nahim

[nahim]

though his lungs hadn’t had the need to draw breath in over a millennium, raiden’s words were enough to draw a sharp gasp from nahim and the younger councilman made a weak display of attempting to tug his wrists from the vice-like grip to no obvious avail. he scoffed at the rhetorical questioning, one eyebrow arching as if to silently challenge the assessment. “perhaps i was just trying to make sure you’re staying sharp in your old age, raiden. you can’t fault me for being considerate–” any further attempt to snark back at the beast before him was cut short by a discomfort nahim hadn’t half-willingly subjected himself to in at least a decade and though diluted, the initial shock took a moment to process. a series of pained whines spilled from him in pathetic succession as the final dregs of discomfort began to shift into more pleasurable territory and it was only then that nahim could will himself to mentally claw at a scrap of coherency, levelling raiden with a heated look somewhere half between affronted and subtly pleased with him for meeting his expectations. 

tilting his head back against the wall, nahim pinned his gaze to the ceiling as he swallowed every sound that threatened to escape him at raiden’s brutal pace. not that raiden was likely to notice; nahim was all too aware of the older councilman’s hedonistic approach. switching his focus back to raiden, he tightened the hold of his thighs around the ghoul’s waist as he strove to match raiden’s pace, though that was far easier said than done. the only saving grace was the fact that raiden didn’t possess marcellino’s penchant for excessive commentary throughout; nahim would take his little victories whenever they presented themselves. “are you pleased with yourself now?” the question was voiced between desperate attempts to keep all reactions to a minimum, the struggle evident in the breathless edge to his tone. “was the needless assault worth it?”

"I am listening." Raiden growled grabbing the wrist of the hand trying to push at him and pinning it above the younger's head. "Can hear how much your body wants me, so I'm gonna give it every inch of me right fucking here." He growled bringing the other wrist into his large hand holding both there as he pulled out his cock. "You wanted to be hunted, what'd you think was going to happen when I caught you. Prey doesn't pick where it gets fucked." He snarled before he forced his way into that tight body he'd anticipated for too long he refused to wait even a second more for. There was little reprieve for adjustment because it was Raiden and he never did anything without his own level of brutality. He would be remembered, always. Very few had any sort of good ones of him and rightfully so. Confusing, complicated or nightmarish. Things he welcomed.

[nahim]

“no.” nahim’s reply was pointedly curt, his expression vaguely insulted. “both are falsehoods. asking for forgiveness shows that you’re unable to stand by your convictions regardless of their consequences. asking for permission shows an inability to take initiative and act accordingly. neither are traits one should feel proud to exhibit.” marcellino had never taught him much in the way of anything useful but one thing he had succeeded in teaching nahim was that with the right amount of cunning, charm, wit and occasional display of violence, there was very little one couldn’t achieve. mulling over the offer once more, nahim moved to wave away his momentary dampening of the mood with such a sombre tone. “your sire’s a challenging creation at the best of times. leave it with me. i’ll update you as and when the two of us reach an agreement.” it would be easier to get blood from a stone than find any kind of harmony with roland but no being was without its weaknesses. nahim would just have to be strategic about it.

listening carefully to the sith’s explanation, nahim’s expression shifted to something curious, cocking his head with a breath of laughter. “what an endearingly innocent view you have of such a form of creation. sharing a sire means little. it’s all a matter of time and circumstance. there’s very little deeper to it, no matter what others preach.” running a hand through his hair with a sigh he didn’t need, nahim paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. “it’s like those ridiculous tales you hear of sires turning their fledglings-to-be out of love. there’s no love in a creation like that. condemning one to immortality is a curse, no matter how delusional one becomes in attempting to justify such an atrocity to themselves.” cutting himself off before he launched into another sombre diatribe, nahim was content to focus on greener pastures for the sake of the remainder of the evening, instantly delighted to have the switch-up in playful energy instantly returned. “telling you would spoil the surprise, no?” gwyn’s mention of fair coaxed an amused sigh from the councilman as he sat back, once again maintaining a semi-respectable distance between them. “i would’ve thought that roland would have informed you that fair isn’t a concept any of us should tether ourselves to. very little in life is ever truly fair, gwyn. you should know that by now. you’ll just have to trust me, won’t you? do you think you can manage that?”

gwyn squirmed a little at the thought of simply asking roland outright, his mouth twisting and eyes darting away sheepishly as he remembered his sire's most recent rantings about the maltese councilman. there was practically no chance that nahim would manage to convince him that gwyn was truly safe and welcome on that distant island with he and the rest of his predecessor's brood. and what would roland say now if he knew who gwyn was spending his night with? no, there was no chance at all. "sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission, don't you think?" he finally hummed in response, eyes flashing back to nahim's face with something nervous and playful all at once in gwyn's own expression. it was a fascinating idea, that he was well and truly sneaking around behind his sire's back now. he'd never really had to before.

gwyn buried himself in his glass to banish the itching sensation that was far too close to guilt (perish the thought), nearly draining his whole measure of wine in one go in his eagerness. it went down easily, tasting so sweet. had he tasted like that, long ago? "it has nothing to do with need," gwyn laughed at nahim's assertion when he resurfaced, shaking his head gaily, "do your siblings only ever charm you and never irritate? the same blood brought us this second life, so we ought to share it." the sith said so matter-of-factly, clearly considering his logic ironclad. aneirin would understand, eventually. nahim's sudden prod was another surprise though, just like the councilman's laughter, and gwyn scrunched up his nose with a grin, leaning teasingly forward a small measure just to match him, "it's just that i know what i can handle when it comes to libations. i don't know a thing about what you can, though, and it ought to be fair." nahim really was pretty, even when he was trying to act all restrained. did he think the sith wouldn't take him seriously if he didn't? gwyn wanted to tell him he didn't have to worry about that, but nahim's previous warning in the car made him hold his tongue, just in case...

