Barely, Verso thinks—whatever he did with other men before was fumbling around in the woods at best—but doesn't say; one of them has to pretend to know what he's doing, and that role has fallen to Verso. A multitasking overachiever, he kisses Gustave somewhat distractedly as he works his own pants open and rucks them down enough to free his own erection.
He withdraws from the kiss, then pauses in thought, like he's weighing the pros and cons of something. It's not exactly romantic, but the options out here are limited. He spits into his palm before taking them both in hand, glancing up at Gustave questioningly. "Is this all right?"
Gustave doesn't know!! He assumes that Verso is a little rusty, but he's slept with Gustave and tried it with Sciel right in front of his face—it doesn't occur to him that inexperience might be a hurdle in any capacity.
The sound he makes when Verso takes them both in hand is openly compromised. He swears again, something uncharacteristically filthy under his breath. "In what—world would that not be okay?"
Verso might be a megaslut, okay, but it's not like anybody lived long enough for him to get the ample sucking and fucking experience Gustave so clearly thinks he has. He's rarely had the opportunity to get comfortable with someone, to try more than a quick tryst; this is the most time he's taken with sex in a long while, and it feels— strange. Not bad, but different.
Regardless, he takes the swear as encouragement, mouth quirking up into a crooked grin as he strokes them both, grip light and pace slow. "Will you ever let me be a gentleman," he asks, softly, "or should I just stop trying at this point?"
Gustave may figure that out someday, in a world where they actually communicate with each other. Right now, he's mostly just yearning for his room in Lumière, a lock on the door and a bed to lay Verso down in.
"Oh, is that what you're doing," he asks, voice just as quiet, before he tips in to rest his forehead against Verso's shoulder. "Be whatever you want to be." He's not leaving any more marks, just sort of half-nuzzling Verso's throat.
Gustave rests his head on his shoulder, and Verso looks down to watch his hand's gentle ministrations, growing less gentle with each passing second. He squeezes slightly, and the feeling of their erections sliding together makes his pulse quicken and his neck flush. He leans his head against Gustave's, soft brown hair against his cheek, his breath against Gustave's ear.
"You're so sexy," he says, sincere in his appreciation, although he half-expects another brush-off. "Maddeningly."
Gustave's breath has already gone shallow, carefully measured; he just sort of whimpers again at the Verso's hand and those words said to him in a warm breath against his ear.
"So are you," he whispers. "Merde, Verso, you feel— very good." He can feel his dick twitch and leak, and he reaches down between them to lightly touch Verso's hand, a silent offer to take over.
He can't help laughing at 'very good', although there's no malice behind it. It's not the sexiest descriptor ever, but Gustave is sexy because he doesn't try to be sexy. Unlike Verso, he doesn't try to be anything that he isn't. Being called 'very good' in that earnest tone is more thrilling than any practiced compliment Verso could think up.
Gustave's fingers touch his, and he feels a reluctance to stop, hesitating for a moment. He's enjoying it, yes, and he's also providing a service that makes him feel good about himself; as he'd said, he lives to please. But Gustave is requesting it, so he withdraws his hand, placing it over Gustave's so that he can guide it to replace his, gently encouraging his fingers to curl around them both.
Gustave had meant for it to be an offer more than a demand, but he's clearly just as enthusiastic when he takes over. His hips rut ineffectually up against Verso, into his own hand, and he buries his face in Verso's neck to muffle his own groan.
Their first two encounters had been good—there's no question in that statement. This evening is different, though; nearer to what he'd been craving, the sensation of real closeness. Leaning on Verso, and feeling him lean back. But one good compliment deserves another, so he tries again. "God— you're beautiful, just— so beautiful—" The way his breathing is staggered probably indicates he's fast approaching climax, his shoulders drawing slowly tense.
'So are you' would be the appropriate response, but his brain-to-mouth function stops working the instant Gustave's hand touches his cock, and he makes a low sound that's meant to have a similar sentiment instead. There's a coiling in the pit of his stomach, but he wants Gustave to finish first; he tenses what must be every muscle in his fucking body to stave it off.
"Come on," he says encouragingly, before leaning in to bite down on the flesh of his shoulder.
