[Flashback] Under Star and Under Moon

by **Veldrys** on June 4th, 2011, 12:10 pm

„I actually have two sisters“, Veldrys admitted. „But I’ve always been closer to my younger one. She is the most like me. My other sister and I don’t seem to have anything in common.“ She was a typical Symenestra that prayed to Viratas and was looking forward to getting married, and she expected him to find her a surrogate when the time came. She also had little understanding for his interest in magic and history. As far as she was concerned, studying the past was useless since you couldn’t change what had already happened, and magic was just weird and dangerous. It probably made him sound like a bad man, but he didn’t miss her particularly.

As Seven told him that his half-sisters were human, the Symenestra arched an eyebrow although he could recall that Seven had already mentioned his family before, at the very beginning of their conversation. „Did your sisters ever make you feel as if you are different from them?“ he wanted to know. He couldn’t imagine what it was like to grow up with a family that were all a different race from you. Despite the problems he had with his family, at least they all looked like him, and he was not an outsider in his own home.

There was something strange about the way Seven said his name as they were both lying in the grass, next to each other, something that caught his attention. Veldrys turned his head slightly so that he was facing the other boy. As Seven grasped his hand, he looked at him questioningly, not sure what to make of the gesture, of the halfblood’s sudden need for physical contact. That Seven might find him attractive certainly didn’t occur to him even though he had admitted his interest in men earlier. He had never really considered which kind of effect he might have on others. Besides, they had been strangers not too long ago – and he, Veldrys, had thought him tainted, inferior ...

Still, he didn’t withdraw, but merely looked into the younger boy’s crimson eyes as if he didn’t understand what was happening and held completely still. He didn’t move as Seven brought his face close to his, as Seven’s hair brushed against his face. He didn’t withdraw and didn’t recoil in disgust, but neither did he close the last remaining inch between them to finish what Seven had started. His heart beat a little faster, and he asked a single question, one word, a mere whisper. „Why?“ Why are you sorry? What are you sorry for? Why are you so close to me? What do you suddenly see in me? Why do you ...? Why don’t you ...?

by **Seven Xu** on June 5th, 2011, 10:43 am

"Why?"

The question hit Seven like a sack of bricks to the side of the head. His eyes briefly widened in shock and his lips hung open still a breath away from Veldrys' face. What did he mean why? Why what? Seven's crimson irises gazed down at the space between them before he forced himself to focus on Veldrys' facial expression. He looked so confused, shocked - a little scared? Seven was never great at reading faces.

Venom. He knew Veldrys had it. He knew it was far more potent than his, even at his hungriest, and he wanted to test it. What did it taste like? What did ... it ... he, another man, taste like? Seven's burning curiosity had caught him, regret was boiling in the pit of his stomach and his heart felt as if it was going to rip a hole clear through his chest. His mind wanted answers, but his body wanted fulfillment. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

There was another question in there somewhere, a question he'd ignored as he rolled over to hover over his new acquaintance like a hungry lover. Fingers pressed into the dirt and grass at his sides as his forearms burned under his own weight. Sitting prone for so long was taxing on unworked muscles. "Do they ever make you feel different?" Seven paraphrased the question in his mind, and caught his voice in his throat before he muttered a belated response that may only confuse Veldrys further. There had been countless times those large brown eyes - two pairs, identical in every way, had glared at him like a foreign invader. Most often he had done something to annoy one or the other. Being that they were twins, it had been easy to assume his feeling of alienation was merely attributed to their bond. As he grew older, he realized that it was not that they were identical, it was that he was so different.

Warm breath on his cheeks dissolved the thoughts of his family and for a moment his weak elbows faltered. He hadn't meant to. In fact, he had a mind to pull away and apologize profusely to the man for being so bold, but in that split second that his arm shifted under a lapse in will power to hold himself the gap closed and pale, parted lips met the soft flesh of another's. A blush flared on Seven's cheeks and he retroactively shut his eyes. While his mind swirled with confusion and regret, his body was the only thing that seemed to be acting appropriately given the situation. Seven's heart was racing, pumping blood to his face where he so obviously needed it most. Goosebumps rose on his arms and his nails dug into the ground, sandaled toes curled. This is stupid. He decided while a defiant tongue lapped at closed lips, seeking entry and the taste of Symenestra venom. Seven's body and mind were dueling and the fifteen-year-old's body appeared to be winning.

