Private Tales Home Sweet Lair

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Things did not go as she'd expected, and she wouldn't change it for the world.

Confusion gave way to surprise and something else at the gentle caressing of her thigh, Callim being the first to touch the young maiden in such a way, and would continue to do so in many ways still.

As he moved upwards, the boy would find that Lilette's hand--fingers twitching at each tracing--were impossibly soft, neither calloused nor scarred no matter her status as a warrior, as if her skin were suspended in a state of eternal renewal. Her arms were, as he observed, different; fiercer. She smiled shyly at his comment, face feeling a little warmer for it.

Only to purse her lips and slowly inhale, unintentionally pressing her flat stomach to his palms.

By the time her jugular veins beat vigorously in his hands the elf had realized she felt less examined and more worshiped, as though he were caressing an icon of faith and she the deity bound within it.

Her breath hitched, and she would bear her throat to him so that he might explore every inch of her slender neck, tilting her head back as her eyes began to drift shut.

Up to this point her skin had been lukewarm and her response controlled, but to touch upon her sensitive ears made the girl shudder so sweetly, and her face was hot in his hands. Soon he knew nearly every inch of her, and to know that he'd fallen for her long before he could grasp her form, that he treasured this moment with such equality, meant more than he could know.

"...as will I..." she whispered frailly.

Lilette took a few slow breaths before her eyes dared open and ran her fingers through her hair before grabbing the last of her chocolates as though it would somehow anchor her to this reality, but left it hovering just short of her quivering lip to give Cassian a sidelong glance.

"art thou alright, Cassian?" she said, concerned.

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

Cassian would continue to scrutinize Lilette for a long, quiet moment before he stood and nodded. His response coming soft, level and just firm enough to close the topic.

"I am fine."

Cassian would walk past Lilette, vanishing from her sight even as her ears heard each of his footsteps as he stalked deeper into the lair. Callim would peer blindly past Lilette for a moment, humming to himself, before he blindly fumbled for Lilette's hand and then gently squeezed it.

"My brother seems.... contemplative, dear Lilette. Your presence has brought his thoughts to swim in such a way I can scarcely recall from him."

A brief pause from Callim as there came from far behind Lilette the sound of clothing striking stone. Cassian would then climb into the natural hot spring of the lair and relax as best he could. Mind indeed abuzz as Callim continued speaking.

"Shall we mayhaps prepare for you some lodgings of your own? I daresay we cannot provide a true room but something a bit more reserved, methinks?"

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Lilette tracked him even as he disappeared, wearing that same pensive look.

So strange, the hearts of boys, she thought.

Then again her own heart seemed to lead her this way and that of late, and fluttered softly at Callim's touch. She instinctively took his hand in hers, and showed no signs of letting go on her own.

"Contemplative..." she murmured.

Her hand held his a little tighter as her gaze sank to the floor. Was he... jealous? or merely anxious, to see her spending such time with his brother instead, after the unfortunate circumstances of their first meeting? She didn't know what to do, barely understanding her own feelings on the matter. It was all so new.

Callim snapped her out of it, pulled her blinking back to reality wearing a reassuring smile that wasn't quite her own.

"Lodgings, yea, uhm..."

She gave the darkness between Cassian and herself one last lingering look.

"Hm. t'will be good to slumber in safe chambers after so long." she breathed tiredly.

"Though ne'er hast I slept within a cave ere before."

The elf huffed in amusement, turning to look at the blind man at last.

"If I might ask, what bringest thou to so roost 'neath the mountains?"

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

Callim would wear his usual gentle smile, lips barely creasing at the corners as he nodded. Both echoing Lilette Blackbriar 's words and reassuring her as he gave her hands both a squeeze and brushed his thumbs over her knuckles.

"Verily. You will be the safest treasure in our hoard."

He would chuckle a gentle, lighthearted thing and shake his head.

"Mayhaps the most fiercely defended as well? Mmmm...."

Slowly standing and releasing one of her hands he would aid Lilette up like a true gentleman, though she hardly needed the extra strength, before he added.

"...nay. Not merely the most fiercely defended...."

Beginning to walk with Lilette over toward a corner of the lair he would finish his thought almost more to himself than to her directly, but loud enough to be easily audible.

"..... but beyond doubt the most precious."

At Lilette's question about roosting in the mountains Callim would smile just a bit wider, release Lilette's hand as he began to move a chest of cutlery, fine rugs, tapestries, to make space for her before answering.

