You really, really hate the idea of revealing anything about yourself, don't you? You aren't the only sadist I know who likes kink because it provides a clear, laid out, set of rules that make him feel more in control and more safe.
[ He's got the tastes of an alien and a guy who spent too long in space and is going to be hedonistic about it now. Plain black coffee is a thing he is over. ]
[ yes he does absolutely hate the idea of revealing information about to himself. as much as he genuinely appreciates crais' apparent forthcoming directness and openness, it doesn't actually make him that much more inclined to open up. ]
Boundaries, lines, rules. Clarity is always nice to have. [ a slight shrug. ] It doesn't always have to be so complicated, though. Sometimes something's just enjoyable.
[ he doesn't really mean to deflect, just . . . answer honestly but without saying too much, as always. some things are just fun, yes, and he certainly doesn't want to attribute all of his tastes for kink to some deep-seeded psychological need or damage, but. there is a whole lot about him that boils down to an obsessive need for control. ]
[ That one's muttered to himself and into his mug, and is mostly a startled realization that, yeah, Beck actually has irritated him enough to have an effect. Weird. ]
Let's leave your psychology out of it entirely for the moment. What you actually said about your preferences is appealing. What I want to know is how well you communicate what you want and expect and how much you leave unsaid and to be 'figured out' while you're having fun.
[ huh. well. a moment or two to consider his words. ]
I prefer to know what limits and preferences are. Where not to push, where to always push, what would drive someone towards the edge that they want to stay on. [ even in this he is still more reluctant to say too much about himself. he is a massive control freak, thrives off being able to dig in and twist, but ultimately it's still more about the other party than it is himself. he likes to know not just what limits they have, but what limits they want to be pushed. the kind of control he craves isn't just about ordering someone around, but about knowing them, in and out, being able to exploit every vulnerability and weakness -- to hurt, and to pleasure. to overwhelm completely, and to have someone want that from of him. ] In other words, I like to know exactly how someone likes and wants to be hurt, and to push that as far as they can take.
[ having a picture perfect memory does mean that he tends to be very good at figuring that out, even if a person doesn't know it themselves. every detail of every response to every action he takes, burned with perfect clarity into his mind, information compounding until he knows just the right line to trace.
it does also mean that wash will take as much information as someone is willing to give him, and will give as much as he feels is necessary. and the rest is more of a play-by-ear. ]
Edited (oops. also sorry for the delay irl is pain) 2022-01-22 02:52 (UTC)
[ He takes a little bit of time and considers what Wash actually said and, yeah, he's enough of a masochist to find it all really appealing.
He isn't stupid, though. ]
That is both good to know and a good definition of sadism, I think. How good are you at respecting the line, and if we're speaking more generally of dominance how good at you at communicating what you actually expect? [ Then just to clarify. ] I'm not asking you for specifics. What I'm attempting to avoid is putting myself in a scenario that are essentially set ups and assumptions designed to lead to having an excuse to punish someone.
[ when he wants to be. and incredibly obfuscating when he wants to be, too, as crais has no doubt noticed. but -- he pauses, closing his eyes and tipping his head back for a moment. ]
There's a massive amount of trust in giving yourself over to someone, in any capacity. I have respect for that.
[ mr. paranoid gives out signs of trust and vulnerability to rarely and with such incredible caution that maybe it shouldn't be so surprising that he finds it profoundly difficult to be flippant or disrespectful about anyone offering him the same. ]
[ Yeah, that's the question isn't it? He knows Washington can obfuscate like no one's business, as well as evade. Knows he's as capable as the others as killing and probably more than at least Ephemera.
The way he closes his eyes and tips his head back reads as sincere, though, and the answer itself does, too. ]
If we go anywhere near this with each other - [ and yeah, he actually wants to ] - you also have a safeword that I know, and we don't part company immediately.
[ he has gathered that crais wants to, yes. and there are times when wash will lean into the uncertainty, where the lines might blur, and there is a thrill in that -- but there are times like this when he definitely appreciates the clarity and negotiation beforehand. there is a brusqueness to the way crais handles this that is -- different, but he appreciates. different for wash. not for crais.
he nods, humming slightly in light amusement. nothing mocking, just interested. ]
You're the aftercare type?
