OPEN | Paint Yourself A New Life

[helpdesk_hero]

Who: David Alleyne helpdesk_hero, Mina Ashido pinkxeno, Harry Osborn nepotis, Bucky Barnes sinistral
What: David Has Many Meetings (Including Open Post)
When: [Forward Dated] April 1st through 5th
Where: Excelsior - Guild Housing #1, Excelsior - Connoisseur Coffee,
Content Warnings: Only in Thread Labeled V - Seeking Comfort: discussion of murder of children, attempted suicide, David's death, hate crimes

I. A Home Of Clashing Styles | Closed to Mina Ashido | Excelsior - Guild Housing #1
David had been living in the guild apartment for a month now, or just a shade over, and all that time he'd been holding his tongue. Beyond introducing himself to Mina when he'd first moved in at the start of March, he had not engaged with the young woman much, and definitely didn't stay long in the public spaces of their shared home. How could he when he was faced with the absolute disaster of the appearance? A living room painted electric green with zebra stripes? Horrid. A kitchen filled with insanely colorful and not always matching touches and appliances? Oh god. Even the small touches of decoration in the public spaces made David try not to wince.

Honestly, he hadn't even invited his boyfriend over because of the state of things. Most days he just came home from work or other things, walked in the door, visibly winced, and went right to his room or attached lab. But today, as he came back from the office in full business wear, vest and long sleeve shirt and tie and all of that. And walking in like that, with his back pack and a bag of groceries for him to cook dinner, he just couldn't take it anymore.

"Just... do it like an adult," he told himself before lifting his voice, hoping it would carry to wherever his housemate was.

"Mina, can we talk for a moment?"


II. Looking At The Moving Pieces | Closed to Bucky | Excelsior - Guild Housing #1
The weekend. David made a hard and fast rule to not go into the office on weekends, which made it the perfect sort of time for outside consultations. Today was one of those instances. After a previously successful first meeting with one Bucky Barnes (because of course David had recognized the man for who he had to be) back in March, today was going to be the first full check over, for the two of them to determine if David would be a good emergency tech for the man.

David waited in the living room for the knock at the door, knowing he'd have to let the former Winter Soldier choose his own pace at being comfortable with his arrival. What what little first hand knowledge that had been shared with him by people back home, he imagined the man would be... nervous. But David couldn't be certain. He'd met people from other versions of his world, and they didn't always line up personality wise.

But he was going to do his best to support the guy, and try and hide that he might have pre-formed opinions based on a whole other man. So he kept himself quiet and patient until he heard the knock at the door. David rose quickly and moved to it, opening the door to meet the other man.

"Mister Barnes, good afternoon. Come on in. Would you like any refreshments before I guide you back to my work room?"

He had no intention of calling it a lab. Not with a man no doubt tormented by his universe's Hydra.


III. The Coffee Conundrum | Closed to Harry Osborn | Excelsior - Connoisseur Coffee
Coffee. It was something that mattered to David, quite a bit actually. Caffeine was part of his diet, perhaps more than it should be. And, until he had the money to properly kit his kitchen out with a good brewing set up, David found a local coffee shop to indulge his needs. The world had blessed him with a great coffee shop between the apartment and his office, and it was here that David appeared multiple times a day. A quick stop in first thing for a coffee on the way to work, a trip in the evening for a cup to take home, and of course this, his lunch break.

David was currently settled in the cafe as he was most afternoons, in a table near a wall that normally wasn't the most desirable area of the care. His back was to the wall, and in front of him on the smaller table was a laptop. The other chair at the table was taken up by a back pack, and taking up the rest of the room on the table was another laptop, sitting closed, which was a weird thing, unless one knew David. Truth was the two laptops were interfaced, and he was using his technopathy to boost the processing of the one he was currently working on.

Thing was most days David did this, and it wasn't a problem. But today? Today there was a convention in town, something David wasn't aware of, and the cafe had packed to almost bursting when David wasn't aware of it. He'd been too engrossed in his current design project, his attention flicking back and forth between his typing and the medical journal at his side, opened to a recent article about a new study on regenerative rates of the nervous system. Truly, he had no idea how rude he was being taking up a table that could be used by others, especially after he'd finished his packed punch and coffee just a few minutes ago.