[nahim]

“why wouldn’t you?” the amusement in nahim’s tone was unmistakable and the impish glint in his eyes shone a little brighter as he regarded the cambion opposite. “there’s nothing but reward in it for you. i’m not asking you to risk your safety, merely… to donate a few minutes of your free time now and then to confirm or deny any lingering suspicions of mine.” twirling the skewer absently between his fingers, nahim cast his gaze around the restaurant to take in the interior as if it were the first time. shade certainly had an eye for… interesting interior design. “your finances are in order, yes?” his attention shifted back to shade abruptly, the skewer stilling in his hold. “i’m willing to compensate you for your time. i don’t expect you to do this for nothing.” he paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as a faint smile settled into place. “or we can discuss alternate arrangements if money’s not a necessity for you. what do you think?”

"Why would I want to do this for you?" Shade countered well aware of what he was being asked and by who. He wasn't so naive to think Nahim didn't know his history or couldn't find it easily enough, which was why he was asking what he was asking. Shade was stupid, but moderately so. He'd grown out of his impulsive years into something that was less so and more into strategically advantageous idiocy. Did he like the council, absolutely fucking not. But he didn't have to like someone to put his dick in them. He also understood where power resided and it sure as fuck wasn't with anyone outside the castle and without a country to rule. Course that didn't make the underlying conflict of putting himself in the same position he was in prior, just a slave to some power hungry fucking monster. His fingers tapped on the table knowing he'd already made the mistake of asking a question at all and not just walking away. Place really did fuck with a persons head after too long.

[nahim]

“i wouldn’t call you delusional,” nahim countered lightly, considering kell’s denial for a second. “but if you’re surprised by such an assessment, you may have some introspective work to tackle. your circumstances aren’t the best, are they? the guilt and regret you harbour likely feel as if they grow stronger by the day.” releasing his hold, nahim turned to hoist himself up onto the kitchen counter, absently swinging his legs against it as he studied the human. “or not. i could be completely wrong. perhaps you’re content with your life as it is. which is it?”

Most of the vampires who had offered to give him blood for healing normally would have made Kell drink it directly, something he appreciated even if it was damn disgusting. So a big part of him was relieved when Nahim simply made a cut on his own arm and allowed the blood to drip down, landing against the human's split knuckles and healing them within seconds. That he didn't stop immediately once the skin had healed caused Kell to quirk an eyebrow up, but he stayed quiet until Nahim seemed to come back to himself.

He drew his hand back, moving to carefully wipe the blood on his pants, not particularly fussed about them getting ruined. It wasn't as if the Undercroft lacked in extra clothing to give him considering how many of the masters seemed to enjoy straight up destroying slaves clothes. "Melancholy?" He repeated with a slight laugh. Not having expected it since he'd been looking down, the human's entire body stiffened at the sudden grip on his jaw before Kell managed to make himself relax. "Surely I can't be that bad."

[nahim]

despite his teasing, nahim knew it would only be a matter of time until gwyn was making himself at home within the palazzo whilst the others fussed tirelessly around him. he shouldered the sith’s quipping with an amused roll of his eyes, focusing his gaze to trail over gwyn for what must have been the hundredth time by now, measuring him up in his mind for just how useful something like him could be at a later date. of course, as always, roland remained an issue – especially so when it came to playing with his toys, but then again, gwyn seemed like a bright enough thing. he was of an age where he could make his own decisions, surely? “let me know,” nahim replied simply, a one-shouldered shrug accompanying the response. “if roland has an issue with it, tell him he can come and speak with me about it. don’t let his baseless paranoia sway you.”

the councilman listened in rapt attention as gwyn went on to scatter crumbs of information, nodding intermittently  as he watched on unblinkingly, quiet for a moment as he considered the sith’s assessment. “do you really need someone like that?” tilting his head to the side, nahim hummed in tentative disagreement. “i’m not so sure. outside interference with those types can go either way. if they’re too far gone in their ways, it can cause them to close themselves off more.” still, gwyn possessed a level of charm that nahim could barely comprehend even with all his years of experience. with that kind of aid at one’s disposal, perhaps such an approach was workable. the sith’s continued good mood held significant promise and the words that followed prompted another light laugh from the councilman. “that almost sounds ominous, gwyn…” leaning forward slightly, he moved to tap lightly against gwyn’s temple. “what’re you planning in there?”

