It would seem my patron thinks I need to do more with my time than fuck for his favor, as I've been given a business or two to take care of. One of which is a winery. I thought perhaps you'd like to stop by, taste a few vintages with me. And see where the evening takes us.
More than one, huh? Well, double congratulations are in order.
A winery will suit you, I'm sure. And I'd be honored. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend an evening.
[There's a warmth in his voice that makes it more than clear he's picking up on the subtext here. Where the evening takes them, indeed? (Oh, if only he knew.)]
[True to his word, he'll be knocking on the door down the hall at six o'clock sharp. He's donned a burgundy button-up shirt for the occasion, paired with a black tie. He's also brought a small plate of dainty cheesecake bites, in case Astarion is interested in pairing wine with something sweet.]
Astarion's voice called out a simple "Come in, darling," since he was a little occupied at the moment. With Lioriley's foot resting lightly on his thigh. She was perched on their desk, and in the chair in front of her, a casual sprawl in contrast with her primly crossed legs. He wore his usual black with hints of red in the buttons and threading, shirt undone in a deep V, his hand resting on Lioriley's leg, thumb absently tracing a circle over her ankle. A glass of deep red wine already held in his free hand. "Hello, Max. Don't you look positively edible." Haha, get it? It's funny cause it works on multiple levels.
Thanks to their prior discussion and proper planning, Lioriley was fully prepared for this encounter. So when Max stepped into the room she did not falter as she usually might have, - and, okay, maybe she was blushing a little, but that should have been a given - her smile warm, eyes half-lidded as she turned her head toward him. The silken robe she wore slipped down her arms, revealing hints of the matching lingerie underneath along with the familiar glow of neon blue that curved along her skin. She lifted her own glass of wine in greeting, her other hand set behind her to maintain her balance on the desk. Or to assure the curves of her slim frame were accented a bit better. Who's to say really?
"You are right on time - and you came with gifts?" She chuckled. So like Max, wasn't it?
He really thought he was just going to come over and have a few glasses, get tipsy, and then maybe have a little fun with Astarion. He really thought that's all this would be. He'd never been more excited to be wrong.
The moment he stepped through the door, his eyes went wide. His breath caught in his throat. The sight of them both together like that was almost too sexy to process. Look at them. A feast for the eyes. Her robe, sliding sensually down one shoulder, his chest pale and perfect bared to the light. A matched set, like a king and queen upon their thrones. He had the sudden urge to kneel.
"I... wow." Not his usual suave response this time. Sorry, he was still trying to decide if he died and this was heaven. Should he pinch himself??
Edited (so many typoooos) Date: 2021-03-12 02:27 pm (UTC)
The brand was noted, a terrible, ugly thing. How cruel his master must have been, to damage such beautiful, perfect skin? Those that partook of blood from other worlds, seems so power-hungry and needy, honestly.
"...Here." Maria's delicate fingers stroked across Max's collarbone. "I wish to wrap my lips around your warm flesh... Just here." Scratching lightly as she sang her words out, so gentle and foreign.
His comment, however, that gained a playful tut of her tongue. "Now, Max, are you always so vulgar when you speak to a lady?" Don't worry, she liked it. Liked it enough to take a step away from him, press her back against the glass of the window and let the thin fabric she wore slip down from both shoulders to the crook of her elbows, exposing her pale breasts and that unhealing slit of a scar, slashed across her throat.
"Mmmm," he hummed out a pleased sound at the light scratch to his skin. "Oh, yes." He very much approved of the idea.
When she playfully chided him for his vulgar words, he chuckled. "Only when she invites me over for a midnight rendevous."
But that chuckle sighed away as she revealed the soft flesh of her chest to him. He was drawn to her, a moth to flame. He stepped in closer and started to lean in as if to kiss the newly revealed skin, but then he faltered when he caught sight of that scar.
His eyes held a question in them though he didn't vocalize it. What happened here? And why hadn't it healed? Gently, he reached out to brush his thumb over that line on her throat... Then, he realized what he was doing and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Sorry," he murmured to her. He let his hand trail lower, back to what he was meant to be doing -worshipping her lovely body. He hoped he hadn't disturbed her too much with that move.
