at the feet of untamed things

[amistillenough]

Barnaby is restless. At first, he thought it was maybe boredom, just a moment of not being able to focus on anything, but no. He can feel an itch to do something, anything, that has him moving.

He'd tried playing music, which didn't really get him anywhere. It felt good for a few minutes, but then it only seemed to build up the restlessness even more. So he put down his violin and traded it for pacing the length of the livingroom with a book in hand.

It also doesn't really help, but doing two things at once makes things settle a tiny bit more. He needs to do something though, something that makes him move and keeps his attention.

Putting down the book, he digs up some of the rope they keep around, running his fingers over it before he starts to tie and untie it until he finds himself doing a series of ties on himself. It's at least posing enough of a challenge to keep him occupied, which is all he wanted.

The thought of going to get Jeremy had crossed his mind, as had going to go talk to Birch to see if they would be a good distraction, but this would do for now. He can pivot to something else when it stops working.

Comments

[kinginred]

He makes a soft sound with his love's bite and returns the nuzzle.

"Do you want to do more? Something different?"

[amistillenough]

He nods, sitting up again. "I was hoping to," he says. "But I might have you sit up if that's okay? You don't have to, I could come up with other options if I give myself a second."

As he speaks, his hand rests against his thigh, moving in slow, even strokes as he already starts considering other things he can do that keep his love lying down.

[kinginred]

"I can sit up," he says easily. Getting up to sitting with his arms bound isn't as easy, but he gets there. Especially if his love gives him a hand.

[amistillenough]

He helps him sit up but wears an amused look as he does so. "I was going to untie you first," he says, then kisses his love again. "Thank you."

Then he starts undoing his work, taking his time to work with each knot until Jeremy is completely freed from the ropes. Running his hands over his skin, he kisses his wrists again, his tongue lightly touching the skin before he lets him go so he can start again.

This time, it's an elaborate harness, he's working on. He falls into that same rhythm of working with the rope, and occasionally directing where limbs should go until he's nearly finished again. It really does feel good to do something like this and he feels so much more relaxed than before.

Barnaby looks at his love for a moment, smiling at him and cupping his face so he can kiss him slowly again. "You're wonderful," he says when they part.

[kinginred]

He laughs when Barnaby points out that he was going to untie him first.

"So are you," he replies. He feels settled into himself that is unique for doing things like this with his love.

[amistillenough]

Sitting down next to him, Barnaby wraps his arms around his beloved, nuzzling into his neck again. There's a gratitude there that he can't quite form into words. It had been bothering him and having found a way to release that energy, and having it involve Jeremy and doing something he enjoys as much as rope, has made that release all the better.

[kinginred]

He nuzzles into his boyfriend and makes a pleased sound. "Seems like you are feeling better."

[amistillenough]

He nods, staying where he is. "Yeah. I really was trying to deal with it on my own. It was just nothing was working." He sits up so he can share a soft kiss. "I guess I just needed you to help everything settle down."

Then he nudges Jeremy's nose with his. If you want to try and sleep again, I won't keep you awake. I can even lay down with you now."

[kinginred]

"My body is tired," he admits and snuggles closer to Barnaby, "but I'm enjoying being touched by you."

[amistillenough]

"If you want," he starts, kissing his jaw. "I can untie the ropes, lay down with you, and just keep touching you until you fall asleep?" He smiles. "That way you can have both things."

[kinginred]

"That would be nice." He kisses his love's shoulder. "But if you get restless again you can wake me up and we'll figure out something to do."

[amistillenough]

He smiles. "I can do that," he says, then starts to undo the rope. As he does, he continues to run his hands over Jeremy's skin, touching him with all the love he has. Every so often he leans forward and gives him kisses where the rope had been until he's completely freed him.

Setting aside the rope, he then gets out of his clothes before coming to lie down with his boyfriend, stretching one arm out so he can come press in against him as much as he wants.

[kinginred]

While his love gets undressed, he gets under the covers. Holding them back for his love when he comes to join him.

There's no hesitation to press up against his beloved's side. He gives kisses to lips and skin before he settles in.

[amistillenough]

He eagerly accepts each kiss, sharing a few in return before he lets him get settled. Even then, he scatters more into his hair and against his forehead. One hand is against his love's back, holding him close, while he adjusts just enough to make it easy for his other to run up and down his arm and side.

"I can stay here while you sleep," he starts after another gentle kiss. "OrIi can stay with you." He nudges his temple with his nose. "I don't mind either way."

[kinginred]

"Both are restful for my body, and it is nice to share my mental space with you. I guess I am tiredly agreeing to have your company in my mind." He yawns and stretches against his love.

[amistillenough]

He giggles slightly. "Very tiredly," he says with another kiss. "That sounds good to me though. I can keep cuddling you there."

[kinginred]

"Cuddle in all the places," he says and then tries to let himself drift off to sleep.

The tired he feels now is better than earlier. He feels soothed by having his love close and focused on him. It doesn't take long for him to slip into sleep, and it is almost difficult to tell that he has fallen asleep. He is still snuggled up to his boyfriend just as when he was awake.

However, now there is a sense of being outside. It is still warm and comfortable, but a breeze can be heard in the trees overhead that provide a soft canopy. Unlike a forest floor that might be found in the waking world, this one is completely comfortable, curving slightly around them for a feeling of being enclosed and close to one another.

[amistillenough]

Barnaby smiles as he settles in, his eyes closing as he enjoys the warmth and breeze. Then he's rolling onto his side and wrapping himself around his love all over again. Pressing his face against him, he leaves a few kisses on his skin before he looks up and nudges their noses together.

"Hi, you."

[kinginred]

"Hi," he says with a smile and nudges their noses together again.

[amistillenough]

He wriggles at the nudge and then moves in for a kiss.

"I'm glad you're actually going to get sleep now," he says when the kiss ends. "I really did try and let you before."

[kinginred]

"You did. I could see that," he says and smiles at Barnaby. "My unsettledness was just calling to yours. Now we are both much more settled."

[amistillenough]

He nods, then wriggles again and holds him a little more tightly. "That's true," he says, "I still feel a little bit restless, but being here with you makes it so much easier. I think I need to start going on more walks, though." Then he nuzzles into his love, rocking them both just a little. "Or I can keep tying you up I guess. That's also an option."

[kinginred]

"You can do both, but maybe not at the same time. Difficult to tie knots while walking," he says with a grin.

[amistillenough]

He considers that for a moment. "I think it would depend on the knots and where we were walking. I could probably manage it with some planning. I bet if we did it on the roof I could make it work since it's pretty much flat up there."

[kinginred]

"We can practice that and then find out if that would be something Birch and Emery would enjoy watching," he says with a little grin.