Locke planned on kissing land the moment his stomach settled so that he can get out of the boat. Luck had been on his side and his three day trip at sea turned to two when a strong western wind blew his way, from that he opened the tent and lay back to let the wind carry him. Didn't stop his nausea, though, and he frequently leaned over the side of the boat to toss the churn from his gut. He was sure he wouldn't have any teeth by the time he reached land due to the acid burning past them. Sitting up, the treasure hunter rinses his mouth out with water from the skin he'd brought. Letting out a good sigh after spitting the gargled water into the ocean, he climbs from the boat.
"Now starts the worst part of all." Hands behind his head he looks on ahead of his trail to where the grass would soon turn into billions and trillions of grains of sand. Gathering his bag from the boat, he slings it over his shoulder then starts away.
Before the land changed, there used to be a chocobo stable somewhere near the start of the desert. Edgar had it built there so that people wishing to see the king wouldn't have to spend weeks out in the desert on foot. What Locke wouldn't give to see that stable somewhere around to shorten his trip. Maybe Setzer's landed by now, its been two days there's no way the man is still drifting the skies. He might come along and shorten his trip. Why did his might have to sound like a 'never gonna happen'. Walking through the green he lowers his bag from his shoulder and, still walking, removes the spare shirt he'd brought for himself. He'd gotten a stain on it from some food he'd been cooking, a droplet of fish juices dripped from between his fingers spilling onto the white. The shirt may be ruined for wear but it makes a great head wrap. Being sure to cover his ears, Locke coils the shirt around his head tying the sleeves on the front like he'd seen the maids at the castle do when they'd planned to wash the clothes and linens. Satisfied, he wets his lips to better his whistling a tune of Hot Cross Buns as he travels toward the desert.
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The king and his guards had been up the entire night searching for the person who had gotten in but sadly they found no traces of a break in and the guards at the gate saw nothing, nor had the men stationed outside. It was as if it were some sick joke being played on them all and Katia unknowingly hurt herself in her sleep. When he questioned the woman that lives across the hall from the maid, Petunia, she said that she'd heard the noises but she blushed saying this because she had to betray her friends trust and tell the king that Katia was seeing one of the guards. Hearing the sounds she was hearing she'd thought that the two of them were engaged in a little rough sex and nothing more. Katia hadn't been screaming just a few yelps and bangs. Edgar was concerned about the idea of his guards having sex with the staff but then again he couldn't blame them. The maids in the castle are all very easy on the eyes and they are men after all. But to think that they would...
He would have asked how long it had been going on but instead sought out the guard. Lester was at his post on the rooftop, one hand up at his mouth when the wooden door opened beside him.
"Lester, a word?"
"S- sir!" He walks down the wooden ladder from the roof and into the small hallway that turns onto the tower.
"Be honest with me." Edgar starts.
"Sir, yes sir." Lester straightens his stance.
"Are you in a relationship with the maid, Katia?"
Bristled the guard swallows hard; he wonders if this is interrogation or a good gossip session. He knows where the king's heart lies but as far as that goes maybe his highness likes to look at what he can't touch. "I... am, sir."
"And you know that last night she was beaten nearly within an inch of her life?"
The man's face turned hot with anger. He loves that woman and actually planned to see a lot more of her and not just for a roll around in the sheets. To think that someone would sneak into the castle and single her out from all the other girls- as wrong as it is to think that but, it just made him sick. "Yes, I know sir." He nods.
"Were you planning on seeing her last night?"
The question shocked the man and, confused, he bit out. "If you're implying that I'd ever do something like that then I'll quit now!"
"Watch your mouth, Lester." Nazir barks when hearing the man's tone towards their king. He would be damned if anyone spoke ill of or cruelly towards his highness. He'd saved him from the streets. He was once a performer and not a very good one; never knowing when he'd eat again he opted to stealing from time to time. He'd actually had the gall to pick the king's pocket only to have his hand instantly snatched up into the powerful hold of the man- and at only twenty years old it was an impressive grip- to be dragged around the market place like a child all the while the king muttered to him.
"I'm in love with the best pick-pocket in the lands, if you honestly believe that you could pull one over on me then you're sadly mistaken."
He had blinked up at the man, horrified at the thought of losing his hands for getting caught. But again, the king surprised him by saying.
