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maitre-de-carte.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tampered2007-07-14 08:00 pm
maitre-de-carte.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-07-14 08:00 pm
log; complete
when; 14 June, late afternoon-early evening.
rating; R [mature situations]
characters; Mori Ranmaru (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elegantorchid), Alexis Hargreaves (maitre_de_carte).
summary; A fine evening out, and an unexpected situation. This one goes in the files, the key tossed out the window.
log;
The day had become so odd that he had decided to venture out earlier than normal. Subaru-kun and Lawr-kun would be fine, though he did notice certain people acting a little more abnormally than they should have... but trying not to think on it, or the fact that this may yet be another curse, he headed his usual way to the gardens. If there was a curse today, so far, it didn't seem to be affecting him and he was more than relieved... these curses had been getting odder and odder.
Perhaps I'm truly becoming a part of this place... he thought to himself. As he knelt down by the flowerbed he'd been taking care of, a memory flashed in his mind, of a night underneath the tree, and he felt his heart grow heavier... before he shook his head. It's over, he thought. I shouldn't be thinking of things like that.
Not knowing why the thoughts were feeling stronger, he attempted to distract himself with working on the flowers instead, trimming the weeds and gathering the weaker ones...
A late afternoon, well, it seemed a good time for a proper walk through the gardens, accompanied only by his thoughts and a curl of smoke from a pipe. Alexis couldn't quite place the source of his unusually chipper mood, but he knew he had to have a good moment to himself so the mood wasn't spoiled. At times, even Jezebel had a way of inspiring a certain irritation. And he'd not have that for today.
The fireflies seemed to be out, as well. He hadn't really ever seen too many of them back in England... stoicism on the moors, no fantasy. While he smiled to himself, he continued to walk on - only to pause when he saw a figure bent over the flowers, hard at work. Why did his walk slow to a halt...? The only way he'd know is if he watched for a moment more.
Quite lost in his own world, Ranmaru didn't notice the appearance of the other man until he had stopped, reaching over to wipe his hands with the towlettes he had with the gardening equipment, and then gathered the flowers he had carefully cut and set aside into a simple bouquet for the house into his arms. No one usually disturbed this area, so the orchids he had grown were always in perfect, presentable condition. Then, as he stood up, his senses picked up the other presence, and unable to tell whether it was friend or foe, and he raised his silver gaze to... someone he'd never met before.
Blinking twice, he appeared to be an english gentleman of sorts as he'd seen around here, he shifted the bouquet to his other arm and offered him a polite smile and a bow of his head. "Good day, sir." he spoke to him, friendly as always.
Such a pretty face. It reminded him of fine silks from the orient - spices, the teas, the mystery. Well, the East did seem a very seductive region - and he saw the seduction in this person. His eyes, the green caught by dying sunlight, narrowed behind his glasses before he smiled even more broadly. Yes, he had to know this girl - she had to be a girl... he hadn't seen such beauty before in a male.
"A fair evening to you, too," he replied, letting more smoke curl into the air while he took a puff. "Though one must wonder why you are working so late on the gardens - begging your pardon for the inquiry," he added smoothly. Couldn't come off as too brash.... yet, anyhow.
He didn't have anywhere to go in the evening, everything had been set at home, though he did feel a tinge of worry at leaving his friends alone. Certain ones in particular, he couldn't help but have a feeling of dread for, and he shifted a little, blinking when the question was asked and then smiling a little more. If the person was so kind as to make conversation, he would be rude not to reply, and he did look nice. Though there was a look of cunning in the man's eyes Ranmaru had seen in many a lord, and he remained on his guard for the while.
"This person just wished to get some fresh air and look to the flowers.", he replied. "Does sir like flowers? This person hasn't ever seen you around here before." No one ever came to this garden part.
Always such a humble race, weren't they? The Orient always was thought of as a feminine sort of mystique... and this person in front of him seemed to personify it very well. The fireflies seemed to gather around her, really. No stoicism. A curious sort of coicidence, wasn't it?
Alexis smiled even more at the other, nodding in responce. "The flowers are quite pretty, aren't they?" he answered echoingly. "I come out for walks because of the flowers, actually." His eyes scanned over her figure - lithe, thin, willowy. His curiosity truly was sparked now. "I can tell you must adore the flowers."
The fact that he was here would say it enough, though he did find his cheeks coloring a bit at the mention. He chuckled a little, moving a hand behind his head, and figured, well, why not? And then, lowering his hand, he held the bouquet of orchids to the other man. "This person enjoys sharing them more. Here, you can have these." He was just collecting them for a pastime anyway, and he smiled up at the man. "They're violet orchids! This person has grown them all!" he told him. "Sir seems to appreciate them, so you can have them. I can always get more."
It was then he looked closer and realized that the man before him might have been his Lord's age, or close anyway. He didn't look very old, but there was a certain maturity in his face and...
Green eyes. Like him... his other special person with his mismatched gaze. Finding himself thinking about him again, Ranmaru lowered his head and took a step back. "Ah, forgive me. I should get going..."
When he had been given the orchids, he neatly placed them in the fold of his arm. Somehow, he thought he looked atrangely refined, foreign orchids in one hand, a pipe emitting fragrances closer to the Indies in the other. It was an interesting contrast.
And he found that the ideas were lending him a boldness he hadn't really thought becomming of anyone else before. His free hand reached out in invitation, and he stepped forward to match her step back. "I believe I do owe you for the fine orchids," he started. "Perhaps tea? My flat isn't too far away, if you would pardon my forwardness."
That made Ranmaru blink. He wasn't a dishonest person by nature, so he couldn't think of anything that would be a good excuse, especially since the others were all aware he would be out. He shook his head quickly though, smiling nervously. "No payment is necessary, sir! It was my pleasure." He knew he should have felt a little more wary, but in an odd way, the company was welcome, and so was the attention. Perhaps he was just feeling awkward... and incredibly thirsty. He'd been out for a while after all.
Not wanting to be rude, he moved a hand to his chest. "My Lords would say a nameless invitation to tea is one to be wary of. Please pardon my hesitance in accepting your offer." he said then, trying to turn him down gently.
The system, yes. It was customary for one of better birth to be introduced first. And, of course, it was better to assume that there were no parallels in an Oriental system - default, then, to introduce oneself first. His hand dropped slightly, but he maintained his stance. "Apologies for going without a proper introduction," he bowed slightly - yes, bow to the lady. "Lord Alexis Hargreaves, at your service."
He took hold of the other's hand, then, and, with a small kneel, a genteel kiss was placed on the back of her hand. Respect ladies - for, he was certain, she was a lady of stature. No need in being so impolite.
His eyes widened in surprise at the gesture, stunned by it completely. Was this man for real? A flush of color erupted over the young warrior's face, and as the other's lips brushed against the revealed part of the back of his hands, owing to the fact that he had to keep them covered because of the five-point pentacles burned into his skin, he felt a shiver run through his arm and to the rest of his body. Biting down on his lower lip, he slowly slid his hand back and bowed his head.
"My Lord. T-This person is Mori Ranmaru. You may... you may call me Ranmaru, if you wish." he told him, still feeling awkward. "Please pardon me, but... this is the first time I have ever been greeted in such a manner with before."
When Alexis again rose to his feet, he chuckled to himself. Not so used to Western conventions, it seemed. It was endearing, in a sense... and enticing, as well. "It is customary address for one as yourself, Ranmaru," he replied matter-of-factly. "At least, in the part of England from where I come."
Emboldened by a certain atmosphere in the air, he approached Ranmaru, stopping a few steps short of the other. "But now that we are acquainted, I do believe that the invitation isn't a namesless one, is it?" He chuckled with amusement, again extending his hand to her. "It still is redeemable, if you're worried about that."
Standing this close, Ranmaru was fully able to take in the other's features and he felt himself unable to move. He was a handsome man, there was no doubt, but there was something sinister in his aura. Something sinister and... lonely? It didn't make much sense. But he felt frozen for a bit. Move, Ranmaru. Refuse. he told himself, though something struck him as odd about the way the other mentioned 'one as yourself'. Was it really so? Wondering if... no, surely, the man had heard his voice, he wouldn't be SO ignorant, would he?