"Tis our nature, dear Lilette. To desire privacy in the deepest or tallest peaks and secret away the most beautiful and precious things we can find. Asking us as such is much like inquiring o'er the imbibing of vitae by your own kind. It simply.... be."​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Treasure.

Were he not blinded so, he'd have seen the way she hid behind her hand.

Oh, and such courtly manners too, she thought, not at all like Yldore's ruffians--brave though they were.

Her hand slipped from his with longing resistance till they parted, leaving her to rub her knuckles just as he had. But what if he turned around to see how awkward she looked? would he think any less of her, laugh maybe? if only mother had taught her these sorts of things, not herbs and books.

Lilette straightened the moment he turned, fingers lacing behind her back.

Callim's answer was... cryptic... though her quizzical look lasted only seconds as in her whimsical understanding of the world drew her to the most "logical" conclusion;

"Ah, mother toldest me humans dwelt in caverns for centuries ere they took to building from stone."

Therefore all humans surely loved living in caves! and the twins, being humans and definitely not snake people, obviously felt some kind of nostalgia in their subterranean home filled with all the joys of man such gold, blades and wine.

She smiled proudly at her solving of this mystery, put her hands on her hips, and nodded.

"Well, if ancient humans could'st do so, then surely I, an elf, might do so as well!"

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

Despite his blindness Callim did see Lilette's reactions the moment before they happened. His perception of her in his visions much stronger now, much more stable, as he became more familiar with her. Began to truly care for her. The same was true of his brother, of course, though Cassian was... rougher and less sociable about how he expressed such things. At least, Callim thought confidently, for now.

It was only once Lilette began to mention the actions of ancient humanity that Callim would straighten his posture, pause, and tilt his head. Having completely forgotten that they had not told Lilette their own secret. His own cheeks would flush from embarrassment for a moment at his own foolishness, then the vision of that proud, beautiful smile would only make it worse.

Giving a breathy chuckle Callim would consider for a long moment, nod his head, before extending a hand to blindly walk toward Lilette. Trusting her to take his hand and aid him once he got close enough and he would squeeze her hand in subtle thanks as he spoke.

"Indeed. Cassian and I shall elucidate the matter together at a later time. But for now you need your privacy, your comfort."

A brief pause as Callim's features blossomed into a smile that was just a hint mischievous and his blush faded.

"Mayhaps simply give you free reign to redecorate to your heart's desire and observe you all the while, hmm?"

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Her smile softened.

The way he stared off, almost lost as she was in his eyes, it made her want to protect him regardless of the fact that she was the one being saved this night.

No wonder Cassian was protective of him.

Lilette took his hand in her own, tracing his knuckles with her thumb.

"Thou makest me out to be so entertaining." she laughed shyly.

"Mm, though perhaps I should'st sit still awhile? scrumptious as the chocolates mayest been, 'tis not a meal."

The elf breathed out slowly and placed her other hand atop his, searching for words that never quite came. Some request that made her ribcage seem claustrophobia inducing, crushing the life out of something which came from deep in her heart.

"Callim, I uhm..." she froze, and chose to say something else entirely.

Though from her heart still, it did not come from the well of her desires.

"I wanted to thank thee," she breathed, "and thine brother, of course."

"Tis just, 'tis been o'er long since I stayed with a companion who knew of my affliction but did not recoil."

"I am uncertain where I would'st be now, if not for thee."

She leaned a little closer, the faint warmth of breath ghosting over Callim's cheek, but she froze there.

But in the end, Lilette retreated.

"Yea, that is... is all I wished to say."

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

Callim's face would flex in a way that should have made his eyes widen though his eyelids hardly moved at Lilette's statement about her being entertaining and that she would like to sit still. He would oblige, nodding gently, and he did not insist on her acting again. When she thanked Cassian and himself Callim would have blinked in shock if he hadn't seen the words coming. Even so they brought a placid, gentle smile to his lips and he would softly lay both hands on her own.

He did not venture to push her halted kiss, did not dare to preempt her, to take advantage of her emotions even when she retreated. Instead he knew she would have been pleasantly surprised, if more overwhelmed, if he had kissed her cheek. Instead he opted for words, to not stoke the growing flame of her desire, but instead to help Lilette become exactly aware of how she might harness it herself. At first by nodding as she finished her statement, and then, just as readily, he shook his head and spoke.

