Desert Roses

[Claude Faustus]

The elf tensed as he slowly settled back against him. His body stiffed as his his mid back came into contact with Ialu's body , the momentary thrill as the sensitive places on his back brushed against the thin barrier of his long silver hair.
The twin patches of skin just below his shoulder blades where more sensitive then his ear tips, once one of his male friends had sucked on his ear tip, driving the youth wild with the sensations. It was enough to tease him. but a touch there would arouse him.
Eladrian pulled away, a rich blush on his pretty face. "No,no, that's alright..." he put both hands up to wave him away. " I'd reather speak to you face to face. Ialu...."  

[lack_luster_soul]

Ialu watched him as Eladrian pushed away. He watched the elf, noting it. Eladrian was nervous, and sexual tension was radiating from him in waves. But it was different, it wasn't just the touch. It would be easy enough to ignore. Something was different. He moved from behind Eladrian, sliding to the other side of the tub to face him, "Alright, alright... I understand. I just wanted to return the favor for last night..."
It took a few seconds before Ialu realized what he said, the blush going to his own cheeks. His eyes wide, he shook his head, "I mean, for healing me, you know...." He swallowed hard and gently took Eladrian's foot into his hands. Slow, he began to rub it, "There, now don't pull away this time. I'm only trying to help..." He waited a long moment before he began to speak again, "My mother used to tell me a story when I was little. It's the best story I know. It always used to make me happy."
He grinned, "Once there was a foal whose coat was soft and whiter than milk... He was small, but strong, and he learned to canter and trot long before the other foals. But he was troubled, you see. All the other foals had silky black coats. He wanted so badly to have a luxurious black coat as well. After all, beautiful geldings went to royal owners who showered them in silks and ornaments and rode them with pride. Other colts went to work in the fields and slaved away in the hot sun. So desperate was the little foal to be as dark as the other foals that he went to the statue of Anubis and prayed. He prayed to become beautiful and black like the others. When he opened his eyes once again, he saw a little boy at the base of the statue crying. He went to the little boy and nuzzled into his cheek and neck. The little boy was lost and afraid. He said to the foal, "I can't find my mommy and daddy. Please help me. The milky foal didn't know how to find the boy's parents. After all, he didn't know what to look for. So he took the boy to the river so the boy could drink. While at the river, a mean jackal came, smelling the little boy. He growled at them, approaching slowly, but the foal turned around and leapt in front of the little boy. The jackal, so confused by the foal, didn't know what to do. He had never seen a white foal. The milky foal whinnied and the jackal, shocked, turned and ran away. Just as the milky foal looked back to the boy, he heard shouts. It was the Pharaoh's wife. She ran to them, scooping up the little boy and crying, "My son! My son, what would I do had that jackal eaten you up?" The Pharaoh's wife was so thankful to the strange little foal that she bought him for her son. As the boy and the foal grew together, the boy became Pharaoh. And the milky foal grew into a grand white steed, the Pharaoh's most prized stallion. And his first and best friend." He smiled at Eladrian, moving on to the second foot.  

[Claude Faustus]

Eladrain listened to the story with a smile, his tense body relaxing....Ialu easing the tension with his hands to his foot. His eyes dropped partly closed, Simply listening to timber of his friend's voice, it was strangely soothing, like something he could barley recall. he wondered briefly at it but then decided that it didn't' really matter.
When Ialu finished his story and shifted to this other foot he raised his head "That's a lovely story, my friend." His jade green eyes glimmered with welcoming warmth, his face peaceful a soft smile on his lips.
All the sexual tension had gone, leaving nothing but a quiet sense of understanding.
The elf cleared his throat, perhaps it was time to explain to him. "I am sorry for...freaking out on you Ialu...There is a place on my back which is..." He face reddened and he glanced away, suddenly shy. "....Highly sensitive, a touch there would be enough to....cause me distress...." he coughed and looked down.  

[lack_luster_soul]

Ialu watched Eladrian's face. There it was, the clue he had been looking for. He smiled and kept rubbing, restraining himself from laughing. So that's what this was about, "Oh, I see, like your hands on me last night... Now, now, don't be so shy. I understand, I won't touch your back. Now I know why there is so much tension there though." He smiled warmly at Eladrian, understanding. He finally said softly, "You should relieve your urges more often. It will be good for you until you can take a woman to bed."  

[Claude Faustus]

Eladrian frowned slightly indignant, "Self pleasure?" It was reserved for younger males. ones that had no other recourse. He sighed. "I will consider that option." he said, he pulled his foot free from Ialu's hand and stood up, reaching for a towel to dray off with, he stepped out and wrapped it around him grabbing another to dry his hair with.
There was teh sound a knock on the door, Eladrian startled and dove behind the bed as serving girls bearing their supper walked in. "So sorry to keep you waiting." Said one girl, bowing at Ialu from behind the shielding curtains. The girls quickly deposited the trays and departed.
"......." Eladrian once he was sure that they where gone sat up from behind his hiding place. Untangling the soft towel from his long hair, he exposed his back for a moment. "That was close..."  

