[ John slides a little closer to hand them over, doesn't move back, momentarily overwhelmed by the urge to press up against Felipe and inhale the scent of him. Instead he finishes eating his bread, watching Felipe shuffle. Takes out the little box of matches and counts out ten for each of them, each a possible favour — bone dice, new knife, or other things. ]
[ the cards are practically dancing in his hands. ]
The first one. It reminds me of a game from back home. [ someone here already taught him how to play it. ] When I was younger I served on a ship. Nothing to do there except to pick up bad habits. [ he offers as an explanation and starts dealing the cards. ]
A bit like here, don't you think? [ trapped in the dark with people you don't really know. danger outside. rats? ]
I suppose. I've mostly been on space ships rather than the naval sort, but I see your point.
[ Cramped quarters and very little entertainment unless you made your own, though the people on his ships were usually occupied by war. Still, cards were an occasional diversion, usually with a complex deck representing the Nine Houses, the Emperor and his Saints. But he remembers the sort he's picked up here, with Queens and Jacks and Aces.
He lifts his cards, glances at them, puts them down, his strange black eyes giving away nothing. ]
fyi just gonna handwave the card things because idk them
Spaceships? You'll have to try harder than that to distract me.
[ shit, he really, really wants to know more about those. but it'll have to wait, he can't get into it now. he tries to play it cool, but he's never been good with hiding his emotions, so the corners of his lips definitely do curl. fucking spaceships!!.
he clears his throat, meets his eyes and sets a card on the bed. ]
Tell me, does everyone in your world have eyes like that or are you even more special than I thought?
Fall all over themselves, mostly. I'm the God-Emperor of the Nine Houses, ruler of the shepherd planets, and Commander of the Imperial Fleet, so there's a lot of awed silence and attempts to martyr themselves where I'll see.
Not the girls here, of course. Ianthe and Harrow are my Saints, and Gideon's my heir apparent, so stuff's a bit more normal there. But it's been nice to be able to chat to townsfolk without them seeing my eyes and becoming ridiculous.
[ Still poker! He's mostly hoping if he reveals enough intimidating and distracting information he'll be able to sneak a win. ]
[ Felipe muses on it while he flips through the cards in his hand. there's that crazy emperor stuff again. sure, he buys some of it. the guy knows great magic, it makes sense that he'd be a leader, but no one has that much power. ]
Did you have an empress? [ he doesn't have insane stories, but he knows one trick pretty well and he's seen it work on John before. slowly, with a hint of a smile, he looks at him over the cards. gives him the best bedroom eyes he's mastered over the years. ] And were they as good-looking as me?
[ John knows immediately what he's doing, with that heated look, the flirtatious question. Takes a moment to study his cards — the actual answer to that question is complicated, but Felipe doesn't want the actual answer. Even if he did, John is still too uncertain of him to divulge the stranger secrets of his passed. ]
Nobody back home. Not really the settling down type. You'd have to work really hard to convince me.
[ And probably still fail because he's fallen for someone else, oops. ]
[ Dry, but it's having the intended effect; he's imagining Felipe in that role instead of concentrating on his cards or the bluff.
It gives away that he's genuinely confident in his current hand, allowing himself to forget about it and watch Felipe instead, eyes trailing from his mouth down the length of his body. The pheromones in his system making that seem like a dangerously appealing prospect, of having this gorgeous man mated to him, taking care of him, worshipping him. ]
[ he softly corrects him and folds his cards. there's been enough of a warning not to chase after John's hand, so he's cutting his losses for this round. ]
[ John goes still at that, a little distant. Scowls subtly at the next hand when it's dealt to him as though it's personally wronged him. Then turns the full force of his terrible black hole of a gaze on Felipe. ]
Listen, mate, just because I let you pull my hair a little bit— it didn't mean anything.
[ Something that he's been so conflicted about in the days since, his ego bruised. ]
You don't know anything about me.
[ Charming, handsome motherfucker. The more he seems like a sweet safe harbour, a viable possibility, the more John flinches away from it. Though he's also flicking in matches heedlessly, so teasing him is at least working to beat him. ]
[ then, just for a moment, locked under John's gaze, he buys it. the terrifying reality where John rules over entire planets and has followers crying at his feet. a shiver goes through him and he looks down at the cards instead. ]
It didn't mean anything.
[ he repeats flatly, but no amount of dying stars staring at him will be able to wipe the smug look from his face. ]
I only know what I saw. [ that is, John willingly choking on his dick. ]
[ John looks down at his cards as well, guilt sweeping through him. It's not as though Felipe had take advantage of him, John just hates feeling like he's lost control for even a second. Even when he likes it. Especially when he likes it. ]
This is why I don't do second hookups.
[ Or "stay friends", though there's so much less expectation of that when you're the emperor and you're having casual sex with your admirals before they fly out to the front lines. ]
[ Felipe laughs as he places the winning hand on the bed. so that's what it was. ]
We're going to be seeing each other a lot here.
