Merrick (shadowsremain) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-10-17 20:27:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | gabriel allen, merrick |
Who: Merrick and Gabriel
What: Post-rescue reunion
Where: Private Member Suite, Osiris Club
When: 7 October 1888 [backdated]
Ratings/warnings: PG
My dear Gabriel,
My situation has changed for the better.
I am in a small suite in the Osiris. The man at the front desk can show you were.
I miss you.
Merrick
The djinn was tired - the emotional toll of realization of being out of the Institute’s clutches was high. They did not know they would repay Adrien. For now, they were laying in bed.
The Osiris staff had brought up food and drink. Merrick had a member for many years and contributed to their financial well being.
The djinn hadn’t spoken much since Adrien and they had left the Lionhart. It would pass.
Gabriel made a point of checking regularly with the Osiris as a matter of course of late; upon getting the note, he immediately went to the indicated room, and knocked, carefully, a little uncertain as to what he’d find.
His lover was full of mystery these last few months, and while a change in circumstances could mean a change in a great many things, he wasn’t quite sure what Merrick’s original circumstances were, or what they’d need going forward. At the very least, he hoped Merrick would be more forthcoming.
“Merrick, my dear?” He called out. “Are you up for visitors, my darling?”
Hearing the knocking and Gabriel’s voice, Merrick climbed off the bed and crossed through. The djinn was still in their male form, but had changed into a pair of dark blue loose pajama pants and a similar colored button down shirt. Their feet were bare as they reached the door and opened it to see the Incubus.
“Gabriel,” Merrick breathed as a smiled tugged at their lips. They reached out their right hand to take their lover’s left hand. “Please come in.” The djinn urged Gabriel inside.
Gabriel’d seduced his share at the Osiris; several of the members who traveled frequently had rooms there so they’d have a place to stay when they were in London, others had the need for a touch of privacy time to time for a variety of reasons, and the occasional bachelor or widower found the amenities worthwhile enough to simply stay there full-time; needless to say, he’d seen the rooms they offered their members before. They were well appointed and relatively simple, a nice, thick carpet, a bed, a table holding a basin of water and a towel, a small wingback chair, and a writing-desk.
He looked over at his friend as the door closed, squeezing their hand in his.
“Well?” He said, a little anxiously, “tell me what you can, but mercy, do take a seat, you look exhausted.”
Squeezing Gabriel’s hand in return and made sure the door was secure. There was some fruit on plate on the writing desk. They had eaten a little bit.
“Let’s sit on the bed,” Merrick nodded and led Gabriel over. They sat on the foot of the bed and sighed. “First of all,” they spoke and then breathed for a few moments before continuing. “My inside man was able to get me out yesterday. But...I can now tell you what I am. Gabriel, I am a djinn…” Merrick made eye contact with Gabriel as they spoke those last five words. It shouldn’t be so monumental, but Merrick felt it as such with the man who sat with them.
Gabriel looked down at Merrick’s hand in his, and then up into their face -- their eyes looked so very ancient just then -- and exhaled.
“I see,” he said, quietly.
“I think… I think there was a part of me who knew you were quite special,” he said, a quick smile flashing across his face. “Your energy, your capacity to change forms so completely… it certainly makes sense. I don’t think I’ve ever been with one of your kind before.”
He looked over at Merrick, patiently. “So, dearest, tell me. What do you mean by ‘getting out.’ What are your circumstances now? What does this mean going forward?”
They were tired from holding back how they felt since the last experiment, the vivisection, and Adrien’s plan succeeding. Merrick breathed through Gabriel’s quiet initial reaction.
“I cannot say I know if there any more of my kind left,” the djinn confessed. Color filled their cheeks at Gabriel’s smile.
Looking down at Gabriel’s hand holding theirs, Merrick sighed. “My inside person was able, with the help of another, to take possession of my vessel and smuggle it outside of the walls and away from those who have had me imprisoned for years.” The djinn breathed, blinking and slowly looked back up at Gabriel. “My vessel is in safe keeping. Going forward...I suppose I can do as much as I like - move about the city, no curfew, no just one day and night of free time. I have more freedom than I’ve had in awhile. But I am still bound and must adhere to a set of rules…”
Merrick blinked after speaking for a longer and more in depth time than they had been able to in a long time.