Maybe he deserved to be bitten, clawed, and left for dead.

by **Veldrys** on June 6th, 2011, 6:16 am

Veldrys didn’t really expect Seven to say anything, despite the fact that he had asked a question. He didn’t really know what he expected of the halfblood – or what he expected of himself for that matter. As Seven had correctly observed, the Symenestra was confused, shocked, a little scared – and a couple of other things. It had all happened a little too fast. Besides, he had never been kissed by another boy before. In fact, he hadn’t been kissed a lot at all, and whatever kisses he had received from girls had been weird, awkward things.

Seven was so close to him that he could feel his breath, warm against his skin, so close that he could almost hear his heartbeat. Or did he just hear his own heart that was beating more and more loudly? „What?“ he asked softly, more confused than ever, as he heard Seven murmur something. The words seemed to come from far away and barely registered in his mind. Veldrys had no idea that the other boy was responding to the question he had asked earlier, the one about his sisters. He was still too busy asking himself why he didn’t just pull away when he hadn’t even wanted to be close to Seven at first.

As Seven’s lips met his, the Symenestra hesitated for the fraction of a second, and then his lips parted, and he leaned a little closer and stopped thinking all those thoughts rather abruptly. There was a hint of fang, a bittersweet taste in Seven’s mouth, but he wasn’t bitten or clawed – and he certainly wasn’t left for dead. After a moment Veldrys pulled away and adjusted his position so that he was looking down at Seven rather than the other way.

Amtheyst eyes met red ones for a moment. A pale, long-fingered hand brushed against Seven’s face almost gently, and then another kiss followed, a little longer this time, if Seven allowed it. Somewhere along the way Veldrys had quietly come to the conclusion that he could just enjoy this here and be confused again later on – or maybe never.

by **Seven Xu** on June 6th, 2011, 2:57 pm

The bitter taste that had passed over Seven's lips and burned on his tongue did little to deter him from allowing Veldrys to steal a kiss on his own terms. The white-haired boy caught a breath as his short kiss broke and before he knew it, his back pressed once again against the cool grass as the Symenestra loomed over him to return the gesture. Seven obediently parted his lips and his soft pink exploratory tongue lashed across the inside of Veldrys' mouth. Fang met fang, and Seven felt his own mouth betray him and a more familiar venomous taste stung his mouth. That venom burned and swirled and mixed with saliva, something that would likely be unpleasant for anyone less desperate for physical contact.

A hand lifted to grab hold of the fabric that hung loose between them on Veldrys' robe as if he feared floating away into the sky as their lips remained locked together. His other hand groped desperately for the smooth scalp under silvery strands of Veldrys' hair that brushed his cheeks and framed their faces. It smelled of lavender and tickled Seven's nose as he inhaled. Finally, his lips fell from Veldrys' hold and he exhaled in what sounded like a cross between a whimper and a sigh. He couldn't deny the heat building between them, and as Veldrys drew in closer it became clear that Seven's body was reacting appropriately to the sudden passion, and it left a deep blush on his cheeks.

Forehead met forehead and Seven licked his lips where venom burned them into a light pink, though he showed no outward sign of discomfort. There had been no other, male or female, that Seven had been so bold as to attempt a kiss. In fact, there had been no other situation in which he felt compelled to do so. Despite Veldrys' obvious signs of confusion, Seven had found enlightenment. Merely stating the fact aloud had not done his uncommon desires justice. "Thank you." Seven mumbled breathlessly before his hunger for the taste of the other man's mouth overtook him again and he stole another kiss.

by **Veldrys** on June 8th, 2011, 10:52 am

To anybody else the halfblood’s venom, no matter how weak it was, would likely have been unpleasant, but to Veldrys it mattered little. He found the sudden bitter taste unfamiliar, but fascinating at the same time. He had never been close enough to anybody to experience what was commonly called the Symenestra’s Kiss or at least a weaker version of it. Kissing the occasional girl in Kalinor had been different. He’d always forced himself to hold back a little. As far as he remembered it hadn’t been anything like this here. It was as if some kind of door had been opened. The realization made his head spin a little.

There was no need for Seven to hold onto any part of the Symenestra. Veldrys had no intention of floating away into the sky. In fact a part of him wished that this moment would last forever, that he didn’t have to breathe, that he wouldn’t ever have to let go again. His touch was a little bolder now. He gently brushed Seven’s hair out of his face and then wrapped an arm around the other boy, both to support himself and because a part for him suddenly wanted to be even closer to the other one. Despite the cool Lhavitian night air the Symenestra suddenly felt hot.

As the kiss finally ended, a sigh escaped the Symenestra’s lips, and he didn’t move and didn’t speak for a few moments as if he wanted to hold onto the memory of what the halfblood’s kiss had tasted like a little longer.

