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[thedevamper]

There were some things that Nikola would always be good at; science, pressing his advantage, manipulating others, long cons. And there were some things that he would never be good at and being a good student was one of them. Nikola had amazed and frustrated his teachers as a child, astounding them with his skills and irritating them when he called

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[will_you_see]

Alcuin looked over his shoulder and smiled at him. It was one of the nicer looking huts on the island - having once been built by Atia in her quest for luxury, and then added to after one winter gift season with glass windows and real trimmings such as metal doorknobs.

"I haven't always lived alone," he said as they stepped inside and he closed the door behind Nikola. "This place really is too large for one person, but I'm quite attached to it. You may catch a glimpse of a cat, but he's a bit shy with strangers."

In the living room, there was a a sofa built here with a wood frame and sewn cushions, and having in a rather elaborate gilded frame was a painted portrait of Anafiel Delaunay. And beside it now, hung Alcuin's drawing of the tree, a copy of the one tattooed on his back, with names entwined in the branches.

[thedevamper]

"No?" Nikola asked, glancing at the metal doorknobs. His fingers twitched, a part of him reaching out to the place inside him that he could no longer use. Nikola hadn't missed his other abilities until now, things would be far much easier if he just had some of his abilities and powers. "I've always lived alone except for the times I stayed with Helen or Ja... Watson. I find it much easier to work that way. No distractions."

Nikola wandered around the room, ignoring the painting for the drawing of the tree. Nikola studied it carefully, looking at the names before he turned to Alcuin. "This is familiar. Although it was lacking the names."

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Alcuin's eyes drifted to it. "In a fit of melancholy I drew it as something of a memorial," he said. "Those loved and lost." He hesitated, and then added, his voice a bit softer, "In the past five years I've had rather more than my fair share of island loss, I think."

[thedevamper]

"Well then, let's drink to those loved and lost." Nikola said, fingers lingering for a moment beside the painting before turning his attention to Alcuin. Though Nikola wasn't a good student, he was a quick learner and when he touched Alcuin's arm he slid his hand up to the crook of his arm, finger brushing against the same place Alcuin did. "And let's toast to the future."

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Nikola had not asked about the man in the painting, and so for the time being Alcuin did not volunteer any information. His eyelashes fluttered at the touch to his arm, and then he smiled and moved to a nearby cabinet to pull out a bottle. It was one that had been refilled many times.

"It's not pineapple," he promised. "It's palm wine. Which, ah... well. It is something, at least." He picked up a glass and poured, handing it to Nikola.

[thedevamper]

"To science, to the future." Nikola said toasting Alcuin before he took a mouthful. Nikola's eyes widened, inhaling sharply as he looked at Alcuin. He drank it though, taking another mouthful when he had finished and stopping to try and appreciate the wine. "Next time we'll drink from my cellar so to speak. Though this is certainly... interesting."

Nikola undid the buttons of his waistcoat, sitting down as he took another mouthful.

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Alcuin poured himself half a glass as well, and took a sip. "There wine might leave something to be desired, but I do have something else..." He nodded down the hallway and walked to his bedroom, assuming Nikola would follow.

Inside, the room seemed cramped but only because there were three large pieces of furniture. A roll-top desk, covered in books. A wardrobe slightly ajar to reveal clothing inside, and an enormous ornate bed, made with dark, silky sheets.

[thedevamper]

"The wine might leave something to be desired but the company certainly does not." Nikola said watching Alcuin, his gaze drifting down his body as he followed him with a vampire's grace. Nikola brushed his hand against Alcuin's back, hand sliding down his arse and squeezing with a smirk before he moved into the room and looked around it appreciatively. "You have exquisite taste."

Nikola pressed his hand against the bed, smiling at the feeling between his fingers as he gripped the sheets. It wasn't the bed or the wardrobe that caught his attention though, it was the books and the desk more than anything that held his attention except Alcuin of course.

[will_you_see]

"Island gifts," explained Alcuin. "I'm afraid I can't take credit, as they just appeared one day with my name on them."

He crossed the room to the desk and opened one of the drawers to pull out an old-looking text with expensive binding. He held it our to Nikola. "Trois Milles Joies," he said. It was illustrated with drawings - covering many, many sexual acts and peppered with stories of Naamah and her servants.

[thedevamper]

"Do these island gifts happen often?" Nikola asked as he came to stand behind Alcuin, one hand resting on Alcuin's hip before he placed the book down onto the desk in front of him. Leaning over Alcuin, Nikola opened the book and began to look through it. Nikola began to read it murmuring the words into Alcuin's ear. "Do you mind if I borrow this sometime? Or come here and read it."

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Alcuin rather liked hearing his native tongue from Nikola's lips, particularly sensual words that he knew so well. "I trust you," he said. "You may take it. It is, after all, something of a textbook."

[thedevamper]

Nikola let out a soft bark of laughter, breath brushing against Alcuin's skin as he thought about Alcuin, of anyone, trusting him. Not even Helen trusted him most of the time. And Will never trusted him ever.

"Oh, I wouldn't necessary do that." Nikola murmured, placing both hands either side of Alcuin as he brushed his body against Alcuin's back. Shifting his weight as he leaned close to read, Nikola dropped his head onto Alcuin's shoulder lips brushing against skin. "Trust me I mean. Very few people do. Now, what does this part say."

Nikola tapped a place in the book with one hand.

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Alcuin looked down at the words. His eyes slid to the adjoining page, which showed a drawing of a sexual position - a female Servant of Naamah riding her lover backwards, baring her marque to his gaze. And the story on the other page...

"It is the explanation for marques," Alcuin murmured, enjoying the feeling of Nikola's body so heavy and close to his. "The tattoo on my back. It is said that Naamah scored the backs of her lovers and they kept those marks with them all their lives... Servants of Naamah bear them to show her touch upon them."

[thedevamper]

Nikola shifted closer, pulling at Alcuin's shirt with one before slipping his colder hands beneath.

"This tattoo?" Nikola said, sliding his fingers up Alcuin's spine to expose his marque. Nikola traced the pattern of Alcuin's marque with his fingertips, pressing his evident desire against him. "It's beautiful. And on the next page." Nikola turned the page as he curved his hand around his side. "Tell me about this."

Nikola traced his fingertips up Alcuin's chest, his eyes never leaving the book even as he let out a soft breath against Alcuin's ear.

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Alcuin sucked in a breath at the feeling of Nikola's cool hands on his skin. He didn't even realize that his eyes had fluttered closed until Nikola brought his attention to the book again, and he had to open them to see it.

"The patterns of arousal," Alcuin murmured, looking down to a series of drawings showing what appeared to be steps in a process, a male adept's hands in different positions upon a male patron. "How to perform the arousal was one of the first things I learned..." He felt his skin flush just slightly with warmth. "Before my virgin night I would practice it on myself."

[thedevamper]

"The patterns of arousal, hmmm. I can just imagine you practising... you really are a remarkable student, aren't you?" Nikola replied. Nikola's fingertips gently slid over Alcuin's warmer skin, over each of his ribs before his thumb teased over his nipples. Nikola brushed his nose against Alcuin's neck, kissing softly before he pinched the nub between thumb and forefinger quickly and sharply. "Show me."