I hope you are well. I have not seen you around, which is truly disappointing, as I so enjoyed our last encounter. I told you to reach out to me should you wish to indulge in another outing, and frankly, I am hurt that you would not take me up on my offer.
Let us go for a hunt, won't you do me this pleasure?
I hope you can forgive my rather uncouth silence, as well as my conspicuous absence from events (parties, greeting arrivals, etc) pertaining to monsterkind. When you saw me last, I was corrupted by the Fog God's foul influence, rendering me nigh unrecognisable from my usual self. I behaved in a dark, animalistic fashion, and I feel like my crimes that week may very well be unforgivable. I admit that I was frightened to run into you again, for fear of how you'd react.
In addition, I'm afraid of what I would do were I see you again. I still am.
What a treat you are, as even through the deplorable script of this machine your eloquence is ever so inviting. I wonder, then, how I would feel to receive a letter written by your very own hand.
But never mind that — you have no reason to fear me, and most certainly not yourself. I know that you cannot lie, and so there is no point in denying how much fun we had that night months ago. The way your eyes were alight with cruel passion still shivers through me.
The only crime you commit, sweet beast, is the crime of denying me another taste of your company. Will you truly rebuff me?
Please forgive me for forgetting myself. I cannot live my life as the man you saw that week. It would be best for the both of us if you pretend that whole thing never happened. I won't discuss the matter any further.
How about dinner? I know a good restaurant, with good wine. You wish to not speak of our prior engagement and yet, I believe that we are kindred souls. I know you felt it, too. Would you shun every pleasure that comes your way?
I DO wish to see you again. I often think about the warmth of your embrace, even while I attempt to purge the rest of that night from my memories. Those carnal comforts stand in stark contrast to the violence that preceded it, and it leaves me feeling dizzy, unmoored like a ship in a raging storm.
Perhaps seeing your face again will divorce those images from my mind.
Whether you mean to be coy matters not to me, the result is the same. I crave your company evermore. This anticipation eats at me, when are you free? When can I see you again?
For every moment you leave me waiting with bated breath, I find myself more impassioned with the thought of meeting again.
[He can't resist him. It's not because he's entranced by his words (although he is), but because he's frightened that he'll stop hearing them. What if he disappoints the other man? What if he stops responding to his letters, or rescinds his invitation?]
Dearest Eridanus,
I know better than to place your honour into question. You can find me at [address here]. I'll be waiting for you.
Eagerly, Daniel
[And so he waits outside his apartment complex, standing under a street lamp in a vain attempt to stave off the darkness -- and the cold. Even with this thick, winter coat, he feels himself starting to shiver.]
[Eridanus, of course, arrives exactly on time—and it isn't hard to pick out the familiar frame of the faerie he had entertained months ago, even if he's curled into himself with cold.]
My sweet Daniel.
[He calls out as he approaches from behind, and as he steps into the light of that streetlamp, the iridescence of his opals glitters in a rainbow of color. He's dressed finely in a lighter suit, despite the winter chill around them. In fact, he doesn't seem to be bothered overmuch by it, if the broad smile on his face is anything to go by.]
You are just as handsome as when last we met! I'm glad your heart came around, I've missed your company.
[It's with a flourish of a bow that he presents a bouquet of red roses, offering them for the other to take.]
His relief is palpable, and when he takes the roses, he doesn't bother stifling a smile. It's wonderful, viewing Eridanus as something other than a living metaphor for his fall from grace. Perhaps everything will be all right after all.]
You look --
[The compliment dies on his tongue. This is still wrong, isn't it? Even if they're not killing people? He shakes his head, stifling the fear. But his smile isn't as bright as before.]
-- very good. Very good. [His mouth is dry, and so he swallows.] The roses weren't necessary, but I promise you that I'll take good care of them. I do hope you didn't trouble yourself too much for my sake.
[It's been months since they last saw each other, and nervous as Daniel was when they first met, he was never this nervous. It piques Eridanus' interest—wondering, which is the real Daniel? This one... or the one he met in that dingy bar's bathroom.
