bakerstreet | Sweeter the fruits

[ Ea Lowkey: notorious morale booster. It is known, especially when she uses that dry sarcasm to point out how stupid someone is being.

Sincerity aside, she would boost his morale any day. But for now, perhaps best to focus on leading him down to the side cliffs that lead towards the hole in the wall where Wulbren and his people have set up shop. A short climb up the rafters from there, and they'll be at Sharess' Caress, from where there is a shortcut (that glowy ancient sigil that keeps popping up, and who is she to reject it?) to the city. And once in the city, well... the Fists have a way of ignoring anyone who's a tiefling already in the city, because Baldur's Gate is not without their own. (Case in point: Ea.) ]

It is - it would be. I've never not enjoyed everything you've had to give me so far, and if you choose to give me the reigns, well.

[ A smirk here, over her shoulder at him, while they're climbing a ladder. Flirting while infiltrating a city? Of course they can. ] It'll be my honour.

[Certain tactics work well with certain people. Zevlor would worry if he were being coddled, or even counseled, because he's used to being on the giving end of that sort of care. Flirting, distraction, and work to do are doing wonders, though, and sex will certainly not be turned down at this point.

Her glancing back and smirking at him while climbing a ladder above him is certainly a compelling visual. She's fully dressed, of course, but even at a respectful distance he's got a good view of her rear, her legs, the curve of her tail, and it's certainly reminiscent of possibilities they could explore in the bedroom.]

Well. [He smiles up at her, following.] What are the chances of a hot bath together, then, when we get to the Elfsong?

[ There's a thought. The tub in the apartments - if one can call it appartments, given that it's mostly one giant sleeping room, with couches for dinner - is big, but would it be big enough for two? ]

High, actually. [ They may even get lucky, and the rooms will be empty by the time they get there. Or perhaps they'll be spotted by someone in the group who is savvy enough that they'll herd the others out to give them some privacy.

Or maybe they'll have to get lucky in different ways. ]

Might be a tight squeeze, though.

[He has no mental image of the place they're headed to, so he dares to hope. He's a little uncertain of how her companions will react to his presence. They were civil enough when they met below Moonrise Towers, but it's not as if there was a long time for discussions.

Clearly she's dead set on him, either way, though, and he dares to hope that will be enough.]

I don't recall either of us having a problem with being tightly squeezed before. [He smiles slyly, fully aware of the innuendo.] I'm sure we'll manage one way or another. And...we can talk about plans after? [He needs to be useful. He wants to be with her.]

[ By now, she's at the top of the wooden scaffolding that frame some of the houses right before Wyrm's Rock Prison, her and waits for him. From here, there is a short dash through the bridge of the prison, and they'll be inside the city - where once allowed through, no-one will be able to toss him out, just like they don't try it with Ea.

She waits for him to join her, taking out three vials of Potion of Invisibility. ]

We will get to talk. But first, I need you to be a good boy and drink this. One every minute - won't take us that long to get across if we run. It'll give you three minutes, but take it when we get near to the bridge.

[If she wanted him completely focused on the task at hand, perhaps she shouldn't have called him 'good boy'. He's never thought of himself as particularly weak to praise, but several months of diminishing self-worth have taken a toll, and for a moment he's looks like a deer in headlights. Oh..

Hmm. That might have to be investigated another time. He accepts the potions with a nod.] Just give me a signal when to go, and I'll go.

[They make it across the bridge without incident, although it occurs to Zevlor that he may well want to investigate the prisons later, lest someone they know has been placed there. Once well into the streets beyond, after the potion wears off, he glues himself quietly to Ea's side again.]

I've only been to the Gate twice before. [He admits.] As a bodyguard for diplomatic business. Elturel always fancied itself so much better, a beacon of culture and knowledge and civility. Shame it was a lie.

[ Her perception and ability to read people's intentions and expressions honed like a sharp weapon, means she catches that reaction and files it for later with a warmth in her belly that is undeniably a heady mix of arousal and affection.

Someone needs to ride this man slowly and call him a good boy. Someone needs to make him feel valued and cherished. It's going to be her, she knows it in the way she knows that Zevlor might be her mate.

