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indigently) wrote2023-01-23 02:27 pm
indigently) wrote2023-01-23 02:27 pm
πͺπ ππ π πππ ποΈ
OPEN POST
action β’ text β’ canon β’ cross-canon β’ assumed cr
[ The soft gasps are music to Kaveh's ears. He smiles, nuzzles closer into that skin as he continues to work his hand over him.
And then
Call me that again, Alhaitham all but pleads, and Kaveh's breath in response is short and shaky, a laugh trembling on his lips. ]
Haitham.
[ He lifts his head, pressing his mouth into the younger man's. ]
Cum for me, Haitham.
And then
Call me that again, Alhaitham all but pleads, and Kaveh's breath in response is short and shaky, a laugh trembling on his lips. ]
Haitham.
[ He lifts his head, pressing his mouth into the younger man's. ]
Cum for me, Haitham.
[There's a barely there sound that Alhaitham releases right into Kaveh's lips, drowned by the cadence of the shower, and their mingled breaths. Alhaitham shivers and tenses, spilling onto Kaveh's fingers, dragged by the rivulets of water coursing over them and into the drain. Mouth parted, he lets his head drop, his forehead rest against Kaveh's shoulder, his nose nuzzle along his collarboneβ¦
And Alhaitham suddenly raises it, eyes wide and pressing small kisses to Kaveh's lips, cheeks, eyes, forehead.] I need⦠to go⦠I have to write something down. You can stay here, I'll meet you in your room in a bit.
[And with that, he leaves the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist and padding to his room to sit down, still dripping a mess, and write things down.]
And Alhaitham suddenly raises it, eyes wide and pressing small kisses to Kaveh's lips, cheeks, eyes, forehead.] I need⦠to go⦠I have to write something down. You can stay here, I'll meet you in your room in a bit.
[And with that, he leaves the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist and padding to his room to sit down, still dripping a mess, and write things down.]
[ He blinks in shock when Alhaitham goes so quickly from post-orgasmic bliss to wide-eyed as he all but rushes from the shower and the bathroom both. He knows Alhaitham well enough to recognize the look of the man when he's on the verge of a breakthroughβ normally, at least. In their current situation, though, with what's just happened between them, his brain isn't holding that information quite right, and he's left with the abrupt, surprise cold of the scribe's departure, even the brief, small kisses doing nothing to appease the anxious twist of his brain.
So when he turns off the shower and dries himself, a towel around his waist in turn, it's Alhaitham's room he goes to, not his; he stands in the doorway for a moment in silence, watching the other man as he scribbles notes over a page, dripping water everywhere in the process. ]
...Alhaitham...?
So when he turns off the shower and dries himself, a towel around his waist in turn, it's Alhaitham's room he goes to, not his; he stands in the doorway for a moment in silence, watching the other man as he scribbles notes over a page, dripping water everywhere in the process. ]
...Alhaitham...?
[One hand still on his stylus, the other reaching out to Kaveh at his door and giving him a beckoning sign. He knows Kaveh may have reacted anxiously, and he's happy to show him he's not going anywhere.]
You've given me an idea that I needed to get on paper before I fell asleep with you. Come here. [If Kaveh is to walk into his reach, he'll tug him onto his lap, lean his chin over his shoulder as he writes.]
You've given me an idea that I needed to get on paper before I fell asleep with you. Come here. [If Kaveh is to walk into his reach, he'll tug him onto his lap, lean his chin over his shoulder as he writes.]
[ It's a relief when Alhaitham beckons to him, tugs him into his lap as he comes close. With a faint smile, he sits back to allow the other to lean over him more easily, his eyes drifting closed as he beats back the feelings that started up the moment the younger walked out of the shower.
It's silly. Time and time again, the scribe has proven himself, shown Kaveh that he has no intent of going anywhere despite the elder's worriesβ
and yet the elder continues to worry, and he doesn't know why.
Still, there's something nice about the fact that he gave Alhaitham an idea. He wants to askβ he also wants to ask what they are nowβ but he doesn't want to interrupt, and besides, the other man is kind of comfortable...
He turns his head, a soft breath gusting against the other's neck. ]
Tell me when you're done, I have questions.
It's silly. Time and time again, the scribe has proven himself, shown Kaveh that he has no intent of going anywhere despite the elder's worriesβ
and yet the elder continues to worry, and he doesn't know why.
Still, there's something nice about the fact that he gave Alhaitham an idea. He wants to askβ he also wants to ask what they are nowβ but he doesn't want to interrupt, and besides, the other man is kind of comfortable...
He turns his head, a soft breath gusting against the other's neck. ]
Tell me when you're done, I have questions.
[ Anxiety. Anxiety!! ]
I, uh... urgh, Madame Hu... It's just quite like that, it's just..
I, uh... urgh, Madame Hu... It's just quite like that, it's just..
[Tilting his head gently to rest the side of it against Kaveh's, Alhaitham rubs his temple against him affectionately even if he doesn't stray his eyes from his writing. If Kaveh were to peek, he'd find a table of contents, more than actual writingβideas set in a cadence, from the beginning to the development and ending in a conclusion. Something about poetic frames in ancient scriptures and what they may mean.
