Just think of it as a friendly warning. That's just the kind of place that this is.
[ ... Almost as friendly as "memento mori": Remember that you, too, could be turned into something distinctly not-human at any turn because reality doesn't really follow any rules around these parts. Mayuzumi can probably see the vague smirk that Akashi wears for a moment or two without even having to actually look at Akashi. He can't wait to see what kind of creature that fate decides to twist him into someday; Akashi feels like Mayuzumi can't escape it forever. Maybe part cat, Mayuzumi seems to have feelings about so-called "catgirls".
And then, abruptly, Akashi decides to change the topic to something that's probably not entirely comfortable given that his mouth is very, very close to the back of Mayuzumi's neck at the moment. ]
I think I've also become somewhat venomous — I haven't checked to be sure, but I do have fangs right now.
He hopes that if something like this happens to him that it won't last long; he might be into that kind of thing when it comes to cute fictional girls, but he's not so sure he wants to live the 2d life in that sense. Even if sex with a transformed Henry was...kind of intense and not in the bad way, but he really, really doesn't want to think about what that says about his inclinations either.
The topic shift is a distraction from that thought, and so is the fact that he's very much aware of where Akashi's mouth is located, considering that he can feel Akashi's every breath flow out over the nape of his neck and ruffle his hair. ]
By the way, I'm sure I don't need to remind you that poisoning someone who's helping you out isn't a good way to show your gratitude.
[ It's a bit hard to give Akashi a pointed glance over his shoulder considering their current positions, but he does his best to convey it with his voice. ]
...And maybe warn me if you start feeling like you want to swallow me whole while you're at it.
[ Akashi could probably recite straight from a standard manners book from heart, for courtesies from at least three countries, but the fact of the matter is that knowing how to be politely grateful will not necessarily mean that he is going to be politely grateful. So he will bring up another point instead: ]
You wouldn't have gotten a warning if I were going to do it on purpose, you know.
[ ... One certainly hopes he isn't about to do anything on accident? Anyway... ]
I also highly doubt that I would be able to swallow you whole in most meaningful ways. [ Lowkey sexual innuendo? He'll leave it to Mayuzumi's imagination. ] My jaw doesn't detach, as far as I can tell. You could check when we're inside, if you like.
[ Somehow, the thought of purposely attempting to dislocate his own jaw is unappealing to him and yet he's okay with other people giving it the good old college try. It's... different. ]
...Are you trying to say you're not actually absolute and might do something accidentally? This really is a day full of firsts.
[ Mayuzumi probably shouldn't be giving someone with fangs by his neck who's possibly poisonous such a hard time; like many of his choices involving Akashi, it's pretty questionable from a purely logical standpoint.
But he does pick up on what sounds a little suggestive to him, in response to something that he realizes could sound a little suggestive in itself. It's territory they haven't really treaded too far into before, which makes the verbal steps Mayuzumi takes small even as his physical gait is assured in carrying them to his cottage.
...Which is in sight, just up ahead. ]
Your jaw can stay where it is though. I'm not really interested in trying out being swallowed in the "most meaningful ways", thanks.
[ But is Mayuzumi open to trying that out in the other way that they're skirting around saying outright? Someone might have to press the issue a little further to find out... ]
Hmm... who knows? It's hard to tell, but perhaps I've also been struck with animal instincts? Animals do tend to have a stronger fight or flight reaction than humans do, after all.
[ All Mayuzumi needs to do to find out is make a sudden, alarming movement and see if Akashi reflexively bites! ... On second thought, that wouldn't prove anything at all, he might do it in his right mind too. ]
But very well. I'll keep my jaw close to, but a measured distance from your neck. I'll excuse myself from making the same promise for any other body parts, though.
[ Akashi could keep up this innuendo-laden conversation for a while longer, but it does seem to have served its purpose: Mayuzumi's not shutting it down entirely, so that means he's not strictly and wholly opposed. ]
Besides, I can think of some less meaningful ways to engage my mouth... I suppose.
[ I don't mind you being so close, though. At least, as long as no lethal poisoning's involved; for example, if Akashi were to press his lips to Mayuzumi's skin right now, that would be...
Not really something he'd object to, temperature difference and strange reptilian semi-transformation aside. Mayuzumi's caution in going down this road has less to do with attraction and more to do with Akashi being the closest...something he has; the guy might be a pain in the ass to deal with at times but he really doesn't want things to get weird between them thanks to crossing that intimacy barrier.
...Well, weirder than the baseline level of weird that's inherent in associating with Akashi Seijuurou. It's something Mayuzumi's worried about since he found out how things work around here though, a little.
But isn't it time for him to just get over something like that already? ]
...Yeah. I suppose I can, too.
[ And he leaves that hanging because they've arrived, even though his mind still dwells on the possibilities; it takes a minute for him to get the door open since he has to keep a cold-blooded kouhai balanced on his back while doing it, but soon enough the warmer air of his cottage envelops them both. He only pauses to slip his shoes off before carrying Akashi towards his bed. ]
Should I bother offering you tea for warming up? [ He's pretty sure he already knows the answer to that, but he still asks anyway. ]
[ It's winter, Akashi's now cold-blooded, and there are no space heaters in the sexpocalypse. All of this just means that he needs to find alternate means to heat himself up, and the most obvious one, of course, is using his fellow survivors as portable heat dispensers. Which is why he's made himself right at home in Keigo's cottage for the afternoon, having brought over a book from the library (questionable erotica, but almost all of the books are) to alleviate his boredom while he's mostly stuck indoors — and he stays glued to Keigo's side as he reads, moving more sluggishly than usual as he flips through the pages. ]
... The characters in this book really are quite flexible.
[ Ah yes. His commentary on the fictional smut he's reading is absolutely necessary at this point. ]
Should I read it aloud? This is fairly impressive, in its own way.
[ keigo could have fooled himself into being accepting and complacent about most things in their living situation, but it really boiled down to stubbornness. he didn't want to give in to... whatever was controlling their fates, plus avoiding being phased out of existence was always a good motivational tool. so, yes, keigo had developed some sort of routine in his living situation, one that was currently being interrupted by akashi's strange predicament.
serpentine features on a human should have been a terrifying thing to witness, but at this rate, keigo felt things were progressing in a manner proper for their shared situation. seeing those things on akashi, however, was a bit harder to swallow. so, even if he was interrupting the routine he used to keep himself sane, keigo indulged in akashi's predicaments, helping him in any way he could. in a way, that helped make him sane, too.
but seeing the subject matter of the book in his possession... keigo could only roll his eyes. at this rate, even some of the most lascivious displays, whether in print or in flesh, were becoming droll. keigo huffed, pressing a palm to akashi's forearm, moving it out of the way to get a better look at what, exactly, he was reading.
