Nathaniel R. Summerby (piseag) wrote in afic, @ 2011-04-30 13:42:00 |
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Entry tags: | !completed, character: luag chambers, character: nate summerby, player: deb, player: jessica |
Who: Luag Chambers and Nate Summerby
When: Saturday, 30 April 2005, evening/night
Where: a rented villa in San Lorenzo, Sicily, Italy
What: Beltaine’s eve, and a bit of important ceremony
Rating: definitely adult
The weekend was going wonderfully. The weather had cooperated, even if it was warmer than Luag was used to for this time of year. It made Nate happy though and considering how private their villa was, it wasn’t as if he had to worry about clothes anyways. The nearby beach was even nice, but then everything was nice when Nate was around.
It had been a good idea to go away for the weekend and Luag was glad that the days worked out right to do it. He always felt like Beltaine was more important for the two of them than Valentine’s Day or even when their actual anniversary was. It was a day of firsts in and of itself and felt more intimate because it was their tradition. And hopefully would be another first...
Even though Luag had been tempted to try his hand at cooking dinner, he had decided it was best to go out for dinner. Plus it gave them a chance to actually have a nice, multi-coursed meal where Luag could show off some of the nicer things Nate had made him. Even if it meant having to wear clothes and be teased mercilessly. At least the restaurant had a decent sized private bathroom...
Coming back to the villa with multiple hungers satisfied for that moment, Luag nuzzled Nate tenderly as he squeezed his arm around Nate’s waist. “Do ye think ye can rustle up ‘nough patience fer me ta set things up?” he teased.
Nate felt good and relaxed and sated, leaning into his lover as they walked, and nuzzling him in return when they slowed and paused outside the villa. “Mm.” Gorse was a part of their Beltane tradition, and Luag was the one who knew the rituals best and had introduced Nate to his own heritage. “Course, love. D’you want me to help out with anything?” Help, where Nate was concerned, might mean doing what Luag told him, or might mean continuing to tease him. In a home of their own where they weren’t going to be interrupted, and clothing was optional, had Nate in a good mood. “Or should I just leave my shoes here and go walk down on the beach and get out of your way for a bit?”
Luag chuckled softly as he brushed his lips against Nate’s. “Mmm... maybe ye should go an’ enjoy the beach fer a bit without havin’ ta worry ‘bout me hoverin’ around,” he teased before nudging Nate’s cheek lightly with his nose. “Knowin’ yer kind o’ help, settin’ up will finally get done when Beltaine’s already dawned.”
Nate grinned innocently. “Would I distract you?” His hand drifted over Luag’s hip, but he pulled away before he could get in any more trouble. “I’ll be good, and I won’t go far. Should I just come in, in a bit, or will you give a yell when you’re ready?” He stole another kiss because he could, then put distance between them so he could more easily toe off his shoes and leave them by the door.
Luag chuckled warmly as he thwapped Nate lightly before he pulled away. “Aye, ye’d never distract me. An’ then yer arse’d fall off,” he joked before pushing his sleeve up enough to tap his tattoo. “Ah’ll send ye a message when it’s all ready, so dinnae worry ‘bout stayin’ in hearin’ distance, ye ken?”
“Got it.” Nate kissed him one more time, then wandered down the beach. It was late, but not so late that the sand had cooled, keeping his toes warm as they squished around in the sand. He didn’t want to go in the water, not now, but he loved the feel of this. Italy was in his blood, and this warmth was a part of him. He missed Surrey, and he missed Italy, but he wouldn’t give up where he lived now because Luag was his family.
Luag waited until Nate had been out of sight for a few minutes before he went into the house. This had definitely been a good idea and if they could manage it, he was considering maybe making it a more routine thing. As he grabbed the bag that he had put all the supplies in, he couldn’t help his stomach doing nervous flip flops. He was pretty sure that Nate would enjoy the added surprise he had planned, but even so, there was still that uncertainty he still felt about these matters that he wasn’t going about things the right way. The process to go through with girls had been drilled into his head well enough, but it had been so well that he still had problems transferring that knowledge to his real life situation.
Going out to the backyard, he found the spot he had scouted out before and put his bag down. Things were certainly easier when they were someplace where he could just find a good stand of hawthorn or gorse, but he could make do. All that really mattered was that they were together and outside, even if the trees here were unlike any he’d seen before. Pulling out the blanket, he spread it out on the ground before pulling out the cuttings of gorse and arranging them around. He frowned slightly before pulling his wand out and creating a few magical blooming hawthorn branches. He preferred the real thing, but considering when they had left, he couldn’t get over his superstition that taking hawthorn cuttings on any day but Beltaine’s Eve was bad luck. He set up some fairy lights in jars before he paused and worried his lower lip.
