#or...something like that

1. They’re good friends with benefits. Ken’pai often dotes on Tomis, because he was the first person who befriended him after he was left truly alone in a world that doesn’t tolerate him. Ken’pai secretly hopes that the friendship would develop into something more romantic, but he also understands if it’s not something the warlock wants. He also doesn’t know about Tomis’ need to consume souls, or the source of his magics, so he doesn’t know that Tomis is keeping them a secret for Ken’pai’s sake as well as his own. Ken’pai is a problem solver, for sure, and I’d think that Tomis knows very well that Ken’pai would abandon everything, including his own work, to try to figure out a way to “fix” the warlock’s condition.

Tomis is a pretty heavy flirt though, and Ken’pai still loves the attention he gets from the human. So it’s a bit of a contrivance. Tomis knows that Ken’pai is pretty…devoted to the warlock, sexually.

And of course the sex is very, very nice. Ken’pai’s tribe’s magic actually protects him from soul consumption, so Tomis can really push his powers further with the lizard-man…with consent of course.

2. They met about a year after Ken’pai’s master, Gray died. Ken was alone in the world, and while there was one village that accepted him because of Gray, he often had to travel to get the metals and parts he needed for his machinery. In one such village, he was taunted, and physically attacked by one or several of the townsfolk, and Tomis came to his rescue.

It took a long time for Ken’pai to open up to the warlock. Ken was a very guarded individual, being alone, different, and outcast not only by his former tribe, but from civilized society as a whole. For awhile, he was convinced that Tomis was only manipulating him, and merely wanted something from him (and he was technically correct!).

He finally relented after awhile, because deep down, he didn’t want to be alone, and this one human was his chance at that. He noticed, and probably could smell or sense Tomis’ agitation, not knowing why, and it was probably mentioned to be sexual frustration. Eventually, Ken’pai opened up completely and they bedded down for the night.

At the height of passion, and unknown to Ken’pai, their magics clashed. To Ken’pai, it felt like an explosive climax, but the warlock seemed to change, like flicking a switch. Angered, frustrated, and desperate, Tomis left quickly, leaving Ken’pai alone in the room, wondering just what he did wrong.

This sent him into a deep state of despondency. His sense of self-worth plummeted with the idea that even sexually, there was something wrong, and unwanted about him. A third rejection, from what he felt was his only chance of finding a place in the world.

We haven’t figured out the details about their paths crossing a second time, but Ken’pai didn’t expect it, honestly. He also didn’t expect the warlock to actually approach him and apologize…and it probably took some doing for it to stick. I kinda want to think that in a rare moment for Ken’pai, he just angrily laid it all out on the table, telling the human just how much it hurt him and how angry and lost he felt, and how he was close to giving up on the notion then and there. Tomis is wise though, and through his interactions with people, very understanding, and somehow managed to convince Ken’pai to allow him to accompany the lizard-man. (How this plays out could entirely change of course, we haven’t gone into it in detail yet.)

Since then, Tomis has been somewhat of a guardian and mentor to Ken’pai, both physically and emotionally at times. The bridge had burned, but it was to make way for an even stronger bridge, one that Ken’pai is deeply grateful for. He knows that Tomis doesn’t keep many friends (but doesn’t know why), so he feels honored that he’d be admitted into that small group.

I also think that Tomis would slowly start picking up on Ken’pai’s ability with machines and engineering, given that the warlock is very keenly observant. It’s a slow learning process, compared to what he gains from soul consumption, but I’d bet it sticks a lot better.

So there you go! I’ve actually been thinking about this lately since writing “Midnight Snack,” and maybe if we get some time we’ll sit down and really hash that out, so that I can turn it into a story.

…

And as a bit of admission…that part about being…abandoned during sex…that’s actually happened to me before. In real life. It happened many years ago, and it’s a long story, one that I’m…not ready to tell, but it really did a number on me and my sense of self-worth. I’m really just putting this out there because…well, if it takes me a bit to write that scene? It’s because I’m not ready. Apologies in advance for that.

Sorry for the sudden downer note, but I wanted to be honest.