driftfleet | 'cause it's better than nothing

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'cause it's better than nothing

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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - P

Otono-Tachibana Makie

Q - S

Sandalio "Biffy" de Rabiffano

T - V

W - Z

(last updated: 1/25/19)

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[He nods then rises to his feet. He goes to the top hat, fingers gently brushing it.]

[This time, you’re not just witnessing the scene, you are a character in it.

You are standing in front of a house in London, in a state of slight shock because the house is empty, and clearly, this was not expected. For a short moment, the shock turns to outright terror that something awful could have happened in your absence that you may not have been privy to. Thoughts flit through your head unbidden.]

’I left it too long. I knew he needed me back. Bloody hell, what if he couldn’t control them without me? What if he failed? What if they had to be eliminated?

[You turn towards the house next door, your face a mask of indifference that does not betray your panicked thoughts.]

’Lord Akeldama will know what happened. Where they are. Lord Akeldama always knows.

[The scene darkens, some images fleeting by as if on fast forward, and you are now standing in front of a shop bearing the name ‘Chapeau de Poupe’. It is pretty crowded even though it is nighttime, obviously popular with the wealthy crowd.

You come in and stand by the door looking for just one person in the crowd. Soon enough, a young man comes close and tries to steer you away from where you stand towards men’s headgear, but you gently brush off every single one of his attempts, and the young man soon gives up.

The hats are dangling from the ceiling, hanging on chains, which hides most of the other people from you. through the sea of hats, you peer at just one person, barely visible. You know he knows you’re there, but he’s been very cautious in approaching you.

He does now. And then stops suddenly. And something…. snaps back into place. It is undescribable. A feeling that washes over you and him at the same time.]

’Mine. My Beta.’

[The other man’s knees seem to wobble slightly before he recovers. As he moves closer, you can feel his eyes all over you, seeing you like no one else ever has, the way he always sees you somehow, which hasn’t changed even though you haven’t seen each other in twenty years.

The other man - Biffy - finally makes his way over to you and stops right in front of you.]

“You smell foreign.”

[You smile at him, your eyes crinkling.]

Good evening, Lord Falmouth.

”Professor. Why did your smell change so much?”

It’s been a long time

”You said it wouldn’t feel so long to a werewolf.”

I lied.

”I know.”

[The conversation continues for a short while. It feels banal, mentioning Egypt, old friends, the length of time you were separated, and yet underneath it all there is this feeling of completion. Of being where you belong. Of home.

Eventually, you do what you’ve been waiting to do for such a long time. Your hair drops back slightly, exposing your neck, and when you next speak, it’s in a lower voice that no one else will hear.]

Alpha.

[There is still a certain distance, a certain restraint… it feels like there is so much more that wants to come out, but you’re both holding back for fear of…. something. And also because what you have again, after so long, is so much more than anything that could be put into words. You’re back. You’re home.]

[This one actually makes him smile fondly as he watches the memory unfold. He remembers it well from his side of things. Lyall had smelled so wrong. Nothing at all like he does now that their tether is settled so tightly into place.

That first time they saw each other again. It had led to confusion and such but it had led them to where they are now. Mates. Married. So in love and so tightly bound that nothing can unravel that.

So he just murmurs to little words to himself.]

My Beta...

[For most people, this is where the memory would stop. But there's another blur, and then another scene unfolds that once again will feel familiar.

Biffy is sitting on a couch in his bedroom, wearing only a blue dressing gown. You are looking at him with a bit of uncertainty. once upon time, back when Biffy was still a pup, you would have known what to do. But this is not a pup you have in front of you. This is a full-fledged Alpha, one who is in control of his wolf and of his pack, and you realize that you are not sure whether you know him anymore.

After a few words exchanged about the previous fight, you end up sitting on the couch. Close enough to be a comfort, but far enough not to crowd.]

"Lyall, would you tell me something of pack protocol, without taking insult? I am afraid the question may be indelicate."

[You are surprised by this line of questioning. Almost holding your breath all of a sudden, as if not daring to hope that this is going in the direction you think it is.]

"Is it wrong, what we did, you and I, before you left?"

"By whose standards?"

"Oh, I do not mean morally or socially. I know what they think. I mean by pack protocols. Are like-minded gentlemen werewolves not supposed to share intimacy?"

[You do your best not to flinch or blush, and you have to make a conscious effort to keep your breathing slow. You try not to make yourself want to know why Biffy wants to know this.

You can't allow yourself to hope for too much. It would be so much more crushing if it turned out this is not about you at all. And why would it be? So you explain slowly that there is nothing specific against it as long as all parties are consenting.]

"So now that I am you Alpha in truth? Now, is it forbidden? It would be considered taking advantage of my position, perhaps?"

[You blink, startled. Why would Biffy think that? This is not what being an Alpha is all about. An dyet Biffy seems to need some kind of reassurance from you. So like any good Beta would, you just go and sacrifice your own pride for the sake of your Alpha.]

"No. Oh, no. I thought you would not want me back like that. I thought that I was comfort then, nothing more."

"I let you leave, thinking so little of us? Thinking that?"

"I left thinking that. My choice. You had so much ahead of you, so much to learn. I thought twenty years was a long time and it would be easy if I returned to you without expectations."

[Biffy turns towards you and trails fingers down your cheek.]

"It was more than comfort."

[You take in this so familiar smell. The smell of home. My Alpha. Mine.]

"It was more than comfort for me as well."

[And then you slide closer, fit yourself against Biffy's side, in that place that feels like it is yours and that you missed so much.]

"There's been no one for me."

[You go perfectly still against him, holding your breath almost.]

"I had to learn a great deal. To be a werewolf. An Alpha. To lead pack. To cry challenge and to win.

"... No one? For twenty years?"

"I had to heal too, from loss.

"Your family. Lord Akeldama. The other immortality that you gave up for this one."

"Yes, that too."

"Too?"

"Twenty years. I have waited long enough."

[You are so very confused. Why... why would Biffy say that? You understand, of course, yet it doesn't make sense. You are not someone that others pine for. You are not worthy enough to be put before any other attachments, and certainly not for someone as beautiful and shining as Biffy.

But you still have to ask.]

"... For me?"

"Silly man. The main loss I had to cope with was yours."

[You still don't really understand and you tilt your head to the side, trying to make sense of it when suddenly Biffy grabs you and holds you tight. And after an initial moment of shock, you sigh and relax against him, press your nose against his neck, breathe in this achingly familiar scent.]

"You smell like home.

Edited 2019-02-23 21:16 (UTC)

[He smiles warmly at the memory. This one is so fresh in his mind and he loves to think on it sometimes. To remember this moment when their tether became so solidified nothing could shake it.

He loves this man so much. So much that he would wait for him for twenty years. Gladly.

And he would do so as often as possible even if he hopes to never do so again.]

Lyall...

[This is indeed relatively recent, and when the memory dissipate, this is the office once more.

Lyall is still seated behind the desk, but he is leaning on it, his chin on his hands, reports seemingly forgotten. Conall has disappeared too.]

Have you seen enough, my Lord?

[He looks over to see Conall has been gone. Then he looks to Lyall.]

You know, I went through a great deal but I don't know what I would have done without my mate. The one now my husband.

[He walks around the room and comes to Conall's desk.]

I've come a long way. We all have.

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