"You've got drive and passion put it towards something useful. I have a place in my castle as a guard, the hours are long and the heat is brutal, but at the end of the day you'll be a good, honest, man for your earn, not your take."
Nazir could swear he had blushed when the king turned a gorgeous smile to him and asked.
"Would this silk make for a good canopy?"
"Its all right," Edgar waved it off. He was sure Lester had thought he was implying that he, Lester, had beaten the girl. "I was not saying that it were you who had done it, I was asking in wonder if you might have seen anyone on your way down?"
Blushing, he bows his head. "I'm sorry, your highness." He had to apologize for jumping on the man. "I did not plan to see her last night, sir, although seeing how things turned out I wish that I had. I was tired from patrolling so I went to bed early- it was my night off." He explained; as if the king hadn't known. He is the one giving orders, after all.
"Damn it." Edgar turned on his heels starting down the hall.
The king rarely swore which meant he was becoming impatient that no progress had been made. The only person to ask now is the maid herself but, she's still unconcious in the sick room.
"Just stand tight at your usual post, for now this matter is finished." Edgar said over his shoulder to the men following him, just as he opened the double doors to the upper courtyard he had to take a quick step back to avoid bumping into his vassal.
"There you are, your highness." Chancellor Arnold says. "Have you made any progress with the break in?"
"None." Edgar sulked a bit then looks at the papers in the man's hands. "Tell me that's the rest from yesterday." He looks at the man.
"Well, yes, but a few are recent." He holds the stack an inch higher from where his arms let the weight rest. "Shall we go to your office if the search is at a stand still?"
Rolling his eyes, he turned to his guards waving them dismissed then follows the chancellor to his office; looks like yesterday planned to start itself over. Too bad the situation is such a bad one, a break in is the only interesting thing he has going right now.
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Locke walks with a steady pace, his whistling ceased a few hours ago as his lips were chapping from blowing dry air passed them for so long. At least the sun wasn't bare in the sky, there are quite a few clouds to cover it and give him at least a seconds worth of relaxation from the heat. He always noticed that about Figaro's desert. Its very bare in vegetation, a few cactus can be seen from time to time growing this Goddess awful fruit from it- unless baked correctly- but other than that there is nothing around. A long time ago Locke was coming back from one of his travels and found a body laying in the sand. Dried out and badly burned; the man must have been aiming for the castle. Dragging a dead body was very unappealing but he couldn't just leave the man there, he may have had a family waiting on him- and he did- Edgar supposed that the free stable wasn't enough, you had to know which direction the castle was in as well. So shortly after that, he had a few men secure some wooden poles spaced around the area to indicate where the castle lay. Blue for the right direction and read for the wrong direction and the new system worked rather well.
A smile lit up on the treasure hunters face seeing the first of the ten blue poles; in three days he'll be wrapped up in the king's arms and breaking in that bed of theirs. Its been too long since he's had a good lay that's for sure; a man can only resort to his hand so many times before he starts to get creative with other random items and he just didn't think that he was prepared for that kind of getting off just yet. Maybe some day someone with a mind just sick enough will invent something that resembles a penis that way the lonely man can have his hand and eat it too.
'I must be hot, listen to what I'm thinking about.' He kicks a little dune from his path. 'Punishment for liking men I guess. I doubt a guy into women would miss the same feeling.' Stuffing his hands into his pockets he tilts his head back to look at a bird flying by; squinting he wonders if the letter is for Edgar as the bird seemed to be wearing a little pouch on its body. It would be another 2 miles until the next post. Locke had to wonder what he could do to occupy himself as he walked. 'I could count... I could...' Removing his hand from his pocket, he snaps his fingers. Kneeling, he opens his travel bag and pulls out a small boomerang. Nothing more entertaining than tossing one of these things around. Its like playing fetch with a really high jumping invisible dog. Rearing his arm he tosses the wooden arch raising his hand catching it expertly when it came back.
By throw eighty, Locke switched arms and threw with his right hand; he wouldn't want one arm being buffer than the other. His left hand already had a bigger advantage, sure he's ambendexterous but, he's actually a lefty and rarely sees a need to use his right hand, or excersize his right arm during combat and starting with his right hand was often a waste of time as it made the battle on his end lag. That's why Edgar was so great to spar with, he allowed him to get used to it before any serious sparing went on. But with the war over there hasn't been a need to doing things like that.