[ he assumes that's what not parting company immediately is about. ]
[ The kitten/cat comes looking for more treats or affection while Crais tries to formulate a reply.
He isn't often rendered speechless but 'aftercare type' has achieved it, albeit not indefinitely.
The cat and his drink buy him time for his brain to contain a thought that isn't basically a giant flashing question mark. ]
Yes, though what that looks like varies. Equally importantly if I tried to do any sort of scene with any level of intensity without ensuring that everyone was in fairly good physical and mental shape, Cyram would appear out of nowhere like a vengeful god of sarcasm and text speak.
[ ooc: i am very sorry for how slow i am, irl is truly hell ]
[ the cat is distracting. not quite distracting enough for wash to not notice the pause and silence -- from what he knows about crais, that long formulate a response is different. he's patient, occupying himself with scritches for the cat and watching crais with interest. ]
Would prefer to avoid that, yeah. [ wash doesn't know much about cyram, but vengeance, sarcasm and text speak is paints enough of a picture. ] What does your preferred aftercare look like, then? Depends on the scene?
[ he's not really letting it on, but wash does genuinely love providing aftercare. for as much as he thrives off completely dismantling someone and piecing them apart, there's an extra level of satisfaction in being able to put them together again with his own hands, to ground them, to pull them back. ]
[ The delay in response doesn't happen again. He was thrown - and to some degree still is - by the suggestion that it might be optional. He isn't ashamed of his own answers here, though, and he does know himself. ]
The relatively minor details may vary based on the nature of the scene, but overall the broad strokes are consistent: Physical contact, getting physically clean and hydrated, including first aid if required and rest with physical contact. Anything particularly intense and rest means sleep.
[OOC: No problem on slow, but sorry thinsg are hard!]
[ another little scritch or two for the kitty under the chin before he pulls away, returning his focus entirely to crais. he's watching him a little closer now, and though he always has that sense of focused observation with anyone he's with, this is a little different. less about care and caution, more with a certain intention, now, looking for seams and threads to pull at. ]
He studies Washington back for a moment or two, weighing, measuring and considering. Options, Washington himself and what he'd said, possibilities. It's not a long silence but it is one. Not thrown this time, just more deliberate and intentional. ]
You wanted a line to push. I'll give you two. One will be pure psychological push one is that with potential for real damage if you cross the line instead of just pushing it.
Bondage and blindfolds make me uncomfortable, but in a way I get off on if it's done with some degree of care, more so if there's pain involved. It's relatively low risk of pushing to the point of panic at this stage but it isn't easy.
[ its really not that often that wash gets to do this kind of thing with someone who is not just very frank and forward, but self-aware. knowing what you like and how far you want it to be taken is a surprisingly rare thing, and wash doesn't really mind helping people learn that about themselves, depending, doesn't mind figuring that out about people on his own. but here crais takes a moment to consider, and then lays out options.
wash takes them and considers them in turn. given how capable wash is of hiding his expressions and emotions when he wants to be, that none of this is hidden is clearly a deliberate choice -- he studies him closely, gaze tracing a line down over his shoulder, following an imaginary length of rope. winding, twisting. pulling taut. bakc up to meet crais' gaze, now, with a thoughtful, quiet hum. ]
[ Crais's approach to submission is largely shaped by his time with Cyram - a person who was an established and experienced dominant before coming to Duplicity - and one frankly upsetting encounter caused by lack of clarity.
Add in his personality, Washington's reticence, and Crais is going to be as clear as he can be. Especially with what he knows about the trauma level of Felix and Ephemera.
He is very aware of the nature of Washington's look and is looks (is) a little smug as a result, but he doesn't get derailed. He cocks a hip against the counter and drinks his teeth, without breaking eye-contact.
He's learning some things here, albeit not large ones and he might just learn more. Besides he's got nothing he's interested in hiding]
My temperature tolerance is different from a human's; my upper limit is lower. If that upper limited is exceeded it affects my mood and cognitive ability - on a scale. Push it further and it impacts motor control. Push it too far and I'm catatonic and you'll need to kill me before I'll recover. I don't know how far I want it pushed beyond having to desire to die. it's certainly something that can be played with and found out.
[ And while he's got nothing to hide he isn't spelling out that this is scary for him. It is a button. It's also appealing.
Hell lack of communication would be too but he doesn't trust Washington that far. ]
temperature play in genera is a thing, sure, but this isn't something he's familiar with. how could he be? as he listens it doesn't escape his notice just how significant the information is, how it could be used if he ever had motivation to. trust, again, though maybe less direct trust and just a kind of pragmatic assurance. it's a vulnerability, regardless, and one that wash could absolutely see himself delighting in. what the logistics are of playing with heat in that way, he isn't sure, but he could see himself turning that dial, riding the edge, too too close. ]
Saunas must be fun for you.
[ ha. ]
Let's stick to the bondage and blindfolds for the time being. All the better to get to know you with, so to speak.
[ see, that wash knows how to do, and quite well at that, can and has spent hours lingering with deliberate drawn-out care on every length of rope he was binding someone with. relatively low risk of panic isn't no risk of panic, and as intrigued as wash is by this very physiological vulnerability that crais is offering him -- this way he can focus on learning him, rather than learning two things at once. though it might be apparent already, its another sign that wash does take this very seriously. ]
There was a sauna on my ship. It was popular though the temperature was set lower than the one I visited here. [ He misses Bashir, and hadn't thought about that trip in a long, long time. ] I didn't hate it. Unlike 'Summer'.
[ He's not quoting it because no seasons - he spent the early part of his life on a planet. Summer was a thing. It's just that what these people call Summer, particularly in the down, Crais would call hell. He's cranky a lot, then.
Anyway, moving along and still looking steadily at Washington, pondering and moving on. ]
Bondage is a good starting place. What's your safeword.
[ which sounds very nondescript, as a safeword. just the way wash likes it, as always -- even if it's not as nondescript as it seems. the obvious thing would be to ask for crais' safeword in turn, but he does actually have a few more questions to ask. ]
Before we talk about yours, Crais. Couple more things. We're at your place [ and wash hasn't had the cause to invest into a stocked bdsm closet or anything, yet ], so I'll need to know where I'm working -- what I'm getting to work with.
[ a very, very, pragmatic approach. referring to it as work kind of betrays his sensibilities towards it, too. not that it isn't about pleasure, but there are responsibilities here, things he has to abide by. ]
[ Asking was more about ensuring that the man had one, after asking if Crais was the aftercare type.
That answer and the lack of hesitation is reassuring, even if the answer itself comes across as nondescript -- or for Crais even a little nonsensical. His safeword is Mango. He isn't going to complain about not understanding the meaning behind the choice. And it's more creative, at least, than 'red'. ]
And I'll back it up one step further to ask: Do you want to work here? Both your assigned housing and public locations are viable possibilities.
[ Without being in someone else's space or using their equipment. ]
[ look, wash has met people who don't want the aftercare for whatever reason. he needs to know! ]
I'll be honest: I've not had much cause to stock up in my own place, yet, beyond bare basics. [ he's spartan by nature, too, and still in the public housing, he'll want to get out of there at some point. now it's mostly been other people's places, and that's generally his preference -- inviting people into his own space is a different step. ] Your place is fine, unless you'd rather go somewhere public. I can work with what I'm given.
[ a pause, considering, watching him closely. ]
I'll want good rope, but I don't need much outside of that. A good frame or hook if we want to go that far.
[ Yes, clearly. Those people are alarming for Crais because --
He is what he is.
Either way, he nods. ]
Then come on, I'll show you the 'work' space - for both kink and actual design and materials. I don't think you're going to have trouble finding anything you want.
[ And he doubts this man is someone who's going to fail to clean up after himself. ]
[ he is, predictably, incredibly obsessive about keeping things organized and tidy. it would be even worse if he's in his own space, but he'd be very respectful of others'. he nods, following after crais where he leads -- and he'll take in the space with the distinct air of a military man, because that's just kind of who he is. ]
You said before that there was low risk of pushing you to the point of panic.