"'monotony' is just the right word. i can't imagine how you bear it." gwyn's grumbling was tempered quite a bit by the dazzling surprise of nahim's laughter, the sith unable to help his answering smile, "i appreciate the flattery, nevertheless! and quite accurate, too." nahim really was laying it on a bit thick in contrast to his display in the car, he thought, but gwyn craned towards it like a sunflower to the light either way. "significant importance, eh?" his smile went a bit crooked, cocking his head at nahim with a glint in his eye, "well, well, how could i turn down an invitation of such prestige? i'll have to consult my schedule and if i can squeeze you in." as if gwyn wouldn't jet off to nahim's charming little island that night, if he thought he'd get away with it without roland possibly locking him in his suite for the next month and if he wasn't enjoying himself massively just chattering with the councilman here. nahim already seemed to be loosening up quite a bit and they'd barely started. gwyn badly wanted to see how much further he could prompt him to go by the night's end.

he shifted to mirror nahim's stance automatically, their knees knocking together as gwyn folded his legs beneath him to turn to his new companion. "uppity is one word for it. militant, another." gwyn rolled his eyes playfully, taking another long draught from his glass, "so many rules to enforce just leaves you locked up inside your own fencing. then you need someone who sees things differently, whether you recognize that or not." he nodded, licking his lips with undisguised relish at nahim's teasing query, "you have good taste, councilman. but if you really want me to choose, i hope you don't have any other plans for the rest of the night..." gwyn winked over the rim of his glass. oh, it was a long shot next to impossible, but he really did wish he could get to see nahim drunk enough to dance.

[nahim]

the mere thought of gwyn’s presence during council meetings was enough to provoke a chime of laughter from nahim almost instantaneously, the sound surprisingly genuine as the imagined chaos played out in his mind. if nothing else, the sith’s inclusion would make the usually tedious affair considerably more enjoyable. “it’s likely for the best. such an environment would stifle you. it’d be a shame to have that spark of yours dampened by the monotony of sociopolitical squabbling, amongst all the other complexities and complications that come with the supposed prestige.” as expected, the offer seemed to spark intrigue in the sith and nahim’s smile widened further at the response, a nod of firm insistence following suit. “our closest neighbour is yet to complain about our protective measures, but then again, raph’s never been the type to whine. he understands the necessary precautions. i assure you, though, you’ll be safe with us. bastjan’s too much of a busybody to let any harm come to guests of significant importance.” whether or not gwyn really would take up the offer was a separate matter entirely but nahim doubted he’d take much convincing. the only issue would likely be roland, unsurprisingly. “take some time to think it over if you need to. the offer is open to you for as long as you’d like it to be, you have my word.”

shifting in his seat to face gwyn head-on, nahim listened in rapt attention as gwyn went on to elaborate on the finer details of his plan to forge a bond with wales’ councilman. all things considered, nahim couldn’t fault the idea; determination could get one an awfully long way with enough strategic planning – such a fact had been historically proven time and time again. it’d even elevated nahim to his current status. who was he to dismiss such hope in one so intent? “i have nothing but confidence in you,” nahim mused, seemingly genuine in his conviction. “something tells me you’ll manage just fine. he seems easy enough to wear down with the right phrasing and a little heavy-handed guidance. uppity types often are.” gwyn’s addition to the toast prompted the faintest rising of nahim’s brow as he analysed the wording – friends. surely it was in jest? taking a much more measured sample from his glass, nahim watched the sith curiously, a hint of amusement visible in his eyes as he rested his glass on his knee. “good?” the question was entirely rhetorical, asked purely in jest. “you’re free to pick for us both next time. it’s only fair, hm?”

gwyn made a face at the mention of council meetings; he privately thought that the members likely acted up if anything just to keep all those stale politics interesting. what did they do around that big, round table anyway? it wasn't as if any of them were really running their countries while squirreled away in a pleasure palace, were they? what a tragic waste of time. "i can't say that i blame any of your siblings. how little i would enjoy your position - but then again, i doubt a spot on the council is going to be given to any undead with a faerie pedigree anytime soon." he laughed, unoffended by the notion as he reached out to steady his glass as their nervous server poured. nahim's offer was enough to tear gwyn's eyes away from the wine though, "would you?" he asked, curiosity and excitement mingling in his voice and drawing out the sith's old, lingering brogue a little stronger, "i've heard the maltese are bad neighbors, but fabulous hosts." a flash of blunt teeth, quick and playful, that implied that gwyn knew just enough about how the undead of malta tended to their territory to poke nahim about it. in truth, he felt almost irresistibly drawn to accept the invitation, even with roland's phantom apoplectic in the back of his mind at the idea.

"it doesn't really matter what he intends." gwyn straightened with a shrug and a small chime of laughter, eagerly plucking up his wine, "i'm persistent. he'll see it my way, eventually. or he'll end up stashing me in a cage in his quarters with the rest of his noisy little flock." that part almost sounded fond. gwyn had endless patience in stock for the quirks of others;they complimented his own, often times. "hear, hear!" he joined nahim in raising his glass, giving his own a little swirl midair, "and to walking it with new friends, of course." the sith clinked his glass with the councilman's, almost immediately tossing his head back to take what could generously be called a first 'sip'. it was a wonderful selection, sweet and strong, and gwyn hummed his appreciation into the cup before he'd even fully swallowed.

