Drabbles: Coldfire (G to soft R, slash)

[winter]

I should have known better than to offer drabbles to a fic-starved fandom with so many plotbunniers on my f-list, really :) In order of appearance, for alighiera, alice_montrose, fuumasfrog and trobadora.

WORKAROUNDS

Ever since Mount Shaitan, Gerald had been learning to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. For example, at the moment he was lying sprawled across Damien’s broad chest, idly toying with the ex-priest’s shirt and watching the dazed look in Damien’s eyes. Even the cramped quarters only meant that he had an excuse to climb just that close, and Damien had to put an arm around his waist.

Presently, Damien blinked, his eyes turning clearer. “Are we on a ship-“

Gerald leaned in and kissed Damien again until the other man’s eyes were glazed over once more, the guarded question turning into a drawn-out moan before it could be fully phrased.

If he had known getting Damien to enjoy ship travel would be that easy, he would have tried this method ages ago.

-FIN-



SO THE WORLD WILL NEVER FIND YOU

Damien sighed as he pushed through the crowd, taking another drink from a flask of liquor someone had pressed into his hand. At least in the black mask and cloak, even if he did make a fool of himself at the Jaggonath carnival, no-one would be able to tell him apart from every other guy dressed up as a vampire. And a few real vampires, he had no doubt.

He wondered what Gerald would wear. The adept had been reticent about his plans, only setting the meeting place on the outskirts of the city-

Near Karril’s temple, he realised as a woman flung herself into his arms. She was wearing a version of a First Landing uniform, though he was sure the real colonists never had ones that tight.

She kissed him on the mouth. “Praise Karril,” she whispered. “A man is waiting for you, two alleys down. An... urgent matter.”

She laughed shrilly, and as she flung her neck back he saw the imprint of teeth. Not quite Gerald’s type, he thought, too strong, but then he wasn’t Gerald’s usual type either.

He stumbled through the throng of people, found the alley, leaned against a door that opened to rapidly for him to do anything but fall through it to the floor.

A chapel of the Church, he realised as he looked around blearily. Closed down temporarily, with a pagan festival roaring through the streets. Yet there were candles burning, and a fresh cloth on the altar.

Something – someone – moving, and he raised his head as he struggled to his feet.

Layers of silk obscuring limbs and body, so that he could no longer recall their past or present look. A broad collar of beaten gold with a pattern of flames. Dark hair instead of light brown, but oh, never mistaken, and now he remembered too clearly.

“I remember you felt particularly strongly about that dream.” Even the old mocking cadences were back in Tarrant’s voice. “You will enjoy this better than you would have the masquerade.”

Strong hands pushed Damien against the altar before he could think of fear, revulsion, desire, sacrilege.

“Don’t worry,” the man who had been the Hunter whispered in his ear as clothes were quickly, deftly pushed aside. “I won’t let you think.”

-FIN-




PETTY ANNOYANCES

Damien moved his wrists experimentally. The cuffs were far snugger than it should be possible for something lined with fur.

“Gerald, this is vulking ridiculous,” he muttered.

The former Hunter shook his head as he surveyed his handiwork. “You have a habit of tearing buttons off my shirts. I’m running out of outfits, and the shops here are not up to my standards. Therefore, you’ll be chained until I undress myself.”

“Only until then?” Damien asked hopefully.

Gerald’s smile was sweetness itself as he ran a hand down Damien’s bare chest. “Perhaps a few minutes longer than that.”

-FIN-




PROOF OF FAITH

The bracelet was tarnished silver, a streak of near-black on the red velvet lining the box set on the street stall. Gerald’s fingers closed in on it without hesitation. Damien raised his eyebrows, but remained silent as Gerald ruthlessly argued down the price.

He got his answer when they left the street fair and Gerald tenderly wiped the grime and tarnish off a fragile piece of glass. Underneath it was the face of a clock, too small to ever house the appropriate mechanism.

“A watch used to be an important theological analogy, Vryce. As the watch with its complexity proves the existence of a watchmaker, so the world proves the existence of its creator.”

Under Gerald’s touch, a tiny screw turned without resistance.

Tick.

-FIN-

Comments

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

I think we're long past miniseries and heading towards either epic or soap opera ;)

*pats you* Good luck with that, and get well soon. You need a good and healthy brain in order to appease the vampires well.

