olden times for Tommy

[oohforeshadowing]

The great country pile isn't their speed, really.

Double had their lovely house in London, bought and paid for by their adoptive father - a High Fae of some high regard, who'd been fretting about their lands and accounts falling into strangers' hands when he passed on. It was a heartrending story, of course, and Double was...well, positively delighted to be anything the old man wanted them to be. For the right price.

Shapeshifters have long since had a bad reputation for sliding into the upper echelons this way. They hadn't been in penury to begin with, by any means, but 'lovely house in London' money and 'vast estates with mining wealth and hundreds of rate-paying tenants' money is not the same by some order of magnitude.

The old man died peacefully in his bed, well over a century old, and left the manor house and everything that went with it to their sole heir. Who is going to sell it all, eventually, but it feels tasteless not to even let their 'father's' body grow cold.

They move in after the last of their furniture has been transported, and lets the housekeeper give them the tour. They cut quite the figure: long blond hair pinned up in curls, a jacket and blouse tailored tightly to a corseted waist, the snug high-waisted breeches favoured by most males. Their tail is the most exposed part of them and the woman they're following keeps eyeing it like she's not sure if it's obscene or not.

"...show you the stables, your grace," she says, as she walks ahead to the outbuildings.

"Ah. I suppose we ought."

Comments

[bleak_midwinter]

"...I'll allow you."

It still feels a little strange, their interest in him, how intense it is, how they are, indeed, very dedicated to this cause. He doesn't know why, he doesn't know what they want from him.

But at the same time, why not allow himself something nice? They're interesting, smart and beautiful. They've invested time in him. And they're not so jaded yet. Why not?

He can't stop himself from feeling a flutter of nerves in his stomach.

[oohforeshadowing]

"Wonderful."

They lean close, enough to press their mouth lightly to his throat, to breathe deep of harsh soap and sweat.

"Have you ever-? With one of us, I mean, I refuse to believe you won't have had humans lining up for you."

[bleak_midwinter]

He shivers again, and unbidden, his mouth falls open on a sigh.

"Yes. Mostly other Fae. Your father's guests. Visitors to the village."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh. I didn't realise you'd have such a....robust frame of reference," they chuckle, and nip so lightly at his earlobe - just enough that he'll feel the sting. "But please don't take that as a criticism. I like that you've been openminded."

[bleak_midwinter]

He reaches out and carefully puts a hand of his own over theirs. He doesn't know how much he'll be allowed to reach out, how much they want, but when they nip at him he feels the need to try.

"It's been years. And I wasn't always so - assertive."

When he was just barely here, being pushed into a wall and having a hand shoved down his pants he had no idea what to do with it, what to feel about that. He knows now, which is why it no longer happens.

[oohforeshadowing]

"Ah," they say, delicately, and leave it there. As much as the highest castes talk about fucking humans in the same way humans talk about laying with beasts - they still do it. And if they can't indulge their curiosities with consent, they'll often do it without.

Many Fae seem to genuinely believe that if a human really doesn't want to follow orders, they can resist compulsion.

"So how would you like to assert yourself now, darling?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"I'd like to know what you intend to do today."

The future, he won't ask after. They can both see about that. But today, he'd like to know.

"What you wanted to do with me, in this little shed in the woods."

[oohforeshadowing]

That's not wholly what they'd expected, but they can roll with it.

"Come now." They kiss his throat, softly, like an apology for the bite. "There's a lot of things I'd like to do, but you're here too, Mr. Shelby. At least tell me what you'd veto."

[bleak_midwinter]

He shivers and briefly closes his eyes, hus hand now covering theirs.

"Perhaps I should trust that you'll listen when you do something I'd veto? You've surprised me before."

[oohforeshadowing]

"I would very much like it if you did," they murmur. "If I just wanted some toy to play with, I'd have shifted into a prospect you'd find less...fraught."

[bleak_midwinter]

That actually seems to land with him. He's being seduced, but not being played with - for once. Maybe he can have some fucking fun for once.

"You've no idea what I'd like to see, Your Grace," he points out, mildly, while his fingers play over their wrist.

[oohforeshadowing]

"So I'd have spent a while experimenting until I found out," they reply. "If I'd felt like being cruel. And I don't. So please don't make me guess at what you'd like to do with me here and now, hm?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"I definitely don't want you to change into anything else," he says, first off - and proves it by shifting, now, so he can kiss them. Enough talk, he wants to feel now that he's letting himself.

[oohforeshadowing]

Double hums their satisfaction and leans in close, head tilting and lips parting.

Kissing a shifter is a different kind of experience - those sharp teeth, the long slim tongue, lips a few degrees cooler than a human's. But they know very well how to return his attentions without hurting him, and lightly cradle his jaw in one long hand as they do.

[bleak_midwinter]

He makes a soft, surprised sound when he feels their lips, and again when he feels the sharpness of their teeth. His hand settles on their waist so his thumb can rub circles into the thick fabric covering them up.

He's attentive but a little taken aback by the new sensations, trying to take it in. The fact that they're even here, doing this, is a little surprising.

Surprising but hot, honestly. It does feel illicit, a little dangerous, which works for him, and he lets that feeling carry his hand down to rest on their thigh.

[oohforeshadowing]

They make a pleased sound against Tommy's mouth, and their other hand touches his - in approval, not restraint - as they stroke his hair.

"You taste good," they murmur, kissing the corner of his mouth.

[bleak_midwinter]

They're so much more tender than he's used to. He smiles and kisses them softly as his hand bunches in their skirt.

"So do you. Everything is so different."

Which is good.

[oohforeshadowing]

"And there's much more to learn, darling."

They reach for his jacket.

"This might not be the best place for us to undress, but...there's plenty we can do short of that, don't you think?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"I think I'd like to know how much you're wearing underneath the skirts, and what i can expect to find there if I go exploring."

He's been very careful to keep it to Your Grace. He truly doesn't know.

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble's laugh is quiet and musical.

"Would you like to be told, or would you like to find out?"

The answer to the first question is 'less than is considered decent'.

[bleak_midwinter]

He smiles at the sound, and after running his thumb over their jaw he decides to show, not tell. There's something exciting about dropping to his knees in front of them, fitting into the place he has in the world with joy instead of reluctance. He puts his hands on their knees, licks his lips and looks up at them.

Yeah?

[oohforeshadowing]

Double actually feels their cheeks turn warmer - they do blush, but it's less obvious under their scales, and just looks a slightly deeper green.

"Oh - well, darling, if that's what you'd like."

They part their knees in invitation. Their stockings are gartered just above the knee, and there's a thin white chemise under the habit which just about meets them - but no drawers.

[bleak_midwinter]

He actually gives a pleased little grin at the sight of them flushing, as he holds their ankles in his hands. He's not diving in just yet.

"Am I doing something you're not so used to in your circles, Your Grace?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"I'm...accustomed enough to what you have planned," they tell him. "I just wasn't expecting to find you so keen to partake."

[bleak_midwinter]

"You may go after what you want with conviction, but when I've decided to do something, I'll do it."

It, them, you know. But he does sit up for a moment to beckon them close again for a kiss.