[ so John better get used to it quick. sadly, here he can't just hop on a spaceship and fly away. of course, this judging is hilarious coming from Felipe of all people. he usually continues until it's too late and then tries to pretend nothing ever happened. ]
And it's not like you could have stayed away from me. [ joking, but the confidence is genuine. he knows he wants to chase this guy, wants to know more about his powers. it's exciting. ]
[ John has lost rather badly, there, but he takes that much in stride at least, paying out Felipe's winnings and shuffling the deck anew. Playing a game, even poorly, feels easier than the minefield this conversation ventures alongside. ]
I'm here, aren't I?
[ He'd made the decision to stop avoiding a second encounter; found his way back to this room — and he's glad of it, feels safe here and well occupied. The only problem is the way Felipe manages to get under his skin with his easy manner and constant presumption, but it's the kind of annoyance that makes John want to kiss him just as much as punch him, gets him flustered and trying to hide it.
Right now, though, he still looks serious. Deals out some cards, talking quietly. ]
If you'd rather pass the time having sex instead of playing poker, we can do that. But if you're looking for someone to cry or swoon or beg for your dick, let's stick to the cards.
I'm winning. I don't think I want to stop playing just yet.
[ it's been almost too easy to wind him up. is this because he's an emperor? no one dared to fuck with him before? it couldn't be. Felipe just smiles disarmingly and gestures at him to continue dealing the cards. it'd be a shame if their game was interrupted and giving up means bad luck. ]
Is that what you think I want? [ who wouldn't occasionally want someone to beg for their dick? it's funny though. ] So no more questions about your personal life? No more flirting?
[ John watches that thumb, that mouth, distracted from his own cards. By both the question and just Felipe as a whole. The thought of kissing him. ]
Yes.
[ Since it's not going to be 'one quick fuck and never seeing each other again'. He tends to be careful with kissing, but once he knows he wants to he won't deny himself. It's not really much more intimate than a blowjob.
[ by the time that John comes around again, Felipe has placed the rest of his matches and the cards on the bed. even though he didn't seem to care, he could feel the other man watching him and took pleasure in it. he likes that, enjoys the attention almost as much as gambling. ]
Good.
[ he simply says, looks to him with a hint of a smile. John made the right choice. ]
[ John finds himself giving a little smile back, his hackles of earlier lowering again slowly. Then he looks back down at his cards, trying to remember he's supposed to be hiding his reaction and studying Felipe's, unless he wants to lose every matchstick and spend the rest of the snow making items out of bone. ]
You're better at this than I would have thought.
[ Tricksy, and hard to read behind the charm, not attributes he'd initially picked up on in the forest. ]
I'll call.
[ That's a thing you say in poker I looked it up. ]
[ no reason to push his opponent any further now that things are looking pretty great for him. still, John has managed to put up an entertaining fight considering how distracted he was by sexy daydreams. ]
Oh, so you came here thinking this would be easy?
[ he may not be so good at lying, but flirting always comes naturally to him and he's ruthless when it comes to cards. ]
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[ that's funny. Felipe smiles at him knowingly. he can tell what's happening here, but he doesn't mind it. he's played this part before. ]
Give me those.
[ John's too slow. he holds up his hand for the cards. ]
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So I was right that you play a bit of cards.
[ Since he shuffles like a pro. ]
What are we playing. Poker? Blackjack? Go Fish?
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The first one. It reminds me of a game from back home. [ someone here already taught him how to play it. ] When I was younger I served on a ship. Nothing to do there except to pick up bad habits. [ he offers as an explanation and starts dealing the cards. ]
A bit like here, don't you think? [ trapped in the dark with people you don't really know. danger outside. rats? ]
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[ Cramped quarters and very little entertainment unless you made your own, though the people on his ships were usually occupied by war. Still, cards were an occasional diversion, usually with a complex deck representing the Nine Houses, the Emperor and his Saints. But he remembers the sort he's picked up here, with Queens and Jacks and Aces.
He lifts his cards, glances at them, puts them down, his strange black eyes giving away nothing. ]
fyi just gonna handwave the card things because idk them
Spaceships? You'll have to try harder than that to distract me.
[ shit, he really, really wants to know more about those. but it'll have to wait, he can't get into it now. he tries to play it cool, but he's never been good with hiding his emotions, so the corners of his lips definitely do curl. fucking spaceships!!.
he clears his throat, meets his eyes and sets a card on the bed. ]
Tell me, does everyone in your world have eyes like that or are you even more special than I thought?
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Just me.
[ A cocky little curve of his mouth, meeting Felipe's eyes directly. ]
Been a bit weird being here where people just don't know who I am. Fun, though.
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Yeah? What would they do if they knew you?
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Not the girls here, of course. Ianthe and Harrow are my Saints, and Gideon's my heir apparent, so stuff's a bit more normal there. But it's been nice to be able to chat to townsfolk without them seeing my eyes and becoming ridiculous.
