Culgan: *They'd been riding all day, and had some more road ahead of them. The two Highland officers were heading for a military practice camp in the north at the Harmonian border. They had left the city of L'Renouille early in the morning, and were supposed to reach a village where they'd spend the night before the sun would set. The journey had gone fine until now, but during the last half an hour, the silver-haired colonel had noticed dark cloud gathering in the sky. He turned to glance at his companion, the fiery red-haired captain, and rode closer.* Seed, we'd better start moving a bit faster. Look at the clouds. It'll rain soon, and it's still a long way to the village. *He frowned a bit, checking mentally the map he had of the area. He vaguely remembered that there weren't any other villages in the area, so if a storm broke here, they'd be without shelter. //Not good. We can't afford to get sick or anything right now...// He nodded to the redhead, then patted his horse's neck. Midnight obviously sensed his uneasiness and improved her speed.*

Seed: *Lost in daydreams about nothing in particular, he spared a mildly annoyed glance at his lover. Culgan's silver hair caught in the sunlight, late September sky reflecting it with nostalgia that reminded him summer was nearly gone. It soured his mood, and made him more passive than usual. Threaded with a keen frustration that depressed him more than anything, the passivity did little more than keep his mouth shut. The sun was setting quickly, and by the time thunderclouds threatened their journey, he was ready to call it quits. //Now to run around looking for shelter// His lips pursed dangerously, and eyes narrowed as the pale light was sucked from the sky. The sound of crisp leaves beneath Selenay's hooves made him melancholy, and he couldn't get the reins on his emotions quick enough. //Fall is so damned depressing// He gave a gentle poke at the steed, following Culgan's lead in silence. Even the trees disturbed him, their appearance becoming more grotesque as twilight settled in. At any other time of year, the impending thunderstorm would excite him with hyperactive intensity. //.........// Swearing privately, his gaze again narrowed to a burn that focused itself in the middle of Culgan's back.*

Culgan: *He glanced at the sky, frowning as the last of the sun's light vanished behind the clouds. The storm was rising faster than he'd expected a moment earlier. The sky was totally dark now, and from the distance, thunder could be heard. //Not good at all. We're not going to make it to the village.// He shook his head, noticing his companion's mood. //Great. All I needed - Seed on a bad mood and a thunderstorm without us having any shelter. Just great.// He sighed, giving Midnight a sign to get into full gallop. The thunder hit somewhere closer now. His steed continued steadily, and he smiling a bit, thankful for the fact that the mare could stay calm in middle of fiercest battles. So the thunder didn't make the horse even a bit nervous. //However, it makes me very nervous...// The forest around them was getting dark and menacing, and soon the first drops of the cold rain hit the trees.* Hurry up, will you, Seed? We can't stay here. If we don't find shelter soon... *He trailed off, not wanting to think what would happen if they were forced to stay here, trying to find shelter under the trees. //No. That's out of the question...// *

Seed: *Resigned to getting soaked before they found shelter, he prodded Selenay into a gallop that matched Midnight's. As he raced down the dirt road, the wind made its presence known by nipping at his nose and ears like a playful kitten. Unperturbed, he spurred the mare faster, soon passing Culgan by a short distance. He slowed when the first bolt of lightning lit up the sky, but the horse shook her mane and gave a whinny he recognized as frustration. She wanted to run, and he certainly knew the feeling. The air was chilling by steady degrees, wind picking up as the storm inched closer. Sullen red hues faded from the darkening sky, and all he could hear was the sound of angry Autumn defying the gods, skeletal trees whipping their limbs in a baleful frenzy. The fight they gave lifted his spirits, and he associated the wind in his face as the solution to his unhappiness. It certainly took the deathly stillness from the air, that threatening calm and stale smell that always preceded a violent storm. Filled with the need to drive Selenay from the path and out across the fields, weather be damned, he gave a cry that was dwarfed by thunder. //Hah...the hell with this...// Feline grin spreading across his face, he urged Selenay from the path, leaning against the mare as tightly as he could while employing the reins to spur her into a full gallop. In turn, she increased the length of her stride, crossing the field with exhilarating speed. The impact of the mare's hooves against the earth jarred his teeth, but he dismissed the pain. //Culgan is going to kill me when he catches up...// The thought improved his mood even more.*

