Once Xavier was dressed, his plan had been to walk over and give Evan a kiss--that's what a situation like this called for, right?--but then Evan was staring with a very upset expression at the floor. Xavier's first thought was that he had said something stupid, so he ran quickly back over his words. It seemed playful enough to Xavier... he couldn't imagine what might be the problem... Wait, maybe it was something to do with the goddess. All at once, Xavier realized that he knew very little about what had actually happened between Evan and the goddess last night--or any night for that matter. She had burned him, there had been a dragon ride... but there was time for a lot more than that, right? And Evan had certainly not been fully himself since he started visiting the goddess. Perhaps Xavier should have been more sympathetic to all that rather than jumping headfirst into interacting sexually with the man?
Taking a breath, Xavier once again reminded himself that Evan had initiated. This wasn't necessary Xavier's fault, and maybe what Evan needed right now more than anything was a friend. Making a swift decision, Xavier walked over and took a seat next to Evan on the cot.
"I've been really excited about... everything with you, but I still want you feel safe talking to me. So, if there's anything that I did, or... you know, whatever, I'm here. If you want." Xavier did his best to look comforting, but it scrunched up his small face in what might have been a silly expression. He wanted to put one of his hands over Evan's, but it felt like the time for that kind of casual touch had passed. They were transitioning back to their roles, Xavier realized, or at least the lieutenant was. Xavier let out a quick, quiet sigh and held his own hands together in his lap instead.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
Evan startled a bit when Xavier sat down next to him--he almost stood up, his butt drifting up off the cot before he stopped himself and sat back down. Where anger had colored his expression, now embarrassment did, and Evan thoroughly fought with himself not to shoo Xavier away. After all, here the lieutenant was saying he wanted Evan to feel comfortable talking with him, and Evan sure as fuck didn't want to go and screw up the second wind their warmth had gotten. Still, did he actually tell Xavier about Philip?
"It-- was nothing you did." Evan offered to at least go ahead and say something true. He tried to look Xavier in the eye, but couldn't quite make it. The captain let out a sigh that buzzed his lips a bit as he reached up to rub at his hair. "Sorry, just..." he trailed off, realizing he was about to lie in an attempt to end the conversation. Which, gods, he would have done with practically anyone else, but Xavier being his lieutenant complicated this a bit. Arguably in a good way, but that was confusing as fuck right now.
Evan finally managed to pull his gaze up to Xavier, his expression definitely sheepish and maybe even scared.
"Would it..." aaand, that was as much eye contact as Evan could do at the moment, so his gaze flicked over to the side, "that is... it may not just be the goddess, physically. It hasn't just been. Not exactly by choice, but..." ugh, Evan visibly cringed there, and then a fresh wave of embarrassment hit him in the wake of it. Should he really be telling Xavier about this? He hesitated, but continued.
"I mean, it's all about the goddess, but... I don't know if the others will remember or not." Evan twisted his mouth, regretting his word choice. 'Others' wasn't strictly true, but he didn't know how else to get out of naming Philip specifically, and, there might be others in the future. Maybe not, though. Gods, what if he was making a big deal out of nothing? Evan clenched his jaw and tried not to spiral, instead just waiting out the silence as patiently as he could until Xavier was ready to respond however he was going to.
"It-- was nothing you did." Evan offered to at least go ahead and say something true. He tried to look Xavier in the eye, but couldn't quite make it. The captain let out a sigh that buzzed his lips a bit as he reached up to rub at his hair. "Sorry, just..." he trailed off, realizing he was about to lie in an attempt to end the conversation. Which, gods, he would have done with practically anyone else, but Xavier being his lieutenant complicated this a bit. Arguably in a good way, but that was confusing as fuck right now.
Evan finally managed to pull his gaze up to Xavier, his expression definitely sheepish and maybe even scared.
"Would it..." aaand, that was as much eye contact as Evan could do at the moment, so his gaze flicked over to the side, "that is... it may not just be the goddess, physically. It hasn't just been. Not exactly by choice, but..." ugh, Evan visibly cringed there, and then a fresh wave of embarrassment hit him in the wake of it. Should he really be telling Xavier about this? He hesitated, but continued.