...okay, some things still managed to spark embarrassment in keigo. ]
W-what's there to read, anyway!! It's just a bunch of lewd stuff, no different than the rest of the books in that stupid library...
Ignoring the smut... which admittedly, is most of the story, it's not too bad of a read.
[ ... or maybe his standards have gotten lower over time; Akashi can't deny that might be a possibility. He's willing to settle, though, because he is well aware that they aren't likely to gain a sudden trove of high literature anytime soon. Or even just books that aren't excuses for literary smut.
He sighs just thinking about it. Maybe someday, but he's not going to hope for it too hard. Instead, he just tucks his cheek up between Keigo's shoulder and neck, most likely to warm it up, judging from the fact that it's cool to the touch — and unnaturally smooth where there's scales rather than skin in patches. ]
It reminds me a bit of The Little Mermaid... Are you familiar with the story? The fairy tale, not the movie.
[ keigo was prepared to wave off the rest of the supposed story lying in that book akashi was so intent on focusing upon, but it was a hard task to accomplish when the two of them were in such close proximity. and it wasn't just the book itself that was causing keigo some embarrassment.
yes, he was somewhat used to the rules of the place, in that having sex was the only clear-cut way to remain tangible. but keigo still desperately clung to certain aspects that he felt made him more defiant, less accepting. some measures of shame were an example of such. it was why he still blushed when he initiated sex or whenever someone made a pass at him.
and, though he loved physical contact much, much before the current state of the world, it was filtered through a different channel when it came to someone he'd had sex with before. akashi, naturally, was not overtly sexual, but his presence still brought up memories. it was difficult not to think of them.
his skin prickled when the cool and unusually smooth spots of akashi's skin brushed against his neck. keigo froze as he felt blood rush up to his face, coloring his skin. akashi would likely be grateful for the warmth it bestowed upon him. keigo just felt like this was all a cosmic joke. ]
N-... no, I don't think so. That's a European story, isn't it?
[ trying to keep their conversation going in a civil and controlled manner was keigo's ultimate goal here. he even took some breaths to calm himself, though the flush still remained on his face and neck. ]
[ Given his personality, Akashi's almost a little convinced that being turned part snake is likely to be something of a cosmic joke at his expense too, but he tries to roll with the punches. It's more of a blow to be cooped up indoors than anything else, anyway. ]
Mm, it is. The original fairy tale is a bit more depressing than the movie... for one thing, the mermaid trades not only her voice to the sea witch, but every step she takes with her human feet is extraordinarily painful to her. And although she can't speak, she has to win the prince's love to obtain a human soul or else die.
[ Unconsciously, Akashi shifts slightly, nuzzling up against Keigo to warm himself up more evenly as he continues — ]
In the end, the prince doesn't fall in love with the mermaid. He marries a princess from a neighboring kingdom, and in the mermaid's despair, she considers killing him to become a mermaid again... but she can't do it. She still loves the prince... and the next morning, she dissolves into seafoam. Sad, isn't it?
[ Uh, yeah. Probably kind of a downer conversation to be having, actually. Akashi really knows how to pick a topic. ]
[ keigo listened as akashi offered up the cliffsnotes for the fairy tale, growing increasingly unnerved as he went on. he knew that many of those types of stories were tragic and downright depressing, but hearing about such heavy topics as unrequited love... it was familiar, in the most uncomfortable way.
so much so that keigo didn't really flinch as akashi drew himself nearer. he sort of stared down at his lap, lips pursed, and hummed softly as he contemplated the story. ]
...yeah, really tragic. What a downer.
[ with a brisk sigh, he moved about as gently as he could, so as not to disturb akashi's position. ]
I can't say I'd do any different, if I was in that situation.
Well, there is a silver lining. Because she acted selflessly, she's given the chance to do good deeds for the next 300 years and earn a soul of her own. And that's where the story ends.
[ Then he laughs, and it's... definitely not an amused kind of laugh. Not that the sad origins of most fairy tales are a laughing matter to begin with. There's a pause, and then he sighs lightly, a gesture that might not've been noticeable were it not for the fact that he's sitting right up against Keigo. ]
It's always struck me as more of a punishment than a reward, though. What do you think?
[ keigo blinked at the supposed "silver lining," his nose scrunching up in disdain. he shifts his head to look at akashi as best he could, offering up a scoff of his own. ]
"Given the chance." Like she wasn't deserving of a second chance...
[ it was pretty clear where keigo stood on that discussion. ]
I guess it's better than nothing. I wouldn't think of it as much of a positive, either.
I think I'd have to agree with you on that. It's better than nothing... and yet, if you think about it, she would've gotten what she wanted much faster had she simply killed the prince.
[ And now we all know what Akashi would have done in this situation. Anyway, he flips a page in the book he's currently perusing, making a vaguely thoughtful sound. ]
Anyway, this story reminded me of it. With the addition of gratuitous smut, of course, but I suppose the books here aren't all that bad.
[ ... One would hope there are less depressing riffs off of sexy fairy tales somewhere in there as well, of course. ]
[ that was only mildly unnerving... keigo was quite used to akashi's analytical manner of thinking, though it often clashed with his own, rather emotional, ways. pursing his lips, he reached down and pulled at the book, lifting it up. ]
She might have gotten what she wanted, but at the cost of killing someone she loved. I don't think anything's worth that high of a price.
[ he gave akashi a glance before turning his gaze toward the book itself. ]
How the hell do you work porn into a story like that, anyway...
I suppose... although she also threw away the chance to ever see any of her sisters ever again, and I'd suppose she loved them as well. And though she may not have intended it, she probably did pain her sisters quite deeply for the decision she made.
[ Also, he's just like... super not impressed with the prince in general. As well as unimpressed with the mermaid for throwing it all away for one guy, like what the heck princess. ]
Anyway, if you're curious, why not give it a read? I'll throw in my recommendation.
[ The real answer is: with a very heavy hand and a disregard for if porn makes sense at that point in the story. ]
[ it took keigo all of about five seconds of glancing through the book to realize that he didn't really want to read a story with such a downer ending. smut or not, no one liked a sad ending. unless they liked being sad, or something. keigo sure didn't. ]
Maybe later. Just from what you're sayin', it sounds too depressing for me. It's dreary enough around here.
[ keigo set the book to one side, looking at akashi from an angle. ]
Is that so? I'm sure I can find a happier story as well, although it's still going to have literary smut in it, I'm sure.
[ You can't escape the porn in the sexpocalypse!! In the framework of this discussion, Akashi has to admit to himself that his standards for leisure reading have really dovetailed, but he doesn't want to say that out loud. ]
Anyway... I'm doing much better now, thanks. I still feel a bit sluggish, though... I really wouldn't want to be stuck like this permanently, I think.
