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]

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.

[helpdesk_hero]

"And neither of them are as pretty as you up there, on top of me, holding me down with your will and your words and the force of your mouth," David counters.

He doesn't tighten his grip. He doesn't need to. And that is mostly because his mind turns to his power. A projection of psionic energy in the form of something not unlike wings forms over them, wrapping down around the couch. It's not much for true force because it's a large area, but it's all there from the force of David's will and desire alone. A statement without saying.

"Tell me what you want, so I can give it."

[portolan]

Well that’s a new experience for Balthier. He wasn’t even aware David could do something like that.

“Oh, I like this,” he says. He folds back down, taking David’s face in his hand. “I want to be held and kept and chased and pinned and anything else you want to give.”

There’s tongue this time, searching between their tangled lips, his other hand gripping David’s shoulder oh so tight.

[helpdesk_hero]

David hadn't been sure he could do it either. But Balthier made him quite creative.

"I want to give you everything," he answered, and then there was the kiss again, deep and exploring, and he happily surrenders to it.

[portolan]

Balthier has a harder time surrendering; he always has. But he wants to. He wants his mind to quiet and the calculations to stop and to just be in this.

That answer helps. The acceptance of the kiss helps. And maybe he pushes a little more fiercely in his desire to get lost. His desire to not worry that David only wants him in this demanding role, won't want him when he needs to be demanded.

[helpdesk_hero]

Too much worry for so wonderfully intimate of a moment. Oh but what a kiss it is that they share, and when it too much come to a natural end, David is left smiling. And opening his mouth to speak.

ANd there is a knock at the door. Their delivery food. David's smile fades and he groans in frustration.

"We keep getting interrupted by food whenever we get heated. I'm going to have to ban meals."

[portolan]

He needs so much help with trust, David. More than he knows.

The kiss is so good though. As is David's protest at being interrupted. He chuckles, stealing one last kiss before starting to disentangle.

"That's very dramatic and I swoon for the dramatic," he agrees. He needs a moment to calm himself before he gets the door. "But I would protest losing your cooking."

His hand gropes for David's leg though, squeezing. "I will get you heated again. And again."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Yes, it is dramatic, but I'm losing this," he sighs, and untangles from Balthier so the man, who is actually dressed, can go get food for them.

"Hate the delivery guy. Truly.

[portolan]

"I'm not disagreeing," he says, and even as he's reluctant to end, a smile finds his lips. "And I love when you tell me you want more of me."

He stands and straightens his clothes before turning back to David for a moment. "How bad is my hair?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"I'm desperate for more of you," David mumbles, waiting for Balthier to stand before, well, trying to adjust himself so he isn't embarrassing either of them with his partially aroused state.

"Oh it's clearly been mused by someone. But you don't have time to fix it."

[portolan]

Balthier would hardly find it embarrassing but of course he would want David's comfort, and not to be blasé with something David wasn't comfortable with. He's brimming with warmth at David's comment, though. He intends to keep David close all night, regardless of how heated they are.

And all he was looking for was "will not make the delivery man immensely uncomfortable" so that's enough to send him to the door, where he uses full Balthier bravado to receive the food in pajamas.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh, David could go with more heated, but it didn't seem to be on the table. David leans back on the couch, eyes closed, trying to mentally step himself down from 'heavy makeouts with my boyfriend' to 'time to eat'.

That doesn't mean he fixes his shirt at all.

[portolan]

Balthier should really ask at some point, directly, what David's comfort is with being physical, but he has a long-ingrained habit of feeling things out. And he's honestly so used to people wanting to have him quickly and then leave that he's had no real idea how to read his and David's pacing. And the novelty of being wanted without sex has its own appeal.

But yes, he could go with more heated.

He grins as he returns, enjoying that David has not immediately put himself back together. A part of him is tempted to set the food aside and climb into David's lap to resume their previous activities, but he's not sure that would be welcome, and some part of him does want David to eat after the day he's had.

"You came to let me comfort you and yet I find I'm the one who is spoiled," he says. And yeah, he's also grinning at the marks on David's neck and chest.

[helpdesk_hero]

Wanted without sex is good too. But he needed to cool himself off now. In fact, he wishes he'd got himself some ice. But hey, he can't help that he needed the time to think and clear his mind.

Though it was a shame that Balthier didn't get into that impulse.

"Oh?" David says, a bit shocked, and clearly confused. "Spoiled?"