goldencharms | FOR INFY!!!

[ Kalim already has a contract. But if there's one thing he loves, it's getting to know other people. He hasn't paid much attention to what was on his fact sheet. (1. Not a virgin anymore, 2. Likes things on the spicier side, and 3. Missing a special someone)

He honestly hadn't put a ton of thought into who he might meet at this little event-- nor had he paid attention to the "fun facts" provided about him. At least, not beyond finding it was weird he didn't get to choose them himself.

But, he could deal with that easily, as he takes a seat, waiting for his first partner to appear. ]

[1. Lives to serve 2. A real charmer 3. Can't stop thinking about you. If Jamil knew what their captors had decided to write about him, he would be seething right now--or at least, would be even more than he already is. Who wouldn't be furious over such mockery?

This whole situation feels enough like a mockery as it is, even without rubbing salt in the wound. This far from home, where his social status no longer matters, where he no longer has obligations, where he should be free--where he should be thrilled that he's been chosen to be one of the elite..... Somehow, it doesn't feel as though he's done anything but stepped from one cage into another. What good is this power and authority if he didn't rightfully earn it through acknowledgement of his own capabilities? Why is it that being placed in this position makes his skin crawl with anxiety, feeling countless eyes on him wherever he walks, knowing the weight of the expectations ~~crushing~~ being placed on him?

It's their captors spitting in his face, that's what it is, making his dream something that only leaves him even more tightly bound and scrutinized than he's ever been before. But if he understands the consequences correctly, what else can he possibly do but force himself to smile, and humbly accept the "honor" he's being given like an exemplary Dominant should? It would be far too dangerous to refuse. He needs to know his place if he's to have any hope of surviving this situation. That means whatever this "tea date" is meant to accomplish, whoever these facts are about, he needs to at least pretend to be happy to have the opportunity to spend time with them.

At least some tea might actually settle his nerves, when this whole day has been absolutely exhausting so far? And gaining useful intelligence on their situation could be vital to--

Jamil freezes in the doorway as his eyes scan the tables for his dining partner, heart abruptly constricting in his chest and carefully crafted smile stiffening along with his shoulders. Why is he here?! Somewhere like this, of all places?! If that card he was given is actually correct, then that means--

Seven, he feels like he's going to be sick. He's not sure if he wants to rush to Kalim's side, abandon this whole farce and run away screaming, or pinch himself and pray he wakes up from this nightmare. How did this happen? Why did this happen?!]

[ hm?? there's still no one there. Kalim had been ignoring the card, but now that he was alone for an extended period... should he be worried? should he read in advance? he isn't sure. Finally, though, instead of reading, he looks around in confusion.

And then he sees Jamil.

His eyes go wide, his heart feels-- something akin to relief, but heavier. And he stand up immediately, running to him ]

Jamil!!

[ as he runs, and then shortly before he crashes into him, hugging him tight. He's missed him so much. It's hard to believe he was there, event hough he knows he was there before. But still.

It's been over two months. The longest they've ever been apart, and the anxiety's been eating him every single day. ]

Edited 2025-01-02 04:21 (UTC)

[For a long, excruciating moment, it feels hard just to breathe. Navigating this crisis alone while only having to worry about and rely on himself had felt daunting enough, but now having to keep an eye on Kalim on top of that? What exactly is he even meant to do at this point? There's no way people who can abduct people from across dimensions would have goals so trivial that they would leave a ransom note. (And even if they did, he's not confident that the Asims would bother to pay for the release someone like him.) They could be here for the rest of their lives, if these people don't decide that they're no longer useful and dispose of them. And even if they somehow manage to escape and make it back home, if something happens to Kalim along the way--

Yes. He's concerned about avoiding the consequences that would have for him if he fails in his duties. He's most certainly not worried about what would happen to an innocent--no, to a naïve, gullible, feckless idiot like Kalim if this sort of place chewed him up and spat him back out. This kind of place would eat him alive for sure if someone wasn't keeping him out of trouble. What a headache.....

Even his racing thoughts can't stop Jamil from automatically reaching out to catch Kalim, to keep him from crashing into him and sending them both tumbling to the ground. It's not exactly returning the hug, but..... Well, it's better than nothing, right? He's not shoving him away, at the very least.]