[ keigo was fine without any stories to read, really. his focus had shifted onto akashi entirely by that point and he remembered just how crucial it was for him to remain warm. getting wrapped up in a discussion about a smutty fairy tale took away from more important matters! ]
I sure hope you aren't! You could die if we're not careful!
[ keigo seemed very Concerned with that possibility, actually... ]
[ Akashi Seijuurou will surely someday rise to his true form, a being that needs nothing in order to exist, not food or sunlight or anything else. It'll probably come with amazing technicolor eyes that he can change the color gradient of at will. Sadly, today is not that day and he has not (disappointingly enough) learned to become warmblooded through sheer force of will; if anything, he seems to be cooling down rapidly and going a bit pale, having expended all his body warmth on his questionable life decisions.
He makes a noise that sounds distinctly like unhappy hissing because this was not as planned, which is clearly worse than the fact that he's somehow managed to exacerbate the situation. Words seem especially troublesome at the moment; instead, he just closes his eyes and pull his arms around Henry's waist, grip insistent. Almost like he really is a snake, coiling around his prey — except he's probably not going to eat Henry (probably) and just rub up against him insistently. Just sapping off extra heat isn't cutting it right now, so maybe a bit of friction will help, and if not — at least it feels pretty damn great, so there's that. ]
[Today might not be the day for Akashi to shed his skin, to reach his true state of technicolor apotheosis. But in its place, he seemed to have attained both venom and constrictor properties, so if nothing else, he was a very impressive snake.
Henry is impressed by Akashi's grip, anyway, as well as that spot-on hissing. He wouldn't have even minded getting eaten- not out of any particular interests in that regard, but purely just to see how Akashi would manage it. In small pieces, over a period of time, sure, but that wasn't the snake way; even if Akashi could unhinge his jaw, it'd be hard to make up that height difference.
But a lot more pressing was the way Akashi was pressing on him, making it clear he was being insufficient in his duties as a living heating rock. The sound Henry makes at the rubbing is distinctly bird-like, a hoarse warble; already sensitive, the rubbing felt too good to be considered pleasant. He still wasn't about to ask Akashi to slow down or wait, twitching roughly underneath him instead. Arms wrapping around him in turn, tightening- Henry's claws began digging into Akashi's back, leaving red lines that turn into split skin when he shudders.
It was a little like a sexualized bird-versus-snake fight.]
[ The Discovery Channel, if it were still existing, would have the documentary of the year if they could tape this part-bird part-snake violent mating ritual — which is ironic given that neither of them are even mammals, as the song goes.
Memes from a different decade aside — Akashi would probably have to settle for whole pieces if he wanted to swallow Henry up and turn this into a strange mix of sex, violence, and gluttony. It'd certainly spice things up; if Akashi ever turns part vampire or cannibal or something he'll know exactly where to go for assistance. Because what they need to add to their relationship is not only literal heart touching, but also perhaps literally becoming one (via digestion).
Sadly(??), his jaw doesn't dislocate, as far as he can tell. So he'll have to settle for crushing Henry a bit, responding to claws with a strange combination of desperate frottage and constriction and — he can't really help it, instincts call when he bites at Henry's skin blindly and indiscriminate of location; he's not even sure he's actually injecting venom, but there's a strange enjoyment in sliding fangs through skin with needle-like precision. ]
[If recorded, it would've been a whole new level of educational voyeurism/exhibitionism. Whether it would end up more-or-less disturbing than inflicting enthusiastic asphyxiation videos on the masses is a question that, unfortunately, seems unanswerable.
And who would Henry be to ever turn a cannibal-vampire Akashi down for heart eating (or any other kind)? Some people become one through metaphorical means, arcane rituals like 'marriage'. Others are a bit more literally minded.
Fortunately(?), the mating dance was still ongoing. There was something of a cycle to responses, instinct feeding on instinct. The more Akashi constricted, the harder Henry's claws dug, bruising skin where it didn't break, and leaving deeper furrows when it did. Henry can't feel the blood on his hands when it's there- the scales were too thick, made for gripping things roughly, not like Akashi's own softly-smooth scales. It made his own reactions harder to control, clutching at prey-turned-aggressor, panting as he jerked against him.
Henry thinks he can feel the prick of Akashi's fangs entering his skin, small, deceptively simple wounds. Whether additional venom was entering his bloodstream or not, the threat of it was there, the exciting feeling of struggled helplessness. Excited cawing too, as he tangles legs with Akashi's, body beating up against his.]
[ Whatever agency that it is that does movie ratings would probably be so confused as they tried to do their job on this hypothetical documentary. So all-in-all, probably best that it's not feasible to tape this, although really, who besides the two of them would want to watch their majestic mating ceremony.
The feeling of claws digging into his skin just gets the fight-or-flight hormones rushing even harder through his system, that primeval urge to copulate before the inevitability of death takes him (permanently, not whatever it is that he's sort of experienced a few times now). Even when he's getting carried away, he still generally maintains an edge of thinking to his doing, but this is far more driven by pure instinct than he's ever been. He tilts his head slightly without thinking about it, fangs going from a neat insert through skin to tearing through it — but there are more pressing things at the moment than the taste of blood hitting his tongue.
Here's where I belatedly Google about animal sex and discover: "Sexual conflict over copulation duration may have shaped the evolution of hemipenis morphology, favoring more elaborate organs in species in which a long duration of copulation is especially beneficial to males, despite the associated costs to females." Which is more about snake dicks than I ever needed to know, but provides a certain backdrop of this is going to go on for a while, Henry, settle in for some uncomfortable overstimulation via extreme frottage, Akashi can and will keep going. ]
[Something that magnificent would be hard for observers to appreciate, unless they shared some very specific interests.
Henry's not quite at the point of regretting his lack of crow-shaped genitalia- since a cloaca would've had to have been less sensitive than the human side of things, right?- but almost. The rubbing soared past what his body was asking for, past the chance for orgasm and right into pain. His claws rake down Akashi's side, as he tries to twist and bite at any part of his body he could get to. Without fangs of his own (or a beak), the most he could do was bruise, drag skin between his teeth and try to crush it, propelled more by sensation than thought: the mingled (if not exactly unfamiliar) feeling of tearing and wanting to be torn and desire to find a climax in the middle of both.
The overstimulation was making the latter impossible, though. Bucking was an instinct, a reflex, an attempt to jolt Akashi away from him; his leg locking around one of Akashi's, feathers crushed against scales, keeps him from going very far anyway.]
