put on your war paint

They’d done this often enough now that Aleixo was familiar with a sort of routine, letting himself be pushed back down.  The phoenix stretched himself out a little on bed, letting one arm drape over the lamia to provide a bit more warmth.  “No, no, there’s no point in having someone come up here.  I’ll be alright.”  He wasn’t at all concerned, able to tell by how he felt that Remi hadn’t taken too much.  “Are you sure that it’s not just because of my warmth?”  He asked, the faintest hint of a tease in the phoenix’s voice.

The lamia almost resembled a cat more than a snake in the way he draped himself contentedly over the butler. He let out a soft laugh and shook his head at the implication he was kind to Aleixo only for his warmth. “No, no. I mean, that puts you in my good graces some, but if you were a brat, this would not be so pleasant for you.” Remi had killed slaves before out of frustration -- regardless of species. “But you are pleasant and quiet. I’m sure I am not the first person to say it either.”

“I’ll remember that for next time.  I suppose the suit is a bit much…”  Though there wasn’t a vast variety in the butler’s clothing.  If it wasn’t suits, then it was something casual like jeans or t-shirts, though he didn’t wear those very often.  Aleixo shrugged out of his shirt and then attempted to help Remi with the rest of his clothing, the butler’s movements a bit slower than usual before he shook his head.  “It’s alright.  Just give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be better.”

Remi was pleased as the other began to strip for him, and when all of the clothing was gone, he gently pushed the other back down on the bed and laid on top of him. Yes, phoenix were most definitely a favorite of his. “If you’re sure. I can always call for some slave to get a proper dose of vampire blood if you do need it.” There was something about the other that was calming and made the volatile lamia a bit less, well, volatile. “It’s a good thing you’re so sweet. I’m usually not so friendly to people.”

“Is that why so many of you stay here for so long? Safety in numbers?” Mason supposed it made sense, but being a human, the slave was still at the very bottom of the pecking order. He huffed softly, rolling his eyes, still not exactly comfortable, but at least it didn’t hurt. Yet. “As long as you don’t plan on crushing me, I don’t suppose I have anything to worry about. “

“I don’t know. They likely stay because it’s pleasurable for most of us here. I enjoy my home country far too much to be gone for very long though,” he replied. Even without the weather, Russia was kind of grim. The area wasn’t as bustling or interesting as back home -- at least to the lamia. “Plus, there’s a good variety of food here. If I could simply have a harem of phoenix and celestials back home, I probably wouldn’t come here.”

Aleixo was beginning to feel a little weak by the time Remi had finished feeding for the moment, the butler relaxed and easy against the master.  Being fed from had always been something that he enjoyed, or at least something he’d enjoyed ever since he’d been a slave.  The phoenix wasn’t sure if that came from being fed from so often or if it was something he genuinely enjoyed.  He hummed softly and relaxed further into the bed, giving a small nod at the question.  “I like being fed from, yes.”

The lamia pressed a soft kiss to the butler’s lips before he sat up a little so that he could begin working at the other’s clothing. “You really should wear less when I call for you,” he mused. “I like to feel your skin.” It was the best way to get the other’s warmth, which Remi found particularly relaxing. “I’m sorry I can’t feed you my blood to perk you up. I suppose it’s one of the drawbacks of being what I am.” Though it was certainly fun to poison people with his blood too.

“I don’t think stuffy is quite the right word.”  Aleixo responded quietly, shifting a little again with a soft sound at the nip to his ear.  The truth was that he wasn’t scared of Remi, but it was always better to be cautious.  Something he’d learned both as a slave and during his time at the castle.  “Mm.  I suppose I should be, just…it’s different, I guess.  Not a bad thing, though.”  He rushed to reassure, shuddering, a quiet moan slipping passed the phoenix’s lips as Remi began to feed from him.  He closed his eyes, one hand resting against the master’s side.

