open: it's an old song - and we're gonna sing it again

[papadopoulos]

Music is love’s food
Heh, my son said that. Sort of.
Anyway, he’s right.


Summer has always been one of Apollo’s favorite seasons. That stands to reason – the sun is out longer, it is warm, and there’s plenty of light about. Spring isn’t half bad either, he has always been one to appreciate the beauty of nature in an early spring; though he is no nature god. It should be no surprise, then, that he is out and about exploring the woods these days, spending as much time out of doors as he possibly can. He flits from one activity to the other quite frequently, it’s hard when you’re a god with too many interests.

In the early morning, he can be found at the archery range. He’s always been an early riser (except when he was Lester, occasionally), and by the time most people are out and about, there is a fine collection of arrows embedded in the center of the target. He remains there for some time, enjoying the simple pleasure of being able to actually hit the target properly after his six months as a mortal.

A bit later in the day, Apollo is still outside, settled under a tree with his guitar. If anyone is out and about, they will hear him singing. The song is in Ancient Greek, full of the sorrows and longings and everything that he’s experienced in his short time here in the mansion – but above all, there is a small thread of hope running through it. It jumps from slow and contemplative, a shared grief to joyous and optimistic in quick succession –spring is the time for rebirth, after all. He may as well sing of the small hope the mansion has with the recent happenings. Those who encounter the song will hear something that is possibly the best music they have ever heard. It’s nothing altogether special for Apollo, of course, but in his playing he has forgotten to keep his powers tamped down like they usually are.

Comments

[papadopoulos]

"Well, we'll have to turn the air conditioner on full blast if you want to rescue me from being cold." Apollo is steadily moving away from gentle kisses into something a bit more insistent; but he's at least willing to wait until they make it to his rooms. (Thankfully, they're not too far now.) "I'm better at warming things up than cooling them down."

[temnota]

"Is that so?" Aleksander murmured playfully into Apollo's ear. "I am not opposed to heat."

He had meant to show Apollo his favorite space, maybe sit with him on the bench and enjoy the pleasant sound of the fountain and the serenity of the garden around them. They could kiss a little more (or a lot more) and see how things went from there. And it wasn't as though they couldn't do that, it was just that he was considering skipping a few steps.

[papadopoulos]

They could certainly do that; Apollo isn't picky. He's done similar things in similar places many times before. "Good," he replies, laughing, and presses a little closer against Aleksander; slowly letting the temperature of the air rise around them. It hardly takes any time at all, with the little boost his powers are getting.

[temnota]

The rise in temperature was pleasant and Aleksander murmured appreciatively as he held Apollo just a little more tightly. He had dressed lightly in deference to the weather and was glad he had now. "I see I won't need to dress warmly with you around."

[papadopoulos]

"The less layers the better," Apollo agrees cheerfully. It's definitely one of the many reasons why he keeps his clothing ...brief, to be polite; but it also doesn't hurt that he does know that he looks extremely good in most anything he wears.¹ "For ...ah, multiple reasons."

¹ Aside from maybe when he's Lester. He is trying to get better about being less incredibly vain, though.

[temnota]

"Multiple reasons?" Aleksander raised an eyebrow. "You have me curious now."

[papadopoulos]

He laughs and gives Aleksander a look that can only be described as lascivious. "Oh, do I?"

[temnota]

"If you want me shirtless you only have to ask," Aleksander said then pulled Apollo in for a very deep, unchaste kiss.

[papadopoulos]

He leans into that kiss with a pleased noise, wrapping his arms around Aleks' waist. "Hopefully your fountain isn't too far."

[temnota]

Fortunately for the both of them, there was not much that farther to go. A few minutes later, they rounded a corner and the small but charming fountain came into view along with the stone bench and fragrant lilac bushes. It was a peaceful spot and Aleksander was glad he'd brought Apollo to see it, even if his mind was not exactly on the scenery.

"Here we are," he said, stealing a kiss. "It's not particularly fancy but I enjoy it."

[papadopoulos]

Apollo's mind is not exactly on the scenery, either -- unless you mean the very good-looking person that he currently has his arms wrapped around. "I don't mind not fancy," he says, returning the kiss with a slight nip into it. "It's charming. I like the flowers."

[temnota]

Aleksander wrangled them over to the bench and sat down, pulling Apollo down with him. "I've come here to write, read - I've even just laid on the bench and thought about nothing. I'm glad you like it too."

[papadopoulos]

"It's good to have a little oasis, sometimes," Apollo says, and proceeds to wrap his arms even further around Aleksander if he can manage it, smirking a little. "Privacy, y'know."

[temnota]

"Privacy," Aleksander agreed, nuzzling Apollo's cheek affectionately as he leaned into his embrace. "Whatever shall we do with it?"

[papadopoulos]

"Whatever we'd like to, I think." With that, he is going to let his hands get to wandering.

[temnota]

The moment where flirtation changed from words to touch was one of Aleksander's favorite things and he murmured happily and let himself enjoy the feeling of Apollo's hands on him. He did some exploring of his own and after a few pleasurable moments, leaned in to nip at Apollo's ear. "Tell me what you want," he whispered.

[papadopoulos]

It's been...a long time. Even by his standards, six months was longer than he'd usually let pass before finding someone to have a little fun with. It's strange, to suddenly be feeling all of these things and back in his normal body. He doesn't dislike it. Aleksander is pleasant both to talk to and to look at; and thankfully commanding in a different sort of way than other men he could think of. The touches and the request, such as it is, are making this little corner of the gardens feel as warm as summer. Apollo takes a breath and the heat lessens slightly as he smiles. "I think you can guess," he replies with a soft laugh, leaning in to that nip.

[temnota]

"Oh, I can," Aleksander said lightly, a provocative smirk on his face. He ran his hand along the side of Apollo's cheek and trailed it all the way down his body until he came to his inner thigh. He squeezed it gently then leaned in again, this time for a deeper kiss. "But I want to hear you say it. I like to know what people want so I can give it to them."

[papadopoulos]

Apollo takes a moment to return the kiss quite thoroughly. "That's sweet," he replies, stretching a little before he settles his hands at Aleksander's waist. "I'm easy, though. I can take, I can give--though right now I won't say no to being swept away by a commanding gentleman such as yourself."

[temnota]

"I do enjoy being commanding," Aleksander murmured, brushing Apollo's lower lip with his thumb. "But you must tell me if anything is too much or makes you uncomfortable. I have few hard lines but this is one of them."

[papadopoulos]

He pauses to nip at Aleksander's thumb, playful. "You got it. I can take a little rough handling, don't worry. I know my own limits."

[temnota]

"Good," Aleksander said emphatically. He kissed Apollo again, more insistently this time as he tightened his grip on his thigh.

[papadopoulos]

Apollo makes a pleased noise and presses close. "Mmhm."

[temnota]

"I hardly know what I want to do first," Aleksander whispered in Apollo's ear as he slipped both hands underneath Apollo's shirt and ran his fingers up and down his back. "I can think of so many things."

[papadopoulos]

In all truth, there is not much shirt for him to contend with, so that's a relief. Apollo warms just slightly at his touch, and practically purrs: "Good thing we've got time. We could just start with the first? Or skip ahead."