[CLOSED] It's all fun and games until somebody gets laid.

[airshipswank]

Who: Lord Buckingham (airshipswank), Athos (thestormcomes) & Ellen Harvelle (justrunsasaloon
Where: Buckingham's room & tba
When: April 12th & 13th
Rating: R+ for sexual content
Summary: Saturday is game day for Athos and Buckingham. This weekend the latter has a particularly brilliant idea to raise the stakes. One day later Ellen makes an equally brilliant choice about the flavour of social interaction currently missing in her life.

Comments

Saturday - Athos

[airshipswank]

Buckingham smirks, and makes a show of revealing his cards slowly, one after another, until his victory is spread out on the table. He drinks in Athos' silent response with relish, and slips the golden ring back on his finger. Another wager of the past week won back with success.

"Another round?"

But of course there will be, the afternoon is still young, and his winning streak only makes it all the more beautiful. The duke watches Athos pour them both another cup, and begins to shuffle the cards anew.

"What shall it be this time? I fear our jewels worn out from constant trade."

He chuckles, but in truth he misses the excitement of a good wager. Their possessions here are negligible, and the most thrilling secrets have either been exposed already, or lie buried too deep still. The things he would give for a good bet.

Saturday I think you mean SEXYday

[thestormcomes]

Frankly, Athos isn't surprised by the loss - it isn't as though he wanted the duke's ring anyway, and there are plenty of other things worth bargaining. Their burgeoning boredom is only amplified by the fact that this recent event has left everyone feeling a little more risky about their decisions. Athos is almost waiting for someone to jump off the roof (Hell, it might be him).

He pours them both another cup and hums to himself, thinking it over. The immeasurable desire to shame His Lordship is niggling obnoxiously at the back of his mind again, and Athos has to struggle to keep it reasonable.

Ish.

Stretching his legs out in front of him, the musketeer laces his fingers in his lap and looks down at his feet contemplatively.

"...loser has to lick the winner's boots."

[airshipswank]

As he listens attentively the duke's smile soon turns to a sight akin to morning's first and brightest rays of sunlight, if these particular rays had a really smug and predatory air about them.

"Quite the... interesting challenge, I must say."

He smirks, shuffles the cards one last time, and puts the cards down on the table.

"But of course I accept."

Slowly crossing and uncrossing his own legs he taps twice with his fingers, motioning for Athos to cut the deck. His eyes glance down at his own footwear, gleaming black leather adorned with a golden buckle.

"And I'll not even begrudge you the advantage, after all I do... keep the better wardrobe."

Spotlessly clean. Impeccably polished. Buckingham chuckles.

"Well, you'll convince yourself of the taste soon enough..."

[thestormcomes]

Buckingham's boots are certainly shinier than Athos', but they're no more clean - being in the Mansion has provided the musketeer with a fresh wardrobe every day, it's only recently he's started to take full advantage of it. The duke may have added a few gauche decorations to his own apparel, but that doesn't make it inherently better.

It just makes you a prime target to be robbed, and Athos has had more than a few brushes with cardsharps.

"I'm sure," he replies mildly, reaching for the deck and cutting it once, twice, before dealing the hands.

[airshipswank]

Each and every single one of Buckingham's colours, fabrics, threads, ornaments, and patterns comprising his wardrobe is chosen impeccably and without flaw, and Athos' jealousy will not make its appearance any less divine. But of that the duke is already perfectly aware, and so the subject is in no need of further discussion.

Instead Buckingham merely reaches for his cards, and takes a fleeting glance at their value.

"I raise... a kiss on the boot as well."

His smile sweetens sickeningly.

[thestormcomes]

The likelihood of the duke possessing a Royal Flush after the cards have just been dealt is very slim, and Athos is very happy with his three of a kind in the first hand. Tapping his cards briefly before leaving them flat on the table, he considers an ante up.

"A kiss on each boot," he counters, smile wry and perhaps not nearly as saccharine as Buckingham's.

The duke has proven in past games that he is an exceptional bluffer, but it all means precious little to Athos when he feels like risking more of his dignity than the usual.

