Destiny - Oh Guardian Mine

[upforanything]

The damp foliage clings to him with needy brushes that only annoy rather than impede. Thick underbrush like this wasn’t a far cry from the forests of Earth but they were far less soaked than the Venusian woods that he found himself in for the week’s patrolling. The greenery was almost enough to suffocate his senses and HUD if not for the tinkering that he had done to cut down on natural interference. Better yet he wouldn’t trade this for the Maat Mons bulk that had flooded the work boards when he had gone searching for a change of pace. Regardless thankfully he had made the proper preparations so that he wouldn’t feel as though he was slogging his way through the place and creating more of a fuss than was necessary. The same couldn’t be said of the fireteam that had stopped him when he first transmatted in at the base of the forest.

The titan had been rather vocal on the effort that the forest could demand on any that dared to trek through its depths. However the hunter had been caught in his curiosity by a warlock that muttered of creatures within the living expanse. Warnings given to him of creatures that could change their shape and mess with a guardian’s mind if given the chance. Ones that could feed upon desires if not kept in check. That they could grow stronger if allowed to be fed upon and spell disaster no matter the brief bliss that could be offered in return.

Ahamkara, the warlock named them. Akin to the dragons of ages long past but infinitely more cunning and dangerous. Renders of reality.

Matthieu hardly expected to be graced with such a creature’s appearance what with them being nothing more than stories shared late at night by guardians far older than him. He wasn’t as interesting or rather appetizing in this case. Not compared to those that had been on dozens of strikes against the city’s enemies or lived through the dark ages. No he was mostly one that did recoveries and check ups within known territory. A hunter far more comfortable helping the city than seeking some far fetched glory.

His quarry for now was simply a skiff of House Winter Fallen that buried themselves deep within the rainforest. More than likely squirreling away dozens of Golden Age artifacts and armaments from intel gleaned from teams passing through. That means a lot of hiking to be undertaken without hopefully alerting the Fallen prematurely.

Besides if he sometimes gets lost in the wildness of the place, no one can blame him. One of the perks of running solo. He can take in all that surrounds him and appreciate the peacefulness of it.

At least until he finally has to get down to business sooner rather than later.

Comments

[deepestdesires]

With the new form comes a new appreciation for Mattheiu's warmth; human bodies were dreadfully poor at self-regulating, it seemed, and so Lucifer sinks into the Hunter to try and leech away some of his heat. The cloak over his shoulders is a welcome addition, and he hums with contentment (fascinated by the feeling of it all) and lets his eyes slip shut once again. Once a reptile, always a reptile.

"Mm, you're right, I don't think your types go walking about in the buff too often, now do they?" At least no Guardian that Lucifer has ever come across, that's for sure. He can understand why, however, now that he's taken one's form; everything makes him feel so squishy and vulnerable. If it weren't for their inherent cleverness and penchant for devestating weaponry, it would be hard to see why these creatures had managed to populate the stars

"I suppose that you're going to have to assist me further, oh Guardian mine. You're the one with the proper knowledge of all this."

[upforanything]

They're in the middle of space travel which means that the cabin isn't exactly the warmest. Not when majority of the power is going to travel and making sure they don't collide with anything along the way. So now that he's gotten past the fact that the ahamkara has decidedly changed into something more revealing, he's worried about him freezing.

Can ahamkara catch a cold? What about frostbite? Maybe he shouldn't be the one to figure this out. Ever.

So Matthieu winds an arm around Lucifer's waist and rolls onto his side, tucking the man in close with the cloak wrapped around him. He tugs a blanket out from storage to wrap them both up in. There's no qualms with being a walking talking heater for him. Not when he's seemingly gotten attached to the strange and rather prideful creature. Especially when he's rather avid about the closeness over time.

"I'm sure I've got something tucked away that could work." His free hand comes up to bury in Lucifer's dark hair. "If not, we'll figure something out."

[deepestdesires]

Lucifer, with his expert, suave, demeanour, decidedly does not make an indignant noise when his comfortable sprawl atop the Hunter is so rudely interrupted. He'd been comfortable and now Mattheiu was depriving him of the delicious physical contact that he'd been enjoying? Guardians could be so cruel!

But for all the dramatics playing about in his head, Lucifer is quick to realize that no, he hasn't been abandoned to freeze to death in this new flesh-form. Instead, Mattheiu is pulling him in, wrapping something around the both of them that helps to keep that delicious warmth trapped. It's almost luxurious, the way that the heat radiating from the man's body seems to wash over Lucifer, and he makes a pleased noise in return. It's decidedly different in this form, human throats weren't meant to replicate the rolling purrs of an Ahamkara's deep rumble, but its a sound that's unmistakenably both satisfied and smug all in one.

