jikan_network | video; un: ilqaras

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video; un: ilqaras

[there's a bit of fumbling about with the camera, fingers come into view before everything is righted, and Dohalim comes into view. he's... looking a little rough, dark circles under his eyes as he props an arm up to rest his forehead in between his thumb and forefinger. there's a slight ting of red that manages to peek through his bronzed skin, as he takes a small bite of a sliced piece of fruit; someone went foraging for wine fruit, it seems.

the silence goes on for a moment more; one would think this could be a mukbang, before Dohalim finally sighs out softly, and speaks]

First of all... I would like to apologise to those I've encountered in the last several weeks. My actions were out of line.

[his speech is slurred; he looks off to the side]

Second of all... Would anyone know how to get blood out of white linens?

[another soft sigh, before Dohalim reaches towards the camera, and the screen goes black. he was meant to draft this, but... oops he posted it instead. help a guy out, he really doesn't want to have to burn his regalia]

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[It is an odd skill and one not entirely unique to Red Wine, and the origins of it are more complex in their explanation than he would delve into without prompting.

He notices that Dohalim doesn't fight what he says, and he catches that single shed tear with his thumb as it breaks free and rolls down over dark skin. Some comment could be made here about actually showing emotions and the benefits of such a thing, but as he mulls over the wisdom of drawing attention to it Dohalim makes another decision that derails his train of thought.

The kiss is a soft one, not unlike the one that had started all of this. Red Wine leans into it, cups around the back of his head instead of his cheek, lets his eyes fall shut.

And he keeps it sweet this time. Gentle. He lets Dohalim deepen it if he wishes and takes the cues from him.

When he does pull back he plants a light peck against Dohalim's lips again and settles back down beside him, their legs still tangled together under the warm blanket.]

Again? [He's teasing. There's a smile on his lips.] You are insatiable, aren't you.

Dohalim doesn't move to deepen the kiss this time, wanting to keep it sweet and light. more as an appreciation for all Red Wine had done, and is still doing. he didn't have to do all of this; he didn't have to come over to look after him (as loathe as Dohalim is to admit it, it's exactly what Red Wine did), or indulge him in such ways, leaving him completely ravished. nor did he have to stay long enough to have this talk. Red Wine could have left as soon as it seemed like Dohalim was alright.

but... the fact that Red Wine did stay, and listen to him when he sorted through everything that had weighed him down... only to come to the realisation that, aside from his companions back home, he had never told anyone any of this (and even then, they didn't even know the full extent of the darkness that clawed at him)...

as Red Wine rolls over onto his side, Dohalim follows, almost curling up into him, seeking that warmth. an arm drapes over the other man's waist, pulling him close. then he says that; he breathes out a soft laugh as he looks up at him]

Perhaps... An overflow of emotions. Possibly. I'm not quite sure.

[all he does know is he wants more of that intimacy, but this... this is enough, for now]

[Red Wine hums out thoughtfully and wraps his arm around Dohalim's back, drawing him in and tucking the man's head gently beneath his chin. He closes his eyes for a moment then opens them half-lidded, sighs, and lets the last of any tension wash out of his body.

It's certainly been an eventful couple of hours.]

I'm very accustomed to keeping things to myself. [He says then, just in case it happens to occur to Dohalim that he had certainly shared and done enough to ruin himself had Red Wine not been the kind of person one could place their trust in.]

Do you want me to stay here for a while?

[he can't help but let out a soft, content sigh at the feeling of Red Wine's arm around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. dare he say he felt safe, as if his thoughts couldn't reach him here. wishful thinking, perhaps; he knows that said mental trappings were tucked in the corners of his mind, but he finds it easier to concentrate on the man half wrapped around him than what perpetually troubles him.

at least he has the confidence that Red Wine will not be telling anyone his secrets, from what he gathered with those words

If you have no prior engagements... I would not mind the company.

[there's a sincerity in his voice, not the tired surrender like earlier. though, he can't help but feel a little guilty about it]

But... Do not feel as if you have an obligation to stay. I also would not mind it if you wanted to leave.

[in all honesty, though, he really is hoping Red Wine can stay, because he wants to]

[There's a long silence from Red Wine then, broken only by the soft sound of his breathing. Then he laughs quietly, shifts his head to kiss the top of Dohalim's head, and then returns to tucking the man lightly under his chin.]

You really are impossible, Do.

['you never can just say what you really want, can you'

He slides his hand up Dohalim's back to where he can push his fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. His hand stays still, save for an idle stroking of his thumb against the warm skin.]

Do you want me to stay with you? If you answer anything other than yes or no, I'm pushing you off the couch.

[and there's a pause in between answers as Dohalim considers the question. he could easily answer it (with a resounding yes, as much as it concerns him of the near desperation of maintaining the closeness and intimacy of the man, even just being held like this), but... there's a part of him that can't help but poke the sleeping zeugle, so to speak.

and, boy, does he want to poke that sleeping zeugle.

in a preemptive move, Dohalim tightens his arm around Red Wine's waist, and shifts his legs to tangle into his; if he's going down, the other man is going to have to go with him]

I would like to see you try.