He knew what else was in the bag, but he wasn’t sure whether to pull it out now or to wait until he proposed his idea to Nate first. Finally puffing out a sigh, he reached into the bag and pulled out the two small boxes, the bottle of whisky, the quaich, the scrap of tartan, the pin, and the large folded bundle of tartan. Piling everything up, he took a deep breath before taking off his shirt and draping it over the pile. It would be alright... They’d been dating for 6 years, living together for over two years, and talked about having kids on a regular basis. It would work out well. He nodded to reassure himself before he touched his wand to the tattoo, turning it red and changing the text to read ‘come out back’.
Nate had stripped off his shirt while walking and carried it in loose fingers. He didn’t go far, just meandering on the beach, and going back to the front once to toss his shirt there so he didn’t have to carry it. By the time Luag called him to come back, his feet were covered in sand as were his hands, from stopping to play in it a bit. He quickly cast a cleansing spell, grabbed his shirt, and walked around to the back of the villa.
He grinned when he saw Luag standing there. Nate dropped his shirt next to Luag’s, not looking at the pile any more than to see that it was the shirt there, and walked over to his lover. He wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close and stealing a kiss. “Mm, gorse,” he murmured, smiling against Luag’s lips. Gorse had good memories for him. Wonderful memories, really, ones that warmed him from the inside out almost as much as feeling Luag in his arms. He let his hands fall to Luag’s backside as he nuzzled him. “Happy Beltaine Eve, caro.”
Luag chuckled softly as he wrapped his arms around Nate, his body already starting to feel pleasantly warm, but then that wasn’t anything new when it came to having Nate around. Especially a snuggly Nate and especially on a night like this. “Ye make me want ta completely surround our house with it when ye make that sound,” he teased as he ran his hands over Nate’s back. “Happy Bealltainn’s Eve, bòidhchead.” He brushed his lips against Nate’s, hesitating with his next thought a moment as his body was trying to convince him that just skipping to the usual main event was a better idea. Resting his forehead against Nate’s, he cleared his throat before looking shyly at Nate. “Ah was thinkin’ ‘bout doin’ things a bit differently this year...”
Nate pulled back enough to see Luag's face, but didn't let go. His head cocked, curious. "Oh? What did you have in mind?" It seemed to Nate that they were set up for a usual Beltaine, but he could see Luag had something in mind. One hand came up to press against Luag's cheek, watching him curiously.
Luag couldn’t help his cheeks flushing a bit as he tried to find the words he wanted to say. He’d mostly figured out everything else he had wanted to do, but how to actually start this discussion kept escaping him. He worried his lower lip a moment before giving a slight nod to solidify his thought process. “Aye, well, ye know ‘bout Beltaine, aye? It bein’ ‘bout it becomin’ the light’s time o’ year an’ life goin’ inta full swing with... em... fertility an’ all an’ the union o’ the god and goddess.” Clearing his throat, he ran a hand down Nate’s arm so he could capture one of Nate’s hands and entwine their fingers. “It isnae just a physical union o’ ‘em, ye ken? So... unions o’ all kinds are popular this time o’ year.” He chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Which is funny ‘cause we’re always told that May weddin’s are bad luck, but then if ye just see it as Beltaine’s eve, it makes a bit o’ sense considerin’ that Beltaine babies are incredibly lucky...” He felt his cheeks heat up more when he realized how much he was babbling. Pausing a moment, he cleared his throat again as he rubbed his thumb over Nate’s hand. “What Ah’m tryin’ ta say is... If ye wanted ta... It would just be somethin’ fer us considerin’ there isnae an official way o’ doin’ this, but then in the old days, all ye really needed ta do was state the matter publicly fer it ta be so...” He made a face at his babbling again. “Ah’m shite at this...” he puffed out as he gave Nate an apologetic look.
Nate’s fingers tangled with Luag’s, squeezing slightly. His brows knit together, still confused as he tried to follow Luag’s rambling words. Fertility? He couldn’t apply it to two blokes, no matter how much they wanted children; a woman was going to have to be involved at some point. Unions-- wait, weddings? His fingers tightened on Luag’s again, and he asked slowly, “Are you asking me to marry you? Or something like that, anyway?” He looked around, trying to find differences in how things were set, then his gaze returned to Luag’s, open and waiting for a response, a slow smile started. He blinked. “You aren’t worried I’d say no, are you?” He caught Luag’s other hand, squeezing that as well.
