lxvablebandit

[lxvablebandit]

chris had to basically swallow his tongue the minute he spotted him, again, sharing a table with his friend. no dishing over brunch, even if the other guy deserved it. maybe. but after a long shower late in that morning he was feeling brand new, hopefully, time to show it. "you guys started without me?" he was dumbfounded, but perhaps had it well deserved. his 'i'm coming' can last from five minutes to a full hour. barely a second or two locking eyes with snow before he took a seat. "at length? did we?" he tilted his head, going through the struggle of having to play it cool.

"oh yeah, you're that guy." with a fake smile for dressing. he pulled himself closer to the table. "not sure if i'd call it in depth. or at length. it was quite short, more like- some brief, blink-and-you'll-miss-it… small talk." he shrugged, eyes now skimming over the menu. not long passing before he felt a kick under the table, his friend going full non-verbal but the message was 100% clear: be cool, you're single, and it's sad. "bitch." the words left under his breath. "snow was it? is that short for something? snoward? snowopher?"

open to | m, nb

insp by.

Typically, he had led with his patented speech about how he’d never quite agreed with the principle of sex and sleepovers going hand in hand. As a matter of fact, he lived by a very strict rule, no sleepovers. It was simple, it kept things from becoming overly complicated with emotions that he simply couldn’t be bothered with: truth be told, however, it wasn’t as much couldn’t be bothered with, as couldn’t bare to break again. That being said, he had hardly expected to see his one night stand, whose bed he had left in the middle of the night, without a single word or even a text, sitting across from him at brunch.

He was smart enough to offer an apologetic smile in their direction, meeting the problem directly…or at least trying to. “I uh..” Hesitated, hand rubbing the back of his head. “Nope, we’ve already met, in depth, and at length.” God, it was a terrible joke. “Last night.”

[lxvablebandit]

rather than correcting himself, he seemed to be doubling down on the subject. jude let out a heavy sigh and nodded, he would bite. "spells, chanting in latin kind of spells?" even if he could keep an open mind, there was no denying some sense of skepticism lingered in him. "i'm not blushing, you're blushing" he faced away but reached down to poke james on the stomach, a faint attempt at tickling him. he knew he'd hate that. "okay then, we've had this talk before. we agreed that if any of us would turn into a vampire we'd at least offer the other the bite. show me," and he meant it, all too welcoming to a magical display. "do something witchy, uh... i don't know, change the color of your hair?"

"Sorry I was thrown by the you got someone pregnant comment" he said then looked at Jude for a bit. "I can do spells. Not like magician magic but magic magic" he didn't know how to explain it. He watched Judu blush and smiled. "Your cute when you blush" he said with a big smile then shook his head. "Sorry i dont meant to embarrass you"

[lxvablebandit]

twice now, he'd heard it twice almost back to back and still he hadn't said anything to that. jude looked down over the mattress they were sharing and he chuckled. then it happened. "i'm sorry- why are you a bitc-?" he shook his head, that hadn't been quite it. "witch. huh. okay, i'm gonna need more." and for that he lied back next to him, looking up with his hands over his stomach. "but, uhm- are you deflecting right now? saying you're a witch for me to not think that you just said you like me" holding two fingers up. "twice. because i like you too, i wanted to say something about it soon but you beat me to it." his face had turned warmer, there was a reason he avoided talking about feelings. he wasn't used to being transparent and honest, he would often be scared of showing himself as vulnerable.

"pregnant? no. I mean physically that could happen but I doubt it ever would" he joked. It wasn't that he wasn't interested in women or that he was stirctly interested in men. he just never saw him self becomeing a father to any one. He looked at Jude for a bit and smiled. "I like you, I mean I'm sure that has abeen clear. Any ways I like you and i want to be honest with you. Im a witch"

[lxvablebandit]

"that is very true. my grades have gone up ever since." he mused, a very unlikely friendship seen from the outside but one he could wholeheartedly agree on being unable to live without now. "who cares about digital wellbeing when i've got you" jude turned his head to look at him in the face, though he didn't linger on the slight annoyance since james's expression looked serious. "you got someone pregnant, didn't you" he sat up looking down on him. "alright, got my serious face on. what is it?"