[There's another pause, then Red Wine laughs again. Louder this time. More genuinely - a real expression of mirth. He squeezes Dohalim to him, so warmly that it seems impossible he might even be considering letting him go, and he gently ruffles the back of his hair.]

You're ridiculous.

[All right, no, he won't push him. If only because he is enjoying this closeness and Dohalim has made it impossible to carry out his threat without the both of them ending up on the floor anyway.]

But indulge me and answer the question. Please.

[he can't help but let out a small laugh himself; yes, he definitely feels a bit lighter than before. though he knows that his own issues are ones he'll have to work on for a while yet, at least, for now, he can enjoy the reprieve with the company of the other man]

...Alright. Yes, please stay. Just for a little while longer.

[Dohalim's voice is soft, mired with the slightest hint of uncertainty at admitting to such a thing. but at least it's out there, and it's a 'yes'... along with many other words. Dohalim isn't sure how he'd be able to handle it right now if he ended up being alone.

a comfortable silence falls over him as he takes in more of that warmth, before a thought starts poking at him. Red Wine knows entirely too much about him, but Dohalim barely knows anything about the man. there are a multitude of questions he could ask, but he supposes he could settle on the first one that had nipped at him since their first meeting with each other]

...Your name... Red Wine. I am curious as to why you have the name of a drink.

[It had only been a matter of time before that question came up. He has taken to introducing himself as 'Red' only to avoid it, but his full name always comes out eventually and then there's this question. But he prefers it, he thinks, over the question of whether or not he's a vampire.

He hums softly as his only response at first, but what he is isn't a secret.]

It's what I am. On Tierra I'm what is called a Food Soul.

[And no doubt this raises a whole lot of other questions, so he rattles of something he has memorised almost by rote to head off what he expects will be a few of them.] Not the food itself, but more the... spirit of it. [Hmm.]

If you could take the culture and history of a food or drink - the things that make it mean something to people - and then have that essence become a living thing... then that is what I am. [He starts running his fingers absently through Dohalim's hair, still with his chin resting on top of his head.]

A long time ago - before my time, I'm... still quite young - humans found these dormant souls. They began to summon us to fight for them.

[a physical embodiment of a food history and culture. the mere concept of it... Dohalim can't say he's ever heard of that, before, so his interest in the matter is piqued. and, for someone who's two hundred and fifty years, to still be considered young... just how long had this been a thing in Red Wine's world?

however, at the mention of dormant souls being used--]

--Summon them to fight?

[that strikes a chord in him, not liking how that sounds]

Mmh. The humans call them Fallen Angels. I don't know why they gave them that name. They're the manifestations of the worst traits of humankind.

[Food Souls can be corrupted to become them too, but he doesn't say that.

He still hasn't moved his chin from the top of Dohalim's head but the hand cording through his hair has stilled against the back of his neck again. He realises all at once what hearing this is probably going to provoke in the man given what he has been told of his past.

Ah, well... it was bound to come out at some point.]

They couldn't fight them alone. So... they summoned us. As weapons. [A sigh.] We have skills far beyond those of humans. A Food Soul may be summoned by a ritual, using the meal, ingredient or drink in question... and they are bound to the summoner - their Master Attendant - by contract until that person dies.

At the end of the day, you were used to benefit others.

[Dohalim's voice is soft, wary; it slowly dawns on him that he'd effectively done the same thing by asking Red Wine to help him forget about his troubles.

he was no better than those humans.

latching onto that thought and letting it dig deep, Dohalim slowly unravels himself from Red Wine, slowly sitting up. looking down at the other man, there's an apologetic look on his face as he brings up a hand to brush through Red Wine's hair gently]

...My apologies. You...You must think me the same as those humans. I used you for my own means, after all.

[He doesn't fight to keep Dohalim near him but doesn't withdraw from him either, and shifts slightly to look up at him once he's sitting up. A tiny, wry smile pulls at his lips.]

Do, you aren't my Master Attendant. I'm not compelled to do anything for you that I don't want to do. [Red Wine snags the hand touching his hair and kisses the back of it.]

Don't put words into my mouth. I won't tolerate it.

[Then he sits up as well, so he can look at the man eye to eye.]

And don't think less of me for having been created to serve a purpose. My master died almost two hundred years ago, and I loved her dearly while she was alive. [Like a sister. He adored her and she loved him. Red Wine knows he was lucky to have such a woman draw him forth.]

What I've done here today, with you, I did because I wished to. Not through some compulsion to serve you. Understood?

