004 // the house of sin

[serpentis]

Who: Dorian and assorted guests
Broadcast: Fleet-wide, 3/10
Action: In a villa practically in the forest (THE HOUSE OF SIN)
When: Broadcast- 3/10 // Action- 3/9-3/31? Until we leave.

Broadcast:

[The broadcast goes out on 3/10, and Dorian smirks a bit into the feed.]

I believe I've secured lodging for myself, with room enough for several others. If you need a place to stay, do let me know. It's a quaint little villa a bit outside of town. ...please don't mind the suspicious glances, I assure you, I've done nothing entirely against the guidelines that were set.

---------

Action:

[Dorian has secured a villa, but the residents of Mor don't seem too keen on having an evil mage for a neighbor. As the month goes on, more and more villagers will show up to stand at the gates of the villa and threaten to come in after the "evil wizard".

Maybe he shouldn't have gone so overboard with the whole "contacting the spirits of the dead" thing.]

((OOC: Mingle post for the House of Sin. We'll pretend there are enough rooms in here for everyone! Even if you character only drops by to rest their feet a bit, everyone is welcome to visit and stay the night if they want.))

Comments

[dawnwillcome]

Are you always this reticent when a woman invites you into her bedchambers?

[Does he blush? This might be her attempt to find out, but she also gives him a bit of slack when she turns away to get into the bed.]

[serves]

[His ears tinge red. But he does mutter a "Maker's breath" and rubs at his neck.]

I have manners.

[dawnwillcome]

I have noticed that, actually.

[Once she's settled in bed, she rests her hands in her lap and looks at him expectantly.]

What comes next?

[serves]

[She's so adorable he almost laughs, but just barely keeps it contained. Ignoring her first comment, he steps over to the side of the bed and makes sure her shoulders are comfortably against the pillows.]

That depends. Would you like to be tucked in like my mother did it, or like a reasonable person?

[dawnwillcome]

[Creators help her it's no wonder she'll fall in love with him in the future. His hands are gentle and he's so caring, so sweet, and it must be so difficult for him to go through this knowing she isn't where he is yet. That she doesn't remember a time when them kissing would be the most natural thing in the world in this moment.

All of that flashes through her head as she leans back, entirely too comfortable in such a soft bed.]

I think I'd like to know the difference first.

[serves]

Do you want your arms free or not?

[Little boys that liked to sneak out of bed to play got their arms tucked in securely with them.]

[dawnwillcome]

[She laughs softly and raises her arms above her head, resting her palms against the headboard.]

She trapped your arms? That's quite the image.

[serves]

[Andraste preserve him. Cullen pays absolutely no mind to the way her breasts are accentuated like that, and instead leans over her to pull the blanket over them. Her. Ahem.

He quickly tucks the blanket around her, and then securely tucks it under the side of the bed. Effortless, for him, but he remembers his mother having to use some force to get them in snugly. He moves to the other side to do the same.]

And there you have it.

[dawnwillcome]

[It's impulsive and maybe not the best idea, but while he's leaning over her to get her other side he's close enough that she only has to lean forward a few inches to brush a kiss against his cheek.]

A good night kiss is customary, I've heard.

[serves]

You heard right.

[She's going to be the death of him. Cullen so very much wants to lean down and kiss her lips, but he settles for a lingering kiss against her forehead, hand cupping her cheek.]

[dawnwillcome]

[She leans into his and turns her face up into the kiss, eyes closed in contentment.]

Will you really be able to sleep tonight? I don't like the idea of you laying in bed awake and alone.

[And afraid, but she won't say that. It doesn't seem fair.]

[serves]

[He stays hovering over her, hand still against her cheek, taking in her every feature.]

I honestly don't know. But I can try.

[dawnwillcome]

[Her eyes are still closed when she starts to frown and she sighs, very softly.]

You should have let me stay with you until you slept.

[serves]

I wouldn't want to sleep.

[He smiles a little, even if she can't see it. He'd want to bask in her nearness.]

[dawnwillcome]

[She really has no idea what to do with this, what to do with him. There's a part of her that wants to ask him to stay with her, sleep there beside her for the comfort she hopes she could give him. She'd like to think she was soothing enough to help him gget a good night's rest.

But he's just said it, hasn't he? He wouldn't be able to sleep and what was between them, the memories he has that she doesn't, it complicates something as simple as sharing a bed. He's been passing on most of her suggestions, but she can't help it. She has to make this available to, whether or not it's appropriate. Whether or not he'll say no.]

I suppose that would mean you wouldn't get any rest if you just stayed here, then? Because you could. There's room for us both.

[serves]

[He doesn't really have any idea what to do with this, either. She's offered so many times, and here she is offering again.]

Would you like me to stay?

[It's inappropriate but he's growing tired of saying no.]

[dawnwillcome]

I want you to sleep. If you're not going to sleep then I at least don't want you be alone.

[serves]

[He's past the point of insisting he's fine. To her, he's not. It stings, a bit, but Cullen straightens.

And moves to walk around to the other side of the bed.]

[dawnwillcome]

[When he wordlessly pulls away like that, Jove is certain something has gone terribly wrong. Did she say something wrong? Is she being too thoughtless when it comes to his feelings for her?

She's sitting up, ready to call his name and stop him from leaving, but then he's rounding the cover of the bed and she understands. It still leaves her feeling a little hollow though, even as she pulls the blankets back for him.]

[serves]

[Sharing a bed with the woman he's come to care for so deeply like this--a part of him is ashamed, but he's mostly just worn. He knows he should be happy, glad for her compassion and worry for him, but he's unsure how to act.

He slips into the bed, keeping a respectable distance as he fixes the pillows.]

[dawnwillcome]

[It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to wake up in his arms, but when she sees how stiff he is as he moves, she frowns even more.]

I could put a pillow between us if you're uncomfortable. [But she doesn't want to. There's a beat then but it's just too much, she reaches out a hand to rest on his arm.] If you don't want to be here you don't have to stay, Cullen.

[serves]

[It's never been about his comfort. He's sitting upright when she touches him, and he shakes his head before looking at her.]

I want to be here.

[Her places his larger hand over hers.]

[dawnwillcome]

And I want you to be here. Not... just to keep an eye on you. I enjoyed spending time with you like this tonight.

[serves]

[As Cullen carefully slips down into the bed, he keeps her hand in his.]

So did I. Though I can't imagine not enjoying any time spent with you.

[dawnwillcome]

[Alright, good. They seem to have made it past that miserably sad bump into something more honest, and Jove is able to smile at Cullen again as she curls up on her side facing him, fingers winding around his so they're holding hands.]

I promise I won't touch you with my cold feet. I think that would be incredibly impolite after you tucked me in so nicely.