✘ Round 3 | [Audio]

[glacius]

[Despite things in his apartment being a little bit more complicated than usual, Glacius comes to the network today with a relatively straightforward question. Since Carlisle has sequestered himself away in his room--again, a concerning tendency that has developed only recently-- he assumes now is as good a time as any, though he doesn't particularly care if the clergyman sees it or not. One way or another he's going to find out what the alien is up to, he'd just prefer his efforts to culminate in a nice surprise for his friend.] Hello, fellow residents of Hadriel. I have a simple question, so I will get right to it: is there anyone here would happen to be kind enough to teach me how to make any dishes or meals that are commonly enjoyed by humans?

I live amongst you now, after all, so I should... probably know how to better provide for my friends. You can leave recipes here--or if you are feeling particularly inclined, I would be willing to take lessons as well. It would have to be in your residence, however... I doubt my roommate is currently up to entertaining company, and I do not want to infringe upon what I assume is wanted space.

Thank you for your time.

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[glacius]

[That is quite the confession--and though he does press back against his partner when the clergyman's gesture of solidarity and affection turns to something more intimate, now it is Glacius' turn to not know how to respond for a few moments. Not because he doesn't appreciate the sentiment--he very much does, but because his gut reaction is to say he doesn't know if he feels the same. This cave had pulled him from his people and his mission, forcing his isolation to endure long past the time when he should have been able to return to his own world; it had made him endure suffering on par with--if not worse than--his torments at the hand of Ultratech. It had forced him to watch friends die.

... But if he was never brought here, then he wouldn't have made those friends to begin with. He likely wouldn't have gotten the expanded perspective of humanity that he has now, and thus would likely never have felt as justified in his mission to protect the young species. More importantly, he wouldn't have forged the loving, supportive relationship that he has now... and if he had just moment ago admitted to his partner that he was coming to value this life as much as the old one, then why would he change it? As long as he can still return to his world to set everything right one day, there's no real reason to.

The thought that time might actually be progressing in their own worlds while they're here and that Ultratech might be running wild with his technology is a hefty helping of regrets that he'll suffer through when or if it turns out to be true. For now, he chooses to focus on appreciating what's right before him, tangling his legs with the human resting on top of him and slipping one hand between them to rub intimately at the scars across his partner's abdomen.] At this point, Carlisle... I... I can't say that I would either.

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle pulls in a quiet breath as Glacius' hand presses against his sensitive scarring; he mirrors the patterns the alien draws across them on Glacius' marred mandible before he drags his hand downward, his fingers lingering along the tendons in the icy warrior's neck.

He's apparently ready to try this intimacy thing again. He doesn't want to overthink it, doesn't want to lose the feeling building in his chest -- he might not know exactly what that feeling is, but it's there, a seedling nurtured with every moment he spends in the alien's company. With time and care, it will blossom further, as it already has in ways Carlisle never expected.]

[glacius]

[Glacius will do his best to tend to that budding feeling with as much care as Carlisle had tended to the seeds of his own garden; hopefully tending to the clegryman himself will be a good way of helping it blossom. The ice alien tilts his head back--thank the Makers for the pillows, which help to cushion his gill arches-- to allow his partner easier access to his hollows. Without some added stimulation, focusing solely on the anchoring tendons in his neck is a more effective way of putting him in a state of total relaxation--which is valuable when it comes to soothing, but maybe a little counter-productive when it comes to attempting to rile him.]

[tongueamok]

[It may be counterproductive, but Carlisle seems to like the results nonetheless: he keeps working those tendons for another minute, his fingers pressing against them, pulling at them as he drags his hands up, then down in a slow cycle to match the gentle caress Glacius has given his scars.

Making a mental note to write down this reaction later, he finally lets his hands make their way back to the alien's jawline. Glacius might be the one getting special attention, but Carlisle has done nothing but burn deeper the entire time, his face very red by the time he goes for the crags along Glacius' mandible. He's clearly enjoying the fact that he can cause such relaxation in his partner... and without compulsion. They're are doing this of their own accord, he reminds himself. This is them, and nothing else.]

[glacius]

[At this point, the ice alien's brain is churning too sluggishly through the thick fog of relaxation and pleasure to question why Carlisle has not taken him up yet on his unspoked invitation. As he continues to focus on his neck, the clergyman can probably feel the way every muscle in Glacius' body begins to relax--the closest he can get to a puddle without involving his species' ability of actual liquidizing.