"I mean, it's all about the goddess, but... I don't know if the others will remember or not." Evan twisted his mouth, regretting his word choice. 'Others' wasn't strictly true, but he didn't know how else to get out of naming Philip specifically, and, there might be others in the future. Maybe not, though. Gods, what if he was making a big deal out of nothing? Evan clenched his jaw and tried not to spiral, instead just waiting out the silence as patiently as he could until Xavier was ready to respond however he was going to.
Re: Part 1
Xavier was still rather surprised that Evan's demeanor had shifted so suddenly. It was hard to believe they were just cuddling on Evan's cot a moment ago. Looking over at Evan in wait for more of an explanation, Xavier listened to Evan stumble through his words and was grateful that he did not fault Xavier for the change in mood.
Still, Xavier struggled to follow what it was Evan did mean. Once Evan looked away again, Xavier took the opportunity to search the floor with his eyes as he tried to put the pieces together. What is it Evan is trying to tell me?
Isolating the words, "not by choice" and "others" and putting it into context of what Xavier said about "not doing this with anyone else," Xavier thought he came up with an answer, but he didn't like it. And, he had no idea what to say back to it.
"She... she..." Xavier stuttered, unsure that he really wanted to use any words to confirm what Evan was trying to say. Xavier covered his face and shook his head. But then the fact that Evan had said he wasn't sure if the others would remember hit Xavier full force. It wasn't that the goddess had forced Evan to interact that way with just anyone else; it had been one of the victims from camp.
Dear gods. Which one of them? Trevor, it was probably Trevor. Or was it more than one of them? "Others" had been plural, right? Xavier wasn't sure he wanted to know. Did it matter?
Oh, gods. Oh gods oh gods. Evan had been raped... or had been forced to rape. And he still had sex with Xavier? Xavier suddenly felt tremendously unclean. He shook his head again.
"I... I..." Xavier felt like he should say something, but what could he say that wasn't pity or tears or... or...?
"I do wish you would have told me. We could have... talked about it, Evan. Evan..." Xavier put a hand on Evan's leg in comfort but then pulled it back rather immediately, realizing that that might be exactly the wrong thing right now. Xavier stood and paced the length of the tent a few times, rubbing his forehead.
"That's... that's it, then. You can't go back. Right?" Xavier looked at Evan but knew that, even with the risk of such a thing happening again, Evan would go back. He had to. And if it meant saving the others and killing the king, was there really any other choice? But, still, it was coercion on the goddess' part. But what did Xavier expect of the goddess of desire? She had, after all, taken over Xavier's body without consent. And yet, Xavier had been willing to risk that again to experience Evan's orgasm, so was Evan's decision all that different?
Finally, at his wits end, Xavier kneeled directly in front of his captain, put his hands on Evan's knees, and desperately tried to meet his eyes.
With all the seriousness he could muster, Xavier said, "I will stand by you no matter what you decide. I am proud to be your lieutenant and your... lover. And at the end of this, we'll make her pay for what she has done to you. That is absolutely not behavior worthy of a goddess."
That was it. Xavier was disappointed in Dehaljadrun. He wanted gods to be benevolent creatures, helpers of mankind. Maybe she really was a demon in exactly the way the stories told. Maybe the king was right in...
But that was a very dangerous path. There were no black and white answers. The army was in a very complicated position, and Evan was stuck in the middle of it, in the crux of all their moral burdens.
All at once, before he could consider whether it was a good idea, Xavier added, "I would do anything for you."
Still, Xavier struggled to follow what it was Evan did mean. Once Evan looked away again, Xavier took the opportunity to search the floor with his eyes as he tried to put the pieces together. What is it Evan is trying to tell me?
Isolating the words, "not by choice" and "others" and putting it into context of what Xavier said about "not doing this with anyone else," Xavier thought he came up with an answer, but he didn't like it. And, he had no idea what to say back to it.
