Unveiledvagabonds - Muses By Murr...

"he was nice. it was... nice." while he wasn't lying, the man was easy to talk too and even easier on the eyes, the night didn't exactly go off without a hitch. dinner was incredible. they spent a few hours over a nice meal getting to know each other and laughing as they shared embarrassing memories and experiences. the drinks that followed were even better. even though keagan knew how to play darts, he didn't stop the man from holding around him so he could show keagan the best stance to use while playing. they flirted and bantered for what felt like hours until the other finally made the offer to take keagan home.

"he was super sweet, and easy to talk too. we had a blast, really, we did leofwyn-- you haven't lost your mojo." the lie lingered for a minute or two in silence, as if keagan was trying to make himself believe it only for the witch to let out a sigh and crack.

"okay, i still don't think you've lost your mojo-- this one was almost perfect-- but once we got back to my place? he kept calling me his ex's name and was concerned more with getting himself off than making it pleasurable for the both of us." but that wasn't leofwyn's fault. "when he left this morning he said he'd love to take me out again when i'm less distracted, which was hilarious." in his defense, keagan had spent most of the night telling stories about leofwyn; about his best friend and how much he loves spending time with him, and how he genuinely just can't imagine doing things without him around because even just having him to talk to makes things feel easier for the witch. "i don't know. i just... i think we were a good match on paper but not in person. maybe it was just a bad time for the both of us, which has nothing to do with you. we messed it up, not you."

keagan was trying to be nice.

@unveiledvagabonds; for leofwyn to interrogate keagan over lunch at a café.

"now come on, tell me. how did the date last night go?" he'd been trying to set his friend up for what felt like years now, on and off. it didn't matter that he was completely and utterly smitten, head over heels for the other. leofwyn had a job to do and he was going to do it to he best of his ability. though he was starting to wonder if he was too close to keagan for his magic to work properly... or if his own feelings for the witch was messing up his matches, unintentionally or otherwise.

it wouldn't be the first time in his life that the couples the cupid had brought together parted ways. contrary to popular belief, love wasn't eternal; and sometimes it fell apart. it occasionally had him a little weary, dejected by the outcome of it all, but he's seen how love could change people, heal their broken bones and hearts, make them joyful — he still believed in its power and it's kept him going all these years. leofwyn took a sip of his spiked coffee. it was midday, he was allowed. besides he knew he couldn't be sober for this. "couldn't be that bad right? it'd be pretty embarrassing if i'd lost all my mojo."

"you're in luck, then. this is hardly my favorite spot, though you are making the view here worthwhile." the gorgon shamelessly flirted behind a crooked, almost dangerous smile. "i feel it's safe to wager this isn't your favorite spot either, though. you look lost," eoghan explained plainly. "which, if that's the case, you're in a safe place to be. alexandria seems to be a haven for the lost." that was why he was here, after all.

"you could pray to me, if you'd like." eoghan mused, glint in his eyes, as he moved to take a seat next to the stranger. "i would actually listen whereas the so called gods would only comfort you with their infamous silence." he knew they existed-- the gods-- but as far as eoghan was concerned they were nothing more than glorified beasts like the rest of them; petulant, spoiled brats that only cared for themselves and their own whims than the people they were meant to protect; to lead. no. the gods were hardly worth the time or attention.

"well, i'd only listen because you're handsome so maybe i'm no better than they are but don't tell them i said that, if you do choose to pray. i'd prefer they still think i consider myself better." he teased.

"if you don't mind me asking-- how long has it been since you died?"

Leon would never claim to be one of the great thinkers of the modern world. His brain ran too fast to ever linger on a concept for longer than a few idle moments before the next distraction presented itself. Hell, he rarely even stayed put for longer than a few minutes before he was looking for the next source of amusement or entertainment, so the fact he'd been planted where he was for the better part of twenty minutes spoke volumes.

"Well you're hardly being a bother, was just worried I'd parked my ass in somebodies favourite spot." Or, y'know, those that defied death weren't too welcome on hallowed ground. Had he defied dea- He's pretty sure he saw a light at one point in the process and then his ass had been dragged back. The semantics of his new half-life were still beyond him, so he settled for old reliable.

"To who, exactly? You'd think dying would make you more inclined but now there's Pantheons of bullshit to wade through." Not that he was inclined to pray to anybody. Nah, he'd mostly just been looking for somewhere quiet to think without the endless external distractions. Internal... Much harder to avoid.

for a brief moment, a fleeting second, thomas thought there was something familiar about the dog-- about the way it smelled-- but he quickly discarded the thought and simply assumed his senses were picking up another, well, familiar. why would he have any reason to believe it was something more than that?

