brave_kreyu | OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 12

"That will work," Ajax says, considering the light and his position. "If you are comfortable like that, I can start some sketches right now."

He chuckles. "We will need to take breaks, holding one position can be quite tiring. I will work on getting form, shape, first, then go in for details."

Skellig adjusts his body slightly to better settle himself into a position he can remain without growing too weary, nodding.

"One advantage to this form is that I am lighter than most," he admits. "So I do not tire quite as fast as a man might." He specifically does not say 'standard', 'normal', or 'regular' man - as he knows all too well what it feels like to be considered 'lesser' and he would not do that to another being.

After some time sketching, and some discussion of how to best position his wings to show them in the greatest detail - they pause for a refill of wine, and a refresh of their 'herbal' supplements which Ajax prepares while Skellig studies the work on the pages.

"These are quite good references, for as short of a time you have worked on them," he says. "It is quite clearly my form."

"Thank you," Ajax replies, clearly pleased. "I, I have shown my work to few," he admits. "A prince can seldom afford to make himself vulnerable in such a way, and more rarely still trust that the responses he receives are genuine."

"I had thought to try your face next, with the expression you would have her see?"

Nodding softly, Skellig considers this.

"It is just a gaze," he says. "But one that the first time I used it 'on' her, the results were..." He trails off, then clears his throat softly. "Quite...significant."

"Would you have me in the pose as I was before, or simply just view my face in the best light?"

"In the pose you were before, I think," he says after a few moments of thought. "I want to make sure I catch any changes in your body position caused by the gaze. Even very small changes can have a great effect."

Once Skellig is in position, Ajax speaks, his voice low. "Picture her in your mind, see her before you."

It is a very good thing that Kreyu's focus is intense on the wards she is discussing with Koschei - because otherwise she might pick up on the uptick in Skellig's heartrate as he thinks back to that moment in the hoard, surrounded by all the precious treasures that Heka had claimed...

And yet, the most stunning piece in the room was her. His wife, his mate, his dragon.

"She was the only thing I noticed," he mutters quietly, fixing his gaze - THAT gaze - on Ajax. "She usually is, when I lay eyes upon her in a space."

There is a subtle shift in his neck, the way he holds his head, the position of his fingers curled lightly against the 'silks' beneath him - very much a 'come and claim me' pose. Almost submissive in a sense, except he KNOWS that he is all that Kreyu wants, and he is smug about it.

Ajax's breath catches when Skellig fixes THAT gaze on him. He knows, oh he KNOWS, it isn't truly aimed at him, but it affects him a bit anyway.

He chuckles, low. "I'm not surprised that gaze affected her so," he tells Skellig. "If you had given ME such a gaze, before I met Koschei.." He clears his throat. "I would have done almost anything, to have someone look at me like that." There's love in Skellig's gaze as well as lust, complete focus, complete desire.

"I would have said the same, before finding Kreyu. She has completed my soul in ways that I never imagined possible, filled holes in my heart that I did not even know were gaping wide open. We have been together longer than you and Koschei... but I can sense when I see the way he looks at you, looks after you... he cares quite deeply for you."

He pauses.

"And it is you he looks at. Not your title or your crown. Your heart."

"I did not understand that, at first," Ajax confesses. "I quite enjoy sex, but if I am honest with myself I must admit that my many dalliances and escapades before Koschei were only ever partly about sexual gratification."

He takes a deep drink from his wine goblet. "In the throes of their want, their ecstasy, I could convince myself that they wanted ME." His smile turns sharp for a moment. "There were entirely too many nights where I would have gladly been used for their pleasure if it meant that they SAW Ajax and not the prince."

"Koschei, Koschei was different from the very moment that we met. I owe you and Kreyu more than I could ever repay, for sending him my way. Whatever is in my power to grant, is yours for the asking." That's no small promise, even from a prince once counted the least among his brothers.

Skellig is very well aware of just how much power that promise holds - which is why he is careful to accept it (because to decline it would be a massive slight to Ajax, and he would not ever want to do that) nodding softly.

"Kreyu was the first partner who I ever showed my wings," he says after a moment - and an equally deep drink. "It was...even though we did not meet initially with the intention of laying together, I had always feared that a partner might...focus on them, rather than me, which I understand. But still...it would be similar to your title or crown."

Ajax nods. "They are a part of you, but only a part." He sighs. "I suppose people are people everywhere, for better and for worse."

Koschei's laughter can be heard from the other room, Kreyu's too, during the discussion of some wild theory Ajax and Skellig find mostly incomprehensible. "More for the better, lately. Far more than I had thought possible."

"There is a shift in the energy, it seems," Skellig offers as 'explanation'. "I choose to believe that the changes we are noticing are perhaps a sign of better things in the horizon. I know that is difficult, especially given recent events..."

Even when your brother is trying to have you killed, the man is still your family, your blood and kin.

"Despite everything, I am more happy, more free, than I have ever been," Ajax admits. His lips quirk in a grin. "And I think even Fate would have difficulty making Koschei leave me."

"Fate would have quite the fight on Their hands," Skellig agrees with a laugh of his own. "Not only with Koschei's might to contend with, but his will is quite strong, also."

