Calibrations Spill-Over Post

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→ Calibration post A-M
→ Calibration post N-Z

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[catamite]

[especially without Nel's attention on them, the other men loom like silent, still ghosts of themselves. Robin looks more or less like he usually does, but Tek's appearance is markedly different--with colored streaks dyed into his hair, a new tattoo crossing over one eye, and an outfit much more sleek and modern than the usual almost medieval ones he prefers in the fleet. so... how exactly they are all associated with each other is likely not an easy question to answer.

at least at one place in space and time, they all shared a car ride through some darkened city streets.

and Nel gets comfortable across his new friend's lap, resting his wrists on his shoulders. the night must just be starting because he still smells clean and new. with the black ribbon around his throat and his eyeliner still unsmudged and perfectly in place, his shift has just begun.]

What's your name?

[lord_wizard]

[The mannequin versions of the other two men grow more and more unsettling as things go on, and he can't quite bring himself to forget about their existence, even when Nel's weight settles onto his legs. He rests his arm around Nel's waist, vaguely possessive but protective. It's hard not to let himself touch more than that, but now that he's accomplished what he set out to do by getting him away from the other men, he's not quite sure what to do from here. The city streaking by outside means he's as trapped as Nel is. His eyes are drawn to the ribbon, and he raises his other hand to the edge of it, at the hollow of his throat, curious...

He remembers suddenly the last martyr he'd been with had worn a bit of red there, and pulls his hand sharply away.]

Felix. What's yours?

[That seems to answer the question of whether Nel recognized him]

[catamite]

[there is some flicker of recognition there in his eyes, like the connection is close but not quite achieved. he is too caught up in the delusions of his own mind to be pulled out of his immediate surroundings.

and then, Felix' hand even beginning to approach his throat has him tilting his head obligingly away in reaction--just a tiny, automatic motion.]

I'm Nel. Are you going to be having fun with us... or do you have important things to do once we get there?

[lord_wizard]

[He notices that reaction, despite his lack of follow-through. That's the mark of habit or training, and either seem plausible at this point. There's a lot he's suspected about him that's now becoming disturbingly clear. He hates to admit that he still finds it appealing]

I'm not sure what could possibly be more important.

[And not just because he has no idea where they are going, and isn't entirely sure he wants to know.]

[catamite]

[that's either the answer he was hoping for, or the one he was trained to look most pleased about. he shifts closer on the man's lap with a deft little motion rolling down his spine, and one hand slides down from his shoulder to fidget adoringly with his collar.]

Do you get bored on car-rides? I know I sure do...

[lord_wizard]

[The kid is good. He has to hand it to Nel that the act is very distracting. His initial comes in a slightly dazed tone]

I haven't been on many...

[No. No. This isn't right. He shouldn't be playing into this nightmare of a fantasy. He shouldn't be letting Nel slip into this role without any choice in the matter.

He catches Nel's wrist. Not hard, but enough to halt the playful fidgeting.] Nel. [He tries to look the elf in the eye. Trying to get to him through the haze of drugs] Do you know where we're going?

[catamite]

[despite the drugs, despite the haze, Nel startles fast when he's grabbed. he's one of the smart ones--he knows how not to completely ruin himself on chemicals before he's even properly started the night. so, though it's still a struggle to focus beyond the rhythm of this comfortable role, he at least partially manages it.

his grin falters in an instant, and the much more honest look of confusion and concern breaks through in pieces.]

...Um. We're going to... the party...

[brow furrowing, he turns to reluctantly look out the window, hesitating in trying to see what's out there and actually think.]

[lord_wizard]

[He hates seeing that look...hates making Nel uncomfortable...but he can only figure the way to get himself...or both of them...out of this dream is to question it]

Whose party is it? [He eyes the empty puppets meant to be Robin and Tek Theirs?

[catamite]

Yeah...

[but he sounds distracted and unsure. and the puppets in the car are little more than shadows now. he's looking outside, at the city lights that are inexplicably no longer streaming by. maybe they've already arrived at their destination?

Nel reaches out for the handle and shoves open the door, clumsily sliding off of the man's lap in the process. and as the door opens, pounding club music comes streaming in-- and Nel goes diving out into it.]