I got to show you.

[ He can't help a smile, the color on Orym's cheeks making him look even more alluring. ]

Thank you for trusting me enough to show me. I'm glad I got to see it, and even just get a small glimpse into your past.

[The halfling shakes his head a little at the thanks. He's grateful that Dorian wanted to see it, that he could show someone. Sometimes he worries he's losing something of himself in this place.]

I used to be...

[He shakes his head and turns the sword over.] It's harder to put down the blade for good than I expected.

[ Dorian tilts his head slightly, looking at the halfling curiously. ]

It sounds like you worked with it for a long while, so I can't blame you. It'd be difficult to put it aside after all that time.

Yeah, that's definitely true.

[Setting it aside completely makes him feel like he'd lose some part of himself. He'd used to protect people. He wants to remember that. He lays the sword at the edge of the bed and makes his way closer to Dorian. Leaning up, he winds an arm around his neck, kisses at his jaw, the corner of his lips, before kissing him properly.]

You have things you need to get back to, I'm sure. But I'll see you soon, right?

[There's a faint hint in Orym's voice that there will be no such thing as 'soon enough' for him, but he will take whatever it is he can have of Dorian's presence.]

[ He accepts Orym into his arms when the other steps closer all too easily, trying not to think of how well he fits there as he meets the kiss, one hand combing through his shorter hair as he holds the back of his head. ]

Mm...I should be able to return tonight.

[ Honestly, he doesn't even want to leave now. But he knows that he does have to get going, if only so Cyrus won't wonder where he is. And he will have to get some work done, in case his parents call to check on him.

But if he can finish whatever business his parents have left for him, then he'll be able to see Orym again all the sooner. ]

Tonight then.

[Orym agrees, not bothering to contain the smile at that. Good. He'll do his best to dodge any other clients for the evening until Dorian comes back. This will become a habit, and one that will undoubtedly be noticed. But he'll take the risk of it and whatever consequences there may be.]

Tonight.

[ A promise, as much as an agreement. He'll make sure to finish his work as quickly as possible so he won't make Orym wait for too long.

With another quick kiss, Dorian then gets to his feet to get dressed and straightened up, and it's clear he's taking his time to put off leaving as long as possible. But there's only so much he has left to do before he's ready, and with a soft sigh tinged with regret, he turns back to the halfling. ]

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