'I'll eat lemon cake, and an entire roast.' His mouth watered as his brain began to promise things to its lover, his stomach; his mouth just being the delivery man between the two. 'Maybe a pig, maybe a boar, chicken- naah chickens too light.' He catches the boomerang again but instead of tossing it for the last time he stuffs it into his back pocket. He would kill for a cart and chocobo to come by right about now. With a hefty sigh, he picked up his pace since he didn't plan to walk straight through the night it was better to get as far as he could before taking a break.
Two days later...
Edgar had made no progress with the break in; that was two days ago when it had happened. Lester asked Katia about it but the woman seemed plain spooked, saying that she couldn't really remember what happened. Just as well the matter be dropped, but he would have it questioned once more incase something is recalled. Work never waned in the passing two days; and as he dips into the large bath he can't help but think that its mostly for his hands that he's submerged in water. The pained apendages lay relaxing in the heat of the water letting it sooth the cramps from them; lowering his body a bit he rest his temple against the side of the tub.
'Maybe I should sneak out and go into town for a few days, just to get a break. Who would tell me 'no'- I'm the king.' Sitting up; the lower half of his hair soaked while to top remains dry, he gives an affirmed nod. Tomorrow he's going into town. Sucking in a breath he plunges the rest of his head under the water, popping out he grabs the bottle of shampoo, squeezes a good amount into his hand then finishes his bath.
Opening the door of his bedroom, Edgar taps one of the stationed guards on the shoulder, bringing a finger up to his lips asking for his silence from verbally saluting. "Can you fetch Iyabelle for me?"
With a nod the man starts down the hall to the east wing of the castle where the servants sleep.
Closing the door Edgar grabbed a travel bag from the lower drawer on the dressing cabinet. A long moment later the girl entered his bedroom; her brown hair trying to be managed with her fingers, the pink nightgown of ruffles and bows hides her pink slippered feet until she takes a step. Edgar felt guilty for waking her up, but as she is his dresser he had to get her to pack for him while he made arrangements for a carriage out. He'd already dressed in regular clothes after exiting the tub, he only needed to slip into his boots.
"I'm going to Figaro," He went on when the woman nodded. "I'll be back in a day or so."
"But your highness?" Her words trailed off.
"I know, but honestly I don't believe that the person who did this will return, and the rooms are heavily guarded now." He reaches into a drawer grabbing a band to tie up his hair into a ponytail. "Maybe someone has heard something; a man can't break into the castle without wanting to brag a little bit."
The woman nodded then walked to the dressing closet.
Knowing that she will know what to choose for him Edgar leaves his bedroom, walking steadly down the hall. Wondering what this was really all about the woman set to work placing tunics and tights, belts, and ribbons into his majesty's travel bag. After a second thought she grabs a pair of boots that she had cleaned the other day placing them inside as well. Wondering if he would need a weapon or if he were going to take guards, she fingered the handle of a dagger deciding against it. Closing the bag off, Iyabelle leaves the bundle at the foot of the bed on a trunk that holds winter blankets and the canopy for the bed; remaining in the room as she was uncertain if she was supposed to leave or not, the king came back within ten minutes giving her a quick smile before walking over to the bed to reach for the bag.
"You did not have to stay, mylady, you may go back to bed." Hoisting the bag over his shoulder, he nods a farewell before walking out of his room. "Enjoy your sleep." Once in the hall he says to a guard. "Come with me."
With a nod the man follows the king down the hall.
...
Locke pokes at the burning fire with a peaceful expression on his tanning face; desert nights bring so many memories to his senses, nippy as all hell, giving you a constant need to want warmth even after having a brutally hot day. Temperatures are funny like that. He and Edgar would end up tangled in the sheets cracking jokes about being the creepiest looking caterpillar right before grinding the night away since they'd be unable to move to a more pleasing position since they were cacooned in the blanket, literally wrapped like a roll of carpet. Or those few occassions where they would sit out on the balcony, a single cup of tea shared between them- Edgar drinking the most of it since it was always his favorite flavor. He never cared much for tea finding it too sticky somehow but sharing was the thing that kept him coming back for sweet tacked together teeth. Locke snickers to himself while taking a bite of his sandwich. Just as he'd suspected, the bread is stale but the cured meat is perfectly fine. He may as well have jerky, better than chomping on a rock over the next two days. Shivering, he scoots himself closer to the fire, heels digging into the sand to pull him over. It was the weirdest thing but, he thought he'd heard a carriage off in the distance- not once, but twice. It had passed so quickly, he figured the heat must have been getting to him or something.
