Alcides smirked as Lucrèce finally nodded, his hands moving to the back of the other's head. He untied the gag, holding it in one hand and leaning back in his seat.
"Well, I'm waiting." The man smirked some still, head tilted. "Let's see just how good you've gotten after your lessons."
Lucrèce found himself wincing at the loss of the gag. He didn’t mind it so much, though. That and the dull ache he had everywhere, nothing he could really distinguish individually; it all hurt.
He gingerly pulled himself up to Alcides’ level. His lips pursed into a tight frown, apparently disgusted. With himself, Alcides, and then the sudden messy kiss he placed on the master’s mouth without any precursor.
Alcides blinked some as Lucrèce gave such a sloppy, disappointing kiss, but he'd go with it for now. At least give Lucrèce a chance to fix this. He pulled the other man up onto his lap, one hand tangling in Lucrèce's hair. He probably wouldn't let Lucrèce out of this until he did do something satisfactory with this kiss.
Lucrèce bristled at the sensation in Alcides’ hands in his hair, and he seemed just as uncomfortable having been tugged onto his lap. He wasn’t good at kissing, too inexperienced and completely lacking any sort of affection. He adapted the longer Alcides had him continue, though, until finally he started matching the technique used on him from other times. Albeit sloppily, but it was there.
His grip tightened on Alcides’ shoulders—angry.
Alcides did eventually pull away from the kiss, once Lucrèce managed to adapt more. He smirked some, holding the man on his lap still.
"Sloppy, but it'll do for now." He ran his finger over Lucrèce's jaw, looking the man over.
"You'll need to be better next time."
Lucrèce made a face as the kiss ended and he pulled away. He tried to shift out of Alcides’ lap, but still feeling the hold around his waist reluctantly stayed. Shuddering. Pushing down nausea. It was all too much—the sensation of being held, being touched, the feel of Alcides’ lips against his still lingering.
“Isn’t it time for you to go?”
"I am the one who decides that. Not you." Alcides took Lucrèce by the jaw, fingers digging into the man's skin.
"I enjoy my time as how I see fit. I run this house how I see fit. And I will use you as I see fit."
Lucrèce squinted his eyes right at Alcides’ gaze. While he stiffened, and shook faintly at the fingers digging into his face, he tried to remain as indignant as possible. Which wasn’t much. He pried open his jaw to speak, presumably an insult, but he hesitated. Instead, “As you wish…master.”
"See, you're learning." Alcides pulled Lucrèce closer to his chest by the jaw still held in his hand, smirking some.
He looked as if he were about to say, or do, something to the man on his lap, but was interrupted by Malachi shifting around and sitting up with a small yawn.
The man released Lucrèce from his hold at that, moving the slave to the bed next to him in favor of bringing the small boy close.
"How did you sleep?" Alcides asked, chuckling. Malachi rubbed at his eyes, leaning his head against the man's chest.
"Really good, master," the boy hummed, smiling sleepily up at the one holding him.
Lucrèce shuffled towards the opposite side of the bed once he was released. Endlessly grateful that Malachi had woken up, even if it would have been better if he had done so earlier. Before everything horrible that had happened already. He hunched over, legs pulled up to his chest, and his chin resting in the crook of his knees. And a loose blanket he’d dragged off the bed wrapped around his shoulders while he watched the interaction between Master and the boy.
Lucrèce grimaced at the sight, lip curling. It was hard to watch: Malachi curling up to Alcides like he was someone good.
Alcides smiled some, holding Malachi close to his chest.
"You're going to wait with Lucrèce tonight while I'm working with the customers," he said, gently touching the tip of the boy's head.
"Okay!" Malachi perked up some at the news, looking over at Lucrèce with a grin. He didn usually have anyone to wait with at night, so this was really nice.
Even as Lucrèce withdrew further into himself, his nose tucking more into the crook of his knees, he couldn’t help but admit that he did feel some relief at the news too. He didn’t mind Malachi. Anything was better than pandering to customers or being alone with Alcides.
He didn’t grin back at the boy, but he didn’t scowl either. This would be okay. For the evening, at least.
