calderaevents (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
calderaevents) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
calderamemes2024-11-29 12:00 am
calderaevents) wrote in calderamemes2024-11-29 12:00 am
TDM #4
ARRIVAL
It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:
As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.
“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”
And you most certainly do.
Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.
DRINK MENU
WINTER'S WHISPER A fragrant spiced tea that calms the nerves and inspires the drinker to share their hopes and dreams.
JINGLE BELL A crisp, bright drink...that makes jingling bell sounds as you walk. There are no bells, and yet you jingle.
S(LAY) RIDE This drink has an earthy, woody taste. Almost as woody as the tavern floor it forces you to lie down upon. You cannot get up unless someone else helps you.
MISTLETOE MEAD Made with honey from enchanted bee hives and a touch of mistletoe leaves. Time to find a smoochin' partner!
HOLLY JOLLY SPICE A bold and fiery blend of rum, cinnamon, and cloves with a secret twist—just a dash of enchanted holly berry syrup that makes your cheeks flush with warmth and your laughter contagious. One sip, and you're the life of the party, even if you're by yourself.
CANDY CANE CRUSH A festive burst of minty sweetness with a cool, refreshing sensation that tingles the tongue. The drinker’s mood subtly shifts the color of their surroundings, briefly changing the hues of objects or lights in the room to match their feelings.
GINGERBREAD MAN A thick drink that tastes exactly like a gingerbread cookie. However, candy and other delicious accents start appearing on you as if YOU were the cookie. Is that icing on your nose? Candied cherries in your hair? Gumdrop buttons? But on the bright side, free candy!
JINGLE BELL A crisp, bright drink...that makes jingling bell sounds as you walk. There are no bells, and yet you jingle.
S(LAY) RIDE This drink has an earthy, woody taste. Almost as woody as the tavern floor it forces you to lie down upon. You cannot get up unless someone else helps you.
MISTLETOE MEAD Made with honey from enchanted bee hives and a touch of mistletoe leaves. Time to find a smoochin' partner!
HOLLY JOLLY SPICE A bold and fiery blend of rum, cinnamon, and cloves with a secret twist—just a dash of enchanted holly berry syrup that makes your cheeks flush with warmth and your laughter contagious. One sip, and you're the life of the party, even if you're by yourself.
CANDY CANE CRUSH A festive burst of minty sweetness with a cool, refreshing sensation that tingles the tongue. The drinker’s mood subtly shifts the color of their surroundings, briefly changing the hues of objects or lights in the room to match their feelings.
GINGERBREAD MAN A thick drink that tastes exactly like a gingerbread cookie. However, candy and other delicious accents start appearing on you as if YOU were the cookie. Is that icing on your nose? Candied cherries in your hair? Gumdrop buttons? But on the bright side, free candy!
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY
As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:
You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:
The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.
The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.
The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.
Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.
The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.
If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.
But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.
If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.
Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.
In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.
If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?
The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.
If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.
In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.
Visitors in all starter cities are offered a standard home with basic necessities provided (your choice in design, etc.) that can house 1-4 people if they so choose. Home upgrades can be purchased via rewards.
FANNING THE FLAMES
The renewed seething of the lava flows brought on by the tempestuous events deep below the sea seem to have been dealt with, though city guards have been stationed around the crater and are barring anyone from approaching to investigate any further than the outskirts. Interestingly, not only does the crater seem calm, it appears to be changing. Any remaining lava flow is being directed as if by unseen hands, and when the light catches just right, the barest hint of a shimmer can be detected surrounding the glowing rivers. New rock formations take shape as the days pass, though one never can catch the presence of a mason working on the structures. It's as if something intangible or invisible is repairing what was broken, turning what was previously chaos and ruin into order and life.
SEASON OF LIGHT
The world remains unsettled, still bearing the scars of the trials endured just a month prior, not to mention the oddities happening with the volcanic crater and the ominous shadows creeping in from the sea continue to haunt the collective psyche, leaving both locals and visitors on constant edge, fearful of a sudden, unprovoked assault. Despite these lingering anxieties, the leaders have publicly reassured all that calm has been restored. They claim that the worst is behind them and that every measure is being taken to prevent such devastating magics from ever threatening Salt Spire again. The protective bubble holds, new Undine are being ushered into their roles, and the world, it is said, is slowly healing. Or so they claim.