Perhaps someone should go and shuffle the man out of the space.


IV. Wildcard | Open to all
[OOC: I'm open to anything here, giving David a chance to hang out with his standing CR or meet new people. My only rule is that interactions would happen in Excelsior. If you have an idea that the above open post doesn't allow for, either private message this account or hit me up on plurk at churbooseanon or discord at Churby#4290. OR throw your own starter out in here. I'm happy to do many things.

IF you're looking for things that may be good hooks, David's a technopath, associated with a company that makes prosethetics and assistive technology, an accomplished chef that will be hitting up stores around the city for quality food and cookware/appliances, a technopath that will be around many computer shops, and honestly? He's a hockey nerd so you might find him at sports bars sometimes. Other than that, he'll likely often be out reading books in parks, or even just scientific journals. Guy has a spread of interests and we can talk it out to figure what might best hook a character into paying attention to him or coming over to say hi.]

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

And David wanted endless cause to hear them.

"That's quite a bit. I'll definitely hold you to your promise, beloved."

And his fingers stroked back through Balthier's hair. Lovely.

[portolan]

Oh to hear that and believe it. He knows, oh he knows how dangerous his want for that is. But he believes, truly, that David is not built to hurt him. Not on purpose. Not with any calculation or manipulation.

And then those fingers are running through his hair. He lets out a happy hum that borders on a moan.

"Please do."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I shall," he says, fingers still working in that beautiful, soft hair. Just long enough to pull. He's almost tempted to. "How can I show you that I will?"

[portolan]

If David is looking for ways to cause more sounds, tugging his hair would certainly work.

"Kiss me," he says. "Hold me, pull me. When I try to leave, don't let me go."

Just keep wanting him.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Sounds like a very, very delicious plan," David answered, his voice soft as he drags Balthier back down into a kiss, this time using his grip on the man's hair.

[portolan]

The sound that escapes from him leaves no question as to the effectiveness of that choice.

He lets himself fall into that kiss, and then he bites at David's lip, looking for sounds offered back.

[helpdesk_hero]

Sound is met by sound, teeth earning another one of those low, deep moans from David. He loves that sharpness so much, and his arm around Balthier's back holds him close, as if daring Balthier to even consider pulling away from him.

No chance that he'd allow it, but he would dare.

[portolan]

That sound is as good as being touched. He wants both, wants more of all of it. That and the firm hold on his back emboldens him. If he had any less will, he would not be able to break away, but he does, and he wants to be chased. To be told to stay put. To be forced to.

So he breaks the kiss, using his arms to push himself up and away. But there's a grin as he does it, knowledge it will take nothing to beckon him back.

[helpdesk_hero]

That grin earns a smile back from David. Oh, he sees what is going here. Testing limits is he? Well, he hasn't been told to truly let Balthier go, so he pulls the man right back down, with both the arm across his back and the hand in his hair. And, just for extra measure, he shifts one of his legs to curl over Balthier's ankle, just to keep him a bit more tangled.

"Who said you were going anywhere?"

[portolan]

Is it wrong that he loves this so much? That he feels so secure and invulnerable being wrapped up like this? He doesn't know. But David is obliging him and that is such a relief and so incredibly attractive.

He laughs and meets David's question with his lips. One of his arms is still pinned below David, and the other grips his face. His whole body is on fire. The places their bodies meet feel infinite.

This is perfect.

[helpdesk_hero]

While he doesn't feel infinite, he does feel warm and welcomed, held here under Balthier's weight, under the length of his body, and in the heat of his arms. And again those lips. Those sinfully soft and beautifully demanding lips. Those matter, and he wants nothing more to enjoy tangling with them.

It's probably not his fault if his hand on Balthier's back instead slides back to cup Balthier's ass, right? Not his fault at all.

[portolan]

There they both are, the wind and the earth, feeling firmly themselves and firmly wanted for it.

And David is entirely culpable for that movement. Balthier grins. Nothing like a strong, broad, warm hand gripping his ass like he owns it.

His hand that is free turns David's head so that he can suck hard on the place where David's jaw meets his neck, breaking only to trail more kisses down the tender skin of his neck. He restrains himself from leaving marks -- David does have work in the morning -- but barely. He wants to mark David as his.