Maybe, if they are both lucky, they can live to confirm that suspicion one day. In the meantime, they cross the bridge, already in the city by the time the potions' effects run out. Whether it is because they are outside the magic shop when he drops invisibility, or because the denizens of this city are used to this nonsense by now, is anyone's guess. Either way, it works in their favour. ]

Diplomatic business? Were you the diplomat, or were you escorting some hoity-toity type? [ The type that Ea Lowkey would've pickpocketed without remorse, because it would've kept her and the local orphans fed for a year. Gold-carrying diplomats - nothing any of those kids would see in their short lives otherwise. ]

[The business of crossing the bridges is enough to shake the murmur of praise from his mind for the moment, and once on the other side he's alert again, hands still a little shaky, taking in the look of the streets around him--and Sorcerous Sundries. That's where Rolan was meant to go. He's probably in there now, finally where he wanted so badly to be.

Zevlor gives a faint, dry chuckle at Ea's question.] Oh, I've no diplomatic training myself. I can give a speech to soldiers, that's about it. No, I was...the first time it was a handful of clerics. The second time it was Elturel's Overseer himself. Thavius Kreeg. [The bastard.]

Should have dumped him into the river and left him to drown.

[ That gets a low chuckle out of her, her elbow nudging his in casual comradery - as if she's not making plans to ravish him as soon as they're somewhere decent. ]

I never would've said that you're not diplomatic. [ She's smiling, a light feeling in her stomach that feels like an unearned optimism. She's been travelling the world for as long as she can remember, she's been chased out of cities and celebrated in villages, she's experienced so much since the illithids kidnapped her that has been new (friendship, companionship, the need to look out for the wellbeing of others above her own, and also more material wealth than she knows what to do with) but it feels like optimism for the future is new.

Up until this point, her attitude towards every single encounter, from the goblin leaders to the Shadow-Cursed lands, to Ketheric Thorm, to Gortash and Orin, has been a shrug, a sigh, and a what else. The Netherbrain hiding beneath the city and threatening to consume them all, the fight that's undoubtedly coming their way, it's only affirmed something she was suspecting for a while: her days may be numbered.

And she was fine with that, except. Except she has Zevlor walking back to Elfsong with her, and she is hopeful about a future when they just exist.

Maybe there's a small part of Ea that, having spent some time observing her companions pair up, wants so very much to experience falling in love, for a change.

Anyway. They're nearly there. ]

Do you think that you would've liked me at all, if you'd met me in one of those diplomatic missions? I don't make it habit to pickpocket the clergy, but an overseer would've been a mark of interest...

Ea, my love, if I were a good diplomat, I wouldn't have had to ask you to kill Kagha for me. [To be honest, he's ashamed of that, though it was clearly for the best in the long term if it got them into bed together. Anyway, it's the least of his sources of shame now, and so he's able to grin at her, make light of it. She certainly came through in clutch for him and their kin.

It will take a long while for him to truly heal from what he's been through. He's a little too afraid of failing again, of this source of comfort getting torn away, to lean into optimism. Yet. But her playfulness, the fact that she still wants him, the fact that she's willing to lean into him--that's enough to enable him to live in the moment, and when the moments are good, like now, that's a gift.]

Oh, definitely. [There's no hesitation in his answer.] If you had pickpocketed Kreeg, I would have had to do something about it. Arrested and held you for a short while, maybe. I wouldn't have handed you over to the Fist, I never have trusted them. Probably insisted on some kind of minor community service so I at least had an excuse to let you go--

[Okay. Okay, look, the idea of actually taking advantage of his position in law enforcement to bed someone would horrify him, but he's not oblivious to the existence of role play and contrived setups in erotic novels and plays, and suddenly he's aware of a whole other context for what he's saying. He cups his hand over his mouth to stifle laughter.] Hells. That sounds like a setup for A Pleasureable Deal, the Sequel.

My point is I would have had to respond, but pickpockets were always the least of my worries. I would have still liked you.

No, you would've somehow made me think it was my idea all along - it's what diplomats do, right? [ She shrugs, still very much unbothered. Even if it had caused Halsin some agony to find out all that Kagha had done to the Grove in his (albeit brief) absence, Ea didn't regret it. Elves who went druids first and tried to murder tiefling children didn't deserve the mercy of persuading them to give up their ways - besides which, Ea's forte isn't in being charismatic, and she'd been operating on indignation and anger when she'd faced Kagha. In conclusion: she remains unbothered by the outcome of that fight.

It would be fair to say that without the fight, her heat wouldn't have kickstarted in the middle of the Emerald Grove, and she would've never found herself in Zevlor's bed(roll) to begin with.

It would've been a tragedy and a loss, in hindsight. Also, she'd love to get find her way back to his his bed again, and soon, because he's giving her ideas. ]

Nooo, a setup for A Pleasurable Deal, the Sequel would be if you'd decided a rightful punishment would've been for some strapping paladin to take me over their knee and spank me into submission.

[ Was that too explicit? She's not laughing like him, but there is a mischievous light in her brightly coloured eyes that betrays her own amusement here. ]

Hmm - note to self, maybe I'll pickpocket you one of these days just for that.

[ He seems like the kind of man who'd just as easily turn her ass bright pink as he'd call her sweetheart while doing it.

She spots Elfsong as they turn the corner, and bites the corner of her lips to stave off a flutter of anticipation. ]

Come - we can head up around the back, there's a stairway up to the rental rooms. It's late enough that the room might be empty right now, the others mentioned wanting to try out The Blushing Mermaid for dinner because Karlach mentioned the ale's the best there...

[ She's not nervous. She isn't. ]

Isobel and Aylin might be there, but I think you'll like them - Aylin's a little intense, mind you.

[ She's not nervous, but she's leading him up to the rooms from the side of the building, talking the whole way to not give him too much of a chance to bring up the fact that she's the one who planted the thought of sexy spanking in his mind. ]

Edited 2024-10-11 09:31 (UTC)

[He chuckles and shakes his head.] Or maybe I'd have been able to talk the vicious old viper down myself.

[But that's optimistic of him, the hope of a man who was trained to protect a city, and who hoped that all protectors would share his values. Kagha did not. He's not upset about the outcome of that situation, either.

Meanwhile, the idea of spanking her makes him sputter and blush, amused but also...not so shocked by the idea.] 'Strapping', is it? Was that a pun? If you want to play games, you don't have to goad me, though. Just ask.

...perhaps not spanking tonight, though. I'm a little worn from travel.

[He has no idea who Isobel and Aylin are, though had she referred to Aylin as the Nightsong, he might have caught on. There were many whispers in his head as he lay trapped in that damned pod, and some of them he remembers.]

Whoever they are, if you trust them, I'll do what I can to earn their trust in turn.

[ Noted - she will have to be very open and direct about what she wants from him, which is a request she would be most happy to comply with. Her desires and preference run the gamut of what could be considered kinky, with the filthiest part of it being the fact that she is very prepared to let herself love someone, finally.

Chance has it that her heart is set on a very particular someone, whom she's had an affinity towards since their first meeting.

It's not Aylin, for the record. But once inside the quarters in the inn, the aasimar does actually happen to strike up a conversation with Zevlor - she has heard about the paladin, because Ea has run her mouth (and gushed) about him before. The rest of their fairly large group is not absent either, most of them lounging in the common area and pretending (poorly) to not be curious about Zevlor's arrival and joining of them.

Eventually, Ea shows him a bed on one side of the large chamber, where Isobel, Aylin, and herself sleep currently, and tells him that he's welcome to make himself at home there.

But at some point, while she Karlach talks to Zevlor about Avernus, she steps outside and runs downstairs to the owner of the tavern. Her intention is, you understand, to rent a private bath - but a tub comes with a room, so this is why closer to the evening, with the sun setting, she leads Zevlor into a quiet, smaller room, fit with a bed and a tub that currently is full of steaming water. ]

Here you go - I think they've left some oils here too, but I have a bottle of weavemoss-scented oil that I use for my horns. Most people don't understand that tiefling horns need special care.

[ She pauses, standing near the tub, and looks at him. ]

I'd like to join you.

[Zevlor remembers all too well (with a blend of affection and gentle regret) how she seemed so confused by being spoiled with tenderness. He's likely to continue on in that vein, given half a chance, and he has to hope he doesn't overwhelm her. Is that love? Could it be, if allowed to grow?

As predicted, he finds Aylin a little intense. Part of that is just the awareness that she is a paladin in her own right, and he is...not? If his failure in the Shadowlands had broken his Oath at last, he would have surely seen the knight by now. He's not sure what that makes him, and his bewilderment must come through in his conversation with her. Her tone with him isn't that different than the one she took with Shadowheart. An older sibling, one with wisdom to impart and encouragement to offer. He's left rattled, but not really displeased.

Actually he's confused by how positive the reception of him by Ea's companions seems to be. No one has anything personal to say. Astarion is very much Astarion, but his barbs are general, and more witty than cruel. Karlach is, like Aylin, intense, but she's also a tiefling, and he's at home with her.