[nahim]

“ah, is that so?” returning gwyn’s grin with a polite smile of his own, nahim bit back a laugh at the sith’s assessment, tilting his head from side to side as he considered it. “no, no. i don’t think you are. from what i’ve observed of aneirin in council meetings, reasonable is the last term i’d use for him. as for my side of things, none of my siblings wished to step up to the mark when the position for councilman became available… i suppose that gave me no choice but to be the reasonable one.” it wasn’t as if a single one of them were going to allow any other supernatural to take the position – as it was, the quartet had continued marcellino’s tradition of eradicating the archipelago of preternatural beings that wished to permanently settle. owning dominion remained a priority at all times, even if that meant indulging in bloodshed from time to time. nahim’s smile adopted an earnest edge as he studied gwyn again. “however, as slovenly as i’ve made them all out to be, they’re not that bad. you’re more than welcome to join us any time you’d like, should you ever need a break from here. mikiel’s always happy to host if he’s given half the chance. the palazzo has enough rooms – the choice is entirely yours. say the word and i’ll make the arrangements. consider it a gift from one youngest fledgling to another.”

as gwyn delved into the surprising lack of history between himself and roland’s eldest, nahim made a quiet noise of surprise, turning his attention to his glass left swiftly by the server at some point to pluck it from the table, idly rolling his wrist to swirl the wine as he listened, his gaze fixed to the crimson liquid as it shifted. “you intend to,” nahim chuckled, his gaze flickering back to gwyn curiously. “but does he? is it a mutual venture? he doesn’t seem the most personable type… regardless, i wish you luck with it. i feel as if you’ll need it.” the proposal of a toast prompted another brief laugh from the councilman and he nodded, holding his glass out with a flourish. “to the road that lies ahead.”

gwyn leaned his arms against the table, propping his chin up on a hand while he listened to nahim speak. the councilman's mannerisms were still rather funny to gwyn in their practiced nature, smooth and then stopping suddenly like a doll moving from pose to pose. he looked even slighter out of his coat, which gwyn knew the experience of all too well -- but it wasn't like the tight, gauzy thing he happened to be wearing for a shirt that night did much to hide the contours of his body, mesh down to his narrow wrists. "do vampires have a 'traditional sense'?" gwyn tittered, turning his cheek in his palm so he could gaze at nahim more fully. it was only mostly a joke. so much of what undead 'society' was or looked like remained vague for the sith, who spent most of his time amongst the living and hadn't bothered to learn past what roland deemed necessary to teach. but his expression was warm, total in his attention, nodding with each name listed as nahim laid out the branches of his little family tree.

"you're the youngest?" the sith sounded delighted by that fact, a grin cracking across his face, "so am i! i suspect we are both the most reasonable of our broods, or am i projecting?" he couldn't really hide how much what nahim described appealed to him. fledglings shared blood like any human family and it seemed right and just to gwyn for them to gather and be close. roland was a lovely north star, steadfast and reliable, but... well, gwyn wasn't even sure how many fledglings the man truly had. perhaps deep down the sith craved something closer to the cheerful chaos of the seelie court still, all light and beauty and the clamor of like folk. he perked up somewhat at the mention of aneirin, huffing out a little laugh. "oh, little history between us," gwyn waved his idle hand, eyes flicking with interest to the drinks being placed at their table, "lots of time and distance instead. we're here now and we can change that though! and i intend to." he reached readily for his glass flashing a smile back at nahim, "should we make a toast?"

[nahim]

are you mad at me? would you like to be

[nahim]

nahim watched on in rapt intrigue as noah complied. the wry remarks weren’t quite as fascinating, but that could be worked on. clearly, there were multiple areas of improvement that needed some fine tuning with this one. that was no concern, though. there was plenty of time to recalibrate this one’s manners. “are those requests?” nahim retorted, his amusement still vibrant as he stared down at the cambion. “because those additions can be included. or you can be smart and keep such thoughts to yourself.” nahim’s smile faltered as noah raised himself to his knees and at once, nahim pushed himself up to sit back on his haunches with a disapproving sigh. “i don’t remember telling you to rise,” he huffed, moving in the blink of an eye to stand beside noah, staring down at him in a prolonged beat of silence before grasping roughly at the nape of his neck to lift him by it, digging his claws in deep to hook them beneath the flesh to keep his hold firm. “do you think you can do as you please?” his tone was devoid of any identifiable emotion as he spoke, his eyes wide and unblinking as he continued to stare the younger down. “do you believe you’ve earned the right? you?” sneering, nahim threw the cambion back a few feet, walking slowly with his hands clasped behind his back to where noah had landed to inspect the state of him. “wrong. you’re to do as i say, when i say. nod if you understand. if not, we’ll try again. i have time."

Nahim was smiling but Noah could see that it wasn't getting to his eyes but a lot of vampire were cold and dead inside so Noah didn't take it too personally. As long as they fucked and fed on him he didn't really care what they were actually feeling. There was no answer at first, the councilman seeming to just want to look at him and Noah held his gaze. He hadn't been told he couldn't make eye contact, after all, though some of the masters were uppity about that. Not Nahim, apparently, though he whipped away a moment later and finally answered the question. Noah made a face and made no effort to hide it. Crawl, huh? What a power trip this guy was on. Rolling his eyes, he followed instructions and did in fact crawl over to Nahim. "Gonna whip me like a dog next? Make me lick your boots?" Noah's tone was still wry even as he came to a stop in front of Nahim. It was hardly the weirdest thing he'd been made to do but it still wasn't great. He stopped up on his knees again, watching the vampire. "So how do I earn my way back to my feet? Or do you want me on my back first?" Noah smirked. Nahim hadn't had an issue with him running his mouth yet, except for that first thing, so until there were harsher consequences he was going to keep doing it.

