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 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[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.

[makingmyway]

[ 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.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[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.

[makingmyway]

[ 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.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

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.]

[makingmyway]

[ 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

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.]

[makingmyway]

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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym is in no hurry to really say goodbye as well, but he's a realistic enough man to know that they have to.

When Dorian turns to him, with that sigh, Orym feels a soft, wistful smile touch his own face. He hops up to stand on the bed and beckons Dorian closer to him.

Once the other man is close enough, Orym will loop his arms around Dorian's neck and claim his lips in a kiss that is searingly hot with desire, with need and with promise of what will be waiting for Dorian when he returns.]

[makingmyway]

[ He watches Orym hop onto the bed, and he’s already stepping closer when he motions for him.

Shivering as those arms come around him, he breathes a soft sound as Orym’s lips meet his, wrapping his arms around his waist to hold him close as he returns the kiss, full of the same hunger and longing, and the excitement to see him again.

Then when he pulls back from the kiss, just enough to rest his forehead against Orym’s. ]

…I’ll see you soon.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym tries not to look quite so breathless as he feels. He may have played himself with this kiss a bit. But he doesn't regret it.]

Soon.

[He agrees, tilting his chin to catch those lips in a softer kiss. His hand shifts, fingers brushing a few stray strands of Dorian's hair behind his ear, leaving a few flowers in the wake of his touch.

Then he steps back, reluctant as it is, ready to let the other man go.]

[makingmyway]

[ He shivers, reaching up to feel the flowers that Orym left there. Then he smiles, a bittersweet expression as he catches Orym’s hand, pressing a soft kiss against his knuckles.

Then, very reluctantly, he takes a step away from the bed, letting Orym’s hand fall away from his. Eventually he manages to make it to the door, and with one last look at Orym, he finally slips away.

And he has to lean against the wall by the door for a moment, taking a breath to calm himself. Gods, how is this so hard already? This is only their second meeting, is it going to get worse from here?

It’s certainly possible. But, as he finally heads down the hall to head for home, it’s more than a risk he’s willing to take.

Because Orym is certainly worth it. And if leaving is this difficult, then he knows that not seeing him would hurt even worse. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym's heart skips several beats as those lips brush against his knuckles. There's the feeling of heat as a blush spreads across his cheeks. He watches as Dorian releases his hand, watches as the other man walks through his door and shuts it behind him, and oh. Oh he wants to follow, wants to call him back.

But he can't.

Instead he tips backwards, flopping back to his bed and staring at his reflection on the ceiling-mounted mirror, holding the hand that had been so sweetly hissed to his chest.]

Tonight.

[He's in so much trouble.]

[makingmyway]

[ He is in so much trouble.

It’s a frequent thought that passes through Dorian’s mind, as the day passes into the night, and he returns that evening as promised. As the night becomes day again, and another promise is made to return and see Orym again. As the visits become frequent, and he comes to see the halfling every night during the week his parents are away.

Every night for a week that he spends with Orym, and it’s honestly the best week of Dorian’s life.

And he knows - deep down, he knows that this is really just an illusion. That he still has to pay for Orym’s time. But it’s hard to care, once the door to his room closes and it’s just the two of them. It’s easy to pretend that he’s not visiting a brothel, and that they are just existing together.

Especially as they get to know each other during that one week. Some nights are like the first one earlier, when they just lie together and talk. Others are spent wrapped up in one another, and Orym teaches him how wonderful it can be to be so physically intimate. Every night is incredible, and no matter what they do Dorian is always looking forward to seeing him.

Which is why, the night before his parents are scheduled to return home, he feels a sense of dread hanging over him. He’s already warned Orym that after this, things will be unpredictable again, and he hates the thought that it could be a long while before he can see him again.

But all the more reason he has to see him tonight. Even if will hurt so much to leave after tonight, he wants to make the most of the time they have left.

It will have to be enough for them to last until he can come back again. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym wants it to be more than it is, more than he knows it can be. He knows that whatever has freed up in Dorian's life enough that he could steal so much of his time, that it is quickly running out.

It will be hard to sleep without him. He wishes that it weren't business, that Dorian weren't spending his coin for his presence, that instead he was coming home to him. But that is fantasy and impossible wishes, and nothing else.

So he resigns himself to make the most of what time they have. And he's done a good job of that. Until tonight. Their last night for who knows how long.

The brothel's owner has rolled her eyes at him over it. Your handsome prince will get tired of this game soon, and you'll have to get back to actually working. So don't get lazy and entitled because you've got yourself a rich benefactor for a little while.

None of this stops Orym from lighting up the moment he catches sight of Dorian tonight. By now there's no coyness about it. He hops down from the stage even before the music has finished to run to him and more or less leap straight into his arms.]

Dorian!

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian has gotten better at dodging the other workers trying to call his attention, so he’s ready when he sees Orym heading for him.

With a bright smile, he opens his arms open to catch the halfling, holding him close as he spins a little with the momentum. ]

Orym! You were amazing up there!

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[The halfling wraps his arms around him in turn with a bright laugh, holding tightly. He leans in to steal a kiss, brief but affectionate -- no disguising that any longer.]

I knew you were watching.

[Orym informs him, still holding to Dorian, very happy to remain in his arms.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian laughs a little himself, more than happy to return the kiss and keep the halfling in his arms. ]

I’m sure you’d be amazing even if I’m not here.

[ Though he can’t help feeling flattered that Orym would want to put on such a show for him.

With a small smile, he leans closer to speak in a hushed tone in Orym’s ear. ]

But we really need to do something about that music you dance to.