ǫ | quentin toma (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
longitudinal) wrote2025-06-01 10:21 am
longitudinal) wrote2025-06-01 10:21 am
au inbox;
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
q
text ❖ audio ❖ video
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
q
text ❖ audio ❖ video
[ the rooms at the manor are nice, if a bit stuffy. he misses the chic, modern elegance of hotel rooms in france and greece, but for a change of scenery? it’s exactly what someone would expect when visiting england. after his morning swim at the pool, he jumps in the shower,
ignoring the second door, figuring it was a water closet or some kind of linen closet, even though the towels always seem to be laid out fresh and pressed every morning.
he’s just getting into the shower, stepping under the hot water when he hears noise - the door, maybe, or something from outside. he doesn’t pay it any mind, the glass fogging as he scrubs his fingers into his hair, scuffing out the chlorine.
but it wasn’t a noise elsewhere, no. it’s the door. the door across that is certainly not a water or linen closet. ]
Good morning. Sorry, did I wake you up? I’m an early riser.
[ he doesn’t stop his shower, instead lathering shampoo into his hair as he talks. ]
ignoring the second door, figuring it was a water closet or some kind of linen closet, even though the towels always seem to be laid out fresh and pressed every morning.
he’s just getting into the shower, stepping under the hot water when he hears noise - the door, maybe, or something from outside. he doesn’t pay it any mind, the glass fogging as he scrubs his fingers into his hair, scuffing out the chlorine.
but it wasn’t a noise elsewhere, no. it’s the door. the door across that is certainly not a water or linen closet. ]
Good morning. Sorry, did I wake you up? I’m an early riser.
[ he doesn’t stop his shower, instead lathering shampoo into his hair as he talks. ]
[the house is too big, too full of weird noises, especially sleeping alone in the unfamiliar suite and ignoring his phone, so koby had stayed downstairs until the wee hours of the morning, chatting people up in the piano bar or out by the pool, making himself comfortable in the manor's environment. he'd gone home with someone, a fuzzy face, a blur of hands and heat, and had stumbled back home close to five, tumbling into bed and passing out immediately.
now it's mere hours later and koby's shuffling into the en suite bathroom, hair a fuzzy mess, contacts dry and itchy, making him wince and rub his eyes against the light against the gleaming porcelain. he doesn't immediately register the sound of the water -- the weird noises, it's probably old pipes sounding too close -- his mind a foggy cloud of haze. but then -- a voice, making him jolt and whirl around at the sink, then immediately groan at how that sends his head spinning.]
Jesus fuck, can you -- not yell, please? [he hadn't, he'd spoken at a very normal, pleasant register, but every sound feels magnified by a thousand in koby's wildly hungover ears.]
now it's mere hours later and koby's shuffling into the en suite bathroom, hair a fuzzy mess, contacts dry and itchy, making him wince and rub his eyes against the light against the gleaming porcelain. he doesn't immediately register the sound of the water -- the weird noises, it's probably old pipes sounding too close -- his mind a foggy cloud of haze. but then -- a voice, making him jolt and whirl around at the sink, then immediately groan at how that sends his head spinning.]
Jesus fuck, can you -- not yell, please? [he hadn't, he'd spoken at a very normal, pleasant register, but every sound feels magnified by a thousand in koby's wildly hungover ears.]
I'm on break, actually. Just finished trials, qualified. I get a little time off to enjoy myself before it's all work and no play. 😔
How's the family?
[ because that's about as loaded as "how's it going" ]
How's the family?
[ because that's about as loaded as "how's it going" ]
Edited (dont perceive me ) 2025-06-02 05:37 (UTC)
You did?? And you didn't say anything??? Q, that's amazing!
Judgmental hypocrites. As always. I'd rather talk about you. Do I get to come see you in Beijing?
Judgmental hypocrites. As always. I'd rather talk about you. Do I get to come see you in Beijing?
I wanted it to be a surprise. It will be officially announced this weekend.
You can come see me whenever you like, you know. 😘 But also I get some travel expenses covered for me and a partner. They won’t know the difference.
How’s a summer in Beijing sound? Bet there’s all kinds of trouble we can get into. That and I miss you.
You can come see me whenever you like, you know. 😘 But also I get some travel expenses covered for me and a partner. They won’t know the difference.
How’s a summer in Beijing sound? Bet there’s all kinds of trouble we can get into. That and I miss you.
[ well for someone who is clearly dying from hangover, he's actually pretty cute. but quentin knows beauty when he sees it - it's why he has the reputation he does. he tilts his head, scrubbing in shampoo now as he watches the guy whirl around, a one act play all by himself. ]
I'm not yelling. I think your skull might be splitting from the looks of it. Long night?