Figuring he shouldn't worry too much, Ranmaru moved a hand forward, but not to take this Alexis Hargreaves'... he gently touched his fingers, and made a motion of 'no', then smiled at him, accepting his proposal at the same time. "I shouldn't stay too long... but since you are so kind to offer, I will accept, Hargreaves-san..." Hargreaves. Why was the name familiar?
He had almost been under the impression that Ranmaru was going to object. When it was as clear as it could be that she had accepted, Alexis then moved his hand in favour of offering his arm. Though he wondered if she would see this, too, as an unfamiliar custom? A lady had no need in roaming the streets unescorted.
"I thank you for your acceptance," he replied with a silky voice. He seemed more than a bit gracious at the moment. "If you would, please." His arm extended, waiting for the other's to snake about it like a vine on a pole. Hopefully, he'd not have to explain another custom again - but even if it were deemed mandatory, it didn't seem to perturb him in the slightest.
He probably would have to, Ranmaru was incredibly unfamiliar with western customs- these kinds, that he had never seen, directed towards a man. He was certain they were for females, and he was also pretty certain that these people from the West weren't quite so open about being with other men the way they were back home.
A confused look appearing on his face, Ranmaru tilted his head to a side. "Do... do you wish for Ranmaru to take your arm?" he asked. "Does it hurt?"
"Does it hurt?" Alexis was wont to break into laughter at such an odd question. It was definitive proof that the poor woman wasn't at all accustomed to such advances. But, if he had the luck on him, well, she would be accustomed sooner or later.
As gently as he could, he looked to her and smiled. "Perhaps it does," he evasively answered, a touch of mirth lingering on his low voice. "Let us go, shall we? The darkness is closing in on you and I."
Blinking in confusion, but figuring it would be alright to humor the seemingly eccentric man. As he thought before, he didn't seem too bad, and with a nod, Ranmaru slid his arm around the other's, and kept a hand to his forearm to support it (he had a good grip for a soldier), he smiled to the other. "Ah. Please lead the way, Hargreaves-san."
It didn't take too long to get to the man's living quarters, though Ranmaru still felt a mixture of confusion and amusement. He paused for a bit on approaching where the other man stayed, then as Alexis led them in, Ranmaru was reminded of his visits to Kigai Yuuto. The decor wasn't similar, far from it, but it was the same atmosphere. Ranmaru looked down at his feet, wondering if he should take his shoes off, but then he shrugged and pulled away, eyes lighting up at the stylish setting the place was complimented with.
"Uwah.." he couldn't help but gasp. "This is... this is like a place in the picture-books of western homes!" he couldn't help but comment.
Alexis smiled to Ranmaru when she gasped at the interior. Really, it was a bit more sparsely decorated than he would have liked - but it wasn't completely necessary to be surrounded by such luxuries in the public staging area. Not nearly as important as the true living quarters in which he inhabited.
He called out, instantly, to his servant in the kitchens to prepare some evening tea. A rich black tea, perhaps, with cream and sugar would do well enough - although he had a craving, suddenly, for oolong. "I fear I may have underfurnished in this room," he replied, crossing the rug-covered floor to stand before his armchair. While he gestured to the small sofa across from him, he looked right into Ranmaru's eyes for a moment longer than necessary. "Please, do have a seat."
He didn't seem to be too bad at all... and Ranmaru couldn't help but smile at his comment. "Underfurnished? Hargreaves-san must be mistaken... this looks nice enough already!" he followed him in, noticing the look however, made him still and he blushed a little, glancing at the seat. "You have a nice home, Hargreaves-san. For this city, that is." of course, if he was living in the lap of luxury now, Ranmaru could only imagine how rich he must be in his own world.
It was then, his memory decided to clear and he turned to look at Alexis. "Your name... Ranmaru has heard it before." he thought for a bit, then snapped his fingers. "Cain-san! Cain Hargreaves! A-are you both related, sir?" he asked, recalling the man who had given him opium to deliver to Radu.
Cain. Yes, of course he would hear a question similar to that one... it seemed that, no matter where he went, the public took a shine to his son. Everyone, come to pet the black sheep. He almost frowned at the thought, but he retained his composure as he sat in the usual armchair. "Earl Cain Hargreaves and I are distantly related," he replied a bit coolly, glancing to the side as he eyed the leather-bound tome atop the small wooden table nearby. A Study in Common Poisons. Yes, distantly related.
He was snapped out of the small reverie he had delved into when a small clinking of silver met his ears. Yes, rose petal tea - he could smell it even before he saw Alicia, his servant, push it out upon the tea cart. "Ah, splendid timing, Alicia," he called to her, nodding his head to her in slight gratitude before extending a poured cup to Ranmaru. "I apologise if it isn't to your liking," he commented graciously.
The tea smelled oddly good even at this distance, and Ranmaru blinked in surprise, when the Lord offered him a cup. Accepting it with a whispered, 'thank you' though he continued to look at the tea in surprise for smelling as good as it did, he then smiled and shook his head. "It smells delicious!" His previous question forgotten, and obviously familiar with western tea-drinking methods at least, he took a sip, and an expression of mirth appeared on his face.
"Ranmaru has never had tea like this before!" he exclaimed, chuckling a little. "It tastes like gentle rose milk!"
After merely adding one sugar cube, Alexis leaned back into the winged armchair's back and began at contently stirring the tea with a small tea spoon. "I must confess, it is a bit of a delicacy," he replied before setting the spoon aside on the saucer he held. "It seems to have been a proper choice, though." And again, he stared at Ranmaru, taking in her thin, streamlined figure before taking a languid sip of his own tea. Perfectly brewed.
From over the rim of his cup, he continued to transfix his gaze upon his company. Even by the light of oil lamps, it seemed a certain rosy haze floated about the air. Well, he did have to admit, she had a fetching face. But it seemed more than that - the manner in which she sat... it was a humble sort of elegance. A little less haughty pride than what he was accustomed to seeing in the English gentry. Almost made one wonder....
He didn't think the tea needed anything else, it felt right all by itself. Ranmaru continued to drink the tea, not really aware of the older man's eyes on him, and once he'd managed to finish off nearly all of the tea, he set it back in the saucer and smiled brightly at Alexis, holding the tea in his lap.
"Hargreaves-san has a good choice then. That was really delicious." a glance towards the window nearby, Ranmaru blinked as he saw the darkened city. "Oh... it's getting incredibly late. I hope Lawr-kun's home..." Subaru-kun he didn't have to worry too much about but... he just had to make sure.
The compulsion seemed too great to ignore at this point. He had felt as though, perhaps, he had known this woman before... somewhere, in another lifetime, perhaps? Nonetheless, an urge washed over him, drenching all his thought as he set down the now half empty cup of tea on top of the book he had eyed.
"It's darkened..." He rose from his chair slowly, almost too gracefully for a man of his build. Those regal emeralds were shadowed by something a little dark - not necessarily malicious... He took one step, two, three, before he was before her, looking down to Ranmaru with a faint, hospitable smile. "Looks as though we came inside just in time."
Ranmaru glanced back just in time to see Alexis standing above him, and was startled momentarily. How did he not notice? As though he was just moving to set the teacup aside, Ranmaru shifted so that he could place the tea on the side table and begin to stand. "A... ah." he replied, smoothing down his upper robe as he did so. "It was very nice of you to invite me, Hargreaves-san, but it would be rude of Ranmaru to overstay his welcome." he stated. His cheeks felt warm after the good amount of tea and he felt somewhat content... perhaps he could go call upon this Alexis Hargreaves later and see about where to get the same tea...
He was close enough to Ranmaru now that, really, he could do anything that he wanted. Anything.... He suppressed a smirk to himself at the thought. Western dominance taking advantage of the Eastern submissive attitude. The thought, oddly enough, was quite appealing.
