fourstrings | the bloodlust's a clusterfuck

the bloodlust's a clusterfuck

[ Pagan Min has existed for 458 years, and been dead for 437 of them. And in all that time, he’s never quite got the hang of resisting temptation.

He’s having the fucking devil of a time resisting Ajay.

They’ve been carving out a sort of friendship in the time since Ajay apparently decided against making Pagan’s death final – heart staked, head cut off, pieces left in the sun to burn to ash and all that jazz. Pagan has managed to shuffle his undeniable attraction to the man into the background of that, and the desire to taste him goes neatly with it. Ajay isn’t food. But the more time they spend with one another the louder his desire becomes, all of it twined together. Sex, blood, companionship. And it certainly doesn’t bloody help matters that he’s by now fairly sure that Ajay is curious.

Pagan had got a whiff of it the first time his staff had brought him some volunteers when Ajay was in the room. Pagan had called for dinner for Ajay, and they’d brought up platters of more food than one man even of Ajay’s appetite could hope to eat alone, along with three attractive young hopefuls. Pagan had dismissed them with a wave of his hand and one – a young man who Pagan has not fed from previously but is aware has been angling for a spot for some time – exploded into protest that it wasn’t fair. There was a bit of a kerfuffle about that, gasps and an outburst of sharp Kyrati from the attendants, but Pagan had seen the look on Ajay’s face. Relief that Pagan wouldn’t be feeding in front of him all threaded through with an interest in just how piqued the young man had been. Pagan won’t read Ajay’s mind – a minor courtesy – but he hadn’t needed to.

It presents itself again when Ajay drops in unannounced one day. Pagan has just finished feeding, and the woman who offered her blood is clearly in a state similar to post-coital bliss. A willing bite doesn’t always result in orgasm, but Pagan thinks it’s only polite to provide given that’s what most of them seem to expect. Ajay enters the room just as Pagan is healing her bite wound and giving her a fond pat on the hand, and he can hear the way Ajay’s pulse ticks slightly upward when the woman sleepily croons thank you, thank you before the attendants guide her away on wobbly legs. Pagan has never been the sort to derive any pleasure from forcing the issue and that had tempered his want, but knowing that Ajay is wondering about it sets him aflame.

Tonight, they’re tucked up on a couch in Pagan’s library, poring over an old vampire-hunting text the way a pair of friends might choose to watch a shitty horror film together. Pagan running a finger along the page saying no, no, that’s absolute fucking bollocks and Ajay laughing his sweet husky laugh and being mostly careful only to stare at Pagan when Pagan isn’t staring back. It’s a delight to find the attraction is mutual, and Pagan is carefully trying to select the right time to accidentally meet Ajay’s warm gaze in the hopes of advancing matters when there’s a bloody knock on the door.

Dinnertime. Of course. Pagan is regrettably sharp with his no thank you, not now (the last thing he wants to do in the middle of this tentative almost-courtship is remind Ajay Ghale, son of the Golden Path’s most famous vampire killers, that Pagan is a blood-drinking monster) before he catches himself and turns to Ajay. ]

But what about you, my boy? Have you eaten? I’ll have something brought up, anything you like.

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[ It should be embarrassing that Pagan's heart melts at the sound of that laugh. He's too busy experiencing the heart-melting to realise. ]

The coffin thing is mostly because they're lightproof and secure. The palace is secure and I can deal with small amounts of sunlight, so I won't be abandoning you to sleep alone. Unless you ask me to, of course, in which case I will demonstrate the horrifying extent to which an immortal being can sulk.

I do have a coffin though. For travel and drama purposes. I can show you sometime, if you'd like.

Maybe showing me your coffin is more of a second date activity. Or, uh, third date? I’m kinda new to this.

[ but he’s finally done with his once-over of the bedroom, which means he can turn his full attention back to pagan. reaching out to snag his wrists and pull him closer, pressing a little kiss to the corner of his mouth. ] So, the whole… companion thing. Is there, uh… paperwork I’m supposed to sign? Or maybe a weird ceremony?

I mean, I guess I’m trying to figure out if you’re just asking me to hang out, or if this is like getting vampire-married.

Do you want a weird ceremony? I could arrange one.

[ He's mostly joking, but the idea does have a certain appeal. Images of Ajay with his eyes ringed in kohl, wearing little more than a whole lot of exotic-looking gold jewelry spring temptingly to mind. ]

It's... somewhere inbetween. Mostly the understanding between us that you won't let anyone else feed from you without my knowledge and permission - which I of course have already agreed to reciprocate, in a non-traditional but very self-serving display of my goodness and devotion. And the understanding by others that you are under my protection, and they can expect to be fucked up worse than they've ever been fucked up should any harm come to you.