[ Akashi's sort of aware, vaguely, that this is actually pretty markedly more on the rough side of rough sex. The ratio of pleasure to pain here is suddenly heavily skewing towards pain, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but it does make something switch on a little in his brain and drains the physiological reactions a bit. He manages to stop hissing and squirming (though failing to distangle) and actually form a few words, so that's — something.
... In retrospect, he's probably not going to enjoy so much the animal instincts part of all of this. Even more so than the coldbloodedness. ]
... Henry? [ He tried. He sounds mildly drugged, but he tried. ] Thissss — ngh. [ Once more, without hissing. He'll avoid 's' sounds for now. ] Are you alright?
[ He glances down and it only then occurs to him that while Henry's gotten off, he is still going strong. He changes his mind, actually, being part snake sucks. ]
Caw? C-caw.... [Which roughly translates to 'I'm not sure about anything.' In Henry's current state, though, it takes him several moments to even realize he hadn't used his human words. What were those again?
He ached all over, though it felt particularly acute in the dick region and assorted territories. He didn't even feel particularly satisfied, much less relieved; Henry could remember the amount of venom he'd encouraged Akashi to dose him with, and he was a trifle... not concerned, just aware of that fact. Had he really burned through all of it? His limbs remained tense, and his pulse was speeding away, and though the thought of anything touching his dick made him cringe inwardly, that never stopped anything.
His laugh is weaker, and distinctly crow-like, but Henry does his best to look reassuring as he presses his face against Akashi's, nuzzling at his cheek between breaths. He also does his best to keep his claws from jabbing him too much more, the tips of them trembling in already-punctured skin. He could feel blood joining the mix of other fluids sticking them together, from the various wounds they'd created.]
I'm okay. Are you... should I do anything?
[Not that he'd stop Akashi if he just continued rubbing against him; needs must, and it wasn't as though he hadn't endured worse things.]
[ There've been a lot of different fluids circulating into the both of them as well as out of the both of them that they really should probably be seeking medical attention right now — not that hospitals even exist in the sexpocalypse, although Carvaka probably could have some sort of tabloid version of Sex Sent Me To the ER, though that's neither here nor there.
Anyway, Akashi sure still is popping a boner and he's not entirely sure what to do about it; he's still raring to go at it, Henry clearly is not and Akashi's not feeling too great about pushing the point here when he can go and take care of his problem by himself. ]
Mm, no, I can take care of things. [ He leans in, resting his head on Henry's shoulder lightly. His dick aggressively refuses to die down, but he thinks he's just going to take a moment for a breather here... ]
[He could just accept that, it was true. It wasn't as though Henry was feeling the most coordinated or energetic, and Akashi was certainly capable of handling a simple erection on his own.
But it was hard (so to speak) for Henry to turn down an opportunity to touch Akashi, so he decides to give it a go anyway.
The one problem is that his hands were mostly scales and claws. And not the nice, smooth snakeskin that Akashi had, but rough and probably not intended for rubbing at sensitive things like dicks. Still, trying sounded like a good idea to Henry, so that's suddenly a lot of sharp points curling dangerously close to places that probably don't need an impromptu piercing.
The added problem was that it was awfully hard to feel what he was doing. The scales of his hands didn't allow much sensation to pass through them, and though he tilts his head down to watch where his talons were going, this was shaping up to not be the most comfortable handjob ever.]
[ Normally, even Akashi would be a bit alarmed about all of this; he'd really like to not turn this into some sort of impromptu emasculation, but normally he also doesn't have to come to terms with the fact that he's pretty sure his dick has been partially altered by his partial transformation into a snake-human being and that just makes this seem like far more of a good idea than it should be.
In other words: he really shouldn't, but he's willing to risk accidentally getting a dick piercing right now. To make things less risky for them both, he at least tries his best to hold still and not make any abrupt movements, but it's hard to when it feels like his entire body is really pushing a biological imperative to get off. As if channeling his energy away from bucking his hips, the rest of his body seems to be shuddering slightly, and he presses his forehead into Henry's shoulder with a surprising amount of pressure, tugging at his forearm for balance as he breathes in sharp inhales and ragged exhales. His instincts are saying this is all still well and good, and quite frankly, he's just not in the mood to fight against them right now. ]
[Most of the time, his crow-instincts had done Henry well. It wasn't that different from normal, apart from wanting to fluff up his feathers impressively and demonstrate to Akashi his fantastic nest-making skills. There was that.
But with his claws nestled around delicate parts of Akashi's anatomy, Henry's having to reconsider the practicalities. And while feeling the press of Akashi's head against his shoulder was nice, even if his arm hadn't been trapped, Henry realized that his instinct to stroke his hair wouldn't have worked very well. Even if his hands hadn't been bloody (hardly a deterrent), he wouldn't have been able to feel it at all.
So maybe being part-crow wasn't all fun and games and dive-bombing people and cawing at them. While Henry was quite happy to scratch Akashi up a bit, he kind of preferred him with all his limbs/dick still attached. He also kind of liked being able to feel what he was doing, to feel Akashi in general- and even with all the body-contact, hands were... kind of useful implements.
But there was nothing for it but to make do with what he had, moving fingers as quickly as he could risk, hoping that the abrasiveness would be a bonus instead of a detriment. And as careful as he was being, Henry couldn't keep the tips of his claws from contacting Akashi entirely- the touch leaving the thinnest of welts along his dick. Raising the skin, if not quite breaking it- though it would take only a small jerk of hips to change that.]
[ So Akashi can handle the generic sex-game set-up, sure, he's fine with fucking rather than dying. He's no porn fiend and has had more thoughts about basketballs than human balls, but he's no shut-in either — he understands the act just fine; he's co-existed with fellow teenagers enough to figure out the basics. (The Emperor Eye helps, weirdly enough, considering he can read body language so well and probably can detect the split second somebody starts popping a boner, but that is neither here nor there.)
The point is: he might not be terribly experienced, but figuring out making out is not precisely rocket science, and it seems like an appropriate lead-in to doing the do. Kissing is fine, mildly awkward above-the-belt fondling is fine. They even start venturing below the belt, and Akashi is still fine with things.
It's when the toy comes out that Akashi begins to feel that things are slipping out of his control and he's not about that life, which is why he pulls back, crosses his arms, and attempts to magnificently ignore the fact that (1) they are not wearing shirts, and (2) they are only really generously wearing pants at this point, considering how far pulled down they are. ]
[ Akashi's almost impressed by the fact that he's actually kidnapped at the moment. Not only is he naturally wary, but he does have a considerable number of guards looking out for him at any given time, so having even one person manage to slip through all those defenses and carry him off is certainly laudable, in a sense. There's only one other person he knows has the specific skillset that really lends itself to a task like this, but this entire kidnapping business is definitely not Kuroko's style.