Without really contemplating over the consequences, even though they simmered on the back burner, a hand moved to slide over the fine silk of the robes she wore, his hand running up the side of her arm. "I don't believe you can overstay your welcome," he replied in a low voice, almost craning his neck to her ear to be certain she heard it. Conquest - such an imperialistic thought, wasn't it?
Alright, this was getting too close for comfort. This wasn't supposed to be something more than just a tea invitation, and Ranmaru mentally berated himself for having agreed to such a thing at all. He'd grown rather unobservant in his depression of late, failing to see the signs of advantage he had been giving... and the way Alexis spoke to him right now was warning enough. However, he was unarmed, he couldn't exactly make a threat and he knew it was against his morals to even try to do so to a guest who had invited him into his own territory...
I walked right into this... he thought to himself, even as he tried to slide back against the backrest of the chair so he could slide out sideways and make it look like nothing had happened. "Har... greaves-san...?" he whispered questioningly, willing his body to move. Why, oh why, was he so noble?
She wasn't exactly moving away... and she didn't seem to be inclined to do so. He could take that as a good sign, and so he would. After all, if there was no refusal, what was there to stop him? Even then, there wasn't much that a woman could do in opposition to male force.
"Mmn..." He wasn't in a mood to talk. Not right now. While the hand that had indulged in the silken touch of those robes continued to, his other ran up the side of her leg. Smooth... willowy, as he had expected. His intent, he had hoped, was perfectly clear by this point.
Ranmaru's breath caught in his throat and he shifted uncomfortably. Under normal circumstances, Alexis Hargreaves would be facing the end of Ranmaru's nodachi Tomonari, or his fist, whichever came first. And he was severely tempted to sock the older man one and hist fists clenched, preparing to do so. He wasn't here for this sort of thing!!
His expression changed to one of repulsion, and he raised his hand, ready to punch the other out when all of a sudden, all feeling of strength drained out of him. His breath shivered and he only managed to grab onto Alexis' shoulder, bowing his head in surprise. What had just happened? Trying to tug himself free of the man's touch, Ranmaru quickly gathered himself and began to push him back.
"S-Stop this. I'm not here for this, Hargreaves-san." he told him in a low hiss, still keeping in mind that there were servants here. "I... I'm leaving."
And now he was being opposed. Either she was conforming to some sort of social more or she was merely fooling herself. And Alexis wasn't one to be refused, as far as he was concerned. He made that perfectly clear as he pushed her onto the sofa.
"Leaving...?" He looked at her with a cool sort of glance, his eyes peering through thin strands of black hair. A small, seductive grin curled his lips, and soon after, he was hovering right above her on the sofa, his hand again running up underneath the silken robes over her thigh. "That's rather soon, isn't it?"
"AH!!" Ranmaru cried out in surprise when he felt his back hit the sofa's seat, attempting to move back up but as he looked up, he was stunned still by the way the other was looking at him. Such a look was almost predatorial, and made Ranmaru's blood run cold. Was this what the man had... why had he even bothered listening--
And more than that why in the name of Inari's tail was this feeling so good?
His hand still on Alexis' shoulder, Ranmaru realized what their position may look like and he turned his gaze, silver eyes almost shining like the gleam caught off the edge of a sword, right into Alexis' own. "You tricked me! There was something in that tea, wasn't there?!"
He could see the sharpness of the platinum in her eyes, but he certainly wasn't fazed by it. No, he had seen far worse threats before - women, certainly, weren't that great a threat to him. His own green stare, like iced gems, looked fearlessly into hers with an authority that seemed too hard to deny.
"In that tea....?" he asked, looking briefly to the teacup she had put down. He had been certain to signal to Alicia to put at least two drops of sedative in her tea... just to be certain. And rose petal tea always was a good one to disguise the scent. He then looked back to Ranmaru, leaning down to effectively pin her to the sofa. "I put no such thing in your tea."
He felt dizzy, and in this situation, that wasn't a good sign. His fingers curling around the Hargreaves' lord's shoulder, to the point of being painful, Ranmaru grimaced, returning the stare for stare. His breath was tight and he slid back, tense and then, he almost looked desperate.
"Lies." he hissed. "Ranmaru knows this sensation. To numb battle wounds.. sedatives..." he found his voice shiver, and his gaze flickered for a moment as he looked up to the other man. "Let... go, Hargreaves-san. Please." He didn't want to have anyone come in and see this, ah the restrictions of honor. Yet the more he spoke, the more he realized he didn't want to move away. It was sickening him, and at the same time, how long had it been since he'd been held like this at all?
"Why... why me?" he then asked in a smaller voice. How could this man have just decided on him?
At this point, Alexis took to ignoring the words. He had done so when his sister had repeated similar words. But Augusta had merely said no... but he had seen in her beautiful eyes that she had meant yes right then and there. It seemed the same sort of situation in this case.... Ranmaru kept saying "no", but he could hear "yes" reverberating in the tone of voice she used. And her mouth... stained a light pink, like the sakura of that foreign land. Appealing, really.
"You simply must relax," he murmured, the hand on her thigh gripping a bit tightly in slight threat. No, he wouldn't have her overthrow his authority. "Keep your composure, dear madam." Without letting another word escape her lips, he dove down for a dominating kiss.
Ranmaru's eyes went wide in horror as he was kissed, and he struggled against the kiss with all the strength remaining in his body. His fingers curled tightly around the lord's coat, tugging it, as if to shove him back full-forced but he found no strength in himself to do as he wanted to. His lower body where Alexis was holding him tensed as he tried to struggle free and his eyes clamped shut tightly. This wasn't happening... this just...
He let out a choked sound, face flushing red and finally tore his face away from the other man, gasping, still looking incredibly flustered as he hissed, "M-Madam?! Ranmaru is not a woman!!" he shot back at him, feeling as though some strength had come back to him with the mention of those words. All this time-- this man had thought he was a woman?! No wonder he'd thought him weak! His glare returned as he fixed it on Alexis' face, hoping for him to step back in repulsion. Surely if he'd thought him a woman, he wouldn't continue this knowing he was a man!
Once Alexis heard Ranmaru protest that he wasn't a woman, he paused, looking down to the other with skeptical green eyes. Not a woman.... His eyes lingered to the chest below him... flat, really,, and his curious hands had confirmed such. There were only a few options that could merit such a thing. And it seemed more likely for one than the other.
A shade of a smile crepy back on his lips before he again kissed Ranmaru, this time a bit gentler than before. Not a woman, then...? Well, he knew what, then. "Then you shall become one, come the morning after," he replied in a whisper once he pulled back. If it wasn't discussed in public, there was no need in being so ashamed of it.
Ranmaru was certain, more than certain that the other man would either stop or just be disgusted with himself. His own horror intensified when the man seemed to not care.. followed by those words that suggested he wasn't getting out of this.
"Wh-what...?" he repeated, his voice shaking as he let a hand drop from where he was clutching the older man. It moved to cover his mouth which had been thoroughly kissed and he could still taste the bit of rose on the other's lips. Trembling, Ranmaru looked away, his breaths quickened with the anxiety building up in him. Moving his arms underneath him then as he moved his hands down, Ranmaru looked up at the older man.
"What do you mean... become one?" he asked, his voice small. The sedative was having it's full effect now, even in the mild dose it had been given, and he tried to slide back, away from the other man.
Even when Ranmaru moved back, Alexis followed and again pinned the other down to the soft jacquard upholstery. No, no, Ranmaru would not get away. Not if it was a matter of pride and refusal. The sedatives seemed to have gotten deeper in the other's veins... he had known that the medicine he had put in the tea would work.
"You're not yet a woman," he replied in a voice strangely tinted with a hint of dispassion. "But you shall be." And again, he kissed Ranmaru, his hand running up and down the thigh that it had occupied previously. If it were a younger lady, well, anything could be concealed behind a social mask. Oh, he knew that too well.