[ he does make an amused effort to lower his voice. ]
You look like shit. [ a shrug of a bare shoulder, his soapy hair now left behind so he can start scrubbing himself down with a bar of soap. ]
I'm not yelling. I think your skull might be splitting from the looks of it. Long night?
[ he does make an amused effort to lower his voice. ]
You look like shit. [ a shrug of a bare shoulder, his soapy hair now left behind so he can start scrubbing himself down with a bar of soap. ]
It sounds incredible. Even if I have to see Phelps beats your ass in every race 😋
More time for us to hang out and see the sights. I've never been.
Hey, can I ask you for a favor? It's a fun one, promise.
More time for us to hang out and see the sights. I've never been.
Hey, can I ask you for a favor? It's a fun one, promise.
Edited 2025-06-02 15:44 (UTC)
At least you'd be seeing mine and Phelps' ass. It's a win win.
I've never been either - we can discover all Beijing has to offer. And hopefully live to tell the tale.
But shoot - what's the favor, Teo? If it's fun, you know I can't say no.
I've never been either - we can discover all Beijing has to offer. And hopefully live to tell the tale.
But shoot - what's the favor, Teo? If it's fun, you know I can't say no.
You’re not on the relay team, are you? Don’t get distracted.
I’m holding you to it!
Go on a couple really public and obvious dates with me? My dad’s hounding me about seeing older guys, but he always liked you. That’s not weird, is it?
I’m holding you to it!
Go on a couple really public and obvious dates with me? My dad’s hounding me about seeing older guys, but he always liked you. That’s not weird, is it?
No, thank god. I'm terrible at relay. 500m freestyle again.
Ooh, someone's in trouble, huh? Tell me what our first date's gonna be then I'll decide.
[ that's basically a yes, teo. ] Make sure it's fun and not weird. 😉
Ooh, someone's in trouble, huh? Tell me what our first date's gonna be then I'll decide.
[ that's basically a yes, teo. ] Make sure it's fun and not weird. 😉
Well, I know you’ve got the endurance for it. You’ll win.
Our first date is the arcade. Nice and wholesome. But we’ll slip down to the nightclub after, drink a little too much, and knock over a priceless vase in one of the hallways while we’re making out. Got to keep it believable.
Our first date is the arcade. Nice and wholesome. But we’ll slip down to the nightclub after, drink a little too much, and knock over a priceless vase in one of the hallways while we’re making out. Got to keep it believable.
I'd wager my endurance is even better now than before.
But you'll win at all the arcade games, you always do. I guess that means I need to kiss you well enough to make you take out the vase. It's a trade off.
Second date should be polite - a picnic by the lake. It isn't my fault if you get wet and we end up having to wrestle in the water, is it?
But you'll win at all the arcade games, you always do. I guess that means I need to kiss you well enough to make you take out the vase. It's a trade off.
Second date should be polite - a picnic by the lake. It isn't my fault if you get wet and we end up having to wrestle in the water, is it?
I might have to. All the training and the flight has my back in knots.
It'd be nicer if it was a different kind of tension that I had to deal with.
It'd be nicer if it was a different kind of tension that I had to deal with.
[a wordless grumble, koby leaning back against the sink and trying to recover the shreds of his dignity, of his composure. he never walks into a situation without being in complete control. especially with a new, potentially advantageous attractive man.
but here he is, apparently looking a hot mess and burying his face in both hands with a groan.] Don’t go to the piano bar, that’s all I’m gonna say about that. [it’s not; he’s going to complain about this headache all he can and milk it for all it’s worth.
spreading his fingers apart, koby peeks through them at the stranger, thoughtfully.] Thanks. You look swell. [flatly, like an accusation, but – it is true.] Sorry to disappoint, I guess.
but here he is, apparently looking a hot mess and burying his face in both hands with a groan.] Don’t go to the piano bar, that’s all I’m gonna say about that. [it’s not; he’s going to complain about this headache all he can and milk it for all it’s worth.
spreading his fingers apart, koby peeks through them at the stranger, thoughtfully.] Thanks. You look swell. [flatly, like an accusation, but – it is true.] Sorry to disappoint, I guess.
Did I say I was disappointed? Are you hearing things?
[ quentin huffs a laugh, watching this poor guy and his hungover misery. he considers just letting him go on his way before he rolls his eyes. he's been there - drunk and dried out and done with anything that resembles morning.
he offers out a soapy hand, uncaring that he's dripping water all over the floor or that he's basically showering naked in front of a perfect stranger. there could be worse things. ]
The water's still hot so hurry up - you might feel a quarter human once you get cleaned up. If not, then this place makes bottomless mimosas and that will be the next stop. That or you can stand there looking miserable and I'll enjoy my shower, thank you. But feel free to stay and watch if you choose that option.
