chokedout | (no subject)

It's a protective charm. Against ill intent.

( raising the needle up with the bar inside of it, to tape on the side. the gold glows soft as he touches it. )

And a panic button. If you're afraid, like, genuinely afraid, I'll feel it. I'll know where you are.

( a just in case charm, because oliver doesn't want to leave theo unguarded. him knowing might be a little useless, because oliver can't teleport but he could at least call someone else and tell them where he is. )

Lay down.

[How far they've come from blood pacts promising to tear his soul out or whatever to Oliver making him his own protective charm. Theo raises his brows but he's pleased, touched even, though he still tries to maintain a more aloof sense of self because. We're adults here not lovesick teenagers who get feelings for anyone that dares show them a little affection. (More than that - genuine care.)]

Be gentle with me.

[He says with a laugh, knowing they both know better than to assume it's a needed warning - and he flops himself down, shirt hiked up with one hand and the other folded behind his head as a rest. He keeps his eyes on Oliver, smiling soft, because. Again, he likes to watch him work.]

( he's only had theo for a few months but if anything happened, he'd kill everyone in this city and then himself. or something like that. the protective charm is--just that, a show of intent. he likes theo and wants to keep him around. he doesn't want theo getting hurt. oliver spent fucking hours of his day working on some stupid little charm just to keep him safe.

theo lays himself down, and oliver takes the clamp and piercing needle with him as he pushes the chair back until it's wheels are against the side of the bed.

offers theo a smarmy little grin, before he's leaning in close to his abdomen--clamp and piercing still safe in his hand. he's not doing that yet, oliver's instead leaning in close to drag his tongue across theo's navel. )

I won't be. You're into it when I'm rough with you.

Mmm, sanitary.

[Theo cracks up with a laugh, stomach flexing after Oliver's tongue's run across it - and he shifts in the way he lays, comfortable but also just anticipating the next step. He isn't afraid of the needle, the charm, the permanence of the piercing - but it's the waiting that has him alert, watchful and softly sighing.]

What do I have to do to return the favor? I want to know you're alright too. I don't make cute jewellery though.

( considering oliver's used tattoo guns nick had in his drawer that who knows when nick last washed it and how old the ink is and nick definitely didn't shower before oliver just started poking ink into him--sanitary isn't really something he's stopping to think about.

but he's used to healers being who he fucks around with, so it's not like it usually matters. oliver leans up, puts the needle down to the side so he can lean over theo with the clamp and--center it at the top of his navel. makes sure it's actually centered because nobody wants a fucking sideways piercing, but oliver's too lazy to mark it with a sharpie like a normal human being.

they could probably just heal it over and redo it if they wanted to anyway, right?

fuck it. clamp centered, or as centered as oliver's eyesight is going to get it, and he's going for the needle. doesn't count it down, just presses knuckles against the skin just below his navel, lines up the needle, and pushes it through skin. takes out the needle and leaves the plastic, so he can slide the piercing right through the plastic and pull that out, too. he'll have to go back to the desk for the endpiece, but oliver focuses on theo for a moment instead. )

If you want me to make one for you to put on me, too, you'll have to wait.

[Theo laughs - it's just a response to vent the build up of anticipation, his head lolled back and a wide toothy grin on his face as Oliver works to center the clamp. His stomach tenses again, relaxing only to tense up once more when the needle pierces through his flesh. He sharply inhales, but doesn't whine, fingers plucking at the sheets before he's lifting his head with a soft 'wasn't that bad' murmured under his breath. He holds still however, eyes darting up from his belly to Oliver's eyes.]

I'll think just what I want, and then I'm gonna make you make it.

[He looks back to his stomach, eager to look at how the piercing looks.]

Does it look cute? I think it looks cute.

I'll consider it. No guarantees.

( but he's pulling away from theo, taking the clamp and needle with him as he shoves feet against the floor and--wheels his way back to the desk so he can put them down and grab onto the end piece. and wheels himself back over to theo after, so he can place it against the edge. it doesn't heat up, but the edges do--melt, before they resolidify against each other. melded together. )

This took forever. They're handy but charms like this-- ( lips pursed, quiet for a moment. ) Metal and rock like, keep traces of magic for forever. They're sturdy, it takes a lot to fuse magic into them and it takes a lot to completely rid it of magic, too.

