Myth!AU - In The Shadows

[sword_breaker]

[Second Part to the Myth AU!~]

Comments

[rocketsout]

Nah, it's just the name things. It

He pauses for a moment, grinning cheekily at his reaper and sticking his tongue out for just a second.

it's really hard to do much more than that, it takes a lot of energy so it's something that we really can only do when we know we're uh gonna get that energy back real quick.

[sword_breaker]

“I feel like you’re getting a massive kick out of this. Just saying. Between the laughter and now that,” he makes a gesture towards the tongue sticking out,” I feel like you’re having fun and maybe relaxing a small bit. Could be wrong though.”

He takes his time reading before hrming softly. “What do you mean get energy back fast? Like how does that work for you and others?”

[rocketsout]

I feel relaxed around you.

It's the truth. He's comfortable enough to show this side of himself to James, enough so that he can even poke a little fun. No one else gets to see this, he wouldn't trust anyone enough.

Back through the. Uh. Through the kill. Kind of like how you guys absorb energy on the job? It's just kinda how we work. And why we're listers.

[sword_breaker]

“Oh. Well I’m glad that you do.” That was the best thing to hear after fussing over paperwork and trying to wrangle time off. If he can do something as simple as helping Liam relax, it was a good day.

“Never thought of it like that. So you get the energy from the act while we get it from breaking the soul’s bond. Huh. Ok makes sense.”

[rocketsout]

Yeah. It's kinda like

He pauses for a moment, pen still in hand, as he gives James an almost embarrassed grin.

Like going out for a meal? Okay, I know that sounds really bad, I know. It's not like vampires or ghouls or all of that, gods no. But we gotta replenish every once in a while, and especially if we go and expend a lot of energy by talking. But uh. If we go out, I can show you how it's done. :)

[sword_breaker]

"Alright yea I always kind of wondered what made you all so dangerous. I mean asides from the obvious naming and then immediate death thing. So does the glamour drain that energy over time or not? I assume yes. Is it bad that I'm asking so many questions? I feel like it is since kind of prying into things and all that."

HOW DID THIS NOT POST BEFORE

[rocketsout]

I mean, it does a little but it's not too bad. Seriously, it's a pretty negligible thing because this form? Not too different. I mean it's different but it's not like I'm turning myself into a giant monster or something. That'd get tiring.

He grins more, moving for a moment before he remembers that he can't really shake his head when it's in his hands.

It's not bad that you're asking questions. I. I like sharing this stuff with you, it's kind of cool to know someone is interested.

[sword_breaker]

“Oh. Well I guess I should come up with some good questions, huh?” James shoots a smile over before mulling over the various thoughts churning in his head. He still didn’t want to pry too much. That’d be careless. He wanted to know more about Liam as a whole than the going ons of a dullahan as a whole.

He runs his fingers along Liam’s neck gently. “So is it weird to use the charm to you know eat and all? Also you said you crossed the ocean and well do you miss over there sometimes?”

[rocketsout]

There's a slight shudder down Liam's spine at the gentle caress that traces across his neck. It's an intimate feeling, one that he reserves only for James, and even if it's a little ridiculous he does try to lean into it even as he works to balance his head while writing.

I mean, I guess I don't think it's weird? I don't really know what it'd be like without it. It's kind of nice, I think. Way back before all this, there really wasn't any sort of way to actually eat mortal food.

He does look a little embarrassed at the admission.

It's different over here, but not bad different. I. Came over for a reason, and I don't regret it at all.

[sword_breaker]

“I’m glad that it works out for you. It gives plenty of an excuse to spoil you with all sorts of stuff that you haven’t tried before. Though kind of nice to see how much of a savory fan you turned out to be,” he muses, nodding.

James glances down at his hands, wondering if he should or not. “I know what reason. I’m glad to be that reason.”

[rocketsout]

By 'savory' do you mean you?</font? He had to, James had left himself open, and Liam wriggles his eyebrows as he grins. He's all mischief now, but his expression softens when his reaper continues on and he leans in, gently setting the pen and pad down on the desk. In turn, he reaches up with his free hand to trail his fingers over James' cheek, as intimate a gesture as he can show like this.

[sword_breaker]

“Yea, yea sure I guess that counts,” he laughs while shaking his head. The reaper trails off the noise before leaning into the gentle touch. “Liam, since you’ve done this I ugh. Huh words are hard but just...”

Gently he reaches up and holds Liam’s hand in his own before pulling it down. Slowly he strips pieces of his own glamour off until his hands become nothing more than bone. “You’re not the only monster so to speak.”

[rocketsout]

He can't speak, but there's a surprised raise of his brows and a soundless 'oh' as James' skin fades away, but immediately after the expression is replaced by a wide, sincere smile as Liam runs the pad of his thumb over each and every bump along the bones of his reaper's hand. Forgetting, for a moment, that nothing is going to make sense, he tries to talk, fails, and reaches to reconnect his head so that he can properly show his appreciation.

"That's so cool," he murmurs, gently bringing up James' hand until he's able to press a light kiss to his knuckles.

[sword_breaker]

It’s a weird sensation to strip away the flesh and leave himself so bare even if it’s only a minor part of him. Even weirder is the pressure of Liam’s thumb, gentle brushes getting slight shivers at the care and warmth. James takes in a steadying breath before letting the shadow hood slip into place and reaper fire dance in his eyes. He trusts Liam.

The words take him by surprise. Cool? Huh. “It’s nothing like taking off your own head.”

