afterlifecrossroad | « duplicity inbox »

Come now, Keito. If you look so serious like that, it won't be fun for you at all. You should relax, or the ropes will feel even tighter.

[He manages to say this so happily as he's unwinding the coils of rope, making sure they're even, and that he's at their middles when he wraps it around the back of Keito's neck, like a scarf.

He tugs at him slightly, obnoxiously teasing.]

Since it's just the two of us, can't you admit your interest, at least?

[ it does seem like keito actually needs the reminder to relax more often than not, because that's when he realises the tension in his shoulders, and the way that he actually lets it bleed out of his posture. ]

If I wasn't interested, I wouldn't have come back with you, you know.

[ it's said very matter-of-factly, in contrast to eichi's happier tone, but hey, at least he isn't snappish about it - it's the subtle inflections of his tone that eichi will be able to pick up on that there's more than just exasperation at eichi's obnoxious teasing.

the feel of the rope resting on the back of his neck is...

actually kind of nice. it's not soft, but at least he can tell that it's not rough enough to leave chafe marks on his skin. it's just there, giving him something to focus on.

so keito exhales, an audible sound, letting eichi begin whatever he wants to do with the ropes. ]

How many people did you practice on?

[ that sure is a conversation starter. ]</small

It's much different if you admit it. If I could get something like that out of you, then I'd really know I was doing something right.

[But he's aware that Keito just isn't like that, and it might be incredibly difficult. Oh well... Moving forward confidently, hoping his childhood friend isn't just humoring him at every turn, he puts his trust into this. The ropes are guided in elaborate twists, forming diamonds or crosses, and once he needs Keito to move, he touches his arm gently with an instruction to lift it.

He continues like that, slow, intimate instructions and a precision that says he really has practiced this. As Eichi gets lower and lower on Keito, he'll find that his arms are stretched out on display, bound thoroughly, and the rope pulls taut with any extra movement. Eichi is still working on the very elaborate design he's chosen. This will take some time.]

As for your question... Are you asking because you'd like to feel safe, or because you're jealous? My answer will change depending on yours.

[ that, at least, gets a snort out of keito, and he inclines his head, rolls his shoulders back slightly the bast that he can to stop them from being too stiff. ]

If you we're doing anything wrong, Eichi, rest assured that I would make it known to you.

[ because that's how their relationship has always been, with keito nagging at eichi for the most part, to try and stop him from doing reckless things while trying to help eichi live the best live he can-- that doesn't change.

from this angle, seated on the bed with his back towards eichi, the most he can see of what he's doing is when the ropes occasionally loop around to his chest, and eichi was right-- it is easier to lift his arms or shift when needed as eichi works his way down his upper body, and it actually feels more comfortable when he relaxes. it's not too difficult to follow the slide of the ropes against his skin, firm and unyielding.

....... he could be into this. ]

I have no reason to feel jealous? [ sounds fake; keito, but ok. ] ... This doesn't seem like something that would be suitable for a beginner.

[ this is a lot of rope and a very elaborate design, even if he can't see it he can feel the weight of the knots pressing into his skin, different spots exerting different amounts of pressure on his arms if he ends up fidgeting. ]

As I told you before, I watched videos countless times.

[At Keito's back, Eichi draws his hand over skin along with the rope, working it carefully into the required knots and shapes. Diamonds, braids, intricate patterns, especially this heavily knotted piece down his back from his neck.]

As for practice... Just once. [The ropes pull snug, but not too digging. He's careful, he's slow, and his commands for Keito to shift or move are always gentle.]

I wanted to be sure that with just watching videos, I had perfected it. So I went to a seminar that held a presentation, and tried my best. It was a success. So, does that relieve you? Really, it's not as if I'd do something complicated unless I was sure it would work nicely.

