#Tower Grove Park

[corgiboobs]

Infrared photos from around Tower Grove Park in St Louis, Missouri in October 2023.

#Missouri #Tower Grove Park #St Louis #infrared #IR

[rainymorninlady]

#personal #photography #Tree #Tower Grove Park

[clairity-org]

Tower Grove Park, St. Louis 9/25/23 by Sharon Mollerus

#fall leaves #trees #colors #Tower Grove Park #Missouri #St. Louis #MO #flickr

[faithandarisadventures]

Rainy Day at Tower Grove Park May 11, 2023 St. Louis, Missouri

#missouri #st. louis #tower grove park #rainy day #walking in the rain #summer rain #summer day #walking path #public park #green space #pavillion #picnic area #our adventures

[mynameisntbetty]

#Tower Grove Park #STL #city parks

[purple-goo-writes]

Sooo been listening Mr. Creeps Park Ranger stories on YouTube and welll...

What if Danny became a park ranger in one of the national parks in Illinois near Amity? Could be a real National part or one made up.

After all he can't be an astronaut and maybe Sam dragging him to conservation rallies an other stuff influenced him. Sure he likes Tinkering and has a few patents like his parents do, but he loved the stars more and being able to see the clear stars from the Fire Watch Tower helped.

Plus all the weird and supernatural things that happen there, well Danny is as supernatural as one can get and at least it isn't a squishy human having to deal with something like a wendigo or rapid bear. Some things he can bargain or reason with, though others he had to either detour others from that area or sometimes Deal with himself.

(Sometimes he was glad he was already half dead and could heal, after reattached an arm. Looks like he had to add new rules to the book to teach the newbies)

So he has been at this for a few decades now, officially "retired" from hero work but not from dealing with the supernatural. By now he knew how to deal with the fae that made their home in the Grove near by, how to avoid certain entities or bargain with others or thr steps you needed to take to avoid confrontation, knew how to detour hikers and campers from the more blood thirsty residents of the Park and rescue those unlucky enough to lose their way from the trails.

Sadly he couldn't always save those who got lost, especially if they weren't near his tower when they went missing. But he tried his best.

He also had to deal with his fair share of Paranormal/Supernatural/Cryptid Hunters, groups of teens and young adults (sometimes older adults too) eager to find anything strange for clout. But most only found death if not careful. He had to rescue many from the more Ravenous residents. It was never fun for all parties involved and just annoying for Danny.

But his years of experience were going to be put to the test when dealing with this group of amateur hunters all nearly identical with their black hair and blue eyes (though only two didn't share this the youngest and the black teen who looked like he wished his siblings hadn't dragged him with them) who were there with a tired man Danny's age who shared their hair ad eye color. The Waynes (why did that sound familiar? He didn't leave the forest much, so didn't kep up with media) apparently were going on a small vacation/Camping trip and the eldest heard about all the cryptid and supernatural stories and wanted to check it out.

Danny could already tell he was going to have to fish one or two of them out of the golute of one of the beasties in the deeper parts of the Forest.

#possibly Danny/Bruce #spirit halloween ship #dc x dp #dp x dc #dpxdc #dc x dp prompt #dc x dp crossover #dp x dc prompt #dp x dc au

[tropinano]

List of As Many Fiction Podcasts As I Could Think Of

NOT ORGANIZED! This is a big list of fiction podcasts with no descriptions, meant for the sole purpose of picking one based on the title and just trying it out. Just a big ol' list of titles. Kindof like a blind date! Explore a couple of the ones that intrigue you and come back later for more.

The Hotel

The Night Post

I am in Eskew

Whisperling

Residents of Proserpina Park

The Daedalus Compound

EOS10

The Magnus Archives

Francis Forever

SMILE GROVE

Janus Descending

The Godfrey Audio Guide

Old Gods of Appalachia

Camp Here & There

The Way We Haunt Now

Jack of All Trades

SUPERSUITS

Illuminati Interns

Death by Dying

Life with Leo(h)

Hello from the Hallowoods

Malevolent

The 12:37

Spirit Box Radio

Lost Terminal

Desperado

Neighbourly

The Switchboard

The Mistholme Museum of Mystery, Morbidity and Mortality

Aurora Everlasting

The Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society

CARAVAN

The Amelia Project

Jar of Rebuke

Monstrous Agonies

Where the Stars Fell

Kisses In The Dark

The Town Whispers

Uncommon Commons

The Author's Anathema

Elevator Pitch

Brimstone Valley Mall

Kane & Feels

Middle:Below

The McIlwraith Statements

Caledonian Gothic

I have seen Niagara

Petrified

In Darkness Vast

The Outside Tapes

Seren

Gather the Suspects

This Foul Earth

John from Home

Glasgow Ghost Stories

The Tower

The Antique Shop

either

Tales from Aletheian Society

The Secret of St Kilda

The Green Horizon

Road X

THE NOWHERE MALL

Seven of Hearts

The Department of Variance of Somewhere, Ohio

SubverCity Transmit

The Nuclear Solution

Inkwyrm

Jim Robbie and the Wanderers

Burst

With Caulk and Candles

This Planet Needs a Name

The Glass Appeal

Mar's Best Brisket

Nym's Nebulous Notions

Midnight Radio

The Bright Sessions

When Angels Visit Armadillo

The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie's Botanarium

Nowhere, On Air

Dark Ages

Welcome to Night Vale

The Silt Verses

Care & Feeding of Werewolves

The Bridge

The Far Meridian

ars PARADOXICA

Among the Stars and Bones

Counterbalance

Primordial Deep

Hannahpocalypse

Someone dies in this Elevator

Mabel

Seen and Not Heard

Abyss FM

Bodies in Space

Among the Stacks

Station Arcadia

Station Blue

Mnemosyne

Wolf 359

Tranthologies

Mx Bad Luck

SAYER

Limetown

What will be here?

Wake of Corrosion

The Pasithea Powder

SINKHOLE

Tell No Tales

The Vesta Clinic

Dreamboy

Georgie Romero is Done For

The Domestic Life of Anthony Todd

Alice isn't Dead

Stellar Firma

Unwell

The Strange Case of Starship Iris

The Heart of Ether

The Orbiting Human Circus

Wooden Overcoats

Greater Boston

Valence

Moonbase Theta Out

The Penumbra Podcast

Desert Skies

Deviser

Leaving Corvat

Red Valley

Back Again Back Again

Sidequesting

#camp here & there #chnt #tma #wtnv #ch&t #welcome to night vale #indie podcast #podcast reccomendation #the penumbra podcast #the hotel #the night post #hello from the hallowoods #old gods of appalachia #i am in eskew #podcasts #audio fiction

[redshift-13]

It is a rocky, stormy, and wild coast, one that everywhere reveals nature at its most spectacular. There are the redwood groves of Northern California, the raging rivers of Southern Oregon, the Rogue Basin, and the Umpqua forest. There is the mouth of the Columbia River, with its huge waves and foaming breakers, where ocean currents and tides collide with the deadly bars. In Washington State, there are the breathtaking sea stacks of the Olympic National Park, the Hoh River, and Quinault River valleys. Also in the park are towering fir, cedar, and spruce trees draped in ghostly mosses. Then comes an inland sea, the Salish Sea, shared by Washington and British Columbia, where snow-laden mountains — the ten-thousand-foot Mt Baker and the eight-thousand-foot Mt Olympus — shelter idyllic islands whose waters are home to the last of the southern orcas.

#old growth forest #temperate rainforest #tongass national forest #redwoods #west coast #b.c. #california #oregon #alaska

[viennacherries]

Hiya!! I finished Kiss the Cook a little bit ago and loved it!!! Your writing has such good pacing to it, I really enjoyed reading it!

I also have a request, if you're interested: Rolan (or Gale tbh, works with any spellcaster) is in the middle of casting a spell but Tav/reader wants to tease him so they either 1, pin his hands together so he can't do somatic components, or 2, stick their fingers in his mouth to keep him from doing verbal components. This ofc leads to some nsfw shenanigans lmao

(My ao3 is Nightreader13)

Hope you're having an amazing day, and tysm for making such wonderful content, love ya 💜💜

tried to post it as a gift but it didn't let me! sorry about that.

this got away from me a bit but i hope you still like it! as requested: fingers in mouth to shut up a spellcaster. rolan/tav because i have brainworms.

thank you for the lovely message and prompt and for enjoying my writing! hope u love it <3

read on ao3 here

~~~

Summary:

NSFW, Rolan/Tav

"His hands curl into somatic shapes by his sides, and you realise he's speaking the incantation for Ice Storm. You're both backed into a corner like fish in a barrel, if he lets the spell loose you know you're done for.

You don't think. You shove your fingers into his mouth."

~~~

Rolan's temper lands you both in an alleyway, hiding from Flaming Fists, and you do what you have to in the name of shutting him up. In the end, neither of you stay very quiet.

~~~

Rolan has a fierce temper, when it comes down to it.

It surprises you somewhat, after seeing how he let Lorroaken walk all over him. Sure, he'd backed you and Aylin up when it mattered, but it had taken weeks for all of the bruises from the previous 'master of the tower' to heal. Though, you suppose you saw hints of it at Last Light, when Cal and Lia were missing.

It has its uses, admittedly. When you were ambushed by Bhaal worshippers in Bloomridge Park, and an innocent woman was struck down by one of them, his subsequent attacks were absolutely devastating. You could've stood back and left him to it, and he would've more than managed.

The fact he looks rather pretty when he's angry is an additional bonus; all tense muscles and sharp breaths. You blame your physical reaction to watching him fight on the fact he's the first male tiefling you've been around for an extended period in years. Your stupid infernal hindbrain had been telling you to bed him since he first raised his voice in front of you at the Grove.

Unfortunately, his temper has its downsides too. Like right now, for instance.

The two of you split from the group to search for Mol, who still hasn't turned up after being snatched from the inn in the Shadow-Cursed lands. Pairs made the most sense; more discreet than the whole troupe travelling together while still ensuring everyone had back up. Astarion had smirked when suggested you and Rolan pair up, arguing it looked less suspicious if the tieflings travelled together.

"If anyone asks, you can pretend you're lovers," he'd chortled. "Oh! And if you need to hide you can stuff yourselves into an alley and-".

You had elected not to let him finish that sentence, dragging Rolan away from camp before he had a chance to protest.

It had actually been reasonably pleasant. Despite initial impressions, Rolan is rather delightful company. Sure, he's still a dick, and nearly every other sentence that comes out of his mouth is an insult, but that just makes things more interesting. You'd found you were actually enjoying spending time with him.

Well. You had been. Until now.

It was your fault. You were distracted. He'd laughed at something you said, and you were busy looking at him. You could see a peek of his canines as he threw his head back, and the movement had pronounced the sharp line of his jaw and the muscle in his neck. You'd been so struck with the sight, and the awful realisation that you were actually starting to become attracted to him, that you'd smacked straight into the chest of a Flaming Fist.

"Oi! Devilspawn! Watch your fucking step!"

The man's voice was laced with malice. It's been years since you've been to Baldur's Gate, and it seems in your absence the city has become remarkably less tolerable. You suppose it's something to do with Elturel's descent, but the casually thrown slur stung either way.

"Sorry," you'd averted your gaze in a display of faux meekness. Usually you'd have him out on his arse for talking to you that way, but the streets are crowded and full of Fists. It's not worth the hassle. "Won't happen again, Manip."

"You sure as shit better hope it doesn't, or I'll put you and your Hellspawn boyfriend in the ground where you belong." He sneered around every word, flitting his eyes between you and Rolan. "Fucking foulblooded freak."

You'd grit your teeth, and started to nod, but just as the mercenary was about to step away Rolan had piped up.

"What the fuck did you call her? Watch your fucking mouth, Nul'zereb."

And now you're here. Next to a seething Rolan, in front of a Flaming Fist Sergeant, being slowly surrounded by other Fists as they take note of the commotion.

You raise your hands up in front of you defensively, "easy, please, he didn't mean it. We've had a long journey and-"

Rolan scoffs, seemingly intent on digging his own grave. "Bullshit , I meant every fucking word. They call us Foulbloods but these imbeciles probably can't tell a shit from a stew."

You shoot him a glare, but he doesn't look at you. Clearly he plans on dealing with this the hard way. Idiot. You feel your core twist. He's going to get you killed, for sure, but the fact he's willing to fight a crowd of people because they insulted you is unfairly attractive. Stupid. Dangerous. But really fucking attractive.

"You cheeky demon bastard!" The Fist shouts at him, and yep, the hard way it is. "I'll fucking flay you!"

Rolan is shouting back now, and his tail whips around violently behind him in a display of his mounting rage. "I'd like to see you try, you spoon-eared piece of-"

Okay, yep, that's more than enough of that.

You grab his wrist and utter the incantation for Dimension Door as quickly as you can manage, teleporting the both of you out of reach of the group of mercenaries surrounding you. As soon as your feet hit solid ground again you break into a sprint, dragging Rolan with you as he makes an indignant noise behind you. You hear the group shout, and the thunder of footsteps on the pavement as they pursue you.

Luckily, clad in robes compared to their metal plating, you and Rolan are quicker. You drag him through a few side streets, and then at the last minute you duck into an alleyway. It's a tight squeeze, but it's better than nothing.

You hiss your admonishments through your teeth at him in an attempt to keep your volume down. "What the fuck were you thinking, Rolan? I thought wizards were meant to be smart! You almost got us fucking killed!"

His eyes widen in shock, and he hisses through his teeth back at you as he argues. "Are you joking? What was I doing? You're the one that fucking walked into him! Besides, did you hear what he fucking called you? I can't believe you just-"

"Shut up!" He's raising his voice with every word and you have no idea how close behind you they are. "Of course I heard, but the middle of the street isn't the ideal spot to pick a fight with a group of Flaming Fists! They would've fucking flattened us!"

He scoffs, "as if, I fucking had them."

"Oh sure , sorry, I forgot how great and mighty you are. You obviously could've taken on a crowd of twelve blokes with military training."

He grits his teeth, "I still will if they fucking find us, what sort of hiding place is this anyway? If they spot us we're fucking cornered."

"You didn't give me much choice, did you? It's better this than-"

You cut yourself off at the sound of footsteps in the street. Rolan opens his mouth to say something but you place a finger over his lips to shush him. His mouth clamps shut reluctantly.

You can feel your heart beating in your ears as the footsteps get closer. They're right within earshot now, the slightest noise will alert them to where you are. You hold your breath.

Six of the Flaming Fists round the corner, and suddenly you're peering at them from the alley perpendicular to the street they stand in, barely 10ft away. You're shrouded by darkness, but if one of them happens to look this way carefully you're sure you'll be spotted. You daren't move.

You hear muttering and turn to look at Rolan, and you realise he's preparing a spell. His hands curl into somatic shapes by his sides, and you realise he's speaking the incantation for Ice Storm. You're both backed into a corner like fish in a barrel, if he lets the spell loose you know you're done for.

You don't think. You shove your fingers into his mouth.

His head whips back around to look at you, eyes wide in shock and anger. It suddenly dawns on you that. Well. You've got your fingers in his mouth. Three of them.

Not the most elegant solution to a problem you've come up with, that's for sure. But hey, it works.

He tries to draw back to free himself, and you can tell from his eyes that he's absolutely seething, but you can't risk him speaking and alerting the guards. You press your fingers down on his tongue and push them further into his mouth. His head backs into the wall, leaving him nowhere to go, and he writhes around the digits in his mouth. You press a little deeper. He makes a quiet, strangled noise in the back of his throat, before he finally resigns himself to his fate.

You stare back out of the mouth of the alley. The mercenaries are still there, pacing through the side-streets searching for you, but they haven't spotted you yet. After a few moments, they're all out of view, and you hear their voices disappear into the distance.

As soon as you can't hear them anymore, you let out a sigh of relief.

It's at this point you remember rather suddenly that your fingers are, in fact, buried in Rolan's throat.

You turn back to look at him.

He still looks angry, absolutely. But his eyes are softer around the edges, a little glazed over, and his tail whips around wildly where it's pinned behind him. He's panting a little around the digits, and you realise there's a weight against your thigh that wasn't there before. You raise your eyebrows and smirk.

"Is that a quarterstaff in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

He scowls, and makes a noise as if he's trying to speak, but you press down a little harder on his tongue and it turns into a whine.

This is an interesting development. Not an unwelcome one, but definitely unexpected.

You feel the smirk on your face widen, "you know," you say, as if you're pondering something, "you're much less annoying with your mouth occupied."

He scowls, but his breathing harshens. You grin.

"This is the problem with wizards," you know you're goading him, but you can't help yourself. Your hindbrain has kicked in, and he's right where it wants him. "They're all talk, aren't they? Take away your hands or mouth and what are you? You couldn't even cast a simple cantrip right now, could you?"

He makes a noise like a growl, and you can feel yourself rapidly approaching the point of no return, but you're finding it hard to care with his length pushed rock hard against your leg. You push your weight against it experimentally, and he whines around your fingers.

"Gods, you make some pretty noises. You look fucking delicious when you're angry, you know that? Defending my honour in front of all those people, spitting infernal curses at them. You wanna be the only one who talks to me like that, huh?"

His eyes are locked on yours, and he hesitates.

"Go on, now, tell me the truth."

There's another brief moment of pause before he shuts his eyes and nods.

"Good boy." He groans at that, and the noise sends heat rushing to your core. "Maybe you'll get a chance, but not til I'm done with you. Wanted to fuck you since I heard your petulant grousing in the Grove, I'm gonna fucking enjoy this."

He's writhing against you now, seeking pressure against his erection, but you pull back enough that he can only brush against you. The noise he lets out is pitiful.

"Shit, Rolan. You look lovely like this. Mouth wrapped around my fingers, all needy and desperate underneath me. Suck my fingers, show me how much you want this."

He responds instantly, hollowing his cheeks around you and stroking the length of your fingers with his tongue. You moan at the feeling. His mouth is hot and warm and his tongue is enthusiastic in its movements. Your noise seems to spur him on, and his eyes roll into the back of his head as he closes them, redoubling his efforts as he works your digits. You can feel slick pooling in your small-clothes.

You adjust your stance, rearranging your bodies so that his cock is rubbing against you between your thighs. The friction is delicious, but not enough between all the layers of clothing you're both wearing. Even so, he still moans as you grind into him.

Undoing the clasps of his robes is difficult with just your non-dominant hand, but eventually you free him from the confines of his robe and undergarments, gripping his cock in your fist. The noise he makes is completely lecherous, and it has you tightening your grip and twisting your wrist on the upstroke. He's not sucking your fingers anymore, just moaning around them, but it doesn't matter. He sounds fucking obscene and you're completely addicted as you wrench every lewd noise you can from him.

He's grabbing at your own robes now, trying to undo them, but he's struggling between the movement of your hand on his cock and the distraction of your fingers on his tongue. You pull your hand from his mouth, and the minute you do he groans and pulls you into a bruising kiss. It's feral and uncoordinated, both of your hindbrain's completely running the show now, overcome with the need to rut into one another. You release your grip on his cock to give him better access to your own robes.

He makes quick work of them, pushing them out of the way and pulling your small-clothes to the side to rub his cock against your slit. You both groan, and you lean backwards into the wall behind you as you hoist a leg up to plant it on the wall opposite.

He leans into your ear, hissing in a low tone that has your walls fluttering, and you bring your hands up to clutch at his chest. "Is this why you really dragged us down here? You're that desperate for my cock that you have to accost me in an alleyway? Fucking sorcerers. So full of yourself, when what you really need to be full of is a nice fat knot."

You moan wantonly and he groans against the shell of your ear, rubbing himself against your clit. The action has you keening.

"Gods, Tav, you're fucking dripping. Not sure you even deserve anything after pissing around like that earlier. Tell me how much you want my knot, maybe then I'll consider giving you it."

The logical part of your brain knows he's as desperate as you are, hard and heavy against your core, but the feral infernal instincts that have taken over would rather die than risk him stepping away without fucking you. The words spill from you easily without a second thought.

"I fucking need it, Rolan, need your fucking cock in me. Need you to bite me and mark me up while you split me open on your knot, need your cum inside me."

He teases his cock against your entrance, but he doesn't sink in. His words are breathless. "Yeah? Yeah you need it? Need my knot?"

You wail, "yes, fuck, please I fucking need it. Had me so wet, defending me like that, wanted to mount you then and there-".

The noise he makes is absolutely ruinous, and you moan back in answer. There is absolutely zero upper brain function going on in your skull anymore, you need him to fuck you into this wall right now or you might actually die.

He seems to feel the same, and slowly he eases his length into you. He buries his face into your neck and you wail and shudder as you feel the ridges on his cock drag against your walls with every inch he sinks further. By the time he's sheathed fully inside of you, his pelvis against yours, you're panting and writhing around him. His tail reaches around and wraps around yours, and they snake together in a tight coil.

He's shown remarkable restraint given the circumstances, sinking his cock into you slowly, but as soon as you clench your muscles around him his resolve snaps. He pulls his hips back and snaps them back into you, setting a brutal and rapid pace that has you sobbing. The angle, with your leg hoisted up, has every thrust hitting the soft spot inside your walls, and when you close your eyes at the sensation you swear you're seeing colours that don't exist, that's how intense and all-consuming the pleasure is.

He teases the soft skin at the base of your throat with his canines, and the sharp drag has you whining and baring your throat to him on impulse. It's pure instinct, your body begging for a mating bite, and he growls into your skin as he gives in to his own instincts and sinks his teeth into you.

The pain shoots through you like ice in your veins, but your mind and core sing . The pinch and sting is the perfect crescendo to the mounting pleasure, and with several shaky, panting moans you come undone around him, crying out as your whole body tremors. It's the most intense orgasm you've ever had, and your toes tingle as your release crashes over you.

He cries out, releasing his hold on your throat, and his hips stutter and pace falters as he chases after his own release. You feel his knot growing every time is catches against the rim of your cunt. Just as you start to cry at the feeling, half convinced it's going to rip you in half, he sinks it fully into you and it pulses and expands as he empties himself into you with a loud shout of pleasure. With every rope of hot spend he spills into you, his cock twitches hard into that perfect spot inside you, and without warning you're met with another orgasm which has you squeezing around him as he finishes. He groans at the feeling, low in his throat, and grinds himself into you as his cock finally gives its last, valiant pump of seed.

He groans into your neck, nosing his way up your throat and planting open mouthed kisses under your ear. You whine, and slowly lower your shaking leg back down to the floor. The change in position pushes his cock into you again, and you both grunt, overstimulated and spent. You stand there, locked together and panting for breath. He laves his tongue over the spot where he bit you, sucking a mark over it. The pain is almost too much, but the primitive part of you loves the feeling and you moan despite yourself.

There's silence after that. It stretches for a long moment as you both attempt to catch your breath, stuck together in the tight space of the alley with Rolan's knot keeping you tied together. When you speak, your voice comes out hoarse and blissed-out.

"I'm sorry for. You know. I didn't actually mean to, if you believe me."

He laughs into your throat, and rubs his nose into the pulse point under your ear in an uncharacteristically intimate gesture, "I'm not sure I do, but I'm not sure I particularly care anymore, to be frank."

You laugh too, "fair enough. I'd do it again, to be frank."

You both break down into warm, breathless laughter as you hold eachother. Slowly, you feel his knot shrink and he slides out of you. His spend gushes down your thighs, and he bends sideways to look, before moaning and throwing his head back against the wall behind him.

"That's absurdly hot. Fuck . You're lucky I just knotted you or I'd have you again right here."

You rub your thighs together, and whimper quietly, "I'd let you."

He moans again, "don't fucking say shit like that. That's not fair at all."

You shrug, "wasn't trying to be fair. If you don't like it, maybe you should do something about it."

He rolls his head forward to look at you, opening his eyes and levelling you with a hooded-eyed look that has your core pulsing. "Shut your mouth, or I'll have to shut it for you."

You shrug, then smirk. "I dare you."

In hindsight, you think Rolan was onto something earlier. Doing things the hard way is much more fun.

#bg3 #bg3 fanfiction #bg3 rolan #bg3 smut #bg3 fic #bg3 fanfic #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 fanfic prompt

[bloodlessbhaalbabe]

Pleading the Fifth

Rating: Explicit

Length: 10,059 Words

Summary:

A modern AU romance where Halsin is the CEO of "The Grove" and Astarion is his personal lawyer. They have been pining over one another secretly for years. Finally, they get a night where they are entirely alone at The Grove headquarters.

BIG , BIG THANKS TO @tatterings and @lotsofthinkythoughts FOR LETTING ME HOUND YOU WITH SMUT ALL THE TIME SO I COULD FINISH AND POST THIS

Posted on AO3 & Below:

With his forehead pressed against the darkened passenger window, the city lights of Fae Rûncisco were a distorted blur in the distance. The silent driver expertly navigated through the narrow, steep hills that converged on the shores of the harbor.

The passenger swirled the crystal glass in his hand, sending condensation cascading down the sides. It left a damp semi-circle on his freshly-pressed hemp trousers. The bitter liquid inside was still untouched. It was a prop, rather than a true drink; something to wrap his hands around when he didn’t know what to do with them. It also allowed him to blend in with his coworkers; and to be privy to discussions that otherwise might not occur without their guards being let down.

A soft squealing of brake pads announced their arrival at the ivy-covered tower. It loomed above him, obscuring his view of the starless night sky. The driver parked the car, flipped on the hazard lights, and unfastened his seatbelt. The passenger lifted his head from the window as the driver rounded to open his door.

“Shall I stay and wait for you, sir?” the driver asked, as the man stepped out of the car. The passenger threw his suit jacket over his shoulder and tossed his beverage into the bushes before turning to give his driver a soft smile.

“No, Rath, why don’t you head home to your wife?” he replied in a low voice, heavy with exhaustion. “I’ll catch up on some work and see you in the morning.”

“If you’re sure, sir? I don’t mind,” Rath replied.

The man bent to place the glass on the seat before patting down his pants pockets. He retrieved a small wad of bills and sifted through the first few to count, before shrugging and placing the entire stack in his driver’s hand.

“Treat her to some flowers and wine. Tell her I am sorry for pulling you away from your anniversary. It’s not your fault that I hate driving,” the passenger said. He stepped up to the curb. “The night is still young, Rath. If you need me to make accommodations for another driver in the morning, please let me know.”

“I will, sir. Nettie understands. T-Thank you, Mr. Woods. Have a good night,” the driver said with a stammer. Rath knew not to argue with his boss over any tip he was given, or at the insinuation of taking a day off. Despite it being a regular occurrence, it never ceased to surprise him that he worked for a man with so much power; let alone one who still treated every person with kindness and utmost respect.

“You as well,” replied Mr. Woods kindly, speaking over his shoulder and dismissing Rath with a wave ‘goodbye’. He pulled the retractable badge from his waist and pressed it against the scanner. The doors unlocked with a quiet click.

Mr. Woods strode past the elevator and pulled open the door to the stairwell. This was yet another dual-purpose habit of his: it was both the “greener”, energy efficient option, and it also gave him time to think. In his 10 years of owning the building, he had never run into anyone in the stairwells. He enjoyed the privacy they offered; it granted him time to run through the day ahead or get lost in his thoughts. He also enjoyed the health benefits of taking the stairs every day. He could have gotten away with indulging in the luxury of the lift, especially this late at night, but he preferred to not take the risk.

Thirty-six floors to the top. Seventy-two flights of stairs. The man, feeling the strain and heat from exertion, pulled at his bowtie and left it unraveled at his collar. He popped open the first few buttons of his powder white shirt and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, the fabric straining slightly over his muscles. His heart pounded in his ears as he continued, chest heaving with each flight.

Once he reached the top, he opened the door with a groan, kicking off his shoes and discarding his jacket on the floor. He released the elastic band that was wrapped around his hair, letting his auburn locks fall, and ran a hand through the damp strands.

As he approached his office, he noticed a light within; above a desk lamp, a dark figure leaned on his desk, both hands pressed against the top, examining something strewn over the surface. He crept closer, and leaned against the doorframe, which creaked under the pressure of the large man.

He flicked on the overhead lights. The now-illuminated figure jumped backwards, gasping, startled by the sudden company. The large man met his gaze. A smirk danced across his face as his intruder’s green eyes blinked in the sudden light. The larger man crossed his arms and bit his lip to suppress a laugh. He enjoyed seeing his typically-composed lawyer all flustered. It was an interesting change of pace from their usual friendly, sometimes flirty, professional banter.

“By the gods, Mr. Woods, you nearly sent me to an early grave,” the man cried, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “What are you even doing here? I thought you had a fundraiser tonight?”

“You know me. Last one to show up and the first to leave, but I could be asking you the same question, Astarion. You are in my office,” he replied, nodding toward the nameplate on the door.

Astarion closed the manila folder that he had been studying, and stacked the documents into an orderly pile. “Something urgent came up. I was preparing everything for next week for our meeting, but since you’re here–”

“If it wasn't urgent enough to bring up tonight, then it can wait until Monday.”

“Mr. Woods–”

“Halsin.”

“I– Halsin, please–”

Halsin smiled, his eyes glittered mischievously. They had known each other for years. Astarion knew almost everything about Halsin, but Astarion didn’t speak much about his personal life. Whenever Halsin talked about his own interests, he would only get a sneak peek into who Astarion was outside of work. He genuinely liked Astarion. He appreciated the work ethic and passion of his lawyer, but he desperately wanted to know more about him. More than just what they had in common.

“Have a drink with me, Astarion,” Halsin said, cocking his head to the side.

Astarion opened and closed his mouth. His mind reeled for any valid excuse to bring them back to the topic at hand, but he knew that Halsin didn’t work off-hours and to argue would be pointless.

Taking the man’s silence as a “yes”, Halsin pushed from the doorframe and stepped into the room, padding over to his desk. He reached beside Astarion to open his lower desk drawer. He retrieved two thin-rimmed glasses and an unlabeled bottle from the back, and nestled them in the crook of his arm. He used his foot to shut the drawer; it rattled closed with a bang.

“Follow me,” Halsin winked and nodded toward the door. He had a smile that traveled all the way up to his eyes. Astarion rolled his eyes before returning the smile.

Astarion wasn’t sure what to expect from this. It wasn’t common for clients to want to spend time with him outside of normal business hours. But he knew that Halsin was anything but common. He wasn’t like any of the other white collar folks he represented or with whom he begrudgingly associated.

Astarion had laughed more in his meetings with Halsin than any other client, or really, any other person. They often found themselves deep in an elongated tangent that stemmed from a forgotten work-related topic. Seeing Halsin every week had been something to look forward to and, despite it toeing the line of professionalism, it was nice to have a friend.

Halsin slipped by Astarion and sauntered out of the office. Astarion followed closely behind Halsin as he made his way over to the stairwell. They stepped over the remnants of Halsin’s outfit on the floor, and walked up one more flight of stairs to the roof.

The evening air was warm and comfortable; with a light breeze that tousled Astarion’s soft, white curls. The majority of the surface area of the roof was covered in a dense clover lawn. When Halsin created The Grove and bought the company tower all those years ago, he had a vision for the architectural design of the facility. He wanted a mini-oasis into which he could retreat during the hardest work days. On the roof, much like in the deserted stairwell, he found himself in solitude, and lost in thought.

