rosebyanyother | duplicity inbox

Javert. We do not know one another.

If it's any consolation, I don't often speak of my parents either. It's something of a shameful topic.

Peter bends easily for the kiss, eyes slipping closed. A little bubble of laughter - short, but sweet- comes at the way Jaime bumps noses.

Then he pulls back, running his hand through Jaime's hair and letting his hand settle on the back of his neck.

"The fact that you're here with me is enough, really." He bends his head of his own will, resting his forehead against Jaime's. "I'm very, very fond of you too, you know."

Oh, that's so very dangerous. But Jamie closes his eyes as their foreheads touch.

"You say the sweetest things, darling," he murmurs, voice just a bit strained. He'd not expected this, even if he feels it deeply. Jamie takes a quiet, shivering breath.

"I can stay as long as you like," he says after a moment. "I've let Wolf know."

Well, he hadn't given details, but his Dominant knew how to find him if need be. Jamie doubts it will come to that: Wolf's always respected his social needs and relationships.

No. I suppose we don't.
Peter Nureyev is the name they gave me, though it's not the one I use now. I go by Morrigan Prince. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Since you showed consideration, I'll do the same and not ask just now. Unless you're willing to speak on it, of course.

Peter does hear the strain, the way his breath shivers. It is interesting. He contemplates opening his eyes to take a look but decides against it. Not everything needs to be interrogated.

"Stay the night? I'd like to have you here."

"Of course, darling."

He shifts, tucking close against Morrigan for a full cuddle. He supposes they'll have to move eventually, but he's content to stay like this for as long as Morrigan wants to. And he's already decided that he'll order dinner for them, but they can worry about that later.

Both of my parents were convicts. I'm sure you can understand why I don't wish to speak of them.

Would you care, then, if I referred to you as Monsieur Prince?

Ah, yes. I do understand.
And I would be very grateful if you did, thank you.

[Jamie listens to the ring, and just as the other end picks up, he realizes he doesn't know what he wanted to say. At first, there's just a sharp inhale.]

I--

[Try again. He makes himself smile, even if Morrigan can't see him. Maybe that will help.]

Uhm. Hi, Morrigan, darling. I--fuck, it's later than I thought it was--

[This all instantly sends warning bells ringing in Peter's head and he does not sound frantic when he responds but there is a marked tone of concern.]

It's never too late, for you. Is everything alright?

[Everything does not sound alright.]

Of course it is.

[Of course it is.]

I just uhm. [Why had he called? Fuck's sake. Focus.]

It's rather late and I was wondering if you'd mind... escorting me? [It sounds stupid as soon as its out of his mouth. Jamie rubs his hand over his cheek. He's tired.]

I can ask someone else.

[Legato will come if he calls, he's certain of that.]

Very well. I am relieved to hear you say so. Many here are quick to turn to pity when I tell them these things. It's annoying.

Nonsense. Tell me where you are and I'll come get you.

[Jaime has done enough for him that of course he wants to return the favor. There's no question.]

[he rattles off the name and address of the hotel he's just left.]

I'll be out front... thank you.

[he'll be hard to miss, wearing a rather elegant gown straight out of the mid-late 1600s, if one has an eye for such things. His shorter hair seems out of place with the rest of the look.]

I'll be there as soon as I can.

[Peter heads out almost immediately. On alert, he even straps the clever little device Alessandro had once given him to his wrist so that he'll have a knife at the ready. If it comes to that.

Approaching the spot, Peter makes his approach fairly obvious, not wanting to spook Jaime, if he's inclined to spook. His attention is split between Jaime and his surroundings, trying to see if he can pinpoint what might be wrong.]

I'm here. Let's get you home, hm?

[Peter's voice is soft. He offers his arm to Jaime, intending to keep him close.]

Thank you, darling, [he says as Morrigan approaches. He is as lovely as ever, but there is something distinctly tired about his appearance. An odd vulnerability he doesn't often allow. The gown rustles as he moves closer to take Morrigan's arm.

I feel kind of... silly, [he admits.

There is nothing obviously wrong or dangerous. The hotel they are leaving behind is expensive and about as reputable as any business in Duplicity can be. He bumps close to Morrigan as he walks. It sounds like he's wearing heels of some kind or another beneath the voluminous layers.]

I hope I'm not interrupting your night.

[The tiredness is something Peter can relate to, but he's concerned to see it in Jaime's face. For himself, showing it to other people often means something is very wrong. He suspects the same thing is true for Jaime.]

Not at all. I only just got in from work a little while ago. You caught me before I started to turn in.

[He is still made up. Not outrageously, but well.]

It seems like you've had quite a night too. That's a lovely gown.

