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"We seem to have planning dates and where to eat and pay covered," Bail said. But did he skip over one of the things Ben had listed?

"For now." He smiled, warm and pretty comfortable considering the day he'd had. "Though it still leaves sex. ...How vanilla are you?" There was no wrong answer, it was a starting place.

Bail was idly thinking about licking Ben's fingers and to keep that just a thought (for now) he threaded their hands together.

"You want to know what kinks I'm into?" Bail rephrased the question. "Outside the incorporation of very mild pain, I really haven't explored any kinks in a practical way. Academically, there isn't anything I haven't studied. That isn't a ... weird brag, I just know a lot from studying psychology, I can't not know."

"I mean, I am interested, but right now the question is more whether you're open to the idea and much more importantly whether your academic understanding involves a belief that it can be healthy or if it is necessarily a maladaptive coping mechanism."

Look, it was not a thing people didn't have opinions about, even professionals who had studied psychology in general.

At this point, it really became clear to Bail that Ben was cautiously revealing a part of himself that was quite vulnerable. Which was surprising for how the evening started. Bail appreciated Ben's willingness to show him this.

"As a general rule, I believe people can turn anything into a maladaptive coping mechanism. Like everything people do, that is dependent on the person and their individual circumstances. Kink isn't inherently any less healthy than other lifestyle choices. I think when practice ethically and consensually, kink is healthy. And I can't say anything about whether or not it's fun, because I haven't personally tried much, as I just said, but from what I can tell outside looking in, it can absolutely be enjoyable and desirable."

"Provided that you don't believe it's inherently 'crazy' or 'self-destructive', we're okay. Or have the potential to be okay. It isn't as though it is an enormous part of my day to day life or I need it even in sex. That said my bed was selected with bondage in mind, so if you want to explore and experiment I'm there for it."

He yawned, stretched and outright cuddled in against Bail. "I've been playing with it for a long time. And God help the world if some of the people I met early on ever see the state of my back. They are going to be out for someone's blood, and I don't know how I'd even begin to explain to them that it isn't what they'd think...."

Except in many ways it was exactly what they'd think.

Mention of consent may have triggered something there, too.

Edited 2020-06-08 16:58 (UTC)

"I don't think that at all," Bail said. "I'm willing to talk about what you enjoy more." He couldn't say for sure if he was willing to do something unless he knew details, so he didn't want to give a definitive 'yes' right now. But he was certainly willing to hear Ben out and consider if he would be comfortable with certain activities.

But, he felt a mood shift in Ben, the way he brought up his new scars again...

"You don't have to explain anyone anything about your body. It is none of their business if you don't want it to be." He paused for a moment before adding, "It's a small thing, but you still have that control."

"Good news, bad news: I'm not likely to see any of those people again any time soon and definitely not naked. On the other hand I am not telling people who know and are concerned about seeing me with whip marks that it's none of their business."

He rubbed at his face with one hand and then gave his hand back to Bail. "I'll figure something out. You're right, I do still have control over how to handle it, and it's not like all that many people have to see me anything but fully dressed." Costume designers basically, though he'd have to work around people he's worked with before.

...He was going back to talking about sex soon. It was way easier.

Edited (just removing extra words) 2020-06-08 17:10 (UTC)

Bail immediately rethreaded their fingers when Ben's hand was back in his.

"That is understandable. You can figure this out as you go. This is one of those situations where your reaction to it and to how others react to it can evolve over time."

He squeezed Bail's hand, solid and warm. He knew he was heard and he appreciated that.

"So, you were talking about light pain and lack of experience but lots of academic knowledge earlier. Tell me more about what you have done that you're not quite counting?" Was he seeking refuge in that conversation while he continued to process?

A little, yeah.

If this is what Ben wanted to talk about (some more), Bail was willing.

Their whole night didn't have to be a deep discussion about the ways Ben could respond to people commenting about his back.

"Scratching, biting, hair pulling - but those are things lots of people during vanilla sex," to borrow Ben's word choice. "So I guess I've been quite vanilla in the past. What have you done- and are interested in doing more of?"

"I'm not sure that I would consider those not kinky," he said, thoughtfully but honestly and directly. "Because they're ultimately still hinging on enjoying either giving or receiving pain, at the very least. Throw in some elements of even playful punishment, or controlling and you've got the whole spectrum in just grabbing someone's hair hard enough to sting or biting at them in playful retribution for a bad joke."

He's not dismissing Bail at all, quite the contrary but that question -

"Um. That's a lot. I guess the shorter answer would be that I like sex, intimacy, and physical and mental challenge with sex. I don't get much more sadistic or controlling than the playful biting and grabbing at hair or scratching - or, well, being super aware that my partner loves it at which point it's sort of... service topping, and the lines blur again."

