[The last thing he wants is a scene. Ciro heads down to meet him, taking him by the wrist to pull him along to the elevator. He's still trying to figure out which points would be the most beneficial to ward, but not knowing how long they'll be there, there may not really be a point in going through the effort.]
If we were contracted, it wouldn't be a problem, you know.
[They've mentioned that at least twice during one of the many seminars he's been to. Once inside he lets go of Rune so he can walk around the apartment. It's bigger than their old place and seems more spacious when the doors to the balcony are open. Or maybe its that the place is pristine and hasn't yet been crowded with Ciro's belongings and plants (though it's clear the witch has had a good start with that).]
[ Rune doesn't particularly care for how easily they let him pass once Ciro shows up to take him by the hand. ]
I don't like the idea of being bound to someone else. [ Of course he doesn't. That's why he hasn't immediately asked. ] What do you get out of it?
[ It doesn't really seem like a fair trade. Subs contract for more freedom that should be a given, and Dominants... Rune frowns as he looks around the apartment, noticing the bits and pieces of Ciro's touches to the place already. They could probably be happy here if he just allowed himself to have it, but there are other things on his mind. They're stuck here. For what seems like a very long time, and it's annoying him.
[At that comment Ciro drops Rune's hands. The last thing he intends to do is force the other witch into a contract with him. He'll wait for him to want it. If he ever wants it. Either way, he's not worried, he's patient.]
Nothing, I suppose.
[But not getting anything out of it doesn't mean he doesn't want it. He doesn't need to get any sort of compensation for taking care of Rune. It's just..what he does. He'll do so even if the two of them aren't contracted.]
I'd rather you belong to me than anyone else. Is that so wrong?
[ He looks Ciro over, frowning a little but not necessarily annoyed by the question. Maybe it's not so wrong, he realizes. Besides, there are probably people here who take advantage of uncontracted subs and force them into a position that they wouldn't otherwise agree to. Rune would sooner kill anyone who tried that, but of anyone, it's Ciro he trusts.
Of anyone, he's glad he's here with Ciro. ]
I just don't want you to think you have to because we know each other. [ He'd still survive regardless of how frustrated he'd get. Rune reaches out to take his hand again. ] Is it really what you want?
[It's not any different than wanting to help Rune when he first met him even without knowing who he was or the things he did. The difference is in how the world works here, but not in Ciro's willingness to assist however he can.]
I know I don't have to. [He feels the inklings of frustration at having to be told that, but Ciro knows himself and how bad he is at saying no sometimes, so it's not out of place for Rune to be concerned about that.]
I just want you to be safe. And comfortable. You might meet someone else who can give you those things, and if you want time to do that I think you have some months.
[ There's a gentle squeeze of Ciro's hand, not bothering to let it go despite the visible tension in the other witch's voice. Rune isn't sure how to handle that, not when he doesn't know any places they could go, and knowing Ciro, if he'd already gotten tea, Rune wouldn't know how to go about making him anything to drink.
Rune rolls his eyes a little. ]
I'm not going to meet anyone. I don't care about them. [ He steps closer, tilting his head so Ciro meets his eyes. ] We're not going to be here months, Ciro. But it'll be easier if we're together.
[Ciro looks down at the hand squeezing his own and nods. He believes that, but regardless of his willingness to help, it does seem pretty backwards to take ownership of a whole person. Even for beings as old as they are. It's one of the reasons he's found so far that make this place a bit uncomfortable to live. Though seeing dom and sub pairings walking around casually and engaging in bedroom behavior in public is also odd. He wonders whether Rune would be willing to do any of that with him.]
I hope you're right. The more I see of this place the less I like it, but if we can't leave, I think I could get used to it.
[Which is code for, please don't get hurt doing something stupid, Rune. Ciro takes the hand he's holding and brings it to his face, resting a cheek against it for a moment before letting go.]
I'll work on that too. First, I want to take off this mark.
