driftfleet | Glitch

Entry tags:

Glitch

Who: Randolph Lyall and OPEN
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the SS Blameless and the Iskaulit
When: Sometimes after the crew of the Blameless got curious and opened the first cargo they were entrusted with.

CONTENT WARNING: All prompts will contain mentions of physical and potentially sexual abuse. I will put everything under cuts so it is easy to avoid, but please consider the whole post and comment threads as potentially containing this content.

[Broadcast/Action for people on the Blameless]

[Lyall isn't sure what has woken him up. It's still early and anyone who is not on duty is probably still asleep. All that he knows is that it hurts everywhere right now. It even hurts to breathe, his ribs tender and some of them probably broken.

He drags himself out of the bed so he can get to the bathroom and get some water to drink. Even in the low lighting of the bedroom, it is relatively easy to see that he's covered in bruises. He's walking with an obvious limp and there are marks on his back that look suspiciously like some sort of beast used him as a scratch post.

He manages, with some effort, to get to the sink and to gulp down a bit of water, but even that simple effort seems to have robbed him of what little strength he had and he sinks to the floor with a small whimper of pain.

If only he could be unconscious again.]

[Action] SS Blameless / Iskaulit

[If you have met Lyall before, it will be very, very obvious that something is wrong with him.

He is dressed to the nines as he always is, and with his customary suit, very little of the bruises actually show. But the ordinarily discreet werewolf seems to try and be even more inconspicuous than he normally does. He is making himself as small and unobtrusive as possible when out and about. The limp is still there, even if he tries to hide it, and his face doesn't let anything show even though he is pretty much in constant pain.

He is also very, very skittish right now. He is avoiding crowds, and any loud noise is likely to make him jump quite badly.

Aboard the SS Blameless, he will attend to his duties as usual (or attempt to at least, if no one tries to stop him). Otherwise, he will pretty much navigate between the kitchen and Biffy's room, because he still needs his tea.

Aboard the Iskaulit, he will be doing his usually rounds to sniff out new people, although much more slowly. He probably will end up at one of the places that sell alcohol at some point, although since he can't get drunk, any attempt to drown out the hurt will unfortunately be a failure.]

((OOC: If you would like a starter specifically for your character, PM the journal!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's impossible to even think about the fact that he has cat ears and a tail when he can knows the state Lyall is in. It's impossible for his lover to hide it from him because, well, they sleep in the nude. Not to mention how strong their tether is, of course he knows Lyall is in distress.

And it breaks his heart to see his mate like this. To know anyone could have hurt him this badly and to know why it happened. More than once he's wanted to cry and it's taken all his strength to not do so. Right now he wants to be the pillar of strength that Lyall needs, just as his lover once was for him.

So he's spending a lot of time in his room with his mate when he knows his mate needs to hide away. Such as right now as he leans against the headboard with the smaller man in his arms, stroking his hair and pressing kisses to it now and then, his other hand holding one of Lyall's.

He knows truly that his lover never wanted to have him see this but it's too late for that. Now is just the time to support him and not think about those details they can do nothing about.]

[It was hard enough, back then, twenty years ago, to tell what had happened and have Biffy by his side, listening to every degrading thing he was subjected to by Lord Woolsey. It was emotional to see how upset Biffy was then, how he could feel Lyall's pain and hurt and feel sad for him, and protective, and respectful of how he had gotten himself back on his feet.

And then, they had been separated for twenty years, and then reunited, and it was just not mentioned again. In many ways, Lyall has been over this for years, and meeting Biffy, getting together with him was the last stone on the building of a new stage of his life. He wasn't permanently damaged by the physical abuse, he got over it, and while his broken heart took time to heal, heal it did.

He never wanted Biffy to have to see him like this, at his lowest. Beaten black and blue, covered in claw and teeth marks, wounds from shackles around his ankles, and bones broken. He knows how hard this must be for Biffy, and he also knows just how solid and warm and strong Biffy is being for him.

He's not wearing clothing right now because it's painful and hard on his skin. He's huddled in Biffy's arms, soaking in some warmth which is helping with the aches in his muscles. His fingers occasionally squeeze Biffy's hand.]

... I'm sorry.

Shhhhh. You have nothing to apologize for.

[His ears sag a little and he tucks Lyall a touch more against him. Bringing the hand he's holding up to his lips, he presses the softest of kisses to it. Just so that Lyall knows he still loves him and cherishes him like this as well.]