When Ea returns, he's had some food and drink and dozed briefly, and he no longer shakes when he follows her.] Weavemoss, hm? There used to be a little apothecary I got oil from in Elturel. My scent was apples and myrrh.

[He smiles at her, slow and sweet, when she says she'd like to join him.] I rather thought that was a given, my dear. [His hands come to rest at her waist.] Shall I help undress you?

Ooh - that sounds very nice. [It sounds like he'd smell delicious, in a way that begs to be kissed and bitten. She worries for a moment that she's moving too fast, but then he holds her waist and asks about her clothes, and she realises: not fast enough.

Not nearly fast enough.

Lavender eyes meet fire white, the pause lasting the time it takes for Ea to lick her lips, and then she closes the distance between them in every possible way. Every possible way for now, at least.

So, her hands slip up to grab onto the front of his shirt, tugging him close enough to press her body against his from hips to chest, her mouth meeting his with no hesitation. It's as if the kiss they exchanged in Rivington was just a warm-up, and promise, and now she's cashing it in. No magically-enhanced heat to drive her to desperation, Zevlor gets the undiluted version of her want, and it is still intense.

Her eyes slip closed with a pleased sigh, pressed into the kiss, before she grazes his lower lip with her teeth, and slides her tongue past them, hungry. ]

Mm, [ Not exactly an answer for him, but - ] Do.

[With or without sex, the sheer comfort and reassurance of physical touch is compelling. Given the way she touches him, looks at him, pulls him against her and presses close, he's pretty sure sex is on the table as well, and despite the recent hardship, he's already responding. Can he just fling himself into this, pleasing her, letting her please him, getting lost in her touch and her voice and her scent? Will that be enough to chase the shadows away, at least for a little while?

He shivers pleasantly when she breaks the kiss, makes a faint ahh noise at the nip and lick, and smiles, nudging his forehead against hers as his fingers seek the clasps of her clothing. Leather armor first, and then he sinks lightly to one knee to undo her pants for her, more courtly than submissive, but with a playful glint in his eyes, as if he's testing her to see where they're headed with this.]

[ She's helpful - she can be very helpful, really, in general - so when he undoes her leather armor, she sheds it and lets it fall down beside her feet. The jacket falls as he drops to one knee, and she gives him a playful smile. ]

Are you going to be a tease about it, now? [ She reaches out and holds onto his broad shoulder, for balance, so she can toe off her boots. Then, she pulls the undershirt she wears beneath her armor off as well, leaving an expanse of bare skin - ridges, freckles, scars - and only her underwear covering her breasts, barely. She shrugs, as if offering explanation for her hurry. ] Water'll get cold.

Only if you want me to be. [He helps her out of her trousers, staying where he is for a moment just to admire the lines of her body as she stands before him.]

You're as lovely as I remembered. [He runs his hands up the backs of her legs, teases the underside of her tail with the tips of his claws, and then hooks the waistband of her underwear to pull it down.]

Can't have the water getting cold. [He says, although it rather looks like he'd be happy to just admire her from this angle, pussy first, for a while. He rises again, reaching to help with her bra, and this might be about the time for her to remind him he's going to have to get naked, too.

So sue him, he's having fun with this.]

[ Well - fuck. His admiration carries heat with it, and she can't help but clench in anticipation. Her mouth is dry by the time he rises, her mind a bit muzzy with the steam and the steam, but - yes. Zevlor's clothes have to fuck right off, too.

Sweetly, ] Here, darling, let me help you with that.

[ And that is, in this case, his trousers, which she unfastens and gets loose with both hands. Because she loves a reverse uno card situation, in the process of taking them off she drops smoothly to one knee, and pulls both his pants and underwear down, not managing to remove them in full because he sadly still in his boots. But the view from down here is a tremendous one. ]

Oh, hello.

[ She lets go of all pretenses to undress him now and sinks down to both knees before him, wrapping one hand around his cock. ] It's been a while. [ She slides her hand down, from the tip to the base of his very confident, very memorable cock, and leans forward to shamelessly nuzzle her lips against the head. She opens her eyes and looks up. ]

Missed this. [ His cock, or getting to kiss it hello, is anyone's game, but now that she's down here she just goes for it. That frenzy of a heat they had as their only experience together didn't give her a chance to just enjoy him. She'd needed him too much, to an insane degree, but there is clarity now. There is also time.

There is Ea licking a long stripe up along the underside of his cock and wrapping her mouth around it to suck. ]

[He should have known he was tempting fate. Just that sweet little 'darling' earns her a flush of his ears as he leans closer to her, openly interested in more of her playful affections. He would kiss her right about now, except she opts to busy herself with his own clothes.