„Thank you?“ he repeated Seven’s words and shook his head. „What are you thankful for? Shouldn’t I be the one to thank you?“ Hadn’t Seven kissed him first? Or did he mean something else? Did he want to thank him for not recoiling in disgust? For his meagre attempts to teach him about the Symenestra and their culture? He decided that he didn’t want to think about it now, but leaned closer again and allowed Seven to steal another kiss from him.

by **Seven Xu** on June 8th, 2011, 4:46 pm

There would be no more explanations of Seven's awkward apologies and words of thanks. He had meant them however Veldrys chose to take them. And since he was still around, he felt no need to elaborate.

To any passerby the scene would likely look a bit strange, even frightening as a Symenestra and a halfblood were locked in each others arms, thin bodies pressed together. At a glance, someone may have even mistaken Seven for a woman and Veldrys for a harvester seducing his surrogate. Fortunately for the pair, they had been left to their own devices for this long and the thought of being caught hadn't even been considered in Seven's racing mind.

Fingers slid beneath Veldrys' robe, his shortened nails finding that beneath the flowing garb laid something surprising. The tink of his fingertips on thin, protective armor forced Seven to pull back his burning lips just enough to speak. He had an idea of what the armor's purpose was. Symenestra bones were brittle, their bodies were precisely as fragile as they looked. "You're like a fragile flower," A smirk graced his face and that endearing scarlet gaze bore into violet as he whispered silken words against Veldrys' parted lips. Sincerity softened his teasing expression as he tilted his head, breath running warm across Veldrys' cheek and to his ear. "Can you take it off?"

Silver hair fell across green grass as Seven let his head fall against the ground again. He had let apprehensiveness melt away and little but desire drove his mind. The urge to touch Veldrys' ashy skin, so much like his own, yet so different in its own right. Fingers pressed to the armor, sliding upwards, over the threshold where armor ended and the masculine curve of a collarbone met Seven's touch. "If you cannot, I understand." Perhaps they could work out a trade. An exchange, piece for piece, of what lay between them. Layers of thin fabric separating skin from skin. The persuasive smirk returned to Seven's thin lips as he searched Veldrys' face for a response.

by **Veldrys** on June 9th, 2011, 12:41 pm

That there were other people out there, that one of them might accidentially stumble upon them and make all the wrong assumptions about them, that being here, outside, under the stars might not be the best idea didn’t occur to the Symenestra either. He was entirely focused on the halfblood in front of him now. Seven and all those still unfamiliar feelings he had caused in him were the only thing that mattered to him at the moment. He wanted to explore them a little further and forget that there existed a world outside the two of them. Whatever apprehensions he might have had, had been tucked away into a corner of his mind.

As Seven’s hands slid under his robe only to find the armor, his eyes widened, as if the sound of Seven’s fingers against the thin, protective garment surprised him, as if he hadn’t expected it. That armor had become like a second skin to him, something that he usually didn’t even think of. He hadn’t even been aware that he was wearing it until Seven had mentioned it. „Fragile?“ The statement amused him, and he smiled a little. „I’ve never thought of myself that way. I’m not so fragile ...“ His hands moved to take both robe and armor off, but then he hesitated. His fingers lingered where the armor ended for a moment.

„I would feel strange if I were the only one who took something off“, he remarked and gestured towards whatever Seven was currently wearing. Having done that, he slowly removed the armor. It wasn’t as easy to remove as a shirt or anything else made of cloth, but in the end there was little more than pale white skin and a hint of silk between them. The Symenestra shivered a little as he suddenly felt the cold air against his body, and then he moved closer to Seven, as if he were desperate for the warmth that he had felt only a few moments earlier, so that they were touching once more.

by **Seven Xu** on June 9th, 2011, 1:48 pm

"Of course." Seven's cheeks burned with an uncensored blush as he watched Veldrys, perched over him, remove the robe and thin armor that protected his upper body. The Symenestra's delicate features possessed a distinct masculine quality that, while hidden beneath flowing robes was now exposed and unmistakable under the pale light of the moon. Veldrys' indirect request sent Seven's head spiraling but he wasted no time in removing the white silken tunic from his youthful frame, although unless he was asked, his black trousers remained on his person. The fabric went over his head and he arched his back to remove it entirely.