[ They have that in common - because Crais can't stand a messy environment, and he definitely still moves like someone who's spent their life in the military.
Even if some other aspects of his... demeanor have softened somewhat.
Leading the way means moving back through the space and past a couple of closed doors]
Would you be even remotely interested if there were no risk of pushing too far? [ Because to be honest, Crais would probably not be in this particular scenario. It's otherwise just bondage. ]
[ but not completely uninterested. not everything he's encountered has been able to appeal to the far end of his sensibilities, he's learned to make do, and he is the patient sort. sometimes it takes time to really learn and push a person. sometimes that makes it more rewarding. and there's still an amount of self-restraint there: maybe letting himself enjoy completely shattering someone is actually a bad thing.
he just follows after him, looking around with some curiosity. ]
You seem self-aware enough to know what it is about it that tends to set you off.
[ It's a very clean, neat, space without any real decorations outside the minimal stuff (sunrise painting by Ephemera) once they pass the living room.
The dungeon itself is similar. Rack, table, shelves and drawers stocked with just about everything, a desk with designs in the far back corner, separated by space at least.]
I know why and some of what, but specifics aren't all that consistent. Bondage isn't my go to.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notleavingquietly) wrote2037-07-18 11:23 pm
no subject
[ He's got the tastes of an alien and a guy who spent too long in space and is going to be hedonistic about it now. Plain black coffee is a thing he is over. ]
HE's right. It does.
no subject
Boundaries, lines, rules. Clarity is always nice to have. [ a slight shrug. ] It doesn't always have to be so complicated, though. Sometimes something's just enjoyable.
[ he doesn't really mean to deflect, just . . . answer honestly but without saying too much, as always. some things are just fun, yes, and he certainly doesn't want to attribute all of his tastes for kink to some deep-seeded psychological need or damage, but. there is a whole lot about him that boils down to an obsessive need for control. ]
no subject
[ That one's muttered to himself and into his mug, and is mostly a startled realization that, yeah, Beck actually has irritated him enough to have an effect. Weird. ]
Let's leave your psychology out of it entirely for the moment. What you actually said about your preferences is appealing. What I want to know is how well you communicate what you want and expect and how much you leave unsaid and to be 'figured out' while you're having fun.
no subject
I prefer to know what limits and preferences are. Where not to push, where to always push, what would drive someone towards the edge that they want to stay on. [ even in this he is still more reluctant to say too much about himself. he is a massive control freak, thrives off being able to dig in and twist, but ultimately it's still more about the other party than it is himself. he likes to know not just what limits they have, but what limits they want to be pushed. the kind of control he craves isn't just about ordering someone around, but about knowing them, in and out, being able to exploit every vulnerability and weakness -- to hurt, and to pleasure. to overwhelm completely, and to have someone want that from of him. ] In other words, I like to know exactly how someone likes and wants to be hurt, and to push that as far as they can take.
[ having a picture perfect memory does mean that he tends to be very good at figuring that out, even if a person doesn't know it themselves. every detail of every response to every action he takes, burned with perfect clarity into his mind, information compounding until he knows just the right line to trace.
it does also mean that wash will take as much information as someone is willing to give him, and will give as much as he feels is necessary. and the rest is more of a play-by-ear. ]
no subject
He isn't stupid, though. ]
That is both good to know and a good definition of sadism, I think. How good are you at respecting the line, and if we're speaking more generally of dominance how good at you at communicating what you actually expect? [ Then just to clarify. ] I'm not asking you for specifics. What I'm attempting to avoid is putting myself in a scenario that are essentially set ups and assumptions designed to lead to having an excuse to punish someone.
no subject
[ when he wants to be. and incredibly obfuscating when he wants to be, too, as crais has no doubt noticed. but -- he pauses, closing his eyes and tipping his head back for a moment. ]
There's a massive amount of trust in giving yourself over to someone, in any capacity. I have respect for that.
