[closed]

[blacklord]

Date & Time: 01/24 onwards
Location: civic gardens usually, or just generally out 'n about
Characters: Bariyan e Kodhi (blacklord), Martin Darkov (theguideless), Ranka Lee (symbioses), Koltira Brightdawn (brightdawn), Ico (hornedomen) POSSIBLY MORE TO BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE
Summary: Catch-all log for timeswap Bariyan 'n flower shenanigans
Warnings: timeswap Bariyan is weird

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01/24 | martin darkov | civic gardens
01/25 | koltira brightdawn | THE GREAT OUTDOORS idk
01/26 | ranka lee | civic gardens
01/27 | koltira brightdawn | a bar
01/28 | ico | civic gardens

Comments

[blacklord]

[ Well, that makes putting things out of mind much easier.

Bariyan blinks at the kiss, turns his head, and-- freezes in the moment. He looks at Koltira blankly, much the same as he had when Koltira had first touched him. His mind immediately races to ask what Koltira wants of him -- how to best please the man -- how to mitigate the situation -- before he realizes this is entirely the wrong way to think.

He thinks about Koltira, instead. Koltira, who has been nothing but kind to him ever since Bariyan arrived. Kind, warm, well-meaning. Bariyan likes him, certainly. Perhaps a little too much, considering that Bariyan's days are numbered.

But.... ]

Ah. [ Bariyan drops his eyes and inclines his head just slightly, his cheek pressing briefly against Koltira's jaw in something like a nuzzle. The warmth of Koltira's skin pressed against his own spurs him on. ] I'd appreciate that. Very much.

[ He pulls his debit card back out and slides it over the counter for the bartender. And then reaches for Koltira's hand. ]

[brightdawn]

[Koltira doesn't want anything in particular, at least not precisely for himself. Despite the humor and the smiles, Koltira can tell that Bariyan is just a little too given to laughter; that his cheer is, at least in part, an affectation for the benefit of others. He doubts that he can convince Bariyan to let it go--doubts they have enough time for that--but he hopes to at least provide some measure of relief.

The blank expression worries him, and he's about to withdraw, but then Bariyan seems to reciprocate. Koltira takes his reaching hand, holds it with gentle firmness, and kisses Bariyan again--this time on the lips. He's soft, uncertain, still worried about frightening Bariyan away, but he does his best to convey what he's feeling through the kiss: I'm here for you. I'll look after you. I am your friend.]

[blacklord]

[ Cat, Catsovi, Cat, the name runs through his head as Koltira kisses him -- oh, gods, would Cat have been angry. But Cat's not here. Cat has long since gone, left on his own way, as hard as Bariyan had tried to hold him back.

And Bariyan wants this.

Bariyan breaks away as gently as he can before the bartender returns with his card. He doesn't take his eyes off Koltira as he pockets it again, as he shrugs back into his jacket and slides out of his seat. His hand is still closed around Koltira's.

He smiles again, betraying none of the uncertainty that he's feeling. ]

Let's go, shall we?

[brightdawn]

[Koltira squeezes Bariyan's hand, nodding, sliding off of the seat. He's a little dazed with drink, but his equilibrium is intact; he has no trouble walking forward with even steps--though he can't stop looking at Bariyan, either.

He murmurs.]

Yes, I think that would be a good idea.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan leads them out. His steps are surprisingly steady, all the way out, only halting at the door. But as soon as they've cleared the building, Bariyan abruptly turns around and stops, his hands gripping Koltira's upper arms.

He looks at Koltira again, reaches up and cups Koltira's jaw in one hand. He laughs, brief and quiet and a little broken. ]

You're beautiful. [ Bariyan draws closer. He moves his hand to the back of Koltira's neck, and pulls down. ] I....

[ He stands on tip-toe, wrapping his other arm up and around Koltira's neck as well, drawing the other man down to him for another kiss. He opens his mouth and runs his tongue across Koltira's bottom lip, questioningly. Shivering in the wet air and the evening chill. ]

[brightdawn]

[Color rises to Koltira's cheeks at the compliment, but he nearly forgets it once he feels Bariyan's tongue across his lip. He takes that as a cue, one that suggests he is welcome, at least for the moment. So he wraps his arms around Bariyan's waist, lifting him slightly off of the ground, and returns the kiss with much more energy than before.

When he speaks again, his voice is low, husky.]

You're not so bad yourself.

[He sets Bariyan back down reluctantly--nice as it would be to just stand there and keep going on, the weather out here is not agreeable. Nor does he relish the idea of wandering around a strange place in the dark. He keeps his arm around Bariyan's waist as he starts to move forward, though.]

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan sticks close to Koltira, almost leaning against the other man as the wine starts to hit him. He wipes his mouth off on the back of his hand, laughing quietly again, secure and content in Koltira's hold. For now, at least. ]

Where are we going? [ He shivers again, though he tries to repress it. ] Somewhere warm, I hope.

[brightdawn]

[He scratches the back of his head with his free hand, slightly embarrassed.]

Well, I don't actually know many places aside from your apartment ... if that's all right.

[There was that cabin, too, but he doesn't want to bring Bariyan there. It's a long ways from the city, for one thing, and for another, it gives him the heebie-jeebies.]