[nahim]

as expected, raphael was smart enough to dismiss bastjan’s credible concerns with unwavering support. nahim had expected nothing less and such a reason was precisely why he’d brought it to raph’s attention in the first place. it always paid to have a yes man around; it was merely a bonus to have one that was as attractive and powerful as raphael. “thank you,” nahim sighed, another roll of his eyes accompanying his irritated gratitude. “that’s what i said. he didn’t believe a word, though. ever since that night, he’s taken it upon himself to mother us all. if he continues, i don’t know what i’ll do with him. he’s quickly becoming bothersome.”

fortunately, their collective attention shifted from trivial matters of overly-involved siblings and into much more interesting territory, much to nahim’s delight and personal preference. he pressed himself flush against raph the moment the rhetorical question was posed, his previously embittered demeanour dissolving the moment a little physical touch was lavished upon him. had it been anyone else, nahim wouldn’t have hesitated to snap every bone in their hand for daring to consider themselves worthy of touching him without request but raphael was a trusted individual; for once, there was no need for panic or retaliation. the kiss was immediately welcomed, a soft sound of relief leaving the younger councilman at the long-sought after familiarity. he lifted a hand from raphael’s chest to firmly cup his jaw, keeping him held in place as he deepened the kiss, angling his head just so to drag the tip of a fang across the ghoul’s tongue. the blood flow was minimal, the cut nowhere deep enough to do any damage especially with accelerated healing at their mutual disposal, but the sample he was rewarded with was more than sufficient for the time being. 

pulling back with a sharp nip to raph’s lower lip, nahim smiled sweetly at him, a picture of innocence as his hand loosened its hold on raph’s jaw to card his fingers almost affectionately through the ghoul’s hair. “more than you can comprehend, mio caro. the days and nights passed by dreadfully slowly without you.”

Raphael scoffed and rolled his eyes in support of Nahim's ranting about Bastjan. Maybe he was biased but that didn't matter when they were the only ones here in Nahim's suite. "Bastjan sounds like a real killjoy, what business is it of his to interfere? I think you've been doing just fine," he offered his own insight. Obviously biased. Incredibly biased. How could he not be when he had such a pretty thing in his lap to shift his views in said pretty thing's favor. Course that also wasn't hard when it came to Nahim in general with their shared rivalry against Roland.

Now a smile returned to his lips with the topic turned back to himself. Well almost. Raph had a gift in turning almost anything all about him and how could he not translate that from Nahim's attention. He leaned back, watching the gorgeous young vampire through half-lidded eyes, hooking a finger under that sharp chin. "Of course you would miss me, why wouldn't you?" he returned. "I wonder... just how much you've missed me in your time away..." The ghoul leaned in close, pulling the younger in until their lips met again in a soft kiss, one less chaste than moments prior and likely would lose all sense of innocence.

[nahim]

silence had been one of marcellino’s favoured punishments when excessive violent force hadn’t been sufficient enough, though which methodology was employed would never be predictable. malta’s former councilman had mastered its implementation to a fine art, spending days upon days prior lavishing attention and adoration upon nahim to an almost dizzying degree to further mentally disorientate him after a previous bout of silent treatment before once again pulling back without a word and freezing his youngest out regardless of how desperately nahim had begged and pleaded for his attention, for forgiveness, for anything if it meant receiving a scrap of acknowledgement from his maker. “eerie. exactly.” nahim confirmed, a curt nod accompanying his agreement. “it’s why i insisted upon having them fit several in-wall and ceiling speakers into the suite before i arrived. it wasn’t a risk i was willing to take.” the centuries spent shackled to the palazzo’s basement had surrounded nahim with enough endless silence for more than one lifetime, after all. 

with gwyn’s agreement once again explicitly offered, nahim’s smile blossomed into a delighted grin as he watched the server swiftly depart before he pushed himself to stand, shedding himself of his coat before moving to settle directly beside the sith, crossing an ankle over his knee as he took in the sights from his new positioning. “perhaps not in the traditional sense, but… yes. something like that. i’m the youngest. before me came three others,” lifting a hand, nahim readied himself to count on his fingers as he went through the list. “first, there was bastjan; a witch my sire found and felt belonged to him, naturally. then came mikiel, found in a travelling circus of all places alongside arturo, who then became his third as mikiel refused to be separated from him. and, obviously, then came myself. there’s a good few millennia between all of us, but somehow… well, it works because it has to, but i’m fortunate to have them. they’re incredibly useful when they want to be.” running a hand through his curls with a breath of laughter, nahim shrugged. “but i know i needn’t tell you about the complexities of immortal siblinghood– unless… the nature of your bond with aneirin differs? what’s the history there?”

