[ If he's honest, the dinner tastes somewhat bland, a fact that makes no sense at all to him when the Fontainian foods thus far have been amazing. It's probably the stress, leaving it so that all he can really taste is the burn of the alcohol in his taste. (Of course, he knows any Amurta graduate worth their degree would tell him, pain isn't a flavor, no matter how much the body might mistake it for one.)
There are eyes on him, too— and why wouldn't there be? He may not remember much of his trip back here, but he knows for a fact it rained— a lot. His regular clothes were drenched through upon his return, and he took a warm shower and cleaned himself up before heading down for dinner. And when Kaveh cleans up, he always makes sure he looks good. So when Neuvillette comes close enough to appreciate him, he'll see that the blonde, too, has had a change of clothes, a more Fontainian style than his previous garb. The blonde's hair is down, soft around his face as he drinks from his glass.
He spies Neuvillette just as he approaches, and his eyes widen with something close to panic— just when he thought the mess of the day was finally over— as his fingers press into the glass so hard that for a moment he thinks it might shatter under his grip. Oh, Archons. He's come to arrest him, hasn't he? To a mind that's usually so highly intelligent— and yet right now not thinking clearly— that's the only thing that makes sense. After all, he tried to seduce the Iudex of Fontaine, and followed that almost immediately by being rude to him after he was rescued—
But Neuvillette simply asks if he may sit with Kaveh, because he would like to continue their conversation, and the blonde's lips, half-parted in panicked protest, hang open in silence. ]
Our— conversation? Which one? [ And then, because he still can't shake the concern from his mind: ] Does this mean you're not going to arrest me?
[ Neuvillette glances to the empty plate in front of Kaveh—he had hoped to buy him dinner as an apology for what happened at Marcotte Station when he left without offering an explanation, but it appears that he's already eaten. He does, however, note the lack of a dessert plate. Perhaps something sweet would suffice, then? Then his gaze returns to the man. He's exposing a lot more skin now, and if he were easily distracted perhaps he would've let his gaze linger on his chest instead of answering the questions. ]
The first one. [ He raises an eyebrow at Kaveh's widened eyes and open mouth. ] Unless you're confessing to something you've done between leaving the opera house and now, no. You haven't broken any laws.
[ He hasn't sat down, because Kaveh didn't say if he's permitted to join him. ]
[ It's somewhat belated, the realization that he hasn't given Neuvillette permission to sit. He's too busy worried about potentially being arrested, then realizing that he's not being arrested— and shaking his head with a slightly-confused smile to confirm that, no, to his knowledge he hasn't committed a crime— then blinking as the realization sets in that the conversation the other wishes to continue is the first one.
And. Oh. He looks really good.
...Right. He asked to join— ]
Uh. Right, sorry. Please... please sit down. I just finished eating, and I'm enjoying some of your nation's finest wines, and— ah, can I get you anything?
[ Far from the flirtatiously confident attitude from before, he's a little shaky now, anxious after the events of the day. He reaches, taking a sip from his wine— nothing too deep, as he's suddenly less interested than before in getting blindly drunk— and swallows back the nerves. ]
I guess I thought it was a conversation you weren't interested in having.
[ Now that he's been given permission to sit, Neuvillette reaches back to push his long hair aside so he doesn't sit on it as he takes a seat in the chair across from Kaveh, his posture befitting that of a man second only to the Archon herself. He then plucks the menu from the wooden stand at the center of the table and takes a moment to peruse the dessert options and the list of beverages. The annoying thing about restaurants is that the menu rarely specifies where their water is sourced from. He doesn't want to pair his meal with subpar water from Liyue. ]
If you're amenable to it, I would like to order dessert for you—consider it a small apology for disembarking the aquabus in such a haste.
[ Kaveh's brows lift, the confusion evident on his features. It's clear that Neuvillette is flirting with him, and yet the why of it makes absolutely no sense, after he practically fled the aquabus earlier. And now, to apologize for it...
He licks his lips, tasting the red of the wine staining them, and meets those strange lavender eyes with burning crimson. ]
I can't figure you out. [ It's a murmur more than anything, paired with a reflexive touch of his hand to his own head, brushing golden strands back from his face. But his voice becomes stronger, a gentle challenge in the words as he continues: ] If you were going to come here anyway, why run away so fast before? I'll accept your apology and the dessert too if you can explain it.
[ Probably, he has no right to talk to the Iudex of Fontaine in such a way. But he's a little tipsy, and the rejection still stings, even hours later. ]
That had nothing to do with you at all, Monsieur Kaveh. A journalist from the Steambird has been badgering me for an interview as of late, so when I caught a glimpse of her at the station I decided to leave before she could corner me.
[ He replies, serpentine gaze sharp as he regards the other man, particularly the movement of that hand. This is isn't something he normally thinks about at all, but there's something elegant about it; he wonders what it would be like to press his lips against the inside of his wrist, feel the pulse underneath his mouth... he decides not to continue that line of thought for now.
Around them, the restaurant is busy but not so busy that their conversation gets drowned out by noise. Neuvillette is grateful both for the potted ferns that offers some degree of privacy and that most of the people around them are tourists and won't recognize him even if they see him from the angles not blocked by plants. ]
As the Iudex, I would rather not risk having my words twisted through selective quoting. The Seven Nations Gazette already publishes garbage claiming that I'm the sole male Melusine, the Steambird doesn't get to add to the fuel.