He's currently blindfolded, hands tied behind his back, and ankles tied together — his mouth isn't bound up, at least, but he's kept quiet ever since he regained consciousness from being knocked out earlier in the evening, trying to get as much of a grasp as possible — he can tell they're on the move, and most likely, there are only a small number of kidnappers. It's cool, so it's probably still night, which means not much time has passed. They can't be that far away from where Akashi was abducted — the mansion of a nobleman's house near the border of another country. Going by that logic, he supposes it's most likely that he's being carried across the border.
... Lying around is getting a bit boring, though, and he's about exhausted all he can glean for the time being, so he decides to break his silence. ]
... I suppose you know who I am, but I have to admit. I have no idea what's going on here.
[ Except the broadly obvious of "being kidnapped", but, you know. ]
I'd hate to think I'd gotten the wrong person after all the trouble it was to get to you.
[Mayuzumi sounds calm, as if he'd suspected Akashi was awake all this time. Truthfully, he'd had his suspicions, but it wasn't as if he could put all of his attention on this guy just to watch for the signs.
They were in the back of a wagon, with an old farmer who'd lost his hearing doing the driving. It had been easy enough to convince the man to give them a ride after getting it across how terribly sick his "friend" was.
He'd taken care to hide Akashi's hair under a hood, not wanting him to be easily identified by anyone that might see them passing through. The idea of disguising him as a woman had also occurred to Mayuzumi, but he thought it might be better to save that little plan for later, when he could discard Akashi's clothes less obviously. For now, simply bundling him up in an old blanket will do.]
Don't bother yelling for help. We're far enough away that no one would hear you, and it'd just be annoying.
So I would hope. It'd be disappointing to get kidnapped only to discover I was kidnapped by an incompetent, honestly.
[ ... Okay, well, he'd prefer to not be kidnapped at all, but if he's going to have to get carried away in the night, it may as well be done with the proper amount of preparation. He isn't going to be easy to kidnap, dammit. ]
Me? Well it'd be nice if you'd just go along for the fun of it and I didn't have to tie you up, but I think we both know that's not going to happen.
[Mayuzumi leans back against a burlap sack that smells (and feels) like potatoes. Whatever. Even if it's lumpy, it's bound to be more comfortable than being tied up is.]
I like to think I'm pretty competent, which is why we're not going to test that.
As you've guessed, I'd really rather not be kidnapped in the first place. Do I at least get to know who my kidnapper is, or should I give you an unflattering nickname?
[ ... Probably not, Akashi imagines, but you never know. Besides, the name of an individual kidnapper is not likely to mean much to him, so it probably won't be particularly useful knowledge anyway. What kind of kidnapper makes themselves publicly known? That's just dumb. ]
Nickname me all you like. I only have to deal with you for a few days, maybe a week, tops.
[They're not in the clear just yet; Mayuzumi isn't going to go counting his chickens before they're hatched. He hasn't even received his full payment yet! Akashi was right to assume they were headed for the border. With luck, they'd be across it before any of Akashi's usual entourage even noticed he was missing.]
It all depends on whether your father will pay to get you back.
[ For some reason, even though his dad's his dad and all, Akashi doesn't really like the idea of needing to rely on his father at a time like this... better to just make his move before then and then his dear old dad won't even have to lift a finger. ]
If he doesn't, I'm to get half of whatever you'll sell for at the nearest ship running under a red sail.
[He doesn't come out and say it directly, but hopefully Akashi hasn't been so sheltered as to not realize he'll have bigger problems than simply being kidnapped. Once he were put on a ship, it would be near-impossible for anyone to find him. Mayuzumi gives Akashi a nudge to the shoulder with his boot.]
Of course, if you don't think he'll pay, we can just skip straight to Plan B and save us both the time of waiting.
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[ ... Almost as friendly as "memento mori": Remember that you, too, could be turned into something distinctly not-human at any turn because reality doesn't really follow any rules around these parts. Mayuzumi can probably see the vague smirk that Akashi wears for a moment or two without even having to actually look at Akashi. He can't wait to see what kind of creature that fate decides to twist him into someday; Akashi feels like Mayuzumi can't escape it forever. Maybe part cat, Mayuzumi seems to have feelings about so-called "catgirls".
And then, abruptly, Akashi decides to change the topic to something that's probably not entirely comfortable given that his mouth is very, very close to the back of Mayuzumi's neck at the moment. ]
I think I've also become somewhat venomous — I haven't checked to be sure, but I do have fangs right now.
[ Another friendly warning... ]
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[ Mayuzumi's just oozing gratitude here.
He hopes that if something like this happens to him that it won't last long; he might be into that kind of thing when it comes to cute fictional girls, but he's not so sure he wants to live the 2d life in that sense. Even if sex with a transformed Henry was...kind of intense and not in the bad way, but he really, really doesn't want to think about what that says about his inclinations either.
The topic shift is a distraction from that thought, and so is the fact that he's very much aware of where Akashi's mouth is located, considering that he can feel Akashi's every breath flow out over the nape of his neck and ruffle his hair. ]
By the way, I'm sure I don't need to remind you that poisoning someone who's helping you out isn't a good way to show your gratitude.
[ It's a bit hard to give Akashi a pointed glance over his shoulder considering their current positions, but he does his best to convey it with his voice. ]
...And maybe warn me if you start feeling like you want to swallow me whole while you're at it.
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You wouldn't have gotten a warning if I were going to do it on purpose, you know.
[ ... One certainly hopes he isn't about to do anything on accident? Anyway... ]
I also highly doubt that I would be able to swallow you whole in most meaningful ways. [ Lowkey sexual innuendo? He'll leave it to Mayuzumi's imagination. ] My jaw doesn't detach, as far as I can tell. You could check when we're inside, if you like.
[ Somehow, the thought of purposely attempting to dislocate his own jaw is unappealing to him and yet he's okay with other people giving it the good old college try. It's... different. ]
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[ Mayuzumi probably shouldn't be giving someone with fangs by his neck who's possibly poisonous such a hard time; like many of his choices involving Akashi, it's pretty questionable from a purely logical standpoint.
But he does pick up on what sounds a little suggestive to him, in response to something that he realizes could sound a little suggestive in itself. It's territory they haven't really treaded too far into before, which makes the verbal steps Mayuzumi takes small even as his physical gait is assured in carrying them to his cottage.
...Which is in sight, just up ahead. ]
Your jaw can stay where it is though. I'm not really interested in trying out being swallowed in the "most meaningful ways", thanks.