Thank you. It was a... request.

[Jamie will generally head in the direction of his cottage unless Morrigan has a clearer vision of where they should go.]

How was work? [His free hand goes to his hair again, fluffing it in an absent fidget. Or maybe to make sure it looks the way he thinks it should.] Anything terribly interesting happen?

Not terribly. Though I did have a customer finally come out of his shell a bit. He's been visiting every week or so, delightfully shy. He actually requested I sprawl across his lap this time. [Peter smiles a bit.] He's sweet. And he tips gorgeously.

[Peter has no other destination in mind other than wherever Jaime would like to go. It stands to reason he'd probably like to go back to his cottage.]

The person who made this request...they didn't harm you, did they?

[It doesn't seem like that's the case, but Peter can't be sure.]

Do you think I'd tolerate that? [he asks with a look Morrigan's way. The question is evasive, but he isn't sure if Morrigan knows him well enough to know for sure the answer.

Besides, he's never let a human hurt him without his consent. Not in many years.]

I'm fine, [he insists. And maybe if he says it firmly enough, it will sink in for himself as well. Jamie takes a breath and stays close for the walk. He just needs to hold it together a while longer.

The cottage, thankfully, is well-positioned and doesn't take terribly long to get to, even on foot. Passing the front gate, the garden at night shrouds their journey to the front door. As soon as they're inside, Jamie steps out of the cunning little heels he's been wearing, leaving them by the door. He moves further inside by way of invitation, but he is already trying to untie the ribbons holding the dress closed in the back. He only gets two loose before he gets frustrated and starts trying to get it off any way he can. Jamie tries hard to keep his voice steady even as he snaps:]

Help me get this damn thing off.

Edited 2021-06-26 22:59 (UTC)

[Peter does not know the answer to that for sure. Furthermore, he is skeptical about the extent to which Jaime could keep it from happening, if someone else was intent on hurting him. Not because he thinks Jaime is weak or vulnerable. But because sometimes things like that....happen anyway.

So. He makes a sound of understanding but doesn't quite answer the question. Once they reach the house, he toes his shoes off as well, taking Jaime's unvoiced invitation to enter. He's not leaving his friend alone until he's sure of what's going on. Or until Jaime explicitly tells him to leave.

It's...upsetting to see Jaime so off-kilter. Peter immediately steps up behind him, fingers deft at the laces, making it easy for Jaime to get out of the dress.]

What happened, Jaime?

[Because something happened.]

[Jamie stills when Morrigan sweeps in to help. He presses his hand to his cheek, head down and shoulders tense as the dress opens. Beneath it is 17th century stays, not laced quite as tightly as they could be.]

I was asked to be someone else for a few hours, [he says quietly.] It--it's nothing I haven't done before.

[But he hasn't used this contract in quite a while, and it's been longer since he kept it up this long.]

It was harder than I thought it was, I uhm.

[He hiccups. He doesn't know how much he could or should say to Morrigan, who, for all his support, is still human. But he also knows what Jamie is... sort of.]

It's one thing to look different... it's another to be someone.

[Without much hesitation, Peter pushes the gown down so that it falls off of Jaime's body. Not seeing laces up the back of the corset - or at least he thinks of it as a corset - he moves around to face Jaime. It takes a moment for him to figure out how the lacing works for this, but then his fingers move to loosen those as well.

He's listening all the while. He doesn't...entirely understand, but he's aware that Jaime is very special. And the concept isn't unfamiliar to him.]

You can lose yourself in being someone else.

[His tone is soft. Knowing. They may not be thinking about the same thing, but Peter understands to a point.]

Utterly, [he whispers.

He hates the way he feels right now. He hates that he's falling apart like this in front of someone he knows and cares for. Jamie takes a sharp breath as the stays loosen, as the constriction ends. He's upset with himself for being so ridiculous about the clothes, too. Normally this wouldn't throw him at all. He'd quite enjoyed dressing up, but--but things changed.

As Morrigan loosens the laces, Jamie wipes at his face, trying to get some composure back.]

It-- [He hiccups, tries to slow his breathing.] They... love the person I was. Very much. But it wasn't me. And I know that's the point, I just--

[He shakes his head.]

I'm being overdramatic and ridiculous, that's all.

You aren't.

[The workings of Jaime's undergarment continue to be a little odd to Peter. He's used to the kind with a busk in the front. It seems the easiest to undo the ties on the little shoulder pieces, so he does that next. At least the front ones.]

It's disconcerting. Coming out of it and knowing that the emotion wasn't for you.

[He reaches out, but leaves his hand hovering just a centimeter or two away from Jaime's cheek. Letting him choose to lean into it or not.]

But you are loved too, you know.

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