The pergolas had dense, green mosquito netting on each side, with entrances that could be opened or shut for privacy. Thick vines of ivy traveled up from the side of the building itself, and trailed onto the wooden planks of the pergolas’ tops, offering protection to the plush furniture inside.

Astarion sucked in a deep breath as he observed his surroundings: the darkened street below, and then out to the harbor beyond. Living in the city was convenient for his job, but the rooftop reminded him of all the color there was in the world. He lost track of the last time he spent a day outside the dull concrete towers he frequented. He tended to forget how much he missed the simplicity of fresh air.

“So, why did you leave the party early?” Astarion prompted, turning around to push the draped netting aside and stepping into the pergola. He watched Halsin with interest as the man prepared their drinks. He waltzed over to where Halsin sat, running his elegant fingers through his white curls.

“Have a taste first, and let me know what you think,” Halsin replied, pulling an annoyed sigh from Astarion. Halsin popped open the bottle and filled the glasses with the drink from the decanter. It sparkled in the thin-rimmed glass as Halsin handed the drink to the lawyer. Astarion nodded in thanks as he gingerly plucked the glass from Hasin’s hand.The larger man clinked their glasses together and took a large sip, smacking his lips at the sweet, tart flavor.

“You really are avoidant tonight, you know,” Astarion said. He obliged regardless, pulling in a mouthful of the bubbly drink and letting it swirl around his mouth before swallowing. His eyebrows raised as he pursed his lips in pleasant surprise. He hummed with appreciation. “This is… delightful! Refreshing even.”

“Thank you,” Halsin said enthusiastically, a smile tugging at his cheeks, “I made it myself. It’s hard honey cider made from homegrown Ashmead Kernel apples. I imported seedlings from The High Forest near the village I grew up in. It took me four years to gather just thirty apples to create this single bottle of cider. Well, this and a taster jar of course.”

Astarion let out a laugh, shaking his head. He always found himself impressed with Halsin; the man’s dogged determination allowed him to succeed in nearly every field in which he’d dared to explore. “Darling, is there anything you can’t do?”

“Feign interest in the lives of the mundane elites,” he replied honestly, tossing back his glass, and leaning forward to fill it again. Halsin did not notice the raised eyebrows of his companion. He pressed his back into the couch and fidgeted with his hands, his fingernails clicking away at the rim of the glass.

Astarion pushed aside one of Halsin’s legs from the sectional and plopped down adjacent to him. His movements jostled Halsin’s arm, causing rivulets of cider to spill over the edge of his cup and drip down Halsin’s arm. Halsin shook his head and lapped up the sticky liquid with his tongue.

“It truly must be hard being the most interesting man in the room,” Astarion joked, making Halsin snort incredulously. He leaned onto his side, peering over at his boss with an open palm pressed to the side of his head.

From this high up, they could barely hear the sounds of the cars driving below. Only a gust of wind rustling the netting and ivy leaves around them disturbed the quiet air.

Tufts of Halsin’s hair fell in front of his face. Astarion’s grip on his glass tightened, as he fought the urge to tuck it behind his boss’ ear. He felt his concentration waning as he blinked up at Halsin, admiring his chiseled jaw, the scars on his forehead, his broad barreled chest, and his fitted clothes stretched to their limits. Astarion’s mind often drifted in his presence.

“That is the unfortunate side of it. The party wasn’t about what I am capable of doing, or what my passions are. No one asks about the purpose of the fundraiser. No one cares. It’s superficial. It’s only about what their money can buy them, so it can directly benefit themselves,” Halsin ranted, releasing a heavy sigh. His shoulders sagged as he finished his drink. “Societies should be judged based on how they treat their most vulnerable. And I feel foolish for even complaining because now…. I’ve become a part of the problem too.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better I care about you…and I get to reap the benefits of your passions,” Astarion replied with a warm smile, clinking his glass against Halsin’s once more. Halsin leaned closer to Astarion, dropping his voice to a low grumble. He could smell his bergamot cologne dabbed behind his ears.

“But I am paying you to be here, Astarion,” he retorted, placing his empty glass on the table.

“Not right now. I’m paid by the hour and you declined my offer to discuss business. So, I suppose…I am here as a friend,” Astarion stated matter-of-factly. His curls bounced with each word as he dramatically fluttered his hand in dismissal.

Halsin smiled and let out a soft chuckle. He deeply admired the man in front of him. He was grateful that the majority of the politics weren’t on his plate and he had someone who understood the ins and outs of legalese. Halsin was only supposed to be a climate scientist, after all.

In return for his services, Halsin paid Astarion handsomely. After a while, Astarion even declined the offer of excess funds, inspired by Halsin’s kindness and his belief that it would be best spent elsewhere. Halsin decided to place those funds in a separate account and donated it to a charitable cause under his friend’s name instead.

Halsin did not know when this fondness for him bloomed. Somewhere between the hours spent locked in one of The Grove’s meeting rooms or up on the rooftop, he found himself lost while watching Astarion. Halsin hyper-fixated on Astarion’s plump, pink lips . Or he imagined himself in the lawyer’s lap, undoing the buttons of his shirt. His inattention likely frustrated Astarion to no end, as the lawyer had to repeat himself constantly.

Halsin could brush it off as a crush… if it had only been an attraction for his beautiful face. But there was so much more to Astarion. He was the only person who genuinely made Halsin laugh. He had a subtle kindness which he demonstrated through small, significant gifts; he always procured a large, steaming cup of Halsin’s favorite tea whenever they met, or sent him articles he thought Halsin would find interesting. They shared interest in the same sorts of books, and often read them at the same time so they could have a discussion about them.

When it came to work, Astarion, outside of actual business needs, had always made his counsel available for no charge; Halsin was sure that he had other clients who would pay top-dollar for his advice. He often found his stomach in knots when thinking about what he shared with Astarion, and he battled with himself on whether to ask if his lawyer was interested in sharing more. He felt silly, like a highschool crush, wondering if Astarion had a significant other; the man had always managed to be more reserved about his personal life, despite their many years of friendship and working together. Halsin was surprised to realize how little he knew about Astarion, despite feeling like he knew the man intimately well.

Astarion downed his drink and placed it on the table. He licked his lips to taste the lingering tartness and turned back to Halsin.

“What did you mean when you said you were foolish for complaining? That you are a part of the problem,” Astarion asked, pulling Halsin back into reality. Halsin met his gaze, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

“Am I not just another billionaire who says earnestly that ‘money can’t buy you happiness?’ I could have everything I ever wanted, and I do, yet it is still not enough. I am not doing enough. I am furthering the cycle of using money to satisfy the people who don’t deserve it…on blind faith that they will actually let me do something good with their donations.” Halsin dragged a hand through his long, auburn locks and then down his face. “I wasn’t supposed to be here, Astarion. I am so lucky to have experienced all of this, and yet I don’t want any of it. It feels wrong to live so lavishly when there are so many people still suffering.”

“You are foolish,” Astarion replied, giving in to his urge, and tucking that piece of hair behind Halsin’s ear. His hand lingered against his cheek. “ But only in the sense that you are selfless to a fault. You have lost sight of all of the good you have done in the world. When your uncle’s fracking drill blew up, which you played no part in, who paid for the entire clean up and conservation of the ocean? Who dismantled the company that made it happen? Who donates their entire paycheck each month to local shelters, foster families, and addiction clinics? Who completely rebuilt the filtration system for an entire city when their water supply was spoiled?”

Halsin rolled his eyes and looked away bashfully. A blush crept across his cheeks. He never expected praise when it came to the things he did. All he ever wanted to do was make a positive impact on the world. It seemed like he was constantly making up for the consequences of other people’s actions and it was disheartening.

Astarion cupped Halsin’s jaw, forcing him to meet his gaze. Halsin’s eyes widened and sucked in a quick breath. Astarion shook his head and smiled softly.

“Halsin, no one else cares but you. The love you have for the world and its inhabitants has impacted hundreds of thousands of people. Somehow you’re one of the rare few that hasn’t been corrupted by power and money, and even better, you despise it. You are kind and considerate. You are passionate and loving. You are thoughtful and creative. You are humble and so beautiful. You are unmatched, beyond comparison.”

Astarion paused. He was closer to Halsin than he had ever been before. His eyes trailed down from his eyes to his lips, watching as Halsin dragged his tongue over it. Halsin swallowed, his mouth watered and his chest heaved at Astarion’s proximity, his heart pounding in his ears.

Astarion glanced up to meet Halsin’s eyes only to find them cast down at his own lips.

Caught up in his whirl of emotions, he pulled Halsin into a kiss. Halsin moaned in surprise and melted into his embrace, immediately returning the kiss.

Halsin’s hand grabbed at the lawyer’s shirt to pull him closer. Astarion pulled away first, breath catching in his throat, lips red and plump. He looked at Halsin as if waiting for him to move away, but his hands stayed wrapped up in the collar of his shirt.

“Sorry, I–... I didn’t mean–” Astarion whispered.

“No, I-I want this,” Halsin panted, tightening his grip on the collar of Astarion’s shirt, ���I want you.”

Astarion blinked in surprise. They flirted from time to time, but he didn’t think that Halsin had thought anything of it. He wasn’t one to question anyone’s sexuality. He was almost positive that Halsin knew about his preferences, but it amazed him to think that Halsin was interested in him too. Without a second thought, Astarion removed his glasses, set them on the table, and moved to straddle Halsin’s lap.

Halsin’s chest heaved, feeling a little lightheaded and momentarily flabbergasted that the sole object of his desire for the past few years actually wanted him too. He no longer had to imagine what it would be like to touch him. To be able to feel his muscles under his fingers and press the smaller man against him. He felt himself harden in anticipation.

Astarion reveled in the way Halsin’s strong hands slid down his back and squeezed his thighs. Halsin leaned up and pressed his lips against Astarion’s jaw, tongue and mouth working their way toward his ear and then his neck. A shiver ran down his spine as Halsin moved to the other side of his neck; it made his cock twitch and swell in his trousers.

Astarion wrapped his arms around the larger man’s neck and pulled him into another kiss, nipping at his lip. Halsin opened his mouth and let their tongues explore. Desire pooled at the base of Halsin’s stomach and settled into his groin. Halsin spread his legs and leaned further back into the couch.

His hands gripped onto the lawyer’s shirt and untucked it from his pants, letting his fingers graze across sensitive skin. Astarion pressed himself down into Halsin and rolled his hips, feeling the larger man’s excitement growing between his legs. Halsin groaned into Astarion’s mouth and pushed against him. His fingers unfastened the buttons revealing silky, pale skin. Halsin peppered kisses from his sternum down, as Astarion worked around him to unclasp his lover’s shirt.

Halsin looked up at Astarion, his pupils blown out with desire as Astarion cradled Halsin’s face in his hands smiling through his heavy breaths. “I am hesitant to admit how often I let my mind wander when it came to the possibility of being with you,” he said. “I didn’t know you thought of me that way and I never wanted to press in case I was wrong.”

“And to think we could have done this months ago,” Astarion laughed softly. He leaned back and watched as Halsin’s eyes trailed up and down his body as though he wanted to etch the image of him into his mind forever.

“If I may, Astarion, you are stunning. You are a masterpiece. Carved with delicate hands. I could write sonnets about your beauty.”

Astarion blushed a rich shade of red. He huffed out a laugh, smiling sheepishly. “Mr. Woods, with the way you’re behaving, I have a feeling you have a whole litany of poems written about me already.”