"She... she..." Xavier stuttered, unsure that he really wanted to use any words to confirm what Evan was trying to say. Xavier covered his face and shook his head. But then the fact that Evan had said he wasn't sure if the others would remember hit Xavier full force. It wasn't that the goddess had forced Evan to interact that way with just anyone else; it had been one of the victims from camp.
Dear gods. Which one of them? Trevor, it was probably Trevor. Or was it more than one of them? "Others" had been plural, right? Xavier wasn't sure he wanted to know. Did it matter?
Oh, gods. Oh gods oh gods. Evan had been raped... or had been forced to rape. And he still had sex with Xavier? Xavier suddenly felt tremendously unclean. He shook his head again.
"I... I..." Xavier felt like he should say something, but what could he say that wasn't pity or tears or... or...?
"I do wish you would have told me. We could have... talked about it, Evan. Evan..." Xavier put a hand on Evan's leg in comfort but then pulled it back rather immediately, realizing that that might be exactly the wrong thing right now. Xavier stood and paced the length of the tent a few times, rubbing his forehead.
"That's... that's it, then. You can't go back. Right?" Xavier looked at Evan but knew that, even with the risk of such a thing happening again, Evan would go back. He had to. And if it meant saving the others and killing the king, was there really any other choice? But, still, it was coercion on the goddess' part. But what did Xavier expect of the goddess of desire? She had, after all, taken over Xavier's body without consent. And yet, Xavier had been willing to risk that again to experience Evan's orgasm, so was Evan's decision all that different?
Finally, at his wits end, Xavier kneeled directly in front of his captain, put his hands on Evan's knees, and desperately tried to meet his eyes.
With all the seriousness he could muster, Xavier said, "I will stand by you no matter what you decide. I am proud to be your lieutenant and your... lover. And at the end of this, we'll make her pay for what she has done to you. That is absolutely not behavior worthy of a goddess."
That was it. Xavier was disappointed in Dehaljadrun. He wanted gods to be benevolent creatures, helpers of mankind. Maybe she really was a demon in exactly the way the stories told. Maybe the king was right in...
But that was a very dangerous path. There were no black and white answers. The army was in a very complicated position, and Evan was stuck in the middle of it, in the crux of all their moral burdens.
All at once, before he could consider whether it was a good idea, Xavier added, "I would do anything for you."
Re: Part 1
Evan swallowed a huge, heavy lump in his throat as Xavier started stammering. Anger started turning his stomach--he didn't want the boy's godsdamned pity, and he was absolutely terrified that that was what was coming next. Then, instead, came scolding? Evan side-eyed Xavier darkly, but tried to keep from reacting too immediately, especially since the boy was getting up.
He nearly scoffed when the lieutenant suggested that Evan not go back--that he couldn't, even. Of fucking course he was going back. He might have snapped about that, but something in Xavier's expression or posture or something managed to assure Evan that, no, despite his words, the boy understood that Evan would be going back. That was good, and helped him relax at least slightly.
Surprise quickly overtook Evan's expression as Xavier knelt down in front of him, and fluster quickly followed as the frustration between his legs flared up again, entirely too excited by the sight of Xavier dropping to his knees and the pressure of the boy's hands on his legs. The lieutenant's words after that, coupled with the boy's earnest expression, gripped at Evan's chest with both warmth and heaviness. It was absolutely good to hear that Xavier would stand by him--would be proud to do so.
But then the boy went and spoke angrily about the goddess, and Evan had no fucking idea how to feel about that. His eyes were full of tears before he even realized it, and he shook his head without thinking, his hand moving nearly involuntarily to Xavier's shoulder as he leaned forward slightly. The boy's final words tipped some kind of scale within Evan, and the captain let out a laugh-sob, tears officially spilling over and rolling slowly down his cheeks as he squeezed Xavier's shoulder.
"I'm glad."
He let that ring in the air for a moment, less to stall and more just to revel. He was glad. And he wanted to let Xavier see it on his stupid, flustered, tear-strewn, ridiculously happy face. But once the moment passed, he sat back and withdrew his hand, wiping his cheeks with the back of his wrist and mellowing his smile to something a little more serious.