[Theo's antsy to get up and examine the piercing, get a good look of himself in a mirror - but he's also being extraordinarily patient as Oliver melds together the two parts. He watches that with curious wonder, pushing to sit up soon after, already getting his fingers up in it to touch the end piece with a low whistle.]

You so like me.

[He laughs, and just - grins. Then he's reaching out for Oliver, to pull him in for a kiss:]

C'mere.

I like you okay.

( a big admittance for someone who likes to avoid acknowledging feelings at all in most scenarios. but theo reaches for him and he's leaning over him, taking the cigarette out from between his lips so he can lean over and press a kiss to theo's lips. )

You're not supposed to touch shit like that. Could get infected.

I'll take the risk.

[He licks his tongue into Oliver's mouth, drawing out the kiss before nudging nose to nose.]

I'll take a shower in a few, you should join me.

( he hates how easy it is, to fall into routines he kept with nick and only nick. the shoving needles into his body whenever oliver feels like it, the easy way oliver and theo just settle into. touching each other like this. having conversations and sharing kisses, passing cigarette smoke between them.

it makes him angry in the same vein it makes him happy, because theo's a sucker but oliver's falling for him in a way that doesn't. feel very safe, but theo's given him no reason to worry about feeling that way either. )

I'll go with you, but I won't fuck you. ( he's close to running out of time, for quota this month. after the pit and nick leaving, oliver's felt minimally motivated to fuck around. he has, once or twice, but quota doesn't concern him right now anyway.

he's never had to think about it before and he's not going to bother thinking about it now. he'll sort himself out eventually. )

No offense to you, you know you're hot shit. I just don't feel that human yet.

That's fine. I just like the company.

[He says, happy either way. He likes the intimacy of shared spaces and will more likely than not lean on Oliver in the shower, breathe in the scent of his skin and hold on to him but they don't need to fuck. They don't need to do anything but exist to make Theo happy right now. He just doesn't want to let go of Oliver, doesn't want to lose him again. Doesn't want to lose any more people the way his track record's going.]

Want a bath instead?

( so it's cuddle bathing. terrible but also nice but also. terrible. he vaguely remembers taking a bath with willem watching from nearby, realizes that was definitely creepy and he definitely also knew it was creepy before but just kind of let it slide because willem had everything else he wanted.

a fine tactic when he's on his own, not a great one with nick present. definitely not a great one now that he's gotten attached, so it's good his attachments have also gone to others who do have the money and power he wanted.

or with theo: a very nice face and a stupid attitude that oliver understands as well as he understands himself. theo asks for cuddles, and oliver takes just long enough to think it over that it feels like he's thinking it over. presses his hand against theo's chest after to get himself upright. )

Yeah. Go start it?

Mmm. Alright.

[Theo's reply is soft, near-whisper as he sits forward to haul himself toward the adjacent bathroom. It sucks to detach from Oliver when all he wants to do is stay near him, which is needy as shit and he knows that. But it's hard to care when he doesn't want to think about the feelings bubbling around in his chest. He stretches his arms overhead, looking down again to the new piercing he's toting as he disappears into the bathroom to turn on a hot bath full of soaps.

A few moments later, he pops his head back out, now stripped naked as apparent from his bare shoulders:]

Ready, your Highness.

( theo disappears into the bathroom, so oliver opts to start stripping down--pulls off his shirt over his head to throw it onto the ground first, and drops boxers along with them. it takes. about as long as it takes for theo to start the bath, get the water right, and strip himself for oliver to take off two pieces of clothing, but he gets there.

which is the important part.

he sees theo, and decides that's a good enough marker for oliver to start heading the few steps between the bed and the joined bathroom before theo even opens his mouth. )

Do we still have Grace's bath salts?

Mmm, maybe? What do they look like.

