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]

"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.

[tempting_the_fates]

"You can't help what's in your blood, we are what we are," Nyx shrugged. "Embrace it."

[alcuin]

"Do you think I might be capable of more?" Alcuin asked. "Magic?"

[tempting_the_fates]

"I dunno," Nyx admitted. "Magic usually manifests in childhood. If you haven't yet, probably not. I suppose anything is possible though."

[alcuin]

Alcuin nodded. He had no idea when he'd even been to able to hear thoughts. Always? But he didn't remember anything of his childhood.

"I don't know anything about my parents," Alcuin said. "Don't remember my childhood. I've been trying to dig around but it hasn't gotten me very far yet."

[tempting_the_fates]

"I don't think I can help with that," Nyx said honestly. "Sorry."

[alcuin]

"That's all right," Alcuin said, and offered him a little smile. "I'm mostly just curious about... all of it, really. I've had limited interactions with fae, and there's something about you in particular - " Even more so than Rain. "Something familiar."

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx gently brushed Alcuin's hair back again, tucking it carefully behind the other man's ear.

"We're kin, blood seeks blood," he said simply, taking Alcuin's hand in his and letting his magic reach for him a little. "Do you feel that? It's history. Ours. Everything our kind has ever suffered through, every victory... And love, endless love. We're brimming with it- We could take a thousand lovers, and it would still flow."

[alcuin]

Alcuin did feel it. And it was such a strange feeling, because he'd never felt something familial with anyone beyond Hannibal.

Also it was familial but still... he kind of wanted to kiss him. He didn't though, just sort of lingered there for a moment.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal detested tardiness, but had been caught up and unable to leave. He expected Nyx to have left as the reception desk was aware of his other appointment and would have sent him away with aplogies.

So he had not expected Nyx sitting there, openly (palpably) using magic, with Alcuin.

"I would advice you not to use magic in open spaces. I trust every vampire in my employ, but I cannot speak for the clients," he said, neutral, somewhat passively aggressive though.

[tempting_the_fates]

The magic stopped abruptly, Nyx's control over it tight. He seemed surprised to see Hannibal though, as if he'd forgotten where he was and why he'd come.

"Right, sorry," he said, glancing around as his focus shifted from Alcuin finally. "Alcuin was just letting me know you weren't here, and I suppose I got a bit caught up in our conversation.

Gently, he let go of Alcuin's hand. Tender, almost, as he carefully broke their connection.

[alcuin]

While Nyx was still holding Alcuin's hand, Alcuin tensed. Even with everything that had changed, he still had that involuntary reaction to the thought of Hannibal being angry with him.

He pulled his hand into his lap. "I can leave the two of you to it," he said, getting to his feet.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal was pleased with that reaction, but remained neutral. "I did not mean to disturb your conversation. I would only advise caution. Or, preferably, closed doors."