gwyn's eyes narrowed with the effort of suppressing a laugh (he was trying to be good for now, or at least feel out the edges of the other's boundaries in his own lackadaisical way), not stating that the sleaze was, in fact, one of the great merits of such a place in his mind, right next to all the benefits nahim had already mentioned. but this was a posh gentleman, wasn't it? or at least a creature putting on a fine show of it. nahim could likely use a little more sleaze in his life, gwyn thought as his gaze wandered curiously over the elegant angles of the elder's downturned face while nahim assessed the mortals below. rather much like a pensive bird of prey. how would nahim act, argued onto a dance floor? gwyn couldn't help but wonder, like he inevitably wondered about anything he was denied, even in theory. it was a very charming vision, this ancient being suffering from awkwardness of all things.

nahim's continued musings were intriguing ones though. the sith found himself nodding eagerly, leaning forward out of the rest he'd made for his chin in his hand, "i know exactly what you mean. it's eerie, isn't it? but it's never truly quiet, not the right way. it's like you can only hear what isn't there." gwyn fought with silence in his own way, wielding his noisy records and pathological inability to be alone for too long. a sudden memory rose up, quick and intrusive, from those early years in roland's halls. a fledgling alone, straining for the heartbeat of a servant or a bird in the gardens and hearing only the workings of his own body and what it didn't do anymore. he had been struck by an illogical, paralyzing fear that he really was dead, wholly dead, that these endless rooms were his private afterlife and if he didn't scream right now then he'd disappear entirely.

gwyn hadn't been able to bring himself to do it. he'd knocked one of roland's priceless antiques to the floor instead and the music of its shattering had finally jolted him from his terror. his sire had not been charmed. "it works." gwyn smiled guilelessly back, settling back into the booth and the present once more. he didn't want to think about that now. this test was much easier, very transparent on nahim's part. "you aren't the first to guess i have a taste for the sweeter things." gwyn hadn't even looked at the server, still didn't as the poor man scuttled away, looping back to one thing nahim had said with a delayed comprehension and his own small flicker of longing, "siblings? a big, noisy family, then?"

[nahim]

Labour by Paris Paloma

+ 6 seconds of silence at the beginning to avoid copyright

All day, every day Therapist, mother, maid Nymph then a virgin, nurse then a servant Just an appendage, live to attend him So that he never lifts a finger 24-7 baby machine So he can live out his picket fence dreams It's not an act of love if you make her You make me do too much labour

[nahim]

nahim’s expression remained a mask of perfect calm as he regarded the cambion below him, a sweetened smile that didn’t manage to reach his eyes settling into place as the honourific was uttered a second time. noah probably believed he was doing the right thing; it was a valiant effort even if it was a wasted one. he kept ahold of noah’s jaw for a moment longer, his gaze silently mapping every inch of the cambion’s features before he was suddenly released entirely. using his speed to get comfortable, nahim settled on the furthest couch’s armrest and swung his legs absently, humming tunefully to himself as he gestured for noah to bridge the gap. “come. crawl, though. we’ll talk more about that when you earn the right to walk.”

It was hard not to feel like a piece of meat that Nahim was going to swoop down on and snap up as the councilman circled him but it was hardly the first time it had happened. Noah watched him, still relaxed and letting the vampire get his feel of looking if that's what he wanted. Noah knew how handsome he was and didn't mind that Nahim wanted to check him out from every angle. At the repetition of what he'd said, Noah nodded. "Sounds like you haven't been talkin' to the right people." Noah wasn't overly mouthy but he liked to push a little and Nahim seemed willing to banter so he saw no reason to stop. He was generally on board with whatever as long as it resulted in a good time for him but he still liked to test the limits here and there. The cocky offer was all part of that and Noah blinked, actually surprised at the refusal and then he was driven to his knees a moment later.

The cambion winced slightly as his knees hit the ground, looking up when his face was titled up. Well, guess he'd found the limit and Nahim proceeded to lay down the law and berate him a little besides. He could've explained the circumstances but there was clearly no point and Noah could actually keep his mouth shut sometimes when it seemed like the smart thing to do. When Nahim paused and looked at him, there was a slight spark of defiance in Noah's eyes but it didn't translate to action he just nodded. He would've spoken some kind of confirmation before he was kissed and lightly slapped. Domination and control seemed like this one's game. Noah could handle that. The last thing Nahim said was a little unnerving but he was probably just trying so spook him so Noah nodded again. "I have. Seems pretty clear to me, sir." He tacked on the honorific but it was slightly sarcastic and wry. Dutifully, he kept his hands at his sides. "What should I do now, sir?" He was curious but smiled a little. Noah wasn't scared, this all seemed like a game he'd played before which is why his words were maybe just a touch wry. Most masters liked a little spark over a straight up doormat anyway and he hadn't broken any of the rules Nahim had just listed. Technically, he was behaving like a model slave though Nahim might see it differently. Either way, Noah had a feeling it was going to be a good time.

[nahim]

gifting shade a small smile over the rim of his glass, nahim contemplated his words as he ran the blood over his tongue to assess every note. “miss you though i have, i’m here on business,” shifting in his seat to bring a knee to his chest, nahim wrapped an arm around it and rested his chin atop it as he watched the cambion as if to size him up from across the table. “you’re aware of what goes on in town for the most part, yes? new faces, occurrences as and when they come, anything and everything under that umbrella,” leaning forward, nahim plucked a skewer from the table, daintily recruiting the aid of a napkin to prise the meat from it without getting himself dirty in the process before settling back in his seat to toy absentmindedly with the skewer as he continued. “there’s a mutt that’s settled into the residential area recently; granted emancipation from castle life, starting afresh. i don’t trust him. de luca’s got him on door duty at euphoria most nights. could you keep an eye on him for me? if he’s in the castle, i can do so myself. lines tend to get blurred down here– or am i asking too much of you?”