"Not entertaining."

His left hand would slide up her right arm, gently feeling, moving, until it came to her cheek and he raised his eyes to be level with her own, using the elevation of his hand as a guide. Before he put just a bit of earnest force behind his voice, his usual soft tone gently reassuring as he spoke only briefly.

"More.... a Wonder."

His smile would grow, only a moment, before he turned to glance roughly in Cassian's direction as his brother lounged in the frothing hot spring. His tone lowering not out of some conspiratory notion, for Cassian could no doubt feel the ebb and flow of his thoughts, but instead to impress upon Lilette their severity and sincerity both.

"In truth dear Lilette while I am more closely bound to the tides of fate than my brother that is.... what we spoke of most of the night err your departure from us."

For a moment Callim's expression became... pained? Contemplative.

"We feared even with our trust in where fate had lead us, the genuine interest in being lead to another immortal creature such as yourself, with your own desires and strong.... inclinations."

Callim drew in a breathe that was... shaky. Hitching even before he shrugged.

"We feared that the comfort, the novelty, the...... the unfairness that we could share eternity with you would bind you to a path that was ONLY enticing and convenient. Not what you would have chosen given freedom and opportunity. You seem a woman worthy of all we could invest in you even from what I see of possible futures of your reactions, words you never truly said. It may seem strange to care for you so deeply so quickly but in truth I have seen far more of you than Cassian. Far more than you have truly chosen to show me."

Pausing and pursing his lips Callim would smile gently before murmuring.

"It is, perhaps, a bit unfair I should think."

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

A wonder?

Her gaze sank into his, lips pursed at the thought; that the black sheep of Tir'Rhosyn should be so cherished.

But there he was, coaxing starlight heat from her face with his caress, looking longingly with eyes which could not see but left her sinking into them like warm water, unblinking, entranced.

A pale hand traveled up the young man's arm unbidden by it's master, unaware in her present state how that pained expression drew upon her once-mortal instincts, that her hand had come to rest comfortingly upon his own, even as he cradled her face.

"Another...?" she murmured.

Lilette drew gentle lines on his hand, subconsciously anchoring herself to a reality outside her racing mind. Whatever Callim was trying to say, it sounded so hard to even speak it aloud. Immortals, fates, something Cassian could not share with his brother?

The vampire swallowed, shakily tore her gaze from his to look where Cassian must've been.

"I... I do not understand," she looked back at him, uncertain.

"Thou'rt a seer? of futures? of... of my future?"

"And," her grip turned just a bit firmer, "and immortal?"

"Both of thee?"

"...immortals?"​

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

The touch of Lilette's hand upon him was expected, but more pleasant than his visions could have told him all the same, the gentle lines she traced into his skin like a balm to his own nerves and he let the warmth of his palm into her otherwise cool flesh be a balm to her in turn. At her question he tilted his head, staring at her, unblinking before clarifying gently.

"I see the future. Of Who, What or Where depends upon my knowledge of them. Where I turn my focus. What pieces I can divine through the haze of possibility."

Smiling a bit coyly at his own cryptic nature he would then chuckle and nod.

"But for now? Yes. My gaze and attention are solely upon you."

Drawing in a slow breathe Callim would then nod. Confirming her question.

"Yes, my brother and I are of a kind in that regard. We can still be slain like any other but time and mortal ailments hold no sway on our lives."

Discreetly, almost impercetibly, would Callim's eyes flicker to TRULY meet Lilette's for a brief moment as he stepped a bit closer. A certain intimacy to his motions as he gazed up at her and murmured gently.

"Save, mayhaps, those of the heart.~"

All at once would he gently slide his hand down her cheek, her throat, before letting the claw-caps upon his fingers ticklishly catch at her shoulder before he stepped away again, his gaze returning to the middle-distance as he finished.

"But yes, hence my concern over our cornering your affections based on that fact alone. But now that you have returned to.... to us...."

Callim would fold his hands in front of himself softly.

"There also exists reassurance in our lack of.... competition. My brother and I are, while unique souls, bound in a way I struggle to express to anyone save ourselves. We are.... two... but one..... but still two."

Callim shrugged helplessly. Unable to make it any clearer than that.

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

To have the eyes of a prophet rest solely on her.

The night was full of so many new and wondrous new feelings.