A small growl escaped the boy's mouth and Ranmaru struggled, as hard as he could possibly manage, but the more he did, the more he could feel the older man's hand rubbing up against him, further heightening the sensation he knew was wrong for him to feel in this state of uncertainty. However, the moment the next kiss came, Ranmaru felt as though he'd been stabbed in the chest, because his own hand, shaking as it was, came to the other's face, in an attempt to push it away.
But instead, all Ranmaru managed was to cup the other's cheek, his mind spinning from the mixture of sedatives and now the reactions his body was giving out. Shame swarmed through him and he inhaled deeply until he could breathe no more, looking up at the green-eyed man. For the briefest moment, he didn't see him, but someone else. Short dark hair, messed bangs...
"... Subaru-san." the name was whispered so softly that it would take some extra perception to pick those words up. Then, he froze, looking to a side. Why was he remembering him now? They weren't together anymore... there was no chance of them being together, yet his name had come so easily...
"You're not making sense." he hissed, tilting his head to a side, craning his neck away, not wanting to face the other.
"Not making sense...?" Alexis frowned a bit, tilting Ranmaru's face to look right at him. His touch remained gentle, but the grip stayed form and inflexible. While he was willing to be nice to Ranmaru, he still wasn't going to relent and back down from his proper position as a lord and patriarch. No, a matter of pride kept that from ever happening. He placed a small kiss on the other's lips while his fingertips softly ran over the smooth skin underneath his touch.
"Even if you're not quite of age, what will it matter?" His other hand made to remove the outer robe deftly, and with a small rustle of the silk, it fell to the floor. "No need to fret, is there?" And then again he kissed Ranmaru a bit more passionately, bringing the form under him closer with a strong grip.
This gentleness was odd... far too odd. The way Alexis was behaving with him, the way he was treating him was almost... it wasn't even forcing, even though he technically had forced this onto him, but it wasn't malicious. He couldn't really understand and when his robes slid off, he certainly felt like a marionetted puppet. This was the sort of thing that lovers did, and it wasn't right the way Alexis was treating him now. A lover bent on giving him pleasure?
Now in his underrobe, the belt and upper robe having been slid back, Ranmaru hesitated, moving his arms around the other man's neck, and with their faces as close as they were, he let out a muffled gasp, his body weakening to the other's touch, and in return, he actually kissed Alexis back for the first time that night, proving that he wasn't alien to this sort of thing. He was a warrior and soldier and had certainly been dominant... yet tonight, odd as it was, despite the sedation, perhaps it's fault entirely, he was allowing himself to be pleasured.
His eyes falling shut for the briefest moment, he slid a hand up Alexis' back, to the back of his neck and held him tightly, willing him to stop, before he broke the kiss and looked up at him. "I'm old enough. I just don't understand why you want me at all. We've never even spoken before this." A curse. That was the only explanation. "You're going to regret this... Hargreaves-san."
Regret it. Would he regret it? Alexis racked his mind quickly for an answer. Well, no. What was to regret, when the other peson was rather a beauty of the Orient, and an exquisitely poised one? Well, even if there were regrets, later on, Alexis knew just how to deal with those regrets. They were best dealt with like a bad business deal - killed quickly, quietly, and forgotten from that moment on.
And, for now, he wasn't going to deal with thought. Not when he had a distracting beauty in his eyesight. And when he saw that there was only one robe separating himself from the rest of Ranmaru, his other hand slid underneath the soft fabric while he kissed on the bare expanse of neck that practically begged to be touched. He would have his conquest.
That was really all it took, because within the next few moments, Ranmaru felt his own sense of self-preservation weaken. His body was fully under the influence of the sedation, and he didn't care what was happening anymore, because it was slowly slipping into the realm of pleasure. His subconscious side wanted this to stop, yet at the same time, the very same side wanted it to go on because he'd missed it. He'd wanted to be held by someone who cared for him, and the more he thought of it, the more he wished to submerge fully into his thoughts...
A soft breath went past his lips, and he gasped, arching his body into Alexis's touch, and his hand went over to the man's coat, tugging it off over his arms and arching his neck to feel more of the kisses. "Har..greaves-san..." his breath came out shaky, and he closed his eyes.
Forgive me.
Soft, wasn't it...? That skin under his touch. Even without really concentrating on the texture, he could tell it was something he hadn't really ever touched. Surprising, but, well, it was at least a good surprise. He pushed on, disregarding the fact that now his own jacket had been discarded, haphazardly piled atop the crumpled silk robe he had recently tossed aside. He had almost an urge to loosen, if not remove, the tie and vest he wore, but he was much more focused on Ranmaru than anything else.
Besides, he'd rather the other were bare before himself. Though he had plenty of time... He pulled the glasses off his nose bridge and folded them neatly, placing them on an end table within reach before once more pulling Ranmaru into a heated kiss. It seemed almost not in-keeping with his naturally calm demeanor... but, well, passion had a funny way of changing circumstances. The had that had almost idly lie on Ranmaru's thigh slid further up, resting on his hip - .... Wait. His hip. It was far too narrow to be a female's. He paused a moment, pulling from Ranmaru to, again, closely examine the figure below him. Not a woman....
Ranmaru's hands were at the other's shirt now, he'd been so used to undressing Subaru in his western outfits that this almost came as a second nature of sorts. He hadn't quite worn something like this though, and he allowed the more heated kiss, his cheeks flushing pink. Regardless of what was going on, the fact that he wasn't thinking right and was becoming incapable of... the passion with which Alexis was working on him wasn't appreciated. He could taste the other man's lips, an odd feeling, and he looked strangely vulnerable without his glasses. Shivering when Alexis stroked up his hip, he blinked when he paused and his lips just barely brushing against the other man's lips, he whispered, "What's wrong?"
And then he paused, realizing what he'd asked. Was he encouraging him...?
One more look.... So he had been right in insisting that he wasn't a woman. A cool look seemed to lend a bluish look to his green eyes, and once more, his eye skimmed over the other's figure as it lie underneath him, the hand that had been on Ranmaru's hip following the stare. Had he simply missed it...? No stoicism... just fantasy. Yes, he could damn the moors, the fireflies, whatever he so picked... but it still remained.
He chuckled to himself - a man, hmn? Scandalous, if it fell into the wrong hands. But, of course, he would not allow such information out of his firm clutch. The gentle touch on his lips - as gentle as the shade of fuschia on those orchids, which now stood elegantly in a vase by the window - it was enough to coax him. Regardless of the true gender, it wouldn't matter if, say, such privileged information never grew public. That was justification enough, and it consoled him enough to pick back up where he had left off.
He didn't protest, had no will to, had no desire to... Alexis was giving him feelings and sensations he believed he didn't need, and didn't yearn for. He wondered how this man, when out of the influence of this curse, would react knowing he had done this with another man. Unable to detect his thoughts, Ranmaru merely let out a soft sigh of want, allowing himself to return touch for touch.
Moving his hand to the other's neck, where the tie was locked, he slid a finger under the knot, swiftly undoing it, recalling from memory how he would do the lace on his Lord Mitsuhide... so similar, yet so simple. Exposing the other man's neck, Ranmaru gave himself up and moved his face close to his throat, breathing heatedly against it, and pressing his lips in fiery soft kisses against the skin. Just imagining... what could have been.
If there was anyone who was going to regret this, in all likeliness, it would be himself, more than Alexis ever would.
His tie loose, the neck exposed - it would have almost been indecent, had Alicia been a foolish young maid and slipped in again to retrieve the cart. Luckily, though, he had trained her well to come and go only as needed and as instructed. He knew she would know, but loyalty - and money - could buy silence.
His train of thought was promptly broken when he felt a warmth there on the side of his neck. A warmth similar to a forced one he had felt a night seventeen or so years back. Perhaps it was best that Augusta's portrait wasn't in view... didn't want her to get too terribly jealous, did he? But he'd reserve a lit pipe for her as he leaned against a mantle, staring at the brushstrokes that lent such light to those eyes. He already could see the smoke curling into the air, once he was finished with Ranmaru, that self-satisfied look on his face while he stared on at a beauty from the Orient.