Culgan: Seed, wait! Seed!! Damn it... *He yelled through the storm, knowing that it was in vain. His voice was lost in the wind, and the thunder crashing nearby didn't make things any better. This left him only one choice, and it was to get ahead of the redhead. Midnight knew her master well, and increased her speed to the maximum. He was soon riding next to the younger man, but knew it was pointless to try yelling at him. //I'll have to do this some other way, then. And I can think of only one.// They rode through an opening where the trees weren't giving the small shelter they provided, and got to try the rain for real. Freezing water was pouring down from the skies, drenching them in minutes. He could sense his steed's uneasiness; Midnight didn't like the rain any more he did. He looked around in the dark to find some landmark to try to remember where they were. //This is pointless. We'll... Hmm?// Just as he was about to give up, a hill in their right side caught his gaze. //If I'm correct, that's... I remember this place, I spent the night here with my troops last year!// He guided the mare to right, forcing Seed's steed to turn as well. When they got closer to the hill he saw what he was looking for - two small stone buildings flashed in his view as the thunder crashed again. //Now the only problem is to get Seed to stop. And there's only one way. This.// He let Midnight get ahead of Selenay for the length of her neck, then suddenly leaned over and grabbed the mare's reins. He steered Midnight towards the buildings, jumping down from the saddle the moment they got there. He had the hold of Selenay's reins, so the horse was forced to stop as well.* Enough, Seed. Here's our shelter. Now get down from there and inside! I'll take the horses to the other building...

Seed: *A flurry of obscenities escaped his lips and he shoved the older man away. He'd damn near went tumbling from the mare when Culgan restrained her, and his mood soured immediately. Hair drenched and clothes sodden with rain that bit at his skin, he felt like screaming upon being reminded of his discomfort. On Selenay, he hadn't noticed a damned thing, running under a sky that looked like a big purple bruise and him, the master of its wrath. Furious, he spluttered water away from his face and yanked Selenay's reins from Culgan. //Asshole// He wasn't the least bit pleased at the sight of the abandoned fort; his need to go back out into the storm was overwhelming. The only thing holding him back was concern for the horse; hot breath streamed from her mouth in crystallized plumes, and she was shifting about uneasily. The thunder was frightening her, and she was cold and wet.* "Asshole." *He repeated his displeasure out loud, and stomped off, another desire welling up within him that he didn't have the guts to give in to. //Right in the face. Pow! He'd never expect it// The obvious lie didn't interest him; it was enough that the fantasy calmed his ire. And hadn't they already experienced a fiasco like this in another abandoned fort? He reflected upon that incident as he led the mare to a warm, dry stable, though not as insulated as he'd have liked it to be. In any case, the horse had calmed somewhat, instinctively knowing she was safe from the storm. //...............//* ".............." *//Fuck// *He glared around the room, unable to locate any of the necessary cleaning implements or blankets which he could use to tend the horse. Suddenly, his temper just boiled over, and he stomped upon the ground like a spoiled brat, knowledge of his childish behavior only feeding the fire.*

Culgan: *He sighed, but this was not the time to start thinking about what to do to the redhead. He'd have enough time to deal with his lover later. Right now, he was more worried about his steed. Midnight was still calm, not afraid of the storm or the loud sound of thunder outside, but she looked miserable and was dripping with water. //Need to get the horses dry and fast - I can deal with getting sick but I can't afford Midnight to fall ill...// He removed the mare's saddle and bridle with few calm moves, then rushed out to the rain and to the second building. //Something to tend the horses with... anything...// He stumbled around in the small, dark room, then thanked heavens as he came by something soft. //Old blankets. Almost falling apart, but these are better than nothing.// He grabbed them and ran back to the rain, across the small yard and to the other building.* Here, take this! Dry her and cover her with it! *His voice was strong and demanding, as he knew that the only way to get Seed to do anything at this point was to make his point, shortly and in very authoritative tone. He threw a piece of something dusty that had once been a blanket to the younger man, knowing that the redhead was too worried about the horse to start fighting now. He tried to shake off most of the dust from the piece of blanket he was holding, then systematically started drying Midnight. She was breathing heavily, but obviously thankful for the care. //Good. A bit better now. The only problem now is to get ourselves warm and dry... And, calmed down would also be a good idea when you're in question, my love...// *

Seed: *The screech that had been building within him died when the blanket hit his face. He choked on the dust that rose, eyes watering miserably. He felt as terrible as the blanket looked, and he initially had doubts about using it on Selenay. //Ugh// It was dry though, and it didn't smell of anything but age. The mare whinnied softly, shaking herself and wetting him even more. //I suppose it will do for now// As he cared for the horse, he slowly calmed down, once again wondering why he had such a poor hold over his emotions, and why Culgan put up with him. He wasn't arrogant enough to assume it was his sexual prowess or his appearance. In some ways, he thought it had something to do with control, but that was as far as his brain took him before it derailed.* "Feeling a bit better, Sel? Right." *He nodded at Selenay's almost flirtatious toss of her mane.* "Yes. I agree. You know you're the only woman for me." *Smiling, he emptied his mind and stroked the horse's sleek coat. The job was difficult and tiring with only the old rag at hand, and he soon felt the burn in his arms. It didn't bother him. However, he lost sense of time, thunder fading to a meaningless noise far removed from him. //??? Ouch...// Shaking himself much like Selenay had, he broke his trance and glanced around at his surroundings. It was difficult to reprocess things, and he couldn't see Culgan through the gloom. He doubted that too much time had passed, for the storm was as angry as ever. It was also impossibly dark. //.............//* "Culgan?"

