Island Tour

[Existentially Odd]

Masking his disappointment that he still couldn't be sure one way or the other whether he'd gain or lose Samuel's favour by continuing to discuss his house choices (though that hand on his cock had certainly hinted this was to be an irreverant act, in the name of fun, separate from such serious decisions), Aarik employed his superior years of assassin training to alter their positions.  In little more than the blink of an eye, he'd captured Samuel's hands in his own, spun so that he was up on one knee and pressed the other brunette back onto his bed with his body, hands clasped above his head.  Their chests were touching, Aarik's face hovering barely above Samuel's.  He knew his expression was in shadow when he spoke, for he could see his companion's fairly well.

"To meet me, a coin reward, a kiss and a tour of the island," he laughed good-naturedly as he rolled Samuel back, knowing exactly what his intruder was owed from the cyphers he'd solved.  "You haven't even found the puzzle that gets you into my bed, yet, let alone solved it.  Besides, I rarely sleep with first years... and never with anyone not in Eruditio," he declared, his voice light and airy, as if he was either not telling the truth or wanted to be convinced otherwise.  He knew his words contradicted what his body was doing, chest to chest with Samuel (the awkward position he was forced to maintain with his legs thankfully kept their groins apart), but he needed to send some mixed signals to get something from his companion besides mindless compliance.

[Trillian]

Because Samuel had surrendered himself so completely, he was dominated and moved as Aarik wished it.  It hadn't been entirely easy, for instinctively he'd fought it, but he'd been in a supplicating position, one that was easy to take advantage of.  At first he liked where this turnabout was headed (though he much preferred being the dominant partner because it was more familiar to him, he certainly didn't wish to object this new position), but as Aarik explained that Samuel would not be experiencing anything with him beyond what he already had, because of some ridiculous status he'd placed on the other houses and levels, he felt their intensity dwindle away.  His eager, desirous expression turned into a schooled unreadable stare.  Of course due to the nature of a dropped smile and the vanquishing of lust, the blank expression likely looked sour in comparison.

"Then get off me.  I have no desire to solve any more of your riddles," he said, indicating the mixed messaging that he was receiving.  Mouth saying one thing, body another.

He waited for Aarik to do as he said, for he knew struggling in this position - though not exactly futile, would lose him face because it would be an uphill battle to get away.

[Existentially Odd]

Before he did as Samuel asked, Aarik had a trump card to play and he did it unabashedly, his manner of speaking still mild.  "Here's something plain and easy to understand, then: come to Eruditio and I can guarantee you won't be a first year beyond the next two full moons.  Sooner, if I can help it.  With your past and your intelligence, you're wasted at that rank."

He lingered a moment longer, staring into Samuel's eyes in order to guage what he thought of the compliments and that offer before he complied with the other man's wishes.  To show that there were no hard feelings - and to limit any possibly retaliation he'd garner from sticking with business over pleasure - he used his hold on Samuel's hands to help pull them both into a standing position beside the bed.

As it happened, once they were both upright, they were still pressed close enough together that Aarik could feel Samuel's breath on his bare chest and it was only then that he allowed disappointment to register.  Silently he stood, staring intently at Samuel, waiting.  His forearms were crossed like swords between them (so that Samuel's were straight) and he held his companion's hands authoritatively within his battleworn own, wanting the lesser student to break contact and move out of his personal space.  He wouldn't be the one to let go first.

[Trillian]

Samuel was surprised that Aarik would make such a large promise.  Surely these things were at the whims of a master?  But why would Aarik pursue him so eagerly if not directed by his master in the first place?  He was fairly certain that the promise would be made good on, should he accept.

Before he could reply, he was pulled into a standing position.  He went with it, for he saw it as his release, but narrowed his eyes specutively when he was standing and still held firm.  Mixed messages indeed.  He didn't like the games Aarik was playing, but he thought he understood why the other believed there was a need for them.  He'd given his word not to accuse Aarik of using sex as a bribe to get him into Eruditio house, but the implication of such was certainly in the air, and Samuel had finally decided that was what it was anyway.

"Then get your grand master to speak with mine, for I will move for no less," he challenged.  "And I want my tour tomorrow."

He remained as he was, not pulling away, enjoying their closeness even though he knew it was devisive.

[Existentially Odd]

"I will," he said to the first demand, already anticipating his Grand Master retracting the very simple - yet devastating - expression of disappointment he'd received when last they spoke (when Samuel had selected Libramen). This was much better news to be taking to his superior.

At the second demand, he hesitated, anticipating it would take him most of the day to bring two Grand Masters together. It would be a very sweet thing indeed if he could meet with Samuel at the end of it as an Eruditio colleague.  He would aim for that.  "At the end of the day.  Just before the sun sinks," he agreed and named the place he would meet Samuel - near a path that would take them deep into the forest immediately.

[Trillian]

Samuel assumed Aarik was planning on organising his change of house tomorrow, and it might also be likely that once the wheel started turning, he might not get a chance for his tour.

"No," he said, pulling out of Aarik's hold in order to take a step back.  "In the morning.  My first class is not until after breakfast.  We can begin the tour at sunrise, leaving us many hours to explore."

He hoped Aarik wouldn't insist otherwise.

[Existentially Odd]

Aarik frowned lightly, sensing that Samuel wouldn't brook any argument on this - and he was keen to appease the other.  The advancement of his career was riding on it, after all.  "Alright," he agreed after a few moments of silent contemplation.  For his trouble, he received a startlingly lovely smile from his invader and some words of approval that he didn't pay a whole lot of attention to.  He was too busy staring at those lips.  Realising silence had fallen, he looked up into Samuel's eyes, feeling another, surprising pull.  Rationally, he justified that he'd been kissing the man, so of course he was more likely to find him appealing; irrationally he couldn't explain being this interested in someone he'd just met.  Perhaps it was also because he'd never met anyone who could solve his puzzles before.

No matter what it was, the air was suddenly thick with tension and he was aware that Samuel's expression was expectant.  Damn.  Realising he'd let his guard down, Aarik broke the eye contact and told the other man that he'd see him at the break of dawn, at the place he'd already named, his tone dismissive.  He stepped over to his desk and retook his position, lifting the quill and hearing Samuel make appropriate noises about letting him sleep.  When the door closed behin the other, Aarik was inexplicably relieved.  He stared at the codes still spread across the surface of his work area and was again drawn into deep thought about the solution of them, before he realised he needed to act.

Abruptly, he got up and dressed properly, intending to request an audience with his Grand Master.  Hopefully it wasn't too late.  He took the solved codes as proof of Samuel's intelligence - though he left the one that mentioned a kiss behind.

As it turned out, the Grand Master wasn't interested in seeing him that night.  The closest he could get was the aide, to whom Aarik gave the solved codes and told his tale, insisting that the sooner the GM considered what he was bringing to the table, the sooner they might score themselves the most intelligent student to enter the academy for a very long time.  The aide seemed marginally sympathetic - at least, he took the parchment sleeves and listened to Aarik talk - so he walked away feeling that it was possible the Grand Master would be given his message in a fairly timely manner.  Not soon enough to avoid his 'date' with Samuel, though.

(continued in 'Island Tour Part II')