He only seems to come around a little bit more when his partner finally shifts his focus up to the on intact crevice underneath his mandibular support. The ice alien's eyes don't open, but his hand does start to move again, dipping lower towards his hips as he slings one leg up and over the clergyman to keep their hips flush. Finally, a deep chuckle rolls up and out of Glacius' gills.] Learning new things every time, I see. You'll have me thawed if you keep this up.

[tongueamok]

[Glacius' movement around him surprises Carlisle just a bit, but he doesn't mind the closeness as his hips are drawn against his partner's. He lets out a quiet, nervous chuckle at the compliment.]

I truly am trying to remember what, er. What attention does what for you.

[He wants so badly to be a good partner.]

[glacius]

You seem to be sorting it out quite well. [Glacius replies, attempting to reassure Carlisle that he's better than good to him.] I think I've been managing the same alright, but if there's every anything... more I can do for you, Carlisle, please don't hesitate to let me know. Anything that makes me better suited for pleasing you is something I want to pursue.

[tongueamok]

I admit that I think you might be better at knowing what pleases me than I am.

[Which, given how full of self-loathing and lacking in any kind of self-love Carlisle is, probably isn't a surprise. His scratching at Glacius' jaw and mandible continues, stronger, more confident.]

I, ah. I like what we've done so far, despite my occasional struggles.

[glacius]

Well, that's very good to hear. If you didn't like it I think we could safely assume I was doing something wrong, now couldn't we? [Glacius chuckles, torn between tilting his head back to bask in the solid scratching he's receiving, or to try and look his partner in the eye. He opts for the latter, as he'd very much like to encourage the clergyman to similarly revel as he uses the leg pinning them together to make it easier to rock his hips against Carlisle's.]

[tongueamok]

[The look Glacius gives him makes Carlisle look away, though not from shame -- it's just a reflex, one betrayed by the smile on his face. He's enjoying the attention, and returns it with more vigorous massaging along his partner's face, his nails barely catching along the crevices, his breath picking up just a hair as he joins Glacius in rhythmic rocking.]

I- I'm not sure you could do wrong. If anything, I believe my inexperience and lack of, ah. Clear communication would be the primary problem, not you.

[glacius]

It hasn't been a problem yet, so I can't see it becoming one. If anything, I like it that I get to help you experience entirely new things. [As if the smile that takes over the alien's features in that moment isn't evidence enough, pleased not only with his partner's reactions but with the way he easily falls into rhythm.] Besides, you communicate very well when it comes right down to it.

[And he continues to rock in time with the stroking of his hand, letting it drift lower over each dark purple mark across Carlisle's abdomen--attempting to encourage some of his pleased vocalizations as he lets slip his own in response to the adamant massaging he's receiving.]

[tongueamok]

[The longer Glacius rubs at his middle, the harder Carlisle finds it to concentrate on his own work on the alien's jaw. His fingers tighten bit by bit until he can no longer claw at the curves of the Glacius' remaining mandible; the pressure against his old wounds, so sensitive to touch and magic alike, causes him to draw back, his forehead landing along the side of Glacius' neck as his body curls inward. With his hips still locked against Glacius' own, it's all he can do to keep up with the alien's rocking, the friction between them undeniably good.

Ah, he should communicate that, he reminds himself belatedly. So much for doing well at that.]

This is good.

[He tries to unfurl his fingers to keep at Glacius' mandible, but every subsequent grind against him makes them curl once more.]

[glacius]

[Carlisle may be losing some of his focus, but that frees up some of Glacius'; he's afforded a bit more room to think without incessant waves of pleasure rolling through him. They've done their job, though--there is a distinct lack of ice coating the alien's hips, pelvis, and thighs, and with nothing between them but the thin layer of fabric comprising the clergyman's boxers, it makes the combined motions of their hips absolutely intoxicating.

It's enough that after a moment, all of the otherworldy being's gills open to release a moan, and he takes the opportunity to switch up from rocking to some shamelessly needy grinding.] B--better than good-- you feel so good, Carlisle.

[tongueamok]

[With just the boxers between them and his robe hanging along his arms, there's not much left to the imagination in terms of how Carlisle feels about that needy grinding against him. His hands curl tighter, his breath faster, sharper with each intake; he's trying not to gasp, but the way his entire chest shudders fools no one.]

I- I do. [He utters that quiet agreement, not really thinking about the words until a second later, when his sensation-addled brain catches up.] I mean, ah. So do you against— [there's that heavy gasp that's been itching at his throat] —against me like that. It's- it's not too hot for you?