It is easily the most shattering orgasm of his life. There's no one specific reason for it — he'd been wound tightly by the circumstances of the past several days; he was still surprised that he was even alive, really; the heightened adrenaline that came with being outside and more vulnerable for it. Between the coaxing and the sting of the bite on his shoulder, he doesn't stand a chance.
He's past the point of words, managing mostly only a sob of relief. Gustave strokes himself reflexively through it, foggy in the immediate moment after, trying to make sure Verso isn't left behind.
Verso comes very quickly after, still latched onto Gustave's shoulder. He shudders and bites down harder, then untenses slowly, removing his teeth from Gustave's skin and taking a breath. He's a little short of it, panting slightly, and sweating a little, too, even though this didn't require much physical exertion. As he draws back, he absentmindedly brushes his hair out of his face so that it doesn't stick.
Post-nut clarity hits like a ton of bricks. He really got carried away, desperate for some sort of feeling of emotional closeness after spending the better part of a century lonely. "Fuck," he says softly to himself, before shaking his head and forcibly deluding himself into believing that it's still casual and temporary for him.
Light: "I can't believe you let an old man trouble his knees like this."
Gustave is deeply flushed, face slightly shiny with sweat of his own, and he stares — visibly uncomprehending — at Verso for a long second, before his mind catches up with his body. "Oh, sorry," is all he manages at first, reflexive. He wipes his hand on the blanket before he reaches up to tenderly touch the spot Verso had bitten on his shoulder. "Think you got me back, though."
That was — a lot. It had been intense. His eyes are searching Verso's face, like he's trying to make sure he's emotionally alright.
Verso busies himself with crawling off of Gustave and pulling his pants back up, watching himself buckle his own belt like it's impossibly interesting. It wasn't intense for him at all, actually. He feels fine.
"You'll be glad for the experience," he says breezily, "when you have fans in Lumière eager to take a bite out of you."
"Verso—" Gustave's voice isn't hurt, exactly, because the fact that Verso enjoyed himself is pretty much irrefutable. He's confused, maybe, as he starts to dress himself again as well. "If I've done something wrong, you need to tell me what it is."
"You haven't done anything wrong," Verso says, frowning. Maybe Gustave has taken his attempt to lightheartedly reference a future where this isn't happening anymore poorly. "I do think they'll want to take a bite out of the future hero of Lumière."
But he senses that he's somehow ruined the mood, so he leans over to touch Gustave on the arm, reassuring. "It was good."
"That title is going to Maelle a long time before it ever will me," Gustave says, and mostly he just doesn't understand why it was brought up at all. He finishes getting dressed, and instead of packing up the blanket, just takes a heavy seat on it. "I imagine it'll be like it always was, if I go back to Lumière. I'll stay busy in the workshop and look forward to my birthdays instead of dreading them."
Verso pulls his shirt back on, although he's still too hot to wear his jacket. He tugs on his collar, airing out, as he replies offhandedly, "You don't know dread until you've had a gestral birthday party."
A joke, obviously, because he knows Gustave has experienced horrible dread. He can't quite imagine what it's like to dread that you'll have no more birthdays rather than an endless amount more, but he's sure it isn't pleasant.
"Sure," Gustave says, "maybe I'll pencil one in. See what the fuss is all about." He's reaching to grab his pack, retrieving a water skin from inside. Not that he'd ever voice this out loud, but— okay, maybe he's going to remain as neutral as he can, just to see what Verso does with himself.
He's resigned himself to being heartbroken later, if the world really is brought safely together, if Verso makes good on his plan to avoid the city. But Gustave has already spent the better part of the past four years heartbroken; he refuses to allow it ruin what contentment he can find for himself now.
He pauses, stretching his legs out in front of him, worrying his lip, Then, glancing back at Gustave: "Are you going to make me ask if it was good for you, too? You should know that if I don't receive compliments regularly, my ego shrivels up like a raisin."
The question makes him laugh just for the surprise of it, and he tilts his head slightly at Verso. Well. At least he's self-aware. "It was incredible. You are incredible." Gustave's eyebrows go up slightly, silently asking if that's enough.
"You're incredible." Fuck!!! He grabs his jacket, folding it neatly for the sake of something to do while he fantasizes about being put down like a sick dog. "—Thanks. I wager I have at least fifteen minutes until I need my next one."