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Homer, eat your heart out :P

Fortuitously, there will be no mortal-shagging on-going when Angel shows up, so we can avoid the everyone-sleeping-with-everyone-else thing. Illyria is going to be all manner of aboggle as well :D

*muses* Actually, he's going to have longer hair at this point, because he remembers wondering what his hair looked like and remembers seeing how stupid it was in Pylea,m so yep, longer hair in a ponytail :D

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

*reviews the cast* Yep, can safely say no-one's going to be tempted to sleep with Angel. If Connor ever gets there, however, Herbert may have to be restrained ;)

I think the long hair's getting to be a Carpe theme. Not that I'm complaining of course, because long hair = terribly hot.

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

VK is rather intrigued by the concept of Connor, if only for the fact he's got crazy super-strength and vamp-like power but he's still just a regular human child :D

*grins* I don't think SPike'll have his back to tie-back length, but just long and shaggy enough for Herbert to tangle his fingers in :D Herbie despised the gelled up hair.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

You know, I could see VK learning about Connor (either from confused!Angel's memories, or from Spike) and manipulating Angel into summoning Connor to the castle, just so he can study the boy. Which, once Angel and Connor wise up to the fact, could have explosive consequences.

Herbie's all about the convenient handholds, isn't he? ;)

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Especially since Connor can remember everything about what happened so clearly, including 15 years in demon dimensions, and Angel is still having trouble with names :D

*grins* He likes to have some easy access to something that he can drag his bitches around by :D

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Uh-huh. So all in the interest of Angel's memory and general well-being, honestly, no vivisection planned, perish the thought?

*pets Herbert* Aww, whatta cute ickle lecherous vampie :D

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Poor Connor :D Trip to Europe to see the biological father who is now weaker than him, only half a dozen years older than him and is artsy :D (I think they'll get on insanely well). I don't think it'll take much instigation to suggest such a thing to Angel :D

*writes up the end of the first William chapter*

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

And all funded by VK's money, just because he's feeling maganimous. I'm looking forward to the trip from the airport, and Herbert trying virtuously to be good and not flirt too much...

*poke?*

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Hey, if Angel implied there was a pretty androgynous super-powered boy out there, Herbert would pay for him to visit :D


A light snow was falling in whirling coils, and by the flickering torchlight the figures standing in the doorway of the castle seemed oddly silhouetted by the blackness of the night beyond.

Their carriage was awaiting them and the sound of uneasy horses echoed in the grand lobby as the quartet bid their farewells to old acquaintances and to the Master of the house and his son.

After kissing the hands of the ladies, Herbert had grinned devilishly before planting ferocious kisses on both Angelus and William, leaving both of the exhausted-looking vampires staggering slightly, as he turned and ran lightly up the staircase, into the heart of the castle.

His father found him a short while later, standing on the balcony overlooking the palace grounds, as the carriage bumped and rocked its way towards the gates. A tawny-haired head poked momentarily out of the window, gleaming by the misted moonlight, then pulled back in.

“It seems that all of our guests were quite satisfied,” von Krolock murmured, approaching his son. His cloak lifted and shifted against the wind, light flakes of snow clinging to his eyelashes.

Herbert folded his arms over his chest, rocking on his feet, and hummed happily in agreement. “So it seemed.”

“Even Angelus seemed quite satisfied.”

The grin that crossed his son’s face was wickedly gleeful. “He genuinely believed I was in the forest with him all night,” he noted, looking at his father. “I don’t suppose you had anything to do with that?”

With a brief gesture of one hand, little more than a twitch of his fingers, von Krolock dismissed such a concept. “I cannot imagine how he found your scent repeatedly,” he said in all innocence. “Especially in the vicinity of the wolf pack…”

“Oh, you didn’t…”

“Then, there was that stumble along the ravine by the river…”

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Awwww, again, at father and son :D

And now I'm wondering whether Angel will find himself forced to defend Connor's virtue... :>

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*grins* I think it'll be a while until we get there and it may just be a brief interlude.

Alas, for now, I must flee. We have guests coming and I suspect food awaits me. *snugs* Will catch you tonight, most likely :)


Last snipplet:

“Then, there was that stumble along the ravine by the river…” Dark eyes turned gravely to grey. “I expect you granted him half an hour?” Herbert nodded. “I saw him slip out less than twenty minutes after you.” He clicked his tongue. “I could not abide such flagrant disobedience of the rules.”

Herbert was grinning widely. “You are a noble and honourable man, father,” he said, trying to feign a virtuous look.

“And, as you are in such high spirits, I am assured that you are not.”

Nibbling on his thumbnail, Herbert’s eyes were round with innocence. “We had a poetry reading,” he said, fluttering wickedly long golden lashes. “Young William has quite a tongue for it.”