Luag ducked his head sheepishly before he nodded slowly. “Aye, that’s what Ah’m askin’. Marryin’, handfastin’, whatever ye want ta call it.” Peeking up at Nate, a shy smile quirked his lips. “Ye an’ me forever no matter what ye name it.” Chuckling softly, he ducked his head again as he squeezed Nate’s hands back. “Ah wasnae worried ‘bout that... Em... well... maybe a little. More worried ye’d tell me Ah’m a sappy eejit, ye ken?”
Nate leaned in, kissing him gently. “I love you, caro. I want to be with you, and only you, for as long as you’ll have me. There hasn’t been anyone else since I was seventeen, and there won’t be. You and me, and when we figure it out, our children. If you’re sappy, so am I.”
Luag chuckled softly again as he pressed his forehead against Nate’s. “Ah still dinnae ken how Ah managed ta get such a wonderful lad,” he murmured tenderly before brushing his lips against Nate’s. Rubbing his thumbs against Nate’s hands, he lingered in the kiss for a moment before pulling back to smile at Nate. “Ah brought some things. Fer tradition... an’ ta make it more official than just us sayin’ we want ta, ye ken?”
“Is there a whole ritual?” Nate asked, looking around again curiously, and this time spotting that the pile of Luag’s shirt seemed a good bit larger than his own where it lay. He hadn’t come into this expecting to walk out married, but he also wasn’t sure how different it’d be. He was still with Luag for good or ill, as long as they could be together. In his own mind, they were as good as married already.
Luag smiled sheepishly as he shook his head. “It’snae a whole ritual,” he admitted before shrugging. “Ah brought some things, but Ah’m makin’ this up as Ah go mostly.” Pulling one of Nate’s hands up, he brushed his lips lightly against Nate’s fingers. “It’snae like Ah know how ta go ‘bout this, ye ken? Other than just spoilin’ ye rotten.”
“I’m all for being spoiled,” Nate said readily. He flattened his palm, pushing just a bit against Luag’s touch to take their raised hands so his fingers could brush Luag’s cheek. “I also don’t mind making it up. My vows might be a bit sappy, though, if you make me just tell you how much I love you on the spot.” His gaze was serious, even if his tone was light. “Because I do love you, wholeheartedly, for now and forever.” His thumb skimmed against Luag’s skin. “So what did you bring with you?”
“All good cats like bein’ spoiled,” Luag teased softly as his cheeks flushed. “Ah dinnae mind ye bein’ sappy, although Ah’ll say ye’re delusional like Ah always do if ye start goin’ on ‘bout me too much.” Tugging at Nate’s hand, he sat down on the blanket before pulling Nate down next to him. Moving his shirt off the pile, he grabbed the two boxes and the scrap of tartan first and held them out towards Nate with a small smile. “Well... it wouldnae be a union without rings, aye? If ye dinnae like ‘em, we can exchange ‘em fer somethin’ else.” Holding up the scrap of tartan, he raised an eyebrow curiously. “Do ye think ye can tie a knot in this with yer wandless magic?”
“As long as you let me touch it with my fingers, I can,” Nate said, holding out his hand. He let his knee rest against Luag’s, liking the touch of it there. “Can I see the rings? I trust you, you know. I’m sure they’re absolutely brilliant.” His smile tilted. “I like the idea of wearing your ring, caro. What next?”
Luag nodded as he handed the boxes to Nate. “Aye, we can probably manage it so ye can touch it with yer fingers,” he murmured absently, his mind circling around how best to proceed with things. “Well.... Ah have a few things Ah want ta do, but...” He worried his lower lip slightly. “There’s the handfastin’ part which is what we’ll need the scrap an’ yer knot tyin’ fer... We hold each others hands an’ then ye tie the scrap ‘round ‘em an’ we can say the vows then, Ah guess... Then there’s the pinnin’ o’ the tartan... An’ Ah brought some whisky ta drink, which Ah guess could have vows too...”
“Rings before whiskey, I think. Because after whiskey, I’m thinking we might want to be doing something else to affirm the vows.” Nate grinned as he opened the boxes, curious if they were both the same ring, or inscribed, taking his time to look them both over. He looked up after a moment. “However we do it, love, we’ll be married in the end, at least in our own eyes. That’s what’s important to me, yeah? So if we get started... we’ll be celebrating our wedding soonest.” He held out one box to Luag, guessing which ring was his own by size, and holding onto Luag’s so he could place it on his lover’s finger when the time was right.
Luag chuckled softly as he took the box and pulled the ring out of it. “We always want ta do that other thin’ ta affirm the vows,” he teased warmly as he turned the knotwork ring around with his fingers. He stared at it a long moment, going through his thoughts and trying to sort them out. Because they really didn’t need to do anything to be married in their eyes. They had been together a long time after all and had been faithful and neither of them had any intention of changing that. But he still felt like they needed to do something, even if it was a small private gesture instead of the usual large boisterous ceremony.