[ ...Oh. Well, now Kaveh feels bad. This whole time, he's been operating under the assumption that Neuvillette was just trying to get away from him— he was needlessly rude, cold with him after his rescue just because he felt rejected—
Kaveh bites his lip, shakes his head. ]
If that's the case, then I can hardly accept an apology, sir. If anything... I owe you one. You rescued me from that Ruin Guard and in thanks I was abrupt and rude with you because my pride was hurt. It was... [ He pauses, and sighs. ] It was immature of me. I'm sorry.
[ With that acknowledgement, he wants to ask: was he wrong about what he thought was a rejection? Is that's why Neuvillette has come here? Or is it just that he felt that he needed to apologize for a misstep he didn't actually make?
But he can't quite bring himself to ask. Instead, he says: ] It must be frustrating. Followed around by the press all the time— I'm sure you feel as if you don't have a lot of privacy.
[ Feeling a small pang of hunger stir in the pit of his stomach—ah, it's been quite some time since his last meal and he didn't have tea with Sedene today because of the trial—so once he's read the dessert options and settled on something he hopes Kaveh will enjoy he considers the dinner selection as well. It'll have to be something light so he doesn't keep Kaveh waiting too long. ]
Being a public figure has its share of disadvantages. But a free press is necessary to ensure an informed public, to open minds to new viewpoints, and to hold the powerful in check.
[ The benefits far outweigh the personal grievances he has with what they publish, which is why's never considered curtailing that freedom with stricter legislation. Pausing for a moment, he then continues: ] I would still like to order you dessert, as a... gift of sorts rather than an apology, then. Providing a potential mate with food is part of the courting process among my kind.
[ The proper way to do it would be to bring him a pile of fish he caught himself, but he has to adapt some courting behaviors to what's more acceptable by human standards. ]
[ Kaveh's smile is one of relief and gratitude, before he silently goes back to watching as the other both studies the menu and explains his answer to the blonde's comment. He's mature, Kaveh thinks, and thoughtful, and yet— he has to imagine— carrying the kind of stress that would make someone like him implode with anxiety. (The kind of stress that he himself occasionally works out through a one-night stand or two, by finding someone who can take him apart until he isn't thinking anymore.)
He wets his lips, halfway into the first word in a gently empathetic comment, when Neuvillette offers the dessert for him once more, explaining it as— as courting, as seeking a potential mate—
Kaveh's cheeks flush, a fluster in the way he looks across at the other man. ]
I. Uh. [ A breath. ] I should make myself... I don't want to lead you on, Monsieur Neuvillette. I'm not looking for anything serious. I'm lonely, and on vacation, and— and you're really attractive. But I'm not looking for a mate. A— a partner.
[ He has a whole life back in Sumeru, after all. A job. A house. A former friend whom he claims to hate, but who has his heart in a vice grip and refuses to let it go. ]
If you're... seeking something more than that, I— I'm the wrong person for you.
I'm far too busy with work to consider pursuing a long-term relationship, Monsieur. Even a temporary encounter would normally be out of the question as it may affect my ability to render an unbiased and fair judgment—but you told me you're visiting from Sumeru, so you're unlikely to stand trial here. That changes things.
[ Had Kaveh not told him this, he wouldn't even have considered coming here and he'd be spending the rest of the evening doing post-trial paperwork instead. Kaveh would never have crossed his mind again beyond perhaps a brief "I hope that young tourist is doing well after getting swatted by that Ruin Guard."
Having finished looking over the menu, Neuvillette slides the menu back in its holder, but doesn't signal a waiter to come over just yet. ]
My understanding of human courtship rituals is a bit... lacking, I admit. Is food not a suitable way of signalling interest when the end goal is temporary satisfaction rather than a serious relationship?
[ In response to Neuvillette's words, Kaveh offers another sign of his relief: this time, a sigh, shoulders relaxing a little from a tensed state he hadn't realized they'd found. Okay. Good. At heart, the architect is a romantic, dreams of having the perfect long-term love with the perfect person, but the truth remains: he is not here to stay— and apart from that, he barely knows Neuvillette outside of his being ethereally handsome, a wielder of an apparently very powerful Vision, and the Chief Justice of the city Kaveh currently visits.
And perhaps this romantic at heart would have something to say about Neuvillette simply ruling out relationships for himself if he weren't distracted in the next moment by the question the other asks.
With a laugh, he shakes his head, and offers a genuine, warm smile. ]
To the contrary, food is very suitable. I'd say it's beaten only by having the waiter deliver a drink to a stranger on your behalf. I was just... a little taken aback by the word "mate". But as long as we're on the same page, it's fine.
I see. [ He nods. ] Yes, I can understand why my choice of words caused confusion.
[ Now that that has been cleared up, he signals for a nearby waiter to come over and proceeds to order for the both of them—crab and shrimp seafood bisque paired with a bottle of Mondstadt springwater (at which the waiter looks a little unsure because their guests typically aren't this specific with the water) for him, and a fruity trio for Kaveh.
A little while later, their food arrives. A delicious aroma wafts from the soup's steamy surface as it's being set down in front of him and he begins to eat as he watches the other man do the same, digging his fork into the merengue. From his movements, he doesn't seem entirely accustomed to the utensils; come to think of it, food is typically eaten with one's hands in the land of wisdom, isn't it? Neuvillette almost wishes that was socially acceptable in Fontaine as well. It just seems more natural to him as someone who isn't human. ]
[ The waiter isn't the only one a little unsure about the water— visible confusion crosses Kaveh's face for a second, although in the end he says nothing about it. Neuvillette has already proven to be quite an interesting man; why shouldn't he have a favorite type of water?