[ He doesn't need to, but he gestures to his throat and the dark black line that runs the length of his skin. If Rune had wanted to get tattoos or carve himself up, he would have done it years ago. It's just something that doesn't make sense for him, and the fact that this place automatically chose him to have it... He grits his teeth and sighs, nearly taken by surprise at the way Ciro cups his face. It's almost instinct to reach out for his hand, but Rune only stands still. ]
Then we'll contract. [ He looks around the apartment again. It feels much too big, but without a shop or a basement, they'll have to share the space accordingly. ] How many rooms does this place have?
[He steps closer, tipping Rune's chin up a little to get a better look at it. Ciro trails his index finger along the line slowly to see if he can feel any magic coming from the mark that's different from Rune's.
Leaning in he puts his face closer, dragging his tongue over the line just as slowly. He picks up a little something from it, but it isn't any sort of magic that he knows.]
Rune doesn't say anything though, caught in some thought when Ciro gets close enough to taste him. He can feel his breath catching in his throat, holding it as Ciro's tongue rubs over his skin, and there's a strange feeling in his chest when he draws back. Could he tell him what it felt like? Some part of him even wonders if he could taste it on Ciro if he kissed him, but he isn't going to attempt any sort of experiment just yet. ]
[If he had any conclusive information to draw from the mark, he would have shared it. All he got was the taste of Rune's skin and all that magic inside him he wasn't able to access. Maybe they could do something about that tag while they're here. It might not function the same way so far from the source of the initial spell? Unlikely, but worth trying.]
You want to sleep with me? [This pulls him from his thoughts pretty quickly, his eyes a little too hopeful. Ciro isn't worried though, if Rune couldn't tell so far that he has feelings for him then a little excitement at that suggestion isn't going to give him away either.] I mean, in the same bed.
Mostly, Rune just assumes it's Ciro being Ciro, and while he usually appreciates his enthusiasm in some way, he doesn't think it's warranted here. Realistically, it would be difficult to actually share a sleeping space with Ciro if he chose to partake in this city's overabundance of sex, but it's a compromise he's willing to work with to have a working space that's safe and close by. Rune touches his thumb to the corner of Ciro's mouth, searching his eyes for something before looking away. ]
We won't be here long, so I don't see why not. If you bring someone else here, tell me in advance.
[Ciro has learned his lesson about having strange men (and sometimes women) in the house before getting here, and he doesn't think he'll be inviting anyone home with him while Rune is there. The last thing he wants to do is upset him..even if he still doesn't quite get what it is that makes him so upset or what is causing the jealousy the couple times it has happened.]
I won't bring anyone. Don't worry.
[When the eye contact breaks, he eventually steps away to drop himself back against the bed lazily. There's more than enough space for the two of them. Especially if this is only meant to be temporary.]
I have a feeling we'll have enough to do that I won't need to find entertainment elsewhere.
[It's hopeful thinking. He's definitely going to get restless and pick up strangers, but at least it's not on his list of things to do just yet. Give it a day or so.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[text] @ciro
[Attached is a picture of the room number.]
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You'll have to meet me.
[ Because otherwise he'll cause a scene. ]
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If we were contracted, it wouldn't be a problem, you know.
[They've mentioned that at least twice during one of the many seminars he's been to. Once inside he lets go of Rune so he can walk around the apartment. It's bigger than their old place and seems more spacious when the doors to the balcony are open. Or maybe its that the place is pristine and hasn't yet been crowded with Ciro's belongings and plants (though it's clear the witch has had a good start with that).]
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I don't like the idea of being bound to someone else. [ Of course he doesn't. That's why he hasn't immediately asked. ] What do you get out of it?
[ It doesn't really seem like a fair trade. Subs contract for more freedom that should be a given, and Dominants... Rune frowns as he looks around the apartment, noticing the bits and pieces of Ciro's touches to the place already. They could probably be happy here if he just allowed himself to have it, but there are other things on his mind. They're stuck here. For what seems like a very long time, and it's annoying him.