Vampire-married would be if I turned you, which you've said you don't want. [ If he sounds casual about that, it's because he's confident that Ajay will change his mind. One day, perhaps with a streak of dashing silver in his hair and that sexy scruff turning salt-and-pepper, Ajay will realize how finite he is, and Pagan will make him eternal. Until then, he's happy to wait. ] And if you wish, ingesting a very small amount of my blood would form a sort of link between us. Enough that should you need me, you'd be able to call out to me with your mind across any distance. The downside to that is that I would be able to do the same to you, and I can't promise I wouldn't do it just because I want to see you with your shirt off but you're out on one of your little adventures.

[ … oh! well, it’s a good thing he decided to ask before he just signed on the dotted line because pagan made him come harder than anyone else ever has. does that count as personal growth?

so he takes a seat on the edge of the bed, turning all that over in his head. ]want all of that? With me?

[ he’s just Some Guy, after all. ] I mean… what if you change your mind? Get bored of me, or something?

[ Oh, bless. Aside from the benefits of blood sharing, it's not much more than would happen anyway. Anyone who gave it 30 second of consideration would undertstand that harming Ajay would see them hogtied and fed to demonfish, Pagan would just be removing the need to consider it. But Pagan takes a seat on the bed next to Ajay, clasps one of his hands between his own. ]

Ajay, in just over forty years I'll be five hundred. And that seems a very short amount of time, to me. The chances of me growing bored with you before you die are vanishingly slim. And if you get bored of me, you're free to leave.

[ A gentle little pat to the back of his hand, reassuring. ]

I promise not to hunt you down and do anything monstrous, but I do not promise not to brood so hard about it that Gary pesters you to come back just to make his job less tedious.

[ oh.

is it weird to think that’s… romantic? maybe he’s still buzzing from the feeding.

either way, he can’t resist the urge to lean forward and press their mouths together in a kiss, warm and slow.

and when he finally pulls away? he doesn’t go very far, smiling against pagan’s mouth. ] Well. Lucky for you, I think the chances of me getting bored of you are pretty slim, too. Guess that means we’re in it for the long haul, huh?

[ That kiss is delightful, and Pagan leans in to it with a smile, feeling very lucky indeed. ]

I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

[ And another kiss, since apparently Ajay isn't queasy about kissing Pagan on the mouth after Pagan has recently used it to drink Ajay's blood - which, in honesty, had been his only real concern about the whole affair. It's very difficult to dampen the urge to kiss Ajay, and running off to brush his teeth every time would become tedious very quickly. And since they're moving fast emotionally, there seems to be very little point in staying clothed. He lets go of Ajay's hand only to skate his touch down that deliciously toned body, and thumb open the button of Ajay's jeans. ]

[ he’s grinning into that kiss, breaking it only so that he can scoot backwards on the bed and drag pagan with him. then he’s flopping back on the pillows, looking up at the vampire with a laugh glittering in his heavy-lidded eyes. ]

So, if it’s not quite vampire-married… does that mean we’re getting vampire-engaged?

Yes, I suppose we are.

[ His expression matches Ajay's, a smile curving his lips. It's a wonderful thought. A long engagement, so Ajay can deal with all the mortal things he wants to do, and then they'll be together forever.

There's still the matter of Ajay's jeans to deal with, though, so Pagan presses a warm kiss to his mouth and then tracks it downwards, mouthing over the soft skin low on Ajay's stomach as he works them open. When he peels them away (taking underwear with them to deposit on the floor - those'll need a wash) he sits back on his heels for a moment, eyes raking greedily over his bare form. ]

Well now. Just look at you.

[ he arches up underneath pagan with a little sigh of pleasure as the older man trails those kisses downwards, one hand reaching up to tangle lazily in his hair. and there’s no shyness to be had when pagan works his pants loose and peels them away, but —

when he sits back like that, eyes taking in ajay as if he’s a lovely treasure pagan has just had the good fortune to acquire? it’s enough to make heat flush up into his cheeks, and he has to resist the urge to grab a pillow to cover up with. ]

Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare? [ and now he’s trying to pull pagan close enough for another kiss, just so he can escape! ]

Oh, yes. But I've never let being rude stop me from doing what I want.

[ But of all the many things he wants right now, making Ajay uncomfortable isn't among them. He follows that pull instead, and once he's close enough he presses in to kiss him deep and slow - though admittedly with one cheeky hand wandering down to grab a handful of Ajay's lovely bottom, now that it's bare. ]

You can't blame me. You're even more gorgeous naked.

[ that groping hand makes him suck in a sharp breath, but it spills back out of him in a little laugh.

pressing kisses along pagan’s jaw, fingertips still combing lazily through his hair. ]

Well, talk about a relief. I’d take it pretty hard if you got me naked and then immediately called off the whole companion thing.

[ The sound of Ajay laughing is a delight. It warms Pagan through to know he'll be hearing more of it now, and he tips his head into the motion of Ajay's fingers, eyes falling closed at that stroking sensation like a cat receiving some A-grade pets. ]

I've developed many eccentricities in my time, but thankfully a distaste for perfection isn't one of them.

[ and what better way than to show his appreciation than continuing to grope Ajay's butt? The degree of kneading happening is unnecessary (those buns are already perfect) but very enthusiastic. ]

Yeah? So what do you have a taste for?

