Bialar Crais (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notleavingquietly) wrote2037-07-18 11:23 pm
notleavingquietly) wrote2037-07-18 11:23 pm
IC Contact Post
I may need to negotiate for more than one drink if it isn't your dick, but fine.
( a small box shows up on the doorstep of crais' shared bunk apartments in the down with his name on it in large, blocky all-caps.
inside it there's an assortment of fruits, heavy on the citrus. yes, grapefruits are there. everything is labelled with post-its so there's no confusion about which is which
and in very large bold letters on the underside of the top flaps of the box it says either
PEEL THESE, ASSHOLE
or
PEEL ASSHOLE THESE,
(whichever way you choose to read it.) )
inside it there's an assortment of fruits, heavy on the citrus. yes, grapefruits are there. everything is labelled with post-its so there's no confusion about which is which
and in very large bold letters on the underside of the top flaps of the box it says either
PEEL THESE, ASSHOLE
or
PEEL ASSHOLE THESE,
(whichever way you choose to read it.) )
[ He does not have one single doubt who the box is from. Not just because there is no one else he has had any discussion about fruit with, or even the notation that he needs to peel the fruit, but because he can't think of a single other person who calls him Asshole like its his name-
and more importantly that can call him an asshole and have him not mind at all.
He's halfway through a grapefruit (which is also eaten like an orange), before he does something with that knowledge and texts Cyram. ]
This is a bribe to stop me from letting anyone know I've seen your soft underbelly isn't it?
(Thank you).
and more importantly that can call him an asshole and have him not mind at all.
He's halfway through a grapefruit (which is also eaten like an orange), before he does something with that knowledge and texts Cyram. ]
This is a bribe to stop me from letting anyone know I've seen your soft underbelly isn't it?
(Thank you).
( he's up early — or maybe he didn't sleep, who knows. either way, he's sitting out on the couch lightly playing the guitar when crais comes out of the bedroom.
there's a collar sitting on the coffee table in front of him, and cy nods to it. it's not crais' usual one, though it's at least it's in a similar unadorned style, it's got red accents. it's clearly something he's acquired, and there's only one obvious purpose to a collar. )
Put that on for me, will you?
there's a collar sitting on the coffee table in front of him, and cy nods to it. it's not crais' usual one, though it's at least it's in a similar unadorned style, it's got red accents. it's clearly something he's acquired, and there's only one obvious purpose to a collar. )
Put that on for me, will you?
[ Crais is still just a touch sleepy when he comes out of the bedroom, and he is headed toward the kitchen. He slows at the sight of Cyram, but completely stops at the sight of the collar.
Slightly sleepy means he's... softer, but it also means he has less mental acuity than he would be after being up longer. Also less verbose.
He's a bit wary in an abstract sense (and it's a very little bit, and of the collar itself, somehow, rather than Cyram), but not resistant. He is, however, also a bit confused in that exact moment. ]
For any particular reason?
Slightly sleepy means he's... softer, but it also means he has less mental acuity than he would be after being up longer. Also less verbose.
He's a bit wary in an abstract sense (and it's a very little bit, and of the collar itself, somehow, rather than Cyram), but not resistant. He is, however, also a bit confused in that exact moment. ]
For any particular reason?
[ A short time after Nate has gone back to his own apartment, and coincidentally on the same morning Cy has decided to hunt down Stephen, Nate sends a gift to Crais.
The guy had hardly known him, after all, and he'd put up with him for like two weeks. So, with that in mind, he sends him a basket of what he can only assume to be his favourite fruit.
There's a note pinned to it saying: ]
Thanks for tolerating me. See you soon,
Nate.
The guy had hardly known him, after all, and he'd put up with him for like two weeks. So, with that in mind, he sends him a basket of what he can only assume to be his favourite fruit.
There's a note pinned to it saying: ]
Thanks for tolerating me. See you soon,
Nate.
[ He very much appreciates and enjoys that everyone's default gift to him seems to be fruit, but he is completely lost on this one, for a couple of reasons.
So after eating one of those mangoes, he goes about getting in touch. ]
You aren't difficult to 'put up with' and I enjoy sharing space with others.
I appreciated the gift, though I have to ask: Was there a sell on mango?