[airshipswank]

Buckingham reaches for the dealer's stack placed between them.

"While kneeling on the floor," he adds easily, lest there remain any confusion or hope about whether their feet might be placed on a table for easier access, or perhaps be reached by a mere bow.

Switching two cards he beholds his new hand. His smile does not waver.

[thestormcomes]

"All right," Athos replies, rolling his eyes and reaching for another card. Switching one of his own out he is pleased to see four of a kind. Not a bad draw, not a bad hand. Tempted to leave things where they are before they escalate any further to suit Buckingham's whims, Athos holds.

"Is His Lordship prepared to show, or would he prefer to up the ante once more?"

Which is Athos' way of saying ready whenever you are.

[airshipswank]

"No, I... believe this should suffice. Shall I?"

He does not wait for confirmation. Smiling cheerfully as can be he puts his cards down in a line on the table, flipping them over for examination one after another. In due time history will agree that there is very little straight about the life of George Villiers, but this flush certainly makes the cut.

1/2 SO SIMPLE

[thestormcomes]

Athos glances down at his cards.

"...Oh."

2/2

[thestormcomes]

"Merde."

His arrogance, it appears, cut it far too close for comfort.

[airshipswank]

Gloat? My, Buckingham wouldn't dream of it! He smiles, politely, and nods at Athos' cards, at a round well-played. Then he calmly rises from his chair, walks around its back, and with a deliberate pull turns it to face halfway away from the table.

He reaches for his cup of wine, and empties the last sip within. Then he sits back down, now stretching his legs out into the empty space in front of him. He pauses. Smiles. Clicks his boot together once, and doesn't turn his head to speak.

"Pay up."

this is some 50 Shades of Erotic Fiction right here

[thestormcomes]

Buckingham's casual demeanor is gloating enough. That he could act so blasé about it is phenomenal - under any other circumstances the duke might be howling with laughter.

His near-silence is almost worse, and Athos watches, stock-still, as Buckingham pulls out his chair.

It grates across the floor.

The duke sits.

Stiffly, after what feels like an excruciatingly long moment, Athos gets to his feet and steps around the table. He pauses for an instant, looking down and swallowing before getting to his knees. On another day the musketeer would hem and haw, perhaps make a fuss about the matter.

This afternoon, he doesn't see the point.

Palms flat against the floor as he takes a shallow breath, Athos leans over, hovers an inch away, and licks the tip of Buckingham's boot.

[airshipswank]

Buckingham's inner goddess is laughing with near maniacal arousal, and guides the duke's hand greedily between his thighs. Buckingham's inner narration is cursing the previous tag's subject line. Buckingham himself merely exhales with blissful smugness, and slides his foot just a little closer.

"Old habits die hard after all, eh?"

He cannot feel the tongue leaving its trail on the leather, of course he can't, but oh, how very sweet to have just the sight of it.

"Don't forget the kiss now," he purrs sweetly, his voice like bells forged from pure molten schadenfreude.

Sunday - Ellen

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham has a mind not to dwell on the outcome of yesterday's game, and one surprise phone call later he is presented with the perfect distraction. Already the state of his room is impeccable, but he swiftly puts a few finishing touches to the decor, and readies a bottle of wine and two cups.

Afterwards, having no further business to occupy him, he simply stands by the window, and waits. ]

[justrunsasaloon]

[This is a great idea. And the nice bottle of red that she'd found in the bar - to go with the bottle of champagne she'd found - are also great ideas.

(Even though champagne gives her a hangover like nothing else does, she wants some tonight for whatever reason. So, why not indulge that taste while she indulges others?)

She'd actually taken a few moments to think about what to wear. If he was a hunter, she'd just show up in her jeans and her flannel and no one would think twice. But he's not. So, silk bathrobe and semi-slinky underwear are definitely the way to go.

However, Ellen doesn't bother with much more than that, because let's be honest, this isn't the start of something. She taps at the door and smiles when it opens, holding up her two bottles.]

I couldn't decide.

[airshipswank]

[ First impressions are everything, and Buckingham would have thought Ellen's chance to impress long drowned in a sea of flannel, however he'll admit that he finds the sight he invites rather... presentable.