[ But is Mayuzumi open to trying that out in the other way that they're skirting around saying outright? Someone might have to press the issue a little further to find out... ]
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[ All Mayuzumi needs to do to find out is make a sudden, alarming movement and see if Akashi reflexively bites! ... On second thought, that wouldn't prove anything at all, he might do it in his right mind too. ]
But very well. I'll keep my jaw close to, but a measured distance from your neck. I'll excuse myself from making the same promise for any other body parts, though.
[ Akashi could keep up this innuendo-laden conversation for a while longer, but it does seem to have served its purpose: Mayuzumi's not shutting it down entirely, so that means he's not strictly and wholly opposed. ]
Besides, I can think of some less meaningful ways to engage my mouth... I suppose.
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Not really something he'd object to, temperature difference and strange reptilian semi-transformation aside. Mayuzumi's caution in going down this road has less to do with attraction and more to do with Akashi being the closest...something he has; the guy might be a pain in the ass to deal with at times but he really doesn't want things to get weird between them thanks to crossing that intimacy barrier.
...Well, weirder than the baseline level of weird that's inherent in associating with Akashi Seijuurou. It's something Mayuzumi's worried about since he found out how things work around here though, a little.
But isn't it time for him to just get over something like that already? ]
...Yeah. I suppose I can, too.
[ And he leaves that hanging because they've arrived, even though his mind still dwells on the possibilities; it takes a minute for him to get the door open since he has to keep a cold-blooded kouhai balanced on his back while doing it, but soon enough the warmer air of his cottage envelops them both. He only pauses to slip his shoes off before carrying Akashi towards his bed. ]
Should I bother offering you tea for warming up? [ He's pretty sure he already knows the answer to that, but he still asks anyway. ]
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... The characters in this book really are quite flexible.
[ Ah yes. His commentary on the fictional smut he's reading is absolutely necessary at this point. ]
Should I read it aloud? This is fairly impressive, in its own way.
[ At least he keeps himself amused... ]
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serpentine features on a human should have been a terrifying thing to witness, but at this rate, keigo felt things were progressing in a manner proper for their shared situation. seeing those things on akashi, however, was a bit harder to swallow. so, even if he was interrupting the routine he used to keep himself sane, keigo indulged in akashi's predicaments, helping him in any way he could. in a way, that helped make him sane, too.
but seeing the subject matter of the book in his possession... keigo could only roll his eyes. at this rate, even some of the most lascivious displays, whether in print or in flesh, were becoming droll. keigo huffed, pressing a palm to akashi's forearm, moving it out of the way to get a better look at what, exactly, he was reading.
...okay, some things still managed to spark embarrassment in keigo. ]
W-what's there to read, anyway!! It's just a bunch of lewd stuff, no different than the rest of the books in that stupid library...
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[ ... or maybe his standards have gotten lower over time; Akashi can't deny that might be a possibility. He's willing to settle, though, because he is well aware that they aren't likely to gain a sudden trove of high literature anytime soon. Or even just books that aren't excuses for literary smut.
He sighs just thinking about it. Maybe someday, but he's not going to hope for it too hard. Instead, he just tucks his cheek up between Keigo's shoulder and neck, most likely to warm it up, judging from the fact that it's cool to the touch — and unnaturally smooth where there's scales rather than skin in patches. ]
It reminds me a bit of The Little Mermaid... Are you familiar with the story? The fairy tale, not the movie.
ah sorry i wrote so much OTL
yes, he was somewhat used to the rules of the place, in that having sex was the only clear-cut way to remain tangible. but keigo still desperately clung to certain aspects that he felt made him more defiant, less accepting. some measures of shame were an example of such. it was why he still blushed when he initiated sex or whenever someone made a pass at him.
and, though he loved physical contact much, much before the current state of the world, it was filtered through a different channel when it came to someone he'd had sex with before. akashi, naturally, was not overtly sexual, but his presence still brought up memories. it was difficult not to think of them.
his skin prickled when the cool and unusually smooth spots of akashi's skin brushed against his neck. keigo froze as he felt blood rush up to his face, coloring his skin. akashi would likely be grateful for the warmth it bestowed upon him. keigo just felt like this was all a cosmic joke. ]
N-... no, I don't think so. That's a European story, isn't it?
[ trying to keep their conversation going in a civil and controlled manner was keigo's ultimate goal here. he even took some breaths to calm himself, though the flush still remained on his face and neck. ]
ahh no worries SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG...,
Mm, it is. The original fairy tale is a bit more depressing than the movie... for one thing, the mermaid trades not only her voice to the sea witch, but every step she takes with her human feet is extraordinarily painful to her. And although she can't speak, she has to win the prince's love to obtain a human soul or else die.
[ Unconsciously, Akashi shifts slightly, nuzzling up against Keigo to warm himself up more evenly as he continues — ]
In the end, the prince doesn't fall in love with the mermaid. He marries a princess from a neighboring kingdom, and in the mermaid's despair, she considers killing him to become a mermaid again... but she can't do it. She still loves the prince... and the next morning, she dissolves into seafoam. Sad, isn't it?
[ Uh, yeah. Probably kind of a downer conversation to be having, actually. Akashi really knows how to pick a topic. ]
NO WORRIES c':
so much so that keigo didn't really flinch as akashi drew himself nearer. he sort of stared down at his lap, lips pursed, and hummed softly as he contemplated the story. ]
...yeah, really tragic. What a downer.
[ with a brisk sigh, he moved about as gently as he could, so as not to disturb akashi's position. ]
I can't say I'd do any different, if I was in that situation.
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[ Then he laughs, and it's... definitely not an amused kind of laugh. Not that the sad origins of most fairy tales are a laughing matter to begin with. There's a pause, and then he sighs lightly, a gesture that might not've been noticeable were it not for the fact that he's sitting right up against Keigo. ]
It's always struck me as more of a punishment than a reward, though. What do you think?
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"Given the chance." Like she wasn't deserving of a second chance...
[ it was pretty clear where keigo stood on that discussion. ]
I guess it's better than nothing. I wouldn't think of it as much of a positive, either.
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[ And now we all know what Akashi would have done in this situation. Anyway, he flips a page in the book he's currently perusing, making a vaguely thoughtful sound. ]
Anyway, this story reminded me of it. With the addition of gratuitous smut, of course, but I suppose the books here aren't all that bad.
[ ... One would hope there are less depressing riffs off of sexy fairy tales somewhere in there as well, of course. ]
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She might have gotten what she wanted, but at the cost of killing someone she loved. I don't think anything's worth that high of a price.
[ he gave akashi a glance before turning his gaze toward the book itself. ]
How the hell do you work porn into a story like that, anyway...
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[ Also, he's just like... super not impressed with the prince in general. As well as unimpressed with the mermaid for throwing it all away for one guy, like what the heck princess. ]
Anyway, if you're curious, why not give it a read? I'll throw in my recommendation.