So after eating one of those mangoes, he goes about getting in touch. ]
You aren't difficult to 'put up with' and I enjoy sharing space with others.
I appreciated the gift, though I have to ask: Was there a sell on mango?
( waking up on the floor is not an altogether unique experience for him. he tends to prefer harder surfaces anyway — he's slept in shitty places more often than he's slept in nice ones throughout the long, long years of his life, so really the most surprising thing is that he's got a pillow and a roof over his head and one leg slung oddly over the living room couch and the most killer fucking headache he's had in so long he actually wonders if someone shot him in his sleep. probably multiple times.
here's a funny thing: he can't get drunk.
can't get drunk, can't get hungover. he has no memory of having ever been hungover. the only thing that he could imagine as comparable is when he woke up in the shrine crypt after iantha did her magic mojo on his mind, and he spent a few hundred years in a coma. christ his head had felt like it was screwed on sideways for years.
so it's about like that, really, which is why he just instantly grimaces and gets up, makes a beeline for the kitchen so he can make some coffee, which is more psychologically bracing than caffeine inducing where he's concerned.
he's pretty sure crais will be awake by now, since the clock reads shortly after seven, so he just calls out: )
Hey, asshole, you want a hot chocolate while I'm up?
( 'good morning to you.' he halfway assumes that maybe the city drugged him or something weird like that. high dose of aphro, or another round of tentacle sex that he's just instantly blocked out and that's the end of it. but he'll ask, once crais wanders out of the bedroom. )
here's a funny thing: he can't get drunk.
can't get drunk, can't get hungover. he has no memory of having ever been hungover. the only thing that he could imagine as comparable is when he woke up in the shrine crypt after iantha did her magic mojo on his mind, and he spent a few hundred years in a coma. christ his head had felt like it was screwed on sideways for years.
so it's about like that, really, which is why he just instantly grimaces and gets up, makes a beeline for the kitchen so he can make some coffee, which is more psychologically bracing than caffeine inducing where he's concerned.
he's pretty sure crais will be awake by now, since the clock reads shortly after seven, so he just calls out: )
Hey, asshole, you want a hot chocolate while I'm up?
( 'good morning to you.' he halfway assumes that maybe the city drugged him or something weird like that. high dose of aphro, or another round of tentacle sex that he's just instantly blocked out and that's the end of it. but he'll ask, once crais wanders out of the bedroom. )
[ He's been pretty reluctant to sleep too deeply, while also trying to make sure Auhle was never unsupervised or at risk of wandering out into Duplicity and getting into an enormous amount of trouble (that would create, at least, complication for Crais).
He has also been hoping like frell that Cyram would reappear at some point, though not at all sure the hope was a reasonable think to have.
To whit, he's asleep when Cyram leaves the room but wakes up pretty danged quickly when he's spoken to.
He does not return the call, but gets up and goes into the kitchen, wearing the loose pants he sleeps in and pulling his hair back as he does. ]
You're back - and yes, I do.
He has also been hoping like frell that Cyram would reappear at some point, though not at all sure the hope was a reasonable think to have.
To whit, he's asleep when Cyram leaves the room but wakes up pretty danged quickly when he's spoken to.
He does not return the call, but gets up and goes into the kitchen, wearing the loose pants he sleeps in and pulling his hair back as he does. ]
You're back - and yes, I do.
( whenever crais comes home, there are a series of canes left out on the coffee table. each one has a neat, handwritten note describing the sensation it induces — he sticks mostly to bdsm vernacular. 'intense, thuddy, more likely to bruise' versus 'lighter, springy, less intense' and so on and so forth. there are maybe ten laid out and arrayed this way, and then there's a brief missive that adds:
we're doing a scene tonight. pick your poison. thirty strokes, i won't be nice about them. i'll be back at 1900, be ready.
yours,
cy. )
we're doing a scene tonight. pick your poison. thirty strokes, i won't be nice about them. i'll be back at 1900, be ready.
yours,
cy. )
[ He wouldn't be able to articulate (at least not well) why this method of presentation -note, information, display - is better for him than Cyram bringing it to him directly and in person. He does, however, recognize that it is.