“Well, you know what I’m getting at.” Aleixo at least seemed to be one of the more intelligent of the other creatures. That was probably why he’d gotten so far and out of being a slave. At the other’s reassurance, he smiled to himself. Not everyone adjusted so well to him not looking human. His hands roamed the other’s torso as he fed, mentally taking note to tell the other to wear less complicated clothing when he visited him next. After a long feed, he pulled back and licked his lips. “Do you like it when I feed off of you, little bird?”

“I might be staff, but I’m still expected to show respect.”  Aleixo replied with a small shrug.  Though most masters weren’t nearly as hard on him as they were on slaves, he still didn’t see that as a reason to get too comfortable.  The butler shook his head a little bit, wetting his bottom lip and settling a hand lightly on Remi’s tail.  “No, I’m fine with whatever you want.  It’s just different, that’s all.”

“You can be respectfully without being so stuffy,” he teased, nipping at the other’s ear. Aleixo was probably right to not get too comfortable. Many of the Masters were volatile to say the least, and Remi’s increased tolerance for Aleixo came from a desire for his species more than anything else. It was hard to find such a good meal. “I suppose it’s strange that I’m in my true form so regularly. I am surprised that you aren’t used to it by now though, little bird.” With that said, his fangs extended and he didn’t give the other any warning before piercing his flesh.

“I’m aware.  Just…some masters don’t like being called by their names.”  At least not by creatures they saw as beneath them.  It was always better to be on the safe side and polite, even with the masters that he knew.  He shifted a bit on the bed as Remi’s tail wrapped around him, a slightly odd feeling that he didn’t think he’d ever quite get used to, and tilted his head to give the master more access to his neck.

“You’d think they’d be more lax with you, but I suppose we all have our hangups.” Remi was certainly prickly over many things. He chuckled as he felt the man shift around. “Would you rather I have legs?” he purred against the other’s warm skin. “Because I supposed I could do that for you.” He wasn’t sure whether or not he wanted sex when they other arrived, so he’d stayed in his true form -- but he most definitely wasn’t opposed to shifting should the other request it.

It was often difficult for Aleixo to turn off the formality, particularly with masters as the politeness had been beaten into him multiple times by his former master.  Still, the phoenix gave a small nod.  “Sorry, si – Remi.”  He corrected quickly, taking the last few steps further into the room and joined the lamia on the bed.  “Force of habit, I’m afraid.”

While Aleixo was still technically beneath him in his eyes, the other was also polite and pleasant to be around. Remi had no reason to treat the phoenix like a slave. If he’d managed to get out of that position, he deserved to stay out of it. As the older creature joined him, his tail was quick to wrap around the other and he buried his face in his neck. “Well, hopefully you’ll eventually learn. I have no reason to harm you.”

It wasn’t exactly uncommon for Aleixo to be called to masters suites, though usually it was for something mundane such as delivering things or passing on messages or the like.  With Remi, though, it was usually something else entirely, but the butler had almost been waiting for the call, so he wasn’t surprised.  He got to the suite within a few minutes and entered, walking through to the bedroom.  “You needed me, sir?”

Remi rolled his eyes at the formality. “We are in private. You are welcome to simply call me by my name, little bird,” he cooed before holding out his arms -- snake like blue eyes sparkling. “Now, come here.” While Remi usually demanded formality in public settings, even he could relax in the privacy of his suite.

“And you seem to be doing a fine job of it without me stepping in.”  And that would only happen if Bjorn ever became concerned about Remi retaliating.  He was sure, however, that the other councilman could handle a little bit of bullying from Jaden now and then.  “It’s Jaden’s fun.  I don’t see why I should step in.”  The blond rolled his eyes seconds later, letting go of Remi’s wrist and dropping his hand to his side.  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

As the other dropped his hand, Remi chuckled. “I’m not inviting you because I can’t handle him,” he pointed out. “For someone so old, you sure are dense. I invited you because maybe getting bothered by you both doesn’t sound so bad.” Though, he wondered if it would just make the other jealous. That would certainly be a sight to see.

God forbid his mother witness this behavior of his. Vampire or no, the woman would still see fit to wallop him. She had, very many times, while he was growing up but, try as she might, she hadn’t succeeded in knocking that streak of mischief out of him. But he should stop. He should do to quit while he was ahead, as it were. Before the councilman decided to flex the powers he’d gained over millennia. 