[ mr. paranoid gives out signs of trust and vulnerability to rarely and with such incredible caution that maybe it shouldn't be so surprising that he finds it profoundly difficult to be flippant or disrespectful about anyone offering him the same. ]
no subject
The way he closes his eyes and tips his head back reads as sincere, though, and the answer itself does, too. ]
If we go anywhere near this with each other - [ and yeah, he actually wants to ] - you also have a safeword that I know, and we don't part company immediately.
no subject
he nods, humming slightly in light amusement. nothing mocking, just interested. ]
You're the aftercare type?
[ he assumes that's what not parting company immediately is about. ]
no subject
He isn't often rendered speechless but 'aftercare type' has achieved it, albeit not indefinitely.
The cat and his drink buy him time for his brain to contain a thought that isn't basically a giant flashing question mark. ]
Yes, though what that looks like varies. Equally importantly if I tried to do any sort of scene with any level of intensity without ensuring that everyone was in fairly good physical and mental shape, Cyram would appear out of nowhere like a vengeful god of sarcasm and text speak.
no subject
[ the cat is distracting. not quite distracting enough for wash to not notice the pause and silence -- from what he knows about crais, that long formulate a response is different. he's patient, occupying himself with scritches for the cat and watching crais with interest. ]
Would prefer to avoid that, yeah. [ wash doesn't know much about cyram, but vengeance, sarcasm and text speak is paints enough of a picture. ] What does your preferred aftercare look like, then? Depends on the scene?
[ he's not really letting it on, but wash does genuinely love providing aftercare. for as much as he thrives off completely dismantling someone and piecing them apart, there's an extra level of satisfaction in being able to put them together again with his own hands, to ground them, to pull them back. ]
no subject
The relatively minor details may vary based on the nature of the scene, but overall the broad strokes are consistent: Physical contact, getting physically clean and hydrated, including first aid if required and rest with physical contact. Anything particularly intense and rest means sleep.
[OOC: No problem on slow, but sorry thinsg are hard!]
no subject
Entirely reasonable.
[ another little scritch or two for the kitty under the chin before he pulls away, returning his focus entirely to crais. he's watching him a little closer now, and though he always has that sense of focused observation with anyone he's with, this is a little different. less about care and caution, more with a certain intention, now, looking for seams and threads to pull at. ]
What are you looking for, then?
no subject
He studies Washington back for a moment or two, weighing, measuring and considering. Options, Washington himself and what he'd said, possibilities. It's not a long silence but it is one. Not thrown this time, just more deliberate and intentional. ]
You wanted a line to push. I'll give you two. One will be pure psychological push one is that with potential for real damage if you cross the line instead of just pushing it.
Bondage and blindfolds make me uncomfortable, but in a way I get off on if it's done with some degree of care, more so if there's pain involved. It's relatively low risk of pushing to the point of panic at this stage but it isn't easy.
The other is heat.
no subject
wash takes them and considers them in turn. given how capable wash is of hiding his expressions and emotions when he wants to be, that none of this is hidden is clearly a deliberate choice -- he studies him closely, gaze tracing a line down over his shoulder, following an imaginary length of rope. winding, twisting. pulling taut. bakc up to meet crais' gaze, now, with a thoughtful, quiet hum. ]
Tell me about the heat.
[ that one's a little more different. ]
no subject
Add in his personality, Washington's reticence, and Crais is going to be as clear as he can be. Especially with what he knows about the trauma level of Felix and Ephemera.
He is very aware of the nature of Washington's look and is looks (is) a little smug as a result, but he doesn't get derailed. He cocks a hip against the counter and drinks his teeth, without breaking eye-contact.
He's learning some things here, albeit not large ones and he might just learn more. Besides he's got nothing he's interested in hiding]
My temperature tolerance is different from a human's; my upper limit is lower. If that upper limited is exceeded it affects my mood and cognitive ability - on a scale. Push it further and it impacts motor control. Push it too far and I'm catatonic and you'll need to kill me before I'll recover. I don't know how far I want it pushed beyond having to desire to die. it's certainly something that can be played with and found out.
[ And while he's got nothing to hide he isn't spelling out that this is scary for him. It is a button. It's also appealing.