"But you don't have to be quite so incensed. I royally pissed her off, and I'm culpable for that. Plus, she made it up to me after. It's just... really fucking complicated, navigating all this..." actually, his expression started to get a little sad as he went on, or maybe apologetic, or both. "So, I can't promise anything simple. That's... really all I meant to say by it."
He nearly scoffed when the lieutenant suggested that Evan not go back--that he couldn't, even. Of fucking course he was going back. He might have snapped about that, but something in Xavier's expression or posture or something managed to assure Evan that, no, despite his words, the boy understood that Evan would be going back. That was good, and helped him relax at least slightly.
Surprise quickly overtook Evan's expression as Xavier knelt down in front of him, and fluster quickly followed as the frustration between his legs flared up again, entirely too excited by the sight of Xavier dropping to his knees and the pressure of the boy's hands on his legs. The lieutenant's words after that, coupled with the boy's earnest expression, gripped at Evan's chest with both warmth and heaviness. It was absolutely good to hear that Xavier would stand by him--would be proud to do so.
But then the boy went and spoke angrily about the goddess, and Evan had no fucking idea how to feel about that. His eyes were full of tears before he even realized it, and he shook his head without thinking, his hand moving nearly involuntarily to Xavier's shoulder as he leaned forward slightly. The boy's final words tipped some kind of scale within Evan, and the captain let out a laugh-sob, tears officially spilling over and rolling slowly down his cheeks as he squeezed Xavier's shoulder.
"I'm glad."
He let that ring in the air for a moment, less to stall and more just to revel. He was glad. And he wanted to let Xavier see it on his stupid, flustered, tear-strewn, ridiculously happy face. But once the moment passed, he sat back and withdrew his hand, wiping his cheeks with the back of his wrist and mellowing his smile to something a little more serious.
"But you don't have to be quite so incensed. I royally pissed her off, and I'm culpable for that. Plus, she made it up to me after. It's just... really fucking complicated, navigating all this..." actually, his expression started to get a little sad as he went on, or maybe apologetic, or both. "So, I can't promise anything simple. That's... really all I meant to say by it."
Re: Part 1
Xavier really didn't think that he had ever seen Evan cry, and tears had definitely entered his captain's eyes twice this afternoon. The anger in his lieutenant's chest flared, wanting to do something--anything--to prove just how much he was on Evan's side. The boy listened intently, ignoring how intimidating it was for Evan to lean over him, and he smiled a little when Evan said he was glad. At least Xavier had managed to do that right.
As Evan continued explaining, though, Xavier didn't know how to factor the context into everything else Evan had said. What could Evan have possibly said that would have angered the goddess so much? And why? He found it unreasonable to think Evan was as culpable as the goddess no matter what had happened.
But, she made it up to him? Xavier couldn't help but imagining what that would entail. Ugh... he didn't want to be thinking about that. It was so complicated. And then the sadness overtook Evan's expression, and Xavier's chest throbbed, but he chuckled very briefly.
"I don't need you to promise anything to me. I just... wanted you to know where I'm at." But Xavier wasn't sure if that was strictly true. But what did he want from Evan? He didn't know. He'd have to keep thinking about it. Xavier had a hunch that he wouldn't need to make any decisions until they interacted this way again. Until then...
"But, if you're not comfortable telling me what happens with the goddess... please talk to somebody. This is... it's serious business. Even if... even if... she makes it up to you." Xavier's curiosity was begging him to ask what that was like. He really shouldn't. He really...
"But how..." he said, tilting his head and pulling his eyebrows together. No, no. He shouldn't. Shut up. Shut up.
As Evan continued explaining, though, Xavier didn't know how to factor the context into everything else Evan had said. What could Evan have possibly said that would have angered the goddess so much? And why? He found it unreasonable to think Evan was as culpable as the goddess no matter what had happened.
But, she made it up to him? Xavier couldn't help but imagining what that would entail. Ugh... he didn't want to be thinking about that. It was so complicated. And then the sadness overtook Evan's expression, and Xavier's chest throbbed, but he chuckled very briefly.
"I don't need you to promise anything to me. I just... wanted you to know where I'm at." But Xavier wasn't sure if that was strictly true. But what did he want from Evan? He didn't know. He'd have to keep thinking about it. Xavier had a hunch that he wouldn't need to make any decisions until they interacted this way again. Until then...
"But, if you're not comfortable telling me what happens with the goddess... please talk to somebody. This is... it's serious business. Even if... even if... she makes it up to you." Xavier's curiosity was begging him to ask what that was like. He really shouldn't. He really...
"But how..." he said, tilting his head and pulling his eyebrows together. No, no. He shouldn't. Shut up. Shut up.
Re: Part 1
A huge knot released in Evan's chest when Xavier said he didn't need Evan to promise him anything. Evan was a little embarrassed at how much of a knot that had made in him, but he supposed he shouldn't be surprised. A pang of guilt stung at his stomach, but he did his best not to flinch about it.
He couldn't quite stop his eyes from narrowing when Xavier said he wanted Evan to talk with someone about what had happened, though. Who in the fuck else was he supposed to talk to? And did Xavier really want the fucking play-by-play? Evan was just on the edge of snapping, but Xavier, thankfully, cut him off with a question--or, the start of one--that rung of genuine curiosity, and Evan's mood lifted as he sensed a potential escape route.
A grin curled on the captain's face, and he raised his eyebrow excitedly.
"Remember when I mentioned about riding a dragon?"
((OOC: since I had to go check how this went, here's a link for ease of reference lol: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4&start=550#p831))
He couldn't quite stop his eyes from narrowing when Xavier said he wanted Evan to talk with someone about what had happened, though. Who in the fuck else was he supposed to talk to? And did Xavier really want the fucking play-by-play? Evan was just on the edge of snapping, but Xavier, thankfully, cut him off with a question--or, the start of one--that rung of genuine curiosity, and Evan's mood lifted as he sensed a potential escape route.
A grin curled on the captain's face, and he raised his eyebrow excitedly.
"Remember when I mentioned about riding a dragon?"
((OOC: since I had to go check how this went, here's a link for ease of reference lol: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4&start=550#p831))
Re: Part 1
At first, Xavier's expression grew immensely more excited as he nodded enthusiastically, and he almost asked if the goddess gave Evan another dragon ride, but that didn't seem like something that would have made it up to Evan. Which meant that the goddess had... forced Evan into things not last night but the night previous. The boy frowned and pulled his eyebrows together. So, Evan didn't tell him for two days? And they had done sexy things both days! Xavier shook his head a few times. This also meant that Evan's dragon ride wasn't just for fun, which tempered Xavier's excitement around it a lot. Now, that image was tainted by what the goddess had done to his captain. Ughhhhhhh.
"She made it up to you with a dragon ride?" Xavier said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice but then winced at the sound. Evan didn't need to be scolded right now. He followed up quickly with, "Maybe it's... it's none of my business," and shook his head again, his eyes pricking.
"She made it up to you with a dragon ride?" Xavier said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice but then winced at the sound. Evan didn't need to be scolded right now. He followed up quickly with, "Maybe it's... it's none of my business," and shook his head again, his eyes pricking.
Re: Part 1
Evan was ecstatic to see Xavier's excitement, and then deeply unsettled to see the boy's expression shift into a frown. Damn it, he'd really wanted that escape route, but apparently not even dragon rides could get them out of this rut. Did they need to just end the conversation, hope they were both in better spirits when they next met up? Some part of Evan really fucking wanted to, but he found himself glued to his seat on the cot, and his eyes searched Xavier's expression thoroughly as the boy responded. No, he couldn't just cut this conversation off, even if it fucking terrified him to go forward here.
The captain sighed, though, unsure how best to proceed.
"I mean, it was quite a bit more complicated than that." He answered after a moment, his voice barely above a mumble as his eyes drifted to the side. His expression was certainly serious, but not quite as irate as it had been other times in this conversation. Mostly, it was clear that he was thinking.