Whether or not the assurances of the leaders ring entirely true, life, as it often does, presses on. The people of Caldera have once again immersed themselves in the comforting bustle of distraction, turning their attention to the imminent Season of Lights celebrations. This holiday, it seems, bears a striking resemblance to the festive cheer of Christmas (and a mix of new years), with gifts exchanged in abundance and decorations of shimmering silver and radiant blue casting their glow across the sky, sea, and land in harmonious splendor.
One of the seasons's highlights is the grand Feast of the Sky, a night when the people gather beneath a star-filled canopy to exchange gifts—ornate trinkets, hand-crafted items, and tokens of affection that carry deep personal meaning. In the days leading up to the feast, a tradition of "Lightwalking" emerges, where families and friends embark on midnight strolls through streets aglow with lanterns, singing carols and sharing stories of hope and renewal. Sea-going vessels, too, partake in the festivities, their sails and riggings festooned with glowing orbs that drift like stars across the waters.
The Season of Lights is, above all, a celebration of resilience, a time when the people of Caldera set aside their worries, if only for a little while, to bask in the glow of community, generosity, and the promise of brighter days ahead thanks to the Visitor's arrival...
Whether or not the assurances of the leaders ring entirely true, life, as it often does, presses on. The people of Caldera have once again immersed themselves in the comforting bustle of distraction, turning their attention to the imminent Season of Lights celebrations. This holiday, it seems, bears a striking resemblance to the festive cheer of Christmas (and a mix of new years), with gifts exchanged in abundance and decorations of shimmering silver and radiant blue casting their glow across the sky, sea, and land in harmonious splendor.
One of the seasons's highlights is the grand Feast of the Sky, a night when the people gather beneath a star-filled canopy to exchange gifts—ornate trinkets, hand-crafted items, and tokens of affection that carry deep personal meaning. In the days leading up to the feast, a tradition of "Lightwalking" emerges, where families and friends embark on midnight strolls through streets aglow with lanterns, singing carols and sharing stories of hope and renewal. Sea-going vessels, too, partake in the festivities, their sails and riggings festooned with glowing orbs that drift like stars across the waters.
The Season of Lights is, above all, a celebration of resilience, a time when the people of Caldera set aside their worries, if only for a little while, to bask in the glow of community, generosity, and the promise of brighter days ahead thanks to the Visitor's arrival...
THE GRAND MASQUERADE
Another highlight of the season is the Grand Masquerade that unfolds high above the world in Heaven’s Bow, the floating city where the wind dances in the sky and the stars seem close enough to touch. The event is more than just a celebration of the Season of Lights—it’s a gathering of hope, a last-ditch effort to save Caldera from its slow unraveling. Here, among the clouds and the wind, the people of Caldera and the mysterious Visitors from other worlds come together in a shimmering, ethereal celebration, their faces hidden behind elaborate masks and appropriately fancy dress provided when one steps through the threshold of the castle gates.
The palace at the heart of Heaven’s Bow is a breathtaking sight, its walls adorned with silver and blue decorations that catch the light from thousands of lanterns floating in mid-air. The atmosphere is both jubilant and tense, a world on the brink of collapse holding its breath in the hopes that this fleeting night will offer a glimmer of salvation. The sky above is painted with the colors of dusk and dawn, swirling in a palette of purples, blues, and silvers.
Sylphs—the free-spirited, airborn people of the Sky—flutter about, their wings glinting in the light, performing acrobatic feats in the air, their laughter and music mingling with the sounds of the celebration. Guests, their masks intricate and stunning, move among the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and stories, some joining in the dances while others linger near the grand tables, laden with food and drink from every corner of Caldera and beyond.
As the night unfolds, the guests find themselves drawn into different corners of the event—each space offering the Visitors a chance to prove themselves worthy of the leaders’ favor. There is no shortage of opportunities to learn, grow, and, perhaps, change the course of this dying world.
The palace at the heart of Heaven’s Bow is a breathtaking sight, its walls adorned with silver and blue decorations that catch the light from thousands of lanterns floating in mid-air. The atmosphere is both jubilant and tense, a world on the brink of collapse holding its breath in the hopes that this fleeting night will offer a glimmer of salvation. The sky above is painted with the colors of dusk and dawn, swirling in a palette of purples, blues, and silvers.