Because it gives him a whole lot of freedom he would not necessarily have felt he had in Cy's presence. It prevents a knee-jerk reaction (either for or against) to the more direct language, too. It gives him time to read the notes, explore the canes themselves, and make a decision-
-not just about the cane, but about agreeing to the terms or not. It is an opt in (and Crais knows it) since all he has to do to opt outis not choose and not be there.
It's just a fairly soft entry.
Exploring the canes actually means playing with them a bit. His choice is not the most intense option, but it is absolutely something more likely to bruise than raise welts, more thud than sting, deeper sensation.
He turns that perpendicular to the others, leaving them all on the coffee table while he showers. Gets his hair back and dresses again because what does 'be ready' here mean, beyond mentally? He doesn't know.
He is, however, sitting on the sofa reading a book when Cyram comes back in and immediately looks up, sets the book aside, and picks up his choice of cane. ]
Two things. One: I am reading scene to mean a thing we are choosing to engage in for satisfaction. If this is meant to have an element of punishment for something you can frell yourself. [ Direct that, but not angry at all. Just clarity and an expression of some mild nerves and a need to be clear. ] Two: Don't insult me while this is happening, even playfully.
Because it gives him a whole lot of freedom he would not necessarily have felt he had in Cy's presence. It prevents a knee-jerk reaction (either for or against) to the more direct language, too. It gives him time to read the notes, explore the canes themselves, and make a decision-
-not just about the cane, but about agreeing to the terms or not. It is an opt in (and Crais knows it) since all he has to do to opt outis not choose and not be there.
It's just a fairly soft entry.
Exploring the canes actually means playing with them a bit. His choice is not the most intense option, but it is absolutely something more likely to bruise than raise welts, more thud than sting, deeper sensation.
He turns that perpendicular to the others, leaving them all on the coffee table while he showers. Gets his hair back and dresses again because what does 'be ready' here mean, beyond mentally? He doesn't know.
He is, however, sitting on the sofa reading a book when Cyram comes back in and immediately looks up, sets the book aside, and picks up his choice of cane. ]
Two things. One: I am reading scene to mean a thing we are choosing to engage in for satisfaction. If this is meant to have an element of punishment for something you can frell yourself. [ Direct that, but not angry at all. Just clarity and an expression of some mild nerves and a need to be clear. ] Two: Don't insult me while this is happening, even playfully.
﹙ this comes in the small hours of the morning after their fight. the keen eye to punctuation is a rarity — maybe it's crais' first indication that the kids ain't all right. ﹚
I told you once I did a good deed I regret.
When I was Auhle, I came across someone dying near a stream. I remember this part. I tried to help him. It was summer. I could smell fall in the air. I was out harvesting grain. I remember the chaff was itching where it got into my shirt. I'd gone down to the creek to wash off.
He wasn't a mortal. His name was Kulo Vayn. He'd gotten in loads of shit, magic godkilling sword, et cetera, yada yada. They don't make 'em like that anymore. The specifics don't matter. His body was done for, mine wasn't. He possessed me. He's the actual God of War, I'm just a vessel. It's why I can't use all of his powers. Just a few shitty perks.
I don't know how long it was, so don't ask. Could have been a year. Could have been a thousand. I was just nothing. A passenger in my own body, everything blacker than a nightmare. I couldn't speak or move. So I watched. I told you before what I've done. Murder, rape, torture, you name it, I was there for all of it. He liked to kill people. Watch the light leave their eyes.
I know you're going to say it's different because I was helpless but don't you fucking dare. Don't. It's not the same. It doesn't fucking matter. It was always my hands, Crais. He used to skin people. Start 'em upside down, at the ankles. They're still alive by the time you get to the neck that way. I remember closing my fingers against the throats of children and squeezing. Kids. Thousands on thousands of people begging for their lives. Of all the things I can't fucking remember you think I'd have lost some of that shit in the fray, but I haven't. I could draw every face. Tell you which ones died brave.
I couldn't do fuck all else but watch, and sleep. Sometimes. One of the other gods, Iantha, found me there. Goddess of Dreams. Together we figured out a way to put me back in control. She promised it'd kill me. It was the one fucking thing I made her swear to.
Turns out she fucked me hard on that one.
So I'm stuck like this. Forever. Until the heat death of the universe. Because if I do find some way to die, he gets out. Starts the cycle all over again. Takes some other body, some other idiot, and the same thing happens to them.