He wished he still had the scale so he could show it to Xavier--hell, even better, he wished he had shown it to Xavier the day before. He was glad he'd given it back to the goddess, but still, it would be nice to be able to hold it in his hand right now, to let Xavier see what an intimate thing the goddess had given him that night. Then again, would Xavier be able to understand it even then?
Evan sighed again, more softly this time, and closed his eyes as he rolled his shoulders, that cool, soothing feeling of parting grass running once more over his back. He wasn't sure he'd ever stop feeling grateful for that.
"She gave me something first. I don't know how to explain it exactly." And, gods, was it tempting to just leave it at that and not even try, but... Xavier deserved an earnest attempt, no matter how much blush it added to Evan's cheeks.
"I think it was a scale from her dragon. She could use it to... hm." The captain twisted his lips slightly, frustrated at how completely inadequate words felt to explain it. He cast his gaze briefly around the tent, then decided to just reach into his pocket and fish out the talisman. A small, brief storm of both anxiety and gratitude swirled in his gut as Evan thought of how he and the goddess had exchanged trinkets multiple times last night. He was glad that after all the tumult, at least everything ended up where it felt like it should be.
Evan cleared his throat softly and returned his eyes to Xavier, holding up the talisman between them with a fresh grin starting to form on his lips. Then he blinked to the talisman, wanting to direct Xavier's attention there as his thumb started to gently caress over the top of it. Evan's cock twitched at the memory of the goddess licking the scale, and his gut sank, lamenting the lack of the goddess' touch. Even so, Evan's smirk widened as he returned his gaze to Xavier.
"If the goddess did that to the scale, my whole body would shiver."
With that Evan somewhat hastily put away the talisman. He'd made his demonstration, and didn't especially want to imbue the talisman with much more of this kind of context than that. Plus, as excited and devious as he'd been for that moment, he was about to get somber again.
"The goddess had only just started playing with that, with me, when I pissed her off, and... well." Evan frowned, but continued quickly. "She gave it to me when she apologized, and she said I could leave right then if I wanted, without breaking our agreement. I didn't want to, though. I chose to stay, and that's when she took me up into the sky." Evan smiled hopefully there at the end, feeling pretty decent about that account of things. Fingers crossed it would land the way he hoped it would.
The captain sighed, though, unsure how best to proceed.
"I mean, it was quite a bit more complicated than that." He answered after a moment, his voice barely above a mumble as his eyes drifted to the side. His expression was certainly serious, but not quite as irate as it had been other times in this conversation. Mostly, it was clear that he was thinking.
He wished he still had the scale so he could show it to Xavier--hell, even better, he wished he had shown it to Xavier the day before. He was glad he'd given it back to the goddess, but still, it would be nice to be able to hold it in his hand right now, to let Xavier see what an intimate thing the goddess had given him that night. Then again, would Xavier be able to understand it even then?
Evan sighed again, more softly this time, and closed his eyes as he rolled his shoulders, that cool, soothing feeling of parting grass running once more over his back. He wasn't sure he'd ever stop feeling grateful for that.
"She gave me something first. I don't know how to explain it exactly." And, gods, was it tempting to just leave it at that and not even try, but... Xavier deserved an earnest attempt, no matter how much blush it added to Evan's cheeks.
"I think it was a scale from her dragon. She could use it to... hm." The captain twisted his lips slightly, frustrated at how completely inadequate words felt to explain it. He cast his gaze briefly around the tent, then decided to just reach into his pocket and fish out the talisman. A small, brief storm of both anxiety and gratitude swirled in his gut as Evan thought of how he and the goddess had exchanged trinkets multiple times last night. He was glad that after all the tumult, at least everything ended up where it felt like it should be.
Evan cleared his throat softly and returned his eyes to Xavier, holding up the talisman between them with a fresh grin starting to form on his lips. Then he blinked to the talisman, wanting to direct Xavier's attention there as his thumb started to gently caress over the top of it. Evan's cock twitched at the memory of the goddess licking the scale, and his gut sank, lamenting the lack of the goddess' touch. Even so, Evan's smirk widened as he returned his gaze to Xavier.
"If the goddess did that to the scale, my whole body would shiver."
With that Evan somewhat hastily put away the talisman. He'd made his demonstration, and didn't especially want to imbue the talisman with much more of this kind of context than that. Plus, as excited and devious as he'd been for that moment, he was about to get somber again.
"The goddess had only just started playing with that, with me, when I pissed her off, and... well." Evan frowned, but continued quickly. "She gave it to me when she apologized, and she said I could leave right then if I wanted, without breaking our agreement. I didn't want to, though. I chose to stay, and that's when she took me up into the sky." Evan smiled hopefully there at the end, feeling pretty decent about that account of things. Fingers crossed it would land the way he hoped it would.
Re: Part 1
Xavier listened attentively to his captain, enormously grateful that Evan didn't just shut the conversation down. A warmth bloomed in his chest, and he smiled a little, his expression relaxing. Xavier realized that, before, he had been afraid that Evan wasn't treating what the goddess had done like a very big deal, and he had gotten concerned, but Xavier could feel the weight in Evan's words and understood the degree to which Evan knew exactly what the goddess owed him. And she had given it to him.
The lieutenant was immediately reassured, confident again that there really was depth of character behind even Evan's rash actions.
Xavier warmed again, thinking about the significance of the dragon scale. He wondered if there was a scale on the goddess' dragon for everyone in the world... or perhaps just that her scales attuned to someone at their touch. Either way, the almost fluid sensation of stoking a snake slithered down Xavier's spine, and a slow, sultry shiver exposed itself. The sensation waved over him again when Evan brushed his finger over the talisman. Xavier hadn't been sure that he would see that up close after the summoning. The summoning. It was still such a potent memory in his mind, full of confusion and adoration and... and...
But then Evan put the talisman away, and Xavier was a little disappointed to be snapped out of his reveries. Xavier wondered where Evan was hiding the scale and almost asked to see it, but the motion Evan used to put the talisman away deterred Xavier. He imagined that showing someone else a scale attuned to your own skin would be like undressing in front of them. And while they had only just been nude together... now wasn't the time, and Xavier understood that.
And then Evan's mentioned the flying again, and Xavier shivered in an echo of his initial reaction. What would be like to be pressed up against all those scales at once? Yes, all right. The culmination of all those things? Xavier was starting to understand why Evan had forgiven her. She was volatile and had terrifying lows, but the highs were... divine. And Xavier understood Evan to be a person who could ride eagerly on both.
Xavier nodded, a smile now more obviously on his face.
"Good." He met Evan's eyes then, if the captain would allow it. He searched them for a split second and nodded once more, definitively. "Well, if you ever need to go into details about what happened," Xavier said with a grave grin, "I can handle it." He suppressed the impulse to point at his own chest.
The lieutenant was immediately reassured, confident again that there really was depth of character behind even Evan's rash actions.
Xavier warmed again, thinking about the significance of the dragon scale. He wondered if there was a scale on the goddess' dragon for everyone in the world... or perhaps just that her scales attuned to someone at their touch. Either way, the almost fluid sensation of stoking a snake slithered down Xavier's spine, and a slow, sultry shiver exposed itself. The sensation waved over him again when Evan brushed his finger over the talisman. Xavier hadn't been sure that he would see that up close after the summoning. The summoning. It was still such a potent memory in his mind, full of confusion and adoration and... and...
But then Evan put the talisman away, and Xavier was a little disappointed to be snapped out of his reveries. Xavier wondered where Evan was hiding the scale and almost asked to see it, but the motion Evan used to put the talisman away deterred Xavier. He imagined that showing someone else a scale attuned to your own skin would be like undressing in front of them. And while they had only just been nude together... now wasn't the time, and Xavier understood that.
And then Evan's mentioned the flying again, and Xavier shivered in an echo of his initial reaction. What would be like to be pressed up against all those scales at once? Yes, all right. The culmination of all those things? Xavier was starting to understand why Evan had forgiven her. She was volatile and had terrifying lows, but the highs were... divine. And Xavier understood Evan to be a person who could ride eagerly on both.