“It’s not the minutes I am writing when I am in meetings with you,” Halsin smiled and unbuckled Astarion’s belt, pulling it from the loops and tossing it on the floor. He pressed his palm up against Astarion’s clothed length, and admired Astarion’s mouth as it dropped open. The lawyer’s small gasps turned into moans, falling from his beautiful, bruised lips, as Halsin stroked him through his slacks.

Halsin’s eager fingers unbuttoned his trousers and pulled down the zipper, sliding his hand below the waistband. He wrapped his large hand around Astarion’s aching erection, pulling it free from its prison. Astarion sat up and pushed down his pants to his thighs before perching back on Halsin’s lap. Halsin rubbed a thumb over Astarion’s slit, pre-cum spreading around the sensitive head and down his shaft.

He slowly pumped his hand up and down Astarion’s length, watching as the man above him twitched and gasped with each pull. Astarion was not lacking in length in the slightest, despite Halsin’s hand nearly covering the entirety of his shaft. He felt enveloped with each tug, squeeze, and twist. Astarion captured Halsin’s mouth with his, parting his lips, tasting the sweet honey cider that lingered on his tongue. His hand gripped at the long hair on the back of Halsin’s head, his hips slowly rocking against the larger man’s calloused fingers.

Astarion’s hands relinquished their grasp and slid down Halsin’s hairy chest, stopping only for a moment to tease his taut nipples. Halsin moaned into his mouth as he continued down and unfastened Halsin’s trousers. Astarion paused for a moment as Halsin twisted his wrist on the head of his cock, sending chills down his spine, shuddering through the movements.

Astarion pulled away from his lips and pressed his knees into the couch on either side of Halsin’s thighs.

“Come on, Halsin, don’t be shy,” Astarion said feverishly. His hands gripped the waistline of Halsin’s pants.

Halsin lifted up his rear from the couch for a moment as Astarion yanked down the other man’s slacks. Halsin’s engorged cock slid from his underwear and hit him in the stomach with a slap. Halsin hissed at the contact and brought his hand up to grasp around his girth, while still squeezing Astarion with his other.

Astarion gulped at the sight. He knew Halsin was big. There’s no way a man of his stature wouldn’t be supporting something significant below the belt. But Astarion’s thoughts were not as generous as they should have been. Halsin was massive, a couple inches longer and girthier than his own, and just as tan as the rest of him. At the base, Halsin’s hair gathered, curly and unkempt.

He watched as Halsin stroked a heavy hand up his shaft, his foreskin languidly rising over his head and then pulled taut on the downstroke. He caught Halsin’s eyes trailing from their swollen arousals and up until he met his gaze. Halsin released the hand wrapped around Astarion, making him whimper in protest, and raised it to his lips.

“Spit,” he demanded. Astarion’s cock twitched at the command. His mouth was already involuntarily watering.

Astarion obediently collected his saliva and pushed it out into Halsin’s hand. Halsin’s hand fell back down and coated both of their members with Astarion’s spit, mixing in the drops of pre-cum. Astarion shifted his hips forward. Halsin wrapped both of his large hands around their lengths and pressed them together, making Astarion buck in response. Astarion slowly started to thrust within his hands, the pressure and warmth from Halsin underneath him making his head fall back. He felt the older man’s eyes on him, enjoying the beauty of his lover using him to please himself.

“Gods, Halsin,” Astarion moaned breathily. He rested his head against Halsin’s shoulder and reached underneath his lover’s hands, pulling and massaging their balls. Halsin grunted as his hips jolted, tightening his grip on their cocks. Their heads messily slid over the other as Astarion continued to rut and tug, his lips pressed against Halsin’s neck, his teeth biting down softly, sucking on his tender flesh. “H-Halsin… so close… I’m…”

“Wait,” Halsin commanded, he felt his breath catch in his throat, almost stopping himself from acting on his deepest desires. Astarion could feel the pressure building inside of him, his skin flushed with a thin sheen of sweat. “Stand up. Let me taste you.”

It took everything in Astarion to push himself away from Halsin and stand up onto his jellied legs. Halsin leaned forward to the edge of the couch and looked up at Astarion, nearly drooling at the view of his lover touching himself. His mouth fell open hungrily and Astarion stepped closer, sliding his member along the larger man’s tongue.

Astarion caressed Halsin’s cheeks with his thumb. He hadn’t expected Halsin to be so eager and submissive for him. There was a side of Astarion that still respected him as his superior and he didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. Although I think we’re long past that, Astarion mused. He was intrigued by this dynamic switch and was pleasantly surprised that there was still plenty that he didn't know about Halsin. Astarion had always imagined that he would be the one in between his thighs tasting him, but this was better. He enjoyed the power and control: to look down at Halsin, his boss, with his cock resting on his tongue. He saw only excitement and bliss; like Halsin’s entire being desired to worship him.

Halsin grabbed Astarion’s hands and placed them on either side of his head. He smiled around Astarion’s cock as the younger man grabbed a handfuls of his hair. Halsin wrapped his lips tightly around his lover’s length and bobbed his head from tip to base, gagging as it pressed against the back of his throat. He closed his eyes and reveled in the sweet, salty flavor of Astarion, moaning to himself. One hand pulled at his own leaking member; his other gripped firmly around Astarion’s hip.

“Look at me, Halsin,” Astarion growled through gritted teeth. Halsin’s eyes shot open and he gazed up in awe at Astarion. He had seen how poignant and dynamic the lawyer was in their meetings; the way he convinced and captivated any one who dared to rebuttal him.

But, he had never been on the receiving end of that power. Astarion never demanded anything from him and respected his decisions. Halsin felt his heart leap in his chest at the ferocity in his voice, desperate to please him, to be at his beck and call.

“Good boy,” Astarion said as he thrusted into Halsin’s mouth.

He watched Halsin take his entire length, enjoying every second. He enjoyed every lap of the larger man’s tongue against his cock. Halsin’s hand erratically pumped his own cock below, sending the vibrations of his moans into Astarion’s shaft as he fucked his mouth. Astarion could feel the little puffs of breaths from Halsin’s nose tickling the short hairs at the base. He could barely hold himself back as he admired Halsin’s pretty little mouth wrapped around his shaft. Astarion’s chest heaved as he felt the pressure build as he grew closer to climax.

“Fuck, Halsin… I-I… I’m…” Astarion stammered, out of breath. He leaned forward and shuddered, spilling his load down Halsin’s throat, who eagerly swallowed his thick bands of cum. Astarion could feel Halsin’s throat closing with each burst he released; Halsin’s tongue swirled around the head of his cock, savoring the taste. Astarion’s hand drifted to cup Halsin’s jaw as he slid in and out of his pliant mouth, slowly riding through his orgasm.

Moments later, Halsin made a choking noise, his hand twisting and pulling at his arousal, his eyes rolled back into his head. Halsin’s nails dug into Astarion’s hip. His shoulders shook and his seed spilled all over his hand and on the floor. Halsin huffed and groaned around Astarion’s cock, shivers rolling through him.

Astarion pulled himself out of Halsin’s mouth. Halsin let out a sigh, twitching with aftershocks, and blinking away tears that were forced out of him. He grinned up at Astarion and grabbed the pale, lean man, pulling him into his lap.

He nuzzled his face against Astarion’s and pressed kisses onto his cheeks, chin, and then lips.

“You’re amazing,” Halsin murmured into his lover’s skin, continuing to pepper kisses wherever his mouth could reach. Astarion smiled and let out a small giggle. He placed his hands on Halsin’s chest and stroked the wispy hairs. Halsin’s heart pounded against his fingers, slowing with each breath.

“And you’re sticky,” Astarion replied grimacing, feeling a huff of laughter bubble out of Halsin.

“My office bathroom has a shower, if you’re interested,” Halsin suggested. His thick eyebrows raised.

“An entire shower is hidden in your private bathroom? Really?” Astarion looked at Halsin, a crease forming between his brows.

“Just one of the many perks of being a CEO, I suppose,” Halsin shrugged, patting Astarion’s butt to have him stand up.

“You spend way too many nights in your office, Halsin,” Astarion chastised, “But a shower does sound lovely.”

Before heading back down, both men took a moment to tuck themselves back into their trousers, stretch their aching muscles, and share a knowing laugh about not being as young as they used to be.

_____________

Halsin walked into the bathroom and shimmied out of his trousers, before he glanced at himself in the mirror. He smiled as he admired all of the red markings all over his body where Astarion had pressed, bit, and rubbed. His thin lips looked a little red and raw, and his hair was still slightly sticking up from when Astarion had tightly held on.

Like reins to a mighty steed, Halsin thought to himself, chuckling at the visual. Astarion joined him in the mirror, wrapping his arms around Halsin from behind, and pressed kisses into his muscled back. The taller man smiled and leaned into his touch, taking in a deep breath, rubbing the arms that encircled him.

After several years of pining over his lawyer, he never thought this would be a possibility. He did his best to hide the way his eyes secretly slid down his lean frame whenever Astarion was turned away from him in meetings. He struggled with not sighing dreamily with his head in his hands whenever Astarion would lean over the large table heatedly speaking to whoever they had on speakerphone that day.

He found himself unable to sleep as his mind flipped through the various scenarios of his day. There had been many late evenings where he sat and fantasized what it would be like to feel Astarion’s skin against his. It always ended with his hand sneaking down under the waistline of his pants. A shameful, guilty feeling emerged in his chest at the quickly spiraling, explicit thoughts that made his hand drip with his spend. But this was better than anything he could have imagined because it was real.

Halsin brought up one of Astarion’s hands and pressed his lips into it before turning to the sleek, grey tiled shower. The glass door opened with a slight squeak as he stepped onto the dark pebbled surface and twisted the handle on the wall. Instant hot water poured out of the dual waterfall shower heads attached to the ceiling. As Halsin adjusted the temperature, plumes of steam rose above, and clouded the room in a misty fog. Halsin stepped into the spray and soaked his head, running his fingers over his face, and through his hair. He groaned at the water pressure and cracked his neck on both sides.

Astarion watched Halsin with a feral, but appreciative gaze. Throughout all of the moments they had spent together he had tried to picture what was hiding under Halsin’s button-down shirts, but his mind could not predict the statuesque nature of his rippling body. His gaze followed the water as it descended over his flesh and through the divots of the muscles. He marveled at the thick veins that pushed against the skin of Halsin’s biceps and the way they flexed with every arm gesture. Astarion’s spent cock twitched, making him flinch from sensitivity as it pushed against the fabric of his trousers. He bit at his lip and pushed his pants down his legs, clearing his mind from his sultry thoughts for the time being.

A burst of cold sent goosebumps up his arms as Astarion stepped into the shower in front of Halsin. He looked down at Astarion with a soft smile, adoring the way his white curls flattened against his head as he moved into the water stream. The water dripped from the smaller man’s eyelashes and trailed down his sharp cheekbones. Astarion sighed, slightly spent from their activities, and rolled his shoulders under the spray, adjusting to the heat and pressure of the flow.

Halsin reached over to grab a bottle of shampoo and waggled it at Astarion. Astarion nodded in approval and Halsin shook the bottle, pouring the contents into his hand. The smaller man moved closer to Halsin and rested his head on Halsin’s chest, his arms wrapping entirely around his torso, pulling himself flush against his skin. Halsin worked the shampoo into Astarion’s hair, digging his nails into his scalp.

“Mmm, do you do this with all of your lawyers?” Astarion teased, feeling Halsin's stomach shake with laughter.

“Only the cute ones,” Halsin countered, moving Astarion’s head to scrub his entire scalp. He pressed his thumbs behind his ears and moved them down his neck. Astarion slumped more into Halsin as he worked his fingers, pinching and kneading, on his neck and shoulders pulling out breathy noises of appreciation. Halsin gently turned the smaller man to have the water wash out the suds. He then placed a chaste kiss against his lips and removed Astarion’s arms from his torso to grab the conditioner, repeating the cycle of rubbing it into his curly locks. Halsin gingerly scrunched up the conditioner with expert hands and then rinsed.

