September Catch-All

[acheat]

Who: Jarlaxle and (eventually) Everyone
Status: Currently Closed
Where: Stormbringer, and Naughtilust for now.
What: An eventual open log for September! To be updated as I get ideas for more bullshit.
Warnings: Potential NSFW material inside.

Astarion
[Off to sea they'd gone, well on their way back to the corsair base. Jarlaxle, upon making sure that where ever he'd be staying was no where near the citrus boxes, had wasted no time in making himself comfortable. Sure sure, he pulled his weight, when necessary. When he couldn't find any other way of wiggling out of the more boring, more tiresome jobs. But for the most part he was content to find places to simply perch and watch... Or play around in the rigging for funsies, whatever happened to entertain him at the present time. A couple solid days in however and he'd found something far better than making bets with himself as to how far he could jump from one piece of rigging to another; Alcohol.

Specifically, bourbon. Someone's bourbon, don't ask who's because he doesn't know! Must belong to someone important though, considering the scent of it, and he wasn't about to just stow it away and wait for a better time. There was never any better time than the present.

There he was, relaxing below decks with his bottle of bourbon, perched on a box like some great smug cat with the scent of fine alcohol drifting about him. Maybe he ought to take to the deck to see if the stars were out... Or maybe he should go looking for a drinking companion. After all, this was an awful lot of liquor, and he really should make sure the whole bottle was gone before dawn. Somehow. Be a shame to huck it overboard when he was through... Who else was down here?]

Xenk
[It's a shellphone text. It definitely took him a little bit to figure this think the hell out, he's not about to send a bunch of clumsy, poorly written messages out. But he's got it now and he knows just who to bother.]

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Good day, Xenk. I've a proposition for you. Or rather an invitation.

[No he's not explaining the emoji.]

Comments

[partybabysitter]

[ Username "acheat"??? If Xenk understood phone numbers, he'd ask how this person go his number ]

Who is this?

--
Xenk Yendar

[acheat]

It occurs to me that I didn't identify myself, my apologies. It's Jarlaxle, of course.

[Don't ask him how he found this number. He has it now, what's done is done.]

[partybabysitter]

Ah, Jarlaxle. I am gladdened to hear from you. How have you fared since leaving Eltrut? I hope you have been well.

You speak of an invitation? Please explain further.

--
Xenk Yendar

[acheat]

[He is not even going to ask him why he's signing every text. It just fits, it's charming.]

Quite well, thank you. It was a fairly uneventful trip.

I've heard tell of a place here made for both paladin and corsair alike. An entertainment venue, if you will. Shows, food, drink, pleasurable company, and nearly anything else you could imagine. I'd wished to visit it since I've heard of it, and while I could simply travel there alone, I feel as if the experience would be best had in the company of a friend.

After all, did I not say I may be the one paying for your meal next time?

[partybabysitter]

I hope you have not been keeping busy during my absence with more petty theft.

[ This is where he'd drop an emoji, if he knew what those were. ]

I must admit I am intrigued by the existence of a place for both Paladin and Corsair. I should like to see such a place for myself, in the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie.

Though you owe me nothing, I will accept your kind offer. And of course I would enjoy your company as well, my friend.

Sincerely,
Xenk Yendar

[ The entertainment and the other stuff is whatever, right? I mean, it's probably some gladitorial place, which isn't really Xenk's cup of tea, but he'll go for Jarlaxle. ]

[acheat]

I offer this not out of a desire to repay you for anything. It's a gift.

[For both of them, but he's not going to elaborate on that.]

Delightful! The name of this destination is the Naughtilust (^.~)☆

[You know, now that the offer has been accepted and everything, he'll bring the place's name up. It's fine! It's fine.]

Not difficult to reach, and plenty of things to occupy one's self with once there. Should you like, I would meet you upon the docks there at your earliest convenience.

[partybabysitter]

[ The wordplay escapes Xenk's notice for now. Well, he won't make any assumptions. After all, Jarlaxle offering something for free must surely be a good sign! ]

Then I shall accept your gracious gift, and join you. I shall travel there post haste and meet you at the harbor.

