Nyx

[alcuin]

Alcuin and Hannibal's recent reconciliation somehow had Alcuin feeling more off balance than relieved. Between his lingering intuition that Hannibal was lying to him, his concerns that the other man was trying to control him, and knowledge of Aaron's feelings about him... And yet, tangled up in all of that was the intense love he felt for him. It was confusing.

He might not work at the brothel anymore, but now that he wasn't actively avoiding Hannibal, he'd gone back to his habit of reading in the drawing room. Even if it wasn't his task to spy on the patrons, he did still find it interesting to observe the comings and goings.

... and when a rock star walked in, that was certainly an interesting coming.

He carefully closed his book and got to his feet. Walked over to him.

He smiled. "Hello," he said. "Are you looking for someone in particular?"

Comments

[alcuin]

Alcuin only brought it up to make conversation and change the subject, but it was interesting how Nyx immediately jumped to that. Though Alcuin could imagine well enough why the fae wouldn't be keen for anyone to know he was hanging around vampires.

This interaction would be so much easier if Nyx were human and Alcuin could hear his thoughts.

"Of course not," he said gently. "Though it's not like we're friends or anything, I only met him once. He was... helpful, actually. I was in the early days of looking into my ah, heritage. He was able to confirm some things for me."

[tempting_the_fates]

"Oh?" Nyx asked, curious to know how deep into this Rain had gone. "What did you need confirming?"

[alcuin]

"Oh, he worked out I was part fae," Alcuin said. "Before that, someone else had suggested the same thing, and so I started... looking into it."

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx gave the air a curious sniff, as though to confirm that for himself.

"I see," he replied.

[alcuin]

Rain had mentioned that Nyx's nose was more sensitive than his own.

Hannibal hadn't mentioned it, he supposed. Though as soon as he had the thought, he wondered why he thought Hannibal would have mentioned him at all.

"It was quite a surprise to find out," said Alcuin.

And he still thought that Hannibal must have known all along. He wondered if Nyx would find that odd, too.

[tempting_the_fates]

"I suppose it would be, though it seems..."

Nyx nearly said 'unimportant', but he knew that could sound rude, and that wasn't how he meant it.

"...Your DNA shouldn't have that much impact on your life, should it? Do you have magic? Some with fae blood do, some don't. Some have their blood manifest other ways- Maybe not prone to illness, or an amplified ability. Maybe they have the sight, for example. ...Do you know how much fae is in you? Is it half, or are you a bit deeper down the line?"

[alcuin]

"I can read humans' thoughts," Alcuin confessed. And he didn't know the answer to Nyx's other question, but perhaps that information could lead to an educated guess.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx considered him for a moment, then leaned in close, pushing Alcuin's hair back to sniff his neck near the pulse point.

"Not half, I don't think. A grandparent, maybe. Likely on your mother's side. It's nymph blood, certainly. Female nymphs are far more common than male."

Nyx's magic flowed a little as he took in the scent. He couldn't help it, magic had a tendency to seek magic after all. It slowed and then retreated as he drew away.

"Mind reading is a rare talent. You want to be mindful of who you tell. You're probably worth a small fortune in some markets."

A rich warning coming from a fae prince who'd decided to become a rock star. It was advice he ought to take more seriously himself.

[alcuin]

The touch of Nyx's magic along with his breath on Alcuin's neck, Alcuin felt it quite strongly. His eyelids fluttered shut and his inhaled.

Then he opened them again, a little dazed, when Nyx pulled away. "Oh, I... yes, you're probably right." It was good advice. And Alcuin certainly wasn't going to mention that he was interviewing for a job at WSS.

[tempting_the_fates]

"Useful though, if you wanted to do more than the books here," Nyx added thoughtfully.

He hesitated a moment, then wet his lips with a flick of his lips.

"I understand you're Hannibal's... Partner?" he said after a beat. "He's mentioned you before," he admitted. "Just by name."

[alcuin]

Surprise flickered across Alcuin's face. Hannibal had mentioned him to someone he was sleeping with? What on earth had he said? And were he and Nyx closer than Alcuin thought?

"Yes," he said. "Yes, I am. Sorry I didn't mention that, I thought it might be... awkward."

[tempting_the_fates]

"Not awkward, I have a partner as well. Two, actually. Though I was given the impression you weren't a fan of me coming around... If you're worried about my intentions, it's not that. It's just pleasure," Nyx assured him. "Though I do consider Hannibal a friend. ...I couldn't tell you if he really considers me one in return- He can be a bit hard to read in that regard."

He was itching for a cigarette, and his fingers twitched near his pocket.

[alcuin]

"He told you I was jealous?" Alcuin asked, frowning a little. But then he let that drop and added, "It's fine. We aren't... exclusive, clearly. Though I mostly just fucked the people Hannibal told me to."

And that just slipped out, honestly, because he was a little annoyed.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx raised a brow at that.

"Oh," he replied awkwardly.

[alcuin]

"Sorry, I... shouldn't have put it like that," Alcuin said quickly. Even though it was true.

"In any case, I'm ah... not jealous. If I expressed discomfort I suspect it related to my own journey." Pause. "I could feel it, in his bedroom. The lingering magic."

[tempting_the_fates]

"It just comes out when I'm being intimate. Or when I'm high," Nyx said. "Good to know there's no hard feelings though, I'm not looking for a love triangle- My own life is messy enough."

[alcuin]

Alcuin was already in one, or maybe it was even more complicated than a triangle, though he certainly didn't say that.

"You have two partners?" he said instead. "Like a thrupple?"

[tempting_the_fates]

"More like two separate and different relationships. Though we are living under one roof at the moment," Nyx admitted. "Everyone is friendly though."

[alcuin]

"That seems rather complicated," Alcuin said. "But I'm glad it's working out for you." He offered a small smile, and it was genuine. "Your life must be filled with love."

[tempting_the_fates]

"Surely so is yours. You might not be full nymph, but it only takes a bit of nymph blood to attract others. People will want you. They'll crave you- Love you," Nyx said, letting his magic flow a little, letting his blood reach out to Alcuin's.

[alcuin]

Alcuin felt it, and it made him inhale sharply again. "Does that... mean it's not real?"

[tempting_the_fates]

"It's real. We're built to be loved," Nyx assured him. "People who aren't interested don't feel it though, if that's what you mean. ...But if there's a spark there, even if it's just lust- They feel it."

[alcuin]

Alcuin didn't look happy about this information. "I guess... I should have known. It was always a little too easy. To do what I did."

[tempting_the_fates]

"You act like being wanted is a bad thing," Nyx laughed. "Being wanted is our greatest power. Might save your life one day."

[alcuin]

"I guess I just... thought that the manipulation I was doing was only on purpose," Alcuin said. Mostly he was thinking of Aaron. How he'd blown up his life. Manipulated him, broken his heart... and apparently Aaron still loved him.