[Theo asks in a half attentive way, because he's lazy and just wants to get into the already sudsy water; he turns around to look at Oliver when he's in the room, beckoning him closer with out stretched arms and a lay of his body against Oliver clearly meant to help steer him toward the tub. Theo's got a bit of glee to the way he nuzzles at his jaw, hunching down to be on the same height, fighting off the temptation to smack his ass. See, caring. He's so caring?]

( he could look for them--oliver's pretty sure they were left in a jar around here somewhere. something dark, that smells lavender-y. but theo's already gotten some shit in there so it's probably fine. he slouches, too. brings himself closer to eye-level with oliver and instead just presses in right against his jaw. it's cute; oliver would appreciate how clingy theo is more if he wasn't busy being an avoidant asshole.

but he is. he still tips his chin up some to give theo better access, even as oliver takes a few steps back towards the edge of the tub, so he can get himself into it. )

We can save those for later.

I'm always up for a good bath.

[At least when in the company of someone else, anyway. Theo kisses at Oliver's neck, grazes his teeth along the cut line of his jaw and only pulls away when they get into the tub so he can slink down into the water; waiting for Oliver to settle, so he can know who is going to drape up against who because neither of them feel the type to stay at opposing sides of the roomy tub.]

I'll wash your hair if you lean on me.

You're as touchy as Nick is.

( but it's. not a complaint. not exactly. oliver likes how clingy nick is with him, misses him touching him, leaning against him, running fingers through his hair.

it's depressing just to think about it, so he drops it quickly enough. climbs into the bathtub in front of theo so he can lean his back in against his chest, back of his head pressing against theo's shoulder.

for cuddling purposes. )

Did you save any of my shampoo?

Enough for tonight.

[He's been using it here and there, allowed or not, but he more or less just has come to like the scent of it for the reminder it is of Oliver. So he's happy to wet his fingers and slip them back over Oliver's brow, brushing back his hair to gently get it wet. Half stroking his fingers through for the sake of it, half on duty.]

I'll get Ragnor to buy more. Anything else for the shopping list?

( oliver's always a sucker for people brushing their fingers through their hair, this is no different. theo's hands feel nice, and he tips his head into it. closes his eyes as he tries to let himself relax. unwind a little. whatever's closest. )

Think I'm out of whoreos. I've got to get that shit from the shop cleaned up too. Maybe CD shelves. God, CDs are so fucking old. I don't think I've even seen a car with a player recently.

You might as well be selling floppy disks, you know.

[What kind of weirdos like cds anymore, or worse yet- cassettes? Sure there's a weird retro vibe to them but how fun is it to purposely limit yourself to a format with zero share-ability? Theo keeps wetting Oliver's hair, slowly introducing a shampoo into the mix; he's light and careful with it, taking his sweet time.]

Remind me later, I was working on a playlist I want your opinion on.

Can you help me go through the cassettes some more, pass them out? There were like three people who made grabby hands for them.

( oliver just wants to get rid of them. like who the fuck would even buy them? aside from those three losers. oliver's already--mostly--digitized them anyway. )

Yeah, sure. I'll wear something spooky and slutty, hand them out to anyone that'll take them.

[Maybe with some weed included, to prompt an actual desire for cheap little pieces of plastic. He's rinsing Oliver's hair slowly, handfuls of water - one hand tilting his head back, so it runs down and away from his face. He could make this easier somehow but hey, any more excuse to lay in warm water is fine by him.]

I'm gonna steal some of the clothes on the back rack though. I like the gross grunge style sometimes.

( he's not going to protest. oliver still has his eyes closed, he's still pressing in close against theo, moves a hand down to press his palm against theo's thigh even. oliver never minds a good bath, doesn't--usually mind pressing up against people. doesn't mind it right now.

because he's decided he is into theo. theo's gained his trust enough that he doesn't--feel like any fucking bloodpacts are going to be necessary from here on out. trusts him enough to bully ragnor into contracting with him, into letting his guard down like this. letting theo pick him off the floor when he needed it. )

I didn't want a stupid shop, you know. I haate responsibility. So you've gotta like, help out.