Kindly,
Xenk Yendar

P. S. Might I ask what the intention is behind these strange symbols you are including? I do not understand their meaning.

[acheat]

I look forward to seeing you again, and as quickly as possible.

[And after a moment-]

P. S. S. It's a little face of course, can you not see it? (◕ω◕✿)

[partybabysitter]

I am aboard a vessel that is heading there presently.

Is it a face? I still do not see it. Unless the odd "w" is the mouth? How curious. How did you type these strange symbols on your shellphone?

Cordially,
Xenk Yendar

[acheat]

Yes! It does involve a little imagination, I shall grant you this, but look closely and it is there. See, the parenthesis creates the outline of the face, and the two circles the eyes with the W in the center the mouth. The final symbol is just a flower. For a touch of flair you see, or else it would be too plain for my purposes.

It takes some tinkering with it, I had the time to explore the shellphones various functions and found that by pressing a few buttons at the same time, I could create different characters altogether. Should you like, I could demonstrate to you when we meet.

[And unleash a terrible plague unto this land.]

[partybabysitter]

It is quite vexing. I should like to try it. Is the purpose to add emotional intent to your message? I have found that tone is not delivered well via text the way it is for pen and parchment. Thus far it seems that most keep this method of communication quite short. I imagine the brevity is due to the speed at which messages are sent and received.

In any case, I should be making landfall shortly. I will see you upon my arrival.

--
Xenk Yendar

[ The world isn't ready... ]

[acheat]

It could be, should that be what you wish. I simply find them charming, myself. I feel they add a certain panache to an otherwise dry form of communication. I cannot fault others for wishing to keep these 'text messages' brief, speaking is far more desirable.

I look forward to seeing you shortly, my friend!

[He's already there, of course, waiting patiently at the docks for Xenk to arrive, a bright and colorful little beacon all his own out there.]

[partybabysitter]

I shall try it (´｡• ω •｡`) I believe I see you now that we have come ashore. One moment.

[ Indeed, Xenk steps off the ship and spots Jarlaxle by the docks. He's easy to spot, even as Xenk's eyes are drawn to this new island they find themselves in. With a name like Nautiliust, he isn't quite sure what to expect.

But he'll have a friend at his side, so he's looking forward to this new discovery. ]

Jarlaxle. It is good to see you, my friend.

[subigito]

[ Astarion is also below decks, but not for nearly as good of a reason. It's now day three of eating rats, and he's presently working up the will to eat for the night knowing that it's both disgusting and not even remotely filling.

The smell of bourbon is distracting.

Just like the pulse that accompanies it.

Both are a reminder of something nicer that he could have had, once, but doesn't.

He should just go find a rat and be done with it, but he's as drawn to Jarlaxle now as he ever is and he finds himself gravitating towards him in spite of all logic to the contrary. ]

What have you got there?

[ Good bourbon. Probably stolen, even. Good for him! ]

[acheat]

[Well look who it is! His favorite person presently on the ship. He flashes Astarion a brilliant smile, the drow's usually bright eye just a little bit brighter at the moment. It's good bourbon, and he's been trying to be a good boy about it. He's not plastered, what more could one ask?]

Excellent bourbon. Well aged by the taste of it, oak barrel. Very smooth, I'm quite impressed. Whoever bought this has impeccable taste, and quite a bit of disposable income.

[Definitely stolen and he's not even shy about it.]

Might I steal just a little of your time? I don't normally drink alone, and I find myself in dire need of good company and good conversation.

[subigito]

I don't think it counts as stealing if my time is freely given to you.

[ Astarion takes a seat on one of the barrels, the skittering of the rats forgotten for the moment as he watched Jarlaxle so happy with his prize for the night. It's endearing.

Even if he knows Jarlaxle could definitely stab him in his sleep without him being any the wiser for it. It can still be endearing!! ]

It is only a shame I can't share it with you. There's precious little in the way of anything enjoyable for me to drink out at sea like this .

[acheat]

A man of patience and charity as always.