Let me be the one to take care of you now.

[Another kiss falls to his pale hair.]

I couldn't then but I can here.

I didn't want you... to ever see me like this.

[It might be hard for Lyall to be brought back to those moments. He's not going to pretend it doesn't hit him right in the guts, especially when his head gets a little woozy and he's not quite sure if he's in the past or the present.

But somehow it's harder to have Biffy watch him go through all of this. Almost as hard as his presence and warmth is comforting. And it's so confusing to once again feels the pangs of hurt and unbelievable pain at Sandy's death when Biffy is right here with him.

It almost feels like a betrayal.]

... I miss him.

[He says the words in a whisper before he can stop himself. Is it the him of now, or the one from all those years ago speaking? He's not sure. There will always be a part of him mourning Alessandro, somehow.]

He died because of me. And I couldn't even protect him.

I know.

[That he doesn't want to be seen like this, that he doesn't want Biffy to see him like this, that he misses Alessandro, that he blames himself... Biffy knows. He doesn't need an explanation. Yes, a lot of this hurts him too but he's not going to fault Lyall for that. He's not trying to hurt him with anything that he does or says.]

I know, Lyall.

[He can feel tears in the corners of his eyes. Not from the hurt though. No, these are ones of compassion because he only wishes to do everything in his power to save Lyall from this but knows he doesn't have that power. The best he can do is be here at his side, holding him close and offering him all the love he can give. All the love that Lyall deserves.

Because, in truth, that's really the only way Biffy really knows how to share his love. All or nothing. And Lyall has it all.]

[Lyall can't not feel the sudden surge of emotion in Biffy. Even without the tether, it's easy to feel and hear his breath pattern changing.

He looks up slowly and nuzzles against Biffy's jaw.]

Don't cry... It was a long time ago... and you already cried when you heard it the first time...

[Back then already those tears had been Lyall's salvation once he'd understood them for what they were. Once he'd taken them for all the tears he hadn't allowed himself to shed.]

I didn't cry when Sandy died... I just... didn't have the strength anymore when it happened... and he didn't have a grave that I could visit once...

[Once he'd managed to eliminate Lord Woolsey. How odd. On the one and, it had felt like he'd wanted to bring the man's head to Sandy's grave, an offering almost, to appease the dead. But Sandy was a Soulless. Even if he'd been buried, and not cremated like he'd ordered, there was nothing, nowhere, for him to move on to after death. For him, it was well and truly the end.

Then again, would he have been able to move on if there had been a grave?]

[There's a soft little laugh as a single tear falls across his cheek. Telling him not to cry really just has the opposite effect. But he isn't ashamed of the tear at all and instead presses a kiss to Lyall's forehead.]

Let me be the one to cry for you, Lyall. No one else has and someone needed to all those years ago. Let me be the one to now.

[He gives his skin another kiss then closes his eyes.]

I cry because I love you and care about you. I cry because I couldn't be there until now to support you. It's alright for someone to feel this way about you, Lyall. There's no shame in it. You have every much a right to tears as anyone, even if they come from another.

[On instinct, Lyall moves to lick that single tear. It tastes salty on his tongue.

He's not ashamed of what happened to him, but whenever Biffy cries, it's both a relief - because yes, those tears need to come out - and a source of guilt.]

I don't want to make you cry. You... You are the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

[Things had not happened with Biffy the way they had with Alessandro. With the Italian preternatural, things had been violent and passionate from the start, a burning flame that threatened to consume everything in its wake. With Biffy, it had been a slow, careful exploration, almost hesitant at times, taking steps forward carefully until he was once again warm like he'd never thought to be once more.]

I don't feel sorry for myself. And I don't want you to blame yourself for not being there when you hadn't even been born yet, or barely just.

You aren't the one making me cry, Lyall. I promise.

[Biffy laughs softly and shakes his head. Then he catches Lyall's face between his hands so he can cup it gently, pressing their lips together for a soft kiss.]

I cry because someone else hurt you and you had to be alone in facing it. Because I couldn't be with you sooner. Because I want so badly to be everything other Alpha are not so you will live a wonderful life with me.

You already are. How do you not see that?

