got good ears

[temporal_affairs]

The neighbors don't complain. Much. (They do occasionally ask that things be kept down, but they don't complain about there being noise at all. They understand about mates.)

The room isn't designed for long-term human occupation. There is no bathroom, no food, no bed, no climate control - though this is Florida, so climate control is not such a concern - no plumbing.

But there's lots of magic. It's such fun to make, after all.

(Nathan had been worried he'd have to ask one of the succubi, or Joham, for lessons on what might whimsically be called "safe sex". He likes not having to bother with this better.)

Comments

[temporal_affairs]

There is some long grass in that ditch over there by the side of this highway.

It is probably long enough to prevent them from getting arrested if someone just casually walks by.

Nathan tackles his mate into it, growling with jealousy.

[manofmyword]

The Joker laughs, and kisses him, and sets about demonstrating that right this second, Nathan is exactly the person he wants. In every possible sense.

[temporal_affairs]

Well, good. Humans don't have such good memories anyway. Maybe he'll forget all about her after long enough if Nathan tries - very - hard.

[manofmyword]

That is never going to work, but oh, are his efforts ever appreciated.

[temporal_affairs]

After some time, they resume their hike Jacksonvilleward. "What do you want to do when we get to Jacksonville?" Nathan asks.

[manofmyword]

"Not sure," he muses. "Wander around, see what's going on. If we don't find anything better to do, we can always get a hotel room."

[temporal_affairs]

"I do have a fair amount of decent imperial pay socked away," says Nathan. "I don't buy much, normally."

[manofmyword]

"Aren't you handy," he says fondly.

[temporal_affairs]

"I'd say call me sugar daddy, but you actually might, and I don't in fact find it appealing, I like sweetheart and honey better," says Nathan cheerfully.

[manofmyword]

He laughs. Maybe more than the joke strictly deserves.

[temporal_affairs]

"Am I funnier than even I think I am?" asks Nathan.

[manofmyword]

"Yep," says the Joker.

[temporal_affairs]

"Oh, good." Kisses! Handholding! And, after a long, long walk, Jacksonville!

[manofmyword]

"Nice place," says the Joker. "Don't think I've been here before."

He likes it, though. Just being in a place with so many people around brightens him right up.

[temporal_affairs]

"Not my favorite city. I like Castletown. Fond of Dublin, on days when the time's been ripe for getting away with it. Jaipur is nice, there's a capital near Jaipur, I think it's next on the itinerary when they're done in Safesun."

[manofmyword]

"Never been to any of those, either," says the Joker. "I don't even know where they are, except for Dublin."

[temporal_affairs]

"Castletown's on the Isle of Man, where I'm from, right between Britain and Ireland. Jaipur's in India."

[manofmyword]

"We should go see those sometime," he says. "And New York. You guys don't have a Gotham, I'm pretty sure, but New York City's the next best thing."

[temporal_affairs]

"I've never heard of a Gotham, and I've memorized some reasonably fine-grained maps," agrees Nathan, "but New York's good. I've only been there once. I didn't use to cross the ocean that frequently; had to defend my little island territory and couldn't typically afford more than a quick hop to tweak Siobhan's nose or annoy one of the Brits who have their island so overrun with vampires. There's a couple dozen of them with the place carved up, not that territory means much of anything anymore."

[manofmyword]

"I'll tell you about Gotham sometime, too," he says comfortably. "What is up with Siobhan, anyway?"

[temporal_affairs]

"She's a witch, got a..." Vague gesture. "Planning power. It's subtle, she didn't know she had it until Addy copied it. She's claimed the island of Ireland for herself - wiped out all the other vampires on it, she's amazing in a fight, eventually she added a mate and a coven sister and now she allows the coven sister's wife and their kid who's turned to live there and tolerates visits from assorted friends, but I used to drop by before it was allowed. Long as I'm good about asking my timer, she can't catch me, or at least never did it. So she doesn't like me so I'm still not allowed. She's friends with Her Majesty and she's one of the people who could take over whether Her Majesty liked it or not, so Her Majesty lets her have her immigration controls on her island."

[manofmyword]

He snorts.

"Maybe we can ask nicely."

[temporal_affairs]

"I don't think she'll be impressed."

[manofmyword]

The Joker laughs.

"You never know."

[temporal_affairs]

"Well, if that's what you want to do I think I'd go through Maggie, she's the coven sister but she and the wife live in a little house now, not with Siobhan and her mate. Maggie's a lie detector, if we swore up and down we meant no mischief she might be able to talk Siobhan into it. If she likes you. She won't be at all inclined if she doesn't like you. She's reasonably neutral about me."