Culgan: Yes? *He was standing next to Midnight, not even 10 feet away from the younger man, but barely saw Seed's slender figure through the dark room. The storm had covered the sky so perfectly that the world had turned to a place that was as dark as in the middle of the night.* I'm here, Seed. *He petted his steed's neck softly, and the mare nuzzled his shoulder. She was at least a bit dryer now, and wanted to rest. //That would be a good idea... But we need to get dry, too. I don't think the storm is going away for a few hours...// He moved next to the wall, and had to search around for a bit before he found the Midnight's saddle, and the saddle bags. He sighed when unfastening his blanket from the equipment; it was mostly as drenched as its owner.* Done yet with Selenay? We have to get ourselves dry, too, or we'll catch cold or something. Get your things and follow. I think there was a fireplace in the smaller building, maybe we can build a fire there and try to get warm... *They were carrying some military rations with them and had blankets, even though those were wet now, but needed something to make fire with. He stepped to the door, stopping to glance around in the rain. //Thanks heavens.// He crossed the yard, threw his things inside the other building and proceeded to get the items he'd noticed. There was a stack of old firewood beside the building. Most of it was wet, but he picked some from the lower part of the pile, where the logs were still mostly dry.* You could give me a hand here, Seed, unless you want to freeze to death tonight...

Seed: *He patted Selenay one last time, then gave a cold stare at the steady falling rain before running after Culgan. He watched as his lover went about doing things he should have helped with, but it pleased him to just stand there and sulk.* "I'm cold." *His voice echoed in his ears, petulant and whiny. //............// Falling crosslegged to the floor, he set about rooting through his bags for anything salvageable. Everything was soaked excepting the tasteless rations. He threw them onto Culgan's pack as if it held the blame for their current state. He wouldn't eat them anyway, unless he was starving. Growing up as a peasant had made him appreciate food, not fall in love with its very existence. Everything else was useless, not even fit to burn for warmth. The wood that Culgan was carrying over might provide them some heat, but if it was too old, it would burn up before they could appreciate it. He considered setting fire to the fort itself, but knew mother nature would win that war. See-sawing dangerously, he muttered something about the last fort they'd been in, and what they'd done there.* "I certainly hope that's not on your mind tonight." *His lover would have to use considerable skill in getting his attention tonight; physical discomfort made him disagreeable. Perhaps if they'd done something out in the middle of storm...* "Aarrrgh..." *He shrugged off his coat, chill air more welcome to his skin than the wet garment. //One track mind. So...stay put? Go help. Stay here? Get up. I don't want to move.// Frowning, he hugged his knees to his chest and stared at the fireplace blankly.*

Culgan: *Since the redhead wasn't making a move to help him, he ignored the younger man and concentrated on getting enough firewood inside to keep them warm for the night. The wood was old and a bit wet, but he also managed to find some wood that was dry lying in one corner of the bigger building. //If I'm correct, my men left this here when we were here last year... Got to remember to thank them later.// Finally he decided that they had enough wood, and started going through his bags. They'd eaten dinner earlier, so he wasn't hungry, and could guess that Seed wasn't either. The rations were to be saved for emergencies. He picked up his blanket and spread it in front of the fireplace. //Everything's drenched, but this'll have to do...// He took off the black and white coat, too, and lay it next to the blanket, hoping that it would dry a bit as soon as they got some warmth to the room. He also removed the white shirt he had under the coat, as it was just as soaked as the rest of his clothes, and felt wet and cold against his skin. //Wish I had one more shirt... Ah, that wouldn't help, it would be wet, too.// The room was safe from the rain, but the air was cold and made him shiver a bit. Now the first priority would be to get the place warmed. He picked some small logs that would catch fire easily, then piled more pieces of wood on them. Then he turned to look at the redhead, sighing.* Seed, would you mind at least helping me here? I do know how to light this, but you can do it faster with your rune.

