Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

16th of Ymiden

Jon smiled and pulled Zasalamir closer to him. They’d arrived at Kaelserad late in the night, and since Jon was somewhat nervous about bringing another man in and asking one of the servants for a spare room, Zasalamir had spent the night with him. Really, he wouldn’t have had it any other way. He had take the young man as his, and they’d fallen asleep together. Jon woke content and happy, Zasalamir’s head on his chest and his arm flung loosely around his new lover. He sighed and watched the morning light filter through the gemstones on his arms. He’d let his lover sleep. He liked watching him, actually. The way those golden locks spilled out over Zasas shoulders and down his ribs. Jon picked up a strand in his fingers and played with it. It was so soft, framing Zasalamir’s angular face so perfectly. He represented understanding an tranquility, and it was exactly what he needed. He sighed and smiled down at Zasalamir. “I think I adore you.” He said softly down to his sleeping lover. He trailed a hand down his lover’s side, affectionately stroking his skin.

He leaned down and kissed Zasalamir’s neck. He moved to embrace him a little closer. He pulled their bodies together and rained little kisses down on his dear drug dealers face. “Wake up. We can make breakfast before I show you your competition in Ne’haer. The Crazed Corner is a large infectious wound in the city but in this wound there is profit. If you cleaned it out and took it over you could rule it. With a Harvester at your side no one would question you.” He said softly. He wanted to initiate Zasalamir, but there had to be some education first. He needed to understand exactly what he was getting into.

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jon laughed when Zasa lifted his head and admitted he had been awake for a while now. The little minx! Of course he’d lay still and enjoy being petted and pawed by Jon. He kissed him, sighing in complete contentment. He gently herded his lover on top of him, enjoying the feel of skin to skin. He embraced Zasalamir and kissed him deeply. He closed his eyes, letting their tongues play together. If Zasa was as content as he was, then they’d never get out of bed. Oh yes he’d happily spend a week here with his little golden cat in his arms. He ran his fingers through Zasalamir’s hair, trailing his fingers down the long locks. He adored the spun gold and the way it cascaded over his lover. “Mmm I’ll get out of bed if you promise never to cut this.” He joked. “Tell me, why drugs? You’re so beautiful, and your spirit is infectious. Why drugs at all? Cut gemstones with me. Together we can heal and sell gems. I can transmute them, you can find me pieces that compare to your beauty.” He suggested.

Maybe his lover didn’t need to see that hideous place. Maybe he didn’t need to see that den of human misery. He couldn’t stand the thought of Zasalamir mingling among the shit stained stones and addicts. He didn’t want to see echoes of his past. He didn’t want him to see the pain and suffering. The way addicts would fuck or swarm a dead body for any spare drugs. Hell, they even licked the sores of heavy users to lap up some of the chemicals that leaked out. “Darling...” Jon cupped his hand along Zasalamir’s jaw. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. People will stab one another. They’ll rape you, or try and run you off. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
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The Aberrant was glad to hear that lovely mane would stay intact. He didn’t have the patience for such a thing, really. He liked his hair short and Not blowing about in his face. He’d enjoy just being able to play with Zasa’s. He did question now much time and effort went into bushing it, however. Did he tie it up when he had to fight? He would have to, to prevent any inadvertent hair cuts or hair pulling. Jon had seen many a woman with long hair ya led back and dragged by it. Either way, he’d be happy to braid it. It was almost intoxicating, and a feature he didn’t often see on men.

’You just like the hair because it reminds you of your pretty rocks, like the ones on your arms.’ Hob chuckled at him. The Harvester was very entertained by his mages new toy. Jon was smitten and the creature simply didn’t understand the emotion. Jon appreciated the point though. Zasas hair did remind him of some exotic mineral. He was brought back to earth by the sight of tears in Zasalamir’s eyes. His mother had taught him to compound the drugs and it seemed they were a family business much like the lapidary had been his own.

“Look...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult your mother. It’s just...I’ve been there, Zasalamir. I know how horrific it can be.” He said quietly. He was a bit surprised when the man moved up off of him and for a moment he thought he’d offended him a little more than he’d thought. He frowned, not moving from his position as the i tiger man seized his bow, turned, and fired. Jon didn’t expect to get shot. But neither did he expect how damned close that arrow was. He blinked for a moment and listened to the shivering of the wood centimeters above his head. He glanced up. The arrow was shuddering only slightly, and he lifted a finger to press against the notches at the rear of it.

“Point made. Kitty has claws.” Jon smiled. “Listen, I didn’t mean to insult you. But I want you to be careful. Etzori drug dealers aren’t loved in Nehaer. Not in the Corner. But I’ve got to say...” he tugged the arrow out with a grunt. “...you’ve got me sufficiently turned on.”
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Jon grinned and grabbed his lover’s waist when Zasalamir leapt on him. He liked the way their legs were intertwined, and the direction his lover’s mouth was going. He leaned his head back, but the kisses stopped and the man was cuddling with him again. A small disappointment but nothing too earth shattering. He put his arm loosely around his lover. The man was confident, he had to hand him that. The quietness Of spirit was an excellent thing but could it dare to stand up to the rigors of Aberration? He stroked his fingers over Zasa’s head. “I wish I had that sort of tranquility when I started down this path. Magic is addictive, as much so or more than any drug, darling. If you wish to share in my power, I’ll need to educate you a little more. About the Harvester, about the sort of chaos you would be reaping. The necessity to kill. I don’t think you’ll have any problems with the latter, but could you kill knowing not even the Immortals could reclaim that soul? To a flayed man there is no afterlife. Only nothingness.” He muttered quietly. It was a big responsibility. He had to be sure he was ready.

Jon stretched his body out and smirked. “Mm are you sure?” He bounced Zasa on his hips a bit.
’Oh get up.’ Hob growled impatiently.
Jon sat up, moved Zasa off his lap with a kiss, and went to get his clothing. “Alright, alright, since you and Hob are both on my back.” He said, good naturedly. “Speaking of which you’ll need to meet the master of the place eventually. Alistair Venora. Don’t breathe a word to him about Aberration. He despises it. If he knew I was even thinking of initiating you he’d destroy us both.” He said. He pulled Zasa in for a kiss. “Understand?”
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Jon sighed and looked at Zasalamir. There was so much pain in that subject. Alistair didn’t want him to be an Aberrant, and he’d murdered his first Harvester. He still remembered Daeva’s scream, that horrifying shriek as she’d died. Alistair hated Harvesters, hated Aberrants. It was the main friction in their relationship. Alistair thinking he was saving Jon from himself and Jonathan’s love affair with one of the most unique magics known to Idalos. It was such a weight on Jonathan’s soul. It was the love of magic warring with his love for Alistair. “Because he is my teacher.” Jon said quietly. “He is my teacher and I respect him. I don’t have anywhere else to go. I left my parents to find Aberration, and to come here. I...have very little else but Hob and Alistair. And now, I have you. You bring me so much peace.”

He put his arm around Zasalamir as his lover kissed him. He sighed deeply and nuzzled against him with his nose. “This must be a secret. When it happens and if it survive, your Harvester must be hidden. You must hide him as I have hidden Hob.” He said. He smiled gently and patted his cheek. “Let’s go.” He headed out of the hospital, looking back at the building. It was an attractive little brick building with a large rolling lawn and a pond. This was his home now. He loved the little pond next to the hospital, and the garden just to the left of the door, and the forest it bordered on.
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