moonlitscholar | for favoredheir

for favoredheir

"Well. You'd think a place called the Valley of Scribes would have more information to find within it. And that it might be a valley."

Briona and Eskander had just spent the past two days wandering through a seemingly endless expanse of stinky, muddy wasteland, all in search of an ancient monument that she'd read about in one of her books. The book talked it up as a historical marvel, a ritual site that was supposed to hold the secrets of the ancient elves, the usual kind of thing that Briona got excited about. The princess was often to seek out such places when they were near, since she had Eskander along for the ride anyway, and he may as well have to work to earn his keep. And work he did, through an incredibly dangerous "valley" full of things that wanted both of them dead.

And after all that, when they finally found the monument, it turned out to be nothing more than a pile of rocks with a mild magical current running through it. Certainly nothing Briona hadn't seen before, and not worth all the hassle. She honestly felt a little bad for putting Eskander through all that, though he would have his reward, as usual, once they were back in civilization.

When they finally, finally reached the inn, Briona saw to the room arrangements and let Eskander get the door. She set her traveling satchel down on one of the two beds, then sat down on the edge.

"I apologize that it wasn't what I hoped," she said. "You're not hurt, are you? Need I heal you at all?"

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"Oh." Briona thinks about that for a moment. The answer comes to her, but she makes a face when she thinks about actually saying it, as it means an inferred compliment to Eskander.

"I can see how that would be uncomfortable with someone I don't trust," she says at last. Here she goes, giving him an even bigger ego. "But I'd be willing to try it." Implying that she trusts him.

Well, she'd better. What else is she paying him for but to keep her safe?

"I see," he replies and there's no hiding the delight in his voice. He is quite happy to keep on snuggling up to her for as long as she'll put up with it. He's still thinking about what to do with her next.

"I've done some experimenting before. It can be... interesting. I just don't know if our arrangement extends to that kind of thing. Or if you're even interested."

"I originally said I'd service you however you liked in exchange for your protection." Briona pauses briefly and shudders in his arms. "The wording of which horrifies me now, seeing some of the other sellswords I could have approached."

"But you've always been quite respectful of my boundaries, and I don't believe you'd try to cross the line on purpose. Even if you do push your luck." That's said with an accusatory finger poking him in the shoulder. She could have ended up in a dire situation indeed had she not picked out a fairly honorable man to hire. For a given definition of honorable, sure, but she didn't feel like she had anything to fear from Eskander, in any case.

"So, I suppose what I'm saying is that I'm willing to experiment with you, personally." The poke turns into a teasing little circle of her fingertip. "Let's say you've earned the privilege."

Eskander snorts. Yes, he's met others in his line of work who were a lot worse than he was and that still managed to be a bit horrifying. He rolls onto his back, finally giving her a little bit of space as he starts stretching himself out and working out a few kinks in his back, wincing only slightly when she jabs him in the shoulder.

"Well - in that case, I'm honored. I'll have to come up with something that will excite you just as much as it does me..."

Now he's thinking. Uh-oh.

Briona looks aside as he rolls away from her, but only coincidentally. Certainly not to avoid him seeing the color on her cheeks. Once she's fairly sure it's faded, she stretches out herself, reaching up over her head to stretch her back and shoulders. She's probably an inch shorter after the pounding Eskander just gave her.

"Just to be clear, there will be no bending me over a table in the common. Or doing anything else in the common, or in public," she adds. "But I am willing to hear you out on most anything else."

Whether she's shorter or not, Eskander is quite content to laze around in bed with her for a while, still feeling horrifically lazy. They just got back from a trip, had a hell of a fuck, and now he's going to just sit and do nothing, because he deserves it. He glances over at her and then reaches out to give her cheek a little caress, grin turning a touch cheeky.

"Are you sure...?"

Then he laughs and shakes his head, "But don't worry, I won't. Wouldn't do that to you. Mostly just like to get you wound up. That's all."

"Oh, believe me, I know," she sighs. "I'm onto you by now, I'm afraid."

A little cold without him splayed out all over her, she curls in a little bit closer, facing him on her side.

"Luckily, you're generally cuter than you are infuriating." Her hand finds its way to his face, and her fingertip finds its way to his beard. "I know it might disappoint you to hear that."

"Oh, incredibly disappointed. My reputation for being a brute will be gone before I know it," he murmurs and leans over to plant a kiss against her forehead. She looks a little chilly, so he offers her his side, arm open for her to curl against him.