[ eichi's fingertips have always been cold, but somehow, in this instance, when he drags his hand over the planes of keito's back, they feel sharper, like ice, seared into his skin and chasing the pressure of the knotted centrepiece on his back. it's enough to elicit a shudder (of pleasure? maybe) from him, one that ripples down the length of his spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

the breath that he takes is definitely audible, since there's only the two of them in the room, and somehow, everything is making him hyperaware - how close eichi is to him, the weight of the ropes, and it's

overwhelming

and keito has to shift a little, rolling his head back slightly with his eyes closed, just so his entire body does freeze up, doesn't cramp up, even if eichi is taking the effort to be gentle in how he's handling keito. ]

I see.

[ that does reassure him, even if it's not explicitly said. his glasses are a little bit askew, but with his hands bound, encased in rope, there's not much that he can do to adjust the frames back.

....... you know what? it's fine. he can deal with it. ]

I'm not surprised, given your perfectionist tendencies. [ much less pronounced than keito's, but he does know of eichi's penchant to ensure that everything is planned to the last detail.

why me, he wants to ask, when there are others that eichi has practiced on, but that's not a question he wants to deal with right now, while he's distracted. so instead: ] How much longer?

[ it's more curious than anything. he's seen some of the effort that goes into the more elaborate ties when they were... demonstrating, earlier, and this hasn't even ventured to anything close to suspension or sex, or anything else, really. ]

My tendencies?

[It's a light tease, a chuckle, and his hands continue to linger as he brushes over him, keeps working. When he notices the glasses are a little lower than normal, he peers around Keito from the side, smiling as he pulls them up for him by the temples.]

Hmm... At this rate, since you're cooperating so well, perhaps fifteen minutes? To be honest, I lose track of time like this. The ropes are beautiful, but—

[He stops himself, for some reason, still behind Keito. He's out of view, so it might even be worrying, but his cool fingertips are still at Keito's back. But your body makes it even more beautiful is along the lines of what he was going to say, and somehow, that got caught in his throat.

It's intimate, and he knew that, of course... But Keito continued to go along with everything he did. Was it just because he was asking? Was he just trying to help? Or was there... any sort of desire?]

[ he knows a tease when he hears one, and keito rolls his eyes, even if eichi can't exactly see it from this particular angle. ]

You know what I'm talking about.

[ he should??? also, does he sound a little embarrassed? maybe? he does blink when eichi adjusts his glasses on his face, silver frames settling comfortably on the bridge of his nose enough that they probably won't move unless he somehow manages to jerk again. the gesture, however, small as it may be, does actually pull a grateful smile from keito in response, even if he has to twist his body, crane his neck a little bit to make sure that it's directed at eichi instead before he kind of settles back.

fifteen minutes doesn't sound too long, and eichi is right, actually, it's kind of easy for him to lose track of time since all he's had to go by is how far the ropes have progressed down his back and the length of his arms.

he still hasn't forgotten about what eichi said about recording( though - mental note, ask him later. ]

Would you rather I didn't cooperate with you, Eichi, that sounds like a less than ideal partnership if I was fighting you at every turn. [ that's said a little bit dryly. ] You know I'm not the type to seek out unnecessary conflict, unlike the other two muscle darumas in my unit.

[ hm. that's. ]

....... but?

[ don't think he didn't notice how you stopped, eichi. it's uncharacteristic enough, considering how eichi rarely cuts off his sentences and monologues to the bitter end, so of course keito straightens his posture a little bit more, and his tone is carefully questioning, pushing just that little bit more. ]

Is something the matter, Eichi?

...No, it's nothing.

[Caught... With such an obvious pause, of course he would be. He blinks a few times, his hands moving again, continuing to wind the rope around Keito's arms in intricate patterns.]

I felt a little tired, so I thought I might yawn, that's all. What I was saying is that this looks beautiful.

[In emphasis, and to distract from his own failures at a cover up, he runs one of his hands down the rope he's finished with so far, and the skin beneath it.] I might impress you with this.