"Why darling, I think our darling Max brought us a snack, isn't that sweet of him," Astarion remarked with a low chuckle. Which snack did he mean, though, the plate of treats or himself? Probably both. He gently shifting Lioriley's foot so he could rise and amble over to Max, laying a light hand against his back and urging him forward, steering him towards the chair he'd just vacated. "Come in, now, sweetheart, don't be shy. What would you like to drink? Lioriley and I are having a very fine red from her homeland, but I've a bottle of Mulhorandan Lion-wine if you're in the mood for a pale vintage."
"Very sweet." Lioriley agreed while offering Max a somewhat sympathetic look, unable to keep herself from giggle at his awestruck expression. Just as Astarion had anticipated, huh? She adjusted her position as Astarion moved toward Max, leg lifted so she could set it right back down - this time on Max's thigh, rubbing gently while idly swirling her wine in her glass. "I have a bit of a preference for the former, but either are fine choices." She tipped her head toward Max, smile warm, her free hand creeping behind her to gently grasp a bit of rope they had set out earlier that she hoped he would not notice.
"J-just some strawberry cheesecake bites," he told them breathlessly. He'd almost forgotten he was holding the plate. How he hadn't dropped it was a mystery even to him.
Upon more thought, though, he was starting to wonder if that's what they were actually talking about. Because he could see the hunger in both their faces and it was not for cheesecake.
"I prefer red, usually." Although, his eyes drifted to Astarion as he approached. A pale vintage didn't sound bad...
Max was easily led along to the chair, where he would be more than grateful to have a seat and recover from this exquisite shock. Lioriley's foot upon his thigh was distracting in the best of ways. He set his plate of sweets aside so he could gently stroke the top of her ankle in loving circles.
Somehow this wasn't a dream. She was really solid. He was really here. This was going to be a good night. Oh, he just had a feeling about that.
[ Maybe he should give it a suck and see what happens? Jester's not going to stop him, though, now he knows she could if she wanted to.
Jester shuffled and crawled over the top of him, kneeling at his middle, her thighs at each side of him, her sheer teddy crawling up past her thighs and flashing him a little peek at her naked pussy underneath it. Her hands went back to his tie, wrapping it around a hand as she slowly pulled his torso up with it, her legs keeping him in place like she was pushing and pulling him at once, just showing off a little of her strength.
That tail of hers snaked down one of his legs before sneaking under and up the trouser, cool to the touch of it against his warm skin. ]
Oh, I can do so much more than just push you around Max~
"Oh, I see. I never knew the time of day had anything to do with it? I'll be sure to call you for such rendevous in the light hours hmm?" She almost laughed back at him, he was cunning and always had something to say, always an excuse, she liked it though, he wasn't a bit like the men from her world.
As Max came over, drawn in by her beauty a small hint of sadness filled her eyes. It was his reaction to her scar, the soft touch he placed there. So kind and tender, no one had ever dared to touch it, no one had ever seen it back home in fact.
"There is no need for sorries, my dear sweet Max. You may touch any part of my you desire... Even my throat. I feel no pain."
Wriggling her arms and letting her dress fall in a heap around her feet, standing before him now, completely naked. Pale like the moon skin just as cold as the night.
[He's just so inexperienced with tail-having people. He's not sure what the etiquette is. Can you just suck on a tail?
He's going to get brave enough to try it soon. Especially now that she's revealed her impressive strength to him. God that's sexy. Even the coolness of her skin against him brings up good feelings. He's got no aversion to cold skinned lovers, just the opposite, really.]
Oooh, is that so? Why don't you show me?
[She has him exquisitely pinned and held, but his arms are still free, so he uses a finger to pluck up the hem of her teddy, intending to give himself an even better peek at what's underneath.]
"I can't make any promises I won't be just as bad or worse during daylight."
He enjoyed this tit for tat. Having someone who could keep up with him was a treat every time. It was almost enough to keep the sadness at what he saw in that scar at bay.