[rocketsout]

He shakes his head, eyes bright with enthusiasm and wonder, "no no, that's really really cool! Look at you!"

As if to prove his point he motions to all of James, his grin wide, "that's amazing. You're amazing!"

His enthusiasm gets reigned back in just a little bit, however, and something almost shy comes over his features, "hey uh. Can I kiss you? Like if you're not okay with that I get it, it's totally cool."

[sword_breaker]

“Usually only ever have this out if I get knocked around too much,” he quietly murmurs, taken aback by the enthusiasm given so freely. No one has reacted to him like this outside of his family of fellow reapers. Val has said before how improper it was to show one’s true face when they take in so much death.

He sputters for a second at the request. That requires him to double check that he didn’t let all of his glamour get stripped away and he’s not sure that he still has lips.

“I ugh yea sure. It might be a little weird...”

[rocketsout]

"Well, glad that you're not getting knocked around right now," he jokes lightly, squeezing his reaper's boney hand. He doesn't like to think about James being so hurt, but it's amazing to be able to see him so bare like this.

But he's been given the go-ahead, so with one last peck to James' hand he's leaning in, very carefully brushing his lips over the bare mouth of his reaper's skull. It's a strange feeling, but not a bad one, it could never be bad when he's kissing the love of his life. But he doesn't want to make James uncomfortable, and so it's a short, sweet kiss before he's pulling back and positively beaming. "You're gorgeous."

[sword_breaker]

"That would make this a lot more awkward, yea. I know that can be a thing for some people but don't see the allure of it to be honest with you." It's meant to be a joke but it wasn't an uncommon occurrence for him to get a job that roughs him up. Besides it can always be put back into place...after a reset.

The kiss was strange but not enough so that he recoils. Instead he's simply mystified and frozen on the spot by it. However Liam is pulling away before he has a chance to react. How can he be gorgeous though when the shadow hood shrouds everything, hiding it away? He sighs before concentrating enough that he feels a tingle around his mouth before pulling Liam back in for a proper kiss.

[rocketsout]

He's sill smiling when James pulls him in for another kiss, and he reaches out to gently wind a hand around his reaper's shoulders to hold him close. This time there's the soft pressure of lips against his own, but it's just a different way of kissing the love of his life; glamour or no, James was James and he was beautiful. It belatedly occurs to Liam that he really needs to let the man know that and he makes a mental note to do so. James deserves to know how wonderful really was.

[sword_breaker]

Slowly, piece by piece, the glmaour sets back into place. His hands flexing for a moment as the flesh knits back together over the bone while the shroud fades away until he's whole once more. In the end this is what he wants to be known for when it comes to the dullahan. That they can show each other these things but ultimately still have the ability to be caring and soft like anyone else. Plus this was the far better way of kissing he won't lie to himself.

Pulling away, his hand dips down to trace along the seam of Liam's neck. It was the next best way to show his appreciation and one that meant the most between them.

[rocketsout]

The sensation of fingers along the seam of his neck has Liam shivering, but it's a pleasant sort of thing and the look that he shoots over to his reaper is one of pure adoration. Slowly he reaches out to take the man's other hand, bringing it up so that he can press a chaste kiss to the back of his knuckles, all without ever breaking eye contact.

"You're gorgeous," he repeats, "no matter how you wanna appear. And I love you so much that I can't even put it into words. But I promise, it's totally a lot even if I'm bad at letting you know."

[sword_breaker]

He stares at him for a moment, dumbfounded by the comments. He’s never been considered gorgeous or any of that sort especially when dealing with his less put together self. It doesn’t take him long to reboot though and he’s moving in once more.

A gentle bump of his forehead against Liam’s before he goes full in on another kiss. It’s slow and packed with every ounce of love he can muster because he couldn’t think of any better way.

Not too soon after a soft chime comes from his phone. He’s reluctant but he retreats to go see what was the commotion. Well...he didn’t expect that. “Whelp...guess you won’t have to worry about leaving me behind.”

[rocketsout]

The phone interrupts their tender moment, but Liam understands; James has important things going on and while he's happy to spend as much time as possible with the man he knows that he can't monopolize him forever. So he relaxes as his reaper pulls away, a soft grin crossing his lips as he watches and gently, absentmindedly, traces a finger along the seam of his neck.

"Wait, what?" That's not something he's expecting to hear, and for a moment it throws him for a loop as he tries to parse out just what James is getting at. When it finally clicks his expression brightens as he beams, somewhat hopeful, over at his boyfriend.

"Wait, is everything okay? Like, I'm really excited if that's the case, but stuff being okay for you is way more important, yeah?"

[sword_breaker]

He's in the midst of writing a reply back when he catches the small gesture. His eyes following along the gentle touch of that scar on Liam's neck. The email takes precedence soon enough and he's back to writing with his fingers shifting from key to key quickly.

"Oh everything is fine," he reassures, glancing up. "It's still normal hours and the potential job went through. I'm technically acting as your escort since it'd be good for a headhunter to keep track of all this. But really it's not going to be much of a job."

[rocketsout]

"I promise it won't be too much work, okay?" He's grinning now, unable to hide the excitement from his voice. It makes sense if he thinks about it, of course the reapers would want to keep an eye on him while he worked, but that doesn't dull the fact that he's going to be able to finally show James this part of himself.

"Or like, any work at all," he adds a little slyly, beaming over, "I just gotta do a little bit of my job, you do your thing with the souls, and then we can have time for like...I mean think of it like a little vacation."