aftercare

[duke_of_illusions]

Barma wakes up an hour or so later, yawning.

Reaching to check on Al right away.

Comments

[duke_of_illusions]

"Family."

He explains, smiling.

"Your obstacle? And solving it?"

[al_truism]

"A swamp. Deep water, snakes swimming through it. I just waded on through after finding a stick to poke through the deep places with."

[duke_of_illusions]

"Life, the road ahead, your sense of self and relationship with your fears. The water? What did you do with it?"

His favourite part.

[al_truism]

"It was a river. Bright and sparkling and filled with fish. I waded in, let it wash me clean, settled down on the larger rocks in the middle. It was very peaceful."

[duke_of_illusions]

"Water is sex. Water is always sex."

Laughing.

"Your dream about me, it makes a great deal of sense, considering how hard you're wrestling with your sexuality right now."

[al_truism]

Al laughs, looking thoughtful.

"... it does make sense. And you know... when I was younger, I'd run away from things. But the river was always my place of comfort. If I was scared or unhappy I'd always find myself there."

He sighs.

"It's the same now, in that figurative sense. Sex is a comfort. I turn to it when I'm feeling insecure."

[duke_of_illusions]

Kissing his forehead, he settles back down over him, possessive and catlike, yawning.

[al_truism]

Al is very content to feel owned, right then. Warm and safe, Barma as his blanket.

"... I ask for it quite a bit from you," he murmurs. "Don't be afraid to tell me no."

[duke_of_illusions]

"Al, you don't ask for very much at all. Just a little human decency."

That's all.

[al_truism]

"Mhm. Sleep, dear. You're still tired."

Al strokes behind his ear, that soft patch of skin.

[duke_of_illusions]

"I'll be up all night if I do."

Standing, with a yawn.

[al_truism]

Al rolls over to put his chin on his folded arms, watching him appreciatively.

[duke_of_illusions]

"It's too late for breakfast in bed, but I can offer you lunch."

Reaching down to stroke his hair back.

[al_truism]

Al sprawls out under his touch like a cat, almost purring.

"If it's light...?"

[duke_of_illusions]

"You need to eat."

Non-negotiable.

[al_truism]

Al isn't hungry at all, which is very rare. But he nods.

[duke_of_illusions]

"Wait here."

Kissing his forehead.

"I'll be back soon."

[al_truism]

Al gives him a little smile and tries to doze off while Barma is gone.

[duke_of_illusions]

He returns, a comparatively long while later, with more of his food. The sort that makes Al understand cooking as art. Crisp latkes with apple cherry sauce and sour cream, a chilled cucumber and basil soup.

[al_truism]

It's like absolutely nothing Al has seen before, but he's adventurous enough to try it all. He takes a special liking the latkes, especially because of the hint of apple.

"What are these?"

[duke_of_illusions]

"Potato and onion, mostly. A touch of flour and egg."

Joining him, tucking in.

[al_truism]

"They're really delicious. Kind of like pancakes but crispy."

[duke_of_illusions]

"They go well with sour cream, too."

Since there's a healthy dollop in the soup.

[al_truism]

"I'd like to learn how to make this, sometime."

He sips at the soup too, slowly.

[duke_of_illusions]

"Of course."

He smiles.

"I've liked the idea of cooking together."