#i would tag this as n s / f w but tumblr will apparently censor my blog if i do

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

Intimate Thomastair Headcanons (N/S/F/W)

...As promised many moons ago. I'm asexual, sorry if these are lame. They took a long time because I wanted to write them in a mindful, character-driven way. I hope they're not disappointing.

(Note: a few of these points do talk about past sexual trauma because of Charles. These could potentially be triggering, so I am putting them in green font. You can choose to read the green ones or not. Ball's in your court. The other ones do not contain triggering content.)

If you've read either of my E-rated Thomastair fics here and here, you'll know this one and hopefully have gotten a good laugh out of it. They talk about sex using old-timey, outdated sex euphemisms. This starts as a funny way to make Thomas feel more comfortable voicing his needs and talking about sex. They share a love of language and a good sense of humor surrounding that. But as Thomas becomes bolder, it becomes a sort of inside joke. They get more and more purposely ridiculous with sex euphemisms and dick slang. For example, I think Alastair calls Thomas's dick a "plum tree shaker" in one of my fics, which is a euphemism from the 1600s. It feels very Them to me.

I think that because of their pasts and their traumas, sex does not feel like the most intimate part of their relationship. There are emotional intimacies like sleeping next to each other* and talking and comforting each other as they heal and process that trauma. There are even daily routines that feel more raw and vulnerable, especially for Alastair who could not fathom anyone ever wanting to share an actual life with him beyond sex. I think that sex is more of a "let's have fun like we always do" thing for them, it's just another activity for them to enjoy together. Because they always have fun together, so why not do it this way, too?

* Sleeping next to Thomas feels especially intimate for Alastair, because he thought no one would ever want to before.

This one's not as happy or cute, so I'm sorry. But I think that Alastair absolutely has a very complicated relationship with sex because of his traumatic relationship with Charles. There's some canon evidence to support this, imo, when he's standing on the rooftop and seems to think that Thomas does not genuinely like him even after they're intimate. Also, when Charles first comes over in ChoG, he insinuates that Charles must want sex because there's no other reason for him to come over. So I think that Alastair likely simultaneously views sex as something that "makes him valuable" in a relationship, and something that he is good at, but also as something that he could feel used after if not given the appropriate care. I think that this is going to be a long road to overcome, but I'm sure that Thomas is very patient and loving and comforting and makes sure that Alastair knows that he is not being used. He is loved. And Alastair understands that and enjoys being intimate with Thomas, because it makes him feel loved and respected. But he also has this weird view of sex because Charles messed up his sense of physical intimacy, and he'll need to work through that with Thomas's help.

Likewise, and this is the first NSFW Thomastair fic I wrote, I think that Thomas is hesitant to initiate a sexual relationship with Alastair after the infirmary scene because he does not want Alastair to feel like he is taking advantage of him. (Of course, Alastair does not think this and is touched by his regard, but Thomas is extremely considerate, as we know).

Let's switch gears, shall we? Amp up the spice here, decrease the trauma talk and sadness.

Anyway, Thomas likes swearing in Spanish. This is canon. So, lots of swearing in Spanish. Alastair thinks it's hot.

Alastair likes swearing in Persian, This is canon. So, lots of swearing in Persian. Thomas thinks it's hot.

In fact, they can dirty talk in like 10 different languages. It's great.

Alastair naturally is better at initiating sex because he's more experienced and more vocal. But he wants Thomas to be willing to do it, because he thinks it's important to be able to talk about sex with someone before you have it with them. So in the beginning, he tries to get Thomas to initiate, to kind of help him feel more comfortable. Once he gets there, it's about 50/50 for initiation, which is quite honestly the ideal state. This has some canon basis to me too because of Alastair making Thomas more bold and confident. Don't see why this wouldn't translate to sexy situations, too.

Part of this communication is naturally that Alastair will periodically talk about Charles (obviously not, like, during sex). It's something that haunts him a bit, and it's something that Thomas never wants him to shy away from because he thinks Thomas will be jealous or upset. Thomas wants to be there for his soulmate and understands that this is a Bad Thing That Happened, and he is not jealous. He is angry on Alastair's behalf. The way he sees it, Charles will probably never have a real conversation with Alastair again, and Thomas gets to go home to Alastair every day. So really, there's a clear winner here, and it ain't Charles fucking Buford.

They both insist on verbal consent every time. They're too important to each other not to.

I am getting cockblocked by a text block limit on bulleted lists, so I need to insert this line so Tumblr lets me publish the post. Fuck you, Tumblr.

Alastair's a naturally selfless person in canon. Don't see why this wouldn't translate to spicy situations, too. He loves giving pleasure, especially with his hands and mouth. Probably King of the Best Blowjobs/Handjobs Ever. He'll kiss Thomas everywhere and touch him all over until he feels super, super good. (You should read my 2nd smut fic if you like this one. Blowjob galore.)

Thomas always at least offers to repay the favor. He never wants Alastair to feel used again, not after Charles took and took from him.

Thomas initially Really Does Not Like how big things are. Alastair loves it. Alastair loves all of Thomas's body. Thomas almost cries when Alastair touches his body for the first time and tells him how beautiful his dick is. (I think this has canon basis because he almost cried in the carriage when Alastair called his chest beautiful, ngl.)

This is mutual. No one has ever called Alastair handsome before Thomas. Thomas adores how Alastair looks and feels, everywhere. Alastair never felt so treasured and teared up a bit.

They just genuinely adore each other's bodies. No lights off or sheets to hide under for them.

Also, constant comparisons to various classical statues. Like the sex euphemisms, these get more and more ridiculous over time.

Both of them are connoisseurs of gentle, loving sex. Watching how canonically sweet and tender they are with each other both physically and emotionally basically confirms this for me. Can't see either of them being rough or careless, even playfully or as a game. Don't think Alastair would like that after Charles, and don't think Thomas would be comfortable with it because of his size and anxiety.

DEFINITELY see a LOT of teasing, though. Like, a LOT of it. A LOT A LOT A LOT. Picking on each other playfully, willfully misunderstanding each other (a la 'take your clothes off,' 'okay, Angel, fine, I'll peel my socks off'), slow touches that aren't quite where the other one wants them but so so close, yup, that's the stuff.

And a lot of stupid interruptions to laugh that somehow does not ruin the mood and just makes it better.

Thomas is really comfortable with Alastair and is willing to ask for things and make requests and talk dirty while in the throes of passion. He gets embarrassed right afterward and Alastair is like reassuring him that it's good to express his needs, but Thomas worries that Alastair thinks poorly of him for it. He does not. The cycle repeats itself because Thomas is just too goddamn comfortable with Alastair.

I think that there are certain sex acts that Alastair might dislike at first because he associates them with Charles. Specifically, I think he may not like penetrative sex, because Charles seems like a kind of self-satisfying douchebag with 0 creativity. So they probably do other stuff like moving together, oral sex, mutual masturbation, etc instead.

They're really private about their sex lives, even more so than most people. Because it's something that's just for them, and they want to keep it between themselves. Matthew always fishes for deets. They make up wildly inaccurate falsehoods that are bold, obvious lies. This makes Matthew more determined.

Matthew never gets the tea. Such is his tragedy.

They have 100% had full-on sex in a carriage or twenty before.

That's it for me now, I hope you enjoyed these stupid little headcanons <3