"Nothing has been the same since i met you" James said looking at the other as they laid in bed playing on thier phones. "How about we put these away" he said grabbing the others phone and setting it on his side table "so I want to tell you someting"

Plot: James wants to be more than friends. Your muse can want either. He is a witch and hes ready to tell them.

[lxvablebandit]

"i've been inside of mr. oliveira now, twice. i'm way past wrong" hank said just for the man's ears alone, a low tone even if they were on their own in those four walls. he hovered his face over diego's, barely brushing their nose together from time to time. it was ecstatic, their skin touching, brushing together. his hand wasn't shy, feeling the man's waist, down to his hips and back to that ass he was well familiar with now to grope it. oh, how he'd won in life. "there is a lot to be done, first i want to kiss you here" he teased with his face already buried against that spot freed for him on the neck.

his teeth followed right after with a bite, then another kiss on the man's bearded cheek before making his way back to the mouth. like two scholars sneaking for a proper make out session. "what? i'm just being honest." hank let out a laugh. "if i want to see that face again, i have to make you cum. simple as that." but he backtracked a bit, already able to feel himself growing hard again under his boxers.

he searched for the man's hand and pulled it up to his face just so he could kiss it on the palm, and the fingers, then back to his wrist. "but coffee does sound good." he sighed, as he looked at him in the eye he was prompted to smile. much better than the brief, formal encounters at school. "shall we?"

"i'm not saying anything, i'm being quiet." he teased the man, moving his body in a way that it all brushed against hank's but he didn't change position at all, staying close to him. diego went closer to him, his head laying on his shoulder as his body laid next to him, one of his hand going against the man's chest, fingertips playing around with it, and some shameless gropes here and there. "it's been a long time since you've been eyeing your kid's teacher? you know that's wrong, right?" he chuckled, his hand moving up to his chest holding onto it.

"what do you want to do first then?" he whispered, a groan leaving his lips as diego felt the nibble on his body, exposing his neck a bit for him, as it was a sensitive spot for him after all. "do you like it? i mean… yours is very…" erotic. sensual. magnetic. diego had many adjetives for it. just remembering the way it all happened, the way he stared at him, deep at his eyes. diego could feel a third round becoming a viable option.

"when you say things like this… you make me not want to leave the bed."

[lxvablebandit]

spooky season, spooky season, spooky season... spooky starters?

[lxvablebandit]

"you're not saying i have bad taste in men, are you? of course you're handsome. you're really hot, diego." and he was serious, although that expression quickly shifted into a relaxed, more satisfied one with having the man's lips on his own, even if for a quick moment. gently he found his spot next to the man, an arm going under diego's head to keep him there, close, face to face. he gently pulled him from the waist, having their legs intertwined. "sure can. it's been some time since i've wanted to. there's a difference" eased back into that intimate feeling, he went ahead to nibble on his cheek and jaw. "i am insatiable, but coffee does sound nice. maybe a bite too" as he said it, he gave a teasing bite on his neck, barely scratching the skin. "but then we go again. i have to be honest, you have a beautiful cum face." yet he paused, it hadn't sounded right. "cumming face? it's a treat to see you finish, there." hank laughed, back to facing him. "what do you say?"

diego chuckled at the man's grin. diego wasn't the one to go for hook ups or even relationship, he had seem life as a one huge rolecoaster and driving people along with it seemed unfair. but having someone to joke around and have fun was a nice taste every now or then. but it had never gone this far, and diego was scared of getting addicted to the flavour of it. as he watched the man move, a laughter came out first, but then as the kiss was down his groin, a hum left his lips, satisfied with the touches, his body warming up as he let the man explore his body once again. "so i wasn't pretty or handsome, i was funny?" he joked, his arms moving to the man's shoulder, caressing it with his fingertips before pressing on his muscle. "a third time? do you think we can handle a third time?" he asked, raising a brow leaning over to give a kiss onto the man's lips, a soft peck. "without even a coffee or water? you're insatiable, huh."