"Don't tug too hard on my beard, though. I think it looks fetching on me."

Briona is on that offered arm like a kitten seeking a warm spot, rolling into close contact again. Still petting his beard though, like it's a kitten by itself.

"It does," she agrees. "Elves don't grow beards. I thought yours was quite the novelty when we met." It's still a novelty, when he ends up rubbing it against her skin when he kisses her.

"Between your height, your cock, and your beard, you're just a novelty all over, my dear Eskander."

"Well, that's better than what some people have called me," He laughs, face splitting in a white-toothed grin. Much better than "kin-slayer" or "murderer". Or even the more common "bastard whore's son". Opinion on him tends to be a bit divisive, unfortunately.

"But really, no beards? That sounds strange. Seems... I don't know. Like you're all almost children or something close to it."

Which is another topic of conversation he should probably detour around, honestly.

That remark earns him an eyeroll. "We're nothing like children. My baby brother is twenty years older than you," Briona replies. "We're just..."

Well. It's hard to describe in a way that won't be wholly insulting to humans. Elves have enough of an image problem with the "holier and wiser-than-thou" stereotype, and Briona has always tried very hard not to embody it.

"Smoother," she offers. "Human men are more rugged. Hairy. Brawny. Elf men are just... not."

"So, you just like 'em bigger then, huh?" Eskander teases affectionately. He's not going to hold it against her. He just likes winding her up a little from time to time (read: at all times).

"Your secret is safe with me, princess. Don't worry."

"Ugh." He earns another eyeroll for that. "I don't need any commentary about it from you, thank you very much. Just be grateful my tastes have expanded since leaving home."

Just to punctuate it, she gives his beard a light tug.

"And that's not an opening to comment about other parts of me expanding, either."

"I wasn't going to say anything," Eskander says with an air of perfect innocence, "But you are small and I'm... big. At least compared to you."

Look, if he can't be a smartass, he has nothing left to live for.

"Oh," she says, deadpan, "I noticed, thank you."

With that, she tugs his beard once more. "So. Have you come up with any compelling ideas for me yet, your bigness? I'm getting cold over here."

"Maybe a few," He replies with a laugh, letting her tug away, "But they'll have to wait for a little bit."

He lifts a finger and taps it against her lips with a little grin, "But if you're cold, you can curl up to me. I'll keep you warm."

He does have ideas. He's just sorting them out in his own head. He makes a low 'hmm' noise as he wraps her back up in his arms and tugs her against his chest, nuzzling against her shoulder and neck, "...actually, have one that doesn't require anything but a bit of self-discipline from you."

"You're one to challenge me about self-discipline," she teases. Then she lets him draw her in closer, and will never actually admit that she finds it quite charming when he wants to hold her like this.

"Dare I ask?"

"You can dare. It's not that obscene... At least not yet," Eskander flashes another of his grins and plants a kiss against her temple with a little shrug,

"It might have to wait until we feel up to it again, but..." He considers for a moment before continuing, "The next time we start having a bit of fun, I wonder if you could resist touching me with your hands until you're told. If you can, I'll do whatever you want. At least for a while."

"You think I could possibly resist touching that fuzzy face of yours?" Briona coos and gives him another catlike little scratch on the beard.

Then she smirks, quirking an eyebrow at him. "I have more than enough willpower for such a thing. Especially if it makes you actually behave and follow directions for once."

"Well, that's what I'm hoping," Eskander retorts with a grin that edges into wicked. And then he tilts his head back with a low hum to let her fingers go where they will. He really is getting too used to this. He shouldn't. Everything ends, eventually.

"I am perfectly capable of behaving," he continues, "I just choose not to, most of the time."

"Don't I know it?" Briona grins as she continues to rub his face, in the manner that one rubs the chin of an adorable hound. "It means I must seize upon incentive for you whenever I can."

A frisky little shake of her chest accompanies the word "incentive." "I've not done too badly with that, so far. It's just a matter of keeping you interested."

OK, so maybe he's being treated a bit like a dog, but he enjoys the attention. He makes a low noise of approval and grins, pushing himself into the exploring hand as it scratches over his chin.

"You've done more than keep me interested," he replies with a low, lazy-sounding laugh, "You've got me intrigued and wanting. And that means it might be hard to get rid of me. I can be stupidly persistent, you know."

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for favoredheir

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busy weekend!

I feel that.

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