[blacklord]

Of course it's all right. [ Bariyan presses himself a little closer, drawn to Koltira's warmth. He sticks his hands into his pockets.

It's not too far from where they are back to housing, and Bariyan would rather be there sooner rather than later -- he likes this weather not at all -- but he lets Koltira set the pace. He's not sure how else he ought to conduct himself. It's been a while since Bariyan last properly courted someone... and he'd never quite encountered anything like Koltira, before. ]

[brightdawn]

[Koltira keeps his arm securely around Bariyan as they head back to the apartments--he's not rushing, but he's not going slowly, either. The cold drizzle really is unpleasant.

It's not long before they're back at the housing building, then in front of Bariyan's apartment door. Once they're there, Koltira releases Bariyan and bows with the usual flourish of his people.]

After you, sir.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan fumbles with his jacket to find the keys, then fumbles again at the lock. He manages to get the door open eventually, then hesitates before he steps in first.

He's barely cleared the door before he turns around and catches Koltira by the hand again, grinning as he draws the other man in along with him. Once Koltira's inside, he steps in towards the man, reaching past him to close and lock the door.

And he remembers, of course, that they may not be the only ones in the apartment. He gives Koltira's hand a tug. ]

Come on. Into my room, then.

[ He cocks his head to the side, slightly, a little worried that he may be assuming a little too much here. ]

[brightdawn]

[He glances around the apartment before following Bariyan into his room--he certainly doesn't want to disturb anyone either. But once they're in and the door is shut, he's put his arms around Bariyan again. Not aggressively, not roughly--he just gathers the other man to him, murmuring.]

It was cold out there.

[blacklord]

[ Out of sight, behind closed doors, safe -- safe as he could possibly be here, anyway -- Bariyan unwinds, letting himself relax against Koltira, resting his forehead against the other man's shoulder. ]

It was. [ He closes his eyes, listening. Listening to Koltira's breathing, to his own. His mind is blank. He's afraid to think too hard on the moment, afraid that he will talk himself out of this. It's all temporary, he reminds himself. If it's all temporary, then it won't matter. It won't hurt anyone.

Bariyan reaches up and brushes Koltira's hair back over his shoulder. He looks up, the corner of his mouth pulled into a crooked smile. ]

You've been very kind to me.

[brightdawn]

[He grins lopsidedly, shrugs his shoulders.]

Ah, well, I've done my best. You seemed like you could use some kindness.

[Of course, everyone could. But Bariyan--more than most.]

[blacklord]

No, please.... [ Bariyan pulls back just slightly, shaking his head. ] You're not doing this out of pity, are you? I assure you, I'm fine.

[ex_symbioses706]

Oh - thank you.

( she smiles back, pleased at the compliment. )

It's one of my favorite songs, you know. My mother used to sing it to me all the time.

( she pauses at the name, though. there's something awfully nostalgic about it. )

I'm Ranka.

[brightdawn]

[Koltira moves to sit down on the bed, stretching his arms as he does so.]

No ... not pity. It has much more to do with those blue eyes of yours.

[blacklord]

Hello, Ranka. Is your mother not here? Or-- anyone else in your family?

[ Bariyan raises an eyebrow, looking concerned. He's seen only a few other children around here, but it occurs to him now that they'd all appeared to be on their own, as well. ]

[ex_symbioses706]

( she makes a sad face at that and shakes her head. mom's been dead a while :C )

I don't think anyone's here.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan watches him move, and exhales a held breath. He follows Koltira to the bed, standing in front of him, arms crossed. At ease again. ]

Ah. Well... that, I'll accept.

[ And, still unsure of whether he's welcome, he moves in; leaning forwards, placing a knee on the mattress next to Koltira's hip, making to straddle his lap. Bariyan realizes his heart is racing. He's not sure if it's out of anticipation or fear, or a little bit of both. ]

[blacklord]

That's not right. [ Bariyan frowns. He slides off the statue, back down to the ground, jarring his ankle as he lands -- he winces slightly and pauses to let the pain pass. ] Did you just arrive as well, then?

[brightdawn]

[Koltira slips his arms around Bariyan's waist again, pulls him more fully and firmly onto his lap. Gently, he presses a kiss to Bariyan's neck, then rests his forehead against the hollow of Bariyan's collarbone.]

I was kind to you at first because it was the right thing to do. You needed help, and I gave it. I meant to let you alone after that ... but I like you. You're thoughtful. Sweet.

[Another kiss.] And your eyes really are striking.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan breathes sharply at the kisses against his neck. He likes that, quite a bit, and reciprocates by running his hands through Koltira's hair, brushing it back behind Koltira's ears. ]

I'm glad you didn't leave me. I'm glad that you're here.

[ He pulls away enough to kiss Koltira on the lips again. His mouth is a more demanding this time, almost hungry. Needing. Wanting affection, more than Bariyan is willing to admit.]

[hornedomen]

Thanks.

[He shook the dirt off the roots. A worm fell off one of the clumps of dirt and Ico watched it slip underground.]

I didn't know either. It surprised me.

[After the worm was out of sight, Ico lost interest in it. He began pulling out more weeds.]

But I'm glad they took me. I wouldn't have met the friends I have here if they didn't.

[ex_symbioses706]

( she nods, but pauses )

I think so. But this place is also really familiar, like I've been here before. No, I think I have.