Seed: "Fine. I suppose so." *Sparing a cursory glance at his shirtless lover, he muttered a few words that brought a tendril of fire under his command. For a moment it hypnotized him, then he directed it towards the fireplace reluctantly, where it devoured the logs with hyper greed. At the moment, he was grateful it was so easy to control the smaller spells. He simply didn't have the concentration for anything larger right now. //Hmmph// That done, he went back to musing, taking interest in his lover shivering from the cold. //Can't control that...hah// He looked towards the window, listening to the howl of the wind. It unnerved him, and his thoughts wrapped themselves up in black death. It was difficult to enjoy their situation; the entire thing spooked him and the storm wasn't slowing down in the least. Fat drops of rain pounded the rooftop, and he wondered at the strength of the old fortress. Turning attention back to Culgan, he decided to inch closer for warmth, or at least that's what he told himself.* "This is incredibly boring. At least if I'd stayed out in the rain, I could have enjoyed myself. Then I might have developed a chill, taken ill, lingered a few months, and then died. Finally some drama in my life." *As much as he didn't want to admit it, the darkness unnerved him, and only Culgan's presence and his own voice kept the shadows away. //Gutless bastard// The mental chastisement didn't make him feel any better.*

Culgan: Thank you. Saves me the trouble of playing with that... *He sat next to the fireplace, hoping that the bright flames would warm him. He added a few more logs to the fire, frowning as he noticed that his hands were shaking. //Wish my blanket was dry... No, better leave it - the floor is cold too...// He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the thunder outside. The storm was circling around the area, and he suspected now that it would go on all night.* And you're welcome to go out there and get yourself sick. Or better, you might get hit by lighting. Would you please try to think clearly for once? You wouldn't survive out there for long. So we should be thankful that we found shelter. Try to relax. Maybe we'll be able to get some sleep later. *He gave the redhead a warm smile, hoping to get Seed to a better mood. //If you don't stop that soon, I have my ways... I know that you wouldn't like to be left alone here. I could just go check the horses.// He moved closer to the younger man and touched his face gently.* Come on. Would you stop looking so sulky? You look so much prettier when you smile...

Seed: *A small thrill coursed through his slender frame; Culgan rarely behaved so genially towards him. Patient and demanding, but not...like this. It was seductive and hard to resist, and the darkness seemed to push him towards his lover. Had they not been in this situation, he'd have become instantly pliant beneath that rare demeanor. He shivered, and not entirely from the cold.* "My... you're talkative tonight." *He couldn't shake the warring needs of sex, violence, and nervous tension, and Culgan's behavior aggravated the tenuous control he held over them. He nuzzled briefly against the cool palm before drawing away. At times like this, it was better to let his moods run their course or just go to sleep.* "I can't believe you're even thinking of that.. here." *He gave a distasteful glance about the battered room, cringing at the idea of making love on a wet blanket.* "Anyway, I'm tired. I'm cold. I want to go to sleep." *He curled up on the floor beside Culgan, taking a somewhat fetal position that allowed him to avoid those strangely warm blue eyes. //This sucks// He ignored the heat in his groin. Before he knew it, he was half asleep, crackling of fireplace lulling him as much as Culgan's proximity made him feel safe.*

Culgan: Thinking of that, here? I'm not... Is it against the law to call you pretty without thinking of anything like that? *He turned to look at the younger man, noticing that the redhead was dozing off already. //Okay, I lied. You acting like that makes me think of /that/, sometimes...// He smiled to himself and moved away from the fire to check their things again. Half of Seed's blanket was wet, too, but one part of it was almost dry. He searched around, and came by the last piece of the old blanket that he hadn't grabbed with him when rushing to take care of the horses. He shook the dust off it as well as he could - it was dry, but even if it was falling apart, it felt warm against his bare arms. //So. Sleeping here wouldn't end up being such a unpleasant experience, after all... But I still have to take care of you, my dear.// He glanced at the sleeping redhead, then gently covered him with the old blanket and slipped out to the rain and to the other building. He checked the horses quickly; they were tired and wanted to sleep. Midnight nuzzled him a bit as he checked her, and he petted her neck gently for a while. //Now. I'm not there, Seed. What will you do?// He moved by the door, taking a place where he could see across the yard and inside to the other building. He was cold, and the fire looked comfortable through the doorway, but he just sat there, waiting.*

Seed: *Dreams hampered his sleep, none of them pleasant. He opened one brown eye reluctantly and stared at the fire for some time, trying to reorient to his surroundings. //Mmm...what time is it?// Judging from how the flames danced about, it couldn't have been that long since he dozed off. //Crampy...I need to stretch// It was deathly still and he shook his head slightly, willing sensation to return. He cursed the uncomfortable floor, the sound of steady rainfall that finally filled his ears, and the clothes that refused to dry. He was suddenly filled with the burning need to strip and sit in the fire. He reconsidered his earlier warning to Culgan; he immediately needed his lover's proximity.* "Culgan?" *He wandered his gaze about the room, sitting up much more sharply than he intended when his search revealed nothing.* "Culgan?" *Repeating the name several times, he surveyed the room as critically as he could, turning about as he did so. //.................//* "Culgan! Where are you?" *//I am sooo not going out in this// He stood abruptly, wrapping his arms around his chest for security. //Son of a...// He argued with himself for some time, reluctant to move. The longer he stood there, the more spooked he became. His thoughts quickly turned into a war between fear and pride, the latter of which never stood a chance. This time, he didn't even bother abusing himself mentally before getting his ass in gear. When a brief search of the fort turned up nothing, his chaotic thoughts tried to tell him that Culgan would most likely be with the horses. The sometimes irrational way in which his mind worked infuriated him, and he ran across the yard towards the darkened stable. He wasn't exactly afraid of the dark; years growing up surrounded by people had made it difficult to handle solitude. Combined with an absence of light, his discomfort became a living thing.* "Culgan...are you in there? Culgan?"