[he lets the words sink in as he searches Red Wine's eyes, making sure that whatever he'd said is met with sincerity. no, the man himself didn't seem the type to mince words to make him feel better.

resigning to the fact that what Red Wine is saying is true, Dohalim nods, before leaning in to rest his forehead in the crook of his neck and shoulder]

...My apologies. That was not my intention at all.

[however, he had to internally kick his brain picking the worst case scenario in this at the drop of a hat, and he has no idea how to stop himself from letting his mind overthink like that]

Mmn. I know. [Red Wine turns his head slightly to press another kiss into Dohalim's hair.]

I'm sorry, that was my fault. I didn't think about how knowing that would bother you before I said it.

[With how much he had been told he should have been more careful, but he'd grown comfortable in those moments... and he hadn't been thinking.

He sighs again and puts one arm around Dohalim's back, leaning against him a little.]

I won't lie to you and say all Food Souls are treated well, but we aren't used to fight much anymore. I was summoned long after the war ended.

[while Dohalim is happy that Red Wine was treated well, the fact that there were other Food Souls that weren't leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. he shouldn't be surprised, that no matter what, when it comes to slavery, there will always be those treated terribly. however...]

Do not apologise. You simply told me something about your life and past, and I chose to look at the worst side of it and assume something about you.

[and yet, the fact that Red Wine is still here, leaning against him... it almost astounds him]

[Softly, he lets out another one of those quiet chuckles and shakes his head slightly before lifting it to look him in the eyes again.]

I'll forgive you for it this once, but don't do it again.

[The words are pleasantly spoken, though, as he leans in for another quick press of lips. He probably wouldn't hold it against Dohalim if he did the same thing again, because he already knows how quickly the man's mind turns to calamity and disaster.

But he will still call him out for it. Every single time.]

Was there anything else you wanted to know?

[despite the small hiccup, there, Dohalim does have a few more questions. call it an intrigue in the man, or maybe it is because of the fact that Dohalim's laid himself out and is feeling a little vulnerable at the near one-sidedness of this situation.

humming, he wraps an arm around Red Wine again and pulls the both of them down. he already misses the warmth]

There are quite a few things I would like to know. But first... Are all Food Souls beautiful like you or am I just lucky?

[r e a l l y Dohalim]

[And Red Wine doesn't mind the questions when he volunteered for them. It's when someone presses him for answers he never volunteered to give that he gets waspish about it.

He goes down easily, pulling the blanket up around them and comfortably settling himself back on the couch again. The question makes him pause, then chuckle.

Well.]

We're all more attractive than humans, if that's what you mean. As for my particular attributes - some Food Souls have pointed ears, but most don't. There aren't many who look like me, but... I know of one or two who you might mistake for my relatives if you met them.

[But not many. Red Wine is... fairly unique.]

[look, he has an appreciation of the unique and beautiful, and Red Wine fits the bill, so of course he'd ask about it.

however, the mention of his ears does catch his attention as his eyes flick up at them. it seems like Dohalim has two modes: overthinking and ever curious, so excuse him as he reaches up to gently brush his fingers against one of them]

Fascinating...

Dohalim--

[The response is instant. He snags the man's hand gently and pulls it away from his ear as he twists his head slightly away from the contact. The expression he makes isn't uncomfortable, but--]

Please don't do that. [He clasps that wandering hand between both of his and kisses it.] Not unless you're intending to keep going.

[so his ears really are that sensitive and he wasn't just imagining it. but to be an erogenous area...]

And if I want to keep going?

[Red Wine sort of looks... cute, like this, if Dohalim were to say so himself. and he wants to see how far he can take this, honestly]

[It's something he can definitely control if he wants to, but when he's lying naked under a blanket with a very attractive man why would he bother? He regards Dohalim quietly for a few moments after the question, then lets his gaze slide away in consideration.]

If you want to... I won't say no.

[He still has some energy left, though he's surprised Dohalim does.]

But I think I'd prefer if you stayed present for this one.

[he has the tiniest bit of energy, it's more the intrigue fuelling him at this point, really. he supposes he should put a pin on this so he could find out more about the man, but... the die had already been cast.

though, he does give Red Wine a look]

You make me sound like I'm some sort of deviant who wants to be driven insane every time we have sex.

[a small tease, punctuated with a small laugh. he doesn't have the energy for a more intense interaction like that again, but a more tender moment, he can probably do. so, as he gently slides his hand out of Red Wine's hold, he reaches up to his ear again, slowly rubbing his thumb along the smooth skin]

You mean you're not? Mm. I feel like I've been lied to.

[A jest, of course, if the smile playing on his lips is anything to go by. He lets Dohalim take back his hand and sighs softly, half-closing his eyes against the touch. It's... tingly, in a pleasant way, and more so when he's allowing it to happen.

He reaches up himself and brushes Dohalim's hair back, tucking a couple of curls gently behind his ear.]

Do you feel any better? [Red Wine asks then, smoothing his hand idly over the man's shoulder.] Than when I got here, I mean.

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