Alhaitham hums an affirmative, free arm wrapped securely around his senior, as he double checks what he wrote. Once he's done, he drops the stylus, sprawls more comfortably on the chair and brushes Kaveh's wet hair away from his face before kissing the side of his face.] You can ask, now.
Alhaitham hums an affirmative, free arm wrapped securely around his senior, as he double checks what he wrote. Once he's done, he drops the stylus, sprawls more comfortably on the chair and brushes Kaveh's wet hair away from his face before kissing the side of his face.] You can ask, now.
It's just what? Hmmm....?
[She trailed off as she leaned toward the screen. See that smile? It was very obvious now.]
[She trailed off as she leaned toward the screen. See that smile? It was very obvious now.]
Nothing. NOTHING. Let's, um. Let's change the subject, okay?
[ By the time Alhaitham is done, he's actually half-asleep, eyes drooping and breathing even against the other's neck. But he stirs all too willingly when the other sprawls back into the chair and brushes his hair back to leave a kiss on his face; his eyes open again, soft and vulnerable and bright with curiosity. Even then, though, his voice is low and almost more mumbled than anything: ]
What did I do that gave you an idea for a paper? And...
[ He doesn't give him time to answer, instead continuing on, giving a soft voice to the anxieties that have bugged him. ]
What now? I mean... what are we? Apart from...... I just, I think I need to hear you say it.
What did I do that gave you an idea for a paper? And...
[ He doesn't give him time to answer, instead continuing on, giving a soft voice to the anxieties that have bugged him. ]
What now? I mean... what are we? Apart from...... I just, I think I need to hear you say it.
[One of these answers is easier than the other, so he answers it first.
That is not to say that the second answer is easy to begin with. Alhaitham's eyes follow the sleepy sheen to Kaveh's eyes, the recently bitten flush on his lips. He looks beautiful like this, and something warm in him settles despite how damp he is from having barely dried himself from the shower.
Any other moment and the answer he wants to give Kaveh would make him scramble out of his fear, out of his own instinctive need to self-sabotage. There's still a chance of it, after all.
Yet, he knows how to maneuver that well. He brings up one of Kaveh's hands and presses a kiss on the back of his ring finger.] Should I buy us rings? Ensure you and everyone knows?
[It's too much, too soon, too fast, too public, as well. But he knows that in comparison when Alhaitham tells him that he'd like for the two of them to see each other exclusively, it'd sound like a more easygoing compromise.
Perhaps Kaveh knows what he's doing, too, after all.] As for what inspired me, I'm not sure. But I've felt very clear-headed after we've engaged physically. I'm sure Tighnari has a biological explanation for that.
That is not to say that the second answer is easy to begin with. Alhaitham's eyes follow the sleepy sheen to Kaveh's eyes, the recently bitten flush on his lips. He looks beautiful like this, and something warm in him settles despite how damp he is from having barely dried himself from the shower.
Any other moment and the answer he wants to give Kaveh would make him scramble out of his fear, out of his own instinctive need to self-sabotage. There's still a chance of it, after all.
Yet, he knows how to maneuver that well. He brings up one of Kaveh's hands and presses a kiss on the back of his ring finger.] Should I buy us rings? Ensure you and everyone knows?
[It's too much, too soon, too fast, too public, as well. But he knows that in comparison when Alhaitham tells him that he'd like for the two of them to see each other exclusively, it'd sound like a more easygoing compromise.
Perhaps Kaveh knows what he's doing, too, after all.] As for what inspired me, I'm not sure. But I've felt very clear-headed after we've engaged physically. I'm sure Tighnari has a biological explanation for that.
[...Hmmmmmm.............]
Then very well. What other personal interests should I be aware of before I give you a gift?
Then very well. What other personal interests should I be aware of before I give you a gift?
Uh...
[ Really, Hu Tao! He doesn't need a gift! ]
I like animals, and machines. And cheese and fruit.
[ Really, Hu Tao! He doesn't need a gift! ]
I like animals, and machines. And cheese and fruit.
[ Kaveh's eyes widen at the suggestion that Alhaitham buy them rings; with a soft, giddy sort of laugh, he shakes his head, nudges a gentle elbow into the scribe's side. Truth be told, there's a part of him that very much would like to say that, let's do that, but he knows it's too soon, knows it's too much, and right now he'd like this to be something just for them, not for anyone else to know. Yet.
Later on, he thinks he might shout it from the rooftops. ]
Don't be silly, Alhaitham. [ His chiding is gentle, amused in that giddy sort of way. ] It's too soon for that right now. We only just... [ A shrug. ] You know.
[ And then, he shrieks, and shoves the other man so hard he might almost fall off the chair. ]
Engaged physically?! Oh my God, Alhaitham, could you be any more clinical about it?!
Later on, he thinks he might shout it from the rooftops. ]
Don't be silly, Alhaitham. [ His chiding is gentle, amused in that giddy sort of way. ] It's too soon for that right now. We only just... [ A shrug. ] You know.