It's not noble. I've tried to kill myself every way you can imagine and then some. Nothing's ever stuck. But I'd pass this off to someone else in a fucking heartbeat if it meant I didn't need to be, anymore. You're goddamn right I'm a coward.
Do you see why I don't give a fuck now?
I told you once I did a good deed I regret.
When I was Auhle, I came across someone dying near a stream. I remember this part. I tried to help him. It was summer. I could smell fall in the air. I was out harvesting grain. I remember the chaff was itching where it got into my shirt. I'd gone down to the creek to wash off.
He wasn't a mortal. His name was Kulo Vayn. He'd gotten in loads of shit, magic godkilling sword, et cetera, yada yada. They don't make 'em like that anymore. The specifics don't matter. His body was done for, mine wasn't. He possessed me. He's the actual God of War, I'm just a vessel. It's why I can't use all of his powers. Just a few shitty perks.
I don't know how long it was, so don't ask. Could have been a year. Could have been a thousand. I was just nothing. A passenger in my own body, everything blacker than a nightmare. I couldn't speak or move. So I watched. I told you before what I've done. Murder, rape, torture, you name it, I was there for all of it. He liked to kill people. Watch the light leave their eyes.
I know you're going to say it's different because I was helpless but don't you fucking dare. Don't. It's not the same. It doesn't fucking matter. It was always my hands, Crais. He used to skin people. Start 'em upside down, at the ankles. They're still alive by the time you get to the neck that way. I remember closing my fingers against the throats of children and squeezing. Kids. Thousands on thousands of people begging for their lives. Of all the things I can't fucking remember you think I'd have lost some of that shit in the fray, but I haven't. I could draw every face. Tell you which ones died brave.
I couldn't do fuck all else but watch, and sleep. Sometimes. One of the other gods, Iantha, found me there. Goddess of Dreams. Together we figured out a way to put me back in control. She promised it'd kill me. It was the one fucking thing I made her swear to.
Turns out she fucked me hard on that one.
So I'm stuck like this. Forever. Until the heat death of the universe. Because if I do find some way to die, he gets out. Starts the cycle all over again. Takes some other body, some other idiot, and the same thing happens to them.
It's not noble. I've tried to kill myself every way you can imagine and then some. Nothing's ever stuck. But I'd pass this off to someone else in a fucking heartbeat if it meant I didn't need to be, anymore. You're goddamn right I'm a coward.
Do you see why I don't give a fuck now?
[ The 'good' news is that Crais is not actually asleep. Not because of the fight - fights are not inherently upsetting to him - but because he is alone. He could resolve that by getting up and going to Bashir's, letting himself in and sleeping on Bashir's couch... but he won't.
The time he spent waiting on Cyram to come home pushed 'alone' to the limit of his tolerance. He is biologically not wired to be alone, never mind social conditioning and lack of experience with it (sebacean, peacekeeper, ultimately Talyn).
So, he's awake.
It still takes him a solid hour after his phone goes off to read and respond. Because he is horrified, because he is upset for Cyram, and also because he needs time to avoid his knee jerk responses and saying things he is just self enough to know he will regret.
Which keeps a lot of his reactions invisible - including a whole lot of sympathy and anger on Cyram's behalf.]
Yes, I do.
Do you understand why I do?
The time he spent waiting on Cyram to come home pushed 'alone' to the limit of his tolerance. He is biologically not wired to be alone, never mind social conditioning and lack of experience with it (sebacean, peacekeeper, ultimately Talyn).
So, he's awake.
It still takes him a solid hour after his phone goes off to read and respond. Because he is horrified, because he is upset for Cyram, and also because he needs time to avoid his knee jerk responses and saying things he is just self enough to know he will regret.
Which keeps a lot of his reactions invisible - including a whole lot of sympathy and anger on Cyram's behalf.]
Yes, I do.
Do you understand why I do?
Working on the drivers of a very large mechanical dick. Why? What do you need?
