thedevamper | (no subject)

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alcuin

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Nikola was not the sentimental sort. He entirely blamed Helen and her merry band of idiots for distracting him with apprenticeships and classes and being nice. If Nikola hadn't offered to help perhaps he wouldn't be in this state. Anxious. Him! Nikola Tesla, the greatest mind of the past three centuries and he was anxious over a man. A brilliant man, of course but still he was anxious over another human being.

Alcuin. He shouldn't have let it get this far the relationship. A distraction, a pleasant one that had turned into something more. Dear God he was getting as sentimental as Helen or worse the concubine. He was in love, no matter what he said to John he was in love with Alcuin. And it was irritating him no end that he had succombed to his own human frailty. Love, he loved him. Where was he? Alcuin was keeping him waiting. Again.

It was perhaps his own fault. Nikola had left him a series of complex puzzles to solve and was waiting at the end, it was enough to keep Alcuin tied up for the afternoon (although not literally which was a rather shame, Nikola did so enjoy Alcuin tied up.) And yet Alcuin was still keeping him waiting like a lovesick fool. He should leave, he was Nikola Tesla and yet he stayed with a present, waiting for Alcuin. His... paramour, boyfriend, lover.

Ugh, he needed a drink. Sentimental idiot.

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Alcuin should perhaps not have been surprised when he found on his birthday a set of instructions from his lover. Puzzles to solve, each of which led to the next. He had laughed when he first began, and thought not for the first time how much Nikola put him in mind of his early lessons with Delaunay. Turning everything into a game.

The last puzzle led him to a hotel, one he had noticed before when wandering through the London streets. And the math problem attached to it, Alcuin rightly assumed the answer was a room number.

When he arrived at the room, he was confident enough that he'd solved it correctly that he did not even knock, simply opened the door and was pleased to find Nikola there.

"I hope I did not keep you waiting," he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

Love was a ridiculous emotion. It altered your brain chemistry, effected your heart rate and generally turned intellectually superior scientists or doctors (cough Helen cough) into drooling inept idiots (like William for example.) The fact that Nikola stood waiting for Alcuin, his mouth twitching into a smile at the sight of Alcuin made him hate himself a little bit. Really Nikola, you're a lovesick idiot.

"Of course you did but I'll forgive you," Nikola replied looking down and over Alcuin. There, that race of his pulse at the sight of him and the tightness in his... chest. Emotion. Really, humanity was such a tiresome burden. Especially when it came to this emotions, feelings, love. "Are you going to stand there all evening or come and get your prize. That is if you can find it."

Nikola had hidden it of course. If Alcuin was going to make him love him then well, he was going to make their games just that bit harder.

Alcuin arched a brow, looking amused. "More tests? I don't think I've ever had to work this hard on my birthday, Nikola."

He walked inside then, closing the door. He looked around the hotel room, taking in every detail. "This is lovely," he said, and then settled his smile on Nikola.

"Hard? This is child's play but I'm sure I can work you hard by the end of the night." Nikola said with an almost cheeky leer. Nikola couldn't help himself it was too obvious.

"Only the best, for us..." Nikola said as he watched Alcuin take in the room and the details he had laid out. The meal, the wine, the four poster bed, the mirror above the roaring fireplace (where Alcuin's present lay hidden.) Nikola glanced at the mirror before looking at Alcuin. "Your present is here in the room you have five minutes to find it. No clues, that would be too easy."

"It's behind the mirror," Alcuin said with hardly a pause.

Then looking pleased with himself, he moved closer to Nikola. "It's just a bit crooked, and also you looked at it just now. Am I right?" He looked hopeful.

Nikola tilted his head, smiling as Alcuin guessed barely allowing him to finish. Nikola was perhaps too obvious, looking towards where it was. He should have been cleverer, sneakier but he was well, in love. It was entirely revolting of him.

"Why don't you go and see what it is?" Nikola said, sliding his hand around Alcuin's waist and kissing him casually on the lips before pulling away. It was a metal bracelet, an elegant cuff, hand beaten and worn and beautiful. Nikola had made it himself, he had always been good with his hands.

Alcuin smiled at him before pulling away and walking over to the mirror. He pulled it down, and found the object nestled behind it.

Surprise showed on his face as he turned it over in his hands and then turned to face Nikola. "It's... beautiful," he said. He slid it onto his delicate wrist and moved back to Nikola, holding it up to show him. "Wherever did you get it?"

"I made it, it's not what I would usually design but sadly even Victorian London places limitations on what you can and cannot make." Nikola said. Nothing not even romance or love could ever quell Nikola's ever expanding ego.

"It's perfect," Alcuin murmured, and found himself so pleased that Nikola had taken such care in a gift for him. "A wonderful birthday gift, Nikola. Thank you." He slipped his arms around Nikola's neck then and kissed him. "And the puzzles as well. You do know how I love your games."

