Minbari, Incense and Myrrh (4/4)
Title: Minbari, Incense and Myrrh (4/4)
Author: Rowen
Fandom: Babylon 5
Rating: R
Spoilers: Season 2 episode "Confessions and Lamentations"
Synopsis: A piece I thought up after watching 'Confessions and Lamentations', where Sheridan, Delenn and Lennier have a meal Minbari style. Which got me thinking on other Minbari rituals...
Pairing: John/Delenn
Genre: Adult
Disclaimer: Babylon 5 and characters belong to you know who.
Notes: If you're not of appropriate age in your district, go away now.
This story was written somewhere between 1993 and 1997
Winner 1997 "John/Delenn storybook" award for best erotic story
------------------------------------
Part 4
The pair lay collapsed on the mat, entwined in each other's arms. Delenn's slow, rhythmic breathing indicated she was asleep. John's thoughts whirled incoherently - it had been incredible. That was the only adjective his shell-shocked mind could think of to describe the experience. Incredible.
The arm on which Delenn was lying began to tingle with the first signs of pins and needles and he carefully shifted it from beneath her, propping himself up on it instead so he could regard her. He smiled - she had the look of a woman who'd been well satisfied, and he hoped it was so. He reached out a finger and gently traced her swollen lips. In her sleep she smiled and nestled closer to him. John felt his heart contract and tears fill his eyes. So beautiful. So precious. He leant over and pressed his lips tenderly to her forehead, then her lips.
"Uh-hmm," Lennier cleared his throat quietly, as if loathe to disturb the moment.
John looked towards the other man, eyebrow raised questioningly.
"The ritual has been completed," Lennier whispered so as not to wake Delenn. He gestured to a doorway. "Delenn's sleeping chamber is through there - she will probably sleep for the rest of the day, and will be more comfortable in bed."
John gathered Delenn's sleeping form into his arms and stood, staggering a little as his body suddenly let him know about a large number of aches and pains. He was glad she was so light, for he wouldn't have made it as far as her bed had she been a gram heavier. As Lennier pulled a blanket around her, John looked around the room: he'd never been in her personal quarters before. It was neat and quite spartan - decorated with only a few beautiful objects that Sheridan did not recognise. A hand on his arm caught his attention, and Lennier indicated they should return to the other room. John nodded, briefly kissing the sleeping woman on the lips, before following.
Lennier handed him the robe he'd discarded what seemed like a lifetime before. It was funny - he'd forgotton he was standing completely naked before the man, although after the activities he'd just engaged in, he supposed being naked was absolutely nothing to be uncomfortable about.
"Is it normal for human's skin to be that color after sexual relations?" Lennier asked curiously, as John drew the soft, silky material about him. Sheridan looked down at his torso and cursed briefly. His skin was covered in angry red blotches.
"I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the oil. Or the fruit," he said, fixing the robe so it hung correctly. He would have to go to medlab and get this treated. Fan-fragging-tastic. Hopefully he could wait until Stephen was on duty, not that he expected this to be any easier to explain to the Chief Medical Officer than a subordinate.. "What is the time?"
"O-six-hundred," Lennier replied, checking the chronometer. John felt his jaw drop and eyes widen: he'd had no idea the ritual had taken that amount of time.
"I have to go to med-lab, then on duty," he said, checking the robe was not gaping. "When Delenn wakes up, can you tell her I'll drop by later?" Lennier nodded, and released the lock on the door to the corridor. On the threshold, John paused. "Did... did everything go... correctly?" he asked hesitantly.
"The ceremony was completed in a satisfactory manner," the young Minbari replied. He paused, considering his next words. "This is the first time I have participated as Watcher in such a ceremony, but I believe..." He paused again. "I believe Delenn was well... satisfied." John felt a blush heating his cheeks, although after having made love in front of the young man, he didn't know why he was embarassed by the statement.
"Ahh... thankyou."
Lennier bowed, and John returned the bow, feeling more comfortable using the gesture than he ever had.
---------------------
Stephen Franklin raised an eyebrow as Captain John Sheridan staggered into medlab at 06.10 wrapped in a shimmering robe. A Minbari sex robe, if he was not mistaken. Well, well, well... His professional mode catalogued the limp, red blotchy skin and a very large hickey on his neck. Nope, he was not mistaken.
"Rough night?" he drawled, pretending interest in the readouts of a machine, and was rewarded by a glare.
Sheridan looked around, making sure no one else was present. "I.. uhh.. seem to be having an allergic reaction to something or other," he admitted, pulling himself up to sit on one of the examination tables.
Franklin pulled on some gloves, and examined the skin on his arms. "Would you loosen the robe?" he asked in his best doctor's voice, not giving anything away.
Another glare, then Sheridan sighed, and shrugged the robe off his shoulders so it fell around his waist.
The skin on his torso also showed angry red blotches. And a fair number of bruises. And bites. And scratches from fingernails.
"You *did* have a rough night," Franklin said, trying not to grin. "These bruises, scratches and bites will also need treatment." His voice invited explanation, but Sheridan just stared at the wall.
"Just get on with it, Doctor," the Captain ordered. "I have to be on duty in less than an hour."
"You know, after the war I worked for a while on a Minbari colony world," Franklin said after a while, in a conversational tone, treating Sheridan's various contusions.
"That's fascinating, Doctor," Sheridan said, gaze fixed avidly on the isolation bay. "Are you almost done?"
"Almost." Franklin pulled a hypospray. "This is for the allergic reaction. Some humans are allergic to the plant, and this will counter that. Next time, tell Delenn not to use the oil."
If Sheridan was surprised the doctor knew some of the details of Minbari sexual rituals, he did not show it. "Thankyou doctor," Sheridan replied, re-alligning the robe and gathering his dignity about him.
"You know why the Minbari only have sex once a year?" the doctor asked, ostentatiously putting equipment away.
Sheridan froze, his back to Franklin, but didn't say anything. 'Got him,' Franklin thought smugly, 'he didn't know that one.'
"It takes the men that long to recover. Have a nice day, Captain."
Franklin chuckled as Sheridan left Medlab2. Delenn's change had made her partially human, but not entirely according to his tests. Minbari couples only engaged in sexual activities once a year, when the female's cycle induced an incredibly strong physical desire. With Delenn... well, he was pretty sure her insatiable desire was going to occur a lot more frequently than once per year. The Captain was going to need plenty of rest. *Plenty* of rest.
The wall panel buzzed, and Vir, Ambassador Mollari's aide appeared on the screen.
"Doctor, could you please come to Ambassador Mollari's quarters," the young Centauri requested. "He was trying a pair of new shoes on, fell over and I believe he has injured his ankle." In the background, Londo could be heard yelling for Vir. "I must go. Please come at once, Doctor." The monitor flicked back to its waiting insignia.
Franklin looked at the chrono as he gathered up some equipment. 06.30. Welcome to another day aboard Babylon 5.
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End: "Minbari, Incense and Myrrh"
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Author: Rowen
Fandom: Babylon 5
Rating: R
Spoilers: Season 2 episode "Confessions and Lamentations"
Synopsis: A piece I thought up after watching 'Confessions and Lamentations', where Sheridan, Delenn and Lennier have a meal Minbari style. Which got me thinking on other Minbari rituals...
Pairing: John/Delenn
Genre: Adult
Disclaimer: Babylon 5 and characters belong to you know who.
Notes: If you're not of appropriate age in your district, go away now.
This story was written somewhere between 1993 and 1997
Winner 1997 "John/Delenn storybook" award for best erotic story
------------------------------------
Part 4
The pair lay collapsed on the mat, entwined in each other's arms. Delenn's slow, rhythmic breathing indicated she was asleep. John's thoughts whirled incoherently - it had been incredible. That was the only adjective his shell-shocked mind could think of to describe the experience. Incredible.
The arm on which Delenn was lying began to tingle with the first signs of pins and needles and he carefully shifted it from beneath her, propping himself up on it instead so he could regard her. He smiled - she had the look of a woman who'd been well satisfied, and he hoped it was so. He reached out a finger and gently traced her swollen lips. In her sleep she smiled and nestled closer to him. John felt his heart contract and tears fill his eyes. So beautiful. So precious. He leant over and pressed his lips tenderly to her forehead, then her lips.
"Uh-hmm," Lennier cleared his throat quietly, as if loathe to disturb the moment.
John looked towards the other man, eyebrow raised questioningly.
"The ritual has been completed," Lennier whispered so as not to wake Delenn. He gestured to a doorway. "Delenn's sleeping chamber is through there - she will probably sleep for the rest of the day, and will be more comfortable in bed."
John gathered Delenn's sleeping form into his arms and stood, staggering a little as his body suddenly let him know about a large number of aches and pains. He was glad she was so light, for he wouldn't have made it as far as her bed had she been a gram heavier. As Lennier pulled a blanket around her, John looked around the room: he'd never been in her personal quarters before. It was neat and quite spartan - decorated with only a few beautiful objects that Sheridan did not recognise. A hand on his arm caught his attention, and Lennier indicated they should return to the other room. John nodded, briefly kissing the sleeping woman on the lips, before following.