He whispered a soft ‘oh’ and covered his lips with his fingers, playing like that question of Remi’s anatomy was just a careless slip of the tongue. Emile laughed after, casually, slipping his hands into the pockets of his trousers. 

“Forgive me, Monsieur. It’s just that you’re not like how I expected you to be.”

These were reasons Remi still kept the upper half of his tail covered. Peoples’ curiosity over his genitals was an unfortunate side effect of this form. He could relate with mercreatures in that aspect. He knew they also got inappropriate questions regarding how they had sex. Having sex in human form was easier anyways.

“And how did you expect me to be?” he asked, quirking his brow. The other was testing his patience, and it was very, very clear by the expression on his face and the danger swirling in his blue eyes. 

“My brain is normal sized thank you very much. I get it. It still doesn’t change the fact that me playing with this arm shouldn’t be something you call me out on you know.” he laughed as he threw the appendage behind him and got up stretching. “You do have a mime army. I knew it. So like why are you all so serious? All the time. You have the world at your finger tips and you are all so obsessed with that this crazy amount of gravitas. It’s funny.”

“I’m not convinced.” Remi, of course, thought most slaves were stupid though. Stupid and inferior. “I’m only serious around slaves. You aren’t my friends. My relationship with you is cat and toy. I use you for what I want, and then I discard you. I can relax more with other masters.”

It was at times like these that Floyd sincerely wished he had manifested as a porcupine rather than a raccoon. All those little spines would have come in handy in situations where he found himself at the center of some very chilly attention.  In a momenet of panic and– honestly– a lack of foresight, Floyd began unpacking the junk he kept hidden away, using it as a barrier between him and the lamia’s rapidly coiling length.

“Well, being naughty is part of the job description– demon and what not.” the familiar replied, pulling out a small silver butterknife and waving it threateningly at Bonnet. “And what did I tell you about touching me, you scaley noodle–” The sound of something very fagile shattering into hundreds of tiny pieces rocked the room, pulling the raccoon’s attention away from the vampire to the mess on the ground. “Oh, now look at what you’ve done. You’ve broken the damn vase! That’s seventy years of bad luck you’ve just gone and racked–” he froze, eyes widening in panick. “Wait, where’s my hand?! Where. Is. My. Hand.”

Remi continued coiling around the raccoon. Reaching out, he tried to take the butter knife from the other. “Scaly noodle? That’s a new one,” he mused -- clearly not all that bothered by the familiar. “Why are you so against my affection, little trash panda? Most people would be thrilled.” That was a lie, but still. Floyd was so warm.

“I can pay for that vase. I’m not overly concerned about it,” he replied with a shrug. He could find another one just as old, if not older. “I suggest getting rid of all the stuff you’ve stolen.”

“I don’t think that’d be very smart of you. You wouldn’t want to piss off another councilman by killing his slave, now would you?” Jaden hummed. He knew he really ought to stop using that as a defense to keep getting away with tormenting some of the other masters, but he couldn’t help it. He knew that Bjorn would go apeshit if something or someone were to harm him, and personally, Jaden got off on his master defending his honor. He snorted out a laugh, easily catching up to Remi. “I think you’re just scared to admit you’ve fallen in love with me. It’s okay, Remi-kins, I totally get it. I mean, look at me.” He paused in his tracks to pose for the other man, clearly flaunting his already exposed body. “I’m flattered that I’ve found a way to slither in that cold heart of yours.” 

“It’d only be revenge as he allows his slave to piss off another councilman.” Remi would probably not actually kill Jaden unless he did something even worse. The lamia was testy, and his species wasn’t known for their patience. “Fallen in love with you? If that were the case, I would have claimed you, but I didn’t. If anything, it is you that is infatuated with me, considering you don’t go away regardless of how nasty I am to you.” It wasn’t long before Remi’s snake half became a pair of legs -- allowing him to move a bit faster. “I’m not in the mood for your puns. You’ve left me cold, so I’m angry.”