[lxvablebandit]

all it took was one look at the man, the very naked man on the bed for his brain to cool off. it hit him right then and there how things might turn out going forward. but at the same time, the contrast of seeing him play a single role, his kid's teacher, to what he had in fron of him made it all worth it. "that good? shit, appreciate the feedback mr. oliveira." a shit-eating grin accompanied his words. hank pursued his impulses going back to bed, he pulled the sheets aside and leaned down to start a trail of kisses from the man's groin up to his stomach and all the way up to the jaw. "i wouldn't mind staying longer, if it's okay with you. i actually thought you were pretty funny before i undressed you in my head the first time." his arms were tensed up as he was holding his weight against the mattress side and side of the teacher's body. "if twice was that good, a third time can only be better."

diego had agreed to himself to never get involved with the father of any of his kids. it was anti-professional, it was against the ethics, but… there was something about hank. they had talked a few times, and… it just happened. this was their first time together and damn, he just hated himself slightly for doing this and even more for wanting more. "i mean…" he said, leaning back onto the bed, turning around, exposing parts of him through the blanket. "that's the right thing to do… but i don't know if… i don't know." he chuckled, turning around, eyes towards the ceiling. "it was a great time, its been awhile someone… someone was this good."

[lxvablebandit]

"well," out of words, just a man on autopilot after a hook up. "since we're done, i figured you wanted me gone." he sighed out an awkward laugh. hank stood up just so he could put his boxers back on. "it was a good time, right? it was for me."

open to: anyone. (m if romantic.) muse: diego oliveira. elementary teacher. homosexual. plot: n/a. one liners. read my guidelines before interacting.

"wait, where are you going?"

[lxvablebandit]

given the setting, he had had a very nice night of sleep, the best he'd had in days ever since he got in there. not waking up in a rush, or by the groaning of some creature lurking. he ran a hand over his face, breathing in deep before the night before hit him back. not just what happened, but who he had invited into his life. he searched for his face, unsure on what to think given he had just woken up, which wasn't the case for the spirit looking back at him.

"that stayed with you, i see." he tried shifting on his side, mostly to check on the responses his body would make. long gone the stinging pain on his side, even when it had taken its time, the potion had finally worked its magic.

"i owe you my life, bastien." one not small detail he had to get out of the way. "if you asked me to" his eyes shifted to the boy's palm, the feeling was nice, soothing, which came with the frustration of the inability to give it back. "i would leave no stone unturned searching for the right spell to get you the life that was taken from you." he sighed. "i am not a powerful caster, not like you in your prime. but what i am is a fool, all i do is try whether fate or the laws of magic tell me no. some causes understand no reason."

Bastien watched the other sleep for awhile, but he really couldn't help his curiosity as he admired the man, the way his chest rose and fell the warmth of his breath, the beat of his head. Bastien's hands explored the adventurer. Letting fingertips go over his arms, his chest, the contours of his stomach, up his neck and to his face. Such a handsome face.

Softly. Carefully, he would have held his breath if he had any, he let his lips brush Osric's just a soft tender kiss. A secret for him and the spirits in the dungeon. He stayed there curled next to the man until he woke up.

"Hey Osric...would you really resurrect me. If you could?" he asked softly. Reaching up to stroke the man's cheek.

[lxvablebandit]

and there he had it, perhaps he had everything he needed to know. not willing to push any further, the man gave himself that break, a time to breathe without to rush of having to be somewhere else fast. and just be. it wasn't like a normal touch, on his hand, yet it didn't feel any less than human touch. different in a pleasant way. he followed the trail marked by bastien's arm and all the way to his face.

it pained him to think of that first party, those he had lost to a dungeon not so different from the one they were currently at. and like the rest, in a way he felt like he'd arrived too late for bastien's sake. only the warmth that came from the pressure on his chest, had certainly elevated his heart beating. osric himself didn't who he was, or where he belonged to when he wasn't on a mission, trying to get somewhere. and that part of him surely scared the man.

"like you said, maybe it was fate." osric wanted to remain there, in that moment, but he was already too beat down to keep his body and mind awake. without him really noticing he dozed off, his breathing soon following as it eased down. no imminent danger, his survival instinct given some peace since he had put his trust in that spirit that was the closest he'd come to have a human connection in a very long while.

To feel the other touch his hand back even for the briefest of moments. It was transcendent. Immaculate. A feeling he had long forgotten awoken in his mind. The warmth of another. It made Bastien smile, the blond leaned in more as he gathered himself closer to Osric, filling the space offered to him by his side. Bastien picked up the hand that had touched his, holding it in both palms, his own hands not going through the other's.

"Would I want to be....resurrected. Could I be? I don't have a body to inhabit anymore. I am just energy now." he said as he rested his head against Osric's pectoral listening to his beating heart it was something he found almost musical and addicting. Alive. "What would I do if I were alive. I don't have a family anymore...nowhere to live. It's been...a very long time."

"I don't sleep. But wouldn't mind watching over you as you sleep." Bastien said as he nuzzled against the other man's chest. "I am glad I found you."

[lxvablebandit]

maybe he knew, maybe he expected it even since it didn't come as much of a surprise to have bastien's touch again over his chest. it drove him to have doubts, as to what made it possible for him to feel said touch. and a sudden want to reciprocate drove him to act on it. eyes glued to his hand, he too meant to touch it, hold it even. too set on making it happen that it seemed like his hand was hovering over his body when in reality he had made some form of contact with the back of the spirit's hand. but ever so fleeting his hand fell back over his own chest.

"it hasn't gone over my head, bastien. i've seen you command the spirits around here." even if he had been about to loose consciousness, he could guess about what had happened with the water, or the lights. "but would you want to be resurrected?" perhaps he had a reason to throw that possibility around, even when messing with those forces required more than just skill.

osric gazed over his face, he even went as far as to try brushing the boy's cheek with his fingers without the outcome he wished. "it's been a long day, i don't want to fall asleep. do you sleep?" he was almost certain of the answer, but still he opened his arms making space by his side.

"I still believe that some things happen because they were meant to yeah. I mean how else can I stomach that I am dead and that- well. The world keeps turning like I never existed." He wondered who had wept for him. If anyone had wept for hi m. If they had put up tokens of his life in the family burial plot. When beckoned closer Bastien did not have to be told twice moving to sit next to the other man, reaching out to touch again.

His skin was so warm. So alive. The gashes closing up leaving smooth pink s kin, new and fresh. Bastien smiled as he ran fingers over the tender flesh and up over the man's pectoral gently combing through is chest hair. "I would love to show you it, all my favorite places in the dungeon." his palm pressed to the other's chest above his heart.

"Um well if I knew resurrections magic I wouldn't be here. But there are lots of items in the dungeon that do magical things. I am sure we could find one. One of the other spirits might know of it. I can ask them. It's not just me. I'm just the- the-" strongest sounded mean. There were older spirits. Wiser spirits. But he was the most dominant one for sure.

[lxvablebandit]

not without a struggle, he had managed to set his bag as support for the head, his axe at a near distance in case he needed it and his shirt hanging from one of the stones. the man needed to run into a body of water fast, good enough for him that he'd run into a being without sense of smell. "after everything you have been through, do you still believe in fate?" it got him to think of it as well, he had no business nor wanted to with fate. just a simple life, he had plenty of adventure in his past. but there he was still.

"since i'm going down anyway, you could show me that place. it has been some time since i was out in the open." in many ways he thought to have his fate sealed, once he got in those cataccombs that would be the end for him and he had made his peace with it. but upon meeting that spirit, a glimpse of hope made him believe that perhaps, he would be able to make it back.

"mind coming closer?" osric went ahead and removed his bandages, now that he was resting, perhaps leaving his wound breathe would be best for him. "how does it look? maybe it's taking longer because the potion has lost some of its effect." the claw marks extender from under his pec and to his side, only it was closing without a trace of having bled anymore. "i've done some readings, i know death is not always the end in dungeons like this one. do you know anything about resurrection spells?"

"Swordsmanship was too much for me as well. I was never built for it sadly. Though I can see your tree trunk arms cleaving through a few monsters or men." Bastien could use spirits now to replicate some of the spell she used in life, and had traded living flesh for even more abilities than just that. "Good no fever means you will live through the night. Position should have you all mended by sunrise. Well. What would amount to sunrise here. When you get two more floors down there is a shaft that goes up to the top level, sunlight streams down in the day it's quite lovely. Enjoy it when you see it."

Bastien laughed a little and shook his head being called wise. "It wasn't blind. I had it in case I met someone hurt. You needed it. It was fate." the blond said with a little laugh as he whistled again, the air around them moving, as Bastien stirred the spirits in the area to make sure it was warm and comfortable for Osric.

"Well. It has been a long time since I was able to call what I do day in and out an adventure. And what is a dungeon without a party. Consider me part of your party now."