Hell lack of communication would be too but he doesn't trust Washington that far. ]
no subject
temperature play in genera is a thing, sure, but this isn't something he's familiar with. how could he be? as he listens it doesn't escape his notice just how significant the information is, how it could be used if he ever had motivation to. trust, again, though maybe less direct trust and just a kind of pragmatic assurance. it's a vulnerability, regardless, and one that wash could absolutely see himself delighting in. what the logistics are of playing with heat in that way, he isn't sure, but he could see himself turning that dial, riding the edge, too too close. ]
Saunas must be fun for you.
[ ha. ]
Let's stick to the bondage and blindfolds for the time being. All the better to get to know you with, so to speak.
[ see, that wash knows how to do, and quite well at that, can and has spent hours lingering with deliberate drawn-out care on every length of rope he was binding someone with. relatively low risk of panic isn't no risk of panic, and as intrigued as wash is by this very physiological vulnerability that crais is offering him -- this way he can focus on learning him, rather than learning two things at once. though it might be apparent already, its another sign that wash does take this very seriously. ]
no subject
[ He's not quoting it because no seasons - he spent the early part of his life on a planet. Summer was a thing. It's just that what these people call Summer, particularly in the down, Crais would call hell. He's cranky a lot, then.
Anyway, moving along and still looking steadily at Washington, pondering and moving on. ]
Bondage is a good starting place. What's your safeword.
no subject
[ which sounds very nondescript, as a safeword. just the way wash likes it, as always -- even if it's not as nondescript as it seems. the obvious thing would be to ask for crais' safeword in turn, but he does actually have a few more questions to ask. ]
Before we talk about yours, Crais. Couple more things. We're at your place [ and wash hasn't had the cause to invest into a stocked bdsm closet or anything, yet ], so I'll need to know where I'm working -- what I'm getting to work with.
[ a very, very, pragmatic approach. referring to it as work kind of betrays his sensibilities towards it, too. not that it isn't about pleasure, but there are responsibilities here, things he has to abide by. ]
no subject
That answer and the lack of hesitation is reassuring, even if the answer itself comes across as nondescript -- or for Crais even a little nonsensical. His safeword is Mango. He isn't going to complain about not understanding the meaning behind the choice. And it's more creative, at least, than 'red'. ]
And I'll back it up one step further to ask: Do you want to work here? Both your assigned housing and public locations are viable possibilities.
[ Without being in someone else's space or using their equipment. ]
no subject
I'll be honest: I've not had much cause to stock up in my own place, yet, beyond bare basics. [ he's spartan by nature, too, and still in the public housing, he'll want to get out of there at some point. now it's mostly been other people's places, and that's generally his preference -- inviting people into his own space is a different step. ] Your place is fine, unless you'd rather go somewhere public. I can work with what I'm given.
[ a pause, considering, watching him closely. ]
I'll want good rope, but I don't need much outside of that. A good frame or hook if we want to go that far.
no subject
He is what he is.
Either way, he nods. ]
Then come on, I'll show you the 'work' space - for both kink and actual design and materials. I don't think you're going to have trouble finding anything you want.
[ And he doubts this man is someone who's going to fail to clean up after himself. ]
no subject
You said before that there was low risk of pushing you to the point of panic.
no subject
Even if some other aspects of his... demeanor have softened somewhat.
Leading the way means moving back through the space and past a couple of closed doors]
Would you be even remotely interested if there were no risk of pushing too far? [ Because to be honest, Crais would probably not be in this particular scenario. It's otherwise just bondage. ]
no subject
[ but not completely uninterested. not everything he's encountered has been able to appeal to the far end of his sensibilities, he's learned to make do, and he is the patient sort. sometimes it takes time to really learn and push a person. sometimes that makes it more rewarding. and there's still an amount of self-restraint there: maybe letting himself enjoy completely shattering someone is actually a bad thing.
he just follows after him, looking around with some curiosity. ]
You seem self-aware enough to know what it is about it that tends to set you off.
no subject
[ It's a very clean, neat, space without any real decorations outside the minimal stuff (sunrise painting by Ephemera) once they pass the living room.
The dungeon itself is similar. Rack, table, shelves and drawers stocked with just about everything, a desk with designs in the far back corner, separated by space at least.]
I know why and some of what, but specifics aren't all that consistent. Bondage isn't my go to.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)