Difficult to use as the utensils may be at first, Kaveh is thrilled by the flavor of the dessert, a hum of delight on his lips as he processes the sweet flavors, citrus and floral at once paired with the creaminess of the meringue. His eyes close without him realizing, only to open again when Neuvillette asks if he is enjoying the food—
(and apparently the Iudex is as much a stranger to the image of delight as he is flirtation)
—and Kaveh swallows his mouthful before nodding, smiling. ] It seems you have a talent for picking out desserts, monsieur. [ Or he's just lucky, but Kaveh does like to presume the nicer option is true. ] Fruits happen to be some of my favorite foods. And it pairs remarkably well with the wine, too! It's marvelous; thank you.
[ And perhaps Neuvillette's words from before carry some truth, because Kaveh can't help but feel even more attracted to him now. Silly of him, really. Or maybe the wine talking. But true, regardless. ]
I'm glad. [ Neuvillette nods, setting the spoon down to delicately dab at the corner of his mouth with a serviette. He then picks up his wine glass, pinching the stem between his thumb, pointer, and middle fingers and swirls the water around like a wine connoisseur would with their Chardonnay; however, unlike wine there are no aromatic compounds within that needs to be aerated and he's doing it purely because he likes the way the water looks as it sloshes against the sides of the glass. ]
Lady Furina sometimes asks me to get cake and pastries for her, so I'm accustomed to selecting desserts that I believe will please the palate.
[ Furina's palate, specifically, but it gives him a general idea of what most people will consider delicious. The fruity trio is considered a classic that both Furina and the average citizen like, so it seemed like a safe bet. ]
[ Maybe it's actually down to how long it's been, Kaveh wonders mildly to himself as crimson eyes trail to watch the Iudex dab at the corner of his mouth, then pick up the wine glass to swirl the water around in it. There shouldn't be anything sexy about it, and yet all he can think about are how those gentle hands might guide him to where Neuvillette wants him, how those lips might suck bruises into the column of his throat as he's taken apart.
There's no doubt that his eyes gloss over as he absently licks his lips, tasting the sugary sweetness of the meringue once more. But he takes a breath to try and shake himself out of it, to focus on Neuvillette's words and not the things he might do once they get up to Kaveh's hotel room. He smiles, although it's something of a distant expression. ]
Your Archon must be grateful that you take such good care of her.
[ He's remained at her side for several centuries now, working hard for the sake of her nation and it's no exaggeration to say that she would've run it into the ground ages ago had he not taken up the mantle as her right-hand dragon; she's the mascot character of the country, a ruler lacking the necessary skills to properly lead her nation so that role falls to Neuvillette instead. There is no way she isn't grateful for everything he has done for her and Fontaine.
Their conversation continues for some time as they eat, with Neuvillette learning a few things about Kaveh: the Darshan he graduated from, some recent projects he's been working on and how he's been commissioned for a structural renovation and expansion project in Port Ormos that will begin in a few months, his hobbies, and so on. In return, Neuvillette tells him about the Melusines, his work, among other things. Eventually their meals are paid for, and it's time for the "temporary satisfaction" that is the end goal for this encounter.
However, it won't be as simple as going to Kaveh's room together. Neuvillette doesn't want to risk having the two of them ending up on the front page of tomorrow's edition of the Steambird. Thankfully, he has a trick up his sleeve to avoid unwanted attention. ]
You go on ahead; I'll be there in a few minutes.
[ With that, he stands up and leaves the restaurant to find the nearest restroom. Once he's made sure no one is nearby, he lets his body transform into water. It gathers into a spherical space and darts out of the room, moving swiftly to the third floor where Kaveh's room is located. An intoxicated man who sees him mistakes him for a Seelie but otherwise he manages to stay out of sight and after hovering briefly in front of the door to make sure the number on the bronze plaque is the right one, he squeezes into the space between the bottom of the door and the floor and returns to his humanoid, solid shape once he's on the other side. ]
[ The conversation is certainly an enjoyable one; of course Kaveh always loves to talk about the upcoming works in which he takes a lot of pride, and it's interesting to get to know more about this man who is different to him in so many ways— and yet also similar in some. The blonde is genuinely impressed by the other's attitude toward his work and the pride he takes in it; and his care for the Melusines warms his heart.
When it's time for them to move up to Kaveh's room, Neuvillette sends him ahead by himself— something that makes sense, given what Kaveh now understands about the other— and the architect takes the chance for a moment alone as an opportunity, smoothing out his hair and re-lining his eyes with his favorite kohl, even taking a moment to gloss his lips with a light, tasteless balm.
(Never mind that he'll be a mess soon enough— he wants to look as good as possible by the time the Iudex joins him.)
The alluring effect is somewhat spoiled by the way he yelps, though, jumps practically a whole foot in the air as a small amount of water floods under the door, catching his attention quickly as it shifts and changes into a humanoid man— the very man for whom he is waiting. ]
Archons, [ he gasps, hand pulling up over his mouth to hide the way it's dropped open, trying for a moment to catch the breath he's very suddenly lost. ] I was— wow, I was wondering how you were going to make it up here without being seen... I guess that explains it.