"I'm glad it doesn't hurt." There was still a touch of sorrow for her in that.
But, since she'd said it was okay, he reached up again to run his finger over the mark, starting there, then working his fingers down over her collarbone, then the newly revealed flesh of her breast. His other hand joined in there, so that he could cup her, one in each hand. His thumbs stroked lightly over her nipple, to tease them and her.
"I... I only apologize because, well, sometimes scars can hold bad memories. I know you felt mine." He hadn't missed how her fingers brushed over his neck. "I didn't want to spoil the mood by bringing anything painful to mind for you."
Zevran assumed Max was serious, but it sure as hell didn't matter one way or another as the elf slammed his tome shut, pulled on one of his new outfits from Glinda - a black button up shirt, halfway open and tucked into black high waisted pants, and a pair of boots - and meandered down the hall, stopping at Max's door and then deciding that waltzing right in would be predictable and not nearly as amusing.
So he backtracked, wandered out of the castle and scanned along the wall until he saw the patio jutting out from the room he presumed had to belong to Max. After climbing up decided to just make himself at home, taking a seat in one of the chairs and propping a leg onto the table, resting his chin on a closed fist as he peered through the glass door and waited for Max to notice.
Astarion smirked to himself as Lioriley did precisely as he'd hoped and set her bare foot on Max's thigh, then busied himself with pouring what was only a little above a tasting-sized portion of the deep red wine from a carafe into a glass. He wasn't being selfish with the amount, because while Astarion had a selfish nature, he was fairly certain that the rarity of the wine was not an issue for the fey and whatever magic they worked; Max was welcome to more of it if he so desired, they could get more. It was more to do with the fact that they weren't going to doing that much drinking, very soon. Not of wine, at least. Wink.
"Here you are, darling," he purred as he strode up, holding out the glass for Max to take. The moment he took the glass from him, Astarion laid his hand lightly on his shoulder and slid his palm across his upper back as he circled around him, coming to stand on the other side of the chair. "Fair warning, it might ruin you for any other vintage. It's quite delicious." Speaking of delicious, Astarion let his gaze wander hungrily over Max's form, while he leaned in and plucked one of the treats Max had brought from the plate, offered it to Lioriley's lips for a taste.
The soft touch of Max's fingers against her skin earned him a pleased little noise from the Lunari; a soft purr that rumbled from her chest, along with another bright smile that made her leylines flicker. "It is very good. The finest and rarest in all of Valsheria." She added just for the sake of conversation, still idly swirling the liquid around in her glass with thoughtful hum, dark eyes following Astarion as he moved from one side of the room to the other; indicating the rope between her fingers with a quick, darting glance as if to ask if he wanted it.
If he did, she would slowly try and sneak it behind Max's back when she leaned forward to accept the cheesecake bite, purposefully wrapping her lips around Astarion's fingers and pulling the treat into her mouth. Lioriley was not particularly well endowed, but it probably didn't matter much when she arched forward then, the silken top she wore hanging low enough that a Max could easily see down it to get a good peek at her breasts.
A fine dew of sweat had broken out on his forehead and upper lip. The palms of his hands started to itch.
"Looks great," he said distractedly.
His eyes were, indeed, doing a deep dive down Lioreiley's silk top. So much so, he almost missed the glass entirely when he reached out to take it from Astarion. He hardly noticed the amount of wine. He'd probably choke on it if he tried to drink it right this second.
By now the blood was pounding in his ears, with an echoing throb much lower too. It was safe to say Max didn't notice what she was doing with the rope at all, his attention was far too fixed on the way her lips wrapped around Astarion's fingers while she took that bite. It was bringing up all kinds of fond memories for him of other places her lips had been.
At the end of yet another long short-staffed shift, Max drags himself up the stairs of cafe to the loft bedroom. God is he glad this is here at a time like this. Just walking home feels like too much effort at the moment.
Besides, walking home would give him too much time to think about the reason why he's so short-staffed in the kitchen. Dimitri, Raleigh, Chell... all gone. No goodbyes. No trace. Just gone.