The pipe tobacco's scent reminded him more of the Indies, though.
rating; R [mature situations]
characters; Mori Ranmaru (
elegantorchid), Alexis Hargreaves (maitre_de_carte).summary; A fine evening out, and an unexpected situation. This one goes in the files, the key tossed out the window.
log;
The day had become so odd that he had decided to venture out earlier than normal. Subaru-kun and Lawr-kun would be fine, though he did notice certain people acting a little more abnormally than they should have... but trying not to think on it, or the fact that this may yet be another curse, he headed his usual way to the gardens. If there was a curse today, so far, it didn't seem to be affecting him and he was more than relieved... these curses had been getting odder and odder.
Perhaps I'm truly becoming a part of this place... he thought to himself. As he knelt down by the flowerbed he'd been taking care of, a memory flashed in his mind, of a night underneath the tree, and he felt his heart grow heavier... before he shook his head. It's over, he thought. I shouldn't be thinking of things like that.
Not knowing why the thoughts were feeling stronger, he attempted to distract himself with working on the flowers instead, trimming the weeds and gathering the weaker ones...
A late afternoon, well, it seemed a good time for a proper walk through the gardens, accompanied only by his thoughts and a curl of smoke from a pipe. Alexis couldn't quite place the source of his unusually chipper mood, but he knew he had to have a good moment to himself so the mood wasn't spoiled. At times, even Jezebel had a way of inspiring a certain irritation. And he'd not have that for today.
The fireflies seemed to be out, as well. He hadn't really ever seen too many of them back in England... stoicism on the moors, no fantasy. While he smiled to himself, he continued to walk on - only to pause when he saw a figure bent over the flowers, hard at work. Why did his walk slow to a halt...? The only way he'd know is if he watched for a moment more.
Quite lost in his own world, Ranmaru didn't notice the appearance of the other man until he had stopped, reaching over to wipe his hands with the towlettes he had with the gardening equipment, and then gathered the flowers he had carefully cut and set aside into a simple bouquet for the house into his arms. No one usually disturbed this area, so the orchids he had grown were always in perfect, presentable condition. Then, as he stood up, his senses picked up the other presence, and unable to tell whether it was friend or foe, and he raised his silver gaze to... someone he'd never met before.
Blinking twice, he appeared to be an english gentleman of sorts as he'd seen around here, he shifted the bouquet to his other arm and offered him a polite smile and a bow of his head. "Good day, sir." he spoke to him, friendly as always.
Such a pretty face. It reminded him of fine silks from the orient - spices, the teas, the mystery. Well, the East did seem a very seductive region - and he saw the seduction in this person. His eyes, the green caught by dying sunlight, narrowed behind his glasses before he smiled even more broadly. Yes, he had to know this girl - she had to be a girl... he hadn't seen such beauty before in a male.
"A fair evening to you, too," he replied, letting more smoke curl into the air while he took a puff. "Though one must wonder why you are working so late on the gardens - begging your pardon for the inquiry," he added smoothly. Couldn't come off as too brash.... yet, anyhow.
He didn't have anywhere to go in the evening, everything had been set at home, though he did feel a tinge of worry at leaving his friends alone. Certain ones in particular, he couldn't help but have a feeling of dread for, and he shifted a little, blinking when the question was asked and then smiling a little more. If the person was so kind as to make conversation, he would be rude not to reply, and he did look nice. Though there was a look of cunning in the man's eyes Ranmaru had seen in many a lord, and he remained on his guard for the while.
"This person just wished to get some fresh air and look to the flowers.", he replied. "Does sir like flowers? This person hasn't ever seen you around here before." No one ever came to this garden part.
Always such a humble race, weren't they? The Orient always was thought of as a feminine sort of mystique... and this person in front of him seemed to personify it very well. The fireflies seemed to gather around her, really. No stoicism. A curious sort of coicidence, wasn't it?
Alexis smiled even more at the other, nodding in responce. "The flowers are quite pretty, aren't they?" he answered echoingly. "I come out for walks because of the flowers, actually." His eyes scanned over her figure - lithe, thin, willowy. His curiosity truly was sparked now. "I can tell you must adore the flowers."
The fact that he was here would say it enough, though he did find his cheeks coloring a bit at the mention. He chuckled a little, moving a hand behind his head, and figured, well, why not? And then, lowering his hand, he held the bouquet of orchids to the other man. "This person enjoys sharing them more. Here, you can have these." He was just collecting them for a pastime anyway, and he smiled up at the man. "They're violet orchids! This person has grown them all!" he told him. "Sir seems to appreciate them, so you can have them. I can always get more."
It was then he looked closer and realized that the man before him might have been his Lord's age, or close anyway. He didn't look very old, but there was a certain maturity in his face and...
Green eyes. Like him... his other special person with his mismatched gaze. Finding himself thinking about him again, Ranmaru lowered his head and took a step back. "Ah, forgive me. I should get going..."
When he had been given the orchids, he neatly placed them in the fold of his arm. Somehow, he thought he looked atrangely refined, foreign orchids in one hand, a pipe emitting fragrances closer to the Indies in the other. It was an interesting contrast.
And he found that the ideas were lending him a boldness he hadn't really thought becomming of anyone else before. His free hand reached out in invitation, and he stepped forward to match her step back. "I believe I do owe you for the fine orchids," he started. "Perhaps tea? My flat isn't too far away, if you would pardon my forwardness."
That made Ranmaru blink. He wasn't a dishonest person by nature, so he couldn't think of anything that would be a good excuse, especially since the others were all aware he would be out. He shook his head quickly though, smiling nervously. "No payment is necessary, sir! It was my pleasure." He knew he should have felt a little more wary, but in an odd way, the company was welcome, and so was the attention. Perhaps he was just feeling awkward... and incredibly thirsty. He'd been out for a while after all.
Not wanting to be rude, he moved a hand to his chest. "My Lords would say a nameless invitation to tea is one to be wary of. Please pardon my hesitance in accepting your offer." he said then, trying to turn him down gently.
The system, yes. It was customary for one of better birth to be introduced first. And, of course, it was better to assume that there were no parallels in an Oriental system - default, then, to introduce oneself first. His hand dropped slightly, but he maintained his stance. "Apologies for going without a proper introduction," he bowed slightly - yes, bow to the lady. "Lord Alexis Hargreaves, at your service."
He took hold of the other's hand, then, and, with a small kneel, a genteel kiss was placed on the back of her hand. Respect ladies - for, he was certain, she was a lady of stature. No need in being so impolite.
His eyes widened in surprise at the gesture, stunned by it completely. Was this man for real? A flush of color erupted over the young warrior's face, and as the other's lips brushed against the revealed part of the back of his hands, owing to the fact that he had to keep them covered because of the five-point pentacles burned into his skin, he felt a shiver run through his arm and to the rest of his body. Biting down on his lower lip, he slowly slid his hand back and bowed his head.
"My Lord. T-This person is Mori Ranmaru. You may... you may call me Ranmaru, if you wish." he told him, still feeling awkward. "Please pardon me, but... this is the first time I have ever been greeted in such a manner with before."
When Alexis again rose to his feet, he chuckled to himself. Not so used to Western conventions, it seemed. It was endearing, in a sense... and enticing, as well. "It is customary address for one as yourself, Ranmaru," he replied matter-of-factly. "At least, in the part of England from where I come."
Emboldened by a certain atmosphere in the air, he approached Ranmaru, stopping a few steps short of the other. "But now that we are acquainted, I do believe that the invitation isn't a namesless one, is it?" He chuckled with amusement, again extending his hand to her. "It still is redeemable, if you're worried about that."
Standing this close, Ranmaru was fully able to take in the other's features and he felt himself unable to move. He was a handsome man, there was no doubt, but there was something sinister in his aura. Something sinister and... lonely? It didn't make much sense. But he felt frozen for a bit. Move, Ranmaru. Refuse. he told himself, though something struck him as odd about the way the other mentioned 'one as yourself'. Was it really so? Wondering if... no, surely, the man had heard his voice, he wouldn't be SO ignorant, would he?
