First Time?

Aurelia Rose

ღ aurelia inhaled deeply as she paused on the outskirts of town. she coul do this... she had to do this. if she didn't, she was sure danya would cut her loose sooner rather than later and then she'd be alone again and as much as she didn't want to do this, she couldn't bring herself to go back to her old life. it wasn't a life at all, constantly hungry, sick and alone. she swallowed nervoulsy and exhaled the heavy breath she'd been holding before beginning her walk through the dark streets of ivarness. the sun was setting and the usual bustle of the place had died down hours ago. if she didn't live in perpetual darkness already she might've been more frightened.

she continued to walk, winding this way and that until she caught the scent of someone else. her ears flicked and she turned her head. she didn't hear any talking or racous noise so perhaps just another strolling and enjoying the silence and privacy the night provided? her heart fluttered in her chest and she could only hope as she approached the young man quietly. "hello there. it's quite late..." she began, her voice faltering as she forced a smile onto her lips. she could not tell if the man was facing her or had his back turned, but hopefully he'd not ignore her as she spoke. "looking for some company?" she added, tilting her head slightly as her tail wagged behind her gently. she tried to appear calm, collected, willing but inside she felt more chaotic than she'd ever felt before.

"..."

code by rae

He had found himself wandering the winding river, as deep cerulean reflected the nighttime atmosphere. Sethos had just crested over his second birthday. At long last, his rank as Lieutenant in the Army was beginning to make more sense now that he was past his yearling cripple. He knew his family did not see him as a weak, budding little boy anymore. Now that he was aging up, he felt more connected to the stronger part inside of him that yearned for impact.

His paws prodded against the earth as he trailed the moon, not quite going in any particular direction but wandering nonetheless. His mind fluttered to visions of his sister and her recent "betrayal", as his grandmother would put it. Their conversation along the beach that afternoon had brought more light to their differences and similarities when it came to the country's politics, and had subsequently left the young Tiamat with much to dwell on in her absence. He had never considered his own views on the politic scramble until she had blatantly shown her own with actions. Now that he was forced to convene with himself, he was feeling more and more drawn to the citizens, not the crown.

What would Nassar think? Her two youngest children, vying for the people and leaning away from the monarchy.

Regardless, he couldn't let it haunt himself too much. Sighing into the dense fur of his ruff, he continued on silently, pressing his body close to the edges of the scene as he took time to ponder. He was just about to turn a corner, when —

"Hello there. It's quite late ... Looking for some company?"

His ears folded back against his skull in instinctual surprise, quickly turning his body so that it faced the feminine voice that had addressed him. It took him a moment to realize the statement had been meant for him, and another pause before he looked down and met the distant gaze of a grey-tinted female. He saw her looking at him, but it seemed as though she was looking through him instead. He thought nothing of this, because he had never encountered it.

"Ah — yes. The night is the best time to think," he responded swiftly, a slight twinge of uncertainty in his voice. She seemed sweet, but he had no shortage of awkward teenage bumbling leftover from his early years. As he glanced behind her shoulders, he noticed the gentle lull of her tail as it bounced back and forth. This calmed his nerves, and he smiled.

"I wouldn't mind it. What's got you out so late?" He regarded her with mild interest, curious as to why such a gentle creature had strayed so far from the safety of either bordering town.

code & art by claerie


@Aurelia

Aurelia Rose

ღ the young man seemed surprised, from what she could tell, and aurelia flashed him an apologetic smile. it wasn't often that she surprised others, much less spooked them. though, he didn't quite seem to 'get' her question and she wondered should she ask it more bluntly? she did not have ample time to waste on someone who wasn't paying for her company.

"it is. it's the best time for other things, too." she said sweetly. her tail waved behind her as she took a step closer. "i'm just looking for work, you?" she asked, tilting her chin up as she tried to find him. she could not place him yet but if he allowed her she would come close enough to touch her nose to his shoulder.

"forgive me, i cannot see." she added.

it was an excuse to come closer, but she did not admit that to him. she was unsure what else to say or do, to make herself more clear rather than outright offer herself up like a pig on a platter. her skin tingled with displeasure at the thought, but if that was what she had to do... so be it.

"..."

code by rae

He was still as can be, watching her mannerisms from a few steps away with the slightest hint of a polite smile. He wasn't sure what to think of her yet, other than he was worried for her safety and why she was out so late. He had not had many interactions with women since being a child, so he was unaccustomed to what the night may bring between a boy and a girl. He had only ever known his sisters, and they were far from what this lady appeared to be. Girls to mess with, toy, tug on their ears in fits of sparring.

He only felt a numb sense of duty and muddled emotions with this one. As if he needed to shield her from the darkness, from that he was in himself.