Sylphs—the free-spirited, airborn people of the Sky—flutter about, their wings glinting in the light, performing acrobatic feats in the air, their laughter and music mingling with the sounds of the celebration. Guests, their masks intricate and stunning, move among the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and stories, some joining in the dances while others linger near the grand tables, laden with food and drink from every corner of Caldera and beyond.
As the night unfolds, the guests find themselves drawn into different corners of the event—each space offering the Visitors a chance to prove themselves worthy of the leaders’ favor. There is no shortage of opportunities to learn, grow, and, perhaps, change the course of this dying world.
THE SKY'S ASCENSION
At one end of the palace's terrace, a floating platform hovers above the clouds, surrounded by shifting air currents. Sylphs glide effortlessly through the space, their wings leaving trails of light as they move to the lively music, which seems written by the wind itself.
Aella, Admiral of the Slyph, stands at the center of the platform, her cloak of shimmering feathers rippling in the breeze. She surveys the crowd, inviting those brave enough to take part in her challenge. Before them, a maze of floating platforms stretches out, some wide and stable, others narrow and swaying in the wind. The task is simple: leap from one platform to the next, navigating the shifting air and ever-changing obstacles.
The platforms move unpredictably, some rising higher, others sinking, and a few disappearing entirely. Guests must time their jumps perfectly, balancing agility with timing as they avoid falling into the clouds below.
Those who succeed will earn Aella’s favor (in the form of 100 Bones and a single white feather). And those who falter will simply reappear the start of the challenge to begin anew or give up with no repercussions for the latter save perhaps a bit of embarrassment.
THE SEA'S SECRETS
On the other side of the terrace, a serene water garden unfolds, its shimmering pools reflecting the stars above. Water flows in delicate, endless cascades, filling the air with a soft, soothing melody that mingles with the distant sound of waves. The Undines, graceful and serene beings of the Sea, glide effortlessly through the space, their robes flowing like gentle currents, their movements as fluid as the water itself.
Cordelia, Queen of the Sea, stands quietly on a raised platform at the edge of the garden, her presence calm and powerful. Her eyes, deep and unfathomable, seem to reflect the vastness of the ocean, and though she watches the guests, she does not engage with them. Her stillness holds an air of mystery, as if she is both present and yet unreachable.
The Undines move silently through the garden, offering peaceful company to those who wander nearby. The garden is a place of contemplation, where guests can simply pause and connect with the tranquil beauty of the water—its soothing flow, its quiet depths, and its promise of renewal. There are no tests or challenges here, only the peace of the Sea to calm the mind and soul.
Those who linger may feel the weight of ancient knowledge in the air, a silent understanding of the oceans' mysteries and the healing power of water. In this place, the answers are not spoken, but felt—a quiet reminder that some of the world’s deepest truths are best discovered in moments of stillness.
As the evening fades, those who have found solace in the garden’s stillness will discover, tucked gently in their palm, a lustrous pearl. Unlike any found on the shores, this pearl is soft and warm, its surface shimmering with an inner light. It is a symbol of the wisdom that comes from quiet reflection—the knowledge that some things, like the depth of the sea, cannot be rushed.
Cordelia, Queen of the Sea, stands quietly on a raised platform at the edge of the garden, her presence calm and powerful. Her eyes, deep and unfathomable, seem to reflect the vastness of the ocean, and though she watches the guests, she does not engage with them. Her stillness holds an air of mystery, as if she is both present and yet unreachable.
The Undines move silently through the garden, offering peaceful company to those who wander nearby. The garden is a place of contemplation, where guests can simply pause and connect with the tranquil beauty of the water—its soothing flow, its quiet depths, and its promise of renewal. There are no tests or challenges here, only the peace of the Sea to calm the mind and soul.
Those who linger may feel the weight of ancient knowledge in the air, a silent understanding of the oceans' mysteries and the healing power of water. In this place, the answers are not spoken, but felt—a quiet reminder that some of the world’s deepest truths are best discovered in moments of stillness.