"I supposed the difference is that when I've done those things, they were... more just reactive in the moment and fleeting, not done with a forethought about enhancing the experience."

Bail added playfully, "So what's the bed for?" As far as Bail knew, one didn't need a specific bed to indulge in hair pulling alone.

"But did they enhance the experience?"

Asking the important questions there, also teasing a little. "The bed's basically a really sturdy four poster canopy bed. It's great for bondage." A tiny pause and then admission: "I'm starting to feel like I'm making this sound like a bigger deal than it necessarily is. I like it, but it's sex life, not daily life, you know?"

"They were enjoyable," Bail said, he couldn't hide the smile that came with the admission.

But he turned a bit serious. "I know. But, whatever kind of roll it plays in your life, I want to know either way, because I want to know about you. If this is something you like, no matter how small a part of your life it is, I want to know."

"The bed provides a lot of options. I like pressure at pulse points. It kind of forces awareness on my pulse and that's both a huge turn on and calming. Hate gags. Not for the gagging or illusion of not being able to breathe, but hate not being able to talk; it doesn't feel safe. I like pain. I really like my hair pulled and biting. I cannot stand being sticky, and I don't even care what I'm sticky with so coming on me is just right out unless there is a plan to immediately shower, and I mean immediately as in 'already in the shower."

Was that direct enough to show he was going to take Bail at his word now?

Yes, Bail appreciated the frank, direct answer to his question.

"When you say you like pressure at pulse points, do you mean just being held there or using devices to apply pressure? I'm just curious, but also, either way, I'll need to learn how to safely do either."

"There are a lot of ways to get there. What works depends a lot on the rest of what's going on. I'm certainly not expecting you to turn into a master of shibari any time soon." There's a smile to go with that, largely based on the foregone conclusion that this would be a thing. "But that is another reason I don't like gags. If I can talk and start losing circulation I can just tell you to lighten or loosen it up. Also sort of why breath control and bondage don't really go together - can't tap out if I can't move. Basically, if I've got communication you've got guidance."

Edited 2020-06-08 21:25 (UTC)

Foregone? Oh, yes. The more Bail learned about Ben, the more he wanted to know. The more that attention from Ben felt warm and inviting and a place Bail wanted to rest in.

And the more he really wanted to kiss Ben.

Or lick his fingers. These were two warring physical desires in Bail's head at the moment, and he was going to ignore both - because foregone conclusions weren't the same as consent.

"That much I understand. Safety and consent are the foundation of everything. I can say right now that if you're not comfortable with something, neither am I."

He flashed a warm smile at that, pushed up onto one knee just a bit and leaned over enough to lightly graze his lips over Bail.

"Sometimes, academic knowledge, good instincts and a good heart get you all the important parts."

He settled back then, still in reach and still curled up against Bail at holding his hand, but not pushing for more or pushing it further. Not shy or timid just - comfortable and waiting on reaction.

That kiss was entirely unfair.

Bail knew whatever Ben wanted to give was entirely fair. He couldn't demand anything more.

But that kiss was too fleeting, too light, it felt incomplete, and Bail wanted to chase Ben for that ending. And all of this was probably apparent on his face.

Reaction? "Can I kiss you again?"

He laughed, softly. "You can absolutely kiss me. Especially since I didn't hang around long enough to make this time an 'again'."

It was a really good reaction.

Permission granted, Bail didn't hold back one more second. He leaned over and the kiss he gave Ben was anything but fleeting and light. He didn't plan on pulling back any time soon now that they were here.

He moved his hand - the one holding Ben's hand. He didn't let go, just moved it up to brush his thumb along Ben's cheek. Just more ways to touch in this moment.

After what felt like a satisfying eternity, Bail pulled back just enough. "I've wanted to do this since you showed up in those pants the other night."

He was utterly and completely in the kiss, and at ease within it. He was in no hurry to end it, and there was no demand that it continue. He simply returned it, enjoyed it, and accept it for what it was.

The hand on his face was part of that. Intimate, warm, affectionate - made him feel wanted and grounded and secure all at the same time, and kept his focus completely on Bail. Taste, touch, even, this close, smell.

He groaned softly when Bail pulled back, hand coming up to rest on his chest and - blinked and laughed, low and just a touch rough. "It wasn't intentional, but I won't say I'm sorry. Except maybe sorry you didn't do this then."

Edited 2020-06-10 23:24 (UTC)

Bail smiled. "I didn't know it was a date, then. But I thought about it- I've really thought about it."

His hand free now, he slipped it behind Ben's neck. He kissed him again- the man's mouth was addicting, Bail couldn't get enough. A feeling he hadn't felt for someone in a while, to be honest.

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CW: Sex/Kink talk starting here-ish.

Re: CW: Sex/Kink talk starting here-ish.

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