He needs a drink.
Bedside table is the first place he looks. There's a bottle there but there's hardly more than a sip left in it. He doesn't even bother with a glass, just turns the whole thing up into his mouth. Tossing the empty aside on the bed, he goes to the next stash spot, bottom drawer in the wardrobe. But he's greeted with yet another nearly empty bottle. What? How?
Has he been draining them to nearly empty just to leave the last dregs for next time? Wouldn't he remember that? He should have remembered to get more in that case.
With a disgruntle grunt, he throws down the early empty bottle and goes to his desk drawer. There should be a one-shot bottle of Jameson waiting as a back-up...
He finds the bottle. It's empty too.
"What the hell!?" he screams, throwing the bottle against the wall. Miraculously, it doesn't shatter, just bounces off and skitters across the carpet.
Frustration builds in his chest. His fists ball at his sides. He just wants a good drink! He just wants to forget that his friends have disappeared and left him here with a significantly empty kitchen! He wants to forget that his dream is falling apart around him right now. And he can't even find a bottle in his own room. It's enough to bring him to his knees in the middle of the floor, sobbing into his hands.
The workload is exhausting, pulling doubles to help keep things going at the café. That would be enough for any one of them, really, but to add to the problem is the reason why they are having to cover more than one shift. Chell, Dimitri, and Raleigh, all gone. No way to contact them by tome, their rooms empty. Lucas had kept his fretting to himself, especially concerning Chell. Had she discovered something that made the fae cast her back home? If he had been investigating alongside her, would it have happened?
He wasn't the only one worrying. Max, he knew, was shouldering the bulk of it. The café is his dream and now it's a race everyday to keep it up and running. Lucas had noticed too, that the man's go to way of dealing with it was at the end of a whiskey bottle. So over the weeks he'd been pouring out parts of the bottles he could find. Maybe it could keep Max from going too far?
Or maybe not.
He's halfway up the stairs to the loft room when he hears the bottle clank against something and Max's scream, followed by sobbing. with a racing heart Lucas takes the rest of the stairs two at a time and yanks the door open in a hurry.
"Max!?" The sight is enough to freeze the blood in his veins, before he forces himself to stagger forward and throw his arms around the man. "Max, talk to me!? What's going on?"
Oh, Max was very serious. Any time he can get some, he's onboard. So, he was fully expecting Zevran to show up. He just was not expecting HOW. See, silly him, he expected the man to use the door like a normal and sane person.
After a little time had passed, Max, getting somewhat concerned that maybe he was about to be left hanging after all, got up from his seat in the kitchen to grab himself a book in the main room. That's when he spotted the shitbird man lounging on the patio furniture like he owned the place.
"What-?" Max slid open the door and gaped at Zevran. "How the hell did you even get up here? We're on the second floor!"
"Ah, there you are. I was beginning to worry you might not notice. Not very observant, are we?" The ideal candidate for murder, he should note. Zevran tipped his head toward Max with a grin. "How do you think, Max? I sprouted wings and flew, naturally." Would he believe that? God it would be so funny if he did.
He stood up after a moment if Max did not come to him, striding over to hook his fingers into the loops of his belt, tugging himself closer and leaning up on his toes to brush his lips against Max's chin. "I was promised frosting and some light tossing, was I not?"
He's so caught up in the moment of grief, he doesn't even hear Lucas coming up the stairs. He gives a startled little cry when arms wrap around him from behind.
But even if Lucas hadn't spoken, Max would know whose arms those are. By the warmth, by the subtle smell of his shampoo, by the weight and pressure of his hold. All the things he's come to memorize about his love. The moment he realizes he's safe in Lucas' arms, the crying gets louder. He falls utterly to pieces.
"I can't..." he sobs, "I can't ...they're gone and I can't... I can't do this. I just wanted... I wanted..." A drink. An escape.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
audio;
Date: 2021-03-12 02:12 am (UTC)Re: audio;
Date: 2021-03-12 02:37 am (UTC)A winery will suit you, I'm sure. And I'd be honored. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend an evening.