Figuring he shouldn't worry too much, Ranmaru moved a hand forward, but not to take this Alexis Hargreaves'... he gently touched his fingers, and made a motion of 'no', then smiled at him, accepting his proposal at the same time. "I shouldn't stay too long... but since you are so kind to offer, I will accept, Hargreaves-san..." Hargreaves. Why was the name familiar?
He had almost been under the impression that Ranmaru was going to object. When it was as clear as it could be that she had accepted, Alexis then moved his hand in favour of offering his arm. Though he wondered if she would see this, too, as an unfamiliar custom? A lady had no need in roaming the streets unescorted.
"I thank you for your acceptance," he replied with a silky voice. He seemed more than a bit gracious at the moment. "If you would, please." His arm extended, waiting for the other's to snake about it like a vine on a pole. Hopefully, he'd not have to explain another custom again - but even if it were deemed mandatory, it didn't seem to perturb him in the slightest.
He probably would have to, Ranmaru was incredibly unfamiliar with western customs- these kinds, that he had never seen, directed towards a man. He was certain they were for females, and he was also pretty certain that these people from the West weren't quite so open about being with other men the way they were back home.
A confused look appearing on his face, Ranmaru tilted his head to a side. "Do... do you wish for Ranmaru to take your arm?" he asked. "Does it hurt?"
"Does it hurt?" Alexis was wont to break into laughter at such an odd question. It was definitive proof that the poor woman wasn't at all accustomed to such advances. But, if he had the luck on him, well, she would be accustomed sooner or later.
As gently as he could, he looked to her and smiled. "Perhaps it does," he evasively answered, a touch of mirth lingering on his low voice. "Let us go, shall we? The darkness is closing in on you and I."
Blinking in confusion, but figuring it would be alright to humor the seemingly eccentric man. As he thought before, he didn't seem too bad, and with a nod, Ranmaru slid his arm around the other's, and kept a hand to his forearm to support it (he had a good grip for a soldier), he smiled to the other. "Ah. Please lead the way, Hargreaves-san."
It didn't take too long to get to the man's living quarters, though Ranmaru still felt a mixture of confusion and amusement. He paused for a bit on approaching where the other man stayed, then as Alexis led them in, Ranmaru was reminded of his visits to Kigai Yuuto. The decor wasn't similar, far from it, but it was the same atmosphere. Ranmaru looked down at his feet, wondering if he should take his shoes off, but then he shrugged and pulled away, eyes lighting up at the stylish setting the place was complimented with.
"Uwah.." he couldn't help but gasp. "This is... this is like a place in the picture-books of western homes!" he couldn't help but comment.
Alexis smiled to Ranmaru when she gasped at the interior. Really, it was a bit more sparsely decorated than he would have liked - but it wasn't completely necessary to be surrounded by such luxuries in the public staging area. Not nearly as important as the true living quarters in which he inhabited.
He called out, instantly, to his servant in the kitchens to prepare some evening tea. A rich black tea, perhaps, with cream and sugar would do well enough - although he had a craving, suddenly, for oolong. "I fear I may have underfurnished in this room," he replied, crossing the rug-covered floor to stand before his armchair. While he gestured to the small sofa across from him, he looked right into Ranmaru's eyes for a moment longer than necessary. "Please, do have a seat."
He didn't seem to be too bad at all... and Ranmaru couldn't help but smile at his comment. "Underfurnished? Hargreaves-san must be mistaken... this looks nice enough already!" he followed him in, noticing the look however, made him still and he blushed a little, glancing at the seat. "You have a nice home, Hargreaves-san. For this city, that is." of course, if he was living in the lap of luxury now, Ranmaru could only imagine how rich he must be in his own world.
It was then, his memory decided to clear and he turned to look at Alexis. "Your name... Ranmaru has heard it before." he thought for a bit, then snapped his fingers. "Cain-san! Cain Hargreaves! A-are you both related, sir?" he asked, recalling the man who had given him opium to deliver to Radu.
Cain. Yes, of course he would hear a question similar to that one... it seemed that, no matter where he went, the public took a shine to his son. Everyone, come to pet the black sheep. He almost frowned at the thought, but he retained his composure as he sat in the usual armchair. "Earl Cain Hargreaves and I are distantly related," he replied a bit coolly, glancing to the side as he eyed the leather-bound tome atop the small wooden table nearby. A Study in Common Poisons. Yes, distantly related.
He was snapped out of the small reverie he had delved into when a small clinking of silver met his ears. Yes, rose petal tea - he could smell it even before he saw Alicia, his servant, push it out upon the tea cart. "Ah, splendid timing, Alicia," he called to her, nodding his head to her in slight gratitude before extending a poured cup to Ranmaru. "I apologise if it isn't to your liking," he commented graciously.
The tea smelled oddly good even at this distance, and Ranmaru blinked in surprise, when the Lord offered him a cup. Accepting it with a whispered, 'thank you' though he continued to look at the tea in surprise for smelling as good as it did, he then smiled and shook his head. "It smells delicious!" His previous question forgotten, and obviously familiar with western tea-drinking methods at least, he took a sip, and an expression of mirth appeared on his face.
"Ranmaru has never had tea like this before!" he exclaimed, chuckling a little. "It tastes like gentle rose milk!"
After merely adding one sugar cube, Alexis leaned back into the winged armchair's back and began at contently stirring the tea with a small tea spoon. "I must confess, it is a bit of a delicacy," he replied before setting the spoon aside on the saucer he held. "It seems to have been a proper choice, though." And again, he stared at Ranmaru, taking in her thin, streamlined figure before taking a languid sip of his own tea. Perfectly brewed.
From over the rim of his cup, he continued to transfix his gaze upon his company. Even by the light of oil lamps, it seemed a certain rosy haze floated about the air. Well, he did have to admit, she had a fetching face. But it seemed more than that - the manner in which she sat... it was a humble sort of elegance. A little less haughty pride than what he was accustomed to seeing in the English gentry. Almost made one wonder....
He didn't think the tea needed anything else, it felt right all by itself. Ranmaru continued to drink the tea, not really aware of the older man's eyes on him, and once he'd managed to finish off nearly all of the tea, he set it back in the saucer and smiled brightly at Alexis, holding the tea in his lap.
"Hargreaves-san has a good choice then. That was really delicious." a glance towards the window nearby, Ranmaru blinked as he saw the darkened city. "Oh... it's getting incredibly late. I hope Lawr-kun's home..." Subaru-kun he didn't have to worry too much about but... he just had to make sure.
The compulsion seemed too great to ignore at this point. He had felt as though, perhaps, he had known this woman before... somewhere, in another lifetime, perhaps? Nonetheless, an urge washed over him, drenching all his thought as he set down the now half empty cup of tea on top of the book he had eyed.
"It's darkened..." He rose from his chair slowly, almost too gracefully for a man of his build. Those regal emeralds were shadowed by something a little dark - not necessarily malicious... He took one step, two, three, before he was before her, looking down to Ranmaru with a faint, hospitable smile. "Looks as though we came inside just in time."
Ranmaru glanced back just in time to see Alexis standing above him, and was startled momentarily. How did he not notice? As though he was just moving to set the teacup aside, Ranmaru shifted so that he could place the tea on the side table and begin to stand. "A... ah." he replied, smoothing down his upper robe as he did so. "It was very nice of you to invite me, Hargreaves-san, but it would be rude of Ranmaru to overstay his welcome." he stated. His cheeks felt warm after the good amount of tea and he felt somewhat content... perhaps he could go call upon this Alexis Hargreaves later and see about where to get the same tea...
He was close enough to Ranmaru now that, really, he could do anything that he wanted. Anything.... He suppressed a smirk to himself at the thought. Western dominance taking advantage of the Eastern submissive attitude. The thought, oddly enough, was quite appealing.
