He nods and his fingers trace the line of the collar as his fingers fall. "We'll have plenty of time for discussion another time." One he would most certainly be interested in having, just not right now.
"Take off your shirt and pants and lay face down on the couch with one of the pillows. I'll be over in a moment." He squeezed Alaric's hand still in his, but then pulled away. He thought about turning off the music for a moment, but then changed his mind and left it playing as he went to go fetch the salve he was looking for.
He must be getting more secure because there is no ease at separation this time, and he is happy to undress and leave his clothes neatly in a chair. Then stretches out on his stomach on the sofa, arms under the pillow he rests his head on.
"I will put the animal stupid enough to interrupt to sleep," he warns.
He finds the salve quickly, most of the extras are stored either in the bathroom or in the laundry room, and he returns in time for the comment and to see Gauntlet settled down against the couch near enough where Alaric's hand could reach, like a subtle invitation for compromise.
Despite long limbs, Anders is fairly careful and well-practiced in folding his legs under him on either side of Alaric's feet. He scoops some of the salve into his hands, it's smell subtle but undeniably that of a deep forest after a rainfall. He works it across his hands, heats them and the salve with mana and then sets in working it into Alaric's left calf with slow and firm circles of dedicated attention. As it was pressed into Alaric's skin, the magic in it took, acting to both relax and sooth as much as the massage itself.
He should do this more often. Not the salve, it would lose it's effectiveness if used too often, but the massage, especially with the heat mana. Alaric carried his tension all over him, like a cloak he only took off when at his most peaceful which didn't happen as often as Anders felt it should.
He works up Alaric's calf to his thigh before getting more salve and starting in on the other leg. "Magic and plants." He offers with some cheek, but there's a gentle squeeze that isn't the massage as way of praise for not deviating off track.
He works his fingers up to the curve of Alaric's ass, then shifts up his body to begin the same, slow dedicated press of heat and salve into Alaric's back up to his shoulders. "You deserve days when you allow yourself to rest and relax completely. It's good for your body and mind both...and that little smile you get is something I cherish."
He groans, softly. "There is a limit to how much relaxation is relaxing."
Is that contrary? Probably, but what is new. Nor is the fact that he is doing it on purpose and with some humor. "And my smile would lose potency as fast as the salve if over applied."
He's also trying to halfway move into Anders' hands, vaguely and unconsciously trying to... not quite control things but direct? More than vaguely turned on, but not feeling urgent to pursue his arousal or increase it, at least.
It's probably for the best Alaric can't see his face, because the smile that curls Anders' lips is devilish at best. The commentary he doesn't mind and the bit about Alaric's smile gets a very quiet 'never' nearly whispered into the attention Anders was paying to his work, though he didn't argue more than that. No, the amused umbrage came from the movement, the leaning and attempting to direct Anders' pace and direction.
He wiped a hand off on his pants and used it to work his fingers into Alaric's hair at the back of his head, gentle even as his fingers clenched into a firm grip at the root of the strands in them. He tugged lightly and leaned over Alaric with his other hand braced on Alaric's back as Anders hovered by his ear. "Keep still, general, you're not to move until I'm finished or you'll undo my work." A quiet, gentle, but firm warning before he pressed a kiss to Alaric's ear and sat up again to continue his work.
"Just focus on the feeling of my fingers on your back, nothing else."
The hand in his hair makes him intuitively want to turn to ask what Anders is doing - which is in and of itself a sign of trust, if he'd had any hesitation he'd have been reaching mentally and predicting - but is stopped by the hand on his back.
He doesn't have time to get too confused before the low voice is in his ear and tension abruptly, completely, entirely, just drains out of him. Why? Because it's clear instruction, boundaries, rules, and that was maybe a little of what he wanted in handing over the collar-
It's also an extension of the dance.
"Yes, sir." His tone is slightly bratty and teasing all the same, but he hears, he understands and god this whole thing is both hot and relieving. Thank you
"Good, my star." The gentle and warm words are accompanied by Anders' hand smoothing through Alaric's hair in approval. Then he scoops out a bit more of the salve and starts again -a bit down from where he'd left off- to chase each tense line of muscle and each potential node of tension as he works the mixture deep into Alaric's skin. The line of Alaric's shoulders and the back of his neck receive even more attention until Anders' fingers move out to the shape of his love's upper arms. The last bit smooths down to Alaric's hands which receive a more brief massage and a kiss to the back of each when Anders is done.
"Wonderful, Alaric. Now...tell me how you're feeling. First physically, then mentally."
They have, he thinks, with just a touch of amusement, trapped one another into a game of communication chicken. None of them can refuse to try, without making a hypocrite of themselves for demanding others do so.
"Warm, sleepy, and as though I know why the cats enjoy your company," he says, voice soft and maybe a little slurry. It is, somehow, still carrying the faintest touch of dry humor. That isn't a good answer for the mentally though and that he just - "...Like I love you?"
Yes, he does think there is a right answer and he should find it.
It's a difficult arrangement, they're all challenged at communication in some ways, but it's useful and needed and he knows it's a press of an ask, but there's a bit of pride in him when Alaric finds the words. Although, the question at the end has him chuckling and there's a bit of warmth to his cheeks he's glad can't be seen.