Shade glanced at the table the other was fucking up trying not to be annoyed by that, tables weren't free and the last thing he wanted was to buy another one. He had a lot of irresponsible hobbies to spend his money on. The younger still thought like a human, being half and more mortal than immortal probably helped that. "Book and cover shit, I know." He winked at the councilman. "Full of surprises, specially when there's something I want." The cambion easily took a seat at the table when it was offered. He tapped his wine glass getting a normal wine brought to him since he was going to be chilling for a bit. He didn't mind blood wines, he didn't mind a lot of things as if there was a substance that could fuck him up in it, but he did like them sans the blood usually. Being a demon made them actually a lot better than he remembered. "What do I owe the visit or you just miss me?"

[nahim]

nahim preened under kell’s acknowledgement of the improvements made to the suite’s improved reinforcements. never one to shy away from throwing money at any and all technological advancements that piqued his interest – sometimes solely for the joy of taking them apart to understand how they worked only to throw them away shortly after, – nahim saw no reason not to decorate his suite with the same adornments the palazzo back home had been modernised with. marcellino’s preference for the days gone by approach of security simply weren’t sufficient with today’s developing crime rates and numerous individuals with grudges roaming the halls of the castle despite outward appearances of civility. there was no such thing as too careful, not even in krovs. he’d heard about the assassination fuss. he wasn’t taking that kind of risk, not so soon into his tenure. “it’s for the best. i don’t like it when others pry through my things. i don’t trust certain souls around here not to do so given half the chance.”

with everything prepared in the kitchen, nahim waited patiently for kell to make his decision and made a pleased sound as the bloodied limb was gently presented on the counter. after a drawn out moment of admiration from an array of angles, nahim encouraged his fangs to drop and brought his wrist to his lips to tear deep incisions into the flesh. it didn’t take long for the blood to flow having only fed an hour prior from the night before’s rental who’d accidentally slept in and he moved languidly to let the blood pour over the split skin of kell’s knuckles. it wasn’t often that nahim was willing to share his blood. regardless of the purpose, he always saw it as wasteful. however, there was something about kell that made the process appealing in a way the councilman hadn’t previously considered, though what that was exactly, he couldn’t be sure, not yet. the healing qualities in his blood was more than sufficient in healing the minor wounds in a heartbeat but nahim found himself too captivated by the sight to stem the flow, keeping a claw embedded in one incision to prevent his healing abilities from tending to the open wound.

after a beat, he forced himself to break from his reverie and raised his arms to stretch them above his head with a soft groan as his spine cracked in pleased response, a thin trail of blood streaming down the underside of his forearm as the flesh worked to preternaturally stitch itself back together. he watched the cherry red rivulet in keen observation before straightening up properly once and for all, paying no mind as it dripped to the floor. the first aid kit had been entirely for show but now it seemed some of the contents might be of use if he didn't want blood staining the tiling.

“you’re special.” nahim saw no reason to skirt around the matter. kell had even been smart enough to raise it himself. even if it had been made in jest, that didn’t make it any less valid an inquiry in the vampire’s opinion. “your melancholy engulfs you like an ill-fitting coat. it wears you rather than you it. it’s palpable. almost impossible to ignore.” he reached up to lightly grasp kell’s jaw, turning his head from side to side in assessment. “it’s intriguing. refreshing. unfortunate for you, yes, deeply, but fascinating for me.”

Telling Nahim no about heading back to his suite wasn't really something that had even entered Kell's mind. The man would take him there regardless of what he wanted, after all, and the human really hadn't been lying about not wanting to take up Florian's time. Considering everything that went on in the castle and the way some of the masters were, Kell was sure the man had an overly busy schedule whenever he was working. No reason to add his own minor injuries to that list. He looked right back at Nahim before the man used his enhanced speed to move them through the castle, Kell's grip tightening somewhat on the other man. Though he was used to travelling like this by now, it still didn't make him feel any less dizzy and lightheaded each time a master decided to move him along in that way.

Since Nahim didn't seem to be in much of a hurry to let him go (something Kell was thankful for right now), the human shut his eyes and gave himself a moment to adjust. Luckily, by the time he was feeling more grounded, the master had stepped away from him to open the door to his suite. Kell swallowed and opened his eyes again, watching with his head cocked slightly. "You've got some fancy locks to get into this place." He commented with a quiet laugh, stepping further into the suite and looking around. The human liked getting to go to new masters suites, taking in just how differently they decorated from everyone else and if anything interesting was on display.

He paused at the direction, glancing around the room briefly before he made his way into the kitchen. Kell didn't bother to sit down, merely letting his arms rest against the countertop, careful to not get any blood on anything. "So." The slave started, clearing his throat. "You often offer to heal slaves who damage themselves or am I special?" There was a small hint of teasing in his voice, a smile slipping across his lips.