Xavier nodded, a smile now more obviously on his face.
"Good." He met Evan's eyes then, if the captain would allow it. He searched them for a split second and nodded once more, definitively. "Well, if you ever need to go into details about what happened," Xavier said with a grave grin, "I can handle it." He suppressed the impulse to point at his own chest.
Re: Part 1
An audibly relieved exhale softened Evan's body; Xavier understood. A small bristle did make its way over Evan's back when the boy mentioned details, but it dissipated quickly enough when it was clear that Xavier wasn't going to press Evan for them.
"Noted," he said, trying to give a perfectly casual grin, but there was nervousness in it, which spilled out into a follow-up comment he practically couldn't help making: "But I don't expect to go into it. Not exactly my favorite moment from all this." His expression had grown somber again, but he tried once more at lightening it as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Besides," ah, yes, grin was easy to summon now with his voice growing a bit sultry as he stepped towards Xavier. "There's so much else I'd rather regale you with." Oh, to fucking wit, a thought struck Evan just then that he was nearly appalled had somehow escaped him before this moment.
Evan's grin shifted to giddy, and he stepped over to a corner of the tent to collect his new sword. He held it up diagonally in front of him, his grin gleaming over the top of it towards Xavier.
"For instance," he gestured to emphasize the sword, his voice and expression both absolutely bursting with pride and glee.
---
Lance started leading the way down a row of tents quite casually, almost taking for granted that Gavin would follow. He was rather accustomed to fellow soldiers following his lead, insofar as his rank allowed. Besides, it wasn't like Gavin had protested.
The cadet was quiet for a moment, pondering what sort of interaction he wanted with Gavin here. Hell, some part of him regretted not sticking around and listening in on the captain and whoever else was in his tent, but this moment with Gavin almost seemed like an opportunity. Especially if they were both about to embark on this rather lascivious journey together.
At that thought, Lance couldn't help but toss Gavin a somewhat flirtatious grin. Nothing he hadn't pulled out playfully during card games before, but something about not having an audience may have given this expression more weight here.
"Wouldn't have expected your interest to perk, Moretti, but then again, I always figured you'd be full of surprises." The grin softened after a moment, shifting to something a little more earnest before he continued. "I'm mostly in it to meet a god, I think. Not sure I even have it in me to turn down an opportunity like that."
"Noted," he said, trying to give a perfectly casual grin, but there was nervousness in it, which spilled out into a follow-up comment he practically couldn't help making: "But I don't expect to go into it. Not exactly my favorite moment from all this." His expression had grown somber again, but he tried once more at lightening it as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Besides," ah, yes, grin was easy to summon now with his voice growing a bit sultry as he stepped towards Xavier. "There's so much else I'd rather regale you with." Oh, to fucking wit, a thought struck Evan just then that he was nearly appalled had somehow escaped him before this moment.
Evan's grin shifted to giddy, and he stepped over to a corner of the tent to collect his new sword. He held it up diagonally in front of him, his grin gleaming over the top of it towards Xavier.
"For instance," he gestured to emphasize the sword, his voice and expression both absolutely bursting with pride and glee.
---
Lance started leading the way down a row of tents quite casually, almost taking for granted that Gavin would follow. He was rather accustomed to fellow soldiers following his lead, insofar as his rank allowed. Besides, it wasn't like Gavin had protested.
The cadet was quiet for a moment, pondering what sort of interaction he wanted with Gavin here. Hell, some part of him regretted not sticking around and listening in on the captain and whoever else was in his tent, but this moment with Gavin almost seemed like an opportunity. Especially if they were both about to embark on this rather lascivious journey together.
At that thought, Lance couldn't help but toss Gavin a somewhat flirtatious grin. Nothing he hadn't pulled out playfully during card games before, but something about not having an audience may have given this expression more weight here.
"Wouldn't have expected your interest to perk, Moretti, but then again, I always figured you'd be full of surprises." The grin softened after a moment, shifting to something a little more earnest before he continued. "I'm mostly in it to meet a god, I think. Not sure I even have it in me to turn down an opportunity like that."