[There's a warmth in his voice that makes it more than clear he's picking up on the subtext here. Where the evening takes them, indeed? (Oh, if only he knew.)]
What time do you want me?
audio;
Date: 2021-03-12 02:45 am (UTC)[ IF ONLY HE KNEW, INDEED. ]
Shall we say, six in the evening?
Re: audio -> action
Date: 2021-03-12 03:14 am (UTC)Six sounds perfect. I'll see you then.
[True to his word, he'll be knocking on the door down the hall at six o'clock sharp. He's donned a burgundy button-up shirt for the occasion, paired with a black tie. He's also brought a small plate of dainty cheesecake bites, in case Astarion is interested in pairing wine with something sweet.]
I'm here~
action forever and switching to prose eeyyy
Date: 2021-03-12 05:05 am (UTC)SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER
Date: 2021-03-12 05:35 am (UTC)"You are right on time - and you came with gifts?" She chuckled. So like Max, wasn't it?
/swoon
Date: 2021-03-12 02:23 pm (UTC)The moment he stepped through the door, his eyes went wide. His breath caught in his throat. The sight of them both together like that was almost too sexy to process. Look at them. A feast for the eyes. Her robe, sliding sensually down one shoulder, his chest pale and perfect bared to the light. A matched set, like a king and queen upon their thrones. He had the sudden urge to kneel.
"I... wow." Not his usual suave response this time. Sorry, he was still trying to decide if he died and this was heaven. Should he pinch himself??
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-12 11:02 pm (UTC)"...Here." Maria's delicate fingers stroked across Max's collarbone. "I wish to wrap my lips around your warm flesh... Just here." Scratching lightly as she sang her words out, so gentle and foreign.
His comment, however, that gained a playful tut of her tongue. "Now, Max, are you always so vulgar when you speak to a lady?" Don't worry, she liked it. Liked it enough to take a step away from him, press her back against the glass of the window and let the thin fabric she wore slip down from both shoulders to the crook of her elbows, exposing her pale breasts and that unhealing slit of a scar, slashed across her throat.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-16 04:13 am (UTC)When she playfully chided him for his vulgar words, he chuckled. "Only when she invites me over for a midnight rendevous."
But that chuckle sighed away as she revealed the soft flesh of her chest to him. He was drawn to her, a moth to flame. He stepped in closer and started to lean in as if to kiss the newly revealed skin, but then he faltered when he caught sight of that scar.
His eyes held a question in them though he didn't vocalize it. What happened here? And why hadn't it healed? Gently, he reached out to brush his thumb over that line on her throat... Then, he realized what he was doing and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Sorry," he murmured to her. He let his hand trail lower, back to what he was meant to be doing -worshipping her lovely body. He hoped he hadn't disturbed her too much with that move.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-16 09:32 pm (UTC)"Why darling, I think our darling Max brought us a snack, isn't that sweet of him," Astarion remarked with a low chuckle. Which snack did he mean, though, the plate of treats or himself? Probably both. He gently shifting Lioriley's foot so he could rise and amble over to Max, laying a light hand against his back and urging him forward, steering him towards the chair he'd just vacated. "Come in, now, sweetheart, don't be shy. What would you like to drink? Lioriley and I are having a very fine red from her homeland, but I've a bottle of Mulhorandan Lion-wine if you're in the mood for a pale vintage."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-16 10:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-18 08:06 pm (UTC)Upon more thought, though, he was starting to wonder if that's what they were actually talking about. Because he could see the hunger in both their faces and it was not for cheesecake.
"I prefer red, usually." Although, his eyes drifted to Astarion as he approached. A pale vintage didn't sound bad...
Max was easily led along to the chair, where he would be more than grateful to have a seat and recover from this exquisite shock. Lioriley's foot upon his thigh was distracting in the best of ways. He set his plate of sweets aside so he could gently stroke the top of her ankle in loving circles.