Without really contemplating over the consequences, even though they simmered on the back burner, a hand moved to slide over the fine silk of the robes she wore, his hand running up the side of her arm. "I don't believe you can overstay your welcome," he replied in a low voice, almost craning his neck to her ear to be certain she heard it. Conquest - such an imperialistic thought, wasn't it?
Alright, this was getting too close for comfort. This wasn't supposed to be something more than just a tea invitation, and Ranmaru mentally berated himself for having agreed to such a thing at all. He'd grown rather unobservant in his depression of late, failing to see the signs of advantage he had been giving... and the way Alexis spoke to him right now was warning enough. However, he was unarmed, he couldn't exactly make a threat and he knew it was against his morals to even try to do so to a guest who had invited him into his own territory...
I walked right into this... he thought to himself, even as he tried to slide back against the backrest of the chair so he could slide out sideways and make it look like nothing had happened. "Har... greaves-san...?" he whispered questioningly, willing his body to move. Why, oh why, was he so noble?
She wasn't exactly moving away... and she didn't seem to be inclined to do so. He could take that as a good sign, and so he would. After all, if there was no refusal, what was there to stop him? Even then, there wasn't much that a woman could do in opposition to male force.
"Mmn..." He wasn't in a mood to talk. Not right now. While the hand that had indulged in the silken touch of those robes continued to, his other ran up the side of her leg. Smooth... willowy, as he had expected. His intent, he had hoped, was perfectly clear by this point.
Ranmaru's breath caught in his throat and he shifted uncomfortably. Under normal circumstances, Alexis Hargreaves would be facing the end of Ranmaru's nodachi Tomonari, or his fist, whichever came first. And he was severely tempted to sock the older man one and hist fists clenched, preparing to do so. He wasn't here for this sort of thing!!
His expression changed to one of repulsion, and he raised his hand, ready to punch the other out when all of a sudden, all feeling of strength drained out of him. His breath shivered and he only managed to grab onto Alexis' shoulder, bowing his head in surprise. What had just happened? Trying to tug himself free of the man's touch, Ranmaru quickly gathered himself and began to push him back.
"S-Stop this. I'm not here for this, Hargreaves-san." he told him in a low hiss, still keeping in mind that there were servants here. "I... I'm leaving."
And now he was being opposed. Either she was conforming to some sort of social more or she was merely fooling herself. And Alexis wasn't one to be refused, as far as he was concerned. He made that perfectly clear as he pushed her onto the sofa.
"Leaving...?" He looked at her with a cool sort of glance, his eyes peering through thin strands of black hair. A small, seductive grin curled his lips, and soon after, he was hovering right above her on the sofa, his hand again running up underneath the silken robes over her thigh. "That's rather soon, isn't it?"
"AH!!" Ranmaru cried out in surprise when he felt his back hit the sofa's seat, attempting to move back up but as he looked up, he was stunned still by the way the other was looking at him. Such a look was almost predatorial, and made Ranmaru's blood run cold. Was this what the man had... why had he even bothered listening--
And more than that why in the name of Inari's tail was this feeling so good?
His hand still on Alexis' shoulder, Ranmaru realized what their position may look like and he turned his gaze, silver eyes almost shining like the gleam caught off the edge of a sword, right into Alexis' own. "You tricked me! There was something in that tea, wasn't there?!"
He could see the sharpness of the platinum in her eyes, but he certainly wasn't fazed by it. No, he had seen far worse threats before - women, certainly, weren't that great a threat to him. His own green stare, like iced gems, looked fearlessly into hers with an authority that seemed too hard to deny.
"In that tea....?" he asked, looking briefly to the teacup she had put down. He had been certain to signal to Alicia to put at least two drops of sedative in her tea... just to be certain. And rose petal tea always was a good one to disguise the scent. He then looked back to Ranmaru, leaning down to effectively pin her to the sofa. "I put no such thing in your tea."
He felt dizzy, and in this situation, that wasn't a good sign. His fingers curling around the Hargreaves' lord's shoulder, to the point of being painful, Ranmaru grimaced, returning the stare for stare. His breath was tight and he slid back, tense and then, he almost looked desperate.
"Lies." he hissed. "Ranmaru knows this sensation. To numb battle wounds.. sedatives..." he found his voice shiver, and his gaze flickered for a moment as he looked up to the other man. "Let... go, Hargreaves-san. Please." He didn't want to have anyone come in and see this, ah the restrictions of honor. Yet the more he spoke, the more he realized he didn't want to move away. It was sickening him, and at the same time, how long had it been since he'd been held like this at all?
"Why... why me?" he then asked in a smaller voice. How could this man have just decided on him?
At this point, Alexis took to ignoring the words. He had done so when his sister had repeated similar words. But Augusta had merely said no... but he had seen in her beautiful eyes that she had meant yes right then and there. It seemed the same sort of situation in this case.... Ranmaru kept saying "no", but he could hear "yes" reverberating in the tone of voice she used. And her mouth... stained a light pink, like the sakura of that foreign land. Appealing, really.
"You simply must relax," he murmured, the hand on her thigh gripping a bit tightly in slight threat. No, he wouldn't have her overthrow his authority. "Keep your composure, dear madam." Without letting another word escape her lips, he dove down for a dominating kiss.
Ranmaru's eyes went wide in horror as he was kissed, and he struggled against the kiss with all the strength remaining in his body. His fingers curled tightly around the lord's coat, tugging it, as if to shove him back full-forced but he found no strength in himself to do as he wanted to. His lower body where Alexis was holding him tensed as he tried to struggle free and his eyes clamped shut tightly. This wasn't happening... this just...
He let out a choked sound, face flushing red and finally tore his face away from the other man, gasping, still looking incredibly flustered as he hissed, "M-Madam?! Ranmaru is not a woman!!" he shot back at him, feeling as though some strength had come back to him with the mention of those words. All this time-- this man had thought he was a woman?! No wonder he'd thought him weak! His glare returned as he fixed it on Alexis' face, hoping for him to step back in repulsion. Surely if he'd thought him a woman, he wouldn't continue this knowing he was a man!
Once Alexis heard Ranmaru protest that he wasn't a woman, he paused, looking down to the other with skeptical green eyes. Not a woman.... His eyes lingered to the chest below him... flat, really,, and his curious hands had confirmed such. There were only a few options that could merit such a thing. And it seemed more likely for one than the other.
A shade of a smile crepy back on his lips before he again kissed Ranmaru, this time a bit gentler than before. Not a woman, then...? Well, he knew what, then. "Then you shall become one, come the morning after," he replied in a whisper once he pulled back. If it wasn't discussed in public, there was no need in being so ashamed of it.
Ranmaru was certain, more than certain that the other man would either stop or just be disgusted with himself. His own horror intensified when the man seemed to not care.. followed by those words that suggested he wasn't getting out of this.
"Wh-what...?" he repeated, his voice shaking as he let a hand drop from where he was clutching the older man. It moved to cover his mouth which had been thoroughly kissed and he could still taste the bit of rose on the other's lips. Trembling, Ranmaru looked away, his breaths quickened with the anxiety building up in him. Moving his arms underneath him then as he moved his hands down, Ranmaru looked up at the older man.
"What do you mean... become one?" he asked, his voice small. The sedative was having it's full effect now, even in the mild dose it had been given, and he tried to slide back, away from the other man.
Even when Ranmaru moved back, Alexis followed and again pinned the other down to the soft jacquard upholstery. No, no, Ranmaru would not get away. Not if it was a matter of pride and refusal. The sedatives seemed to have gotten deeper in the other's veins... he had known that the medicine he had put in the tea would work.
"You're not yet a woman," he replied in a voice strangely tinted with a hint of dispassion. "But you shall be." And again, he kissed Ranmaru, his hand running up and down the thigh that it had occupied previously. If it were a younger lady, well, anything could be concealed behind a social mask. Oh, he knew that too well.