[lxvablebandit]

"swords were too elegant for me, i prefer the brute force of the axe." which was why he carried one on his back. he would often associate swords with knights in shining armors, which he couldn't be farther from. "no fever. wound isn't infected, i checked before patching myself up." he looked at him in the eye, maybe he was wasting energy in keeping his defenses up when the spirit had proven time and time again to mean no harm.

and so he allowed himself to really listen, no matter how many years had passed, he hadn't been truly frozen in time. "you are wiser than you look." osric huffed, perhaps not making himself clear on the first go. "over there?" he looked at where the other had pointed at. a good spot as any.

the more time he spent there with him, less uncanny his appeared seemed to be. clearly not in the presence of a living human, but that was far from being relevant now. "if not for you blindly handing me that potion, i must certainly would be dead now. for your kindness i owe you my life, bastien." and he meant every word. "don't feel unwelcomed around me. i cannot ask you to join me on my quest, but having met you makes me hopeful for what's to come."

"Oh. They were cruel for abandoning it down here. I wish I had found it first. It wouldn't have clawed me and I could have shown it back to the entrance." Bastien said a little sad about it, he loved the animals who wandered in from time to time. And the rare non-hostile monsters. It was known to happen from time to time. "You're a kind soul for helping it even knowing the risk. I hope it survived so it could apologize to you one day."

Bastien tried to recall his own past. It was just a blur now, his friends faces. Just shadowy outlines in his memory. He knew there were 5 of them in the party, and he had been the magic caster of the group. Ice magic was his forte. Bastien laughed when the other told him this wasn't his first dungeon. "I bet you were quite strapping. And you swung a great sword huh? Am I right?"

Bastien paused and looked at the other, taking in his pale countenance leaned up on his toes he pressed a hand to the man's forehead. "Yes it is very safe to camp here. There is a floor like this every 10 floors. No monsters come here. It's very safe for adventurers. Fresh water somewhere on this floor, and the plants here are edible."

Bastien paused and pointed to a spot between two torches. "Camp there. I'll stay with you if you want."

[lxvablebandit]

"i ran into a wounded dire wolf. i'm sure it was brought by a band of adventurers, but got left behind when it didn't serve them anymore. tried to patch him up but got scared and did this to me." one second to look at him, he noticed how the boy was no longer matching his height but fell rather short when standing on his own two feet. he kept himself from saying anything.

osric let out one heavy sigh, thinking of the past got him nostalgic perhaps. he'd won and lost, laughed and cried, with that quest on the dungeon almost feeling like an attempt to do one last good thing. "mostly as a merchant, used to travel a lot too. this isn't my first dungeon, i was young once too." he looked at him, almost as if that youth had been frozen in time. could he even remember the feeling of the lightheartedness from the past.

"that is… very helpful, actually." in awe of the magic trick pulled, gave the man a better sense of his surroundings. that way he could be able to take cover or face any threat that may come their way. wishful thinking if he didn't have to stop to catch his breath once again. "perhaps i need to let the potion work its magic, first." it was frustrating, how his body was holding him back. "the world out there? not so different than it is down here. everybody looking after themselves only, fighting to survive, only you don't see many claws or fangs. instead you have swords and arrows." not at all his intention to kill the boy's hopes for a brighter side.

"if there are no monsters around here, would you say it's safe to set up camp here? you said the potion will take a few hours. but if i keep moving i'll die before it works on me." looking rather pale, the man pressed his back against the wall, eyes closed, clearly mad at himself for not being stronger.

Bastien frowned a bit as Osric packed himself up and he lost the feel of warmth beneath his hands. It was still so new to him he had wanted to indulge in it for a bit longer. But he understood all the same, it was Osric's body not some toy he could play with. A sigh but a smile as he helped the other with his things. "My will? Maybe. I don't know what it is I will for though." he said though really he was there because of the fervent wish that nobody else would die down there. Nobody would get harmed.

"You should be all healed in a few hours. At least you won't have to worry about that wound. What wounded you by the way?" he asked as he followed again, choosing to walk instead of float, it made him feel more...alive. More human. "You've had other jobs? Oh well I suppose that makes sense. You are just here for your sister. Not as an adventurer. The only job I ever had was farm hand and adventurer."