[ The real answer is: with a very heavy hand and a disregard for if porn makes sense at that point in the story. ]
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Maybe later. Just from what you're sayin', it sounds too depressing for me. It's dreary enough around here.
[ keigo set the book to one side, looking at akashi from an angle. ]
How're you feelin', anyway? Any better?
[ warmth-wise, that is. ]
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[ You can't escape the porn in the sexpocalypse!! In the framework of this discussion, Akashi has to admit to himself that his standards for leisure reading have really dovetailed, but he doesn't want to say that out loud. ]
Anyway... I'm doing much better now, thanks. I still feel a bit sluggish, though... I really wouldn't want to be stuck like this permanently, I think.
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I sure hope you aren't! You could die if we're not careful!
[ keigo seemed very Concerned with that possibility, actually... ]
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He makes a noise that sounds distinctly like unhappy hissing because this was not as planned, which is clearly worse than the fact that he's somehow managed to exacerbate the situation. Words seem especially troublesome at the moment; instead, he just closes his eyes and pull his arms around Henry's waist, grip insistent. Almost like he really is a snake, coiling around his prey — except he's probably not going to eat Henry (probably) and just rub up against him insistently. Just sapping off extra heat isn't cutting it right now, so maybe a bit of friction will help, and if not — at least it feels pretty damn great, so there's that. ]
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Henry is impressed by Akashi's grip, anyway, as well as that spot-on hissing. He wouldn't have even minded getting eaten- not out of any particular interests in that regard, but purely just to see how Akashi would manage it. In small pieces, over a period of time, sure, but that wasn't the snake way; even if Akashi could unhinge his jaw, it'd be hard to make up that height difference.
But a lot more pressing was the way Akashi was pressing on him, making it clear he was being insufficient in his duties as a living heating rock. The sound Henry makes at the rubbing is distinctly bird-like, a hoarse warble; already sensitive, the rubbing felt too good to be considered pleasant. He still wasn't about to ask Akashi to slow down or wait, twitching roughly underneath him instead. Arms wrapping around him in turn, tightening- Henry's claws began digging into Akashi's back, leaving red lines that turn into split skin when he shudders.
It was a little like a sexualized bird-versus-snake fight.]
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Memes from a different decade aside — Akashi would probably have to settle for whole pieces if he wanted to swallow Henry up and turn this into a strange mix of sex, violence, and gluttony. It'd certainly spice things up; if Akashi ever turns part vampire or cannibal or something he'll know exactly where to go for assistance. Because what they need to add to their relationship is not only literal heart touching, but also perhaps literally becoming one (via digestion).
Sadly(??), his jaw doesn't dislocate, as far as he can tell. So he'll have to settle for crushing Henry a bit, responding to claws with a strange combination of desperate frottage and constriction and — he can't really help it, instincts call when he bites at Henry's skin blindly and indiscriminate of location; he's not even sure he's actually injecting venom, but there's a strange enjoyment in sliding fangs through skin with needle-like precision. ]
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And who would Henry be to ever turn a cannibal-vampire Akashi down for heart eating (or any other kind)? Some people become one through metaphorical means, arcane rituals like 'marriage'. Others are a bit more literally minded.
Fortunately(?), the mating dance was still ongoing. There was something of a cycle to responses, instinct feeding on instinct. The more Akashi constricted, the harder Henry's claws dug, bruising skin where it didn't break, and leaving deeper furrows when it did. Henry can't feel the blood on his hands when it's there- the scales were too thick, made for gripping things roughly, not like Akashi's own softly-smooth scales. It made his own reactions harder to control, clutching at prey-turned-aggressor, panting as he jerked against him.
Henry thinks he can feel the prick of Akashi's fangs entering his skin, small, deceptively simple wounds. Whether additional venom was entering his bloodstream or not, the threat of it was there, the exciting feeling of struggled helplessness. Excited cawing too, as he tangles legs with Akashi's, body beating up against his.]
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The feeling of claws digging into his skin just gets the fight-or-flight hormones rushing even harder through his system, that primeval urge to copulate before the inevitability of death takes him (permanently, not whatever it is that he's sort of experienced a few times now). Even when he's getting carried away, he still generally maintains an edge of thinking to his doing, but this is far more driven by pure instinct than he's ever been. He tilts his head slightly without thinking about it, fangs going from a neat insert through skin to tearing through it — but there are more pressing things at the moment than the taste of blood hitting his tongue.
Here's where I belatedly Google about animal sex and discover: "Sexual conflict over copulation duration may have shaped the evolution of hemipenis morphology, favoring more elaborate organs in species in which a long duration of copulation is especially beneficial to males, despite the associated costs to females." Which is more about snake dicks than I ever needed to know, but provides a certain backdrop of this is going to go on for a while, Henry, settle in for some uncomfortable overstimulation via extreme frottage, Akashi can and will keep going. ]
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Henry's not quite at the point of regretting his lack of crow-shaped genitalia- since a cloaca would've had to have been less sensitive than the human side of things, right?- but almost. The rubbing soared past what his body was asking for, past the chance for orgasm and right into pain. His claws rake down Akashi's side, as he tries to twist and bite at any part of his body he could get to. Without fangs of his own (or a beak), the most he could do was bruise, drag skin between his teeth and try to crush it, propelled more by sensation than thought: the mingled (if not exactly unfamiliar) feeling of tearing and wanting to be torn and desire to find a climax in the middle of both.
The overstimulation was making the latter impossible, though. Bucking was an instinct, a reflex, an attempt to jolt Akashi away from him; his leg locking around one of Akashi's, feathers crushed against scales, keeps him from going very far anyway.]
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... In retrospect, he's probably not going to enjoy so much the animal instincts part of all of this. Even more so than the coldbloodedness. ]
... Henry? [ He tried. He sounds mildly drugged, but he tried. ] Thissss — ngh. [ Once more, without hissing. He'll avoid 's' sounds for now. ] Are you alright?
[ He glances down and it only then occurs to him that while Henry's gotten off, he is still going strong. He changes his mind, actually, being part snake sucks. ]
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He ached all over, though it felt particularly acute in the dick region and assorted territories. He didn't even feel particularly satisfied, much less relieved; Henry could remember the amount of venom he'd encouraged Akashi to dose him with, and he was a trifle... not concerned, just aware of that fact. Had he really burned through all of it? His limbs remained tense, and his pulse was speeding away, and though the thought of anything touching his dick made him cringe inwardly, that never stopped anything.
His laugh is weaker, and distinctly crow-like, but Henry does his best to look reassuring as he presses his face against Akashi's, nuzzling at his cheek between breaths. He also does his best to keep his claws from jabbing him too much more, the tips of them trembling in already-punctured skin. He could feel blood joining the mix of other fluids sticking them together, from the various wounds they'd created.]
