Caleb is in the Autumn common room well before 1pm, chasing away all others with glares (or an irritating cat when that did not work). Hair partially braided back before shoved into a messy bun, clothing free and ironed, and his bag by his feet just in case his anxiety gets the best of him and Caleb has to flee.
The moment he sees Daniel enter the room, Caleb pops to his feet with a quiet, "Ah, hello. How have you been?"
Daniel's a little surprised the common room is empty at this time of day - the Winter wing room tends to have at least a few people during the afternoon. Maybe the Autumn wing types are less sociable. He smiles at Caleb, though, offering a hand as he comes over. "Grand, you?"
He suppresses the itch that wants to betray his nerves and gives Daniel a nice handshake, long fingers not ink-stained for once. "Ah, I have been okay." He gestures to the other half of the love seat he had strategically chosen for this meeting, waiting for Daniel to start to sit before taking his own. "It has mostly been quiet. Easy to run out of things to do here."
Caleb nervously chews on his bottom lip, before tentatively offering an explanation for the meeting, "Ah, I had a bit of a proposition?"
Daniel's manicure is as tidy as ever, no chips in the black polish. "It is, isn't it? I went and got an actual job for sheer boredom." And because he wanted money that didn't come from the fey, but he's not going to badmouth them in the castle.
He takes the offered seat, relaxing but keeping an eye on Caleb. He can tell that he's tense, but he's usually tense. "What kind of a proposition would that be, then?"
The nail polish is an unfortunate reminder of Molly, but Molly was shameless. A trait which maybe Caleb needed in this instance, he desperately wanted to get his hand on that book.
With a deep centering breath, Caleb focused on smiling sweetly, "I am actually trying to figure out a job for myself. Unfortunately, something has come up and... I was wondering, if any is still available, if I might borrow 50 pieces of gold?"
"I could pay you back! Or-" Caleb barreled on; lowering his eyes to look at Daniel through thick lashes, as he slides a hand right above Daniel's knee, lips significantly redder from biting from his chewing on them. "Or do a trade of some sort?"
Oh. Oh, that's what kind of meeting this is. This is not the first or clumsiest time Daniel's been propositioned like this. Caleb's quite convincing, actually. Daniel doesn't judge him for it - he's been in that position himself. His expression goes warm - almost fond, actually, and he reaches down to cover Caleb's hand with his own. "Yeah, we might be able to figure something out."
Not necessarily a direct exchange of gold for services, but he's not opposed to some kind of... arrangement. He just wants to make sure of Caleb's motives. "Can I ask... why this? You could ask your patron, or work at one of the shops." His smile quirks a bit. "I guess retail really isn't for everyone, though."
He doesn't want to make Caleb feel bad or as though Daniel disapproves when that's not true at all. He's just curious about what's driving this.
Immediately a great deal of Caleb’s tension releases, at the very least he knows that Daniel will not be angry or violent just from his asking. It helped that it finally answered what Daniel might want from him. Everyone wanted something but he had not been able to put his finger to the pulse of what might interest Daniel before.
Propositioning Daniel had not garnered a blush, but the warmth of his hand over Caleb’s send a delicate flush across the redhead’s face. “I could go to my patron, but ah, their expediency was a concern in this case.” And he suspected he ship owner would sell that book sooner rather than later.
“Ah,” The fest was harder, and for the first time Caleb’s eyes fell to the their feet. “I have significant social anxiety. Having to force myself out on days when it is bad... It did not seem ideal.”
"Fair enough." He tilts his head. "You know I'll just give you the money, yeah? You don't have to owe me anything for it. If you're more comfortable paying me back for it, that's fine, but you don't have to."
The fifty gold would be a lot, but really - what does he need to spend it on? He's got clothes (and a discount, since he works at the Ozdust), he's got food, he's got a place to sleep. If Caleb needs it, he's happy to provide.
But he also understands that not everyone wants to accept charity. Some people are proud - some people just don't trust anything they can't see the strings of. He suspects Caleb's one of the latter.