[He gives his partner a slightly worried look. Despite their intimate moments, he can't help but worry with so much of Glacius' underbody being exposed.]

[glacius]

[Glacius has used his imagination enough after their last encounter, anyways-- fond memories playing back in his head in his idle moments. Getting the chance to be intimate with his partner once more is something he's been genuinely looking forward to, and waiting for it has just made it feel all the better. He's not going to be dissuaded.] Nnn-no. Not too hot... not as long as I only bare myself locally...

[Granted, being exposed to warm air and body heat isn't the most comfortable thing ever for a creature that thrives in the cold, but he's seemed to have decided that it's worth it... and he knows it won't be long before he can't focus on minor discomforts like that anyways, with the way this makes him feel.] ...I'm... I'm being careful, Carlisle. Now come down here... I want to kiss you. [It was something he hadn't requested before because he didn't want to interrupt the skritching he was receiving... but now that the clergyman is a bit too distracted, he's going to take full advantage.]

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle wonders for a moment if Glacius really would tell him if he was getting too hot, or if he'd say otherwise so as not to cause him more worry; however, he decides to save any further questions for another day, when he's not thinking so hard on the desirous pressure welling in his gut or the request his partner is making of him.

He nods, leaning forward, one hand going to its familiar place along Glacius' scar.]

I'd like that. I mean, I'd like anything from you, but I find that your method of kissing seems less, ah. Disturbing than the mouth-to-mouth embrace of my kind. Yours is more, er. Palatable, if I do say so.

[What he should probably do is tell himself to stop overanalyzing things, especially when his boyfriend is attempting to shower him with affection and distract him from such pursuits.]

[glacius]

[Glacius begins to crane his head up, bringing the point of his one remaining mandible towards Carlisle's neck--but the clergyman's stream of words does seem to distract him, and he pulls back slightly to look at his partner.] Wait, you--your species has another means of expressing affection? Should I, um. Be doing something different, or..? [He doesn't have a mouth with which to initiate such a... strange-sounding "embrace" as Carlisle has put it, but the thought that there's something that human partners share that he can't provide is a little bit distressing. He wants to be able to give the clergyman everything he might want... and he wants to prove himself to be a worthy and desirable partner, too.]

[tongueamok]

[The smile Carlisle has plastered across his face as he awaits his partner's kiss fades when it doesn't come, replaced with confusion and quiet alarm.]

What? No no, there's nothing different you should be doing. I prefer it this way. The way humans do it is, um.

[Hm. Glacius sure doesn't have a mouth for him to demonstrate.]

Right. [He takes in a breath, his face still red as a bead of sweat runs down his temple.] What humans do for a kiss is that they, ah. They kind of place their mouths together, like if you had a mouth here— [he touches the front of Glacius' face, between his nasal ridge and his jaw] —and then I put my mouth there, as well, and you hold it there for, um. Well, however long, I suppose.

[Somehow, just explaining it made it sound far more awful than it was in reality, and that was to a man who didn't particularly find the idea attractive at all. Mouths could be so disgusting, and there was no telling when people had cleaned them.] I like what we have, or what- what we've been doing. It's- it's not really a human kiss, but s- something more familiar to you, I assume, and more comfortable to me.

[glacius]

[Glacius blinks in surprise, tries briefly to look down at where Carlisle is prodding him, before flicking his eyes back up to his partner. This all constitutes a winding, more than a little befuddling explanation, and it's not exactly helping him picture how this could be enjoyable or attractive... but then, it doesn't sound like Carlisle really has it sorted either.

He's not about to shy away from trying something new together, though--so rather than let the human continue to prattle on the ice alien cranes his neck out once more and tilts his head so that he can gently press the concave curve below his nasal ridge to his partner's lips. It's a gentle invitation for Carlisle to try it out--if he finds it as awkward as he claims, then he's free to move away and tilt his head up to initiate what has become their familiar method of kissing. No matter what they settle on, what is most important to Glacius is that they find something that makes them both happy.]

[tongueamok]

[Though he was about to prattle on about a few different methods for affectionate displays from the various races of his world (as described to him in painful detail by his uncle Benistad), Carlisle finds himself interrupted as Glacius presses that lower curve of his face to his lips, clearly wanting to try out this human form of a kiss. With a lack of hesitation that he will later find surprising, Carlisle returns the gesture. Who better to try this with than his partner, the being he trusts more in this world than even himself?