“What are your rules?” Gabriel prompted gently. “And this person who now has your vessel -- who’s keeping it safe. You trust them? You trust that they won’t use you for their own purposes?” His thumb slid over Merrick’s hand, and he looked over at them. “It figures I’d be drawn to you,” he said. “One demon to another. Different sorts, different rules, but still.”
It would take time to move through how they felt about the last fifty years, the trauma of it all. But for now Merrick remained focused on the now - Gabriel’s voice and his thumb sliding over their hand.
“The rules - the only magic outside of wishes I can do is little….appearance, conjure things, little magic that would assist my master,” the djinn spoke with the last word rolling off their tongue like water. “After three wishes, I go back into my vessel until another person takes possession. And...the only way for me to be completely free of being bound to the vessel is for my master or mistress to wish for my freedom, but that means they would take my place. Yes, I trust them. They have an understanding that comes from a similar experience.”
Merrick blinked at Gabriel’s comment of being drawn to them.
Gabriel couldn’t help the slight frown that passed over his face -- as a creature who depended on consent, who valued it a great deal as a result, he found the lack of agency his lover possessed quite distressing; the notion that their wellbeing was so dependent on the whims of whomever possessed the vessel was chilling -- but their circumstances did seem improved, and, at least, for the time being, their current ‘master’ (what a horrible word) seemed a reasonable enough sort -- although it would take a considerable degree of will to have so much power and not use it.
He would’ve asked his lover to tell him if circumstances changed in future, but he knew all too well that Merrick could be compelled to not say, so there was little point to that.
“I am grateful you appear to be in a better place now, my dear,” he said, quietly. “It seems as though you have a new opportunity to move through the world relatively unencumbered, the chance at a fuller, happier life, and I’m glad for it.”
He looked over at Merrick. “What do you need right now, dearest?” His thumb continued to brush over Merrick’s broad hand. “I do appreciate that you might have greater opportunity than before to be free with your time, free with your words, and I look forward to the chance to be a part of exploring that freedom, but what can I help you with in the here and now?”
Merrick noticed the frown and nodded. “Yes, I do. Thank you. It has been a while.” The djinn was not ready to lay out the horrors of the last fifty years to Gabriel yet. Perhaps in time.
“I want to tell you -- I couldn’t until yesterday, but I’m still accepting the fact that I am free of where I was kept.” Merrick breathed as they looked into Gabriel’s. There was a hint of hurt and fright in their eyes. “I need...I need your arms around me, please.” They spoke.
Gabriel nodded, and wrapped his arms gently around Merrick. “Now that, I can do,” he said, quietly, kissing the side of their head.
“It was… it was quite difficult, suspecting you were in a bad place, and watching while you went back there, unable to do anything to help,” he added, his arms tightening around Merrick. “I know you had your reasons for not wanting me involved, but I’m glad you’re out of it, and I’m grateful to the person who helped you. Tell me about them?” He kissed Merrick’s head again, gently. “If you’re in the mood for talking, that is,” he said.
Merrick wrapped their arms around Gabriel in kind, wincing slightly as the incision sites though healed were still sore underneath. “Thank you,” the djinn whispered.
“I am sorry,” they whispered as they pressed their cheek against the Incubus’s shoulder. The kisses to their head soothed their anxiety. “I am. His name is Adrien. And somehow we began to converse. He is quite trustworthy, and knowledgeable.”
“Not the dour Mr Green,” Gabriel replied, his voice lightly amused as he ran a hand down Merrick’s back. “I know of him,” he added, quietly, “and he is indeed a good sort. There aren’t many vampires who make a point of befriending werewolves, but he has, and by all accounts, is a good friend to have.”
Merrick smirked at Gabriel’s amused tone. “You do?” They whispered and breathed. “I haven’t befriended a vampire in many years. He is very compassionate despite his quietness.” The djinn lightly nuzzled Gabriel’s throat. “I plan to spent some days here. Then I perhaps will think on my future.”
“Good,” Gabriel replied. “You deserve some rest, my dearest.”
He leaned over and kissed Merrick gently, and then paused, biting his lip. “Merrick, dearest, I do want to… well, to establish some ground rules now you have more time to yourself.” He looked over at them. “If you’d like to save that conversation for another day, we certainly can.”