Those thoughts don't show on his face, and instead he straightens to his towering height before offering his arm to the other.]
If it's for you, then it's no trouble at all. [His voice is a sweet, low hum in his chest, with his pleased smile reaching all the way to his eyes.] And, on the contrary, the roses were necessary. This is a date after all.
[He won't let Daniel forget that.]
Besides, you're looking quite handsome yourself. Getting gussied up just for me... I find myself enjoying you more and more.
[He feels heat settle along his cheeks, practically dizzied by the compliment. Daniel has always sought approval -- from his father, from his peers, from his mentors. Combined with the lust thrumming in his veins, it's a wonder he doesn't throw himself against the troll then and there.]
Where are you taking me?
[His throat is sand, and so he swallows again, fidgeting with his lower hands as he keeps his upper hands tightly affixed to the bouquet. With great effort, he relaxes his grip with one hand and takes Eridanus' hand.
He clears his throat again.]
Forgive me. I'm quite nervous. L-Like I said in my letters, I wasn't sure what I might do if I saw you again. I've never sought comfort in a man.
[If approval is all Daniel seeks, then he'll surely receive it. Eridanus doesn't mask the satisfaction that spreads across his face as Daniel's hand finds his arm, and he isn't shy about the way he pulls the other close enough that the winter cold is no match for their body heat—but aside from that, his touch is chaste.]
Did you think I'm the type to simply lay with someone and never write again? [He very much is that kind of person, but Daniel doesn't know that.] No... you interest me, Daniel, as I've said in our letters. There is a passion within you that you try so hard to hide — but it's beautiful — and you should not be ashamed of it.
[His words curl with his smile, like the gentle coaxing one would call to a timid animal with.]
We'll enjoy dinner and a stroll. I've already picked out a restaurant and made reservations. [He eyes Daniel from his periphery,] unless such a night is too tame for your animal heart?
<Archmage>
I hope you are well.
I have not seen you around, which is truly disappointing, as I so enjoyed our last encounter.
I told you to reach out to me should you wish to indulge in another outing, and frankly, I am hurt that you would not take me up on my offer.
Let us go for a hunt, won't you do me this pleasure?
Eagerly,
Eridanus Sungazer
<daniel>
I hope you can forgive my rather uncouth silence, as well as my conspicuous absence from events (parties, greeting arrivals, etc) pertaining to monsterkind. When you saw me last, I was corrupted by the Fog God's foul influence, rendering me nigh unrecognisable from my usual self. I behaved in a dark, animalistic fashion, and I feel like my crimes that week may very well be unforgivable. I admit that I was frightened to run into you again, for fear of how you'd react.
In addition, I'm afraid of what I would do were I see you again. I still am.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel
<Archmage>
What a treat you are, as even through the deplorable script of this machine your eloquence is ever so inviting. I wonder, then, how I would feel to receive a letter written by your very own hand.
But never mind that — you have no reason to fear me, and most certainly not yourself.
I know that you cannot lie, and so there is no point in denying how much fun we had that night months ago. The way your eyes were alight with cruel passion still shivers through me.
The only crime you commit, sweet beast, is the crime of denying me another taste of your company.
Will you truly rebuff me?
—Eridanus Sungazer
<daniel>
No.
Don't say
Dear Eridanus,
Please forgive me for forgetting myself. I cannot live my life as the man you saw that week. It would be best for the both of us if you pretend that whole thing never happened. I won't discuss the matter any further.
Sincerely,
Daniel
<Archmage>
Dearest Daniel,
How about dinner? I know a good restaurant, with good wine.
You wish to not speak of our prior engagement and yet, I believe that we are kindred souls.
I know you felt it, too. Would you shun every pleasure that comes your way?
A friendship, then.
That is all I ask.
Yours,
Eridanus Sungazer
<daniel>
I DO wish to see you again. I often think about the warmth of your embrace, even while I attempt to purge the rest of that night from my memories. Those carnal comforts stand in stark contrast to the violence that preceded it, and it leaves me feeling dizzy, unmoored like a ship in a raging storm.