[ maybe it’s not even a question that needs being asked with the way that pagan is squeezing at his ass, but hey! maybe he’s just kinda into the way pagan is more than happy to dole out praise for him.

besides, their current position means that there’s room to sneak a hand down and undo pagan’s pants, slipping a hand inside to wrap his fingers around the other man’s dick. and the sound that comes out of him to find pagan already hot and straining hard against his hand is undeniably a purr, stroking slowly along his length. ]

[ It's very unfair to give Pagan a chance to work his silver-tongued magic and then do that. There's poetry forming in his throat ready to spill forth and catalogue Ajay's finer qualities for him, suddenly trampled by the moan that slips past at the movement of Ajay's hand, the sound he makes as he does it. Well, Pagan'll do his best. ]

You, and all your contradictions. Leading man good looks with the shy-best-friend character laugh. Deadly tactics in a fight and sweetness and humor one-on-one. Lethal hands that can - [ and his hips rock forward into Ajay's touch, involuntary but immaculately timed, making Pagan laugh ] do that. God.

[ usually, he’d shy away from praise doled out so liberally. but now? he can’t deny the way the words settle under his skin and make him burn. he wants pagan to want him, can’t get enough of the other man saying he does. ]

Pagan. [ nipping down sharply on the skin of pagan’s throat at the same time he squeezes his cock. ]

[ And this, too. The total lack of fear. The way he bites tenderly at the neck of a vampire hundreds of years older than he is, the way that know he knows he's allowed to touch, that it's welcome, he does so without hesitation. And even before this - magical as it is - the way Ajay would stroll into the palace, plonk down on one of Pagan's sofas and just chat with him.

How long has it been since Pagan spent time with someone who treated him just like anyone else? ]

You make me feel alive.

[ Pagan does his very best not to dislodge Ajay's hand when he moves to shuck off his trousers. A gesture that is unfortunately unsuccessful, but when it's done he presses back in close to kiss Ajay hard, full of want and adoration, twining their legs together now they're both nude. Nothing at all between them, just as it should be. ]

[ okay, he can’t help but laugh into that kiss, even if the edges are tinged with a moan. ]

Maybe don’t refer to yourself as being anything else right before you fuck me?

[ and sure, he says that, but he’s still arching up greedily against pagan. ]

I will do my best not to offend your delicate sensibilites.

[ Grinning as he says it, a move that flashes fang and quite possibly already violates the instruction. But he's certainly primed to do his best impression of a living man; colour in his cheeks from Ajay's exquisite blood, warm from the way arousal speeds the usually-sluggish pumping of his heart to something very near human.

Inspired, he rolls them so he's on top of Ajay, rolls his body against the younger man's and groans at the feel of it. ]

[ well. just for the record! the sight of those fangs do anything but -- if anything, it just makes his pulse tick up in that thrilling mixture of excitement tinged with just the slightest hint of fear.

but the way pagan grinds against him is enough to make ajay moan out a low noise, arching up into that press eagerly. he reaches up to loop both arms around pagan's shoulders so that he can drag him down into another kiss, heedless of the danger of his fangs as he presses to deepen it. ]

[ Pagan can sense the rising of Ajay's pulse, can't resist a low laugh at it. Job well done, he assumes, from the heat of that kiss. And Ajay may be reckless about it, but Pagan's learned to be very careful of his fangs. There's benefit to this as he kisses back just as deep, and when he pulls back a little to bite at Ajay's lip with far less dangerous teeth.

Hopefully that little display of skillful handling is enough to put Ajay at ease when Pagan starts kissing a line down Ajay's body, scattering slower, sucking kisses between fluttering pecks, until he's low enough to lift one of Ajay's legs over his shoulder and put his mouth where it really counts. He curls his togue wetly between Ajay's legs, humming as he does. ]

[ he can't help a little noise of protest when pagan pulls back to break the kiss, even if he's just as willing to tip his head back and encourage those kisses trailing down his body. and no, there's not the slightest hint of fear at the thought of pagan having access to his throat, the tender skin of his stomach, his -- ]

Oh, fuck. [ there's a little jolt of surprise as pagan's tongue licks a hot stripe up over his entrance, and one hand instantly moves to tangle his fingers in pagan's hair. and no, even though maybe a sane man would pause things here and make sure pagan intends to be very careful with those fangs, there's no sign that the idea has even crossed ajay's mind. instead, he only spreads his thighs a little wider to give pagan better access, moaning a sound that's very much encouragement. ]

Good.

[ It's purred, and the only word Pagan says before he gets back to work. The way Ajay moves to encourage him, with that hand in his hair and the spread of his thighs - just gorgeous. It deserves a reward, so Pagan licks over him once more, traces out a quick little succession of circles over Ajay's rim with his tongue (when you have fangs and talk as much as Pagan Min does, your tongue becomes very nimble), and presses it in, alight with anticipation at the response it might draw. ]

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