“There’s a phrase we put on our love tokens...” he began slowly. “‘O’ earthly joys thou art my choice’.” He chuckled softly as he leaned in closer to Nate. “Ah think Ah made my choice back when Ah first told ye Ah fancied ye... Even if Ah took the long way ‘round ta gettin’ here.” A warm smile quirked his lips as he nuzzled Nate’s cheek. “Ah’d give ye anythin’ an’ everythin’ ta keep ye smilin’. Ah’d follow ye anywhere if it meant we’d be together an’ Ah’d be happy with just that. We could be stuck livin’ in a box on that beach an’ Ah’d be happy because ye’re with me.” Reaching a hand up, he traced his fingers over Nate’s cheek. “Ah wouldnae need a ring ta feel we’re one. Ye’re etched on my body, my heart, my soul, an’ ye’ll always be apart o’ me, band o’ gold or nae.” He ducked his head shyly a moment before peeking up to meet Nate’s eyes and clearing his throat in hopes of loosening the words. There was a difference between writing poems out and leaving them for Nate and actually saying them. Especially when they were cheesy and sappy. “Wilt thou by my Dearie? When Sorrow wring thy gentle heart, O wilt thou let me cheer thee. By the treasure o’ my soul, That’s the love I bear thee: I swear an’ vow that only thou Shall ever by my Dearie. Only thou, I swear an’ vow, shall ever be my Dearie.”
He couldn’t help his cheeks flushing as he offered the ring he was holding to Nate.
Nate held out his left hand, palm down and fingers spread, and watched as Luag nudged the ring over his knuckle and onto his finger. He couldn’t help the spreading grin as he lifted his gaze back to meet the eyes of his lover -- almost husband. He was warm from the inside out, not aroused but feeling the emotion of Luag’s words, and loving him all the more for speaking them when Luag wasn’t one for effusive displays. His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. “I love you, caro, and I don’t know if I can even come close to matching what you’ve said. I’m yours. I’ve been yours since I first fancied you, since I worried that you weren’t bent and you’d never notice me, and I was afraid I’d never be able to get over you. You are a part of me, on my skin and in my heart.” His left hand touched the ink of the lovers over his heart. “I would follow you to the ends of the earth, no matter how cold it is, because you warm me from the inside. I can’t imagine ever living without you, caro.”
He held up the ring, offering to take Luag’s hand so he could put the ring on it. “Always and forever, caro, I am yours.”
Luag couldn’t help the wide grin spreading across his face as he offered his hand to Nate and watched him slip the ring onto his finger. “Ye need ta give yerself more credit when it comes ta words, bòidhchead,” he murmured softly before lacing his fingers together with Nate’s. “Ye always do a good job at makin’ me blush an’ feelin’ all warm inside.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips against Nate’s in a light kiss that he knew could very easily heat up into something more. “Tha gaol agam ort-fhèin,” he murmured softly before a smirk quirked his lips as he paused to make sure the words were right in his head. “Per cent'anni.” He knew his accent wasn’t fully right considering his limited Italian, but he hoped that it was at least understandable.
It was perfectly understandable, and it coiled heat in Nate’s gut as he repeated the words, stumbling through the Gaelic as he always did, the Italian flowing naturally from his lips. He reached out, clasping Luag’s left hand with his own left, feeling the rings knock together. “Handfasting,” he said quietly. “Let me bind us again, love. With every step, we get closer and closer, and there is nothing that can come between us.”
A shiver went down Luag’s spine at the words and he sucked in a breath as warmth pooled in his stomach. His hand tightening around Nate’s, he tilted his head to nuzzle Nate’s cheek and neck lightly before puffing out a happy sigh. “Let me pin the tartan first...” he murmured huskily. “It’ll be easier with two hands.”
Nate nodded and let Luag’s hand go. He took advantage of having his hands free to cup Luag’s face, nuzzling him in return and kissing him, slow and gentle, lingering over tasting him. “Do it,” he murmured. He wanted to get to the point of consummation, wanted his lover with a heat that was starting to shift towards urgency.