Culgan: *His wait wasn't too long; it took only a short time until he saw that the younger man was awake - and then the redhead started looking around, like searching for something. He couldn't hear Seed's voice through the rain, but he didn't have to. //Calling me now? Guess you are feeling a bit lonely there without me...// He smiled to himself and got up from his hiding place by the dark wall. The redhead was obviously looking for him, and would probably figure out the only place where he could be soon enough, so he could just as well pretend that he'd been caring for the horses. //And could also scare you a bit more.// He moved around Midnight, who was asleep enough to ignore her master's presence. He watched the door over the mare's back, and soon saw his lover's slender form appearing to the door. He heard him calling his name again, and suppressed a light chuckle. //I really scared you, didn't I, dear... Well, no worries, I'm here...// He sneaked closer to the door, then stepped out of the darkness and stopped next to his startled lover. Without difficulty, he kept the smug smile out of his face, and succeed in looking calm and a bit worried.* Yes? Is everything all right? I decided to check the horses. I think you fell asleep...

Seed: "Fuck!!!" *He spun around and nearly knocked Culgan to the floor. His lover was damned lucky he'd been more nervous than frightened; he'd left his sword back in the fort. His self-defense skills were lacking as it was, and so he reacted with verbal violence.* "What the hell are you doing in here? Who's going to bother with the horses in this thrice-damned weather? Goblins?! You stupid bastard!" *Almost as immediately as he'd turned to rage, his temper died like a flag on a windless day. He sagged against his speechless lover, burrowing against the exposed chest as if he could hide within.* "I'm sorry..." *He murmured an apology that sounded weak, and only gave him more of a reason to hate himself. "I'm an asshole." *He had no spirit for jokes, and so he just stood there, willing Culgan's arms to wrap safely about him. Feeling very small, he never considered his lover's part in this charade; it was rare enough that he blamed himself for the whole evening.* "I don't know why you put up with me..."

Culgan: It's okay... Maybe I shouldn't have left you alone. It's not very comfortable to be alone in the middle of a storm like this... *He didn't bother to hide his smile anymore, now that the younger man had hidden his face against him. This had worked as well as he had expected. He wrapped his arms around his lover, stroking the red hair gently.* Forget it, Seed. By the way... I put up with you because I love you. And I need you as much as you need me... Now. It's cold here. Let's get back there and try to get ourselves warm by the fire. I'm afraid the storm isn't going anywhere for a while... * //Which fits my plans nicely. Looks like we really are stuck here for the night... So, why not make the night enjoyable?// He kissed the redhead on the forehead, then lead him out of the small building and to the other house, where the warmness of the fire was waiting for them. The blankets were still there, so he sat down on them, drawing the younger man to sit next to him. He threw a couple of logs into the fire, then turned to the redhead, smiling.* Everything okay now?

Seed: *The warmth added to his passivity, but he couldn't squelch the thought that Culgan had planned this all along.* "I'm fine. I just don't like being alone." *He tried to explain his behavior with as much flippancy as possible. He'd never fully explained his dislike of the dark to Culgan, and had no intention of doing so. His sexual position in their relationship was submissive enough, and to weaken himself any further was anathema. //Except for the fact that his tendency to control things excites me//* "You did that on purpose!" *Agitated by the dichotomy between his thoughts and emotions, he reflected them outwards. His tone lacked conviction, however, and there was little anger in his voice.* "Hmmph." *He suddenly grinned, fire dancing in his brown eyes and turning them red.* "Are you getting unpredictable on me? Please say yes." *Without thinking twice, he assumed a mock position of prayer. With the fear and anger gone, his adrenaline expended itself as nervous mischievousness designed to provoke his lover. With any luck, he'd end up getting back some of his pride before the night was through.*

Culgan: Unpredictable? *He folded his arms, looking very calm as always.* And since when did you think I couldn't be unpredictable? I can, if I want to... One day, I just might surprise you... *He turned to add a few more logs to the fire, then relaxed. //Well, yes, I did it on purpose. I always plan everything I do in advance... so. Let's see where my plan leads us. If everything goes well...// He adjusted the blankets so that there was as much of dry part as possible, then took off his boots and folded his coat so that it would work as a pillow.* But why would I do something like that on purpose? I was just worried about the horses. Though it's always nice to see how you suddenly start missing my arms around you... *He smiled a bit, almost expecting the younger man to slap him for saying that. //You might do that... but...// He decided not to give the other man a chance to do so, and quickly drew him closer for a kiss.* Well. Feeling better? *He touched the redhead's face softly, then lay down on the blankets.* Come here. We could try sleeping a bit, and it'll be warmer if we're close to each other...

Seed: *//Mmmm// "I feel cold and wet and damned uncomfortable...I can't imagine removing my clothes...and on such a hard floor." *His thoughts turned pornographic; his body disagreed with his brain as usual. He glanced around the room but found nothing to work with. It didn't quite matter since he had little interest in bending over the nearest object.* "Eh...I guess the floor is fine." *He considered that comment, grinning against Culgan's mouth.* "I'm not that sexually driven, if you think about it...missionary and, what is it called? Riding you? Not very exciting, so you should stop complaining about my appetite." *He burrowed against his lover, suddenly wondering if Culgan's mind had been on sex at all. //No matter...heh//* "I can't sleep now...thanks to you." *Arms wrapped around Culgan's neck and he draped one leg across his lover's thigh. Snuggling close, he contented himself with the exposed neck, nibbling and nuzzling in an attempt to provoke Culgan to some action.*

Culgan: What? Well, I was seriously thinking of trying to get some sleep. It's not my fault that you get perverted ideas from everything I say. *Once again, he was very grateful for the ability to be able to maintain his cool exterior, and only give his lover a half-smile. Inside, he felt like laughing. //Perverted ideas indeed. All right, got to admit that I started it...// He decided to try the younger man's patience for a bit, and just lay there, stroking the redhead's hair lazily with one hand. His other hand, however, sneaked under the black and white coat that was bundled under his head. Since it was obvious they would do something more than just sleep, he had use for an item he always carried with him. He frowned a bit, having the search around a bit for the pockets, but then he found the small bottle and hid it under the edge of the coat. //Wonder what position you'd be interested in, then, since anything 'normal' doesn't seem to please you at the moment... You're demanding sometimes, my love.// His smile turned to a mischievous one, and he moved his free hand to caress the redhead's back.*

Seed: "You really like to press my buttons, eh?" *He nipped beneath Culgan's chin, then drew away slightly, staring into his lover's ice blue eyes. //Still warm...he's full of it// "Hah. Not your fault. Sometimes I wonder where your perversion stops and mine begins." *Grinning, he poked and prodded at Culgan's chest, having zero interest in dominating the situation.* "C'mon. I know your control can't extend that far." *Using every bit of knowledge Culgan had taught him, he teased his lover with gentle rubs, an occasional pinch, and even a tickle. He allowed his hands to run freely over his lover's body, where they came to rest in the still damp hair. There, he let them play with the silver locks, body pressed tightly against Culgan's so that no space was left unfilled. If at all possible, this might turn into one of the few times where they actually made love; however, he'd have to prod Culgan into taking control of the situation. His lover had decided long ago to proceed according to his mood, and since he was usually turned on by violence, their sexual activity ended up as more of an exercise than a romantic diversion. The fear, although dissipated, made him more clingy than usual. //So much for getting my pride back...heh//*

Culgan: *It wasn't that hard for him to tell what the redhead really wanted tonight. //No. You sure don't want anything normal... You're tame tonight. Maybe we'll actually get to do this the way I prefer doing it...// He lay still for a moment, enjoying his lover's hands playing on his skin. When the younger man pressed against him, he sighed, smiling.* I don't want to ruin the moment, but you still have your shirt on, and it's wet... *He turned to his side, pressing Seed down to his back on the blankets.* And I'd say that you'd feel considerably better without those drenched clothes on, so let's see... *He sat up and leaned to kiss the younger swordsman gently on the lips, then slowly traced up the sleeveless shirt his lover was wearing. He drew the shirt off and discarded it next to the fireplace, then proceeded to the black pants. He removed them, as well as the redhead's boots, leaving his companion lying there naked. //Always such a pleasure to my eyes.// * Should be better now. And to make sure that you don't get cold, I'd better stay here to warm you... *He lay back down and wrapped his arms around his lover, drawing him close for a long, passionate kiss.*

Seed: *The loving caresses did nothing to make the floor any more comfortable, so he ignored it. Chips of ice set to warming his chilled frame, staring as if they'd never seen the naked form before. He felt himself blushing, and returned the hold by locking arms about his lover's neck. It seemed that the fire gave forth the only sound in the room, embers popping and singeing at the ancient grate. Flickering light illuminated Culgan's silvery hair, and what little graced the near empty room. His lover's attentions kept his away from the sighing shadows, which pleased him immeasurably; the darkness no longer held sway over him. He returned caress for caress, kiss for kiss, and over several moments, found himself entangled in Culgan's arms, no longer paying heed to anything but his lover. Even the storm lost its remaining power as he began to pant under Culgan's affections, and he urged the other to proceed with the slight parting of his legs.*

Culgan: *He had to stop for a moment to just look at his lover. //So adorable... and all mine...// A feeling of possessiveness took over him for a while, and he wrapped his hands around the younger man, kissing him almost violently. Then he sighed, shaking his head.* You look so beautiful like that... *He smiled when studying the redhead. The light the fire gave was enough to let him admire his lover as much as he wanted, while the rest of the room was mostly dark. The fire also gave a peculiar highlight to Seed's fiery red hair and wine-brown eyes. //All right... better get back to this before I forget what I was doing...// He pressed another kiss on the redhead's lips, then moved to sit between the parted legs and took the small bottle of oil where it had been hidden. He spread some of the contents on his hands, then put the bottle away and started to massage Seed's shoulders gently, slowly moving lower on the younger man's slender body.*

Seed: *He'd been prepared for touch of hands to his lower body, and when they began at his shoulders, he squirmed in minor frustration. He found Culgan's touch highly erotic, but his body urged him to press itself down on Culgan's waiting member. Legs continued to part as his lover trailed a sensuous path down his stomach, hands again tangling in the damp hair. He drew in sharp breath when those fingers began warming his groin, tickling inadvertently. He gave a quiet mew and drew one leg up, exposing himself further. For the first time, his mind refused to wander, giving life to a variety of fantasies that Culgan would never address. A slight chuckle escaped him and he wondered if he was going soft. When skilled fingers found his member, he lifted from the floor slightly, squirming in need. He supposed it rather ironic that his bed manner did nothing to reflect his reputation of "raging general."* "Culgan...for the love of Highland...get on with it...please..."

Culgan: Calm down, Seed... I am getting on with it... *He chuckled a bit, finding the younger man's impatience amusing tonight. //Guess I've kept you waiting enough, though... Let's see then.// He kept his left hand stroking the redhead's member gently, while using the right one to work with the pants he was still wearing. When he got them out of the way enough, he added some oil on his own member, then calmly pressed his fingers between his lover's legs, soon finding the tight opening there. He pressed one finger in, then added another one, knowing that Seed was enough used to the preparations.* Just give me a moment, and I will indeed get on with it. But I want to do this right... *He leaned down to kiss the tip of the younger man's member, then took it into his mouth, starting to suck gently. At the same time, he moved his fingers, pressing them accurately against a certain spot inside.*

Seed: "This isn't... //gasp// ...getting on with it!" *He bucked when warm lips enveloped his sex, more painful to his hungry body than the fingers within. He thought he'd died when his prostrate was nudged gently, and a soft cry was forced from his mouth. He instantly negated earlier thoughts. That single touch centered itself directly on his member, and he fought to control his immediate need to release into the welcome mouth. Nails dug into the floor boards, few splinters of wood catching and causing his fingers to bleed. //And that's why you scratch, remember?// He reoriented his arms upon Culgan's body, finding purchase in the strong shoulders. The pressure he exerted forced Culgan to suckle harder and he clenched his legs closer to the lowered head, an action his lover answered by forcing them apart again. He whimpered before finally losing physical control, although it was never worth it to hold his release off for long. His damnable lover refused to enter his body without coaxing him to orgasm orally, knowing that it drove him crazy with need.*

Culgan: *Getting the younger man to this point wasn't hard; Seed always released before he really even got to start this. He continued sucking until the redhead slackened on the floor, momentarily exhausted.* You're way too easy, my love... And you give up too easily. Oh well... *He chanced position a little, moving to kiss his lover, but kept his fingers where they were, moving them slightly. A short glance down proved him that Seed was nowhere near tired yet. //Oh, why bother checking anyway - I know you better. And besides, I can kinda feel that at least one part of you isn't tired... Heh.// Slowly, he removed the fingers, knowing his lover was enough relaxed to take him. He placed his right hand under Seed's neck and kissed him while gently nudging slender legs apart some more, then used his left hand to lift the redhead's waist from the floor a bit before carefully pressing the tip of his length against the small opening and thrusting in.*

Seed: *No matter how many times they made love, each instance caused a brief flare of pain before subsiding into the fullness he was more accepting of. The situation was still unwelcoming of their current position, and so he shifted to allow Culgan easier access within. Legs rose up to embrace where they might otherwise have remained, and he clung to his lover for support. Again, no fantasy captured his mind; he was completely focused upon the encounter as if it were his first. //Soft...definitely soft// He stifled unwanted chuckle by locking his teeth into his lover's neck, straining upwards from the damnable floor. He had no illusions that he'd ever make fun of missionary sex in a warm bed again, but for now, his body demanded this contact. He allowed Culgan complete run of him, rocking in time with the gentle thrusts. His hand moved of its own accord and inched towards his member, unable to wait for Culgan to attend to it. //At least it started out as love-making...// He snickered then, but it was lost in a sudden gasp as he touched his neglected sex.*