[helpdesk_hero]

Nope. Not culpable. The ass is just too nice and right there in hand position. Not his fault at all. Whereas that whole almost marking his neck thing? Totally on Balthier.

"So soft on me," David observes. "I'd think you didn't want to leave marks."

And just for that gentleness, he gives Balthier's ass a little squeeze. Nothing to see here. Plenty to feel.

[portolan]

See he at least checks for permission, even if he's not always good at saying it out loud.

And he doesn't need to be told twice. He laughs in the way of exhaling and repositions his mouth so he can run his tongue over that beautiful skin before sucking hard. His thumb comes around David's collarbone, his fingers raking into the muscled flesh of his shoulder.

He moans a little at the surprise of having his ass squeezed. One of his legs is caught in David's, but he wraps the other around his beloved, adding another band to their entanglement.

[helpdesk_hero]

It's still possible to wear a scarf or turtleneck to work. Or use make-up. In the future he might just say it's better to mark away from his neck. Another time he supposed.

"Bet you love it, the fact that you'll get to look and see me marked."

[portolan]

He will of course adjust for any requests. But kissing lower today would have required disentangling and removing a shirt and while those are lovely on their own, right now he wants nothing that takes him farther away.

And yeah, seeing a mark on David’s neck is a good deal of the appeal. He will absolutely love it.

“You’re mine,” he says lowly. “I like to enjoy my treasure.”

[helpdesk_hero]

"Mon bijou," he hummed happily at his lover. At least they were in agreement there. "This treasure would love enjoyed. Your moon explored. All of it gathered to your whims."

Said as if he wasn't the one effectively in control, given he was keeping Balthier in position to pin him.

[portolan]

In control and keeping him pinned, yes, but still acquiescing Balthier’s requests.

There’s a theater exercise he was always partial to where a pair of actors acts as one another’s mirror. Initial tone leads and one follows and they switch off, but the goal is to become so in sync that neither is really sure who is leading. David so often reminds him of that.

He moves his hand from David’s shoulder, groping around for the edge of his shirt. He drags his fingertips across that beautiful skin. “Happy to oblige.” He says between kisses. “I am an expert at exploring.” And one more bite.

[helpdesk_hero]

Acting practice was not something David had even been good at if he was honest. But for Balthier he would try. This, though... this was just him. Him happy to guide with words and the way he holds on tight.

"I shall require that expertise today."

[portolan]

He's an excellent guide. The kind that makes Balthier feel confident and bold and so very wanted. He loves the things his moon says. Loves that clever mind.

So a tradeoff, then. Breaking touch for another kind. He wriggles in David's hold, not to pull away, but to tug his shirt up. "I need to see what I'm working with."

[helpdesk_hero]

"By all means, beloved. You can look with your hands and your eyes. And if you're very good, your mouth too."

He smirks and loosens his grip on Balthier, only so that he can wiggle a bit too, to help Balthier work the shirt off.

[portolan]

"Greedy today," Balthier says with the lift of an eyebrow. "And demanding. I approve of both."

He works the shirt off David, tossing it aside before sitting up just enough to run his hands over that beautiful muscled torso. David really is in incredible shape.

"An excellent specimen. The finest I've seen." He lightens his touch, just barely brushing the skin down the side of David's ribs.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, the approval keeps him from asking if it's okay for him to be demanding and greedy. And yeah, he's smirking at how Balthier is enjoying his muscles. David would not get tired of how much his boyfriend was into his body.

"Glad I continue to impress," he smirks, pressing up into the touch.

lmao an amazing icon

[portolan]

And Balthier would not get tired of the way David leans into his touch, demands his attention.

With David pressing up into his touch, that distance between them is closing again. Balthier curls down to plant kisses on David's collar bone, trailing his nose down near David's heart. He thinks to David's story, to the fact that there should be scars here.

He slips a hand around David's back, holding tightly again, bathing the skin in kisses. His other hand finds his love's face, thumb gently stroking his cheek even as his lips find David's nipple.

Panel from the comic where he lost his powers. But bless

[helpdesk_hero]

There should be scars and the lack of them was, as he had noted before, upsetting. But the kindness and attention now was a comfort. And what comfort it is. In another situation he would thank Balthier.

In another situation the man wouldn't have a mouth on David's nipple, earning a gasp. That? Not expected.