[Oh sure he could, but the chances of if he would were astronomically low. Even if he felt no attraction at all for the other man, the brigand wasn't the type to go slitting throats left and right, or even at all if he could possibly help it.

But he did feel attraction. Plenty of it in fact. And while he may not be completely sloshed, that alcohol did well to heighten whatever potpourri of emotions that had started swirling about in his head when he first caught sight of Astarion down here. He shifted a bit, moving to lean forward and rest his head upon his hand, elbow perched on one lifted knee.]

A shame indeed, it's a fine drink that would only be made finer if I could share it with another... I wonder if you could have it if we found something fresh to mix it with.

[Fresh blood, of course. He was ever mindful of how Astarion seemed to shy away before at the idea of draining sapient things, but the idea of slaughtering a ship rat or a stray seagull just to mix good bourbon with it sounded terrible. And then expecting Astarion to drink that mess on top of that, practically an insult to both the man and the alcohol. He seemed genuinely vexed by this, his brows furrowing in thought as he drummed his fingers against the bottle.]

How terribly unfair.

[subigito]

Something to mix blood and alcohol--like you, perhaps?

[ He asks it without really thinking. A mixture of his usual flirting with a touch of a joke about his condition, which would be the perfect combination for him any day.

But it is more than that. He is hungry. He's been so good since he arrived in this world. So careful. These boat trips are the worst, and they only remind him of awful things. He needs to find a better solution if he's going to keep doing this.

And here a solution has presented itself! To his vampire brain its very straight forward. And that's working far quicker than the rest of him right now. ]

[acheat]

[Well now, he didn't expect that proposal. ... He wasn't about to act taken aback by it either but definitely wasn't expected! Nor was the first reaction a quick and careless rejection either. Astarion tossed out the suggestion of sampling the bourbon with the drow acting as the decanter, and Jarlaxle... Looked deeply thoughtful, swishing the bottle about as he eyed the other man.]

... Now. That is quite a suggestion.

[One that was now bringing something of a devilish smile to his face, the more he let it turn around in his head.]

It would be nothing short of cruelty to keep all this excellent bourbon to myself after all, and I would never count myself as a cruel man. And we are friends.

[Or extremely friendly acquaintances if nothing else. He fiddled with the collar of his shirt.]

... And I would do just about anything for a proper drinking companion...

[This wasn't even a 'convince me' scenario he was setting up, just mere theatrics before the inevitable 'yes' and he'd no intention of trying to make it look any other way.]

[subigito]

[ At the tug of the collar, Astarion swallows thickly and licks his lips, tongue passing over a fang to put it on display. A mostly subconscious gesture, as he's quite hungry and Jarlaxle really does look delicious. ]

There's really no reason for you to have to drink alone, when we can share. As you said, we're friends.

[ The way he says it sounds decidedly sexual, and not at all like regular friendship.

But he stops himself from getting up and crossing the distance between them. His knuckles are white where he's gripping the barrel. He desperately wants this, for all his teasing, calm composure says otherwise. ]

I'm sure you're delicious, alcohol or not. Something so fine can only complement the taste.

[acheat]

[If he wasn't wholly aware he was in essence teasing a starving man with a meal, he might have pressed it further. It was difficult to remember this wasn't all idle innuendo, after all. Not just little verbal foreplay, but a very real question of sharing his own blood, even with all the double meanings and promise of physical intimacy all tied up in it.

Astarion couldn't be making that more clear in his body language, Jarlaxle noting that grip upon the barrel, the look upon his face, the tone in his voice. It would be cruel, and for more reasons than simply denying someone the taste of good bourbon. He could now imagine in the back of his head the accusations of 'fool' he'd be hearing if any number of his typical companions could see this now, as he undid the button at the top of his shirt, and then another. More than enough to expose the full expanse of the drow's neck and the delicate curve of his collar bone.]

How could I refuse such a flattering request? And how could I leave you in the dark besides? I've wondered a few times in my life how I might taste to a more refined and practiced tongue.