Astarion stood there with a smile on his lips as he allowed Halsin to pamper and dote on him. He relished the feeling of Halsin’s rough hands and lips all over his body as he scrubbed soap into his delicate skin. Astarion couldn’t remember the last time someone spent so much time and effort on his comfort and pleasure. Between the desire to be tasted and the attention to detail Halsin showed as he scrubbed every square inch of his body, he felt his heart flutter for the man who had revealed so much of himself that night. He felt vulnerable and safe with Halsin.

He watched as Halsin squatted down and thoroughly soaped all around and in between his legs and up through his cheeks. Astarion let out a bashful giggle as he was moved back into the water and Halsin’s hands traded the place of the washcloth to remove the soap. He shivered with goosebumps rising upon his skin as Halsin stood up and pressed his lips onto his forehead.

Halsin ran his fingers through Astarion’s damp, white curls. His hand rested upon his jaw. Astarion’s eyes closed. He wrapped his fingers around Halsin’s forearm and pressed his lips onto his wrist. His thumb rubbed against the skin and he smiled. It had been a while since he felt so tenderly and affectionately cared for. Halsin pulled away and pressed his forehead into Astarion’s, smiling softly down at him.

“Okay, your turn,” Astarion murmured while leaning over to grab a washcloth.

Halsin stepped away to grab the shampoo bottle. He poured the rose scented liquid into his hand and scrubbed it into his scalp. Astarion poured the body wash onto the fabric. Astarion rubbed the cloth all over, lifting up Halsin’s arms and getting into every nook and cranny of his body, Halsin squirmed slightly. The fabric tickled his skin. Astarion pushed Halsin into the stream of the water and washed off all of the soap and suds from his body. Once Halsin was conditioned, Astarion stepped back into Halsin’s space and wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss.

Halsin ran his hands up and down Astarion’s back, moving to lean against the chilly tiled walls. They held each other close, letting the endless hot water supply pour over them while they kissed deeply, their tongues lazily overlapping and tangling together. Their bodies pressed against each other with no sexual intent, just the desire to touch and explore.

Astarion pulled away first, a simple sweet smile delicately placed on his lips as he nuzzled himself into Halsin’s chest.

“I don’t want to leave here,” Astarion sighed.

“I know, but I have enough wrinkles as is,” Halsin joked, wrapping a hand around Astarion’s neck and pulling him into one last kiss before pushing off the wall and turning off the water supply.

He opened the shower door, steam spilling out of the enclosed area, and grabbed two towels, handing one of them to Astarion. Halsin wrapped the towel around him, folding down the fabric securely against his waist. He then grabbed another towel and bent over, flipping his hair down. Halsin expertly twisted the towel around his head and stood back up, twisting the towel around and balancing it on the top of his head. Astarion couldn’t suppress his laugh at the now-turbaned Halsin. Halsin turned and raised an eyebrow.

“What? I hate when my wet hair drips down my back. It’s the easiest technique to prevent that,” Halsin said earnestly. Astarion smiled and shook his head, wrapping his own towel around his body securely.

“I just wasn’t expecting it. You look beautiful with your hair all done up like that,” Astarion teased, pulling an eye roll out of Halsin as he left the bathroom.

Astarion followed him to his desk at the back of the room and plopped into his office chair with Halsin in front of him. Halsin leaned over the desk, curiously shuffling through some of the files that Astarion placed there. Astarion’s eyes wandered down the damp skin of the man in front of him and bit his lip, getting lost in the pull of Halsin’s muscles under his skin. He swallowed dryly and looked around the office for something to drink. He moved to open the drawer that Halsin was in earlier, trying to find more hard honey cider, but his fingers came across a different glass bottle instead.

“Astarion, don’t–” Halsin cut himself off, his eyes widened as Astarion pulled out a mid-sized, half-used, glass bottle. The viscosity of the clear liquid inside meant there was no question about its nature; Halsin kept lube in his desk. Astarion’s eyes sparkled mischievously at Halsin.

“Oh, what is this?” Astarion gleamed while turning the bottle in his hand.

“I– uh…” Halsin’s cheeks formed a deep red blush, trailing all the way up to his ears. He couldn’t formulate a proper excuse this time. He’s been laid bare and exposed. All of his wildest fantasies and dreams flashing through his head as the main character of his vivid imaginations is sat there behind him. He swallowed hard at the lump in his throat, not daring to make eye contact.

“My, my, Halsin,” Astarion paused, tilting the bottle dramatically to emphasize the amount of room leftover inside the container. “You really do spend too much time here in your office. What could possibly be on your mind that couldn’t wait for you to get home to touch yourself?”

Halsin doesn’t turn to look at Astarion. He kept his eyes focused on the manila folders decorating his desk, shifting awkwardly at the playful interrogation. Astarion could see his blush warming the skin of the older man’s shoulders.

“Was it me, Halsin?” Astarion’s voice is low and alluring, closely eyeing Halsin’s sharp intake of breath, the tense muscles and fidgeting hands. “Oh, that struck a nerve. How many times have you thought about me in this room?”

Astarion bit back a cheeky smile. Still no reply from the larger man. Figuring that it might be better to stay silent than to implicate himself more. Astarion taught him well.

“You know damn well that pleading the fifth doesn’t bode well for a plea of innocence,” Astarion tutted. His hand slid up the outside of Halsin’s thigh, “What did you have me do to you, Halsin? Did I have your pretty cock in my mouth as you sat in this chair? Or did you have me bent over your desk exactly like I have you now?”

Halsin cleared his throat. “Quite the opposite actually.”

Astarion bit his lip and smirked, his eyes darkening at the revelation. He leaned back into the leather chair. “Well, darling, if that’s the case, then I’m not quite sure why you’re still standing,” he paused, a wicked idea crossing his mind. “Get on your knees.”

Halsin’s back straightened at the command, he looked over his shoulder at Astarion who was splayed out, legs spread, looking up at him through heavy eyelids and with one leg already exposed from his falling towel. He swallowed hard at the lump in his throat. His cock twitched with delight, pressing up against the fabric wrapped around his waist. Perhaps Astarion is a great lawyer because he can read minds, Halsin thought. He hid his smile and turned slowly to face Astarion, obediently dropping to his knees and placing his hands on the inside of Astarion’s thighs.

Astarion looked down at the larger man in front of him, “Look at you. Sitting there so desperately.”

Astarion brought up a hand to cup Halsin’s blushing cheek. His thumb trailed across his skin and pulled down Halsin’s plump bottom lip, and slid into his mouth. Halsin closed his mouth around Astarion’s thumb, his silky tongue sucking on it softly. Arousal swirled down into Astarion’s groin.

“Such a good listener,” Astarion bit down on his lip in focus and pushed his thumb to the back of Halsin’s throat, pulling out a gag as he forcefully opened his mouth. He relished the feeling of Halsin’s hot breath against his skin. A small smile pulled at the sides of Halsin’s lips. Astarion used his other hand to push off Halsin’s towel turban and ran his fingers through Halsin’s damp waves.

He licked his lips as he gripped all of Halsin’s hair in his hand while Halsin lowered himself in between Astarion’s legs. Halsin slid his fingers under Astarion’s towel and shoved it away revealing Astarion’s hardening arousal, twitching excitedly as Halsin leaned in and licked along underneath his shaft.

Halsin nuzzled his face into the base, his lips pulled at the skin of his balls, letting one fall into his mouth, suckling softly, while his hand gently massaged the other. Astarion’s eyes fell closed, shockwaves of pleasure pulsed through his body and back down to his cock. Drops of pre-cum had already surfaced, and Halsin lapped it up eagerly, wrapping his lips around the head, his tongue circling around and across the leaking slit. He moaned, taking the entire length into his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed in ecstasy, akin to a sommelier savoring the flavor of a wine. His enthusiasm was encouraged by the little whimpers he was pulling from his lover.

The grip on Halsin’s hair tightened as he slowly bobbed his head all the way down Astarion’s shaft, feeling it twitch and grow by the second. Halsin pulled off with wet pop. Before going back down, he wrapped his hand around the base of Astarion’s cock and pulled up until his lips met his hand. Halsin pumped his hand and twisted his wrist. He closed his eyes, kissing his tight fist around Astarion’s swollen cock. Astarion shuddered and gasped, his head falling back into the leather chair while his hips pushed forward into his pliant mouth. He could feel his desire bubbling up inside of him and pulling him closer and closer to completion.

“Halsin– Wait… Stop,” Astarion panted and pulled back his hair. Halsin immediately leaned back. His eyes darted up to Astarion’s face, wide with concern, searching for any sign of apprehension. Astarion let out a shaky breath and looked down at his partner, frowning at his confusion.

“Are you okay? Did I– did I do something wrong?” Halsin licked his lips waiting expectantly. Astarion brought a hand to his cheek. Halsin leaned into the touch and pressed his own hand against it.

“No, you are wonderful. You did such a good job,” Astarion said breathlessly. “I just– I didn’t want to finish in your mouth.”

Halsin sighed a breath of relief and pressed a kiss into Astarion’s palm. He swallowed and eagerly awaited his orders. He peered up at Astarion with wide eyes filled with desire. A small smile graced his plumped, thin lips.

“I have already admitted that I had wanted this for quite some time now,” Halsin said, his hand squeezed Astarion’s muscled thigh. “I’d give anything to have you.”

Astarion leaned forward, lifted up Halsin’s chin with the tips of his fingers, and pressed a chaste kiss against his lips.

“Then you shall,” he brushed their noses together and smirked. “Bend over your desk.”

Halsin’s eyes twinkled with delight as he nodded subserviently, “Yes, sir.”

Halsin pressed his hands into Astarion’s knees to help him stand up, groaning slightly as they popped under the strain. Astarion laughed as he tugged on Halsin’s towel and tossed it to the side. He stepped up to Halsin and placed his hands on Halsin’s hips, spinning him around. He pushed on Halsin’s back until his chest was flush against the mahogany desk. Astarion tapped the inside of Halsin’s ankles with his foot, motioning to spread his legs apart. Halsin obeyed, spreading his legs; he placed his hands on the desk to brace himself, shoving folders onto the floor.

Astarion’s hand landed against Halsin’s ass cheek, hard, pulling out a surprised yelp and leaving a matching reddened print.

“I worked for two hours compiling that information for you,” Astarion scolded.

“Sorry, Astarion,” Halsin said quietly, biting his lip to hold back a laugh.

“Oh you will be.”

Astarion spread Halsin’s cheeks and ran a teasing tongue over his lover’s hole. Halsin tensed up for just a moment, but relaxed as Astarion swirled his tongue around his entrance and lapped against the puckered skin with a heavy tongue. Halsin rested his head on the desk and brought his arms back behind him to hold open his cheeks for Astarion.

Halsin groaned, delighting in the pressure of Astarion’s tongue pushing into the tight ring of his entrance. Astarion, with his free hand, grabbed the bottle and coated his fingers with the lube. He slid his thumb up to circle Halsin’s hole, gently pressing into it. Halsin shifted back greedily.

Another slap was brought down onto Halsin’s ass cheek.

“Don’t rush me. I will go as slow as I please, understand?” Astarion said coolly. Halsin nodded in response. Astarion gently slid one finger in, a knuckle at a time, and Halsin exhaled into it. “Now, be a good boy and put one of your knees up on the desk, darling.”

Halsin released his hold on his asscheek and lifted up his leg, resting it on the cool wooden surface. He wrapped his hand around his thigh to hold it in place. Astarion pressed his hand into the abandoned cheek to spread it open once more. He then slid his finger out and pushed it back in, stretching against Halsin’s inner walls. After he felt the larger man relax, he slid in a second finger, pulling a groan from Halsin. Astarion curled his fingers and rubbed them against Halsin’s prostate.

Halsin moaned and pressed his forehead into the desk. Pre-cum dribbled out from his cock as it rubbed against the desk. His fingernails dug into his ass cheeks as he held himself open for Astarion’s pleasure - and his own. Halsin rocked slowly into Astarion’s fingers; this time Astarion allowed it and watched as Halsin fucked himself. Halsin’s eyes rolled back into his head and his mouth fell open, gasping for air.

“Is this what you wanted, Halsin?” Astarion asked, panting. His cock throbbed with need. The lawyer slid his fingers in and out of Halsin’s muscled ring, and slid a third finger inside. Astarion removed one of his hands and stroked himself while Halsin roiled against his fingers, sliding his pre-cum down his shaft. “Speak to me.”