[Lyall said as much when he came back home, and he'll say it again. Biffy is an excellent Alpha. A young one still, with room to grow, but he is powerful yet compassionate, strong but distrustful of his own strength... He has grown so much from the once unstable pup Lyall had to keep a watchful eye on.]

It feels weird, to miss him again so strongly... The years did soothe the pain a little... I was able to look back and remember the good times we shared and not just the moments when we fought about all this, or the horrible moment when I realized I'd lost him...

[Honestly, there are moments, like when he's working, when it's fine because he's focusing on something else. Downtime is making it more confusing, because his feelings and physical sensations are all over the pain.]

And those ears look cute on you.

Even if I am that doesn't mean I can't be better for you and the rest. Besides, you are not the only one who still finds they miss someone that they love but can never have against.

[Because they were stolen from him. This is something they've both endured.

And then his ears twitch as he gives him such an unamused look.]

They are not cute, Lyall. Honestly. Of all the things to comment on at such a time.

But they are.

[And talking about them is distracting him from thinking of other things too. he actually holds out a hand and uses a fingertip to trace the outline of one.]

They are so soft and fluffy... and they move with your moods.

[The ear twitches because the touch feels quite odd. It's almost like the ear is trying to bat that finger away as Biffy sighs.]

They really are not. They are so utterly in the way of me doing my hair and wearing a hat. Not to mention the trails of a tail for fashionable pants.

[Of course, the twitching only makes Lyall keep stroking the ear. It's extremely soft, with very thin and warm skin under the hair.]

They are cute. You look cute with them.

[Well, in Lyall's opinion, Biffy always looks cute when he's not busy looking dashingly handsome, and since he was so young when changed, he will always retain some of that boyish charm that seemed to attract eyes to him in London Society. In supernaturals, it's usually the eyes that betray their ages. Biffy's eyes have already changed now that he slowly nearing fifty, but he still looks just as pretty as he did twenty-five years ago.]

I wonder why a cat, though.

[And since you mentioned a tail.... let him go and stroke that too.]

Cute really is not what I was going for when I dressed today.

[Biffy sighs softly and his tail flips away from the touch for all of a second before putting up with it. Lyall can get away with anything really. Especially when he's in this state.]

I haven't the faintest idea. I am not at all a cat, after all.

[Never mind the fact that sometimes he acts that way.]

Biffy, you have always been cute, even without cat ears. Why would this change now?

[There, he said it. And of course Biffy is not a cat - although Akeldama has always kept at least one, and even two now, apparently, if rumor is to be believed. So he is used to being around them at least.

Lyall's finger gently stroke the tail, then follow it all the way to the base where it's attached to Biffy's back... and then without thinking, almost instinctively, Lyall gives a little scritch there. He remembers this being a thing most cats like and he's curious.]

I do prefer dashing or handsome.

[Biffy sighs dramatically again then shifts so Lyall can keep petting his tail. It means sitting up a little more but he doesn't mind.

Only then he starts and his back arches and he lets out such a...noise. A...purr.

Right before his face turns a brilliant shade of red.]

You can be that too.

[And then, Biffy purrs, and Lyall gives a startled blink... and scritches again, juts to make sure that it was Biffy making the sound, even though the blush pretty much confirms it.

And it does confirm other things.]

... Cute.

Lyall honestly...

[He catches his hand and brings it up to his lips to press a kiss to it. That will be enough of that. He still can't believe he made such an embarrassing sound.]

And you think Alphas are too much.

[Lyall almost resists the pull on his hand, but relaxes into the hold when he gets a kiss.]

... Biffy, how can you tell me that when you just purred?

[He's so very red.]

Certainly not with intention!

Of course not.

[But that just makes it cuter. Plus the blush...

Lyall goes for the ears again, scratching around the base of them.]

[He sighs so heavily and pointedly sits in a way that playing with the base of his tail will not be thing to be accomplished. Not without him being able to put an end to it rather quickly anyway.

.............it's unfair that touching his ears like that should feel so good.]

You are utterly impossible.

[You can be sure he will be aiming for the tail again as soon as he gets an occasion.]

That's quite rich coming from you of all people, Biffy.

[All alphas are high maintenance, but Biffy is very much so. Lyall won't complain about it, since Biffy can actually dress himself properly, but it's still not something any Alpha should complain of about anyone.]

It is because I am impossible that I can call you such. Expert knowledge.

[He offers him a gentle smile.]

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