He makes a small sound of surprise as she sinks down, grinning as he picks up on her plans.] Missed you, too. Both of us.

[Oh, she offered this before, didn't she? She was giddy with lust at the time, in the midst of her heat, so he was disinclined to push her into it. Now, though, they have space, and they're both in their right minds...more or less.

Gently, he smooths back her hair, sweeps it up into a loose handful and hold it out of the way at the nape of her neck. His gaze is heated, but tender.] Dear gods, Ea...you have the softest, sweetest lips...

[ If memory serves (and memory of that day serves and has served her and her right hand many times over the course of the past months) her mouth wasn't the only thing she offered up to him in the frenzy of her heat.

He might come to learn soon enough that she meant it. All of that desperation is duller now, without the effects of that enhanced, frantic state, but still there. Different verse, same melody.

She wants him, she even needs him, but she gets to take her time and enjoy the clarity of both their minds.

Here, for instance, in the way her eyes flutter closed in pleasure as he gathers her hair at her nape, and praises her mouth. She hums, letting him feel the reverberations against his cock, and slowly makes work of taking more and more of his length in her mouth. There are the physical differences between tieflings and the other species, especially men - the way the underside of his cock drags against her tongue has her groaning, panting around it, and curling her toes in pleasure.

She works him lovingly, dilligently, indulgently. One hand around the base to hold it steady, her head bobbing forwards and backwards, her sweet lips stretched around the girth to take it. ]

[It's in his nature to triple-check for clear-headed consent whenever he can. Her consent during her heat was enthusiastic, but perhaps less clear-headed than she is now. He's in no hurry, and his own needs tend to be more emotional than physical, but being the object of her desire and her affection is glorious. He'll gladly do things for her, with her, to her, that ought to make a paladin blush.

The way her eyelashes flutter reminds him how much she liked his praise before.] Sweet girl... [He murmurs, petting her hair, but then curls his fingers around one of her horns. He's disinclined to manhandle her, but sometimes just the feeling of being held onto is a pleasure.] I don't know what I did to get you to be so good to me, but gods, please don't stop.

[And maybe, overall, 'sweet' isn't the most fitting descriptor for her. Playful, troublesome, clever, something like that might be more accurate, but who cares? For him, right now, she's sweet as honey, and he's been starved for it.]

[ His instincts are fine and sharp, because his hand on her horn makes her moan around his cock again, a shiver of pleasure running down her spine. If there is a kink out there that her partner expresses an interest in, Ea would try it at least once for them (more, if she likes it too). So maybe he doesn't manhandle her now, but it wouldn't be off the table completely.

Maybe on the day they try out that fantasy of him taking her in hand to persuade her to give up her thieving ways?

Meanwhile, nothing stop her from enjoying the weight of his cock on her tongue, the steady hold of his hand in her hair and around one horn, and his praise - he is sweet like honey.

She sucks him off for a few more agonisingly slow strokes, and then pulls her mouth away to look up at him. ]

Don't stop, huh? Do you want to come in my mouth, darling? [ He's not the only one who wants clear-headed consent here.

She presses a kiss to the tip of his cock and uses her hand to stroke him while she waits for his answer. ]

[It's a thrill to realize she loves to be touched with a firm hand, even when not in the throes of heat. He will always err on the side of gentleness, especially now when he feels fragile, himself, but there are many, many possibilities open for future trysts. He'll remember.

When she pulls herself off him, he's panting, the rise and fall of his chest visible even though he's still half dressed. He looks down at her, gaze drifting to the sheen of her lips. He's torn now, half chivalry, half lust; his thumb strokes across her cheekbone, down to the corner of her mouth reverently.]

Yes... [He says softly, opting for honesty.] Yes, I think I do, beloved. But be sure I'll pay you back in kind, one way or another, before the night's out.

[ The smallest turn of her head, enough to kiss the fingerprint of his thumb, before her expression turns solemn. 'Pay you back' is a tricky way of putting it, when she's being generous to follow her own desires.

He has to know. ] No, dear - no. There's no need to think of it as equivalent exchange, we're not trading tit for tat here. If you do want to taste me later, by all means, but don't do it just because I'm here. Alright?

Sweeter the fruits

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feel free to fwd over travel some more

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oh the 'good boy' will come to haunt him again soon

as it should be

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that paladin charisma talking 😎

he has his moments

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