There's no way this is right, no way this is healthy. Something had splintered in his heart that evening he'd stood on the dock with Sophie and watched her drift away in the wind. Nothing is fixed, but — the warmth he feels at that little compliment shouldn't be so achingly familiar.
Gustave doesn't look at him, but he's fighting and failing to bite down a smile. "Sexy and incredible? I can't wait to let my friends know back home."
"Better keep it to myself, then." Gustave hums thoughtfully, offering Verso a sip of his water. He's genuinely a little surprised he's not made an excuse to get back to camp yet.
Verso takes the waterskin, staring down at it. "You are, though. Both of those things." He takes a sip before handing it back to Gustave, and right on cue: "We should get back before they think Golgra came back for a second round."
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He withdraws from the kiss, then pauses in thought, like he's weighing the pros and cons of something. It's not exactly romantic, but the options out here are limited. He spits into his palm before taking them both in hand, glancing up at Gustave questioningly. "Is this all right?"
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The sound he makes when Verso takes them both in hand is openly compromised. He swears again, something uncharacteristically filthy under his breath. "In what—world would that not be okay?"
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Regardless, he takes the swear as encouragement, mouth quirking up into a crooked grin as he strokes them both, grip light and pace slow. "Will you ever let me be a gentleman," he asks, softly, "or should I just stop trying at this point?"
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"Oh, is that what you're doing," he asks, voice just as quiet, before he tips in to rest his forehead against Verso's shoulder. "Be whatever you want to be." He's not leaving any more marks, just sort of half-nuzzling Verso's throat.
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"You're so sexy," he says, sincere in his appreciation, although he half-expects another brush-off. "Maddeningly."
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"So are you," he whispers. "Merde, Verso, you feel— very good." He can feel his dick twitch and leak, and he reaches down between them to lightly touch Verso's hand, a silent offer to take over.
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Gustave's fingers touch his, and he feels a reluctance to stop, hesitating for a moment. He's enjoying it, yes, and he's also providing a service that makes him feel good about himself; as he'd said, he lives to please. But Gustave is requesting it, so he withdraws his hand, placing it over Gustave's so that he can guide it to replace his, gently encouraging his fingers to curl around them both.
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Their first two encounters had been good—there's no question in that statement. This evening is different, though; nearer to what he'd been craving, the sensation of real closeness. Leaning on Verso, and feeling him lean back. But one good compliment deserves another, so he tries again. "God— you're beautiful, just— so beautiful—" The way his breathing is staggered probably indicates he's fast approaching climax, his shoulders drawing slowly tense.
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"Come on," he says encouragingly, before leaning in to bite down on the flesh of his shoulder.
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He's past the point of words, managing mostly only a sob of relief. Gustave strokes himself reflexively through it, foggy in the immediate moment after, trying to make sure Verso isn't left behind.
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Post-nut clarity hits like a ton of bricks. He really got carried away, desperate for some sort of feeling of emotional closeness after spending the better part of a century lonely. "Fuck," he says softly to himself, before shaking his head and forcibly deluding himself into believing that it's still casual and temporary for him.
Light: "I can't believe you let an old man trouble his knees like this."
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That was — a lot. It had been intense. His eyes are searching Verso's face, like he's trying to make sure he's emotionally alright.
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"You'll be glad for the experience," he says breezily, "when you have fans in Lumière eager to take a bite out of you."
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But he senses that he's somehow ruined the mood, so he leans over to touch Gustave on the arm, reassuring. "It was good."
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A joke, obviously, because he knows Gustave has experienced horrible dread. He can't quite imagine what it's like to dread that you'll have no more birthdays rather than an endless amount more, but he's sure it isn't pleasant.
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He's resigned himself to being heartbroken later, if the world really is brought safely together, if Verso makes good on his plan to avoid the city. But Gustave has already spent the better part of the past four years heartbroken; he refuses to allow it ruin what contentment he can find for himself now.
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Gustave doesn't look at him, but he's fighting and failing to bite down a smile. "Sexy and incredible? I can't wait to let my friends know back home."
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"A mysterious stranger who came out of nowhere to lay it on that thick?" He shakes his head. "I'm afraid they'll think I'm your imaginary friend."
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btw i initially read this as gustave offering verso a piece of chewed up fruit jerky
you can't prove he didn't
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fuck don't look at me
now all of china knows that was gonna be your first sentence
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