Hey, Crais. I hate to call you just to ask for a favor, but here I am, doing exactly that. I was wondering if you could help me with something?
i was gonna tell you this weeks ago, but then the demons happened, and then i was in jail with stephen, etc
but now that i have a minute
i met your doctor!
oh my god he's brilliant, crais, absolutely brilliant
i think i could listen to him talk for hours
thanks for that tip!
but now that i have a minute
i met your doctor!
oh my god he's brilliant, crais, absolutely brilliant
i think i could listen to him talk for hours
thanks for that tip!
I am very fond of him; if he gets you into trouble again I will kill him.
The parcel at their door looks fairly plain; it's just a small box wrapped in newspaper, with a very helpful note taped to it.
Inside, there's a pendant. It's clearly hand-made, but intricately so, and it's attached to a regular steel chain.
Inside, there's a pendant. It's clearly hand-made, but intricately so, and it's attached to a regular steel chain.
text; un rrowarryn - the day after his holiday party
ghosttownapproach
2020-12-24 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
i forgot to let you know about the edibles last night. that was a failure on my part of my hospitality, and i'm sorry for any trouble it might have brought. are you alright and is there anything i can do?
Re: text; un rrowarryn - the day after his holiday party
notleavingquietly
2020-12-27 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
I'm fine, and you don't owe me an apology. i've been warned often enough to be careful of what I put in my mouth, here.
All of Nate’s gifts are delivered via a fluttering origami bird, which flies directly to the recipient and puts the gift into their hands. Once it’s given, the bird will unfold into a note, which explains what the charm inside will do, and how to activate it. When the note has been read, it will explode into a miniature display of multi-coloured fireworks, which spell out “Yuletide wishes from Nate!” and then vanish.
Crais receives a ring, matching the one given to Cyram. It’s not clear what Crais’ does; but when Cy turns his stone clockwise, Crais will be suddenly and fully aroused, and unable to come until Cy allows it. There’s a second, smaller stone, which can be depressed, and functions as a tracker to help locate the owner of the matching ring. Crais also gets a magically enlarged mango, and a box of home-baked mince pies.
Crais receives a ring, matching the one given to Cyram. It’s not clear what Crais’ does; but when Cy turns his stone clockwise, Crais will be suddenly and fully aroused, and unable to come until Cy allows it. There’s a second, smaller stone, which can be depressed, and functions as a tracker to help locate the owner of the matching ring. Crais also gets a magically enlarged mango, and a box of home-baked mince pies.
The gift Nate gets is a waffle iron - that makes waffles shaped like pineapples. Because why not and he understands nothing about Christmas, but likes fruit, waffles, and Nate.
There's also This bullshit.
With a key to his side of the Duplex on it. Just in case magic doesn't work again in the future.
There's also This bullshit.
With a key to his side of the Duplex on it. Just in case magic doesn't work again in the future.
Edited 2020-12-24 17:14 (UTC)
[Sent to Crais are a couple of vouchers: one to the Plumage Boutique with enough to purchase a full outfit; the other to the Between The Covers bookstore for five books of his choice.]
[Crais will receive a package with a card. When he opens the card, it will play 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'. Inside the card it'll simply read,]
For when your hand needs a break.
-Hartley
[In the package, Crais will find a set of leather paddles.
For when your hand needs a break.
-Hartley
[In the package, Crais will find a set of leather paddles.
Happy New Year, Crais.
Yrs, JB.
Alongside a card, there's a small basket filled with all sorts of fruit and preserves and a note stating that he's been enrolled in a 'fruit of the month' club.
Yrs, JB.
Alongside a card, there's a small basket filled with all sorts of fruit and preserves and a note stating that he's been enrolled in a 'fruit of the month' club.
Edited 2021-01-04 02:30 (UTC)
I'll keep an eye on it. I don't hear from you by day 4 I'm coming for you.
Apologies for the late hour, but you haven't heard from Cyram lately, have you?
No need for apologies with me. I have; he's still in the city and all right. I'd expect him to resume more regular communication within a week.
I'm not getting into another argument about linguistic abuse with you. I said I'm fine and that just means fine.
We haven't had the first argument, but I am prepared.
Define fine.
Define fine.
I'm free now.
[ As in: It's Nate and he's concerned and curious, so he has freed himself. ]
[ As in: It's Nate and he's concerned and curious, so he has freed himself. ]
I assume you mean biologically rather than practically. A hundred, hundred and twenty years.
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