video; un: whiteroad

[whiteroadrunning]

[Our scene is laid in a pod kitchen. The first-person view displays a countertop, with a toaster upon it. The toaster is older, a bit battered, but it's been lovingly polished to some semblance of its former glory. It's plugged in, but when Alec pushes the lever -- which he's done a few times since the video started -- he's not pushing it down quite hard enough to engage the power. Also, there's no bread inside. It seems, at the moment, he's just trying to figure out how it works.

Functional usage can come later.

After the fourth or fifth try, Alec sighs.]

Oh, Sakor's t--

This is a foolish question, no doubt. But would someone care to explain this to me? I've taken the damned thing apart and put it back together twice, and I can't...

It's for bread, yes? Or pastries?

[Alec grumbles and kneels down beside the counter. The feed cuts after a brief flash of his distorted reflection in the toaster, pouting, brow furrowed with frustration.]

Comments

[whiteroadrunning]

[If Seregil is expecting anything less than eager participation from Alec, he's sorely mistaken. The moment Seregil brings their lips together, Alec is happily meeting the pace, kissing him with a gentle assuredness and a soft pull. Because after years of doing so, Alec is intimately familiar with how Seregil likes to be kissed, of just how to make their lips fit perfectly against one another, of how he sometimes whimpers when Alec pulls with his teeth and shivers when Alec's hands push through his hair. And he'd have kept after it when Seregil pulled away, were he not so conscious of the man's need for a slower pace.

As it is, he simply casts Seregil a questioning stare. And then, his face blooms into a brilliant smile.]

Perfect. Tali, you always feel perfect.

[of_bokthersa]

[Everything felt right about this. Everything. The feel of Alec's body against him and the touch of his lips felt as if they'd been meant to be there; as if there'd never been a time that they hadn't. It was maddening beyond his reason and resolve. Somehow he got the feeling that Alec did that to him a lot.

Another laugh escaped at Alec's words and he wonderd just how much Alec understood how irrisistable they were.]

So much for taking things slow, eh talí

[Before Alec could respond, he kissed him again.]

[whiteroadrunning]

[We still can. The affirmation is on Alec's lips, but Seregil kisses them away. Alec would like to think he's done a fair job of letting Seregil set the pace with this, but in reality, he's probably pushed more than he meant to. It's difficult with Seregil so near, hard to remember that this is still new for him, that Alec should downshift for the sake of Seregil's conscience, but then...

Then Seregil is kissing him, stroking him, and Alec forgets why he should be reining in.

With a quiet whimper -- because it's hard, when all he wants to do is melt -- Alec breaks from Seregil's lips, though he doesn't quite manage to pull away.]

We can still take things slowly. If that's what you want. I want you to be sure.

[of_bokthersa]

[Seregil is still all hands as he brushes and strokes Alec's hair.]

It's never that I've been unsure, talí, it's getting used to a you that's five years ahead of me. It feels wrong, but there isn't much that can be done about it.

[whiteroadrunning]

[It feels wrong. That stings. It sticks with Alec in a very real way, because despite Dalna's guiding principles, nothing had felt more right from the moment they kissed. Had Seregil been so at odds with his feelings in the beginning? Alec was so caught up in his own nerves and worry at Watermead, perhaps he'd missed this facet of Seregil's reticence.

Alec's hands had been on their own path, holding Seregil's head with fingers buried in his dark hair. They drift down now, resting at his shoulders to give a reassuring squeeze.]

How can I help it feel right?

[of_bokthersa]

[This time the laugh was a bit dry.]

Move my time to match yours.

[He moves his own hands to rest on Alec's shoulders, squeezing tight before one of them moved to cup his face.]

I want nothing more than to be with you, and nothing's made more sense. But the damn years make me backstep. It's like I've lost time and there's no way of getting it back, no matter how hard I try. I can't start where you are, and you can't start where I am. It's an impasse I don't know how to surmount.

[whiteroadrunning]

[Alec smiles sadly but nods, even as his hands slide away from Seregil's shoulders, coming to rest instead on the man's knees.]

I understand. I've had trouble accounting for it too. I promise I'm not trying to be difficult.

A bargain, then. [Alec reaches up with one hand, to lace his fingers with Seregil's.] When you're ready, I'll be completely at your mercy for as long as you like. You can take your time, and show me exactly how you want me to make love to you.

[of_bokthersa]

I know you aren't talí,

[A small, loving smile crossed his features, softening them.]

You're too kind for that.

[Something about the proposed bargain, however, forced his heat to drop into the pit of his stomach. He had feared that he'd forced Alec to grow too fast as Ilar had to him, but now a new worry appeared. Had he done as Korathan had?

Korathan had been demanding as a lover. He'd never allowed Seregil the time to come to an understanding of things, had never eased him into the whole thing. Not that Seregil held it against him; on the contrary, the pair were on good terms, and he considered him as much as a friend as Phoria would allow. But that wasn't what he wanted for Alec. The man should be cherished; he should have been allowed to feel comfortable in his decision and in the understanding of what he wanted in a lover and lovemaking. Seregil never wanted to take from him, only give.]

No, I'd prefer you show me what you want.

[His look was almost pleading as he squeezed Alec's hand.]

[whiteroadrunning]

We can do both.

[If Alec has any notion of Seregil's reservations, he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he coaxes Seregil into another kiss, tender despite its firmness, and lingers for only a moment before he leans away.]

I love you. Nothing will change that, I promise you.

[of_bokthersa]

[Seregil isn't hard to coax into the kiss, and even with all his reservations, he's eager to return it, letting out a slight sigh as Alec pulls away.]

I love you too, talí