If you go into the Woods - complete
Just a quick bit of fluff - complete (and slight altered from the teaser)
THE PROMPT
draconym-
Naturalists have got to be one of the groups of people most susceptible to being tricked by the fae. Travelers these days are much less likely to follow a mysterious light or the smell of roast beef into the forest.
Meanwhile, find me a naturalist who would not completely lose themself in pursuit of:
- An unidentified bird call
- A butterfly that's slightly off-color
- An opossum with its head stuck in a yogurt tub
- A really big woodpecker
Reply- gallusrostromegalus-
The Fae better be fuckin ready to be tagged and fitted with a radio collar for Science then, I've got new hiking boots and no other ideas for research grant money.
---- ---- ---- ----
The STORY
Ok, there was definitely someone in the bushes. Mason ran a tired hand over his face, scratching his beard, it was leaning more towards wild-man than hipster chic but that was the appeal of this place; it was supposed to be deserted. There'd been a strange light earlier and a random hiker wasn't unheard of, but Mason had picked a heavily wooded area right off the beaten track, not for the faint hearted. The bushes moved again, he'd heard some odd bird calls earlier but this was too big for the local wildlife. Checking the fire was safe Mason stretched nonchantly and huffed under his breath when the bushes stilled. Yep he had a peeper!
'I know you're there, you might as well come out into the open' he called dryly, his voice a little gruff from disuse. The foliage shook a little and branches moved, he couldn't see the person but they weren't hiding they were there.
'It's a cold night, you might as well share the fire' he swear the bushes were sulking.
'You could come to me, I could make you roast beef?' a musical male voice enticed, he sounded young and a little dejected. The offer made as much sense as anything else this night.
'I'm ok with my bangers here' Mason eyed his sizzling sausages, he'd dragged enough rocks together to make a decent surround for a fire, there was no risk of a blaze. 'Out of milk but got some coffee you can have?'
'You'd have offered me milk?'
Ok, something was really odd here. That was almost a wail. The bushes shook angrily then a tall slender man stepped free of them. He was all woodland colours, hard to see in the fading light. But there was a something bulky strapped to one ankle that threw of his shape. Mason caught a better look when he stomped nearer the fire, some kind of tracking device? Wild gesturing arms claimed his attention. His peeper was not happy.
'Hey'
Silence with a muleish expession and hands on hips.
'Try again slower ok, what's your trauma?'
'THIS' was shouted with more wild gesturing and a lifted foot. Mason caught his intruder before he toppled into the fire. He had a brief hold on a lithe form with a close up of startlingly pale eyes. Icy fury.
'Relax mate, what are you getting so excited about'
'I HATE you NATURALIST FREAKS' was screamed 'I bet that Opossum was in on it!'
'In on what? Want to try telling me what's going on?' Mason really hoped camera men weren't going to burst out of the wood next, because he wasn't promising not to punch first, question later!
'Like you need to be told! You naturalist freaks, thinking you can play us at our own game, tag us like a domesticated...' he waved his hands about then sunk to sit by the fire, resting his head on his raised knees. 'I wasn't going to do any harm, just a little fun' he whimpered 'now I can never show my face, can't go anywhere' his body shook though any tears were silent and more worrying for it. His eyes swam with oceans when he raised his head agile fingers pushing hair behind a pointed ear. Pointed ear? Mason shook his head roughly, the night was getting to him.
'Look I'm not a Naturalist, I'm a Carpenter by trade, why would you think I am?'
'Carpenter? A Woodcrafter?' his guest looked curious 'but you're wearing boots?'
'Er...' Mason glanced down at his well worn hiking boots then back at his guest. 'We're in a Wood, there's pine needles and rocks. His still felt the weight of that pale gaze.
'You might have noticed the boots are all I'm wearing?' he waited as eyes brushed over him almost a physical touch.
'I noticed' was offered primly 'Big WoodPeckers are a very good lure. You have very nice wood mister. But I'm not following you into the Woods, I can't anyway with this' the device was pushed towards Mason.
'O-kay' Mason tried slowly 'the point I was making was' what was it again? 'the point I was making was I'm not a Naturalist, I'm a Naturist. Not the same thing'
'Naturist' the word was tried out and understanding dawned 'you mean you liked to dance skyclad in the Woods?'
'Well, I'm not much of a dancer' Mason owned.
'Get this THING off me and I could teach you?' the promise spoke of wild nights, heat and ice, freedom and chains. But it was the eyes that convinced him, sad and daring to hope.
'It's a simple strap' he gripped it.
'Iron buckle' was muttered.
Mason opened the buckle.
The fire went out but the night remained burning hot. Fae wood proved to be long and slender and taste of sweet temptation. Hands soft but strong. Body eager. If this was a death dance Mason wasn't sure he minded as he gave in, drove forward, revelled in the dance. Breathy cries and exaltation.
Dawn broke painting the world a rosy glow, the Woods awoke with chirp and song. Mason stood stepping outside his tent stretched wide, he ached all over in a satisfied well used way. But there was no sign of his guest. 'Didn't even get a name' he huffed.
'And you wont either' came from around the tent. His lover of the night bringing kindling for a fresh fire. Mason felt an odd stirring of pride to see marks on smooth tan skin, left by his own mouth. He was fairly sure he sported his own bruises of passion.
'You'll not own me' he was was chided, then a casual 'but I may stick around awhile, try again before I buy' he winked.