[He took another, longer pull from the bottle of bourbon. After all, he had to make sure Astarion could actually taste the stuff, right? Fool echoed again in his head, that one sounded an awful lot like Artemis. With that, he set the bottle aside, reclining back upon the box with ample room for Astarion to join him, the smile on his face nothing short of rakish.]

I submit myself then, to your judgement. Spare me no details.

[subigito]

[ Astarion's heart races in his chest at the invitation, a mixture of anticipation and nerves all at once. ]

It can be a little cold. But I'll warm you up after.

[ A promise. He would happily show Jarlaxle the other things he can do with his tongue.

So he stands and crosses the short distance to the box Jarlaxle is on, and then he settles in beside him. The sound of his pulse is so loud, now. So tantalizing.

Astarion reached over to run a hand along Jarlaxle's exposed neck, a delicate touch for all that he's feeling him up for the best place to dig his fangs into. Jarlaxle's blood practically sings to him. A siren song, a promise of something deeply wonderful and all he had to do was take it.

He waits a moment longer, to give Jarlaxle the chance to say no or think better of this. But when that doesn't come, he leans forward and digs his fangs into the delicious vein running down his neck. ]

[acheat]

[A promise he hoped Astarion would keep, one that did well to lift the drow's heartrate a tick or two higher in anticipation. Oh he hoped so, he really did.

Obligingly, as Astarion ran his hand along his neck, Jarlaxle tilted his head back to expose it. A dangerous move on his part, the bourbon in his brain making it just a little easier to disobey centuries of ingrained instinct. A heavy helping of iron clad confidence didn't hurt either of course, though the drow never did quite look away from Astarion. The touch, despite the intention of it, was still a sensuous one to him, the touch of cool skin against his own heated body both soothing and tantalizing, with the growing sense of risk only adding to the thrill of it all.

No order to stop was coming; he met Astarion's gaze briefly before the other man would move in to seal the deal, as easy and calm as he'd been since the start. It was only when those fangs sunk into him that he'd react, hissing softly as sharp teeth pierced his flesh and buried themselves in his neck. They were sharp, cold, but the intimacy of the moment, the potential peril of it all, overpowered the discomfort quickly. Instead, it mixed into a feeling not unlike a heady aphrodisiac for the drow, ever the hopeless thrill seeker.

Without hesitation, he moved to cling to Astarion, the bottle completely forgotten as he gripped him with both hands, his fingers twisting into the shirt on the other man's back. The feeling of it, as the blood began to flow, drew a gentle but sudden gasp from him, the rush of air brushing past Astarion's ear.]

[subigito]

[ The second the blood hits his tongue, Astarion feels more alive than he's felt since he arrived here. Jarlaxle tastes incredible--he'd be intoxicating even without the hint of the bourbon.

But it is made even more pleasurable with how Jarxlaxle reacts. Tav was usually still, their reactions quiet. But this full-bodied response sends a shiver through him and he presses into Jarlaxle's hands, encouraging that closeness.

His own hands find a way to keep busy. One on the other side of Jarlaxle's neck to hold him, the other trailing down his front. He wants to touch and feel and take. Each moment longer that he drinks from him makes him bolder still. ]

[acheat]

[It was quite the feeling, something wholly unique. How could he not react to it? He'd bled many times before of course, in a myriad of different ways, some for the sake of pleasure but more than often not. None of them were as this, like this.

He didn't bother to resist the desire to press against him, encouraging if not subtly pleading for more. He managed to force one hand to loosen from the fist it had made in Astarion's shirt, seeking out his hair instead for a more tender touch there. Twining his fingers in soft white curls, his breathing hitching slightly as his heart hammered in his ears. The fine mixture of adrenaline and lust had always stoked a fire in him, and he shifted just enough to allow space for Astarion to touch him, just as hungry for him as the vampire was in return.

How far could he allow this to go, he wondered? How long did he have until he'd have to act? It almost felt cruel to have to tear Astarion away from a meal, but as exciting as this moment was, he'd rather not be a bloodless corpse in the belly of a ship. It was only when the very first feelings of lightheadedness hit that he made his move, still gripping the back of the other man's shirt.]

I've only so much to give.