From his first meeting with the other dragon, it was clear - what he wants, he can generally get. Plus, he can MOVE THROUGH STONE. That one will still take time for Skellig to understand.

"He is so very strong, body and soul," Ajax agrees. "But he has a very gentle touch." Ajax's smile turns a bit sappy.

He lifts his cup, finds it empty. "And I should get back to my work. Especially since I think you would like to surprise her with this gift?"

"I would," Skellig says. "But with the things I am hearing from the rest of the House, and with our plans still quite flexible... it is not a huge rush to finish in one sitting. I would not expect it."

Plus, he does quite enjoy talking with Ajax, he's discovered. They can both be equally as sappy while speaking about their partners without worry of being judged!

With another round of wine and a few different side-sketches (closeups of his hands and feet, as well as some notations about his wings scribbled off to the side of one page) done, he does find himself growing slightly tired. "You know they will want to put their... efforts..." He glances towards the other doorway when another round of laughter echoes their direction. "Into practice, and it will be safer if they do that away from others. They may have to travel outside the city for that... it might give us an opportunity to finish on another day?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Ajax replies. He carefully packs away his sketches as the conversation in the other room is winding down. No sign of the session will be readily visible by the time Kreyu comes through the door, a small basket containing the brewed moly and two cups in one hand.

"I'm so sorry, love," she tells Skellig, a bit embarrassed. "I got into discussing ward theory with Koschei and entirely lost track of time. I didn't mean to abandon you."

It does not take much time at all to fix his clothes and loop his amulet back over his neck, hiding away his wings once more - another feather that falls is given to Ajax, so he can study it later.

"You have no need to apologize," Skellig shakes his head as Kreyu enters the room, rising from his spot on the lounge. "Ajax and myself got into a quite interesting discussion ourselves about the arts and we did not wish to interrupt what you and Koschei were involved in."

He wraps one arm around her waist, hugging gently as he presses his lips to her hair. "It is not mandated that we spend every waking moment with each other," he whispers.

She looks relieved at his words about their conversation, and he can FEEL her relax at his hug, his lips to her hair, his whispered words. Her worry is fading. "Thank you, love," she whispers back.

She turns to Ajax. "Koschei has a surprise of some kind planned for you, though he refused to even hint as to what it was," she tells him.

Ajax flushes a little, laughs. "That sounds like him. I should go and see what he has in store for me, let him fuss over me a bit. Will make both of us feel better, after the events of the last few days."

Knowing what he does of Koschei - and even though it is not much, he was clearly able to sense the care and concern that the other dragon has for his 'mate', and he suspects that means whatever surprise that is in store for Ajax is one he will likely greatly enjoy.

"We all deserve to be fussed over on occasion," Skellig says, clasping Ajax's forearm gently. "Enjoy your surprise. And thank you for your conversation this evening," he adds with a faint smile - once that Ajax will understand the meaning of. "I look forward to continuing it later."

Once they have said their farewells for the evening and made it back to their suite safely, Skellig begins to work on shedding his chiton to change into something more comfortable. He waits until he can sense that she has 'set' the wards before he removes the amulet, shaking his wings out to stretch them once they are free.

"The advantage of my delay is that the moly had plenty of time to brew," she explains as she removes the pins from her hair. "The strength is right, but I suspect it is slightly older than what my temple prefers."

"The flowers are lovely, when they bloom. It only happens every few years, all across the islands at once. Delicate white flowers will cover the mountain, and they glow faintly in the dark."

"That sounds lovely. I look forward to getting to see it, someday."

Moving to stand behind her, he automatically reaches for one of the pins that is closer to the back of her head, to help unwind her hair from it. (Does she need his help? Not really. Is that going to stop him from finding an excuse to be close to her and have his fingers in her hair? Absolutely not.) "Koschei would really not tell you what the surprise he has planned is?"

"They should bloom next year, would be easy enough to take a quick vacation from the village to see them."

She likes him being close, likes his help. The pins are textured, easy to grasp in his fingers. She sighs in pleasure as he starts to remove the pins. "He would not, but I have my suspicions." She grins, knowing he will feel it in her energy even if he can't see it. "Earth dragons are not the fastest or most agile in the air, but they CAN fly."

Skellig's energy brightens at that. "Oh, he will be thrilled if that is the case," he says. "We spoke at length about his work with sketches, and he showed me some of the pieces he has worked on since having Koschei at his side. He is grateful for an honest opinion on them, one that does not come from a man who would simply kneel before his title before all else."

He collects the pins methodically from her hair, taking a moment to lightly massage any spots where they were placed particularly tight to help things stay in place.

"His studies of birds are quite detailed," he continues. "We discussed a bit how that stems from his desire for freedom...which now he feels he has, with Koschei. His Light is much better, than it was before," he adds. "Less tainted by Dark."

Kreyu brightens at the news that Ajax's Light is much better. "I had hoped that was the case, but I was not sure. There was so much pain in him, when we first met, locked deep inside."

The last of the pins comes free in his hands, her hair flowing over his fingers.

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