demonicmiracle | (duplicity) ic contact

[ after the party, once crowley's home and while martin's making tea for them, crowley will find his christmas gifts in his room, wrapped neatly in cute but simple seasonal paper.

first is a pair of plants (obviously only very loosely covered to keep from damaging them), one a bat flower and the other a rex begonia. both have instructions for care, and are in tasteful black stone containers. the next is a slightly crooked, probably hand-knit red blanket obviously meant for cuddling. the last, a slightly scandalous (but pretty) set of soft restraints, also has a note:

Because I like you in pretty things. ❤

merry christmas, crowley! ]

[The plants are absolutely beautiful, and the blanket is very sweet (and very soft), but it's the cuffs that he has to comment on.

Crowley makes his way to the edge of the loft, leaning on the railing, the cuffs dangling from his fingers.]

Mr. Blackwood, I think you ought to explain yourself.

[There's amusement in his voice, though. It's the best way to cover up anything else he's feeling.]

[ he glances up and smiles, warm and teasing and adoring. ] Wasn't it self-explanatory? [ he's actually.. really nervous about giving a gift like that, especially as uncomfortable as crowley had been at first with admitting he wanted to be.. controlled. dommed, sort of. martin hadn't been very good at it at the time, but he's hoping with a little practice he'll get better.

he wipes his hands off on a hand towel and then pulls himself up on the countertop, blowing crowley a kiss. ]

Don't you like the color? I do. I think they'll look nice on you when you're ready to try them. [ if he ever is. that part's obviously entirely up to crowley. ]

[There's a hum from Crowley, still with that edge of amusement as he starts down the stairs, idly considering the cuffs as he goes.]

Something about pretty things. What's next, lingerie?

[He's trying very hard not to let this fluster him at all, and apparently turning it back on Martin is the way to do it.

By the time he's in the kitchen, his sleeves are pushed up and the set of cuffs he'd been holding are secured around his wrists. He holds them up for inspection.]

I'm not against florals in the right circumstances, what do you think? Suits me?

[This definitely has not backfired slightly on him already.]

I like pretty things, [ he agrees fondly, and tries not to light up at the thought of lingerie. frilly, lacy things, stockings and the like-- they do look nice in store windows. they'd probably look nice on crowley, too; he has long legs and he's slim. ] There could be lingerie if you want it.

[ he brightens in interest as crowley descends, the cuffs around his wrists, and then reaches out, hooking his fingers in the d-rings. he uses his hold to tug the other man closer, between his knees, and lifts one arm to kiss the skin just below the edge of the cuff. ]

Very nice. I thought about silk restraints, too, but I thought you might like the cuffs better.

Ah — [With or without demonic powers, it isn't difficult to guess that Martin doesn't hate the idea, and he's not sure how to feel about it.] Never really considered lingerie. Not when I'm like this.

[Man-shaped, he means, but it isn't very coherent because he, well, he fucked up, definitely. His mouth goes dry as he's tugged forward, hit with the sudden awareness of what being bound feels like in this very particular context.

Crowley takes a breath that's only slightly shaky, finding his voice after a moment.] Leather's more my style, anyway. Silk would look good on you, I think.

Like this?

[ he doesn't pursue the thread of the thought further with crowley's pupils dilating like that. .. oh. maybe martin did good buying these after all.

he leans in to kiss him, then gently presses crowley's wrists together. ]

I forgot to buy a chain. .. Make a clip for me? [ he holds up a palm. ] Right here, so I can clip the rings together. If you like the idea. [ a second kiss, coaxing, reassuring, and he pulls back again with a crooked smile. ] Maybe for New Year's, you can try the silk on me, then.

M'not always a man. [It's the simplest explanation he can give, even though it still doesn't quite cover it, since he's never really a man, but:] Isn't important, can tell you later.

[Kissing Martin is a lot more interesting than talking about demonic concepts of gender, especially when he's spent most of the time at the party not being affectionate.

While he's not sure how he'd feel about chain, a clip is perfectly acceptable. One appears in Martin's hands, a silver ouroboros, because this is Crowley and he can't go past a snake themed item. It'll compliment the flowers, anyway.] Right, yup. New Year's it is, I'll pencil you in on my very busy schedule.

[What a good and funny joke.]

