Nyx

[petty_dabbler]

John was up top in the crows nest, a pitiful roost looking up at it, but a space enchanted to be large and comfortable and warm, accomodating even a desk and John's telescope.

He was sitting on the floor, though, comfortable in among the cushions, watching the movement of the backbone of night.

He could hear someone climbing and his belly rumbled at the thought of perhaps getting a late bite from someone.

Comments

[tempting_the_fates]

The fight with Hex had been... Shocking, honestly. Nyx still wasn't sure what he'd done. All he knew was he didn't want to be alone, and he wasn't ready to speak with Hex, but John had made it clear where he'd be.

Reaching the nest, the fae said nothing as he offered the man an apple and sat down with one of his own.

[petty_dabbler]

"I thought you'd need to think for days, not hours," he said, giving Nyx a nod of thanks before biting the apple.

[tempting_the_fates]

"I fought with my keeper," Nyx said quietly, leaving it at that as he bit into his apple.

[petty_dabbler]

John hummed an acknowledgement of that, but then ate his apple in peace. If Nyx wanted to say more, he could.

He did offer him an extra cushion.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx took the cushion, settling in and looking up at the stars.

"I meditated today, took myself as far from this place as I could. ...I thought I would feel centered after, but I just feel even more alone."

[petty_dabbler]

"Your magic weak?" he asked after a long moment of chewing. "I know the binding dampens it, but I mean more than that."

[tempting_the_fates]

"I can't tell what's the binding and what's me," Nyx admitted. "Everything just feels... Dulled. Muted."

He took another bite, then seemed to get a bit upset. "My keeper is angry, and I don't know what I've done. ...He has no right to be angry with me anyway. He's my jailor. I only want to go home."

[petty_dabbler]

"You been bitching about that every day we've been on the water?" John asked. "And him unable to give you, his Kept, what you want so badly?"

He went to bite the apple again.

"Bond's a fucking idiot for using that bracelet when none of you knows what it's about," he said with a derisve snort before taking his bite.

[tempting_the_fates]

"I did not ask for any of this," Nyx reminded him. "And if you know so much, you should educate your captain... Or use that information to free me."

[petty_dabbler]

John looked at Nyx with a touch of pity.

"It's too late for any of that," he said.

He reached for Nyx's wrist and brushed his thumb over the marks.

Lust rushed through him from where John touched him.

"For now you're going to have to make do."

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx made a small sound, going still as John touched him.

"You said you had a spell," he said quietly. "You said it would help."

[petty_dabbler]

John nodded slowly.

"Good enough to...make do," he said quietly. "Until we can train your Keeper on his bloody job."

[tempting_the_fates]

"And will it fix me? Make me feel more like myself? Because I need that. I need strength before we reach port," Nyx insisted.

[petty_dabbler]

"I'll do me best," he promised, brushing his thumb over the scar again, bringing a bright spark of pain and need.

He offered a smile that wasn't terribly reassuring.

"You should get comfortable," he suggested.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx looked uneasy, but after a moment nodded slightly and settled in a bit more comfortably.

[petty_dabbler]

John waited patiently, then began to cast a spell, his hands forming shapes that expanded and encircled the entire top of the mast. The magic was warm and pleasant as it caressed Nyx's skin, periodically biting in sharply to spark the worst kind of pleasure.

"Has Hex forbidden you from coming for anyone else?" he asked as he watched the pleasure envelop Nyx.

He doubted Hex even knew he could...

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx let out a series of sharp gasps.

"He doesn't know his power," the nymph said. "He can't. I just need a way to become free without harming him. I know- I know it can be done, I've known freed nymphs whose masters lived, but I never... I never thought to ask how. I didn't know I'd need to learn..."

[petty_dabbler]

"You don't want him dead? Your freedom is that simple. When we make land, find a rough lad with a knife..." he suggested as his magic utterly ravaged the nymph.

[tempting_the_fates]

"I don't want that," Nyx panted. "I..."

He shuddered hard, then fell silent.

"I like him. ...I did at least, until he lost his temper," he finished finally.

[petty_dabbler]

Sure he'd accomplished enough to keep the nymph going without compromising his bond with Hex, John began to release the magic.

"I'm sure no one's ever been cross with you, hmm? Family, maybe. But who'd be so stupid as to be cross with a prince?" John mused. "Must be nice. I get shouted at all the time."

[tempting_the_fates]

"I am not against being scolded, I'm against being lashed out at for something I haven't done," Nyx replied, pulling himself together and curling up a bit. "Think I'm spoiled if you like. I wasn't spoiled though, I was treated with care and compassion."

[petty_dabbler]

John's brows drew together.

"What did you do?...Or nor do, rather?" he asked curiously.

[tempting_the_fates]

"I'm not even sure. He just started ranting about how I must want Bond, or how I hate him too much," Nyx frowned. "Of course I hate Bond. He's a monster. What a stupid thing to get upset about."

[petty_dabbler]

"Of course," John agreed.

The spell done, John transformed the circle to simply keep them warm in the crow's nest.

"It's probably not even you," he mentioned casually. "Hex has been jealous of Bond for years. I assumed he'd give up when he realized Q only has eyes for the captain, but love is stupid."

As he spoke, John began to fill his pipe. He knew there was an unpleasant edge to his honesty. He could have a bit more tact.

He'd work on it. Some day.

[tempting_the_fates]

"That doesn't mean he can take it out on me," Nyx frowned. "That's not an excuse to treat me poorly."