Culgan: *He was quite focused on their position, and forced his hand under the redhead's back, trying to make this as comfortable as possible. Even with the damp blankets under them, the floor was hard and inconvenient. //Note to self: don't start doing this in weird places like this again...// His left hand stayed on the younger man's waist for support, until he noticed something against his lower abdomen. He ceased moving for a moment, glanced down and then smiled to his lover.* Seed, you don't have to do that yourself... I was just getting to that. *He moved his left hand upwards a little, pushing the younger man's hand away and wrapped his fingers around the hard length.* There, better now? I thought you had better use for your hands, like scratching my shoulders or something... *The redhead squirmed under him, obviously getting frustrated, so he resumed the thrusting in a smooth rhythm. //Another note: don't ever give him ideas about what he could use his hands... My shoulders will be bleeding after this.// He shook his head shortly, then concentrated on kissing the redhead to keep him from biting him.*

Seed: "Do you have to stop like that?" *He complained, sighing when his lover's hand took over. Their position didn't allow him to sag to the floor, like he wanted to. //Okay...time for plan B// Digging his nails into Culgan's back, he burrowed in as close as possible, wincing as his movements pulled Culgan deeper within him. //Bingo// He arched again, feeling pressure against his prostate, and using it to urge him towards release. It might be worth thinking about other ways to have sex, but his preference for seeing Culgan's face overrode the obvious options. As expected, Culgan responded by gentling his motions, seeing the brief flare of pain cross his feline features.* "Just fuck me, Culgan. We can make love when we get back to the castle." *The words came out in a gasping, pathetic manner, but he figured his lover could make them out. One good thing about screwing without tenderness...he was less likely to mew like a kitten.*

Culgan: *He sighed, trying to move as carefully as he could.* I would've preferred the love-making, dear, but... If you wish... *The younger man's nails indeed did make him bleed a bit, making him somewhat annoyed, but he didn't really care. He didn't want to complain, but sometimes... //You could still be more careful, Seed. Well. When we get back to the castle... or better, when we get to our destination, I'll show you some love-making... Heh. For now, however...// He kissed the redhead again, then just watched his lover's face for a while. //How pretty you look when we're doing this...// Seed squirmed a little, probably not too happy with his slower movements. He smiled and resumed his thrusts a bit faster, while continuing to stroke the hard length in his hand skillfully. //Impatient, aren't you, my love...// He figured they'd be done soon - he could read his lover well enough to know that the redhead was close to release.*

Seed: "Yeah yeah..." *Dazed by the speed, he was close to swooning. He'd never passed out during sex before, and had no intention of starting now. Culgan's ego might get too large, although he doubted it would do more than make the man chuckle. The intensity of his actions caused a fine sweat to form across his brow, and he gritted his teeth in defiance of the pain. //Yep...I'll definitely never look down on a warm mattress again// The copulation itself was glorious, beyond the obvious discomfort, and he dug his nails in deeper to show his approval.* "Culgan...love-making is so...boring." *He tried to explain his delight in the more violent aspects of the situation, but his hunger rose up and threw him into a numbing orgasm. He arched from the floor, wrapping himself around his lover for support. His brain swirled and his whole body ached, but he found the words to convey the foremost thought on his mind.* "We need to do this more often...in a bed..." *He felt frozen in his hold on Culgan, panting and unable to let go. Ultimately, he sagged backwards, in a position necessary for Culgan to reach his own release. The feeling was intoxicating.*

Culgan: We'll see about that... later... *He frowned as the slight pain on his back sharpened, but still refused to complain about it. //Not now. We're almost done...// He didn't have time to think further when Seed drenched his hand, and at that very moment, he decided this was enough.* Love-making... isn't boring, my love... *He whispered, closing his eyes when his own release hit him so suddenly that it almost surprised him. //Seed...// He felt powerless for a short moment, and just lay still. However, after a few minutes, his mind cleared enough to notice that the redhead wasn't moving anymore.* Seed? Hmm? *He smiled, quite amused. His lover was obviously very tired and seemed to have passed out. //That, or you're too exhausted and fell asleep...// He sighed, withdrawing from his lover's motionless body.* //Need to wash a bit. Well, water sure is something we have plenty of here...// He checked through his coat pockets until he found a handkerchief. //Ah, a bit damp. Good.// He cleaned them both, then took his coat and spread it on Seed. It was still raining outside, but the storm was gone. He smiled, stopping to throw a few logs to the fading fire. //That'll keep us warm until the morning...// He lay down next to the younger man, wrapping his arms around him.* Sweet dreams, Seed...