As soon as the silk left his face and fell innocently to the grass above his head Veldrys was pressed against him again. Skin to skin, a shudder ran up Seven's spine and one hand reached around to slide hungry fingers along the curve of the Symenestra's spine. There was nothing else in that moment. No stars, no moon, no distant buzz of a city that lived off of the night. Only a graceful, silvery-haired stranger that had initially piqued his interest and now lit the fire of carnal desire in his loins that burned between them. He wanted to be closer. Stomach touched stomach and a bony pelvis dug into Seven's upper thighs as Veldrys pressed against his smaller body; tangibility made it impossible for Seven's flesh to fulfill his mind's request. The boy knew little of sex outside of his desire to be close to another. As far as he was concerned, this was the release his body ached for.

Through closed eyes, Seven's hungry, burning pink lips found Veldrys' mouth again and he exhaled blissfully as he took another deep kiss, those hands on Veldrys' back touching, groping at the soft ashy skin as if trying to memorize the span from the curve of his shoulders to the dip in the small of his back.

by **Veldrys** on June 13th, 2011, 1:59 pm

Veldrys didn’t blush. He never blushed. The Symenestra’s face was still the same almost snow white it had always been, but his eyes were a little wider, and his heart was beating a little faster since they had somehow gotten so close. As Seven took his tunic off, the young man didn’t move, but simply watched as pale skin that had previously been hidden was revealed. As soon as the silken garment had been cast aside, the Symenestra gently wrapped an arm around the younger halfblood and lowered him into the soft grass again.

Pink lips found nearly colourless ones again. Veldrys had assisted in births, had treated all kinds of problems and learnt more about what happened between two people than he sometimes wanted to, but he’d never experienced something like that himself. He just knew that he wanted to be closer to the other one than he already was, to be as close as possible to him, to let his hands run across that soft, pale skin.

And then there was a sudden moment of clarity, a sudden realization, and the world came back into focus. The Symenstra broke the contact he had been so desperate for only seconds ago and sat up. They were still there, in the middle of the city, in the middle of Lhavit. „We should go“, he whispered to Seven. „Those Shinya that you mentioned, they might not agree with a Symenestra and a halfblood doing what we are doing, not in public.“

„Is there anywhere ...?“ he wanted to know as he reached for his robe and his armor that were still lying in the grass besides him.

by **Seven Xu** on June 13th, 2011, 6:30 pm

When the warmth of Veldrys’ breath and soft white skin broke away, Seven protested in a lamenting whine. In the short amount of time he had tasted Veldrys on his lips, the numbing venom had become an addiction – he needed to feel the bittersweet burn in his mouth. The hushed words that spilled out of the Symenestra’s lips in that thick accent Seven had deemed endearing earlier in the night snapped the boy out of his lust trance. “You have a point,” he mumbled, bending his knees and sitting up. A hand groped in the darkness for his discarded shirt and, upon finding it, slipped it on over his head.

Seemingly without missing a beat, Seven’s hands were fumbling at Veldrys’ side, assisting him in re-attaching the armour to his torso. Whether it was a help or a hindrance, Seven took the opportunity to sample the taste of the warm flesh on Veldrys’ collarbone. The shameless advance lasted but a moment before Seven pulled away again to bite onto one of the two pitch black nails that adorned his left hand.

“We could go to my house.” Seven’s offer was bold. His father would lose his sanity if Seven were caught bringing a Symenestra into their home – to put it lightly. The thought made him grin. Now there was no other choice. “Come, it isn’t far from here.”

The pair weaved through Zintila’s floating city, over carefully constructed skyglass bridges and pathways to the Shinyama peak. Seven kept his footing light and hurried, hoping Veldrys would easily keep his pace. Past the Dusk Tower was a small scattering of apartment buildings suitable for that of the Aisha class citizens of Lhavit. “Here,” Seven whispered, beckoning Veldrys close. “I live here.” The city was crawling with activity, and the less time they were in the open, the lower the chance was that someone would curse one or the pair of them out ... or worse.

Seven’s fingers slid expertly along the dainty wooden trellis that housed ivy that crept up the two-storey building. It was familiar to him; he had climbed up and down this path several times in the safety of the murky black darkness the back of the building offered. Seven knew his friend would have little issue scaling such a building, so he began to scale the wall himself. Thin fingers dig into the trellis and around the ivy and his footing followed, swapping to the branches of close-dwelling trees when available. Inch by inch, slowly but surely the boy scaled the wall to privacy. The familiar scent of home filled his nostrils and made him grin as one final heave hoisted him through his top-level bedroom window. Seven kicked off his leather boots and padded noiselessly across his small room to secure the lock on his door.

Turning, he approached Veldrys. “Stay the night?” The request was innocent enough as it poured from his lips almost breathlessly. The white silk tunic fell to the floor again, accompanied by the remainder of his clothing that had refused to slip off in the courtyard.