“Yes,” Halsin replied breathily, “Yes, thank you…”

Astarion removed his fingers and Halsin whimpered in protest, biting his lip. Patiently, he stayed put, the sound of the pump on the lube bottle brought goosebumps across his skin. Astarion spread the lube all over his cock and removed Halsin’s hand from his spreading asscheek. He rubbed his length between Halsin’s crease, pushing aside his cheek, teasing the head of his cock against Halsin’s readied hole.

“Astarion, please,” Halsin begged, his mouth watered in anticipation.

“So impatient,” Astarion tutted. He lined himself up with Halsin’s entrance. Slowly, he pressed it against his tight rim.His eyes fluttered at the delicious pressure enveloping his cock. Halsin gripped the side of his desk with one hand as he stretched around Astarion’s length. He pulled out slightly before pressing himself flush against skin.

Astarion rolled his hips and thrust deep within Halsin. Halsin moved his hand down to wrap his hand around his neglected cock.

“Don’t you dare. You cleared a space for yourself on this desk. You’re going to use it.” Halsin hesitated a moment before exhaling restlessly and moved his hand back to his thigh, pulling his leg up higher. Astarion wrapped his hands around Halsin’s hips and pulled him back into him. Halsin yelped as Astarion’s cock filled him and brushed against his prostate. Small whimpers escaped his lips as he pressed his throbbing shaft onto the polished desk surface, rutting against the wood for friction. Astarion’s nails dug into the larger man’s skin as Halsin clenched tightly around him. Little jolts of pleasure run through his body as Astarion’s balls met his, slapping softly against each other.

Halsin’s mind was spiraling in bliss. He couldn’t remember the last time he was at a loss for words, thoughts, and any other feelings because of a lover. His head lolled. His mouth watered; saliva dripped from his lips as Astarion fucked him. Pressure pooled in his groin. Halsin’s hand gripped tightly on the corner of the desk and it crackled at the force. The only other noises were the sounds of the slapping of their skin and mutual moans.

Astarion stepped to the side and changed his position, pounding Halsin in quick short thrusts. Sweat dripped down his face as he felt himself get closer to release. He could feel how close Halsin was too, with the way he squeezed tighter around him and the high pitched moans that fell out of his slacked jaw.

Halsin was painfully hard. He had been edging on the cusp of an orgasm for too long. The desk barely offered any relief no matter how hard it rubbed himself against it. His prostate sent chills up and down his back every time Astarion thrusted. His mind grew hazy.

A warm hand traveled from his hips down to his thigh and in between his legs. Fingers gently explored until they found purchase on his ball sack. Halsin could have prayed to the gods. Astarion slowly massaged his sac at first, but then his pointer finger and thumb wrapped around his skin and pulled down, squeezing his testicles.

“Gah, fuck!” Halsin practically screamed, as he rocked himself into Astarion’s cock. Astarion felt Halsin’s balls tighten in his grip.

With Astarion’s name upon his lips, Halsin came in large spurts across the desk, shuddering with each pulse.

Astarion released Halsin’s sac and returned his grip to his hips, slamming himself deep into Halsin’s constricting hole, until he was fully engulfed inside of him. He pressed himself flush against his cheeks, fingernails dragging down and into Halsin’s tender flesh, losing himself in Halsin. He clenched his jaw, rolling between tensing and spasming as he climaxed. He gasped for air, not realizing he was holding his breath, and exhaled heavily before pressing his forehead onto Halsin’s back.

“You okay?” Astarion asked softly, his thumbs rubbing against Halsin’s thigh, as he pressed all of his weight into Halsin’s back exhausted.

“Mhmm,” Halsin mumbled deliriously. Astarion huffed out a laugh and pressed his lips against Halsin’s spine.

They stayed like that for a moment, panting heavily, trying to collect themselves. Their hearts pounded against their chests and Astarion softened inside of Halsin.

Once Astarion felt lucid enough to move, he pulled himself out of Halsin, both of them hissing at the stimulation. Halsin dropped his leg with a thud and shakily pushed himself up from the desk. A deep divot decorated his thigh from where it rested against the side of the surface. He blinked a few times as all of the blood came rushing back into his head as he stood upright.

Astarion leaned over and picked up one of their towels from the floor. He gently cleaned Halsin’s spent, sensitive cock, then slid the towel through his cheeks, gathering all of the oily lube. Halsin hummed with appreciation. Astarion quickly cleaned himself up, dragged the towel through the mess on the desk, and tossed it into the corner.

He looked up at Halsin who was gazing down at him so tenderly. A blush deepened upon Astarion’s already flushed skin. “What?”

Halsin leaned back against the desk and pulled Astarion against him, pressing a kiss against the smaller man’s forehead. “I like you.”

“I would hope so,” Astarion laughed softly before turning his head to rest his cheek on Halsin’s chest. Little chest hairs tickled Astarion’s nose. Halsin’s fingers gently traced the ridges and lines on Astarion’s back. Astarion sighed contently and loosely placed his arms around Halsin’s waist. “So… what now?”

Halsin mulled over the options in his head for a moment. “We can, uh… Stay here if you want? I’ve slept on this chaise plenty of nights. There’s pillows and blankets in the closet.”

Astarion tsked at Halsin in disapproval. “When do you go home, Halsin?”

“I’ll go home tomorrow,” Halsin replied, slightly evading the question. Astarion picked up on it, but didn’t want to push into it now.

There was a slight pause before Astarion spoke again. “Won’t someone be here in the morning?”

“No, it’s Friday. No one should be here on Saturday,” Halsin stopped his stroking on Astarion’s back and turned the smaller man’s head to look at him. “You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, Astarion. I am not forcing you to stay, or do… anything else if you’re not interested in anything beyond this.”

Astarion rolled his eyes and pressed a peck against Halsin’s lips. “Don’t be stupid, Halsin. I like you, too. I just don’t want to sleep on a glorified couch.”

Halsin smiled down at him. “It’s really not bad.”

Astarion sighed and took a step back. “Very well. It’s only for one night.”

Halsin pressed a tender hand against Astarion’s cheek and then moved to the closet to grab the bedding. Astarion followed behind and took the blankets and pillows from Halsin’s hands. He walked over to the chaise to ensure his makeshift bed was up to his standards.

Halsin closed the closet door and turned to gather the scattered files on the floor. He curiously flipped open one of the manila folders and read the documents inside.

“Astarion, what were these files for anyway?” Halsin asked while flipping through the paperwork, scanning over the highlighted lines.

Astarion stopped his motions, a half-fluffed pillow in his hands. He cleared his throat, hesitant to bring up the news.

Halsin turned around and looked at the pale man holding a pillow in his arms. Astarion huffed in annoyance and gestured toward the files. “It’s a summons. You’re getting sued by Absolute Inc for pulling out of your contract after the drill blew up. It’s being headed by Thorm, Gortash, and Bhaal.”

Halsin nodded his head and bit his lip in thought. “So, a Monday problem, yes?”

Astarion blinked at him and then laughed, “Yes, a Monday problem indeed.”

Halsin set down the file and padded over to Astarion. He pulled the pillow from his grasp and tossed it onto the chaise before crawling under the blankets and laying back into the soft cushions.

He opened his arms to Astarion who crawled up next to Halsin. His eyes were already feeling heavily with exhaustion from their evening.

They breathed in time with one another. Astarion nuzzled his face into Halsin’s chest and yawned. “I am resigning by the way.”

Halsin’s eyebrows pinch together confused. “What do you mean? I thought I was about to get sued? I need you.”

“I know, and I’ll help you get a replacement. I’ll still be here to support you the whole way through,” Astarion paused, shifting his gaze up at Halsin with a smirk, “but it’s bad practice to sleep with clients, and I’d really like to be able to do this again. If you’re interested.”

Halsin’s heart fluttered in his chest as his hand wrapped around the back of Astarion’s head and pulled him into a kiss before breaking away smiling. “I am.. very interested, Astarion.”

#astarion #halsin #oakdaddy #halstarion #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 astarion #fan fic #astarion fanfiction #astarion x halsin #halsin x astarion #halsin/astarion #astarion/halsin #fan fiction

[dutifullynuttywitch]

Sisterly advice

Wake the Dead fanfic

Pairing: Brynn Archer / Eva Archer (sisters)

@choicesfebruary2024 Prompt: Family

Summary: Eva and Brynn Archer enjoy a rare day off in the Tower.

Word count: 1,200

Rating: Teen

Today has been an almost perfect day, Eva Archer reflects.

She’d had the day off from pest control. Brynn and her crew were also on a rare break from scouting.

She and Brynn had woken up late, enjoyed a half decent meal for a change – scavengers had brought back apples from a nearby grove – and spent the afternoon playing cards with Cassidy, Dirk, Troy and Mack.

Even Troy had refrained from cheating, mostly. He’d slipped her a couple of aces under the table when her pile of chips had run dangerously low, grinning charmingly at Cassidy’s amused smirk, the others oblivious to the maneuver.

This was about as perfect a day as she could hope for within the confines of the Tower.

Her wandering thoughts sour at that.

The Tower.

Forever cooped inside a large, windowless, oppressive bunker. Surrounded by too many people, all busy eking out a living, oblivious to the world around them, living and working under the flickering of artificial neon lights.

Of course, there were bright spots in that otherwise bleak world.

Her Sister Brynn and her scouting crew, Cassidy, Dirk, Brianna. Their quirky friend Mack. And Troy, her best friend and partner in crime. They had become her adopted family. Made her existence in the Tower more bearable.

Eva dreams of being able to head out and see the world. Feel the grass between her toes again. Visit some old world relics she faintly remembered from her childhood and would avidly read about in Troy’s magazines - amusement parks, libraries, museums... She wants to swim in the sea. Feel the warm, salty breeze on her face.

Eva barely remembers life before the drones, before the Tower. She had been so young when people had started to change, when they’d lost their fathers and had been forced to flee. Brynn, still a child herself, taking on the parenting role.

“Hey! Earth to Eva! What are you daydreaming about?”

It’s the main reason she wants to become a scout so bad. To Brynn’s immense displeasure. Too dangerous, she’d growl, shutting down every attempt at a conversation.

Brynn pulls her out of her reverie with a light tug. Both sisters are sitting cross-legged on Brynn’s bottom bunk, the older sister’s hands nimbly working on braiding Eva’s fiery red hair.

“Nothing... I just.. I’m realizing, I’m starting to forget what the outside world looks like, feels like...” Eva murmurs, looking at her hands.

Brynn freezes, a pained look on her face.

“Eva...”

“And I know what you’re going to say, outside is dangerous, full of drones. And I know you’re right, I’m not trying to minimize the danger. But still, you get to actually leave this place for a while, breathe fresh air, feel the sun on your face... The last time I saw any of the outside world was when Troy ...”

Eva clamps her mouth shut, realizing she’d said too much.

“When you what? Eva, when the hell did you see the outside world with Troy?!” Brynn rounds on her, furious.

“It’s not like we left the tower or anything, Brynn! A... a few months ago, he took me to see the northern lights up on one of the top floors. We may have snuck back up a few times since... but only at night, with no one around to see us, I swear!”

“Are you kidding me, Eva?! Do you have any idea what’ll happen if Blackstock’s people find you sneaking into off limit areas? And after curfew at that?! God, I don’t know who's the worst influence between the two of you.”

Brynn stares at her, furious, then lets out an amused chuckle.

“You know, I thought the two of you were sneaking around making out or something. Was working myself up to the birds and bees talk. I definitely did not suspect late night stargazing. You’re such dorks!”

“Making out?! Birds and - what on earth gave you that ridiculous idea?” Eva splutters, face heating up.

“Oh come on, little sis, I’m not blind. I can see how you look at each other. And the not-so-subtle flirting.”

Wait, what does Brynn mean about Troy looking at me like… Eva’s mind spins as she thinks back to their daily interactions. His charming smile, his soft brown eyes sparkling with mischief and affection…

Nah, he’s just being friendly, as he’s always been. My best friend, nothing more, nothing less.

Could they ever be something more?

She shakes the thoughts away.

Brynn smirks, enjoying her sister’s discomfort a little too much.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eva mumbles, “Troy's just a friend. Besides, he’s a huge flirt. And a goofball. And an ass more often than not. He’s really not my type.”

“Uh Huh. You keep telling yourself that.” Brynn smiles, amused.