Fingers dance across his scalp, winding in- no it's not his frills, it's hair now, but it feels wonderful all the same. With a slight stretch and pop of his neck, he leans into the touch almost lazily, all but radiating his approval.

"Or," comes the distracted reply, "this is a place that we can stay."

The allure of visiting other worlds, of seeing other things, of not being alone, had drawn him aboard the ship initially. Now? Now, in this smaller human suit, Lucifer finds that he's quite content to laze about and soak in Mattheiu's comfort.

[upforanything]

That's rather unexpected. Certainly the way that the ahamkara has been drawn to his warmth is no surprise by now but the vulnerability of staying in this form and allowing him this close is rather humbling. Then on top of that there's the content noises rumbling in his ear. This creature...man was more intriguing than what the first encounter even boasted.

Intriguing as much as lonely. He can't shake that feeling no matter how much the ahamkara balks at it. Lucifer is more touch starved than he is which says leaps and bounds really.

He doesn't dwell on that. For now. Instead he gently strokes his fingers through Lucifer's hair with a soft sigh. "We can stay here for awhile if that's what you want. I'm ok with more of this."

What is this ahamkara doing to him...

[deepestdesires]

The novelty of human form is still delightful, Lucifer expects it will be for quite some time, and ever the hedonist he wriggles to work a particularly stubborn kink out of his spine- all without sacrificing any of the delicious physical contact.

It's strange, though, to hear the particular way Mattheiu phrases things. "If that's what you want". The concept is honestly...honestly foreign, if Lucifer thinks about it too hard. While yes, he's an entirely self-serving creature and will never apologize for that, he's always been the one in the giving position, the one to ask wayward travelers for their deepest desires.

It feels particularly odd to have that turned back at him.

"Is that what you wish, oh guardian mine?" He's b been thrown off his game just the tiniest bit, unsure of how to react to the care. Certainly, he doesn't want to move; Mattheiu is warm and comfortable and the fingers in his hair are divine.

[upforanything]

A soft grunt slips out at all of the wiggling before Lucifer finally settles down once again. Matthieu sighs in contentment, closing his eyes while drinking in the softness and quiet. Not at all what he had expected for his day but he wasn’t going to turn his nose up at it. A day of rest wasn’t too bad sometimes.

Though there’s this wave of befuddlement that comes from the ahamkara pressed so close to him. He cracks open an eye to glance down. The strange purring having gone away with Lucifer seemingly off in thought.

Did he not say something right? He wasn’t lying. The ahamkara had as much choice matters as he did.

Matthieu raises a brow at the question. “Thought my feelings on this was plenty obvious. That’s why I had asked you. But if that’s how you want to go about this then sure.”

[deepestdesires]

That's even more puzzling a response, and while it admittedly feels oh-so-strange to have someone asking for his input in this matter (or any matter, really; Guardians had always been the self-serving sort whenever they'd passed through), Lucifer takes an almost insignificant amount of time before deciding that he likes this newfound freedom of choice.

Because really, if it's up to him he's going to choose to leech off of Mattheiu's warmth and keep Mattheiu's fingers carding through his hair because both of those feel nothing short of divine.

"You're a strange one," he murmurs, leaning into a particularly nice pass of Mattheiu's hand, "asking questions and caring for an answer. I don't believe I've ever had one of your kind ask me what I desire."

There's a low, rumbling purr deep in his chest that he doesn't bother to try and hide. He's content, there's no reason to hide that. "A little lower, if you don't mind. Had a nasty itch near my horn that I just couldn't quite reach- but you, you have such a way with your hands."

[upforanything]

"I don't think of strange. In my opinion, it's known as being empathetic to the people around you. Even those that aren't, well, actual people," he points out. His word choice carefully chosen since he was stuck underneath a creature that could rend him in seconds.

Though the purr was giving him some hope. He can't be screwing this up too badly. "You can still have wants and desires. Regardless of who you choose to be."

"You don't exactly have horns right now. Save for. Ugh. Nevermind," he winds up dismissing. His hand moves to accommodate the request.

[deepestdesires]

That comment sticks like a thorn in his side, and though it's impossible to see because he's buried his face in Mattheiu's shoulder his scowl is certainly discernable from the tone of his next answer. "What, then, oh Guardian, constitutes personhood? Is it the number of arms and legs one has? Is it walking upright? Is it the inevitable fight against mortality?

Because I assure you: I am 'a person'."

He's a bit cross, this sounds more like the Guardians that he'd encountered before, but it's desperately hard to be too upset when clever fingers are finally, finally taking care of the nuscience behind where one of his horns would normally be. The request had been entirely genuine: something had been caught there, perhaps a bit of stubborn shed, and the relief that comes with each pass of Mattheiu's fingers is heavenly.