Merrick exhaled through their nose as they kissed Gabriel in return. They were happy in that moment. Then they blinked slowly and eased back enough to focus on the Incubus’s face. “No, if ground rules are wanted, you shall have them.” The djinn spoke and pulled enough away that perhaps neither would be persuaded by physical affection.
Gabriel’s smile was swift, and a touch unsure.
“I’ll admit,” he said, quietly, “I find you more than a little addictive, and too much…” he exhaled a little. “It’d be like sticking me in an opium den, dearest. I’d like to dole it out, if I may. Every other week seemed to work rather well for me, and now you’re more free with your time, I might ask for that to be something we hold to.” He kissed Merrick gently. “That isn’t to say we can’t meet for lunch now and then outside of that, or go to a show together, or otherwise spend some time that isn’t intimate, but I have other obligations, and it’d be far, far too easy to neglect them all unless I have a rather clear boundary.”
He looked at Merrick carefully. “Please don’t take it as a personal slight, my dear?”
Merrick nodded gently, understanding the need to create the boundary. They returned the kiss gently and sighed.
“It is quite all right. I must admit that you are addictive as well. I recognize I crave affection and having trust with you has made my craving more so. It has been many years since I have had this freedom of time and movement.” They tried to explain. “I agree to this boundary.” Merrick softly kissed Gabriel and pulled back to sit calmly.
“Well, then,” Gabriel replied, quietly, “here’s to your freedom, and a new beginning.” He leaned forward to kiss Merrick on the cheek. “Which isn’t to say I’m turning you down tonight,” he added, with a low rumble. “Heavens knows, you need a spot of comfort, and there’s cause to celebrate. But if you’d rather wait until you’re better rested…” he ran a hand down Merrick’s back. “...I could just hold you for a bit tonight, depending what you’d like. Tell me?”
“Thank you,” Merrick whispered, smiling at the kiss to cheek. They leaned in and gently rested their forehead against Gabriel’s. “It’s not so much physically than it is...within,” the djinn whispered, letting their words drift off at the feeling of the Incubus’s hand on their back.
“What can I do here and now?” Gabriel replied, his hand rubbing Merrick’s back. “Do you want me to hold you for a bit? Would you like something more? ...Tell me?” He kissed Merrick’s cheek again. “I won’t know what you want unless you do, dearest.”
They breathed and listened. Crying, yelling would come later. “Hold me for a bit, please,” Merrick spoke, “and...tell me this is not a dream?” Their arms curled tighter around Gabriel, pulling themselves closer against him.
“I’m here,” Gabriel replied, kissing Merrick’s temple. “I’m here, and you’re safe, and I know it’s improbable, dearest, but it’s no dream.” He smiled, and nuzzled at Merrick. “Besides,” he said, grinning a little, his hand rubbing Merrick’s back, “if this were a dream, I’d be wearing significantly less clothing.”
Merrick breathed, closing their eyes at Gabriel’s lips touching their temple. Listening, the djinn felt better. They trusted the Incubus so much. Merrick smirked against Gabriel's shoulder at the joke. “Perhaps. And so would I. There are things I want to tell you, but not tonight.”
“We’ve time,” Gabriel replied, quietly. “And thank heavens for that. We can sit and talk over some rather nice Scotch, and won’t have to rush.” His hand moved down their back in smooth, steady strokes. “You won’t have to pack a lifetime’s worth of living into one day a week, my dear,” he added, his voice low and soft. “I’m rather looking forward to see what you can make of it.”
“That would be nice,” Merrick smiled. “Surely not.” Their hands loosened their grip on Gabriel, relaxing a bit of the tension. “Likewise. Perhaps a life close to normal. There are individuals I need check in on, pursuits.” The djinn sighed. “Perhaps shake the dust off my dancing.”
“I’ve seen the way you move,” Gabriel replied, his hands continuing to stroke Merrick’s back smoothly, “so lithe and beautiful, in either form, and the way you can twist your back, ah. Magnifique. I should imagine your dancing would be likewise captivating.” He leaned over to nuzzle against Merrick’s neck. “I could give you a massage, if that’d help,” he said, soft and low.