Lennier handed him the robe he'd discarded what seemed like a lifetime before. It was funny - he'd forgotton he was standing completely naked before the man, although after the activities he'd just engaged in, he supposed being naked was absolutely nothing to be uncomfortable about.
"Is it normal for human's skin to be that color after sexual relations?" Lennier asked curiously, as John drew the soft, silky material about him. Sheridan looked down at his torso and cursed briefly. His skin was covered in angry red blotches.
"I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the oil. Or the fruit," he said, fixing the robe so it hung correctly. He would have to go to medlab and get this treated. Fan-fragging-tastic. Hopefully he could wait until Stephen was on duty, not that he expected this to be any easier to explain to the Chief Medical Officer than a subordinate.. "What is the time?"
"O-six-hundred," Lennier replied, checking the chronometer. John felt his jaw drop and eyes widen: he'd had no idea the ritual had taken that amount of time.
"I have to go to med-lab, then on duty," he said, checking the robe was not gaping. "When Delenn wakes up, can you tell her I'll drop by later?" Lennier nodded, and released the lock on the door to the corridor. On the threshold, John paused. "Did... did everything go... correctly?" he asked hesitantly.
"The ceremony was completed in a satisfactory manner," the young Minbari replied. He paused, considering his next words. "This is the first time I have participated as Watcher in such a ceremony, but I believe..." He paused again. "I believe Delenn was well... satisfied." John felt a blush heating his cheeks, although after having made love in front of the young man, he didn't know why he was embarassed by the statement.
"Ahh... thankyou."
Lennier bowed, and John returned the bow, feeling more comfortable using the gesture than he ever had.
---------------------
Stephen Franklin raised an eyebrow as Captain John Sheridan staggered into medlab at 06.10 wrapped in a shimmering robe. A Minbari sex robe, if he was not mistaken. Well, well, well... His professional mode catalogued the limp, red blotchy skin and a very large hickey on his neck. Nope, he was not mistaken.
"Rough night?" he drawled, pretending interest in the readouts of a machine, and was rewarded by a glare.
Sheridan looked around, making sure no one else was present. "I.. uhh.. seem to be having an allergic reaction to something or other," he admitted, pulling himself up to sit on one of the examination tables.
Franklin pulled on some gloves, and examined the skin on his arms. "Would you loosen the robe?" he asked in his best doctor's voice, not giving anything away.
Another glare, then Sheridan sighed, and shrugged the robe off his shoulders so it fell around his waist.
The skin on his torso also showed angry red blotches. And a fair number of bruises. And bites. And scratches from fingernails.
"You *did* have a rough night," Franklin said, trying not to grin. "These bruises, scratches and bites will also need treatment." His voice invited explanation, but Sheridan just stared at the wall.
"Just get on with it, Doctor," the Captain ordered. "I have to be on duty in less than an hour."
"You know, after the war I worked for a while on a Minbari colony world," Franklin said after a while, in a conversational tone, treating Sheridan's various contusions.
"That's fascinating, Doctor," Sheridan said, gaze fixed avidly on the isolation bay. "Are you almost done?"
"Almost." Franklin pulled a hypospray. "This is for the allergic reaction. Some humans are allergic to the plant, and this will counter that. Next time, tell Delenn not to use the oil."
If Sheridan was surprised the doctor knew some of the details of Minbari sexual rituals, he did not show it. "Thankyou doctor," Sheridan replied, re-alligning the robe and gathering his dignity about him.
"You know why the Minbari only have sex once a year?" the doctor asked, ostentatiously putting equipment away.
Sheridan froze, his back to Franklin, but didn't say anything. 'Got him,' Franklin thought smugly, 'he didn't know that one.'
"It takes the men that long to recover. Have a nice day, Captain."
Franklin chuckled as Sheridan left Medlab2. Delenn's change had made her partially human, but not entirely according to his tests. Minbari couples only engaged in sexual activities once a year, when the female's cycle induced an incredibly strong physical desire. With Delenn... well, he was pretty sure her insatiable desire was going to occur a lot more frequently than once per year. The Captain was going to need plenty of rest. *Plenty* of rest.
The wall panel buzzed, and Vir, Ambassador Mollari's aide appeared on the screen.
"Doctor, could you please come to Ambassador Mollari's quarters," the young Centauri requested. "He was trying a pair of new shoes on, fell over and I believe he has injured his ankle." In the background, Londo could be heard yelling for Vir. "I must go. Please come at once, Doctor." The monitor flicked back to its waiting insignia.
Franklin looked at the chrono as he gathered up some equipment. 06.30. Welcome to another day aboard Babylon 5.
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End: "Minbari, Incense and Myrrh"
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