Ultimately, he finds it all right, but about like pressing his lips to a wall. The other way seemed more... them somehow, like an evolution of them bumping foreheads together. He pulls away just briefly, quiet frustration on his face that what should seem right to him just doesn't. It does to so many others, after all, so why not him?

He doesn't want that pause to send the wrong message to Glacius, though; it's not the alien's fault that he has so many reservations. He puts his other hand along Glacius' face and pulls him close, tilting his head just to the side and pressing the bridge of his nose against it. There -- maybe he just doesn't like change, or perhaps he's scared of adding anything new into a situation that he's still not fully accustomed to, but that's more them somehow.

His voice is quiet as he finds it again, a far cry from the nervous chatter of before.]

I like this better. I- I like what we've found together that works.

[He lets his robe slide completely off his arms as his hand returns to Glacius' scarring, finding the familiar grooves along the old wound as he presses harder against his partner -- his lover.]

I- I like us. It doesn't have to be like- like your kind or my kind or anyone, so long as- so long as it's ours, right?

[He pauses there, waiting for confirmation. He wants to hear it this time -- he needs to hear it.]

[glacius]

[Glacius chirps softly as he feels Carlisle actually press his lips to the gentle inward curve of his icy shell. It feels nice, though that region of his body isn't particularly sensitive, so most of the pleasure he garners comes from simply knowing it's an expression of intimacy that the clergyman hasn't and will not share with anyone else. It doesn't last long, however, as his partner ultimately pulls away--and it's hard for the ice alien to miss the brief look of frustration on Carlisle's face.

Eager to allay any worries the clergyman might have, the otherworldly being presses his face back against his, uttering a reassuring chirp.] Of course, Carlisle. Us is what matters most. No one or nothing else dictates what we must do-- the only thing that matters most is that we are both happy. And knowing that you are happy and comfortable, makes me so as well.

[tongueamok]

[Relief washes over Carlisle, who nuzzles against Glacius with full vigor once more, hoping to demonstrate just how much their coupling means to him. He presses himself against the ruined side of Glacius' face,the marred skin soft against his brow; his hand on the opposite side works into the hollows around the alien's mandible, going for those areas he knows will get a positive reaction.

He reinforces his actions with words. He likes words, after all.] Then let us revel in this. In us.

[glacius]

[That suggestion gets a pleased, rumbling purr out of the alien.] See? You know exactly what to do here.

[Then he has to let words go; everything Carlisle is doing does elicit not only a positive reaction, but an immediate one; Glacius tilts his head back again to make it easier for the human to access the malleable flesh tucked up underneath his jawline, bucking his hips sharply against his partner as a pleased growl breaks forth from his throat. The hand over the clergyman's scars spasms briefly, struggling to continue its intimate massage over those trailing purple marks in the midst of everything he's feeling. It's only after a moment that he seems to remember his initial goal and, with another lustful snarl, he brings one hand up to the back of Calisle's head, trying to bring his neck and jaw into reach so that he can rake his mandibles over them. With their hips flush as they are, it's easy enough to feel his partner's arousal, and he's desperate t o do whatever he can to encourage that further.]

[tongueamok]

[Arousal indeed. That buck of Glacius' hips gets another gasp from Carlsile, one drawn in as the sudden, heavy friction against said arousal sends a shiver up his spine. His nails rake along the flesh at Glacius' jaw as a shaky, quiet moan rattles through his throat.

He's about to try to cover for it with more words, but his icy partner gets to him first, drawing him closer. The point at his neck sends that same shudder down his back, the feeling of it pooling in his abdomen as he soaks in the alien's peculiar kisses, every instant the mandible is against his flesh more intense than the last. Soon enough, it's his hips that buck unexpectedly, the touch of his partner against him -- along the muscles in his neck, at the back of his head and through his hair, against his scars and legs and everything between -- becoming too much for him to control.]

[glacius]

[Every reaction out of Carlisle--each one more affected than the last--are shivers and sounds to be savored, right up until the point where the clergyman finally loses his composure and his body takes over for him. At that point Glacius chuckles as he indulges his partner's wants and rocks back against him, the sound breathy, pleased... and though he'd like to keep his leg wrapped over his partner so that they remain tightly locked together, there's one thing that needs doing, first.

The hand on Carlisle's scars drifts lower, one large thumb hooking into the waistband of his underwear as he starts to pull it downward, over the curve of his backside. It's much easier without a belt in the way, the alien is pleased to discover, but he'll still need some cooperation to remove them all the way given how entangled their legs are.] Get this... out of the way... I want to truly feel you, Carlisle.