Bastien whistled against and made more of the torches illuminate their way, the ones behind them going dark. "I can light the way for you." he would refrain from battle unless Osric needed it. It's not as if he enjoyed fighting but death saw him become more powerful than he had ever been in life. "What's the world like up there? Outside the dungeon?"

[lxvablebandit]

he had the words waiting before his teeth, not that it made him any more or less comfortable. it was just uncommon, much like every interaction so far with the ghost. but he could sense what would be going in his mind at the moment, it wasn't harming anyone to let it happen. "it's not written in stone, how is it that life behaves after death. what i do know, or have read at least, is that you have to want a connection. your will is strong, to be able to cross the line and feel the living, again." his eyes were glued to bastien's hands, even though the lingering touch was getting him to feel different things, natural reactions he would rather step away from.

"i don't promise i am good company, but i've worked several jobs with loud noises and annoying sounds around me. chat away." he looked at him in the eye, only then he showed a hint of a smile. but it had been enough of a rest, the potion had seemingly pulled him from crossing over to the other side and he very much needed that rest. only there was no time he could waste.

and so he wrapped some fresh bandages under his pecs, the tight fabric certainly aided with the pain. "you're a kind soul, bastien." osric got up, threw back his shirt in, left it loose since he didn't want to be bother with knots at the moment. he picked his bag but stopped to look at him. "i can't know what i will find down there, it might be certain death." once again he clenched his jaw. "i found you, so it is not all bad."

The sensation of touching someone was so new to him all over again that he couldn't help but reach out his other hand, his fingers nimble and light as the moved over the other's body reveling in the touch of warm skin once again. He wasn't really thinking of how invasive this might be to the other man. "Hmm well I haven't seen anyone but you. They could have come through when I was out, I don't really spend all of my time on this level. I think you just got lucky I was here when I was." Bastien looked back in the other's eyes, his head tilted to the side.

Undead? Was he considered the undead? He didn't think of himself like those shambling skeletons on the higher levels of the dungeon, and he was certainly much more human than the wights and zombies in the lower levels. "I want to believe she is ok too. I don't want anyone else to die in here. I'll help you look." he said his hands over the man's heart feeling it thump rhythmically.

"You are very well developed. I never got old enough to have muscles like yours. But I think I would have grown up to be very toothsome."

[lxvablebandit]

osric was debating himself between the different stages of consciousness, so other than lights flashing around him, blurred shapes and sounds was all he could pick from what was going on. not until some minutes later did he regain some kind of lucidity that got him to put his focus on the spirit uncommonly close to him. "your touch is warm, for a spirit." he breathed out. it certainly picked his interest as to how he could get to feel bastien's touch on his chest. but when he mindlessly tried to reach for that same end, his own simply passed through and ended over his own chest. not what he expected for it to happen.

"i'm looking for someone." osric pulled himself up enough to better sit against the wall. he grabbed the flask, taken by surprise over how it weighed now. "thank you." he met eyes with him for a bit and took a couple of sips, more than he should over how careful he had been rationing his resources but he was so damn thirsty.

"my sister. she came in with a group, a month or so ago." he looked at the path ahead, but not truly seeing anything. which was what he was afraid of the most, in the end not finding anything at all. "i have to believe she is alive and well. but in the case she isn't, i paid a warlock for an incantation. it was supposed to make me more aware of the undead, in case i ran into her as such." he sighed, perhaps the outcome he feared the most. "perhaps that explains why you can touch me."

"Well I can't test it myself. I saw it work on others. It used to work back when-" when he was alive. He hadn't had one when it mattered. Which was perhaps why he had been carrying that one around for so long when he found it on that poor adventurer who had simply not taken it in time. The blond looked at Osric with a sad look.

"If you died I would be all alone again. You can trust me." he said with a little nod taking the flask he whistled again, a soft little tune that ushered the spirits of water in the dungeon to collect in his bottle, drawing moisture from the stones and the moss, to make clean drinking water. Becoming a spirit meant he could speak with all other spirits and his density of magical power meant they obeyed him. "Here. Water." he said handing back the now full flask to the other man.

Bastien reached out and touched the other's chest, his touch light and gentle simply grazing his skin. Surprised he could feel the man, though he wondered if Osric could feel him and what he felt like. "What are you looking for? If you don't mind telling me."