And because he's in a little bit of a mood: ]
Do you want me to belong to you?
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Nothing, I suppose.
[But not getting anything out of it doesn't mean he doesn't want it. He doesn't need to get any sort of compensation for taking care of Rune. It's just..what he does. He'll do so even if the two of them aren't contracted.]
I'd rather you belong to me than anyone else. Is that so wrong?
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Of anyone, he's glad he's here with Ciro. ]
I just don't want you to think you have to because we know each other. [ He'd still survive regardless of how frustrated he'd get. Rune reaches out to take his hand again. ] Is it really what you want?
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I know I don't have to. [He feels the inklings of frustration at having to be told that, but Ciro knows himself and how bad he is at saying no sometimes, so it's not out of place for Rune to be concerned about that.]
I just want you to be safe. And comfortable. You might meet someone else who can give you those things, and if you want time to do that I think you have some months.
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Rune rolls his eyes a little. ]
I'm not going to meet anyone. I don't care about them. [ He steps closer, tilting his head so Ciro meets his eyes. ] We're not going to be here months, Ciro. But it'll be easier if we're together.
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I hope you're right. The more I see of this place the less I like it, but if we can't leave, I think I could get used to it.
[Which is code for, please don't get hurt doing something stupid, Rune. Ciro takes the hand he's holding and brings it to his face, resting a cheek against it for a moment before letting go.]
I agree. We're better if we're together.
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[ He doesn't need to, but he gestures to his throat and the dark black line that runs the length of his skin. If Rune had wanted to get tattoos or carve himself up, he would have done it years ago. It's just something that doesn't make sense for him, and the fact that this place automatically chose him to have it... He grits his teeth and sighs, nearly taken by surprise at the way Ciro cups his face. It's almost instinct to reach out for his hand, but Rune only stands still. ]
Then we'll contract. [ He looks around the apartment again. It feels much too big, but without a shop or a basement, they'll have to share the space accordingly. ] How many rooms does this place have?
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[He steps closer, tipping Rune's chin up a little to get a better look at it. Ciro trails his index finger along the line slowly to see if he can feel any magic coming from the mark that's different from Rune's.
Leaning in he puts his face closer, dragging his tongue over the line just as slowly. He picks up a little something from it, but it isn't any sort of magic that he knows.]
Two rooms.
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Rune doesn't say anything though, caught in some thought when Ciro gets close enough to taste him. He can feel his breath catching in his throat, holding it as Ciro's tongue rubs over his skin, and there's a strange feeling in his chest when he draws back. Could he tell him what it felt like? Some part of him even wonders if he could taste it on Ciro if he kissed him, but he isn't going to attempt any sort of experiment just yet. ]
We could share one and use the other as an altar.
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You want to sleep with me? [This pulls him from his thoughts pretty quickly, his eyes a little too hopeful. Ciro isn't worried though, if Rune couldn't tell so far that he has feelings for him then a little excitement at that suggestion isn't going to give him away either.] I mean, in the same bed.
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Mostly, Rune just assumes it's Ciro being Ciro, and while he usually appreciates his enthusiasm in some way, he doesn't think it's warranted here. Realistically, it would be difficult to actually share a sleeping space with Ciro if he chose to partake in this city's overabundance of sex, but it's a compromise he's willing to work with to have a working space that's safe and close by. Rune touches his thumb to the corner of Ciro's mouth, searching his eyes for something before looking away. ]
We won't be here long, so I don't see why not. If you bring someone else here, tell me in advance.
[ So he can make himself scarce. ]
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I won't bring anyone. Don't worry.
[When the eye contact breaks, he eventually steps away to drop himself back against the bed lazily. There's more than enough space for the two of them. Especially if this is only meant to be temporary.]
I have a feeling we'll have enough to do that I won't need to find entertainment elsewhere.
[It's hopeful thinking. He's definitely going to get restless and pick up strangers, but at least it's not on his list of things to do just yet. Give it a day or so.]