"It is. It's the best time for other things, too. "

He was still unable to catch on to what she was hinting at. Even as she stepped forward to press the soft edge of her nose to his shoulder, he was confused. His skin burned where she had prodded, and he felt imminent heat spread across his face. He wasn't sure why, but he leaned into the gesture, content with the feeling of a stray touch.

"I'm just looking for work. You?"

Work? He blinked drowsily, brought back from his thoughts. He realized he hadn't spoken yet, so easily caught up in the brief attention she had allowed him. "What work would have you roaming the night?" He asks softly, tilting his chin down to catch a better angle of her face. The moon caught in her fur, igniting several crepuscular strands in white light. He stared, admiring, before her voice breached the silence once more.

"Forgive me, I cannot see," she added, and he felt his chest expand with a quick breath. That was why she was looking at him funny earlier. The pieces clicked into place, and he was already nodding, attempting to hide the realization in his gaze before remembering she wouldn't see it regardless. He assumed she was apologizing for bumping into him, and he suddenly felt foolish for relishing the sensation — considering she had not meant to in the first place.

"Don't apologize for something you cannot control," he quickly returns, unsure whether to back up or stay put. She was still lingering close, and he was conflicted whether or not that was due to her blindness or perhaps some anxiety she may carry for those she cannot see. Touch, he understood, was a method of seeing in itself.

"D ... Did you want me to help you with your work? Is there something you're looking for?" He finally returns to what she had originally said, his voice gentle but flooded with puzzlement.

code & art by claerie


@Aurelia

Aurelia Rose

ღ when he leaned into her touch, aurelia thought he understood. she pressed against him but when he asked "what work would have you roaming the night?" she let out a gentle laugh. "oh..." she said, not really knowing how to say it without sounding vulgar and that was far from what she wanted. "don't apologize for something you cannot control," he added and her smile only deepened. he seemed so innocent it was almost amusing. she supposed she'd just attribute it to inexperience or disinterest. "d ... did you want me to help you with your work? is there something you're looking for?"

"you're sweet. but no, i'm not looking for anything. the only way you can help me is to pay me for my time."

she paused momentarily then stepped away from him, her chin turned up towards where she assumed his face was, gauging by the sound of his voice and short, soft breaths. "when i asked you for company, i was offering to sleep with you. for a price." she explained. she found it sweet that it wasn't the first thing had jumped to the front of his mind, and while she was 'wasting' her time, it was nice to just... talk to someone. "You're a little oblivious, aren't you?" she asked, though her tone was playful. "I'm Aurelia." she added, offering up her name.

"..."

code by rae

His eyes fell at a natural angle around her brow-bone, noticing the way her expression changed despite she herself not knowing what she looked like when doing so. Micro-movements, all delicate and strategic, meant to appear endearing to boys like him. Men, like him. It was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore his own maturity.

Despite being skilled in battle, he was not familiar with sensuality. Sethos appeared ignorant, childish even because of it. But he was also inherently innocent. The world had not dug its dirt-caked nails into that part of him just yet.

Her explanation was blunt. Sethos's ears fanned out, and a sudden influx of guilt and realization flooded his golden gaze. Guilt that he had almost - unknowingly - used her. Guilt that she would have let him, had he gotten it into his head that he could take her.

"No. Yes." He stuttered, answering two entirely different statements with a swiftness he did not possess before. If she had not moved away already, he would have then.

A thick glaze of red hovered just below the flesh of his cheek, making him feel silly before someone who spoke of such things so easily. "I wouldn't." He confirmed, more assertive, as though he needed to convince himself more than her.

He might have. He didn't really know. He had never really tried.

Sethos's eyes shuttered closed, and he sighed, suddenly very thankful she could not see his reaction.

"Sethos."

His nerves began to settle, so he added, with some degree of apprehension:

"Do most of them say yes?"

code & art by claerie


@Aurelia

Aurelia Rose

ღ aurelia offered him a smile, he seemed sweet if not a little oblivious. he declined her offer, which was fine, and then offered up his name as well. "it's nice to meet you, sethos." she said softly. after a few moments pause, he asked her if most of them said yes. aurelia blinked and then let out a small giggle of a laugh, "yes, most of them do. there are a lot of lonely men out there," she explained.

"it's okay to not be one of them," she added.

maybe he had a family already or a job that kept him busy enough not to care. or maybe he simply wasn't interested. whatever the reason, aurelia did not take it to heart. she knew it wasn't her for she found plenty of business elsewhere. "so what are you doing out here then?" she asked, deciding the drive the conversation elsewhere. their current topic seemed to make him a little nervous.

"..."

code by rae