[ Still poker! He's mostly hoping if he reveals enough intimidating and distracting information he'll be able to sneak a win. ]
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[ Felipe muses on it while he flips through the cards in his hand. there's that crazy emperor stuff again. sure, he buys some of it. the guy knows great magic, it makes sense that he'd be a leader, but no one has that much power. ]
Did you have an empress? [ he doesn't have insane stories, but he knows one trick pretty well and he's seen it work on John before. slowly, with a hint of a smile, he looks at him over the cards. gives him the best bedroom eyes he's mastered over the years. ] And were they as good-looking as me?
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Nobody back home. Not really the settling down type. You'd have to work really hard to convince me.
[ And probably still fail because he's fallen for someone else, oops. ]
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Not even if there was someone who worshipped the ground you walked on? Looked after you gently and sighed your name softly?
[ he pauses as he flicks a few of those matches forward. poker. ] Of course, it'd be different at night.
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[ Dry, but it's having the intended effect; he's imagining Felipe in that role instead of concentrating on his cards or the bluff.
It gives away that he's genuinely confident in his current hand, allowing himself to forget about it and watch Felipe instead, eyes trailing from his mouth down the length of his body. The pheromones in his system making that seem like a dangerously appealing prospect, of having this gorgeous man mated to him, taking care of him, worshipping him. ]
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[ he softly corrects him and folds his cards. there's been enough of a warning not to chase after John's hand, so he's cutting his losses for this round. ]
I think you enjoy it. Having someone around.
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Listen, mate, just because I let you pull my hair a little bit— it didn't mean anything.
[ Something that he's been so conflicted about in the days since, his ego bruised. ]
You don't know anything about me.
[ Charming, handsome motherfucker. The more he seems like a sweet safe harbour, a viable possibility, the more John flinches away from it. Though he's also flicking in matches heedlessly, so teasing him is at least working to beat him. ]
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It didn't mean anything.
[ he repeats flatly, but no amount of dying stars staring at him will be able to wipe the smug look from his face. ]
I only know what I saw. [ that is, John willingly choking on his dick. ]
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This is why I don't do second hookups.
[ Or "stay friends", though there's so much less expectation of that when you're the emperor and you're having casual sex with your admirals before they fly out to the front lines. ]
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We're going to be seeing each other a lot here.
[ so John better get used to it quick. sadly, here he can't just hop on a spaceship and fly away. of course, this judging is hilarious coming from Felipe of all people. he usually continues until it's too late and then tries to pretend nothing ever happened. ]
And it's not like you could have stayed away from me. [ joking, but the confidence is genuine. he knows he wants to chase this guy, wants to know more about his powers. it's exciting. ]
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I'm here, aren't I?
[ He'd made the decision to stop avoiding a second encounter; found his way back to this room — and he's glad of it, feels safe here and well occupied. The only problem is the way Felipe manages to get under his skin with his easy manner and constant presumption, but it's the kind of annoyance that makes John want to kiss him just as much as punch him, gets him flustered and trying to hide it.
Right now, though, he still looks serious. Deals out some cards, talking quietly. ]
If you'd rather pass the time having sex instead of playing poker, we can do that. But if you're looking for someone to cry or swoon or beg for your dick, let's stick to the cards.
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[ it's been almost too easy to wind him up. is this because he's an emperor? no one dared to fuck with him before? it couldn't be. Felipe just smiles disarmingly and gestures at him to continue dealing the cards. it'd be a shame if their game was interrupted and giving up means bad luck. ]
Is that what you think I want? [ who wouldn't occasionally want someone to beg for their dick? it's funny though. ] So no more questions about your personal life? No more flirting?
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[ Hastily, since he might act like he wants everything casual but he likes chatting and flirting. He picks up his cards. ]
Just don't pull my hair and shit. Easy as.
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[ he can respect boundaries. even if they happen to shift around a bit.
he glances at the cards he picked up, not really happy with them. he runs his thumb across his bottom lip, thoughtful. ]
Am I allowed to kiss you?
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Yes.
[ Since it's not going to be 'one quick fuck and never seeing each other again'. He tends to be careful with kissing, but once he knows he wants to he won't deny himself. It's not really much more intimate than a blowjob.
But right. Poker. ]
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Good.
[ he simply says, looks to him with a hint of a smile. John made the right choice. ]
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You're better at this than I would have thought.
[ Tricksy, and hard to read behind the charm, not attributes he'd initially picked up on in the forest. ]
I'll call.
[ That's a thing you say in poker I looked it up. ]
whoever may win idc
Oh, so you came here thinking this would be easy?
[ he may not be so good at lying, but flirting always comes naturally to him and he's ruthless when it comes to cards. ]
Well, show me what you got.
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felipe will lose.
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cw: mentions of incest in this thread
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