The corner of Caleb's mouth twitches downward at that suggestion, "You have already given me more than I am comfortable having received. In fact, most of that is going to this purchase." He had used the rest to buy knitting supplies and lessons from the brownie working the market stall. It would have lessened the amount of his asking, but honestly having something to do with his hands was worth it.
"This is better." This way he would not keep building up a debt he did not know how to pay.
"All right." He can accept that - if this is the way Caleb chooses to pay off his debt, he's not gonna argue.
Daniel will pick Caleb's hand up off his knee, holding it, letting his thumb rub in random patterns over his palm. "So, what does fifty gold get me? A blowjob? An hour? A night?"
Daniel’s easy acceptance is a relief, while Caleb can not help a thread of worry as he lifts his hand. It is nice though, gentle attention with no predictable pattern.
“If someone is trying to charge you fifty gold for a blowjob or an hour then they are trying to cheat you.” It comes out dryer than Caleb had planned, the wizard internally wincing as he lowered his eyes and softened his voice. “A night, it gets you a night.”
Caleb’s eyes widen at this new information about Daniel, clearly curious about what has been revealed but when he opens his mouth it is to quietly admit, “Unfortunately, I do not know anything about your ‘dollars’ so I do not think I can be of help there.”
Sort a few things out? How hard was it, Caleb was his for a night. He tried to curtail his confusion, trying to project confidence. “Ah, ja, I can do tonight.”
He squeezes Caleb's hand a bit, his face thoughtful. He intends to enjoy his night, but he wants to make sure Caleb will too. "Now, I just have a few questions. I want you to answer honestly - don't just tell me what you think I want to hear. If you don't want to answer, you can say so. Can you do that for me, Caleb?"
Fuck, does Caleb feel called out by that statement. Squeezing his eyes shut, Caleb takes a moment - a deep shuddering breath as he tries to steady himself. He has gotten much better at making people happy, giving them the version of him that he thinks they’d want. Giving Daniel his honesty is a bit... terrifying.
When he opens his eyes they are tired, but he squeezes Daniel’s hand back as he murmurs, “Ja, I can do that.”
"Good." Caleb will open his eyes to Daniel's warmest smile. He's proud of Caleb for being brave enough to commit to that step. "That looks like it was hard for you. D'you mind telling me why?"
That's one of those questions he's allowed not to answer.
It is a nice smile and if Daniel had not immediately asked such a hard question it might have warmed part of Caleb.
This was an incredibly hard question for someone who had relied on lies for survival for so so long, lies to the world around him and lies to himself. It was getting better with the Nein, but he knew he still dropped into the transactional mindset he’d based the beginning of the relationship on. Thankfully, there was an easy way to answer this, even if it did not tell Daniel much. “People do not always like the truth.”
It tells him quite a bit. Maybe not about Caleb's life history, but about his mindset. Daniel hasn't really cared what people think of him in a long time, but he remembers what it's like to depend on the kindness and good opinions of others, on managing how they see you so you can get what you need. "That's true. I promise, I'm always gonna prefer the truth over what you think I want to hear. You won't get in trouble for it tonight or any other time you're with me."
He smiles again and gives him another hand squeeze. "Okay. Most important question - is there anything you don't want to do? Anything you hate?"
Caleb knows that it is not true, if Daniel knew the kind of person he really was and the things he had done he would be disgusted. However, he can tell Daniel truly means it in regard to their arrangement and manages a small lifting of the corners of his mouth and a soft, “Thank you.”
The rest he has had more practice with lately, the answers come easy to mind and Caleb sounds certain as he lists them. “No fire and no heat. Saliva and cum are the only body fluids I am comfortable with.” Then his confidence seems to falter, he could tell Daniel the next part or he can be honest and show him how important it was.
With a sigh, Caleb reaches to the sleeve cuff of the hand in Daniel’s. Familiar moments fold it over and over itself, revealing a forearm covered in long, thin and faded uniform scars. They look entirely too clean to have been something Caleb had done to himself. With a nod to his arm, Caleb finishes, “No cutting or breaking of skin or blood.”
Daniel listens closely, making sure Caleb knows that he has his full attention, that he cares about this - about what Caleb doesn't want. He cares about what he wants, too, but that will come later. "Are you all right with your scars being touched? I get a bit... edgy about mine."
His scars are a lot newer than Caleb's, though, and the memory of the pain that came with them is still sharp-edged.
Was he alright with his scars being touched? Caleb stares at them for a minute, considering if it would bother him. He had not been comfortable when Barry had done so, but Barry had been asking questions. Caleb got the feeling that Daniel would not pry, at least not in the middle of any intimate activities they had planned.
"All of my scars are old or magically healed," He sounds certain as he says it, ideally he'd be too distracted by pleasing Daniel to even be tempted to fall into a bad head space. "I do not believe they will be a problem."
"But I will be sure to avoid yours?" It was hard to guarantee when he was not sure exactly what Daniel would want to do with him, but it did sound like an area the man wanted avoided.
"Let me know if turns out that it is." It's delivered softly, but it's an order. He doesn't want to do anything that will harm Caleb. "And you don't have to avoid mine as long as you give me a bit of warning. I think it'll be fine if I'm expecting it."
He doesn't want to set himself up as invulnerable or perfect. He's hoping that if he confesses to weakness, Caleb will feel more comfortable doing the same.
"All right, next question. Are you all right with me calling the shots, giving orders? I like to take control. I'll be clear about what I want, I won't punish you for not reading my mind, but there will be consequences for disobedience."
“I can do that.” It seemed a simple enough task, and Daniel having his own scars made it easier. Caleb could do that for the both of them.
Clear expectations and orders, Caleb sharply inhales at the idea, a shiver of want running down his spine. Just the idea of it has him answering breathless. “Ja... Ja, I would like that.” He pauses to wet his lips, “I can be good for you.”
Oh, that's a lovely reaction. Daniel can almost see Caleb's pupils dilating. He grins and lifts a hand to stroke his knuckles down his cheek, a softly possessive gesture. "You're doing so well already. I can tell you're going to be so good for me."
It's honest praise. He's known men who would be trying to avoid and evade as much of his questioning as they could, and it's just annoying. Caleb is doing his best and that deserves praise.
He can't get distracted, though. He still has questions. "Do you have a safeword?"
Tilting his head into the caress, Caleb gives a pleased hum, pink blooming across his cheeks. Praised seems to be a good look on him and for once he does not seem embarrassed by it. “Thank you.”
That one makes him lower his eyes to their feet with wince, “Nein, ah, I mean no.” Would anyone have listened before this place? Caleb did not believe so. Matt had played with him using a simple stop, but Caleb knew enough to know that was not what Daniel meant.
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The moment he sees Daniel enter the room, Caleb pops to his feet with a quiet, "Ah, hello. How have you been?"
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He's curious as to what this is about.
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Caleb nervously chews on his bottom lip, before tentatively offering an explanation for the meeting, "Ah, I had a bit of a proposition?"
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He takes the offered seat, relaxing but keeping an eye on Caleb. He can tell that he's tense, but he's usually tense. "What kind of a proposition would that be, then?"
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With a deep centering breath, Caleb focused on smiling sweetly, "I am actually trying to figure out a job for myself. Unfortunately, something has come up and... I was wondering, if any is still available, if I might borrow 50 pieces of gold?"
"I could pay you back! Or-" Caleb barreled on; lowering his eyes to look at Daniel through thick lashes, as he slides a hand right above Daniel's knee, lips significantly redder from biting from his chewing on them. "Or do a trade of some sort?"
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Not necessarily a direct exchange of gold for services, but he's not opposed to some kind of... arrangement. He just wants to make sure of Caleb's motives. "Can I ask... why this? You could ask your patron, or work at one of the shops." His smile quirks a bit. "I guess retail really isn't for everyone, though."
He doesn't want to make Caleb feel bad or as though Daniel disapproves when that's not true at all. He's just curious about what's driving this.
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Propositioning Daniel had not garnered a blush, but the warmth of his hand over Caleb’s send a delicate flush across the redhead’s face. “I could go to my patron, but ah, their expediency was a concern in this case.” And he suspected he ship owner would sell that book sooner rather than later.
“Ah,” The fest was harder, and for the first time Caleb’s eyes fell to the their feet. “I have significant social anxiety. Having to force myself out on days when it is bad... It did not seem ideal.”