He drew closer, perhaps in more ways than physical, and caused her to sweetly shiver beneath his claws. But then Callim pulled away, strands like ashen silk slipping through his fingers as though heartstrings fighting clinging desperately to maintain the tether between his and hers.

Lilette watched him turn shy as herself, allude to much but say so little.

"I understand, methinks." she said softly.

"Not the how, but the why of it all?"

She rubbed at her sleeve, gaze fallen in thought.

And one deep breath of resignation later;

"I remember what it felt like to... to watch..." she flinched, "when I lost mine brother."

"Fate seemed so cruel then, I hid mine heart away, for fear the gods would take of it again."

The elf shook her head, but her lips twitched, and something lighter was borne of them.

"But when that same illness struck me, fate sent the Vampyre, to givest me mine second chance to live."

At last her gaze lifted to his again, and despite the melancholy in her eye, she smiled shyly at the seer whose blind eyes she could only maintain the briefest of contact with.

"Were this one o' my fairy tales, I would'st say, just as it were then;"

"Perhaps fate hath crossed our paths for good reason?"

 

[The Avandor Twins]

Callim was likely the only being on Arethil that could have anticipated Lilette's change in mood from heart-flutteringly enamored to resigned sighing but foresee it he did and the moment before she let out that one deep breathe of resignation his palm once more found it's way to her cheek and held her. Softly. But firmly. The faintest of touches from those cool metal claws caressing below her ear and Callim stared at her with rapt attention. He seemed to pause at her question, saying nothing, because it was in fact Cassian who spoke.

Having emerged from the hot spring under the cloak of the gurgling water and their own distraction he now stood close to them, his own mask set close the hot spring, wearing only his pants with his arms crossed and eyes intent on Lilette.

"Perhaps."

Came his initial reply as he approached her, Callim adjusting himself to stand on Lilette's left side, the same cheek he cupped, as Callim pressed to her right and mimicked his brother. He was not as gentle as Callim, his touch to her right cheek was firm, but gentle, where Callim's was gentle, but firm. Cassian would not smile, not even coyly, as he lowered his gaze and cleared his throat.

"We have discussed at length.... the possibility of losing one-another. In our line of work."

Cassian would only now give a sorrowful, odd smile.

"I still believe I would be the worse off. The world is full of rogues and killers but...."

Callim would softly interject.

"I disagree. You are more than that and-...."

A brief slurry of words would be exchanged between the brothers, a brief jockeying for initiative in the conversation, before they both sighed as one, and smiled a bit sadly. Callim informing her after a moment.

"We cannot truly imagine your pain Lilette, we are sorry and..."

Cassian would pick up the slack as Callim's voice faded.

".... and we would do all we can to ease your heart."

The brothers went silent, the ball entirely in Lilette's proverbial court, to see what she would do.

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Her ears flicked, Cassian's reassurance coming as a welcome surprise.

If anything was "unfair" it was this pincer maneuver to her heart, but there were certainly worse defeats.

Freckled skin turned hot in the brothers' hands, hotter still when a stolen glance revealed much of Cassian's raffish form, still glistening with beads of steam-induced sweat. Whatever feelings that inspired, it played havoc with a bittersweet cocktail of all the others.

Including the pity he drew from deep within her core.

"Cassian..." she reached for his cheek in kind.

Those words of his were hauntingly familiar, indeed it appeared as if she'd seen a ghost. Was this how her siblings felt when-

Callim filled the silence she could not, leaving her to silently stare at his brother like something she'd long lost as their talking over one another faded into the background. Lilette had since let go, but where she any braver she might have wrapped him in her arms.

No, fuck all that.

She looked at Callim, then Cassian, lip quivering.

A breach of her courtly upbringing though it was, Lilette reached around and puled them close into either side of her chest, embracing them as firmly as a woman who'd nearly lost someone.

"And I yours." she sniffled.

"And I yours."

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

In the moment of an embrace the argument still lingering between the two turned to nothing but forgotten memories as Lilette pulled the brothers close. Hearing her sniffle, struggle, with her emotions and the reaction of each brother spoke volumes of their personality.

Cassian would return the embrace, an arm lean with muscle circling her and holding her as if he feared she may fall. Or perhaps simply to keep her close, the heat of the hot spring emanating off of him in slowly-dying waves. Callim, meanwhile, would brush a thumb across her cheek for the chance they would find tears there. Reverently gentle swipes over soft, pallid skin seeking naught but to bring her comfort.