As the evening fades, those who have found solace in the garden’s stillness will discover, tucked gently in their palm, a lustrous pearl. Unlike any found on the shores, this pearl is soft and warm, its surface shimmering with an inner light. It is a symbol of the wisdom that comes from quiet reflection—the knowledge that some things, like the depth of the sea, cannot be rushed.
THE LAND'S EMBRACE
In the heart of the palace gardens, beneath a canopy of flowering trees, the Dryads drift gracefully among the guests, their earthy skin glowing with life and their eyes bright with the vitality of nature. The air is thick with the scent of blooming roses and jasmine, while the ground beneath the guests' feet pulses with a quiet energy, inviting them to pause and feel the garden’s magic.
Terra, the Lady of the Land, stands at the center, her form adorned in living vines and blossoms, moving as if the garden itself flows through her. Her presence is both nurturing and fierce, a silent invitation to those seeking connection—to the land, to love, and to one another.
Guests are drawn to the tranquil beauty of the garden, stealing soft moments with their partners among the flowers. Lovers exchange quiet glances, touch petals with gentle fingers, and share unspoken promises beneath the soft glow of lanterns. The garden hums with romance, as if the earth itself is blessing these tender moments, offering the quiet assurance that love—like the land—can grow in the most unexpected places.
As the night draws to a close, Terra’s gentle power is felt in the air, and for those who have taken the time to connect with the garden’s beauty, a soft gift of nature is bestowed. A flower—unique and radiant—appears in their hand, a token of love and growth, a reminder that even the briefest moments can take root and blossom into something everlasting.
QUESTBOARD [NEW QUESTS ADDED]
Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.
Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.
Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.
OOC NOTES
Welcome to Caldera's fourth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.
For OOC questions, please direct themhere.
All locations are available to be explored!
The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.
main navigation
For OOC questions, please direct themhere.
All locations are available to be explored!
The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.
no subject
"Mmm," Finnick smiles, eyes lidded as he looks into brown eyes. "I do like praise."
That smile turns into a mischievous grin at the question about prep.
"It does, yeah, I'll show you how to help. Just..." He lets go of John's cock, putting a gentle hand on his cheek, stroking it slowly.
"Take a breath, sweetheart. No need to get too carried away, hm? I'm not going anywhere." He can tell John is getting a little too excited, and he'll need his stamina. He keeps a soft, encouraging smile, and pecks his lips sweetly. He waits for John to take a moment to breathe before moving on to any next steps.
no subject
“Men are new, but…this is, too. Still.” He admits, lifting his head to steal another of those soft, chaste little pecks before leaning his forehead into Finnick’s. “There was someone, recently, but—she left. Didn’t have long…before that? Pushing twenty years.”
And the way he shuts his eyes and lets out a shaky breath, it’s pretty clear: the man isn’t just excited, he’s pretty severely touch starved.
no subject
"Mm... It makes sense that you'd be overwhelmed, then. We can take a break any time, so let me know if it becomes too much. My friend Loki, he taught me about traffic lights. Red means 'stop right now,' yellow means 'I'm not sure, take it slow,' and green means 'yes, keep going.' That might help us a little, whether to say how we feel about one act in particular, or the whole thing."
Finnick is eager to put what he's learned about consent to use. He doesn't want to repeat old patterns more than necessary.
He kisses John's cheek, soft and slow.
no subject
“Traffic lights…I know ‘em. I really like that idea, actually.”
Lifting his head, John looks into Finnick’s face, then lays a hand against his neck, palm and fingers splayed against his throat without pressure.
No, he’s not going to choke Finnick. That hasn’t changed…but he’s less scared of just teasing at the idea with more daring touches.
So he lets that linger for a second, smiles—and steps back, out of Finnick’s embrace. It’s hard, but he’s not stupid: he’s seen something in Finnick that’s exciting.
He wants to see how it feels to…play with it.
“Start stripping.”
no subject
Then John is stepping back, which is a little confusing, and tells Finnick to strip, which takes him completely off-guard, enough to laugh breathily in surprise.
"Well, alright then." He's not sure how he feels about being told to strip in general (not entirely positive), but coming from John, it's just fine. Finnick takes off his shirt in one fluid motion, then fishes the lube out of his pants pocket before removing them. Yes, he keeps lube on him, because of who he is as a person, okay.