[ not always a man? well, crowley had said (and proven) that his shape is malleable. so he's.. a lady sometimes? does that mean he just wears a female body, or is his gender female at that time, too? and if that's the case--

--but he's thoroughly distracted from his thoughts by the promise to tell him later and the following kisses. when the weight of a clip appears in his palm, he pulls back to press his brow to crowley's temple, glancing down at the metal with a pleased sigh. ] Pretty. [ he kisses his cheek, then ducks his head to gently nip the middle finger of his right hand. holding his wrists together again, he clips the cuffs together.

for a few moments, he stares down at them, wide-eyed, a little startled in spite of himself. he's not used to being on this side of restraints, and it's.. kind of heavy? but also kind of nice, because he knows crowley can get out of them any time he likes, and if he's doing this, it's because he's into it.

he slides his palm up the length of the other man's arm, fingers pushing up beneath his sleeve, and he draws the bound wrists over his head to rest at his nape. his own arms slide around crowley's waist, and he pulls him close again for another kiss. ] So I did okay, huh?

[It isn't the same as when the city was forcing him to be compliant and when he offered that obediancy to Martin, but he's surprised by how not different it is, either. Logically, it should feel any different than not having cuffs on, since they're effectively useless against him, he could disappear them with a blink.

But there's still that sort of warm, skittering sensation in his chest, and he flexes his fingers carefully, as if testing the restraints.

The movement snaps him back into focus; Crowley blinks, then settles his hands into Martin's hair and leans into the kiss. It's tempting to play off the question with a joke, but he knows how much of an effort Martin is making here so Crowley buys himself a moment to think by trailing a line of warm kisses along Martin's jaw.

After a moment:] You did good, love. Thank you.

Edited (I'm sorry autocorrect is the worst ) 2019-12-31 05:16 (UTC)

[ he breathes a laugh, warm and pleased, his fingers skimming up beneath crowley's shirt to palm familiar soft skin. he sort of thought as much, considering the other man's reaction, but it still feels good to know. to be told, without a shadow of a doubt, that crowley likes this.

it feels.. good somehow, he knows, for the burden of decision-making to be taken off your shoulders. to feel.. kept, even. possessed. and he knows how badly crowley wants to be kept, to be loved and needed not just fleetingly, but forever. properly, the way he should have always been. ]

Only the best for you, [ he murmurs, and presses a kiss to the end of his nose. ] I think.. maybe you should wear them a while longer tonight. [ they probably shouldn't go straight to bed with them when they haven't tried actual restraints yet, but.. maybe unclipped would be fine? ]

[There's a little huff of protest at the hands under his shirt, though it isn't any actual kind of complaint, just the token sort of fuss he makes about things. Protecting his reputation, or something like that, as if Martin doesn't see through most of his bullshit.]

Shouldn't that be my line? [Crowley's the one that's supposed to be spoiling Martin, obviously. Partly as a reference to their designations here, but also because they both know that he's just Like That.] Mm, you think so? I wasn't planning to keep you long tonight, you know.

[It was very sweet of Martin to come home with him for a bit, but he assumed that it's only a short visit, since it's like... Christmas. And Jon's birthday. It makes more sense that Martin spends it with his boyfriend, rather than his... whatever they are.]

Maybe.. [ a second kiss to his nose, then a swift one to his mouth. ] .. I like doing nice things for you, too. [ he nips gently at his lower lip, fingers crawling higher, over his shoulder blades, before slipping back down his spine.

he slides his hands free, then, and lifts crowley's bound wrists from over his head once more, instead pressing his hands between his own to glance down at the leather circling thin wrists. ]

I think for a little while, yeah. [ he ducks his head to kiss his fingers, pressing quick ones to his fingertips and knuckles. ] Long enough for tea, and maybe a bit longer than that. [ a glance back up, lips quirking up. ] Jon's been very social today. Social for Jon, anyway. [ and after a lot of socializing, jon has to take breaks. martin wants to give him a chance to recharge. and.. anyway, it's not like martin can spend the night with him. the lonely is tough on jon, and on lyall, too. ]

[He has, mercifully, gotten better at not shivering at every touch between his shoulder blades, but there's still a little telltale hitch in his breath, and an even more obvious look that he gives, because he knows Martin does these things on purpose.

He might play at being innocent, but Crowley isn't fooled for a second.]

If we're talking proper tea, that's an hour. [Afternoon tea is usually an hour sitting, not that they're having afternoon tea. But if Martin is fine with being here, Crowley won't press the issue, not when he'd rather appreciate those little kisses and gently brushes his fingertips against Martin's cheek.

He smiles at the comment about Jon's sociability (or lack thereof), but rather than comment on that, he regards Martin for a second, then asks:] You're giving them a break from the Lonely, aren't you?

[ he smiles at the mention, crooked and amused, almost asks if crowley's going to kick him out once the hour's up. he knows he won't, of course, though a month ago it would have been a genuine question. he wouldn't have wanted to overstay his welcome. and while it's true that he still doesn't want to do that, his welcome seems to be an extended stay sort these days.

the smile fades at the question, though, and he sits up straighter, curling crowley's hands to his chest and humming out a small, affirmative noise. ]

I'm sure you noticed, but Lyall can't even be in the same room as me for more than a few minutes at a time. [ he strokes his thumbs over the fingers they reach, brows knitting faintly. ] And Jon struggles enough with his self-worth. I don't want to ruin Christmas for them. A few hours at a time is what I try to limit myself to.