The twins would share a look, thoughts transmitted in a moment, before they nodded and slowly pulling back once her embrace was finished Callim would step away while Cassian took her hand.

"Come. Let us prepare somewhere for you to rest. This may not be home now but..."

His jaw tensed. He was utterly unused to speaking as Callim did, and so, Callim would finish the thought.

"....but we hope soon you may come to view our presence as such."

Callim would walk off first, plucking the strings of the future for what spot in the lair may bring Lilette the most convenience and joy to occupy during her stay, and then leading she and Cassian there as he acted the part of her rock in the storm of her emotions.

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Spoiler: Music ♥

---

Her tear--blood red--caught on clawed fingers, and she dipped her chin approvingly, though it seemed her focus was poor Cassian.

Lilette was slow to let go of him, but soon found his hand.

She looked up at him, then at Callim, managing a little smile for their efforts.

"Well, rest assured; 'tis the closest I hast felt since leaving my own."

As the trio ventured deeper into the caves, She would hold Cassian's hand a little tighter, clinging to the proverbial rock he'd provided with more gratitude than she knew how to express. In truth she wished to be the same for him, though perhaps she should keep herself above water first.

"I know not if thou'st heard, but, I meant to thank thee."

"Not only for tonight," she continued, "but also that night we met?"

"I understand now thou'rt only protecting thine brother and thyself."

Lilette's awkward cadence gave way to a brief pause, offering him a half smile. Simultaneously thankful and apologetic until it grew into something more.

"Yet thou chose to protect mineself as well, a stranger then."

She leaned closer then, enough to whisper soft as silk;

"Sometimes, I uhm... I see'th myself in thee, more than I e'er imagined."

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

As Callim set about his divining and settled on a comfortable nook that was around a large bend in the lair from the entrance, keeping Lilette safe from sight from the lair entrance while also providing her easy access to where the food was kept and a direct view to the hot-spring from her nook Cassian would give a thin smile down at her. He accepted her words, in his own way, but he wasn't used to voicing things as she and Callim were.

"I.... thank you."

Came his slow, awkward reply. That close whisper, the feel of her body pressing close, Cassian would exhale slowly and gave a curt nod.

"Perhaps."

Even finding his own reply lacking he would glance at her for only a moment and then squeezed her hand before adding.

"It's quite something... to hold someone on your mind forever."

Looking at her more fully now he would gently release her hand, ushering her forward to the small pile of supplies that had been kept in the room-sized nook in the lair that was to become her 'room' as he murmured.

"And now I am faced with the burden.... the privilege... of holding two."

Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Their roles reversed, Lilette looking elsewhere as she lost control of her smile.

Cassian was sweet as his brother it seemed, short on words though he may be. No longer hand in hand, she nevertheless lingered at his side when entering the "room".

"I hast been thinking o' thee both as well, since that day by the fountain."

"Strange though it were, I dreaded to think t'was the last we'd see of each other. I am pleased 'twere not."

Her words trailed off as she met his gaze properly, rubbing her hands while searching for the words.

"What thou claimest, about... being worse off,"

"Thou art thine brother's keeper." she said firmly.

"And, in time, perhaps thou shalt become mine as well?"

The elf backed up, giving him a look over as though somehow appraising him before adding,

"I see no common killer before me, Cassian, and if we art to shoulder this same burden,"

A deep breath, fears exhaled from the body as determination set in.

"Let it be together. We need thee, and I cannot do this alone."

---

The Avandor Twins​

 

[The Avandor Twins]

Cassian's eyes would slowly lower to the cavern floor, taking in Lilette's words in silence, whether in contemplation or confusion remained to be seen. But he said nothing as Lilette emboldened herself and offered to join him in his role of being Callim's keeper. An act that brought a small, contained smile to his lips.

"In time, perhaps."

Slowly approaching her Cassian would lean forward and up, planting a gentle, tender kiss upon Lilette's cheek and made no fanfare of the motion before he pulled away. Whispering quietly against her ear.

"The last thing you shall ever be, if you truly wish to court us in turn, is alone."

Stepping back from her Cassian would nod as Callim returned, the two brothers standing side by side, a gentle smile on Callim's lips as he spoke.

"I would remind you both that I share in Cassian's feelings quite heavily. Nor did I simply vanish into thin air...."

Pointed his eyes roughly in Lilette's direction he would add.

"Your care, your words, are most welcome Lilette."

Lilette Blackbriar​