[ And then, he shrieks, and shoves the other man so hard he might almost fall off the chair. ]
Engaged physically?! Oh my God, Alhaitham, could you be any more clinical about it?!
[She said she was going to bring something and she was going to stick with it!!]
Machines, animals, cheese, and fruit, huh? Then I'll have to see if I can get something that relates to all of them. If worse comes to worse, I suppose I'll have to give you fruit as per Liyue's traditions!
Machines, animals, cheese, and fruit, huh? Then I'll have to see if I can get something that relates to all of them. If worse comes to worse, I suppose I'll have to give you fruit as per Liyue's traditions!
[Just as keikaku.
(Translators note: keikaku means plan.)
Alhaitham's cheek tugs the corner of his lip into a half-smile. He's glad that Kaveh agrees, nonetheless, and he's about to propose something a lot more sensible-
βExcept he's almost out of his chair when Kaveh pushes him. He shuffles back onto his seat, or at least, clings to Kaveh harder. If he's going down, he may as well go with him.] What would you rather I call it? Have intercourse? Having sex? Making love?
[Oh, he's just teasing him, now.]
(Translators note: keikaku means plan.)
Alhaitham's cheek tugs the corner of his lip into a half-smile. He's glad that Kaveh agrees, nonetheless, and he's about to propose something a lot more sensible-
βExcept he's almost out of his chair when Kaveh pushes him. He shuffles back onto his seat, or at least, clings to Kaveh harder. If he's going down, he may as well go with him.] What would you rather I call it? Have intercourse? Having sex? Making love?
[Oh, he's just teasing him, now.]
[ UH. ]
Fruit is fine. Really! I like fruit a lot, I'd be happy with it. Completely happy. Please don't expend too much energy on my account.
Fruit is fine. Really! I like fruit a lot, I'd be happy with it. Completely happy. Please don't expend too much energy on my account.
You're impossible...
[ He grumbles it, and his cheeks turn pink, but he knows exactly what Alhaitham is doing in trying to rile him up, so he doesn't complain or focus in on it too hard. Instead, he just winds both of his arms around the other's waist, and leans up to kiss him, slow and deep. ]
Just shut up and kiss me. You're hotter when you're quiet.
[ It's mumbled against his lips with a low laugh, because two can play at that game. Right? ]
[ He grumbles it, and his cheeks turn pink, but he knows exactly what Alhaitham is doing in trying to rile him up, so he doesn't complain or focus in on it too hard. Instead, he just winds both of his arms around the other's waist, and leans up to kiss him, slow and deep. ]
Just shut up and kiss me. You're hotter when you're quiet.
[ It's mumbled against his lips with a low laugh, because two can play at that game. Right? ]
And why not? Especially since you are a celebrity, hmmmm?
[Nope, still not letting that go!]
[Nope, still not letting that go!]
[Parting his lips to kiss Kaveh feels like bridging over a chasm, rather than opening it, and yet, it opens an abyss all the same. He now understands how proximity, the permission to touch, to kiss, to blend the air of his lungs into Kaveh's, doesn't sate anyone who has yearned for it, no matter how long. He now understands that hunger feeds into hunger, and that each kiss can only make him long for more.
And when Kaveh is laughing so sultrily against his lips, he can't do much else but dive deep into the abyss that is the need for him.
He understands now why the Sun King decided to do what he did.]
Can you review it for me? [He presses kisses along the side of his face, up to his temple. Down to the hing of his jaw.] It's only a structure of what I mean to work on, but I'd like to know what you think.
And when Kaveh is laughing so sultrily against his lips, he can't do much else but dive deep into the abyss that is the need for him.
He understands now why the Sun King decided to do what he did.]
Can you review it for me? [He presses kisses along the side of his face, up to his temple. Down to the hing of his jaw.] It's only a structure of what I mean to work on, but I'd like to know what you think.
Because... because. It's... honestly, all I did was make a famous building and renovate some other famous structures. I probably made it sound bigger than it really is?
Edited 2024-04-09 11:57 (UTC)
Even so, it still sounds impressive! Why not give yourself some credit?
Then very well! I shall see you and bring you whatever you desire!
[ He's busy smiling into the kiss and responding to it, leaning his head back so that Alhaitham can reach all his targets more easily, when the scribe asks him to review his work, and Kaveh's eyes open wide as he looks at him. ]
A-are you sure?
[ It almost surprises him just how much of a stutter is in the words as he looks from Alhaitham to the paper. He's not opposed, of course, but heβ well. Somehow he wasn't expecting the other to want him to review it. He's hardly a linguist, and the last time they worked together on anythingβ
But that's all in the past now, isn't it? Especially right now, with those lips on the side of his jaw, curved in the barest of smiles. ]
If you're sure, then I'll look at it.
A-are you sure?
[ It almost surprises him just how much of a stutter is in the words as he looks from Alhaitham to the paper. He's not opposed, of course, but heβ well. Somehow he wasn't expecting the other to want him to review it. He's hardly a linguist, and the last time they worked together on anythingβ
But that's all in the past now, isn't it? Especially right now, with those lips on the side of his jaw, curved in the barest of smiles. ]
If you're sure, then I'll look at it.
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