Valentin Alejandre Bernal Socorro

He nodded again, laughing softly with a shake of his head. It had been very strange and hard adjusting to life at the castle, and maybe it was just because he was drunk, but he felt like he was finally getting used to it. He seemed oblivious to Valentin's staring until he spoke again, glassy eyes turning to the vampire with raised brows. It was question Briar had been asked quite often, and each time he had no problem reciting his adored past despite the sadness it brought.

Valentin's gaze became wistful as Briar described his life before the castle. He wished he were the type of man who could have, once upon a time, had the time. His past was so soaked in blood that he knew even before being turned into a vampire that he would never be able to settle into a life of peace and quiet. Fighting and war always followed him. The violence was a dormant animal beneath his skin, ready to wake at the first sign of danger. He couldn't even imagine what such an idyllic little life would be like for himself. Who he might settle with. He always imagined himself alone.

All Cillian did was raise a brow just slightly at his friend's unamused expression, fighting back a grin only because they both knew exactly why he was looking at him like that. Cillian was what most would call a plain old gossip, it was hard to keep his mouth shut, not that he ever really tried or cared to unless it was for his own benefit. Selfish as it may be, he still retained numerous close relationships besides his own husband, so it seemed to him like was a non-issue.

The moment that Cillian put his wine glass down, Valentin knew his friend was locked into this conversation and was not likely to let it go until they spoke about it at certain length. He merely took a deep pull from his own glass and looked into it, eyeing the deeply colored liquid as if it were the wine's fault that Valentin could not get drunk. He swirled the glass by the stem and pursed his lips for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts a bit more.

In all honesty, Enzo had been waiting for the other to make some kind of advance. Being a siren, he could sense elevated levels of lust, even with Valentin and the way he was subtly checking him out. Lorenzo knew he really shouldn't start making a habit of sleeping with councilmen, but Valentin was precisely his type. "Well, I'm glad to hear that you don't have plans to take anyone else back to your place tonight," Enzo said with a little smirk, taking another sip of his drink as he kept his eyes on Valentin. "I'd be more than happy to join you," he chuckled, finishing his drink and placing the empty glass down. "Have you had enough of the party now?"

Likewise, Valentin downed his drink in one go. He put his glass next to Lorenzo's. "I believe I have," he replied. In truth, Valentin likely needed to stop thinking about others. He wasn't so much of a selfish person. At least, not inherently. But maybe he could learn beginning tonight and have Lorenzo to himself for an hour or two, damn the consequences or what anybody else may think. The councilman took up Lorenzo's hand and kissed the back of his knuckles, cool lips lingering on his skin a moment. "Let us go back to mine."

Briar's brows raised, and for a second he was genuinely confused about what Valentin was confused about until he remember that he was most likely quite old. It seemed right when that clicked in his mind, the councilman came to his own understanding of what he was saying without Briar needing to explain. He nodded instead, giving him a smile when he reassured he would remain the same man he was here in the ballroom. The mention of being fed from had his cheeks darkening slightly, brows rising.

The darkening of Briar's cheeks did not go unnoticed. Valentin eyed the flush and a small grin had the corner of his mouth creeping up slightly. He knew of some slaves that enjoyed being fed on and admittedly, he did not think that Briar would be one of them. But perhaps a master had introduced him to the pleasurable side of it? Maybe he had a past with it? Valentin wondered but didn't ask. That was Briar's little secret to know and his to keep.

Lorenzo could definitely see how events could lose their appeal after so many of them; he was lucky, he didn't need to attend unless he was working or attending just for fun. It seemed Valentin was the opposite kind of councilman to his father -- Raphael thrived on the attention. "Mm, well, it would be a shame to deprive the crowds of your lovely face, Councilman," the siren said with a little smirk, the flirtatious tone in his voice quite evident.

Valentin knew when he was being flirted with. He hadn't expected it of Enzo, truth be told. He had no idea how close the younger was to his father and what he had ever heard from Raphael. There was no love or even like between the two councilmen. In truth, Valentin loathed Raphael. He was smug and arrogant, cruel for cruelty's sake, and selfish. His annoyingly good looks were entirely wasted on such a person. But Lorenzo... Valentin did not know if he shared any of those terrible personality traits with Raphael but he was willing to find out tonight.

Noah chased orgasms like he chased every other thing he was addicted to so he was happy to have gotten off once already. He hoped they'd get off a lot more, too. His incubus half always felt especially good after it, like he had more energy not less, which meant he could always keep going for a long time now that he had access to that. Granted, he was a valkyrie right now but he obviously still had good endurance. The councilman was clearly getting just as much out of it if not quite in the same way and while that wasn't always a requirement for Noah he did like a satisfied customer. Plus, they hadn't even gotten to the best part and he was definitely hungry for it now.