(smol bump)
(Ahsjs I'm so sorry!!! I lost the notif while I was on break and I'm not sure how-)
"Don't so that. It's unbecoming." Alcides moved to pull Lucrèce's head from his knees, patting his cheek with one hand before putting it back on Malachi's head.
"You'll make sure he behaves himself, hm?"
"Yes Master!" The boy was still smiling. He doubted Lucrèce would do anything wrong.
(It’s all good! I just bumped in case something like that happened. I don’t mind waiting ^^)
Lucrèce wrinkled his nose up at the criticism, suppressing a scoff until Alcides turned to talk to Malachi again. “Unbecoming?” he muttered. It wasn’t like he was submitting when he sat like that, he reasoned to himself. It was familiar. The way he sat in his own room reading a book on his own bed. A bed far more comfortable than Alcides’, if even just from the context.
So, perhaps Lucrèce really would need the help, Malachi reasoned.
"If you're going to talk," Alcides said, hitting the back of Lucrèce's head with his flat hand, "make sure I don't hear it." The man rolled his eyes, patting Malachi's back.
Only when it came to Alcides and his absurd rules.
Lucrèce curled his lip again, wincing. Not that the slap hurt, but the touch itself. He told himself he shouldn’t care about the considerable difference between Alcides’ treatment of the boy and himself within a split second—Malachi deserved kindness—and yet, he bit his lip to keep from making a sour comment about it.
(Ooh idea, what would happen if when we cut to Leander and Daren, Leander tries to convince Alcides to let him take Daren out of the house for a night?)
(Ooo, I think that would be a great idea! We'll probably end up doing the cut soon too, I'm running out if ways for Alcides to be a dick for now lol)
Malachi smiled some as Master gave him affection, being so bold as to tuck his head under Alcides' chin. The man didn't seem to mind, thankfully, ruffling the boy's hair and for the most part ignoring Lucrèce.
(Sweet! And completely fair lmao, I’m good with skipping now if you are. I can start since you just posted)
(I'm good with that!)
Leander sat hunched over at one of the tables set up in the brothel, a few friends—who were more friendly acquaintances he’d met there by chance one night—surrounding him while he sipped from a half-filled glass of alcohol. Along with certain entertainments, he’d enjoyed the very atmosphere of the place for years. The candles, the plush seating, and the wall-art, and of course the constant cloud of smoke hovering above it all.
It wasn’t until a little over half a year ago that Leander found himself returning for more than the atmosphere and general companionship. He returned for someone specific—traded treasured valuables away for cash notes for someone specific.
Lucrèce surprised him. The inordinate amount of money was never meant to buy out his brother’s first night, the one that hadn’t really happened.
The money was meant to be a bribe of sorts. A surprise for Daren. And at last he had another thousand stashed away in his pocket for the occasion.
It didn't take long for Daren to find his way onto Leander's lap, smiling softly as he crossed his legs.
"Well, how are you doing this fine evening?" He asked, resting his head on the other's shoulder and running a hand down his chest.
"I didn't think you would be back so soon." Leander hadn't done something suspicious to get money, had he? If he was just there to sit for the night, Daren would have to leave his side eventually. Still, it was good to see him back. It was always good. Leander could make Daren feel safe, even in a place like this, if only for a little while.
Leander wrapped an arm around Daren’s waist, pulling him close while they talked. “Mm, better now that you’re here.” He tilted his head against Daren’s. Partly just to be affectionate, and partly so prying ears wouldn’t catch everything they said. “I missed spending time with you. Alone.” His thumb moved in small up-and-down movements against Daren’s flank during the short pause. “So I have a surprise as soon as Alcides gets here, if you’re willing to try it.”
Daren pressed a bit closer as Leander held him, a small smile gracing his lips. He stayed quiet, eyes closed as he kept himself tucked away.
"Surprise?" he echoed, looking up at Leander. "I'm willing to try it." He had no idea what was going to happen. He figured it was something they could do in the bedroom, or perhaps a gift?
It didn't take long for Alcides to come around to the group, smile on his face.
"And how are you men doing this fine evening?"