Finnick gets completely naked in a way that is perhaps suspiciously quick and nonchalant, not a hint of shame or awkwardness whatsoever. He then stands against the wall, facing John, erection jutting out toward him, holding the lube and awaiting further instruction with a small glint in his eye.
no subject
So while Finnick strips, John follows suit as he watches that beautiful golden body laid bare. Sure, he saw a lot of it at the lingerie show, but this is unadorned and just...him. Lean muscle, glowing golden tan to hair and back again.
...and yeah, he notes his efficiency. John's been there, but with blood and guts and filth. With life and death and pain, not with sex.
And yet he's more bothered by this than by his own past.
Moving close again, John lays his hands on Finnick's shoulders, looking into his face with gentle concern.
"You, uh...you still green? You're okay?" he asks, leaning in just enough to brush his lips against the patch of skin just between Finnick's forehead and the bridge of his nose.
no subject
John seems worried about him again, and Finnick wonders if the other man has picked up on something Finnick wasn't aware he was communicating or doing. He raises his brows a little in confusion.
"Yeah-? I'm good," he assures with a small smile. "Green." He places his hands on John's hips, looking up to softly kiss those lips again.
no subject
He's aware of that unnatural perfection. John's fingers find and linger over that scar on his forearm because--because it reminds him that this is real. Finnick is real, that this is happening and this good thing is actually happening to him.
For one second, he wants to take. To ignore what Finnick wants, to pull him into bed and spend all the time he wants memorizing every inch. The taste of skin, the touches that make him cry out, learn how to bring him pleasure not through instruction but through Finnick's voice, begging for more of everything that feels good. But the way he asked John to fuck him against the wall, that was almost the same, and if this is good for him...
John guides Finnick's hands over his head, not to pin, but to swipe that lube he produced, and to trail his fingers over Finnick's arm to feel that fresh scar tissue again while he kisses and nips at Finnick's throat.
...and this is where he falters, just a little, because...well, not everything is wholly obvious to his lack of experience, mechanically speaking.
"Wanna kiss you while I fuck you." he breathes against Finnick's skin. "Can I?...comfortably?..."
John's sensual attack on Finnick's throat and collarbone pauses as his cheeks burn, and he just hides his face against him for a moment in minor embarrassment.
cw wounds/scars
Finnick would be just as happy to be taken, or to instruct, he's easy. But it is nice to be able to dictate what he wants, as that's so rarely been the case for him.
He notices John's attention to his recent scar, a 3-inch long laceration crossing the underside of his forearm. It feels oddly validating, to have it noticed. Of course, others may have differing feelings on their own scars, but Finnick prefers to have proof of what he's gone through, have ownership over his body in that way. To not have his experiences erased for the sake of being a perfect and desirable commodity for the rich to consume. There's potential there, too, of someone seeing the ways he's broken and flawed and loving him anyway.
"Mmm," the growl is deep in his throat at the neck nips. "Yes," he murmurs, realizing maybe he wasn't clear enough on the position. "I'll face you like this, you lift my legs up and fuck me." He wraps his arms around John's neck and lifts one knee to his hip in demonstration. "That okay? Or you have something else in mind, big guy?"
no subject
It’s a little dizzying, a little scary how easy it is to let his mind fall into familiar patterns, a known rhythm. Tactics, strategy—but not to win a fight or a war, to give someone pleasure. John didn’t even realize that was something he could do with what the Army turned him into.
It’s…a relief and a huge turn on at the same time, and it takes away some of the fear that he might hurt him. With a growl, he kisses Finnick again, deep and greedy and messy as that heat boils his blood and he lets himself go.
He was trained to win, defeat is unacceptable, and Finnick is the victory, getting him off and keeping him safe…
Breaking the kiss, John’s mind works with almost unnatural clarity to form a plan of attack as he squeezes some lube into his hand to cost his fingers, then hesitates a moment to let it warm up a little.
“Tell me if anything feels uncomfortable.” He breathes, kissing Finnick’s jaw as he drops the lube and wraps a hand around Finnick’s cock again to start stroking him slowly. “Hell, tell me if I can do something to make it better, okay?”
It’s hard not to get distracted by him as John strokes Finnick’s cock—he’s fucking gorgeous, and God the sounds he makes—but after a few moments, he hesitantly shifts to slide lube-slick fingers down between Finnick’s cheeks…and falters again, but only a little.