Somehow this wasn't a dream. She was really solid. He was really here. This was going to be a good night. Oh, he just had a feeling about that.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-19 11:54 pm (UTC)Jester shuffled and crawled over the top of him, kneeling at his middle, her thighs at each side of him, her sheer teddy crawling up past her thighs and flashing him a little peek at her naked pussy underneath it. Her hands went back to his tie, wrapping it around a hand as she slowly pulled his torso up with it, her legs keeping him in place like she was pushing and pulling him at once, just showing off a little of her strength.
That tail of hers snaked down one of his legs before sneaking under and up the trouser, cool to the touch of it against his warm skin. ]
Oh, I can do so much more than just push you around Max~
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-20 07:17 pm (UTC)As Max came over, drawn in by her beauty a small hint of sadness filled her eyes. It was his reaction to her scar, the soft touch he placed there. So kind and tender, no one had ever dared to touch it, no one had ever seen it back home in fact.
"There is no need for sorries, my dear sweet Max. You may touch any part of my you desire... Even my throat. I feel no pain."
Wriggling her arms and letting her dress fall in a heap around her feet, standing before him now, completely naked. Pale like the moon skin just as cold as the night.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-22 05:53 pm (UTC)He's going to get brave enough to try it soon. Especially now that she's revealed her impressive strength to him. God that's sexy. Even the coolness of her skin against him brings up good feelings. He's got no aversion to cold skinned lovers, just the opposite, really.]
Oooh, is that so? Why don't you show me?
[She has him exquisitely pinned and held, but his arms are still free, so he uses a finger to pluck up the hem of her teddy, intending to give himself an even better peek at what's underneath.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-22 07:59 pm (UTC)He enjoyed this tit for tat. Having someone who could keep up with him was a treat every time. It was almost enough to keep the sadness at what he saw in that scar at bay.
"I'm glad it doesn't hurt." There was still a touch of sorrow for her in that.
But, since she'd said it was okay, he reached up again to run his finger over the mark, starting there, then working his fingers down over her collarbone, then the newly revealed flesh of her breast. His other hand joined in there, so that he could cup her, one in each hand. His thumbs stroked lightly over her nipple, to tease them and her.
"I... I only apologize because, well, sometimes scars can hold bad memories. I know you felt mine." He hadn't missed how her fingers brushed over his neck. "I didn't want to spoil the mood by bringing anything painful to mind for you."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-23 07:52 pm (UTC)"Gladly."
Zevran assumed Max was serious, but it sure as hell didn't matter one way or another as the elf slammed his tome shut, pulled on one of his new outfits from Glinda - a black button up shirt, halfway open and tucked into black high waisted pants, and a pair of boots - and meandered down the hall, stopping at Max's door and then deciding that waltzing right in would be predictable and not nearly as amusing.
So he backtracked, wandered out of the castle and scanned along the wall until he saw the patio jutting out from the room he presumed had to belong to Max. After climbing up decided to just make himself at home, taking a seat in one of the chairs and propping a leg onto the table, resting his chin on a closed fist as he peered through the glass door and waited for Max to notice.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-23 11:18 pm (UTC)"Here you are, darling," he purred as he strode up, holding out the glass for Max to take. The moment he took the glass from him, Astarion laid his hand lightly on his shoulder and slid his palm across his upper back as he circled around him, coming to stand on the other side of the chair. "Fair warning, it might ruin you for any other vintage. It's quite delicious." Speaking of delicious, Astarion let his gaze wander hungrily over Max's form, while he leaned in and plucked one of the treats Max had brought from the plate, offered it to Lioriley's lips for a taste.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-24 01:21 am (UTC)If he did, she would slowly try and sneak it behind Max's back when she leaned forward to accept the cheesecake bite, purposefully wrapping her lips around Astarion's fingers and pulling the treat into her mouth. Lioriley was not particularly well endowed, but it probably didn't matter much when she arched forward then, the silken top she wore hanging low enough that a Max could easily see down it to get a good peek at her breasts.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-24 02:03 am (UTC)"Looks great," he said distractedly.