Looking up at the starry sky; bite being swallowed, he smiles at the stars. Setzer still hasn't come by, who only knows where the man is. Just as well, he's actually enjoying the walk- minus the boredom. He wasn't sure that he was ready for the life of castle walls yet, wanting to travel a bit more before fully sticking around with the king. He'd only have to get his maps printed over and over for the people then everything would be fine. Checking his pocket watch- or someone's he can't remember that last time he'd seen HIS watch.
'I'd better get to bed.' Putting out the fire, he crawls into the tent, feet sticking out in the cool night air, he wraps himself in a blanket then waits for sleep to take over. He has one day left of travel and he'll be in Figaro castle.
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Edgar exspelled a very relaxed sigh as he bounced on a comfortable bed at the South Figaro Inn. The noise downstairs in the bar more muffled than in any of the other rooms since he has a very private suite; to ensure that no one knew he was around Edgar got a room for his guards, telling them to take the day off. He honestly had no idea of what to do with himself while being away from the castle. He could go out to eat, take a ride around the area, simply sleep without hearing someone knocking at his door. He hasn't had a good beer in a long time. Sitting up, a thought crossed his mind about what he'd said to the maid before leaving. Maybe he could get a drink downstairs and ask around if anyone has been bragging about breaking into the castle. Locke would be better suited to checking out the tunnels beneath the castle since he's made a printing of the place a long while ago. Edgar, for the life of him, had no clue what to do with that relic castle beneath his own that in itself was a private utopia for him to hide away in, but you never can tell when someone will walk into the room and catch you coming from a hidden wall thus ruining the secrecy of the place. No, better to leave the castle all together.
Changing his clothes to something more casual, and throwing a black hooded cape around himself to cover up his noticable blond hair, the king leaves the suite heading for the bar.
The music is lively and the conversation is at an overflow; it seemed that everyone and their mother were here. Edgar crossed the room carefully, casting his blue gaze left and right so not to bump into anyone.
"What can I get ya?" Asks the bartender.
"I'll have a pint, thank you." Taking a seat on a stool he waits for his drink. Seeing that no one was listening to him, Edgar leans over the counter top to get a little more privacy. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Checking the drink being drained from the spout, he tilts it a bit more then turns his attention back to the hooded patron.
"Has anyone come in here over the past two days talking about breaking in to Figaro castle?"
The man's brows rose hearing that. "Someone broke into the castle?"
Edgar nods. "Beat one of the maids he did, the talk has been all over the place and yet no one is pointing any blame." He changes his speech to the local tongue.
The man scratches at his beard. "I find that hard to believe, I haven't heard anything about a break in. I can ask around if you really wanna know- say are you one of the king's guards?"
"You can say that." He takes the mug handle, flipping open the lid from the tiny latch at the top of the handle.
"Well, anything for the king then. I'll be sure to mention it casually around to anyone that looks like they might know something." He nods. "Like them over there."
Turning a bit he looks over his shoulder.
"They've gotta be the loudest bunch in the house- come every night. I see 'em drinking, talking, and laughing- no different than anybody else, but its the way they dress that calls the attention. They never seem to be wearing anything other than black, they even spread clay in their hair- that ain't natural." He gestures with his middle finger beneath his lids. "Same with their eyes."
Edgar nods. Taking a drink of his beer, he looks the group over wondering if it were any of them that had broken in. He'd just have to follow and see.
It was an hour later that the group left. As planned Edgar followed after them, carefully, hidden by the darkness. They seemed to be heading into the caves. Before the cave could take you to Figaro castle but not now, it actually leads to a dead end. So what on earth could four people be doing there?
Hand on the cold dirt wall, Edgar inches his way inside; being more careful after, two of the members lit torches to light their path, he crouches low creeping silently along after them.
With a yawn, the female of the group lands heavily onto a pile of blankets the largest male in the group sits down beside her. The other two lurk about the open space as if they had somewhere to be or something still to do before turning in.