THE PROMPT
draconym-
Naturalists have got to be one of the groups of people most susceptible to being tricked by the fae. Travelers these days are much less likely to follow a mysterious light or the smell of roast beef into the forest.
Meanwhile, find me a naturalist who would not completely lose themself in pursuit of:
- An unidentified bird call
- A butterfly that's slightly off-color
- An opossum with its head stuck in a yogurt tub
- A really big woodpecker
Reply- gallusrostromegalus-
The Fae better be fuckin ready to be tagged and fitted with a radio collar for Science then, I've got new hiking boots and no other ideas for research grant money.
---- ---- ---- ----
The STORY
Ok, there was definitely someone in the bushes. Mason ran a tired hand over his face, scratching his beard, it was leaning more towards wild-man than hipster chic but that was the appeal of this place; it was supposed to be deserted. There'd been a strange light earlier and a random hiker wasn't unheard of, but Mason had picked a heavily wooded area right off the beaten track, not for the faint hearted. The bushes moved again, he'd heard some odd bird calls earlier but this was too big for the local wildlife. Checking the fire was safe Mason stretched nonchantly and huffed under his breath when the bushes stilled. Yep he had a peeper!
'I know you're there, you might as well come out into the open' he called dryly, his voice a little gruff from disuse. The foliage shook a little and branches moved, he couldn't see the person but they weren't hiding they were there.
'It's a cold night, you might as well share the fire' he swear the bushes were sulking.
'You could come to me, I could make you roast beef?' a musical male voice enticed, he sounded young and a little dejected. The offer made as much sense as anything else this night.
'I'm ok with my bangers here' Mason eyed his sizzling sausages, he'd dragged enough rocks together to make a decent surround for a fire, there was no risk of a blaze. 'Out of milk but got some coffee you can have?'
'You'd have offered me milk?'
Ok, something was really odd here. That was almost a wail. The bushes shook angrily then a tall slender man stepped free of them. He was all woodland colours, hard to see in the fading light. But there was a something bulky strapped to one ankle that threw of his shape. Mason caught a better look when he stomped nearer the fire, some kind of tracking device? Wild gesturing arms claimed his attention. His peeper was not happy.
'Hey'
Silence with a muleish expession and hands on hips.
'Try again slower ok, what's your trauma?'
'THIS' was shouted with more wild gesturing and a lifted foot. Mason caught his intruder before he toppled into the fire. He had a brief hold on a lithe form with a close up of startlingly pale eyes. Icy fury.
'Relax mate, what are you getting so excited about'
'I HATE you NATURALIST FREAKS' was screamed 'I bet that Opossum was in on it!'
'In on what? Want to try telling me what's going on?' Mason really hoped camera men weren't going to burst out of the wood next, because he wasn't promising not to punch first, question later!
'Like you need to be told! You naturalist freaks, thinking you can play us at our own game, tag us like a domesticated...' he waved his hands about then sunk to sit by the fire, resting his head on his raised knees. 'I wasn't going to do any harm, just a little fun' he whimpered 'now I can never show my face, can't go anywhere' his body shook though any tears were silent and more worrying for it. His eyes swam with oceans when he raised his head agile fingers pushing hair behind a pointed ear. Pointed ear? Mason shook his head roughly, the night was getting to him.
'Look I'm not a Naturalist, I'm a Carpenter by trade, why would you think I am?'
'Carpenter? A Woodcrafter?' his guest looked curious 'but you're wearing boots?'
'Er...' Mason glanced down at his well worn hiking boots then back at his guest. 'We're in a Wood, there's pine needles and rocks. His still felt the weight of that pale gaze.
'You might have noticed the boots are all I'm wearing?' he waited as eyes brushed over him almost a physical touch.
'I noticed' was offered primly 'Big WoodPeckers are a very good lure. You have very nice wood mister. But I'm not following you into the Woods, I can't anyway with this' the device was pushed towards Mason.
'O-kay' Mason tried slowly 'the point I was making was' what was it again? 'the point I was making was I'm not a Naturalist, I'm a Naturist. Not the same thing'
'Naturist' the word was tried out and understanding dawned 'you mean you liked to dance skyclad in the Woods?'
'Well, I'm not much of a dancer' Mason owned.
'Get this THING off me and I could teach you?' the promise spoke of wild nights, heat and ice, freedom and chains. But it was the eyes that convinced him, sad and daring to hope.
'It's a simple strap' he gripped it.
'Iron buckle' was muttered.
Mason opened the buckle.
The fire went out but the night remained burning hot. Fae wood proved to be long and slender and taste of sweet temptation. Hands soft but strong. Body eager. If this was a death dance Mason wasn't sure he minded as he gave in, drove forward, revelled in the dance. Breathy cries and exaltation.
Dawn broke painting the world a rosy glow, the Woods awoke with chirp and song. Mason stood stepping outside his tent stretched wide, he ached all over in a satisfied well used way. But there was no sign of his guest. 'Didn't even get a name' he huffed.
'And you wont either' came from around the tent. His lover of the night bringing kindling for a fresh fire. Mason felt an odd stirring of pride to see marks on smooth tan skin, left by his own mouth. He was fairly sure he sported his own bruises of passion.
'You'll not own me' he was was chided, then a casual 'but I may stick around awhile, try again before I buy' he winked.