"Do you? I might have to think of a few new ones then," Nikola said distracted by the arms around his neck, the kiss against his lips. There were some things that were nice about the whole love debacle, getting to kiss Alcuin being one of them. Getting to be the one to take Alcuin home being the other. "Little games to test your patience, your... endurance. Perhaps later, after our meal though. I have missed the decadance of the Victorian era."

Alcuin's gaze moved to settle onto the table. "Oh, brilliant." He kissed him once more, a bit more lingering this time. "This is so much better than my birthday last year." That had been a rather lonely time for him. "I'm pleased you... remembered."

It was hard to remember that he hated being in love when Alcuin kissed him like that. Which of course only made Nikola mentally berate himself anymore. He was being entirely ridiculous about this whole thing and yet it was worth it to see the way Alcuin was pleased, his smile, his kiss.

"Yes, well maybe I had ulterior motives in rememebering." Nikola replied dismissively against Alcuin's lips, lingering there as he kissed him again, smooth and seductive before he pulled back. "Of course it's better than your last. I'm here. We have oysters to start with. I hope you're prepared to be spoiled."

"I adore being spoiled," Alcuin said with a laugh. "I think I read somewhere that oysters are thought to be an aphrodisiac. Though surely we don't need such devices, hmm?"

He stepped back as well so that he could take off his coat, hanging it neatly over the back of a chair. "Is there wine? I can think of worse things than a pleasant buzz on my birthday."

Of course he did. Nikola had a motive, a reasoning for every action and inaction he made and spoiling Alcuin was all part of his plans.

"But they were one of the few Victorian foods you can take immense pleasure in," Nikola said taking a bottle from where he was keeping it chillled. Nikola poured them both a glass before taking a seat. "Of course, I'd prefer champagne but we can't have everything."

"Oh yes, I suppose that would have been lovely," Alcuin said, "though I certainly won't complain either. How is champagne made? I admit I've never given it thought. Is it something you could replicate here on the island?"

"A very long and tedious process, I prefer to drink it rather than make it. But I suppose with the right equipment it is something that could be achievable." Nikola said thoughtfully. He had other more pressing concerns, his work in the medical field and when the island changed back building his own secret lab but it was an idea. Plus champagne was something he could use to trade for something more valuable. "Or with the right person in charge. Like me."

"Quite so," Alcuin said with a little smile as he settled into a seat at the table. "You know, I've been thinking... perhaps I should have some sort of concrete project to work on. As opposed to simply learning theory. Is there something I could assist you with? Assuming you think I'm ready, that is."

"Hmm, a small project wouldn't be a waste of resources and you are proving yourself quite... flexible in your studies of course." Nikola said with a rather non too subtle smirk. "There may be one project you can help me with in time but for now I suppose you could help me with a pain management design. Unless you had your own ideas about what you would like to do."

"No, I'd be willing to assist you with whatever you think I am ready to take on," Alcuin said, looking pleased.

He took a sip of his wine, and underneath the table, slipped off one shoe and slid his foot just up Nikola's pants leg.

"I think you are more than able to take on the ah- project I have in mind." Nikola paused, tilting his head to look at Alcuin when he felt a food slide up his leg. Smirking, Nikola concentrated on the wine as he explained the tens machine he intended to make for House for pain management. "There are some other things that I need to think about but later perhaps, if I can get the premises built ah first."

Thinking that turnabout was fair play when it came to distractions during intellectual discussions, Alcuin continued to slide his foot along Nikola's leg as he explained, and as they ate their meal.

He did, at least, pay attention, even as his foot slid up near to his groin.

"I think it's a worthy project," said Alcuin. "Though you may not want to mention to Dr. House that I'm helping you, he doesn't like me very much."

Nikola shifted in his seat, taking a breath as Alcuin's foot slid further up his leg almost pressing against the arousal that was starting to make itself known.

"I'll ah tell him once we're finished and after he's used it. He wouldn't be such a stubborn idiot to refuse treatment after he's realised the benefits of such ahhhh machine." Nikola said, rocking his hips forward in his seat. Control. He had to control himself from throwing the food off the table and dragging Alcuin to him for a kiss. "More wine?"

Alcuin nodded, and then smiled as he saw the effect he was having on the other man. "Yes, please," he said innocently, and held out his glass as his foot slid across the ridge of Nikola's arousal.

Nikola's hand jerked, at the feel of one slender foot across his erection, allowing a small splash of wine to splatter the table cloth. Nikola narrowed his eyes at Alcuin, pursing his lips as he looked him over, heat and desire evident in his gaze. Naughty boy Alcuin.

Pouring the wine with a firmer, steady hand Nikola offered Alcuin the glass.

"Once you've proven yourself capable of assisting, we'll start work on- on your own projects. The apprenticeship is a long process I want to make sure you're thoroughly prepared for whatever problems might be thrown your way." Nikola said letting out a little ah at the foot against him.

Alcuin sipped from the glass, entirely composed as he slid his foot again, tracing the Nikola's erection with deft precision and a light touch.

"You have found me... flexible, haven't you?"

That was simply too good an opening to resist, with his foot sliding once more.