[ And he doesn't even look wet. It's kind of a marvel, Kaveh thinks, staring at him in unabashed wonder. ]
Every time I think you can't possibly get more amazing, you go and outdo yourself again. You're— [ Kaveh bites his lip, takes a step closer ] —wow. Amazing.
Such praise is unnecessary, but appreciated all the same. Thank you. [ Turning his body into water is a mere parlour trick compared what he's capable of even without his full dragonhood, but he supposes that even those must look amazing to an ordinary human who doesn't possess a Vision.
As Kaveh steps toward him, Neuvillette moves closer as well, a gloved hand reaching up to playfully brush along Kaveh's neck, the leather smooth against his bare skin. There's something in his gaze that wasn't there before, a glint of desire sparking across those serpentine eyes. ]
This will be my first time with a human, so I may need some guidance at times. I hope you won't mind.
[ Honestly, it'd be more accurate to say he's a virgin because he hasn't had sex in this lifetime and he only has vague memories of the reproductive activities of his predecessor, who sired many offspring over the years until the First Usurper descended from beyond the heavenly sphere to wage war against his kind. ]
[ Kaveh just smiles, shakes his head at the way he's thanked— really, he needs to tell Neuvillette that he doesn't need to be so formal with him.
But he's distracted with almost shameful speed by the spark in the other's eyes, the leather glove smoothing along the skin of his neck— and then again by the Iudex's admission that Kaveh is his first human, a statement that makes his crimson eyes widen even as a delightful heat gathers in his abdomen.
Why, oh why, is that such a turn-on? ]
I don't mind at all. [ His soft voice is edged with a thread of huskiness as he replies, as his own hand lifts, teasing fingers tracing the lines of the other man's mouth. But there's a question, too: it's there in the raise of his brows, in the curious trail of his other hand down over the fine material of Neuvillette's vest. ] But I have to ask— are we really so different?
My clothes hide most of the differences between my body and yours. [ The reason he wears his elegant Iudex garb on a daily basis is twofold; the first is because he wants his attire to match his standing, the second is because he prefers to cover every inch of skin from the neck down is so his and Furina's citizens won't see what makes him visibly not human.
His jabot feels more restrictive around his neck than it did mere minutes ago, a tendril of heat stirring in his veins as he moves on to trace his hand along Kaveh's jawline. When those teasing fingers brush over the seam of his lips, he parts them slightly to show one of the inhuman things about him; the front teeth that lightly graze over Kaveh's fingertips lack the flat edge similar to chisels that humans have. Instead, they have pointed tips designed for puncturing and tearing food—though thankfully they aren't quite as sharp as they would be if he had a fully draconic form. ]
[ Every single thought in Kaveh's mind is silenced and taken apart by the glimpse of pointed teeth, the sharp graze over his fingertips; his eyes widen and his other hand stills against Neuvillette's chest, a sharp breath filling his own lungs. Archons— whatever species the man is hardly matters when all he can think about now is how those teeth might feel leaving bites in his skin— and he steps closer once more to erase the gap between the two of them, body flush against the justice's as his fingers tug at his lower lip, giving him a better view of the pointed enamel. ]
Tell me, [ he murmurs, voice thickening still more with gravel, breath shorter than it should be on his lips over foreplay that has barely started, and the fingers of his free hand fist into Neuvillette's vest, as if to tug him still closer as he leans, mouth barely ghosting over the corner of the other's lips. ] Tell me more about this— about the differences between us.
[ Such a demand may be difficult for the Iudex to meet with any haste, however, because Kaveh's fingers shift to his jaw just in time to be replaced with his mouth, a low sound tripping over his tongue as his mouth captures Neuvillette's, nothing chaste in the way he immediately seeks to lick into the space between the other's lips, the way he answers the coiling pleasure in his abdomen with hunger. ]
[ Neuvillette is just about to answer the question Kaveh just asked him, but then the blonde's lips capture his own in a searing kiss that smothers the words, leaving them to die on his tongue. It's not his first kiss—the dubious honour of having claimed the Iudex's first kiss goes to Heloise Castaignède, who made a small footnote in Fontaine's history books as the woman who 237 years ago was sentenced to forty days in Meropide after being found guilty of having kissed the Chief Justice without his consent.
The way Neuvillette kisses back is clumsy, a little slow, but in no way lazy; it's much like an oceanic tide soothing its way towards the land as it almost imperceptibly rises and engulfs everything in its path. He cants his head for a better angle, the forked ends of his tongue flitting over Kaveh's in his eagerness to taste him. He's not sure what to do with his hands at first—so for... most of the first half or so they just hover awkwardly until he eventually settles them on the other's back.
A thin, glistening string of saliva connects their lips for a fraction of a second before breaking as they pull apart. There's a paint dusting of pink on his otherwise pale cheeks and he takes several deep breaths before finally giving him an answer: ]
My limbs are covered with scales, and my reproductive organs... [ He pauses here, not out of shame or embarrassment (nudity and sex is a human taboo), but rather because he wants to choose the right words for his explanation. ] I have two phalluses, rather than the single one present in human anatomy. They are also shaped differently.
