The Wizard's Tower, Reversed [Rivin]

[Sivan]

Sivan considered, spooning water up and into his hair. The gold darkened.

"No, I think it would be better not to have you go disguised. If you were found out, it would seem damning to them. But if anything does require your presence, I could ask Laurevere to sponsor your visit. He is noble, so his name carries weight in Sol'Valen where mine does not." Golden shoulders peeked up from the water as he shrugged off his common birth.

"I don't... really know how courtship works either," he admitted. Keeping things intellectual helped him remain on an even keel. "I have only rarely known desire except for people I know well. Friends. Urs. Torin. Ah... Destyn and Laurevere, too. There are elements of romance...? Sometimes. There are so many different kinds of relationships, and I suppose my mind just wants to know... what they are. If they're mine.

"I know you well enough that... my body would... rise to the occasion. But if I'm just a butterfly pinned to a board for study, I think... I think that would make me feel... not good. Vulnerable in a bad way. Like I'm being dissected, not loved. Or... not pleasured.

"This sort of thing... like I have with other close friends... it might have developed already except I have been careful with you. Because you don't always like to be touched. Because I cannot read your moods always without invading your privacy with magic. Even your eyes... ha! They are complicated."

Sivan paused for a moment while Rivin visibly processed his words, abstractions for his feelings, which he was still feeling out. The elf decided to do a bit of an experiment of his own. Moving slowly so that Rivin could indicate his displeasure at any moment, making it cease, Sivan floated closer. If allowed, his hands would come up to cup Rivin's face. His lips would part and touch Rivin's lips. Eventually, unchecked, one hand would trail down Rivin's neck, chest, and touch him intimately to see whether Rivin's body, at least, was aroused by him.

[Rivin]

One of the things Rivin appreciated about his friend was that they could speak clinically, or at least in precise terms, about a great many things that other people seemed to grow confused about when he tried. Due to how his life had been conducted there were a lot of things he didn't know about that were commonplace in the knowledge of children around the world and Sivan never made him feel stupid or lacking when he had to ask about something.

In the two years since they had met this had led to him becoming comfortable enough that he never felt the need to hide any part of himself, and this, in turn, meant that, the current situation was, if not completely comfortable, wasn't alarming.

When the elf had suggested that Rivin's intention might be to study him he had made negation gestures with both his hands, but not violently. It was a reasonable assumption based on how he often went about learning something. The fact that he hadn't considered seeking out a person or a couple, or more than one, to watch and study briefly distracted him. But this moment was important so he put the speculation away to examine later and returned all his attention to the one he was sharing a bath with. Eyes, wide but not frightened, watched every movement Sivan made because they were interesting and new, gentle somehow and Rivin found he wanted them.

He smiled a little when Sivan finished speaking with a laugh, sharing in the small humor as he went through what he'd been told. The touch was not unwelcome, nor did it feel particularly demanding and it wasn't causing panic or anything else unpleasant so he relaxed into it as he had to Sivan's hand in his hair months earlier.

The kiss was warm and wet, tasting of minerals and Sivan and he pressed into it and held it in the same manner it had been offered. When he broke he said,

"I would not want you to be still like something to study. I do, very much, wish to know how you are feeling and if you are enjoying it but I need to learn these things outside of a clinical setting. I will not be using them inside one, at least,"

Pausing he brow furrowed as he imagined being sent to seduce a scientist,

"I do not believe I will, and even if I am it won't be as part of a study." He smiled again, inviting his companion to find the humor in the situation with him.

"If you are wanting pleasure, particularly if it is something you want out of your way, I would appreciate you allowing me to assist you. Other times I may learn of something new or wish to become better at an action and may ask if I can see if you enjoy it. And, perhaps, sometimes, if we both want to be close and our bodies are reacting,

He glanced down at his own, though he could not see the reaction in the murky water, but continued without hesitation,

"We can do what we want."

As he said the last line there was a hint of a shrug to one of his shoulders as if to say it need not be anything they worried about, just something they could have when they wanted, or not when they didn't. One hand came up to softly trace the point of Sivan's ear, push his hair behind it, and then he returned the kiss.

[Sivan]

Everything that Rivin said and did assuaged whatever nerves arose in the elf. They were both odd ducks, but they had spent enough time being odd together that it didn't feel like dangerous territory. Sivan laughed at himself often; Rivin never laughed at him, only with him.

"I don't suppose I have been teaching you much of anything lately," he said after Rivin kissed him back, assuring him that all was well, that they could do what they wanted. Rivin hadn't really wanted to know so much about summoning after an initial push to understand, but he remained a regular presence in Sivan's life all the same. "I suppose we could learn more about each other this way..."

He took Rivin's hand and guided it between his legs so they could mirror each other, and then he taught him something he had learned.

...and fade to black.

[Rune]

R E V I E W

Points: 10, may be used for magic

Injuries/Ailments: None

Loot: New basement

Notes: