November Catch-All

[lordoftheozarks]

Who: Lord Erik Osborne & You
What: Open post for November shenanigans
When: Thru Nov
Where: All over town
Warnings: General vampire warnings that blood drinking is always possible for discussion/depiction, NSFW warning in some of these because he is, you know, the town whore, discussion of death. Will warn as needed.


Well, I don't know where they come from
The morning after his demise at the hands of Chris, during that carnival duel to the death, Erik finds himself sprawled out in the alley behind the Oak & Iron looking for all the world like a drunkard in a gutter. And, ew, why is he wet?

"Ugh," he groans as something steps on his chest. Something... alive? "A-ah," he sits up lightening fast, causing the cat that was treading on his chest to yowl at him indignantly as if he's being the rude one.

It isn't just one cat, either. There's a whole mob of them. They are rubbing up against him now, standing up on his legs and headbutting his back, meowing insistently like they are expecting something from him.

"What do you want?" he asks them, annoyed. "I don't have anything for you to eat."


But they sure do come
These cats are relentless. He's walking back to his home now looking like the pied piper with a parade of loudly meowing cats following behind. No matter what he tries to do to shoo them away, they just won't leave.

"I already told you, I don't have any food!" he practically pleads to them. "Just leave me alone!"


I hope they're comin' for me
A new notice goes up on the bulletin board:

Seeking:
Someone to help test the sturdiness of my new writing desk. Open to all comers, but especially certain newspaper employees who know the value of a good, hard endorsement. Call on me at any time.

Your Premier Whore,
Lord Erik Osborne.

Wildcard
Hit me up with anything at all. I love surprises.

Comments

Don't mind if I do

[lasthumanvoice]

And so, Cecil shows up at the premier whore's place of business, as you do, because desk testing is serious fucking business. He's never visited a professional in this field before, and he's not sure it'll be a regular thing as his relationship with Gerry develops, but this is today and it's happening.

:)

[lordoftheozarks]

"Come in," Erik says with a smile, seeming to open the door before Cecil even gets a chance to knock on it. "I've been expecting you."

Erik's home is austere, with very few personal touches in the way of wall hangings or decoration. But the shades are drawn over the windows and the room is lit with the soft warmth of lanterns. At the center of the space sits that promised desk. It's simple, and certainly sturdy looking. It even comes with a leather top for comfort.

"What do you think of my new acquisition?"

[lasthumanvoice]

"I don't know yet. I think I'm going to need to get a closer look. Though, ah. Perhaps a quick discussion about bound rules? I mean, uh, groundaries? I mean. Fuck. Negotiation. Be sure about..." A loose gesture at everything.

[lordoftheozarks]

"You don't need to be so nervous," Erik says with a light chuckle.

"I always begin with a discussion first. It's best practice. I know what you do want, to be bent over that desk there and penetrated. But, please do tell me what you do not want. My aim is always to make this as enjoyable and comfortable as can be.

"I'll begin by saying that I do not ever expose my back to view. That is my one hard and fast rule. What are yours?"

[lasthumanvoice]

"I'm not here for degradation or heavy humiliation. Teasing is fine, just don't grind me under your heel, metaphorically. I don't mind being manhandled. Please, handle this man all you like. Claw at my back, slap my ass, whatever you feel like. No marks that can't be covered by a long-sleeved shirt and pants, though."

That seems like a place to start.

[lordoftheozarks]

"These are all reasonable asks. I won't have any trouble following them." He isn't particularly worried about leaving marks since he can heal anything that needs to be hidden later. Especially handy for hickeys.

"You are aware of the concept of safe words?"

[lasthumanvoice]

"I am. I used to be involved with another guy when we were both in scouting together. He liked knots, but believed in safety first." Let no one say scouting stereotypes didn't come from somewhere... "Do you have preferred safe words to use?"

[lordoftheozarks]

"Oh, is that so? If I'd known that, I might have prepared some rope to tie you down to that desk with. Perhaps another time." He's confident in his work, clearly.

"I have one I use for myself, 'Ophelia,' but if you've got another you prefer please tell me. I am flexible and I want you to be as comfortable as you can be."

[lasthumanvoice]

"We can discuss rope later, for next time, if there is a next time. This time, I'd rather you be hands on." Pun intended. "As for safewords, I would use 'Khoshekh'. Ophelia has too many syllables for my taste. Though I'm also good to use traffic lights for check-ins."

Cecil moves to sit on the desk with a mischievous smile lingering on his face.

[lordoftheozarks]

"Next time," Erik says with a cheeky grin. He's confident. And, oh, that pun does make him nostalgic.

"Khoshekh it shall be. And, I assume you mean red to stop, yellow to slow, and green for good to go?" He's not been introduced to these formally, oddly enough, but the concept is easy to guess.

His eyes follow Cecil as he moves to sit on the desk. What a wonderful smile that is. Time for mischief to be rewarded with more mischief. He stalks closer, slowly--agonizingly slowly--circling around the desk.

"Why don't I keep you fully clothed and simply pull your pants down to take you right here over this desk? We'll pretend we only have so long before you have to get back to work, hmm?"

[lasthumanvoice]

"That sounds perfect." The thing about sitting on the desk is that it lowers, if not eliminates, the height difference. So Cecil's not looking down at Erik, right? If he leans back a little, he can look with the lazy smile, the one that's also a bit of a dare.

"Anything else you want to discuss before we begin, Lord Osborne?"

Wildcard

[wolfborn_were]

{OOC: Should I be catching up on tags I have already? Yes. Am I starting a new one anyway? Also yes.}

At some point, either leaving his house or coming back to it, Erik is going to find somebody lounging by his front door. A new somebody he hasn't seen before.

Emery doesn't move from where he's seated, but looks up at Erik with a grin. "Hello, moon brother. How's tricks?"

Re: Wildcard

[lordoftheozarks]

(ooc: shh, i won't tell)

It's not unusual to find people waiting by his door, since that is the best way to contract him. But, that greeting is certainly unique. So is the scent he's catching from this new face. Best not to jump to conclusions, he cautions himself.

"The best in town according to my own opinion," he replies back smoothly. "But you don't have to take my word for it, if you care to come inside."

[wolfborn_were]

"Not in the mood for a fuck right now, but thank you for the offer." Emery says, "Of all the people here, you've got a scent I recognize. And since you aren't human, I probably won't have to be on my guard like I do with them."

That scent is probably heavily canine, and with associated woodsy smells, along with the metallic tang of old blood. Emery rises smoothly to his feet. He's well-muscled, in a compact, runner's build fashion, with browned skin and dark curly hair. His light blue eyes are a striking contrast.

And those eyes are watching Erik with some caution, though his smile is friendly. "I'm Emery Deluca. One of the wolfborn, should that mean anything to you, moon brother."

[lordoftheozarks]

"The offers stands, in case you ever change your mind." But now he really is at a bit of a loss. That he's been spotted for 'not human' is not shock since he's been rather open about that lately, but... it still seems like something is getting lost in transmission.

One of his thin eyebrows lifts quizzically. "I am Lord Erik Osborne. And, while I do not know that term specifically, between what you've said and how you smell I can make a guess." Speaking of smell, Erik's own scent is masked by a fairly strong spiced cologne, but the rot of death and blood lingers beneath it. "I think if we are anything, it's cousins, not brothers. I am not a wolf. I am vampire." And he's reminding himself that there are other kinds of werewolves here, apparently, who do not share the same origin that the ones he's used to. Or else he might already be readying for a fight.

"I hope that won't be a problem?"

[wolfborn_were]

Emery laughs and shakes his head, "I shouldn't be surprised that people don't have the same stories here! Ah... I apologize for confusing you, Lord Erik Osborne. If I thought you were the same as me, I would call you wolf-kin. And you being a vampire is not a problem for me."

He bows, enough to bare the back of his neck to Erik -- a translation of wolfish submission, to show he's not a threat -- and then straightens up.

"It's an old story, which I could tell if you're interested. It's probably not true, except for the fact that vampires and werewolves are friends where I come from. And I can exchange some blood for your time, since you seem a busy man."

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik's confusion grows with that bow, until he recognizes it for the submissive gesture it is. He's still wearing a baffled expression when Emery straightens up. Vampires and werewolves... friends? If he still relied on blood-pressure he might be feeling dizzy right about now.

"That's an enticing offer. Yes, I do think I'd like to hear it. The idea of werewolf and a vampire being friends is so foreign to me I may just need to hear it to believe it. Where I come from, we are mortal enemies. Obviously, I'm not intending to hold that standard here but you can imagine how strange this is for me."

[wolfborn_were]

"Oh. Well. I might be down for a tussle however you mean it, then." Emery winks. Fighting and fucking can have... blurry lines sometimes, when it comes to werewolves in a cohort pack.

Emery waits politely to be allowed into Erik's home, and will sit wherever he is directed to. "I might start with the story first, as fanciful as it is. It'll explain why I addressed you as 'moon-brother', at least."

[lordoftheozarks]

"I thought you were propositioning me. I am the town whore, after all." Just to make that perfectly clear. "Not that I don't also indulge in romps just for fun. I am most certainly more of a lover than fighter." And a talker. He's a massive talker.

The door is opened with the turn of a key, and inside the home is austere, with no sign of any personal decorations outside of the heavy drapes and furniture.

"Have a seat on the sofa. I'm afraid I don't stock anything to drink besides water but I'll bring you a glass." He stores very little in the way of food and drink in his home for obvious reasons, but he does keep a terracotta pitcher in a cold dark place so the water will be chilled. Certain historic habits are returning to him since the technology is limited.

"Here," he says as he sets the glass on a the side table beside the sofa. Then he takes his own seat beside Emery, crossing one knee over the other and leaning in. "Begin wherever you think best. I'm all ears."

[wolfborn_were]

"I live in the forest and I don't have coin on me, but I'd be willing to pay in blood," Emery replies casually.

Emery sits on the sofa as directed, and says, "Thank you for the hospitality." When Erik sets the glass down, he takes it and sips from it.

"So this is the story, as it goes. Some of the wolf-kin worship Mother Moon as a goddess, and some do not, but most know the story." Emery leans back into the sofa and begins.

"A long time ago, the Sun took the Earth as a wife, and the children they had became humans. But Earth was not happy being married to the Sun, and was swayed by the sweet words of the Moon to set aside her marriage. The children of the Earth and the Moon are the vampires, who are hated by the Sun and cannot withstand his gaze without powerful magics to shield them."

"The Sun was furious at being cuckolded, and would have burned up the Earth and all their children, but clever Moon changed their shape to that of Mother Moon and soothed the Sun, saying that he could have her as well. And the children from that union are the werewolves."

"Although the humans don't remember their ties to our kind, werewolves know our Mother Moon is also Father Moon for the vampires, and we are friends in honor of our clever parent. So it has been, and let it ever be."

[lordoftheozarks]

"I have made similar arrangements with others. It would be a welcome compromise." But he can table that discussion for later.

He listens silently to this story, and finds himself marveling at how different a world it must be to have such an origin tale. And here, again, he is met with that same curious realization that most creatures who call themselves vampire's, apparently, cannot exist safely in the sun. It's difficult to picture how restricting life would be under such a curse.

"Fascinating. Our origin is very different. I take it the vampires of your world cannot be touched by the sun. I have no such issue. We vampires have a Mother too. But, she is no planetary deity, she is a being almost as old as time itself. She is our god but she does not only exist in myth. Proof of her is tangible."

An Envelope | NSFW Themes, Possibly No Thread, Maybe Letters, Who Knows

[somebodychildofanyone]

A thick envelope, distorted in the middle around an object, arrives in Erik's mailbox. It is addressed to him, in River's scratchy handwriting.

Inside is a polished and quite smooth buttblug, its base etched with the maker's mark River puts on the products of her forge. Nothing fancy, but still.

The letter reads:

For when you want to dress to match. Just let me know before the occasion.

still NSFW no matter what, lol

[lordoftheozarks]

He's not sure what it means for him that, upon seeing that familiar handwriting on a package, he feels both excitement and dread at the same time. What's in there? He's not foolish enough to open it outside, thank god.

As soon as he pulls it out and realizes what it is, he has to laugh. She's been thinking of him, has she? How does he tell her he's not usually the one who uses these? Not that he couldn't...

He turns it over in his hand a few times. Would it be rude not to at least try it? It can't do him any permanent harm. He should probably write a thank you note back, first.

Dear River,
Thank you for the handmade gift. The craftsmanship is flawless. I'll be sure to let you know.
Sincerely,
Lord Osborne

A Couple Days Later

[somebodychildofanyone]

Another letter; the same handwriting, with Erik's name on the outside, but no additional item inside.

Dearest Erik,

I've been wanting to clear the air a bit about something and after getting your letter back I realized that it might be easier in writing than trying to say it in person and getting all awkward and fucking things up. So here, let me lay it out, and try not to imagine how many versions of this letter got thrown directly into the forge. It's fine, I'm a normal grown-up person and I can discuss my feelings because I'm very brave.

Here the letter is broken up by a sketch of Bobbin - Eddie's demonic chicken - done in rough lines. She looks, somehow, judging; a tiny chibi River cowers before her.

Sometimes I worry that maybe our relationship is too sexual. Not that I don't enjoy it, but every now and again I bolt upright in the dead of the morning and wonder if I've been neglectful, or pushy. I could blame youthful eagerness but let's not kid ourselves, as thirsty as I am on a daily basis that's not it. I've had time to sow my wild oats. But it is - it's grounding, for me. When I first got adopted my sister warned me that necromancers can forget how to just live sometimes, and I didn't know what the fuck she was talking about. More than a year later now, I've got every idea, and it's a grim fucking seduction. Do the job, be efficient, burn as little of your life force as possible, make the problem go away. But down that road is a life survived and not one lived, and the thing about surviving is it's a loser's game. No bird flies high enough that it never falls. One day I'm gonna check out and not check back in, and I want the life I leave behind - I want it to be a good life, yeah, but I'd also like it to be a happy one.

You make me happy, Erik. But I've got these knife ears perked for other ways to be happy together too. It'd be nice to mix it up sometimes, even if you've gotta remind me about it. Don't hesitate, yeah?

Love,
River la Croix

[lordoftheozarks]

He opens that second message expecting something short and possibly sarcastic. What unfurls instead is much more than he was prepared for. He's once again grateful that he waited until he was inside and alone to open it, but for very different reasons this time.

He can't help but smile at that cute sketch of the chicken. Even she is better at drawing than he is. The smile lingers, as he reads the rest of her heartfelt message. But a queasy unease is growing all the same. Too... sexual? The first thought that comes to mind is: is there such a thing? But, yes, he knows there is. Or, he should know.

Does he feel neglected? No, not at all. In fact he... has perhaps been allowing it to stay this way because the real truth is something far less sexy. He is not as good at being emotionally vulnerable as he pretends. River, more than he, has been the driving force in prying more of his feelings out of him. He's the one who has been reluctant. He can't just let her believe the failing (or responsibility) is only hers. What she's saying about a life survived rather than lived resonates far too deeply in his core. Does he really know what happiness feels like?

He picks up his pen and... spends half the day crafting a reply.

River,

Your words touch me deeply. It brings me real joy to know I make you happy. I want you to know, affirmatively, that you make me happy too. In your company, I am able to drop my guard in ways I haven't in so many years I cannot properly count them. I have not, at any point, found myself dissatisfied with how things have been. I find your high sex drive and your confidence behind it incredibly attractive.

That said, your words cause me to realize I have not been as attentive, myself, as I should be. Do not let the brave face I put on fool you. I feel very out of practice at this. At dating, and the kind of personal intimacy that comes with it. There are still shadows in my past that I have not shared with you. Perhaps it's time I did. You might better understand me once I have, but I admit to being afraid you won't like what you uncover. Still, you are right that things must not stay always the same.

The truth is, we may both need reminding from time to time. I will make every effort. I will not hesitate if you don't. Seek me out when you are ready, and I will make myself an open book to you.

Love,
Erik.