[ The clumsiness doesn't bother Kaveh— gods, he barely even notices it, caught up instead in the feelings the kiss elicits in him. First, an ephemeral feeling like the ocean crashing down on him in a way somehow both gentle and overwhelming; then, the more physical sensation of a forked tongue dancing over his own. He gasps out a soft sound, and when the kiss is broken, he almost chases the other's mouth before he gathers himself together and bites his lip instead, his own breathing short as ruby eyes explore the other's face, the dusting of pink over his cheeks.
And then comes the answer to his question, and his brows lift under his bangs, eyes widening— and perhaps, a similar coloration finding his own cheeks now. ]
Your— you—
[ Even someone who struggles with emotions at times may well be able to read them as they pass visibly over Kaveh's face like chapters in an Inazuman light novel. Surprise, mixed with mild embarrassment, as the Iudex volunteers such personal information with a calmness and rationality that has his head spinning. Shock, as the words settle in his brain for long enough for him to understand their meaning. Something summarily smug and pleased as the implication sinks in— a pause as it sinks in further— and a hint of nervous anxiety as it settles, even as he slides a leg, as if searching, between both of Neuvillette's. ]
I have so many questions. [ The words are brushed as whispers against the other's lips, and it's true: is he some kind of draconic species, like a vishap? Were the displays earlier— fighting against the Ruin Guard, and turning himself into water— actually his own, rather than those of a Vision wielder?
Can Kaveh even take two cocks at once?
He so wants to know the answer to that last one. But first— ]
Tell me, Monsieur Neuvillette... do you prefer to fuck, or to be fucked?
[ He watches Kaveh's face intently, taking in each shift in his expression and gauging them for any sign of discomfort at the information he just provided about his anatomy. He's not entirely sure how such information should be shared and the appropriate moment for it, but he figured he should be up front about it to avoid any unexpected surprises. That said, he can say with reasonable confidence that Kaveh doesn't seem bothered by it once the initial surprise passes. Good. He finds that the faint blush creeping along his cheeks suits him, and the way the light catches in the red of his eyes makes his earlier comparison to rubies even more apt.
When a tailor politely asks a customer which way they position their penis, they do so by asking "Which way do you dress, sir?"—and in Neuvillette's case, the answer is both. Though they're on the smaller side while in a flaccid state, Kaveh will definitely feel something on the inside of each leg as his thigh presses into the Iudex's groin. ]
Unless you have any objections, the former. [ His whispered answer comes almost immediately, without him having to think it over. Parting his mouth slightly, he darts the tip of his tongue out to playfully flick over the other's lips. ]
[ Oh, there is certainly no discomfort. Perhaps among humans, that makes Kaveh a little strange— but it's not like he's ever particularly cared what anatomy his partners have, anyway. Neuvillette may not be human, but he's close enough to one for all practical purposes, and his intelligence speaks for itself.
Now, he has to bite back a small sound of pleasure as his thigh finds a slight prominence on each thigh rather than just the one; although the sound slips out a moment later as that tongue flicks playfully over his lips before he can find the words for which he's searching. ]
No objections. [ His own reply comes in the same whisper, hands bracing on the other's chest for a moment before his fingers start working over the buttons on his vest instead, taking them apart one by one. His knee stays wedged between the other's legs, rubbing up against his crotch, angling first against one leg and then the other. ] Although in the interest of being your guide to the human body, I should probably tell you that you'll need to take your time with me if you're gonna fit both of those in.
[ Despite the words, there's nothing anxious or worried about his tone— rather, it's rich with excitement and arousal, awaiting the promise of what's to come. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
indigently) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sempiternals2023-08-19 08:47 pm
no subject
There are eyes on him, too— and why wouldn't there be? He may not remember much of his trip back here, but he knows for a fact it rained— a lot. His regular clothes were drenched through upon his return, and he took a warm shower and cleaned himself up before heading down for dinner. And when Kaveh cleans up, he always makes sure he looks good. So when Neuvillette comes close enough to appreciate him, he'll see that the blonde, too, has had a change of clothes, a more Fontainian style than his previous garb. The blonde's hair is down, soft around his face as he drinks from his glass.
He spies Neuvillette just as he approaches, and his eyes widen with something close to panic— just when he thought the mess of the day was finally over— as his fingers press into the glass so hard that for a moment he thinks it might shatter under his grip. Oh, Archons. He's come to arrest him, hasn't he? To a mind that's usually so highly intelligent— and yet right now not thinking clearly— that's the only thing that makes sense. After all, he tried to seduce the Iudex of Fontaine, and followed that almost immediately by being rude to him after he was rescued—
But Neuvillette simply asks if he may sit with Kaveh, because he would like to continue their conversation, and the blonde's lips, half-parted in panicked protest, hang open in silence. ]
Our— conversation? Which one? [ And then, because he still can't shake the concern from his mind: ] Does this mean you're not going to arrest me?
no subject
The first one. [ He raises an eyebrow at Kaveh's widened eyes and open mouth. ] Unless you're confessing to something you've done between leaving the opera house and now, no. You haven't broken any laws.
[ He hasn't sat down, because Kaveh didn't say if he's permitted to join him. ]
no subject
And. Oh. He looks really good.
...Right. He asked to join— ]
Uh. Right, sorry. Please... please sit down. I just finished eating, and I'm enjoying some of your nation's finest wines, and— ah, can I get you anything?