[ (x) doubt

and it actually causes keito to straighten a little, attempting to tilt his head back and catch eye contact with eichi yet again to give him a slightly disapproving look because that absolutely sounds fake. he likes to think that he knows eichi, and the angle is making it almost impossible to do that, so he just makes a noise of disbelief before he relaxes again, lets eichi continue winding the ropes around his arms. ]

That's not the only thing that you wanted to say.

[ he's just still going to call you out.

but it's difficult not to be affected, either way, and if eichi is trying to distract from his own failure at covering up what he wanted to say, it's... actually maybe working just a little bit, because that's all keito is going to say about this. ]

You are aware that I have high standards.

[ actually he's going to be impressed regardless, but since when has communication ever been their forte? ]

You're all tied up, Keito, so you can't confront me right now. It's a secret.

[His other thoughts! Seeeecret. His expression softens even more as he continues, fond.]

I'm very aware of your standards, as well, so there's no need to tell me that. Are you doubting me? Even if you can't move parts of yourself even an inch without these ropes digging in?

Be patient, and you'll be able to see how it looks once I take a picture.

[ please know that keito is giving eichi a very :/ look even if he can't see it directly. ]

[ but yeah that. also gives him the opportunity to bring up what eichi said about recording him earlier, and to his credit he still sounds relatively calm when he responds: ] You're not going to show them to anyone else, right?

[ not that he thinks eichi would do that without saying anything about it, but it. doesnt hurt to be sure. he has a reputation to uphold after all. ]

What sort of monster do you take me for?

[It's light, even if his mind takes it further, but there's only a small bit of silence before he continues, pressing forward.] Of course I won't. These pictures are only between myself and Keito... unless you'd like to share them with anyone yourself, you won't have to worry about anyone else seeing them.

[Selfishly, he wants to keep them for himself, anyway.]

Isn't this an intimate moment between just the two of us, after all?

[ it is - it's one of the most intimate moments that keito's ever experienced with eichi, which is why--

(he's selfish, too.)

(and he's always jumped to conclusions, more often than not.)

-- the knot in his stomach relaxes a little when he hears eichi's reassurance, and keito exhales, a sharp sound compared to how light eichi's tone sounds. ]

... I don't intend to share them with anyone else, either.

[ at least he has eichi's word for it, which is the only reason why he's agreeing. in his own way. ]

[He smiles at that, humming softly in his understanding. From there, his work continues, and his instructions for Keito to move aren't nearly there as much. He just makes sure to ask if anything hurts, to watch the color of his skin, his nails.

By the time he's done, it's incredibly beautiful, and he hasn't even viewed him from the front. He breathes out, tickling the back of Keito's neck as he kisses there, between the ropes.

It's such a sweet, intimate kiss. He forgot himself there for a second, and the silence indicates another pause, mentally, before he remembers to speak.]

All done. ♪ Now I'll take some pictures, so just stay there, okay?

[ there's an audible hitch of his breath when eichi moves in closer to kiss at the back of his neck, a sensitive spot between two bands of red rope, just at the base of his hairline.

with eichi that close, there's absolutely almost no way that eichi didn't hear that, but that slight pause gives keito time to compose himself as well, especially since every minute shift of his weight causes the knots in the rope to press down on different parts of his skin, and--

it's actually strangely calming, even when the way he exhales is just a little bit shakier than normal, a little less composed. ]

... Alright.

[ at least, like this, he can still see eichi out of the corner of his eye when he moves to take his phone or camera.

...... yeah, okay, maybe there's more than a little part of him that wants to see how he looks while he's bound. ]

[He really is attractive, isn't he. Eichi takes a few more pictures than he needs to, because he's caught up in the breathtaking sight of it. But once he's finished, he doesn't waste time in coming closer again. He doesn't want to be far from Keito, and he doesn't think it would be fair to stay away from him anyway, when he's tied up like this.

He turns his phone so Keito can see, and standing very close to him as he does.]

Take a look, Keito. Does it meet your standards?

« duplicity inbox »

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject