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[alleyfights]

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[alleyfights]

[Steve had been fortunate. Selected out of a group of almost a hundred boys and girls when he was sixteen and now he was double his age, having led the average life of any lucky consort. His master had preferred the same gender for sex, as did his wife, so a contract had been made. They hadn't loved each other, it was a rare and fickle thing to happen between master and consort, but he'd taken good care of him for almost two decades before he passed. During that time, he'd spent little of it with the mistress or her consort, as his master leaned towards the possessive end of the spectrum and liked to keep Steve to himself.

So after a lengthy funeral progression and his contract was laid out on the table in front of his mistress, he was surprised to learn that she wanted to keep him on. Out of sentiment, she'd said. Steve understood it was continue on with her or be sent back to the alliance, which he felt he was too old for. He chose to stay. It would be an easy life, he assumed. Accompany the two women on their treks out and do whatever he wanted when they were at home. She didn't want Steve, that much was made clear.

They went to many events together.

Steve dressed in the finest clothes his master had ever bought him. He was attentive and polite, wanting to make the best impression on his mistress' behalf. It was fine, if not boring, and Steve pretended that any loneliness he felt would all go away after he had time to adjust to this new way of living. It didn't. He met other consorts and sat where he was told. He knelt beside his mistress when she asked, carried her to the carriage when she was too exhausted to walk. This went on for almost a year, no change to the monotony, until a visiting general approached his mistress and whispered in her ear. The room was packed with all levels of society, as these events usually were, but he lingered and when she waved for Steve to approach, the man gripped his wrist.

A few hours later, Steve was sitting with his knees tucked up to his chin in one of the rooms set aside for visiting consorts. A place to talk to others in privacy. He glances up as the door opens, immediately tucking his head down and away. There's a bruise forming, he can feel it, across his jaw. Fingertip shaped marks at his throat. He was an excellent consort so he said nothing to his mistress, not that it would matter. She'd allowed it.]

I'd like to be alone.

[He recognizes Noiz but he's not sure if he's good company right now.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Since Noiz is a young new replacement for an older consort, his master is eager to bring him out and show him off. His master brings him to every high-profile event he's able to attend, with his wife and her consort also in attendance. Perhaps it's because he was accustomed to having a consort that was used to his tastes, but his master dresses Noiz in finery and bits of additional jewelry, slender chains and metal and leather. He's rough, too.

It's a good thing Noiz was trained to enjoy it. Or maybe it's just because he likes any attention that he gets, so he's settled in without issue after a few months.

The main problem is that he's bored. Outside of sex, his master largely leaves him to his own devices. While his master, his wife, and the other nobility mingle and chatter, Noiz wanders the hall he's allowed to be in, peeking through open doors (and opening closed ones) until he sees someone he recognizes, which interests him enough to slide through the gap into the room. ]

What're you doing?

[ Those bruises suggest he was just intimate with someone. Noiz shuts the door behind himself, back to it, and decidedly doesn't leave Steve alone. ]

You don't have a master.

[ So... who did that to him? ]

[alleyfights]

[Steve raises and drops a shoulder, letting his legs fall so that his feet hit the ground - he shifts away, bowed in on himself to hide his shame. He'd never been touched by anyone other than his master and while they had done many, many things together, it had never been anything like that. He can still see the man's face as he held him down, the harsh jut of his hipbones as he pushed into him over and over. Sex could be rough, it could be a lot of things - Steve had been trained first and then spent two decades with the same man, he knew what sex could be.

This wasn't sex. Well, it was sex, but not something he would have wanted. Steve believed in the law of the consort. He didn't belong to that man, if he had he might have liked it more. Or at all.]

No, I don't.

[He feels a little bubble of something long since repressed inside his chest - anger.]

I belong to my master's wife now. [Who didn't want him. Steve stands, pacing the few inches of space in front of him and decidedly not looking at Noiz.] Who doesn't want me and lends me out to others.

[His voice catches when he says that last part, cheeks burning.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Noiz waits by the door, not exactly patient, but at least quiet, while Steven gathers himself. When he approaches Noiz looks up—even if Steve doesn't look back at him. ]

Is that what happened to you?

[ He does remember his master explaining to him in clipped tones who he'd have to pay attention to to avoid making a fool out of himself, and the explanation about why certain people appeared to have more than one consort. Steve's master's wife was one of those people.

Despite the knowledge, Noiz is far from tactful when he continues to speak. He's just talking to another consort, after all. He doesn't have to follow all the etiquette rules set out for interacting with others. ]

You sound like you didn't like it.

[alleyfights]

[If there were anyone else around, Steve would be more careful with the rules. Even with other consorts. Him and Noiz don't know each other that well but he knew the first time they met that they'd had each other sized up pretty fast. He wouldn't tell anyone what Steve was saying, he was sure of that much.]

Why would I? I didn't want it.

[He couldn't request to be reassigned, he'd already agreed to this. Steve hadn't expected his mistress of such cruelty or he would have gone back to the Alliance after his master passed.]

I'm not property to be handed out on a whim. Either I chose to initiate contact and get approval from my mistress or it happens and she never finds out.

[Consorts slept with one another all the time. Masters and mistresses traded consorts and sometimes they all had sex with one another. Steve wasn't naive, but he had rights. A consort was always asked permission.]

But he asked and she said yes without speaking to me.

[ruffrabbits]

I see. [ Noiz drifts closer. He's near enough to extend a hand and touch Steve easily, yet instead he just stands there, speaking lowly. ]

Does that bother you?

[ One more half-step closer and Noiz is almost against Steve's chest, one foot insinuating itself between his shoes. He tilts his head back and looks into his face. ]

Tell me what you want.

[alleyfights]

Yes.

[He was a little bit spoiled, if he were honest and he usually was. Steve's master had always asked his permission, had given him options, had doted and treated him with respect. This was all very new and he hated the change in his circumstances.

Steve's eyes flit down. He holds his ground, a brow raising as he looks back up.]

I want you to fuck me. [His mouth pinches at the corners.] Make me forget what else happened tonight.

[ruffrabbits]

[ Noiz is used to being tumbled into bed, but even he knows that others consorts don't have masters who act that way. His own master is... set in his ways, and Noiz supposes—if he's really trying to sympathize—he wouldn't like it if things suddenly changed.

And anyway, if what Steve really wants is for Noiz to fuck him, then it's no trouble at all to oblige. ]

Then get on the bed and I will.

[alleyfights]

[Steve steps back, methodically unbuttoning his jacket to lay it aside. The rest comes quickly, his vest, shirt, belt, trousers and undergarments. Too many layers, but each one had to be carefully placed so that he could get back into them when they were finished. If he was rumpled and the general hadn't left him that way, it'll draw suspicion.]

Lock the door.

[Nude and comfortable with his body, Steve crawls up onto the bed, stopping in the middle.]

How do you want me to lay?

[ruffrabbits]

[ Noiz turns the bolt before approaching the bed. He hadn't seen many others in the halls. If they're too loud, though... ]

On your back.

[ Assuming he has oils or other preparatory materials from his tryst with... whoever it was, Noiz busies himself by undressing as well. Though his master doesn't mind what he does on his own, he can't embarrass him by returning with an unseemly appearance.

Once his clothes are set aside as well, Noiz hops onto the bed, causing the mattress to bounce before he crawls over Steve, eyeing him from head to toe intently. ]

[alleyfights]

[Steve rolls onto his back, licking his dry lips. He can see bruises, elsewhere, and he smooths his hands over the marks, frown deepening.]

Alright.

[There are oils on the table beside the bed, fancy little bottles that their host clearly keeps on hand for these purposes. Not necessarily consort and consort, but helpful all the same.

He pulls Noiz until he's straddling Steve's hips, a knee on each side.]

Don't go easy on me.

[ruffrabbits]

[ Noiz picks up one of the bottles at random, eyeing the green-tinted glass. It doesn't have any label to indicate what sets it apart from any of the others. At a sniff it seems perfectly normal, though, and Noiz pours some out to coat his fingers. ]

I won't.

[ Even though his hand is already dirty, Noiz uses it to hold Steve's side as he bends down to kiss him again, more fully, the press of his lips more firm as he rocks their hips together slowly. ]

[alleyfights]

[Steve assumes the contents of each bottle are different, probably a unique scent profile to appeal to various guests, but that's not something he's ever cared much about and he certainly doesn't now. He doesn't want that kind of pain, not from Noiz. If pain was going to play a part, it'd be from something like a hand at his throat or a well-timed hit or bite, not from lack of common sense.]

Good.

[He drags a hand down Noiz's back as he's kissed, pressing him down so their hips slide together. Each rolling movement spurring a little bit of life into his cock. The pleasure pushes the previous events of the night away.]

Come on. [Steve nips at Noiz's lower lip, brows pinched together in impatience.] Make me feel it.

[alleyfights]

[Steve was careful to hide his displeasure from mistress when the night ended. The memory of his time with the other consort was enough to keep his mind occupied and the bruises that one man had left behind were covered with the pleasurable sort now. He could pretend it was fine until he had his plan in order.

He was of an age that going back to be put on a regular consort auction wasn't likely to yield favorable results. People wanted a consort that they could spend the rest of their lives with and hardly ever purchased anyone as old as Steve was. It wasn't impossible, he wasn't unattractive, but he wasn't delicate or youthful anymore.

As he laid in his bed that night, down the hall from an unkind mistress, he thought of consort law and what he knew of those in his situation. He could get out of it, but it wasn't easy. Steve could go to the consort office in town and explain what had occurred, but they'd need proof he couldn't provide to null the contract he had. Neither his mistress or the man she gave him to would admit to doing anything wrong. In fact, Steve could have made a fuss at the time and possibly stopped it, but he'd been in shock and wasn't used to disagreeing with a master or mistress. He didn't have a choice. He wouldn't stay here.

Two days later, he slips out and goes to the office. Explains his situation to a consort handler named Natasha who sends her staff out to investigate. Ill treatment of a consort wasn't uncommon but when a case was brought up, it was taken seriously. She keeps him safe and somehow, a servant in the house corroborates his story and his contract is voided that same day. Which leaves him without a livelihood and nowhere to go. Fortunately, a master in the area who already has a consort of his own has agreed to take Steve on in a temporary fashion. He'll live and work with him for a month and if the master wants to keep him, that'll be decided then.

Bruises faded, Steve is dropped off in front of large, beautiful house with only a bag of belongings to his name. The door is opened and he's ushered inside, staff taking his bag and guiding him to a sitting room where his new master and consort are waiting to meet him. As he steps in, head slightly bowed, his eyes go wide in surprise when they land on the blond standing not far behind his new master.]

I'm Steve.

[He slowly drops to his knees in front of the man.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Noiz returns to his master, none worse for wear. The man doesn't seem to notice that Noiz has had a tryst in his absence (or perhaps doesn't care) and simply directs him to kneel by his seat until they leave as a group.

He liked fucking Steve. He liked it a lot. But as free as his master allows him to be, Noiz can't leave the estate grounds by himself unless he has leave, and he doesn't know where he'd find him anyway.

So reading and playing with his master's pets it is. It's on lazy Tuesday morning when Noiz is in his master's bed, laying on his stomach as the man caresses his back and ass that he hears the news.

A new consort entering the household on a trial basis is strange enough. If he becomes a permanent member, then what will Noiz be? He keeps his expression neutral as well as he can, and he doesn't respond beyond acknowledgement and instead turns his attention to showing his master how pleasured he is by his hands.

It would be unnatural for him to ask his master more questions. So Noiz listens to the servants and speaks to the few that are willing to have conversation with him. From them he gathers that it's not just any new consort that's coming in. It's a much older one. He suspects, but it isn't until he's in the sitting room with his master that his suspicions are confirmed.

He hears his master speak. ]

I am Lord Alistair Maynard. Your responsibilities were detailed in the temporary contract, and I assume you've read them. I will be more than fair to you if you can be fair to me.

[alleyfights]

[Steve hadn't known what to expect coming here. He'd hoped for a good master and that his current consort wouldn't mind the new company. He would never intrude on what was already arranged between the two, but would try to find a role for himself that they could all be happy with. Steve had no illusions to it being easy, but he would work hard, for all three of them, so that he wouldn't be forced to look for another master or go into consort training.

He doesn't lift his head or raise his eyes until his master is finished speaking. Steve knows to test the situation and to see what is expected of him.]

I have read them. [The responsibilities weren't any different than a permanent contract. The only difference was that if they weren't compatible, he'd be gone at the end of the month.] I've been trained and am skilled in all the ways you'd requested.

[He would never mention his former masters. It was impolite and he most men didn't want to think of their consorts of ever having anyone else. Unfortunately for Steve, he was old enough that that wasn't really a question, more that it was implied, but he thought of it as a skill level versus a real issue.]

I understand the situation is unique. You already have a consort and I don't want to cause you any trouble.

[Steve glances up at his master then, extends his hands palm up, one to both of them. Symbolic that he'll take the secondary position, that he knows his place without needing to be told.]

If you'll allow me, I'll be very good to you both.

[It was a question. This time. Even if he didn't phrase it that way.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Steve is trained. More than that, he's practiced. Lord Maynard stays relaxed in his seat as he watches the older consort respond.

From his position Noiz can still tell that his master is pleased. He's glad of that. Noiz likes Steve and he believes that he's a good consort, one who certainly didn't deserve to be mistreated by his mistress so. Because he's pleasing Lord Maynard, it's likely he'll be kept on.

But Noiz is also unhappy at his appearance, as much as he tries to hide it. When Steve looks up he meets his gaze for a second before glancing away again, silent as Lord Maynard replies. ]

Your credentials impressed me. Your master never had a complaint about your services, so I expect the same level of work, even if you only remain here for a month. [ He pauses, then nods, almost to himself. ] This is my consort, Noiz. I'll have him show you to your accommodations. Come to my rooms at three this afternoon.

[alleyfights]

[Steve lowers his hands to rest on the top of his thighs and slowly pushes to his feet. His new master gets straight to the point and while he hadn't been nervous to see the other consort, the way he glances away quickly ticks his anxiety up. If Noiz didn't want him here then he wouldn't stay, simple as that.]

Thank you, sir. I'll be there as you've asked.

[His tone is even and polite, unsure, but he knows that will pass as he gets the chance to see what his new master is like. Steve stays where he is until Lord Maynard waves a hand to dismiss them and he angles his body into a submissive pose, then turns to walk back out of the room. With his bag readjusted to sling over his shoulder, the other consort slipping out as the door shuts behind them. Steve moves towards the stairs, waiting to be shown to his room.]

I owe you an explanation. [He keeps his voice down, this was between the two of them.] I applied to be removed from my mistress and it was granted. The only choice was to find someone to take me or go back. I'm too old for that. Your master was seeking a companion consort, a second.

[Steve hadn't heard of any displeasure with Noiz or that he was some kind of replacement. An addition, which he'd work hard to prove he was the right choice of.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Noiz dips into a bow as Lord Maynard departs. Once he's gone, Noiz moves quickly after Steve, politeness mostly gone but properly bearing and poise still there, training pressed into his spine.

His back is straight and he gazes directly at Steve when he speaks. ]

He never told me he was looking for a second companion.

[ Judging by Steve's words and his responses, Noiz doesn't think he was aware of Noiz's identity before arriving here. So he can't blame him. That, however, does not stop him from frowning. ]

[alleyfights]

[Steve can see now that he's upset Noiz by coming here. It wasn't a choice he'd made lightly nor did he have any idea that it would be Noiz he'd be working with.]

That's what this has to be, doesn't it? [He steps closer to Noiz. Not so near him it would appear overly familiar or inappropriate, but so he can lower his voice.] Do you expect me to believe that he's displeased with you? That I'm a replacement.

[His brows arch, head canting to the side in disbelief.]

They didn't tell me anything other than what's in the contract, but the moment I saw that you were his consort, I knew I was a second. There are other kinks that your master might wish to indulge that a single consort can't provide.

[Noiz was the best sex of Steve's life. The other consort was going to have to own up to something pretty serious for Steve to believe that his master wanted to swap him out.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Steve's explanation makes sense, and even if he hasn't been to school Noiz has thought of himself as a logical person before. Which is why he feels even worse that he can't just be pleased that Steve is now away from his mistress and here with him.

What if, he thinks. What if his master is displeased with him? ]

I was a replacement.

[ But they shouldn't be discussing this here. Noiz glances around before gesturing for Steve to follow him from the main building, through the picturesque green grounds to a small, well-kept bungalow to one edge of the property. ]

[alleyfights]

And?

[Steve arches a brow. Noiz didn't know that about him but he was opinionated and stubborn. He held fast to his beliefs and didn't want anyone to disagree with him. Well, he did sometimes because it made things interesting. He goes silent as he follows Noiz outside and away from the main building, taking in the grounds and the well-kept property.]

This is lovely. [Most consorts didn't get a private home. None that Steve had ever met. Even his kindest masters only gave him a room.] Has it always been here?

[If Noiz was a replacement, possibly not, but he was curious.]

[ruffrabbits]

[ Steve has asked two questions, one of which is easier to answer than the other. Noiz chooses to reply to that first. ]

One of his relatives used to live there. But she moved out once she got married.

[ It's nice, and Noiz knows that he's fortunate. He lets Steve in and after the door is closed behind them both he finally talks to him directly—and at normal volume. ]

He didn't tell me he was going to take a second consort. If he cared he'd tell me—or tell me that he's not satisfied.

[alleyfights]

[Steve sets his bag down in the main room, glancing around curiously. It was small but well-furnished, taken care of and he'd be fortunate to call this place his home if he could make this arrangement work.]

Then we'll ask him. Sometimes they forget or they're afraid of how we might react.

[Assumptions again, as he doesn't know Lord Maynard yet, but he was going to go with his gut. Like he usually does.]

Many men fantasize about having more than one person pleasing them. That doesn't mean every consort would be comfortable with that. [There was something else to consider.] What if I'm not for him, solely?

What if I'm for you, too? A companion consort.

[He sighs softly.]

We won't know until we ask him and we have to be careful how we do that.

[ruffrabbits]

[ With Steve's even-tempered responses, Noiz quiets down, at least temporarily. He's not so overwhelmed that he can't see sense. Though he is still annoyed. ]

How are you going to ask him? [ Noiz volunteers a bit of information, then. ] He doesn't ask me many questions, but he's never gotten cross with me for speaking to him.