'They can't seriously be sleeping here?' Thinks Edgar feeling a little guilty for following them. 'Perhaps the bartender and I were wrong about them and they're merely cast aways. Though, I doubt that they manage to buy drinks every night without doing something shady for the money.' His eyes look down at the thick brown earth. He can relate to feeling like a cast away. Lately it seems that everyone was either too busy to hang around or they've simply put him at the bottom of the list. 'I'd better go.'
He started to leave when suddenly the group starts speaking.
"The break in was a bust."
'So it was them.' Though he didn't recall anyone reporting that anything had been stolen. Did they only do it for the attention, or to turn in the member that had done it only to bust them out once the reward was collected.
"There's nothing left in this town, nothing. Screw Darriens house, we should steal a boat and just fucking sail somewhere else." The shortest male, slender, but definitely incharge stamps his foot. "We can move to Nikeah, get jobs on the peer or something."
"On the peer? Are you insane?" Says the other male, once standing, but now seated amongst the floor beds with the others. "I can't swim for one and for two, I hate fish!"
"Whatever dude, atleast you have somewhere to go; You're just a spoiled little bitch."
"Whatever to you."
"Let's not fight, huh?" The female lays down. "I'm too tired to listen to mommy and daddy going at it again- and I don't mean the fighting." She sticks her tongue out.
The larger male laughs before laying himself halfway over top of the girls to play his fingers through her hair.
"Besides, who'd hire outcasts like us?" She adds softly before closing her eyes.
"She's got a point." Says the male who hates fish.
"Yeah well." The leader shrugs. "Anything's better than staying here, being a nothing."
Edgar took his leave then, not wishing to hear anymore. It was making him feel strange listening to people talk about their own shove aside- especially when they actually had each other, whereas he has no one.
'That isn't true, I do have them- they're not prisoners and I can't make them stay. Maybe I should just accept that we've drifted apart and learn to live with it.' Walking out of the cave, he looks up into the sky. Something felt weird inside but he couldn't quite place it. 'I'd better get back.'
...
It was like a beautiful dream when Locke made it to the castle. The guards at the door greeted him with a smile and nod letting him in. He walked through the upper courtyard giving a wave to the men he passes. He can't wait to see Edgar, and sure that the man was in his office he kept straight ahead turning when going through the double doors. A tiny office lay off to the side of the throne room; a grin broke out across his face like a rash and dropping his travel bag he darts for the room swinging the door open.
"E-... Edgar?" Glancing around the room he walks inside; maybe he's under the desk getting something he'd dropped. "Edgar?"
"His highness isn't in."
"What do you mean?" Locke turns to see Chancellor Arnold at the door. "Where is he?"
"He's gone. The king snuck out in the middle of the night, he's been gone for two days."
"Shit." Locke looks down at the corner of the desk. This was not the return he'd had planned.
Politely the chancellor covers his nose by tapping the bridge of it. "Perhaps Mr. Cole would like to make himself more comfortable; wherever his highness is I'm sure he'll be back any moment- or day." The man looks at the stack of papers on the desk hoping for the former.
"Okay, I get it." Locke smiles holding his hands up in defeat. "The lack of space inside the castle isn't as kind to odors as all outside. I'll go take a bath." He walks out of the room. 'How the hell can Edgar be gone? Why would he leave is more the question.' With an exhausted sigh, he grabs his bag walking on weary feet to his and the king's bedroom.
"I'll see that a meal is brought to the dining room." He watches the man's retreating back, a hand going up as a thanks to his comment. Sighing, the chancellor looks to the ceiling as if to ask the Goddesses. "Where are you, your highness?"
Locke walks down the hall brushing dirt from his clothing hoping to get rid of some of the dirt in order to make cleaning them a little easier on the maids. Brushing his hands through his sand crusted hair, he raises his vision to see who had exited the room up ahead of him. Smiling he rushes over to the man pouncing on him. "Sabin!" Popping him on the shoulder, he says. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at home."
"I came to see Edgar, but chancellor said he isn't in." He looks the treasure hunter over. He hasn't seen him in a month, the guy would sometimes stop by his place for something to eat or a place to sleep while traveling around but he's been away for a while. "Figures he'd be off somewhere with you." Looking over the shorter males head he asks. "So where is he?"
"I don't know. I was told the same thing." He shrugs looking over his shoulder as if to see Edgar coming up the hall right now but got nothing. Startled by how close the other man suddenly was, Locke took a staggered step back.