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The fifty gold would be a lot, but really - what does he need to spend it on? He's got clothes (and a discount, since he works at the Ozdust), he's got food, he's got a place to sleep. If Caleb needs it, he's happy to provide.
But he also understands that not everyone wants to accept charity. Some people are proud - some people just don't trust anything they can't see the strings of. He suspects Caleb's one of the latter.
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"This is better." This way he would not keep building up a debt he did not know how to pay.
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Daniel will pick Caleb's hand up off his knee, holding it, letting his thumb rub in random patterns over his palm. "So, what does fifty gold get me? A blowjob? An hour? A night?"
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“If someone is trying to charge you fifty gold for a blowjob or an hour then they are trying to cheat you.” It comes out dryer than Caleb had planned, the wizard internally wincing as he lowered his eyes and softened his voice. “A night, it gets you a night.”
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He nods. "All right. We have to sort a few things out first, starting with scheduling. Does tonight work for you?"
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Sort a few things out? How hard was it, Caleb was his for a night. He tried to curtail his confusion, trying to project confidence. “Ah, ja, I can do tonight.”
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He squeezes Caleb's hand a bit, his face thoughtful. He intends to enjoy his night, but he wants to make sure Caleb will too. "Now, I just have a few questions. I want you to answer honestly - don't just tell me what you think I want to hear. If you don't want to answer, you can say so. Can you do that for me, Caleb?"
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When he opens his eyes they are tired, but he squeezes Daniel’s hand back as he murmurs, “Ja, I can do that.”
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That's one of those questions he's allowed not to answer.
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This was an incredibly hard question for someone who had relied on lies for survival for so so long, lies to the world around him and lies to himself. It was getting better with the Nein, but he knew he still dropped into the transactional mindset he’d based the beginning of the relationship on. Thankfully, there was an easy way to answer this, even if it did not tell Daniel much. “People do not always like the truth.”
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He smiles again and gives him another hand squeeze. "Okay. Most important question - is there anything you don't want to do? Anything you hate?"
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The rest he has had more practice with lately, the answers come easy to mind and Caleb sounds certain as he lists them. “No fire and no heat. Saliva and cum are the only body fluids I am comfortable with.” Then his confidence seems to falter, he could tell Daniel the next part or he can be honest and show him how important it was.
With a sigh, Caleb reaches to the sleeve cuff of the hand in Daniel’s. Familiar moments fold it over and over itself, revealing a forearm covered in long, thin and faded uniform scars. They look entirely too clean to have been something Caleb had done to himself. With a nod to his arm, Caleb finishes, “No cutting or breaking of skin or blood.”
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His scars are a lot newer than Caleb's, though, and the memory of the pain that came with them is still sharp-edged.
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"All of my scars are old or magically healed," He sounds certain as he says it, ideally he'd be too distracted by pleasing Daniel to even be tempted to fall into a bad head space. "I do not believe they will be a problem."
"But I will be sure to avoid yours?" It was hard to guarantee when he was not sure exactly what Daniel would want to do with him, but it did sound like an area the man wanted avoided.
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He doesn't want to set himself up as invulnerable or perfect. He's hoping that if he confesses to weakness, Caleb will feel more comfortable doing the same.
"All right, next question. Are you all right with me calling the shots, giving orders? I like to take control. I'll be clear about what I want, I won't punish you for not reading my mind, but there will be consequences for disobedience."
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Clear expectations and orders, Caleb sharply inhales at the idea, a shiver of want running down his spine. Just the idea of it has him answering breathless. “Ja... Ja, I would like that.” He pauses to wet his lips, “I can be good for you.”
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It's honest praise. He's known men who would be trying to avoid and evade as much of his questioning as they could, and it's just annoying. Caleb is doing his best and that deserves praise.
He can't get distracted, though. He still has questions. "Do you have a safeword?"
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That one makes him lower his eyes to their feet with wince, “Nein, ah, I mean no.” Would anyone have listened before this place? Caleb did not believe so. Matt had played with him using a simple stop, but Caleb knew enough to know that was not what Daniel meant.
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