“Okay, since we’re going there, what about you and Dirk? I see the way he looks at you. The guy worships the ground you walk on!” Eva turns towards her big sister, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

Brynn becomes serious, a little hesitant.

“Dirk and I... It’s complicated. I know he cares about me. And I do have… feelings. But when you’re out with someone risking your lives on a near daily basis, you need to fully trust them. Right now, we have a great dynamic going with him, Cassidy, Brianna. We have each other’s backs, but we also know none of us will hesitate to do the hard thing if one of us got bit. If Dirk and I became something more, I’m worried it’d cloud our judgement if things went south...”

Eva takes in the admission, brows knitted, then grabs her big sister in a crushing hug.

“Brynn, you deserve happiness. And love - even if it’s with someone as grumpy as Dirk.”

Brynn scoffs at that, but Eva continues.

“I swear, you’re always putting everyone’s needs and wellbeing ahead of yours. Even the damn job. You’re always looking out for me -”

“It’s my job, even though you don’t make it easy, you brat!”

“Well, if you weren’t such a stuck-up ass all the time ...”

“Watch it, lil sis...” Brynn growls, eyes narrowing in warning.

“Or what? You gonna -”

Eva squeals as Brynn lunges at her, jumping off the bed. She ducks as a pillow sails right above her head.

“I swear Eva, I don’t know how I even put up with you.” Brynn mutters, getting up to grab her boots.

“’It’s cause you loooove me!”

“You’re lucky we’re related or you’d be out on your ass. Now get a move on or we’ll miss evening rations.”

“Yeah yeah.” Eva smirks.

She suddenly turns serious, pensive.

“For what it’s worth, Brynn, I get your concern that letting someone in may… complicate an already good thing. But if you don’t, you can also miss out on the chance of something amazing.”

Brynn stops to ponder. Then smirks.

“Wait, actual words of wisdom from my little sis? I guess you did learn something in between all your suspensions. Any chance you’ll follow your own advice?”

“… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Riiiight.”

Eva rolls her eyes, wrapping an arm around Brynn to give her a hug.

Brynn reaches up and playfully rubs her knuckles on her sister’s head.

“Ouch! Brat!”

Both sisters giggle and tease each other as they head out into the labyrinth of neon-lit hallways.

#choices monthly challenge #wake the dead fanfic #wake the dead reread #choices february challenge #family #storge #troy hassan x eva archer #troy hassan #playchoices #brynn archer

[andordean]

Stop 6: Kyoto

(Yasaka-jinja gate, Fushimi Inari, Kyomizu-dera, sunset from Kyoto tower, Gion street, Arashiyama Park Observation Deck, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Okochi Sanso Garden, Gio-ji temple moss garden, Pontocho terraces)

#japan #travels #my photos

[clairity-org]

Tower Grove Park, St. Louis 9/25/23 by Sharon Mollerus

#fall leaves #Tower Grove Park #Missouri #sweetgum tree #St. Louis #MO #flickr

[faithandarisadventures]

Beauty for Everyone: Tower Grove Park Missouri History Museum St. Louis, Missouri April 26, 2022

#missouri #st louis #history museum #museums #tower grove park #historical photos #city park #public park #our adventures

[stormgardenscurse]

hehe can i have a drabble for your new event? :D

no pref of genre, demon/angels setting, first times with leona?

Summary: you’re both guardian angels, and Leona makes a rather absurd promise to you.

CW: mentions of death, typical demon/angel AU themes but it’s mostly soft/fluff!

The event is still open for submissions here!

For as long as Leona lived, his feathers have always been a snowy, royal white. Despite how slothful he may seem to others, his capabilities while on-the-job were nothing to scoff at - which is perhaps how your admiration for him started to grow.

As a younger (in comparison) angel to him, your nature was still touched by the delicacy of a soul who looked at the world with stars in your eyes. Sure, you were aware of the darkness that dwelled in the shadows, but you were bright by nature, so to speak; you chose to believe that life was something full of lightness and excitement, which drove you on to handle your work as a guardian angel with a dedication people wished Leona wielded a bit more stubbornly.

Well, not that you doubted Leona's care towards his work. You witnessed it once, when your assignment was in the same area as him, and your paths crossed under the sunlight of a quiet afternoon.

He was guarding a child, and you were sending the whispers of a last wish from a bedridden elder to their family, to bless them with one last feeling of warmth. Your eyes had met, and Leona raised a finger to his lips as he stood a bit aways from the youth playing at the park. 

You weren't sure what exactly he wanted to say, but you gathered that it had to do with savoring the quiet, seamless joy of that moment. You nodded, changing your path to fly in an arc away from them.

Death wasn't always a tragic ending, but avoiding placing that shadow on an innocent view of the world could hardly be a bad thing either.

Children were quite sensitive to beings like you, who would normally be invisible to the mortal eye. But when off-duty, you were just like regular people; relaxing under the shade of a grove of trees, enjoying the company of another.

Said other was taking a bite out of an apple, which you assumed was from the towering halls where most guardian angels lived. Noticing your gaze, Leona glanced to the satchel at his side, before fishing out another to toss in your direction.

Leona watched the way your wings shifted as you raised yourself to catch it, a quirk to his lips while he took another bite. You mirrored his action, glancing at the way his canines could be seen for a slight second. Some of your peers mentioned how intimidating Leona could be if he bared his fangs at you, yet it was hard to imagine him being needlessly aggressive. He’s tolerated you after all, one who’s been trailing after him as a mentor figure (amongst other excuses) like an enamored dove. While Leona was abrasive at first, he eventually succumbed to your unexplainable stubbornness (which he has yet to solve).

You weren’t chatting off his ear or anything, though: on days where you saw that he wasn’t busy, you’d go up to Leona to ask for advice regarding work, or to listen to stories of his past assignments. If he seemed to be in a bad mood, you’d simply wave and smile if your eyes met. Eventually you got to a point where Ruggie and Jack assumed you were at least familiar acquaintances, and asked you to help pass on items or messages between them - granting you access onto the path you were now on to gradually grow closer with him.

“...Well, it’s normal enough to want to help your assignments the more you learn about them. Empathy isn’t a bad thing.” Leona considered, looking out towards the field that neighboured the grove. You were sitting at the edge of it, which granted a rather picturesque view. “But be careful not to get too attached. We’ll have to leave them eventually, since it’s part of our duties.”

You knew what he was hinting at; the fallen angels who gave up themselves to cling to a particular human, or shed their feathers for a demon’s wings to stay by a mortal’s side. People that did that weren’t necessarily evil, but relationships like that only end in more complications if the demon tried to grant their human immortality or other gifts that toed the line of danger.

“You can’t control the heart, though.” You smiled. It’s not a threat or teasing comment, but rather a statement hinted with the nostalgia of a lesson you once witnessed. “So while I’d like to give you some peace of mind, I can’t really say that I’ll never find that connection with a mortal.”

It’s considered a bit of a taboo to say things like that out loud, but Leona surprised you with a vaguely-agreeing shrug. He leaned towards you, discarding the apple in his hand to support his weight as he crept close enough that you could see the clear vibrance of his eyes. A smirk decorated Leona’s handsome features, making your heart skip a beat.

He’s always known you were bold, but hearing those words were kind of amusing. “Then I guess I’ll need to capture your heart before that happens, so that your wings will remain safe.”

“L-Leona?!” You flinched away, but was unable to will your body to retreat any further.

“Aren’t I generous? To help protect your dreams, which you’ve talked my ear off about,” Leona held your chin, tilting your head up to properly meet his eyes. He doesn’t mention how the day you truly expressed your true hopes, it was accompanied by thunder and the echo of tears. “I would be selfless enough to expose my own feelings to you.”

It takes an open, vulnerable heart to truly capture the sympathies of an angel. To make one fall in love would require that sentiment tenfold.

Ah, just what was that feeling inside your stomach? It’s as if butterflies were fluttering around.

#leona kingscholar x reader #leona x you #twst leona x reader #leona twisted wonderland #twst reader insert #twst x reader #twst writing #twst imagines #twst scenarios #just the dynamic of a playful/enamoured angel that's found around leona #he may be experienced/older than reader but #reader has been around for a long time too #they just cope by presenting themselves in different ways to other ppl #ahem excuse my rambling

[annafshr]

Kyoto Travel Guide: Unveiling the Timeless Charms of Japan's Cultural Heart

Kyoto, a city steeped in history and cultural richness, beckons travelers from around the world to embark on a captivating journey through time. Nestled amidst lush mountains and picturesque landscapes, Kyoto preserves the essence of traditional Japan like no other city. With its awe-inspiring temples, enchanting gardens, and captivating geisha culture, Kyoto offers a truly immersive experience that unveils the country's profound cultural heritage. Join us as we explore the must-visit destinations and hidden gems of this extraordinary city.

Timeless Temples and Spiritual Splendor

Kyoto boasts a wealth of ancient temples, each with its own unique allure. The iconic Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) dazzles with its shimmering gold exterior reflected in the surrounding pond, while the serene Kiyomizu-dera Temple offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city from its wooden terrace. Visit the tranquil Ryoan-ji Temple and contemplate the minimalist beauty of its famous Zen rock garden. Explore the exquisite gardens and vibrant red torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha, an emblematic Shinto shrine.

Traditional Neighborhoods and Geisha Culture

Wander through Kyoto's atmospheric traditional neighborhoods, such as Gion and Pontocho, where the spirit of old Japan thrives. Keep an eye out for elegantly dressed geisha or apprentice geisha known as maiko gracefully gliding along the streets. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of tea ceremonies, traditional music, and dance performances. Visit the Gion Corner for an insightful cultural show or indulge in a memorable meal at a traditional ryotei (Japanese restaurant).

Enchanting Gardens and Tranquil Retreats

Kyoto's meticulously designed gardens offer a peaceful escape from the bustling city. Explore the sublime beauty of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where towering bamboo stalks create a mesmerizing atmosphere. Stroll through the stunning gardens of Katsura Imperial Villa or experience the harmony of nature at the exquisite Saiho-ji Temple, also known as the Moss Temple. Admire the seasonal beauty of cherry blossoms in Maruyama Park or the vibrant hues of maple leaves in the autumn foliage.

Cultural Heritage and Museums

Delve deeper into Kyoto's cultural heritage by visiting its fascinating museums and art galleries. The Kyoto National Museum houses an extensive collection of Japanese art and artifacts, including exquisite Buddhist sculptures and delicate ceramics. Gain insight into traditional Japanese craftsmanship at the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts or explore the intriguing history of manga at the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Discover the captivating world of Noh theater at the Kanze Noh Theater or witness a mesmerizing Kabuki performance at the Minamiza Theatre.

Delightful Culinary Experiences

Kyoto's culinary scene is a feast for the senses, offering a diverse array of traditional delicacies. Indulge in kaiseki, a multi-course fine dining experience that showcases the essence of Kyoto's seasonal ingredients. Savor the exquisite flavors of matcha (powdered green tea) and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) at a traditional tea house. Explore Nishiki Market and sample an array of local delicacies, from fresh seafood to delectable street food. Don't forget to try Kyoto's famous yudofu (tofu hot pot) for a truly authentic taste of the city.

Kyoto, with its timeless temples, captivating geisha culture, serene gardens, and rich cultural heritage, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Japan's traditions. Whether you're exploring ancient temples, immersing yourself in the vibrant streets of Gion, or savoring the delicate flavors of Kyoto's cuisine, the city's essence will envelop you in its enchantment. So, embrace the spirit of Kyoto and allow yourself to be transported to a world where past and present harmoniously converge, leaving you with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

#cheap tickets #tourism #flight tickets #travel stories #traveling #cheap travel #travel tips #cheap flights #travel #youtube #japan #Youtube