for Dorian (makingmyway)

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

(( 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?]

Comments

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian tilts his head curiously. ]

Really? I never would have guessed. You looked so natural on stage. If you were moving like on the battlefield, I imagine you must have been quite skilled.

[ And now he’s even more curious about how a fighter would end up working here, of all places. But it still feels like overstepping a bit. ]

Who, uh…Who chose the music you were dancing to?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

I'm decent with a blade.

[He's being humble. He's very capable in a fight. Or he was, before he found himself here. His sword and shield live under his bed, and he still begins his mornings with training, still goes through the steps of the Zeph'aeratam sometime around dawn. He doesn't want to forget who he used to be.]

The bard. [The lutist who plays most nights, sometimes with accompaniment.] But he knows the music I like these days.

[makingmyway]

Yeah? I’d love to see you wield it sometime.

[ Also very much not what people come here for, but he would love to see even a glimpse of the person Orym was before all this. ]

Ah, I see. It was nice. [ His words are chosen carefully, because he’d hate to speak ill of someone else’s work. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Really?

[Surprise at that is very clear on his face, but he leans up to nuzzle his way beneath Dorian's jaw to press a kiss against his neck.]

Well, stick around until morning and you'll see it.

[Stick around until morning, and Orym would be far happier than he has any right to do.

He does notice how careful those words are, and he can't stop amusement from creeping into his expression.] Was it really?

[makingmyway]

[ He hesitates a moment; he really should get back before Cyrus gets up, but…then again it’s not like they haven’t had days when they just didn’t see each other. Their estate is certainly large enough. Maybe Cyrus won’t notice. ]

It depends on how early in the morning, but…I might be able to manage it.

[ Dorian clears his throat, chuckling nervously. ]

It was…all right.

[ Okay that was closer to the truth. ]

I mean, the song itself was fine, and it was played well. It just…I don’t know, it kind of felt like the music was holding you back.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Dawn.

[He answers softly. He doesn't sleep a lot usually. This is very early for him to be in bed, but he's not complaining. As long as Dorian is in bed with him, he wouldn't dream of complaining.

He's still smiling in amusement as Dorian gives his actual opinion. Though he looks interested at the last part.]

Did it? [He feels that way sometimes too. But more importantly.] Are you a musician?

[makingmyway]

[ He hums softly. ] That should work.

[ He’s naturally an early riser himself, and that should give him enough time to get back before anyone realizes he’s gone.

The question has him blushing a bit, and he avoids Orym’s gaze sheepishly. ]

Ah…sort of? Aspiring, I suppose you could say. [ He winces, because that still doesn’t feel right. ] It’s…more of a hobby, really. I’ve written some music, but haven’t…played anywhere or anything.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Mm. Good.

[This is excellent news, so far as Orym is concerned. It means that he will have Dorian's arms to stay in the rest of the night. It's a very pleasant idea, one that is dangerous in how appealing it is.

He's going to get his own heart broken, and he knows it.]

Could I hear it sometime? I'd really like to. [He gets the distinct impression that Dorian is the type to undersell himself at every opportunity.]

[makingmyway]

[ It is definitely a dangerous idea, but Dorian can’t help himself. This is all he had been thinking about for months, and now that he’s here he can’t bring himself to leave so soon.

The request does cause his blush to darken, and he ducks his head, burying his face in Orym’s hair in an attempt to hide. ]

Um…I-I guess, if you…if you really want to.

[ He is already turning around ideas for a song that could accompany Orym’s dancing, though he won’t say that out loud. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym wonders if there's any recovering from this, from finding this level of contentment and comfort in these arms. Doesn't matter anyway. He's in too deep to turn back now.

He smiles at the darker blush he sees there before Dorian goes and hides. Cute. Very cute.]

I really want to.

[makingmyway]

[ He manages a faint smile of his own as he meets Orym’s eyes. Despite his own reservations about it, he can’t possibly say no to that face. ]

A-All right. I can…bring my flute next time, if you want.

[ The flute should be small enough to bring with him. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Yeah. I'd like that.

[The flute, the chance to hear Dorian play, to have a next time. All of those things.

His arm settles more securely around Dorian. In another life, maybe, where their circumstances weren't so drastically divergent, Orym thinks maybe this could really have been something.]

Especially the next time part. [He admits, voice a whisper, like it's a secret.]

[makingmyway]

[ The words are soft, but lying this close Dorian is able to pick them up anyway. And his heart can’t help fluttering a little, thinking that Orym might actually want to see him as much as he does the halfling. ]

Next time could be sooner…if you like. I, uh…I have a lot of time this week, kind of like a vacation of sorts. So I can come by a few times this week, if…that’s okay.

[ Maybe not everyday this week, not wanting to seem desperate or take up too much of Orym’s time. But pretty often (though he’ll likely be back everyday anyway). ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Really?

[Orym lifts his head to look at Dorian better. He fails utterly at keeping that breathless hope from his voice. But how could he help it? Dorian is a breath of fresh air, kind and beautiful and safe and warm.]

That's so much more than okay.

[He'll keep his time clear as best he can.]

[makingmyway]

[ Seeing Orym’s expression, hearing the tone of his voice, has something warming in his chest, spreading throughout his body. That Orym can seem so excited that he can come is somehow heartening, and he’ll do everything he can not to disappoint him. ]

Y-Yeah? Okay uh, great! Yeah, uh, I’ll make sure to be here. Hopefully around the same time as tonight.

[ Maybe he should find a way to get in touch with Orym, to let him know when he’d be able to come by… ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Okay. I'm looking forward to it.

[Genuinely and fully looking forward to it. Already he seems brighter than he did when Dorian arrived. And yes, okay, the healing spell helped with that, but it's more than that. The healing spell can't be the reason his heart feels so much lighter.

He's very certain it has a lot to do with Dorian just being here.]

I'm glad I met you, Dorian.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian does notice that, how Orym seems to be in a much better mood than earlier. And his heart beats a bit quicker, thinking that he’d been able to help with that.

With a smile and a nod, he gently runs his fingers through Orym’s short hair, before gently kissing the top of his head. ]

I’m really glad to have met you too, Orym.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[The halfling's eyes flutter and fall shut at that sweet kiss through his hair. Yeah, nothing more dangerous than this.]

If we're getting up at dawn, we should probably sleep.

[makingmyway]

[ 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

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.

[makingmyway]

All right.

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

Is…this okay?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

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.]

[makingmyway]

[ 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[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.

[makingmyway]

[ 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…?