Kalim! What are you doing here? Why aren't you at Scarabia?

[None of this makes any sense. There had been nothing to indicate the school's barrier had been breached. He had noticed nothing amiss, on campus or in the dorm itself. There's no way Kalim could have been abducted before him without him knowing; he had seen Kalim right before they'd gone to bed for the night, and he hadn't woken up to any sounds of a struggle. There's certainly no reason some assassin or kidnapper would have seen any value in targeting him of all people, either. And if they had been taken at the same time simply for convenience's sake, shouldn't they have woken up together here? Why is Kalim clinging to him as though they've been separated for ages? Does he have some sort of amnesia? Had magic or drugs been used on him when he was taken here?]

[ of course Jamil's yelling at him. and Kalim's heart has not been happier in awhile, to hear his voice and feel properly like it was fine again. He has to keep himself calm to not cry against Jamil, but he can't help the way that tears prick at the edges of his eyes. he laughs, a little unsteady from all the relief. ]

Oh.... Ah... time works strangely here, apparently. So, I've been here for a couple of months already. And maybe no time at all's passed since you saw me!

Which is a huge relief!!

[ he fights with himself whether or not to tell Jamil that he's been there before, but ultimately decides... he doesn't want to. He only heard about that from Silver. So maybe it's up to Silver to tell Jamil. Kalim absolutely doesn't want to focus on that, hiself. ]

I'm so glad to see you!

[ regardless of anything else, Kalim thinks Jamil needs to know that. That wouldn't add any other pressure onto him. ]

A couple months?!

[What. What. How?! What is this place? Why would time work differently without some extenuating circumstances like Malleus' frankly insane Halloween prank? How has Kalim even managed that long without supervision? He's not used to doing anything by himself! What if he's already gotten hurt?!

Who cares if Kalim is glad to see him? (Of course he's glad to see him. He always is. Seven, he's just..... why does he have to be so..... so insufferable?) That's utterly irrelevant compared to the apparently months long gap he'll have to answer for. Jamil looks Kalim up and down with a critical eye, scanning him for injuries and more. Has he been eating? Has he been sleeping? What about laundry? What about medicine? What about--]

[ he looks Fine. He's not too thin-- basically almost the same as he was last seen... somehow.

The only marks are his submissive collar and the tattoo under his chin down to his collarbone. And his clothes look perfectly serviceable. Clean, most certainly, but the sort of average clean that comes from... not being rich. ]

Yeah! I have so much I wanna show you!

[ he wipes his eyes, and all traces of tears are gone. There's only happiness there. And all the things Jamil's read on his card by now. ]

Do you, now.....

[Of course he does. Of course he's all smiles, now that they've been reunited. Of course he's not concerned about any of this. Kalim has barely worried about anything actually important a day in his life. Why would he start now? And that collar..... they went over what that means in Orientation. Kalim Al-Asim, of all people, is a Submissive. Maybe not an obviously mistreated one, given the adequate state he's in, but the sheer audacity of subjecting Kalim to such treatment is astounding.

It should..... make him feel happy, finally standing above Kalim, shouldn't it.....? Isn't this what he'd wanted? Instead, he only feels even more uncomfortable in his own skin than he already has been since he'd first arrived, the exhaustion hanging heavy and suffocating over him like a leaden shroud. Even this sort of victory, they had managed to pervert and make hollow, somehow. He could really do with sitting down.]

.....We should stop blocking traffic. People are staring.

Okay!

[ he doesn't seem to mind them sitting. He still hasn't read Jamil's card-- maybe he wouldn't, if only based on how happy he is to see him, and how much maybe he didn't need to read it.

Unless he did? The thought occurs to him as he lets Jamil go, and backs away to allow him to head to the table they'd both be seated at. But he just can't help himself-- he's so happy to see Jamil. Even if the situation is less than ideal, Jamil was there. And if there was anyone who would know what to do it would probably be him. ]

Let's sit, let's sit! We're supposed to get to know each other!

[ he laughs a little-- but there's something needling at the back of his mind as he sits down.

Something that makes him put his hand over the card he was provided. ]

spill the tea

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Honesty Hour

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