[nahim]

there was a distinct difference between being consensually helpless and genuinely helpless. nahim had experienced both throughout his time, had toed the line between the two more times than he cared to count, reaping back what control he could now that previous oppressors had been taken care of and removed from the equation. when it came to dealing with something like raiden, going in blind wasn’t an option, not if one wished to get through the exchange in one piece. being familiar with the monstrous thing’s ways, nahim couldn’t be more delighted by the force with which raiden handled him, a genuine gasp of surprise escaping him as he squirmed further within raiden’s numerous holds, rocking his hips impatiently against the older being as the rumbling laugh sent a shiver down the vampire’s spine. he hadn’t enjoyed a game like that in a while. what he truly wanted was never of any interest to raiden, so he might as well enjoy himself if raiden wasn’t going to look beyond his own pleasure. “i said not here, raiden–” the petulant edge to nahim’s tone was accompanied by weak shoves to the ghoul’s shoulders as he squirmed more frantically in his grasp though no real attempt to free himself was made, the whole display little more than a spectacle for enjoyment’s sake. “fucking listen for once.”

Raiden took Nahim for what he was, a very young councilman with a lot to prove that threw in with Italy. He understood why considering his location. Shit deal that UAE and Italy were on such fucking spiteful terms. Needless to say he didn't think any of the info he had on what happened was actually valid. Information was key as councilmen, but had to be real careful on what was real and bullshit. Raiden was pretty good on getting to the real of it because of who and what he was. Fear had a way of getting the truth out of people. He'd not dug into Malta yet. His time would come.

The noise coming out the other was just that, a lot of noise. He felt the nails down his back knowing the other was full of his normal shit. "You telling me no?" Raiden asked with a low deep laugh at the notion Nahim's desires mattered to him. "Good, I like no." He wasn't stopping anything at this point knowing what he wanted tearing into the other's trousers. Nahim could send him a bill, he was used to it.

[nahim]

nahim regarded noah in amusement as he peacocked around despite the momentary battering of his ego, his eyes narrowing as his gaze flickered over him in careful consideration. he was silent for a long moment and he pushed himself away from the doors without a sound to circle the cambion. he moved with poise, all the decades spent under marcellino’s brutally supervised ballet classes alongside mikiel and arturo had hardwired the perpetual need to carry himself with the utmost refinement regardless of the situation or circumstance and the inspection of a new offering was no exception to the rule.

“'the best one'?” nahim repeated, his amusement obvious in his tone even if his expression was blank as he studied every inch of noah, pausing his circling to take a step back and size him up as if he were assessing livestock for auction. “someone should have said. if it was more widely known, i would have rented you far sooner.” nahim was willing to bite back if the young thing wanted to nip. the cocky ones always needed reminding of their place – left unchecked, they always managed to cause problems later down the line. as noah sauntered closer, apparently not disheartened by earlier corrections to his delusions, nahim scoffed at the suggestion, a hint of emotion flickering across his features at the other’s audacity. “no.” stepping closer to close the gap between them, nahim reached up to grasp one of noah’s shoulders to push him effortlessly to his knees, lifting his hand to cup the cambion’s jaw to lift his gaze and a cold smile settled on the councilman’s face as their eyes met.

“first you were late, then you let your ego get the better of you, then you made assumptions when no such inclinations were shown. if you’re smart enough, you’ll understand me when i say that for your own good, you’ll do what i tell you when i tell you and you’ll keep your hands to yourself unless otherwise instructed, for future reference.” loosening his hold, nahim giggled as he searched noah’s gaze for any sign of response, stealing a brief kiss from him before he straightened up and playfully slapped the cambion’s cheek. “oh! the most important one– how could i forget? if it gets too much at any point, you can always push past it. you’re capable of it. if not now, then you will be. i’ll see to it myself. you’ve understood me up until now, yes?”

Noah was a little surprised by the fact that this kind of thing hadn't happened much before. Apparently, a rental had come in for him while he was already with another master. The guard who'd come to get him from his first one tried to explain that the councilman's rental took precedence and the other master should give it up but they'd already been pretty involved and the master was unwilling to let him go. Long story short, they'd roped the guard in too and then a lot of time had passed before Noah was considered presentable enough for the Maltese councilman. The guard had taken him back down to the Undercroft and thrown him in the showers, telling him to be ready in twenty minutes. Noah didn't love the treatment, especially considering they'd just had a pretty damn good time in the master's suite but whatever the guards could be moody sometimes. Showered and changed into new clothes, a different guard had finally walked him to the councilman's suite.

The grin was encouraging, though Noah hadn't realised how short the guy was even if he'd seen pictures of him before. It was hard not to have seen all the councilmen at least a few times given how their faces were everywhere. He shook off the guard and strode into the suite as Nahim dismissed the guard, smirking a little cockily and turning to face the vampire as the doors were closed. The cambion's smile only widened at the way Nahim looked at him and Noah shifted subtly to better show himself off. "Hiya." He returned the greeting but his smile slipped away as Nahim mentioned that he hadn't seen his name. Really? He knew for a fact the councilman had been in the castle at the same time as him. How could he not have noticed him before? Noah's vanity was pricked a little. "More'n two years now. Surprised you never noticed me seein' as I'm the best one down there." He took a few steps closer, the cocky smirk back again. "I should show you what you've been missin', right?"