He wipes his hands on his pants again and leans over Alaric, hands on the couch on either side of him to brace himself so Anders can kiss the back of his head.
"Sorry, I should be more clear: I meant if you're feeling better from earlier, but I'll take that too." His next kiss is to Alaric's temple and his voice is more of a murmur but not too low to be heard. "I adore you, Alaric Morgan."
Then he sits up to extract himself from their small tangle so he can slide down beside Alaric on the ground next to his head so Anders could pet his hair. "Would you like a nap or shall I tempt you into something more lurid and thoroughly exhaust you?"
He turns his head toward Anders and uses his forearms to push up enough to get away from the cushion and kiss Anders, warm and gentle and affectionate.
"Much better." That part is clear, but. "'m going to sleep, now."
He returns the kiss readily and reaches up to unclasp the collar before Alaric can settle in again, though he's careful to keep the metal in contact with his love until he can rest it on Alaric's back once he's settled again. The ward would wear off soon enough, but better not to jolt him with it's removal when he was ready to relax.
"My pleasure." And he was absolutely earnest in that, there was very little else he would rather do than be near Alaric and pet his hair until he slept. His fingers ran through the strands in practiced strokes and he leaned against the couch with his opposite shoulder as though guarding over him.
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Also probably not great for him or Anders, and he's curious.
"Please."
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"Take off your shirt and pants and lay face down on the couch with one of the pillows. I'll be over in a moment." He squeezed Alaric's hand still in his, but then pulled away. He thought about turning off the music for a moment, but then changed his mind and left it playing as he went to go fetch the salve he was looking for.
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"I will put the animal stupid enough to interrupt to sleep," he warns.
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Despite long limbs, Anders is fairly careful and well-practiced in folding his legs under him on either side of Alaric's feet. He scoops some of the salve into his hands, it's smell subtle but undeniably that of a deep forest after a rainfall. He works it across his hands, heats them and the salve with mana and then sets in working it into Alaric's left calf with slow and firm circles of dedicated attention. As it was pressed into Alaric's skin, the magic in it took, acting to both relax and sooth as much as the massage itself.
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"What is in that?"
No wait, not what he was here for. He tried to brush that aside.
"It's lovely and don't answer that, please."
He trusts Anders. He can relax and just enjoy the weight and warmth at his back and the feel.
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He works up Alaric's calf to his thigh before getting more salve and starting in on the other leg. "Magic and plants." He offers with some cheek, but there's a gentle squeeze that isn't the massage as way of praise for not deviating off track.
He works his fingers up to the curve of Alaric's ass, then shifts up his body to begin the same, slow dedicated press of heat and salve into Alaric's back up to his shoulders. "You deserve days when you allow yourself to rest and relax completely. It's good for your body and mind both...and that little smile you get is something I cherish."
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Is that contrary? Probably, but what is new. Nor is the fact that he is doing it on purpose and with some humor. "And my smile would lose potency as fast as the salve if over applied."
He's also trying to halfway move into Anders' hands, vaguely and unconsciously trying to... not quite control things but direct? More than vaguely turned on, but not feeling urgent to pursue his arousal or increase it, at least.
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He wiped a hand off on his pants and used it to work his fingers into Alaric's hair at the back of his head, gentle even as his fingers clenched into a firm grip at the root of the strands in them. He tugged lightly and leaned over Alaric with his other hand braced on Alaric's back as Anders hovered by his ear. "Keep still, general, you're not to move until I'm finished or you'll undo my work." A quiet, gentle, but firm warning before he pressed a kiss to Alaric's ear and sat up again to continue his work.
"Just focus on the feeling of my fingers on your back, nothing else."
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He doesn't have time to get too confused before the low voice is in his ear and tension abruptly, completely, entirely, just drains out of him. Why? Because it's clear instruction, boundaries, rules, and that was maybe a little of what he wanted in handing over the collar-
It's also an extension of the dance.
"Yes, sir." His tone is slightly bratty and teasing all the same, but he hears, he understands and god this whole thing is both hot and relieving. Thank you
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"Wonderful, Alaric. Now...tell me how you're feeling. First physically, then mentally."
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"Warm, sleepy, and as though I know why the cats enjoy your company," he says, voice soft and maybe a little slurry. It is, somehow, still carrying the faintest touch of dry humor. That isn't a good answer for the mentally though and that he just - "...Like I love you?"
Yes, he does think there is a right answer and he should find it.
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He wipes his hands on his pants again and leans over Alaric, hands on the couch on either side of him to brace himself so Anders can kiss the back of his head.
"Sorry, I should be more clear: I meant if you're feeling better from earlier, but I'll take that too." His next kiss is to Alaric's temple and his voice is more of a murmur but not too low to be heard. "I adore you, Alaric Morgan."
Then he sits up to extract himself from their small tangle so he can slide down beside Alaric on the ground next to his head so Anders could pet his hair. "Would you like a nap or shall I tempt you into something more lurid and thoroughly exhaust you?"
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"Much better." That part is clear, but. "'m going to sleep, now."
Pause.
"Sit there and pet my hair for a while."
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"My pleasure." And he was absolutely earnest in that, there was very little else he would rather do than be near Alaric and pet his hair until he slept. His fingers ran through the strands in practiced strokes and he leaned against the couch with his opposite shoulder as though guarding over him.