[ Far from the flirtatiously confident attitude from before, he's a little shaky now, anxious after the events of the day. He reaches, taking a sip from his wine— nothing too deep, as he's suddenly less interested than before in getting blindly drunk— and swallows back the nerves. ]
I guess I thought it was a conversation you weren't interested in having.
no subject
[ Now that he's been given permission to sit, Neuvillette reaches back to push his long hair aside so he doesn't sit on it as he takes a seat in the chair across from Kaveh, his posture befitting that of a man second only to the Archon herself. He then plucks the menu from the wooden stand at the center of the table and takes a moment to peruse the dessert options and the list of beverages. The annoying thing about restaurants is that the menu rarely specifies where their water is sourced from. He doesn't want to pair his meal with subpar water from Liyue. ]
If you're amenable to it, I would like to order dessert for you—consider it a small apology for disembarking the aquabus in such a haste.
no subject
He licks his lips, tasting the red of the wine staining them, and meets those strange lavender eyes with burning crimson. ]
I can't figure you out. [ It's a murmur more than anything, paired with a reflexive touch of his hand to his own head, brushing golden strands back from his face. But his voice becomes stronger, a gentle challenge in the words as he continues: ] If you were going to come here anyway, why run away so fast before? I'll accept your apology and the dessert too if you can explain it.
[ Probably, he has no right to talk to the Iudex of Fontaine in such a way. But he's a little tipsy, and the rejection still stings, even hours later. ]
no subject
[ He replies, serpentine gaze sharp as he regards the other man, particularly the movement of that hand. This is isn't something he normally thinks about at all, but there's something elegant about it; he wonders what it would be like to press his lips against the inside of his wrist, feel the pulse underneath his mouth... he decides not to continue that line of thought for now.
Around them, the restaurant is busy but not so busy that their conversation gets drowned out by noise. Neuvillette is grateful both for the potted ferns that offers some degree of privacy and that most of the people around them are tourists and won't recognize him even if they see him from the angles not blocked by plants. ]
As the Iudex, I would rather not risk having my words twisted through selective quoting. The Seven Nations Gazette already publishes garbage claiming that I'm the sole male Melusine, the Steambird doesn't get to add to the fuel.
no subject
Kaveh bites his lip, shakes his head. ]
If that's the case, then I can hardly accept an apology, sir. If anything... I owe you one. You rescued me from that Ruin Guard and in thanks I was abrupt and rude with you because my pride was hurt. It was... [ He pauses, and sighs. ] It was immature of me. I'm sorry.
[ With that acknowledgement, he wants to ask: was he wrong about what he thought was a rejection? Is that's why Neuvillette has come here? Or is it just that he felt that he needed to apologize for a misstep he didn't actually make?
But he can't quite bring himself to ask. Instead, he says: ] It must be frustrating. Followed around by the press all the time— I'm sure you feel as if you don't have a lot of privacy.
no subject
[ Feeling a small pang of hunger stir in the pit of his stomach—ah, it's been quite some time since his last meal and he didn't have tea with Sedene today because of the trial—so once he's read the dessert options and settled on something he hopes Kaveh will enjoy he considers the dinner selection as well. It'll have to be something light so he doesn't keep Kaveh waiting too long. ]
Being a public figure has its share of disadvantages. But a free press is necessary to ensure an informed public, to open minds to new viewpoints, and to hold the powerful in check.
[ The benefits far outweigh the personal grievances he has with what they publish, which is why's never considered curtailing that freedom with stricter legislation. Pausing for a moment, he then continues: ] I would still like to order you dessert, as a... gift of sorts rather than an apology, then. Providing a potential mate with food is part of the courting process among my kind.
[ The proper way to do it would be to bring him a pile of fish he caught himself, but he has to adapt some courting behaviors to what's more acceptable by human standards. ]
no subject
He wets his lips, halfway into the first word in a gently empathetic comment, when Neuvillette offers the dessert for him once more, explaining it as— as courting, as seeking a potential mate—
Kaveh's cheeks flush, a fluster in the way he looks across at the other man. ]
I. Uh. [ A breath. ] I should make myself... I don't want to lead you on, Monsieur Neuvillette. I'm not looking for anything serious. I'm lonely, and on vacation, and— and you're really attractive. But I'm not looking for a mate. A— a partner.
[ He has a whole life back in Sumeru, after all. A job. A house. A former friend whom he claims to hate, but who has his heart in a vice grip and refuses to let it go. ]
If you're... seeking something more than that, I— I'm the wrong person for you.
no subject
[ Had Kaveh not told him this, he wouldn't even have considered coming here and he'd be spending the rest of the evening doing post-trial paperwork instead. Kaveh would never have crossed his mind again beyond perhaps a brief "I hope that young tourist is doing well after getting swatted by that Ruin Guard."
Having finished looking over the menu, Neuvillette slides the menu back in its holder, but doesn't signal a waiter to come over just yet. ]
My understanding of human courtship rituals is a bit... lacking, I admit. Is food not a suitable way of signalling interest when the end goal is temporary satisfaction rather than a serious relationship?
no subject
And perhaps this romantic at heart would have something to say about Neuvillette simply ruling out relationships for himself if he weren't distracted in the next moment by the question the other asks.
With a laugh, he shakes his head, and offers a genuine, warm smile. ]
To the contrary, food is very suitable. I'd say it's beaten only by having the waiter deliver a drink to a stranger on your behalf. I was just... a little taken aback by the word "mate". But as long as we're on the same page, it's fine.
no subject
[ Now that that has been cleared up, he signals for a nearby waiter to come over and proceeds to order for the both of them—crab and shrimp seafood bisque paired with a bottle of Mondstadt springwater (at which the waiter looks a little unsure because their guests typically aren't this specific with the water) for him, and a fruity trio for Kaveh.