[ and honestly, it's selfish of him to spend so much time here with crowley, too. it's just that crowley seems to handle the lonely better than most humans do. though maybe it's just that he hides it better, given what he'd learned of him. ]

[The clip on the restraints slips off from one of the rings, making it easier for Crowley to press one hand to Martin's chest while the other slides up to rest at the side of his throat, thumb brushing lightly over his jaw. It's cheating, but since they're not in bed and are talking about something that's a little heavy, he'll trade some cheating for the ability to be more affectionate.]

It isn't you ruining anything, yeah? [That's important. It might be awful, what the Lonely does, but it isn't Martin's fault.] You can stay here as long as you'd like, then. Won't be very festive, but you don't have to be alone.

[The Lonely does bother him, but at the level it's at when Martin's in control, it isn't unbearable. Loneliness is a familiar sort of ache, and anyway, all he has to do is think of the crowded halls of Hell and the Lonely starts feeling like a blessing.]

You're cheating, [ he says a little weakly, but it's the most token of protests, further proven when he leans into the pressure of the other man's hands.

the reassurance makes a breath shudder out of him, brow falling to rest against the other man's. ]

It's technically me. [ it's nothing he wants, but the lonely is still connected to him here. even if jon's right and he's freed of it eventually, right now he can't escape it. and it hurts everyone around him. ] I'm going to try to spend a while longer with Jon, but.. not for a bit.

[Crowley just makes a non-committal sound regarding the cheating, it doesn't seem particularly important when Martin could clearly use at least a some comforting.]

Stop that. [He can and will fight Martin on this.] 'Course, well, you're welcome back whenever. Not as if I'm going anywhere.

[Spending Christmas alone isn't a big deal, he hadn't really thought to make any kind of plans, outside of the party.]

No?

[ he leans back a little, fingers curling gently over crowley's forearm and brushing the skin again. ] Maybe.. if you're not in bed by the time I leave Jon's..

[ he's a little surprised there's no one else crowley might go spend the evening with, though. but maybe his other partners don't celebrate the holiday. and really, he doubts crowley does usually either. ]

Where else would I go?

[Going out to a bar for a drink would be honestly worse than staying home alone, and there isn't really anyone else he'd want to spend the time with. If Nat or Sarissa were still around, he might have called them up to see if she wanted company, but they aren't, and he's fairly sure that everyone else he likes has a partner or friends.]

And I'll be up, I think, not feeling all that tired today.

[Which for him means that he just won't go to bed at all, since he doesn't need to.]

Your other partners don't celebrate..?

[ he hooks his knees over crowley's hips properly, keeping them close, curious now in spite of himself. it's none of his business, really, but there is a part of him that wonders what sorts of people crowley shares a bed with.

for one thing, are they treating him like he deserves? not hurting him, not using him? for another, are they similar to martin in any way, or are they totally different? more glamorous, maybe? ]

[It takes him a second to realize what Martin means by that, but he gets there eventually and can't help a bit of a chuckle when he does.]

I haven't any other partners. [He doesn't pull away at all, but he does lean back slightly, just so Martin can see the full effect of his bemusement.] I've got friends, but none I'm about to spend Christmas with.

[ martin blinks, then blushes, feeling very flustered suddenly. ]

You're not that close with-- I mean, I'm not the only one you're sleeping with..?

[ ... right? is he? he can't be. crowley could have anyone. martin knows that their relationship--whatever it is--is more complicated than that, more than just sleeping together. but even so, he must have other quota partners. right? ]

[Up go his eyebrows, the expression even more pronounced when he's lacking the sunglasses, since it makes it so obvious how much he over-exaggerates to compensate for them.

Or maybe his face is just like that.]

Not entirely voluntarily. [That might be an odd way of putting it, but outside of Martin, everything recent has been influenced by the city.] Fooled around a bit my first month here, for quota, but they weren't anything. Don't even think I got their names.

Oh. [ .. oh. he can feel his face getting hotter. he hadn't expected to be crowley's only lover here. but then, sex is probably only ever so interesting for him anyway, and maybe he likes just focusing on one person at a time. and they have enough sex to fill his quota. maybe it's just practical.

.. maybe martin's the only one he.. trusts like this? god, that feels arrogant to think. and yet..

he curls his arms around him again, squeezing tightly. ] One of these days I'll just stop being surprised by you. Maybe. If I live a few centuries.

CHRISTMAS DAY

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