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

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.

[portolan]

In another situation, he'd be pleased to know his efforts were met with comfort.

But David's given him a gasp and he's grinning even as his tongue teases that sensitive flesh. He gives a tiny bite, not sure how much pain is welcome here, careful to keep firm and gentle with his hands to balance any sensitivity.

[helpdesk_hero]

Damn but the man was going to be driven mad by what Balthier was doing.

"Don't be gentle if you don't want to," he whispers.

[portolan]

Normally that would be more than enough to set him loose, but David shaking in his arms is still too fresh for him to risk guesses.

“Do you want me to be more demanding?” he asks back, voice low.

[helpdesk_hero]

Okay, he supposed he needs to be a lot more clear on this. And he can't even say how much the check in makes him happy. Even makes him smile softly.

"While it's not required, I enjoy a bit of ache and sting and demanding nature in bed."

[portolan]

Honestly that’s good to hear, because his preferences overlap, and because there’s no complaint that he’s ruined the mood or overthought things by asking.

In way of response, he grips David tightly, nails digging into flesh as he bites near David’s heart.

“This is mine too,” he murmurs.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well he wasn't expect Balthier to go in for it so fast once David had confirmed it. God but he does a good job at it, in part because he brings emotions into it in a weird and lovely way with that bite.

For all that he was trying not to get carried away, that tore a true moan of pleasure from his lips.

"Yes," he agreed when he had control of his voice again. "Yours."

[portolan]

What can he say? He loves to surprise. And overwhelm. And comfort. He can’t separate emotion from this. And that doesn’t seem to be a liability here.

And that moan is so good. He was doing a decent job controlling his own heat but that sound grips him. He rakes his hand down David’s side, moving his mouth to mark his torso.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Balthier," he says, his voice a bit breathier. This was so damn good.

"Please don't stop. I want to keep feelign you."

[portolan]

Oh. His name on David’s breathy voice like that. If the other man could see his face, he might have noticed a moment of wet shine in his eyes. And then being told to keep going. Bless David and his directness.

“Making you sing is a delight.”

He kisses lower onto ribs, nuzzling his nose against David’s warm flesh before biting again.

[helpdesk_hero]

"You haven't even begu-ah!"

Yeah, that bite was good enough to tear away his actual words, leaving his hips bucking up against Balthier's teeth. Fuck that was too good.

[portolan]

That involuntary desire, that clear surprise makes him shudder with want and satisfaction.

“I beg to differ,” he grins.

He brings his hand down to trace David’s opposing hip bone, covering this one in quieter kisses, teasing with tiny bits of teeth.

[helpdesk_hero]

David's hand leaves Balthier's ass. It's getting too far away anyway. Needing something to do his hand came up to cover his mouth, trying to muffle the new noises Balthier was driving from him.

Truth was, he hadn't been able to do something like this in true privacy for a while, and he was used to trying to keep himself quiet.

[portolan]

“Put your hand in my hair and let me hear you,” Balthier commands in his captain voice. Because he’s feeling encouraged enough to demand what he wants, and because he suspects David will like the command.

And then he runs his nose right near David’s pant line. Amazing how different skin can feel on the same body.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh no. He's got such a good command voice. And enough for David obey pretty instantly, fingers coming to join those of his other hand, clenching at the man's hair. It was all he could do to keep from putting his hand back to cover his mouth, to muffle the noises.

"I'll try," he promises, taking a moment to lick his lips. "For you I'll always try."

[portolan]

“That’s all I ask,” he says, waiting for that hand to settle in his hair before he bites again.

“Today.”

[helpdesk_hero]

Okay, that earns a burst of laughter from David. Oh he loves the idea of being asked for more, being given more, being told he will get more.

"I think today you could ask anything of me and I would gladly give it."

[portolan]

He loves that sound too. And he loves the promise of more, loves bringing it up, loves the way it makes David sound so breathless and happy.

“Careful telling a pirate he can have whatever he wants.”

[helpdesk_hero]

"Careful, huh?" David asks. Then he curls his fingers more tightly in Balthier's hair and tries to tilt the man's head up so that he can meet Balthier's gaze.

He needs to hare this, and see it is real.

"You can have whatever you want."

[portolan]

The pull on his hair alone gets a low guttural sound of pleasure and he isn’t stifling it at all.

David’s eye contact and those words make him shudder, truly.

“David,” he croons, low and desirous, and he launches back against the other man, the length of their bodies together and his hands digging into David’s sides and his lips so hungry against the other’s.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, that's a noise he's filing away for later under a header of 'cause this more'.

The good news is that the kiss is just what he needs, and hey, he doesn't need to get his hands in Balthier's hair at the moment. Not when his hands can move instead to grip Balthier's shoulders and hold him close. Maybe he's holding on too hard, but he doubts it.

Besides, it's not like he needed to hold Balthier's hair when the man is already so close and silencing David in his own way.

[portolan]

Not too hard — never too hard. Scions it’s good to be held like that. He makes a contented sound even as he pulls away. It takes no small amount of willpower but he’s emboldened and greedy and he’s been told he can have what he wants.

“Show me you want me to stay,” he croons, low and assertive. He repositions his hands to push himself up, more force this time but knowing David can contain him. Wanting him to.

[helpdesk_hero]

There is something in that request that makes a not so small corner of David's brain worry. That says there are things that need talked about which they haven't touched upon yet. But this is neither the time nor the place.

Besides, it's easily drowned out in his mind by the growing desire coiling in him. He wants this. He wants all of this.

His arms slither around Balthier's lower back, wrapping firmly. With that and the leg still curled over one of Balthier's, there is no getting away without a lot more force than the man would be willing to use.

"Keep wriggling and you will end up pinned."

[portolan]

He's so used to being the one who holds on too long, too tight -- it doesn't even occur to him that David could be concerned he wouldn't, not in the middle of things like this, not with the alcohol making his thoughts narrow. It's good he doesn't know he's hit something unwelcome tonight. He might well recoil and have trouble coming back -- but it will be important to clear those things some other time.

Tonight he grins at being indulged. "Your threats are as pretty as your promises," he says, and he wriggles more. Not enough to really get away, but enough to disrupt, enough to need to be managed.

Because he wants this too. Hasn't felt this much desire in a long time. He loves it. And he's a little scared of it, scared that if he indulges much further he's not going to be able to stop himself. He'll be entirely at David's mercy, and that's a position that hasn't served him well in prior dynamics.

But he wants it and his will to resist it is fading with every request met and sound uttered and beautiful moment in David's warm arms.