Perhaps seeing your face again will divorce those images from my mind.
Reluctantly yours,
Daniel
<Archmage>
Whether you mean to be coy matters not to me, the result is the same. I crave your company evermore.
This anticipation eats at me, when are you free? When can I see you again?
For every moment you leave me waiting with bated breath, I find myself more impassioned with the thought of meeting again.
Sweetly,
Your Eridanus
<daniel>
His next message is brief. Unnaturally so.]
My dear Eridanus,
What about tomorrow night?
Yours,
Daniel
<Archmage>
Sweetest Daniel,
Tomorrow night would be lovely.
Where do you reside? I will pick you up.
Eagerly,
Eridanus Sungazer
<daniel>
His hands tremble over the keyboard.
Then he writes.]
Eager Eridanus,
There's no need to go out of your way. In fact, I would greatly prefer to meet with you at the restaurant in question. What is it?
Ever yours,
Daniel
<Archmage>
My sweetest Daniel,
It would be remissive of my duty as a gentleman to not pick you up from your home.
While I intend to respect your desire to keep our date bloodless, I will remind you that I am seeking your companionship as a suitor.
I insist that you would allow me to retrieve you myself, and keep my honor.
Yours affectionately,
Eridanus
-> action
Dearest Eridanus,
I know better than to place your honour into question. You can find me at [address here]. I'll be waiting for you.
Eagerly,
Daniel
[And so he waits outside his apartment complex, standing under a street lamp in a vain attempt to stave off the darkness -- and the cold. Even with this thick, winter coat, he feels himself starting to shiver.]
no subject
My sweet Daniel.
[He calls out as he approaches from behind, and as he steps into the light of that streetlamp, the iridescence of his opals glitters in a rainbow of color. He's dressed finely in a lighter suit, despite the winter chill around them. In fact, he doesn't seem to be bothered overmuch by it, if the broad smile on his face is anything to go by.]
You are just as handsome as when last we met! I'm glad your heart came around, I've missed your company.
[It's with a flourish of a bow that he presents a bouquet of red roses, offering them for the other to take.]
cw: internalized homophobia
His relief is palpable, and when he takes the roses, he doesn't bother stifling a smile. It's wonderful, viewing Eridanus as something other than a living metaphor for his fall from grace. Perhaps everything will be all right after all.]
You look --
[The compliment dies on his tongue. This is still wrong, isn't it? Even if they're not killing people? He shakes his head, stifling the fear. But his smile isn't as bright as before.]
-- very good. Very good. [His mouth is dry, and so he swallows.] The roses weren't necessary, but I promise you that I'll take good care of them. I do hope you didn't trouble yourself too much for my sake.
[He's nailing this flirting thing.]
no subject
Those thoughts don't show on his face, and instead he straightens to his towering height before offering his arm to the other.]
If it's for you, then it's no trouble at all. [His voice is a sweet, low hum in his chest, with his pleased smile reaching all the way to his eyes.] And, on the contrary, the roses were necessary. This is a date after all.
[He won't let Daniel forget that.]
Besides, you're looking quite handsome yourself. Getting gussied up just for me... I find myself enjoying you more and more.
no subject
Where are you taking me?
[His throat is sand, and so he swallows again, fidgeting with his lower hands as he keeps his upper hands tightly affixed to the bouquet. With great effort, he relaxes his grip with one hand and takes Eridanus' hand.
He clears his throat again.]
Forgive me. I'm quite nervous. L-Like I said in my letters, I wasn't sure what I might do if I saw you again. I've never sought comfort in a man.
no subject
Did you think I'm the type to simply lay with someone and never write again? [He very much is that kind of person, but Daniel doesn't know that.] No... you interest me, Daniel, as I've said in our letters. There is a passion within you that you try so hard to hide — but it's beautiful — and you should not be ashamed of it.
[His words curl with his smile, like the gentle coaxing one would call to a timid animal with.]
We'll enjoy dinner and a stroll. I've already picked out a restaurant and made reservations. [He eyes Daniel from his periphery,] unless such a night is too tame for your animal heart?