"Good gods you stink. Take a bath, Cole." He ruffles the man's crusted hair.
"You'd stink too if you had to walk through the desert for three days, and were out at sea for two." He swats at the hand raising his shirt up to the pit so that the blond could smell there as well. "Stooop." He laughs out.
Sabin exagerated- or perhaps not- a hard cough before lifting the male over his shoulder. "You're a dangerous enemy to the castle with that smell. Time for a good scrub down." He walks into his brother's bedroom.
"Nooo, you're not gonna wash me! Sabin, put me down!" He kicks his feet in protest.
The bathroom door stuck fast behind the treasure hunter who jokingly banged on it.
"And you're not coming out until you're able to slip down the halls on polished feet!" The blond calls through the door.
Sabin's retreating laughter caused Locke to chuckle as he turns to look at the tub filled with steaming water. "Well, its sitting here for a reason, better make the best of it." Stripping his clothes off, he drops them onto the floor then picks them up setting them into the wicker basket in the corner of the large bathroom. He always loved that about the castles bathrooms, they're so large that the tub and toilet are nowhere near each other and even if they were it wouldn't matter because the toilet is locked away in a little cubicle.
"Aaaaaaa." He lowers himself into the water, eyes closing instinctively, breath holding itself as he continues sinking under the water until his entire body is submerged beneath the liquid heat. Scrubbing his fingers through his hair, he then raises his upper half, squeezing the water out. "Crap." Looking across the room where he'd left the toiletries, he climbs from the tub; water dripping across the floor, grabbing a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap then an extra incase he ran completely through the first bar.
With his hands he gets the bar lathered, once back inside the tub, then grabbing a wash cloth he rubs the soap into the fabric placing the soap in the dish once satisfied with the amount of contents to use. Locke scrubbed himself as if the dirt wouldn't come off; his slightly tanned from the sun skin coming out pink after a good ten minutes of scrubbing in one area. He stood up running over the rest of his body with the cloth, dropping it onto the side of the tub when done with it. Plunging his hands under the water to rinse the soap off to prevent himself from dropping the shampoo bottle, he squeezes a good amount into his palm then over the top of his head for good measure.
Suds run down his forearm to his elbow, tickling him once it reaches his armpit. 'Oh yeah, this is sexy.' Thinks Locke remembering when Edgar had once said he'd like to watch him take a bath rather than taking one with him. Satisfied with his foam afro, he reaches down into the tub pulling the cork from the drain. Grabbing a bucket from the side of the tub, he waits until the water is at his ankles before dumping one of the four buckets over his head to rinse himself clean. The hot water caused him to shiver as his room temp' body adapted to the air around him while he stood up washing his hair. Setting that bucket down he repeats the action over and over until he was completely rinsed off. Squeezing his hair out, he steps out of the tub leaving more foot prints behind while going for a towel and robe. After passing the fluffy towel over his body, he slips into the thin robe then scrubs the towel through his hair.
Spotting a note left for him, he picks it up giving it a read. Sabin wants to have dinner with him in the dining room, but since its not six they're just going to have a snack. Locke's stomach growled in thought of what was waiting for it. Crumpling the note he tosses it into the trash.
"Hmm." Looking closely he sees the cotton swabs covered with blood. "I wonder what happened?" He questioned no one. Dropping the towel to the floor, he walks over to the dresser. Glad to have more than one change of clothing to choose from again, he pulls out a loose, dark blue, shirt that has a tie for it starting from his breastplate and up; ties left undone, he grabs a pair of underwear and pants; feet bare, he marches out of the room and off to the sitting room.
"Hey Locke, look who's here." Sabin says the moment the door pushes open.
"Heeey, and you got my note!" He notices when the albino haired man pulled his dagger from his boot. Walking over he reaches for it, half expecting to have it tugged away from him due to the pissy look on the gambler's face but the blade was held and the handle offered.
"I'm not that immature, Locke, you can take it." Once the dagger was returned to him, Setzer slapped the treasure hunter on the forehead with his palm. "I'm that immature." Sticking his tongue out he returns to his seat. "You tarnished my ship, you know."
"Its a knick." Locke sits down grabbing three sandwiches to place on his plate, and a good few cakes, and some soup from a large serving bowl, two apples, and a pear.