He allowed Noah to move back against him as he drank. Valentin was swept up in the taste of fresh blood as it flooded over his tongue, filled his mouth. He hadn't fed in awhile and for just a few moments, he forgot about the sex completely as he pulled mouthful after mouthful to swallow down. Valentin only fed when he strictly had to, not as indulgent as most other vampires. He fed to keep up his strength but only just barely. He hated being what he was, hated feeling so parasitic, and always had ever since he was turned. All of it was always forgotten when he drank but afterwards, he was likely to let the hatred seep back in when Noah was gone.

The shifter's gaze followed Valentin as he stood from the booth, remained seated as he offered his hand to him. He was urging him to come with him again but this time he very much felt like he had a choice. Having a choice was a new feeling in general, but it was also new to look at a vampire and not want to run. He was looking up at him and honestly? He really wanted to go to his suite. It felt like an opportunity to take control, not of Valentin, but of himself, of the things that happened to him. Maybe some wouldn't see sex as something that could do all that, but even the thought felt liberating to him.

The air between them was much more comfortable as Cyril took his hand to slip out of the booth. Once he stood, Valentin took a moment to kiss his knuckles before letting his hand go. "Of course," he replied, turning to show Cyril out of the bar and to the way to his suite. It was a short walk to the wing of the castle where his quarters resided and they arrived soon enough. Valentin unlocked his door and held it for Cyril so he could enter first before following after him and shutting it once more.

Roland took that curse as a small victory, glad he could pull such a reaction from the older councilman and hoping to get quite a few more like that out of him. Not all from frustration or impatience but a few of those certainly never hurt. It was honestly surprising this hadn't happened sooner but then back when they'd first met Valentin had seemed to reserve judgement on him. The Spaniard's friendship with Alix had been much stronger and Roland was well aware the two of them had been to bed. He was sure Alix had extended the invitation into theirs but Valentin had obviously never taken him up on it. At least it was finally happening, after all these years, and Roland was most definitely glad of it. Perhaps this teasing was a small form of revenge for Valentin holding out on him for so long.

He huffed as his hips were pinned but had no interest in fighting Roland's hold. That was all part of the fun, wasn't it? The torture, the tease. He could very well flip this situation and take control but he and Roland were overdue this play time. He might as well be patient and enjoy the ride. "No rush," he said, trying not to sound strained. Valentin wet his lower lip as he watched Roland slide his tongue over his length. He wanted to flex his hips again but dutifully kept them still under Roland's hand.

Really, Cillian and Valentin were unexpected friends, but they had both been constants for one another for many centuries now. He quite enjoyed his introverted friend, found his company to be refreshing when he was usually surrounded with people more like himself and his husband. The extent of Cillian's luxury, expenses, fine taste, socializing, none of it had never really been Valentin's strong suit, and Cillian was okay with that.

A flat look was Valentin's answer to Cillian's retort. Unlike him to air out his marital issues? Valentin was privy to every little thought that Cillian had about his own marriage and beyond. His friend loved to talk. It was why they worked so well together-- one of them spoke and the other listened. Valentin leaned back against the arm of the sofa and watched Cillian for a moment, quiet. He wasn't so quick so speak about himself and the things that were happening in his life.

His eyes seemed to brighten at his words, to hear someone who put effort like that into their plants made his heart sing with happiness. "See, I was right. A great plant dad," He nodded, like he was confirming it to himself. "I never bought like, enchanted vases or anything. But I obviously have my own helpful tricks," Subconsciously the hand not holding his champagne reached to his shoulder, brushing over the tattoos of his wings. He missed them, and even drunk his heart ached. The last time he had them out was for that mischief thing, and that wasn't exactly something he was proud of.

Valentin watched Briar reach for his shoulder and could sense his melancholy immediately. He understood that the collar was most likely keeping parts of him trapped that he missed. It was like that for most of the slaves. The things that made them supernatural were chiefly taken away, making them virtually human. Valentin was not in the habit of letting slaves have their gifts back, too paranoid a man, but if he got to know Briar more, perhaps things could be arranged further down the line.

Charlie eagerly returned the kiss, the feeling of Valentin's chilled hands against his burning skin a damn relief that he pressed up against. The dragon ran hot on a normal day but felt far warmer once heat week rolled around, which was another reason he was likely so much more eager to get his hands on the vampires since their cool touch helped calm the fever. He moved his arms to help the older man remove his shirt and fell back onto the bed with a grunt, gaze intense as he stared at the other man.

"My name is Valentin," he replied. Valentin didn't care if people recognized him, really. He had been around a long enough time to where it just sort of happened anyway. Whether Charlie did or not, he didn't waste time waiting to see. Valentin stroked his hands up and down Charlie's thighs before reaching up to snag a bottle of lube out of the playroom's bedside table drawer. He tossed the bottle in the air and caught it with the same hand, considering Charlie thoughtfully as he popped the cap with his thumb.

