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]

[ 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…?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[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.

[makingmyway]

[ 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.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[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.

[makingmyway]

[ 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

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.

[makingmyway]

[ 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?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

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.]

[makingmyway]

[ 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[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.]

[makingmyway]

[ 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. ]