[ quentin huffs a laugh, watching this poor guy and his hungover misery. he considers just letting him go on his way before he rolls his eyes. he's been there - drunk and dried out and done with anything that resembles morning.
he offers out a soapy hand, uncaring that he's dripping water all over the floor or that he's basically showering naked in front of a perfect stranger. there could be worse things. ]
The water's still hot so hurry up - you might feel a quarter human once you get cleaned up. If not, then this place makes bottomless mimosas and that will be the next stop. That or you can stand there looking miserable and I'll enjoy my shower, thank you. But feel free to stay and watch if you choose that option.
You really are going for gold this time. Maybe we'll end up testing it out.
Not always. Not Mortal Kombat.
That would be my fault. I get so clumsy when I'm excited to get on my knees.
Not always. Not Mortal Kombat.
That would be my fault. I get so clumsy when I'm excited to get on my knees.
-- what. [koby drops his hands a bit, eyes narrowing a bit in skepticism at the laugh, at the sudsy audacity of this literal stranger. his booze-and-powder-addled mind doesn't click fast enough to connect the gleaming, soaking wet god of a man to the blurry myspace photos on teo's page -- not yet, not until later, until after he's stumbled out of the bathroom, warm and sleepy.
now, though, koby's eyes are bleary and his expression is one of bewilderment, some of the sharpness leaving him as he waits for a punchline that...doesn't come. instead: an invitation. an absurd one, but that seems to be par for the course with this place. besides, the last four conscious minutes have been hellish, so why not take every opportunity to improve his current situation, right?
so koby sighs, straightening up and pulling his shirt off, light catching the piercing in his navel as he stretches and tosses the garment in the general direction of the door.] Better have bottomless bloody Mary's too. I need the hardcore shit today. [pajama pants are next, puddling at koby's feet, and he pauses a minute to take in what he can see of the soapy, dripping body before him.]
Koby. Who're you?
now, though, koby's eyes are bleary and his expression is one of bewilderment, some of the sharpness leaving him as he waits for a punchline that...doesn't come. instead: an invitation. an absurd one, but that seems to be par for the course with this place. besides, the last four conscious minutes have been hellish, so why not take every opportunity to improve his current situation, right?
so koby sighs, straightening up and pulling his shirt off, light catching the piercing in his navel as he stretches and tosses the garment in the general direction of the door.] Better have bottomless bloody Mary's too. I need the hardcore shit today. [pajama pants are next, puddling at koby's feet, and he pauses a minute to take in what he can see of the soapy, dripping body before him.]
Koby. Who're you?
I'd like to show you how much I've improved if we do test it out.
I'll take the blame for it, how could I let anyone fault you when you look so pretty on your knees like that? Besides, clumsy is cute.
I'll take the blame for it, how could I let anyone fault you when you look so pretty on your knees like that? Besides, clumsy is cute.
[ quentin doesn't pay him too much mind as he begins to rinse the shampoo from his hair. he'll have to condition it, too, else the chlorine will turn his waves into a mess. he's not blind, though - he passes a glance as the guy pulls his shirt off and yes, his eye catches the little piercing at his navel. he gives koby an appreciative once over. ]
Quentin. Most people call me Q.
[ he grins, a little doggish. ] If the shower's not enough then I can definitely find you something stronger than a bloody mary. I've already found a few good spots in this house.
[ and he reaches out his hand again, wiggling soapy fingers. ] You coming in or not? Trying to decide if I need to wash my own back or if you can lend a hand.
Quentin. Most people call me Q.
[ he grins, a little doggish. ] If the shower's not enough then I can definitely find you something stronger than a bloody mary. I've already found a few good spots in this house.
[ and he reaches out his hand again, wiggling soapy fingers. ] You coming in or not? Trying to decide if I need to wash my own back or if you can lend a hand.
No, you should stay scandal free until the games. My reputation can't get worse, so I might as well take the heat.
Breaking a vase isn't what I'd call a scandal. I have people accusing me of fucking my coach to get my spot on the team.
A vase is a nice change of pace. Just have to make sure you don't get cut by the glass while you're down there.
A vase is a nice change of pace. Just have to make sure you don't get cut by the glass while you're down there.
Don't they televise the trials? That's bullshit.
...did you fuck him, though?
...did you fuck him, though?
They do, which is why it's absurd. But they think there's favoritism - that it's why I was asked to qualify to begin with.
... he was disappointing. He came too quick. And he was grabby, but not in a sexy way. I didn't have to pay for my drinks though, so that was a plus.
... he was disappointing. He came too quick. And he was grabby, but not in a sexy way. I didn't have to pay for my drinks though, so that was a plus.
Page 1 of 4