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Have fun and I should be around all evening, barring unforeseen circumstances :)

(Also, Herbert is utterly adorable. Which isn't exactly news.)

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Nothing quite as odd as walking into the living room and being greeted by a Welsh, a Carolina and a east-coast of Scotland accent :)

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Sounds like something out of a sitcom :>

BTW, I just bought what I think will be my test-drive fabric for the Herbert plushie. I still need to hunt down the final fabrics (a thin just-this-side-of-flesh-tone fleece for the skin and blue silk for the shirt would be ideal), and to make up my mind about whether I want movie!golden hair or Warsaw!silver, but I think this project is now "go".

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHA! Herbert plushie yay! :D

Also, scene:


Nibbling on his thumbnail, Herbert’s eyes were round with innocence. “We had a poetry reading,” he said, fluttering wickedly long golden lashes. “Young William has quite a tongue for it.”

Von Krolock said nothing in response, merely arching a brow, though not without a touch of amusement.

His lips twitching, Herbert tried to maintain a straight face, but it faltered and his grin broke across his features, his eyes dancing. “I think it suffices to say that the dear boy appreciates Byron all the more thanks to my lesson,” he said, then bit his lower lip, his expression impish.

“Is that so?”

Herbert tangled his fingers together in front of his chest in a parody of demureness, his smile far from innocent. “Well, he didn’t say he wouldn’t visit again,” he said. “I would say that was positive.”

“And no doubt, you will continue his education?”

Despite the mirth in his father’s eyes, Herbert nodded gravely. “If I must, I will tie him down and teach him everything I know,” he said. “After all, it is my duty to teach those less fortunate than myself.”

Von Krolock chuckled. “That poor boy,” he murmured.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Aww, Herbie's so proud of himself :D

I assume I can expect the entire file to hit my mailbox soon?

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Just doing a quick read-through, then it's en route :D

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Coolness. I've a bit of a busy evening, but since it's all stuff to do in my room, I should be able to multitask :)

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to resist the impulse to jump to human-Angel stuff and finish the chained!Herbie chapter. But gah! I want to do the Angelus chapters as well, just because of the sheer amusement value.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

I think jumping around might be a bad thing at the moment - you might lose track of things and end up not writing the intervening chapters. On the other hand, short prequels are always fine :)

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

The sooner the prequels are out of the way, the better, but honestly, I'm all kinds of intrigued by human Angel now :D (Oh and his hair has changed - you know when he's found by Whistler in New York? When it's hanging around cheek-bone length? About that length. Definitely not sticking up ;))

But Herbert is arguing that he's been shackled quite long enough thank you very much...

You know, this Italian Christine's voice is really very pretty.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Oi! Before you get to human Angel, you need to get through:

- unchaining Herbert
- Faith trying to keep a straight face after meeting VK post-talk with Spike
- I assume everybody-shouting scene is cancelled because of everyone being mature and/or pwned by VK?
- Sarah and Alfred
- injured!Dawn (including vampire hunters dying in messy ways and the VK-Herbert fluff you promised)

And that's the minimal plan. Ideally I'd love to see VK's first post-hiatus ball too, though on the other hand it'd be the perfect occasion for Dru&co to appear and confront human!Angel...

You can use human!Angel to motivate you to get through all this :>

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Herbert's unchaining is in progress ;)

I'm actually a bit... uncertain how the Sarah and Alfred thing will go from here on in, because I really can't get a grip on Sarah. Probably, as soon as I try to write her, she'll move in and take charge, but til then, I'm undecided about where the girls'll take it. Either Dawn'll get pwned, or she'll be nice about it then pwn VK later or... gah, there are many options wherein Sarah and Dawn get on like a house on fire and VK retreats to the library, wondering what he's started.

Also, er... Faith leering at VK will be bad. So, so bad! *winces* He's eyeing her with far too much interest and Dawn's sitting there, observing "Sweetie, do you really want to try and deal with two freakish mortal girls? I mean, really?" (at which, he glazes over and gets a rather... dopey grin on his face)

Methinks the post-hiatus ball will be Dawn's birthday do, so Angel won't be around for that one. She turns 20 a month or two after they hit the castle, as I recall working out somewhere, so the big do will be for her 21st, when everyone is settled back into the house.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

I'm closer and closer to the opinion that Sarah and Dawn will get along like a house on fire. The Sarah in my head is charmingly straightforward and more than a little manipulative. Kind of like Cordelia, really.

Re: Faith, VK should realise that's one lady who will never learn or want to learn manners :> That should cool him off quickly enough...

Herbert's unchaining is in progress

*pokes*