He starts just stroking over his hole a few times, slow and firm, then tries careful pressure, still stroking, doing his best to be careful as he learns his way through working him open.
cw sexual abuse/trafficking/unhealthy sex work
"Okay," he breathes.
Right now, he doesn't feel as though there's a job to do. He feels like his pleasure actually matters as much as John's, and he feels safe enough to allow himself to fully feel it. Still, he grabs the lube and spreads some on his own hand, then strokes John's shaft with it, expertly knowing how to quickly cover its surface area. The slickness allows him to use more pressure, and he teases the tip with his thumb.
He exhales slowly as John's fingers find his hole, and he steps wider to make more room, arching his back instinctively to create a better angle. He tucks his face into John's neck, mouth idly kissing and nipping there.
"That's it..." he breathes. "Start with one finger." Already, the pressure there is making his breath hitch, and he's not all too sure he'll be the most patient through this process because of how eager he feels, but he'll do his best.
no subject
“…you’re beautiful like this.”
It just sort of falls out of his mouth, and John feels spellbound. Like every sense is in overdrive, and the world has narrowed to everything Finnick is feeling.
“Never dreamed I could…have this. Be with someone like you, gorgeous and so sweet—and letting me make you feel good.”
He’s not quite babbling as he strokes Finnick a little faster, starts to work that one finger in and out with gentle pressure to relax muscle, shifting and adjusting with his reactions—how hard before it seems to bring discomfort, how deep before he’s trying to push himself into John’s fingers, when he’s able to try and use two without hurting him.
“Wonder if I could make you come just like this someday…just making a list of every touch that you like, and push every button one after the other…see how many times I can get you off before you can’t handle another orgasm…”
no subject
"Well, you have me now, sweetheart." He punctuates the sentiment by threading his fingers into the hair at John's nape and pulling at it very gently.
"Ahhh..." Finnick exhales a moan as he begins working him open in earnest, and his teeth bite harder into John's neck in response to the pleasure. Finnick is relaxed, and knows how to stay relaxed so that the process isn't uncomfortable. By now, he's so used to these feelings that he does unconsciously rush it a bit, pushing himself into John's fingers, arching his back even further.
Those words only further melt Finnick, making him feel drunk with desire.
"Fuck..." A curse hisses on the breath against John's neck. "That sounds amazing..." But right now, he wants to be fucked. He bites back his impatience, not wanting to rush John, letting him get his feel for things.
"More lube," is his main suggestion.
no subject
But the tight, hot promise of Finnick’s body paired with the way he curses and moans and asks for more lube is more temptation than he can stand.
Grinning, he withdraws his hand and slicks his fingers up with more lube, pressing into Finnick’s body again with a little more confidence. He adds a second finger and presses carefully, cautiously stretching, opening fairly easy for him…
…and yeah, John is teasing just a little as Finnick pushes back onto his fingers, growing visibly impatient.
“Good boy.” He can’t resist growling softly before kissing him again, and with a couple more strokes of his fingers, withdraws them from his hole…
So he can lift him off his feet and press him back against the wall, catching him with a hand under one knee to urge him to wrap his legs around John’s waist.
For a second he just enjoys the view with a grin, but can’t resist kissing him again—and after a beat, remembers, shifting to get the right angle with Finnick’s help and, finally, reaching between them to guide himself into place so he can push into Finnick’s body with a groan.
no subject
If John teased him any further, he absolutely would have- Finnick has never been too proud to beg in such situations. Thankfully, John instead picks him up, and Finnick readily wraps arms and legs around him, holding himself up between John and the wall. The kiss helps Finnick relax into the new position, reminding himself he only needs certain muscles for this, and not to tighten the wrong ones too much and cause himself pain.
He shifts to find the right angle, and fingers tangle into John's hair again. Finnick breathes out a big, long sigh as he's penetrated with the much girthier length of his lover's cock.
"Hold there," he whispers once John is buried inside, which can be taken as an intimate request or a command, whatever floats his boat. He stills, breathing deeply in and out, allowing his body to adjust to the size. He forces himself to wait longer than he wants to.