He'd show himself apologetic that he made no special arrangements in return, but really, what would suit the occasion beyond a lazily unbuttoned chemise and a charming smile? ]

Suppose we'd better try both, just to... be sure.

[ He takes the first bottle within reach, and saunters away to pour them two cups. In the process he spares a quick nod towards the bed ]

Is it all the comfort you'd hoped for?

[justrunsasaloon]

[Ellen sashays in, closing the door behind her. She settles the bottle of red on the table and walks over, her fingers running along the soft covers of the bed. then she jumps up and flops on the bed, bouncing ever so slightly. Her robe drops open to reveal what's underneath as she settles onto her side. Her fingers slide over the sheets again.]

Mmmm. Almost as good as my imagination. But better than the reality I was fearing.

[She holds out a hand for the champagne, smiling.]

do know how to treat a lady, your lordship.

[airshipswank]

Fearing?

[ He chuckles; amused, bemused, and perhaps a few letters more. Yet he approaches obligingly, and places the cup in her hand, before placing himself on the edge of his bed. ]

Am I to be your test of bravery then?

[ His fingers slide idly up her leg, and with a flick of his wrist ensure that her robe reveals a little more. ]

[justrunsasaloon]

[She smiles. her fingers brush over the tie of her robe, allowing it to fall open further. She's not wearing too much special, but there's a bit of lace visible.]

A lady is allowed her trepidation, my lord, Aren't I?

[she smiles, sitting up and brushing a finger over his mustache.]

Bravery, I have. I don't feel the need to test it. You're... well, you're you. That's all I need you to be.

[airshipswank]

[ Trepidation is not a word he would have thought a match for what little he knows of her, nor is lady for that matter, but Buckingham will gladly leave as much unsaid. Indeed he would consider this one of the few instances in which words have only so much use, especially when "get your hands off my magnificent work of bearded art right this second" seems rather crude a request for the moment.

Instead he takes her hand by the wrist gently, and while pulling it away places a kiss on its knuckles. ]

That I could arrange more easily, if I had a notion who you... think me to be.

[ An interesting philosophical query as well, but that is certainly for another day. Today Buckingham merely tugs at her lace and slowly pulls it down. ]

[justrunsasaloon]

[Ellen's husky chuckle completely unravels the tie to the robe, letting half of it fall to the bed, revealing her lace underthings and leaving her, half-bare in a peekaboo effect.

sliding up, the robe falls off her other shoulder and she smiles at Buckingham.]

Right now, you're being far too much a gentleman. I won't break, your lordship.

[airshipswank]

Too much of a gentleman? Is there such a thing?

[ His grin is mischievous, and he unlaces his own chemise, slipping it off quickly. Oh, but he wouldn't truly know, would he? When he's so very rarely accused of being one at all. One last act of propriety, as he folds the clothing he removed, and puts it away neatly on his nightstand. ]

I could... venture to abandon the notion, if it pleases you.

[ He punctuates the offer with a sharp turn back to Ellen. Already with little interest in her response he seizes her legs just above the knees, pulling her close. He leans down and presses his lips eagerly to her throat, his hands greedily sliding to pull and tear at any fabric that still dares to stand between him and her skin. ]

[justrunsasaloon]

[Ellen goes to answer, but then there are lips on her skin and she's far more focused on that than on whatever words were going to come out of her mouth. Instead, she listens to the lace of the bra shred under his fingers and can't help the laugh of delight.

After the lace of her panties disappears, she wraps her legs around his hips and tries to drag his face up for a kiss.]

Let's see if you can pleasure me, your lordship.

[She whispers the challenge teasingly.]

[airshipswank]

[ He will be glad then, for once, to allow actions to speak louder than words, and let her guide him where she will, eager to feel the warmth of her breath on his skin, eager to tug at her lip with his teeth just so.

In his mind the challenge is already met and won, and underneath his own body his hands move and find new ways to busy themselves, thumbs pressing down into soft flesh and drawing their circles closer and closer to the center of her breasts. ]