"All the same, it took a long time to repair it after it snapped in half and I'd like to keep it in tip top shape. I can't lose it twice."
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize he's only snippy because he's got romance issues." Sabin chimes in.
"Oh yeah? I thought you could undress any woman?" Locke comments over a bite.
"Its not that I can't get that I'm uncertain about the other part."
Sabin and Locke cock a brow to that. What else was there.
"For bloody sake, I can't be sure if I can get Terra to truly love me."
Dramatically the two 'aaaah' in understanding.
"Poems?" Locke suggests.
"Sing to her."
Setzer laughed. "Yes, that should do the trick, I sing like a tick bitten bird."
The three laugh calming when the door to the sitting room opens.
Edgar looks at the three carrying on and having a nice time. He should have been pleased to see his friends but instead he felt somewhat irritated. But then there was Locke and suddenly he felt something else.
"Locke, come with me."
His tone was so serious and he'd turned so abruptly that the treasure hunter thought he may be in trouble for something. Even the others looked perplexed as to what was wrong with the man and nodded that he'd better go quickly. Following Edgar to their bedroom, the door closed behind them and before he could catch himself in the fall his back hit the bed.
Edgar places kisses all over the man's face, getting teeth when meeting his mouth to Locke's as the treasure hunter was laughing from relief that he wasn't in some sort of trouble.
"You have no idea how badly I've missed you." Edgar managed to say between smothering kisses into his lover's skin.
Feeling Edgar's erection pressed into his own growing buldge, Locke replies. "I have some idea, and I missed y-.." His final word cut off by a hard kiss that he joins in for a moment. Humming at how incredibly nice it felt and tastes, Locke wriggles his arm back and forth giving it a good tug to free it from between their bodies where it had been crushed when they'd landed on the bed. Hooking said arm around the blond, he pulls the ribbon from the long ponytail dropping it to the floor. "Mmm." He sighs and when his lips are released he whispers. "You smell clean and like peaches." He kisses Edgar again on the side of the mouth before turning his head towards the wall of hair that draped beside his head once pulled out of the ponytail. "Did you switch shampoos?"
"I had no choice, the cherry scent ran out and I haven't been supplied of it yet." Edgar moves off the bed over to the side table where an oil lamp sits to grab a small silver container of lubricant. Returning to the bed, he rolls Locke over by shoving at the man's hip and quickly without a moments thought he tugs the barrier of fabric from his body dropping his own pants to the floor not really caring that they had their shirts on, he lays himself over his love, kissing on the back of his neck. Giving Locke a sniff he snickers. "You smell of dirt and travel, did you have fun out there?"
"Define fun." Locke sighed in a heady fog when Edgar's warm skin pressed into his backside elevating his own body heat further. He moaned softly into the bedding when Edgar's hand reached beneath his hips to stroke his member. "Gods' you did miss me; don't I even get a chance to participate?" He rocks his hips back, head tipping back to lean into his lover's shoulder directly behind it.
Edgar shakes his head, kissing Locke on the cheek before the hand on his hip moves to the jar beside them to coat his fingers that hurridly dove into his lover's body. The king savored Locke's responses that pulled out his own; just the sound of the man made him want to climax. One hand latched around the treasure hunter's sex, the other thrusting and scissoring in the man's tunnel; Edgar's own hard-on is rocked mercilessly into the back of the man's thigh while it waits, impatiently, for its turn. Fingers removed, hand returned to Locke's hip Edgar shoves himself inside without hesitation or pause in the movement of rocking in and out of the man.
Locke cried out in the difference of width between finger and cock, and having not had sex for so long you'd swear it was the first time all over again. Edgar wasn't wasting a minute as the head of his member bumped hungrily into his sweet spot. The pleasure running up and down his spine was blinding, and he closed his eyes to the red blanket beneath his face. Feeling Edgar's fingers dig into his side, he wasn't sure of whether he wanted to buck his hips forward or back as the hand stroking his member was torture of the good kind but hearing Edgar's groans and sighs from what he was getting by being inside of him made him want to shove his hips back. Their thoughts water and dissolve to nothing but an endless movement of back and forth, in and out. And when Locke's body tensed and tightened around Edgar's shaft, the king was literally stuck in his inward movement, unable to push in even an inch. Continuing to stroke Locke's member, his back arches when Locke's hand comes around his backside to caress the length of his member that was not inside his body; the dry roughness of his hand against the smooth coating of lubricant had Edgar shooting inside of him unexpectedly with a long groan, as the loosening tunnel released its tight hold after Locke climaxed. Edgar slumped down over the man, his member just as spent slipping further into the hot tunnel again.
