October Catchall

[acheat]

Who: Jarlaxle and You
Status: Open
Where: All over, including the ocean!
What: Catchall for event stuff and whatever else might happen during the month of October.
Warnings: Smut's in here eventually RIP


Spirited | Nogard/Naughtilust]
[He's normally a little... eccentric, one could say. He's typically very energetic, so him being out on the town, specifically haunting every tavern, brothel, restaurant and entertainment establishment he can get into isn't necessarily strange!

It's really more the fact that he doesn't seem to be getting tired any time soon. Or perhaps it's the fact that he's been sitting here, talking, knocking back drink after drink after drink, and doesn't look like he's ready to call it a night at glass number seven.

Or maybe it's the endless, breathless, excited stories of, what else but,]

I would never lie about a ghost, look me in the face and tell me that I have the seeming of a liar.

[With his one visible eye over bright, the drow not even trying to put on a more serious face; that grin is as bright as it is wide, his words crisp and clear despite the tankard sitting in his hand half empty.]

They're far less terrifying than you've been lead to believe, I assure you. Intoxicating would be the better word for it, if I had to pick one at all. I wouldn't even say that they even appear frightening, unlike the spirits I'm familiar with from home. I've half a mind to go back out and find at least ten more before sunrise.

I'd be keen on company as well, should you have the heart and guts for it of course.

[You don't wanna be a big baby do you?]

[Bounties]

[Two texts appear on the shellphone, hours apart from the other.]

[first]

Seeking: fishing party for day excursion. Spoils to be split evenly between all members. If interested please respond to this message for further instruction.

Bring your own weapon. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏᵞᵒᵘ*

[Because that's a normal thing to ask for a fishing trip right]

[second]

Any thrill seekers out and about? Which one of you are interested in spicing up a boring evening with a little bit of specter spotting?

Potentially specter dispelling, it depends on if the spotting part is accomplished or not.

Comments

[acheat]

[You've no reason right now. It was left unsaid, there was no need to push that point. Perhaps this was all just paranoia, unearthed by the other night's troubles, maybe he was concerned about nothing. After all, he'd made the same mistake twice now, surely nothing would be worth making it a third time, not here especially.

The grim expression eased, replaced with another that still didn't fit the drow's face. He looked tired, every bit as old as he claimed he was before, watching Astarion for a moment with a searching look. Finally, even that smoothed over. Whatever would come would come. Maybe he was just overthinking the entire affair, and there was nothing he need really fear for the future.]

Hold yourself to that, for no one else will be able to for you.

[He finally uncrossed his arms, moving to cross the room with a few easy steps as the tension was apparently dropped from him. Unlikely, really, just quietly packaged up and pushed into another dusty corner to be 'forgotten' about. He'd rather not linger any more on such depressing topics after all, Astarion was right; the brooding did not suit him.

It would be abandoned in favor of an embrace, reaching for the other man to briefly wrap his arms about him in a warm, firm hug. The ghost of that tension was still there in his hands; Jarlaxle's fingers gripping just a little too tight to be just a simple expression of affection.]

I'm glad, that you came here. I feel better now, without that weight upon me.

[subigito]

[ Astarion watches these expressions weighing what he might want to say. But then it seems, blessedly, that the whole affair is over. That Jarlaxle is willing to let everything go, and that they're going to go back to normal.

But only for a moment.

Because then the hug comes and Astarion stiffens, his arms coming up like he's not sure if he should hug him back or push him off, tension obvious as he tries to decide. Of course he's just said he'll tell Jarlaxle no if it's something he truly doesn't want, and he did mean that.

It's just, he doesn't know what to do with this. He can count the number of times he's been hugged on one hand, and it's hard.

Especially because he can feel Jarlaxle's tension too. It's a heavy emotion, meant for him, and that's overwhelming.

For a long moment he stands there like this, gripped with indecision, and then finally he places his arms around Jarlaxle in kind. Awkward, unsure. But trying. ]

[acheat]

[He didn't push him away, or ask for him to stop. That was really all that mattered, though it was clear the other man was at a bit of a loss as to what to do.

The sheer awkwardness of it all actually managed to coax a laugh out of him, finally wholly breaking that entire, discomforting tension and silence. The hug turned more fraternal in an instant, with two firm pats on the other man's back before he pulled away, a hand on each shoulder.]

I'm sorry, I was overcome by the compulsion. I hardly meant to impose.

[And with that, he released him with a grin, now everything was back to normal.]

Next time, I'll warn you should I feel that particular impulse come over me again.

[subigito]

[ It ends up with another moment of mismatched feelings. Jarlaxle, finally calming, and Astarion, instead, left standing there not quite knowing how to process everything that just happened, or the fact he'd been laughed (pot, kettle) when he'd tried to reciprocate.

But he lets his hands fall and offers him a smile, at least able to play the part after all his years of practice. Far better that they move on from all of this. He could deal with the emotions later. ]

That's quite alright. There's no need to apologize.

[acheat]

[A mismatch of feelings, a mismatch of coping. It was a gap he could feel, but was still struggling to find a way to bridge. Amazing, really, how this felt so more uncomfortably intimate than sex. If it wasn't a feeling he was so well acquainted with, he might have thought about it for a moment. It'd be abandoned instead, giving Astarion back that space it seemed the other man needed.]

I'll find somewhere for the flowers.

[Moving on from it, trying to find a way to segue with as little awkwardness and with as little damage as possible. It was a task that was proving a little trying even for him.]

You are of course, welcome to join me for one last day out in Eltrut, before we return to Nogard, if it would please you. I do intend on being a bit lazier than usual today however, so I understand if you decline.

['Lazier' for obvious reasons that didn't need to be said, but a fair warning of potential boredom, and an easy out for Astarion as well.]

[subigito]

[ Some part of Astarion desperately does want to take the out and simply leave, because that would be much easier, and he wouldn't have to deal with his feelings, and he could literally do anything else instead.

But he also does want to ease things over and spend time with Jarlaxle. Not this awkward, strange time, but their normal kind of time. ]

I'd like that.