The djinn smiled, emotionally loosening up at Gabriel’s words. “Thank you. Perhaps,” Merrick breathed softly. Then they hummed softly at the nuzzling. “...that sounds lovely,” Merrick whispered and paused as the fear of lying down rose to the surface.
“Excellent,” Gabriel replied, clambering behind Merrick on the bed and sitting with his legs on either side of Merrick, wrapping his arms around them for a quick embrace and leaning over to kiss Merrick’s cheek. “Will this work for you, dearest?” He asked.
Merrick breathed, letting their arms fall as Gabriel clambered and settled behind them. They smoothed their hands over the Incubus’s arms in that embrace and smiled at the kiss. “Yes,” the djinn whispered and began to unbutton their shirt.
“Good,” Gabriel replied, pushing the fabric of Merrick’s shirt off their shoulders and leaning over to kiss one before starting to work away at their neck muscles with his hands in firm, sure movements.
He could feel the tension in the djinn’s shoulders, and he worked diligently to knead and smooth the muscles at the base of their neck, the span of muscle linking their neck and shoulder. “Good?” He asked, his voice low and soft as he worked.
They let the shirt hang off their shoulders and circled at their elbows. Closing their eyes, Merrick breathed and grinned at the kiss and those strong and warm hands on their skin and working into their tight muscles.
The djinn felt like slowly worked clay as Gabriel magically smoothed the tightest bit of tension. “Yes,” Merrick rasped. “Yet another talent of yours, thank you, Gabriel.”
Gabriel focused his attention at the base of Merrick’s skull, pressing gently with his hand to shift his lover’s head forward before massaging his fingers into the hair at the back of Merrick’s neck, his fingers flexing as they worked.
“One does become rather good with one’s hands when giving pleasure to others is a requirement for survival,” Gabriel replied lightly, amused. “It comes with the territory, as it were.”
Merrick exhaled as they slowly began to bow their head. It felt so good. It had been so long since someone took this sort of care for them.
The djinn tensed at Gabriel’s utterance of ‘survival’. “Are you past those times...of requirements to survive?”
Gabriel smoothed Merrick’s tense shoulders, and kissed Merrick’s back. “I’ve never starved, dearest,” he said, quietly. “I’ve had a rather blessed existence when it comes to accessing what I require, on the whole, and I find myself quite well fed at the moment too. Partially thanks to you, I might add.” He rubbed his cheek against Merrick’s back as his hands continued to work at Merrick’s neck and scalp. “I don’t know what the future will hold, how much longer my looks and good fortune will last, but for now, life is sweet, and I am happy.”
Merrick gently placed a hand on Gabriel’s thighs for stability and to bestow some affection as they bowed their head a little more. “I am glad you have never starved. You’re quite welcome,” the djinn smiled softly. A soft curl of pleasure rose in Merrick’s mind in response to Gabriel’s kiss and cheek against their back. “I am glad you are happy. But if you need help to maintain the good looks,” they hummed at Gabriel’s fingers against their scalp, “or the fortune, let me know?”
Gabriel didn’t really have a clear notion of how long demons could live for.
Anne, the lone demon representative in the House of Shadows, was the oldest demon Gabriel knew of, indeed, the oldest one he’d ever encountered, which made him wonder -- when he thought on it (which wasn’t terribly often), he supposed there was a distinction between how long they could live, and how long they would -- whether due to their inability to heal as quickly as the other long-lived species (and the resulting secondary challenges of staying fed while recovering from injury or illness), or the unique difficulty of continuing to attract partners even as one aged. He suspected after a certain point, there were more than a few of his brothers and sisters who’d bowed out early rather than face an unpleasantly hungry and withering existence. Gabriel had a touch of grey at the temples and wrinkles around his eyes when he laughed, and for the time being, that seemed to lend a certain air of being distinguished, and hadn’t quite worked against him yet.
The notion of how long that would last, and what he’d do once that was no longer the case, was a bridge as yet unexplored -- Gabriel didn’t particularly like to dwell on things over which he had no control. But Merrick’s offer touched on that future some, and it was enough to make him still his hands for a little while before picking up again with those smooth, sure gestures.
“I shall,” Gabriel replied, quietly, running his hands through Merrick’s hair before tackling the knots in their shoulders once more. “Thank you, dearest.”