Pulling out, Edgar rolls Locke over, topping him again, kissing the man and grinding his hips into his lover's.
"Again?" Pants the treasure hunter knowing it was a stupid question as both he and Edgar are getting hard again. "Here." He removes his shirt, pulling at Edgar's removing it as well. Rolling himself so that Edgar is on the bottom; Locke dips two fingers inside the jar then pats the palm of his other hand into the gel to coat it. Grabbing Edgar's member he leans over kissing the man deeply.
Wrapping his legs around Locke's back, he raises his hips to the intruding fingers poking him between his crease, lavishing in the poking, swirling fingers preparing him. He'd rather of just had the male go for it, the roughness would have been more than welcomed to let Edgar know that it was all real, but Locke kept a slow pace wanting to savor whereas he wanted to demolish quickly, again and again. Their hungered kissing slowed considerably now that they've gotten the initial thirst for each other quenched; the sticky substance, remaining warm from their body heat, on Edgar's lower back evidence of that shared hunger they have. His eyes close, while rolling up in ecstacy when feeling Locke ease inside of him; the man's teeth nip possesively at his neck and collarbone. Edgar felt that his body was nothing but a little boat being rocked and pushed by the great sea controling its direction and movement with each push and pull, and he panted in heat feeling both from the front and back. Their tongues do laps between their mouths.
Setzer cocks his brows when passing by the king's bedroom door, the moans intruiging and pleasing to his ears, which are instantly covered by Sabin's palms.
"Nooo you don't, we're going to my room. No peeking with eyes or ears." He shoves the man from behind not releasing the side of the man's head as they continue by.
Their snack had ended and Setzer wanted to talk about his yielded relationship, but it seemed he had other ideas running through his head now. Sabin didn't get the man sometimes, maybe gender had nothing to do with it and he was simply a horny little bastard. Though, he's never once heard the man mention anything about being with another man so maybe he was just lewdly into voyerism.
Closing his bedroom door, he takes a seat on his bed; Setzer doing the same.
"So, what's the problem."
"She isn't speaking to me."
Sabin had to laugh at that and the snippy little face the gambler made in reply to it.
"I'm serious. I don't know what I've done, and I've been thinking about it but..." He trails off with a shrug.
"Have you thought about a crazy little thing like asking her what's wrong?"
"Women hate to be asked, they want a man to know. It shows the bond they have- or something like that." He rolls his eyes, not so much at the comment but that he can't think of a single thing he's done to earn the silent treatment.
"Uh-huh." Reaching out a hand he strokes the man's cheek lovingly, a playful smile on his face. "You're gonna make someone a great bottom someday."
Snickering, Sezter smacks the hand away. "Zip it. Are you going to help me or rape me in my vulnerable time of need."
"As tempting as the thought is to help- nope, I'm gonna rape you."
Laughing, Setzer lays back on the bed. "Shut up."
"I've got it!" Sabin snaps his fingers. "Ask her to move in with you."
"I don't exactly have a house."
"So get one money bags. Show her you're willing to commit and won't just be in and out of her bedroom- which please, tell me you're not frequently in."
The gambler raises a questioning look at the concern.
"She's like a little sister, and hearing that she's having sex regularly makes me wanna beat you with a sack of potatoes."
"Well lay your worries aside, that isn't all we do." He pats the man on the thigh. "We talk for hours, play cards- I've taught her many games."
"Good. Then I'll help you."
"Nevermind that, though, I need help building a casino in the desert." He sits up. "I'm hiring workers, you can help me out. I'll pay you."
Sabin only blinked before popping the man over the head with a pillow.
Hips moving at a rapid pace, Locke hunches over panting heavily in Edgar's ear as he waits for his body to stop shooting streamers into his lovers backside. Legs unlocking from behind the brunet's back, Edgar holds the man close kissing him tiredly feeling the weight of the man sink into his own as they fall asleep in the mess of themselves. They can catch up whenever their eyes open, right now he wants to bask in this closeness.