[lack_luster_soul]

The Egyptian watched Eladrian bristle, genuinely confused. He sat up, nodding to the servant girls, "Ah, thank you, ladies." He got out of the tub as the girls left, drying off quickly. He followed after Eladrian, not bothering to cover himself, just drying. He glanced up and saw Eladrian's back, studying it. Something about it made him want to come closer, to touch it. He shook off the feeling, sitting down on the bed to towel through his long, thick, yet soft black hair.
Quietly, he broached the subject, "So, uh... You don't ever...?" He shook his head, "Eladrian, it's not something to be ashamed of. It's healthy. And without it, you are so tense."  

[Claude Faustus]

Eladrian turned around to face him. "I took a personal vow." he placed his free hand over his heart. "I will not even touch myself until I have breed Maya."
There was that stubborn expression on the elf's face. His self-forced vow of chastity would add fire to this determination to complete his orders.
The smell of food caused his his stomach to growl loudly. "Er, that smells really good."

((*lol* Sorry, he's bordering a bit on the idiot side...))  

[lack_luster_soul]

((lol, most definitely, Ialu is about to be a b***h))

Ialu blinked, his face suddenly becoming a mask. He walked over to the tray of food, completely naked as he picked it up and carried it back to Eladrian, "Supper for my Lord." He set the tray down on the table, pulling out one of the chairs for Eladrian.
Obviously perturbed, he walked past back to the bath, draining it. It made him sick. This elf vowed not to touch himself or make love with anyone, and it was affecting him. But what really made Ialu angry was the silent accusation of all of those with impurities. Ialu couldn't count his lovers. And he had hated all of them but one. They all disgusted him. But Eladrian was disgusted with him, as were so many others. It wasn't his fault.  

[Claude Faustus]

(( erm, Eladrian isn't bothered by Ialu...'impurity" as he's putting it ^^; he pretty much accepted it as fact.))

Eladrian tossed the towel aside pulling on his pants, puzzling over Ialu's sudden distance.
"Is...there something wrong?" He asked, ignoring his hunger for a moment.  

[lack_luster_soul]

((Oh, I know. Ialu is projecting his own insecurities onto Eladrian. Really, he's disappointed in himself. Poor kid))

Ialu let out a long sigh, trying to calm down. His voice was upset, but he as obviously trying to push it down, "I never got a choice to make a vow like that. I can't even remember all of my lovers. And you-... You think that even touching yourself is too impure..." He shook his head, keeping his back to Eladrian as he dressed, unable to face him, "I can't imagine what you think of me. All my life, the public has looked at me with such disgust when my mistresses would parade me around.... As if I wouldn't be like them if I had the choice... As if I would do this for a living if I wasn't a slave..." There were tears in his eyes. He knew he was acting like a child. But it made him feel ashamed when Eladrian spoke of his vow.  

[Claude Faustus]

"Ialu...You are no longer a salve. You have a choice now." Eladrian was still somewhat confused but he felt that he should help him understand "I don't' think of sex as impure or those who have done it as impure. It's personal choice, I understand that you did not have that choice....but you still have a choice on who you first make love to....don't you?" he asked. suddenly hesitant to move into that territory.
"Ialu...I like you...I know that it's rather sudden, but I consider you my friend, I am not ashamed of you."  

[lack_luster_soul]

Ialu turned back to Eladrian, his pants on securely now. Tears shone in his eyes but didn't fall. He sighed slowly, taking another deep breath, "I-... Thank you, Eladrian, I-... That was uncalled for. I didn't mean to snap at you..."
He walked over and sat down at the other side of the table, "I think I'm the one who is ashamed... I just want to look at sex the way others do, as something sacred and wonderful and... I feel attraction still, but I know that the act of it has never been anything more than a chore..." He shook his head, "I think, more than anything, my mother would be so ashamed of me." He began cutting the lamb and putting half of it on a plate for Eladrian.  

[Claude Faustus]

Eladrian sat down beside Ialu. "Then you have a lot to make up for huh?"
"I have been told that the act is only sacred if you are doing it with someone you love." he thought back, to the time when he had asked his mentor that he wanted him, desired him. But the older man, had said no. It broke his heart, that refusal, then again he was married...so it wasn't a surprise. The young man opted instead to make the man proud, to become that prefect Knight that all the boys aspired to be.
The memory still made him sad, he tried not to think about it.  

[lack_luster_soul]

Ialu took a bit of cheese from the serving plate and setting it on his own plate. He glanced to Eladrian, thinking on those words. Only sacred with love? He sighed and looked at his plate, "I've never felt love." He began dishing out vegetables and fruit onto Eladrian's plate as well, feeling idiotic for having reacted that way. He finally spoke softly, "Do you think that Maya would reject you if you touched yourself? Honestly, I don't know how you are still okay, having never done it... It's no wonder you are tense..."  

[Claude Faustus]

Eladrian took bite of the cheese. "I never said I haven't done it, it's just that I didn't intend to during my mission...you know....kind as a reward to myself...." he had difficulty swallowing. "I'll tell you what, I'll only do it a few times, since you seem so disturbed of my choice." he gestured with the piece of bread in his hand.