"Okay," he murmurs again, signalling for John to start moving with a light tap of a heel on his ass.
no subject
He curls a hand against Finnick’s nape, kisses and nips at his neck and his collarbone. He bends his head to swipe his tongue across a nipple, loses himself in the taste and the heat of him and in not moving—
—until Finnick nudges him with a heel against his ass, making him smile.
He goes slow, making sure Finnick is okay. It’s hard, it’s nearly impossible because he feels so fucking good…but when he knows it’s okay, when he’s getting more of those glorious moans and sounds out of him, he moves a little faster…but not much.
He wants to hear Finnick beg. Wants to hear him beg, give him what he wants…and watch him fall to pieces before he lets himself go.
no subject
"Ah..." He grips into John's hair again, raising his knees up higher, moaning gutturally as his eyes close. It's good, so good, and John is big enough that he's hitting all the right spots already, the only thing he needs is more. More movement, strength, speed. He knows John has that in him, definitely.
"Oh, fuck me," he cries as he throws his head back. "Harder, more, please."
no subject
This has nothing to do with just being with a man, though that means a lot to him--it's all Finnick, how surprised he seems as he moans and shifts like he wants to take John deeper, get more of him. His face is etched with need and ecstasy, and he's clinging to John for dear life.
Like John is unmaking him like this--and as he throws his head back and begs, without shame, John feels like he's transcended.
Supporting one of Finnick's legs so he doesn't have to work so hard to draw his knees up to take John deeper, he gives him what he wants--he takes what he wants so badly and moves a little faster, but not much. He puts more force behind each thrust, giving him just that, hard and deep and moaning when he seems to find places that make Finnick's body tighten around him with absolute perfection.
He drives himself as deep as he can. His free hand finds its way back into Finnick's hair, tugging firmly to bring him in for one kiss after another. He's losing all sense of everything that isn't Finnick's body, Finnick's voice, Finnick's pleasure.
Every moan from Finnick, every impassioned plea, every breathless cry has John losing more of himself in how good he feels and in making Finnick feel it in turn until he's driving himself into Finnick with abandon--until he's the one breathlessly begging for more as the hand in his hair slides free to move down his chest to wrap around his cock trapped between them.
"Please...please, wanna see you, feel you...c'mon, Finnick, come for me, please...want you to come for me, please..."
no subject
Finnick's moans crescendo loudly as John hits the right spot- hard, over and over. He's losing control of his mouth, and his limbs in turn are some mixture of writhing, squirming, and jelly.
While the begging is music to his ears, it's not at all necessary. Finnick is already near his peak, and as John wraps a big hand around his cock, he careens straight over and above it, like a roller coaster car that's come right off the track.
"Fuck, John, oh!" He cries out loudly, and veins bulge in his neck as he grips onto John desperately, cursing from the sheer, blinding euphoria.
His panting still comes out as soft moans as he comes down, his entire body tingling with warmth.
no subject
"God...fuck...Fin, Jesus, so good--"
It only takes a few more moments before his release is tearing through him. He bites Finnick's shoulder as his vision whites out and the world falls away in wave after wave of a kind of ecstasy he hasn't felt in a very long time. Hell, he's not sure he's ever felt this good.
It takes him a while to start coming down from the high of his own orgasm, but when he starts to become aware of himself and his surroundings again, John makes sure his legs will support him as he gathers Finnick close, supports his weight, and carries him away from the wall and over to the bed. He settles on his back, Finnick atop him, and just holds him close so he can kiss him, touch him--drink in the loose, warm, contented perfection of a post-coital Finnick.
"...you might be one of the best things that's ever happened to me." he finally murmurs. "Thank you."
no subject
At the claim John makes, Finnick has to laugh a little, quiet and soft.
"Look, I know I'm a good lay, but I think that's giving me entirely too much credit," he murmurs wryly.
no subject
"You didn't have to sleep with me. Didn't even have to kiss me, but you did." he points out. "I mean, I haven't had a lot of sex, but you were being nice to me even when we first met at the lingerie show. S' not just the sex, man--you been kind to me. Haven't had a lot of that, and it means the world to me."
no subject
Instead:
"I'm kind to you because I can tell you're a good man. You deserve kindness, as most people do..." He turns his head to look at John, to brush brown hair out of his eyes with his fingertips. "I'm sorry it's rare for you. It shouldn't be that way. But I'll make up for it, if I can."