I'm okay. Are you... should I do anything?
[Not that he'd stop Akashi if he just continued rubbing against him; needs must, and it wasn't as though he hadn't endured worse things.]
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Anyway, Akashi sure still is popping a boner and he's not entirely sure what to do about it; he's still raring to go at it, Henry clearly is not and Akashi's not feeling too great about pushing the point here when he can go and take care of his problem by himself. ]
Mm, no, I can take care of things. [ He leans in, resting his head on Henry's shoulder lightly. His dick aggressively refuses to die down, but he thinks he's just going to take a moment for a breather here... ]
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[He could just accept that, it was true. It wasn't as though Henry was feeling the most coordinated or energetic, and Akashi was certainly capable of handling a simple erection on his own.
But it was hard (so to speak) for Henry to turn down an opportunity to touch Akashi, so he decides to give it a go anyway.
The one problem is that his hands were mostly scales and claws. And not the nice, smooth snakeskin that Akashi had, but rough and probably not intended for rubbing at sensitive things like dicks. Still, trying sounded like a good idea to Henry, so that's suddenly a lot of sharp points curling dangerously close to places that probably don't need an impromptu piercing.
The added problem was that it was awfully hard to feel what he was doing. The scales of his hands didn't allow much sensation to pass through them, and though he tilts his head down to watch where his talons were going, this was shaping up to not be the most comfortable handjob ever.]
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In other words: he really shouldn't, but he's willing to risk accidentally getting a dick piercing right now. To make things less risky for them both, he at least tries his best to hold still and not make any abrupt movements, but it's hard to when it feels like his entire body is really pushing a biological imperative to get off. As if channeling his energy away from bucking his hips, the rest of his body seems to be shuddering slightly, and he presses his forehead into Henry's shoulder with a surprising amount of pressure, tugging at his forearm for balance as he breathes in sharp inhales and ragged exhales. His instincts are saying this is all still well and good, and quite frankly, he's just not in the mood to fight against them right now. ]
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But with his claws nestled around delicate parts of Akashi's anatomy, Henry's having to reconsider the practicalities. And while feeling the press of Akashi's head against his shoulder was nice, even if his arm hadn't been trapped, Henry realized that his instinct to stroke his hair wouldn't have worked very well. Even if his hands hadn't been bloody (hardly a deterrent), he wouldn't have been able to feel it at all.
So maybe being part-crow wasn't all fun and games and dive-bombing people and cawing at them. While Henry was quite happy to scratch Akashi up a bit, he kind of preferred him with all his limbs/dick still attached. He also kind of liked being able to feel what he was doing, to feel Akashi in general- and even with all the body-contact, hands were... kind of useful implements.
But there was nothing for it but to make do with what he had, moving fingers as quickly as he could risk, hoping that the abrasiveness would be a bonus instead of a detriment. And as careful as he was being, Henry couldn't keep the tips of his claws from contacting Akashi entirely- the touch leaving the thinnest of welts along his dick. Raising the skin, if not quite breaking it- though it would take only a small jerk of hips to change that.]
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The point is: he might not be terribly experienced, but figuring out making out is not precisely rocket science, and it seems like an appropriate lead-in to doing the do. Kissing is fine, mildly awkward above-the-belt fondling is fine. They even start venturing below the belt, and Akashi is still fine with things.
It's when the toy comes out that Akashi begins to feel that things are slipping out of his control and he's not about that life, which is why he pulls back, crosses his arms, and attempts to magnificently ignore the fact that (1) they are not wearing shirts, and (2) they are only really generously wearing pants at this point, considering how far pulled down they are. ]
What is that.
[ Said with the tone of "it is going away now." ]
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He's currently blindfolded, hands tied behind his back, and ankles tied together — his mouth isn't bound up, at least, but he's kept quiet ever since he regained consciousness from being knocked out earlier in the evening, trying to get as much of a grasp as possible — he can tell they're on the move, and most likely, there are only a small number of kidnappers. It's cool, so it's probably still night, which means not much time has passed. They can't be that far away from where Akashi was abducted — the mansion of a nobleman's house near the border of another country. Going by that logic, he supposes it's most likely that he's being carried across the border.
... Lying around is getting a bit boring, though, and he's about exhausted all he can glean for the time being, so he decides to break his silence. ]
... I suppose you know who I am, but I have to admit. I have no idea what's going on here.
[ Except the broadly obvious of "being kidnapped", but, you know. ]
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[Mayuzumi sounds calm, as if he'd suspected Akashi was awake all this time. Truthfully, he'd had his suspicions, but it wasn't as if he could put all of his attention on this guy just to watch for the signs.
They were in the back of a wagon, with an old farmer who'd lost his hearing doing the driving. It had been easy enough to convince the man to give them a ride after getting it across how terribly sick his "friend" was.
He'd taken care to hide Akashi's hair under a hood, not wanting him to be easily identified by anyone that might see them passing through. The idea of disguising him as a woman had also occurred to Mayuzumi, but he thought it might be better to save that little plan for later, when he could discard Akashi's clothes less obviously. For now, simply bundling him up in an old blanket will do.]
Don't bother yelling for help. We're far enough away that no one would hear you, and it'd just be annoying.
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[ ... Okay, well, he'd prefer to not be kidnapped at all, but if he's going to have to get carried away in the night, it may as well be done with the proper amount of preparation. He isn't going to be easy to kidnap, dammit. ]
So what do you want from me, anyway?
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[Mayuzumi leans back against a burlap sack that smells (and feels) like potatoes. Whatever. Even if it's lumpy, it's bound to be more comfortable than being tied up is.]
I like to think I'm pretty competent, which is why we're not going to test that.
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[ ... Probably not, Akashi imagines, but you never know. Besides, the name of an individual kidnapper is not likely to mean much to him, so it probably won't be particularly useful knowledge anyway. What kind of kidnapper makes themselves publicly known? That's just dumb. ]
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[They're not in the clear just yet; Mayuzumi isn't going to go counting his chickens before they're hatched. He hasn't even received his full payment yet! Akashi was right to assume they were headed for the border. With luck, they'd be across it before any of Akashi's usual entourage even noticed he was missing.]
It all depends on whether your father will pay to get you back.
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And what if he doesn't?
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[He doesn't come out and say it directly, but hopefully Akashi hasn't been so sheltered as to not realize he'll have bigger problems than simply being kidnapped. Once he were put on a ship, it would be near-impossible for anyone to find him. Mayuzumi gives Akashi a nudge to the shoulder with his boot.]
Of course, if you don't think he'll pay, we can just skip straight to Plan B and save us both the time of waiting.