Luag leaned into the kiss, a soft groan rumbling in his throat. Pushing Nate down onto the blanket was beginning to sound like a better plan of action for the ‘do it’ command, but there were a few things still left to do. Lingering at Nate’s lips a moment longer, he sucked at Nate’s lower lip before pulling back enough to turn his head so he could find the tartan and the pin. Unfolding the fabric, he wrapped it around Nate like a sash before pinning it to itself to keep it in place. Smoothing down the black tartan, a wistful smile quirked his lips as a combination of pride and sadness went through him. “The pinnin’ o’ the tartan makes ye part o’ my clan.” He smirked wryly. “No matter what anyone says, ye’re part o’ my clan.” Running his fingers over the pin, he chuckled softly. “It isnae the family crest, but Ah liked this one better. Sometimes ye give a sword too ta welcome someone into the clan. Ta show ye’re goin’ ta protect ‘em. The hearts an’ crown is a luckenbooth... Ye give it as a love token an’... people’ll usually pin it ta the blanket o’ their first child fer good luck.” Brushing his lips against Nate’s, he smiled warmly. “It made me think o’ yer tattoo... Even if this on actually uses a sword instead o’ a needle.”
The three of swords was the first thing Nate had thought as well, except this was for a full heart, not a broken one. Two linked hearts, really, and the sword to defend them. He leaned in for another kiss, catching Luag’s lip and tugging lightly as he smiled. “I feel like I ought to do the same for you, although I think we’ve already adopted you in. I’ve dressed you in my clothes, and I can’t think of a better symbol than that... or our ink.” He brushed the fingers of his free hand along the length of the tartan, tasting the shape of the pin.
Tension that Luag didn’t know was building up seeped out of his shoulders at Nate’s kiss. Breathing out a content sigh, he nudged Nate’s cheek lightly with his nose. “If ye find a specific cloth ye want ta pin on me at any time, we can do it,” he murmured before lacing his fingers with Nate’s and squeezing his hand tenderly. “Mmmm... or another bit o’ ink... Ah still got plenty o’ space left fer it.” Grabbing the scrap of fabric with his free hand, he raised an eyebrow as that same shiver went down his spine from before. “Ye ready ta bind us now?”
Nate nodded, and reached for the fabric. Gripping Luag’s left hand with his own, he laid the scrap over the both of them. He wrapped it around, entwining them where their hands clasped and at the wrist, fingers stroking along the fabric, coaxing it with his magic. He joined the two ends, and felt it tighten down to a comfortable level, binding them securely. He murmured as he worked, “With this, I bind us. Hand to hand, heart to heart, soul to soul, in a line with no beginning and no end. Always and forever, I am yours, and you are mine.”
He glanced up as he finished, fairly certain he’d gone off the script with that, and hoping Luag didn’t mind.
Luag’s breath caught in his throat at the gesture and the words. His entire body felt pleasantly warm and he couldn’t help the large grin at Nate’s adaptation of the ceremony. The sentiment of the gesture was better considering that a knot could be untied after all. Shifting even closer to Nate, he nuzzled Nate’s cheek as he puffed out a content sigh. “Always an’ forever, I am yours, and you are mine,” he murmured before capturing Nate’s lips in a slow kiss.
Nate brought his free hand up to cradle Luag’s head, pulling them closer together, bound hands caught between them. He let the kiss linger, deepening it, taking the time to explore Luag’s mouth before he pulled back. “Tell me we’re done with the ceremonial bits,” he murmured, grinning. Fitting his hips to Luag’s, it was evident he was ready to go on to other things.
Chuckling huskily, Luag tugged at Nate’s lower lip with his teeth. Pressing his just as eager body into Nate’s, he shook his head. “The whisky can wait...” he breathed out, being bound to Nate like this affecting him more deeply than he had anticipated. Leaning back in for another deep kiss, he wrapped an arm tightly around Nate before he slowly rolled onto his back, coaxing Nate to lie down on top of him.
Nate groaned, trousers far too tight as he settled fully against Luag, hips rocking to press his hardness against Luag’s. “Caro,” he murmured, nuzzling Luag’s neck, “we are wearing far too many clothes.” It didn’t stop him from shifting again, wanting that friction, that feeling of his lover against him. He kissed along Luag’s neck, tasting salt and that scent that was purely Luag, even as he inhaled the scent of Hawthorne and Gorse from around them. It was Beltaine’s Eve, and that, and being bound to his lover--husband--had him hungry and needy.
Puffing out a rough grunt, Luag shifted his hips, spreading his legs to cradle Nate’s body and lock them closer together. Trailing his hand down to Nate’s ass, he rolled his hips before pulling Nate closer, a low groan rumbling in his throat as Nate pressed against him a bit lower. It was an invitation that he tended to have a hard time voicing, even though he had long gotten used to the idea and the feel of Nate being inside him. But there were certain times when switching it up felt right to him and this was one of them. “Leave the tartan on,” he managed to purr out, the image of Nate over him in his family colors adding to that hunger for Nate. His Nate. His family, his clan, his husband.