A little while later, their food arrives. A delicious aroma wafts from the soup's steamy surface as it's being set down in front of him and he begins to eat as he watches the other man do the same, digging his fork into the merengue. From his movements, he doesn't seem entirely accustomed to the utensils; come to think of it, food is typically eaten with one's hands in the land of wisdom, isn't it? Neuvillette almost wishes that was socially acceptable in Fontaine as well. It just seems more natural to him as someone who isn't human. ]
Is the dessert to your liking?
no subject
Difficult to use as the utensils may be at first, Kaveh is thrilled by the flavor of the dessert, a hum of delight on his lips as he processes the sweet flavors, citrus and floral at once paired with the creaminess of the meringue. His eyes close without him realizing, only to open again when Neuvillette asks if he is enjoying the food—
(and apparently the Iudex is as much a stranger to the image of delight as he is flirtation)
—and Kaveh swallows his mouthful before nodding, smiling. ] It seems you have a talent for picking out desserts, monsieur. [ Or he's just lucky, but Kaveh does like to presume the nicer option is true. ] Fruits happen to be some of my favorite foods. And it pairs remarkably well with the wine, too! It's marvelous; thank you.
[ And perhaps Neuvillette's words from before carry some truth, because Kaveh can't help but feel even more attracted to him now. Silly of him, really. Or maybe the wine talking. But true, regardless. ]
no subject
Lady Furina sometimes asks me to get cake and pastries for her, so I'm accustomed to selecting desserts that I believe will please the palate.
[ Furina's palate, specifically, but it gives him a general idea of what most people will consider delicious. The fruity trio is considered a classic that both Furina and the average citizen like, so it seemed like a safe bet. ]
no subject
There's no doubt that his eyes gloss over as he absently licks his lips, tasting the sugary sweetness of the meringue once more. But he takes a breath to try and shake himself out of it, to focus on Neuvillette's words and not the things he might do once they get up to Kaveh's hotel room. He smiles, although it's something of a distant expression. ]
Your Archon must be grateful that you take such good care of her.
no subject
[ He's remained at her side for several centuries now, working hard for the sake of her nation and it's no exaggeration to say that she would've run it into the ground ages ago had he not taken up the mantle as her right-hand dragon; she's the mascot character of the country, a ruler lacking the necessary skills to properly lead her nation so that role falls to Neuvillette instead. There is no way she isn't grateful for everything he has done for her and Fontaine.
Their conversation continues for some time as they eat, with Neuvillette learning a few things about Kaveh: the Darshan he graduated from, some recent projects he's been working on and how he's been commissioned for a structural renovation and expansion project in Port Ormos that will begin in a few months, his hobbies, and so on. In return, Neuvillette tells him about the Melusines, his work, among other things. Eventually their meals are paid for, and it's time for the "temporary satisfaction" that is the end goal for this encounter.
However, it won't be as simple as going to Kaveh's room together. Neuvillette doesn't want to risk having the two of them ending up on the front page of tomorrow's edition of the Steambird. Thankfully, he has a trick up his sleeve to avoid unwanted attention. ]
You go on ahead; I'll be there in a few minutes.
[ With that, he stands up and leaves the restaurant to find the nearest restroom. Once he's made sure no one is nearby, he lets his body transform into water. It gathers into a spherical space and darts out of the room, moving swiftly to the third floor where Kaveh's room is located. An intoxicated man who sees him mistakes him for a Seelie but otherwise he manages to stay out of sight and after hovering briefly in front of the door to make sure the number on the bronze plaque is the right one, he squeezes into the space between the bottom of the door and the floor and returns to his humanoid, solid shape once he's on the other side. ]
no subject
When it's time for them to move up to Kaveh's room, Neuvillette sends him ahead by himself— something that makes sense, given what Kaveh now understands about the other— and the architect takes the chance for a moment alone as an opportunity, smoothing out his hair and re-lining his eyes with his favorite kohl, even taking a moment to gloss his lips with a light, tasteless balm.
(Never mind that he'll be a mess soon enough— he wants to look as good as possible by the time the Iudex joins him.)
The alluring effect is somewhat spoiled by the way he yelps, though, jumps practically a whole foot in the air as a small amount of water floods under the door, catching his attention quickly as it shifts and changes into a humanoid man— the very man for whom he is waiting. ]
Archons, [ he gasps, hand pulling up over his mouth to hide the way it's dropped open, trying for a moment to catch the breath he's very suddenly lost. ] I was— wow, I was wondering how you were going to make it up here without being seen... I guess that explains it.
[ And he doesn't even look wet. It's kind of a marvel, Kaveh thinks, staring at him in unabashed wonder. ]
Every time I think you can't possibly get more amazing, you go and outdo yourself again. You're— [ Kaveh bites his lip, takes a step closer ] —wow. Amazing.
no subject
As Kaveh steps toward him, Neuvillette moves closer as well, a gloved hand reaching up to playfully brush along Kaveh's neck, the leather smooth against his bare skin. There's something in his gaze that wasn't there before, a glint of desire sparking across those serpentine eyes. ]
This will be my first time with a human, so I may need some guidance at times. I hope you won't mind.
[ Honestly, it'd be more accurate to say he's a virgin because he hasn't had sex in this lifetime and he only has vague memories of the reproductive activities of his predecessor, who sired many offspring over the years until the First Usurper descended from beyond the heavenly sphere to wage war against his kind. ]
no subject
But he's distracted with almost shameful speed by the spark in the other's eyes, the leather glove smoothing along the skin of his neck— and then again by the Iudex's admission that Kaveh is his first human, a statement that makes his crimson eyes widen even as a delightful heat gathers in his abdomen.
Why, oh why, is that such a turn-on? ]
I don't mind at all. [ His soft voice is edged with a thread of huskiness as he replies, as his own hand lifts, teasing fingers tracing the lines of the other man's mouth. But there's a question, too: it's there in the raise of his brows, in the curious trail of his other hand down over the fine material of Neuvillette's vest. ] But I have to ask— are we really so different?
no subject
His jabot feels more restrictive around his neck than it did mere minutes ago, a tendril of heat stirring in his veins as he moves on to trace his hand along Kaveh's jawline. When those teasing fingers brush over the seam of his lips, he parts them slightly to show one of the inhuman things about him; the front teeth that lightly graze over Kaveh's fingertips lack the flat edge similar to chisels that humans have. Instead, they have pointed tips designed for puncturing and tearing food—though thankfully they aren't quite as sharp as they would be if he had a fully draconic form. ]
no subject
Tell me, [ he murmurs, voice thickening still more with gravel, breath shorter than it should be on his lips over foreplay that has barely started, and the fingers of his free hand fist into Neuvillette's vest, as if to tug him still closer as he leans, mouth barely ghosting over the corner of the other's lips. ] Tell me more about this— about the differences between us.
[ Such a demand may be difficult for the Iudex to meet with any haste, however, because Kaveh's fingers shift to his jaw just in time to be replaced with his mouth, a low sound tripping over his tongue as his mouth captures Neuvillette's, nothing chaste in the way he immediately seeks to lick into the space between the other's lips, the way he answers the coiling pleasure in his abdomen with hunger. ]
no subject
The way Neuvillette kisses back is clumsy, a little slow, but in no way lazy; it's much like an oceanic tide soothing its way towards the land as it almost imperceptibly rises and engulfs everything in its path. He cants his head for a better angle, the forked ends of his tongue flitting over Kaveh's in his eagerness to taste him. He's not sure what to do with his hands at first—so for... most of the first half or so they just hover awkwardly until he eventually settles them on the other's back.
A thin, glistening string of saliva connects their lips for a fraction of a second before breaking as they pull apart. There's a paint dusting of pink on his otherwise pale cheeks and he takes several deep breaths before finally giving him an answer: ]
My limbs are covered with scales, and my reproductive organs... [ He pauses here, not out of shame or embarrassment (nudity and sex is a human taboo), but rather because he wants to choose the right words for his explanation. ] I have two phalluses, rather than the single one present in human anatomy. They are also shaped differently.
no subject
And then comes the answer to his question, and his brows lift under his bangs, eyes widening— and perhaps, a similar coloration finding his own cheeks now. ]
Your— you—
[ Even someone who struggles with emotions at times may well be able to read them as they pass visibly over Kaveh's face like chapters in an Inazuman light novel. Surprise, mixed with mild embarrassment, as the Iudex volunteers such personal information with a calmness and rationality that has his head spinning. Shock, as the words settle in his brain for long enough for him to understand their meaning. Something summarily smug and pleased as the implication sinks in— a pause as it sinks in further— and a hint of nervous anxiety as it settles, even as he slides a leg, as if searching, between both of Neuvillette's. ]
I have so many questions. [ The words are brushed as whispers against the other's lips, and it's true: is he some kind of draconic species, like a vishap? Were the displays earlier— fighting against the Ruin Guard, and turning himself into water— actually his own, rather than those of a Vision wielder?
Can Kaveh even take two cocks at once?
He so wants to know the answer to that last one. But first— ]
Tell me, Monsieur Neuvillette... do you prefer to fuck, or to be fucked?
[ Archons above, please let it be the former. ]
no subject
When a tailor politely asks a customer which way they position their penis, they do so by asking "Which way do you dress, sir?"—and in Neuvillette's case, the answer is both. Though they're on the smaller side while in a flaccid state, Kaveh will definitely feel something on the inside of each leg as his thigh presses into the Iudex's groin. ]
Unless you have any objections, the former. [ His whispered answer comes almost immediately, without him having to think it over. Parting his mouth slightly, he darts the tip of his tongue out to playfully flick over the other's lips. ]
no subject
Now, he has to bite back a small sound of pleasure as his thigh finds a slight prominence on each thigh rather than just the one; although the sound slips out a moment later as that tongue flicks playfully over his lips before he can find the words for which he's searching. ]
No objections. [ His own reply comes in the same whisper, hands bracing on the other's chest for a moment before his fingers start working over the buttons on his vest instead, taking them apart one by one. His knee stays wedged between the other's legs, rubbing up against his crotch, angling first against one leg and then the other. ] Although in the interest of being your guide to the human body, I should probably tell you that you'll need to take your time with me if you're gonna fit both of those in.
[ Despite the words, there's nothing anxious or worried about his tone— rather, it's rich with excitement and arousal, awaiting the promise of what's to come. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)