Merrick was so very old, close to two thousand. But djinn never aged physically, just emotionally and psychologically. They often seemed youthful, spry and luscious. But many times it was that old soul longing for connection.
They noticed Gabriel’s pause and breathed at the smooth continuation.
“You’re welcome. And you will always be handsome and strong in my eyes ,” the djinn spoke. Then they smiled as they grew more relaxed, “Soon you’ll have me bent over...like a rag doll.”
“That’d make for a pretty picture,” Gabriel replied, smiling fondly. “And just think, I can take you to dinner tomorrow, and perhaps, later this week…” his hands brushed down Merrick’s back.
Merrick laughed softly and gently stroked Gabriel’s thighs. “Dinner? Such a normal activity!” They smiled.
“Are you prepared for the utter mundanities of the day to day, my darling?” Gabriel replied, a laugh in his voice. “Deciding which book one ought to read next, and how you like your tea with your morning paper, and selecting which set of stockings best sets off that new fan you’ve just bought?” He rested his cheek against Merrick’s back, his arms wrapping around them from behind. “It’ll be so wonderfully boring,” he added, quietly.
“Yes, so much so. And looking for a job. So heavenly boring,” Merrick spoke. It would be do wonderful to do such boring things. Being treated as a someone instead of a something. The djinn was able to hum with pleasure at Gabriel’s wrapping around them when pain radiated underneath the fresh scar along their right side. They winced, trying to stifle the sensation midway through.
Gabriel stilled. “Not good?” He said, quietly. “I can shift, if you’d prefer?”
Merrick bit their lower lip and shook their head. “It’s good. A bit sore,” they spoke softly. This subject was one the djinn wanted to wait to talk about.
There was a soft sound by way of reply, and Gabriel re-wrapped his arms around Merrick, a little more gently, this time, leaning his chin against Merrick’s shoulder. “We can take in a show,” he said, leaning over to kiss Merrick’s neck. “I could take you to Spectacular Review, or out dancing... “ he grinned. “Although if it’s dancing, it’d be a touch easier to dance with you if you were in your other form, times being the way they are.”
The djinn smoothed their hands along Gabriel’s arms and nodded. They felt the Incubus was such a kind soul. “Spectacular Review...reminds me I need to visit an acquaintance there. Ooo, dancing,” Merrick smiled at the kiss to their neck and the mention of the theatre and dancing. Then they hummed at how the current times were. “Such times will pass eventually, but yes, my other form would do.” Merrick turned their head to catch a glimpse of Gabriel.
“Do you really think they will?” Gabriel asked, and the thought of it made him smile. “I find you quite delectable regardless. Which of the crew do you know?” he added. “I’m quite familiar with them -- good people, all.”
“Yes,” Merrick smirked. “Thank you. Dark-haired fellow - Caspian. But I must admit...he only knows me looking like this,” the djinn confessed.
“Caspian? Really,” Gabriel replied, grinning. “He’s a dear friend. A very dear friend. How marvelous.” He nuzzled at Merrick’s neck. “I’ll keep your secrets, dearest, if you’d like me to -- I know how it
can change how others see one when they know of one’s nature. And your capacity to change form is certainly part of that.”
He kissed Merrick’s shoulder, his arms settling loosely around Merrick in an embrace. “Good?” He asked, quietly.
“Really?” Merrick spoke and smiled liking Gabriel’s nuzzling. “Thank you, dear Gabriel. I do not know how he’d react.” The djinn felt a pang of guilt at that. Keeping secrets from a friend was often unhealthy.
“Yes, good,” Merrick sighed softly. “Thank you.” Letting go of Gabriel’s arms, they turned a little to try to catch his lips with their own.
Gabriel hummed, pleased, and pulled Merrick onto his lap, his arms wrapping closer, and kissing Merrick sweetly.
“Delicious,” he said, grinning. “I’m so grateful you’re in a better place, my dearest.” He lightly kissed the djinn once more, nuzzling at their face affectionately. “What next, darling?”
Merrick’s arms went around Gabriel’s shoulders as they turned fully and were pulled onto his lap. The djinn returned the kiss and smiled softly.
“I am happy,” they breathed and smiled against the kiss and nuzzle. “Would it be alright if we remain like this?”
“Of course, darling,” Gabriel replied easily, wrapping his arms around his lover. “Consider it done.”