Briar was too drunk to appreciate the way the councilman listened, silent and eyes on him. Briar appreciated that, he usually tried to do the same, and had he been sober he would've verbalized that appreciation. Instead he was still rambling on, gently and surprisingly carefully swirling the champagne around in his glass just enough so it gave him something to look at but didn't spill. He smiled wide, "You have plants?" He questioned, "You look like you're a great plant dad, I bet they're thriving."

Plant dad. The term had Valentin visibly amused as he listened to Briar ramble on and while he listened, he could not get it out of his head. Valentin was nothing but a father of violence, in his mind. He had never sired any children (as far as he knew) or fledglings and he did not keep pets. He knew that plants needed to be cared for but not to the same extent of a person or animal. He watered them and pruned them when necessary but had never considered that the actions would make him any kind of caretaker. Valentin saw his hands as a means for destruction but his thriving greenery would prove that he was capable of more. Interesting point of view.

Oh. This was certainly not how Cyril saw this interaction going. He had anticipated the worst, had planned out having to pack and leave as fast as possible, but now it seemed he had an opening to join a councilman in bed. He really didn't plan- or necessarily want -to bed a vampire, not so soon after he had escaped one. But.. he'd be lying to himself if he tried to think Valentin wasn't attractive, would know in his core that them sharing something so serious like that made him want to be close like that. "I think you did as well," He said through a breathy laugh, eyes lifting to meet his again.

Things had taken a very interesting turn and Valentin was not upset at the way it was now going. This would give him and Cyril a better chance to learn one another, albeit perhaps in a bit more of a primal manner, to start fresh. He nodded and then granted Cyril a reserved and close-lipped smile as he agreed to some stress relief. Valentin could do that. He would make it up for the shifter for being so demanding in his line of questioning, for strong-arming him into this situation to begin with.

Since Enzo enjoyed parties and loud music and drugs and sex, the ball wasn't really his vibe. It was certainly more.. classy.. than the parties he usually attended. Still, there was alcohol and hot guys and that's all he really needed to keep him satisfied. If he could feed, he was happy.

"I have been to thousands of these little parties, Mr. Reyes. They all lose their charm after one point or another. I attend because I know I am not one of the more seen councilmen otherwise," he replied. Valentin did not make a point to go out and about so the public could glimpse him. He'd actually gone years without being seen at times simply because he'd gotten into his own head too much and fallen into his more reclusive habits while at his villa in Spain. It was why he came to stay at Krovs despite there being so many things he disliked about it. At least while he was here, he had an obligation to be social.

Having worked with Valentin for some time now, the other's attitude was one that he was familiar with. For the most part, Stigr found the younger councilman's tendency to mope to be rather amusing, though he rarely showed it. The vampire personally didn't understand why Valentin seemed to get in moods like this, but they didn't know each other well enough for him to pry and it wasn't really in Stigr's nature anyway.

Valentin's moods were a mystery to all, even Valentin. His hatred for himself and everything he did was so vast that it weighed on him heavily and made him, in a word, mopey. He could have taken his thousands of years to try and be proactive about it all, but the thought of disrupting the very delicate balance he had found in the grand scheme of his life made him fearful and paranoid. And so, he found himself at an impasse with... Himself.

@valentinsocorro

Valentin had very few people who he considered true friends. He spent his life in relative seclusion by his own choice and only a select few ever bothered to stop and draw him out of the shadows of his own making. Valentin didn't hide on purpose of course. He merely found himself exhausted with the state of affairs of the world beyond his doors. But Cillian was one of those true friends who remained a constant in his life and for this, Valentin was loyal to him despite his dramatics. It was the same for Roland. What was it about an introvert that attracted an extrovert? He would never know.

Magnai wasn't perturbed by the lack of words; all the sound Valentin was making said enough, the way his body accepted him, begged for more as he tightened up around the alpha and throbbed in his hand. Valentin's fingers in his hair were all too familiar and he took the message for what it was, humming himself at the warm ache in his scalp when the other tugged. It was heady, the way Valentin always clung to him when he got close, seeming to lose himself under the weight of Magnai's lust. His stiff, foolish lover, ever at the mercy of his thoughts, abandoning them now in the tangle of their skin. If the wolf were ever jealous, he couldn't fathom it being of any other man. It was Valentin himself he felt he battled with, ever-zealously pulling him from the mire of his own mind.

The moan that tore from him was one he wasn't sure was because of the bite or the way Magnai locked inside him. Heavy eyes nearly glowed in the semi-dark, hazy with the ultimate pleasure of being bitten and filled. Every pulse of release was a gift he greedily accepted, his body clenching and rippling tight around Magnai's knot and length. He huffed out a breath and let his lids close completely as he allowed the bliss of release to echo through him. His mind was blissfully blank, static with drowsiness and the satisfaction of their coupling. The hand tight in Magnai's hair loosened. Valentin's fingers worked through any knots and tangles he found, stroking through gently. He was silent for a few good long moments and after awhile, his hand stilled on the back of Magnai's neck. Valentin could have gone back to sleep, could have dozed under Magnai's muscled body, but he ended up rousing a little instead.