A small growl escaped the boy's mouth and Ranmaru struggled, as hard as he could possibly manage, but the more he did, the more he could feel the older man's hand rubbing up against him, further heightening the sensation he knew was wrong for him to feel in this state of uncertainty. However, the moment the next kiss came, Ranmaru felt as though he'd been stabbed in the chest, because his own hand, shaking as it was, came to the other's face, in an attempt to push it away.
But instead, all Ranmaru managed was to cup the other's cheek, his mind spinning from the mixture of sedatives and now the reactions his body was giving out. Shame swarmed through him and he inhaled deeply until he could breathe no more, looking up at the green-eyed man. For the briefest moment, he didn't see him, but someone else. Short dark hair, messed bangs...
"... Subaru-san." the name was whispered so softly that it would take some extra perception to pick those words up. Then, he froze, looking to a side. Why was he remembering him now? They weren't together anymore... there was no chance of them being together, yet his name had come so easily...
"You're not making sense." he hissed, tilting his head to a side, craning his neck away, not wanting to face the other.
"Not making sense...?" Alexis frowned a bit, tilting Ranmaru's face to look right at him. His touch remained gentle, but the grip stayed form and inflexible. While he was willing to be nice to Ranmaru, he still wasn't going to relent and back down from his proper position as a lord and patriarch. No, a matter of pride kept that from ever happening. He placed a small kiss on the other's lips while his fingertips softly ran over the smooth skin underneath his touch.
"Even if you're not quite of age, what will it matter?" His other hand made to remove the outer robe deftly, and with a small rustle of the silk, it fell to the floor. "No need to fret, is there?" And then again he kissed Ranmaru a bit more passionately, bringing the form under him closer with a strong grip.
This gentleness was odd... far too odd. The way Alexis was behaving with him, the way he was treating him was almost... it wasn't even forcing, even though he technically had forced this onto him, but it wasn't malicious. He couldn't really understand and when his robes slid off, he certainly felt like a marionetted puppet. This was the sort of thing that lovers did, and it wasn't right the way Alexis was treating him now. A lover bent on giving him pleasure?
Now in his underrobe, the belt and upper robe having been slid back, Ranmaru hesitated, moving his arms around the other man's neck, and with their faces as close as they were, he let out a muffled gasp, his body weakening to the other's touch, and in return, he actually kissed Alexis back for the first time that night, proving that he wasn't alien to this sort of thing. He was a warrior and soldier and had certainly been dominant... yet tonight, odd as it was, despite the sedation, perhaps it's fault entirely, he was allowing himself to be pleasured.
His eyes falling shut for the briefest moment, he slid a hand up Alexis' back, to the back of his neck and held him tightly, willing him to stop, before he broke the kiss and looked up at him. "I'm old enough. I just don't understand why you want me at all. We've never even spoken before this." A curse. That was the only explanation. "You're going to regret this... Hargreaves-san."
Regret it. Would he regret it? Alexis racked his mind quickly for an answer. Well, no. What was to regret, when the other peson was rather a beauty of the Orient, and an exquisitely poised one? Well, even if there were regrets, later on, Alexis knew just how to deal with those regrets. They were best dealt with like a bad business deal - killed quickly, quietly, and forgotten from that moment on.
And, for now, he wasn't going to deal with thought. Not when he had a distracting beauty in his eyesight. And when he saw that there was only one robe separating himself from the rest of Ranmaru, his other hand slid underneath the soft fabric while he kissed on the bare expanse of neck that practically begged to be touched. He would have his conquest.
That was really all it took, because within the next few moments, Ranmaru felt his own sense of self-preservation weaken. His body was fully under the influence of the sedation, and he didn't care what was happening anymore, because it was slowly slipping into the realm of pleasure. His subconscious side wanted this to stop, yet at the same time, the very same side wanted it to go on because he'd missed it. He'd wanted to be held by someone who cared for him, and the more he thought of it, the more he wished to submerge fully into his thoughts...
A soft breath went past his lips, and he gasped, arching his body into Alexis's touch, and his hand went over to the man's coat, tugging it off over his arms and arching his neck to feel more of the kisses. "Har..greaves-san..." his breath came out shaky, and he closed his eyes.
Forgive me.
Soft, wasn't it...? That skin under his touch. Even without really concentrating on the texture, he could tell it was something he hadn't really ever touched. Surprising, but, well, it was at least a good surprise. He pushed on, disregarding the fact that now his own jacket had been discarded, haphazardly piled atop the crumpled silk robe he had recently tossed aside. He had almost an urge to loosen, if not remove, the tie and vest he wore, but he was much more focused on Ranmaru than anything else.
Besides, he'd rather the other were bare before himself. Though he had plenty of time... He pulled the glasses off his nose bridge and folded them neatly, placing them on an end table within reach before once more pulling Ranmaru into a heated kiss. It seemed almost not in-keeping with his naturally calm demeanor... but, well, passion had a funny way of changing circumstances. The had that had almost idly lie on Ranmaru's thigh slid further up, resting on his hip - .... Wait. His hip. It was far too narrow to be a female's. He paused a moment, pulling from Ranmaru to, again, closely examine the figure below him. Not a woman....
Ranmaru's hands were at the other's shirt now, he'd been so used to undressing Subaru in his western outfits that this almost came as a second nature of sorts. He hadn't quite worn something like this though, and he allowed the more heated kiss, his cheeks flushing pink. Regardless of what was going on, the fact that he wasn't thinking right and was becoming incapable of... the passion with which Alexis was working on him wasn't appreciated. He could taste the other man's lips, an odd feeling, and he looked strangely vulnerable without his glasses. Shivering when Alexis stroked up his hip, he blinked when he paused and his lips just barely brushing against the other man's lips, he whispered, "What's wrong?"
And then he paused, realizing what he'd asked. Was he encouraging him...?
One more look.... So he had been right in insisting that he wasn't a woman. A cool look seemed to lend a bluish look to his green eyes, and once more, his eye skimmed over the other's figure as it lie underneath him, the hand that had been on Ranmaru's hip following the stare. Had he simply missed it...? No stoicism... just fantasy. Yes, he could damn the moors, the fireflies, whatever he so picked... but it still remained.
He chuckled to himself - a man, hmn? Scandalous, if it fell into the wrong hands. But, of course, he would not allow such information out of his firm clutch. The gentle touch on his lips - as gentle as the shade of fuschia on those orchids, which now stood elegantly in a vase by the window - it was enough to coax him. Regardless of the true gender, it wouldn't matter if, say, such privileged information never grew public. That was justification enough, and it consoled him enough to pick back up where he had left off.
He didn't protest, had no will to, had no desire to... Alexis was giving him feelings and sensations he believed he didn't need, and didn't yearn for. He wondered how this man, when out of the influence of this curse, would react knowing he had done this with another man. Unable to detect his thoughts, Ranmaru merely let out a soft sigh of want, allowing himself to return touch for touch.
Moving his hand to the other's neck, where the tie was locked, he slid a finger under the knot, swiftly undoing it, recalling from memory how he would do the lace on his Lord Mitsuhide... so similar, yet so simple. Exposing the other man's neck, Ranmaru gave himself up and moved his face close to his throat, breathing heatedly against it, and pressing his lips in fiery soft kisses against the skin. Just imagining... what could have been.
If there was anyone who was going to regret this, in all likeliness, it would be himself, more than Alexis ever would.
His tie loose, the neck exposed - it would have almost been indecent, had Alicia been a foolish young maid and slipped in again to retrieve the cart. Luckily, though, he had trained her well to come and go only as needed and as instructed. He knew she would know, but loyalty - and money - could buy silence.
His train of thought was promptly broken when he felt a warmth there on the side of his neck. A warmth similar to a forced one he had felt a night seventeen or so years back. Perhaps it was best that Augusta's portrait wasn't in view... didn't want her to get too terribly jealous, did he? But he'd reserve a lit pipe for her as he leaned against a mantle, staring at the brushstrokes that lent such light to those eyes. He already could see the smoke curling into the air, once he was finished with Ranmaru, that self-satisfied look on his face while he stared on at a beauty from the Orient.
The pipe tobacco's scent reminded him more of the Indies, though.
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