"how the hells did you do that?" thomas raised his voice as the other suddenly shifted back. he wasn't angry, he wasn't yelling, he was just excited. he had tried countless spells and charms to enchant his clothing so they would change with him, so that he wouldn't be stark naked every single time he shifted between forms, but all he'd been able to manage was tattooing the outline of his boxer briefs onto his body for about three weeks before it finally faded away. "you have to tell me how you did that. did you use a specific material? did you have to get a witch to help you with the enchantment? did you--" without caring about personal space, or simple politeness, thomas reached out and was brushing his hands over the other's chest and pulling at the fabric of his shirt as he asked his questions.

it took longer than it should have for him to realize how insane he likely looked.

"sorry." he offered with an awkward laugh as he let go of the other's shirt and gently patted his chest. "oh, and yeah. i'm fine. despite what you might think, i actually didn't hit my head that hard. i just get easily excited..."

With this human, maybe, on his back, Finlay slowly approached, coming up to the other's face and giving it soft licks to show that he was sorry. That he was friendly. That he didn't mean to knock him on his ass. He lay down next to him as he whined softly. He hoped the other was okay as the fall had been quick...dramatic. Plus, hearing the ow sounded painful.

As the other began to sit up, so did he as he sat beside him. He let the other pat at his fur while he wagged his tail to show that he was fine on that part. Sure, his tail was still a little sore but it would be fine. He sniffed over the other. The smell somehow felt...familiar. He couldn't place it. It felt like he should recognize it from somewhere but not sure were. Though, maybe it was because the other smelt like a familiar like he was. Maybe that was it.

After a few more pets, Finaly moved away from the other. It felt time to shift back and apologize in actual words. Giving a final bark, he began to change. His fur vanishing, all dog features turning human. Thanks to Aoife, he wasn't naked as he stood up. He only had a few sets of clothes he could wear that would remain with him during a shift. Ones he kept safe at all costs. "Hey...I am soooo sooooo sorry about that. I was just running off to grab some snacks and wasn't paying full attention. Are you okay?"

"you flatter me darling but don't discredit yourself. i'm not the only one they tend to have eyes for." that's all any of them would ever be allowed, if they were so lucky; he only strayed, or shared, with their sons. aeryne had no desires for anyone else. he didn't mind them looking and, on occasion, he had his fun with their wandering glances but he already had everything he wanted right there at his side; everything he needed. "how long has it been since our last scandal?" aeryne poised the question with a soft smirk on his lips as his hand fell to rest on his husband's thigh; gripping at the muscle as he leaned up closer against aksel's side. "maybe we're due another one; it'd be so easy to clear the table off for you..." he teasingly tempted.

craning his head back, allowing more access to his throat, fluttering breaths and whispered groans of approval settled on his lips as aksel began to trail soft, quick kisses against his jaw and down the stretch of his neck. whining, so quietly that only a select few would have been able to hear him, goosebumps peppered across his exposed skin and over his arms as he felt his lovers thumb brush against the inch of flesh that had been revealed by the shifting of his shirt.

"the bill," his voice broke a bit as he whispered his answer. aeryne considered trying to drag things out a bit longer, to torment his husband and truly test how patient he could be, but the merman was too intoxicated by his needs now to play the long game. "the bill." aeryne answered again, his voice stronger and louder this time, as he turned his head so he could meet his husband's gaze; a darkened look in his own eyes silently conveying that they had mere minutes, seconds really, before aeryne was all over him.

aksel grinned. "they would be so privileged, to bask in your beauty, elskan mín." he didn't share (well, except with his children). but a tease; to let them see what they can't have? aksel was very much for that. he had an insatiable hunger for maeryne. and most times he didn't care for the time or place. (within certain reasons of course.) "oh trust me. if it was, i would be having you on the table already." there was a reason why those were mostly private affairs. usually near or by the lake. they'd get lost in each other way too often in public. and it was certainly shaping up to be that way tonight — there was no physical way he was going to be able to wait till they were home.

the merman placed a kiss on the other's jaw; before he trailed down to aeryne's neck in soft, quick pecks. nothing too scandalous yet. his arm lifts a little, causing aeryne's shirt and tee to ride up slightly. his thumb stroked the exposed skin on his husband's hip. "now come on, dessert? or the bill?" aksel doubted he could wait for dessert. they'd have to call the waiter over, then order, then wait for it to be delivered, then eat... certainly sounded like too much trouble. he also doubted that his other half would be that cruel to him but maybe he was trying to push his buttons. "before i start eating you up right here."

Scott Eastwood by Jesse Natale for Square Mile (July 2020)