pyramidsmash | [Seasons] Inbox

[Hijikata initially tried to call Ozymandias, but hearing his voice mail message prompted him to simply show up at his pyramid-shaped house instead. Wherever he finds him, if he isn't in the middle of something Hijikata wouldn't want to disturb, he'll get straight to the point to not waste the Sun Pharaoh's precious time.]

I came by because I'd like to ask you for advice on something.

[If he came to Ozymandias with it, it has to be something quite specific...]

How rare of you to approach me like this.

[He was almost certain Hijikata would want to avoid him at all costs after the concubine month.

But he doesn't sound mocking. Merely curious.]

Ask away.

You're...

[Immediately he struggles. "You're very confident", he wanted to start out with, but he doesn't want to butter this bastard pharaoh up!! He searches for the right words, fidgeting and rubbing the back of his head out of nervousness, before eventually blurting something out.]

You're arrogant as hell. How?

[Oh Hijikata. Communicating must be so difficult for him sometimes. Just use the right words, it's okay.]

You wish to acquire tips on how to gain more confidence in yourself? Ah... is there someone you wish to charm?

[IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. It may just be his biggest struggle in life.]

I... guess you could say that. How do you, you know, not get your nerves wrecked?

[There's got to be some kind of trick to it, some way to make it less daunting! Hijikata enters battles with confidence because he has trust in his abilities, but when it comes to romance, there are so many unforeseeable pitfalls! How can anyone navigate that sort of terrain with a cool head?]

I just have the ultimate faith in myself in whatever I do. There are very few things that can knock me down.

[Ozymandias grins.]

Maybe for you the tricks is to think of the situation as a battlefield. What you see before you in an opponent. Your charms are your weapon. Aren't you the most confident in fights?

[Huh... what Ozymandias says makes sense. Hijikata just never considered this a viable option.]

You really think that approach is transferable? I'll give it a try.

[He'll have to practise first, though, to not cause himself a spectacular embarrassment in the real scenario... there's no way he can ask anyone he knows! Maybe I can practise on Hinobuta. He seems to understand most of what I say, or at least the gist of it. But then he'd probably just encourage me because I'm his trainer...]

I do.

[Ozymandias is confident in that. It makes Hijikata act more naturally if he makes something a battlefield - since he was a natural meathead.]

Now, you should practice. Go on. Try and seduce me.

Huh?

[Now?! Here?! But, well... who would be a better teacher than the Sun Pharaoh? Ozymandias didn't end up with a harem for nothing! Hijikata awkwardly steps up to him.]

...

Ozymandias.

[Pretend it's a battle. Use your weapons! He's always been bad with words, so he reaches out to caress the other man's jaw instead. That act alone is enough to flush his own cheeks.]

I... um... how about... you and I...

[He visibly gulps, but doesn't give up, instead bending down slightly and extending his other arm against the near wall to corner Ozymandias with his body.]

Do you want to spend the night with me?

[Yeah, he's definitely burning up now. Ozymandias may just feel the heat of embarrassment radiate from him.]

[Ozymandias keeps a straight face even as Hijikata caresses his jaw. The man is nervous, that much is apparent. Who can blame him, being put in a situation like his? Ozymandias doesn't laugh at him, nor does he look impressed in any way.

So he gives the man some criticism, while not sounding like he judges him. Just an honest opinion.]

You need to relax. Right now, everything feels too forced. Take a few deep breaths before you start, and try imagining I'm someone else. Someone you really want to win over.

[Hijikata is, if nothing else, grateful for the lack of mockery - not that he necessarily expected any. Ozymandias is generally fair and can be unexpectantly kind; he's learned that during the Gorgon incident. He tries to take his advice, pausing for a moment to collect himself.

Trying to imagine someone else... it's easier said than done. He closes his eyes to help his imagination along. Past and present lovers flash up in his memories, each a dear person... but also each a person who had to deal with his awkwardness. What would it have been like if he'd been more confident?]

...

[He takes Ozymandias' hand, eyes slightly open but downcast to avoid looking at his face, and kisses its back. It may come as a surprise, but he doesn't powertrip with the ones he loves!]

Let me keep you company.

[That sounds a lot more sincere and steadfast... but where's the seduction? Is this really as much passion as he can muster? It seems to be the limit of what he can express with sincerity.]

[It's definitely better, Ozymandias can give him that much credit. But the passion and seduction are missing.

While Hijikata has his guard down, Ozymandias flips the situation so that he can have Hijikata between himself and the wall. A demonstration probably worked better than anything else, here.

He puts a hand under Hijikata's chin, lifting it up.]

Hijikata... be mine, and I will show you what pleasure truly feels like.

[Yes, he's acting, but his voice is full of passion and seductive intent. Of course, it could probably be taken wrongly since he gave him no warning, but he explains himself rather quickly.]

This is what you were lacking, just now. Passion, intimacy.

[Hijikata had just managed to cool down, but Ozymandias' move immediately gets him flushed again. He eyes dart sideways, avoiding the pharaoh's, while his hands ball into fists - not in anger, just out of stress and because he doesn't know how to deal with the flusterment he feels.]

How-- how can you just say things like that? I mean... I'm not...

[He doesn't think he has the right to ask anyone to be his. Why should anybody choose him when he'll always choose his sword and his bushido over them in the end? He and the ones he's loved enjoyed each other's companionship, certainly, but only as a temporary happiness. (Mostly. He does keep going back to Prismatica.)

As for the pleasure... he isn't unskilled when it comes to sex, but he generally doesn't assume that anyone he's intimate with may not have had more passionate experiences beforehand.

Maybe he just has low self-esteem.]

I'm not cut out for this. I can't apply my battlefield skills here.

[Because his skills as a charming lover simply just don't measure up.]

[Ozymandias huffs, shaking his head. He's not moving from where he, though.]

Nonsense. You just need more confidence and practice. You can keep practicing on me as much as you need, until your confidence is strong enough.

[Hijikata doesn't know if he should thank Ozymandias or come up with an excuse to extricate himself from the situation, but... he did come here for advice, didn't he? Much of an emotional rollercoaster as every interaction with the pharaoh is for him, he has to admit that he has an incredible allure.]

...

Alright. I hope neither of us is going to regret this.

[Himself because of the mortification that comes with opening himself up like this, and Ozymandias because this is most likely going to take a long, long time. (He'll be surprised, in hindsight, at how patient the godly pharaoh can be.)]

[Ozymandias smirks.]

I hope that if you do end up regretting it occasionally, you'll still be willing to go through it.

[He finally distances himself.]

It's up to you if you want to continue today or some other time.

[This man just says the damndest things!! Why does he have such high expectations of Hijikata?! (But of course, now he won't back down, too stubborn to admit defeat... ugh, why can Ozymandias play him like a fiddle?!)

Having space to move again, he steps away from the wall, gathering his wits and decorum to head back out into society. He needs to recover from this encounter before he can tackle any more faux-seduction attempts!]

Another time. Let's set a date already.

[Otherwise he'll never reach back out to him on the matter. He knows himself!]

Very well. I would offer you some tea, but you look like you want to bolt out of the house right away. So come back on Wednesday, after your work shift.

[STOP CALLING HIM OUT...]

Right. I'll see you then.

[There's a moment of silence as he fumbles over how to say goodbye - his relationship with Ozymandias is such a mess that he doesn't know whether to shake his hand or just nod his head at him or what -, and in the end he gives him a sloppy little mock salute, then turns around and marches off while feeling his face heat up. This stupid sexy pharaoh!!]

[Seasons] Inbox

Action

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject