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*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Undoing the cuff at one ankle, then the other, deliberately ignoring the blatant nudity on display in front of her, Dawn leaned against the edge of the bed for a moment. “I don’t know if she meant it,” she said suddenly, looking at the cuff in her hand.

“Meant what, cherie?” Herbert brought his legs back together from their spread-eagled position, rubbing his chafed ankles together.

“She...” Blue eyes looked down at him, confusion and a dozen uncertain emotions visible. “She said she missed having me at home... but I don’t know if she meant it or if she just wanted me out of here...”

Herbert forgot his own discomfort for a moment, staring at her. “Your sister,” he announce with unnecessary savageness. “Is a manipulative bitch.”

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

I guess at least he left out psychotic this time ;)

Beta done and returned!

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Got and editing now :D

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

“Herbert,” Dawn approached the head of the bed and undid the cuff on his right wrist with remarkable ease for someone not armed with his key. There was a glimmer of metal in her hand. “So are you.”

A faint grin tripped across his lips. “You make a good point, cherie,” he said as she leaned over him to undo his other wrist. “but I would not use emotional blackmail to keep a lover in my bed.”

“Nope,” she agreed. “But you’ve got handcuffs instead.”

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

I think, on the whole, handcuffs are fairer to the cuffee ;)

(I love their dynamic, incidentally. Pure friendship.)

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Definitely :D And while Herbert can appreciate emotional manipulation, not when it's from Slutty the Vampire Layer ;)

(Seriously! They've worked out so nicely together :D I can see her creeping into his bed and curling up beside him if anyting goes wrng with her and VK and him just being there and snuggling against her and letting her bitch about his dad, before giving her suggestions and possibly, a whip)

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Not to mention that if they gang up against VK, instant victory :> That should keep him in check and not riding roughshod over everyone...

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to work out when VK/Dawn will have their... bad patch. Something has to happen that makes him reacte badly and blows are exchanged and he vanishes, leaving her barely conscious and bloody on the floor, probably sending Herbert to pick up the pieces, because he doesn't trust himself.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

I'll think on possible reasons overnight :>

(Sorry. Mother got a new phone and I had to chase up Phantom ringtones for her.)

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

S'not a problem :) was editing and now, am just trying to find a title with which to post this.

I think "As aught of mortal birth" would actually work, because yay for plagiarising from Byron :D

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Coolness :) And then I'll poke around my vignette and post it, unless you'd rather I just mailed it to CCA and not paraded it around in public places?

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Oh, no you must post it! It is worthy of fangirling :D

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Thanks :) I'm always awkward about playing in the sandboxes of people I know personally...

BTW, am thinking about Dawn and VK - would it be plausible for her to hear of an impending local apocalypse for Buffy & co and go to him with a plan for him to help the gang? At which point he goes all haughty and reminds her he's evil and carefully maintains general neutrality unless poked, cue fight?

Re: *is evil*

[fwibble.livejournal.com]

*pokes Dawnie* She claims she wouldn't go to him unless she knew it was something he would help him with. She keeps muttering something about him biting the wrong place at the wrong time and the fact she has to pull a cross on him...

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Hmm. Perhaps he, in the wake of the injury thing, works out a way to turn her that might just work, and she pulls a cross on him for that?

Re: *is evil*

[fwibble.livejournal.com]

*ponders* Could be their first intimacy after she's recovered and he lapses into crazy-possessive-bitey-claimey mode and goes a bit too far, resulting in a whacking on the head with the cross, which makes him lash out and knock her reeling...

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

That's quite plausible. I can't see her accepting the sort of abuse Spike does, not to mention that Key or not, she's mortal and not built for it...

:D

Re: *is evil*

[fwibble.livejournal.com]

And when he goes feral, he loses all reason and rational, which would make her freak a bit and strike out, unlike Spike who rolls on his back and plays dead ;)

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Exactly, just not her nature :>

Speaking of Spike, you might want to get him out of the house for this, especially if she does go to Herbert for comfort and advice. He'd go all brotherly on her and probably get swatted into the wall for his pains...

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Actually, this arc has the potential for making Spike realise that not only can Dawn cope with VK, she can pretty much deal with everything he'll dish out, no matter how bad. It'll make him accept it more than even the biting.

I've just got this image of her, pale from loss of blood, bruised up, gashed and shivering, but forcing herself from the bed and shouting "SPIKE!" when he goes to yell at VK. She's standing, swaying on her feet, but practically growling and saying this is her problem and she will deal with it.

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Now that'll be a thing to see :D

BTW, I posted my vignette (left untweaked after all) and recced your newest. Meanwhile, how are Dawn and Herbert and the chains?

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Just heading back to the chains :)

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

Cool :) Will it be long before VK wanders along?

Re: *is evil*

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Not much longer ;)

Re: *is evil*

[winter]

*pokes, sharply*