His eyes were, indeed, doing a deep dive down Lioreiley's silk top. So much so, he almost missed the glass entirely when he reached out to take it from Astarion. He hardly noticed the amount of wine. He'd probably choke on it if he tried to drink it right this second.
By now the blood was pounding in his ears, with an echoing throb much lower too. It was safe to say Max didn't notice what she was doing with the rope at all, his attention was far too fixed on the way her lips wrapped around Astarion's fingers while she took that bite. It was bringing up all kinds of fond memories for him of other places her lips had been.
[For Lucas] The loft over the cafe (slightly backdated)
Date: 2021-03-24 02:49 pm (UTC)Besides, walking home would give him too much time to think about the reason why he's so short-staffed in the kitchen. Dimitri, Raleigh, Chell... all gone. No goodbyes. No trace. Just gone.
He needs a drink.
Bedside table is the first place he looks. There's a bottle there but there's hardly more than a sip left in it. He doesn't even bother with a glass, just turns the whole thing up into his mouth. Tossing the empty aside on the bed, he goes to the next stash spot, bottom drawer in the wardrobe. But he's greeted with yet another nearly empty bottle. What? How?
Has he been draining them to nearly empty just to leave the last dregs for next time? Wouldn't he remember that? He should have remembered to get more in that case.
With a disgruntle grunt, he throws down the early empty bottle and goes to his desk drawer. There should be a one-shot bottle of Jameson waiting as a back-up...
He finds the bottle. It's empty too.
"What the hell!?" he screams, throwing the bottle against the wall. Miraculously, it doesn't shatter, just bounces off and skitters across the carpet.
Frustration builds in his chest. His fists ball at his sides. He just wants a good drink! He just wants to forget that his friends have disappeared and left him here with a significantly empty kitchen! He wants to forget that his dream is falling apart around him right now. And he can't even find a bottle in his own room. It's enough to bring him to his knees in the middle of the floor, sobbing into his hands.
let the pain begin
Date: 2021-03-24 03:12 pm (UTC)He wasn't the only one worrying. Max, he knew, was shouldering the bulk of it. The café is his dream and now it's a race everyday to keep it up and running. Lucas had noticed too, that the man's go to way of dealing with it was at the end of a whiskey bottle. So over the weeks he'd been pouring out parts of the bottles he could find. Maybe it could keep Max from going too far?
Or maybe not.
He's halfway up the stairs to the loft room when he hears the bottle clank against something and Max's scream, followed by sobbing. with a racing heart Lucas takes the rest of the stairs two at a time and yanks the door open in a hurry.
"Max!?" The sight is enough to freeze the blood in his veins, before he forces himself to stagger forward and throw his arms around the man. "Max, talk to me!? What's going on?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-24 03:57 pm (UTC)After a little time had passed, Max, getting somewhat concerned that maybe he was about to be left hanging after all, got up from his seat in the kitchen to grab himself a book in the main room. That's when he spotted the
shitbirdman lounging on the patio furniture like he owned the place."What-?" Max slid open the door and gaped at Zevran. "How the hell did you even get up here? We're on the second floor!"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-24 04:04 pm (UTC)"Ah, there you are. I was beginning to worry you might not notice. Not very observant, are we?" The ideal candidate for murder, he should note. Zevran tipped his head toward Max with a grin. "How do you think, Max? I sprouted wings and flew, naturally." Would he believe that? God it would be so funny if he did.
He stood up after a moment if Max did not come to him, striding over to hook his fingers into the loops of his belt, tugging himself closer and leaning up on his toes to brush his lips against Max's chin. "I was promised frosting and some light tossing, was I not?"
;_; already feeling it
Date: 2021-03-24 05:33 pm (UTC)But even if Lucas hadn't spoken, Max would know whose arms those are. By the warmth, by the subtle smell of his shampoo, by the weight and pressure of his hold. All the things he's come to memorize about his love. The moment he realizes he's safe in Lucas' arms, the crying gets louder. He falls utterly to pieces.
"I can't..." he sobs, "I can't ...they're gone and I can't... I can't do this. I just wanted... I wanted..." A drink. An escape.